I love Amel Larrieux. Lyrically she's amazing and her voice is beautiful too. A friend sent me a link to this song - I had no idea Amel was making new music. Perhaps I'm late, who knows, but I can't stop playing this song. Here's a few of my favorite lines: {Chorus} Got me afraid of the rapture stirring inside of me Got me afraid of what I'm gonna do if I get you to see Got me afraid of you, so fine sometimes I forget to breathe Got me afraid of wherever you are is wherever I have to... Continue reading

(or Keeping Vampire Hours) Lately I've been staying up into the wee hours of the night and then, like Icarus, I crash and burn, or rather pass the fuck out collapse and fall asleep at some time between 7 and 10 o'clock in the morning. This is what inevitably happens whenever I'm left to my own devices. Without any regularly scheduled or ongoing obligations during normal business hours, my body reverts back to its default configuration. I have the circadian rhythm of an owl. Photo by Jennie Rainsford via Flickr Sometimes I worry my keeping vampire hours is a symptom... Continue reading

The imagery in this video is soooo beautiful...and the ending is CLASSIC. Continue reading

New Music to Start May ~ The DOPENESS that is JANELLE MONAE. Continue reading

by Audre Lorde For those of us who live at the shoreline standing upon the constant edge of decision crucial and alone for those of us who cannot indulge the passing dreams of choice who love in doorways coming and going in the hours between dawns looking inward and outward at once before and after seeking a now that can breed futures like bread in our children's mouths so their dreams will not reflect the death of ours: For those of us who were imprinted with fear like a faint line in the center of our foreheads learning to be... Continue reading

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Now on view at MOCA Grand Avenue. via www.ijonesart.com Continue reading

Jackson Pollock ~ Number 3, 1948 Now on view at MOCA Grand Avenue. More info: http://bitly.com/MOCAnumber3 via www.ijonesart.com Continue reading

While I've been researching the history of Black women's groups in Los Angeles, I ran across this 1935 photo of the Phy-Art-Lit-Mor Club in Shades of L.A., an archive of over 10,000 photographs representing the contemporary and historic diversity of people in Los Angeles that was organized by the Los Angeles Public Library. The Phy-Art-Lit -Mor Club was founded in 1913 by Vada Somersville, the first Black woman licensed to practice dentistry in the state of California. She practiced alongside her husband, John Alexander Somerville, and the couple went on to build the Dunbar Hotel in 1928, which was the... Continue reading

If I read or hear another word about Carmageddon, I'm gonna to scream. Thank goodness I don't have a television because I can only imagine how the closing of the 405 this weekend is being repeated all over the local news. It gives me a valid excuse to stay home over the weekend. Photos: Empty L.A. by Matt Logue Photography Continue reading

I stumbled upon an interesting documentary film on Hulu, which completely validates my longstanding love for the ocean. White Wash explores the complexity of race in America through the eyes of the ocean and surf culture while dispelling a common stereotype about African American culture. Yes, Black people swim. We also love the ocean. So while I can't quite afford a small cottage in Malibu close to the ocean, yet, I'm working on it because it's where I belong. Continue reading

The finding aid I wrote for the League of Allied Arts records has finally been published via the Online Archive of California. The League of Allied Arts is one of the oldest existing Black women's arts organization in Los Angeles. Founded in 1939 by Dorothy Vena Johnson and Juanita Miller, the League was established to promote and support the arts in Los Angeles by providing cultural enrichment programs for the community, honoring the creative accomplishments of Black artists, and awarding scholarships to talented students from Los Angeles pursuing scholarly studies in the arts. I'm thrilled to have played a small... Continue reading

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Louis Comfort Tiffany ~ Magnolias and Irises Stamp Credit: USPS Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art I love this stamp. Not only because my father's name was Louis and he's the one who named me Tiffany, but it's so undeniably pretty. I unknowingly bought a book of these stamps one day much to my delight. Although I'm not a stamp collector, I wish I'd saved all of them. As of now, I only have three left. I'm hoping that I can replicate this piece for a window in the house I hope to build one day. Magnolias and irises... Continue reading

Over at Listen they've put together a beautiful selection of African LP cover art. The following one caught my eye. Not only is the artwork compelling, but the bright red hand lettering contrasts so well with the black and white. After doing a little online research, I found out the album is from the Congo. Unfortunately, I couldn't complete the experience by listening to it. via listenrecovery.files.wordpress.com Continue reading

via www.amoeba.com Really, 2012?!?! Two free concerts in a row? Billed as the Operation/Occupy Skid Row Music Festival, this Sunday, January 15th, Public Enemy along with a dozen or so old school L.A. hip-hop artists will put on a free concert for the residents of Los Angeles's Skid Row district. Continue reading

via blogs.laweekly.com Continue reading

via www.idlewarship.com Idle Warship's latest album, Habits of the Heart, has been added to my playlist. I have it on repeat along with the entire discograpjy of my current music obsession, TV On the Radio. Talib Kweli + Res = Idle Warship will be performing live at Amoeba Music in Hollywood this upcoming Wednesday, January 11th @6pm, and also at the Key Club later the same night. Yep, I'm going to be at Amoeba on Wednesday fo sho. Nothing beats free. Continue reading