Kokeshi Dreams

Friday was the opening reception and Art Exhibit "Dark Chocolate Japan" at Sunrise Civic Ctr. 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise, FL 33351. Carlos Aleman was the only artist exhibiting but he gave a nice variety although all Japanese influenced. He worked with various media including paper mâché, acrylics and other media.

My favorite pieces are the Kokeshi pieces:

Kokeshi Mache - I was amazed at how it was made - looking at it I assumed it was more durable material but it is made of paper mâché and mixed media

A Kokeshi Story seem to combine many Japanese styles. I recognize a Samurai/Shogun that appeared to be woodblock print but I believe it was a painting because other styles were at play such as cosplay characters and even some realistic images. It seemed to be the crowd favorite as I couldn't get close enough to take a picture.

He seemed very good with working on masonites whether it is mixed media as in Booboolan or Traveling Companions.

Some recurring themes include space ships and tentacles such as in Attack, Wrapped Up in Tentacles and Encounter. 

I got a chance to meet Catlos and asked only two questions. He was very nice. Here are my qJest ions:: 

How long will the display be here? Until October 10th

Did you use any models? No, it was just imagination. 

I was surprised because in some of the art, the faces seem so realistic.

Overall impression

I loved the style, vivid colors and Japanese influence. Some paintings had a surreal feel but with realistic touches even the one that resembled a graphic novel. I could easily see this exhibit fitting in at nearby Morikami gallery.

If you can't make the art exhibit, check out his website at carlosaleman.com.

In honor of this exhibit, here's my first attempt at a tanka (Tanka is non-rhyming Japanese poetry form composed in five lines, in 5-7-5-7-7 format, 31 syllables in total. It consists of two elements. The first three lines (5-7-5) is called kami-no-ku (literally upper phrase) and the last two lines (7-7) is called shimo-no-ku (literally lower phrase).

See more at http://vinayaghimire.hubpages.com/hub/Japanese-Poetry-Forms-Haiku-Senryu-Haiga-and-Tanka)

Memories

As summer vacation comes to an end and school starts next Monday, I look back. I look back at leaving later and reaching work on time, thanks to lack of school speed zone speed limit. I can zip on through. Damn. Question: why is it a speed zone when we have to slow down to a 15 mph crawl. 

Monday brings the return of:

• Parents dropping off their children
• Slowing down for school speed zones and 
• Waiting behind the school bus as students get on and get off.

So as I look back fondly at whizzing my way into work this summer, I leave you a poem influenced by fond memories:

Hanging with Mommy

Sounds weird, doesn't it? Well, I was just going to stop by, see if she's there then be on my way but then I spent the whole afternoon and evening too with mom. We talked a whole gambit of topics but I was sure glad and it probably made me stay when she said that I was losing weight.

Usually it's watch your weight because of certain family straits and complications from certain conditions. Then followed by a lecture of eating right and exercise. I aim, practice for a week then fall into my old routine.

So when is the last time you visited the folks for no special reason? Do tell!
Here's a poem where I was spending time with my mom:

Politics: sometimes it's straight up bulls&@$

I don't get certain things in politics: why the ruckus for a presidential candidate born to an American mother in Hawaii and why no ruckus for a presidential candidate born to an American mother in Canada?

Isn't Canada another country?

I missed the GOP debate but that's one question I hoped the moderator would ask. I would have loved to read the headlines next day or hear the news commentary the next day. Who am I fooling? I just want to ask Trump where he stands on the birth issue of candidate Ted Cruz. If he is okay with it, I want to know why.

In the voting booth, I like independent and Green Party candidates but whoever gets the office, gets my respect. Now I don't have to agree with all their policies but our elected officials would be there to serve us.

Since I identify as Black, I find it funny at times and disheartening at times what people assume: when the Black President does a policy then all Black people agree. I got a glare one night from "Johnny" while he was performing His anti-Obama's presidency piece. The man kept glaring at me. There were other minorities but I was the only Black in there that night. After a couple rounds of open mic, I went back to my hotel and couldn't sleep right away and penned this:

Vacation Mode

I was reminded about the hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses on my recent trip to New York City and that some cities don't have these great tour options. In the past, I've used this option while visiting St. Augustine, Key West and Seattle. The tour guides tell some tall tales at times. Sometimes they provide information not readily found in books or the Internet. Overall they usually give some entertaining history.

Enough of the banter! Daytona surprised me with the lack of a trolley considering it would provide a tour guide with much fodder considering Daytona's history.