“We develop the capacity to influence the stories we tell ourselves, so that they empower rather than undermine us.”
Tony Schwartz
Today I heard a wonderful story on NPR’s Tell Me More about an exhibit for the work of Charles “Teenie” Harris, a great visual story-teller. Thanks to some help from the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Tey Stiteler, I got to check out a photo of Albert Mills, who was the first African-American detective in Pittsburgh. Mills later retired to the Syracuse-area and I knew him from my previous job.
George Kilpatrick and Sherri Kilpatrick Duchenne at the Opening of “Child of the Universe” at CFAC
I got a chance to check out the inaugural show for mixed media artist and activist, George Kilpatrick, Sr. on Saturday. The show,held at the Community Folk Art Center (CFAC), was attended by community members, artists, as well as the Kilpatrick family.
Media personality George Kilpatrick, Jr. opened the show by reading a poem his dad wrote called “The Artist.” George’s sister Sherri Kilpatrick Duchenne also told a story about how her dad taught the family to harness the power of the pen.
George Kilpatrick, III, a student studying at Howard Unviersity, representing third generation of the family, sang a soulful rendition of “Yesterday,” which reminded me a lot of the Donny Hathaway version.
Unplugged: George Kilpatrick, III, sings “Yesterday” by the Beatles
The show is on display for the rest of this week.
Griot Vanessa Johnson presents George Kilpatrick, Jr. with a quilt
The Superfriends: Noah Kellman, musician, composer, blogger, plays on stage with Spencer Murphy and Nick Frenay (circa 2005).
I got a message yesterday that pianist Noah Kellman, a musician and young veteran of the local jazz scene will be writing a blog for the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation. I first heard him play on one of the scholastic stages for the Jazz in the City (now the Northeast Jazz & Wine) with Nick Frenay and Spencer Murphy. Since then Kellman, now an award-winning pianist and composer, has shared the stage with Nicholas Payton, Antonio Hart and he’s even played the Grammys. Talk about a rising star. It will be good to read an insider’s perspective on the local jazz scene from an accomplished home-grown talent.
Congratulations to the 2011 graduates of the J. Alfred Cage (JAC) Bible Institute.
The JAC was founded by Bishop S.Y. Younger of Lynchburg, Virginia. The Institute is named for the late J. Alfred Cage, who was pastor of Eternal Hope Worship Church in Syracuse.
The 2011 commencement ceremony took place at the Double Tree Hotel in East Syracuse and included members of Eternal Hope Worship Church and the Ramp Church International. The commencement speaker was Bishop Aaron Sneed of Bridgeport, CT.
Shane Evans and Taye Diggs discuss their collaboration to create Chocolate Me.
Actor Taye Diggs along with fellow SU alum Shane Evans talked about their book Chocolate Me and did a reading at the Greater Evangelical COGIC last Sunday. The story,based on lessons Diggs mother gave him as a child, are a great anecdote to low race esteem and self image.
In addition to the reading, Evans and Diggs did a musical performance (Evans on guitar, Diggs on beatbox) with crowd participation.
The event was sponsored by Say Yes to Education (Syracuse).
Taye Diggs gets some help during a song peformance with Shane Evans at the Greater Evangelical COGIC
Shane Evans answers questions about illustrating Chocolate Me
SCSD children listen to performance by Diggs and Evans
D.L. Hughley, Dean Edwards and SU Alum Tyler Gilden brought a humorous spin on current events, campus life and politics last week at Goldstein Auditorium during the Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Phi Beta show last week. Opening the show was SU student Demarcus Woods.
Dean Edwards as Jay-Z
Crowd favorites included a Denzel, Tracy Morgan and Jay Z impression by Dean Edwards, D.L. Hughley’s mistaking SU alum Floyd Little for Herman Cain, and Gildin’s take on frat parties.
Tyler Gildin
Demarcus Woods, the Country Comic
D.L. Hughley tries to make a love connection between students at Syracuse Unviersity
Syracuse Silver Knights inaugural game versus Rochester, November 4, 2011.
The Syracuse Silver Knights supplied drama and excitement during a come from behind victory against the Rochester Lancers Friday night. They scored the go ahead goal with less than one minute remaining in the inaugural contest, which was played at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Journalist Amy Goodman spoke at Syracuse Unviersity last night as a guest of the Syracuse Peace Council and the Tully Center for Free Speech. Her show Democracy Now! was broadcast today from the studios of WCNY.
Goodman says her show covers Movements (such as Occupy Wall Street) because Movements have the makings of power.