"(Dandy) Lion King WAY Off Broadway!"- Style Goes A LONG Way

Dandy Lion
Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity

October 20th, 2011–December 22nd, 2011
Opening Reception: October 27, 2011

Aljira is pleased to present Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity, a photography exhibition of works guest-curated by Shantrelle P. Lewis and created by 21 artists exploring the phenomenon of Black Dandyism throughout the African Diaspora. Artists include Hanif Abdur-Rahim, Kwesi Abbensetts, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, Kia Chenelle, Bouba Dola, Russell K. Frederick, Delphine Fawundu-Buford, Cassi Amanda Gibson, Akintola Hanif, Jamala Johns, Dexter Jones, Phillis Kwentoh, Antony Kaminju, Caroline Kaminju, Lafotographeuse, Ray Llanos, Jati Lindsay, Devin Mays, Terence Nance, Brandi Pettijohn, and Nyugen Smith.


A refreshing exhibition, Dandy Lion: Articulating a Re(de)fined Black Masculine Identity takes a glance at urban Black Dandies who like their continental African counterparts, Le Sapeur of Brazzaville, Congo, embody style, sophistication and a commitment to culture via dramatized masculinity. This exhibition is an examination and approbation of the contemporary dandy in Diasporan settings. Dandy Lion is an homage to the fashionable urban gentleman – an African Diasporan man of style, an urban connoisseur of sophistication and a contemporary man of extraordinary swagger.

Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art
591 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
p. 973 622-1600 f. 973 622-6526
info@aljira.org www.aljira.org

Gallery Hours
Wednesday–Friday, 12–6 pm
Saturday, 11 am–4 pm

"Best In Show" -Year End Exhibit At Columbia Universary

Constantly on a hunt for inspiring images I found some in the most unlikely of places...my JOB! Yep, up at Columbia U. they host this exhibit of students final projects at the Graduate school of Architecture, Planning, & Presevation. Here's are some flicks I took that astonished me on how well they were conceived and designed out even in sketch form! I took down names of the artists that I was most impressed by case I EVER come into some big money and need a crib design bottom to top. The exhibit is located in Avery Hall (the Ghost Busters building) on campus.

"Shots! Shots! Shots!" -I'm A Rebel (T2I) With A Cause...

As we embark on a NEW year, I've taken it upon myself to embark on a NEW challenge! Never the one to rest on my laurels I've decided to take my "lil' photography hobby" up a notch, and learn some skilled techniques to make my photos BETTER! AND I'm learning all hands on/self taught at that. Folks who known me realized in a short amount of time I've personally gone through quite a number of cameras. Even I didn't realize just HOW many till I recently started throwing away the empty boxes and manuals collecting dust in my nightstand draw. Some came from replacing lost ones OR simply longing to upgrade from the current one I was using at the time. But this time is DIFFERENT! I think (or at least feel) that I now own the two that I'll be comfortable rocking with for a while (IE a couple of years to come). And those are the G11 (yeah I know the G12 is now out rocking 1080 HD), and the Canon Rebel T2I/550D that I became OBSESSED about after a friend let me peep the video quality on his one day. Here's a few examples of some "test" shots I've posted using this HDR software that's become a good friend of mine too. I'll shoot some video soon too, so you can fully understand the pure RAW* "awesomeness" of the Rebel T2I! Look they shooting! Ah, made you look!

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"Green Yodas & Ham!" -Star Wars Gets Seuss'd By Adam Watson

Just the other day I happen upon whilst surfin' the 'Net some curiously odd sketches conceived by cartoonist Adam Watson like looked distinctly similar to the drawings of Dr. Seuss yet took on the likens of our most beloved Star Wars characters! On closer inspection I thought aloud "What a way to blend two favored childhood memories into one NEW one huh?" Ingenious I tell you! So now I'm sharing them with you to enjoy the renderings that stuck my fancy. Getting the rights to do a book is gonna be HELL! But yet I hope I happens. It'll be a fun way to rediscover an ol' Jedi tale.

"Some TIGHT Ass Jeans!" -Reebok Pays Tribute To Jean-Michael Basquiat

Now I'm a HUGE HUGE fan of the iconic artist Basquiat, And realized unless I hit the lottery miraculously (even though I've NEVER played it), I will NEVER own an original piece of his artist work! Well with the help of Reebok, all that's about to transform. Yeah I know it's NOT an original piece but s#@t, I'm not mad at having to settle for one of these! There's one more model I have my eye on (on pictured here) called the Omni Mid...Me likey!

"Art Of The Concrete Jungle!" -Eye Know Brooklyn

I've NEVER been afraid of death. To be quite honest, I always thought to myself "Death should be afraid of ME!"

-the Minority Report

"Flashing Lights" -Paparazzi Pics (Pt.174)

Part art show, part B'day party, all together FUN! Was what this party was Friday at Tamboril! I hadn't been a Tamboril for a minute all Summer, so if felt kinda weird coming there and not being the one THROWNING the party. But Swedishfish Prod. (Gina & Wayne) did just fine based on the fact that the spot was damn near full at 11 o'clock! The pieces on display for the nights event were really dope! I TRYED to take pictures to show you (I swear) but my camera was NOT cooperating at all. But trust me, you would've dug'em I'm sure. Anyways friend/photographer Tamara O. & co- b'day girl Christina held their celebration in the SAME location which made it EXTREMELY easy for me to attend both without having to run across town to make it in time. Tons of good folks that knew the two came in support and got an added show to boot. Ahficionados did the honors of controlling the dance floor along w/ DJ Danela & DJ Pot too. It was a good look, but it would've been a BETTER look if those who promise the ladies "I'll slide thru" ACTUALLY showed....Hmmmm!