Whew!
Hello readers, subscribers, good people,
For the past few days StudioLafoncette.com went quiet. After many hours of frustration on the phone with my former hosting site (and boy can I tell you something about them!), here we are. I missed you so much. I hope you have a great weekend.
Enjoy
L
A Throw Back: DC Carnival 2007
Shot from the top of the parade route on Georgia Avenue NW, perhaps near Petworth. So many things have changed in the 5 years since I shot this it’s hard to recognize the spot. See anyone you know?
A masquerader from the Virgin Islands carnival troupe. So since the US Virgin Islands is a part of the US, technically Caribbean culture is United States culture too. Does that give us any traction for the mas? Hmm… just a thought, or maybe a thought experiement.
A king in one of the bands on Georgia Avenue for DC Carnival 2007. Preparations begin many months ahead, sometimes as early as July of the preceeding year. It must be a significant loss to mas men and women that their hard work and considerable expense these past months has been in vain.
A moko jumbie on Georgia Avenue, DC Carnival 2007. As high as the trees that line the parade route. I wonder what the ancestors think of all of this.
Jab Jab Possee on Georgia Avenue, DC Caribbean Carnival 2010
Hello folks, I’m back! Did you miss me? I’m sorry I’ve left you for so long. No excuse is appropriate, I know. I will try not to do so again. I had looked forward to a series on DC Caribbean Carnival, but it appears it is dead this year. I wonder where the carnival babies will play, where the pilgrims will pilgrimage. The main themes: DC government says the committee owes over $200,000 and they were warned last year that there would be no parade this year if they didn’t pay up. The DC Caribbean Carnival Committee says they were promised funding that was pulled at the last minute and the City has often mandated a show of force that is excessive for this type of event and as a consequence, costly. And The People (that ephemeral but culturally distinctive group that appears in crisis and in triumph) says that the government doh want de carnival, or Caribbean people, or black people anyway, or one can’t trust the committee. Other people say, “we going Baltimore”, “move it from DC altogether”, “who cares, the parade is crap we’ll just have fetes.” I am wondering whether blogging is enough. But for now, less talk, more pictures. I’ll figure out a way to mourn or fight. See you soon.
Enjoy
L
This is my godson. He is 8 years old. Sometimes he’s a darling, sometimes not so much (or so his parents say, I can’t corroborate those stories). Last year he was quite taken with this physician’s kit he got for Christmas. This year, not so much. He’s in the boy scouts. He was invested this year and took the pledge to do his best, to serve his country, help other people and keep the boy scouts law. His skin is brown, he likes being a big brother, and adores his big brother. He used to be very shy but he’s become more talkative and outgoing with age. When you see him, what do you think?
There were a few things in the news that caught people’s attention.
This week’s Photo of the Week comes with a lagniappe.
Enjoy your weekend, hopefully in peace.
L
Just to put a smile on your face. Happy weekend
Enjoy
L
Folks,
Please vote for my photo in the National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest. Voting requires 3 simple steps: 1. register your email address 2. confirm that registration 3. vote. http://cherryblossom.fotodc.org/bin/Rate?searchphotographer=Toney&search=photographer#. It would mean a lot to me.
Thanks
L
What makes Trinidad mas stand out from some other carnivals is the broad emphasis on masqueraders individually carrying their costumes – large or small – on their person, even children. Floats are non-existent and masqueraders in vehicles – termed lorry mas and comprising (usually) the elite in costume standing in a truck to separate them from the masses - is generally a thing of the past. To this end mas designers and structuralists use light materials and as efficient as possible harnessing techniques to usually create a back pack or harness. This is fitted to the masquerader and the costume is designed around the backpack and ultimately, if done well, covered or disguised (as pictured above).
For the enormous adult king and queen costumes which often extend to over 25 ft in width and higher than 15 ft, rather than a backpack or harness, a mainframe is constructed and supported on large wheels, and the masquerader has to pull the structure. A well-constructed adult king or queen costume can span several feet in height and width and be carried by a backpack; however, these are a rare find, and tend to be smaller. The construction of the costume is a part of judging for the adult and junior individual competitions. Judges inspect costumes and evaluate the construction back stage prior to competition.
This carrying the mas is a continuation from the African tradition of masking where mas is worn on the person. The individual becomes the mas, there is no separation.
