At Zawadi Holiday Market Saturday December 10
Get a little color on your walls and in your life and complete your Christmas shopping. Stop by Zawadi at 1524 U Street NW, Washington DC tomorrow, Saturday December 10. There’ll be lots craft and jewelry items on sale, and most importantly, I’ll be there, with framed prints, holiday cards and more.
https://www.facebook.com/zawadi.com.au#!/profile.php?id=1099780515
Photo of the Week (42/52): The People’s Marathon
The Marine Corps Marathon is this weekend. If you’re heading out to support a runner remember your snacks, and tell them what a great job they’re doing.
Enjoy the weekend
L
Labor Day Kiddies: The Battle of the Beads and Feathers
The beads and feathers have infiltrated the children’s mas to the extent that I regularly found myself thinking in terms of color at today’s NY Kiddies Carnival parade (as opposed to costume themes). However, there are some really good mas men and women in the NY area. Amidst the plumes were some creative pieces, well constructed costumes, and above all, the children looked like they had a good time. Can’t deny, no matter the costume, they’re cute. More on the mas later.
Enjoy
L
Caribana 2011
Preview
More to follow at main Studio Lafoncette website. And please like us at the new facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Studio-Lafoncette-Photography-LLC/120662314677418
Enjoy
L
Immigrant Carnival
This weekend a massive explosion of color will take over the streets of Toronto, Canada for their annual Caribana festival. Caribana, like so many other Caribbean festivals was started by Caribbean (West Indian*) immigrants and patterned after the explosion that is Trinidad and Tobago carnival. Interesting to note is that although Caribana started as the Caribbean contribution to Canada’s centennial celebrations of 1967, it is purposely held on the weekend closeset to the commemoration of emancipation in many West Indian* islands.
One person I’m almost sure will be present is veteran carnival queen, Lenore Caterson. I interviewed her in February of 2010 and here’s some background on her history of being a Mas Woman. Check out the other links for more info http://studiolafoncettephotography.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/lenore-caterson-international-mas-woman-bdc-1136/.
Enjoy
L
*Although I prefer and usually identify myself as Caribbean, I use the term West Indian here to indicate nations that were previously colonized by the British and still share language and some social, culinary and governmental customs. It also includes Guyana, which is not in the Caribbean.
Additionally, in the British colonies the enslaved were emmancipated as of August 1834. The British sought to exact another 6 years of ”apprenticeship” from the now “free” Africans. This failed as in many islands, particularly the crown colonies (Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana) they had other options than to return to the plantations. This failure caused full emmancipation to be declared in 1838. This August 1, 1834 date, which is observed as an official public holiday, is observed in all the former British “West Indian” colonies today.
Spreading the Adornment Culture of Mali
Some of you missed a real treat this weekend (other than Artscape) in the form of Oumar Cisse, also known to many as Peace Corps Baba. African art and gift shop, Zawadi, hosted him this weekend and, as always he came with a vast array of beautiful Malian necklaces, rings, earrings and bags. Oumar Cisse is the owner of Farafina Tigne – an amazing museum and store of Malian beadwork. Over many years he has built up an a clientele around the world and he regularly travels to many countries promoting the culture of his people – the Fulani, but also of Malian culture in general. This year he, his brother Hamadoun (Simbè) Sankaré and other Malian artisans came to show the work that they have done as part of the exhibit on how the Peace Corps has aided artisans to sell and promote their work abroad. So too has Oumar helped and supported many Peace Corps volunteers in Mali, hence the name they gave him. One thing that occurred to me was how different the idea of adornment is for men in different cultures. It seems that adornment with jewelry is an important aspect of Fulani culture for men and women.
I understand that you can still pick up some of these gorgeous pieces at Zawadi, at 1524 U Street, NW, Washington DC. And check out the Farafina Tigne site, it really is an amazing port into the wonders of Malian adornment and culture.
Photo of the Week: Connected to the Divine (Artscape This Weekend)
Drummer performing outdoors at Artscape
Fantasia gave it all for her fans at the New Orleans Jazz Fest earlier this year, and I expect she’ll do the same tonight at Artscape.
Many of you have seen the leading photo before, but as they say, sometimes it so nice yuh have to do it twice. The energy, the vibe the spirit from this young drummer led me to name the photo Connected to the Divine. He seemed to be in that sacred space where sometimes only music or rhythm can take you. I shot it at Artscape in Baltimore. A few years ago Artscape was one of the things that inspired me to do more with my creativity. Here’s to artistic spirit.
If you’re in the DC/Baltimore Metro area this weekend, head down to Baltimore for a weekend visual and performing art extravaganza. There’ll be live performances, street theatre, opera, African and modern dance, and scores of craft vendors and artists selling their wares on the streets near MICA. I hear Fantasia is performing on Friday night, and many of the performances are free. Check it out.
And by the way
Enjoy 
L
Indonesian Festival
Over 5,100 individuals joined in at the Indonisian Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC on Saturday to achieve a Guiness World Record for the largest group playing Indonesia’s indigenous instrument, the angklung. The festival focused on multiculturalism so there was a wide array of performers, from African American gospel singers, to Muslim rap artists with steelpan accompaniment, to R&B singer, Raheem Devaughn. And in case you got enough multiculturalism, they also had an African American young man perform the Indonesian national anthem, and an Indonesian young woman perform the United States national anthem. They both had amazing voices. In all a fun and interesting event.
Check out the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Ntomulan Loibor, Chairlady of the Ngurunit Basket Weavers of Kenya
I visited the Smithsonian Folklife Festival this past weekend. This year they highlight Columbian culture, the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, and the history of Rhythm and Blues. There was a fabulous concert at the Soulsville tent last Thursday, DJed by ?uestlove of the Roots – a hot sweaty multi-generational dance party. I went back to explore the cultural and educational pavilions during the long weekend. Here are a few photos. If you’re in the area, you should check it out.
Enjoy
L
?uestlove spinning the beats from the 1960s to MJ, the party rocked till the end.
Notice how these Columbian masks look very much like African masks. The African heritage was very present in the people and many aspects of their craft and lifestyle at the Columbian pavilion.
Peace Corps Crafts Pavilion participant, Gladys Sala Petey demonstrating the process of making Shea butter in Ghana.
Organic farmer, Brian Wedderburn at the display of organic farming in Jamaica, Peace Corps pavilion
Shortknee in DC Carnival
The Shortknee is Grenada’s version of the Pierrot Grenade. Good to see they were represented in DC Carnival 2011. In light of the disappointment at this year’s festival I’d like to say this. Caribbean people, we have an amazing vibrant culture. It is deeply connected to our African heritage, but embodies the spirit of adaptation, flexibility, and collective work. With carnival we remember how our ancestors came against their will from distant places and out of a sorrow and will to survive they made something that combined their cultures with the new ones they met. We can do that in DC too. We have a lot to be proud of and to work hard for, and to fight for in our culture. So if it means something to you, for goodness sake, fight for it. I’ve heard there will be meetings coming up soon about the state of the DC carnival. I hope they are well publicised and that people become more active in improving on the hard work others have done before. Something will only continue if we want it, if we fight for it and are truly motivated to keep it going.
Peace
L
DC Caribbean Carnival
Slim pickin’s for photo ops yesterday, I really don’t know what this was. More on that later.
Here’s a preview of the road for DC Caribbean Carnival 2011.
A Moko Jumbie up in the clouds at DC Caribbean Carnival 2011
Jeremy Caesar and Miraldo Gomez at the DC Caribbean Carnival 2011
Odunde
I understand that Odunde is a Happy New Year festival in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria. In Philadelphia on the second Sunday of June the neighborhood near Grays Ferry in South Philly celebrates their own Odunde and Oshun festival. The festival - originated in 1960s founded by Lois Fernandez - includes a procession to the Schykull River to give offerings for Oshu (a deity in the Yoruba pantheon) and a vibrant street market with vendors, two stages with performances and scores of other street activity. This woman was drumming and giving the rhythm with a drum circle just off South Street.
Enjoy
L
Carnival Toute Bagai
So it’s Wednesday and I think blogging de carnival is fitting. I heard that DC Caribbean Carnival is not hosting Dimanche Gras and Pan Jamboree this year, then I heard they were on. I saw them tentatively on the ICS Caribbean Heritage Month schedule, then I saw something that looked more definite on the DCCC website. So it seems like a definite yes, there will be pre-carnival events. If so I’d love to hear from you if you know more about this.
These are photos from previous DC Carnival Dimanche Gras events.
Enjoy
L
I believe this is Jackie Cumberbatch’s grandson, and his mother, who also competed, is in the background to the right.
Individual competitor from Ingrid Olliviere-Smith’s Lil Bits & More 2010.
Junior individual competitor from Kenny Turner’s VICE Carnival 2010 production.
Booth at Eastern Market on Sunday – Come on Out
Jumpstart your summer with a photo print (like the one above) or card. I’ll be at Eastern Market this Sunday in the Hine School yard lot at 7th and C Streets SE. I really hope to see you. And bring the kids too so they can discover a culture beyond your imagination.”
Enjoy
L
Exhibit at New Horizons, Children’s National Medical Center
This and other images will be on display at Children’s National Medical Center until June 17. Stop by and have a look, tell your friends too.
Enjoy
L
Mardi Gras Indians (Bdc 36/36)
Walter, aka Spy Boy Trigga, of the 9th Ward Seminole Mardi Gras Indians
I’ve blogged before about Indian mas in Trinidad and the similarities with Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans. Here’s a member of the Red White and Blue and the Wild Mohicans Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans, LA.
Big Steppin’ 2nd Line
This past weekend I attended the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest 2011) as a photographer for the Jazz & Heritage Foundation. If you’ve never been to Jazz Fest, you have to at least once in your life. Two weekends of 3 or 4 days, over 7 concert stages, parades just music, food and culture heaven! These are members of the Big Steppers, Untouchables, and Furious Five Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs with Storyville Stompers Brass Band. More on that later.
Enjoy
L
Cherry Blossoms and Snow
Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC
There was snowfall in the Washington Metropolitan Area this morning that coincided with the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival. By 9:00 AM EST the snow was pretty much gone, so only early birds caught the odd event of snowfall amidst the blossoms (and missed the crowds, who were beginning to gather when I was leaving). Warm weather is coming, the flowers are here!
You can enjoy more photos on the Studio Lafoncette Facebook Page here.
Enjoy your Sunday
L
