Chumbinho (Little Bullet): Q&A with Jarrel Phillips

Posted: December 21, 2011 in Dance & Music, The Movement, Urban Culture
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Editor’s Note: This interview with Jarrel Phillips took place in July 2011, two hours prior to his departure for Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. Phillips is the Zanzibar Stone Town Capoeira (ZSTC) project manager and AVE founder. Within a period of three months the Zanzibar Stone Town Capoeira Project raised $15,000 to bring professional/master instructors to train with the ZSTC youth this summer in Zanzibar to further strengthen their skills in each discipline (Capoeira, acrobatics, and break dance). 

By Christine Joy Ferrer

I see him. Surrounded by 4-5 year olds, a pandeiro (tambourine) in hand, chanting a Capoeira song in almost-perfect Portuguese. He’s teaching the children how to play Capoeira at AcroSports in San Francisco. He smiles and laughs as they circle up in a Roda and ginga, aú, rolê, cocorinha and negativa. There’s no place else he’d rather be.

Jarrel Phillips, a 24-year-old small, young black man with ‘locks almost down to his shoulders, is a child and adolescent development major at San Francisco State University. Phillips has been working with youth since the age of 14—and traversed almost every neighborhood in San Francisco, serving a vast community of youth from a wide-range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Read the rest of this entry »

Quote of the Week: Toni Cade Bambarayou

Posted: August 12, 2011 in The Last Word
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“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”

- Toni Cade Bambarayou

Erma Bombeck: Quote of the Week

Posted: July 9, 2011 in The Last Word
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“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me.”

- Erma Bombeck

Undefeated: Poetic Floetry Arises from the Voices of Empowered Women

Posted: July 9, 2011 in Art & Photography, Dance & Music, The Movement
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By Christine Joy Ferrer

The Oakland Sister Council, released Zine #2, Undefeated, earlier this year. These beautiful, empowered ladies are organizers, cultural workers and youth workers in Oakland. They came together around a series of incidents and harms within their community that were founded in misogyny and patriarchal practices and organized monthly sister circles where women within their community could connect with one another, build stronger sisterhood to prevent isolation and division, strategize to end patriarchy in our lives and in the future of our daughters and grand-daughters, and collaborate on creative action. This Zine resulted as a tool for them to express their stories, find healing, and raise awareness.

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AeroSoul 2 Urban Hieroglyphics

Posted: February 21, 2011 in Art & Photography, The Movement, Urban Culture
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By Christine Joy Ferrer

The Bay Area Aerosol Heritage Society, along with local chapters of the Universal Zulu Nation, present “Urban Hieroglyphics.” And it’s oh so freshhhhhhh, featuring “artists from the African hip-hop diaspora painting for peace and radical change” as well as ending black-on- black youth violence. From walls to canvases. From billboards to posters. Catch a glimpse of its February 4, 2011 premiere event  at the Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland, CA. Hear why its revelers think graffiti is so dope and how the arts empower social change.

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Savage Art: Q&A with Eric Hornsby

Posted: January 5, 2011 in Art & Photography
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By Christine Joy Ferrer

I distinctly remember driving up to Homosassa Springs in Florida and 33-year-old Eric Hornsby free-stylin’ with his brother, Andrew, during an hour-and-a-half car ride. That’s when I first heard, “Tigress” Hornsby’s song about being passionately in love with a woman who’s nothing but trouble. He sang—Oooo baby is a tigress/ when she wakes up she’s hungry/ ready to feed/ she’s a savage, she’s an animal/ so bonapotit.

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I then found myself mesmerized by the vibrant artwork that covered the dusty walls of his little art space in his home on a 1,200-acre nature preserve out in the boondocks of Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay Florida. His bodacious, glimpses of life include imagery of poisonous dart frogs, glorious nude female bodices, volcanoes, cigs, pomegranates, and vipers. There’s just something about a man in his natural element or more appropriately, an artist in his realm of creativity. Read the rest of this entry »

Battle for Cr8ive Arts

Posted: February 3, 2011 in Dance & Music, The Movement, Urban Culture
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By Christine Joy Ferrer

The illest breakers from all over the San Francisco Bay Area rose up and strutted their mad skills at the “BATTLE FOR CR8IVE ARTS,” reppin’ for their love of dance and in solidarity for arts education. Over 150+ dancers, observers, entertainers, and supporters filled the gym at June Jordan School for Equity on January 15, 2011. It’s the first of many events to come, engineered by SFCr8ive’s Bobby “Finesse” Vicario. This 5 vs. 5 crew battle for $1,000, organized as a fundraiser provided by SFCr8ive and Small Schools for Equity hosted by Kevy Kev 90.1 “The Drum” and Noelrokswel. All the Way Live powered the 2 vs. 2 (18 and under) All Styles Battle for $200. The judges: (all members of Renegade Rockers) Jazzy, Milestone, and D Rock. The goal is to support June Jordan School for Equity’s arts program, that is currently faced with the challenge of maintaining its array of art electives. Through art, culture, and community SFCr8ive strives to enrich the academic experience their students need to be engaged in order to achieve success after high school. Listen as these artists speak on the last time they were inspired. “It Takes the Hood to Save the Hood.” – United Playaz. For more info: www.sfcr8ive.com

Retrofit Republic Headlines at the FAJ Eco2 Fashion Show

Posted: July 10, 2011 in Film & Fashion, The Movement, Urban Culture
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By Christine Joy Ferrer

Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ) celebrated their 38th Anniversary earlier this year in April, with Eco²: EcoFashion meets EcoJustice, a fashion show celebrating local eco friendly designers and honoring the contributions of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) for their role in building the environmental justice movement. It was an evening of grassroots star-studded power. Grounded with values of community, sustainability, and, of course, impeccable style, Retrofit Republic (RR) was honored to be a headlining designer. RR designed four looks with only sustainable or recycled materials inspired by the four elements: earth, fire, water, and wind (air). To learn more about this socially responsible sustainable vintage boutique, founded by this fabulous API duo, visit www.retrofitrepublic.com. Also visit, www.filipinos4action.org.

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Women of the Egyptian Revolution

Posted: February 9, 2011 in Creative Visionaries, Eye of the Beholder
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By Leil-Zahra Mortada
Source: sawt al niswa (a feminist webspace)

This is a homage to all those women out there fighting on the streets of Egypt, to those whose voices and faces were hidden from the public eye during the first days of the revolution! The album by now has traveled the world back and forth via online social networks, blogs and websites.

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First and foremost the credit for this album goes to the courageous people of Egypt who are teaching us that freedom is taken and not given.

Second, to the women who by their courage, determination and strength are inspiring millions of us around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

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