Bud Biliken Parade… Through a Different Lens

Going to The Bud Biliken Parade in Bronzeville!

.

BBP Check

I put up my sign for No Parking.√

I see the helicopter!

I have my sunglasses and a fun hat. √

I have just enough for a Sno-ball. √

Uh OH!…...

I hear the drums! 

I hear the drums!

I hear the drums!

I hear the drums!

I hear the Wobble music on a float! 

I hear helicopters!

I'm OUT! 

'Cause I'm going to the Bud Biliken Parade!

All photos by Aki Antonia c2016

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Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul….Tokyo to Bronzeville

From Tokyo to Bronzeville…

Jun.. had been writing and sending me dream sketches of her  and Lefty Dizz! Some of these drawings were inspired by trips to Blues clubs where the room was loud and noisy and full of good Blues and good spirits!…And some of the sketches were created from daydreams... and spiritual encounters with Dizz.

Hi Aki,

Happy New Year! 

I was singing some Blues at karaoke ……….

I send you this drawing as the New Year Card. I dreamed that I was with Lefty at the Blues lounge last month and I couldn't stop drawing it, cos it was so moving! He was making everybody happy with his joke.

It says "He sat opposite me and whispered me something. It was so noisy there so I couldn't hear what he was saying, but it was sure that he said something wonderful. It's because he was smiling all the time. He was just like the sun. -- You really really love the Blues, Lefty."

Wish you a year filled with peace, good health and happiness. I really can't wait to meet you! 

"Paintings have a life of their own 

that derives from the painter's 

soul"……. Jun Ogasarawa

June  13, 2014…….2014年6月13日...

Finally!!!! ついに！！

から前後に...書いて数ヶ月後 

東京Bronzevilleへ... 

と飛んで...そして計画と夢の6360飛行マイル... 

JunOgasarawa＆レフティDizzと安芸アントニアの精神が収束...シカゴ·ブルースを行くと聞いて2！

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After months of writing… back and forth from 

Tokyo to Bronzeville… 

and 6,360 air miles of flying… and planning and dreaming...

JunOgasarawa & the spirit of Lefty Dizz  and Aki Antonia converge…
2 go and hear the Blues in Chicago!

And so we met!    そして私たちは出会った！

• And so we met! and laughed..and smiled and cried..and flowed as we went from the Chicago Art Institute steps to the sound of the blues… 

  at the first day of the Chicago Bluesfest! 

   

  Bronzeville Arts Blog Publisher and Editor Aki Antonia meets 

  Artist and Art Student Jun Ogasarawa at the Chicago Art Institute.

   

  

  

  Jun shows her sketch book with a happiness that is incredibly inspiring!
  

  
  

  Next post: 
  Off to the Bluefest....•*¨*•♫♪♪♫¸.•*¨*•♫♪*¨*•.¸

  2014年6月13日...

  All Photos by Aki Antonia c2014

  All rights Reserved.

From Tokyo 2 Bronzeville…Dreams of Lefty Dizz

From Tokyo 2 Bronzeville…. 

Dreams of Lefty Dizz...

Pen &Ink  by Jun Ogasarawa c2014

She had been writing about her dreams of the late great Bluesman…Lefty Dizz…

Said he had whispering some things in her ear…

At the Chicago Bluesfest….  
by Aki Antonia 6-13-2014 BAB

Today after many, months of writing I had the honor to meet a young artist and art student who has been writing to me for almost a year from Tokyo in my inbox…    Jun Ogasawara

Jun Ogasarawa in Tokyo

She had been writing about her dreams to come to Chicago...  

She had been writing about her dreams of the late great Bluesman…Lefty Dizz…

Said he had whispering' some things in her ear…

Said she didn't know how…but she was determined to come to Chicago to pay homage to him, his music and to follow path of the great Bluesmen...

She spoke of how she enjoyed the Blues and that she went to Blues concerts in Tokyo..

Said she hoped to meet me at the Chicago BluesFest! 

I had never met her in person but it seems we had dreams that interfaced across the waters from Bronzeville  to Tokyo in a magical... mystical and musical way….•*¨*•♫♪♪♫¸.•*¨*•♫♪♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ .•*¨*•♫♪

We began  our conversations  online when she read an article  on my Bronzeville Arts blog about my encounters with Lefty Dizz at the Checkerboard where I had the honor to play with him... and eventually interview him for a cover story in Jam Sessions paper.

Blues In the Night 

The Lefty Dizz Interview - Jam Sessions

by Aki Antonia

She was so excited to learn that I had grown up right around the corner from the Checkerboard…and  had seen Buddy Guy Lefty Dizz, Jr Wells all the time ..

 The Checkerboard Lounge 

423 E 43rd St. (Muddy Waters Drive)

Aki points out the Checkerboard just before it closed. 

And...that I been there the night that Muddy Waters, the Rolling Stones and Lefty Dizz and more…. had lit up the block with their Blues in the Night!!!

And so we met… on the steps of the Art Institute and began to continue our conversations on her wonderful Blues Adventure in Chicago!

6132014 cAki Antonia 

Pen & Ink by JunOgasawara c2014 
All rights reserved.

Living In the Black Age at DuSable Museum Arts Festival!

Anikulapo

Art by Mshindo Kuumba I

All rights reserved.

As if wasn't hot enough... Black Age XV was on fire!... in the summer heat at

The DuSable Museum Arts & Crafts Festival 2012 last weekend, July 14-15 in Chicago.

This year's event featured artists from various parts of the US who came in to bring the growing Black Age of Comics movement home to Chicago where it started.

The 15th Black Age convention events were presented by ONLI STUDIOS and featured artists & authors including :

Afua Richardson, Eric Battle, Yaounde Olu, Mshindo Kuumba I,

N Steven Harris, Uraeus,

Joe Currie, Yorlie Huff, Turtel Onli and more.

Artists and authors were autographing books, selling books, graphic novels, prints and original art to all ages of fans, parents, Collectors,educators and students.

Check the rhythms.... Feel the ritmos!

For more info about the Black Age go to: www.blackageofcomics.com

You can purchase Black Age Comics Books at The DuSable Museum Gift shop.

Joe Currie flexin', N Steven Harris on some Art Zen.. and Mshindo on point...

at Chicago's Black Age XV! 2012

Superheros have to stay in shape!.... ONLI joins the crew...

What!? What!? BLACK AGE!

Artists - Afua Richardson, Yoaunde Olu, Uraeus,

(Onli Studios Art Interns) Isis, Lauren

Eric Battle, Joe Currie, Yorlie Huff, Mshindo, Father of the Black Age,Turtel Onli and more...

at BLACK AGE XV! - ChiCago!

Artist , Eric Battle talks about art skills with young artist, Lauren. Isis and Lauren brought energy and as they painted everyone at Black Age XV!

Artist, Afua Richardson talks about art ....

The look.. the FUNK, the feel, the flow of the Fashion of BLACK AGE....

Artist, Afua checks out the musical performances at the DuSable Arts Festival.

Afua is a multi-talented musical performer as well...

She sings, plays bass and has performed in theatrical performances.

All Photos by Aki Antonia ©2012

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AKISANKOFA! Aki Antonia in Concert!

AKISANKOFA! Aki Antonia in Concert!

"Venga Al Carnaval! Come to the Carnival!
Bring your samba and your music and your dance!" ....AA
A Celebration of ♫ ♫ Music! 示Spirit and 生Life!!

The Great Black Music Project presents

AKISANKOFA! the Concert ...

Composer-Keyboardist Aki Antonia in Concert!

Friday, June 17 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Northeastern Illinois University - Center for Inner City Studies

700 East Oakwood Boulevard

Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Auto Show 2010

(BAB) Chicago-1st look for Charity Night -Chicago Auto Show 2010

Video diary....February 11, 2010...

OK! I admit this was such a sensual experience....

There is nothing like the smell and the feel of new car...

So come take a ride with me.....

Shall we take the Jag , the Lamborghini or the Maserati?

You tell me.

Oh ... I know.... Let's take the Maybach

with the reclinder seats

...with the curtains wrapped around the windows..

etc., etc., etc. Ummm.....

Oh, we don't drive this... That's for James.... Ok!?

And yes, after all that ...I did have the

champagne with strawberries dipped in chocolate'.

Video slide show by Aki Antonia c 2010

Emmett Till Road Memorial Bridge Dedication

SANKOFA!

" The Importance of Learning From the Past."

Emmett Till Bridge

Art Critic and WHPK radio interviewer, Nathaniel McLin,

Mama Di, an Emmet Till creator-activist for the Bridge

and Emmett Till supporters at the bridge dedication.

Emmett Till family members, community leaders and

supporters of the bridge gathered for this historic event.

The artist, Kimberly Yancy speaks on the creation

of the art installation. She explains the meanings of the African Andinkra symbols which are located on the commemorative art plaque and also permanently inscribed on the bridge sidewalks.

The unveiling!

A long time coming!!

A celebration of the strength of Mamie Till.

Arts critic, Nathaniel McLin celebrates the dedication.

Aki Antonia and Nathaniel McLin reflect upon the historic dedication.

Emmett Till and Mamie Till, we honor you! AA

All photos by Aki Antonia c2008 All rights reserved.

(To enlarge photo - Click on photo)

(BAB) Chicago-On a brisk rainy morning in September, 2008 I was given a call by Nate McLin that went, "Aki, are you going to the Emmett Till bridge dedication this morning? You need to put it on your blog. It's completed and it needs to celebrated, honored and written about. Meet me at Emmett Till Road ( 71st street and the Dan Ryan Expressway) and don't be late!

Get up and I'll meet you there! Ta! "

That was so Nate. No warning, no preamble, just let's go and celebrate who we are as art-makers and history-makers and risk takers! So I got up and hurried out. In fact I was so early that I was one of the first ones there. As the news stations began to arrive to mark this historic event, I felt proud. Proud to be on time. Proud to be called to duty, to service, to celebrate Emmett Till, a man who death impacted us all.

The year I was born was the year Emmett Till died.

The murder of this young man stayed etched in the consciousness of my father's memories and conversations as if it had happened yesterday.

He used his death as a reminder for us to never forget the past and encouraged us to strive in our generation to rise above the norm to achieve. My father had talked about Emmett Till for all his life as a turning point for the consciousness of all people, black and white.

As I began to read about Till's death and I realized that the date of his death was the same date as my father's birthday.

The same date of Till's lynching, August 28, was also the same date of the historic 1963 March on Washington during which Dr. King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech.

Later August 28th became the date of the historical nomination speech of the first African-American president, Barack Obama in 2008.

Emmett Till inspires me today because as I grew up in Chicago, I watched as the nation began to change as a result of his death. As a third grader, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. King at my school on the southside. I remember the prejudice I encountered going to my high school which was near Marquette Park. At that time a hate group in the area had posted signs on trees that depicted African Americans with tails. Many students were beaten for being in the neighborhood after dark as they were trying to catch the bus home after a game.

My sibling attended a high school in Chicago where they were greeted daily with 2,4,6,8. We don't want to integrate!

So. I am happy to see change in my lifetime and know that one of the sparks of change was the remembrance of Emmett Till.

So this dedication that I hadn't known about or planned to go to wound up sparking my own moment of Sankofa.... a memory of Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many people who had been lynched and assassinated in the course of our struggles as a nation to rise against racial hatred and prejudice in America.

As Malcolm X once said, "Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it."

So I thank you ancestors, Emmett Till, Mamie Till, my dad and Nate McLin for the journey.

AA 9-2008