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.

Happy Kwanzaa! 2011 from the Bronzeville Arts Blog!

Celebration of the First Fruits - KWANZAA

Hartzell Church Harvest Festival in Bronzeville

The Nguzu Saba - The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa National Stamp issued 2011 USPO

HAPPY KWANZAA!

Places to celebrate KWANZAA in Bronzeville and in Chicago

Take your family and friends! All are welcome to:

Celebrate...Lighting of the KWANZAA KINARA at the Du Sable Museum

Pop the link!

http://www.dusablemuseum.org/events/details/the-lighting-of-the-seven-principles-of-kwanzaa

Malcolm X College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, in the partnership with the Bolozi Wazee/Shule Ya Watoto (Council of Elders)

are hosting the 17th Annual Kwanzaa Observance,

December 26, 2011 to January 1, 2012,

the largest seven‐day celebration of Kwanzaa held at an institution of higher learning in the country.

The week‐long event is free and open to the public and features live entertainment, cultural activities and an African Market.

(Merchandise – 1st Floor and Food court – 2nd Floor).

Doors open 10:00 a.m. daily; program begins at 12:00 p.m.

The 2011 Kwanzaa Observance calendar is the following:

Monday, December 26 ‐ Umoja (Unity)

program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup

Najwa Dance Corps

Kwame Steve Cobb and Chavunduka

Charles “Rick” Heath

Tuesday, December 27 – Kujichagulia (Self‐determination)

program begins at Noon

special tribute day to Baba Hannibal Tirus Afrik and Mzee Koumba; followed by cultural lineup

Kaotic Drumline

Walter King Jr. “Spellbinder

Julia Huff

Wednesday, December 28 – Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)

program begins at Noon; Enstoolment of Elders day; followed by cultural lineup

Armen Rah;

Joan Collaso

Thursday, December 29 - Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup

Darrell Wilson “Sax Preacher"

Ayrie King III "Mr. Taps;"

Ugochi Nwangwugwu

Friday, December 30 – Nia (Purpose)

program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup

Fred Baker’s West Indian Folk Dance Company

Prince Ravanna Bey/Kerry Wills and the “Thunder Sky Drummers”

Corey Wilkes

Saturday, December 31 – Kuumba (Creativity)

program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup

Maggie Brown

Bill McFarland: Ayogele

the Chicago Horns

Sunday, January 1 – Imani (Faith)

program begins at Noon; followed by cultural lineup:

African Fashion Show

(Coordinated by the Monarch Awards Foundation of Xi Nu Omega

Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.);

Dee Alexander

M.A.D.D. Rhythms; Ari Brown Quartet;

Minianka African Dance and Drum Ensemble