Friday, February 28, 2014

Q&A with K.K.W

This months cover by K.K.W,
with layout by Aleksandar Ares.
A series of straight-forward questions. By Aleksandar Ares.

Arguably one of the most interesting, albeit at times, intense, crazy, unpredictable, destructive and hard working "artists" around. Kerwin Williamson is a strange person.

A.A: Being as your from the Caribbean and have been living in NYC for a while now, why is it your accent is so... Un-New York?

K.K.W: I was born with an aptitude for speaking, and grew-up watching movies, film, and reading whatever I could get [without prejudice] from any and all parts of the world. Much of this sank into who I became - characters I would imitate, to become them [in my own way]. Not growing up entrenched in Ebonics, though having it around me, I created something else. Few can speak as I.

A.A: In the space of 8 years you've gone from "comic-book illustration", to abstract painting, art-curation,  film-photography, digital-photography, event-photography to writing about art, & music, then digital-art and small - level international art promotion. What brought all this out?

K.K.W:  At some point I hated the fact that I only had a few great pieces of art-work in my portfolio, that I only created sometimes and was not driven enough. A friend of mine from The High School Of Art & Design, Abede Lovelace started his own comic-book story line - which spurred me to do the same. I began re-reading art book's, going to museums and galleries, looking at what others were doing. Increasingly, I came into contact with people whose ideas of "art" challenged my own. Being around the "Painting in New York" group, I think inspired me to start painting. Irina Sarnetskaya inspired my push into photography [a falling-out with a friend I lived with, was romantic with, who was at the time my muse - Monika, also pushed me.]. When I started photographing events in December of 2010, I realized that there was need for this, the promotion of and critical writing for creative people that are not in the mainstream spotlight.   

A.A: Everyones talking about it [even if they won't admit it], why so much interest in the East of Europe [especially The Republic Of Macedonia]?

K.K.W: As a young boy, as I started learning more about Europe, the East always seemed....wild, strange, unknown. Stories about Vampires almost always lead to the East of Europe (Bram Stokers Dracula). Aside from that, the countries there always seemed intresting; any documentaries, or historical specials on PBS, BBC America, History Channel etc, kept my interest. The first person I met from the East was a young girl named Anna [of Kiev - capital of  Ukraine]. We were both at The High School Of Art & Design, and she was the most amazing female I had ever met. No female before or after could compare. When it comes to Macedonia, I met a young woman from Skopje named Ana. She was...quite interesting. Through her I became friends on FB with many people from her home city, started attending events at GalleryMC [they show a lot of art form Macedonia & South East Europe]. I wanted to learn more about were she came from [at the time I knew very little], so I asked questions, started reading, then writing about artist, musicians, fashion designers etc, from her country. I suppose, I got more then I bargained for; friends, knowledge, arguments, stupid mistakes, and great moments.

A.A:You seem to have gone from...being in-control dealing with people and networking, to a seeming wreck at times. Is it the rigors of it all, mental problems, or over-indulgence in alcohol [or all of the above]?

K.K.W: I think...or know, that its all of the above. Its not easy dealing with people that are "in it for themselves", and may not agree with your ideas. Trying to be neutral, work with others, be free, live in the moment while coping with your own demons is greater struggle then you think. I try to take supplement's & nootropic's in order to stay healthy, activate more of my cognitive functions and stay "sane". However, when the mind is too active, its hard to control it and ones emotions. 

A.A: Are you an Alcoholic?

K.K.W: No, I'm not, but I like to pretend I am. I don't yearn for a drink while at work, at home working on creative endeavors, or writing for the art-blog. However, I do like the "sauce", and have built up quite a tolerance for it. Then again, deception about such things tends to work to your advantage [look at Bruce Wayne].

A.A:An aspect of your current project, the 2nd part [Rise Of The Young Ones], deals in dim-reflections, duality, themes of dark, light,  death & revival. Aside from art and research going into this - is it a projection of your personality?

K.K.W: I would have to say yes, it is a projection of my personality, although I certainly didn't see it that way at first. I think through art [when your born gifted], you discover more of who you are, what appeals to you, and what you would like others to understand about themselves.  For a while I thought about what the 2nd part should be called, then seeing the trailers and Ad-posters for "The Dark Knight Rises", it came to me. On the one hand, its about what gave rise to modern architecture and urban change, on the other hand its a call to others to Rise [as the Ad-poster for the movie simply stated: Rise].       

Aleksandar Ares is an emerging art critic, journalist, graphic artist and poet from Morocco. K.K.W is an emerging visual artist, curator, art critic, journalist, poet and internationalist.  
If you would like to know more, go to:www.fotoblur.com/people/kerwin. "Art is the reason, art is the way"  

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

"Transcend": (Unreleased controversial documentary)

This months cover by K.K.W,
with layout by Aleksander Ares.
"Transcend" (Unreleased controversial documentary by director J. Leigh Brantly): 5 BLACK ARTIST BY 5 BLACK ARTIST" explores the issues you're not supposed to talk about: RACE, RELIGION, SEXUALITY, & POLITICS.

Late Saturday evening, my friend Irina Sarnetskaya (one of the editors of the documentary) asked me to photograph the event, and I did... despite my usual stance on not doing anything on Sundays (the day of the event). It was an immensely interesting gathering, documentary and group of people present. The doc was potent, moving, insightful, touching on issues I could certainly relate to and I'm sure many others could as well (regardless of social / cultural outlook, or ethnic background).  
Flushing Ave, Bushwick Brooklyn. 
Flushing Ave, Bushwick Brooklyn
Exterior of the space.



Lisa Marie Dowling 




Hector & Irina



J. Leigh Brantly & Charles Harbison

J. Leigh Brantly,
speaking with some of the audience.
Nati Hardin (middle).
Irina Sarnetskaya (left - one of the editors)
& "
Golden Child"
Irina Sarnetskaya
"Golden Child"



J. Leigh Brantly & Nati Hardin
Douglas DeFalco (Left), one of the organizers. 
J. Leigh Brantly
J. Leigh Brantly
J. Leigh Brantly
Nati Hardin
Nati Hardin.
If you would like to know more, go to:www.facebook.com/j.leigh.brantly, or:http://www.irinasarnetskaya.com. "Art is the reason, art is the way"

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Gabriella D'Ambrosio - Till the End - original composition

This months cover by K.K.W,
with layout by Aleksandar Ares.


Music Now: Gabriella D'Ambrosio

First off, I should have listen to this 2 months ago when 

I was sent the link [apologies on that one]. There's a delicate, laid-back vibe to "Till the End", thats matched by a fierce control D'Ambrosio's has. The sound is lush and romantic

with a somber tinge; like the feeling of a slow night-ride back home after a great time out.     





The notes extend like ripples on a pond, from falling rain.
Its rhythmic feel is low-key and yet powerful, which is why its beautiful. 

If you would like to know more, go to:www.youtube.com/user/ExclusiveVideosEV?feature=watch.
"Art is the reason, art is the way" 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Poetry by K.K.W

This months cover by K.K.W,
with layout by Aleksandar Ares.
"..and if I die before I learn to speak...can money pay for all the days I've live awake, but half asleep?" (1) Post by Aleksandar Ares, Poems & photos by K.K.W
A little bit of golden light [Near Grand Army Plaza,
Brooklyn N.Y]
                       Thy night is brisk,
                   with subdued temperatures
                         Flowing behind,
                   a hue quite somber in soul,
                     though spirited in shade
                          Tinted cobalt
                 with undertones...of silent screams.
                            [New York]
In pursuit of the perfect Martini. 
                      A spark in the night
                      Whispers in the wind
              Moments building, to over-flowing joy
                Against the grain I seek to touch,
                the heart of it, in spite of lust
                 No more jests, the lies are gone
             Take my hand...or leave me to my grief.
                     [A moment of clarity]
Wurdulac (The Vampire Aleksandra).  
                A look, a glance, a favored thing
                 Turn now to me, and give me this
              Your words from thoughts, deep within,
                    favor me above all others
                     Let me savor all of you
                   Keep me warm in your embrace
                  Trust in me...I crave only you.
                       [30 days of night]
Sonja on Mott street, near  Bleeker.
                More a thought, in place of pain,
                   rather than an open phrase
         A word of lust, bespeaking an effervescent kiss
                Atop my ego...I fall to her grace.
                            [Miriam] 

Lunar eclipse [the digital rose] 
K.K.W (Kerwin Kendell Williamson) is a visual artist, poet, art-critic, curator & internationalist. These four poems are from his early works (2007 - 2009), when he lived on Saint Marks Place in Brooklyn, N.Y (sharing the top floor of a town-house with Monika - a young woman of Polish decent from Baton Rouge, Louisiana who was his muse, at the time). (1) from the song "Standing outside a broken phone with money in my hand" by Primitive Radio Gods. If you would like to view some of his art-work, go to:www.fotoblur.com/people/kerwin
"Art is the reason, art is the way"

Millenium Actress (Sennen Joyu) Japanese with English Subs

This months cover by K.K.W,
with layout by Aleksandar Ares.


A little anime, to break the cycle & the mold. By K.K.W.

One of my favorite animated films, directed by Satoshi Kon, with score and music by Susumu Hirasawa. A story about accidental meeting, love, obsession, and time. Also an homage to movies & film. Not your standard anime...it approaches something much greater.                      
If you would like to know more, go to:http://youtu.be/IP2WuKZUT_o. "Art is the reason, art is the way"

Sunday, February 9, 2014

11 You should know

This months cover by K.K.W,
with layout by Aleksandar Ares.
Making "Black History": 11 you should know. 
By K.K.W

Despite the passage of time it seems as if, the same icons are pushed towards the limelight every year at the time of "Black-History Month". Not that its wrong, unusual, or beyond the norm - its difficult to recognize a star, an not circle it like a planet to a sun. However, the spirit of our icons & greats should spur us to look past them, and towards new stars rising in another way - for a different day. 
Kerwin Kendell Williamson:
self portrait by the artist. www.fotoblur.com/people/kerwin
Glendalys Medina: photo by K.K.W @ Bronx Museum of Art -
AIM show. www.glendalysmedina.com
Jennifer Crute: photo courtesy of the artist.
www.crutecomics.com or www.jennifercrute.com
Derrick Adams: photo by K.K.W.
www.derrickadams.com
Whitney V Hunter: photo by K.K.W.
www.whitneyhunter.com
Shante Cozier: operations director @ MoCADA.
Photo courtesy of Miss Cozier. www.facebook.com/MissCozier
Delphine Fawundu-Buford: Photo courtesy of the artist.
www.delphinefawundu.net
CityOfWalls: Image courtesy of the artist.
www.cityofwalls.com
Musa Hixson: photo courtesy of the artist.
www.facebook.com/musahixson
Alaina Simone: photo courtesy of Miss Simone.
www.facebook.com/alaina.simone
noon:30 - photo courtesy of the artists.
www.myspace.com/noon30band
Its not a second, a minute, an hour, a day, week, month or year - not the past, but the ever-living present guiding us into the future. And of course, its not just our history, its yours as well. "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." [Morgan Freeman]. Paying homage to our past is a great thing,
however, we should be looking towards those who represent what icons of our past were fighting for. "Art is the reason, art is the way"