Art History Class Lifestyle Lounge & Gallery

07/02/2024

I've been in the Mississippi Delta and back to share some AWESOME info
Join me 2nite on my 44th Birthday & Graduating MFA Thesis Show.
Let's catch up Nashville!!!

Time: 5-7p
Location: 1907 Belmont Blvd
Food & Drinks

07/02/2024

What a day...It's my 44th BIRTHDAY & my Graduating MFA Exhibition Show!!!
I've been in the Mississippi Delta doing A LOT, so let's catch up.

Location: 1907 Belmont Blvd / Nashville 37212
Building: Belmont Library Leu Gallery
Time: 5 - 7p
Free Food & Drinks

01/30/2024

is known for it's great tradition but as I've always said the rappers of today are the bluesmen (and especially blueswomen) of 100 years ago. The creativity that emerged from the soil despite the oppressive economic and social surroundings is a testament to a unbreakable eternal strength & spirit.
With that said Nappy Belated B🌍 Day to local hometown favorite's Biggest Boss
Born in Clarksdale, he came back home in 2020 and opened this to revive economic development downtown. Also the restaurant is on a very historic corner, on a historic street Ave, in a historic building
At this 4-way stop, it served as a gateway into the black community, with the art-deco style Greyhound station built in the 1940s (and older train station behind it) that transported many Black folks from the South to the destination cities of the North during the Great Migration, across the street home of W.C. Handy the Father of Blues (called this because he transcribed this new sound he was hearing in this region in the early 1900s, what we now know as Delta Blues), and also on this same corner is the now closed business of Wade "the Blues Barber" Walton Known for playing a tune on his guitar or harmonica before or after a haircut and his very active NAACP engagement that got his barbershop firebombed during the hectic Civil Rights era.
Rick Ross now has 30 Wingstop locations across the country and this one stays busy all day from open to close which brings a steady flow of Black people into the downtown district which provides economic traffic for future possibilities.

09/26/2023

Ya don't see these to often...
Back when I was doing some research on & the I stumbled upon one of his controversial books called "Ni**er Heaven". It was a book marketed to curious whites during the "Roaring 20s" who wanted to experience and know, What's going on up in Harlem?" It had all of the hip spots, clubs, top influencers, and even a glossary of the new "jazzy" terms.

Although it was a reference to itself it was more of a play on the seating known all across America. While whites could casually walk under the bright marquee, buy tickets at the front window, go through the front door and seat in the "best seats", black ppl had to (as pictured) go around back, purchase a ticket through makeshift walls, and go up the balcony to the "peanut gallery" or "ni**er heaven".

I had seen black & white pics my whole life in magazines, tv, and heard stories but never SEEN one before in person. Once known as the most popular movie theater in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the still has evidence of its cruel past. Luckily its efforts for restoration and preservation of this time capsule of the past. Gotta know & tell THE WHOLE story, not just the warm & fuzzy parts.

09/22/2023

Hot Tamales and they red hot!!!__ sang that lyric about the new Delta culinary craze that came via Mexican migrant workers. Known as the "mexican sandwich" due to the portable ability to be served and take into the fields to eat & work. Of course, it was revamped to fit the taste of the locals.

Down at the I picked up some from thats been around since the 1920s.

named their band being inspired by that iconic song.

Here's some lyrics:
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale
I got a girl, say she long and tall
She sleeps in the kitchen with her feets in the hall
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale, I mean
Yes, she got'em for sale, yeah

Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale
She got two for a nickel, got four for a dime
Would sell you more, but they ain't none of mine
Hot tamales and they're red hot, yes she got'em for sale, I mean
Yes, she got'em for sale, yes, yeah

09/18/2023

Y'all know I'm history...check out my new at least for a while .seed
I'm so honored to be an artist in resident deep in the Delta at to study, research, enjoy, and immerse myself in the community of Mississippi.
I feel like I'm at the in so many places in my life, so this is the perfect place to be.
Many pics & stories to come.🖤

08/10/2023

03/16/2023

When I used to hear my Dad's El Camino growling up the driveway, he'd come inside with a brown bag of his favorite cognac. I knew soon after he was going to the green fluffy s**g carpet room complete with a floor unit stereo/8-track/album player, design wall mirrors, plush velvet orange low profile furniture and a funky hanging orange globe w/ red light bulb would be turned on.

Soon after I was guaranteed to hear Earth Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield, and
My Dad played that album sooo much that I have it memorized and he would get very excited when it came on the radio.

It was released in 1978 and stayed on the charts for years which makes me think, my Dad probably thought about his early days as a young Father (my sister was 2 & I was just born).
Rest in Power Dad & Rest in Power Bobby you gave my family a soundtrack of memories.🙏🏾🖤

03/09/2023

Clearing the Collectors Closet 🎨📚
I went digging deep into the studio and found some older paintings. I haven't seen this work in years and most was produced part of my 'Soul in Motion Collection' done at live events between 2011-2016. I gotta thin my storage out...
Too quickly sell...Every piece $222
DM me for availability

1. Everything's a Drum (James Brown)
20" diameter canvas

2. On My Mind (Ray Charles)
16"x20" canvas, acrylic

3. Stay (Al Green)
16"x20" canvas, acrylic

4. On tha One (Maceo Parker)
16"x20" canvas, acrylic

5. Tenderness (Otis Redding)
16"x20" canvas, acrylic

6. Soultrane (John Coltrane)
20" diameter canvas, acrylic

02/24/2023

Amassed 20 Million Acres of Land in 50 years after Emancipation.💪🏾🌱

Article published by National Negro Business League in 1913. Booker T. Washington headed this organization in 1900 and his right hand man was Nashville native J.C. Napier sitting to the right of Booker in the group picture.

BTWashington said this organization was soley "to promote the commercial and financial development of the Negro." However just by the sheer nature of the group, it was thrust into civil rights and action. Ironically that happened in a 1905 Transit Boycott in Nashville.

This group was so powerful at the time BTWashington had direct connections with the White House and top industry businessmen like Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Rosenwald.

J.C. Napier was made Register of the Treasury from 1911-1913, (talk about connections💪🏾😉), in fact his signature appears on all currency at that time. Go take a look in TSU's Library Special Collections.

02/21/2023

Title: 👁️ C U (Stevie Wonder)
36" x 60"
acrylic on wood panel

Shout Out to my man for giving me the opportunity to add some to his beautiful studio. The retro posters, vintage instruments, persian rugs, provided me ample inspiration to go create something funky. Be sure to check out his page to see Stevie in his new home.

02/14/2023

A lil bamboozled history on this Day of Valentines.💘