Let the house burn down
Let the phone ring on
Welcome in the floods
Let them wash over this sleepy town

Too many years of trying
Too many nights of crying
Where are we heading now?
The generation that fell

I wish I were down the rabbit hole
Getting lost in the deep unknown
By the oak tree I’d meet the mad hatter
Get my package, tied but tattered
A game of chess and the white knight
Queen of hearts and a full deck
The purple cat wants a fight
I surprise him with a check

I’m growing tired from defeat
Feeling sick from the deceit
What should I do to pass the time?
Put on my mask and say I’m fine?

I like to close my eyes real tight
Then see the spots when I look up at the light
Is this what it’s like to have nothing left?
Better watch out cause you could be the next

Can’t you see it on the people’s faces?
That empty look that leaves hard traces
I wonder what they’d look like
If they weren’t all alike

I wish I were at the North Pole
Playing in the wet, white snow
I’d meet the fat man by the lone lantern
Getting my present is all that matters
I’d shoot up to the sky
Wouldn’t even say goodbye
Circle the globe once or twice
Come back for a heavy price

Leave the bed unmade
Leave before it’s too late
Take a snapshot of how it used to be
Let it collect dust as a distant memory

Throw the lighter in the waste
Watch as it’s all set ablaze

September 1st, 2007

I went to the flea market today
The one on Ashby and MLK
And amid african drums and toy guns,
Catacombs of deadmen's shoes,
Cases worn from overuse
Hidden treasure peeked over
Beds and belts and books
Waiting in anticipation to be discovered,
For the gentle hands of a new lover
To cradle them in a delicate embrace
And take them from this haggard place.

This place they've called the Land of the Forgotten.

End of an Era

The memories came back at last
We drank them down; we chugged them fast
We took them in till the last drop
Filled up for the final stop
We held our breath, we closed our eyes
We said goodbye to our old lives
Your own hand familiar and warm,
When it was cold just days before
Time swells; I hear it breathe
I feel the spell it's put on me
I try to fight the drowsy trance
But Change still comes, and with him Chance
So with that hope we scratch and bite
We push and pull, we fight the fight
Yet we give each other promise rings only made of paper things
We tell ourselves we won't forget,
But already memories become silhouettes
Falling silently beside lost regrets

IT

is IT in you?
seriously?
you dare to ask me is IT in you?
i'll tell you what's in me
and it's a hell of a lot more than IT
the drive and the pride and the will and the skill
the blood, sweat, and tears
because for you IT will suffice
i have to go longer and harder and stronger
faster, quicker
not just better the best
just to be seen as your equal
so i breath in breath out
and the shine in your eyes is dulled by my pride
because for me to survive
i issue beat downs
and it's you who keeps me from bonding together
with my female foes
because her victory is my defeat
and i refuse to lose and damage the IT that's inside me
so i go extra rounds
and rise when you fall
i wait for the pain that i know will come
but think of all that i can call mine
for pushing just one extra minute
when you put your hands down
so you question my inside
my strength, body, and mind
you have the balls to ask me
is IT in you?
your doubt in me
shows you fear that just because you got the skill
you lack the will
to push yourself beyond the edge
just as i have done to earn half the respect
i see the flicker, the quiver, the shiver
as i move side to side and glare in your eyes
but that one once of fear is all that i need
to breath in breath out for one more round
and say fuck you with my stare
i won't keep up with the boys
because i set the new expectations
and i surpass your doubt
and i will get your respect
and from my view at the top
i'll look down at you humbled and ask
is IT in you?

Art Post Nicole

"May May Sha'Fray Fray". This is a photo I took of one of my best friends. I felt it captured the emotion of that particular moment, as well as the energy of her character.

I was inspired by the photograph to draw the image onto paper.

Art Post - Mark

Aftermath

Love love love what a surprise

It lives and lasts as quick as it dies

It makes the weak strong and the ignorant wise

Not until loves painful demise

At the death of love and the birth of hate

The urge to cause pain can no longer wait

The temptation to scar the thought of killin

Pains to the point where you wanna stop livin

The scars are deep and the blood is burning

The mind cries and the heart is yearning

The body aches and the veins are bulging

This love and this hate retains the hurtin

No longer can you play no longer can you sleep

No longer can you think without a weep

The thoughts that run inside your mind are sweet

Until the thought of the demise

The pain goes in deep

The days are long with emo nights

And the weeks go by as you search for the light

The past left you in darkness without happiness in sight

Wait for the love to bring back its light

She cries of her blame he suffers of his fault

Only time can say when this comes to a halt

It only takes two to realize the truth inside

But in this aftermath of love the truth always has two sides

Art Post -Hoam

Maumit: Freedom from Modern Slavery

The Week in Photos

Every week, Yahoo chooses to show twelve photos from around the world. These photos are always very visually interesting and often depict recent, significant events, or just capture the image an intriguing individual. You should definitely check them out...I always enjoy looking through them.

http://news.yahoo.com/week-in-photos

:) Leah

Art Post - Nina

Art Post - Bram

Art Post II

This is a painting for my roomate's birthday.



This is a painting I painted for my room, it says Nicci.

Art Post o.O??

Lately I’ve been crying
Tired of trying
Every new day is a harangue
Life is always a sturm and drang
People be straining to live
Contrive to survive
While I can’t wait till I die
Cause I feel like nothing in anyone’s eyes
But I, I cant rely and untie these lies
When honest–to-goodness, honest to god do not thrive
In this world brimming with sinners
Such web spinners
Entangling themselves in deeper imperilment
You see, putting their lives in derailment
Perpetually undertaking to certify, verify and identify
You yourself to in dignify
Others.
Thank God for the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers
For all the goodness that they bestow
Through sacrifice though
Such compelling souls
But ultimately you’ll yearn for a higher jurisdiction
To console these life conundrums and afflictions
Just mere mortals
While the divine chortles
No, God doesn’t pick up the pieces in your life
One day you, he, she, and I are all gonna die
Conceivably through some tragic door or on a serene day
No, heaven and life just don’t work that way
God redeems your soul
Since hell is beyond control
You think God is a crutch
Except you ought to realize everyone at one point needs a crutch
Cant overbear, overcome, overmatch you hear
Unremitting tears will soon light out your flare
You just got to sight the resplendence of earth
Appreciate this spiritual rebirth
I pray that one day you could
Be understood and act on common good
I know at times you perceive yourself as a debacle
And no matter how hard you tackle
There’s always someone more formidable
Willing and able
No matter how high you fly
Some sly guy will try to defy
Maybe even swing a black eye in a blink of an eye
Seeing jealousy burns in the public eye
You presume you gotta conflict and contest, be strong
Since you have been born to do it so long
Prejudice, emptiness, and destitution
Requires much attention
Hostilities, corruption, and famishment
Please stop these weapons emplacement
Can you believe to be aesthetic?
Absurd scientists be coming up with eugenics
Mass-producing commercialism obliterating inner-beauty
Anorexia is now some kind of civil duty
True beauty is within
I cant remember the time when
Life was absolute due to bliss
Youthful and uncritical times to reminisce
Experiences can make you strong
Fabricating your sense of right and wrong
Everything is a game
Enabling me to put a façade for shame, to obtain some fictitious acclaims
To obstruct, to prevent vulnerability and pain
So I myself restrain
But I have apprehended that this ain’t right
Relationship should be give and take, so I shouldn’t fight
Presently I contrite
Changing this habit will take time
From now on I’m going to be outright
And not live in a fright
Take me as you will
Cause true friends will love you still
I’m not one dimension
So keep attention and stop these tensions
Since all I needs is your comprehension
Not to mention
An eye for an eye makes the world go blind
So why don’t we rewind
And leave everything behind
Live give thrive and strive
I have been revived
- Nicci Chen

SF Hip Hop Dancefest

FYI: here's a pretty interesting sounding event coming up next month. I think I might go if anyone wants to join me...

What: 9th Annual SF Hip Hop Dancefest
When: November 16-18
Where: Palace of Fine Arts, SF
For more info: sfhiphopdancefest.com

Message from elaine joy (elainejoy@gmail.com):

Hello Beautiful people!

Hope all is good in your hood...

Just wanted to spread the word about the 9th annual SF Hip Hop Dancefest coming up November 16-18, 2007 at the Palace of Fine Arts. This is the first ever festival dedicated to the celebration of hip hop dance featuring dance companies from the Bay Area and all over the world. The reason this festival has been able to continue is based on community support. Let's contribute in any way to make each year better than the last!

Click below for more info...

http://sfhiphopdancefest.com/

We are looking for any In-Kind Donations...so any help or info you can pass along or get back to me is GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Let me know if you have hooks on water, snack food, alcohol, cool products for gift bags, flight/vehicle/hotel discounts. The Dancefest is also looking for volunteers to help out during the event. If anyone knows a great lighting company that would be willing to volunteer their services for the V.I.P. party would be fabulous.

This is a great opportunity for businesses to get exposure for their products, as the core audience members are 22-32 year old Bay Area trendsetters.

Thanks for your time and help! Please get back to me with any info. you can!

Peace, one love...
Elaine

Group Project 1

Photo Essay/Exhibit

The task of your group in this project is to find a public work of art and then:

1. Research how it was produced and who participated in its production, and
2. Create a photo-essay or exhibit about or inspired by the public work.

Presentation:

• 10 Photo Minimum
• Photos with Captions, Titles, and Photographer (you)
  
• Free Format: power point slideshow, collage exhibit, etc.
• Theme: there should be some sort of angle or theme that guides your presentation

Public Art Options:

"Public art" includes things like murals, sculptures, installations etc. as well as public performances. It also means that the work is out in the open and accessible to everyone. Try and choose something that is important or relevant to the community around it.

Remember: one work of public art should be plenty of material to work with!

• If your group is concerned about creating a whole photo essay out of one piece of art, choose something that has a lot of meanings and depth
• Take close-up shots of the different details of the work that make it interesting
• Document the area and people that surround the work—give us a context
• If your group still wants to take on more than one piece of art, check in with us first

If you have any questions about this assignment, please leave a comment below =)

Exciting Stuff.

Hola everybody!

Well, this is our blog. You can post anything relevant to the class--such as event announcements, thoughts, interesting art, etcetera. This is an open forum, so everyone can comment on each other's posts as well.

This is also a place where you will be writing your reflections about the two events that you will go to throughout the semester. You can either:

• write a paragraph [and/or]
• make another mini photo essay (where you take pictures and write corresponding captions)

Later on, you will be able to read about all the awesome experiences and places that everyone went to! Have fun and be respectful!