A Little Art For A Change

Art patron views my piece Envisioning Freedom at the ART214 Exhibit, where the reception was held this past Sunday.

It's been a minute since I've actually blogged, for several reasons, some personal, and on some occasions it just felt as if the timing wasn't right.

For example I wanted so bad to discuss these plethora of marches that are going on, especially in the U.S.A, especially doing a close-up on my opinion of one David Hogg, and the March For Our Lives event that took place last March, but other things got in the way, and after trying to discuss this issue with people, it seems as if  I needed to gather my thoughts before I go full blast on what I see as a serious failure to connect going on in America, which concludes in all of these marches and rallies going on in this country.

Trust me. I haven't left, nor forgotten, because I just have a funny feeling things will come back around, and this situation will be discussed at length again. Why do I feel this way?

Simple, we haven't learned our lesson yet. So we're doomed to repeat it in some form or fashion.

But in the meantime and in between time, I wanted to show a couple of pics from the ART214 exhibit going on right now in Dallas, Texas, where 4 different cultural centers celebrated this occasion by selecting artists residing in the Greater Dallas area, the Bath House, Latino, South Dallas, and Oak Cliff Cultural Centers.




My piece entitled "Envisioning Freedom" was selected to be displayed at the Bath House Cultural Center, located at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.




Envisioning Freedom is simply a token gesture at paying homage to those previous generations who strove for freedom and justice against great odds being  levied against them. Regardless of whether I agree with some of their stances and tactics, they must be given their due respects, and their histories fully narrated and analyzed, whether  the outcome was successful or not, in order to continue the struggle, and claim victory in the end.

Envisioning Freedom, created by the artist, is now on exhibit at the Bath House Cultural Center from March 24th to April 21st, 2018.

This is not the first time I've done such a piece, I did a piece for Staff Sgt. Homer Hogues in 2013, and presented it to him at a tribute for his contributions to the Tuskegee Airmen. It was a great event, and the piece was well received by him and the family, as well as the community of Highland Hills, who finally got a chance to pay tribute to a legendary figure, who lived in the area. 

Doing pieces like these has taught me a great lesson in telling stories, regardless of my personal opinions. 

I'm now waiting to hear word from an upcoming exhibit, Art and Activism, slated to be held at the South Dallas Cultural Center from May 5th to July 29th, 2018. I'll be sure to keep y'all posted....

Until next time....

Still At It....

12 x 16 Pastel painting entitled Safe and Sound. 

Just when I got into the groove of blogging, other things pop up, and blogging takes a back seat. I'm preparing for a showcase coming up in which yours truly will exhibit my work to my local community, something I haven't done in 5 years, and it's been long overdue. This one here promises to be somewhat different than the previous showcase, due to changes in certain areas, especially in the rebuilding of the local library. This is a big plus for me, because not only do I get to exhibit my work, I can also access classrooms with projectors and screens, and trust me, I do have something planned for that as well. I don't want to spill all of the beans right now, but just to inform those who started getting into the habit of reading my blog regularly that I would be off the social topics for a while, but only on this platform.

 I know I had not finished the blog concerning Leslie Jones and Milo Yiannopolous, but in this age of fast food information and hot gossip, it's become passe' anyway, not that it's no longer important to discuss the issue, but one with much insight will see this issue pop up in another way shape or form, and the Leslie vs. Milo incident can be used as a reference point. But that's for people who value critical thinking and reasoning, which is not what our world is concerned with. 

Anyway an extra special thanks to those who take the time to read my lil' ol' blog, it is greatly appreciated. Not to get too involved with stats and metrics, which brings me back to my old customer service rep ways (UGGGH!) but last month set personal records for my blog in terms of views and readership. It's only fitting that I show gratitude in some form for those who take the time out of their busy schedule to come and See What I See (CWATIC). 

Until next time, take care and hang tight, we're only getting started here. 

Peace. 

Leslie and Milo Part 2

TO CONTINUE: This past week I went to an event held at my local library where the poet, Jamaal May, recited a few poems and spoke briefly about certain aspects of his poetry, and current events surrounding us. He touched on something that impacted me in my blogging approach, where he stated that things happens so fast and are captured by social media outlets so quick, what could be news today will be considered old and irrelevant in a matter of days.

That is one of the main reasons why I try to approach my blogs differently, not just focusing on what just happened, but the lingering after effects of what occurred, and to see if there were indicators that would have led to incidents like this. The situation with Leslie Jones and Milo Yiannopulous was to me not just an event that happened on social media, then came the ouster of Milo from Twitter and so forth. This had been building up apparently, when one research both individuals past, and how it was really only a matter of time before something like this would occur, for both Milo and Leslie.

It just seemed that no one cared when Milo went on to defame Islam, while acknowledging on Joe Rogans' Youtube Show that this world will be better off if people adhered to Judeo-Christian values, which he happens to be a frequent violator of.  Some of the values he blasts Islam for holding are parallel to values he claim to espouse, especially the prohibition of homosexuality, sex outside of marriage althogether, the man being the head of the household, among others. That's what makes him suspect, the obvious pandering to the Judeo-Christian community, while accusing Islam of holding the same values. It should be considered shameful to see some conservative groups and outlets use this person as some form of resource to debate and attack others' beliefs as well as signifying a sign of desperation. This is not the first time this happened. Remember The Cold War?

This form of bigotry would ultimately catch up with him when the Twitter catfight took place, prompting several other unintelligent minds to hurl the most hurtful of slurs at Leslie Jones, especially the reference to her as an ape. Milo's continuing rants and antagonistic ways opens the door for the most insidious of racists and bigots to hurl insults at those they hate, all the while confirming the backwardness of this society, as well as the world itself, despite the so-called advancements in technology, proving that people can still degenerate and stoop to the lowest forms of stupidity, and behave in levels of ignorance one could never imagine.

But don't think for one minute that I'm pro-Leslie here. Although the incident was sickening and uncalled for, I cannot say this caught me by surprise. Not to toot my own horn, but in March of this year, after watching the Ghostbusters trailer on Youtube, I found myself adding Leslie to the list of Black women being protrayed in the media in some of the worst ways imaginable.

And this was before I did any true research on Leslie, but more on that to come.

                                         TO BE CONTINUED...

Click Here for Part One http://realquwwa.blogspot.com/2016/07/leslie-and-milo-two-branches-off-same.html

My First Artwalk and the Liberty and Justice FOR ALL Exhibit

 This past weekend was filled with more excitement and enthusiasm from a creative perspective than I have witnessed in few years. Why do I say that, you may ask? Well let me tell you. The last time I participated in an art exhibit was almost 2 years ago, when I presented a piece to a gallery located downtown called The Art Hotel Collective. The reception was positive, and I met some cool artists down there. Well due to unforseen circumstances, the gallery moved to the Valley View Mall located in North Dallas, and the gallery became The SLANT Gallery Collective.  It's a much broader layout, and they're able to exhibit more work, including their own, like this cool piece here.

 This piece came from a young local artist Madelyn Sneed, who had an exhibitt with some wonderful paintings inspired by a trip to France. Great oil paintings!










However it is the following exhibit that delighted me, because 1) it deals with something close to my heart, that being social commentary. For the months of May and June The SLANT Gallery will hold an exhibit entitled Liberty and Justice FOR ALL...This one was right up my alley, although I must say I didn't expect my entry to be accepted. Over the past couple of years I experienced so many dry spells, rejections, illnesses and personal issues that I had developed an attitude where my art was only to keep what little personal sanity that I may have. Lack of funds, resources, and the inability to find gainful employment kept me down. Not to mention offers to hold an art workshop at my library somehow fell through the cracks. After submitting proposals and stuff, and watching other programs become approved, as well as getting paid for those programs, I began to become completely despondent, and my art suffered greatly. My spirits had reached a critical low, and depression set in, followed by anxiety. This is not something I would wish on anybody.

When I submitted the pieces the previous weekend, I awaited for the response, which was supposed to have been before midnight Sunday May 3rd. I woke up the next day, didn't see any response, and chalked it up as another loss. However lo and behold, that notification came later in the day, and my picture Pariah: Apocalyptic Now was chosen to be displayed at the exhibit. The exhibit deals with all of the plights of different sectors of people and what they experience in the US, however there is an international flavor added to the exhibit as well. I did not get a pic of all of the pieces, nor did I get the names of the artists and the pieces for everyone, but since the exhibit will be shown during the month of June also, it gives me a chance to collect more for the next blog. 

       
                                                                                          

    This piece was on the exhibit poster, and the artist Karen Jacobi gave me a heads up on the construction of this piece. 

 This piece talks about the Arab Spring. I wanted to meet the artist, Seun Karim, but did not get a chance to. Hopefully next time around.

This was another one of my favorites, commenting on Mexican immigrants. 

This is Pariah: Apocalyptic Now, the piece that I entered into the exhibit, which by the way won rave reviews from many of the visitors, including the proprietor from the SMALL Gallery, which is right across from the SLANT Gallery. They had a similar exhibit, being that they are like a sister gallery to the SLANT Gallery. She has informed me that there will be an exhibition in the upcoming months, and would like to see me submit an entry there as well. 

The SMALL Gallery had an exhibition entitled Listen To The Songs of the Times, and had some marvellous presentations there as well. I plan to get more pics and info on this showing in next month's artwalk as well.

The only odd event that happened that day occurred while riding the bus to the gallery, and noticing the lady on the other side of the bus actually doodling me! Now that was AWKWARD as HECK! I'm not a photogenic type of guy, nor do I consider myself the type that could be an actual study. So, modesty and anxiety kicked in, and I turned my head toward the window so she couldn't continue...Not trying to be difficult, because I'm a chatty person, but that's gonna take some time to get used to....Anyway, till next time....Take care...

Recent Works/Events

Peace all, It's been a trying season so far, and one filled with many obstacles and many lessons. It's made me change my approach on many subjects, and develop some insight on how to deal with the public, especially in the Social Media age, where minds, behavior and attitudes are shaped and reshaped, subtle nuances are made, and ideologies are formed or reinterpreted. In any event, it's made me start thinking of ways that I can make my presentations online a lot more fluid and easier, but without having to lose very intergral parts of my belief and expression. This blog is very short, but I'm introducing a page on my website that allows people to view my recent works online, as well as keep up with any events that may come along. To view the official first installment of my Events/Recent Works page, please click on the link http://www.realquwwa.com/events.html I will keep you updated on the latest of recent works and apparel available for viewing and for sale. Take care all and God Bless!

Bustin' Out!!!

Peace all,

Well, the website is coming along fine, still have to open up my Lifestyles of the Ignored gallery, but hopefully will do so by this weekend...And stay tuned for a chance to win an original painting from the artist himself!!! In the meantime take a look at the site http://www.realquwwa.com...Check out the items for sale, more on the way...Yeah it may be a shameless plug, but anyway...lol

More blogs on the way...Peace.

What Da Heezy?

Peace all, check out my interview with Lady Flava tonight at 7pm Central/8 Eastern, if not check it out on www.realquwwa.com.

In the meantime I guess with the new laws allowing liquor to be sold in my area(we still don't have that grocery store yet!) I'm thinking people will react like this when they can't get their drank on....LOL

Peace Out

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Oh NO HE Didn't......

Peace Y'all

NEW TO THE REPETOIRE! Ya boy Q done stepped into the abstract world! After getting over the jitters(first time ya know) I felt a deep need to delve into something a little different. OKAY! In all honesty I was in a funk after being told by the South Dallas Cultural Center that I WAS NOT READY! OH Boy! I want to do a blog expressing my disgust at the way people treat art today, which is more of a market than an expression, however I will save it for the appropriate time, right now I'm back at slugging away, hoping to connect...

I've gotten great responses from the abstracts, and it is a great way to loosen up to get myself ready for more serious projects. For a while I was under the impression that this could be a form of selling out, but I've moved away from that line of thinking. After all, I have landscapes I have yet to show my bloggy friends. I wanted to make sure I establish myself as a serious artist before going into other ventures, and with the help of great friends like my blogfriends Bella Cosa Art, Sheila of From Forensic to Fine Art, to my good friend Lady Flava, and to Shannon Grissom of Give Your Walls Some Soul and of course Tania-Maria Xavier of Coloredpeople.Net, along with other friends I feel more comfortable that people will take me seriously. If they don't it's their loss!



I have a few other surprises up my sleeve, but I can't give all of it right now! By the way, please check out the ColoredPeople.Net 2011 Calendar supporting Haiti Relief. Ya Boy Q has a couple of picks included, mixed in with excellent poetry from up and coming poets and more great pics from other artists on the ColoredPeople.Net Network! And no one from the network is getting a penny from the sales of this beautiful calendar! GET ONE TODAY!



Oh, check out the cool beanie! Love ya and Take Care! Quwwa

Back at it again.....

Peace all,

Got alot on tap today, but I want to tell you about an event coming up on January 28th, where I will be the guest on The Coach K Nation and Angel Ayes show, an evening show that appears on several nights during the week on BlogTalk Radio. I will be interviewed by Angel Ayes herself, and will discuss my art, and maybe some other subjects as well.



I will provide the link as soon ASAP, or if you can't hear it live, then I will post the archive on my blog as well. I am very excited about this interview and also other events that are coming up. I will keep you on tap.. Special thanks are in order to everyone who took time to visit my world, and took part in commenting or observing my work. It really means the world to me, and I thank God(Allah) for giving me this opportunity to do it one more time. Take care all....

Enough Already!!!

Peace y'all

Well today I almost lost it! That's right, Q went off and just started spittin' what he felt. Normally I don't do tangients and tantrums(hey that sounds like a great title for a rap album!)but this could not be held in. I have been working at this glorified craphole for almost 3 years and I have heard every weak excuse this side of 9/11 as why I have yet to see a raise(as well as the workers as a group)among other insults to the intelligence. Now the latest crop of doo-doo that was thrown to my team was that we are solely responsible for losing $120,000 to a client who refuses to pay for support, or lack thereof. This little red-headed rodent with a God complex basically held us responsible for why this penny-pinching hole-in-the-wall corporate client does not want to pay, yet would not admit that this faux pas was the product of the companys' failing attempt to restructure, streamline and introduce substandard micromanagement tactics designed to take advantage of employees' fears of losing jobs and allow these bite-size tyrants in the upper offices to increase their pocketbooks.

People have been buttered up and down like corn on the cobb just to work here, then once they bring them in, they ring up the most despicable excuses as to why they won't receive a raise, and it's always the employee's fault. This is a sad state of affairs when hard working human beings are stripped of their dignity and insulted with lies. Just tell me you are going to jerk me, don't lie to me, because one day they will lie to the wrong person.... so do you still wonder why some people go postal? Who wants to devote their hard work and sweat and for some people loss of family time just to be discarded like a sh****ty diaper?

It won't get to that point with me, for I know where my sustenance comes from(Ar-Razzaq), and it didn't come from these fools. It was already written, I'm just playing the part. But for some poor flag-saluting, FOX News watching, God Bless America and forget everybody else-sentiment-having sap, to have this happen and watch his beloved country transform into a corporate-ruled tyranny, this should drive them batty. What gets me is that people see this nonsense, and do nothing about it because somewhere in the deep dark unused portions of our brain, we still believe this is the best country in the world. Every day our liberties are being taken and every excuse there is some "foreign threat" that seeped into the hallowed landscapes of this country and are now plotting to take over, giving rise to the need to restrict movement and speech and this need to send forces out to combat the threat. But the real threat is internal, but we accept this and say stupid stuff like I don't mind having some of my liberties taken to ensure my freedom.

IT'S THE SAME THING FOOL!

The same tactics apply at the plantation(workforce), people are having their movement and freedom restricted over bogus excuses, but here we let it happen. This spells nothing but trouble for the American. What will it take before we wake up and see who is really behind all of this, whether it's the job or the world as a whole? Tell you what, it definitely isn't a rag wearing Arab sitting in the cave with a billy goat as his only immediate friend cookin' up some scheme to rule the world!

God Help Us......

I FEEL GUUUD!

Peace all....

It's 7:36pm and I am tired again(from being at the plantation) but things are looking up. I will fill everyone in on the haps, but I just wanted to share a feedback I received from my first sale on Etsy. I will cherish it.

i have admired QuwwaArt for awhile now. i love his work and wish to see it in a show. it needs to be seen in three dimension. as a person who has spent a lot of years surrounded by art and artists, it has meant a lot to find an artist who is so good. he uses uses his brush to communicate with refreshing clarity. his work is elegant. he is able to let his subject meet the canvas without interference. his portrayal of people who occupy the margins of our society is touching. dignity and respect make their way through the paint. he paints each soul with a calm which allows their being to unfold. it is beautiful stuff!!

it came at a time when needed that boost, not that I was sad or anything like that, but it just came as a sign to keep going. I had confronted another "nay-sayer" who saw my desktop picture at work of people standing at the unemployment line and stated that it was depressing, I proceeded to explain the reasoning behind such pics, but she wasn't trying to hear it...Who cares?

I know my art isn't for everyone, but it seems that most that I meet are intrigued with it. Even my mom shocked me this week when she commented on one of my pics yet to be exhibited. All I can say is thank you.

Can't say too much more now, I want to spend my blog time blogging it up with my friends @ ColoredPeople.Net and Give Your Walls Some Soul. So without further delay, KICK IT!



Take care all.......Love YA!!!

Down But Not Out!

Peace yo!

Sorry for the long delay, I have some things in mind, but my computer keeps telling me it wants to behave differently. One of the great things about exhibiting your work online is you have control of what to present and offer, but the bad part is when your computer goes down, because you are so reliant on the net. My computer happens to go down on a consistent basis. Once again I had to strip my computer and try to enhance its performance. Suffice to say that didn't happen which irritates me, because I am getting into something new, gestural drawings. Easy, quick, loose and not too much for detail, something that I love.

I am also getting into other things as well but because I have nothing on my computer except internet, I will have to delay the presentation. I hope to have everything up and running again by the end of this week. In the meantime look around at some archives and enjoy yourself.

I tell ya, I wish I had the money to buy a Mac.....Anyway

Thank you and take care.....Quwwa

A Word of Thanks!!!

Peace everyone,

I have a new blog on the way, so stay tuned. In the meantime I want to send a special thanks to all of those who listened, commented, or even had the intention of listening to the show Thursday night. It is an unforgettable event, and after God I have you all to thank. It was full of surprises even up to the time of going on the air. I was informed by the host, the very-talented Tania-Maria Xavier of ColoredPeople.Net that the show was chosen as one of the day's top picks out of all of Blogtalkradio shows going on that day. I don't really know to say except thank you all.

I'll write more later, but don't forget you can listen to the show at anytime, just click on the post with Quwwa Davis. And don't forget the instructions of how to register to win an original pastel painting entitled Safe and Sound are included in the show, the only thing I will say is the deadline is July 10, 2009.




I love you all, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. We have only begun.

With much love....Quwwa ( BOO YAH!!!)

Tonight's Show

Peace Everyone,




I hope everyone is feeling great, I just wanted to remind everyone about the show tonight and 10pm Central, 11 Eastern and 8pm Pacific. For those that are interested, please click HERE, it will take you directly to the show.



Take care and God Bless....Quwwa

Lessons Learned 2

Good Evening everyone,

I hope that everyone has a very prosperous week ahead.

I just wanted to stop by and give the usual greetings, things have been pretty hectic here, last week was a real big test for me. The storms in Texas did a lot of damage, also taking my computer down, which would not have been a big issue, but all of my work was on the hard drive! Well after some praying and calming down, along with scavenger hunting, I was able to recover my drive and keep my pictures.

Lesson learned.....Back IT UP!!!(LOL)

This week I hope brings a lot more promise, as the interview with Tania-Maria Xavier at ColoredPeople.Net will take place Thursday night, 10pm Central, 11pm Eastern and 8pm Mountain on BlogTalkRadio. I will provide the link again for those who are interested in listening to it. I hope to make it a very informative and entertaining conversation, and don't forget we will be giving instructions on how to qualify to win one of my original paintings, Safe and Sound. It is a soft pastel painting on Pastelboard, one of my favorites, but I will give it away. Just check out the show for instructions.

In the meantime I miss each and everyone of you and I hope to be back to my regular blogging and Ninging it up with my peeps in the upcoming weekend. Thank God I took this week off from work!(LOL)

Love and Hugs to each and everyone of you. God Bless and Take care! Quwwa.

Let's Sweeten the Deal!!!

Peace y'all

It's 1:32pm, and I am shaking like Jello Pudding! Why? Only two weeks away from my Blogtalkradio interview with Tania-Maria Xavier. I am so thrilled and excited, and the opportunity for people to call in and actually speak!





OK, so let's sweeten the deal here. The plan is underway to give an actual pastel painting by yours truly!!! I am working on all of the details right now, and will give you the full skimmy on it ASAP, but the prize for the winner is one of my original pastel paintings, Safe and Sound, a very emotional and colorful piece I made in '08. I am giving it away.

YOU CRAZY????

Guess I am, huh?

But here is the deal.
You have to listen to the show either live @ 10:00pm Central, 8pm Pacific and 11pm Eastern, or you will have the opportunity to listen to it here on my blog, for on it will be instructions of how to qualify for the drawing.

More to come later.... In the meantime, take care. Love Quwwa.

Just A Little Sump'n Sump'n

Peace....

Not much time for blogging today, got a lot of projects on hand, but my, my, my I blink my eyes and my blog is actually growing!!!

I think back to when I first started networking(just a little over a year ago matter of fact)I didn't know what the heck was a blog. I just kept hearing how "famous people" had their own blogs, which automatically became a turnoff point to me. I would listen to this sex radio-oops I mean sports radio show on my way to work and would hear about Mark Cuban's blog which contained mostly unimportant stuff and figured "whatever this is, it's not for me" (NOTE: I am a sports fan, but the thought of hearing people get millions of dollars to play games I played in the pasture as a kid, then to hear them B___CH and Moan about "not having enough to take care of their families" makes me wanna.....

Anyway, I was wrong(again,lol) this is a great way to spew your feelings and show a sump'n sump'n about yourself, your likes, dislikes and so forth. This is different than Ning sites( which I have a few to my credit, thankyouverymuch) where people rename themselves( but then look who's talking huh?) and most are looking for love but in all the wrong places. Hey, if it happens it happens, but could this also be indicative of our society?

I mean, as I mentioned in one of the sites that you see most people smiling on these sites, but are we totally different when we walk outside our homes? How many of us walk outside with smiles on our faces, or how many of us actually greet our neighbors anymore? I am guilty of that myself. Some new people moved in next door a couple of weeks ago, and I have yet to say anything to them. I'm not a mean person or anything, but I have become a little more introverted myself lately, but I'm planning on changing that right away.

I've learned in today's society being a human being is a FULL TIME JOB, meaning you have to work at being compassionate, trustworthy, benevolent, and especially humble, ya know things that bring out the best in the human being...

In short I love blogs and Ning sites where I can talk and chop it up with other fellow bloggers, but let's keep our balance. Let us be the same cheery person once we hit the power button and go outside as well.

Gotta go, from the lab this is Quwwa signing off. If you are new to this blog, thank you very much, much love and respect... If you comment, I will hit you back.....

LUV YA!!!

PS...Check my latest little ditty, excuse the incorrect time on the camera. I just bought this toy last week, gotta get those settings right(lol)