SkillsUSA 2009

I just finished documenting my twenty-fifth annual trade skills conference for SkillsUSA, this year again in Kansas City.
Go visit: www.skillsusa.org
Thousands of students compete at a national level in their chosen field of work; from auto mechanics to dental assisting, masonry, culinary arts, TV production, crime scene investigation, welding, precision machining, nurse assisting, cosmetology, plumbing, advertising design, robotics... ninety-one contests in all; the competitors are tops in each of their states. A chosen few go on to international competition.

It's always a visual feast. Here are my views- from the surreal to the sober, and a range of other meanings and experiences.

Great people, and a terrific, uplifting, program.

Shrines to Officer Stephen T. Johns, at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Three shrines have been created to honor Stephen T. Johns, the security guard at the United States Holocaust Memorial in Washington DC, who was killed June 10, 2009. According to authorities, white supremacist and anti-semite James W. Von Brunn, 88, entered the Holocaust Museum and immediately shot Mr. Johns. Von Brunn then was himself shot and critically wounded by two other quick-acting guards. Von Brunn maintained a virulent racist website, and had a life-long history of involvement with hate groups. A notebook with anti-semitic writings that were also critical of President Obama was found in his car.

Johns, who is being referred to in the press as a "gentle giant" - he was 6' 6' - leaves an eleven-year old son. Von Brunn's crimes and motives have been universally denounced, including by both his own son & by the President.

Officer Johns is being hailed as a hero. The flags at the museum are being flown at half-mast in his honor.

These images are my way of saying Kaddish, and of leaving stones. May his soul and his family know blessings and serenity.

Yitgadal v'yitgadash sh'mei rabah.

Old friends/ Planet Earth

I had the pleasure of visiting with my college roomates and other old friends from Trinity College in Hartford, CT - 35 years since we all graduated.

We continue to enjoy one another's company, and to have amusing adventures... Here's to Matt Moloshok, Alex Trocker, Dr. Becki Adams, and special thanks to Dave Duennebier and his band, Planet Earth.

Alex (Lex Rocker) of Phase3 TV slammed together & posted this kickin' video of the proceedings at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=troU5Y-qb44

Andy Statman Trio

Klezmer/jazz/bluegrass fusion master Andy Statman, with Larry Eagle and Jim Whitney, at the DCJCC's Jewish Music Festival.

These folks play... deep.

Some signs of life and death in New Orleans

Views observed while scouting for the JCCA Maccabi Artsfest this summer; driven around town by fellow artist-in-residence and NOLA native, Hannah Chalew.
Learn more about Hannah at: http://www.jccmaccabiartsfest.org/?pageid=YMV3260

A grand city... dripping with history, a spicy gumbo of heritages, and richly-lived culture. Love it.

FYI: the "Death Area" sign is in the smoking court of a drug-rehab clinic in the Lower Ninth Ward. The minister who runs the facility has put it up to remind smokers of what they are doing to themselves.

It was really quite bracing to come upon this until I learned what it was for - it's in a very rough part of the city.

Ernie K-Doe's Mother-In-Law Lounge

'Nuff said. Nawlin's flash & funk... strut yo' wonderful self in style.

1500 N. Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans.
Do not pass Go, do not collect $200 - go directly to:
http://www.k-doe.com/lounge.shtml

Ernie K-Doe sez: "I'm cocky, but I'm good!"

Shrines in New Orleans

These roadside shrines, to murder, violence, and Hurricane Katrina victims, I found while scouting sites for this summer's artist-in-residency I will be doing for the JCC Maccabi Artsfest. Most were in the devastated Lower Ninth Ward; one was downtown.

They are immediately recognizable as spontaneous memorials. I find it interesting that they do not look like the shrines I find around Washington DC. Surprisingly for New Orleans, a city famed for its vivid and colorful expressions, the shrines I encountered were far more subdued than DC's cascading masses of teddy-bears, liquor bottles, T-shirts, flowers, balloons, written notes and other memorabilia.

see also:
http://dcshrines.blogspot.com

The light