APRIL FOOL 2007!

This is the thirty-second of this annual series.

Many blessings, and joy!

Ahmed Osman

Ahmed Osman is a Sudanese refugee working as a computer lab supervisor in the Arlington Mill Community Center in Arlington, Virginia. A former journalist, he fled Sudan because his articles exposing the government's egregious behaviors in Darfur and other areas of the country angered those in power.

This is an image from the ongoing Columbia Pike Documentary project, in collaboration with photographers Mimi Xang Ho and Paula Endo.

Snow Flower

Three days before spring

Healing

Student Body

I made these photographs of my students in 1979, and just recently scanned them. I was concerned with pure design, each person's physical presentation, and some visual puns from daily life. There are 37 in all- these are a sample.

From the original exhibition statement:
"These photographs are recognitions, stares, explorations, appreciations, laughs, embraces, parties, prayers, and questions raised in seeing people around me. To misquote Robert Creeley, “The Body is the Plan.” There is always more to be learned.

"The individuals photographed are students at Woodlawn, Career Center, and a Gifted/Talented photo class that draws its students from all the regular [Arlington VA] high schools. The pictures are made with a Polaroid SX-70 Alpha-1 instant camera and a Montgomery Ward strobe."

Pastor John Nicholas

Pastor John Nicholas Jr., of St. John's Baptist Church, in Arlington, Virginia. A thoughtful, graceful gentleman, who has served his congregation for over thirty years.

This is an image from the ongoing Columbia Pike Documentary project, in collaboration with photographers Mimi Xang Ho and Paula Endo

Mikveh

Mikveh is an all-star women's klezmer ensemble, and they distill powerful, uplifting, yiddish soul music.
Alicia Svigals, Adrienne Cooper, Lauren Brody, Susan Hoffman Watts, and Heather Versace.
http://www.aliciasvigals.com/mikveh

The Scientific Method

Kim-Hanh T. Nguyen

Ms. Kim-Hanh T. Nguyen, a thoughtful Vietnamese-American Buddhist, praying at home, in South Arlington, Virginia.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf

Laissez Foure

Wonderful old-school jazz quartet I just had the pleasure of working with.
www.laissezfoure.com

Yamomanem - Happy New Year!

I covered Yamomanem, a rousing New Orleans brass band, entertaining a masquerade ball on New Years Eve. A splendid time was had by all.

New Year's blessings to y'all, and a special kiss to Ruth.

DCJCC Jewish Volunteers D25

The DC Jewish Community Center organizes a 1000-plus person volunteer effort every year at Christmas to reach out to the city's neediest citizens, raising their spirits and helping them enjoy their holiday. It is the largest interfaith event in the Washington DC area. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Baha'i's serve together in homeless shelters, nursing homes, food banks, and hospitals.

I have been covering it (pro-bono) for about 15 years. It's a blessing all around.

The DCJCC site for the effort is: http://www.washingtondcjcc.org/volunteer/events/d25.php

Klezmer - SoCalled & Golem

From a concert Dec. 23rd, 2006 at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue in DC.
Golem rocks... SoCalled conjures up iconoclastic hiphop electronica DJ klezmer performance kabbala... a rather unique ouevre.