...::Taking Aim At The Black Male Cock...iness

If you have not heard of artist Fahamu Pecou, remember you read of him here first at "In The Mix". inthemixcomment.blogspot.com . Powerful, edgy, disturbing, aesthetically pleasing-- all the things good art should be. Stay tuned for a new body of work from the Fahamu Pecou Art Studio in Atlanta. The new show is called "cock.aim.shoot." The show examines the projection of sex and violence on and from black male bodies... More details coming soon...

...::Call For Films: The Black Man And His Art And Style

An annual film festival is seeking films on Black men and their creativity.

The International Black Man Film Festival is in its eighth year. Films will be screened in November 2009, in Atlanta, USA, in 2009, and in Atlanta and Lagos, Nigeria in 2010.

Festival Director Yemi Toure says: "Our theme for 2009 is 'Creative Fire! The Black Man and His Art and Style'. So we are seeking films about Black men as creators, survivors, style setters, poets, visionaries, builders and ground-breakers, as well as graphic artists, painters, dancers or sculptors".

Features, documentaries, student works, short films, older works and works in progress are all welcome.

Because the Festival is international, films about Black men from anywhere in the world are eligible. Women and people of all races are equally welcome to submit works.

Films in any language are welcome. Submit works in DVD format. There is no submission fee.

Send to: Yemi Toure, IBMFF, 2165 Rugby Ave - 613, College Park GA 30337, USA. Two copies of your work must be submitted to that address. Phone 1-404-432-2194.

For 2010 in Nigeria, reach Tenisio Seanima, Festival Assistant Director-Nigeria, at 0703-477-8543. All films from anywhere in the world must be submitted to the USA address.

Deadline for 2009 was Sat.12.Sep.2009, but later submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Festival will be held in Atlanta on Sat.07.Nov.2009. Festival web site is blackmanfilmfest.net.

...::The Reach of Art

The headline in the NYTimes article was: "Mission From Africa." The story was about a Nigerian missionary in the U.S. But before I could read the article, I was struck by the story's photo--



I haven't even finished reading the article, yet this photo stood out for me--
-- The preacher is in a pose like you would find in a video game
-- Did you notice the "heavenly" light on the right and the extra shadow on the back wall? They give the picture a mystical quality
-- The woman is so deep in prayer; I wonder if she knows she has come out of her heels
-- Attendance sure isn't overflowing; but the preacher is passionate nonetheless

Let me know what you notice-- yemitoure@gmail.com. In the meantime, back to the article. Interestingly, it is about the explosive growth in Africa of conservative Christianity, with African missionaries coming to the U.S. to save souls. How's that for a reversal ...