Photos
***Updated August 6, 2009 ***
Reza Rites in Spain
Photos from Madrid and San Sebastian
August 6, 2009
Scroll down or click here to see the slideshow
SPAIN - I went on a trip recently that was part family reunion, part assignment, and part bonafide adventure. My first stop was Madrid, to see my brother who now works and lives in Spain’s capital as a real Madrileno. From there, I was off on what would turn into working, dancing, and sunning in the aesthetically stunning city of San Sebastian, six hours by bus north of Madrid. Check out the slideshows below to catch a slice of the beauty and character I gobbled up in each of the cities. To read about my Venus Sings adventure of tracking down the women performing in one of Europe’s largest jazz festivals, click here or read it at www.VenusSings.com
More Photos from Madrid, Spain:
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Photos from San Sebastian, Spain:
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Photos from Ramona, California and San Diego
West Coast Beauty
August 6, 2009
CALIFORNIA - In May, I visited Los Angeles California to honor my sister and cousin, who were graduating from a prestigious Law School and undergraduate university. Deciding that mountains should be a priority, my immediate family followed my mother to Ramona, California. It was about 20 - 30 minutes away from San Diego, where my sister will be continuing her legal studies. With two different landscapes before me, I captured some of what the West Coast has to offer in the area of natural beauty. Click here take a peek at the slideshow, or here to see the photos one-by-one.
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Volkswagens, Audis and BMW’s, Oh My!
Photos from the ‘2009 New England Dustoff’
May 10, 2009
SEEKONK, MA - With a panorama offering a range of crusty and dusty to waxed and stacked, and a day in April offering mid-July weather, the 2009 New England Dustoff came and went. This annual car show - my first - held at Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts, was held this year on the 26th of April. Attracting people from all ethnic backgrounds, any age, and of each gender, this event offered visual stimulation as well as a haven for new philosophies: rusty can be just as valuable as shiny; Heidi Klum isn’t the German model being referred to; the do-it-yourself ethos doesn’t refer to knitting circles; and what’s beautiful may be outside, but it’s what’s inside that most flock to first.
Check out the slide show below or click here to see more photos and captions from the event.
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October 9, 2008: Rhode to Africa co-producer, Raymond Watson, is interviewed by reporter Bob Seay for a story on WRNI about a song he wrote about voting.
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Photos from the post, “Freedom, Community, and Reparations in RI: A New RezaRitesRi Podcast”
Photos courtesy of “Jaws,” City Beat TV, and RI Council for the Humanities
August 29, 2008
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3rd Eye Open annual community celebration in New Bedford, MA, July 2008.
KRS-One at the 3rd Eye Open
Some of us performed at the hip hop-themed festival. Some of us took silly pictures. Some of us did both!! (Kalyana Champlain, Ghislaine and Riders Against the Storm)
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Never turn down a P-Funk hug, especially if it’s during a National Urban League Annual Conference (July 2008).
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Diva Days Should Be National Holidays
For example, international, female, afro-fusion artist Zap Mama performs in Boston with her band, and nationally acclaimed Boston-based spoken word artist, Iyeoka, opens with her funk band. Of course you’re going to go, especially when your caravan includes two of RI’s most talented (and yes, female) poet - hip hop emcee - performers (June 2008).
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Carrie Bridges and Rae Ferguson, pictured below, were included in the Summer Edition of She Shines. I served as Guest Editor for it,creating, managing and contributing pieces around the theme of Minority Health: Prevention and Wellness for the Soul.
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Corey Taylor, aka DJ Blade Mon, shows off part of his credentials - a degree he received in May from New England Insitute of Technology (New England Tech).
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Photos from the article, “Surviving and Thriving in Real Estate: a Local Realtor Speaks”
From left to right, a poster for the documentary, The Souls of Black Girls, courtesy of Daphne S. Valerious; a photograph of Michelle Obama - wife of presidential contender, Senator Barack Obama. Courtesy of She Shines Publisher, Deborah L. Perry.
Ghislaine Jean-Mahone, aka Tigerlilly, and John Mahone, aka JBro, are featured in a poster promoting one of their Riders Against the Storm singles - turned video, Speak the Truth. Photo courtesy of Just a Step Productions.
A poster of Cape Verdean Talent, Ka Cabral an afro-beat, world music artist with songs featured on the website Showcaseyourmusic.com. He has also played at Cape Verdean Independence day celebrations. Click on the photo to hear his music.
*** From the March 20, 2008 RIYP Panel Discussion on “The Rate of Incarceration for Males of Color in the State of Rhode Island.” ***
*** From the March 4 through 6 National Urban League Legislative Policy Conference and State of Black America 2008 (SOBA) press release and panel discussion. SOBA 2008 [is] “In the Black Woman’s Voice,” and it includes a foward by Dorothy I. Height, the Chair and President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), an organization founded in 1935 to lead, develop, and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities. ***
*** From the February 24, 2008 Providence Premiere of Daphne S. Valerius’s documentary, The Souls of Black Girls. ***
*** From the February 20, 2008 visit to RI by Michelle Obama. Photos by Deborah L. Perry, publisher of She Shines. ***
*** From the February 9, 2008 Bob Marley Bash at The Living Room. Photos by Corey Taylor, aka Blade Mon, a radio and events dj (selecta) who also performed that night.***
*** From the RezaRitesRi.com archives, including never published photographs! Photos taken at a November 2006 art exhibit at AS220 featuring the works of RISD graduate, Andrew Bain, aka Moon, The Digital Ancient, and Angel Quinonez, Visual Coordinator of AS220’s Broad Street Studio. ***
From left to right, Angel and Moon pose by their respective art pieces.
Artist Angel Quinonez poses near his artwork alongside his father.
Artist Angel Quinonez poses near his artwork.
The artwork of Angel Quinonez.
Moon poses near his artwork
Angel and Moon pose near Moon’s artwork
*** Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico. December 2007 ***
From left to right, a party Puerto Vallarta style always includes a man on stilts. Different day, different crowd as I get ready to party with fish.
*** From the July 21 and 22 2007 Ocean State Reggae Festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI. Photos include reggae legends Sister Carol and Barrington Levy. ***
*** From the April 20, 2007 performance of the Kim Trusty Band at the Mediator Fellowship center in Providence. ***
***Below: Photos from The National Association of Black Journalists’ 32nd Annual Convention and Career Fair - August 8 through August 12 at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas. Photos include Reza Rites, Sarah O. Clifton, and other conference attendees.
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***Below: Photos from the July 25-28, 2007 National Urban League Annual Conference in St. Louis Missouri. Photos include BET’s “Cousin Jeff” Johnson; Reverend Jesse Jackson; Nolan Rollins, resident and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Urban League and NULYP immediate past president
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***Below: Photos of highly-acclaimed female reggae artist, Queen Ifrica, her Flames Production Label Mate, Honey Comb, or members of the Boston-based, all female band. Zili Misik. They performed together at the Providence Black Repertory Company on Tuesday, July 17, during Sound Session 07.***
*** Below: From the June 23rd Juneteenth Concert at RISD Museum. ***
Photographer Corey Taylor, aka (reggae) DJ, “Blade Mon” captures a self-portrait alongside hip hop artist, Chachi Carvalho.
Members of the group Afrika Rainbow sing and play their redefined island music.
A Welfare Poet addresses the audience.
Fred Johnson stuns the audience with his vocal power and musical ingenuity
***Below: From the January 20, 2007 “Do My Ladies Run this…?” event at Tazza Caffe***
*** Below: From the January 14, 2007 One Blood Reggae Bash - the 9 PM - 2 AM Martin Luther King Celebration at the Providence Black Repertory Company’s Xxodus Cafe with DJ’s Blade Mon, Baby Matt, Assassin, and Paul Michael. ***
*** Below: From the January 14, 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration - Hosted by the RI Civil Rights Roundtable and held at the Providence Black Repertory Company. For more photos, click here. ***
