Artomatic Wrap-Up

The last few days at Artomatic was filled with music.  Charles King performed on Thursday night, the crowd dancing to every song.  It was a pleasure to hear his upbeat music. His sound Caribbean cornucopia of blended sound, was uplifting and encouraged audience participation through call and response.


Charles King is known in Columbia as "El Palenquero fino." He is a creator and pioneer of champeta, the popular Afro-Caribbean rhythm that combines urban sounds and lively rhythms from East Africa. Champeta, "the people's cry of freedom" is a combination of rock, reggae, rap,soca, and calypso that exploded on the scene in Cartagena de Indias thirty years ago.  Charles King embodies the beat and living free philosophy.  Champeta has been adopted by Calle13, the wailers, and even Shakira.


It was hard to take a picture of the performance, because of the lighting and too many people in the way of a good shot. The best I could do is this poster. I got a free CD! (yay!) Charles King gave a great performance, but he wasn't the only one turning it out during the last days of Artomatic.

Asia

Thursday night was filled with wows and wonders. As I'm walking down the hall on the 3rd floor,  I pass by this model, she's dressed in a long red dress, complete with long black gloves.  I stop to talk to Asia, who was preparing for the the fashion show at Artomatic.  She had two young fabulous girls who also were working the hall runway.  All three took time to pose for me.  They are truly beautiful girls. Models in the making!

Tanaye & Damoiyona

 It was also the last Beer &Wine tasting, people crowded in, to get their taste on.  Those who stayed until the end benefited, we poured larger amounts in the cups. We also opened a chili pepper wine called "Kiss the Devil", it smelled and tasted like that's exactly what you were doing when you drank it. Went down like vinegar, burned like hot sauce. This is wine! made in Virginia, that figures.


I also met a group of nice people, one girl a dancer, was there at the tasting with her two friends.  We chatted and they got a few beers on the house.  They visited my space on the 3rd floor, signed my book.  We hung out for a view,then I was on my way.  Alone again, naturally.


Friday night proved to be another jam session, with bands performing every 30-45minutes on the 7th and 10th floors.  One band that I caught, The Charm Offensive, had a girl playing bass that reminded me of Lisa Loeb, a funky kind of retro sixties style with thick rimmed glasses fashionable during that period.  Complete with bangs and the ends of her shoulder length hair flipped up.  To top it off, she was barefoot! The band had a surfer meets retro rock style. 

Also playing that night was another group called Swag Funk, they jammed old school style, playing Parliament, Kool and the Gang, Prince, Herbie Hancock.  These guys got down! They jammed for about 45minutes. Their raw sound was great! they covered old school classics that people knew from the music alone! even if they didn't sing the words. I enjoyed watching and listening to them.


Outside, were the guys called Dance Afire! they are a unique theatrical fire dance performing company based in the D.C. area that uses fire sticks.  They were twirling, flipping and rolling around with the ends of the poles on fire.  They performed stunts, with good music to aide in their delivery. I was amazed at how well they manipulated the poles during their performance.  It was interesting to see. You could feel the heat from the flame as they whirled by. Hot!  


Also, this was the night that I dressed up and collaborated with an artist neighbor Andrea Collins who is a performance, writing, socially engaged artist her work  "Pussy Riot" is a petition and performance for a cause.  Women in Russia are imprisoned because they performed a dance at a church with masks on to punk rock music.  Her space is set up like a church environment. Participants are told about the cause, shown the video, and are asked to put on one of many colored dresses and brightly colored scull caps with the eyes, nose &  mouth cut out, so it can be pulled down over the face. There is also a "guitar hero" style guitar to play, one likes.

Pussy Riot Performance

I had three other people perform with me.  They were passing by and decided to rock out for the cause.  The next participants were two girls who decided to perform.  I have pictures of their performance, since mine were taken by someone else, I don't have them yet. The dance begins with a bow, and then you just rock out. What a release!  Don't really care for dress up, but I had on my union jack Doc Martens and this snug fitted dress, along with my bright pink homemade ski mask... Maybe its a good thing there are no pictures! Its starting to sound scary! But these pictures of the two girls will do.

Rockin Out!

Saturday rocked big time! Closing night at Artomatic had the eclectic lounge groove of Avi Wisnia His band played a Bossa Nova, Latin Lounge groove that had you dancing.  He performed "Aqua de Beber" - Water to Drink from Sergio Mendes.  If you haven't checked them out, either both Avi and Sergio won't disappoint. Definitely expands the listening palette, and is an easy introduction to World Beat Music style.  Putumayo also has different styles of music from various countries complied on one CD. Avi also sang a few other songs  and a couple in Spanish, no doubt! I am now a fan! Avi is delightful and fun guy, his three man band travels across the country, playing their music. A music profile of his band will be forthcoming.  I really enjoyed listening to him play/sing.


Avi Wisnia's debut album SOMETHING NEW is available now.  www.AVIWISNIA.com


They also will be performing Sunday, Aug 12, 8pm & 10pm at Twinz Jazz 1344 U Street N.W. Washington, D.C. Like them on Facebook.


Saturday I decided to work with Stage Crew helping out with the bands for the last night at Artomatic.   I got to play the role of a "yes" girl, standing outside the rooms that the bands (Avi Wisnia & Tracy Hamlins' band) were to leave their instruments in, getting water and chairs for the musicians.  I got to talk to one guy who had been playing trumpet since 9th grade. He also play saxophone and tambourine.  It was something new to do, since I had never performed that duty as a stage crew person.  I also helped set up lights with the Stage Crew Manager Mary Diaz.  She received a jacket with all the volunteers and board members signatures on it for work with Artomatic.  I even put my Jane Hancock on it on the back of the left sleeve.  For my last assignment, I was the staff who escorted Tracy Hamlin and her singers to the stage.  Of course I got to talk with her, if only briefly, while escorting her to and from the ladies room.  She's performed with Pieces of a Dream and with such greats as Chaka Khan, and Sister Sledge in Paris.  Tracy was very nice and can sing her butt off!  It was a pleasure to have met and talked with her.  She also has a fan page on Facebook.  Tracy performed after Avi and his band.  I got to watch the performance. Tracy performed songs from her new CD Seasons, and performed a few songs by Chaka Khan and Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin. She had plenty of fans and supporters in the audience. Everyone was rockin and jammin to her.  Girlfriend gave a great performance, she turned it out big time! that's the way to go out! Artomatic rocked!


After this stellar performance it was time to call it a night.  Artomatic was fun, and I had a great time meeting new people and seeing way more art than I ever thought possible. This was a good experience and I recommend it to anyone who has thought about participating. Its definitely worth it.  Made a lot of new friends and heard a lot of great music, volunteered my time,and enjoyed every minute of it.  


Just because Artomatic has ended, doesn't mean my artist profiles have ended.  Stay tuned for my upcoming profile on Photographer/Fine Artist Christine krizsa and Part II of Listen without Prejudice-Lady J CD review in the next few days.  There was so much happening that this post will be devoted to artomatic. Don't want to overload your brain!

Check you next time, same blog time, same blog channel!