Tennessee Driftwood

Tribute

2009-06-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

Before you read this do yourself a favor and watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VASYhabHkM

So Michael Jackson has passed away and the things I have heard people saying inspired me to write this tribute. From what I have collected most people see him as a deranged and troubled individual that couldn't keep the big hand from touching the little one. Well that's too bad because I see him as one of the most talented performers in music history. Call me crazy. Not only did he write the lyrics, but he could moonwalk.

I feel that people should not let the opinions of the news writers mold their own opinions. People should do their own research in this age of information. For the most part, the media picks and chooses facts from a massive pool of information to shape a story that will sell the most newspapers and get the highest ratings. Michael did suffer from a abnormal upbringing and lived a life hardly any of us "normal folk" could comprehend. I mean come on, he was famous at age 11 and stayed famous till the day he died. Not one month goes by where I'm not listening to a track from either Off the Wall, Thriller or Bad.

The best thing I can think to say is that people should remember him as a musician. Many others have done strange things that were known to the public, but got the better side of people's memory. For example, Teddy Roosevelt shot and slaughtered thousands of animals across the globe. Today, he is remembered as the president that set the tone for national park systems across the globe. Michael Jordan, a more contemporary example, was a compulsive gambler who one night blew several million dollars in an Atlantic City casino. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest athletes in history. I could go on and on with examples and analogies, but I won't.

I will end in saying that those precious tracks that were laid down from the late 70s to the early 90s were a big part of some of my life's best memories. I have vicariously danced my ass off to these beats and even made love to some of them. Who cares how weird he looked; I have met some weird looking people in my time who turned out to be just fine. The 80s would not have been the ridiculous decade it was without him.

Here's to Michael...may he rest in peace.

Photography

2009-06-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Photography,
This is one of the greatest mediums of the world we live in today. Some art patrons would tell you that painting or sculpture are the true genres of talent...and yes they require many skills indeed. But, photography is so versatile that you cannot deny it's pull in the facets of one's own life. Without photos to look at, how would we decide what the sidewalks of George Street in St. John's, Newfoundland look like. This place may not be everyone's first pick, but if you wanted to make an appearance you would know where to start because you know what it looks like. Also, how would one know what the result of a ball game, election, war, construction project, environmental success or even a complex cooking recipe was. We earthlings of today take for granted the lovely, yet simple machine called camera.

Regarding the left-field version of photography, or art photography, I feel a strong opinion is necessary. This is not photojournalism, advertising graphic design or even National Geographic. This is art meant exclusively to entertain one person, the artist. There is no aim for monetary gain or positive feedback. Those who can understand or even attempt to understand have a head start; kind of like when you meet a Frenchmen at a bar and at least try to speak French rather than make no effort whatsoever. Art photography is something special. It expresses something that is real. Yes, it might have been tweeked here and there for scratches or scuffs in Photoshop, but it was a split-second moment when the artist felt something. It is hard to explain the inspirations that come and go at random times during the day. Sometimes I see chives and scallops floating in soy sauce a certain way and see art, but that's what it's all about.

Some artists may have an opinion that is very different from my own, but that is what makes it great. If every artist had the same opinion the art world would not have had members like Kertesz, Cartier-Bresson and Callahan and it would not exist today. Art photography is the youngest child in a large family of art genres. There is a large portion that is moving with the future and digital photography and there are fundalmentalists out there that still feel using a large format view camera is the only way to go.

Here's to the viewfinders.

BW

Jazz and Cartoons

2009-06-22T08:41:00.001-07:00

So I am planning my wedding, which is coming up in a about six weeks. I am in the process of choosing music to play during the reception. I want a nice eclectic mix of genres going back to 1920's jazz...the best time to be a jazz fan. This was when recording tracks was a new thing for those talented gents living in Harlem, New Orleans, Kansas City and Chicago and songs only lasted three minutes tops. All the while they were putting on the night shows I can only dream about. This, like alot of other types of music, was in its prime because it has not yet caught on and become mainstream. Swing was still ten years down the road and America was booming and jumping. The country was not yet the big, tough body builder that hangs out in the gym way too much and picks fights with people he does not even know.

I wish I could have seen Harlem in those times. Though the country was heavily segregated ARFICAN-Americans had their own local flavour and their little world just north of Central Park. I can see people as real cartoon characters. After all, motion picture cartoons came from times like these. Walt Disney hadn't sold out yet and was making some awesome shorts like the famous Steamboat Willie. Mickey is whistling, shaking his little mouse butt, playing dead animals as musical instruments...you know, having a good old time.

So, after all this, all I can hope is that this music that I am playing at my wedding brings out the best in people. If you have ever listened to the earliest music from Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong or Jelly Roll Morton you will know what I am talking about. I may be getting too excited and letting my imagination get the best of me, but I am a dreamer. If this wedding reception even comes close to the vibe of the roaring 20's...it will the be the best day of my life thus far.

Here's to Harlem.

BW

Immigration

2009-06-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

Howdy,
So I succeeded in legally immigrating to Canada. I spent a full twelve hour day driving to the Maine/New Brunswick border to get my little expensive piece of government paper. I have spent a considerable amount of time in this country and did not have much luck in acquiring a full-time job, let alone the paperwork. Though I did enjoy lots of time reading and making art, the bills were piling up. I wanted to stay with my girl no matter what, but I found life considerably harder staying in Canada than in the states.

The process of immigrating to Canada can be alittle tricky and requires lots of research and planning ahead, both of which can be challenging for a person such as myself. Finding work that is indeed full-time, requires little to no French, and also being lucky enough to persuade them to hire a big-headed American like me was oh so elusive.

So now, several months later I have not only landed a job, but done everything the legal way. I have fancy piece of paper that says "WORK PERMIT" at the top, has my name underneath and a shiny little Maple Leaf in the corner. Thank you Canada. It's starting to feel more and more like home every season that I spend here. The fall was welcoming, the winter was not, and the spring and summer have really proved to be better than home. No blistering heat and a nice, steady breeze all the time makes the outdoors so much more comfortable.

I tell people what I have accomplished and sometimes have to remind myself that hardly anyone knows what the hell I'm talking about. Nobody knows what goes into immigrating. Nobody really has to know. Yes, people travel and travel all their lives, but few actually stay where they're going. The ones that do hardly ever go about it the legal way.

Cheers to you people that know what I'm talking about...cheers!

BW

Le Debut

2009-06-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Howdy,

I am staying on Prince Edward Island, Canada for the summer. It was a fun journey getting here all the way from Tennessee. People up here don't spend their days drenched in sweat and retreating to outdoor pools. People here enjoy the weather that I feel is perfect for outdoor fun time.

It's about 70 F today. The sand is soft, the water is bearable (and will improve as the weeks pass) and people are scarce. Back home beautiful beaches like these are coated with tourists. Here you pass a lazy couple two or three times a day. Most of the time it's the same couple you saw an hour ago.

I am getting married on this island this summer. I never thought I would be married this young, but I am constantly reminded of the reason we made the decision. Among the many things that make us the bomb-diggity is our desire to live life the way it should be lived. We do not plan on having kids anytime soon so that we can spend what little money we have on traveling the globe. We try not to plan more than a year down the road, but Montreal, Colorado, Thailand and Peru are definitely in our immediate future.

Here's to Canada.

BW