Life Can be a Drag or Just an Illusion

(Kim Stacy plays several characters in Priscilla, including the awkward woman.)

I'm experimenting with this entry as I started it on one computer and I want to see if I can insert or combine the information. If not there will be two separate entries.

(Jack Donahue plays Bernadette, the role played by Terrence Stamp in the film.)

(Anthony Vincent Toudjarov plays Felicia)

(Kwame Michael Remy as Miss Understanding)

(Stephen Anthony plays various roles in Prescilla Queen of the Desert)

(Boyce Templin plays Farrah and is a part of the Ensemble)

I had been wanting to write this for quite some time. Currently, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Musical, is being performed at ZACH. It’s an incredible musical based upon the film of the same name. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays, with two shows on Saturdays until Sunday October 30, 2016. There are still tickets available.

Abe Reybold directs this lavish and colorful production. Of course there are some differences in the musical, but the story remains the same. There’s more music and this time they actually do sing when the get to the top of Ayers Rock.

When I met the film makers at the Seattle International Film Festival we discussed musical rights and getting Terrence Stamp to play the part of Bernadette.

In the ZACH production, Jack Donahue does an incredible job with the role.

There are many events in New Orleans where I can take pictures of people in costumes, mainly during Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence and Halloween.

In 2009 I was introduced to Coca and I decided I would try to photograph the process of the transformation. I shot video and still images and it was quite interesting.

(Coca beginning the transformation process)

These images are from a benefit that was held at the Golden Lantern.

I’ve written about this when I used to write about my travels. In 2005 I went to Louisville, Kentucky to visit a friend and he liked watching drag. I went to one of those competitions and I was blown away. I was never a big fan of drag other than watching people on TV doing it and Jim Baily who considered himself an illusionist.

In 2002, I had gone to a club in Pensacola called Emerald City and I saw something so unusual that I was changing my mind about the art form. Anorexia performed: an alien like creature that was just so theatrical you felt as if you were somewhere else.

(Coca as Lucille Ball in the famous Vita Vita Vegeman commercial)

So, back to Louisville, quite a few of the acts actually sang, there was no lip syncing. Some of the costumes and dancing was so professional. Now that I write this it reminds me of a line from Bernadette, that the art of drag is gone, but everyone is finding their way to be a star thanks to RuPaul. Although Sylvester paved the way.

There was one person that did Tina Turner and there was another number that I don’t recall, but the costume was a leather antebellum gothic look that was just awesome.
Then there was a group that sang Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, they were dressed in black an white like children from the corn, but the lead was Edward Scissor hands and this was just the best thing I had seen in quite some time.

(Rikki Redd performing at a benefit at the Golden Lantern in New Orleans)

More and more those that do drag are bringing out their art just like the entertainers that they impersonate. Of course there can be a thin line between impersonation and drag.

Like all art, it’s not for everyone. Some people don’t understand it and there are others that see too much of themselves on the stage or it’s a secret fantasy to perform.
That’s why Halloween and Mardi Gras gives them the chance to embrace those hidden fantasies.

(Monique Michaels performing at the Golden Lantern for a benefit)

Artography by Dlonzo “It’s not just a Photograph, it’s Art!”

If you are in need of an artist/photographer to capture your event from concept to completion contact me, 1960Photo@gmail.com or Photo1960@aol.com

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again to see where the journey leads.

Check out my other blogs for more insight.
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com
http://artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.
Taking it one day at a time. Keep the faith.

Remember Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are available simply by asking. Send an email with ATC in the subject and I can email one to you.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).

Check out the links below for some of my videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

Memories of New Orleans 2015

(This is the castle.) When you are a kid everything looks big. I remembered this castle and I wondered if it was still around. Each trip I would make to New Orleans I'd think about it, but I never remembered to go and check it out.

Ash Wednesday was a day of reflection. I went to Corpus Christi Church which is where I attended church almost every Sunday as a young man and I went to school there for two years. Since the school is non-existent, they are renovating to turn it into some sort of senior facility.

I parked in the next block from the church which was near the home in which I was brought to after I was born. Then I passed by the elementary school that I attended, McDonogh #42 which is becoming a Charter school. From there I decided to see what had been done to the first home my parents bought.

 O f course it didn't look like this. It had a nice porch and a yard. Everyone gathered at my house or that of my best friend on the other side of the street.

From there I went and happened to spot the tower of the castle. It was not as big now as when we were children. You can get a pretty good view. We used to climb up the fence and get the cooking pears from a tree that hung over the fence. The top had cut glass so you had to be very careful.

Here are some other random shots taken at City Park. Some images are for sale if interested. Send an email to Photo1960@aol.com or 1960Photo@gmail.com, put ArtbyDlonzo in the subject.

(A rose by any other name... this is from the art project, Prospect 3. The sculpture is located in City Park.)

(The park swing has the City Park logo.)

(Inside of City Putt, the putting area features New Orleans Heritage. This one represents Mardi Gras.)

(This is morning call which has opened in City Park where the Casino used to be.)

   (The entrance to Storyland where many of the local kids rode their first roller coaster and enjoyed the Carousel.

(This is McDonogh #42 which is soon to be a Charter school.)

What is art?

The creation of art… The artist is usually a misunderstood person. People are intrigued by their talent, but don’t always understand it. Some visual pieces are pretty to look at and some are more complex. Not only does it tell a story on the canvas, but there is also a story of how and why it was created. Secrets lie in the works of all artists in all forms.
The fantasy unfolds for a person who doesn’t dare experience what they create or they’ve dabbled on the thought and let it manifest itself into something more. Fiction allows an artist to say what they hold deep in the bowels of their inner core. All of their fears get to be presented through images and words. Pain and suffering surface through poems and lyrics. The mood swings and torture from music. Life like art, is filled with beauty, surrealism, truth, honesty, pleasure, betrayal, misfortune and pain.

http://dlonzo-openyourmind.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

Transforming ordinary items

The image is a shadow created from the patio table.

Art can be found in virtually anything. As I’ve said many times, it’s only limited to your imagination. In a time of recycling and helping the environment there are some things we can use to make beautiful works of art. When I was in Hawaii, one of the wineries made candle holders out of the wine bottles. All wine drinkers have purchased wine that had beautiful decorative bottles and we didn’t want to get rid of the bottle after the wine was gone. You can buy a candle globe that can go over the bottle and put a small candle in the opening and you have a candle. You can also turn wine bottles into lamps. You can buy cords and drill a small hole into the bottle to run the cord. Had the socket for the bulb and you’ve created a unique lamp. Make several and give them as gifts or sell them. You can also take the plane bottles and remove the labels and then take some of your favorite scrapbook paper that matches the décor in the room and decorate the bottle with various strips around the top, center and bottom. Add some glitter or beads and sit on a window sill and let the light create art within the art on the walls and ceiling.

http://www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

http://www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088

http://www.n4cersworld.com/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

Scrapbooking a life

This digital photo is called (2headsrbetta)

I started putting together a scrap book of my life story this year. This project inspired me to write as much of what I could remember. I’m glad I can remember a lot of things and I can make sense of what brought me to the place I am today. Therapy comes in all forms, but art is the greatest therapy of all. The choice of colors, the flow of words or the doodles that we create while we are just staring off into space all mean something.

Although I can remember many events, the dates are the problem. I may recall that something happened in first grade which allows me to pin point a year, but not the exact date. If something happened in school it would normally fall between August and May. That only matters if I really want to get detailed. The fact that I remember an incident should overshadow when it exactly happened. I’m also realizing I have photographs of people that I can’t remember their names. At some point they posed in front of my camera, but they didn’t make a big enough impact for me to remember who they were.

I’ve also discovered journal entries about certain people and I can’t place a face to the name. I’ve met so many people in my life which I guess makes it hard to remember them all. That’s one of the reasons I started keeping a journal for those little encounters. The people you see in passing. You may have a conversation in the grocery or at a local bar. The conversation was long enough to get a name, but not enough to form a friendship.

That could be an interesting exercise to take all of the pictures of people I don’t know and create a collage. Maybe it will trigger a memory.

http://www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

http://www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088

http://www.n4cersworld.com/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

I had planned to go and see the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, but when I left the house my brain said no. I usually go with my instinct, but I’m not exactly sure of the reasoning behind this decision. Perhaps it was the time. I usually like going to the movies early, but the first showing was at 12:30 PM which meant I wouldn’t be out of the theater until 2:30 PM and then I’d spend an hour in Wal Mart picking up items that I needed. I ended up buying almost $100.00 worth of food, most of which I needed. There were a few things I could have done without, but now I won’t have to stock up until next year. I can just buy the necessities, milk, bread, orange juice if they should run out. I’m really watching every penny and doing my best to stick to my lists. The reason I spent so much was because I didn’t pull out my list while I was in the store. Had I pulled out the list then I wouldn’t have spent as much. The importance of lists is to keep everything in perspective. We only get what is on the list. If we couldn’t remember to write it down then it means we really didn’t need it.
I have all the necessary fixings for Thanksgiving dinner should I stay home for whatever reason. I also picked up my cabbage and black eyed peas for the traditional new years day meal. I’ll experiment in the kitchen for Christmas and see what I come up with. There are a few things I want to pick up at the Dollar Tree, but all gifts and Christmas cards have already been purchased. I have a few ornaments/bookmarks that I want to make. I’m also working on a design for an artist trading card. I may do up to five designs and there will be a total of 40 cards. If your not familiar with the artist trading cards it all started in 1997 by M. Vanci Stirnemann, a Swiss artist who created 1200 cards by hand for an exhibit. On the last day he invited other artist to create cards and to trade them. It then took off sort of like Artrovertism, which is the creation of art that is left behind for someone to discover and hopefully display it and not trash it.
Artist trading cards, (ATCs) are miniature pieces of art that are traded around the world. They measure 2.5” x 3.5” and can be traded via mail or online. It is a great way to meet other artists. If you are an artist, why not join the movement. I had thought about the fleur dlonzo as one of my trading card designs.

Time to get back to reality.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…