Peace. Vincent

A few months ago, AntiquityLashay and I were hanging out there. After reading the, then, upcoming column of Scottie Lowe (Deep Inside My NeoSoul), she and I were tossing around ideas for images to complement the entry. AntiquityLashay had gone through the trouble to bring some old school headphones to the joint and I’d become enamored with lighting and the brickwalls at Octane. So we proceeded to annoy the customers by creating a few captures. Its was fun, but, later, after we discussed it we decided the images needed to be more explicit and Ryka ended up being the earthSista in the final shoot. But you never got a chance to see the images we created that day so I thought I’d show them now.

Do you think we made the right choice?

1. How did you come to be connected with Pangaea’s Garden?
   I was introduced to the Garden by the one and only, Vincent”Truecolor” Christie.
2. How would you describe your personality/outlook on life?
   I would best describe my personalities as, well meditated head on collisons, and as for my outlook on life, I say,”Jump in head first and figure out the details when your waist deep.”
3. What color would you pick to describe your personality? Why?
   Redrum Redrum…Um red is definitely the shade that is I. Red for me, is symbolic of lava, which describes my duality perfectly. When I am amp’d, I am redhot, rapid, and destructive, but once I calm down I am solid, stable, and sharp. Either way, I am breathtaking.
4. How would you describe your style? You feel most comfortable dressed in what?
   I am most comfortable in my skin, meaning when I am naked.
5. If there were one thing you would especially like for people to know about you, what would it be?
   I believe that I am two of a kind, being that everyone has a twin, but I am definitely the more awesome twin.
6. How old are you?
   They say I am 26 years of age.
7. Where are you from originally?
   The 5th ring of Saturn, on the upper east side. Oops, I mean New Orleans,LA Go Saints!
8. Single or Committed? EarthSista or EarthMother?
   I am a happily committed, Urbanista/Mother/Super Herione!
9. Large or small family? And how diid that affect you?
   I have a large family, but I was raised in a small family, which has helped me to be self reliant and independent. Thanks Mom!
10. What cause would you fight for? What cause would you die for? What cause would you live for?
    I would live for, die for, and fight for my daughters.
11. What are your hobbies/interests?
    Photography and film production are interest of mine, and I poke holes in people as a hobby.
12. Aside from work, what activities consume most of your time?
    That would be parenting and sex.
13. What’s current occupation?
    Body Modification Artist
14. What’s your Dream Job?
    Ruler of the entire world(legally).
    All Hail Renegade Barbie! It has a regal ring to it.
15. What are your politics.?
    Politics are not for the pure and faint of heart.
16. Complete this sentence. “As a woman, I believe it’s especially important to…”
    Have a vagina. Nah seriously, as a woman know and respect your powers as a female. A woman has the abilities and strengths to carry,birth, and mold another human beings life. Enough Said!
17. Complete this sentence. “Nothing is better than…”
    I bet you think I gonna say something obsence, well I’m not, I’ll just think it. So ha!
18. Your greatest moment?
    I’ve haven’t had it yet.
19. Your most humbling moment?
    Childbirth, hands down!
20. Is your hair natural? If so, for how long?
    Natural as it’s growing out of my scalp? Then yes my hair is natural.
21. What turns you on?
    My babe, Sergio L. Merriweather.
22. What pisses you off?
    Liars and procastinators.
23. Words to live by?
    “To thy own self be true.”
24. Vegetarian or Barbarian?
    Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian. Go Veg!
25. Whats your sign?
    Aries! Can’t you tell by now? Jeez!
26. Favorite TV Show or Movie?
    Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill 1&2, Narural Born Killers, From Dusk til Dawn, Death Proof… Do you notice a similar in my movie choices hmmmm?
27. Last Book Read?
    The Secret.
28. One think you want to do before you die?
    I want to do a lot of things, but I really wanna witness an authenic exorcism in another country.
29. Complete this sentence. “You have faith in …?”
    Myself.

He is a Marvel Comics character; leader of a mythological African nation called Wakanda that has never been conquered by invaders, both foreign and domestic. He is Wakanda King and Protector and the nation boast a level of advancement that exceeds most Western nations.

I was fascinated by the stories of the early nineties by Christopher Priest and intrigued by the new stories that Reginald Hudlin created with John Romita Jr almost a decade later.

The filmmaker, Reginald Hudlin scripted the stories that these animations are based on and I believe he spearheaded the making of this series with BET. He still scripts the stories and he’s actually made some changes, recently that were pretty radical for the character. Because the mantle of the Black Panther is no longer held by Tchalla. It now belongs to his sister Shuri and her stories are being told now. Hudlin did an interview about this change and the animation a while back. To check it out, click here.

Now it is a very sad conundrum, the aftermath of the Earthquake. Seeing people dead in the streets, maimed, injured and dying is enough to make ones flesh crawl. It was devastation that I could not imagine. Now with that said, I don’t want folks to take this the wrong way albeit I don’t care – but what good is relief and news coverage if it only parades folks for the purpose of individual attention and ratings. What little I saw gave me this opinion and this as a man who has worked in places all over Africa stopping infectious disease pandemics in small rural communities. When I see news folk broadcasting, all I can think is that they may be sorry but really don’t care and that they really acting, just like the major relief groups as well. Unfortunatelly our government places more importance on getting military troops on the ground than physicians. And then there are the media pundits.

They ask questions as if the folk in Haiti could have dealt with this not recalling that the last Earthquake to occur was some 200 years ago. Then they stand over folks and as opposed to presenting news they present commentary. Figure if they really cared they would be sleeping in the fields with the folk they covering instead of hotels, and being out removing rubble instead of taking pictures and showing make-believe I care faces. Then there is the issue of not know history. Reporters never speak of how Woodrow Wilson and the US occupied Haiti in 1915, or how we basically killed folk on site, or how Bill Clinton continued the same Progressive political approach of Woodrow Wilson. And yep, I’m not in support of progressives for around the world they feel that folks can’t solve their own problems and prefer to interfere and mess things up and ex post facto blame the targets. We forget that Haiti was made poor by the French and even US who did not even recognize them as a sovereign nation on until 1862. We neglected them then for years and now we blame them and don’t even see how we made them or accept that we made the one of the four poorest nations on the globe. And I won’t even mention all this talk about orphans and having folks in America on TV looking sad because they can’t get the kid they wanted to adopt – when these same folks don’t even want to adopt black kids in their own backyard.

Yep, this is why I don’t watch TV news – they will pass anything over as objective information and we are too ignorant to see that what is presented is neither objective nor information but rather conjecture empty of historic perspective. Cut your TV folks, they making you make yourselves slaves. We should see that there is enough research on Earthquakes and their impact historically to act as if this is a new thing and we have to study to help folk on the ground – humbug. I wonder what else is really going on in the world, cause it aint being covered given eleventy-seven news reporters are all occupied with Haiti.

Raw Dawg Buffalo, aka Torrance Stephens, considers himself to be a “professional criminal w/o a criminal record.” A very prolific writer and blogger, you can find an extensive, if not incomplete, collections of his works, journals and blogtalk radio interviews at rawdawgb.blogspot.com

A child of the Big Easy, Patricia Nobella claims, ” I came out of the womb painting.” It was as innate to her as breathing and she envisioned no other path for her in life other than one that flowed through the aesthetic of colors, textures, and even precious metals. Patricia demonstrates a passion for art by depicting the world around her in creative and colorful ways. She started doing local art shows in the city of New Orleans where she sold most of her work. Later she received training at Southern Univerty of New Orleans and later went on to Tulane University to continue her training in the arts. In the year 2000 she started making jewelery and that became her bread and butter. Now living in Atlanta’s historic West End where she continues to paint and make exquisite jewelry, she even incorporating her jewelry into her paintings. Her works are displayed in cafes, restaurants and private homes.

In the roll of Style Director for the Pangea’s Garden, Nobella created jewelry, selected fashions and assisted in staging several of the initial image sets we created. When her work as an artist started making increasing demands on her time she had to step away from that roll but she was always close by, providing support and guidance. Recently I asked her if she could fit the Garden into her various endeavors once again and she, happily agreed. We recently did an image set of Violet, a new EarthSista whose images are coming soon. And I’ve included outtakes from that set along with images of her collection. Enjoy!

Currently, Nobella is building her website and preparing her artworks for her upcoming gallery show. Details to come here, soon.

Peace.

–Vincent

I’ve learned so much from her and she has inspired me in ways she is not even aware of at this point. Soon we will do an interview with her about her site and her vision. In the meantime, this is her homage to ours.

Thanks Jinga!

Make sure you check out her site at http://blacquewidowdolls.com

-Vincent

Coy, yet open; deep, yet straightforward; real, yet artistic. Always gracious and optimistic. Ryka is that bright, dimpled smile that makes you smile as well.

1. What color would you pick to describe your personality? Why?
   Silver, because I can be dark and mysterious or shiny and bright.
2. How would you describe your style? You feel most comfortable dressed in what?
   My style of dress is flashy, eye-catching, colorful, girlie, and tight. I feel most comfortable dressed in a pair of boy shorts and a tank top if I have to be clothed. Otherwise, I love just being in my own skin.
3. Where are you from originally?
   Oakland, California. Always and forever a Cali girl at heart.
4. Single or committed? EarthSista or EarthMother?
   I’m committed to my wonderful, loving Husband and best friend. Also, I’m a committed EarthMother to my very energetic, handsome 2 year old son. I love them both with all my heart and soul.
5. Large or small family? And how did that affect you?
   I grew up with a small family. Just me, my mom, and 2 younger brothers. Growing up in a small family helps you have an everlasting bond that nothing or anybody can break. I want the same in my own family.
6. Who/what has been a major influence in your life to this point?
   My mother has been a major influence, she taught me what it was meant to be a strong black woman, a strong mother, and also how to continue to move forward with life even after tragedy.
7. Name 5 artists that you’d have on your IPOD?
   Pink, Lady GaGa, The Dream, Gucci Mane, and Trey Songz.
8. What are your hobbies/interest?
   Clothing design, crocheting, writing, listening to music, and coming up with creative ways to teach my son new things.
9. Aside from work, what activities consume most of your time?
   My son, always chasing behind him, unless he’s sleep then I’m cleaning.
10. What’s your dream job?
    A hairstylist/make-up artist/fashion designer/nail designer/barber/mechanic.
11. Complete this sentence: “As a woman, I believe it is especially important to…”
    respect and love yourself if it you expect that from others and always keep your head up.
12. What turns you on?
    beautiful smile, confidence, nice male body, intelligence, glasses, wine with peach slices, and ice cream.
13. What pisses you off?
    Ignorance, stupid comments, lying, cheating, stealing, false accusations, bad parenting, people who use drugs, uncleanliness, and perverts.
14. Words to live by?
    Live, Laugh, Learn. Love, Sex, Money. The Heart wants what the Heart wants, it doesn’t hurt to listen.
15. What’s your sign?
    Cancer, yes I’m very sensitive and emotional blah blah blah lol.
16. Favorite TV show or Movie.
    TV shows: Bones, Army Wives, Law & Order: SVU. Movies: Labyrinth, Gremlins, All Disney movies.
17. Complete this sentence: “Nothing is better than…”
    chicken nuggets and fries with a mixture of barbecue sauce and ranch dressing. Spending a nice beautiful day at the park with my son and husband. The smile on my son’s face, his laugh, and his hugs & kisses.
18. Your greatest moment?
    I have two: 1) My high school graduation, I was Senior class VP and read an inspirational poem. 2) The night my son was born.
19. Tomboy or Girlie girl?
    I’m a girlie girl but I do have tomboy qualities. I’m not too cute to get dirty or enjoy sweaty activities, nor am I scared of bugs….well a few still creep me out.
20. One thing you want to do before you die?
    Travel to different countries around the world.