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Friday, March 29, 2024
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This is Richard “Doc” Parker.

This is Richard “Doc” Parker. He was a combat medic with 4/12 Cav in Vietnam 1969-70. He received a Bronze Star for his gallant actions, but few know his courageous story and no one will ever hear these accounts uttered from his own lips. Being a combat medic alone should speak volumes about the caliber of man Richard is. He is a man who would sprint through a hail of bullets to save a life while chaos erupted around him. He would leap from the sanctuary of his tank and hurtle through a mine field to help his friends. These aren’t mere analogies. He did that. He damned the devil and stole from death. Yet he was willing to trade his own soul for the single life of one of his men. Despite how much he gave of himself, for Richard, it was never good enough. Men died. He felt as though he had failed his friends. Returning home people spat on him, made any number of derogatory remarks, and ostracized him for going to war. He believed he had failed his country. Over the years, Richard made many attempts to visit his friends from Vietnam and 4/12 Cav, but was so ashamed he couldn’t bring himself to meet them face to face. Richard was often the last person someone saw in life. Men dreaded a day they might see Richard staring down on them, but he was the one person everyone wanted walking by their side through hell. Having spent time in the U.S. Marines, I know the significance of people like Richard and what they represent to their men. My Corpsmen and I are still good friends to this day. I can’t possibly begin to describe the epitome they embody, or the love that we have for them. Medics mean the world to us. It goes beyond a brotherhood. I know the same applies to Richard and the love and respect his men have for him. “Doc” was the one responsible for delivering them home to their families. But he gave up so much. His PTSD has left him crippled because of his experience. He doesn’t believe he deserves respect for what he did because he never saw it coming back. It didn’t matter how many lives he saved, he only counted the ones he couldn’t. Those are the lives he remembers. Those are the lives that haunt him. Memorial Day is a time to honor those who lost their lives, but we should also revere those who gave everything they could so that men and women didn’t die on the battle field. We should honor men and women like Richard who did everything in their power so that we wouldn’t have to venerate a day like Memorial Day.
Submitted by Thomas R. Bloom


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BSA Images Of The Week: 05.14.17

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.14.17
Editorz, 14 May 12:02 AM

As New Yorkers (and the world) discuss whether Trump will self-combust, start a war, take control as a dictator, be revealed as a Russian operative, or be impeached — one thing is for sure, every day the reputation of the US is sustaining damage among friends and allies, billionaires are grinning like the Cheshire Cat […]

AXE Colours – Two Graffiti Friends, Now Creative Partners
Editorz, 13 May 06:00 AM

Sometimes you can parlay your graffiti and Street Art practice into a career that sustains you, and many artists work hard to find opportunities that assure that they can continue to be creative. Friends since childhood and painting graffiti and murals together since 1999 in Barcelona, Adrià (Smaug) and Oriol (Gúma) together call themselves AXE […]

BSA Film Friday: 05.12.17
Editorz, 12 May 06:00 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Calligraphy, Layers and Screen Play; Said Dokins / Ugly Food House 2. Paolo Troilo: The London Afternoon 3. Elisa Capdevila & Ivan Floro for 12 + 1. 4. Jason Woodside and Ian Ross at Nashville Walls […]

Liliwenn Paints “Liberty Asleep” in Vannes, France
Editorz, 11 May 06:00 AM

“Liberty Asleep” is the name of this image by French artist Liliwen who paints it at a time when liberty needs to be awake. Liliwenn. “Liberté endormie”. Vannes, France. May 2017. (photo © Liliwenn) A painter of paradoxes, usually on wood or canvas, Liliwen has painted on walls in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin and […]

Young New Yorkers, Street Artists, and Keeping Teens Out of Jail
Editorz, 10 May 12:02 AM

The Street Art community donates time and art to a program that keeps teens out of jail in New York. An annual auction overflows with work by today’s Street Artists. Marco Mazzoni. Young New Yorkers 2017 (photo © Jaime Rojo) With the precision indicative of her architect training Rachel Barnard describes the art/criminal justice project […]

Banksy Hits Brexit With New Piece, MaisMenos & BLU Used EU Flag Earlier
Editorz, 09 May 06:00 AM

The appearance of a new mural by Banksy in Dover, England caught the attention of many followers on his Instagram account and the mass media folks quickly reported on the new piece that comments on the current state of the EU. Banksy. Dover, England. Photo @banksy Instagram 10 months since the Brexit vote, the anonymous […]

Karl Addison Paints In Refugee Camp in Greece with Syrian Kids
Editorz, 08 May 06:00 AM

If your house is destroyed and you are chased from your neighborhood by bombs, anything that recalls normalcy is welcomed. Street Artist Karl Addison tells us a recent project with two other artists where he hopes their painting gave residents a sense of hope for their future. Karl Addison for aptART. Elpida, Thessaloniki, Greece. April […]

BSA Images Of The Week: 05.07.17
Editorz, 07 May 12:02 AM

Whether by design or organically grown, we have always gravitated to what we call “Magnet Walls” – those graffiti/Street Art gardens in a town or city that are an open canvas for artists to get up, try out new ideas, experiment with materials, implement a strategy. These walls play an important role in the ecosystem […]

“GO GO GO” BYG in Spain for 12+1 Project
Editorz, 06 May 10:00 AM

Maybe it’s because we just saw Mark Mothersbaugh interviewed live onstage at NYU by Carlo McCormick, but when we saw this mechanically growing text it reminded us of DEVO and Kraftwerk and possibly Dadaist collage. And Russian Constructivists and the Bauhaus. BYG. GO, GO, GO. Contorno Urbano “12 x 1” 2017. Barcelona. (photo © Clara […]

BSA Film Friday: 05.05.17
Editorz, 05 May 06:00 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Stick to It, Episode 1 : Sticky Community 2. Ella & Pitr / Frappés Pinpins 3. Herakut. Nuart Aberdeen. 4. 12 + 1 Oriol Vlat. BSA Special Feature: Stick to It, Episode 1 : Sticky Community […]...Read More

Skount Depicts “The Golden Ray”
Editorz, 04 May 06:00 AM

It may look like a gold medallion doorbell, or a fingerprint scanning ID validator, or an icon to poke to open up a celestial app, but Amsterdam Street Artist Skount says it is about accessing cosmic currents of energy. Skount. Process shot. Amsterdam, May 2017. (photo © Skount) That may feel a little esoteric for […]

Mong Kok: Hong Kong and a Graffiti Hall Of Fame
Editorz, 03 May 06:02 AM

There is a lot you can do in Mong Kok, one of the most commercial and bustling neighborhoods in the Kowloon section of Hong Kong. There’s the Ladies’ Market with more than 100 vendors offering bargains on clothing and accessories, Sneakers Street, which will have you swimming in pumped up kicks, and don’t forget the […]

Labrona and DB on the Road, Dispatch From Portugal
Editorz, 02 May 06:00 AM

“I didn’t get invited to paint anywhere this winter so I made my own street art trip,” says Labrona of his new wheat-pastes in Portugal. “It’s sort of a throw back to before mural festivals, when we just did stuff on the streets.” Is that Buster Keaton? Labrona and DB. Lisbon, Portugal. Spring 2017 (photo © […]

Working the Cornfields on a Santa Fe Facade with Jetsonorama
Editorz, 01 May 06:00 AM

Just in time for May 1st, International Workers Day, we find a young member of the Hopi nation planting in his grandfather’s cornfield, thanks to this new project just completed by photographer/street artist Jetsonorama. Chip Thomas. Hawthorne. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Earth Day 2017. (photo © Chip Thomas) 18 year old Hawthorne Hill has […]...Read More

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BSA Images Of The Week: 04.30.17

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.30.17
Editorz, 30 Apr 12:02 AM

“Resistance is here to stay, welcome to your 100th day” – said people in Climate Marches across the country yesterday to President Exxon-Lockheed. God, has it only been 100 days? It feels like 1,000. Nevertheless, there are a lot of new politically themed pieces popping up on the street regularly, along with completely apolitical and […]

Carlo McCormick, “Magic City: The Art Of The Street”
Editorz, 29 Apr 06:00 AM

“Nature is a petrified magic city.” With apologies to Novalis, this magic city of New York is too alive to be considered petrified – unless you are talking about being petrified by the sight of five rats on the subway tracks while you wait for the M train. Carlo McCormick. Magic City: The Art Of […]

BSA Film Friday 04.28.17
Editorz, 28 Apr 06:00 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Colouring The World. A Film By Okuda San Miguel 2. Borondo “Golden Gate” 3. Elbi Elem in Barcelona for 12+1 P 4. Chip Thomas in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Biocultura BSA Special Feature: Colouring The […]

Swoon “To Accompany Something Invisible”
Editorz, 27 Apr 06:00 AM

A good way to familiarize oneself with the additional dimensions that Swoon has taken on since you last caught up with her is the Street Artists show called To Accompany Something Invisible newly exhibited at Allouche Gallery in New York. Swoon. “Sasu and Kasey”. To Accompany Something Invisible. Allouche Gallery. (photo © Jaime Rojo) Whether […]

“Resistance is Female” Takes Over Phone Booths in New York
Editorz, 26 Apr 12:02 AM

The decentralized Resistance, as it turns out, is a majority of Americans. And leading the charge are women and girls. So it makes perfect sense that a new grassroots takeover of telephone booth advertising in New York is a campaign called, “Resistance is Female”. Organizers and artists say that the ad takeover project is putting […]

Skulls Reign On the Street and In Art Shows, Threatening and Humble Reminders
Editorz, 25 Apr 06:00 AM

Skulls. We see them on the streets and recently many at art fairs. The Memento Mori of the streets, these skulls reminding us that one day we all will be dead. Every single one. These are occasional, unplanned in pattern, surprising in appearance on the public stage perhaps. Andrew Schoultz at Volta New York 2017. (photo […]

Marina Capdevila Brings Her Seniors to the Winery
Editorz, 24 Apr 06:00 AM

When muralist Marina Capdevila is in Miami her senior ladies are in a convertible heading to the beach and when in Brooklyn they buy a hamburger and fries on the sidewalk. Now visiting a winery cooperative just south of her native Barcelona, the illustrator chooses men and donkeys. Marina Capdevila. Gratallops, Spain. April 2017. (photo […]

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.23.17
Editorz, 23 Apr 12:02 AM

Boom! There it is! This is springtime and there is a lot of new stuff popping up like tulips and out like cherry blossoms. If you didn’t get to the Martha Cooper opening at Steven Kasher gallery this week it is open during the week- a great cross section of her work during the last […]

Anna Maga for “12 + 1” Project In Barcelona
Editorz, 22 Apr 10:00 AM

Saturday is a good day to get into your own creative projects and try stuff that you don’t have time to do usually. We always like to walk past the local walls to see what people are creating. Checking in on this community wall in Sant Feliu de Llobregat to see what’s going up in […]

BSA Film Friday 04.21.17 – Vids from Nuart Aberdeen 2017
Editorz, 21 Apr 06:00 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. ADD FUEL – Nuart Aberdeen 2017 2. Alice Pasquini – Nuart Aberdeen 2017 3. Isaac Cordal – Nuart Aberdeen 2017 4. M-City in Aberdeen for Nuart 2017 via BrooklynStreetArt.com BSA Special Features: Vids from Aberdeen Doug […]

“Martha Cooper” Solo Exhibition Reveals Many Unseen “Action Shots”
Editorz, 20 Apr 10:00 AM

An intrepid photographer who has launched a million dreams (and perhaps a few thousand careers) in graffiti and Street Art with her photography that captured crucial and seminal aspects of our culture that others overlooked. That is just one way of seeing this brand new collection of images by Martha Cooper that is spread across […]

Nuart Aberdeen 2017 Already Has Locals Saying “Haste Ye Back!”
Editorz, 19 Apr 12:02 AM

The sky is still twilight blue above the streets of Aberdeen at 21:00 this time of year and as you walk the city’s edge on the beach of the North Sea the winds pick up with a chilly bluster. Of course, that’s just for this minute. In a half hour it may be a gentle […]

NeverCrew in Hong Kong for “Discordant”
Editorz, 18 Apr 12:02 AM

“…our collective obligations towards our environment.” You wouldn’t think the phrase would need to be said, yet it sounds revolutionary in a consumer-driven, market-driven society. The Swiss duo NEVERCREW are clear in their intentions. As ever. Nevercrew “Discordant” Above Second Gallery. Hong Kong. 18th March – 22nd April (photo © Jaime Rojo) The Discordant exhibition […]

BSA Images of the Week : Nuart Aberdeen Edition
Editorz, 17 Apr 08:40 PM

End of Passover for many, the best day of Easter weekend for others, just another spring day for still others, and a fine finish to our little Aberdeen excursion. As we ready ourselves to charge forward on small streets in this city that has a severe case of Multiple Weather Disorder, we’re bringing scarves, gloves, […]

Jetsonorama Wraps a House with Pots in Penland, North Carolina
Editorz, 17 Apr 12:02 AM

When one thinks of pots and pottery and clay urns, you may imagine them with patterns and motifs wrapped around their exterior. Botanicals, animal life, figures, even architecture, all become decorative elements or patterns. Street Artist Jetsonorama is flipping the script in the North Carolina mountains this week by wrapping a house with photographic images […]

BSA Images OF The Week: Nuart Aberdeen Edition
Editorz, 16 Apr 12:02 AM

End of Passover for many, the best day of Easter weekend for others, just another spring day for still others, and a fine finish to our little Aberdeen excursion. As we ready ourselves to charge forward on small streets in this city that has a severe case of Multiple Weather Disorder, we’re bringing scarves, gloves, […]

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Tours, Films, & Fight Night : Nuart x Aberdeen x BSA Dispatch 3

Tours, Films, & Fight Night : Nuart x Aberdeen x BSA Dispatch 3
Editorz, 15 Apr 06:00 AM

“I have two questions,” said one smartly sweatered and coiffed lady of a certain age. She had grabbed an elbow as we waded through the 350-person tour that we were leading through Aberdeen streets with Jon Reid. “Who gave you all permission to paint your pictures on these walls?” she asked. “And number two: When […]

BSA Film Friday Special Edition: Nuart x Aberdeen x BSA
Editorz, 14 Apr 06:00 AM

Aabody* at the club got tipsy* last night in the Anatomy Rooms, a former academic space for students at University of Aberdeen that still has random skeletons and 3-D plastic diagrams of humans cut in half. Julien de Casabianca. Outings Project. Nuart Aberdeen  April 2017. (photo © Jaime Rojo) Anatomy Rooms is now an artist-run […]

Nuart X Aberdeen x BSA: Dispatch 1
Editorz, 13 Apr 06:00 AM

This white and grey skurry appears rather plump as he waddles across the stone road in Aberdeen toward the cherry picker that holds Jasmine from Herakut aloft as she paints the new piece on the concave wall. Skurry is the Doric term for seagull, and Doric is a dialect of the North East of Scotland […]

Chip Thomas Invoking Life Back Into a House for 2017 Joshua Treenial
Editorz, 12 Apr 12:02 AM

Curators Kóan Jeff Baysa and Bernard Leibov selected about 15 artists and collaborators to create installations for the 2nd edition of the Joshua Treenial, which opened the first weekend of April and today we have one of the artists who showed his work, Street Artist Chip Thomas aka Jetsonorama. An initiative to educate about ecological […]

Banksy Goes Into The Hospitality Business in Palestine
Editorz, 11 Apr 12:02 AM

Hotel, museum, funhouse? Political/social satire, self-advertisement, genius? All of it and more. Street Artist and showman Banksy’s team of advisors, marketers, fabricators, and assistants have already mounted a vast museum show, a theme park, a treasure hunt across New York, among other events. When it comes to creating spectacle and courting controversy, Banksy and company […]

Grandpa Gives Thumbs Down : EDJINN for 12 + 1 Project In Barcelona
Editorz, 10 Apr 12:02 AM

Grandpa is giving you the thumbs down. Street Artist EDJINN from Barcelona just created this wall that clearly expresses it’s dislike for so-called Social media and “community engagement”. EDJINN. Dislike. Contorno Urbano “12 x 1” 2017. Barcelona. (photo © Clara Antón) “I want to contrast old people with new technologies, social networks and the new […]

BSA Images Of The Week: 04.09.17
Editorz, 09 Apr 12:02 AM

Hooray! Spring is here in New York again. That means daffodils and crocuses are sprouting up among the soda cans and candybar wrappers and cigarette butts in the park’s gardens, and new proud or furtive aerosol missives are being sprayed on crumbling walls and phone booths are getting hi-jacked with posters by artists and galleries […]

“The Intimacy Project” Gets Close to the Artist with Fer Alcala
Editorz, 08 Apr 06:00 AM

“…the real heroes are the people noticing things, paying attention.” ~ John Green, The Fault in Our Stars Twee Muizen. Nau Bostik, Barcelona. (photo © Fer Alcalá. OlympusE510) Somewhere between celebrity and anonymity sits the Street Artist, depending on their wishes and fortune. We always feel lucky to see the artwork first anonymously on the street, […]

BSA Film Friday 04.07.17
Editorz, 07 Apr 06:00 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. The Haus – Lunatix Dance 2. Mobilize Walls (Against the Trump Wall) 3. The Yok & Sheryo: The Golden Triangle 4. Pixel Pancho in Hong Kong for HKwalls 2017 via BrooklynStreetArt.com BSA Special Feature: The Haus […]

Swoon’s New Drawings for Heliotrope Foundation Benefit with BSA in NYC
Editorz, 06 Apr 06:00 AM

Here is the first public look at eight of the new thirteen drawings by Swoon which she made while in Haiti a couple of week ago. She is donating her own work to aid Heliotrope Foundation programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania. These drawings, along with the limited run prints from six international artists will […]

Li-Hill x Swoon x BSA : Unveiling New “Crumbling As We Climb” Print
Editorz, 05 Apr 12:02 PM

Here is the first public look at the new print by Li-Hill which he made especially to aid Heliotrope programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Swoon and Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th, at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can come. […]

Miss Van x Swoon x BSA : Unveiling Masked Ladies for Heliotrope Prints
Editorz, 05 Apr 12:02 AM

Here is the first public look at the new print by Miss Van which she made especially to aid Heliotrope programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Swoon and Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th, at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can […]

Faith XLVII x Swoon x BSA and Her New Print for Heliotrope
Editorz, 04 Apr 12:02 AM

Here is the first public look at the new print by Faith XLVII which she made especially to aid the programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can come. Faith […]

Icy & Sot x Swoon x BSA : Unveiling “Unforced Hijab” for Heliotrope
Editorz, 04 Apr 12:02 AM

Here is the first public look at the new print by Icy & Sot which they  made especially to aid the programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can come. […]

Tavar Zawacki (Above) X Swoon X BSA : Unveiling “Metamorphosis” Print for Heliotrope
Editorz, 03 Apr 12:02 PM

Here is the first public look at the new print by Tavar Zawacki (aka Above) which he made especially to aid the programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can […]

Case Maclaim x Swoon x BSA – The New “Sunshower” Print for Heliotrope
Editorz, 03 Apr 12:02 AM

Here is the first public look at the new print by Case Maclaim which he made especially to aid the programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Heliotrope Prints. The limited run print will be released this week, April 6th at a pop up show opening in Manhattan and we hope you can come. Case […]

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If you know anyone who is constantly hating on others, share this.

If you know anyone who is constantly hating on others, share this.
Today, Diandra Marie talks about those who cannot be happy for another person's success. Choosing to expose a flaw instead of being happy for someone is an example of someone who needs to get their life. She also talks about people who purposely follow others just to hate on them. Diandra Marie suggests putting more time and focus on meeting your goals instead of worrying about others.

Repost this so more people can see this! Follow @itsdiandramarie on Instrgram, Twitter, & Snapchat See new episodes of Get Your Life every other Thursday at 8pm. Click here to see past episodes.
 
*disclaimer: I do not own the music in this video*
[Submitted by Diandra Marie]


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BSA Images Of The Week: 04.02.17
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BSA Images Of The Week: 04.02.17
Editorz, 02 Apr 12:02 AM

Good to be back in dirty old New York from dirty old Hong Kong this week. Actually on the dirty meter, we think New York still wins! Hooray! Looking to the national stage, things couldn’t possibly be more dirty, as the rolling dumpster fire looks like it is setting records for failure to deliver on […]

6 New Prints Pop-Up : Swoon x BSA x The Heliotrope Foundation
Editorz, 01 Apr 06:00 AM

Hello and happy Saturday to you! Hope you are finding time to relax and to do some laundry and maybe bake some cookies or go out and paint or see some art today. We’re starting the day with an egg and cheese on a roll and a large coffee from the local deli – and […]

BSA Film Friday: 03.31.17
Editorz, 31 Mar 06:02 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Vegan Flava – Trapped Peace 2. Rime “UP ON THROUGH” 3. Street Art City 4. 12 + 1 Roc Blackblock. Barcelona BSA Special Feature: Vegan Flava – “Trapped Peace” The urban artist Vegan Flava typically is […]

HONG KONG Re-cap, HKwalls 2017 Makes New Paths for Urban Art
Editorz, 30 Mar 12:02 AM

Go East Young Woman! That’s where you’ll discover dynamic graffiti and Street Art and murals these days thanks in part to last weeks’ HKwalls festival, now in it’s fourth year. You’ll definitely see more women involved in this outdoor exhibition than most festivals that we’ve become familiar with, not that the organizers are making a […]

Spider Tag Uses Electricity to Trace a New Direction In The Dark
Editorz, 29 Mar 06:00 AM

It’s good to see artists stretch themselves creatively, going outside of their comfort zone, hopefully, and discovering new techniques and approaches to their art. “You cannot stay at the same level as when you first practiced your truth, life won’t let you.” ~ Kamal Ravikant, Live Your Truth Spanish Street Artist Spider Tag has appeared […]

Swoon On the Streets, In the Fairs, and Beyond in Hong Kong
Editorz, 28 Mar 06:00 AM

Brooklyn Street Artist Swoon has traveled to hot, hopping Hong Kong recently to create the façade for the tramline with HKwalls, a program of customization for the historic public transportation cars in the city center that has included also Portuguese Street Artist Vhils with HOCA, and during Art Basel this year a site specific tram […]

Sav45 explores Lloret De Mar in Catalonia
Editorz, 27 Mar 06:00 AM

SAV45 is a Russian graffiti artist freely experimenting with a variety of styles and techniques when hitting the abandoned spots in his current home of Catalonia, Spain. Today we have some recent shots of his experimentation in the wilds from photographer Fernando Alcala Losa, who says he has enjoyed witnessing the development of an artist […]

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Insider Story of Southern Blues-Rocker Tinsley Ellis: Total Recall. On top of his game today, but it wasn't always that way.

Travelin' Bluesman Tinsley Ellis


Travelin’ Man Tinsley Ellis‘ Total Recall tells the inside story of how his career began plus future predictions for the blues as a genre. The prolific southern blues-rocker is on top of his game today. But it wasn’t always that way.

Known as one of the best next generation blues-rock guitarists around, this busy southern man releases a new album annually. His latest Red Clay Soul, debuted as #1 on the June Living Blues Radio Charts

.On the road over 200 days per year includes a mix of criss-crossing the country as well as overseas. Taxing for some; impossible for most, this journeyman actually thrives on touring.

We caught up with Tinsley at the Iridium in New York for a one-on-one chat on his early years.

The Inside Back story

Tinsley started playing the Blues way before the resurgence of Blues music in the late ’70s to early ’80s. He was among the first of new generation musicians to come on the scene. This new crop of Blues cats included his friend Stevie Ray Vaughn, as well as Blues faves Robert Cray and The Fabulous Thunderbirds — to name a few.

I first met Tinsley in college in Atlanta, Georgia. He would play at our Fraternity House parties with a band called The Alley Cats (1979-1981), that included Preston Hubbard (The Fabulous Thunderbirds). We’d follow him around Atlanta at the local joints like Little 5 Points Pub and Moonshadow Saloon. I should point out that the drinking age was 18 back then, so no laws were broken.

Tinsley left The Alley Cats in 1981 to form his own band called “The Heartfixers (1982-1988).  He was joined by veteran Blues singer and harp player Bob Nelson, a/k/a Chicago Bob, who remained in the band through 1984. Like The Alley Cats, Tinsley and The Heartfixers were mainstays on campus and a fixture at all the Frat parties; even the Frat Formal off-campus. They were also fixtures at all the clubs around Atlanta, too.
 
First Racially-Integrated Blues Band in the Georgia Area
 
What most people don’t know is that during that time, Georgia and Atlanta, too, were still very much old south. According to Tinsley, “All the black bands were playing at their clubs, and the white bands were playing at their designated clubs.”

 “Chicago Bob had a pedigree which no one else had and still has,” says Tinsley. “He’s played with so many of the great Blues legends as Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Earl Hooker and Muddy Waters.”

Tinsley and Chicago Bob made kick-ass traditional southern blues music together and made significant inroads in Atlanta and the entire Georgia area; despite the obstacles put in front of them.

 “We turned a whole generation of college kids onto the blues dating from the late ’70s to early ’80s. Now, there’s a whole lotta’ people doing it.” — Tinsley Ellis

Ever since, Tinsley puts out one new album a year. “I notice the people who do it, seem to do better. I figure if I keep hammering the fans with new information and new material, it will work for me, too,” he says.
A personal highlight of his 40 year career of electrifying blues — joining the Blues at Crossroads 2013 Tour: A Tribute to Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. As the young southern rock guy on the tour, he strummed out licks with the likes of Bob Margolin, James Cotton, Kim Wilson and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Jody Williams.

Tinsley Ellis on The Future of the Blues?

Socially Sparked News: There seems to be a resurgence and escalating interest in Blues music. Do you think the Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome album has something to do with this?
Tinsley: It always helps when a band like the Rolling Stones give lip service to blues albums so that’s gonna help it. Kinda’ thing happened when the Blues Brothers did their movie and all of a sudden the blues spiked up in pop culture.

Socially Sparked News: What’s your take on the Stones’ blues album?
Tinsley: To me, they did it right. The first time, they were like kids. Now, they sound like old blues guys.

Socially Sparked News: The future of the Blues?
Tinsley: Compared to Muddy & Howlin Wolf, the new generation better step up to the plate, ’cause those guys are still unsurpassed. I understand why those guys still play Muddy Waters, Willy Dixon & Howlin Wolf songs…’cause it’s still so much better than what we’re doing now. We’re all really good, but those guy are like WOW.

Socially Sparked News: Their are rumblings that Shemekia Copeland is primed to be the next Koko Taylor, queen of the blues. What’s your take?
Tinsley: In my opinion, Koko, BB King and Muddy Waters — they came up from a whole different era. When they passed away, they kind of retired the title, ’cause those guys — especially BB and Muddy — they were undisputed. Whereas if anybody would lay claim to that, it would probably be Buddy Guy and Shemkia Copeland. But, nobody’s come out and pronounced that, ’cause that’s a big claim.

Socially Sparked News: Maybe it’s Tinsley Ellis?
Tinsley: NO. (emphatically no). I am a Southern Blues-Rocker with Georgia Roots at my core. That’s my pedigree and how I prefer to be known.

Socially Sparked News: The future for Tinsley Ellis?
Tinsley: More songwriting & touring. Maybe getting some other acts on Heartfixer Music. Get some young’ins starting out and help get them produced. I’d like to try to find somebody who is good enough to play with me; somebody I can mentor, and polish up my production skills, too. It’s a delicate balance. If I really liked an artist and want them to do well, I’d probably call Bruce (Iglauer) first and give it to Alligator rather than trying to do it myself.

Tinsley Ellis’ blues highway continues. — Abbe Sparks is Socially Sparked. @sosparkednews #SociallySparked

[Submitted by Abbe Sparks]


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SAVE THE DATE APRIL 6 NEW YORK CITY

SAVE THE DATE APRIL 6 NEW YORK CITY

= SWOON X BSA | 6 NEW HELIOTROPE PRINTS =

A Curated Edition of Heliotrope Prints
to Benefit Swoon and The Heliotrope Foundation

By Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo of BSA

SWOON-Save-The-Date-April-2017-B

Please mark your calendar for April 6th for this event
featuring 6 new special prints
from an outstanding lineup of Street Artists
known for their stellar works on walls the world over.
(listed here alphabetically)

brooklyn-street-art-above-jaime-rojo-the-quin-07-2016-web-7

ABOVE © Jaime Rojo

ABOVE

brooklyn-street-art-case-maclaim-jaime-rojo-the-bushwick-collective-06-2016-web-2

Case Maclaim © Jaime Rojo

CASE MACLAIM

brooklyn-street-art-street-art-faith47-jaime-rojo-08-09-15-web

FAITH XLVII © Jaime Rojo

FAITH XLVII

brooklyn-street-art-icy-sot-jaime-rojo-un-pm7-berlin-03-15-web-6

ICY & SOT © Jaime Rojo

ICY & SOT

brooklyn-street-art-li-hill-jaime-rojo-06-21-15-web-1

Li-Hill © Jaime Rojo

LI-HILL

brooklyn-street-art-miss-van-jaime-rojo-08-15-web

Miss Van © Jaime Rojo

MISS VAN

***
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Calendonia Curry AKA Swoon © Bryan Welch

The Heliotrope Foundation was started by artist Caledonia Curry, also known as Swoon, to help communities respond and heal after natural disasters and other urgent social crises.

We believe that the creative process can and should be a part of how we heal, rebuild and move forward after natural disasters, economic devastation, and moments of social crisis.

***
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BSA Images Of The Week: 03.12.17

BSA Images Of The Week: 03.12.17
Editorz, 11 Mar 11:02 PM

A fun time on the streets this week in New York and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere as parts of spring infuse the air with excitement and hormones – later to be drowned in rain, or smothered under snow! The rolling dumpster fire keeps frightening and perplexing everyone and we are gradually figuring out that […]

Faring Purth and “Grace” in Forest Park (Chicago)
Editorz, 11 Mar 09:00 AM

“A woman’s guess is much more accurate than a man’s certainty.” ~Rudyard Kipling We mention this Kipling quote in this description of Street Artist Faring Purth because a.) she often seems like she’s plucked out of a traveling adventure from a Kipling tale, b.) her instincts for creating new pieces are frequently on-point and a […]

BSA Film Friday: 03.10.17
Editorz, 10 Mar 05:00 AM

Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Rone: The Alpha Project 2.  FKDL – Petites Chroniques Urbaines 3. Irene Lopez León: 12+1 Contorno Urbano 4. The Batcave, Henry Chalfant, on The New York Times 5. Isaac Cordal “Giza Komedia” BSA Special Feature: Rone: […]

Pejac is Looking for “Redemption” with Particle Board
Editorz, 09 Mar 05:00 AM

Each of us is looking for redemption, or probably will be. At least that appears to be the theme for the new series of works by Spanish Street Artist PEJAC, a few shots of which we have today from his work on particle board in the studio. “Each drawing in this ‘Redemption’ series are a […]

RUN: “Time Traveller Artist Man” Tells All With His Hands
Editorz, 07 Mar 11:02 PM

“Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” Carl Jung Giacomo Bufarini AKA RUN Time Traveller Artist Man Unicorn Publishing Group. London. UK. 2016 The founder of analytical psychology would have looked at the hands of RUN and perhaps understood more about his lifelong psychological process than the […]

Slap It! Slick Stickers Spread Across City Surfaces Speak and Surprise
Editorz, 07 Mar 10:00 AM

Stickers, or slaps, are small but formidable graphic and text messages, especially when massed together on a doorway or light pole. They are also fast and surreptitiously placed, as simple as a gesture, undetectable in their ease of application. A board covered with stickers at Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporary Art in Berlin. (photo […]

“MADRID ME MATA”: Another Look at “Urvanity”
Editorz, 06 Mar 05:00 AM

“MADRID ME MATA…in a good sense,” says Fernando Alcalá Losa, the avid Barcelona based photographer of street culture. He doesn’t literally mean that the Spanish capital is deadly, but rather speaks of his devotion to Madrids’ energy, its possibility, its history, its people, and to its art. The torrid affairs of the heart are invariably […]

BSA Images Of The Week: 03.05.17
Editorz, 04 Mar 11:02 PM

We had a chance at Spring this week, and then it blew away. We’re back to the Antarctic for a few days. NYC was inundated by art fairs as well, which was swell. Volta, Scope, Clio, Spring/Break – which was surprisingly not political or contentious, given its rather outsider status. Fair talk was glum, attendance […]

New ROBBBB Nude Figures Playing on Beijing Walls : Virtual & Candid
Editorz, 04 Mar 05:00 AM

Beijing based Street Artist ROBBBB continues to bring people to the streets in his city by way of self portraits and art models. The immediacy of the selfie and photo apps has rather eclipsed the traditional methods of figurative presentation and the inclusion of cartoon characters tells you that ROBBBB is fully immersed in youth […]

BSA Film Friday: 03.03.17
Editorz, 03 Mar 05:00 AM

Now screening :
1. Icy & Sot "Plastic Shells"
2. NWO 3 - ABIK "Gestural"
3. Low Bros #sweet15s Episode 9 / Seattle
4. NUART / Aberdeen 2017

Nuart Aberdeen 2017: Full Roster of Artists Confirmed
Editorz, 01 Mar 11:02 PM

And then there were 11. With yesterday’s official announcement that Norwegian artist Martin Whatson and Belgian artist Jaune will be participating this April at NUART / Aberdeen the full line up of artists has been announced. It’s 11 international artists from 10 different countries, sort of like a New York melting pot in Scotland over […]

Spring / Break 2017 : This Years’ Times Square Show in Corporate Office Space
Editorz, 01 Mar 05:00 AM

Braving the crowds at the 2017 Spring/Break show means meandering the floor plan of former corporate offices and encountering the daydreams of artists who usually work as temps here. After traversing the un-grand lobby and showing your ID, this high-flying glass and steel Times Square fantasy flips the lights on the funhouse as soon as […]

A “Secret Dinner” at the Nascent UN in Berlin
Editorz, 27 Feb 11:02 PM

Since its explosion of pigment and hue on subway cars and in the streets of New York and Philadelphia a half century ago to its spread to the hundreds of cities worldwide, the truly grassroots movement of Urban Art refuses to be owned by any one city or one people, insisting upon making its own […]

“Urvanity” Fair Opens in Madrid, 68 Artists + Galleries + Walls + Panels
Editorz, 27 Feb 05:00 AM

You may not realize upon first glance through the series of modular white walled temporary gallery rooms, but this fine art on display all has origins in street practice. Over the past long weekend Madrid’s Urvanity fair at The Palacio Neptuno showcased a sweeping cross-selection of crisply framed names – many of which are being […]

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