Danielle Scruggs | Photography: Journal

I have good news to share---some of my photos will appear in Recession Art's No Money No Problems exhibit, to be held in New York in October. On August 2, (That's this Sunday, Sunday!, Sunday!!) they're celebrating the artists selected for the show with a fete/benefit at The Redhead in New York.

I won't be there because I'll be in Chicago for this weekend. However, if you're reading this and you live in New York (or are a bus/train trip away), feel free to go and spread the word among your friends!

Here is the full list of artists:

This video, created by Baltimore-based multimedia artist Pierre Bennu, is absolutely beautiful and inspiring. I can't get it out of my head. I stumbled upon this gem a few days ago and every time I watch it, it brings tears to my eyes, no joke. It's an unabashed celebration of Black people---our dance, our songs, our lives, our artistry, our humanity.

Since the Gloved One's untimely passing, I've had this strong desire to dig through the (digital) crates and listen to the music I grew up with. The Jackson 5, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The O'Jays, The Spinners, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron...soul music. The music that played on my dad's turntable on Saturday afternoons after I finished watching cartoons and Soul Train. The music that blared from our car stereo when my dad and I would go for long drives through Chicago and end up at some barbecue spot on Chicago's south side. The music that played when my mom and I would visit my grandmother. The music that played at barbershops where I would sit with my grandfather and listen to him talk with his friends.

It's the soundtrack of my childhood and while I have always enjoyed it, now that I'm older, I have a much deeper understanding of and appreciation for what those men and women were talking about, what made them pour so much joy, pain, rage, sadness, lust, anxiety, hopefulness and everything in between into songs that resonate 30, 40 years later.

Listening to these albums, really listening to them, and seeing the creative energy behind Pierre Bennu's work has my mind positively reeling with ideas. Time to get to work.

Of Interest: (Soul-related-edition)
Souled On: A great music blog full of rare gems by soul artists both well-known and obscure.

Exit The Apple: Pierre Bennu's website, full of his musings, links to more of his videos and home of his incredible notradio music mixes. (Might have to make a trip to Baltimore to visit the Exit The Apple store soon.)

Michael: Hilton Als' take on MJ from the NY Review of Books. Excellent essay.

Imani Uzuri: The singer behind "Sun Moon Child."

An excerpt of a letter from Sol Lewitt to Eva Hesse, via a Hey Hot Shot! interview with Parsley Steinweiss:

You seem the same as always, and being you hate every minute of it. Don't! Learn to say "F**k You" to the world once in a while. You have every right to. Just stop thinking, worrying, looking over your shoulder, wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out, struggling, gasping, confusing, itching, scratching, mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling, rumbling, rambling, gambling, tumbling, scumbling, scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning, groaning, honing, boning, horse-shitting, hair-splitting, nit-picking, piss-tricking, nose-sticking, ass-gouging, eyeball-poking, finger-pointing, alleyway-sneaking, long waiting, small stepping, evil-eyeing, back-scratching, searching, perching, besmirching, grinding grinding grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO... Don't worry about cool, make your own uncool. Make your own, your own world... You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to DO! I have much confidence in YOU and even though you are tormenting yourself, the work you do is very good. Try to do some BAD work. The worst you think of and see what happens but mainly relax and let everything go to hell.

April 14, 1965