World stewardess Crews

17th sale on etsy today!

So I have been successful in surviving the week and today Lucid Optic Lab made our 16th and 17th sale on etsy today! Below are the items purchased:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3087316677/" title="Jelly brained by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Jelly brained" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3087316677_dee885b166.jpg" width="421"></a> one of the items purchased today was this 8x10 print of one of my mixed media/digital collage creatures that I made by scanning in drawings of mine and layering them over photographs in photoshop. This is the second time someone has purchased this print from my etsy store and one of the more popular prints that we tend to sell more of at art/craft fairs <a title="Blue Daisy Faery by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3091304930/"><img alt="Blue Daisy Faery" height="495" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3091304930_a957f655a2.jpg" width="500" /></a> This was the other sale for today. Its a 6"6" original acrylic + pen and ink painting of mine that is part of the "Cosmic Maiden" series. Now that I have sold that painting I only have 3 left out of the series:<a title="Cosmic Maidens series by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3278307882/"><img alt="Cosmic Maidens series" height="155" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3278307882_00e91e7949_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>( click the image to full view it) The other one that i sold a few weeks back is the Long vertical green one on the right named "The Faery Sprout woman." I am so happy that our etsy sales are picking up. It is such a rush when i realize we have made a sale. I cant even begin to explain how much I appreciate the support, or how much the exchange inspires me to create more. Danny and I were talking about expanding our presence online. This weekend we plan on opening up a store on redbubble.com, ebay, supermarket.com, creating a twitter account, a live journal account, and hopefully many other sites. This will help expose our art, tie dye, silk screenings to more people, hopefully increases interest/productivity. Marketing really isnt my strong point, but im learning a thing or two.

17th sale on etsy today!

So I have been successful in surviving the week and today Lucid Optic Lab made our 16 th and 17 th sale on etsy today! Below are the item...

12:33 PM

More snow, some watercolor scans, leading the life I love

<a title="Bathing in Babylon by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3260470899/"><img alt="Bathing in Babylon" height="417" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3260470899_acf76142af.jpg" style="WIDTH: 453px; HEIGHT: 384px" width="500" /></a> <a title="The Grand Inquisitor by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3289452266/"><img alt="The Grand Inquisitor" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3289452266_bf4b4f7c01.jpg" style="WIDTH: 357px; HEIGHT: 462px" width="391" /></a> <a title="Pelted by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3090431539/"><img alt="Pelted" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3090431539_0d94814d40.jpg" width="375" /></a> Those are some recently scanned, older watercolors of mine that i just recently unearthed from one of my old portfolios....sharing is fun! It snowed again! I was so disoriented when I looked out of my window this morning. I thought all this snow business was over with, but no! However I find that I am beginning to love the snow. I love the calm quiet blanket it seems to through over this busy city and my rush rush routine. Snow is so beautiful and very transformative. I love to sit in my rocking chair with a mug of tea in my hand, my cat on my lap....and watch the snow fluttering in the winds, collecting on the rooftops and trees. It is refreshing, thats what. Unfortunately when i awoke this morning the snow had already fallen, and only left an inch. Sadly enough by 11:00 this morning all the snow had already melted away. Today i took the bus to work, partly because i dont like driving in the snow/hate driving in general/generally suck at driving....I have to take 2 buses to work. It takes me about an hour and 20 minutes to get there, and an hour and 20 to get home. I am finding that i really dont mind at all as long as i have a good book to read. Riding the bus gives me some much needed space out time...and i have found its the only place i tend to get any reading done these days. Today i started reading "The Psychedelic Experience, A manual based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead" by Timothy Leary. Its very interesting and speaks of ways in which a person can go through processes to strip away all of the mundane programing/conditioning that has been forced upon the mind through society/life style and environment....and how being free of all that mess one can finally experience the brain completely unbound and limitless resulting in consciousness expansion and for those dedicated and most attune: reaching the sacred state of nirvana. Interesting quote from the book: " There are those who, in virtue of concentration and other yogic practices are able to bring the subconscious into the realm of discriminative consciousness and, thereby, to draw upon the unrestricted treasury of subconscious memory, wherein are stored the records not only of our past lives but the records of the past of our race, the past of humanity, and of all pre-human forms of life, if not of the very consciousness that makes life possible in this universe."-Lama Anagrika Govinda Its almost Friday again. Danny did some really awesome screen printing over the last few days so i think we will be doing a photoshoot this weekend so we can start selling all these new silk screened clothings on etsy.....so stay tuned!

More snow, some watercolor scans, leading the life I love

Those are some recently scanned, older watercolors of mine that i just recently unearthed from one of my old portfolios....sharing is fun! I...

12:58 PM

FREE DOWNLOAD ::: Chesca :: No More Lonely Days, No More Lonely Nights

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlfrXSmh2wGRC99zTfXXGe0cU-S0NT8ruraX8LMKL_otQlrRXDXbZpVmDiUz7DEfI1y_6gwOu7M9ClfzQk9xG5Ehvs9So95md-gZ1n5uLO9rb7th5uIM1iDPE9uevLwUUrPGQuePJW5s/s1600-h/l_d3fd8a08c23260af1b7312a2a09fb17c.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307026795199870034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlfrXSmh2wGRC99zTfXXGe0cU-S0NT8ruraX8LMKL_otQlrRXDXbZpVmDiUz7DEfI1y_6gwOu7M9ClfzQk9xG5Ehvs9So95md-gZ1n5uLO9rb7th5uIM1iDPE9uevLwUUrPGQuePJW5s/s400/l_d3fd8a08c23260af1b7312a2a09fb17c.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a>if you don't already know her, let me introduce my girl, Chesca: a fellow catwoman with a love for disco, electro and boogie, this Italian-born, London-based producer/ DJ/ songstress is an expert in many things from throwing the most dance-worthy disco/boogie parties, finding and revamping some of the most obscure disco gems to simply being Chesca, a wild but tameable feline. Follow her tracks on <a href="http://cescaisvain.blogspot.com/">her blog</a> and check out more of her tracks on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cescamusica">her page</a>. Also check out <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-gilrfriends-rule-kira-chesca.html">my post</a> on her back from last April, before I met her a few months ago through our mutual friend, Kon (Kon & Amir), while she was doing a few gigs in NYC with Blu Jemz and Roxy at Sway. DOWNLOAD her free mixtape No More Lonely Days, No More Lonely Nights <a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OTJWO5O4">here</a>! ::: TRACKLIST:::: <div id="pBlogBody_438641147" class="blogContent">jorge santana - kon edit :: chaka khan any love- dimitri from paris edit :: eddie hendricks thank you for the memories -lee douglas edit :: chicago- street player :: trammp- where were you edit :: marvin gaye- i want you - kenny dope remix :: ronnie laws- good feelings- edit :: never fade- chesca :: when it comes to loving me- kon edit :: sooner or later -kotey feat chaz jankel :: uptown downtown- jon quintiano :: hold on -norman weeks -dixon edit :: stay -chesca :: starfish- noble edit :: if you cant tell me something good about my baby -mark 4 :: chaka kan- stop on by- dimitri from paris edit :: dance dance dance- marta acuna :: the sound of music- dayton :: now that i have you- tommy macghee </div> <div style="text-align: center;">Look out for Lichiban x Chesca collabo projects in the near future!! </div>

FREE DOWNLOAD ::: Chesca :: No More Lonely Days, No More Lonely Nights

if you don't already know her, let me introduce my girl, Chesca : a fellow catwoman with a love for disco, electro and boogie, this Ital...

12:53 AM

BLOGLOVE: Happy Birthday, Ill Vibes!

<div style="text-align: center;">Long overdue, but never too late, I'd like to send my peeps at Ill Vibes in D.C, and JB in particular who hosted me with 5* treatment, a big shout out for being the best hosts while I was down there in January. Illvibes-their super fresh blog loaded with exclusive interviews, free downloads and artist reviews-is having its one year anniversary, so I'd like to take the opportunity to send a Happy B-day shout as well. Check them out & give them some love <a href="http://illvibes-dmv.blogspot.com/">here</a>. Thank you, you guys rule! <table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ykjtr73ERBJ1a5y1eEt6MQ?authkey=i3Tg2n_26Bw&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK_vNLI8ha9bdcCYdzJygb90WaazPUeZY_6Xrx045fqMmRunMV8kf9ijLo4ncK3_7Ko135ZP1rnNue0B34KkdmVTxgxnj2svekBrVd5eBUV2d3OUPko0ZhDoXDgsIYlDP4yM6XukZj_I/s800/lichibanillvibeshappybday.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/licsi777/LichibanBlossom06?authkey=i3Tg2n_26Bw&feat=embedwebsite">lichiban blossom</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>

BLOGLOVE: Happy Birthday, Ill Vibes!

Long overdue, but never too late, I'd like to send my peeps at Ill Vibes in D.C, and JB in particular who hosted me with 5* treatment, ...

5:05 PM

New prints are available for sale!

So, thanks to the scanner I purchased recently( I used money on a gift card my Aunt Linda had given me for Christmas, THANKS AUNT LINDA!) Danny and I have scanned in a bunch of new pen and ink drawings that we can now offer up for sale as prints. here are a few raw samples of what will be our new prints: <a title="The Debutante by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3183535469/"><img alt="The Debutante" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3494/3183535469_d2675c171c.jpg" width="357" /></a> <a title="pandimensional kitten-head by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3121875412/"><img alt="pandimensional kitten-head" height="295" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3121875412_ff7f88703d.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a title="Healer by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3271103690/"><img alt="Healer" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3271103690_c624e5ac99.jpg" width="336" /></a> <a title="Poetess by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3207770310/"><img alt="Poetess" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3207770310_18320a34d2.jpg" width="299" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3157309879/" title="Mistress by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="Mistress" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3157309879_316628d8c0.jpg" width="350"></a> ....and there is much more to come! Many of these drawings here are yet to be finished/touched up but Danny is working on all that for me. We sell 5x7 prints for $7 and 8x10 for $15. We have also just begun doing some framing of prints and originals, we should have that all set and ready for purchase come our first art/craft fair of the season. Its all coming together! For now a few of these prints have already been released on our ETSY store: <a href="http://www.lucidopticlab.etsy.com/">http://www.lucidopticlab.etsy.com/</a> What is super exciting is that Danny has begun a new round of silkscreening so we should have some new silk screen t-shirts up for sale + limited edition framed and signed screenprints. So, keep checking back for newly released items!

New prints are available for sale!

So, thanks to the scanner I purchased recently( I used money on a gift card my Aunt Linda had given me for Christmas, THANKS AUNT LINDA!) ...

2:40 PM

i'm feeling...Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi: Welcome to Heartbreak

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/">Kanye</a>'s new video. looks like low budget + a raw vision is the way <object height="267" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3256023&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3256023&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="267" width="400"></embed></object> <a href="http://vimeo.com/3256023">KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/nabilelderkin">nabil elderkin</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>. check Dedan's (who put me on this) dope blog, <a href="http://www.gottaeatworldwide.com/">gottaeatworldwide</a>. </div>

i'm feeling...Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi: Welcome to Heartbreak

Kanye 's new video. looks like low budget + a raw vision is the way KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from...

3:00 AM

THE ANATOMY OF FOLK ART: if you haven't noticed

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboQkxNkXjYVJycqadjKCJc9WBZfs5PlSNgQOUNjA-EjlrRzA3vT5PnnoeVFUaXtdefqOeyYRvqir9uYLIEklk1i30R6n1o9RrOwhns4kBrfWofVGTXcMY989EddNYeRyRNffsEAABo6c/s1600-h/BhsPaisley-velv-cush.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306342126249340690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboQkxNkXjYVJycqadjKCJc9WBZfs5PlSNgQOUNjA-EjlrRzA3vT5PnnoeVFUaXtdefqOeyYRvqir9uYLIEklk1i30R6n1o9RrOwhns4kBrfWofVGTXcMY989EddNYeRyRNffsEAABo6c/s400/BhsPaisley-velv-cush.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 230px;" /></a>....the good old paisley and in fact most of traditional flower motifs are full-blown erotic symbols. I used to collect embroidered textiles from around the world (got some really beautiful pieces from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, India, Hungary, Mexico, Kashmir, and Turkey), and as I started to pay more attention to the patterns, I started to notice that the same type of imagery...indeed, I believe that many of the flower designs are floralized coochies. (yes, I know Freud already pointed this out, but I had to discover it myself .) Perhaps it is because mostly the women of these communities work on these designs and embroider them, but they are definitely not just flowers. <div style="text-align: center;">I actually wanted to paint last night along this idea, but ended up only doing the design for it on photoshop. Check the examples of the embroidered flowers below, of you still don't believe me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/lichibandamasknudeFR2.jpg" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">talking about Central Asian fabrics, I finally can share these dope Bokja pieces I found on the <a href="http://www.bokjadesign.com/">psfk </a>site. I love the combo of modern furniture design combined with these Central Asian textiles. If anyone has been into my apartment, they'll immediately realize why I'm in love with these pieces.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/lichibanxbjoka.jpg" /> </div>

THE ANATOMY OF FOLK ART: if you haven't noticed

....the good old paisley and in fact most of traditional flower motifs are full-blown erotic symbols. I used to collect embroidered textiles...

4:31 AM

NEW WORK: "Up In The Clouds" mural

NEW WORK: "Up In The Clouds" mural

i've been working on this mural in my building in Crown Heights on and off past week...it is a work in progress, will post more as it de...

2:22 AM

iRECOMMEND: The Beautiful Renaissance :: Jesse Boykins III & Melo-X

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Xh2kAIWkTJL-E9ZUFYiMh-KjtCox8KKVIcZBMD59dC6pb-DzHPHXs5qp2qWfEA0ALHWd8pwoURi0zPCf-yxFZj2P8wAWn2nudnFoFI5_VcQgrwUVHwiQ8T1HoDxmUGBwtpM4JItD5g/s1600-h/l_5da6a73f48d94ed9940bd3fae36a7063.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306254706735413058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84Xh2kAIWkTJL-E9ZUFYiMh-KjtCox8KKVIcZBMD59dC6pb-DzHPHXs5qp2qWfEA0ALHWd8pwoURi0zPCf-yxFZj2P8wAWn2nudnFoFI5_VcQgrwUVHwiQ8T1HoDxmUGBwtpM4JItD5g/s400/l_5da6a73f48d94ed9940bd3fae36a7063.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 344px;" /></a>Two of my favorite Brooklyn artists, <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-homies-rule-too-jesse-boykins-iii.html">Jesse Boykins III</a> & <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-homies-rule-too-melo-x.html">Melo-X</a> are doing a joint gig on Wednesday at Rehab. Good music for good people. Below is one of Jesse's tracks remixed by Melo. Happy Birthday to Jesse! <div style="width: 300px;"><object height="110" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/v0yRqhICFm/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/v0yRqhICFm/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="110" width="300"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.imeem.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.imeem.com/embedsearch/E6E6E6/" /></a></div><form method="post" action="http://www.imeem.com/embedsearch/" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><input name="EmbedSearchBox" type="text"><input value="Search" style="font-size: 12px;" type="submit"><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><img border="0" src="http://www.imeem.com/ads/bannerad/155/10/v0yRqhICFm/" /></div></form></div></div> <a href="http://www.imeem.com/bkmelo/music/RkqZzDWn/melox_tabloids_house_remix_feat_jesse_boykins_iii/">Tabloids House (Remix) (feat. Jesse Boykins III) - MeLo-X</a>

iRECOMMEND: The Beautiful Renaissance :: Jesse Boykins III & Melo-X

Two of my favorite Brooklyn artists, Jesse Boykins III & Melo-X are doing a joint gig on Wednesday at Rehab. Good music for good peopl...

1:57 AM

FREE MUSIC: Stones Throw podcast

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsKsuHdnsur1Mloc6ik6l8z1sC5Xty7aXpTbGMuafhPDyLFw_YkGWzvSYoi3yN_qhwBCwiikYSex8Xh9tzc9JYuGuBgwARMPhnGmGVd9j3UWyzWvCCo2vZAVO5CBPOHiPrA472NZSfD4/s1600-h/stonesThrow.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305563677292891314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsKsuHdnsur1Mloc6ik6l8z1sC5Xty7aXpTbGMuafhPDyLFw_YkGWzvSYoi3yN_qhwBCwiikYSex8Xh9tzc9JYuGuBgwARMPhnGmGVd9j3UWyzWvCCo2vZAVO5CBPOHiPrA472NZSfD4/s400/stonesThrow.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 119px;" /></a>I regularily check the <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/">Stones Throw site</a> (one of my favorite west-coast labels beside Warp Records) for goodies and new artists. I highly recommend their podcasts that showcases their artists from the label's founder Peanut Butter Wolf, Dilla, Jaylib, Dam Funk, Mayer Hawthorne, Madvillain, Quasimoto, Guilty Simpsons to James Pants. visit their <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/jukebox/">podcast link</a> or <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=128983846">subscribe & download free on iTunes (MP3)</a>. MY MOST RECENT FAVORITES are first, Pimp Paul and Play Boy Wolf 's aka Prince Paul & Peanut Butter Wolf's love mix, the hilarious "Be Our Valentine" which def wins my heart... Nothing like sexy 70s music with dark humor that lets you play out your baddest pimp/femme fatale fantasies in your imagination as you listening lyao. Satisfaction guaranteed. Next is the new Stones Throw 2009 Release Sampler with dope new tracks by Beat Conducta, Madvillain, Dam Funk, MED, and A-Trak among others mixed by J Rocc. <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=128983846">Pimp Paul & Play Boy Wolf’s “Be Our Valentine” </a>:::::<a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=128983846"> Stones Throw 2099 Sampler</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwY0adsxOzj5W64lX_pOR2tsIsOZ_YME-ZQp9B40-RGSeyQOPbwgngD-UjNPEjonNBZ1_jOMPKIV9ZfyLp2TCZ09_eiL_T5zKF_orxOHN_AHAclvDFYvcpox180zYrc5oc9CUY7Fe4EM/s1600-h/stonesthrowpodcastlichiban.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305562327671943458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwY0adsxOzj5W64lX_pOR2tsIsOZ_YME-ZQp9B40-RGSeyQOPbwgngD-UjNPEjonNBZ1_jOMPKIV9ZfyLp2TCZ09_eiL_T5zKF_orxOHN_AHAclvDFYvcpox180zYrc5oc9CUY7Fe4EM/s400/stonesthrowpodcastlichiban.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 279px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QgNd3iUWeRc4yABIzO5wkYP2ncLi7WZkgYZAtwR8wg8TAfX30Q8bFgZOxk-Ee2Z60_dhWgBfq5pFNORwxg8o-d01I4JHjXgILm5F_c5zpniHp192TK6LyD2Y7eCmgOLunyLb3SLfJmw/s1600-h/stonesthrowsamplerlichiban.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305562326636398114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QgNd3iUWeRc4yABIzO5wkYP2ncLi7WZkgYZAtwR8wg8TAfX30Q8bFgZOxk-Ee2Z60_dhWgBfq5pFNORwxg8o-d01I4JHjXgILm5F_c5zpniHp192TK6LyD2Y7eCmgOLunyLb3SLfJmw/s400/stonesthrowsamplerlichiban.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 280px;" /></a> </div> </div> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2008/11/stones-throw-podcast-39">Stones Throw 2099 Sampler - Track List</a> Intro:: Beat Konducta - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/madlib/beat-konducta-vol-5-dil-cosby-suite">In Jah Hands (Dilla’s Lament)</a> :: Beat Konducta - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/madlib/beat-konducta-vol-5-dil-cosby-suite">Get Dollaz (24-7)</a>:: Madvillain - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/madvillain/madvillainy-2-the-madlib-remix">Draino</a> :: Koushik - Let It Out (Koushik Vs Now-Again) :: Dam Funk - Chocolate (Rhythm Trax Vol. 4) :: Baron Zen - Rhythm Trax Vol. 3 :: Mayer Hawthorne - I’m Sorry :: Guilty Simpson - OJ Simpson/Madlib Remix :: MED - 100 Dolla Bills :: Beat Konducta <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/madlib/beat-konducta-vol-6-dil-withers-suite">Lifetime (Lifeline) </a>:: Arabian Prince - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/arabianprince/innovative-life-the-anthology-1984-1989">Simple Planet </a>:: A-Trak - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/12-inch/jamespants/crystal-lite-12">KA$H (Trizzy and XXXchange Remix) </a>:: J. Rocc - Paaaaaarty :: Baron Zen - Body Rock (Rhythm Trax Vol. 3) :: Mayer Hawthorne - One Track Mind :: Mr. Chop - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/ep/mrchop/lightworlds">The Infinity Machine</a> ::Percee P & Sound Directions - Theme from Ivory Black (unreleased) ::Whitefield Brothers feat. Bajka - Joyous Joyful Exhaltation (J.Rocc edit) :: Stanton Davis - <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/12-inch/stanton-davis/things-cannot-stop-forever">Things Cannot Stop Forever (Egon & Kelldada's Instrumental Remix)</a> :: Freedom Express - Get Down :: Guilty Simpson feat. MED - Futuristic (Oh No Remix) :: MED & Kweli - Soon Find Out :: Dam Funk - I Gots To Be Done Wit' U :: J. Rocc - Chasin' the Sun:: Koushik - Koushik Vs Now-Again

FREE MUSIC: Stones Throw podcast

I regularily check the Stones Throw site (one of my favorite west-coast labels beside Warp Records) for goodies and new artists. I highly ...

2:09 AM

Art Vending season is already here!

So its February. The sun is peaking out more up here in Portland. One can already feel spring on its way. The first Saturday Market in downtown Portland of the year is this weekend. I don't have my vendor application in yet unfortunately. The Saturday market requires a business license but i found out that if you make less then x amount of money per year you can fill out a business license exemption form. I have all the forms printed out, now the hard part is filling them in. I really hate tax forms and all that nonsense....but we shall over come! Danny and I have decided to try out the Saturday market on Sundays because this way you can avoid the monthly member fees. So we plan to go on Sunday and see what the market looks like on its first day back so we have a better idea of what to prepare for/bring/expect when we do vend. Last Thursday art walk on Alberta street starts in March...its all happening! So i am feverishly finishing up all my little art projects and printing off some prints of all my new drawings and paintings. Danny is getting ready to burn some screens for silkscreen printing. We thought it would be super neat if we were also selling screen prints and not just inkjet prints. So far we hit the ground running for this year. We are already at 15 sales on our etsy account and we are working on a logo design for Mama's Herbal Soaps: <a href="http://www.mamasherbalsoaps.com/">www.mamasherbalsoaps.com</a> So far we have two logo options for her and we are working on the colored versions for her approval. One of the logos is based around a mermaid illustration that i did. Its a very circular shape and i am contemplating perhaps getting it tattooed on one of my shoulders or the nape of my neck cuz i love it so much! So thats what is going on in my world. Here is some dready journey news: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3279433579/" title="the DreadCam by lucidRose, on Flickr"><img alt="the DreadCam" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3279433579_d14775fc30.jpg" width="407" /></a> Thats all for now folks!

Art Vending season is already here!

So its February. The sun is peaking out more up here in Portland . One can already feel spring on its way. The first Saturday Market in dow...

12:00 PM

NEW WORK ::: Green Wolf-UW2013

NEW WORK ::: Green Wolf-UW2013

future ::: intentions ::: back::: imagination ::: fly ::: like ::: wolf just finished this commissioned piece I posted a couple of days ago...

1:45 PM

i'm feeling...Kid Cudi: DAY N' NITE

i'm feeling...Kid Cudi: DAY N' NITE

this is dope...[new video] source: okayplayer

1:00 PM

iheART NYC: JUAN DOE " Made In Brooklyn"

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTPr8SG11-0A_dLJcT5iOoDMFcVPjx3Gz3Mghga_YP3t5xkhngYVFUs4ohqm1gp51hEv9iKPrkvfyCOZJU4P4BU5YF6W6_srnjL-jMpWmzsnQpHlnOlcfV-VaeaZJryDi_DY8EEexkA0/s1600-h/MadeInBrooklyn_Flyer+copy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304712519150811970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTPr8SG11-0A_dLJcT5iOoDMFcVPjx3Gz3Mghga_YP3t5xkhngYVFUs4ohqm1gp51hEv9iKPrkvfyCOZJU4P4BU5YF6W6_srnjL-jMpWmzsnQpHlnOlcfV-VaeaZJryDi_DY8EEexkA0/s400/MadeInBrooklyn_Flyer+copy.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a>My homie, amazing visual artist/designer/comic book creator <a href="http://www.juandoe.com">Juan Doe</a> is having a solo show entitled "MADE IN BROOKLYN" a collection of comic book inspired visual rhetoric. Can't wait to see it. On view : February 27-March 22 Opening Reception Friday Febr 27, 2009. 43 Bogart St, Brooklyn L to Morgan Ave

iheART NYC: JUAN DOE " Made In Brooklyn"

My homie, amazing visual artist/designer/comic book creator Juan Doe is having a solo show entitled "MADE IN BROOKLYN" a collecti...

11:10 AM

FREE MUSIC: CUBIC ZIRCONIA mixtape vol. 1

i've been watching the rise of Cubic Zirconia since the first time I posted about them, and was psyched to see their new mixtape for free on one of my favorite music sites, my boy Kenny Fresh's <a href="http://www.freshselects.net/">FRESHSELECTS.</a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1faBY1bvQEknLJLPyBqCKJ4ji1bJbRMgYKddP4r9Gm-5yjsJ9zYZZAf5_1qkXlm2pGc-vxX-dpW6wuob-4RNsicerctGQa1E2FQAcMZPb5SV3L0S0V0cqcPnFhsmMBrTKyKY9_mRKOqM/s1600-h/cz-mixtape-mini-buy-now-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304299135942399938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1faBY1bvQEknLJLPyBqCKJ4ji1bJbRMgYKddP4r9Gm-5yjsJ9zYZZAf5_1qkXlm2pGc-vxX-dpW6wuob-4RNsicerctGQa1E2FQAcMZPb5SV3L0S0V0cqcPnFhsmMBrTKyKY9_mRKOqM/s400/cz-mixtape-mini-buy-now-1.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a>CUBIC ZIRCONIA - MIXTAPE VOL. 1: CZ DOES LONDON 1. Cubic Zirconia - I Wanna Freebase You 2. Cubic Zirconia - Dick For A Day 3. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/chaseandstatus" target="_blank">Chase & Status</a> - Eastern Jam [Ram Records] 4. Cubic Zirconia - Josephine 5. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/clawstep" target="_blank">Claw</a> - Jersey Shore Guidos [Suicide Dub] 6. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/cursesareforever" target="_blank">Curses!</a> feat. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/maggiehorn" target="_blank">Maggie Horn</a> - The Deep End [Institubes] 7. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/kennydope" target="_blank">The Bucketheads</a> - The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) [Big Beat] 8. Cubic Zirconia - The Phone 9. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/tyreecooper02" target="_blank">Tyree</a> - Acid Crash [Supa Dupa] 10. Cubic Zirconia - Fuck Work (<a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/propervillaindjs" target="_blank">Proper Villians</a>/<a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/jubileeownsyou" target="_blank">Jubilee</a> Remix) 11. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/djclass" target="_blank">DJ Class</a> feat. <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.myspace.com/liljonworld" target="_blank">Lil’ Jon</a> - I’m The Shit (Remix) [Universal] 12. Cubic Zirconia - (secret bonus track) download this priceless gem<a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/6584850-782"> here</a> <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ASDIzHF7bpU99LZ6FV6vEgBz1mwM2bJhyphenhyphenaI8pkoUscpVBfkbNaOcDu8O9fSHypxAZcvR50v5D_HhSpVVv92eoG2mcu_mhE1QKnvQfq_OyyRNzxLIk50JDdfPG_ap9b1VN1Z9t5rinF8/s1600-h/flashing_feb.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304637277908069842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ASDIzHF7bpU99LZ6FV6vEgBz1mwM2bJhyphenhyphenaI8pkoUscpVBfkbNaOcDu8O9fSHypxAZcvR50v5D_HhSpVVv92eoG2mcu_mhE1QKnvQfq_OyyRNzxLIk50JDdfPG_ap9b1VN1Z9t5rinF8/s400/flashing_feb.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 400px;" /></a>I've been a fan of Tiombe's fearless, out-of the box singing style and stage presence and comfortable-with-being-bizarre lyrics, so when I heard about CZ I expected to hear some hot shit. Like the band's name inspired by a type of diamond cut, the mixtape is about those shiny gems that people die for (<a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw23pTjKf-I">literally</a>)...at times dirty at others hilarious. this ain't fake read more about them on <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.freshselects.net/cubiczirconiamix1">freshselects</a>. In between their UK tour, catch the crew tomorrow at the FLASHING LIGHTS Nick Catchdubs, Jess Jubilee and DJ Ayres Special Guests Cubic Zirconia and Nick Hook (birthday set!) at the Dim Sum Restaurant 88 Palace 88 East Broadway (@ Forsyth) 2nd Floor RSVP for $5 (!) at <a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.djayres.com/flashing">djayres.com/flashing</a>

FREE MUSIC: CUBIC ZIRCONIA mixtape vol. 1

i've been watching the rise of Cubic Zirconia since the first time I posted about them, and was psyched to see their new mixtape for fre...

4:28 PM

PHOTO OF THE DAY: still mi-zo

PHOTO OF THE DAY: still mi-zo

another one from mi-zo ...i picked it because it describes my state of mind

10:34 PM

NEW WORK ::: Law

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWhvfW5OE_7rT5kuqzWfn5NUAgQmWVzHuMDzvz7N7EjBhty09XacuPovLM4O-bLyKJNTDdjr72V6e9iVDCTsYUeMFwgb6D8XEVrThLcOV-vNSxW7mrlIDjZ3LlgnFdj62GDVePYfIMKU/s1600-h/law2+5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303704207399167474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWhvfW5OE_7rT5kuqzWfn5NUAgQmWVzHuMDzvz7N7EjBhty09XacuPovLM4O-bLyKJNTDdjr72V6e9iVDCTsYUeMFwgb6D8XEVrThLcOV-vNSxW7mrlIDjZ3LlgnFdj62GDVePYfIMKU/s400/law2+5.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" /></a>NEW WORK::::Law just finished the first step of this portrait commissioned by friend, New-York model <a href="http://identitiesnyc.blogspot.com/2008/11/lawrence-annunziataa-prime-candidate.html">Lawrence Annunziata</a> aka Law whose face is going to become iconic if he keeps on with the modeling. I'm deliberating whether to add anything to it...originally was planned to be the drawing of a full torso with a gear, but sometimes it's better to stop than overdue it. will come back to it tomorrow with a fresh eye & post the developments. <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/lawlichibanwwatermgreen2-1.jpg" /> </div>

NEW WORK ::: Law

NEW WORK::::Law just finished the first step of this portrait commissioned by friend, New-York model Lawrence Annunziata aka Law whose face...

1:40 AM

iheARTNYC: Mars-1 NUCLEAR MYSTICS opening at JONATHAN LEVINE 2/21/09

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/mars1.jpg" /> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mars-1.com/">MARS-1</a> Solo Exhibit Feb 21 thru Mar 21, 2009 <div face="arial" style="text-align: center;">Opening Reception - Saturday, February 21st 7pm- 9pm JONATHAN LEVINE Gallery </div></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">529 West 20th Street, 9E New York, NY 10011 </div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;">I'm looking forward to checking out the solo show of Mars-1. His dreamy surreal work continues the legacy of giants like one of my favorite painters, Max Ernst, while also expanding the vision into the future with a unique psychedelic aesthetics. Here is some info about Mars-1's work: </div>"Mars-1’s distinctly individual aesthetic is not easily compared to the vision of his contemporaries or artists from past movements. His constantly evolving process continues to expand with each new series of work, seemingly beyond the reaches of even his own awareness. Themes explored range from very scientific to more esoteric phenomena. From theoretical physics, metamorphosis and collective consciousness, to ufology and examining possibilities of otherworldly principles, the relative link between physical and life sciences are applied throughout. Transitional energies, natural multiplicity, helixes and spontaneous biological occurrences all come together, forming imagery with hypotheses beyond the scope of modern technology."

iheARTNYC: Mars-1 NUCLEAR MYSTICS opening at JONATHAN LEVINE 2/21/09

MARS-1 Solo Exhibit Feb 21 thru Mar 21, 2009 Opening Reception - Saturday, February 21st 7pm- 9pm JONATHAN LEVINE Galle...

4:52 PM

i'm FEELING: Woolfy!!!

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfVV8baod3wMF91V5-JaBX_7I9M1GPOJdGtK9GBRFehuos51LwNa9waLAM9z3uD99bxI4vb4cdNAJw2rLIhoUNGWHG5AQq6AnOApaZuvtNHw7mq2Ulz_zk-FnAy_AMEmGiLjyLbiJSjo/s1600-h/woolfy"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303542635096990562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfVV8baod3wMF91V5-JaBX_7I9M1GPOJdGtK9GBRFehuos51LwNa9waLAM9z3uD99bxI4vb4cdNAJw2rLIhoUNGWHG5AQq6AnOApaZuvtNHw7mq2Ulz_zk-FnAy_AMEmGiLjyLbiJSjo/s400/woolfy" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" /></a>I discovered <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.myspace.com/woolfys">Woolfy</a> a few months ago & been one of my favorites since. Peep his super-dope release "<a href="http://www.properlychilled.com/music/release/profile.php?view=650">The Astral Projections of Starlight</a>" (Oct 2008) that takes you on a cosmic journey through the galaxies of your mind with soothing, lazy tunes (eg. Carry On, Escape)...I would listen to this to get some visionary inspiration.[source: <a href="http://blog.discorocker.net/2008/10/mirage">discorocker.net</a>] Now for a different mood, listen to THAT LADY, a new-wave dirty disco gem with a heavy bassline and analog sound, this track is sexy as hell....a def turn on. listen and download for <a href="http://blog.discorocker.net/files/woolfy-that-lady.mp3">FREE here</a> (option click). also check out his new EP, <a href="http://www.dancetracksdigital.com/search/release.php?release_id=41777">Oh Missy</a> on dancetrack where you can also listen to it. Somebody's gotta bring him to NYC!

i'm FEELING: Woolfy!!!

I discovered Woolfy a few months ago & been one of my favorites since. Peep his super-dope release " The Astral Projections of Sta...

3:33 PM

My partner in crime( not really...more like partner in LOVE)

This is a snapshot i took of Danny( <a href="http://www.flickr.com/lucidopticlab">www.flickr.com/lucidopticlab</a> ) <a title="Danny my zigwomp-LOVE by lucidRose, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidrose/3276171023/"><img alt="Danny my zigwomp-LOVE" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3276171023_737b64f92a.jpg" width="363" /></a> Danny is the other half of Lucid Optic lab...certainly the brains of our lil company. He is my voice of reason and perhaps my much needed vain of sanity and i feel that i don't show him often enough how much i appreciate his presence in my life. In the picture above he is modeling a shirt he Tie-Dyed that is now on sale in our etsy shop( <a href="http://www.lucidopticlab.etsy.com/">http://www.lucidopticlab.etsy.com/</a> ). Isn’t he handsome? He has been working a lot on making very beautiful, psychedelic music on his computer. It seems he is using a program that allows him to layer sound clips together + add percussion which he works out on his keyboard or records his own live drumming on the djembe drums we have in the house. He is averaging three songs a week now...just bustin them out left and right. Hopefully sometime soon I can get him to set up a music myspace page so that he can share the music he is makin. Now that we are pretty much finished settling in Portland Oregon he is gearing up to start screen printing again, so that means he is off to the art store to buy some new screens and ink. Right now we are working together to push out a finished logo for Mama's Herbal Soups: <a href="http://www.mamasherbalsoaps.com/" rel="nofollow">www.mamasherbalsoaps.com/</a> i cant wait to show off the finished design piece its already looking wonderful.So we are certainly busy, but its the good sort of busy! We made our 11th sale on etsy and it was an inkwashed card/print that he made of his knome graphic that we also have screen printed on t-shirts. Here is the print that we sold from our etsy store on 2-8-09: <a title="gnome2 by Lucid Optic Lab, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidopticlab/2609047921/"><img alt="gnome2" height="500" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2609047921_364d778dd2.jpg" width="330" /></a> Yay for etsy and thank you to our valued customers. I cant tell you how excited we both get when we make a sale. it feels great to have our artwork supported/appreciated. I think especially in this time in the world its important to focus on keeping art/the appreciation of art alive and one of the best ways of doing that is by supporting your local/global artists!

My partner in crime( not really...more like partner in LOVE)

This is a snapshot i took of Danny( www.flickr.com/lucidopticlab ) Danny is the other half of Lucid Optic lab...certainly the brains of our...

10:54 AM

ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Hermosdef, the Soulcatcher (1975-2009) RIP

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bf-TGi206Eun6pMddMA4Dg5xjjvBys4hyphenhyphen9EFJmGvcE8MU7IbOCXVQLQe5OTNPGSDW_t3Lka0IaxhmeEmD_Pk9FhLh8DfZqGnDQhPAe1F7_bYSfBNDQMCcqLooqXCEN4ZwN7vfgi-kXY/s1600-h/n683571385_1855543_4949.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301742801313553650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bf-TGi206Eun6pMddMA4Dg5xjjvBys4hyphenhyphen9EFJmGvcE8MU7IbOCXVQLQe5OTNPGSDW_t3Lka0IaxhmeEmD_Pk9FhLh8DfZqGnDQhPAe1F7_bYSfBNDQMCcqLooqXCEN4ZwN7vfgi-kXY/s400/n683571385_1855543_4949.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a>I just woke up to a devastating news...someone from France left an RIP comment on <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-homies-rule-too-organic-soul-crew.html">my post on Hermosdef aka Hermann Deza</a>, one of my favorite photographers. Strangely, I just thought of hitting him up on my Blackberry messenger, as I've kept noticing the "missing person" notices on myspace that his friends posted up and was getting worried about him. I discovered Hermann's work online and immediately fell in love with his portraits highly saturated with hue & soul. We connected and I featured him here as the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/01/photographer-of-month-hermosdef.html">Photographer of the Month</a> a year ago (for which he immediately returned the love on <a href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=47137916&blogID=351347164">his page</a>) and then later we also did an interview in My Homies Rule Too section along with his Organic Soul Crew partner, Dorlis (read the feature <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-homies-rule-too-organic-soul-crew.html">here</a>). Last time I communicated with him, he had plans to visit Brooklyn and I was looking forward to introduce him to my Brooklyn universe of artist friends. As I learned from a couple of his friends from France who reached out today, Hermann was missing since the end of December and was found in the Paris' river, Seine on February 10th. Nobody knows exactly what happened. It is a terrible loss, we are all devastated about this whole thing. My deepest condolences go out to his family. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/hermann-deza/">See more of his work on his flickr page.</a> <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/hermosdef1.jpg" /> <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/hermosdef3sadia-1.jpg" /> <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/hermosdef2ayo.jpg" /> For those who speak French, here is an interview with him <object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J9uVfkQK-Z0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J9uVfkQK-Z0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object> </div>

ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Hermosdef, the Soulcatcher (1975-2009) RIP

I just woke up to a devastating news...someone from France left an RIP comment on my post on Hermosdef aka Hermann Deza , one of my favorite...

7:06 PM

MY HOMIES RULE TOO: Concep

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-xZrAFSJr91zv3UnJFxGmY8WkXoVBK5WIYSy5E4XwsaNXlfXLCq5a9ZK0Gwz1-cUFyogXoJ80GWxM90s6GoJBZ4FPbJo-6rf9iIqLgoz7dk3cacf6-CTUk6vY5XnSlyNnl3muZZXGNU/s1600-h/bigroyalcrown.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247258604536680978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-xZrAFSJr91zv3UnJFxGmY8WkXoVBK5WIYSy5E4XwsaNXlfXLCq5a9ZK0Gwz1-cUFyogXoJ80GWxM90s6GoJBZ4FPbJo-6rf9iIqLgoz7dk3cacf6-CTUk6vY5XnSlyNnl3muZZXGNU/s400/bigroyalcrown.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="http://www.concepmakelove.com/">Concep</a> is Brooklyn's answer to the renaissance ideal of the polymath artist. New Orleans-born Concep's journey in pursuit of intertwining his passion for visual arts, design, and dance led him to Brooklyn, where he has began to lay the foundation to his visionary empire. Cep gained large notoriety by winning MTV's 07 "Artbattles" Competition and has since painted for artists in the music industry and live at events in connection to Swizz Beats, Rich Medina, and Deeply Madly Living Gallery, Complex magazine, Girbaud, MTV's Wild'n Out, and Scion. Concep's ill skillz in street dance also allowed him to be involved in video productions for artist such as Mos Def, Little X, Eric Sermon, Timbaland, and Sa Ra. Cep's most recent endeavor was shot recently in his Crown Heights' studio in Brooklyn for MTV 2's Independent Music Week and MTV Africa's U.S. upcoming artist spot. As a designer, Concep has worked for urban brands such as Ecko Unlimited, Ruff Ryders, Pony and eventually landing a home at Marithé Francois Girbaud, a French brand specializing in premium denim and fashion graphics. His design work is intimately connected with his fine artistry, as you can find textile patterns that serve as inspiration for his design showing up in his paintings, or his paintings getting canvased on streetware. <div>His growing body of artworks is an unfolding story of the evolution of the self through the language of color. With a special talent for translating ideas, vision and energy, Concep has an ability to paint concepts, emotions and vibration that has an immediate effect on the observer (similar to the effect of music, which is much harder to achieve in painting). Encoding his key to the secret of life, the ever-present Pythagorean theorem, a2+b2=c2 (a(nthony)2=past, b(rown)2=present, c(oncep)2= future) is a reminder of the infinite possibilities that stretch between life and death, connecting dreams with the path of self-realization. Having elevated his magic surrealistic aesthetic of the street to a new level, Concep is ready to put some fire under the hyped-out art market sleepy asses. Beside our love of late night painting sessions, Concep (who happened to be my neighbor) and I share a special affinity for the color turquiose. We had a recent collaboration for my Secret Samurai show, entitled " I'll Meet You In The Crystal Cave" (check the result <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/12/secret-lives-of-samurais-art-of-heart.html">here</a>) and he is working on a new one as well (follow the progress on his <a href="http://concepmakelove.blogspot.com/2009/02/progress-new-collabo-piece-w-artist.html">blog</a>), and he has given me some recent<a href="http://concepmakelove.blogspot.com/2009/02/wwwlichibanblogspotcom-really-really.html"> love on his blog</a>, which I'm super grateful for as well. Make sure to check out his newly launched <a href="http://www.concepmakelove.com/">website</a> to get a real sense of the extent of his work and get some fresh produce on his super dope <a href="http://concepmakelove.blogspot.com/">blog</a> or drop a line on his <a href="http://www.mypace.com/concepresume">page</a>. </div> CONCEP //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// painter, designer, dancer, renaissance hustler, visionary, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHBxlAggsUW7i5zNIXZGfU47ji2BUoBUISqMJfPCxX1l5XLjiwCmQ7uShZg0Fu7cLNU4RGAL7mMcX1G6eCVdtIPT9FLawM2BgDK5IH_Sueq9UVHlng4MDKhFphzBCuHFgqABBLxW1xMs/s1600-h/conceplichibanblog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301091785281758530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHBxlAggsUW7i5zNIXZGfU47ji2BUoBUISqMJfPCxX1l5XLjiwCmQ7uShZg0Fu7cLNU4RGAL7mMcX1G6eCVdtIPT9FLawM2BgDK5IH_Sueq9UVHlng4MDKhFphzBCuHFgqABBLxW1xMs/s400/conceplichibanblog.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" /></a>WHAT DO YOU DO? Men's Senior Fashion Graphics Designer for the global brand Marithé Francois Girbaud by day, and all parts in between I pursue my painting... So Painter/Designer. WHERE DO YOU CALL IT HOME? I call New Orleans my home, that's where I was born but Brooklyn is where the Most Highest wants me to be, so it is my place here, Crown Heights, Brooklyn. TRUE BEAUTY IS… my freedom, the clouds above, the ocean, my family, and knowing the Universe got me. BEATS… start from the heart, bring us together, create motion, motivate and inspire, beats are energy within and around us. <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kL8u-8F5_F8UWIlCrOoNFODVp120VudlrKwZvPYiKOufchn7W5BkKxRXscZ0Ni57ZVBMTdjJSUwcYPLqC2PLox5y75qmxghqvHv7_F4DPr6hB_U4W5JoweBK-DPAc3qEBAfJahTNVcY/s1600-h/concepmarvingaye.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301102030571243634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kL8u-8F5_F8UWIlCrOoNFODVp120VudlrKwZvPYiKOufchn7W5BkKxRXscZ0Ni57ZVBMTdjJSUwcYPLqC2PLox5y75qmxghqvHv7_F4DPr6hB_U4W5JoweBK-DPAc3qEBAfJahTNVcY/s400/concepmarvingaye.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" /></a>TRUE SEXY IS… can be found in the interior of the eyes. I think a woman is most sexy when she's confident not cocky. MUSIC IS MY... yin to my art's yang. Together they complete me, simply just like sight & sound. ART DOES NOT… have an ending, it is this endless, tireless process, this beautifully deep well full of replenishment. Art does not have a finish line, or a light at it's tunnels end. Art does not want me to let it go, it will continue to drive me insane until the entire world has overstanding of what I am attempting to accomplish. Art does not want to see me fail, and does not let me down... EVER! MY NIGHTS ARE… many times spent silent, listening to myself, listening to the Universe, painting and channeling the moons creative energy. I love to work at night as I believe the night belongs to me and my uninterrupted thoughts and ideas. My nights admire Miles, dissect Dilla, Learn from Pac, Meditate with Badu, smoke with LTJ, dance with <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstZ9Zb_SeZkIz2qdTG-kbRAEpSWk-oAwWEHsokd4sdv2FLSs5qNcOtDva82dUu_hOsPem0mC6iEz6ZVMhdlADCOAMM3f9jHneMcrjUFHxcNsb54OgJrRi8FeJ5h5AHHIsI55eOCuGxdQ/s1600-h/concept.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301100829171290978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstZ9Zb_SeZkIz2qdTG-kbRAEpSWk-oAwWEHsokd4sdv2FLSs5qNcOtDva82dUu_hOsPem0mC6iEz6ZVMhdlADCOAMM3f9jHneMcrjUFHxcNsb54OgJrRi8FeJ5h5AHHIsI55eOCuGxdQ/s400/concept.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a>Osunlade, and think with Marley. I take messages collected through songs, stories, poems, happenings and redistribute them through my canvasses. Oh, and I also be blogging like my life depended on it. lol THESE 3 TURN ME ON…A woman's lips (usually the bottom one), morning wood', and dark liquor...(honorable mention - fresh paint) SELF-KNOWLEDGE…has allowed me to look past haters, and people who might just misunderstand me or what angle I come from. Having self- knowledge allows me to not give a fuck about any critique, any doubter, or any weapon formed against me. Self-knowledge reminds me everyday that I'm on the way to becoming a Famous Negro Artist. <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zNXzsPUFo316t23gMfrdM8eeVl0ZnfLFn_NNQaAf4vHEYbJ96RTUmBKpAGOjyqJFjtFa1j202UwSVGC2B8Kz4jqJFNf2lOeSq3nznzsBVhOYXPgD7ftzuezV0KYIM3MPpci2Du3HJbU/s1600-h/l_6cbb896127fb0b9b3b2956fa8380df30.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301092264444080242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zNXzsPUFo316t23gMfrdM8eeVl0ZnfLFn_NNQaAf4vHEYbJ96RTUmBKpAGOjyqJFjtFa1j202UwSVGC2B8Kz4jqJFNf2lOeSq3nznzsBVhOYXPgD7ftzuezV0KYIM3MPpci2Du3HJbU/s400/l_6cbb896127fb0b9b3b2956fa8380df30.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" /></a>ENOUGH OF …Hmmmm man... Enough of auto'tune songs, Rap beef, icegrillz , VH1 reality shows, saw sequels, Haters, Biters, non-motivation, loosie' cigarettes, radio not playing real shit, Babylon, selling you're classic Polo on Ebay, and last judging others. MY CREATIVITY IS... is my responsibility...just because we are given a curtain gift, talent, ability does not mean we can just sit around and bathe in it. My creativity is my responsibility, I must expose others to it, give back to my community with it, and change the world somehow whether large or small with it... I truly believe. My creativity is a2+b2=c2 (past, present, future). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJyRbGz1oNlCyOYxBLLEoIVSLK8zwMh9IUFZW9O5F9Bi7Ai7KQ2sHNgZ4KB9CdoWgCt3oZsJWNLvXyRROGmBtbfdjHk1dX0nWIzlfAoulFbpEElhjg_Z6fWVXXojWK815OOYNIbJ0-ng/s1600-h/conceplifestarts.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301102336053397986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJyRbGz1oNlCyOYxBLLEoIVSLK8zwMh9IUFZW9O5F9Bi7Ai7KQ2sHNgZ4KB9CdoWgCt3oZsJWNLvXyRROGmBtbfdjHk1dX0nWIzlfAoulFbpEElhjg_Z6fWVXXojWK815OOYNIbJ0-ng/s400/conceplifestarts.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 400px;" /></a>TRUE POWER IS...is the ability to be yourself 110%, creating your own lane to walk through, and never being discouraged by failure, I think this is true power,... believing in yourself I guess. LIFE CAN BE THE... biggest magic trick ever. I DREAM OF...I dream of living off the fruit of that which I love the most, my art and design. To one day reach the goals I have set for my set long ago, just reaching my Personal Legend. Everyday, (every f*cking day) I dream of being (your) favorite artist. Real talk, my business, my work expanding and taking me everywhere the Earth has something for me, health, and happiness. I'm living a dream...just coming up from New Orleans til' now. TO LOVE IS TO…To love? They say "love is God's benevolence towards mankind", I'm not sure about other types of love, but i love shrimp? I think to love is to kinda be addicted I guess... I'VE GOT FLOW BECAUSE….I have successfully set the "Electric slide" off at like over 30 various parties and family reunions, hmmm and I have danced in like over a 20,000 circles with just mothers, daughters, and baby niece's clapping. but most importantly i'm determined and nothing will stop me until i'm in your house somewhere in some type, shape, or form ya'dig. THE WOMAN OF THE FUTURE…The woman of the future needs to inspire us young men, teach instead of learn, grow with us and work side by side to achieve like goals. The woman of the future won't need to prove herself or compete, because she has made it, and broken down all but few barriers. She'll also stop wearing that crazy super glue lip gloss that be sticking to everything like cans, el's, straws, cheaks etc.! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTHe4AmWZACTdtSeSEi8iULS_V-HMX9auaCaECHDKKzcWq1bIyyFGxnXXnXrCMM44rlZC2m5UKWq2wR2I7cWU61mdyo9Hc3q_j7b9b1w4IZLNvRDKR_k4_ryGSgg7Jw4dRPg0ykg55Rg/s1600-h/conceptee5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301102959991718642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTHe4AmWZACTdtSeSEi8iULS_V-HMX9auaCaECHDKKzcWq1bIyyFGxnXXnXrCMM44rlZC2m5UKWq2wR2I7cWU61mdyo9Hc3q_j7b9b1w4IZLNvRDKR_k4_ryGSgg7Jw4dRPg0ykg55Rg/s400/conceptee5.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 305px;" /></a>WHERE CAN WE REACH YOU? <a href="http://www.concepmakelove.com/" target="_blank">concepmakelove.com</a> <a href="http://concepmakelove.blogspot.com/"> </a><a href="http://concepmakelove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">concepmakelove.blogspot.com</a> <a href="http://myspace.com/concepcompany" target="_blank">myspace.com/concepcompany</a> <a href="mailto:info@concepmakelove.com" target="_blank">info@concepmakelove.com</a> LATEST PROJECT...Look out for "Cadillac Ambitions The Artworks and Thoughtworks of Concep 01-present" it's my book project I just wrapped up, self published to hit Amazon.com and all that. WHAT'S NEW FOR 2009? Book, fashion retail, a few collaborations with some NYC streetwear brands (not saying yet, surprise), "Artbattles" checkout- <a href="http://artbattles.com/" target="_blank">artbattles.com</a>, and setting up a my first super huge solo show. SHOUTOUTS? My shoutouts are dedicated to anyone who knows who my next Art Dealer will be? Also a big shout goes out to the next Gallery home that can dig' my vision, a PR genius, and everybody who has shown me nothing but love as I walk the path to fulfilling my goals and dreams man, Thanks! For True. -Ccep <div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"> THE PAINTER ::: "Bala Blessing" 2008 :: this one below is one of my personal favorites, esp. because I saw it as it was coming to life...it's got a radiance and intense vibration, you can feel its energy field if you stand in front of it <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/conceplichibanblogBlessing.jpg" /> "Build & Grow" 2008 <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/conceplichibanblogBuildGrow.jpg" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;">check out the feature on him on MTV2 Indie Music Week..you can see the rest <a href="http://concepmakelove.blogspot.com/2009/01/mtv2-indie-music-week-my-videos.html">here.</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="360" width="425"><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=37530853,t=1,mt=video,searchID=,primarycolor=,secondarycolor=" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="360" width="425"></embed></object> </div>THE DESIGNER:: t-shirt designs for Marithé Francois Girbaud <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/conceplichibanblogtee.jpg" /></div> THE DANCER::: and check him get down in MOS DEF's dope Ghetto Rock video <object height="386" style="font-family: arial;" width="430"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="all" src="http://lads.myspace.com/videos/vplayer.swf" wmode="transparent" flashvars="culture=en-US&a=0&ap=0&y=0&m=698098&userid=-1&showmenus=0&remove=0&t=&type=video" height="386" width="430"></embed></object> </div>

MY HOMIES RULE TOO: Concep

Concep is Brooklyn's answer to the renaissance ideal of the polymath artist. New Orleans-born Concep's journey in pursuit of intert...

11:12 PM

MORE DILLA....FREE TRIBUTE MIXTAPE and some memorable moments

<div style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2009/02/dilla-lives-donuts-are-forever-3.html">DONUTS FOREVER 3</a> night was off the hook!!My man <a href="http://www.myspace.com/waajeedandthebling47group">Waajeed</a>, a personal friend of Dilla from Detroit and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/geologymusic">Ge-ology</a> were holding it down along with Sucio Smash all night long.... [photo courtesy of Jackie O'] Though for some reason, lots of Dilla events attract mostly dudes, the ladies definitely represented on Saturday. I haven't danced in ages and finally had a chance to make up for it. with Jackie O' (middle) and her lovely friends <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/lichibanjackiowaajeed-1.jpg" /> LOL...Waajeed & Geo who won the best Dilla memorabilia gear in my book. <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/waajeedgeologylichibanblog.jpg" /> Rich Medina, Waajeed, and Spinna...3 of NYC's best DJs under one roof <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/richmedianspinnawaajeed.jpg" /> Raise it up! <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/lichibanwaajeedgeologyrichmedina.jpg" style="width: 596px; height: 447px;" /> and here are some of the pics of the developing Dilla tribute sketch/painting I did the previous night at the Ladies Love Dilla event. Excuse the quality of my images, I still don't have a proper camera, these are images from my blackberry. <img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/lichibandillastep1.jpg" /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGAkBQOS2SINtxSCfbp0U0LiIUCqkfCC9iDUOMrPcHidpL9pz8vKKyFZ4nSNY_6HFFNuh80qopzMloB_7X0WaTxsaNJmSPcUG28OJtTIDg4ayEc5Rr96kYJee41Gmnl35YwYkHCPkcp8/s1600-h/lichibandillastep2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301864926938881874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGAkBQOS2SINtxSCfbp0U0LiIUCqkfCC9iDUOMrPcHidpL9pz8vKKyFZ4nSNY_6HFFNuh80qopzMloB_7X0WaTxsaNJmSPcUG28OJtTIDg4ayEc5Rr96kYJee41Gmnl35YwYkHCPkcp8/s400/lichibandillastep2.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 231px;" /></a>Def needs a lot of work...I am not really satisfied with the result, but hey, it was a new kind of challenge to draw someone live on the spot, and I did it...don't hate! last but not least, I also have some freebie from the dope <a href="http://lloyd.blogsome.com/2007/02/13/on-point-podcast-sns-dilla-mix-part-one//">www.o-point.be</a> site, which you should check out for more free music, including other Dilla tribute mixes. click here to listen or download SNS's tribute podcast <a href="http://ppklts.be/podcast/on-point%20-%20070213%20-%20SNS_J_Dilla_Tribute_side_a%20-%20%28www.on-point.be%29.mp3">here </a>.(make sure to option+click on the link if you're having trouble downloading)</div>

MORE DILLA....FREE TRIBUTE MIXTAPE and some memorable moments

The DONUTS FOREVER 3 night was off the hook!!My man Waajeed , a personal friend of Dilla from Detroit and Ge-ology were holding it down al...

11:00 PM