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Proud to be NC

Published by Robert E Leebowitz May 7th, 2008 in Raleigh, Good Stuff and RDU. 2 Comments

It’s a fact that many in the Northeastern USA consider North Carolina to be backwards because we’re Southern. In the days of Jesse Helms, the stereotypes that branded us weren’t always unjustified. I can’t describe how let down I felt when Harvey Gantt lost to Jesse Helms after the Congressional Club decided to go racial with the “Hands” commercial. Helms was losing, desperate, and they decided to stoop low and appeal to the worst instincts of North Carolinians and they won. I was disappointed in North Carolina’s voters and felt as though all the backwards stereotypes about North Carolina might have been warranted.

The Barack Obama victory last night should be a proud moment for North Carolina, even if he’s not your chosen candidate. I’ve been arguing for years that North Carolina’s metropolitan areas are far more racially integrated and progressive than Northeastern cities like Philadelphia and Boston. The breakdown of the votes last night bear that out and I’m proud of our state. I’m proud that Barack and Michelle Obama spent the day in Raleigh, drank beer in the same bar we frequent. I’m proud the victory speech took place in Raleigh, instead of Charlotte, the home of all that banking money. The local coverage (WRAL) featured Carter Wrenn and CNN featured Alex Castellanos, the two creators of the “Hands” commercial. I never thought I’d be happy to see those faces but their presence added some historical context to the day and our progress as state. Good job NC!

Fetzer loves Dick

Published by Robert E Leebowitz April 29th, 2008 in WTF, Raleigh and RDU. 1 Comment

We heard Dick Cheney would be visiting Raleigh to attend a fundraiser at an undisclosed private residence and we assumed that residence would be in Hayes Barton, or Country Club Hills. Apparently the fundraiser was held at Tom Fetzer’s (the ex-mayor we love to not love) office just across the street from the Hillsborough Street Char-Grill. That’s unconfirmed but we’re still waiting for Dana Perino to return our calls. If true, it’s just another lie from this administration: “undisclosed private residence”, what a crock! How are we supposed to protest the nation’s greatest liar when they lie about his location?

Stefan Sagmeister at Meredith

Published by Robert E Leebowitz April 17th, 2008 in Uncategorized, Art, Raleigh, Good Stuff and RDU. 2 Comments

Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister may be most famous for creating this poster for an appearance at Cranbrook by carving the text into his torso with a razor. I haven’t seen the Meredith poster but hopefully he’s come up with something sweet for those Meredith girls. Sorry to mix the bloody visual image with the food/blender wackiness of the press release.

AIGA Raleigh is proud to present design icon Stefan Sagmeister, live at Meredith College, on his national tour to support his new book, Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far. Astonishingly, Stefan has only learned twenty or so things in his life so far. But he did manage to publish these maxims all over the world: as billboards, projections, lightboxes, magazine spreads, annual report covers, fashion brochures, and, recently, as giant inflatable monkeys. In this presentation, Sagmeister mixes his diary, a lot of design, and a little art together with a pinch of psychology and a dash of happiness into a blender and pushes the button. It tastes surprisingly yummy.

Saturday, April 19th
Program: 5 - 7pm
Reception/Book Signing: 7 - 8pm
Jones Auditorium, Meredith College 3800 Hillsborough St, Raleigh

Triangle Modernist Mini Tour

Published by Administrator April 11th, 2008 in Architecture, Durham and RDU. 1 Comment

From Triangle Modernist Homes:

By popular demand, TMH presents its first Mini-Tour on May 17. The event begins at Saint Stephens Episcopal Church off of Rugby Road in Durham (see directions and map below).

To respect the neighborhood and reduce disruption, a free shuttle bus will take participants to the houses. Please do not park on Rugby Road; only handicapped participants with North Carolina handicapped placards may park in front of the tour homes. Once at the first house, you may walk to the rest (about 10-15 minutes between) or take the shuttle bus. Bottled water and restrooms are available in each house.

We’ve got three really cool houses, including classics by Brian Shawcroft and Robert “Judge” Carr and the brand new “Three Pavilions” by Bill Waddell. Come and discover design ideas for your own dream home — or buy one of these (two are for sale). Each architect will be on hand at his house and available for your questions!

Pronounced: Dumbass

Published by Robert E Leebowitz April 10th, 2008 in WTF and RDU. 0 Comments

Danny Hooley, the former Ugly American guitarist, and current entertainment reporter for the N&O, has been covering the latest racial slurs by Bob Dumas of G-105. Dumas is a shock jock, whose schtick mostly involves pretending to be a surly redneck, when he looks more like an obese toddler with a beard. I never listen to commercial radio and don’t much care what goes on the air, but as a cyclist, I was offended by Dumas’ previous desperate attention grab in which he encouraged motorist aggression against cyclists. Mr. Toad once explained that he turned down the opportunity to review local music because he enjoyed eating at restaurants like The Rockford, where half the employees were in bands. You want to enjoy your food without worrying what an offended party might have done to your food in the kitchen. I imagine Mr. Dumas doesn’t eat out much. He shouldn’t. Now, Mr. Dumas might argue that this is all comedy and should not be judged seriously. I see it as a very low form of comedy, like the pie-in-the-face, or being bombarded by water balloons, or everyone spilling their drinks on the same person at an event (like a St. Patrick’s Dy parade). I welcome everyone to subject Mr. Dumas to more comedy of that level. He apparently has a great sense of humor and should be a wonderful sport about it all.

Lord of the slums

Published by Robert E Leebowitz March 21st, 2008 in WTF, Raleigh, Urban Planning and RDU. 10 Comments

Did you happen to see this article about City Space Investment Group’s plans to add 42 houses in the area where South Saunders Street meets Lenoir St? The block pictured here always looked more Southern to me than any other block of Raleigh.

This project has been discussed here and here and it surprises me how many people think this project is a great idea. Bobby Lewis’ Metropolitan condo project failed to launch because the public seemed smart enough to realize they’d have city views on one side and housing project views on the other. It’s clear from the discussions of this development that the barriers to entry are too high, even for many in the middle class.

“In the middle of the neighborhood, the houses presented a surreal facade of cheer. They might have been intended to inspire, but the impossibility of acquiring something so close somehow had the opposite effect. The proximity made the failure pointed and personal.” from Random Family, by Adrian Nicole Leblanc

Continue reading ‘Lord of the slums’

Jim Crow Was Here. Part two

Published by Robert E Leebowitz March 10th, 2008 in WTF, Raleigh, Music and RDU. 1 Comment

Continued from Part One.

Rodney Marsh, of Marsh Woodwinds, does recall a nightclub in the Capital Floor Care and Vacum building. “I played there in 1972, with terrible band called Gene Barbour & The Cavaliers. Gene was an early Beach Music figure who was trying to cash-in on the revival of the Beach Music thing. The club was “The Embers Club”, a Beach Music club operated by the band, The Embers. It wasn’t a black club, it was a white Beach Music club, but I think there would have been black people dancing with white people there.” The history of Beach Music is really more interesting than most of the music itself. In the Jim Crow south of the 1940’s and 1950’s, young white people in conservative cities and backwater towns could be exposed to R&B through late night radio shows, as well as live music, and jukeboxes at the beach. The drinking age was 18, and kids visiting the beach were exposed to a heady world of alcohol, dancing and R&B music, for the first time in their lives and those good times sometimes broadened people’s minds about race and culture. The Beach Music variety of R&B never ventured far from the “Swing” sound of the 40’s and early 50’s and now the phrase “Beach Music” usually means the whitest aspects of black music. Similar conditions created Rock Music but whereas Rock mutated and evolved, Beach Music became a “Golden Oldies” format. John Swain at the Record Hole, used to love answering phone calls asking him the difference between R&B and Beach Music. “Buy the record, give me the god damn money, and I’ll call it whatever the hell you want.”

Speaking of “The whitest of white”: Metro Magazine had this blurb a few years ago:

BBC producer Andy Kershaw interviewed Reeves at the legendary Mecca Restaurant in downtown Raleigh to ascertain what the city was like in 1964. Reeves discussed the musical scene of the era, remembering the many nightclub and concert appearances of the leading black musicians who, as the song says, “rolled into Raleigh.”

The Metro publisher explained that racism was not a visible problem in Raleigh due to its gentility, its lack of industry and unions, and the large population of college-age students attending area universities and colleges.

Said Reeves: “Of course I remember the black and white water fountains, the separate entrances to movie theaters, but back then we didn’t know it was wrong. But now we know it wasn’t right.”

Reeves also remembered “young, white music lovers going to black nightclubs and going to see black entertainers at the many clubs that existed in Raleigh—including the Cat’s Eye, the Embers Club, the Frog and Nightgown—and attending concerts at Memorial Auditorium and Dorton Arena, where as many as 15 acts would appear on the same bill.”

WTF? You may already think that Bernie Reeves is a facist blowhard but it’s nice to learn that segregation and racism didn’t greatly inconvenience him. God knows, labor unions might have agitated and made racism seem like a problem to old Bernie!
Continue reading ‘Jim Crow Was Here. Part two’

Durham Documentary Free in Raleigh

Published by Administrator March 6th, 2008 in Art, Lookit, Raleigh, Durham and RDU. 0 Comments

“Durham: A Self-Portrait” will be shown Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh. Tickets are free. We haven’t seen it but it sounds like it’s up our alley.

More than three years ago, Emmy-winning filmmaker, Dr. Steven Channing, set out in search of an authentic depiction of Durham, his longtime home. Having heard all the stereotypes over his 20 years in the Bull City, he wondered, “What is the true face of Durham?” The answers are sure to surprise, according to Dr. Channing.

“More than 70 interviews were completed, combined with rarely seen film and video images and an original music score that combines to tell an intriguing story of race and class,” said Dr. Channing.

The film covers the birth of the tobacco era and “Black Wall Street,” as a bustling new industrial city develops at the turn of the 20^th century. It continues with the impact of modernization and the Civil Rights movement, alongside the rise of Duke University and growing minority populations. Under the glare of the national media, the community struggles to confront crime and despair, and keep an open dialogue.

Upcoming Screenings:

4/11; Durham Arts Council; 7:30p

3/30; N.C. Triangle Jewish Film Festival; Galaxy Theatre, Cary

3/8; N.C. Museum of History, Raleigh; 2pm

visit http://www.portraitofdurham.com for more information.

Jim Crow was here. Part 1.

Published by Robert E Leebowitz March 3rd, 2008 in Raleigh, Durham and RDU. 2 Comments

There is a building on the 300 block of Raleigh’s Davie Street that has a plaque by the door that reads “Capital Vacum.” It is seemingly unused, while the rest of the surrounding neighborhood now houses restaurants, bars, architectural offices, and art galleries. One day, while driving by the building with a friend, he pointed to the Capital Vacum building and told me that a black co-worker told him that this building used to be a nightclub and it was the first place in Raleigh he saw black people and white people dancing together.

The reminders of Raleigh’s segregated past occur often enough but they always come as a surprise and with a jolt, and this was one of those reminders. Was it really THAT recent?

Continue reading ‘Jim Crow was here. Part 1.’

Print Power

Published by The Furry Geezer February 20th, 2008 in Art, Raleigh, Good Stuff and RDU. 1 Comment

Printmakers, even among artists, are meticulous and controlling. They are fanatical about the papers, inks, and processes they use. The best ones transcend this geek mentality and present a universe of its own, in two dimensions. The worst ones appear to have played with fingerpaint. In the RDU area, this all plays out in a surprisingly rich context of organizations and physical resources.

A recent show at VAE, Raleigh’s community artist organization, helped inaugurate PoNC, a new printmaker’s group. The show displayed a wide, quite educational array of techniques and styles: indeed, an evening workshop during the show featured a wonderfully anecdotal yet scholarly talk by PoNC founder Judy Jones, as well as hands-on demonstrations and opportunities for members of the public to create blocks and pull prints. The print show itself was rich with peculiar edges: the aforementioned fingerpainting joined intricate, multi-textured images and inflamed political and sexual statements. Judy has big plans for the group and for her new printmaking studio at 311 West Martin (she recently moved there from Artspace). The group has lots of active members, some of whom work mostly in other media. They also are aligned with a state-wide printmaking group. It seems to be an admirable emerging community resource we will hear more about as time goes by.

Aligned very differently is another constellation of printers: the North Carolina Printmakers Guild, which is populated by slighter older and more established printmakers whose organization exists mainly to generate shows. One of those shows, at the BTI center in 2004, was the most impressive display of local printmaking I have ever seen in Raleigh. When these guys do a workshop, as they did at Blam a couple of years ago, they present some cutting edge technique and build a little working seminar around that. The lead member in my mind is Jen Coon, whose personal studio houses a magnificent etching press, next door to Rebus. Her Rebus show about the Boylan Bridge was a masterpiece in drawing together artistic expression and community memory. The rituals of remembering and the social history wrapped up in the Boylan Bridge (and its forgotten sister, the Martin Street Extension) are worth a post all their own: suffice to say that Jen Coon used the pressing of images to stamp the soul of a neighborhood on to paper for all to see. The Printmakers Guild is the best way to stay in contact with the best printmaking work in the area.

There is always room for the light touch and you can get plenty of that hanging around the infant printmaking center at Pullen Art Center. Resident artists and printmaking instructors Ann Podris and Keith Norval present a wonderful mix of true bohemian spirit and lots of dedicated discipline for their craft. They are teaching and qualifying people for use of the excellent press they have obtained for the studio at Pullen (They also have a painting studio at Artspace). Here, perhaps is the best of the two previous worlds: get down and dirty in an informal atmosphere with two highly professional and highly personable artists. If you are aspiring to some print power of your own - check ‘em out!

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