all out culture war?

I don't know if the rest of the world has the problem we have in America.    We are in an all out culture war.    Tolerance has completely dissipated like water being poured on red hot steel.  
I am sick at heart to see what has happened and continues to happen in my country.  But it has to end.   Personally I'm reverting back to unwokeness and shunning cancel culture.  
You can be unwoke and not participate in cancel culture and still be a happy decent human being.    Don't you want to be happy again?    Are you tired of being woke?    Do you want to be more tolerant of those who differ from you and have different opinions from you?   Do you want to be more respectful?   Then join me now.    We can make a difference.  We must be the change that we would like to see.    

Like Eric Clapton sings in his new song - "THIS HAS GOTTA STOP" ...  enough is enough... I can't take this BS any longer....
https://youtu.be/dNt4NIQ7FTA
Let's remind ourselves of Plato's Cave allegory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave
In our time the cave is made of the walls we have built around ourselves as we stare at the screens of our phones iPads or other portable devices and shut everything out around us.  Things that keep us cooped up and blind to reality even though they do their best to try and convince us that what they are showing us is reality.  These devices only project shadows on the wall that people believe to be real.  And the more convinced people are that what they see on their devices is "real" the further the cords of bondage bind around them making harder to pull away.    It's time to put the device down and look around to come out into the daylight and be human again.   Come out of the Cave.   It's glorious out here in reality.  Sure it's not always pretty but it's REAL!

A great song and visual expression of this is in the song/video for A Perfect Circle's song DISILLUSIONED
"It's time to put the silicon obsession down"  (if you dare) 
https://youtu.be/BIsH686xWl0

Nefertiti

Nefertiti In The Doorway

I’ve been diggin’ the opera Akhnaten (again) by Philip Glass.  Probably my all-time favorite of his opera’s.    Enjoy this duet between Akhnaten and Nefertiti.

imagined album cover

Many who have been following me over the years know that occasionally I create album covers for imagined bands and music. Well it’s been a while. This image was inspired while listening to some thoroughly baked modern jazz.

The band members in my imagined recording are Sol Mucky, Chick Scully, Michael Missin & Charlie Winter collectively knows as MSMW. The album: MOTHER SAYS MORE JAZZ WAFFLES which I think is a totally boss title. LOL. I imagine the following track list:

  1. Mama Shakes
  2. Lovin’ On The El Train
  3. Groove My Polyester
  4. Jazz Waffles, No Syrup
  5. 3″ Platform Souls
  6. Phantasm And Ectoplasm
  7. Rocket Ride To The Honey Jar

If you can imagine hearing the music above and like it, let me know. If not maybe you’ll like this….. 🙂

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood – LITTLE WALTER RIDES AGAIN from their collaborative venture OUT LOUDER.

veggie-contrarian

SHE’S VEGETARIAN

Why the title? This image was created by manipulating a photo of a sweet potato after it had rooted in water. After the manipulation I can see what appears to be an alien female body. I questioned the dark blood-red color but found it kind of amusing – do vegetables bleed? No but vegetarians do. Is this meant to be a violent image? not at all but I can see why some might think so. I am not vegetarian although there have been times I’ve leaned in that direction. Overall vegetarianism and all dietary plans seem very abstract to me. So it makes sense that after I “cooked” the original photo and came up with this that it would be such an abstract image. When all is said-and-done I do like the darkness of the image. It gives me the same feeling of mystery and exploration as stepping into a cave and waiting for your eyes to adjust to the darkness as other senses like smell and hearing become heightened. So after “listening” and “smelling” this image for a while, what you do you think? How does it make you feel? What you do you hear – is there music that comes to mind (if so please add it to your comment)? What do you smell?

derailed

At first glance the final work may look like it has nothing to do with the original.   But it just goes to show that if you put enough time and work into it – magic happens. It took me about two hours to get this where I wanted. I did extensive layering (selective and de-selective). I did a lot of playing with color.  I also created/added a few textures.
I’ve got magic to do – just for you!

derailed

Railed

Magic To Do from PIPPIN

LibraryLibraryLibrary

Continuing with the posts of the past couple of days todays image has a different source.   The base image (bottom) was from the outside of the elevator shaft on the top level of a car park that is used for the Akron Public Library.  I also used the steam engine shot from yesterday to add some curves and texture on the final manipulation.   Many Many layers were used in this process.  I like the Monochrome against the orange and blue of the Library sign.    I can imagine printing this on a large aluminum metal sheet.

LibraryLibraryLibrary smTotally Tubular

Cage The Inferno

This severe abstraction is closer to what I normally like to create.   Again the base shot (bottom image) was a detail from the same steam engine as yesterday  – where the engine boiler meets the cabin where the engineer hangs out.

Cage The InfernoStrappin Good Fun

Flip The Script

Today I’m starting a new series of posts.   This series does not have a name – it’s just the way I’m going to post.    I’m going to show the final image which features heavy manipulation.   And then below that I’m going to show the original image so you have some idea of what I start with and the extremes I can end up.   Todays final image is mild by my standards but I really like and found that the more I “messed with it” the less I liked it.    The bottom image is a detail from a steam locomotive that’s been “rotting” on display in downtown Akron.   I like visiting it from time-to-time just to see if something strikes my fancy.

Flip The ScriptRelease

black and white

Black And White

FYI – for those who follow me, or maybe you’ve chanced upon my page, and you like my photo-based digital abstracts: I’ve now collected them on one gallery page titled abstract creations. So now you don’t have to scroll through all my posts to find them. If you click on ABSTRACT CREATIONS (shown under my blog header) then click on any one of the photos you can view it larger. You can also use this link.
https://onbeingbecoming.com/abstract-creations/

coronavirus 2020 #7

Messages #1 evn smlr

Sure we need to be careful but use common sense. Hygiene is important. If you follow basic common sense you’ll be fine.  Enjoy your life.  After all this life could be your last.

coronavirus 2020 #6

messages from the future #31 evn smlr

What are we losing? What are we giving up?
“Keep a distance of 6 feet between you and others”
“don’t touch each other”
“wear a mask”
In short, don’t kiss, shake hands or fuck.

coronavirus 2020 #5

messages from the future #37 evn smlr

With the Coronavirus there is a full-blown panic here in the US as a complete failure of leadership continues to be the real plague on our country. This panic has resulted in empty store shelves, events cancelled on a large scale, nothing is permitted where a group of 50 or more may gather. “Wartime” curfew 9pm.   Is this how we finally lose our freedom? Is this how government will control us? What happened to “freedom of assembly”? Will it ever be restored? Will we finally rise up? Or, will we remain comfortably numb?

My cell has windows and a doors but I AM NOT FREE!

coronavirus 2020 #4

messages from the future #18 evn smlr
Isn’t prevention merely a deception? Doesn’t it mean there is only a delay?
The hard truth is WE WILL ALL DIE most by disease. What’s the big deal? Get ready for it. Don’t panic. Be calm.

The music track below will not be for everyone. And there were several tracks I considered by this artist. Diamanda Galas with here 7 octave voice in her track “This Is The Law Of The Plague” from her PLAGUE MASS recording is a haunting experience worth listening to. She “shreds” the voice like a guitar player will “shred” guitar. Let it move you.

Coronavirus 2020 #3

messages from the future #50 evn smlr

Everyone is looking for a cure. But will that be enough? Aren’t we often addicted to our suffering? Isn’t suffering more exciting and newsworthy than a cure?

corona virus don’t panic

A brand new image.
CORONA VIRUS 2020

If this Corona Virus will teach us anything – it is that when it comes to human experience – the best of all possible futures is a dystopia for the majority and a utopia for the minority of survivors. That said, I prefer to think of the future as not written in stone. I like Bob Marley’s sound advice
“…don’t worry about a thing, ’cause everything’s gonna be alright”

and Michael Franti – don’t panic – Stay Human – spend less time looking suspiciously at each other and more time looking out FOR each other.

and finally

Coronavirus 2020 #2

messages from the future #65 evn smlr

Due to the Coronavirus “madness” that has gripped the world – This image is one of several images I will be reposting selected creations of my “MESSAGES FROM THE FUTURE” series from 2012/2013.  Do you really believe what you hear? Did you ever consider there may be another message?

Just some stuff to think about.

Coronavirus 2020

messages from the future #82 sm

Due to the Coronavirus “madness” that has gripped the world – This image is the first of several images I will be reposting selected creations of my “MESSAGES FROM THE FUTURE” series from 2012/2013. The madness starts with the news media.
The clip below from Monty Python’s Holy Grail seems fitting since this coronavirus pandemic is being treated like the “black death” of the middle ages. Just some stuff to think about.

I urge caution and calm when the media would have us PANIC!

so in love with u

What a way to wrap up the first full week of March.  Spring is right around the corner.  For those who follow me and like my work the music today is for you.

In Love With U