Drake Announces New ‘It’s All A Blur’ Tour With J. Cole for 2024

Drake’s making sure 2024 starts on the right foot, courtesy of his new It’s All a Blur tour.

Drake, 37, spent most of this year on the road with 21 Savage, but he decided he wasn’t done yet. On Monday, November 13, he announced It’s All A Blur – Big As The What?, a sequel tour that kicks off on January 18, 2024, in Denver. Joining Drake this time around is J. Cole, the rapper who helped “The 6 God” land his 13th No. 1 song on Billboard Hot 100 with their collab “First Person Shooter,” tying him with the late Michael Jackson.

This new It’s All a Blur tour will take Drake and J. Cole, 38, across the United States including the Midwest and Southern states. In February, the tour will hit Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the rescheduled dates from the first leg of It’s All a Blur. (Drake was initially set to perform in Music City in June, first postponing to October before pushing the show a second time.)

J. Cole will dip on the final four dates, leaving Drake to perform solo for his fans in Belmont Park, New York; State College, Pennsylvania; Sunrise, Florida; and Birmingham, Alabama. While other support acts have yet to be confirmed, fans are hoping for Drake’s 6-year-old son, Adonis, to land an opening slot to perform his first hit, “My Man Freestyle,” on the road.

The first It’s All a Blur tour commemorated Her Loss, the joint album between 31-year-old 21 Savage and Drake. On Friday, November 10, their work earned them a handful of Grammy nominations. “Rich Flex” was nominated for Best Rap Performance, while “Spin Bout U” was nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance. “Rich Flex” was nominated for Best Rap Song — a songwriters’ category — and Her Loss scored a nomination for Best Rap Album.

Drake Announces New It s All A Blur Tour With J Cole For 2024
Drake performs onstage. Prince Williams/Wireimage

Drake’s most recent solo album, For All The Dogs, was released on October 6, after the September 15 cut-off date for 2024 Grammys eligibility.

Her Loss will compete against Killer Mike’s Michael, Nas’s King’s Disease III, Travis Scott’s Utopia and Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains. Considering Drake’s rocky relationship with the Grammys, it’s unclear whether he will attend the 2024 ceremony.

Drake Announces New It s All A Blur Tour With J Cole For 2024
J. Cole performs onstage. Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Drake was nominated for Best Rap Performance (“Way 2 Sexy”) and Best Rap Album (Certified Lover Boy) in 2022 but withdrew himself from consideration after previously hinting that there’s a “disconnect” between the music that makes an impact and the music that wins awards. Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem won Best Rap Performance for “Family Ties” at the 2022 ceremony, while Tyler, The Creator won Best Rap Album for Call Me If You Get Lost.

The 66th annual Grammy Awards take place on February 4, 2024. Drake does not have a concert scheduled for that night on this new It’s All a Blur tour. See the complete list of dates below:

  • Thu Jan 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
  • Fri Jan 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
  • Mon Jan 22 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center
  • Thu Jan 25 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
  • Mon Jan 29 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
  • Tue Jan 30 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
  • Fri Feb 02 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
  • Wed Feb 07 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
  • Thu Feb 08 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
  • Mon Feb 12 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
  • Fri Feb 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
  • Tue Feb 20 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
  • Wed Feb 21 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
  • Sat Feb 24 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
  • Tue Feb 27 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
  • Sat Mar 02 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
  • Tue Mar 05 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
  • Sun Mar 10 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
  • Thu Mar 14 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena
  • Mon Mar 18 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
  • Sat Mar 23 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena
  • Wed Mar 27 – Birmingham, AL – The Legacy Arena at BJCC

The It’s All a Blur – Big As The What? presale starts on Wednesday, November 15, through Cash App. General ticket sales begin on Friday at 11 a.m. local time.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Office Hours with … Nana Adusei-Poku

It was a 2006 exhibition focused on melancholy in Western Art at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin that planted a seed for Nana Adusei-Poku thinking about how grief, mourning, and sadness are expressed by artists of the African Diasporas.

No artists of color were included in the exhibition,” she said.

Having curated a well-received exhibition entitled “Black Melancholia” at Bard College’s Hessel Museum of Art last year, Adusei-Poku, an assistant professor in the history of art and African American studies in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is now pursuing a book on the subject.

A German/Dutch-Ghanian, Adusei-Poku is also interested in art from the various Black diasporas and how curatorial practices help shape historical discourses.

In the latest edition of “Office Hours,” a Q&A series that introduces new Yale faculty members to the broader community, she discusses why she’s excited to be at Yale, how the study of Black melancholia meets the moment, and her love of water.

Title Assistant professor in the History of Art and African American Studies
Research interest Black melancholia
Prior institution University of California, Berkeley
Started at Yale July 2023

You’ve studied or worked in about half a dozen different countries. How has that impacted the way you approach your work?

Nana Adusei-Poku: One thing I have learned is that you must be very precise when it comes to talking about different diasporas. I was born into the Black German diaspora. When I was living in the U.K., I was in a different diaspora. And the same when I was living in the Netherlands. Each of them has different discourses going on around Blackness but also significant similarities.

Tell me more about Black melancholia.

Adusei-Poku: It’s a very timely project, given that anti-Blackness cannot be denied since the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the protests around the killing of George Floyd. Like in the case of Emmett Till, the awareness for collective Black loss and grief was acknowledged again. In the wake of these developments, Black studies and the Black radical tradition consistently emphasized anti-Blackness and its resulting gratuitous violence, which gave the discipline its own melancholic outlook.

In 2018, I did a curatorial performance project at the Academy of Arts in Berlin called “Performances of No-thingness,” inspired by the work of Fred Moten, a leading figure in Black studies. It was all about performativity and a questioning of normative orders, sadness, grief, and living with death.

Two things started to come together. The prevailing melancholy that was evoked by Black studies discourses and the ways in which this melancholy has been expressed by Black artists. Are they pushing the form further? And how does the consistent anti-Blackness shape the work of Black artists?

Who is an artist who particularly interests you for this project?

Adusei-Poku: Augusta Savage, a sculptress from the Harlem Renaissance who was very active in the early 20th century. The reason why I’m so fascinated by her is that not only can you see in her biography how anti-Blackness consistently made it impossible for her to work, but also we don’t have many of her works left. They are only represented through photographs and yet she was a formative figure of a modernist movement.

One reason why I’m so happy to be here at Yale is that we have this incredible archive in the Beinecke [Rare Book & Manuscript Library] and the Yale Art Gallery Collection that’s like a treasure for people who are interested in Black artists from New York in the early 20th century.

Anything else you’re particularly excited about now that you’re here?

Adusei-Poku: Yes, next year, the book I edited, “Reshaping the Field: Arts of the African Diasporas on Display,” will be the textbook for a seminar, “Black Exhibition Histories.” I think there is no other course in the entire country that looks at this very specific field with this focus.

What are you interested in outside of work?

Adusei-Poku: I love going to farmers’ markets and making feasts for my friends. I’m a good cook. And I’m a water person. I love going to the ocean, a swimming pool, a lake — it doesn’t matter. In the summertime, you will find me close to the water.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Tour a New Jersey Home That Brims With Personal Significance

When Garnesha and Oputa Ezediaro, the owners of this residence in Maplewood, New Jersey, tapped interior design studio Forbes Masters to overhaul their property, they had only one request: Accentuate the artwork. “They gave us free rein to create the interiors, but it was clear that they had a real passion for their art collection,” says Monet Masters, one half of an Atlanta-based duo noted for injecting a rich and earthy palette into their spatial plans.

Her design partner, Tavia Forbes, says the couple’s trove of contemporary paintings and sculptures by primarily African-American artists fueled an interior scheme that sought to provide depth and richness to the home. “We wanted the most important pieces to influence this project and make each room feel more personal,” Forbes says.

That objective is clear as soon as you enter the 4,000-square-foot home. The soaring white wall of the entryway was originally meant to include a gallery of smaller artworks. However, the clients were passionate about a large-scale piece in their collection by Nate Lewis, an artist known for exploring history through patterns and texture. So the design team decided to use that location to mount Lewis’s work to anchor the entire space. The piece, titled Signaling XXIX, is a hand-sculpted inkjet print in tones of black, gray, and white that depicts a body in the throes of musical rhythms. Meanwhile, in the dining room, a towering sculpture adds a stately presence to a space that includes an ebony oak Grotto table and softly curved back dining chairs by the Brazilian architect and furniture designer Juliana Lima Vasconcellos.

A large-scale work by the multimedia artist Delita Martin also dominates the sitting room. The piece, titled Six Persimmons, uses figurative imagery in acrylic, charcoal, and decorative papers to evoke ancestral conversations. The room is bathed in a navy blue wall covering that’s meant to complement the artwork’s palette of blue, white, and black.

“The sitting room really demonstrates the kind of high utility we wanted in our home,” says Garnesha Ezediaro, who shares the residence with her husband, Oputa, and their toddler. “A house is meant to be lived in and there’s no space in our home that’s off-limits,” adds Ezediaro, who runs a philanthropic portfolio at Bloomberg Philanthropies.

A look inside the sitting room.

A look inside the sitting room.

The couple developed a passion for art collecting during the pandemic, a period that also coincided with the birth of their son. “We wanted our child to be surrounded by imagery that was stimulating, but that he could also see himself in,” says Ezediaro, alluding to the series of colorful figurative works that dot the residence. When art wasn’t the main draw, the interior designers found creative ways to infuse some rooms with character and personality.

“Because it was a newly built home it lacked the individuality, and the elegance of sophisticated finishes and custom design elements,” says Masters. “We wanted to elevate the interiors so that it delivered drama through wall coverings and modern, clean, and timeless furnishings,” she says.

A dramatic color scheme drives the decor in the primary bedroom. Originally meant to include shades of white and neutrals, the homeowners instead pushed for more texture and pattern. The result is a space defined by darker shades with lighter contrasts.

The four-poster bed in the room features a geometric totem hourglass post design in a hand-rubbed black finish. The wallpaper is grasscloth with purple metallic backing, while the bedding is done in custom black and white fabrics. “The goal was to deliver interiors that spoke to the clients’ love of travel, cultural heritage, and fine art,” adds Forbes. “I really think we accomplished that.”

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Deer District to transform into ‘Cheer District’ for holiday season

Deer District to transform into ‘Cheer District’ for holiday season

The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree Lighting will take place Nov. 17

THANKSGIVING AND NOW WE’RE KIND OF GEARING UP FOR THAT CHRISTMAS SEASON THIS MORNING, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS HARVESTED THE CITY’S OFFICIAL 2023 CHRISTMAS TREE. 12 NEWS IS MADISON MOORE JOINING US LIVE IN DEER DISTRICT THIS MORNING. THE TEMPORARY RENAMED AREA, I SHOULD SAY CHEER DISTRICT. SO, MADISON, WE HAVE THAT TREE RIGHT BEHIND YOU. YES, WE DO. DIANA. MILWAUKEE’S OFFICIAL 2023 CHRISTMAS TREE HAS ARRIVED RIGHT HERE TO THE CHEER DISTRICT. AS YOU SAID, OUTSIDE OF PFIZER. FOREMAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY. IT IS STANDING 38FT TALL. THIS COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE. AND IT’S FROM DENISE BLUE’S HOME, LOCATED ON 74TH. AND CONGRESS, THE CITY HARVESTING THIS TREE JUST HOURS AGO TO, ONE, CUT. I’M VERY EXCITED. BUT MY NEPHEW IS OVERWHELMED. HE IS THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS PERSON IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. WELL, IT WAS DENISE’S NEPHEW WHO SAYS HE SAW RIGHT HERE ON 12 NEWS THAT THE CITY WAS IN SEARCH FOR THIS YEAR’S OFFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE AND HE DECIDED TO SUBMIT HIS AUNT’S TREE INTO THE RUNNING. NOW, THIS NEARLY 3,000 POUND BLUE SPRUCE WAS CHOSEN AND CHOPPED DOWN JUST AFTER 630 THIS MORNING. A POLICE ESCORT HELPED TRANSPORT THE TREE FROM 74TH IN CONGRESS RIGHT HERE TO PFIZER FORUM, WHERE IT NOW STANDS TALL, READY TO BE DECORATED. AND THE HOMEOWNER SHARED WITH ME THE SENTIMENTAL CONNECTION SHE HAS TO THE TREE IN 2001, I BOUGHT THE HOME FROM MY DA LEONARD. THESE TWO TREES WERE PLANTED IN HONOR OF HIS BROTHER. HE’S A TWIN ALSO. HE’S A TWIN. HIS BROTHER PASSED AWAY IN THE MILITARY HONORING HIS COUNTRY. SO ONE TREE IS FOR HIM AND ONE TREES FOR HIS TWIN BROTHER. AND IRONICALLY, I’M A TWIN AND I SERVED IN MILITARY. I SERVED EIGHT YEARS IN THE MILITARY IN THE ARMY. SO IT’S KIND OF GOT ME A LITTLE SENTIMENTAL VALUE BEHIND IT. I DON’T WANT TO LOSE MY TREE, BUT RIGHT NOW FOR HIM IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE TO ENJOY IT SO BE IT. WOW. DEFINITELY A VERY SPECIAL SENTIMENTAL CONNECTION THERE, DIANA. NOW, AS FOR THE TREE STYLIST DAVID CARUSO IS GOING TO DECORATE IT. AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 17TH, WITH THE HELP OF THE WE ENERGIES FOUNDATION, THIS TREE WILL BE LIT UP RIGHT HERE IN THE CHEER DISTRICT. AND I HAVE TO SAY, WITH THE SNOW THAT WE GOT YESTERDAY SORT OF BLANKETING OUR CITY AND THE TREE, IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON. YEAH, DEFINITELY. WHAT AN AMAZING STORY. AND AS YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL IMAGINE THAT TREE IS GOING TO BRING SO MUCH CHEER AND JOY TO SO MA

Advertisement

Deer District to transform into ‘Cheer District’ for holiday season

The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree Lighting will take place Nov. 17

Milwaukee’s Deer District will undergo a holiday transformation, just in time for Thanksgiving.Deer District will transform into Cheer District, illuminated by the We Energies Foundation, starting Nov. 17.The City of Milwaukee’s Christmas Tree will be lit in an official ceremony on Nov. 17 with Mayor Cavalier Johnson. The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree is the second longest-running official tree in the United States, behind New York City. The tree lighting celebration will include performances from First Stage Children’s Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and Black Arts MKE. All of these performances are presented by United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).Performances begin at 5 p.m., with the tree lighting taking place at 6 p.m. Free parking is available at the Highland Structure and 5th Street Parking Structure.The following events are also scheduled throughout the holiday season: Jack Daniel’s barrel tree B93.3’s Letters to Santa mailbox Over 30 lit trees throughout the plaza surrounding Fiserv Forum Milwaukee Makers Market on Nov. 18 featuring seasoned crafters, artists, freelance designers and more Fireworks on New Year’s EveFor more information, click here.

Milwaukee’s Deer District will undergo a holiday transformation, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Deer District will transform into Cheer District, illuminated by the We Energies Foundation, starting Nov. 17.

Advertisement

The City of Milwaukee’s Christmas Tree will be lit in an official ceremony on Nov. 17 with Mayor Cavalier Johnson. The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree is the second longest-running official tree in the United States, behind New York City.

The tree lighting celebration will include performances from First Stage Children’s Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and Black Arts MKE. All of these performances are presented by United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).

Performances begin at 5 p.m., with the tree lighting taking place at 6 p.m. Free parking is available at the Highland Structure and 5th Street Parking Structure.

The following events are also scheduled throughout the holiday season:

  • Jack Daniel’s barrel tree
  • B93.3’s Letters to Santa mailbox
  • Over 30 lit trees throughout the plaza surrounding Fiserv Forum
  • Milwaukee Makers Market on Nov. 18 featuring seasoned crafters, artists, freelance designers and more
  • Fireworks on New Year’s Eve

For more information, click here.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Review: ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ superb, the best at Marriott Theatre in years

At one point in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” the 16-year-old version of Carole King heads with a friend to 1650 Broadway in New York, hoping to sell one of her numbers. “It’s like a factory,” she tells her worried Brooklyn mother, “only they make songs.”

At that moment in Jessica Fisch’s superbly directed new production at the Marriott Theatre, the most artful show in years at this venerable musical house, the round stage suddenly fills with young people all in the everyday thrall of making and selling music. It’s a richly detailed piece of staging, no doubt forged with choreographer Christopher Windom, and topping even Fisch’s similarly witty treatment of the song “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” Both of these emotionally potent numbers are examples of how this fresh Marriott take improves upon director Marc Bruni’s original Broadway staging. Bruni did superb work, so that’s no faint praise.

Advertisement

Fisch’s production has certain extraordinary assets.

No. 1 is Kaitlyn Davis (as King), a vulnerable, unpretentious actress who rightly focuses on the fundamental King paradox: she always wanted a stable family, which proved elusive, far more than fame and acclaim, which did not. Unless I was occasionally deceived, Davis played the entire piano part live, which was not true on Broadway and as rare in jukebox musicals as a sympathetic record company executive.

Advertisement

No. 2 is Andrew Mueller diving deep into the role of King’s husband, Gerry Goffin. Mueller is the brother of this show’s original Broadway star, Jessie Mueller, and also the brother of Abby Mueller who took over the role on Broadway after Jessie. The Evanston Muellers, you might say, know their “Beautiful” and I suspect that all Andrew had to do to know was pick up the phone to know that he’s got a friend with tips. He’s quite spectacular in the part, turning what can be a cardboard villain into a deep and moving dive inside a troubled and dysfunctional soul, even suggesting that this songwriting combination is what helped produce so much excellence.

Fisch also has cast real actors, of the Chicago style, in the character roles: the likes of Lawrence Grimm as the gruff but paternalistic song broker of 1650 Broadway and Janet Ulrich Brooks as Carole’s mom. Fisch clearly understood that not everybody needs to sing, especially when you have the luminous Erica Stephan playing (sadly now the late) Cynthia Weil and the melodically caustic Justin Albinder as Barry Mann.

Watching “Beautiful” for the fourth time (the first three were the original 2014 staging), I was reminded how well bookwriter Douglas McGrath hit all the affectionate notes you have to hit for the core audience of King fans, but did so with the kind of wit and verve that none of the biographical jukes that have followed quite managed. Part of the secret sauce here is the size of the ensemble, and the show’s emphasis on all the Black artists who recorded the justly famed songs of King and Goffin and Weil and Mann. You get a cornucopia of musical delights from the 1960 and 1970s and lots of opportunities for fun cameos, all grabbed here by the likes of Melanie Brezill.

Andrew Mueller and Kaitlyn Davis in "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

Finally, Marriott has dared to turn up the volume of its oft-repressed band. The show rocks when it needs to rock on “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and the scenic designer Andrew Boyce has created a classy and elegant set with a moving turnable and extensive video backdrops: you can believe you’re in Carnegie Hall when that moment comes, but this production is just as comfortable in the small Brooklyn home whence one of America’s greatest songwriters came.

Over the last couple of years, it often has felt like Marriott is stuck in another decade, understandably so, perhaps, given its core senior audience. But the reality is that today’s theatergoing grays grew up not with “Try to Remember a Kind of September” but with “It Might As Well Rain Until September.” And “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” A good question at any age.

Marriott is figuring out what Broadway also has realized. And with a director at the helm who can cast great singers but focuses on the acting, fusing Chicago’s musical theater and straight-play talent pool, it can do all kinds of exciting things. After a rough year or two, this new season in Lincolnshire already has offered a top-drawer “Gypsy,” both powerful and moving, and now a “Beautiful” that’s entirely worth the drive (it’s Not So Far Away) if you are a fan of this show or this artist.

Once King’s fans find this production and understand how much more it has brought to the table, it’ll be one of Marriott’s biggest hits.

Theater Loop

Weekly

Get the latest news and reviews from America’s hottest theater city, delivered to your mailbox weekly.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

Advertisement

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Review: “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” (4 stars)

When: Through Dec. 31

Where: Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire

Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Tickets: $55-$73 at 847-634-0200 and www.marriotttheatre.com

Kaitlyn Davis and cast in "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

New anti-hate mural honoring LA’s Black community unveiled

LOS ANGELES — The Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles is currently home to a remarkable art exhibit that celebrates diversity, culture, and the power of place. Titled “Here – Arts and Culture Along the K,” this exhibit is a testament to what has been, what is present, and what is possible along the K Line of the Los Angeles Metro.

The exhibition opened on October 7, 2023, with a reception that brought together artists, cultural producers, and the community to mark the first anniversary of Metro’s K Line service. It will remain on view through December 30, 2023.

“Here” showcases a stunning collection of artworks and cultural expressions resulting from collaborations involving over 150 artists and cultural organizations. These creative minds have responded with bold imagination, infusing the distinct neighborhoods along the K-Line with the vibrancy of art and culture.

“Here” showcases a stunning collection of artworks and cultural expressions resulting from collaborations involving over 150 artists and cultural organizations.
(Photo Credit: Simha Haddad)

This massive project, which took approximately 15 years to complete, was made possible by Metro Art, an initiative dedicated to enhancing the customer experience on Los Angeles County’s metro system through visual and performing arts. Metro Art fosters ridership and connects people, sites, and neighborhoods throughout the county, creating a sense of place through site-specific artworks.

One remarkable aspect of this project is Metro Art’s commitment to providing opportunities for artists of all backgrounds and levels of experience. As Zipporah Yamamoto, Senior Director of Special Projects Art & Design, pointed out, this opportunity was open to all artists, regardless of their background or experience in public art. Metro Art took on the responsibility of shouldering the liability and cost of fabricating the art, providing technical support, and granting emerging artists the chance to gain valuable experience in the field.

The K Line, with stops in neighborhoods like Crenshaw, Leimert Park, Hyde Park, Inglewood, Westchester, and El Segundo, is more than just a transportation route. It’s an integral part of the identity of native Angelenos. In a large and dispersed city where the mode of transportation is an extension of one’s home, the metro lines become a canvas for celebrating the diverse cultures and stories of the people who call Los Angeles home.

Public art is a vital element of the city’s evolving culture, reflecting the spirit of the community, adding meaning to the urban landscape, and providing an intersection between the past, present, and future. It humanizes the built environment and invigorates public spaces, making art freely accessible to all.

(Photo by Simha Haddad)

“Here” showcases the works of artists Alexis Hunley, Carlson Hatton, Dean Erdmann, Eileen Cowin, Erwin Redl, Geoff McFetridge, Giovanni Solis, Ingrid Calame, Jaime Scholnick, Jason Williams, Kenturah Davis, Kim Schoenstadt, Mara Lonner, Michael C. Hsiung, Mickalene Thomas, Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, Moses X. Ball, Motherland Music, Rebeca Méndez, Russell Hamilton, Sam Pace, Sherin Guirguis, Shinique Smith, and Wakana Kimura.

One moving feature of this project is Metro Art’s collaboration with filmmaker Mobolaji Olambiwonnu. His work, “Community Voices,” is an award-winning short-form documentary series that gives context to the significance of the K Line’s opening by highlighting personal stories from community members over the years. This ongoing series captures the essence of the community and its journey.

Olambiwonnu shared his passion for capturing the humanity of the Black experience in America through his work with The Blade. For him, art is a medium to celebrate and reflect upon this rich history and bring communities together.

“The focus is always on a character or multiple characters,” said Olambiwonnu, “which allows people to fall in love, and be drawn in by a character that they can identify with via their humanity.”

Olambiwonnu discussed one of the films in this project that focused on two elderly men walking along the K Line tracks. The film captured these men as they reflected on the history of Los Angeles, particularly the evolution of the city’s transportation system. The film aimed to create a dialogue about the city’s history, transportation, and the unique experiences of the two individuals who had witnessed the changes in the city over the years, including the removal of the old train. In addition to allowing viewers to connect with the personal stories of these two seniors, the film gave insight into the city’s rich history through their perspectives.

“My hope is that through accessing the train and accessing other forms of art throughout the K line stations, people will be able to experience the beauty of that community.”

Artist Jaime Scholnick’s vivid 400-foot mural, which consists of 70 panels, was installed in January at the station at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards, the first stop along the 8.5 mile line. Her piece, “Layered Histories,” is an intricate collage of porcelain-glaze-on-steel based on “tens of thousands of images” of the surrounding neighborhood where she spent much of her time while in graduate school.

Scholnick’s art journey began in Kindergarten when she won an art competition with a drawing of a zoo, an experience that sparked her love for connecting with people through her art. She found the process of working with Metro Art particularly inspiring, as it allowed her to focus solely on creating art, without the burden of managing the technical aspects.

Scholnick worked closely with photographer Sally Coates to amass a huge photo archive, which she later narrowed down for the final project. Jaime also worked with foster youth from the RightWay Foundation, giving them disposable cameras and having them take photos around the city. Scholnick incorporated a selection of these photos into “Layered Histories.”

Artist Shinique Smith’s mosaic mural, “Only Light, Only Love,” at the MLK Jr. Station brings together elements of fashion, pop culture, and calligraphy to visualize the cultural richness of South Los Angeles. This artwork pays tribute to the station’s namesake and incorporates empowering words inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches and autobiography.

Artist Shinique Smith’s mosaic mural, “Only Light, Only Love,” at the MLK Jr. Station brings together elements of fashion, pop culture, and calligraphy to visualize the cultural richness of South Los Angeles. (Photo Credit: Metro Art)

“The flow of the city, fashion, the graffiti of my youth, and Japanese calligraphy influence these gestures, as I extract what I see as the graceful and spiritual qualities in the written word and everyday life,” Smith said.

Smith told The Blade that her focus is always on creating a connection between the viewer and the character in her art. She believes in the power of humanity and its accessibility through art.

“What draws me to be an artist is the fact that what I do can resonate with a person,” Smith said. “There is an exchange of energy between my work and the viewer.”

“Here – Arts and Culture Along the K” is more than an exhibition; it is a celebration of the vibrant and diverse culture of Los Angeles. It honors the past, embraces the present, and envisions a future filled with artistic expressions that reflect the community’s strength and resilience.

For more information on current and future artist opportunities with Metro Art, click here.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Celebrities don’t always owe you politics

No matter what sect of the internet you frequent, chances are you’ve come across a fair share of political content. On my personal platform of choice, Instagram, my feed has been inundated with infographics, donation links and personal commentary whenever matters of political or humanitarian significance transpire: black squares in 2020 in light of police brutality, support for and against mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, and, most recently, dialogue about the ongoing violence against Gaza.

Social media use has become an integral facet of how we contend with political issues, and can be a powerful way to use one’s voice in the face of moments in history that can leave individuals feeling powerless. How people choose to use their platforms online has also ushered in an era of criticism toward those who abstain from activism. A particular target of this criticism? Celebrities.

In recent weeks, politically silent celebrities have been subjected to comment sections rife with angry, disappointed fans. Beneath a post of influencer Emma Chamberlain advertising a paid partnership with Aritzia, one follower commented, “literally we don’t care a genocide is happening,” while another simply wrote, “USE YOUR PLATFORM,” accompanied with Palestinian flag emojis. Under reality TV star Kylie Jenner’s post plugging her brand Khy, a commenter wrote, “Kylie, there’s a genocide going on.” In a particularly harsh comment under a post by Sabrina Carpenter, a user hurled, “I loved you, but not talking about Palestine means agreeing to kill children, attack hospitals, and standing with the Zionist entity.”

What exactly would be gained by an influencer, reality TV star or singer commenting on a war in another continent? And why are those the people we need to be hearing from regardless? The implication of these comments is that celebrities have anything productive to add to the conversation when in reality, what would be gained is unclear. None of the aforementioned celebrities have any unique source of knowledge they should be sharing. And though many commenters’ main gripe is that platforms should be used to spread awareness, the point becomes null when there’s already no shortage of discourse on the topic.

There are instances in which prominent pop-culture figures are able to create real differences or genuinely inspire actionable change, without taking a blatant political stance. In 2022, as the midterm elections approached, world-renowned pop star Taylor Swift — who has had her own share of contention with political openness — prompted over 35,000 people to register to vote. While this particular example was non-partisan, it demonstrates the undeniable positive effect celebrity platforms can have. Voting, and U.S. elections in general, is a unique case. With elections, there are tangible actions to be taken by individuals that can contribute to positive change.

There are also instances in which someone’s brand, genre or audience merits the expectation of advocacy. For example, a white rapper whose entire career is predicated on Black artists and culture should use their platform to speak out in critical moments of racial injustice. Or, a pop star whose fanbase is mainly composed of Queer people owes that audience their voice and resources.

More generally, though, we are typically not turning to celebrities to use their voice because we genuinely believe they can make a difference. The desire for a celebrity to speak out on an issue often has to do with wanting, as a fan, to feel morally aligned with someone you look up to and feel justified in consuming their products. Social media has blurred the lines between the private and public lives of celebrities, where candid peeks into their daily lives leave many fans feeling as if the celebrity is a peer or friend of sorts. In the case of influencers, their audience feeling a sense of personal connection with them is inherent, though this sense of familiarity is more grounded in fashion sense, personality and product choices than it is politics. 

It is, of course, always one’s right to make a judgment of a celebrity based on the way they use their voice or fail to, and when issues strike personal chords it makes sense that it can be disappointing when someone you look up to stays silent. But internally adjusting how you think about someone is different than thinking a celebrity not getting politically involved calls for their cancellation. 

Regardless of what a celebrity posts, their ethical code can never be entirely known by their audience. In this day and age, celebrities are brands more than they are individuals, and frustration with a celebrity’s silence often has to do with this false confluence. Celebrities are not our friends, and while you can certainly prefer those whose politics align with yours, celebrities shouldn’t necessarily be faulted for their silence. They’re not the people to be paying attention to right now anyway.

Lila Dominus is an Opinion Columnist hailing from New York City. She writes about digital culture and gender, and can be reached at ldominus@umich.edu.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

“From Sorrow to Sparkle,” by Norma Eckert

“From Sorrow to Sparkle,” by Norma Eckert – African American News Today – EIN Presswire

Trusted News Since 1995

A service for global professionals · Monday, November 13, 2023 · 668,120,238 Articles · 3+ Million Readers

News Monitoring and Press Release Distribution Tools

News Topics

Newsletters

Press Releases

Events & Conferences

RSS Feeds

Other Services

Questions?

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Your views: on roads, traffic and more

Today, readers comment on road traffic modelling, a city rail loop and climate change.

Commenting on the opinion piece: Setting fire to the government’s South Road numbers

Good points raised in this article and a reminder that the black art of road traffic modelling should be viewed as equal parts fact, assumption and wishful thinking.

The urbanist, Lewis Mumford, summed it up the logic of building more roads to prevent congestion, comparing it to “a fat man loosening his belt to prevent obesity”. – David Mepham

Commenting on Your views and City underground rail loop key to Adelaide group’s new transport vision

I agree with some of the argument that if ever an underground rail loop was built in Adelaide, which is too small but also too small in thinking, that the loop surely should include the four squares, with definitive protection to the squares (of course).

(World) population increase will see South Australia one day be large enough to pay taxes sufficient to pay for an underground rail loop (and maybe even to the airport!)

I disagree with the barb thrown at the South Rd tunnel project. If the MAPS project (the Playford years) had proceeded, driving through Adelaide’s western suburbs would certainly have been different and better now.

The South Rd project is not a 10 or 20 year mission. 100 to 200 year kind of thinking is needed because it will last that long and beyond – EVs and driverless cars consideration included. The construction costs are huge and mind blowing. Nevertheless it should be a tunnel the whole way (mandated) and quite possibly three lanes (both ways). In 100 years from now they will think the money incredibly well spent. – Peter Mitchell

How about upgrading the track to Mt Barker and then to Goolwa and Victor Harbor to be connected to Noarlunga. A loop to service the hills and southern growth areas. – Andrew Cannon

Commenting on the story: Last 12 months ‘hottest on record’

Many scientific reports show that we are not acting on the evidence. The proof is clear that humans have made a big mess of our environment and continue to make it worse.

Yet governments globally hardly bat an eyelid. It is as if they do not occupy the same planet as the rest of us, but some hallucinatory world where everything is fine. It is not just governments, of course. We all procrastinate. Rather than act on the evidence, if there is no immediate survival benefit to us personally or to our close relatives, we simply can’t be bothered.

We need a reset of our current behaviours. Perhaps the marketing gurus who promote consumerism and growth, could put their minds to a way to make us more bothered for the good of our planet. – Stephen Morris

Supported by the Government of South Australia

Local News Matters

Media diversity is under threat in Australia – nowhere more so than in South Australia. The state needs more than one voice to guide it forward and you can help with a donation of any size to InDaily. Your contribution goes directly to helping our journalists uncover the facts. Please click below to help InDaily continue to uncover the facts.

Donate today

Powered by PressPatron

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Tina Turner net worth (2022), biography, career, fun facts and latest update

Tina Turner net worth (2022), biography, career, fun facts and latest update

Singer, songwriter, and actress Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, and passed away on May 24, 2023. Trained as the lead vocalist for the husband-wife team Ike & Tina Turner, she became well-known as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” before beginning a prosperous solo career. It was said of her that she had “swagger, sensuality, powerful gravelly vocals and unstoppable energy. Turner, who lived in Küsnacht, Switzerland, from 1994 until her death, renounced her US citizenship in 2013 and then obtained Swiss citizenship.

Profile Summary

Aspect Details
Full Name Anna Mae Bullock (Tina Turner)
Date of Birth November 26, 1939
Nationality American (later became a Swiss citizen)
Occupation Singer, Songwriter, Actress
Career Highlight Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Grammy-winning artist
Notable Songs “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “Proud Mary”
Net Worth (2022) Approximately $250 million (as of last update)
Biography Highlight Rose to fame with Ike & Tina Turner Revue
Autobiography “I, Tina” (detailing her life and career)
Documentary “Tina” (released in 2021)
Citizenship Became a Swiss citizen in 2013

Biography

The ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ American singer Tina Turner initially rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of the combo Ike & Tina Turner before beginning a phenomenally successful solo career.

In 1957, Tina made her recording debut as Little Ann with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, marking the start of her professional career. She began what became recognized as “one of the greatest comebacks in music history” when she and Ike split up in the 1970s.

With the worldwide success of her 1984 multi-platinum album Private Dancer, she shot to prominence as one of the greatest-selling musicians of all time.

Along with her role in Tommy, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, and Last Action Hero, Tina gained even more recognition with her 1993 biography What’s Love Got to Do with It.

In addition to winning a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, three Grammy Hall of Fame honors, and twelve Grammy Award nominations, she has sold over 100 million recordings. In addition, she was the first female musician and Black artist to appear on a Rolling Stone cover.

Tina Turner Net Worth 2022

Tina Turner’s net worth in 2022 may vary depending on sources, investments, and other factors. As of my last update, her estimated net worth was around $250 million.

Career Highlights

  • Tina Turner’s career spans over six decades, earning her numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards.
  • She is known for her powerful voice, energetic stage presence, and hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Private Dancer.”
  • Turner’s autobiography, “I, Tina,” detailed her tumultuous relationship with Ike and her journey to independence.

Family

Ike and Tina Turner were wed for sixteen years before divorcing in 1978.

Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner were two of Ike’s other children that she adopted and raised as her own. The couple had two biological boys, Ronald Renelle Turner and Craig Raymond Turner.

Speaking candidly about her son’s untimely passing, she says, “I have no idea what pulled him down”
Sadly, Craig Turner, who was 59 years old, was discovered deceased in June 2018.

Her son Ronnie, 62, passed away in 2022.

Most popular songs

She ended her relationship with Ike and started singing solo, and her 1984 album Private Dancer went on to become a global hit.

“What’s Love Got To Do With It” launched Tina’s career, selling over 20 million copies and winning her three Grammy Awards.
River Deep-Mountain High, “Proud Mary,” and a 1989 cover of the Bonnie Tyler classic song “The Best (Simply The Best)” are some of Tina’s other well-known songs.

The top 15 duets ever performed by Elton John, include Tina Turner, Alan Partridge, and George Michael

Over her career, Tina Turner is said to have sold 200 million records, and her net worth is estimated to be $270 million.

After her final tour in 2007, Tina announced her retirement to Gayle King in June 2019; “I got on that plane … I took a deep breath, and I said, ‘It’s over.’ I really felt like it’s over. And I’m glad it’s over. And I went home.”

FAQs:

  1. When was Tina Turner born?
  2. She was born on November 26, 1939.
  3. What is Tina Turner’s nationality?
  4. She is originally from the United States but became a Swiss citizen later in life.
  5. What is Tina Turner’s most famous song?
  6. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” is one of her most famous and successful songs.

Fun Facts

  1. Tina Turner became a Swiss citizen in 2013 after living in Switzerland for several years.
  2. In 2021, a documentary about her life, “Tina,” was released, providing an in-depth look at her career and personal journey.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment