Tag Archives: Collective

The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

The BK Porch. Thoughts from Reflection and Response resident artist Samuel Bostick take the page in installment IX of his WORD of the day project…

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Sensation n.  1. a) A mental process, as seeing hearing or smelling, resulting from the immediate external stimulation of a sense organ often as distinguished from a conscious awareness of the sensory process. b) Awareness, as of heat or pain, due to stimulation of a sense organ. c) A state of consciousness due to internal bodily changes. d) An indefinite bodily feeling. 2) Something (as a physical stimulus, sense-datum, or afterimage) that causes or is the object of sensation. 3) a) A state of excited interest or feeling. b) A cause of such excitement; especially a person who is in some respect exceptional or outstanding.

WORD of the day: Sensation

Sands of time falling, no rewind—sifting motion from present to past. Future forever suspended in conceptual imagination. Like you I struggle day in, day out—fighting for beliefs, spiritual battles and wandering shoes on streets.

Music hopping  hips across the soulful wonders of human connection. Electronic pulses rocking bodies closer and closer. Funk for him grime for she, let us get down to the nasty rhythms, leave orbit behind, let’s make dirty mouths even dirtier. Lady, Second that motion and we can function properly. Everything wrong becomes right in front of my eyes as I study the ins and outs of your mind body and soul. I undress your disguise; tugging, ripping, pulling it all off with gentle eyes. Free your intuition while I tie you down, set aside your conscious—let’s fool around. Teasingly smooth entry, my finger caressing the O to every flirtatious ‘lol’ you send my way. You see, to me that L-O-L resembles something much more than laughter. And every time you hurry and cover up risqué statements with ‘jk’ somehow in my eyes watch as the ‘J’ slips off only to be replaced by  the letters ‘F-U- C’  all wrapped up with a  ‘me’ that closely follows. I like it though, the chase that is. I read once that a Gentleman is but a patient wolf. Maybe I’m just trippin, my mind drifting off into oceans of passion and pleasure. This is but a preview, feature presentation coming soon (and never to end).

Fix your mouth that sexy way you do, say yes, hold out extra long on the pronunciation of the -ssss and let that develop into sssseductive whispers, silent sweats, rolling climaxes, and forbidden requests all met with that simple three letter response; yes.

Enter the erotic, become the fantasy of my lustful heart. Already you’ve captivated my desire. So to hell with these words! Let it be spoken in heavy breathing and may it be written into my skin while your nails dig into this passionate platform. Express it loudly through the captivation as it spreads across your face. Bite your lip first, then mine. Yes mine next. Tossing, crossing, erasing and replacing that expired line which once distinguished pleasure from pain, at this point the only registry is we must be FUCKING INSANE.

Let me in, unlock my cage, I promise to be Good. *fingers crossed*. Your legs and mine twisted into wicked knots. Running my tongue up your spine we both find ourselves lost.

A comforting reminder that the window is open, the breeze flows over us both…neither of us seems to mind the company. It must be right, what we do, to bring out that beautiful smile across your face. Climb up and never stop, rock steady, swing round; feminine contours, graceful curves redefining with each explosive swerve.  Senseless determination, captives to heightened sight, smell, taste, feeling—feeling—feeling, hearing. Estas Deliciosa. A blurred recognition of reality and fantasy. You want I give, I want you give. Sensational satisfaction.

Alive again, I’ll let you out if you promise to be bad. My hands upon your neck, yours find support in my chest. Say it louder; make all other thoughts in my head pass. Go to war with any reservation I may hold. My hands grasp you, my mind a blank slate—spell out what you desire, spill yourself onto me…you have my full attention. Become what you’ve always wanted yet never known. A reservation for two; one for she and one for me. This fire produced in the most intimate of places.

Take a walk with me never to return the same.

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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Snapshots from the Collective

Untitled by Megan Branch (Barcelona, Spain)

Reflection and Response.

The Snapshots From the Collective series works to create a space for Reflection and Response through photography. ANYone who wants to contribute ANY photos to this project can email us submissions at the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com. One photo will be posted each week, and photos will only be used for the purposes of this series. Thank you and we look forward to building and expanding the Collective!!! -P & V

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The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

Reflection and Response resident artist Samuel Bostick continues his WORD of the day project with installment VIII, a live, one-take, off the top audio recording from Berkeley, CA. Swingin’.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Yield verb. 1) Produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or industrial product) 2) (of an action or process) produce or deliver (a result or gain) 3) (of a financial or commercial process or transaction) generate (a specified financial return) 4) Give way to arguments, demands, or pressure 5) Relinquish possession of something; give something up 6) Cease to argue about 7) Allow another the right to speak in a debate 8) Give right of way to other traffic 9) (of a mass or structure) give way under force or pressure. noun. 1) The full amount of an agricultural or industrial product

Photo courtesy of Megan Branch

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

The Porch Swing weekly, cycling back in Full Effect. Installment VII in Reflection and Response resident artist Samuel Bostick’s WORD of the Day project!!

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Fresh adj. 1) New to ones experience; not encountered before 2) Novel; different 3) Recently made, produced or harvested; not stale or spoiled 4) Not preserved as by canning, smoking or freezing 5) Not saline or salty 6) Not yet used or soiled; clean 7) Additional; new 8) Bright and clear; not dull or faded 9) Having glowing, unspoiled appearance of youth 10) Untried; inexperienced 11) Having just arrived; straight  12) Revival or reinvigorated; refreshed 13) Free from impurity or pollution; pure 14) Fairly strong; brisk

WORD of the day: Fresh

It has been a mean minute since I’ve caught this side of day. Birds ring a different song, a different sound. I tell you what, they don’t stick around long. Apparently they have messages to deliver, perches to mark and romance to tweet (120 characters at a time).

A new day a fresh start, what is more honest than that? Life has yet to reveal a spot of perfection, nonetheless with each moment comes the opportunity to increase, to develop, to improve. For that I give thanks. As I step out beyond the four walls of my comfort, enter stage left the cool. Sensational elevation. The cause, a source so simple…only breeze…now thas fresh. Inspiration in the simple mundane gifts of life is the exercise of a renewed mind, a refreshed, a mind oriented about that which is fresh. A clean slate—a purposeful walk.

Take no offense to any salty looks thrown nor give power to those impudent slanderings off the lips of a babbling fool. The ability to stand in the freshness of your truth rest in the righteousness of your walk. Not saying you need be an angle to be fresh, what I am saying is that there has to be an alignment of the soul and body.  It’s a matter of presence. Personally I wanna be so fresh in faith I can walk on water, maybe even dance on water. Peter did it with Christ, I feel I can do the same in the midst of any storm! Take no offense, hold true to the vision that has been made the object of your passion, the inspiration of diligent work. It is easy to get offended yet transcendence is the fruit of a steadfast walk just as the pearl is the fruit of a faithful mollusk working with a grain of sand. A treasure created in the saltiest of situations…thas deep…10000 leagues deep.

Who woulda thought?

Stepped in, never stepped on, just out the box, scent of leather untouched…daydreaming of @&*$#

Jus hopped off the plane, last night; INSANE. LAX via JFK—green  thumbs, bombshells and blue skies …Encore to the @&*$#est 3Ws

Hipsters heralding hella hyper hues…what the H!?

@&*$#

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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The Porch Swing: WORD of the Day

Here is installment VI from The Porch Swing: WORD of the Day, brought to us by Reflection and Response resident artist Samuel Bostick. Cool.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Cool adj. 1) Moderately cold; neither warm nor very cold. 2) Affording or allowing relief from heat. 3) Not excited; calm and controlled. 4) Marked by indifference; unenthusiastic. 5) Marked by calm audacity; impudent. 6) Designating or characteristic of colors, such as blue and green, that produce the impression of coolness. 7) Excellent; first-rate 8) Entire; full.  9) Composure.  10) To calm down, to wait.

WORD of the Day: Cool

Warm summer nights ahead, the chill of winter’s eve past

We are in the mist of cool.

(No doubt about that)

Dusty green leaves of peach trees rusted by the rolling breeze off the Pacific Coast, tumbling over Purple Mountains, settling in the valley of hidden gold—a testimony to the seasonal cool.

Sinatra advises it’s the season of “Makin Whoopee”

3 stacks’ witty reply is the only thing cooler than being cool is Ice Cold.

Still it is never too cold to be cool, yet always too hott to act over the top

I could almost swear the mercury meter kicked its old ways to the curb,

all its numerics replaced by one word… Cool

an’ my watch followed suit, what a trend!

 

A young Picasso, all I see are shades of blue.

In everything I touch; in all I do.

Me encanta azul!

Man, am I enraptured with this colour blue!

 

Red: runs up to warn blue, “Aye your on the wrong side of the tracks”

Blue: in all hues of calm, “I’m not here looking for any trouble & we both know I’m in with good fellas”

Red:  heating up, “and what’s that to do with me”

Blue: sporting that cold killer look, “simply put, I suggest you Be Cool”

 

Oh brilliant moon, the cool of night

A twilight canopy, tonz of blazing far off stars.

Aside from that orangish red one…that outstanding light is really a rock called Mars.

Crickets rub romance off strings, toads moan throaty bass tunes,

word is the females dig on those cats

Night birds and bats got the altos on lock

The train rails out the percussive rhythm

  A proper nocturne

How the night, an ocean of deep blue, gives birth to jazz I may never understand

Nonetheless I find inspiration in the stone cold groove.

Now vibe off that

 

On that note I’m gone retire to drown into my dreams—Blue in Green

Jus do me one favor yall,

Stay cool

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

The Porch Swing artist residency series keeps rockin with Samuel Bostick’s WORD of the day creative writing project.. Installation Number 5: Discipline [Part II].

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Discipline n. 1) Training that is expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, esp training that produces moral or mental improvement. 2) Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training. 3) A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline. 4) A state of order based upon submission to rules and authority. 5) A process intended to correct or train. 6) A set of rules or methods as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order. 7) A branch of knowledge or of teaching.

WORD of the day: Discipline [Part II]

Mind, Body & Soul; discipline is a revolutionary strength.

As the refining pot is to gold,

so is discipline to those who apply it, those who abide in it.

A disciplined mind; development of focus and concentration

A tool of unlimited potential!

A disciplined body; all great achievements are won through great effort

Order in the physical elements is key

A disciplined soul; I read once that a person without control over their own spirit

is like a city broken down without walls

Again, be a disciple to your cause. Submit yourself to the pursuit of the objective ahead.

The self, feelings an’ emotions are concepts. They arise and fall as any other sentiment in this impermanent place. An achievement cannot be taken from by anyone, it is a benchmark.

Do great things—go for the gold all day every day!

Still, be patient with yourself.

Discipline is not always easy and there will be times where you may consider throwing in the towel a time when the burden seems too heavy to bear.

Build a team, a strong core of individuals mobbing in a like minded way.

There is strength in numbers.

A wolf pack, a pride of lions, a battalion of goons…

take down the target!!

We must all run our own race, nobody can do it for you nor for me…still it is encouragement that we need sometimes…it is that one voice that says “you can do it” when we fall from glory and start to feel we can’t. Everyone needs a push, a dear companion in hard times is a great lifeline…trust in yourself, have faith in your teammates, pull your own weight, invest in your team… us versus them.                       Go for the grand prize.

Again, the self is the biggest opponent…discipline is the training needed to run the race                           the outcome will reflect the input.

Never give up, do not give in, find your passion-tie it to your heart and run with it, dare to try, have the audacity to challenge any obstacle, live your life according to your beliefs and convictions, be not afraid to make mistakes—take chances…be true and truth will be forever in your presence…                 overcome disbelief.

Triumph.

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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Talk of the Town: The Boundaries of Freedom? Part II

A few weeks back, Samuel and Vicken began a 2-part Talk of the Town called The Boundaries of Freedom? with an introductory look at Kanye West’s “Hell of a Life”. Today we have Part 2 of this discussion, which will open up the floor for analysis and dialogue in the comments section!

“Have you lost your mind? / Tell me when you think we crossed the line”

Considering the lyrical content of Kanye West’s track, “Hell of a Life,” what themes or practices does the artist call into question/critique? What is he saying about the constructed “boundaries” of freedom?

“How could you say they live they life wrong?”

From what lens is the track developed and is there an overall message?

– S & V

Reflection and Response.

The Talk of the Town series opens up dialogue motivated by questions, observations, and analysis that any person would like to bring to the Collective. ANYone who wants to craft a space for discussion on ANY topic can email us at the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com. One question will be posted every other week, with dialogue following in the comments section below. Thank you and we look forward to building and expanding the Collective!!! – P & V

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Snapshots from the Collective

Untitled (Orixeira, Galicia, Spain) by Lorena Seone

El sol se va a dormir en Orixeira, un recondito lugar de Galicia.

-Lorena Seone

Reflection and Response.

The Snapshots From the Collective series works to create a space for Reflection and Response through photography. ANYone who wants to contribute ANY photos to this project can email us submissions at the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com. One photo will be posted each week, and photos will only be used for the purposes of this series. Thank you and we look forward to building and expanding the Collective!!! -P & V

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The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

Reflection and Response resident artist Samuel Bostick hits with the 4th installment of his WORD of the day project at the LIFESTYLE Porch Swing!

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

First and foremost I would like to thank you for stickin with me through this process and development. I have been encouraged by this and I pray yall have been too. That being said, lets jump into it…

Discipline: n. 1) Training that is expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, esp training that produces moral or mental improvement. 2) Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training. 3) A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline. 4) A state of order based upon submission to rules and authority. 5) A process intended to correct or train. 6) A set of rules or methods as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order. 7) A branch of knowledge or of teaching.

WORD of the day: Discipline

Surrender, it starts with surrender; the action of submitting to a greater order—to a specific purpose or pursuit. Surrender the concept of “I” and “Self”…become a disciple to the cause of your calling. Curve your desire to the taste of epic victory rather than momentary pleasures. This is the training in preparation for your marathon. With discipline long term goals become daily achievements which unfold into a whole nother level of performance. The hardest part is to really develop the discipline from a seasonal practice into a lifestyle, an order which you live by. Tha’s when it really reaches the revolutionary level.

Be balanced, keep a clear mind, make efforts to improve each day, breath in – breath out, ‘get on your marathon’. The greatest challenge is to overcome the self. Conquer disbelieve. Life is hard, nevertheless carry your cross. Have faith in the product of your effort, sow a great seed.

 

Gang Starr, “Discipline”

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

Here is the third installment from The Porch Swing , a weekly series focusing on a unique version of Reflection and Response. Samuel Bostick, our first resident artist, brings us his WORD of the day project which centers on a word presented with his personal blend of creative writing. His first and second posts bring new light to classic vocabulary. Stay with us as he presents another piece in the ongoing series crafted through the lens of Reflection and Response as part of the LIFESTYLE collective…

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Perseverance:  n.  1) Adherence to a course of action, belief or purpose without giving way; steadfastness. 2) To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement

 

WORD of the day: Perseverance

Day in day out, we move in order to make progress.

Moment to moment each second building on the next

The click clock tick tock

Time keeps running will it ever stop?

Click. Clock. Tick. Tock.

Understand this clearly, all things have a purpose, a charge in this life.

Every day comes with its challenges, this is certain. Some days more challenges than others…

These past few weeks have been rough.

Burning holes in Pockets, Bills marauding mail boxes;

Tough times still my hustle the world will not stop, a rhythm-a passion the world will not take.

This heart beats with purpose.

Yesterday brought word of a woman…she lay in a coma, a fight for life…

all due to the abusive hands of a partner, a lover

Fatal attraction.

Steady increase in teen pregnancy, more and more absent fathers

Fuck. (On second thought…Don’t)

Schools raise tuition and cut classes

…whats the remedy…

prisons yards, military recruits, pockets full of stone

 its MEAN out here!!

Move with conviction, keep a balanced mind, follow your passion, keep goin hard, make ‘em feel you! PER.SEV.ERE

 

Still I Rise.

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

-Maya Angelou

Reflection and Response.

Samuel Bostick

@THEREALSHANTS

the LIFESTYLE’s role is to create collective space for active Reflection and Response through the arts. This space is built around dialogue, expression, collaboration, and artistic (ex)change involving international craftspeople and their realities. The Porch Swing series opens up a Reflection and Response residency where we feature a Collective member’s ongoing project through weekly installations.

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