Tag Archives: Dialogue

Nov 07 2012
1 Comment
Creative Writing

The Porch Swing: Time and Space

Chase: Cat and Mouse, Time and Space, by Samuel Bostick.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Chase: Cat and Mouse, Time and Space

Dashing flashes alerted masses of oncoming fury, Danger spoken in voz of crashes—war cries forewarning the unconcerned to take refuge, take arms or get fuck out the city. Deeper than jus a storm, this was the oncoming clash of Titons! Seas churned operationally violent in frightened response to the angered enlight’ment of the mighty Triton, El dios Chac-mool se levantó con sed de la sangre en la garganta.

Thunder, the unseen drummer veiled in ceremonious garbs delivering booms, rocking tombs and prophesying doom. This is jus the beginning, the first stage of gloom, an introduction to battle. It has begun; the vision ancestors scribed down, the dream oral traditionalist foretold, the epic of which the scopes had sung.

Swelling seas of grey, clouds crawling across the sky heavy with the weight of disappoint seeking proper place to unload. To release, to cry out, to Superman Deez–O’s.  Aware; the brewing of a storm demands bare attention.

Chilling thrills ripped in over the coast, howling scowls prowled streets sending summons to spirits and stirring any stagnation that had lay beneath. Cutting quick, shifting swift slashing into and burning mental as the unseen Ginsu unsheathed.

Regret, the ultimate confidence killer…neither time nor space for that.

Still there is hope so take the knife of doubt and self pity away from your throat. Watch the youth, take lesson from their brilliance. The storm ripped out a tree from the ground and threw it into a park. Crashing over the fence it lay in the scene as a testimony to hostile time past. The children won’t be stopped, no way no how. They welcomed this new addition to the playground with zeal and zest! Taking to it as a new prop for playtime adventures; climbing on, running round it, maybe it was a castle or a forest hideaway who knows! Still they were appropriating it in proper fashion. Climbing a tree had never seemed so fun, never so powerful, never so sacred as it did as these young ones reclaimed their space. And they did it with imagination, style and grace. The imagination and awareness to overcome the prelude of tragedy; smiles, laughs, and the simple ability to have a great time…the beauty of youthfulness. I mean these young ones were really ROMPING into that tree!! It was GREAT. These are champions! Turning tragedy to triumph is their badge.

Stay Cool Y’all,

Bostick

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Oct 31 2012
Leave a comment
Creative Writing

The Porch Swing: Questions

Questions, Take 6, by Samuel Bostick.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Questions, Take 6

Stepping aside from one self there is a certain capacity otherwise unreached. Nourishment is the stimuli for growth and sustenance is the source of longevity. Quality inspection—sifting apart the good from the bad, even more critically, gathering up the great from the good; a process of arrangement, a system of organization. There are many princes yet kings come few and far apart. Noble is a man of exceeding character and strength sourced of the heart.

Times flow is steady and unyielding, an ebb spanning beyond both birth and tomb. Days come and go, surely this is well known. Still the effects of a day may last beyond the moment. Piling up and storing thoughts, fileing memories, bagging emotions, burying pains, and curating pleasure, all weighing down the mind. Things stashed in the mind like a Raider hoards up treasure. Don’t dare open that safe nor think to go near; to wind up on the wrong end of a smoking barrel is the sentence for any offending party. A fatal discourse; treasure becomes a cage and the mind bolted down enchained as a slave. These things all simmer and stew, a wicked mixture, an ovation to the father of cool and his Bitches Brew. Yes, a bitches brew in deed.

Time accrues without sign of relief; in suffocation a mind turns inward depressed with dark despair. There stirs up a new mash…rage. It begins to bubble and steam within the chest, that dreary cage. A threatening sort of beast; Rage is Anger untamed…to hell…to the inferno with that leash. Silence is the ultimate enzyme to this cold intensity. Lips sealed, secrets unrevealed, devils held, identities concealed. Hazard lights flash warning to any bystander with enough mind to take notice. The propensity to erupt and explode, catastrophic unload, passers-by take heed. This is a mind that’s been turned in to a jail, a cell, an unrelenting hell. Nonetheless, this is only one side of the tale, the dark truth yet the light still unveiled. How to escape only the soul can tell. This is reflection into the narcissistic insurrection that has lead beautiful minds in the wrong direction. A nemesis has devout a plan and set a trap, or at best a test, for the self-indulged man. Relief and triumph achieved only once he rips himself from introspective obsession with self perfection. A lesson to be learned….to escape this dark place the maze must be shaken and disrupted, Shake This Maze is the guide to the public. A theory of rhyme and rhythm that moves the mind from dark to light, from depressed to ‘that felt good to get off my chest’. Expression is the release of those woes and worries stuffed away in compartments of the mind body and soul.

Not done quite yet, another step that must not be neglected. The completion of reflection is the action of Response; A cycle of expressive processing, a two step that moves the mind upon nimble toes to forgiveness of self, friends and foe.  Forgetting no that is not the case, still more ammunition may be loaded once you get out the dust from the corners and clear up some space.

Contour the mind to look out and explore. Arches, brilliance in New Mexican skys, photographic moments captured, random-wander-Spanish-old-guy, hand written poetry, and radio stations set up in places that appear post apocalyptic rapture, all moments capture in awareness—present in the moment to moment setting and contributing to the scene. These are minds unchained from the constraints of autotrophic vanity. These are liberated minds. Why look within and stay unseen when there is so much world to be felt, life to be lived and dreams to be chased. Jump in the DeLorean and go back to the future cause the past is a place lost in time and space. The past is what it is, past, and never to be gotten back never to be replaced. The future though is abound with possibilities endless, the sky is the limit and life after death is the eulogy.

 While breath is in the lungs let the hearts song be sung, the youth is strong and the elder are wise. Power is in the hands of the people so take pride, stand and rise. From dark days and blinded eyes, it can only get better, movement directed toward brighter times and vision refined. Follow the heart and move with conviction. There will always be opposition still if God is on your side then who may stand before your glory.  A true underdog story.

Looking forward, coming out funky as the Gowanas. The yellow buss don’t stop till it bust. Taking cats to school where youth discover the birds and the bees, are taught math and literature, and uncover 40oz to freedom and how to rollup and blow down tree. These boxes cannot contain a generation of liberated mind frames, still the sly foxes creep in to foul up the game. A shame cause it’s like we’re starting ten steps behind, yet we jump on the track looking forward no time to look back. Find proper pace and stick to it, a test of endurance moving the earth under our feet. Reflection and Response through the arts. Feel and Be felt.

Expression: A breaking of silence, many rely it the daring provide it.

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Oct 24 2012
Leave a comment
Creative Writing

The Porch Swing: Questions

Questions, Take 5, by Samuel Bostick.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Questions, Take 5

When heroes Fall what is it that compels them to get back up? Could it be pride in whom and what they represent? Is it the unrelenting call to duty? Is it that a Hero is such in the ability to get up, perhaps the ability to shed all adversity, the capacity to overcome all obstacles, the tenacity to transcend the self; victorious about battles within.

And us, what should we do? Is it our place to throw rocks while they are down; heavens no not out of spite…let’s say—rather to emphasize that even heroes are imperfect. Do we encourage them, as we tend to their wounds and build them back into that highly praised place from which they fell? Is it that we should take up arms our own and fight off the villains and vile creatures alike as to give our heroes a break? You know, to let them have one day off?

At what point does the hero fall so far from grace that they become the villain? Or is that even possible? Maybe it’s not that simple, rather Fate is the deciding factor to who shall be villain and who shall be hero.

Of Gods and Creatures that inhabit the earth, Where are you? Where are those who you look up to? Have you ever fallen? If so what happens when you do? And your heroes, where are they? Do they fall, have they ever?

Is perfection overrated or is it the ultimate excellence achieved? What happens when heroes fall? Do we pick them up or should we pick up stones?

I believe in progress, I strive for excellence; I move to be the best I possibly can.

I stay fresh, well dressed, Keep great company and write to express.

I have fallen a many times, Still I Rise. Underdogg story.

There are Gods and Creatures that inhabit the Earth.

I am a man, wielding the ambition of a titan, imploring Gods strength.

Champion Swagg.

When Heroes Fall…

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Oct 17 2012
Leave a comment
Creative Writing

The Porch Swing: Questions

Questions, Take it 4 a Spin, by Samuel Bostick.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Questions: Take 4 

Aye, do you remember when Steve Harvey had hair? Or how about when Steve Urkel lived next door? And I KNOW you can’t forget about Martin kicked Pam out with more gusto than Uncle Phil ever ejected Jazz! What about the Jamie Foxx show? And who can forget the first time they saw Michael Jackson do the moonwalk?

Man, those were great times

What about your first kiss? Who was it?? Where were y’all?? Was it a dare, was it out of despair? Was it a long desired tango of tongues or was it a quick and innocent affair? Was it driven by lustful craving or was it True Love in the air?

I’ll never forget mine…

that triumphant feeling still revs my blood! What a memory!

Does anyone else listen to country music when they get homesick or is that just me?

Rain makes corn, Corn makes whiskey…

Makes me whanna Take a Back Road…

She thinks my tractor is sexy…

Drinkin’ Beer and Wastin’ Bullets…

Why is it that I’ve always been really good at destroying my shoes jus doing day to day activity?

Maybe I should start walking on the sidewalk like a normal person…nahh

Anybody know what happened to Mary’s little lamb?

I ATE that shit!! Thas what happened! LOL

Yo, the other day I noticed the little homie checking out his teacher as she turned around and I felt somehow proud of him. Proud as a Man, you know. Is that wrong?

Hahah who cares if it is wrong or not. I feel that dude!

So, whas your favorite book? What was the car of your dreams when you were young? What is the car of your dreams now? If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? How many languages do you speak and what are they? Do you know the average number of languages people who live in فاس [Fes-Fas-Fez] speak? Do you even know where Fes is? What are your fears? How about your fantasies… (actually, we can save that one for when it’s just you and I).

Are you gonna get the car on the road or are you comfortable keeping it whimsically whirling in the showroom of your dreams?

Do you think you are going to visit that place or no?

I would really like to know…

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout…SPLAT!!! He’s a goner now.

Now. About those fantasies… 😉

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
Oct 10 2012
1 Comment
Creative Writing

The Porch Swing: Questions

Questions, Take 3, by Samuel Bostick.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

The things that bring people together; food, family and all types of functions.

The human is surely a social creature. Built to interact and cooperate—fashioned to engage on a platform raised toward progress.

Undoubtedly destruction and such is part of this progress, and it appears this is the time upon the world today. To this I have my opinion and I’m sure you hold yours, never mind those though. It does not matter how we feel or think about it about it, the fact is that destruction is upon us. What does matter is what we do about it. These days ushering in a new age. The storm is building; the clouds swelling, bellowing, darker and darker till the downpour be revealed. However, where I come from rain is a good thing so its not so much a tragedy, rather a epoch. Who will survive in America? Who will survive in America? Who Will Survive in America?

Individualism is the preservatives to the capitalist mode of production, it’s the plastic vacuum wrap of the protestant ethic, and the rubber shield on the United Dick of America that fucks the rest of the world—penetrating the ‘foreign’ one border at a time.  A culture distinguished on the praise of narcissistic thought and the shunning of social ties that are made simply in the spirit of being social. You mean you have friends who don’t have ends? You must be loco! Still, great friends standup! Those rebels bold enough to Love amongst so much treachery. Comrades who have bypassed the guards of the individualism and loosened its chokehold on intimacy to successfully achieve the rank of brother and sister, friend. Those who reach out and help us balance the weights on our heads in hard times, they do this without thought, its the understanding of camaraderie! Yes, thank God for friends; the people who bring forth life, who help us blossom, those who nurture growth. When is the last time you called your friend? Have you ever had a cleansing of your social circle?

Wretched memories of dark days and darker nights, outdated visions of loved ones and kin turned into zombies by kryptonic rocks named drugs while night after night the booze keep turning Daddy Jekyll into Monster Hyde; these things all too real to ever forget—irresolvable things turned into bad dreams and printed onto pre-exposed film as a means to cope. How do things like this come to occupy such a sacred place? Don’t you think it may be a lil different to dream big when these are how your dreams have been spent year after year, dry tear after tear?

Cycle after cycle, producing psycho after psycho; struggle is natural in a situation that has been manipulated to turn us into animals. In recognizing our own humanity the precariousness of life is transcended. The oppressor is blinded as the panoptic scope of perfection is no longer permitted to critique how we live, Dance like nobody is watching! Do it in public! No longer can victory be only a private affair! Now comes the time to decide whether to go right or go wrong! I’ll let you in on a secret if you can hold water…word is there are those who choose neither right nor wrong, rather they take out the shovel and digg deeper, they take out the machete and clear their own path. On the other hand, you could take that machete and perform a perfect coup on the king…blood makes a proper neck accessory, especially on someone of his status, wouldn’t you agree? It would be a suiting fit, very complimenting to his jawline…we call that the Sweeny Special…the closest shave you’ll ever get guaranteed! Now take that shovel and bury the body…after you burn it and grind down the bones of course. You know what they say, “no body, no crime”. If anyone asks you didn’t hear this from me, ok? These are the thoughts of a youth in a violent place. That don’t make me evil…it means I’m alive. It shows I’m able to engage our environment, that I can be affected by whas going on around me.

A toast to the ancients who burn paths for us to get as far as we have… a raised middle finger, an erect finger-fuck-you, to the institutions which aim to tame our pain!! Show it for what it is! These words the ammunition, loaded pistols, one on each hip, holsters swinging with the swaggering motion of resistive locomotion, ready to do the damn thang! Loading up for the war, what you got in store?? Too wild, rockin two chainz, yea we that OFF The Chain Gang!!! Youthful Looting shootin tootin and bootin, when it pops off better be ready to let it BANG BANG!!! All the pain is what’s driving us insane, why do I have to hold it in, thas like a dogg continually licking an open wound, seemingly cleansing yet shown really to be more damaging. Wrap it up and use it as material, add fuel to the fire stack the flame higher and higher. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck again? Take all that wood and feed it to the flame!

We’re signing up interests and registering recruits, who’s in?

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Aug 08 2012
2 Comments
Music, Photography, Visual Arts

Reflection and Response: The Zine, Volume I

Reflection and Response: The Zine, Volume I is a project we have been working on for the past couple months. This collection of thought, craft, and experience is rooted in the processes of Reflection and Response through the artS. We decided to compile many of the installations from the first 9 months of our Feature series into a pressable format in order to fully appreciate and expand the timeless dialogue that these artists have engaged in. the LIFESTYLE collective presents this Volume with hopes of building further dialogue, collaboration, action, and artistic exchange locally and globally.

A true thank you to the following nine contributors for bringing their powerful and inspiring work to the collective:

  • Samuel Bostick
  • Megan Branch
  • Danny Kaufman
  • Diana Cervera
  • Stefan Paul George
  • Vatche Donikian
  • Leopoldo Pérez Obregón
  • Vivian Garcia
  • Ellie Cross

The Zine is available for FREE.

In order to grab a copy:

– Directly from Peter in Leon, España or from Vicken in New York City…contact the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com.

– Online ($5 flat shipping cost)…

 

 

 

Thank you for supporting the LIFESTYLE collective’s first publication!

Reflection and Response.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Jul 31 2012
Leave a comment
Music, Visual Arts

Reflection and Response: The Zine (Pre-Release)

Reflection and Response: The Zine, Volume I is a project we have been working on for the past couple months. This collection of thought, craft, and experience is rooted in the processes of Reflection and Response through the artS. We decided to compile many of the installations from the first 9 months of our Feature series into a pressable format in order to fully appreciate and expand the timeless dialogue that these artists have engaged in. the LIFESTYLE collective presents this Volume with hopes of building further dialogue, collaboration, action, and artistic exchange locally and globally.

Thank you all for your continued support and lookout for the official release coming up soon! The Zines will be available for FREE distribution anywhere.

Reflection and Response.

P & V

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 25 2012
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

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

Tagged , , , , , , ,
May 16 2012
Leave a comment
Creative Writing

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
May 09 2012
1 Comment
Creative Writing

The Porch Swing: WORD of the day

Back at the LIFESTYLE Porch!

Today we’ve got the second installation at The Porch Swing from our first Reflection and Response resident artist, Samuel Bostick. Last week we kicked off The Porch Swing series with Samuel’s first installation in his ongoing WORD of the day project, which will come through every Wednesday. Stay tuned as he continues to bring his uniquely crafted creative writing Reflection and Response approach to the LIFESTYLE Collective…

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons, Jim Natale.

Build v. 1) To form by combining materials or parts; construct. 2) To give form to according to a definite plan or process; create. 3) To establish and strengthen; create and add to. 4) To develop in magnitude or extent. 5) To progress toward a maximum, as of intensity. 6)The act, process, art or occupation of constructing.

WORD of the day: Build

A Dream is the heart’s desire, a fantastic vision. It is our charge to put effort into making these dreams, these desires into a reality. We must build. To build is to act on the faith of possibility, to put work into effect and produce. All building is ultimately defined by the basis, the core, the foundation, the wise seek firm foundation. Brick by brick, day in day out, belief by belief. Building is an ongoing process, it does not subscribe to boundaries, rather supersedes them. The possibility is endless.

Get out, make yourself, give your hands a good look; recognize the potential energy held within them, the propensity to create. Plan your route, establish firm foundation, develop a legacy- a dynasty of your choosing, be responsible for your work and lay claim to the product of your effort.

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.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →