Deer on the road dead
a man leaps from burning Jeep
Four cops with guns drawn
November 16, 2009
Bob Dylan at IU Auditorium
Bob Dylan at IU Auditorium, originally uploaded by DRheins.
even in row 5
Bob Dylan is a mere blur
Tom Waits a shadow
October 27, 2009
Tuesday October the Twenty Seventh
Still fall the fat leaves
after I rake, pile, black bag
work has just begun
October 20, 2009
Balls in the Air
street performer, Seattle Center, originally uploaded by DRheins.
hand over head, foot
to wheel, balls fly through the air
just juggling life
October 20, 2009
At the Seattle Zoo
sitting hair on grass
the great ape lounged while we watched
his back to the glass
September 27, 2009
Sunday Morning SeaTac
Rainier’s blue outline
surreal in the yellow sky
sends me off with awe
September 17, 2009
Heartbreak Airport
Landing in Memphis
No time to visit Graceland
boycott branded merch
September 15, 2009
Whale Watching Boat
Whale Watching Boat, originally uploaded by DRheins.
The good ship rested
Port Townsend awaiting calm
P.S. Express, not
July 29, 2009
Love Letters
Love by Robert Indiana, originally uploaded by DRheins.
rusted love letters
bleeding onto the white rock
stains of tears and joy
July 23, 2009
Stumbling Man
Stumbling Man sculpture, IMA, originally uploaded by DRheins.
hands on the hard earth
try to break the fall, but fail
life is a stumble
July 21, 2009
Sunlight through the Sunflowers
Sunlight through the Sunflowers, originally uploaded by DRheins.
peaking through the verge
sunburst blossom flower twin
glimmer in God’s eyes
July 15, 2009
Pause on the highway
stuck behind the hearse
i am sorry for their loss
but I am so late
July 15, 2009
Bruce on the Loose
A loud cover band
cranks Springsteen in the lobby
some things never change
July 10, 2009
The Royal Treatment
I’ve watched over the past week with great interest as the media madness surrounding the unexpected death of Michael Jackson has spiraled from frenzied to crazed to completely over the top.
Like a true Royal, the pop star’s passing has been treated with unprecedented fanfare, complete with non-stop media insanity culminating in a televised “official state funeral.” Janet, Tito, LaToya, Jermaine and the rest of the Royal Jackson Family were to be seen simply everywhere. “He was the best father ever,” cried Paris.
Every cable channel, every magazine cover, every conversation touted the influence and importance of the “King of Pop.” But somehow the chorus rang false to me.
The more I watched, the more I realized that a cultural war is taking place. In the multi-culti PC world of President Obama’s America, Michael Jackson has become the new Elvis. The King is Dead, Long Live the King. Like Elvis, Michael represented the pinnacle of crass, ostentatious materialism; both poster boys for overindulgence, embodying a lifestyle of excessive, over-the-top consumption. MJ like Elvis sold his soul in a Faustian bargain with the demons of commercialism.
Once innocent, exuding a purity of raw talent, both men died too early, full of drugs and deeply depressed. Having achieved the American Dream of fame and fortune – sex and stardom – the Kings quickly found themselves grotesque caricatures – Elvis ridiculous in his outlandish capes and massive wrestler belts; Michael, suspect with his sequined gloves, scarves, masks and Mickey Mouse persona (Rolling Stone once aptly put him on its cover as an animated Mickey).
There is a certain poetic symmetry to the whole “Next King Thing. “ Let’s face it; Elvis, and the other products of Sam Phillips’ Sun Records – Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins – were created as a way for the label to translate and package the essence of black “Race Music” for white audiences. “Give me a white boy who can sing like a N__,“ the wily Phillips was reported to have said, “and I’ll sell a million records.” They did and he did. As Muddy Waters once sang, “The Blues had a baby, and they called the baby Rock and Roll.”
For years artists like Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Little Richard complained loudly about being ripped off by white artists and the white labels. Their sounds, their styles and many times their songs were “covered” and made popular by white artists, who made the big paychecks and enjoyed great fame. This became standard operating practice. In large part, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the music industry’s attempt to redeem itself for its exploitative ways.
Now in the sixties, all this began to change. Barry Gordy’s Motown (the first black-owned label) was largely responsible for enabling black artists to ‘crossover’ into the mainstream pop market. From 1961 to 1971, Motown had 110 top 10 hits, and artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5 dominated the airwaves and defined a new pop culture reality. Music, like the rest of society, was becoming integrated. Young Michael Jackson was the very representation of this bright new future. America, and indeed the world, watched the little star evolve from a bubble gum sensation (battling it out in the late sixties with the Donny Osmond, David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman for teenie bopper dominance), into a real pop superstar. Where Chuck Berry and Little Richard were frustrated, Michael Jackson broke through to major superstardom.
Michael went solo in 1971, and had a series of huge albums. 1982’s Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time. In addition to catchy, sappy pop songs, MJ became famous for his dancing. His moonwalk defined a generation. He was a pioneer in creating the music video genre, and became the first African-American star of MTV. He got so rich and famous he outbid Paul McCartney for ownership in the Beatles song catalog!
Elvis was — and still remains — an icon of the redneck, good ol’ boy America. Even today, some 30 years after his tragic passing, one need go no further than the nearest truck stop, gas station DVD stand, fair grounds, or Wal*Mart to see that Elvis is STILL the King for White Trash America. Velvet Elvis is alive and well, and for sale on a roadside near you.
But Elvis’ America is quickly passing. It has been a long time since Elvis left the building. We now live in a multicultural America. Rap Music is Pop Music – for white kids, black kids, Hispanic kids. Demographers tell us that whites will be the minority race in this country within 25 years, with Hispanics the fastest growing segment.
It seems to me that what we’ve witnessed with this past week’s non-stop media madness has less to do with celebrating this flawed pedophile (talented and famous as he may have been) and more to do with acknowledging a milestone: the cultural and generational passing of the torch. Like the election of Barack Obama as the country’s first Black President, the crowning of Michael Jackson in his death as the new Elvis is emblematic of the end of one chapter in American history, and the beginning of another.
RIP
July 8, 2009
Faded Snap
Detail, BenWah’s Garage, originally uploaded by DRheins.
I spy my old band
yellowed flyer on the wall
faded snap from past
July 5, 2009
Fouth of July Parade
Fouth of July Parade, originally uploaded by DRheins.
While a good time was had by all, young Isadore found time during the Carmel Indiana Fourth of July Parade to practice his New York scowl.
July 2, 2009
Dredge boat along Broad Ripple Canal
Dredge boat along Broad Ripple Canal, originally uploaded by DRheins.
who needs sixteen mules?
the mighty dredge tractor boat
clears the clogged canal
***
June 17, 2009
PaPa Loves Baby Graffiti
PaPa Loves Baby Graffiti, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Who loves da baby?
PaPa loves dat lucky kid
Scrawls it on the wall!
June 17, 2009
Bruce Springsteen at Bonnaroo
Bruce Springsteen at Bonnaroo, originally uploaded by Backstage Gallery.
Just love the new images from Bonnaroo, especially those of Bruce. Apparently the boss was in rare form and Backstage Gallery has the pics to prove it.
June 14, 2009
Dog Paste Up, Jersey City
Dog Paste Up, Jersey City, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Walking through Jersey City, Tamster and I discovered some unexpected treasures. First, we stumbled upon a great, hole-in-the-wall Dominican bakery, where we bought some apricot pastries, and then, we found lots of local street art. Snapped a few shots with the iPhone, which inspired the following haiku:
Serendipity on a Jersey Street Sign
Saturday morning
eating albaricoque
we find you bull dog
June 11, 2009
Bad Kitty, Soho
Street Art, Soho, originally uploaded by DRheins.
in the night they creep
paste up artists/vandals
dawn streets tell the tale
June 6, 2009
Graffiti on Power Plant, Jersey City
Graffiti on Power Plant, Jersey City, originally uploaded by DRheins.
walking by the plant
overgrown and spray painted
I smile at green earth
June 4, 2009
Street Art Haiku
Street Art, Soho, originally uploaded by DRheins.
fool’s image pasted
copied, cut up; now its art
better than the real
June 3, 2009
All Points West: Take Two
Day One All Points West, originally uploaded by DRheins.
The summer music season is here. The signs are everywhere around Jersey City: on light rail cars and billboards. All Points West music and arts festival is back for a second year.
Here is the schedule:
FRIDAY, JULY 31
Beastie Boys
Yeah Yeah Yeahs • Vampire Weekend
The National • Fleet Foxes • MSTRKRFT
Q-Tip • The Pharcyde • Organized Konfusion
The Knux • Ra Ra Riot • Seasick Steve • Telepathe
Shearwater • Heartless Bastards • Flying Lotus
CollegeHumor Live • Arj Barker • Eugene Mirman • Bo Burnham
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
Tool
My Bloody Valentine • Gogol Bordello
Arctic Monkeys • Neko Case • The Ting Tings
Yelle • Crystal Castles • St. Vincent
Tokyo Police Club • The Cool Kids • Kool Keith
Cage the Elephant • Chairlift • White Rabbits • Electric Touch The Postelles • Black Gold • CollegeHumor Live
Time & Eric • Judah Friedlander • Jim Jeffries
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
Coldplay
Echo & the Bunnymen • MGMT • the Black Keys
Elbow • Silversun Pickups • Mogwai
We Are Scientists • Ghostland Observatory
The Gaslight Anthem • Etienne De Crecy • Lykke Li
Akron/Family • Steel Train • Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
CollegeHumor Live • Janeane Garofalo
Michael Showalter • Todd Barry
You can buy your tickets at the official site: apwfestival.com
May 30, 2009
100th Anniversary of the Lavatory
one hundred loo years
a century of hygiene
flush flush flush flush flush
May 26, 2009
AJ Foyt Indy Car
AJ Foyt Indy Car, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Just back from Memorial Day weekend in Indianapolis. This is the biggest weekend of the year, as Circle City residents gear up for the annual running of the Indianapolis 500.
In the lobby of our hotel, banners scream “Welcome Race Fans” and we are even treated with an up close look at one of AJ Foyt’s #14 Indy Cars.
May 20, 2009
New York Dance Parade 2009
New York Dance Parade 2009, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Beautiful dancers at the 2009 New York Dance Parade, held May 16th on the lower east side, new york city.
May 18, 2009
Barefoot Boogie March On
New York Dance Parade 2009, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Barefoot Boogie dancers, marching in shoes, at the 2009 New York Dance Parade, held May 16th on the lower east side, new york city.
May 18, 2009
Shopping Cart Art
Graffiti, New York City, originally uploaded by DRheins.
the red shopping cart
full of his life’s small treasures
dry under tin roof
May 16, 2009
Andre the Giant, New York City
Andre the Giant Graffiti, New York City, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Beautiful day in the city yesterday. Perfect opportunity to stroll around and capture some images of the abundant street art.
Here, for your pleasure, is a giant installation of famous artist Shepard Fairey’s Andre the Giant!
The Andre “Obey” campaign is one of the longest running and most successful street art series. Click here to read more.
May 13, 2009
Peace Rock, Bolinas, California
Peace Rock, Bolinas, California, originally uploaded by DRheins.
pack it in and out
take only what you must have
leave things undisturbed
May 9, 2009
Santa Fe Railyard
May 7, 2009
Thursday Tweets
number one one one
counting friends is so much fun
add me, tweet, please
May 6, 2009
Soul and Soles
one more day of rain
my mood wears like wet leather
holes in soul and soles
May 5, 2009
Smooth & Fresh
Smooth & Fresh, originally uploaded by DRheins.
the noise of the night
quiet now as I turn, see
you there smooth and fresh
May 4, 2009
Weekend’s Haiku
Never Lie Down
stand up and be cuffed
free speech isn’t free enough
can’t never lie down
***
May 2 Haiku
raining cold and slow
Saturday morning coffee
jazz, canvas and smoke
April 29, 2009
Enjoy Stimulus Package
Enjoy Stimulus Package, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Stimulating the population. Forget the checks, check out the street art.
April 29, 2009
Angel of Soho
Angel of Soho, originally uploaded by DRheins.
LA may be the city of angels, but New York City has its own street art saints.
Here is the Saint of Soho, in his resplendent glory, bursting through the ripped poster remnants.
“the world is a glitter with the glory of God…”
April 29, 2009
Soho Street Art
Soho Street Art, originally uploaded by DRheins.
Continuing my tour of Soho Street Art installations, I captured some great work today.
April 27, 2009
Nightly Routine
last tweet before sleep
check the blog and flickr stats
who needs to count sheep
