V-Day

JP Eckstrom, a deeply passionate and inspirational feminist and leader, who blessed me with her insight and friendship turned the Hallmark Valentine's Day Holiday into "V-Day" for me, about ten years ago. It's with big silly pink hearts, crimson roses and decadent chocolate truffles that I share this with you, because today is a tribute to and celebration of women and girls everywhere!

From the V-Day website:

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women. 

V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

Their four core beliefs:

Art has the power to transform thinking and inspire people to act 

Lasting social and cultural change is spread by ordinary people doing extraordinary things 

Local women best know what their communities need and can become unstoppable leaders

 One must look at the intersection of race, class, and gender to understand violence against women

What is better that that? So ladies, if you're single and cranky, remember to empower yourselves today. Love Valentine's Day for the same reasons I do. End violence against women and girls!! Celebrate your body, your spirit, your art, yourself! Happy V-Day!!!!

Drew Victor Fights Sorrow

I am blown away by this album. And I'm not just saying that because he's my friend. I've always looked up to Drew as an artist and singer/songwriter but I'm really, truly in awe of this recording. His haunting falsetto, delicate arrangements and sad panda lyrics ache and swell, soothe and drown into a stormy sea of heartbreak and hope. Gorgeous.

http://drewvictor.bandcamp.com/

Cover Art: Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart

Jagjaguwar released Wilderness Heart by Black Mountain in 2010. I am a big fan of the band and am haunted by this image, in a good way of course. Being a multimedia artist myself, I find it inspiring that the cover art graphic for the album was created by keyboardist Jeremy Schmidt.