LOOKING FOR POEMS, ART, SHORT STORIES, ECT ...WEEK ONE ARTS PROMPT

 "If I Could Be Kissed..."
Week One Prompt

Starting this week. Deep Dope Soul will sponsor a weekly artistic prompt.

We will have a BIG give a way of SMALL prizes for the coolest responses.

We will also feature the coolest art, poems, short stories, ect.

Poems and Stories or Essays should be 500 words or less (we are not trying to read your whole damn novel.)

Art should be rated between G and R (we are not trying to do a porn site.)

As always the weekly prompt
Is "Just For Exhibition. Please No Wagering."

Submit in comments, at our facebook page or deepdopesoul@gmail.com.

And for Heaven's sake please hit that follow button.

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The Nation Coalition of 100 Black Women SJ Chapter's Monday Morning Seminar

 Join SJNCBW  on Monday! The event opens with an amazing spoken word by Kalie the Poet and and will conclude with a conversational piece hosted by Janet Williams- Coger as she speaks with the phenomenal Joyce Proctor (Seminars by Joyce).

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Remembering The Great Actress Cycely Tyson

 MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY

I truly do not have the words. Her passing has sucked the energy from me...but not as much energy as I got from that smile.

Today words are not enough.

One day soon we will offer words but today just pictures and her own words and work from us.

Ms. Tyson's Interview with aired 3 days ago with CBS.

Ms. Tyson in this Video Teaches Basic Writing Skills

Actor Bill Mumy Remembers Actress Cloris Leachman

Bill Mumy Discusses Cloris Leachman

I had the great privilege and pleasure of working closely with Cloris Leachman four times in my acting career. I played her son in all four of those projects which were starring roles for both of us.  We worked on "The Loretta  Young Show", "Going My Way" (with Gene Kelly) and "The Twilight Zone" (in the classic episode, "It's A Good Life" and the sequel 40 years later, "It's Still A Good Life" which also starred my daughter, Liliana Mumy).  I've been fortunate to work with many iconic talents over the course of my life, but NONE were better than Cloris. She was an amazing talent. Any actor who was lucky enough to work with her will immediately know what I mean when I say she truly bumped up your game. You rose to the occasion when acting alongside Cloris Leachman because she wouldn't accept anything less than the very best you had inside to bring and she helped you find it.  Cloris was a force to be reckoned with. I can't say I ever knew anyone bolder than her. She was bawdy and brave and sassy and hysterically quick and funny and she took no prisoners.  She taught me a lot about acting when I was only a very young child.  We remained friends over the decades.  Her son, George, and I were in a band together.  My kids went to Easter Egg parties at her home when they were little. I will always appreciate her greatness and I will never forget how lucky I was to work with her multiple times.  Thankfully, Cloris' immense talents were very well acknowledged and she lived a long, uncompromising life.  I'm sorry she's gone but I am grateful she was here for so long and left us so much.  Lastly, I'll add that many people are not aware of the fact that Cloris was an incredibly talented pianist.  I consider myself blessed to have heard her play.  Thinking Real Good thoughts for you, "Mom"... You had a good life... A Real Good life.

One Of A Kind: AMANDA GORMAN DOLL

 

OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT POET AND ONE DAY PRESIDENT 

AMNADA GORMAN IS ONE OF A KIND.

I BELIEVE THAT IN TEN TO 15 YEARS WHEN GORMAN IS ELECTED PRESIDENT, WE WILL STILL BE DISCUSSING HER PERFORMANCE AT THE BIDEN INAUGURATION .

WELL FELLOW POET AND DOLL MAKER PAT MCLEAN-SMITH HAS RECREATED INAUGURATION POET AMANDA GORMAN AS A BEAUTIFUL DOLL.

THE DOLL IS NO "TOY" BUT IS A WONDER OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC ALL IT'S OWN.

AT THE MOMENT SHE IS NOT REPRODUCING THIS. MS. CLEAN-SMITH IS NOT TAKING COMMISSIONS AND THIS DOLL IS NOT FOR SALE.

ALL OF THIS MAKES "THE DOLL AMANDA" SPECIAL IN HER OWN RIGHT.

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The Secret Society Of Fiction and Science Comic Vault: The Amazing Spider Man Annual Number 13

 Amazing SpiderMan Annual Number 13

Cover Art By Keith Pollard and Bob McL eod
Interior Art By John Byrne and Terry Austin
Written By Marv Wolfman

Cover dated for 1979 , Amazing Spiderman Annual may be one of the last comics Mr. Wolfman wrote before he left for DC to revamp Teen Titans with George Perez. (Note: If you come across some early issues of Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans? Get them. I predict that series will be great and valuable one day. The second issue is pretty good.)

While I am not sure if it is Wolfman's last Marvel book, I know one thing for sure. I have almost never had so much fun turning the pages of a Spiderman Adventure. 

In 1979 I was 11 years old. If I recall I bought my 75 cent cover price copy from 7-11. A few years later I would buy another copy at The Creation Comic Con in Philly and John Byrne was nice enough to sign my copy. (I think he said he would not sign anything for anyone unless they also bought Alpha Flight number one...but that was gonna happen anyway.)

At 11 years old, I appreciated a great story with wonderful jaw dropping art and “The Arms Of Dr. Octopus” did not disappoint. The action was riveting but the way Wolfman told the story and crafted the non action parts still kept me on the edge of my seat.

Each page had me yelling at my comic book (and my mother yelling “What’s Wrong?”
Wolfman with elements of The Twilight Zone and Detective Comics made a double sized issue a read too quick. Needless to say John Byrne and Terry Austin’s pencil and inks also made me yell at my comic book as well and I wished their art went one for another 50 pages. Today I can appreciate the value of everyone’s art style. Shoot, the cover by Pollard and McLeod is what made me buy the book (and by “buy” I mean beg my dad for comic book money.) I had however, never seen comic book art that left me so breathless as Byrne and Austin (I was not quite yet collecting X-Men but then this was one of the books that drove me to X-Men.)

All these years later when I reflect on Amazing Spiderman Annual Number 13. The book is still a fun quick read. The story is still as compelling as it is fun. Even though the ending would not be nearly as strange to me after watching every episode of the original Twilight zone. The art is still one masterpiece page after another.

I do not read my copies or open them much because the way the larger annuals were stapled, every read damages the book more. If I come across a reprint version in a Spiderman collection? I will be picking that up.

I don’t want to tell you any more details about the book because I would hate to spoil a single panel for you.

Oh yes and as I back up they have a gallery of Spiderman foes that was also great to read. This predates the Handbook To The Marvel Universe so it’s pretty much a listening of Spidey Foes from his first decade plus with great art and fun facts about their encounters with Spiderman.

If you read Amazing Spiderman Annual Number 13 what did you think then and now?

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Sowing the Imagination: Elder's Project Virtual Experience

Event by NBAF - National Black Arts

Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 2 PM EST – 3 PM EST

Free Via Event Brite

Join us for a virtual conversation and 

visual experience to commemorate the public art installation by Masud Olufani.

This year, NBAF’s 2021 programming theme “Rising Above” opens with ELDER Project, in collaboration with Freedom Park Conservancy.
Sowing the Imagination is an event that explores the past to plant seeds of hope and build an equitable path forward.
Moderator, Calinda Lee, from the National Center for Civil and Human Rights will lead a panel discussion with artist Masud Olufani, cellist Okorie Johnson and historian Nasir Muhammad about their creative practices and the extraordinary history of the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and the David T. Howard School that led to the creation of ELDER, a site-specific art installation (currently on display in Freedom Park) and the cello composition, in response to ELDER, created especially for NBAF 2021.

The virtual experience will include the pre-recorded panel discussion and Okorie’s performance & premiere of his original composition, Elder Roots & Tree. The virtual experience will include behind the scene mages and film from the creative process of ELDER Project that include alumni from DTH School and elders in the community. The event will feature a format that allows our on-line audience to participate through a Q&A with our panel, expanding the dialogue around these works as well as the 2021 NBAF theme of “Rising Above”. 

Sponsor Of www.deepdopesoul.com

Call For Submissions: The Jersey City Theater Center

 In search of music, visual arts, poetry, spoken word, mixed media, dance and performance art on the topic of Reinvention. Selected original pieces will be performed at the virtual showcase event entitled The Box: Reinvention on February 19th at 7:00-9:00PM

Curated by @Ariel Guidry & Rescue Poetix

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Selected performers will be called for a tech rehearsal on Feb 16, Feb 18 ( 7:00 – 9PM); Email all submissions to gallery@jctcenter.org for consideration.
Deadline submissions: February 12, 2021; Tech rehearsals: Feb 16, Feb 18 7:00 – 9:00PM

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During these times of Global pandemic we are facing extraordinarily challenges. Yet, there is something about this moment in history that reminds us all that we can rethink, reinvent ourselves and change things...

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                    We are made possible by sponsorship from www.soulSanctuary.net

How do we describe and define the present times? What has changed for better or worse? Who are you today, almost one year later after the pandemic closed us all inside our homes? What habits were a part of your life that are no longer sustainable? How have all these changes affect your views on social justice, climate change, politics? What is your idea of reinvention? What rebirth have you experienced during these times?

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                                                          Please Submit Your Art

Breaking News: 70's Actor Gregory Sierra Passed Away January 4th

 

January continues to be a month that gives us reason to celebrate and to mourn.
It has been reported that back on January 4th actor Gregory Sierra passed away from cancer.

I will remember Mr. Sierra as Hebrew Freedom Fighter "Benjamin" on All In The Family.
His performance there was as great as an stage performance I have ever seen.

In all his years I wished to see him in a serious drama...I should have wrote one for him.

He did shine and bring great depth and dramatic chops to his role on Barney Miller...especially in an episode "The Hero" where his character Detective "Chano" kills a suspect.

Although on Sanford and Son he played the role of "Julio" less dramatic, his character was thoughtful and not stereo typical. Often "Julio" would advise Lamont to value his time with his father.

Sierra set a great table for many Latin-American/brown actors that enjoy roles on various shows today.

The mainstream media still does not give us fully developed characters with the whole back grounds that Sierra brought to the small screen.

Blame that on a small minded Hollywood...GREGORY SIERRA WAS BIG his influence BIGGER!

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BREAKING NEWS: Broadcast Legend LARRY KING Has Died

 

Award Winning Talk Show Giant Larry King has left us.

He was a man with his own unique style.

He found a way to keep going until the last and his impact will continue on.

We here at Deep Dope Soul send prayers and sympathy to his friends and family.

We mourn his passing along with the rest of our world wide media family.

Good Night "Hammering" Hank Aaron

 
If all we wrote under this picture was "THANKS."

So many people inside of base ball, outside of base ball, kids that played little league during the 60's, 70s and 80's and any one that knew about the souls of Black folk would understand.

Each would have a different 500 set of words and reasons to say "THANKS."

Hank Aaron like so many from his generation James Brown, Jim Brown, Muhammed Ali represented our idea of Black Super Man. 

Though I acknowledge that Barry Bonds hit more homes runs. To me and every kid that played ball...we dreamed of being Hank Aaron and knocking a ball out of a major league park to break Babe Ruth's record.

For 33 years all any major league player could do was dream.


  He hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 through 1973, and he is one of only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a season at least fifteen times.^[2] In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Aaron fifth on its list of the "100 Greatest Baseball Players".^[3] In 1982, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Aaron still hold several major league batting records.

He appeared briefly in the Negro American League and in minor league baseball before starting his major league career.^[4] By his final MLB season, Aaron was the last Negro league baseball player on a major league roster.

Although we just heard the news. We miss him sorely already and please believe his spirit will live on here at 
DEEP DOPE SOUL.
We will try and do it right!

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Sip and Speak with Paradise....

 The Mind Behind

SIP AND SPEAK 

performs her piece

POETRY

Last weekend we at Deep Dope Soul celebrated our launch with 4 days of amazing poets.

None more moving and in your face than Paradise.

She curates a online venue called Sip and Speak at 4:44 pm.

Please find her at
The Art Of Paradise on Facebook to be a performer, or just get more info.

Here she is for POETRY POETRY POETRY
giving us

"POETRY"

House Of Blues Wants To Help School You!

Ten Thousand Dollar Music Grant from House Of Blues 

Are you in college looking for a future in the concert business? .Here's an opportunity for you that you don't want to miss. Music Forward and

Live Nation Concerts

will award $10,000 scholarships to outstanding college students pursuing careers in the music industry. These unique scholarships are designed to build sound futures and support the next generation of industry leaders. click below https://hobmusicforward.org/programs/scholarships/

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THE REVOLUTION

YouTube Premiere!

January 27 | 7PM

This 20-minute ATC-style high-energy stage production will transport you to The Bill Nunn Black Box Theater where these brave young artists take the stage.

“You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out… the revolution will not be televised.” Inspired by these words from Gil Scott-Heron, ATC’s collection of spoken word, song, and dance demands that viewers take the revolution from their screen to the streets. The ATC artists share their experiences as young Black Americans and issue a strong call to action: “You need to listen, then do.”

Join us at 7PM on the Alumni Theater Company YouTube Channel to be part of the first audience to see this outstanding ATC work!