notesong

Thank you to the San Diego Comic Fest organizers for inviting me to present on one of my favorite topics: Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols in the role of Lt. Uhura. I thoroughly enjoyed the audience interaction after my presentation. They posed fascinating questions providing food for thought. Nichol's role is getting increasing attention not only from fans but from scholars as well. It was my maiden voyage into publicly speaking about my long time fascination with space and Sci. Fi.                                                           Nichelle Nichols Readers know how I enjoy meeting new talent and on Friday evening before my presentation, I walked past the graphic artists' room. A bit shy...

  East Village Community Church's Mass Choir presented a joyous Jubilee Concert celebration of song. Several soloists included dynamic vocalists who talk the talk and walk the walk of their faith: Praise and Worship Leader Esther Downing, and EVCC Choir Director Beverly Thomas.  The inspirational local group Cross Town Trio (soloist Carl Hebert, with ensemble members Carlos and Stephanie) also filled the church with heart felt song. Although the crowd was sparse, it was warm and responsive. Co-choir director, African American music specialist, and instrumentalist (trombone)/ composer Norman McWilliams  led the choir as director Beverly Thomas sang crowd favorite "My Soul IS Anchored In the Lord." Esther Downing sang "Moving Forward" which is the choirs motto as they strive for spiritual growth and musical excellence. After only a few weeks rest, they will begin preparing for their annual Christmas Cantata in December. Norman McWilliams Martin Luth...

The East Village Community Church in East Village San Diego CA. under the leadership of pastor Dr. Jimmie F. Hubbard  http://www.evchurch.org/ourpastor.html is having its annual concert on September 29th at 4:ooPm at 1374 Island Street--one block up from the Island and Market Trolley Station. Several local artists will be performing as well as many of our performers in residence. Directed by Beverly Thomas, the program promises to be inspirational---see previous blog post on Mrs. Thomas and the East Village Community Choir:  http://sonictapestry.wordpress.com/sacred-music/    East Village Community Church San Diego, CA.  Pastor Dr. Jimmie Hubbard and executive Pastor Rev. Jeri Hubbard Also featured are local choirs and renown soloist, including the church's praise and worship leader Esther Downing The choir is accompanied by one of Grossmont Colleges ' staff accompanist, Katherine (Ekaterina) Petrosyan . http://www.grossmo...

Bullying is perhaps one of the most difficult behaviors to iradicate in our youth. It is insidious. It is toxic. And, unfortunately it is also global. Sylvia Telefaro president of the African American Writers & Artists Inc. San Diego a more than thirty year old community organization here in San Diego, continues to support all youth, especially those who wrestle with the impact of complex socio-cultural dynamics that impact their lives. It is line with beliefs of now deceased African American Writers &Artists of San Diego Inc. founder Jihmye Collins who taught and lived a deep respect for all our humanity in God's universe.                                                            ...

Who is Michela Ciappini? She is an artist/sand sculptor from Italy, sculpting since 2003 and is one of several major international  sculptors here in San Diego California over the Labor Day weekend to compete in  the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge. The event's full title this year is "The U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo. On my early Labor Day Embarcadero stroll, I walked by the event and was immediately drawn in by a four foot tall pirate woman sand sculpture near its entrance.   ussandsculpting.com .                                                                              ...

      Rabinar Sarkar and me (Delores Fisher) on New Year's Day We met at a small downtown mini-mart of all places when I was making a quick junk food run. Tourists' know, and many of us transplanted "locals" enjoy, look forward, to experiencing downtown San Diego convenience stores' quirky urban ambiance--never know who you'll meet on a Friday night. One winter evening, a small brown face smiled at me when I walked in. He continued talking warmly and didn't mind my stopping.  I was drawn into a conversation in progress. Always looking for interesting artists, I listened quietly. He was describing his life's philosophy, some of his accomplishments, and his work with rocks at Sea Port Village. "Ohhhhh, you're the one who stacks those rocks!" I said, finally comprehending. He smiled gently, shyly as the store's owner spoke about interviews and articles. "Rabi" as he asked me to call him and I talked for seve...

   International Poet/editor Olga Garcia and Delores Fisher (me!) For recent posts on Olga Garcia . . .click onto  http://carpenoctum2.blogspot.com/2017/06/olga-garcia-international-poet-reads-at.html and also http://carpenoctum2.blogspot.com/2017/02/international-poet-olga-garcia.html It's always an interesting time when poets get together to catch up on events that have flowed into and out of  lives. Sometimes work, travel, projects loom so heavily in our minds that all we think about is the work--writing essays, books, editing, preparing for performances, videotaping, workshops--and hope that family and friends understand. Sadly, on occasion, life's shadows fall and we grieve while we clinch to work like a tired swimmer clinging to a buoy in chill-deep stormy sea. Other times, its those celebrations that go fleeting by without sharing in acknowledgement of benchmark, accolade, award, honor, accomplishment.. So when poets get together, well . . . Back ...

Unbelievable moments of "wow" timing happen rarely in most people's lifetimes; you know-- those serendipitous events that make ya just sit back and go "Hmmmmmm?" as Arsenio Hall used to say. I had one last week while walking around doing my usual Comic Con people watching in back (Bayside) of the Convention Center in Downtown San Diego. In the near distance, a few yards away, our San Diego Symphony Orchestra was rehearsing for a summer eve concert.What an incredible morning. But . .. . It all seemed too quiet. Not enough people or something this year. . . Then, walking closer to the Convention Center I realized that the venue had been re-formulated to "spillout" into side streets and  more venues beyond the Embarcadero A family themed picnic garden sprawled out in front of the Hilton. It had a DJ booth, 30 ft tall inflatable super heroes, photo op backdrops, and space for tired adult and little comic fans to rest, eat, watch, listen and just enj...

This year's Hope for Haiti campaign sponsored by students of the Black Student Science Organization (B.S.S.O.) at San Diego State University did not raise as much money this year as it did last year. As of May, however, it did raise over 500 dollars and will continue to accept donations from charitable givers who realize that the hard work does continue in order to rebuild lives and spiritual strength as well as restoring the material/physical devastation from the earthquake. B.S.S.O. students and various mentors will sustain their efforts to provide support to help relieve Haiti's ongoing burden.The Hope for Haiti 2013 event itself was more information driven, with only a few performers. One of my Africana Studies Department professor-mentors, Dr. Adisa Akebullan a Haiti history expert was one of the guest speakers.  I was honored to perform as a San Diego area poet. I wrote about the event last year. This year, I offer a few comments on the banquet: The 2013 appreciation ba...

                                                              Educator/Poet Viet Mai Poet Viet Mai is the feature performer this Friday May 31st in celebration of  Na tional Asian American Heritage Month.  http://www.vietmai.com/                                      4th Friday Open Mic                                  Friday, May ...