Giving thanks.

This year I am thankful for all of my friends who have stuck with me over the last three years. Next year is going to be "my year". When I finally heed everyone's advice, and start taking care of myself. The team I have with me has got The Fridge covered, on lock. Looking forward to having time to reconnect, realign, and enjoy a little bit more.

Love you all.

You know what you did.


a.

Mural workshop with Gaia

Mural Workshop with Gaia took place on Sunday, May 1st, 2:00 - 4:00 PM at The Fridge
During this class, participants will get the chance to paint a mural with world-renowned artist Gaia. All ages and skill levels welcomed, and all materials are included for a suggested donation of $20.

Gaia's art is best known for his large scale renderings of human and animal forms, often in states of hybridization. Animals fuse with humans or other animals, blending visual characteristics and layers of spiritual and mythological relevance.
(Taken from http://gaiastreetart.com/)



















Fresh Produce Festival Of Live Art February 2011























The Fridge is pleased to be devoting the month of February to Live Art!

Schedule of Events

Friday, February 4

7:00PM

Festival Kick-off with Bluebrain

Featuring Contradiction Dance

& more!



Saturday, February 5

8:00PM

Sonya Renee Taylor with Beltway Poetry Slam



Sunday, February 6

5:00 PM

Threshold for Action and Sound

Jenny Graf



Sunday, February 6

8:00 PM

Sweater Set Love Lessons



Thursday, February 10, 8:00 PM

Friday, February 11, 8:00 PM

Saturday, February 12, 8:00 PM

EMP Collective

...and you're just not good enough



Monday, February 14

7:00 PM

Sweater Set Valentines Day



Wednesday, February 16

7:30 PM

Pink Panel on Performance



Friday, February 18 & Saturday, February 19

8:00 PM

Anthony Wills Jr.

11 ½ Pieces on Death, Dying, Life and Living (A Comedy)



Sunday, February 20

Sunday Circus

-with Russ Henry, Sheldon Scott, Dr. Finuis J. Nodnol, III, Brash, Hierogamy, Jeramie Bellmay, Eric Rubin, Sariel Lehyani, & Jon Lee



Tuesday, February 22

7:30 PM

Beltway Poetry Slam



Wednesday, February 23

7:30 PM

Whirlwind Company



Friday, February 25

8:00 PM

Rob Parrish

Haunted Drive-In



Saturday, February 26

Dynasty Handbag



Sunday, February 27

Gaia Closing Event

Truisms, by Jenny Holzer (1977-)

a little knowledge can go a long way

a lot of professionals are crackpots

a man can't know what it is to be a mother

a name means a lot just by itself

a positive attitude means all the difference in the world

a relaxed man is not necessarily a better man

a sense of timing is the mark of genius

a sincere effort is all you can ask

a single event can have infinitely many interpretations

a solid home base builds a sense of self

a strong sense of duty imprisons you

absolute submission can be a form of freedom

abstraction is a type of decadence

abuse of power comes as no surprise

action causes more trouble than thought

alienation produces eccentrics or revolutionaries

all things are delicately interconnected

ambition is just as dangerous as complacency

ambivalence can ruin your life

an elite is inevitable

anger or hate can be a useful motivating force

animalism is perfectly healthy

any surplus is immoral

anything is a legitimate area of investigation

artificial desires are despoiling the earth

at times inactivity is preferable to mindless functioning

at times your unconsciousness is truer than your conscious mind

automation is deadly

awful punishment awaits really bad people

bad intentions can yield good results

being alone with yourself is increasingly unpopular

being happy is more important than anything else

being judgmental is a sign of life

being sure of yourself means you're a fool

believing in rebirth is the same as admitting defeat

boredom makes you do crazy things

calm is more conductive to creativity than is anxiety

categorizing fear is calming

change is valuable when the oppressed become tyrants

chasing the new is dangerous to society

children are the most cruel of all

children are the hope of the future

class action is a nice idea with no substance

class structure is as artificial as plastic

confusing yourself is a way to stay honest

crime against property is relatively unimportant

decadence can be an end in itself

decency is a relative thing

dependence can be a meal ticket

description is more important than metaphor

deviants are sacrificed to increase group solidarity

disgust is the appropriate response to most situations

disorganization is a kind of anesthesia

don't place to much trust in experts

drama often obscures the real issues

dreaming while awake is a frightening contradiction

dying and coming back gives you considerable perspective

dying should be as easy as falling off a log

eating too much is criminal

elaboration is a form of pollution

emotional responses ar as valuable as intellectual responses

enjoy yourself because you can't change anything anyway

ensure that your life stays in flux

even your family can betray you

every achievement requires a sacrifice

everyone's work is equally important

everything that's interesting is new

exceptional people deserve special concessions

expiring for love is beautiful but stupid

expressing anger is necessary

extreme behavior has its basis in pathological psychology

extreme self-consciousness leads to perversion

faithfulness is a social not a biological law

fake or real indifference is a powerful personal weapon

fathers often use too much force

fear is the greatest incapacitator

freedom is a luxury not a necessity

giving free rein to your emotions is an honest way to live

go all out in romance and let the chips fall where they may

going with the flow is soothing but risky

good deeds eventually are rewarded

government is a burden on the people

grass roots agitation is the only hope

guilt and self-laceration are indulgences

habitual contempt doesn't reflect a finer sensibility

hiding your emotions is despicable

holding back protects your vital energies

humanism is obsolete

humor is a release

ideals are replaced by conventional goals at a certain age

if you aren't political your personal life should be exemplary

if you can't leave your mark give up

if you have many desires your life will be interesting

if you live simply there is nothing to worry about

ignoring enemies is the best way to fight

illness is a state of mind

imposing order is man's vocation for chaos is hell

in some instances it's better to die than to continue

inheritance must be abolished

it can be helpful to keep going no matter what

it is heroic to try to stop time

it is man's fate to outsmart himself

it is a gift to the world not to have babies

it's better to be a good person than a famous person

it's better to be lonely than to be with inferior people

it's better to be naive than jaded

it's better to study the living fact than to analyze history

it's crucial to have an active fantasy life

it's good to give extra money to charity

it's important to stay clean on all levels

it's just an accident that your parents are your parents

it's not good to hold too many absolutes

it's not good to operate on credit

it's vital to live in harmony with nature

just believing something can make it happen

keep something in reserve for emergencies

killing is unavoidable but nothing to be proud of

knowing yourself lets you understand others

knowledge should be advanced at all costs

labor is a life-destroying activity

lack of charisma can be fatal

leisure time is a gigantic smoke screen

listen when your body talks

looking back is the first sign of aging and decay

loving animals is a substitute activity

low expectations are good protection

manual labor can be refreshing and wholesome

men are not monogamous by nature

moderation kills the spirit

money creates taste

monomania is a prerequisite of success

morals are for little people

most people are not fit to rule themselves

mostly you should mind your own business

mothers shouldn't make too many sacrifices

much was decided before you were born

murder has its sexual side

myth can make reality more intelligible

noise can be hostile

nothing upsets the balance of good and evil

occasionally principles are more valuable than people

offer very little information about yourself

often you should act like you are sexless

old friends are better left in the past

opacity is an irresistible challenge

pain can be a very positive thing

people are boring unless they are extremists

people are nuts if they think they are important

people are responsible for what they do unless they are insane

people who don't work with their hands are parasites

people who go crazy are too sensitive

people won't behave if they have nothing to lose

physical culture is second best

planning for the future is escapism

playing it safe can cause a lot of damage in the long run

politics is used for personal gain

potential counts for nothing until it's realized

private property created crime

pursuing pleasure for the sake of pleasure will ruin you

push yourself to the limit as often as possible

raise boys and girls the same way

random mating is good for debunking sex myths

rechanneling destructive impulses is a sign of maturity

recluses always get weak

redistributing wealth is imperative

relativity is no boon to mankind

religion causes as many problems as it solves

remember you always have freedom of choice

repetition is the best way to learn

resolutions serve to ease our conscience

revolution begins with changes in the individual

romantic love was invented to manipulate women

routine is a link with the past

routine small excesses are worse than then the occasional debauch

sacrificing yourself for a bad cause is not a moral act

salvation can't be bought and sold

self-awareness can be crippling

self-contempt can do more harm than good

selfishness is the most basic motivation

selflessness is the highest achievement

separatism is the way to a new beginning

sex differences are here to stay

sin is a means of social control

slipping into madness is good for the sake of comparison

sloppy thinking gets worse over time

solitude is enriching

sometimes science advances faster than it should

sometimes things seem to happen of their own accord

spending too much time on self-improvement is antisocial

starvation is nature's way

stasis is a dream state

sterilization is a weapon of the rulers

strong emotional attachment stems from basic insecurity

stupid people shouldn't breed

survival of the fittest applies to men and animals

symbols are more meaningful than things themselves

taking a strong stand publicizes the opposite position

talking is used to hide one's inability to act

teasing people sexually can have ugly consequences

technology will make or break us

the cruelest disappointment is when you let yourself down

the desire to reproduce is a death wish

the family is living on borrowed time

the idea of revolution is an adolescent fantasy

the idea of transcendence is used to obscure oppression

the idiosyncratic has lost its authority

the most profound things are inexpressible

the mundane is to be cherished

the new is nothing but a restatement of the old

the only way to be pure is to stay by yourself

the sum of your actions determines what you are

the unattainable is invariable attractive

the world operates according to discoverable laws

there are too few immutable truths today

there's nothing except what you sense

there's nothing redeeming in toil

thinking too much can only cause problems

threatening someone sexually is a horrible act

timidity is laughable

to disagree presupposes moral integrity

to volunteer is reactionary

torture is barbaric

trading a life for a life is fair enough

true freedom is frightful

unique things must be the most valuable

unquestioning love demonstrates largesse of spirit

using force to stop force is absurd

violence is permissible even desirable occasionally

war is a purification rite

we must make sacrifices to maintain our quality of life

when something terrible happens people wake up

wishing things away is not effective

with perseverance you can discover any truth

words tend to be inadequate

worrying can help you prepare

you are a victim of the rules you live by

you are guileless in your dreams

you are responsible for constituting the meaning of things

you are the past present and future

you can live on through your descendants

you can't expect people to be something they're not

you can't fool others if you're fooling yourself

you don't know what's what until you support yourself

you have to hurt others to be extraordinary

you must be intimate with a token few

you must disagree with authority figures

you must have one grand passion

you must know where you stop and the world begins

you can understand someone of your sex only

you owe the world not the other way around

you should study as much as possible

your actions ae pointless if no one notices

your oldest fears are the worst ones

John Tsombikos: POTTY-TRAINED AT GUNPOINT





Departing from the imagery that popularized the BORF campaign, Tsombikos analyzes the relationships between the tactics of power used for social control and the nihilistic tendencies and bitter hopelessness they instill.

On exhibit September 11-October 10 at The Fridge.

Not too shabby! (Final day to vote)


Soooooo here's my requisite plea for voting The Fridge to be the best in three categories in DC City Paper's thingy. Listed in no particular order (apologies if I left you out, it was unintentional), check out what we've been up to since we opened in September 2009. Links to vote at bottom, today is the last day to vote.

ART EXHIBITS:
Graff/Skate Auction (to benefit the bridge spot): BORF, TAXI GANG, CON, AREK, DECOY, ULTRA, STER, Kelly Towles, WINS, SIME, REI21, ENVY, ROSCO, Brian Tucci, RVLTN, Ben Ashworth, Kristina Bilonick, Rosina Teri Memelo

DECOY: MEMENTO MORI

I Ran Home (In America): Eric Parnes, Hadieh Shafieh, Pooneh Maghazehe

YO! YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT ART SHOW AT THE FRIDGE? Solo show by Scot LeFavor

Uncle Cory’s Art Show: DIABETIK, Megan Blafas, Davis Connelly, Amy Misurelli-Sorenson, Cory Orberndorfer

Empty Time: Al Miner, Adam Wallacavage, Brady Robinson, Martha Rich, Tim Callaghan, Aaron Smith, Jenny Axner, Kate MacDonnell, Victoria F. Gaitan, Dave Molesky, Alex Schaefer, Curated by Trevor Young

SCOPOSCOPE exhibits by Jeramie Bellmay and David London for PARTY LIKE IT’S 1929 and Marshall Allen and The Vertical Dogs

Special exhibit by Laura Elkins for Marshall Allen and The Vertical Dogs


MUSIC:
Olivia Mancini
Monorail
Sweater Set
Runar Magnusson
Pink Twins
Aaron Thompson
Bluebrain
Outputmessage
Autorock
El Barbudo
Mayer Hawthorne
Black Milk
Jerome Baker III
Untold
Robert Manos
Tanc & Tiernan
illeffect
DJ Natty Boom
Aligning Minds
City Rain
DJ GOLD
Alvin Risk
Body Language
Ryan Holladay
JPrez
Sonia Herrero

Marshall Allen & The Vertical Dogs: w/ Ed Ricart (Matta Gawa- guitar)
Jerry Busher (All Scars, Fugazi- drums)
Ashish Vyas (gogogo airheart, Thievery Corporation- bass)
Tim Harding (Hotel X, New Loft- guitar, reeds)
Jimmy Ghaphery (Hotel X, New Loft- reeds)
Sam Byrd (Hotel X, New Loft- drums)



PERFORMANCE:
[insert title here] An Evening with David London

Elizabeth Croydon’s Riot Act

The Dinner Party

The Fridge presents David London's Sunday Circus: Jon Lee (Improv), Soohan (Comedy), Mike Folk (Music), Alexa Grey(Poetry), Laura Ernest (Juggling), Dai Andrews (Swordswallowing), Kelly Mayfield (Dance), Jeramie Bellmay (Object Manipulation), Anthony Wills Jr (Singing), Eva Brontosaurus (Musical Performance)

VJ Um Amel

R Street Collective

Capturing Fire! First National Queer Spoken Word Summit & Slam: Andrea Gibson, Sonya Renee, Chris August, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Tara Hardy, Regie Cabico, Natalie E. Illum, Sheldon Scott, Mother Tongue, Good Asian Drivers




EDUCATION:
Albus Cavus Classroom every Sunday at The Fridge: DECOY, Asad ULTRA Walker, Peter Krsko, Chanel Compton, Kevin JAZI Irving, Cesar Maxit, Juan CRI Pineda, Rosina Photography, Tim CON Conon, Sandra Fernandez, Beth Baldwin, Jeramie Bellmay



OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS:
World premiere of short film: Always Somebody’s Baby

Ben Olsen & Friends Bread For The City Silent Auction Fundraiser: Ben Olsen, Judy Cox, Ben Ferry, Peter Loge, Hannah Robinett, Michael Weber, Stacy Zain

Chispa: Kristy Li Puma Herrera, Jared Ball, Ph.d, Charlie Seashore, Binahkaye Joy, Loryn C. Wilson, Adam Eig, Zaccai Free, Shannon and Chai (Holla Back DC), Josef Palermo (CHARTS), Regina Holliday, Anna Caton, Patrick Masterson, Tiik with g.u.t.s.


Vote The Fridge for:
Best Art Gallery
Best Music Venue
Best Performance Art Venue



Just sayin....
a.

p.s. Thank u!

Who is[n't] Marshall Allen?


Marshall Belford Allen, alto saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and arranger, was born May 25, 1924 in Louisville, Kentucky and started clarinet lessons at age 10. At 18, he enlisted in the Army's 92nd Infantry (renowned as the Buffalo Soldiers), playing clarinet and alto saxophone in the 17th Division Special Service Band. Stationed in Paris during World War II, he played with pianist Art Simmons and saxophonist Don Byas, and he toured and recorded with James Moody during the late '40's. Upon honorable discharge, Mr. Allen enrolled in the Paris Conservatory of Music, studying clarinet with Delacluse. Returning to the States in 1951, Marshall settled in Chicago, where he led his own bands, playing in clubs and dance halls, while writing his own music and arrangements, as he continues to do today.

During the mid-'50's, Marshall met Sun Ra and became a student of his precepts. After joining the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1958, Marshall Allen led Sun Ra's formidable reed section for over 40 years (a role akin to the position of Johnny Hodges in the Duke Ellington orchestra). Marshall Allen lived, rehearsed, toured and recorded with Sun Ra almost exclusively for much of his musical career, leading the reed section during the time that the Sun Ra Arkestra won the "Downbeat" polls as number-one big band in 1988 and 1989. As a featured soloist with the Arkestra, Marshall pioneered the avante-garde jazz movement of the early '60's, expanding a style rooted in Johnny Hodges and Don Byas, and influencing all leading avante-garde saxophonists thereafter. During this time, Marshall also invented a woodwind instrument he called the "morrow," utilizing a saxophone mouthpiece attached to an open-hole wooden body. (This instrument is currently being marketed under another name, as Marshall never secured a patent on his invention).

Marshall Allen was one of the first jazz musicians to play traditional African music and what is now called "world music," working frequently with Olatunji and his Drums of Passion. In fact, Marshall is most likely the sole jazz musician who builds and plays the kora (a popular West African multi-stringed instrument), and he has been a major factor in its introduction to American audiences, as well as the world at large.

Marshall Allen is featured on over 200 Sun Ra releases, as well as appearing as special guest soloist in concert and on recordings with such diverse artists as NRBQ, Phish, Sonic Youth, Digable Planets, William Parker, Chromatic Mysteries, and Medeski, Martin & Wood.

Perhaps most significantly, Marshall Allen assumed the helm of the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1995 after the ascension of Sun Ra in 1993 and John Gilmore in 1995. Mr. Allen continues to reside at the Sun Ra Residence in Philadelphia, composing, writing and arranging for the Arkestra much like his mentor, totally committed to a life of discipline centered totally on the study, research, and further development of Sun Ra's musical precepts.

Marshall maintains the Sun Ra residence as a living museum dedicated to the compilation, restoration and preservation of Sun Ra's music, memorabilia, and artifacts. Marshall has launched the Sun Ra Arkestra into a dimension beyond that of mere "ghost" band by writing fresh arrangements of Sun Ra's music, as well as composing new music for the Arkestra. He works unceasingly to keep the big-band tradition alive, reworking arrangements of the music of Fletcher Henderson and Jimmie Lunceford for the Arkestra to play, along with many other American standards.

Marshall Allen is recognized all over the world as the premier avant-garde saxophonist, appearing in solo concert in London in 1995, duet with Terry Adams in 1997 in Canada, and featured in articles in "JazzTimes" (12/02), "Signal to Noise" Magazine, and innumerable other music magazines and radio and TV interviews. He is frequently called upon to give master classes, lectures, and demonstrations of Sun Ra's musical precepts, and he Keeps himself accessible to all who have an interest in Sun Ra's legacy.

Marshall Allen plays the alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, oboe, kora, and E.V.I. (Electronic Valve Instrument).

=+=+=+=

Marshall Allen (Legendary leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra) & the Vertical Dogs (featuring Ed Ricart, Ashish Vyas, Jerry Busher, and friends) coming LIVE to The Fridge, Saturday February 27.

Stay tuned for details and ticket info!

Press for I RAN HOME (In America)






































Very exciting!

DC City Paper


Daily Candy

WaPo

More WaPo

BYT



Be sure to check out the 3 free upcoming events at The Fridge DC on F/B:

Bastani & Branding
Saturday, November 14, 2009 AT 6:00PM

Youth Poetry Night with Duke Ellington School of the Arts Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 6:00pm

I RAN I DANCE Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 9:00pm

Scot Lefavor

I'm very excited about Scot's upcoming solo show at The Fridge. It opens Thursday December 3, and will include 55 new pieces, including paintings, drawings, and prints.

Below are some images from his recent solo show "SEECHANGE" in his hometown, Denver Colorado. Enjoy!

P.S. The last image below is of a silkscreen from my personal collection, which I purchased at the Denver Museum of Art when DECOY and I visited Scot in June.




















Best. Sunday. Ever.

New Albus Cavus mural at Sherman Av & Barry Place NW