Lots to say about this particular event that happened on a steamy hot summer day. My son and I trooped all the way from Harlem to Queens on a Saturday afternoon, to link up with my art buddy Spaze Craft. As I arrived two other cool ass artist of by the name of John Smalls and Ming ( both Art Battle Study group attendees), were already finishing their master piece as I stepped in the scene. Their cool works wasn't able to be documented by me, but I sure hope some one took a picture. They both collaborated on a long narrow stretched canvas that was stapled onto a wooden panel that must have been over 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide. decent I think. Ming my art friend, directed me to the coordinator to the festival and who was located far away on the other end of the "live art show/presentation". We shook hands as we greeted each other. I proceed in asking this gentleman as to "when do I begin painting live and where? He lead me to the same location I saw my art buddies earlier, but there was a major problem, there wasn't any canvas for neither Space Craft or myself to "Paint Live" on.
The coordinator so happened to ask the near by artist who had three large wooden panel that had three large canvas that was primed, (as a back drop for his art and those of neighboring artist), if he knew where there was extra canvas? The artist said that he didn't know of any canvas that were meant for us, or any that was laying around, the only ones he know of was his very own that he himself brought from his home. OK OK, simple, there I saw the "MISS COMMUNICATION" the assumption that the coordinator made over someone else's canvas which he didn't buy himself. OK OK so far you understand what is happening. At this point, seeing how automatically he became distant to me, I also saw how he couldn't find a way for me to paint, which wasn't a problem for me in particular, I would have then enjoyed a day at the park with Wesly and a few other art friends, why not right? I already spent 5 bucks on transportation, why not explore this Astoria Park, it sure looks fun.
As I was contemplating to play in the park and give up painting for the day, and also since this dude was already giving me signs that he wasn't placing any effort in getting us materials or a canvas, Space Craft joins in the conversation that we all was then making (a conclusion that there wasn't gonna be Live art). You all understand body language right?, and also the sounds of annoyance when a person doesn't want to do a specific job? I totally felt that from this guy. So Space Craft gets all the info that was reiterated back to him via the neighboring artist and by the coordinator, who Space Craft addressed back to him HIS original plan to have different slots for artist to paint live. "That was the agreement, and that's what you told us". The Coordinator gets nervous because Space Craft gets on his P's and Q's with him, whom which didn't liked which lead him not to be seen ever again at the park, EVER.
Now Space Craft is heated, and I don't blame him. It takes a lot for an artist to commute with stuff to sell and equipment and supplies, (which so Space Craft did, he set his art station that he sold some t-shirts and goodies for the public), and his health, he gave one of his kidney's to his girlfriend this year.So that all together takes a lot out of some one.
We never got back from the coordinator, but I was then motivated to utilize my time artsy wise, so I manage to take out the painting that the first group of artist created, turned it around, with the help of friends and people near me, and taped the UN primed canvas onto the wooden board. Space Craft wanted it side ways to expand an art dialogue in a horizontal manner.
Cool beans, we were set, and he didn't have much time to make a clear map of what we wanted to do, so we improvised because the sun was setting and there was no external lights given to us. We were also lucky that the coordinator was generous to have purchased different set of house paint for us artist to use for our live art presentation, which I will later talk about in this blog. Now the sun is setting way faster now, and all of us were exhausted and hungry. We then decide to call a a day, and pack up. At this time, it was a little over then 7:45pm; and guess what, this dude, the coordinator for this art event, hasn't arrived yet, or even bother calling us, to see if we were still around or OK. This made me think, OK this dude wasn't really into this art thang? We eventually stayed a bit longer since Wesly made some cool friends in the massive large park. I then utilized that opportunity to really get down and clean up my art supplies. Now the question arises; What about this house paint that is left here by the art coordinator? Shooooo , 
I wanted to take it, but I couldn't, so much I was caring and the commute wasn't easy going back home with Wesly who might potentially fall asleep and me carrying these heavy gallons of paint, would take a toll on me later on. What to do then with these awesome color house paint? What a coincidence, the parks department was making a round up and clean up of all areas of the park , at this instance we struck a conversation with him over the event and the people there. Cool guy I might add, and super knowledgeable too. At one point I muttered how I was so envious to have those paints that were laying on the ground like that, and he then thought of an idea, what if I take it. Well to make the story short, the parks department takes it for hold, until either of us decide to take it home. The very next day, Space Craft calls me and tells me of a conversation with The Coordinator of the Astoria Festival and it wasn't pretty. That story you just have to hear it from himself.... Unbelievable. Well once again thank you so much for taking a journey with me to Queens during these hot Summer days. Stay Blessed ~Martha
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