Following its official launch at the Telfair Museum Jepson Center for the Arts in Savannah, Georgia, on May 29, 2008, critics have started to weigh in on ELEMENTAL The Power of Illuminated Love (ISBN 0972114270) a coffee table gift book that showcases the work of acclaimed artist Luther E. Vann and poetry by noted author Aberjhani.

 

Writing in the June 4, 2008 edition of the weekly news entertainment magazine CONNECT Savannah, news editor Linda Sickler described ELEMENTAL as, “a beautiful book…the reproductions of the paintings are outstanding. The poems were inspired by the paintings, and make perfect companions for the reproductions. All in all, Elemental is a real delight and was definitely worth the wait.”

 

In her review of Vann’s exhibit at the Telfair Museum, The highly regarded art critic and painter Bertha Husband described the artist’s work as “real painting” that is “realized in the process of its creation, and the end result can often surprise the painter, himself.” She further described the style and method as a demanding one that most artists avoid because of the extensive time and “commitment to the language of painting” involved to employ it. Nevertheless, she noted, “Vann succeeds because he has a subject––the life observed in houses, on the streets and in the parks of his city––and a technique he has made his own…”

 

Another renowned critic and author, Ja A. Jahannes, spoke at the launch for Elemental and called it “A wondrously amazing book.” He added that, “I see the universal mind in both the painting and poetry of Elemental. The ‘universal mind’ is always multi-dimensional––there is always the physical and the spiritual. The book has fusion of here and otherworldliness.”

 

Vann’s exhibit is currently scheduled to remain on display at the Telfair Museum Jepson Center for the Arts until September 14. His book, ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love, is available at the Jepson Center Gift Shop, at Barnes and Noble, and through Soar Publishing at http://www.soarpublishingllc.com/ .

 

 

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(Savannah, Georgia, USA)--Acclaimed artist Luther E. Vann became the first Savannah-born African-American artist to have a one-man exhibit at the Telfair Museum’s Jepson Center for the Arts when his show opened there April 16, 2008. On May 29, the Jepson Center will host “An Evening with Luther E. Vann and Friends,” an event open to the public from 6-7 p.m.

 

The event will include a presentation by the artist reading from his newly released book, ELEMENTAL: The Power of Illuminated Love (Soar Publishing); a statement of interpretation of Vann’s work by Dr. Ja A. Jahannes; and other surprise events followed by a book signing.  His book is now available at the Jepson Center Gift Shop, telephone (912) 790-8831 and through Soar Publishing at this url: http://www.soarpublishingllc.com/ . 

 

“This event,” said Vann, “is very special for many different reasons. For one thing, it represents a major successful effort on behalf of the Telfair Museum, working with the Friends of African-American Arts, to interact more inclusively with Savannah’s African-American community. Secondly, the book ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love, is one that I started with the author Aberjhani almost two full decades ago, so it’s a true blessing to see the project coming to such beautiful fruition and we’re grateful to all those who helped make it happen.”   

 

Vann has some 16 pieces of art on exhibit in the Jepson Center’s Lewis Gallery. His new book includes more than 60 reproductions of his art along with accompanying poems and introductory essays by Aberjhani. In addition to ELEMENTAL, Aberjhani recently released several new books, including his profile of life in Savannah entitled The American Poet Who Went Home Again.

 

The Telfair Museum of Art is one of the oldest public art museums in the United States. In addition to Vann’s show, it also currently has on display photographs of the legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Moreover, the museum is the permanent home of a collection of portraits by Kahlil Gibran, the celebrated author of The Prophet.

 

The Telfair’s Jepson Center is located at 207 W. York Street. For more information, please call (912) 790-8800. 

 

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CTI News, Dec 2007—Following the recent release of a novel and collection of poetry, four books by the American author Aberjhani made the “Hot Titles List” on the popular AuthorsDen website at http://www.authorsden.com/Aberjhani

 

“I’m grateful to say that all of my titles have been on the AD list at one time or another but this is the first time I’ve ever seen four on there at once,” said Aberjhani. “It’s kind of like an early Christmas present.”

 

The titles included on the list were: the poetry collection “The Bridge of Silver Wings”; the novel “Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World”; the award-winning “Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance”; and “The Wisdom of W.E.B. Du Bois.”

 

In addition, the author was recently the subject of an interview conducted by fellow writer Chase Von for The Student Operated Press. In the interview, they discuss Aberjhani’s newest work as well as his overall career and perspectives on the current literary scene heading into 2008.

 

The following are the aforementioned AuthorsDen Hot List titles with their respective links on AuthorsDen:

 

THE BRIDGE OF SILVER WINGS

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=25279&id=22947

 

CHRISTMAS WHEN MUSIC ALMOST KILLED THE WORLD

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=22542          

 

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=25279&id=13370

 

THE WISDOM OF W.E.B. DU BOIS

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=25279&id=13383

 

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CTI News Room--Within weeks of the release of his first novel, the controversial “Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World,” American author Aberjhani made a surprise move with the early-December release of a powerful collection of poetry titled "The Bridge of Silver Wings,” which may be viewed at http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=25279 .

 

In a recent interview posted on The Student Operated Press, author Chase Von discussed with Aberjhani the sometimes controversial nature of his work. They also talk about his prolific output, which includes the award-winning “Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance” and his critically acclaimed “I Made My Boy Out of Poetry.” Von described the writer as “arguably one of the best and most recognized poets in the contemporary field.” The interview is scheduled to run in a blog series on Creative Thinkers International at http://www.creativethinkersintl.ning.com/

 

“The Bridge of Silver Wings” is Aberjhani’s third volume of poetry but only the second to make it into hard print. His “Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black” was made available as an e-book but to date has not been published in hard print volume, though many of the poems in that collection have appeared in ESSENCE Magazine and been celebrated worldwide.

 

Moreover, the Telfair Museum of Savannah’s African-American Friends of the Arts Committee has undertaken a fundraising campaign to finance, with Bonaventure Books, the author’s much-anticipated ELEMENTAL book project with the artist Luther E. Vann. Both “The Bridge of Wings” and Aberjhani’s new novel feature cover art by Vann. The ELEMENTAL project is comprised of a collection of Vann’s art with corresponding poetry by Aberjhani.

 

For more information, please visit the above link or Creative Thinkers International at http://www.creativethinkersintl.ning.com/

 

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Between the hopelessness of despair capable of destroying a life, and the strength that comes with self assurance capable of empowering a life, there sits a great chasm with which many people struggle when attempting to cross from one side to the other. For some, the struggle occurs only once in their lifetime and, if they manage to achieve victory, their triumph endows them with a sense of confidence, inspiration, and conviction that serves their needs for the rest of their lives. For others, crossing the gulf between desolation and faith can take the form of a battle that they wage on an annual basis. For millions more––possibly your next door neighbor, a favorite grocery store clerk, your pastor, or yourself––the battle explodes into a raging war which they are forced to fight every day. 

 

How do we make our way out of the pit of freezing shadows that can stall a life in progress upon learning one has contracted an irreversible disease? How does a spouse or parent make his or her way back to sanity after receiving the mind-crippling news that someone who “meant everything in the world to me” has been killed in a desert thousands of miles away, or on the college campus just down the street? By what means can one hope to reestablish individual balance or wholeness after suffering heart-crushing trauma at the hands of a stranger who himself is stumbling blind through grief and rage and confusion?

 

The truth is we do not always know how we go from falling off the edge of one cliff to running with determination beside the ledge of another. The Bridge of Silver Wings is what I’ve come to call the unknowable unquantifiable process of deliverance in action. It is what saves a given soul when that soul no longer has any idea how to save itself. It may be described as Creator, divinity, the angelic, love, good fortune, dharma, grace, faith, or any number of ways that provide hints but no irrefutably definitive explanation. It arrives when there’s no logical reason to believe it shall and provides not only a sense of salvation but one of transformation. Whereas the conditions of a specific life may not undergo any kind of miraculous change, the manner in which a person perceives and addresses those issues do. With a revised awareness of what is required to bring balance, healing, hope, and prosperity back into one’s life, a person is often able to achieve exactly that.  

 

The journey across The Bridge of Silver Wings can be extremely frightening. At the same time, it can be filled with the kind of joyful revelations and thrilling affirmations of one’s self and destiny that are experienced only when one dares to take it.  

 

 by Author-Poet Aberjhani

 Creative Thinkers International 

The opportunity to work with creative artists in a variety of fields is one of the greatest rewards of becoming a writer. That reward is one I’ve long been fortunate enough to enjoy in my various projects with the artist Luther E. Vann, but one I’ve only recently come to experience through the work of Barbara Hilal as demonstrated in my recent post for The Black Skylark Sang a Prophecy .

 

I knew from various literary web sites that fellow Savannah native Barbara Hilal was a gifted poet. What I did not know was that she is also an accomplished visual artist who in fact has been painting longer than she has been writing poetry. Imagine the thrill of my surprise, then, when she graciously informed me about her artwork and suggested I consider pairing a piece or two with some of my writings.

 

The magic that artists make through their colors and forms and structured concepts has always been a special kind for me so I am always awed to view my work beside the brilliant creations of a talented artist like Barbara Hilal or Luther E. Vann . And I am always profoundly grateful.

 

by Author-Poet Aberjhani
author of Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World   

 

Framed prints of Luther E. Vann’s original art used for the cover of Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World—without the lettering used for the cover--are now available in three different sizes at the artist’s recently established Art For Life Shop .  

 

The title for the original artwork is “Soul of a Black Skylark Singing.” Although this print does not have the lettering used on the novel, which is by Aberjhani, plans are underway to also make the book cover available as a print.

 

Vann, whose work is scheduled for a show April 2008 at the Jepson Center for the Arts , in Savannah, Georgia, described himself as “basically a classically schooled artist plying my creative trade in a neo-school techno world.” It was for that reason, he added, that he has waited until now before making any of his prints available online. The prints will also make his work accessible and affordable for those unable to attend his various installations around the globe.  

 

In addition to learning more about his work at Luther’s Art for Life Shop  please visit his page on Creative Thinkers International at this url: http://www.creativethinkersintl.ning.com/profile/weallare111

 

 

In which Devoshona listens to Nicholas Hawthorn reviewing the new and mysterious music by Jimmy Redfyre and Ruzahn.

Devoshona shook the thought of Shereen from her head and went to an unofficial web site for Ruzahn. It was one of many that had published a comparative review of both the new releases from Jimmy Redfyre and Ruzahn, written by Nicholas Hawthorn. She went to the review and looked first at the full color photo of Jimmy Redfyre, then at the animated silhouette of Ruzahn. She turned on the audio and an English-accented voice began reciting the article:

 

“Let’s begin by showing respect for the obvious: for the next two years music around the world will be measured, judged, and defined by the powerhouse standards established in to new releases by Jimmy Redfyre and Ruzahn, specifically Feast of Dead Souls Divine by Redfyre and Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black by Ruzahn. Make no mistake about it, the issues at stake here go beyond the fact that Redfyre’s CD debuted at number one on music charts across the board––the exception being in India where Ruzahn regally rules––and they extend past the question of who will be at number one come Christmas. From this point on, as goes music, so goes the fate of life as we know it. Those who feel that statement is just a little too much on the cheeky side need only look at how our world shifted on its axis when the Beetles exited Liverpool for the U.S. and Chubby Checker put the twist in everybody’s hips in the last century. Alright then, on with it.

       

“The single most significant feature of these two CDs is the fact of how simultaneously different and similar they are. It’s a huge boost for those still marketing music CDS that these two monumental artists chose to make these releases available solely in this format in a market where canned sound is no longer the dominant choice of consumers. Both have twelve songs.

 

“In the case of Jimmy Redfyre, there are also a limited number of DVDs available for sale separately and feature extended videos of most of the songs on Feast of Dead Souls Divine as well as––suggest those who don’t know this already hold onto their crotches––an actual quadruple-X rated movie of Redfyre on a quest to save humanity from a ring of highly sophisticated spies, devil worshippers, and terrorists attempting to throw the world into a free-for-all state of anarchy. On the way to defeating this international organization comprised of some of the most beautiful faces and bodies anyone could want to drool over, he manages to screw at least two thirds of them silly before slicing them in half with laser blasts from his maxophone or bashing their brains in with it. Were it not for the gore and ghouls that absolutely putrefy the movie, with a bit of editing it could pass as an erotic masterpiece.  As it is, it’s more of masterful piece of shameless public masturbation and hardly worth the millions of dollars spent to produce it or the $1,000 for which die-hard Redfyre fans are buying it. Yes, you read that figure correctly, half a million units of that DVD sold already at $1,000 a pop and I guarantee you an extended version will be out by Christmas selling for $2,000 a copy. We’ll leave the movie critics to decide what to make of that and get back to the music at hand.

       

“Ruzahn’s gifts as a poet of mystical consciousness, guitarist of multi-dimensional harmonies, and singer of ecstatic passion and restraint has never been more apparent in his recorded work than it is in Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black. Here we have the man at work in song after song, soaring through double interludes of cyclonic intensity, densely layered self-performed background vocals underscoring his utterly brilliant lead, and swift waves of sweeping turn-arounds that lift you angelically out of your body and carries you to some healing mythical place on the other side of the sun before coming back to a more mundane recognized reality.

 

“In something of an impressive contrast, Jimmy Redfyre on Feast of Dead Souls Divine pulls off the fantastic feat of making listeners grateful for the manner in which he seduces and pillages one’s mind, body, and soul with crashing chords and mesmerizing meters that pound one into a happy abandonment of personal power or responsibility for one’s being. He hooks listeners’ hearts and hips with a repeating boomerang of computerized modulations that immerse them in the sonic depths of a brain zooming wide awake and joyfully terrified through a black hole.”

       

 “Placing their appropriate stylistic differences to the side, the major revelation in Redfyre and Ruzahn’s new work is the intertwining narrative woven throughout the songs of each. Imagine Redfyre and Ruzahn each at the same time giving us a concept album based on the story of some mystery individual’s life. The truth is we need not imagine it at all because one of the hottest topics in music fans and industry chat rooms right now is the fact that they appear to have done exactly that.

 

“Song for song, we have on these two new releases the musical narrative of an abused young man who goes out into the world to experience adventures in true love, questionable friendships, natural disasters, cosmic warfare, and some sort of profound resolution after all is said and done. What amazes us here is that the musical subject matter is not merely similar but the perceived narrative develops and progresses in the same manner. From “Philadelphia Shade” to “Tears of a Black Skylark Screaming” on Redfyre’s CD, and “Shadows of Philadelphia” to “Soul of a Black Skylark Singing” on Ruzahn’s, we are forced to wonder what the hell is going on here. Neither of these artists need to steal ideas from the other. Neither is prone to dealing in trends. Therefore, what? Some say the songs are a tribute to the late Valerie Hyerman, the artist who died under mysterious circumstances in Froggtown, Georgia, and whose art is included on the cover of Redfyre’s CD. While possible, that doesn’t seem likely given that she died but a few months prior to the music’s debut and insiders on the Ruzahn project assure me any allusions to Ms. Hyerman are coincidental only. Others say they represent Jimmy Redfyre’s life story and Ruzahn’s commentary on that story. Hmmm, not sure what to think to about that.              

 

“Here’s what this reviewer can say with certainty:  with Feast of Dead Souls Divine and Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black, we have two masterpieces that reconstruct and then raise the bar on what constitutes a masterpiece. Redfyre at his nightmarish beguiling best on his maxophone makes us feel the orgasmic vulnerability of an LSD trip without ingesting the drug itself. His voice oscillates between a rasp and a roar and coo that has the weird effect of making us think we are not just listening to Redfyre but living life as Redfyre. And then there is Master Ruzahn.

 

“Although embarrassing to put it this way, one has to be true to one’s aesthetic sensibilities and profess that from beginning to end, Visions of a Skylark Dressed in Black takes root right in the base of one’s spine then spreads like a cybernetic mutation through one’s bum and balls and schlong and thighs and feet, taking over one’s belly button and turning one’s nips into steel, consuming the tongue with the full-bodied flavor of forbidden fruit, then transforming the brain into a portal through which ancient gods and new-born angels sail in and out of our souls. His voice skims through multiple octaves and re-interpretations of world music traditions like an entire school of dolphins delightedly sailing the crest of a tsunami, courting the danger and transforming it into numinous joy. If Jimmy Redfyre is an apt interpretation of the law of sonic vibration as it applies to a command of gravity and raw uncompromising power, Ruzahn would have to be an interpretation of that same law as it applies to ascension towards the higher realms of light and angelic concordance.

 

“Have I perhaps overstated my case? I assure you I have not.”   

Devoshona liked the way the article ended with the question of the author possibly overstating his case. She wondered if she had overstated hers. Were people actually ending their lives because they thought she had suggested they do so? A white shadow flared suddenly through her mind and she turned around. Without wondering or asking, Danny Blue knew immediately who she was and why she was there dressed in his bathrobe.

 

by Aberjhani
from Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World 

 

author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance