Throughout the years

 I am available for art and history lectures.

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: AMIR RASHIDD

March 14, 2016 - March 19, 2016

Amir Rashidd has been a mainstay of the Hill District art scene since 1960’s. Mr. Rashidd is a sculptor, storyteller, found-object artist, drummer, and painter. He finds inspiration in nature and the energy of the neighborhood.

Gallery open daily, March 14 — 19 @ 11 am — 3 pm

Reception and Gallery Talk: March 14 @ 6 pm — 8 pm

Elsie H. Hillman Auditorium at Kaufmann Center, 1825 Centre Avenue FREE TO THE PUBLIC

StoryCorners - The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

John Henry

Amir brings this legendary folk hero to life with railroad work songs of the era. This steel drivin’ man was big, strong, fast, and fearless, but can he beat the railroad boss’ steam drill using only his hammers and amazing strength?

Rap a Tap Tap with Bojangles

Join Amir Rashiid for a toe-tapping presentation of this award-winning book - Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles, Think of That - about the greatest tap dancer of all time. Clap, tap and rhyme along to sound of the harmonica. Learn to talk with your feet!





Uptight:1968

Uptight is a 1968 American drama film directed by the late, great Juiles Dassin. It is based on the book The Informer written in 1925 by Irish writer Liam O' Flaherty.  Originally taking place in Dublin, Ireland, the book is about a revolutionary whose perplexities about the Irish War of Independence become his demise. The book was made into a movie three times, with the theme of betrayal as the center point.  The first film adaption was created in the UK in 1929 by German director Arthur Robison. The second film adaptation is the 1935 John Ford movie. 1968 is the third film adaptation, moving The Informer from Dublin and the IRA to the backdrop of America's social unrest, with Cleveland Ohio as the template and a  title change to "Uptight." The 1968 film introduces documentary footage of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral procession, which at the time, lit a catalystic fuse.The main topic of Uptight touches on a troubled revolutionary who, in his attempt to fight injustices and hypocrisies, inadvertently endanger's his life and his cause. The lead is played by the late, great Julian Mayfield who was also a professor, writer, director and a civil rights activist.  The cast also features Max Julien and the late,wonderful actors Ruby Dee, Raymond St. Jacques and Roscoe Lee Browne. I play a fellow revolutionary.

                          

                           Me on the right

                          Still courtesy of Paramount Pictures 1968

                           Opening scene from Uptight. Me again on the right

                          Still courtesy of Paramount Pictures 1968