R.I.P. Joseph Jefferson

Joseph Jefferson was an intelligent, kind, fun-loving young man who did tons of great work within the New York LGBT community in his various positions over the years at POCC and GMAD. He also provided a critical helping hand in promoting some of the biggest events for the LGBT community by serving as a key street team rep for various promoters over the years including James Saunders, Men Are From Mars and myself.

Though the details are still coming in, Joseph apparently took his own life on Saturday. I will share details for the memorial arrangements and a fundraiser that's in the works as soon as I have them.

The song and performance speaks for itself. Anyone else feeling down please please don't give in to the lie...YOU ARE NOT ALONE! YOU ARE LOVED. LET ME, LET SOMEONE be your bridge over troubled water.

Ricky

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abkgth.

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Janet Jackson: Enjoy

Wake up 7 A.M.
'Bout time we do it again
Sushine today
I better make plans
Cause it rained yesterday
But that was ok
Cant complain
I love it either way

Living everyday like it's my last
I refuse to be stuck in the past
People actin like machines
Cause they're scared to live their dreams
No not me

I just enjoy and celebrate
Enjoy the love we make
Enjoy, appreciate
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
'Til my hearts content
And enjoy when someone smiles
Enjoy
So just enjoy the simple things
Enjoy the day life brings
Enjoy the song love sings
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
'Til your hearts content
And enjoy the gift of life
Enjoy

If you wanna find the paradise
Do it now never too late to try
Lose your inhibitions
Let your inspiration set you free

And just enjoy and celebrate
Enjoy the love we make
Enjoy, appreciate
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
'Til my hearts content
And enjoy when someone smiles
Enjoy
So let's enjoy the simple things
Enjoy the day life brings
Enjoy the song love sings
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
'Til your hearts content
And enjoy the gift of life
Enjoy

And the people say

Enjoy la la la la la [Repeat]

I just enjoy and celebrate
Enjoy the love we make
Enjoy, appreciate
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
'Til my hearts content
And enjoy when someone smiles
Enjoy
So just enjoy the simple things
Enjoy the day life brings
Enjoy the song love sings
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
'Til your hearts content
And enjoy the gift of life
Enjoy

Enjoy la la la la la [Repeat]

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Now this looks interesting.

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love.

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To each of you from little ole me have a wonderful day, a blessed holiday season and make sure you spend a little time remembering all the things you should be thankful for. Whenever you start to feel bad about the things you want or need, GIVE a little something to someone else who needs it. You will feel so much better in the process.

Ricky

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Why the hell would anyone ever wanna be anything other than who they are? I will NEVER understand this. Check it out.

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I get cool letters and emails on a regular basis, but this one was so nice I had to share it with you all.

Stephen Maglott wrote:

"You manage to put a smile on my face every time I open your posts. Not down with Cindy Mizelle, but I will be this week! Thanks again."

Always,
Stephen
_________________________________

I do what I do because it brings me joy to share with you the people, places and things I appreciate and enjoy. I think it's important to share art, music and culture in a way that is accessible for us regular folk because art really does enrich ones soul in so many ways.

I'm not even close to perfect, but I do try to be positive and life affirming. It feels good to know that I can affect someone in a positive way.

Stephen thank you for letting me know that reading Urban Pop Life puts a smile on your face. It puts a smile on my face to know that I manage to drop a lil joy into a sometimes less than joyful world.

Have a great weekend.

Tell a friend to "pop" today.

Ricky

For more info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

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"This is The Life" & i'm ready 2 live it 2 da fullest potential of the creativity that's been bestowed upon me/ooh wee sha sha koo koo yeah/pin-up girls, portraits and magazines are coming your way/today and every day will be a RickyDAY/r u ready?

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I woke up from a deep sleep

and realized that somewhere along the way

I made the mistake of caring

Caring about what others think

Caring about being accepted
Caring about fitting in
Caring about being loved.

Ooops my bad.

No mas.

Gotz 2 be me
Gotz 2 be free
Starting today a new me I deem
necessary and real all is as it seems
will u abandon me, kick me from the team?
i can't be concerned cause u are what u dream

today i dream
of a wonderfully honest
passionately creative
spiritually open
physically satisfied me

this blog is officially rated A

anything goes from dis day forward

be warned...

there's nothing to care about except unconditional love

that means without conditions (you know I'm talking to you...)

Did you Pop today?

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Lawd this goes into the category of less is more. In my mention of my seeing the show Raw last Saturday I apparently offended a journalist who thought I was referring specifically to his/her review (which I wasn't as I haven't even read it in it's entirety).

I usually don't spend time thinking about let alone replying to people taking offense to things that were not intended to be offensive and most certainly NOT ABOUT THEM! However, because I actually like and respect this particular journalist I wanted to publicly make it clear that my post was not in any way a comment on him/her or the publication they write for.

This is a perfect example of the power of The Four Agreements, two of which were broken here. The first was the first agreement (Be impeccable with your word). I broke that agreement by trying to be witty and demonstrating that I was just offering my thoughts on a show I saw as opposed to my writing a review. LESS IS MORE, had I wrote less and not tried to be witty there would have been no room for mis-interpretation of any kind.

The second agreement broken here was (Do not take ANYTHING personally because it's NOT ABOUT YOU...ever!!!) My comments were not meant to be derogatory to begin with and certainly not about a specific person or their journalism.

Anyone who knows me knows I could care less about the silly things that people say and do to each other as long as they do not affect me or cause harm to others. In this particular case since I was partly to blame by trying to be funny and simply coming off shady instead AND the fact that I actually like and respect the person who was offended...I decided to use this as an opportunity to publicly apologize for NOT being impeccable with my word and to share this as an example of how the Four Agreements could have prevented this whole thing.

Check out the Four Agreements. I have gotten pretty good at living them and they make a huge difference. Clearly I can learn to do better. By the way the previously offended party and I did do one thing correctly...we spoke to each other directly, cleared it all up and laughed at the foolishness of it all. Ahhh the power of the truth and positivity.

Have a great evening.

Ricky

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

http://www.miguelruiz.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6:the-four-agreements&catid=13:books&Itemid=7

Posted by rickyday at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

(Check us out l to r - Demarco Majors, Heather Hunter and yours truly Ricky Day)

This was one of those great weekends when you have a certain set of plans, but then New York adds to your plans in a significant, random and very dramatic way. I had plans to chill with friends on Friday, have a great business meeting on Saturday, see a play on Saturday night and have a mellow Sunday.

What I got was a cool Friday evening about which I don't recall a lot of details. Saturday did start with a great business meeting and night of theater. The show I saw was JL Kings Raw and featured 6, count 'em six naked black men talking about their sexual experiences, a photo op and brief quality time with Heather Hunter who is an adult entertainment legend and good friend to a mutual friend Silver Navarro who himself is a wild child of epic proportions. This led to a a 3 hour meal, 3 am networking about upcoming fashion shoots, my artwork and more. Turns out Heather Hunter is a very good artist and owns a gallery in BK (profile coming soon). Art is everywhere, there's no doubt about it. Saturday was a very URBAN POP sorta night when art and entertainment shows up in unsuspected places.

Sunday was a good day in a very personal way, but let's just say I slept well when I finally went to sleep at 1pm.

Did you POP this weekend? I sure did!

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I had a tech issue that would not allow me to log into the system to update the blog. The good news is I am back in now, the bad news is that I don't know what happened or why it is working again now. I'm a little unsettled, but at least I am back.

Did you miss me? I honestly missed you. I guess I'm really more into this blogging thing than I allowed myself to believe. I have tons of new posts to make, but they're gonna take time so bear with me.

Have a great day (or night).

Ricky

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The blog has been really taking off lately, but of course I have no idea why...LOL. In an effort to make sure that I get to know you better I'm asking you to complete a brief survey. The survey will take 5 minutes to complete and will provide me with invaluable information about what you like and dislike about the blog. Happy Monday and thanks in advance for providing your feedback.

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A new television show is casting couples who have been struggling to get their relationship back on track. The show will provide expert advice to these couples along with putting them through a relationship "boot camp" with a celebrity actress. Please note: this boot camp is not a physical boot camp, but a series of activities (i.e. dates) and exercises designed to strengthen the couple's relationship. The goal is to restore the couple's relationship by the end of their time with our team. We are looking for African-American/Latino/Mixed couples between the ages of 21- 45 who have been together for at least one (1) year. We are NOT looking for professional actors/actresses.

Please send the following: 1) a short 2-3 sentence description of the primary problem (i.e. distant, infidelity, intimacy, etc.); 2) name, age and race of each person; 3) contact information (telephone, e-mail); and, 4)picture(s). You may e-mail submissions to WorkItOutCasting@gmail.com. Submissions will be kept confidential and will be destroyed if not selected.

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

WorkItOutCasting@gmail.com

PLEASE DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO THE GMAIL ACCOUNT ABOVE

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

***************

Crystal McCrary Anthony Productions, LLC - iN-Hale Entertainment, LLC - LeftCenter Entertainment

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My model discovery Miguel Vasquez recently walked in Brooklyn Fashion week, just booked a nice gig, is up for a booking with a major design house AND he has just entered the Sean John Jean model search contest. Please go to the site http://www.seanjohn.com/contest/ and vote for Miguel Vasquez (he's listed as MIGUEL). He's wearing a blue sweater with no shirt in his beautiful head shot done by yours truly.

Let's give this very nice and very handsome young man a chance to make his dreams come true.

For more on Miguel, here's the old post.

Ladies (and some gentlemen...) Introducing Miguel. He's an up and coming young model here in NYC. He's brand new on the scene and in need of representation. These images are from his first shoot EVER which we did about 5 weeks ago. Casting agents, modeling agencies and other with work for him contact me for more details.

Peep some basics about Miguel:

My name is Miguel vasquez.

My mother's from puerto rico and my father is from new york.

I model because I want to have a new opportunity and to just try something different and hopefully be successful at it. I see myself as a successful young family man doing something I love.

My favorite food is spanish food

My favorite magazine is sportscenter

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You just gotta love fans. It's real nice when someone appreciates you and your art enough to see your shows, buy your art and tell anyone who will listen about how great you are. Junito who is an avid reader or the blog sent me this shot of him and his favorite artist Common. Junito I love ya, but calm down bro...lol.

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LaToya Ruby Frazier is da shit!!!!!!!

Talented, beautiful, strong, sincere, focused, driven and just straight up FLY!!!!!!!!

OMG, I THINK I LOVE HER!!!!!

FULL PROFILE COMING SOON AND SHE'S IN A GROUP SHOW OPENING AT THE NEW MUSEUM ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE NEXT WEEK.

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We tend to treat people the way we treat ourselves. Remember that the next time you're being fierce! And def remember it the next time someone is mean or disrespectful to you...it aint personal, it's just what they think of themselves.

Love u.

Ricky

For more info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

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Doing a top ten list for an artist who I love and has countless hits is an exercise in futility, but for fun Imma try anyway and encourage you to do the same and share it with others here.

I chose my list by thinking of all the songs and what they mean to me. I factored in melody, track, the good times I had to the song and all that stuff. I thought about lyrics and melody and what moves me about the songs. The most important criteria though was very simple: when I feel like hearing some Janet what are the 10 songs I tend to go to first? With that being said, here's my list complete with some honorable mentions. My list includes a B side and some non singles as well. I was a musician and songwriter before a visual artist so I get deep into music for musical reasons as well as the pure listening pleasure and that sometimes takes me to album cuts and b-sides that few care about. Enjoy the list and please share your own. Oh yeah and I cheated...it's actually 12 songs...I just couldn't get down to 10...lol.

Honorable mentions) Don't Mess Up This Good Thing (Janet Jackson); Pretty Boy (Dream Street); Again (Janet); Nasty (Control); Let's Wait Awhile (Control); When I think of You (Control); Funny How Time Flies (Control); Alright (Rhythm Nation); The Skin Game featuring Johnnie Gill (Rhythm Nation b-side); Runaway (Design of A Decade); That's The Way Love Goes (Janet); Doesn't Really Matter (All For You); Someone To Call My Lover (All For You); Enjoy (20 Y.O.); What's Ur Name (Discipline); Curtains (Discipline)

10) You Need Me (B-side release with Miss You Much - Rhythm Nation 1814) - This joint was Janet's most directly personal joint ever as she went OFF on her father! The track was some of the best New Jack Swing Jam and Lewis ever did and Janet's vocal told me she meant what she was singing about. I loved the track and the melody, but Janet's conviction about what she was sayin waz is what really moved me and still does. Hell I liked it so much that I sampled it for my little joint that I wrote, recorded and released years ago on da west coast. I actually got some play too. Don't bother googling it...you wont find it (lol). I am thinkin bout droppin it and some other old tracks on here soon.

9) I Get Lonely (Velvet Rope) - Sexy, kinda sad, well sung, well produced...I loved it.

8) Feedback (Discipline)/ Luv (Discipline) - Yup I'm cheatin. Feedback and Luv are two of Janet's best songs in years. Feedback is a track that no one can deny, not even the worst haters on the planet and Luv had it been released with a video would likely have been her biggest hit in years. For anyone that doubts the ability to create good music is still in Janet these joints are proof that she can. Now whether she has the will or not remains to be seen.

7) You Want This (Janet)/If (Janet) - I know I cheated again, but whatever. These two joints are probably on everyone's favorites list and for good reasons. Perfect songs, iconic videos and one of the best CD's ever! Yeah I cheated, but I dare you to leave these two off your list.

6) The Pleasure Principle (Control) - The song is so well done it belays exactly how complicated it is in many ways...then of course there is the video. The visuals are forever attached to this song and they are iconic, but the song itself is well crafted, perfectly performed and one of my favorites forever.

5) Got "Til It's Gone (Velvet Rope) - Janet Jackson has been many things. despite her often profound lyrics and very funky black music people wanted to think of her as some kind of pop princess and in very subtle ways undermine her blackness. For a pop artist at the top of her game like Janet and video and track like Got Til It's Gone was damned near revolutionary. Q-Tip did his thing, the Joni Mitchell sample rocked and the video reminded me how cool it is to be African-American.

4) Island Life (Damita Jo) - While everyone else was trippin about her tits I got into the music and man oh man this joint is one of her best songs ever. I'll forever have memories of bumpin this joint in my Mazda 626 as my adopted lil bro Cliff and I ran around NYC living our lives. It's a beautiful song with a hot track from Scott Storch. You may wanna go back and peep dis one.

3) State of The World (Rhythm Nation 1814) - Stevie Wonder (time and time again) and Prince (Sign O The Times) are only artists I can think of off the top of my head who have managed the twin tasks of writing an entertaining and thoroughly musical song while talking about meaning topics that affect our day to day life and politics. This joint was funky as hell, soulful and insightful in ways rarely found in pop music. Dayum Janet.

2) Miss You Much - (Rhythm Nation 1814) - The first time I heard this joint I was driving my car in LA. I casually pulled the car over and listened with my mouth open until the song ended. When the DJ confirmed it was Janet I couldn't believe how much more she (and Jam and Lewis) had stepped up their game. There are very few times in life when you that "shit is never gonna be the same again after this moment." I didn't know the details, but I knew that Janet was on some next level sh#t and was about to make moves that nobody expected. The best part of life is that you get to experience moments like this and this joint will forever be attached to one for me. M-I-S-S- u much!

1) Love Will Never Do Without You (Rhythm Nation 1814) - This is honestly my favorite song by any artist of all time. I am an un-apologetically a loving and blissful and joyful soul and this song sounds like how I feel on the inside when I am at my best...full of love, full of joy, full of hope and full of promise realized. I love the track. I love the melody. I love the arrangement. I love the words. I love the sentiment. I love the lead vocal. I adore the backing vocals. I love Jam and Lewis. I love, love, love the vocal arrangement. I love everything about this song. For me this song is simply...PERFECT!

By the way I left out a few covers to Janet releases...can you name the missing CDs?

For more info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Blogs like this don't grow unless you tell ya friends. Please do. Ask them to Pop today...after the funny look on their face..explain it all to them...lol.

Enjoy your day.

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You can watch this all the way through or fast forward to about 2 minutes into the video. Either way be ready to laugh.

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I've been feelin under the weather physically, but now I am better. After I got better I realized I wasn't motivated to get up outta bed. Slowly, but surely it hit me...I think I have finally slipped into a slight case of the world is crumbling around me blues. When I realized what was going on I had to jump into action. Action for me was to give myself a swift kick in the @$$ and stop even THINKING about getting scared or feeling sorry for myself. Who better to provide the soundtrack for this self motivational moment than my Leo sister Madonna.

I've been pumpin my Madonna playlist so frequently and so loud I am sure my neighbors are done with me, but hey it coulda been worse.

Here's a few of my faves from the playlist. I've been leaning towards the 80's Madonna during this lil phase I'm in. It's the audio equivalent of comfort food.

Open Your Heart
Keep It Together
Nothing Really Matters
I Know It
Where's The Party
Express Yourself
Cherish
Sorry
Jump
Take A Bow
Like A Prayer
Dress You Up
Get Into The Groove
Live To Tell
Crazy For You
Lucky Star

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Thanks to McDonalds I'm not feeling so well so there wont be any real posts until I am feeling better. Bad news is I feel like crap, good news is I will be well on my way to getting my six pack back when this is all over...LOL.

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OMG this is HYSTERICAL!!!!! Check out some recession humor!!!!

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This is hysterical!!!!! Say no to drugs, even at the dentist.

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I'm outta here again. My favorite cousin is getting older and I just have to be there to celebrate. See you all soon. I'll try to post from the road.

Ciao.

Posted by rickyday at 01:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

(He's still inside me and I love him and wanna be more like him...loving, honest, happy and impeccable with his word)

The purpose of this blog is to share. This is how I am feeling right now and I wanted to SHARE. Take these lyrics from one of my favorite Janet Jackson songs, stand in front of a mirror and read, recite or think about them in the first person. They are my truth and a truth I think we should all share about ourselves. I know it may sound sentimental or silly, but it's so very true.

Happy Friday. I love me and I LOVE YOU too.

"Doesn't Really Matter"

Hmm, he-he
Oh, hey
Doesn't matter (It doesn't matter)
Doesn't matter at all

Doesn't matter what your friends are telling you
Doesn't matter what my family's saying too
It just matters that I'm in love with you
It only matters that you love me too

It doesn't matter if they won't accept you
I'm accepting of you and the things you do
Just as long as it's you
Nobody but you, baby, baby

My love for you, unconditional love too
Gotta get up, get up
Get up, get up, get up and show you that it¡

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're in love with me

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're nutty-nutty-nutty for me

(You're so kind)
Just what I asked for, you're so loving and kind
(And you're mine)
And I can't believe you're mine

Doesn't matter if you're feeling insecure
Doesn't matter if you're feeling so unsure
Cause I'll take away the doubt within your heart
And show that my love will never hurt or harm

Doesn't matter what the pain we go through
Doesn't matter if the money's gone too
Just as long as I'm with you
Nobody but you, baby, baby

You're love for me, unconditional I see
Gotta get up, get up
Get up, get up, get up and show you that it¡

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're in love with me

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're nutty-nutty-nutty for me

(You're so kind)
Just what I asked for, you're so loving and kind
(And you're mine)
And I can't believe you're mine

Doesn't matter what they say
Cause you know I'm gonna love you anyway
Doesn't matter what they do
Cause my love will always be with you

My love for you unconditional love too
Gotta get up, get up
Get up, get up, get up and show you that
My love is true, and it's just for you, uh

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're in love with me

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're nutty-nutty-nutty for me

Nutty-nutty-nutty my love for you
I can't believe my dreams come true
I've finally found somebody whose heart is true
And best of all you love me to
And nutty-nutty-nutty my love for you
I can't believe my dreams come true
I've finally found somebody whose heart is true
And best of all you're nutty-nutty-nutty for me

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

Nutty-nutty-nutty my love for you
I can't believe my dreams come true
(He-he)
I've finally found somebody whose heart is true
And best of all you're nutty-nutty-nutty for me
Nutty-nutty-nutty my love for you
(I'm always doing that!)
I can't believe my dreams come true
I've finally found somebody whose heart is true
And best of all you're nutty-nutty-nutty for me

Terry Lewis, james Harris III, Janet Jackson

Posted by rickyday at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

2008 has been a very wild ride for all of us. For me it was an incredible year professionally and a tragic year personally. I am praying and expecting 2009 to be an even better year professionally without the person drama and tragedy (at least that's my request of the G to da O to da D).

Make sure you tell all ya friends about Urban Pop Life and check in with me regularly. There'll be tons of great new content and features, artist profiles, exhibit and event information, original videos, films and artwork and of course up to date news about upcoming product launches and entertainment ventures.

Enjoy the rest of 2008 and keep ya head held high, recession or not we're all in this together and together we'll make a bright new year.

Rick

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have been here for a few days and Chicago is being it's normal icy, cold, slippery, dark, snowny, miserable self. I've been trapped indoors due to foul weather and of course my worrying Mother would prefer I not brave the elements (the roads are slippery, there's too much snow and they haven't cleaned the roads, etc. etc.)

All I have been able to do is sleep, eat, watch TV, eat, sleep, watch TV (and remember I generally HATE television especially mindless ass reality TV!!!), eat, sleep and do it all again and again. GEEZ...HOW DO PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS? If I lived here and wasn't blessed with a high metabolism I'm sure I'd gain 30 pounds in one winter!!!!

After this experience I promise I will not judge anyone's weight gain again(LOL). (Not that I typically do judge it anyway)

When I get back to NYC I am gonna walk circles around my dirty ass block until I'm too tired to continue, just because I will be FREE to WALK without fear of slipping on a sheet of ice and hurting myself. OMG...the sedentary life is NOT FOR ME!!!!!

On a higher note though, I am enjoying the time spent with my Moms. It feels good to know that my being here is helping to keep her happy and keep her mind off the loss of her husband, baby brother and mother in the last 18 months. Being here for her is the least I can do after all that she has done for me. So I am thankful that I have the means to be here with her.

To each of you, enjoy the rest of your holiday season.

Ok, that's her calling me now warning me that it is foggy outside..lol. Mothers, you gotta love 'em. I know I love mine.

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm on my way to Chicago for a cold...COLD Christmas with my Mom. I'm not sure if I will be able to blog while I am away so I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and safe holiday season.

For my info on me visit my official website
www.rickyday.net

Posted by rickyday at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just finished a shoot for the winter campaign for Eternal Bachelor. I am now officially on vacation. I plan to read, take long walks, see my Moms for Xmas, think about next year and thank God for all that I have. I do plan to blog away so don't fear...LOL. Here's to some much needed rest. Enjoy your weekend and make sure you Pop everyday.

Posted by rickyday at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I wanna take a few sentences and words to shout out and thank some very talented, kind and essentially cool people, for making Art Basel 2008 a great event for me. I also wanna thank some people for making my entrance into the art world a pleasant one thus far.

Jarvis DuBois - You're a great young dealer and an even better friend. What a weekend.

Iona Rozeal Brown - You are the BEST! TALENTED - SINCERE - REAL!!!!!! Getting to know ya has been great so far and chilling in Miami was great. I'm looking forward to seeing you on your next visit to New York. Continued success to my new sister.

Mickalene Thomas and Jordan Buschur - Thanks for being kind, reading the blog and letting me into that great party at the Mondrian. Mickalene your work is beautiful as are you and Jordan is a great representative for you when you're not around. She's polite, professional and pretty damn cool too.

Hank Willis Thomas and Deborah Willis - As I said to Miss Willis in person (sorry it just doesn't feel right calling you Deborah...lol), thank you both for being the first people in the art community to welcome me with kind words and open arms. You are both professional, generous and kind. I know this sounds all formal and stuff, but I think it's a good idea to let people know that they are appreciated.

Derrick Adams and Nico Wheadon - Thanks for selecting me for White Lies:Black Noise and supporting my work. It's been great working with you both and I look forward to a great on-going relationship. Great show in Miami as well as here in New York.

Kalup Linzy - You are supremely talented and frickin hysterial. I look forward to working with you in the future and enjoying your work for years to come bro.

Wardell Milan - Love your work as you already know. Can't wait to see more. Still have your issue of Bleu for you man. Your interview was great and your artwork pops in print as much as it does in a gallery. It was fun hangin with ya again.

Charles Guice - Thanks for the great conversation and insight on collecting. My first Hank Willis Thomas purchase will come from you. Congrats on a great weekend.

Special shouts to other people who made the weekend great Kehinde Wiley, Jack Shainman, Collette Blanchard, Jirard Von Washington, Booker (America's Next Top Male Model), Jarvis DuBois, Horace Brockington, Marisa Sage and anyone who I forgot to mention.

Posted by rickyday at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Great art, great parties, new friends, lots of sunshine and a much needed break from NYC. I'm feeling very blessed today. Art Basel Miami has been so much more than I thought it would be this year. More details and cool pics to come. Enjoy your weekend wherever u are.

Rick

Posted by rickyday at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Happy Thanksgiving and Scarlett's tumble from Ricky Day on Vimeo.

Posted by rickyday at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I know I'm a lil late on this one, but here it is. I was hesitant to post this as I hate laughing at someone else's expense, but then it dawned on me that SHE posted it herself so she is; a) doing ok after the fall and b) she has a sense of humor about it.

Make sure you're ready...LOL.

Posted by rickyday at 08:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have fond memories of getting the permission slip signed, my Mom packing a lunch and my teacher whisking us away on field trips. Those cool ass excursions where you are taken to places you probably would never have visited otherwise were usually sooooooo much fun. They were an important part of the education process and since we never stop learning until we die, then it stands to reason they are still important.

With that in mind I am planning a series of Urban Pop "Field Trips" where I will organize some simple, inexpensive and interesting trips to see local art and artists, music events and more. Think about it...you wil experience new things, meet new people and probably discover something new about the city we call home. For those of you outside of New York, I'll be traveling a lot in the coming months and plan to do "field trips" in DC, Chicago, Miami and LA as well.

Visit the blog daily for up to date news on upcoming events. Sign up to get the posts delivered to your email box or PDA's so you don't miss a beat. If you're interested in going on one of these trips reply to this post. I will soon create an email addy for use in coordinating the trips.

Thanks for "Popping" today.

Rick

Posted by rickyday at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This is a simple note to confess the following thought in front of the world: Thank you God. I am soooooooooooooooo blessed.

Blessed to have an incredible Mother
Blessed to have incredible friends who love me for who I am and expect nothing more.
Blessed that young people can relate to me and I to them, withot weirdness between us.
Blessed to be creative and healthy enough to execute my creative impulses.
Blessed to have a family that loves me and I them.
Blessed to live in the greatest city in the world and have grown up in one of the others.
Blessed to have these cool ass people who come to read my random thoughts and share their thoughts with me.
Blessed to be alive at such an exciting point in human history ( and I am not talking about the election though that's nice too).
Blessed to be aware that I am blessed.

Thanks God.

Posted by rickyday at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The last time I actually wrote about what's going on with me I was a little sad. My grandmother had passed on and a few other things were just so so at best. The skies are a little bluer now. I am swamped in work getting ready for the opening of the group exhibition I'm in called White Lies-Black Noise, just finished a very successful private salon event, I'm setting up multiple shoots for my new portrait series This is The Life and I even found time to squeeze in some social events.

I went to a brunch for a new author yesterday, had diner with my friends Akim and Marcus on Saturday (and of course immediately returned to the studio to work), and I even got to catch a couple of football games yesterday...well art of two games anyway.

How was your weekend? Did you POP?

Oh yeah, I did that too (wink).

Posted by rickyday at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by rickyday at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So yesterday I am laying in my bed getting some photo editing done when all of a sudden it's like night time dark outside. My first thought was am I right with Jesus? LOL. My second thought was damn I have an opening coming up can't this wait???? LOL

I looked out the window to see a scene from CNN with an old van ablaze and the brand new Mercedes SUV next to it starting to burn as well. I grabbed my camera, snapped a few pics and then put some clothes on and went downstairs to get a few more shots. Here's a sampling of what I saw.

Posted by rickyday at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by rickyday at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

waz better?

to be a white, wealthy, married investment banker living on the upper east side who just got laid off

or single, middle class, latino, gay and living in harlem?

your answer says a lot about u

what is it?

ciao

Posted by rickyday at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)