The Start of A New Year in Cincinnati: Art and Culture

 The start of the new year in Cincinnati, Ohio; yes, Cincinnati has been has been eventful, exciting and even inspiring. Those who follow my facebook pages and my photography and greeting card website are aware that I love diversity of events, activities and art. I'm an eclectic sort. Of late, Cincinnati has crept toward opening itself  up to a range of arts and cultural activities that pleases even my broad arts' appetite.  The Queen City, as sometimes call it, is odd, when it comes to offering and eating from a  plate of art and cultural diversity. It is traditionally a rigid, conservative city whose residents often like things the way they were yesterday or yesterday years. You definitely have to be willing to go out of your comfort zone, your own zip code, sometimes move outside your friend circle in an effort to expose yourself to new and different things. Different seasons of the year, along with different locations in the tri-state area, bring an abundance of diverse activities and events. It's yours for the choosing. Last week, I attended a couple of Martin Luther King celebrations one at our historic Music Hall. I also attended a high energy college concert performed by nationally recognized Black Violin, a classical hip-hop recording group. A celebration of music and culture for diverse audiences.

                                                        Cincinnati historic Music Hall

My first stop, at my girlfriend's suggestion, was the historic Music Hall, located in the historic Other Rhine neighborhood currently undergoing a huge transformation, for the annual Martin Luther King event. This year's celebration was packed with a diversity of soul stirring, hip-hop, and classical choir music to enchanting spirituals from the Martin Luther King Chorale directed by Dr. Catherine Roma and Bishop Todd O'Neal. Many in the audience sang along with the choir.

                                                        Martin Luther King Chorale


We were also blessed with an illustrious and diverse panel of Civil Rights freedom riders. Ms. Betty Daniels Rosemond, one of the event's speakers, spoke eloquently of her experiences and more importantly her personal devotion to Martin Luther King's philosophy of Non-Violence. You may remember  Ms. Daniels, she appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show with 189 other surviving Freedom Riders, celebrating their 50th anniversary of the First Freedom Ride. She was vibrant, and passionate as she re-told her experiences during this time period.

Ms.  Betty Daniels Rosemond

David Brokaw Fankhauser, the keynote speaker, also a Freedom Rider, and also white, re-called his memories through a slide presentation. Mr. Fanhauser, a professor of biology and chemistry, delivered a visual memory. Along with other black Freedom Riders, Fankhauser went to prison, participated in a hunger strike and passionately talked of singing Freedom Songs for the movement that he believed in. He admitted that his experience as a Freedom Rider did accord him, at times, better treatment as a white protestor. His visual slides along with the memories he spoke of were thought-provoking.

Three Freedom Riders for one cause: FREEDOM

                               

                           Martin Luther King and Ralph Abernathy (courtesy of Fankhauser)

                           

Freedom Riders (Courtesy of Fankhauser)

The program wasn't complete without a youth choir comprising a rainbow of gender and cultures, and an electrifying spoken word and rap arrangement given by young people from the School of Creative and Performing Arts, who identified themselves "Dr. King's vision."These young people were on fire!

Another art and culture stop outside my own zip code across the Ohio River into Northern Kentucky, but only ten minutes away from downtown Cincinnati, was to hear the ever growing popular Black Violin. I don't know if you have ever heard of Black Violin, but they are one of the most exciting musical groups on the scene. At least, from my perspective. They combine an unlikely mix: classical music and hip hop...creating a truly delectable and unique sound. The hip hop/classial duo hailing from Miami, Florida where they attended performing arts school has performed at the famous Apollo Theater, performed with nationally recording artist Alicia Keys, Jay Z, and others. They have a respectable following of fans and will admit they love to get as many fans as can. Last week, they returned to the campus of Northern Kentucky University to perform to an exuberant crowd which crossed age, race and cultural lines.  Take a look and listen to three clips from Black Violin. I took the pictures and videos myself so the videos especially are not professional as I was one of those exuberant fans, too! You'll see what I mean when you click on the videos!

Black Violin in Greaves Hall at Northern Kentucky University (NKU).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_9YH8fFK_w&feature=youtu.be

Black Violin in Greaves Hall at Northern Kentucky University

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRIKM1lmsOI&feature=youtu.be

                                                                                   

Excuse the shaking of the camera on this sample clip, I got too excited, but that's the kind of excitement that Black Violin brings out. Whew! Jam boogie...do they say that anymore! LOL!! Until next time, spread a little joy!