Author Archives: Laura

Poetry Wednesday 06/17/09: The Fusion of Jazz and Poetry

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Jazz and the blues were a great influence on the poetry of Lanston Hughes (1902 – 1967). He was one of the first American poets to experiment with these distinctly American musical forms created by black people. While Langston was living in France in 1923, he worked washing dishes at a club. He was swept away at the sounds of jazz and the blues, which inspired him to write poems in his head as he scrubbed. He heard jazz and blues live at clubs and … Continue reading →

Art Sunday 05/10/09: Annie Haslam of Renaissance

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“It’s very exciting to be able to share my new love of oil painting with you. Color and sound are one of the same, so in my case, my art is a continuation of my singing displayed on canvas. I have no preconceived ideas and the final outcome is always a wonderful surprise. “One way to describe my paintings is to think about a song that soars to great heights and then swoops down low. It is vibrant and colorful and moves swiftly through mysterious … Continue reading →

Art Sunday 12/21/08: The Music and Art of Joni Mitchell

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When most people remember Joni Mitchell, they remember her music, of course. She is also a wonderful artist, and has done the artwork for most, if not all her album covers. I was checking out her website, and there are about 250 pieces of artwork that you can browse through. The painting to the right is a georgeous self-portrait, one of many self-portraits that she has done over the years.   Presenting Joni Mitchell: Artist and Musician, both sides now…   …. ….. Self Portraits … Continue reading →