Culture: NYC's Carib Culture Center is "home in Harlem"

New York has a triumphant new space dedicated to global black culture. Last night, the 40-year-old Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) reopened in a disused firehouse near the borderland between East and West Harlem, a few blocks from Marcus Garvey Park. It adds one more space to the city’s tiny roster of cultural institutions dedicated to communities of color, and joins the neighborhood’s Studio Museum and El Museo del Barrio by putting down roots in a region with a long and rich history of African-American and Latino cultures.

It’s a small and intimate space, but one that represents an enormous achievement and far-reaching implications—and it’s a project that has been some nine years in the making. “We are here, in El Barrio, can you hear me Harlem?” Nyoka Acevedo, a board member, called out to a packed crowd just hours after the institution’s ribbon-cutting, which was attended by New York City’s Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, Tom Finkelpearl, the First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray, and numerous other officials who have helped to secure a permanent home for the institution, and to amass $9.3 million (a combination of tax-payer money and individual donations) for its renovation. “Here we stand, in our home, in Harlem, in this landmark building, one of the few institutions of color to have a landmark building in the city.”

The significance of the moment was not lost on anyone in the room. The arrival of CCCADI in Harlem marks the end of the institution’s odyssey through three different spaces, beginning in a building in the East 80s in 1976, before moving to 58th and 9th, and now East Harlem. “The process has been a difficult one,” the institution’s firebrand founder and former El Museo director Dr. Marta Moreno-Vega, who is Afro-Puerto Rican, said over the phone a week before the opening. Difficult, she explained, “because having people invest in an idea that addresses the articulation of a vision that is anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and pro-African and African Diaspora cultures, is one that even for our own is not always embraced. The whole notion that you’re building an institution to a vision of liberation is one that is hard to grasp, and we were fortunate to get people who understood and invested in different ways, and now we’re here.”

Since its founding, the institution has been as much a locus for activism, and a meeting ground for people of African descent from around the globe, as it has been a platform for art. Lowery Stokes Sims, a former museum director and longtime advocate for artists of color, who has co-curated the CCCADI’s inaugural show “Home, Memory, and Future,” recalls the institution’s early days, when Dr. Moreno-Vega had just conceived the space. “I met a very global group of people there,” says Sims, “and we’re talking in the ’70s and ’80s before globalization became a widespread notion. It was Southern black people, Caribbean black people, African black people, Latin American black people, who came together for commonalities.

The Writers Alliance: Live and Write, with writing residencies

Here are 26 high-quality writing residencies and retreats you may not know about yet. While some of these are quite selective, others are a little more open with their admission policies.

1. Willapa Bay AiR

From the philosophy and mission; to the facilities; to the administration; to the meals; all has been well thought out. When I add in the lovely locale and the interesting and supportive Oysterville community I don’t know how it can get any better. — Betsy Best-Spadaro, visual artist

This fairly new residency program is already making waves. It’s located in Southwestern Washington and offers month-long residencies to emerging and established artists of all types. Lodging, meals and work space are provided to six residents per month from March 1 through September 30. $30 application fee.

2. Millay Colony for the Arts

For many reasons, my residency stay at the Millay Colony for the Arts has been the most prolific, in terms of artistic production and concentrated work. I attribute that to not only the bucolic and remote country landscape, which accords one lonely hikes, clear blue skies and muddy roads, but also the sheer lack of human interaction for my 26 days while in residence. — Kate Hers Rhee, visual artist

This small artist’s colony in upstate New York offers two-week and month-long residencies to six artists between the months of April and November. Unlike many other residencies, they don’t emphasize social events or speakers,  instead preferring for you to focus on producing your art. There are no costs, and food is included. You can also apply for a virtual residency or a “group residency” with your collaborating partners. $35 application fee.

3. Ucross Foundation

At Ucross I learned that I am capable of focusing deeply for long periods of time. I love to write. I don’t think I would have said that before this trip. — Edan Lepucki, novelist

A favorite among writers, this colony is located on a 20,000-acre working cattle ranch in Wyoming. It serves 85 artists per year, with up to nine people in residence at any one time. Lunches are delivered to your door, while dinners are eaten together in a group. Residencies last two to six weeks and are free of charge. $40 application fee.

4. Jentel

The month’s end is a time I am not looking forward to because with the space itself being gorgeous and comfy, the food being good, the people being wonderful, and me being productive I can see myself dreaming of this place once I leave. — Jennifer Baker, fiction writer

Sitting just eight miles away from UCross is Jentel, which hosts month-long residencies year-round; two writers and four visual artists are accepted for each session. Though food isn’t included, they do provide a stipend to help with the costs of your trip. Applicants must be over the age of 25. $23 application fee.

5. Virginia Center for the Creative Arts

There was something magical about being in such a  supportive and beautiful environment, having a different place (studio) to go to every day with the deliberate purpose of writing, and being inspired by the serious work ethic of all the other artists. — Penny Harter, poet

This selective residency is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and accepts artists of all types. Residencies are offered year-round and last from two weeks to two months, with around 20 artists in residence at one time. You’ll receive three meals per day and are asked to contribute what you can, up to their $180 per-day cost to host you. $40 application fee. (TWL Founder Alexis Grant attended this residency, and it is a lovely setting!)

6. Brush Creek Arts Foundation

This place is truly amazing and inspiring. I spent my mornings, early afternoons, and evenings working on a new orchestra piece (still pending), and my late afternoons hiking around the ranch… The other artists were fascinating. — Kari Besharse, pomposer

Wyoming ranches are popular places for writer’s residencies! This one offers two- and four-week residencies, complete with lodging, meals, workspaces and natural beauty. They provide bag lunches and communal dinners. Closed in December. $35 application fee.

7. Writing Between the Vines

Like wine and solitude? Then you’ll love this residency. Available at several different vineyards on the West Coast, this is different from other residencies in that there’s no community of artists. You’ll have a private cottage in which to write, with nobody else around to distract you. No meals are offered, though your stay is free if you’re accepted. $30 application fee.

8. Omi International Arts Center

The international character of [Omi] sharpens your perspective on what it means to be a writer outside the U.S.A. in the 21st century… As for the writing, my main reason for being here, it went sailing along, with only a few days when the anchor dragged. — Alfred Corn, writer

Writers Omi welcomes published writers of all types for residencies of one week to two months. Located on 300 acres in upstate New York, they offer full room and board and frequently host dinner guests from the New York City publishing community. There is no application fee, and no fee to attend.

9. Norton Island Residency

How did I get here? Where am I? I feel like I don’t exist, and it’s nice. — The Magic Wonder Blog

This residency is located off the coast of Maine and offers a rustic and outdoorsy experience for a flat fee of $125. It was closed for renovations in 2015, but the 2016 application will be available on their website in fall 2015. $25 application fee.

10. Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts

There was time to sleep in, time to stay up late and work, time to nap, time to eat when it was necessary. It allowed me to get wrapped up in the novel completely… The process of engagement was so much more complete at KHN. — Theodore Wheeler, fiction writer

Located in Nebraska City, Nebraska, the KHN Center offers up to 60 residencies per year, for stays of two to eight weeks. If accepted, you’ll receive free housing and a $100 stipend per week to cover food. $35 application fee.

11. Blue Mountain Center

It’s hard to describe joy. It was like I had come home, but the way home would be in heaven: yes, a community in the Adirondacks, but cleaner, fancier, peaceful and safe. More art and more cookies. — Micah Perks, novelist

Go off the grid in the heart of the Adirondacks. This artist’s community offers four different month-long sessions in the summer and early fall, including free room and board. Cell phones aren’t welcome at the center, though you’ll be able to use its phone booth and computer room with ethernet plug-ins (no Wi-Fi here!). $25 application fee.

12. Martha’s Vineyard Writer’s Residency

Perhaps the biggest advantage of doing a residency is to reminded of what I learned  in graduate school: The importance of integrating and valuing regular writing and reading every day. It is easy to get distracted, rush through life, and do only the paid work and chores during the week. —Chloe Yelena Miller, poet and freelance writer

This residency wants to give you time and space to create. They host nine writers at a time in the spring and fall for residencies of two to six weeks. The cost of lodging is $300 per week, and food is not included. $10 application fee.

13. Vermont Studio Center

VSC recreates the best parts of the MFA experience: living in a community of writers (artists), having time to devote to your craft, the sense that what you are working on is important, and friends to have a beer with at the end of the night. —Brendan Lynaugh, writer

Another favorite is the largest international artists’ and writers’ residency program in the United States, hosting 50 visual artists and writers each month in the heart of Northern Vermont.

While writers give it high marks, it’s not cheap; for the complete program, you’ll pay $2,050 for two weeks or $3,950 for four weeks. Some fellowships, grants and work-exchange programs are available to help reduce your cost. $25 application fee.

14. The Edward F. Albee Foundation

My room looked out over a rolling lawn and at night I could hear deer crossing through the streams in the surrounding woods. It was beautiful. Everything I imagined and I was lucky enough to be in residence with a great group of people who were also amazing cooks. — Nichelle Tramble, novelist

Located on a knoll on Long Island, “The Barn” is easy to get to, yet still secluded. It’s open from mid-May to mid-October and accepts artists for four- or six-week residencies. The Albee Foundation can accommodate up to five people at a time and does not provide food. But there’s no cost to apply and no fees if accepted.

15. Wildacres Retreat

If you’re looking for a short residency on the East Coast, look no further. Wildacres offers one- and two-week residencies from April through October. You’ll stay in one of three cabins on their property in the mountains of North Carolina. Meals are served in the main lodge, where you’ll interact with non-artists. There is a $20 application fee but no cost if accepted.

16. The Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow

It was a game changer. I learned a great deal about me and my life as a teacher-writer. It is no small thing to come face to face with one’s work with no distractions. And while it is not something I could do on constant basis… it is something I plan to incorporate into my writing year from now on. —Stephanie Vanderslice, creative writer and teacher

Open year-round, this colony in Arkansas hosts 50 writers each year for residencies ranging from one week to three months. If accepted, you’ll receive either a subsidized general residency or a fully-funded fellowship. Actual costs of the residencies are $170 per night, and they request residents contribute at least $60 per night. You can also expect a $25 cleaning fee and a $20 fee for Internet access. $35 application fee.

17. Writers in the Heartland

I’m back from my writing residency, which I can only describe as a wonderful and strange week full of so much hard work, good company in the other writers, and warm hospitality from the spa staff and guests. — Laura Maylene Walter, fiction writer

This small program in Illinois offers no-cost residences in September and October to up to five writers at a time. They provide three meals a day and 32 acres of woods and farmland for hiking, running and meditation. $20 application fee.

18. Artcroft

My writing for these first couple of weeks has been going well. The structure I set up for myself is working as I had hoped. I am getting to know the characters and find them interesting. I’m enjoying the story that is unfolding. — Jason F. McDaniel, writer

Ever wanted to work on a cattle ranch? Here’s your shot. Artcroft offers two- to four-week residencies on a working farm in Kentucky. They provide lodging and food staples, but you’ll be expected to help in cooking and other chores averaging 20 hours per week. $30 application fee.

19. Hedgebrook

I had no book when I was accepted to Hedgebrook in 1995. I’d published poems in a few journals but that was all… Fast forward 18 years. The stay at Hedgebrook changed my life in several important ways. — Susan Rich, poet

While this residency is pretty well-known, we wanted to include it on this list because it’s only for women, and only for writers. In their words, “We provide the time, space, and nourishment. All you do is write.” Featuring six cottages located on Whidbey Island, outside of Seattle, 40 women attend each year free residencies of two to six weeks from February through October. $30 application fee.

20. The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts & Sciences

You know that saying, “I can hear myself think?” At this writer’s colony, I can. I can hear the words and phrases bouncing around in my head, begging me to put them down on paper… I can get to the heart of what I’m here to do: Create. — The Write Life founder Alexis Grant 

Located on 600 acres in the mountains of north Georgia, residencies last from two to eight weeks and cost $200 per week (though scholarships are available). $30 application fee.

21. Kerouac Project

This residency allows writers to spend three months typing away in the Orlando cottage where literary legend Jack Kerouac wrote his acclaimedDharma Bums. The Kerouac Project offers four residencies a year, and residents are expected to spend their time on their project, give a talk at the end of their residency, and participate in occasional events (such as readings and workshops) held at the cottage. Participants also receive an $800 food stipend. $25 application fee.

International Residencies

22. Gullkistan (Iceland)

As much as I love New York, I wanted to spend a month in a setting that couldn’t be more different — I wanted sublime natural beauty, peace and quiet, relaxation and simplicity — a reset button for myself. Gullkistan was an ideal answer. – Ben Valentine, writer

Located in Iceland’s Laugarvatn Valley, this quiet getaway has mountains, woods, creeks, and a peaceful setting. They welcome all sorts of artists and writers and have space for eight people at a time. The minimum stay is one month, but they may be able to work out a shorter stay for people who are interested. Fees vary based on accommodation preference, starting at 750 Euros. No application fee.

23. 360 Xochi Quetzal (Mexico)

This residency in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico offers three to five live/work spaces in a small town with horses trotting on cobblestones and cowboys riding by. Writers over the age of 23 are welcome to apply for free one-month residency programs that include accommodations and a food stipend of 1,000 pesos. Apply for a summer or winter program or rent a live/work space other times of the year. $36 application fee

24. Arteles Creative Center (Finland)

Located in the Finnish countryside, these one to two-month residencies, available from June through October, house around 10 artists at any given time. Food is not provided, but participants enjoy a traditional Finnish wood-burning sauna and have access to a car and bicycle. Financial support is available, which reduces the cost to 970 Euros per month for one person in a single room with studio space; the full cost is 1,940 Euros per month.

25. La Napoule Art Foundation (France)

Apply for this interdisciplinary group residency and France for a five-week residency. Up to 10 artists at once live and work in Chateau de La Napoule. Some meals are provided, and $1,000 stipends may be available. $30 application fee.

26. Red Gate Residency (China)

Live and work in Beijing, China with this program which provides one to six-month residencies. Up to 20 residents can be in the program at any one time. However, participants are expected to pay their own living expenses during the program or seek funding and grants from artist organizations in their home country. Participants stay in downtown apartments.

Business: U FIll No Spill

 The printing/copying buisness has been for the past decade one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, and shows, according to most analysis, no signs of slowing. worldwide, according to a study published in industry trade publication, The Recycler, the global office stationery and supply magazine, The Recycler, is projected to surpass US$217 billion through 2019.

Of course, with a potential market and windfall that massive, there are many seeking to "cash in" and thus market differentiation becomes that much more of a challenge.



Through a decade of learning, experimenting, risking and ultimately, leading, Edward Chin Mook of Global Ink has been espousing and living his dedication to producing environmentally responsible products and constantly adapting and upgrading to meet the corresponding needs of the industry.

"All businesses have expenses," the founder points out, " and as business expands, so too these expenses. among them printing and copying. These tend to be quite deceptive, and subject to a lot of misinformation."

In the face of such a culture, Global Ink has sought to take the proverbial road less travelled, that is, of stating atthe top of the industry curve and embarking on the re-manufacture of toner cartridges for H-P printers. He has been vigorously been beating the "quality perception" trap in terms of people saying that local manufactures are intrinsically inferior. 'You will hear a lot of 'snake oil' stories about lube and liquids from the 'bore-and-fill' guys' he points out. "What they dont tell you is the damage that your printer can sustain because of those practices. When we give you a product, you are getting all-new components, so its not going to break down over time, because of untimely component failure."


The Global Ink commitment, Chin Mook repeats, is to supply the best quality cartridge at a competitive price. "There are persons going around selling finished cartridges, almost totally imported from China, but when you look into the numbers more closely, it leads me to the inescapable conclusion  that either some massive dumping or some kind of laundering is taking place."

Further, Global Ink's commitment to continuous quality improvement meant that in in 2011, Global Ink participated in a an extensive Quality Managerment Systems Workshop fort MSMEs, organized by Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO), the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality and the national Certification Body of Jamaica. Even so, it would be another three arduous years before he would negineer a formula to produce what he calls "a premium re-manufactured Toner" using the industry's Total Rebuild Standard in partnership with a leading ISO-certified supplier out of the US.

Global Ink now also offers an Equipment Warranty Guarantee in response to concerns that potential customers may have in relation ot he infringement on their OEM but also, going further to establish mini-franchisees, building on a model that has already proven

The service has proven successful for the likes of  Dolphin Cove (tourism), Blue Power (manufacturing) and John R Wong (retail) among others. In fact, an analysis of its Top 8 customers across several sectors show that using the products over the past 2 years (2013-15) saved them a combined $4 million in actual cash and reduced waste that would have been headed for the landfill.

Working with a "Buy Jamaican" may not prove immensely popular right now, but Chin Mook remains convinced that it is the only sustainable route. "We're building something of great value for the economy and therefore to every Jamaican," he states. "If Governments are really serious about growth, then the logical starting point is encouraging greater consumption of homemade."

In pursuit of the economic ideal, he also launched a unique product, branded U-fill, No-spill" for ink cartridge printers. With U-fill, owners can replace the ink in their cartridges - under condition, and with initial training from Global Ink - with the use of a purpose-designed, simple kit. Having had positive initial response, Chin Mook is already heading to the next level, expanding the availability of the product in select retail outlets and even further, through a micro-franchising model such as that successfully applied by Jamaica Producers and others.

No doubt the experience will offer firther learning curves, but the genial entrepreneur is ready for that which is to come. "Were investing in building our capacity, people-wise, technology-wiser and staying in tune with the industry globally," he says. "We're long-haul people, that's all we know"


Looks like a success formula.

Music: Yvad The Journeyman Who Never Left, "comes forward"

He was "reggae revival" before anyone even thought of the term. In the mid-90s, when the current crop of roots ambassadors were still pups or even unborn, Yvad released a potent combo of hope and idealism in the forms of "Bright Day" and "We Need Love". The latter brought him the then Jamaica Music Industry (JAMI) Award as best produced single in 1995, and brought teams form BET and other international media eager to see and hear reggae's latest bright spark.

Already a fixture on tour with the Marleys at the time of the breakthrough, Yvad  thereafter continued to hone is chops in all departments: vocals, musicianship, songwriting and performance. He would go on to tour with other reggae heavyweights, such as Mighty Diamonds, Israel Vibration, Bunny Wailer, Andrew Tosh and the Wailers world tour. These travels also took him around the world, but at home, the public  - and even the industry - seemingly took him to be another flash in the pan and promptly forgot .

but the man born Kevin Davy soldiered on, building his own recording studio and forming his own Yvad Reggae label to facilitate the output of his own works as well as other artistes. During this time he was signed to  Dr Dread's Ras Records where he worked with founder Gary Himmelfarb to produce the album called “Reggae for Kids”, a pioneering disc of its type which garnered global recognition.  He followed "Young Gifted and Dread" the debut album, with "Justice"  "Cease Fire" and two others that did little to firm up his sanding as a reggae act whether at home or overseas.

But a another long, formative stint as the lead sinsinger form the Wailers band, beginning in 2006, did again see him racking up the miles and adding incrementally to his fan base. "Touring with the Wailers has helped make me a  much more widely appreciated artiste," Yvad said 

Mid-stream the Wailers gig, in 2008, Yvad secured a record deal with local impresario/businessman Victor Simpson and Nubeat Entertainment, in Kingston Jamaica which yielded the album “The Sojourner” with producers Clive Hunt and Wayne Armond of Chalice Band joining Simpson behind the boards as producers.

More currently, Yvad, with his own band is performing in support of "Riverton" an impassioned plea about the infamous city dump that is also the lead single off a album set to drop in January. He has done a number of lounge dates, including at the Alibi and Chris Gayle's Triple Century, and will be featured on the 20th anniversary edition of Rebel Salute.

Throughout, Yvad has maintained his unassuming off-stage persona, even as the current material suggests that his songwriting and performance powers have stepped up a notch. It may well be time for the Jamaican public to catch up to the rest of the world in re-discovering the "original roots revivalist." 

Music: Dripping Blood spreads

Dripping Blood, the latest album from gospel  Carlene Davis, is poised to  thanks to major label distribution.In addition to VP , the album is being handled by global industry giant Universal Music, which is in fact the world's largest music corporation and owner of the world's second-largest music publishing company. The album was released in July of last year, in turn five years after the previous album, True Worship,   and has been posting solid returns, with a number of promotional jaunts to North America and various points across the region in support of the disc

Husband Tommy Cowan, explaining the significance of the deal, said "the global footprint and stellar roster of a label such as Universal gives us a major boost in achieving our primary goal, which is getting the message of Christ's redemptive work spread as widely as possible, all over the world."

Speaking of the title, said that while taking communion, he had a vision involving the titular "blood" in which he literally felt the blood of Christ flowing down on him as he worshiped and praised the Lord after having had the wine. 

The single Dripping Blood is a bonus on the 16-track set, produced by Cowan for Glory Music, and

among the disc's other standout tracks are King of Glory, 10,000 Reasons, All About You featuring her daughter Naomi, Divine Authority, and Jubilee, with gospel deejay Papa San.

An accompanying video has also been made (shot and edited by Nathan Cowan) for the title track.

www.localjoe.myorganogold.com

Music; Dubtonic make the "high percentage" play

Hailed as the World's Best Band back in 2011(Global Battle of the Bands), Jamaican combo Dubtonic Kru is back with a fresh single, "99%". According to publicity material from the band, This tune reaches out to those 99% of us who are suffering from the eternal greed of those in charge. It reminds us that we have to come together and unite as one body since we, the people, are the ones that should be in charge.

Dubtonic also released an album "Evolution" which followed their acclaimed break out CD "Jungle Fever"
On the same riddim, provided by Jubba White's White Stone Productions and Phillip "Winta" James, who currently enjoys tremendous success with Protoje, the camp is now introducing Alfray. Coming of age in the tough Olympic District of Kingston, Jamaica, this up-and-coming talent addresses crucial social issues through a catchy chorus.