A Brooklyn Couplet

Bami Adedoyin (photographer and wife to me) and I are showing photography at Contact Theater in Manchester, England on Sat. Aug 2nd. The show is called "A Brooklyn Couplet" where we display two individual bodies of work that will be viewed together in one space.

Look here at Contact's website for more details!















"Seattle" by Yako 440 Prodis




















"Amadou" by Bami Adedoyin

Yako 440 completes his MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts

That's right, I'll be graduating this Sunday from Goddard College's off campus program in VT. It's been a long road, lots of work, and I'm ready to celebrate my completion!!

Vancouver

Big props to Van City!! I thank Ani Pinchot for putting me in touch with my gracious host Sara who not only directs (I think that's the right word..) a community center and awesome choir, but also beatboxes like a PRO... every MC in Vancouver should be getting her to back them up. Word. Peace to producer/emcee/musician Rup for inviting me into his home to enjoy this view:














Click to enlarge the pic, the mountains and enchanted village were blowing my mind. Vancouver also has an ill skyline which transforms from city to mountains:












Seeing the First Ladies Crew rock a show was mad inspiring, they're all Indigenous MCs/beatboxers holding it down up here:














You can find their music at Beat Nation or on Myspace.

Saying peace to one of my BIG childhood influences...

But did you know MJ was nasty on the beatbox?
Check this out:
GENIUS

Washington State

On my way from Oregon I stopped for a night in Olympia WA and checked out the nature on the campus of Evergreen College. Kind of a mystical mossy evergreen/fern forest...











Thanks to Marco, Lolita, and Rowan for hosting me there.

I then continued to Seattle where it got a bit more urban. Many thanks to Alex, Rita, Reyna, Maria, Ani, and VC for the hospitality. As I was wandering the city I saw this mural in action and introduced myself to the artist, who wrote Wierdo.













He had an insane photo-realistic style with spraycans, and he was cool enough to point me in the direction of the local "walk up" wall AKA permission spot. So I went and painted this:











[Click the pic to enlarge]

Oregon, Portland

Been having a great time chilling and playing music with Nicoluminous, a dope local beatboxer/musician/vocalist. One of the highlights was setting up in an abandoned lot and jamming together for a warm audience of 5-10 people... Check how he has his delay and loop pedal strapped to his belt wirelessly (to the amp)... Nice one Nico!

Cali up North

A couple days ago I headed still further North to Arcata. I set up my Starship in a public seating area near the center of town and had been painting about 5 mins when I met this guy Joe. Turns out he runs a couple of taco stands and is about to open a restaurant. He wants to see my work so he asks me to paint his sign as a freebee...














He likes the free sample and hires me to paint his truck the next morning. I finished my Arcata piece....














then saw UP (which was fresh) and caught reggae singer Bushman with opening act Soulflower on the late night.

After a couple hours sleep I met up with Joe and his wife at their soon to be restaurant, and I was touched by their success (family business, ya know?) and support of my skills.














Such a cool experience...