Wednesday's Woman: Dana S. Santiago

Today's Wednesday's Woman is Dana S. Santiago. Dana is an event planning professional who has coordinated and helped execute events for Haper's Bazaar magazine, The Artist's Empowerment Coalition, and The Source Magazine to name a few. She has assisted athletes, music artists, publishing execs, fashion houses, brides, and others bring their event visions to life. She ensures that her events move beyond simply being parties, rather they are unforgettable experiences. Dana is also a budding entrepreneur as she and a business partner have started their own event services firm.

I chatted with her about what it's like to manage it all. Let's ruminate...

Wednesday's Woman: Russatta Buford

In the previous post, I thanked Mr. Tyler Perry for his commitment to advance worthy causes. I'm proud to say that for the inaugural posting of Wednesday's Woman I can feature my friend Russatta Buford. I met this petite powerhouse 2 years ago and I've been impressed and influenced by her dedication to serve ever since. She is resolute in her desire to make her community better by her presence and her sincerity of service is commendable. Russatta's philanthropic work was highlighted last month in O, The Oprah Magazine in a Covergirl feature. 

I asked Russatta to ruminate on what that experience and service meant to her. Here's what she had to say...

Up In The Air

Last Friday, The Chi-Town Stepper and I caught a showing of George Clooney's Oscar nominated movie "Up In The Air." I hadn't expected any part of the movie to resonate with my own life. Clooney plays a professional downsizer. In other words, he flies across the country firing people for a living. He is also a motivational speaker. Although, his particular brand of motivation advises people not to get too close to things and other people. He is estranged from his family and hasn't had any meaningful romantic relationships. He lives a lonely and isolated life.

In a rare moment of being in his Omaha apartment, we see that he has never taken the time to put any personal touches to the place. The apartment is drab, cold, void of personality, and thereby, detached and void of life. It is clear that he doesn't like spending time there. It does not appear to be the home of anyone enjoying their life. This was the part that resonated with me. Sad but true:-(

Continue ruminating...

I'd Like To Call It Beauty

Despite Bowler Boy's reluctance to bring me back an official British copy of Corinne Bailey Rae's cd, I got it anyway from iTunes this past weekend and I'm eternally grateful that I did. I completely confess to having a perfectly healthy girl crush on Ms. Rae.

You see, in my head she lives the life in reality that I, in my head, live. I imagine that she has a great collection of eccentric and fabulous vintage clothing with some modern designs from a plethora of indie and major labels thrown into the mix. She wastes away afternoons in patisseries, museums, and galleries with a great group of culturally diverse friends and she attends private screenings of smart artistically crafted films. But most importantly, she lives authentically and loves completely. It's a wholly romantic life don't you think? And that brings us to her latest offering, "The Sea." Her first album since the untimely death of her husband, Jason Rae in 2008.

"The Sea" is Ms. Rae's second release and there are no signs of the sophomore slump. For me, it's an album of contrasts. It's moody and consistent. It's mournful and celebratory. It's sad and hopeful. It's all the emotions and thoughts one would suspect would rush through your heart and mind if you had lost the person you felt was your soul mate to the silliness of an accidental overdose. It's soul, blues, rock, folk, and R&B. Even in it's grief, I find a mature sensuality definitely not present in her first album.

Rolling Stone magazine commented that on the track "The Blackest Lily" that she is "confronting death with the greatest weapon: life, fully lived." The New York Times says, "The album is a major creative leap from her debut. Ms. Rae's voice is deeper, capable of carrying the weight of this sad album. The music is richer."

I wanted to be able to list my favorite tracks, but like a proud mother, I can't pick out any. It's as though I've created them myself because I cannot succeed in breaking them apart and rewarding one over the other. It's a complete body of work that I'm pleased with. Sure, there are some that I like more than others, but I hesitate to point them out for fear that listeners wouldn't give the whole work it's due credit.

The album has pre and post-death songs on it. "I'd Do It All Again" was written pre-death after an argument with her late husband. Just as the title suggests, she'd do it all again. Enjoy....



Her record label prevents the embedding of the actual music video, but I find this live version just as enjoyable.

Feed Your Passions

This week I had the pleasure of visiting the Ana Tzarev Gallery on West 57th Street (between 5th and 6th Ave) to check out her Grace of Africa exhibit. The gallery itself was a two level beauty. Visitors to the gallery are greeted by two golden Buddha statues. A little less than halfway into the room, you encounter the grand gold, marble, and glass sprial staircase that takes you to the second floor which gives you a magnificent view onto 57th Street. The painting featured on the main wall seen in the above photo of a young girl in Africa is one of my favorites. But truthfully, there were so many things to focus my eyes on I could hardly keep still.

Above is a broad view of many of the paintings featured. The bold use of color and texture don't come across in these pictures, but take my word for it when I say you missed a great treat if you didn't get a chance to check it out. The exhibit leave tomorrow.

I was astonished to learn that Ms. Tzarev is a 72 year old Croatian woman living in Europe. Looking at the passion and compassion for her subjects left me with the assumption that Ms. Tzarev was a person of African descent and much younger. That'll learn me for making assumptions. The artist leads a disciplined life where she paints daily. I can't find the time to make daily blog posts, but this woman more than double my age finds the time to feed her passions.

Ms. Tzarev is an inspiring woman indeed. I have long been a novice art lover. One of my goals for the new year is to become more advanced in my knowledge of art (theater, dance, visual, musical, literary, etc.). I'll feed my passion for the things that add beauty and understanding to our lives. I implore you to do the same. To learn more about the Ana Tzarev Gallery, please visit her site http://www.anatzarev.com/Default.asp

The bookstore (so stylishly designed in its simplicity, I almost thought it was another exhibit) contains many affordable books and reprints. I will be back. It just might be one of the most beautiful places in New York City (I can't believe I've passed it for years and never knew it was there)! Oh, and how much cooler did she become when I learned she uses the gallery space to host events for various artistic and civic organizations to raise cultural and social awareness??!!!