Spoonful after spoonful… I just couldn’t get enough.

This past Friday August 21, 2009, I ventured to the dark and often intriguing streets of Northeast Philadelphia (represent) in search of some food for my eyes and soul. God shut off the faucet and just as the rain paused, I headed towards my destination: 3320 Collins Avenue. Skin sticky from the humidity, wet pavement gleaming in the street lights, I found myself asking…

…the hell am I?

Not the type to be intimidated by much, I walked my ass up to the door and was met by a friendly greeting.

“Welcome to Spoonfed. Enjoy”

As I entered the dark building, my heels clicking up the stairs, a sweaty b-boy jets past me. I started to feel the beat of the hip-hop being spun infiltrate my ears, and suddenly I was overwhelmed with this cozy feeling. When I hit the top, I was confronted with that pretty sensation known as awe. Like a kid in a candy store, my eyeballs emerged from my lids, utterly shocked that such a gem existed in such a place.

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Hardwood floored hallways wrapped around to a large open space where I instantly saw a familiar face. My fellow Dominican platano, the beloved DJ Ultraviolet was behind her turntables, headphones on, sun kissed and spinning.

I made my rounds, looking at piece after piece, instantly being captivated by the raw talent that surrounded me.

SPOONFED was featured at the Gallerie ISADA and organized by Freekugly Lifestyle Group & Snapkracker Krispies with the purpose of feeding the artwork to others in hopes of inspiring. That goal was most definitely achieved. Special guests included the stupidly talented FLYGIRRL. I walked into a room that consisted of only her work and glanced over to see her sitting on a beige couch with none other than AMANDA DIVA. No joke, you could feel the talent radiating from these women. As I gazed at each piece, elegantly created on thin pieces of wood I was baffled at the level of detail that made up the various images of female faces.

I proceeded to walk into the hallway that was lined with the work of Ms. AMANDA DIVA. Recognizing her face from her days as an MTV VJ, I was curious to find out what this chick was all about.

Her collection: “From the Womb to the Boom” was a loud and bright assortment of pieces that portrayed a pregnant woman and her transparent belly that revealed her fetus. The woman is positioned amongst the influences of the external world, including a city skyline, large speakers, headphones, a boombox. When I approached the petite, light-skinned Amanda, she was rocking her hair up and a pair of kicks, swag in full force.  I asked her of her inspiration, and from the lips that sat between her dimples came one word. Two syllables.

HIP-HOP.

“Everything and anything hip-hop.”

With her art identifying her mother’s surroundings and how she encountered the magnetic force that is hip-hop music, it was obvious that Amanda Diva exists as a product of her beautiful environment.

The exhibit featured many pieces that portrayed everything from pain, pop culture, history, prejudice, defeat, success and the journey in between. The line-up?  Artists such as Milosz, a recent graduate of U Arts, who showed the crowd his break dancing skills physically, only to then explain his journey into the world of dance artistically with a collage of graphic art. Intricately lining a wall in one of the side rooms of the Isada, Milosz displayed a storyline from the day he first encountered the art form to when he became battle worthy, each piece left your eyes eager to glance to the next and your body hungry for movement.

The other artists featured were Urugliness, Marcus Snapkracker, Don Scott, Taqiy Muhammed, Eric Jordan, Jonene Taddel, Milosz, Lamont Wilson, Stress, and Jassyone.  Astronomically talented people, showing off their skills:

The show was topped off with a performance by a heart wrenching poet who has performed on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. He stood in the middle of the open room, holding the mic close to his mouth, sweating and pouring…

Pouuurrinngg his soul out onto the floor. As his voice echoed, resurrecting goosebumps from my skin, he provoked both the thrill of empowerment and the coldness of feeling revealed… at the same time.

My man.

Ok Phat kids, excuse the dorky poses and eat up.

-Dr. Sanchez