Oakland Neighborhood Project

6Jun

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A Photo Project To Bring Out Oakland’s Voice

Steve Texeria is a photographer with Oakland roots, who has set off to bring a different kind of attention to Oakland, an attention only natives, and people who know her can. With his camera, he is inspired to share a thousand words with one image, and another.

I was one of his latest participants, and though I grew up in the Allendale district, in 1994 I moved away from the Bay Area for school, and for love, and Oakland has re-opened her arms to me after those two had ended. Since my return in 2003, the Golden Gate district has claimed me as her own. And, this is where Steve and I meet. I read and article in the SF Chronicle one Sunday morning, while having coffee, and decided to find him on Facebook. I wanted to be a part of his project, his documentation of my city, our city, and his vision, which I share; to give Oakland back her name, reputation, and smile.

It is all too often that I hear the negatives of what Oakland has to offer, even from those San Franciscans who have come to her because of cheaper housing, and access to more space, but she isn’t all bad. Nothing truly is all bad or good, but what is more commonly spoken of Oakland, or, at least, has lingered since the days of the War on Drugs, is what is remembered.

I, in no way, am saying that Oakland doesn’t have its horrors, traumas, blues, and unbelievable stories, she does, AND… And, Oakland has a great deal more too. Steve Texeria is on a journey to share the other side, the kindred heart of Oakland, not just to Oaklanders, but to the world. I am grateful to be a part of his journey.

Steve Texeria’s Oakland Neighborhood Project:

“The Oakland Neighborhood Project is designed to let the people in Oakland’s neighborhoods tell their stories in their own words. Over a period of 12-18 months, I will identify and photograph one person, family, or group in each of Oakland’s neighborhoods. Each photo session will take place in that person’s neighborhood and will feature that person or persons holding a sign with their message to the rest of the world written on it.”

_R7A3146<–Photo by Steve Texeira, 2014

Steve says, “I am actively recruiting for this project! So, if you are interested, if you want to represent your neighborhood, if you feel you have something to say that might improve people’s understanding of what and who Oakland truly is, let me know! But don’t wait, there are only so many neighborhoods to go around.”

For more information about Steve Texeria’s Oakland Neighborhood Project, go here:  http://onep.squarespace.com/

Finally Here!

5Jun

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Aspectz Of Me

Volume Atiim & Volume Bomani

Online Music Release TBA

 2 volumes of music
11 tracks each
v. Atiim
v. Bomani

2 volumes of music 11 tracks each v. Atiim v. Bomani

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Artwork & Design:

The Grammy Award Winning Company, EastRand Studios.

http://EastRandStudios.com

A Photo-documentary of Oakland, by Stephen Texeira

16May

POSTED BY

Hello, ladies and gentlemen.

I was chosen to participate in a photo-documentary of Oakland, by photographer, Stephen Texeira, who’s started a movement to document the REAL faces of Oakland. After reading an article this last Sunday (5/11/14), at my best friend’s house, while sipping coffee, she showed me an article from the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com; a publishing from Sunday April 27th, 2014. I was intrigued by the article, written by Chip Johnson, which stated,”Texeira wants to capture Oakland’s good side, but not like in one of his modeling shoots. – He’s not looking for the prettiest, most alluring face he can find. Instead, he wants to capture the essence of Oakland neighborhoods in faces that tell the story of a city with vast and diverse immigrant population; a long, proud history of African American residents; and a city of triumph and tragedy…” (http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Stephen-Texeira-gets-Oakland-picture-perfect-5393789.php)

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I thought to myself, “Well, I am from Oakland, and I care for the health of Oakland, and… I’m going to call him, and see if he is interested in interviewing me, an activist, organizer, entertainer, educator, and marriage and family therapist…” I thanked my best friend, found Stephen on Facebook, and emailed him my thoughts. Twenty minutes later, Stephen responded, and from there we set a date for a shoot. I am now one of the documented photo-stories of Oakland, and, because I now have lived and have worked in my studio in the Golden Gate District of Oakland for ten years, my story will too be told, as one of the “good” sides of Oakland’s history.

He isn’t done yet, as there are 150 different and unique neighborhoods in Oakland. I have also asked if I can help him find other stories to tell, as in, other individuals, families, and couples, and he agreed to utilize my support. His project is projected to take 12-18 months to complete, and after his story in the paper/website of SFGate.com, he is now becoming overwhelmed with responses.

He and I chit chatted about Oakland, took pictures, and shared our perspectives and history on and in Oakland, and I have to say, he is a very humble, intelligent, and personable gentleman. After reading many articles on Oakland, especially from the New York Times, about Oakland being the new Brooklyn, I think, instead of likening Oakland to other cities in preparation for more gentrification, or for trying to find ways to articulate what it actually is, Stephen is setting out on a journey that documents what Oakland was, is, and will be. One thing Stephen said, while we chatted, was, “Photography = Light Writing, so I am, essentially writing a story using light, about Oakland.”

Here is my Instagram photo of Chip Johnson & the San Francisco Chronicle’s April 27th, 2014 article: http://instagram.com/p/oCrKYAt8Ky/

The ‘Aspectz Of Me – EP’ is HERE!

12May

POSTED BY

After a year of song writing and recording, Atiim Chenzira has finally completed his newest musical work, Aspectz Of Me. The first of his releases is an Extended Play of 7 songs:

Aspectz Of Me - EP

Aspectz Of Me – EP

 

Links:

Album: http://r3np.bandcamp.com/album/aspectz-of-me-ep

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspectzOfMe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtiimChenzira

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AtiimChenzira

O.I.M. Presents: 5.9.14. @ Awaken Cafe

21Apr

POSTED BY

 

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Atiim Chenzira & FatheR BrotheR Sun will continue their CD release PART II on May 9th, 2014 at Awaken Cafe, by opening the show up for two wonderful Bay Area Bands, Future Perfekt & Last Dragons (headliners). So, come out if you just missed their PART I at the Oakland Drops Beats Music Crawl, and prepared to be blown away by some magnetic energy and magical vibrations! 

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Show ~ 05.09.2014 ~ Awaken Cafe

21Apr

POSTED BY

13X19OIM.2

04.19.2014 / CD RELEASE / ART EXHIBITION / ATW & ODB

2Apr

POSTED BY

04.19.2014

Oakland Drops Beats: Music Crawl 2014

OAKLAND DROPS BEATS: QUARTERLY MUSIC CRAWL 

A THOUSAND WORDZ: EVENT

ART EXHIBITION for        JACK & ALISE EASTGATE

&

CD RELEASE PARTY for       ATIIM CHENZIRA &      FATHER BROTHER SUN

FACEBOOK

Oakland Drops Beats: Music Crawl 2014

Atiim Chenzira in Oakland, California on 4/19/2014

26Mar

POSTED BY

Atiim Chenzira in Oakland, California 94612 on 03/05/14

21Feb

POSTED BY

Aspectz Of Me

20Feb

POSTED BY

Aspectz Of Me

Aspectz Of Me, Atiim Chenzira’s newest solo album, is finally here! Aspectz Of Me is a combination of masterful writing, a range of vocal styles and deliveries, and genre crossing music, live music and an assortment of great production by various Bay Area producers. There are bound to be at least five songs that you’ll absolutely fall in love with, because Aspectz Of Me is a double album composed of 22 tracks (Volume A & Volume B).

“This album needed to be true to its’ name, so I had to express all of what I want listeners to know about the many Aspectz Of Me. A year after beginning this album project, I am finally ready to share it. I have included many, but not all, of the musicians and artists in this project that I have worked with over the years, because they too, are Aspectz Of Me.”

Atiim Chenzira - Aspectz of Me

Aspectz Of Me Credits:

Album Art Design

Eastrand Studios: (http://eastrandstudios.com)

Photographers:

Ana Homonnay – (http://anahomonnay.com)

Michelle Koffler

Tali Serota

 

Producers:

JasWho? & Whoville Studios, Berkeley, CA.: (www.Jaswho.com)
Tunemaster & Backyard Entertainment, Pittsburg, CA.: (tunemaster15@gmail.com)
Mike Stevens & Lost Monkey Studio, Hayward, CA.: (http://lostmonkeystudio.com)
Doc Melody: (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Doc-Melody)
Danny Visual
DJ Phonic
Henry Navarro: (HenryANavarro@gmail.com)