"Ain't Burned All The Bright"

Twenty Twenty was not an easy year to love…but it was pivotal. A year marred with the threat, shut-downs and reality of Covid-19, the particular murder of one George Floyd and the storming of the US Capitol in an attempted Coup d'état to name a few dilemmas.  Anxiety was hallmark and in many way no real end in sight of the near future.  A newly released young adult fiction  “Ain’t Burned All The Bright” attempts to give it a different texture, tone and perspective. It is the seminal words of Jason Reynolds and groundbreaking pictures of Jason Griffin that succeeds in unusual and excellent form.  It is much, much more than good. It thrives and refreshes in a grand fashion.

The book is in many ways an attempt at understanding events that we try to come to terms and understanding of within ourselves and through the media. Their obsessive fascination with the horrors of contemporary life along with our own as viewed within our households and with our families.  The words and images of “Ain’t Burned All The Bright” flow in a clarity much like the drum beat of a Jack DeJohnette solo using just snare and a single cymbal. Steady, rhythmic and consistent with the occasional perfectly placed accent.  This flow while steady and paced is one of focused interest and a delight in it’s unfolding narration.

                                                                                                  

And I'm sitting here wondering why my mother wont chance the channel

       and why the news won't change the story and why the story won't change into something new

                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                      

or the way we treat the world

 

 

or the way we treat each other

“Ain’t Burned All The Bright” is from the collective efforts of two of today’s brightest young stars. They have individually and collectively received much praise, commissions, accolades and successes including; New York Times Best Sellers, NAACP Image Awards, residencies and world-wide exhibitions. 

                                                                                                       

 The two Jason’s met and bonded while in college and since have become brothers in creativity and spirit. They have collaborated once before on another young adult novel. It has been very well received effort; “My Name Is Jason Mine Too.”  

We can; at this point, hope to see more collaborations and successes between and for the remarkable two Jasons. 

                                        Jason Reynolds          &          Jason Griffin 

                                   jasonwritesbooks.com                jasondouglasgriffin.com

Mike Mignola "The Quarantine Sketchbook"

 

Artist Mike Mignola has been a mainstay and luminary in the world of story illustration particularly comic books and graphic novels for a multitude of years. He is unique in style, popularity and “rock solid.” With the rest of the nation and world he has experienced the Covid 19 lock downs and quarantines with a true resilience. His personal story within our shared (2020) isolation dilemma has become one of dedication to creativity, craft and what appears to have been also fun and a discovery of sorts.

Mignola spent much of his time and efforts during quarantine doing what began in childhood for the many and certainly for the most accomplished artists; sketching. The drawings from the many months were done for his own amusement and later he started sharing on line with his fans and followers. This led to their submissions of ideas for more sketches and experimentation. Going beyond what might have been a light-hearted frolic to the said drawings becoming donations for many charitable causes resulting in auctions.

 

The resulting images from those multitudes of hours is available now in book form (released last year) “The Quarantine Sketch Book.”   It is a delightfully misanthropic collection of monsters, absurdities and abundant curiosities. Each drawing bathed in a perfection of light and shadow enhancing a remarkable mastery of form.

Continuing here are more sketches from the volume and other drawings from Mignola for this blogs viewers. As reflecting with Mile’s original intention “Have Fun” with this page!

 

               

For additional information and a more detailed look at the career of “The Magnificent” Mike Mignola follow this link:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mignola

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

 

It was the Christmas and TV Winter Season of Nineteen Hundred & Ninety Three that the program “David Foster’s Christmas Carol” aired on NBC. The program was something I totally embraced and appreciated at the outset of the original airing. The fact that it was producer David Foster’s event; responsible for many of the most popular songs from the nineteen eighties and nineties gave reason enough for me to want to see what was being offered on that lustrous December night. It was in a word “Wonderful!” It was also lively, reverent and a pure joy.   

Johnny Mathis appearing was also a real draw for me as listener and viewer. He was and remains a Christmas staple for myself and my family. He is at the center of what might be called our “Christmas Sound Track” and the background music for many of our personal at home events. His segment “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is much like I would imagine as being the perfect holiday gathering; family, friends, associates and the incredible voicings of the Great Mr. Mathis! I’m featuring his segment as this blog’s title and prominently featured opening.

Johnny Mathis / David Foster: "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"  

There were many others of the music world’s top performers show cased here from the TV special as well: Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Vanessa Williams and Wynonna. Their brilliant, inspired and luminous contributions are just below (just click on the photos) then see and hear the videos of several of the  all-star cast…all Great and Well Received!

David Foster & Celine Dion

Tom Jones

Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson

Vanessa Williams

Wynonna

        Do Enjoy and Have a

Merry, Merry Christmas!