DEAN ATTA/ POET/ PRESENTER

The amazing talent that is Dean Atta, recently did his presenter showreel

and guess where he also came to do part of the interview.

Heheh not gonna tell ya. Look for yourself,

DEAN ATTA SHOW REEL

Don't forget Dean Atta re-don's his cap as poet this coming FRI at

POETRY AND PIMMS

See you all there.

more of DEAN ATTA: RICE AND PEAS

da POET...

With Poetry on the Horizon at

POETRY AND PIMMS,

my own POET page has been revamped.

Check it out.

Da Poet...

We are the demon seekers.

We are the hooded ones; cloaked in robes of words and phrases;

Illiteration and prose.

That travel the underbelly of this cold, lonely world in search of redemption.

Seeking out the procrastinators of faith; feeding the frenzy of the damned.

We are the ones who bring light to the masses…,

We are the poets…..

24/4/2007

CONRAD 2007

Da Poet... @ www.rasconrad.com

UNION DANCE YOUTH

There is truly no greater joy than working with YOUNG, TALENTED and EAGER minds. They take you back to a place of unbridled joy and are totally therapetuic in their wild abandon and thirst for knowledge. Giving back is ALWAYS a direct conduit to GETTING BACK when working with youth; and I have never figured out why so often we are eager to rule them out as lazy, hard headed misfits. I think it must be that we've just grown. Grown hard, grown cold, grown up. Either way a chance to work with youth is one I never pass up on,

and as always I was rewarded with enthusium, genuine smiles and a chance to pass on what little I may have learned in this circle of life.

Recently Union Dance Co. joined hands with The National Potrait Gallery to bring to life a production called FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Housed in one of the great halls of the Gallery against a backdrop of relevant paintings and sculptures around seven (7) young men and women collaborated with seniors in the arts to put together an event that showcased, dance and spoken word to a FREE audience in this both educational and awe-inspiring setting.

The VIDEO of the event is still being edited, but here's a look at

what these enterprising youth put together at their rehearsals.

To see more images go to UNION DANCE YOUTH.

Gerrard Martin - Choreographer

POETRY AND PIMMS

RasConrad joins

Host: Dean Atta

for POETRY AND PIMMS

Price: FREE

Date: Friday, September 4, 2009

Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Location: Lyric Hammersmith

Street: Lyric Square, King Street,

W6 0QL

City: London, United Kingdom

View Map

Phone: 08712211722

Email: lyrics@lyric.co.uk

Dean Atta & Deanna Rodger bring yet another fantastic music and poetry night to the Lyric...

and this time there's alcohol involved!

Come and enjoy this fun, informal and FREE open mic night up on the roof garden and bar area of the Lyric Hammersmith. Simple tings!

This show may contain adult content.

On the open mic list so far...1. Isaac

2. 2. Moses 3. RasConrad 4. Naomi 5. Shauna
   

6. Patricia 7. Rob 8. Stuart 9. Jiten 10. Jake

11. Nathan 12. Cardel 13. Simon 14. Jonas

15. Jayson 16. Ally 17. Tashan 18. Jordan G

19. Dave 20. Steven 21. Jordan S 22. Elliott

23. Jahnoi 24. Yinka 25. Grace 26. D.C. 27. Denise

28. John Paul

(Extra slots may become available on the night)

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT

It's the morning after.

The images left over have all been put away.

The artists have all gone our separate ways and now there is nothing left but the exhilaration of what once was. The celebrating lasted way into this morning, and it's a wonder that I am awake at all. Still I wanted to take the time to give particular mention to some of the guys that really helped carry me through this my first exhibition ever and the wonderful experience that it was.

CHARLIE PI for extending me the opportunity and sticking by me even when I wanted to sit it out. My other co-exhibitor TERENCE McDONALD HUMPHREY with whom I shared a love of Vintage Kaiso and look forward to collaborating with again in the future. Our always eager assistant for the exhibition DONNA EVELYN. My Poppas PAUL JARVIS and IAN McINNES for allowing me space in the madness. ROI WILLIAMS for being more than just a friend, but a brother. DENISE ATHERLEY-ASSI my sister by another mother, who paved the way with with both smiles and tears. DANNY EDWARDS for picking up the reins afterwards. The "FAMILY" and the Manor Park Crew (you know who you are MUAH!)

My amazing models over the years, especially those featured in this exhibition.

The men: Marlon (my blue boy); the incomparable ‘X’; my first muse and cousin, Jose Carlos; the twins Mario & Patrick; Theo aka Becks; Chizedec my early fashion muse, my newest fashion muse, model ZIM LELO and my source of inspiration for the feature section in this exhibiton, EARL STANDARD. Special thanks to my sole female featured, Kathy.

Always at the back of my mind and forever in my heart, CLAUDIA PEGUS, whose clothes graced so many of the earlier pictorials and whose lessons lead me forward always.

Special thanks also goes out to John and the crew from CONNECTION SOFTWARE and also Herbert and the gang from EDUCATED HORIZON. My printers: Jaspal and the team from PRONTO PRINTERS STRATFORD. Stewart of ADONIS ART GALLERY as well as Michael and the team of ADONIS LOUNGE. The ever present, always quiet advice from the team of OFF-SHORE ENGINEER MAGAZINE.

THANKS TO YOU ALL!!! SEE YOU AT THE NEXT PARTY.

RasConrad

FYIRADIO INTERVIEW on blackˈmanˌkīnd.

RasConrad interview by Ryan Haynes. click below

HEAR THE RADIO BROADCAST

CONRAD MITCHELL ON PHOTOGRAPHY, BODIES AND EQUALITY

Conrad Mitchell is a photographer who recently began exhibiting his collection of works under the sobriquet RasConrad. Formerly a nudist model and a muse for Charlie Pi, RasConrad explores ‘Aged Innocence’

in the show blackˈmanˌkīnd.

PUTTING ASIDE THE HURT

Yeah, the moment has come in the middle of all the smiling and celebration of what has been achieved to talk about what was lost. My boi and i broke up. AND I MEAN BROKE UP. Splintered apart into so many little pieces i don't think. ( WAIT..., I KNOW) we'll never be put back together again. But I can, I will, I have.

It's been a real roller-coaster,

getting the exhibition on blackˈmanˌkīnd together, while all the time feeling my "black man" wasn't being very "kind" to me. Still, like some really cheesy soap opera where you deal with birth and death in the same episode; he is gone and I am reborn.

Couldn't face up to much of the Pride Stuff this year cause it meant facing it alone rather than with "the one" and couldn't face up to a lotta those long nights cause tossing and turning in the sheets 'wasn't necessarily such a good thing yuh know' but hey...,

The greatest thing to come out of this experience was the love. We truly loved each other. We don't anymore. Doesn't matter who stopped loving who first, or who felt the pain. The blame game is unimportant. What is important, what is FACT is that this beautiful thing between is now no longer tangible, it is now just a memory. So let it R.I.P.

So to all those brothas and sistas out there that might be hurting like I am (was) right now. I say this:

Put aside the hurt; shake off that gloom; awake to the dawn of this new day that is yours with a smile. No one else can do it for ya but YOU.

Besides......, he'll get his.....

DAT FUCKER!!!

love you papo. mi rey.

PATTIE SHOP DIARIES VIDEOS

OKAY!! they are completed.

Both of the promotional videos are up, running and circulating.

So here they are for you to have a look.

Head Shots of the cast will follow soon.

PATTIE SHOP DIARIES PROMO

PATTIE SHOP DIARIES TALKING HEADS

SUNDAY!! and "COMMON LOVE"

Yup we've decided to have a tea-party this sunday at the venue. The weather's been great and we've had such a great run that we though it would be a great way of relaxing and enjoying what is probally gonna be the last of summer LOL. Also it seems we've touched a chord with the arts community in that so many artists, wheter spoken word poets or writers, other photographers or musician or dancers have passed though we thought an open air celebration of the all we do as artists would be great. To that end we have Michael Scott-harding coming round to play a few chords: Terrance who provided the amazing sound installation is doing a "special vibe" for the event. Hey, i might even do one of the new pieces i've been working on. (though seeing as we will be outside a church i'm almost sure it would be censored again LOL).

Still speaking of new pieces, this is one of the pieces i had hoped to have in the exhibition but pulled at the last minute. It's entitled "COMMON LOVE" and features model Alex Byworth.

I'm a bit disappointed that it didnt make the cut for this exhibition. But, perhaps for the next.

See you guys on Sunday.

PATTIE SHOP DIARIES

So the next project is the PATTIE SHOP DIARIES.

Written by Michael Scott-Harding and based on an idea by Mike and Gerrard Martin it promises to be a truly entertaining endeavour. I could tell you about it but why not click here and go see for yourself

should you have problems viewing the video above.

click on this link below to view the FULL PROMO

PATTIE SHOP DIARIES PROMO

HAVANNA OX

Hey peeps. Been missing in action for a few days, but i've been holed up in the crypt with the exhibition, and wouldn't you know it..., NO WI-FI!! None in the area i could tap into and the Church above while part of this century has only reached as far as dial up access. So i've had early days and really late nights. But it's all good.

Gonna have a few days off in a couple of days and i'll bring you all up to date then.

But I wanted to take a minute to talk about SERENDIPITY. This is always the muse of Charlie Pi, and i somehow wonder if she hasn't been looking over my shoulder as well. Of all the images i decided to put into the exhibition the one that I am getting the most request for prints for is the one that i almost didn't put in.

I named it "Havanna Ox", it features a model who goes only under the name of 'X'. I photographed him outside a cigar shop in Trinidad in 2000,

in clothing done by one of my favorite designers Claudia Pegus.

Her work features heavily in this exhibition not only because of it's rich beauty and colour, but also because she was one of the first designers to see my talent and offer me the chance to work with her. I still thank her for what she has taught me to this day. It seems almost fitting that at my first exhibition an image of someone in her clothing should draw the most interest.

Thanks again 'X' and much thanks to one of the best designers I ever had the privilege to work with, CP.

And what about those pesky three "censored" images. LOL.

Well like I said they were the first to go. Literally the first ones requested for reprint.

Serendipity at her BEST!

AND NOW WE LISTEN TO THE FOOTSTEPS

Well the opening has come and gone, and I'm proud to say our footfall hasn't. We continue to be visited by a constant stream of well-wishers and "buyers" that couldn't come to the opening or heard about us on the grapevine or have seen the "cards" out and about and are coming in. This was for me the scary part. What happens after the opening night, when the laughter and music dies away and the din of conversation of those you know is replaced by the silence of questioning from those you don't. But it's been great. We've even been approached by another gallery to perhaps repeat the exhibition up there. LOL, let's see what's left. This is just the beginning.

photos of RASCONRAD provided by Andrew Spark ©2009

WHAT AN OPENING!!

Okay it was MORE THAN I COULD'VE EVER HOPED FOR.

But before that lets first talk about how three (3) of my pieces were censored from the exhibit and asked to be removed off the walls. The reason behind it..., because we were in a CRYPT (below a church) and as such we needed to have some boundaries as towards what could and could not be shown. The three images in question are shown here and were entitled:

Ah Sweetness Tek Meh (model Becks)

J'Ouvert 1 - INDULGENCE (model Marlon)

and I Stand Judged (model earl)

But even though i couldn't have them on the walls, LOL I KEPT THEM BEHIND

MY DISPLAY CASE AND SHOWED THEM TO EVERY ONE THAT ENTERED MY SPACE. LOL.

Resulting in one of them being eventually taken by a close friend. (Thanks F)

and the other being taken as part of a set of "10" by a collector. Yippee!!

As for the guest, my peeps did me proud. "Family" came out in droves. The Manor Park Crew were there. Hey hey, my boy Andrew Spark (photographer extraodinaire) came down.

There were people there from the TATE MODERN MUSEUM, (like WOW!) as well as my sponsors from "Connection Software".

Denise was front and centre (thanks hon) as were models Zim Lelo and a new male model I was introduced to and WILL be working with, TYSON. (no not Beckford, though he is just a gorgeous). He came along with poet/ playwright Dean Atta and his crew. And speaking of writers, The Pattie Shop Diaries boys were there as well. Also Journalist Franka Phillip and stylist Frank Akinsete. Just to name a few. All came out to support a brother and i thank you ALL.

Pics will follow. courtesy Andrew Spark

blackˈmanˌkīnd continues until 23rd Aug. (Tue - Sun 12:00 - 6:00)

THANKS TO ALL MY PEEPS

There are so many people to thank for making this happen, bear with me if in my excitement your name is not listed here. Know that you are held dear in my heart.

CHARLIE PI for extending me the opportunity and sticking by me even when I wanted to sit it out. PAUL JARVIS and IAN McINNES for allowing me space in the madness. ROI WILLIAMS for being more than just a friend, but a brother. The FAMILY: Denise, Pascall, Vincent, Dewayne, Mama Will and the Manor Park Crew: Karleen, Carlene, Jeanelle and Dion. My boys when blue Dale, Carlos, and Papa Joe.

My amazing models over the years, especially those featured in this exhibition.

The men: Marlon (my blue boy); the incomparable ‘X’; my first muse and cousin, Jose Carlos; the twins Mario & Patrick; Theo aka Becks; Chizedec my early fashion muse, my newest muse, model ZIM LELO and my source of inspiration for the feature section in this exhibiton, EARL STANDARD. Special thanks to my sole female featured, Kathy.

Special thanks also goes out to John and the crew from CONNECTION SOFTWARE and also Herbert and the gang from EDUCATED HORIZON. My printers: Jaspal and the team from PRONTO PRINTERS STRATFORD. Stewart of ADONIS ART GALLERY as well as Michael and the team of ADONIS LOUNGE. The quiet advice from the team of OFF-SHORE ENGINEER MAGAZINE. And especially to CHRISTOPHER (mi PAPO), who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you. Thank you all.

RasConrad 2009

FINALLY IT's UP!!

Well after much sweat and tears, and a whole lotta pulling and tugging the exhibition is up, and yuh know what..., it looks pretty damn good for a first timer's exhibit if i do say so myself. Un-tutored in photography, most of what i have learnt has been hands on; and I'm proud to say my life experiances have been good teachers. It's evident in the body of work. HELL YEAH i'm blowing my own horn. I worked hard for this! WHy shouldn't i!! But in all of this i have to give mention as well to the wonderful men and women who have posed for me. Unerringly they have listened, posed, pouted, preened and prattled while allowing me to capture the amazing moments our sharing has brought. From Kathy in Claudia Pegus designs on the isle of MUSTIQUE to Zim Lelo styled by Haiden Medina in Carnaby St in LONDON.

And i couldn't have done it without support. MAN!! I have good friends, (and to be truthful and perhaps RAW, great FUCKBUDDIES as well)

Truth is all my peeps pulled out the stops to help me make this happen. Special Special Thanks to Charlie Pi, ROI, Ian, Paul, Mike, Denise and ever at the back of my mind TERRY BISHOP. You showed me how king! And you're showing me still. (how to keep my tongue in my head most times LOL)

The outpouring of support has been one of the best bits of this entire experience. Outdone only by the feeling of awe at seeing my 'BLUEBOY' image printed and mounted for the first time. Photographed many, many years ago on the streets of Woodbrook. I was driving along with Sheldon Seebarran and spotted a guy on the street who literally then and there upon being asked agreed to pose for this and a series of images which developed into what is now the J'Ouvert Section of the exhibition. I know, how cool is that. That you could stop a car, explain a situation and get someone to agree to pose for you. All in less than 5 mins.

But i'm rambling. Truth is though that is what this exhibition has allowed me to do in a lotta way. Go over past work, revisit great memories and in so doing reclaim a part of self that had been lost. Re-juvenate as it were. and for that my spirit is grateful.

I hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoyed photographing it.

See you guys.

blackˈmanˌkīnd the EXHIBITION IS HUNG!!