Urban artistry of Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs, Breathe Life 2
The MFA Boston has teamed up with local artist, Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs. This is notable because the MFA has historically overlooked local artists of color and partnering with Gibbs may be a first for the museum.
The Roxbury native has been transforming Boston through graffiti art since the early 1990s and his latest collaboration with the MFA, Breathe Life 2, on the exterior of Madison Park High School in Roxbury shows a young girl surrounded by her books, ideas, art, and knowledge coming from her backpack.
I can’t help but wonder if this giant mural, that is clearly visible to the Boston Police Department headquarters across the street, has some deeper meaning or is meant to serve as a reminder that all of us have dreams for a better life.
Photo credit: Gabriel Ortiz photography
www.problak.com
Gibbs is a co-founder of Boston’s Artists for Humanity in South Boston. Last year Now and Then featured an article on Gibbs, showing more of his beautiful murals around Boston, You can read the article here.
Vintage gay
Any thoughts on when this photo may have been taken? I love the dramatic kiss on a ledge overlooking what appears to be a forest. The formal attire might provide insights into when this may have been taken.
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
This week on Instagram: goodnews_movement
This week’s Instagram account was recommended to me by my mother when I was visiting over the July 4th holiday weeken and the goofy, feel good posts that are posteed offers a never ending supply of smiles and laughter.
With more than 1.5 million followers, this account may not be new to you but I thought it worth the shout out to feature in my weekly Instagram post.
You can follow this week’s featured account on Instagram here, and you can check out previously featured IG accounts here.
Caption this photo
Hopefully the caption I’ve shared below inspires you to offer up a caption or two of your own. Leave a witty or funny caption as a comment for this post, and I’ll approve it for readers to enjoy.
“Milk does the body good”
Stella Restaurant to be reborn as a food truck
The popular South End restaurant, that closed in May could be reborn (sort of). Boston.com reported yesterday that the owner of Stella Restaurant on Washington Street (shown above), Evan Deluty, will be setting up a truck called Stella Express in Southie at the corner of West Broadway and B Street – near the Broadway T station.
Apparently the new food truck will offer favorites from the old Stella menu and if all goes as planned, Stella Express will debut on August 18. But what I want to know is where will be the bar?
Men in kilts
It has been too long since I last featured these two handsome Scotsmen who look so good in kilts. Better known as the Kilted Coaches, you can check out these trainers on their YouTube channel, The Kilted Coaches.
Monday morning mancandy
May this morning’s post distract you from the fact that it is a Monday morning.
Nice White Parents
I love podcasts. The format (when done correctly) is similar to story hour and the people over at Serial Productions are better at this than most. I’ve written about Serial in the past so when their latest podcast series, “Nice White Parents” was announced a couple of weeks ago I was interested.
This latest production looks at the 60-year relationship between white parents and the public school down the block — in this case in Brooklyn. The podcast asks why after decades of school reform, do so many inequities still exist? Reporter, Chana Joffe-Walt, looked at inequality in education and deduced that most reforms focused on who schools were failing: Black and brown kids, but rarely addressed who the schools are serving. The five-part series, focuses on what is arguably the most powerful force in our schools, white parents.
Listen and subscribe to “Nice White Parents” from your mobile device: Via Apple Podcasts | Via Spotify | Via Google
I’ve only had the chance to listen to the first episode, but I’m already hooked.
Saturday morning coffee
May your Saturday morning be as relaxing as this guy’s. Have a great day.
Saturday morning comics
ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about Adam and Andy and purchase a copy of “the definitive collection of Adam and Andy” by visiting, adamandandy.com.
Adam & Andy will return with new material shortly but in the meanwhile here’s a classic episode from last summer, that still makes me chuckle.
