As we arrived at the grungy cultural center the members of the MARS karate group were dressed in their gis and ready to show the master the advancements they had made. Many new students for the FYV arts programs had arrived as well, but in true Kenyan fashion many would come much later. It was a habit we would try to change.

In the end, as the workshop progressed we had about 25 theater students, plus the Karate members who joined in, and the acrobats working outside who joined the work as well. Some students belonged to small theater groups and others were complete novices. Some were in High School and some had just graduated from University. It was a good group with a variety of talents, experience, and desires, but they all came with so much enthusiasm.

The point of this part of the work in Kenya is to give the young people confidence, communication skills, and life skills. We’re giving them tools to use in any vocation they are called to, helping them discover the topics they want to address, and developing their creative voices for communication. We are also helping them lay a biblical foundation in their lives like the one Jesus spoke about at the end of the sermon on the mount – solid rock rather than shifting sand. Kenya and Africa need new leaders with skills that are world-class and lives that are solid. Though we have a long path to walk, we are assisting these young people to become part of the next generation of leaders. By aiding these young people in their development we are helping them become the influence of positive change for Kenya, Africa, and possibly the world. Some may think we are just dreaming, but hand in hand with those youthful hearts we are dreaming big.

As the workshop ended we were exhausted and excited. The Karate group had demonstrated their work with power and great respect to their instructors. The theater students, like sponges, had taken in everything we could show them. And some young people who hadn’t planned on doing a theater workshop found themselves in the midst of learning some beneficial skills. They had met some westerners who were in some ways different than what they had previously experienced. They had met some teachers who were not afraid of people who were different. “Come join us.” What an exciting way to create cross-cultural exchange.

We talk today about the Christian Entertainment industry and it’s effect on the Christian artist/writer/poet/musician and the Gospel truth. This podcast runs a little longer than usual because we got a little side tracked with the naked people in Eden… but as always we bring it back with a nice picture frame.

We talk a bit about Jimmy Hindrix’s Purple haze and I still need to search down the source.. here is a starter: Original Purple haze lyrics hand written. Long day so I’ll come back to the post with the other links.

We also just touch on the last days of last days Kurt Cobain you can read details of his last days here on spinner .com.

And of-course the Fall of the black Crows.. (where did they go?) Here is a document that talks some about their outspoken against corporate sponsorship

Show Notes:

Song 1-09: by Kingez and Jason H.

Road to Zion – KingEz/Jeff Stanley

The One – KingEz (can be heard on the Songwriters Podcast )

‘Ladri di Biciclette’ was shot in Italy just following WWII. It documents that time, when thousands were living in true poverty and jobs were scarce. Then Antonio, the main character, gets a job; but there’s a catch.  The job requires that he has the bicycle which he recently pawned and he has no money to buy it back. One of his early lines sets the mood for the film – “I’ve always had rotten luck.” Antonio’s wife knows they can’t survive without the job so she hawks all her bed linens to buy back the bicycle. On his first day on the job, however, the bicycle is stolen and a mood of desperation begins. He has one day to find the bicycle or he will lose his job and, most likely, the bicycle will be gone for good. The story is about Antonio’s and his 9 year old son Bruno’s search for the lost biped through the jungle of post-war Italy. The beauty of the story and the acting is the decay of overwhelmed Antonio’s relationship to his son.

This film is sad, simple, powerful, and beautiful in many ways. It captures pure simply story-telling as few films ever do. In 1950, when there wasn’t a category for Foreign Films, ‘Ladri di Biciclette’ was nominated for an Oscar. Though it didn’t win, it was given an honorary Oscar for Most Outstanding Foreign Film during the 1949 release in the USA. From 1949-51 the film managed to steal most of prestigious awards up for grabs. I’m telling you, this is one of the all time greats, but maybe not the best date movie … unless your date likes beautifully, sad films about the loss of more than a bicycle. Pick a night to see an amazing piece of cinematic art and see this film!

photo by *Kicki* @flickr

We continue our conversation from the last edition (art as a living) on the common trappings of the artist in his/her professional life. We also talk about the “dark side” of the Artist and why their tends to be much more “Dark” art than uplifting art.

The st. Bruno Podcast is a conversation on the Creative Life in a christian Worldview.

Show notes:
Dr. Geez web site you can learn more about him and his wife and their Artist retreat: www.drgeez.net

Music:
Fugue by Jim Carr and instrumentation by stéphane Amaté

Road to Zion by KingEz avaILABLE AT ITUNES
Shuffling to Babylon by KingEz
Contributers to this song:
-Mozartemis
-Embers
-Tocute2care

In this episode we talk about the artist as a interpreter in his professional life, christian life and creative. Interview with Dr. Geez Part one of Two on The professional artist. Part two will be released in a few days. St. Bruno is a ongoing discussion about the creative life from a Christian perspective.

Show notes:
Dr. Geez web site where you can learn more about him and his wife and their Artist retreat: www.drgeez.net

Music:
Fugue by Jim Carr and instrumentation by stéphane Amaté

Road to Zion by KingEz avaILABLE AT ITUNES
Wretch by by Banciu/KingEz

We continue our conversation with DrGeez on Creativity and Christian art and why it sucks. Make sure you check out the first part of this interview.. you can subscribe to yhe St. Bruno Podcast in itunes.

Your host is KingEz.

Music used on this podcast:
Desert Town by KingEz
Road to zion by KingEz

We continue with our series of interviews with Dr.geez (drgeez.net) discussing today Propaganda, creativity and the stench of contemporary Christian music. Leave a comment, let us know what you think of the show.  The music provided by KingEz:

Road to zion by Kingez - itunes link
Here and here after by KingEz > Please see the contributers to this great mix on Kompoz.com (here)