Great Start to Leap MONTH;-)

I TOLDJALL I'd be leaping into Greatness this YEAR! The Creator is gently prepping me to do the required Good works & keeping the required Good company;-). So, U know that last Friday I went to check out the art work of this Sistah Kara Walker. Well, I returned yesterday with a dear friend who wanted to check it out.

Initially, I thought my girl was going to call and say: "NEVER mind!" - because it was POURING down raining, cold and windy much of yesterday afternoon. My girl is a TROOPER and she met me down in the City. Now, anyone who lives in NYC will understand the effort it took for Sistah-Girl to leave her comfy abode in da Bronix, hop on the train and meet me on E. 75th and Madison to wait in a line in the rain;-). So, we make it into the museum, pay 'what we want', get in line for audio guides, wait for the elevator, get to the third floor of The Whitney then begin "dancing" around the multitudes who were also checking out the exhibit in its final weekend. A couple of hours later our brains are full, our stomaches empty and our thirst for liquid refreshments intense.

We stood at the elevator chatting as we discussed our next move. The huge elevator doors swooshed open and out stepped ... The ARTIST herself: Kara Walker! She was surrounded by an entourage of what seemed to be museum execs and possible funders/producers of her exhibit;-). Kara smiled as she recognized that I recognized her. There are no images of her at the exhibit. I only knew what she looked like because I went onto one of her websites after attending the exhibit last week. As the group passed, I looked at my girl and asked, "Do you think we should ask her for an autograph?"
My girl shrugged and said, "It can't hurt. My mom always said, 'If the opportunity presents itself...'".

So, we followed the group into the next room as my girl dug into her bag for a pen. We stood by in order to be unobtrusive and not wanting to draw attention to ourselves or the artist - in case she was not trying to be swamped by an autograph signing frenzy. As I watched her talking to her entourage I waited for a pause and asked her if she'd mind signing our Gallery Guides. She smiled and excused herself as her entourage watched, smiling. Kara asked my name. I told her then we laughed as I said, "You don't need to write all of that. I just appreciate your taking the time to sign your name." Kara then told us a quick story of when she was young and approached Coretta Scott King for an autograph who blatantly told her: NO! We laughed and I said that I appreciated that she did not take that stance;-). My girl told her that we were amazed by the size of her work and it would be great to see video of her creating and installing her exhibits. To which Kara replied, that she would bet there's some video floating in cyberspace of her doing such (but i couldn't find it;-). We shook her hand, wished her well, thanked her again and headed out for dinner and drinks. Annnd ... HERE is Ms. Walker's autograph to ME!!



Thanx Again, I.am.Malik! Wish U were with us!