In Person – Osayi Endolyn

Category Archives: In Person

WTF! Marc Maron is here!

Jan 20, 2012

Via Creative Loafing Atlanta

Today is a wonderful day. Marc Maron, self-deprecating comic and not-so-underground hero of the podcast world has come to Atlanta to delight from behind the mic. I’m taking Darryl to see him perform tonight. I’m pumped. You know I really believe a good comic is a good writer — a good storyteller, first.

Creative Loafing did a nice write-up of Maron’s career and persona in honor of his visit. Maron hosts the show WTF with Marc Maron (yes, that would be What the Fuck), which I discovered on my beloved LA-based radio station KCRW. During the average show, Maron goes off on a riff for a few minutes then leads into an in-depth conversation with a fellow comic.

What makes the show great is that unlike most interviews where the questioner is on the outside of the subject’s world, Maron is speaking from way inside. His deeply personal knowledge of the (struggling) comedian’s life makes for intimate conversation, revealing anecdotes and a lot of shop talk. Honestly, I never thought of myself as the biggest stand-up comic fan — I keep up with the well-known names, but wasn’t indie-savvy — so the initial attraction was the relaxed, informal nature of two jokers joking. And sometimes being brutally honest. Brutal, y’all. Like, hearing Patrice O’Neal describe his experiences in an adult prison as a teenager. Oy.

Maron usually records from his garage at his home in LA, and it’s a barebones approach. No major music fade-ins. No pauses for news desk briefs. Just an hour-and-change of conversation — you’ll occasionally here Maron + company sipping a beverage or munching food. Super casual. But effective. It’s fantastic radio.

He’s interviewed Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, Jon Hamm, Donald Glover and even Anthony Bourdain. That was a good one. You can stream or download the most recent 50 episodes for free on iTunes or from the show’s site.

So tonight, he graces the stage at The Laughing Skull Lounge in Midtown Atlanta to a sold-out crowd waiting to hear some good stand-up. May he begin with those three precious words.

By Osayi | Tagged Comedy, Laughing Skull Lounge, WTF with Marc Maron | Comments Off

A laugh and a half

May 10, 2011

Gary Shteyngart came to town. That actually ought to be the name of a movie. Shteyngart is a hilarious writer, who recently came out with Super Sad True Love Story. It’s a hit everywhere, with The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR and more.

We watched the book trailer for the novel (starring James Franco, former student at Columbia) in my class on freelance writing for publication. As Shteyngart says, no one reads books anymore, so you have to make a movie so they’ll pick up the book. He had us laughing like a bunch of kids.

Cool things about Gary Shteyngart:

- He kind of bears an unexpected resemblance to Spike Lee.
- He does great impressions of his Russian Jewish parents.
- He came up with a make-believe place called Planet Hamentashen, which if you’ve ever had one, is just funny to think about.
- When someone in the audience asked him, “So, what’s your writing process like?” he ignored the chorus of rolling eyes from all the SCAD writing students (a writer WRITES you dumbass. He sits down somewhere and writes), he launched into this long, outlandish account of what an average day for him is like, which included sleeping late, consuming copious amounts of drugs and alcohol, hanging out with ne’er-do-wells, and oh yeah, writing. I love this guy.

By Osayi | Tagged SCAD Ivy Hall | Comments Off

Elizabeth Kostova tells it straight

Apr 25, 2011

I dare say, I made a new friend.

The bestselling author Elizabeth Kostova, worked with us writing students at SCAD Atlanta for the past two weeks. If you haven’t yet read The Historian or The Swan Thieves you, apparently, are one of very few. Her time with us was wonderful for many reasons:

1) Elizabeth is incredibly thoughtful and kind. Her widespread success (millions of copies sold, a movie in the works) seem to have made her an even more grounded writer. This quarter I’m taking a fiction class where we’re writing novellas. She lead the workshops on our works-in-progress, and had very meaningful insights. This woman means business! Her responses were fair and straightforward and she delivered encouragement and criticism with the same level of enthusiasm. That’s not easy to do.

2) Teachers make good teachers. Not every writer can teach writing. Not every writer can even read their own writing well. We’re lucky to have great professors in my program. Elizabet fit right in. Her writer’s background is what strong prose is made of — she worked for 10 years on The Historian, completing the manuscript in an M.F.A program at the University of Michigan. She’s taught extensively about writing as a craft — a skill you develop, not just a fancy that tickles you from time to time.

3) Generosity rules. Elizabeth launched a foundation that works with aspiring Bulgarian writers to give them a structure for developing their work. I found this so inspiring. I think the best writers beget more writers.

4) She’s pretty funny. I’m down with anyone who can make me laugh.

On her last evening with us, Elizabeth gave a reading to an audience of Atlantans, as well as SCAD students, faculty and staff. Typically, the writing department sits together and I happened to be sitting behind Dr. Teresa Griffis, associate vice president of the university, who I like to call the “mama bear” of our writing program. Dr. Griffis’ wardrobe always turns heads — a fellow student recently called her “pretty fly.” I would have to agree. I couldn’t help but snap these up during the reading. So fancy! From the podium to underneath the chairs, I’m telling you, we are not wanting for creativity at SCAD.

By Osayi | Posted in Inspiration, | Tagged SCAD Ivy Hall | Comments Off

Michele, full of grace

Jan 13, 2011

Over the break, Michele Norris came to town. Wait — my heart just skipped a beat.

I adore Michele Norris (and it’s pronounced MEE-shell). If you don’t know her by name, you probably know her voice. If you don’t know either, feel free to jump on the bandwagon. Michele is a news anchor for All Things Considered, NPR’s flagship program.

Her memoir, The Grace of Silence, was released last year to lots of acclaim. She dropped by The Carter Center to talk about how she came to write a book on her family, race in America and so much more. The entire audience was in love.

Michele (l), Valerie Jackson (r)

The interview was recorded as an episode of WABE 90.1′s show Between the Lines with Valerie Jackson. You can hear the full interview here (you want to listen).

People love Michele because she has come into their cars, homes and iPods everyday for years, making complex topics like terrorism and presidential elections as easy to digest as a Hollywood interview. On the radio she comes off as thoughtful, considerate and genuine, and in person it only gets better.

My mom was a radio news anchor for several years. She started out at KQED in the Bay Area, and continued at other stations when we moved to Central California. I remember when people we’d meet would discover the Angela they were talking to was THAT Angela. They’d get all giddy and excited. There’s something special about seeing the person behind the voice.

In one of my classes this quarter, we’ll be recording podcasts — interviews and essays we write and produce ourselves, based on stories we find at The Names Project Foundation. That’s the org that houses the AIDS Memorial Quilt. So, we’ll be writing pieces about people who’ve died, and the ones they left behind and who knows what else. Isn’t that amazing? Such a rare opportunity to do something that could really contribute to the world — or just a few people.

I’ve been thinking about stories to tell and people to interview, and the process has reminded me a lot of my mom being on the radio, and how in some ways, listening to Michele reminds me of listening to my mom. And the power of hearing someone’s voice on the air, even if you don’t know them — if they’re talking about something that matters to you, they could really make a difference in your life because you feel like they’re talking to you.

Maybe that’s why the The Carter Center audience was so reverent in Michele’s presence. Yes, she’s an expert in her field, a beacon for journalists everywhere, and her voice touches millions. But more importantly, you just know she doesn’t take that lightly. And the respect she has for that kind power, the kind of attention she gets — it means something to the rest of us. It means that just as much as we admire her, she’s kind of blown away by us, the listeners, too. And maybe, when you’re doing the talking, that’s the thing to keep in mind — the listeners have the most to say.

By Osayi | Posted in Check This, Inspiration, SCAD, | Tagged NPR, The Carter Center, WABE | Comments Off

So many people

Sep 30, 2010

My cup runneth over!

There are so many things going on at SCAD I can barely keep up with it all. That’s a good problem to have. Last week we had a visiting writer-in-residence at Ivy Hall. Noted journalist Adam Penenberg came south from New York to dazzle us with lots of info on new media, technology in writing and the enormity of social networking.

Isn’t he sweet? He has a ridiculous amount of credits, and if you’ve read any of these publications in the past few years, you have been graced with his work:

Fast Company

Forbes

The New York Times

Tech Crunch

Wired

Last year Adam (first-name basis now, obviously) wrote Viral Loop: From Facebook to Twitter, How Today’s Smartest Businesses Grow Themselves.

Although I love to Facebook and Tweet, I wouldn’t fancy myself particularly curious about the behind-the-scenes world of social networking. So I was surprised to find myself fascinated by this book. Adam writes a compelling narrative and he only references graphs and math a couple of times. I dropped calculus for a reason folks.

The “viral loop” he defines is the way companies like Facebook have been able to grow so quickly and generate so much money. He takes it back to the beginning – wanna guess what the first major viral company in the US was?

Isn’t that something? All because of one little lady named Bonnie Wise. It’s all about the Tupperware party, apparently still going strong in Latin America and Asia.

Adam was a lot of fun, he talked about writing in the new media arena and encouraged all of us to find a niche and run with it. His book and the world we live in make it clear – if you want it, there’s a platform available to you so go out and grab it and be great. Hearing a perspective that the glass is half-full can make a world of difference.

You can follow Adam Penenberg on Twitter here, and check out his other projects (like a new Facebook app that establishes your FB worth) here.

By Osayi | Posted in SCAD, | Tagged SCAD Ivy Hall | Comments Off

Welcome, Sartorialist

Sep 17, 2010

Do you know the Sartorialist? If not, allow me to make an introduction. In 2005, Scott Schuman started taking pictures of people with an inspiring style on the streets of New York.

source

Having worked in fashion sales for years, he’d developed quite the eye for a great “look.” His photos make me want to move to to New York, which is saying a lot. They also make me want to go shopping, which is more than I can say for a lot of catalogs these days. Real people (are New Yorkers real people?) have such amazing style. Last year he released a book with select images. Que bella.

Some of the images are just stunning (he doesn’t favor re-posting them, so check the site). I wonder, is it stressful, knowing you may be captured on camera by the Sartorialist when you leave your house each day? Is it worse if you see him on the street, and he doesn’t bother to ask you for a photo? All questions you can ask him yourself, I suppose – he’s in town for a visit – one night only!

Hagedorn Foundation Gallery
The Galleries of Peachtree Hills
425 Peachtree Hills Ave #25
Atlanta, GA 30305
Date: Friday, September 17
Time: 7:00PM – 10:00PM
FREE and open to the public

He’s speaking to the students at SCAD Atlanta this morning, and we are all so excited. I don’t know that I’m in my Sunday best, but you know, I look kinda cute.

By Osayi | Posted in SCAD, | Tagged Fashion, Garance Doré, Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist | Comments (3)

All hail The Dukes of September

Sep 09, 2010

I had this dream.

In my dream, it was a warm and breezy Atlanta summer night, and I was seated in an open-air amphitheater, an array of instruments lining a dark stage. Around me were several hundred people all expectantly waiting for a little piece of history to take place. After some time, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs would grace the stage singing songs that inspired them along with their own hits. I was so happy I could burst.

Then this group of loud, rowdy, pearl-toting women spilled enough red wine to rival a TV crime scene and it suddenly hit me — not dreaming! “Oh, I’m so tipsy Caroline!” No. You are not tipsy. You, my dear, moms-having-a-night-out group, are drunk off your ass. But it didn’t matter. What a magical show!

We’ve already established my penchant for music of a certain era. Fagen, McDonald, and Scaggs are on tour together through October, and when I heard on the radio that they were coming to Atlanta, I literally had to pull over. In addition to some of their own tunes, they were going to perform the R&B/pop songs that inspired them when they were coming up.

That’s some good music:

Ray Charles — I’ve Got News for You (1961)
Beach Boys — Help Me Rhonda (1965)
Aretha Franklin — Rock Steady (1971)
The O’Jays — Love Train (1973)

Just to name a few.

This wasn’t your regular line-up, one performer after the other. The Dukes were promising a revue, the likes of which people my age and younger have probably never seen. Musicians and singers of decades past would not just tour together, but actually perform together as an ensemble. Each one supporting the other’s song, interacting on stage, and so on. I mean, all these years I’ve been able to pull out Michael McDonald’s voice in Steely Dan’s background vocals. But how often do you get to see them on stage at the same time?

Some time ago I wrote about the outstanding musicians I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know through my aunt Patrice. Her peers who have written, produced, performed with/for/in front of thousands and thousands, and are the best in the business at it. Surely one of these dynamic individuals would know someone on the show or better yet be on the tour itself. Surely! Enter Ready Freddie Washington.

Here’s a clip of Freddie playing bass with The Crusaders at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

We heart Freddie. You do too, he co-wrote Forget Me Nots and a slew of other tunes with Patrice. Let me just say, I literally cannot go to a dance club anywhere without hearing one of their songs. It’s a little freaky actually, Boston, San Francisco, New York, they’re everywhere! Anyway, the Dukes are lucky enough to have him playing bass on the show, and presto change-o Darryl and I were front and center. We got to hang out a bit afterwards, too.

You know, I might have been the youngest person attending the concert. What can I say, I have an old soul. Seeing these guys was like reminding me of the good times I never had, or maybe had in past life. It was a blast. Sorry for lack of photos, no cameras allowed.

The evening was full of awesome music, lots of laughter and a few special treats I can’t share right now, but all in good time. The Dukes of September are headed west so catch them if you can!

By Osayi | Posted in Music, Outings, | Tagged Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagen, Freddie Washington, Michael McDonald, Music | Comments Off

Southern Sushi

Jun 30, 2010

You may have seen last week’s DailyCandy Atlanta newsletter, referencing the solo debut of Augusta Hyland’s work in West Midtown. She’s a painter out of Mobile, AL who studied at UGA. Three reasons why I dig her:

Sushi on oil and canvas? Um, please, can we hang out?

I was this close to attending the opening reception for “With A Side of Ginger” at CherryLion Studios a couple of weeks ago, but previously-scheduled dancing plans intervened.

Not to worry, fate was on my side. Yesterday, I attended a reception for incoming graduate students at SCAD Atlanta. Guess who I had the pleasure of meeting? Augusta herself! She was dazzling in a gorgeous floral scarf, which I of course had to comment on (only superfly people can wear scarves in the throes of Atlanta’s hottest summer ever and still look amazing).

That prompted a little discussion and I soon figured out who she was. Augusta will be starting the Master of Fine Arts in painting when I start mine in writing. We are both clamoring for September 13 (first day of classes).

In the meantime, Augusta is giving me some inspiration with her daily painting routine. Check out her blog — she works on commission!

I’ll be making my way over to CherryLion to see “With A Side of Ginger” in person this weekend. It’s open until July 8. Take a look-see for yourself!

With a Side of Ginger by Augusta Hyland
June 18 – July 8
CherryLion Studios
889 Morris Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
www.cherrylion.com
404.350.4040

By Osayi | Posted in Outings, SCAD, Visual Art, | Tagged Augusta Hyland, SCAD, Sushi | Comments Off

Coming this fall

Apr 27, 2010

I just realized after all of my hand-wringing, I didn’t share the good news — I was accepted into the Writing Master of Fine Arts program at Savannah College of Art and Design!

I start this September, and I just can’t wait.

I’m looking forward to spending a great deal of time at the main campus on Peachtree.

(source)

And here:

Ivy Hall (source)

SCAD has campuses in Savannah, Atlanta, France, and Hong Kong. I’ll be in Atlanta, but I would love to take an excursion here or there. The writing center is a beautiful historical building in Midtown called Ivy Hall. You can read all about the amazing restoration of this 128-year old building here and get more details on the history, tours and upcoming events href=”http://www.artofrestoration.org/ivyhall/ivyhall.cfm”>here.

You can get it on some of the exciting events happening at SCAD Style Week – April 26-May 6. Free lectures, panels, book-signings and talks with successful professionals from various ends of the art industry.

I’m particularly interested in Why One-of-a-Kind Matters, a panel discussion featuring Vanessa Bertozzi, Director of Communications for Etsy. Wanna join? Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 12:30 pm, SCAD Atlanta Welcome Center.

This week I’m focusing on how to best prepare for my re-entry into academia. I’ve set up a writing schedule for my military project and have some upcoming interviews and (self-imposed) research deadlines to meet. I also have the pleasure of meeting with a couple of professors, who I can’t wait to get to know better. So nice to live with purpose and direction. I love when things fall into place. Just about makes up for the times it feels like nothing is working. I’m on a mission!

By Osayi | Posted in Military, Process, Projects, SCAD, | Comments (6)

Vintage Fillmore comes to Atlanta

Apr 12, 2010

This weekend had “wonderfully fulfilling/random gallery experiences” written all over it. I’ll share one now, and the other later this week.

I’d heard about the David Johnson exhibit, but as is usually the case with such things, it escaped my mind. A last-minute trip to A Cappella Books next door found me entering the doors of The Opal Gallery in Little 5 Points.

photo credit: David Johnson

Mr. Johnson himself was in attendance a few weeks ago at the gallery, talking about his photography. (Sadly, I missed it.) He moved from Jacksonville, FL in the mid 1940s to San Francisco, California and studied under the venerated Ansel Adams at the California School of Fine Arts (now known as the San Francisco Art Institute). Johnson was Adam’s protege, and first black student.

Johnson settled in the Fillmore District as part of the Second Great Migration of blacks migrating from the South out West after WWII. This migration included millions of mostly skilled workers seeking better education and career opportunities and you know, non-segregated public spaces and just less (if any) persecution in general. People just want to live. The Fillmore, as it’s still known, quickly became the Harlem of the West. Are you surprised?