Django Reinhardt: Three-Fingered Lightning

"The Balloon" A short story by Donald Barthelme

This particular story by Donald Barthelme is a perfect example of the power of the written word. How a writer, in just a few pages, can provide a completely fantastic setting, make it sound true, leave you guessing until the end, play games with your mind. From the first sentence, you are presented with an absurd situation. A balloon is expanding in fairytale proportions covering a whole city under it. The writer seems to be in control of this balloon "installation" as much as he is in control of this short story. We are left in the dark as to the meaning of this phenomenon. What we have throughout the story are the technicalities and the reactions of the people of the city to the balloon. The idea brings to my mind the art installations of Christo and Jeanne-Claude where whole buildings are wrapped and presented in their naked form or mass as a pure object. In the story, the writer is very careful not to say more than is needed and you are left wondering, as the story goes on, where and especially how it will all end. I will not spoil the story by giving its conclusion. Suffice it to say that the writing of Donald Barthelme, this master of the short story, should be rediscovered and reassessed.    

Read the story here... (pdf link)

David Uzochukwu: The coming of age of a talented photographer

Some say that ever since photography became digital, it has lost a lot of its magic. When something becomes easy, it starts to slip into the mundane, it becomes repetitive and loses slowly its power as a creative tool. And then, one day, someone comes and rediscovers the hidden potential and the endless possibilities. Someone comes and makes photography difficult again by making it seem effortless. I think it's time I introduced you to David.   

David Ejikeme Uzochukwu is a clever kid.

David Ejikeme Uzochukwu is good at school.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu reads a lot.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu shows signs of maturity way beyond his age.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu has an imagination that knows no bounds. 
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu has a curious spirit.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu looks for ways to express his sensitivity.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu starts to observe carefully.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu discovers photography.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu understands the rules and wants to break them.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu begins to experiment.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu learns the tricks of the trade. 
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu possesses a natural sense of frame and composition.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu decides to re-invent color.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu works equally well with black and white.  
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu discovers the power of the portrait.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu starts to unravel the poetry of the lens.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu begins to understand texture.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu is now taking his first steps into Photography.
David Ejikeme Uzochukwu is just 14 years old. 

And the world should now take note of this boy with the strange name. This is only the beginning...
  

To find the work and follow the progress of David Uzochukwu, please visit one of the following links:

David's site

Flickr

Tumbir