Video: Kehinde Wiley – “The World Stage: Israel

We got a short documentary film detailing New York- based portrait painter Kehinde Wiley's travel’s to Israel for the latest addition to his "The World Stage" series, "The World Stage: Israel".  I’ve been trying to make it over to the Jewish Museum in New York where the collection of works is currently on display through July 29, 2012 but haven’t had the chance yet.  The 9 minute video focuses on Kihinde’s interaction with local Israeli youth, the apparent connection with African American culture, specifically hip hop, and Diasporic identities of Ethiopian Jews. Kehinde is a master painter so it’s a treat to be able to get a peak at his thought process and inspiration, enjoy….

Kehinde Wiley - “Mukat Brhan” 2011, oil and Gold Enamel on Canvas.

Video: Cover Art Shoot For Santigold's Master of My Make-Believe

Here at Onomatopoeia we like to mix things up a bit, a little bit of art, a little bit of music and more, so when some of these things can come together for a story it’s always exciting.

Santigold has offered a look at the cover of her forthcoming album, Master of My Make-Believe, out May 1 on Downtown/Atlantic.  Via The New York Times' T Style blog, the cover, shot by photographer Jason Schmidt, pictures four versions of Santi White. Santi appears in the center of the photograph as a Mafia boss, which she described to the Times as "some sort of ruler in my own reality." At the character's sides, she appears twice as twin guards, wearing gold bodysuits designed specifically for the shoot by Alexander Wang. And hovering above, Santi #4 is a painting by one our favorite painters out there, Kehinde Wiley, inspired by 18th century artist Joshua Reynolds' "Portrait of an Officer". Check out a behind-the-scenes clip documenting the process of the shoot below…