ATX Digital Photography

08/31/2024

Opal Lee, the longtime civil rights leader and grandmother of Juneteenth will speak at the Harriet Tubman sculpture farewell ceremony on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the Kerr Community Center in Bastrop at 5:30 pm. Wesley Wolford, the sculpture artist has exhibited it in many prominent locations, but this is the first time it will have been hosted in Texas.

The 2,400-pound "Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom” powerful sculpture will leave Bastrop Texas and continue on its nationwide tour following the farewell ceremony and presentation from Opal Lee, who will celebrate her 98th birthday on October 7.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

08/28/2024

Barry Manilow is performing his last Sugarland concert at the Smart Financial Centre on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. This tour is called The Last Concerts, has included more than a dozen cities in 2024, and Sugarland Texas is one of the final stops before Manilow returns to his long-running residency in Las Vegas in 2025.

Barry Manilow (81), born on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, is an iconic American singer-songwriter, musician, and producer renowned for his captivating voice and timeless melodies. From an early age, Manilow showed a prodigious talent for music, learning to play the accordion and piano as a child. His passion for music led him to study at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music while also working in the mailroom at CBS to support himself.
Manilow's breakthrough came in the early 1970s when he began working as a pianist, arranger, and musical director for Bette Midler. His collaboration with Midler catapulted him into the spotlight, and he soon embarked on a solo career. In 1973, Manilow released his debut album, self-titled "Barry Manilow," which included the hit single "Mandy." The song topped the charts and marked the beginning of Manilow's meteoric rise to fame. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Manilow dominated the music scene with a string of chart-topping hits, including "Copacabana (At the Copa)," "Can't Smile Without You," and "Looks Like We Made It" along with iconic jingles for State Farm, KFC and McDonald’s. His distinctive voice, heartfelt lyrics, and lush orchestrations endeared him to millions of fans worldwide, earning him the title of "The King of Soft Rock" and cementing his status as a pop music icon. In addition to his success as a recording artist, Manilow is also a prolific songwriter and producer, having penned numerous songs for himself and other artists. He has received countless awards and accolades throughout his career, including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, and Emmy Awards. Furthermore, Manilow's philanthropic efforts have made a significant impact, particularly through his work with organizations like the American Heart Association and the National Music Council.

Today, Barry Manilow continues to captivate audiences with his unforgettable performances and timeless music. With a career spanning over five decades, he remains one of the most beloved and enduring figures in the history of popular music, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of music lovers around the world.

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

07/29/2024

President Joe Biden spoke at the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Presidential Library on Monday, July 29, 2024. When Biden arrived on stage, he received a standing ovation for close to a minute from the packed auditorium. The presentation was rescheduled today from the initially scheduled date of July 15.

During President Joe Biden’s keynote address at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Biden praised three landmark pieces of legislation passed during the Johnson administration: The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act, and the Fair Housing Act. Biden stated, “Taken together, these three acts have made this nation fundamentally fairer, fundamentally more just and, most importantly, fundamentally more consistent with our founding principles,” President Biden said to a standing-room-only applause. He also said that more recent iterations of the court had “eviscerated” efforts from affirmative action to voting rights, and warned that another Trump presidency would push the court into more extreme territory.

This is Biden’s first public appearance since he ended his presidential campaign last week.

Huston-Tillotson University Concert Choir had a musical performance featuring Ruthie Foster before Biden's presentation.

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

President Joe Biden

07/29/2024

Duke Fakir, the founding member and last surviving member of The Four Tops, passed away at 88. He left a seven-decade legacy in music. The Four Tops is one of the original Motown groups signed in the 60s.
Fakir died of heart failure in Detroit at this home on Monday, July 22, 2024, surrounded by his wife Piper, and loved ones, according to a statement provided by a spokesperson for the family.
In 2022, Fakir released his memoir “I’ll Be There: My Life With the Four Tops.”
Thank you, Duke, for allowing me to photograph the Four Tops during their performance in Austin in 2022 and to photograph the group backstage. I will never forget it. Rest in peace, Duke.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

07/07/2024

Vice President Kamala Harris, had a 30-minute presentation at the 30th annual Essence Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, July 6, 2024. This was her 3rd consecutive appearance to a packed house at the festival. Harris talked about several issues but the main theme was to get Black people to vote in the upcoming election.
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

07/06/2024

This panel spoke about Black wealth and the lack of it. Good panel discussion. Look for a short video of the discusdion.

07/06/2024

We had an exciting first day of activities at the Essence Festival of Culture in the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Here are some panel discussions, people in the crowd, and professionals providing their services for free.

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

07/05/2024

Tank, Kenny Latimore, and Jaye Valentine at Essence on the AT&T stage.

07/01/2024

Nikki Giovanni (born June 7, 1943) headlined the 18th Annual Austin African American Book Festival on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center located at 1165 Angelina Street in Austin, Texas, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Giovanni spoke at 11:00 am. Giovanni discussed her life and work with Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston.

Giovanni has won numerous awards, including the NAACP Image Award. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Giovanni was also named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends". Happy belated birthday to Nikki Giovanni!

This year’s festival, Under the theme “Black Feeling, Black Talk: Activism in Poetry and Prose,” the festival highlighted the transformative power of the arts to foster growth and connection in our community.
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

07/01/2024

Nikki Giovanni (born June 7, 1943) headlined the 18th Annual Austin African American Book Festival on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center located at 1165 Angelina Street in Austin, Texas, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Giovanni spoke at 11:00 am. Giovanni will discuss her life and work with Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston. In this video, Nikki Giovanni speaks about Black Women in Space.
Giovanni has won numerous awards, including the NAACP Image Award. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Giovanni was also named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends". Happy belated birthday to Nikki Giovanni!
This year’s festival, Under the theme “Black Feeling, Black Talk: Activism in Poetry and Prose,” the festival highlighted the transformative power of the arts to foster growth and connection in our community.
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

06/29/2024

.Nikki Giovanni (born June 7, 1943) headlined the 18th Annual Austin African American Book Festival on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Carver Museum and Carver Library located at 1165 Angelina Street in Austin, Texas, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Giovanni is scheduled to speak at 11:00 am. Giovanni will discuss her life and work with Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston.

Giovanni has won numerous awards, including the NAACP Image Award. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Giovanni was also named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends".[

This year’s festival, Under the theme “Black Feeling, Black Talk: Activism in Poetry and Prose,” the festival will highlight the transformative power of the arts to foster growth and connection in our community.
George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

06/24/2024

The historic Black neighborhood of Montopolis in southeast Austin celebrated Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Montopolis Proud celebrated its second annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Montopolis Recreation Center located at 1200 Montopolis Drive. There was live music, performances, food, raffles, family-friendly activities, dancing, vendors, and much more. The non-profit group, RE-Claim! also performed at the Montopolis Juneteenth Celebration.

The old Montopolis Negro School was also open to tour at 500 Montopolis Drive from 8:00 to 10:00 am. The old Montopolis Negro opened in 1892 and closed in 1962. This two-room school produced teachers, engineers, preachers, millionaires, and entrepreneurs. This was a fun event that included historical information about the Montopolis neighborhood! The organizers did an awesome job planning this event.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

06/23/2024

The Black Land Matters Symposium was held at the Austin Energy headquarters at 4815 Mueller on June 14, 2024, from 2 pm to 5 pm. The featured speakers were Shirley Sherrod of New Communities Inc., and Natalie Baszile, author and writer of Queen Sugar, along with community voices and local leaders, including Jennifer Sanders (KXAN), David Gray (City of Austin), Nefertiti Jackmon (City of Austin), and Javier Wallace (Black Austin Tours) The new city manager spoke for a few minutes before he had to attend another event. “Land ownership is power” stated Baszile. The general theme of the Black Land Symposium was the importance and value of Black people owning and holding onto land. Black people must own more land because it was mentioned at the symposium that if the current trend continues, Black people will own very little land by 2052.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved
Nokoa The Observer

06/23/2024

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

Boney James had a soulful performance at the Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Boney James stated after he heard Grover Washington's Mr. Magic, he was convinced to play the sax. James performed Mr. Magic for about a minute along with Sweet Thing and Detour from his new CD. James also performed the smooth and relaxing song, "Butter" and an array of songs from his 18 albums. Black people showed up and showed out for this smooth jazz event at the Paramount Theatre. We need to have more of these events in Austin.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

05/30/2024

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

Disney’s Frozen, a Tony®-nominated musical will play a 10-day premiere engagement at Bass Concert Hall beginning Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with performances playing through Sunday, June 16, 2024. Disney’s Frozen will play Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 1 and 6:30 pm. There will be an additional matinee on Thursday,
June 13 at 1 pm.

The story centers on the relationship between two sisters who are princesses, Elsa and Anna. Elsa has magical powers to freeze objects and people, which she does not know how to control. After inheriting the throne, Elsa flees, inadvertently causing the kingdom to become frozen in an eternal winter, and nearly kills her sister. She must sacrifice and show true love to save the day.

This production is by the Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart, and
Thomas Schumacher, and Texas Performing Arts.

Tickets are available at texasperformingarts.org and BroadwayinAustin.com, by
phone at (512) 477-1444, or from the Texas Performing Arts ticket office at Bass Concert
Hall.

05/24/2024

The Essence Festival lineup has been posted this month. Check it out!

05/23/2024

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is Apple Music's number one top 10 album of all time. This is one of the few albums that every song was good. They are correct, this record is amazing. I own the double album and several copies of the CD. Yeah, I still listen to albums and CDs.

Michael Jackson's Thriller is the number two album. As they stated, seven of the nine original cuts were top 10 singles. It is the highest-selling album of all time. The album sold over 100 million albums and is still selling. The effort put into the music video Thriller was just mind-boggling. Jackson was so musically talented. He always set the bar high. If anyone left us too soon, it was Michael Jackson!

If you are old enough to remember the Beatles' Abbey Road, then you already know about this timeless album. One song after another was good in September 1969. Come together, right now, over me, chorus line is one of my favorites. People are constantly trying to duplicate the Abbey Road, London album cover.

Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution released in 1984 is Apple's number four album. Prince did everything on his albums. He played the instruments, he wrote the songs and then he sang too. Purple Rain sold over 25 million copies. Just when you thought what else could Prince from Minneapolis do, he appeared in the Purple Rain movie. Purple Rain grossed over 70 million dollars. The budget was only 7 million! Prince was another talented artist who left us too soon.

Please check the link below for the other top 10 and top 100 but before I end this article, I want to mention Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Keys of Life that was released in 1976. It was number six on Apple's Music list. This is 90 minutes of magical music. His music is still relevant today. Love's in Need of Love Today is one of the songs on the album. Stevie Wonder is another artist who plays the piano, writes the songs, plays the harmonica, and boy can he sing. Little Stevie Wonder just had a birthday on May 13. He is 74 years old. I want to wish Stevie Wonder a belated Happy Birthday. Thank you Stevie Wonder for all of your hard work.

Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list culminates today with the reveal of the top 10 albums and “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” crowned No. 1.

05/20/2024

The Austin Civic Wind Ensemble presented Johan De Meu’s Symphony No. 1, “The Lord of The Rings” at the University of Texas Bates Recital Hall on Sunday, May 19, 2024. Robert Laguna is the Conductor and Musical Director. Thomas E. Stowers II is the Assistant Director. It was an awesome performance and Austin Civic Wind Ensemble had a huge round of applause.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

04/30/2024

A lion who would change our lives forever. : The Lion King, in theaters December 20 with Blue Ivy.

A lion who would change our lives forever. : The Lion King, in theaters December 20.“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufa...

04/17/2024

Dr. Cornel West was at the George Washington Carver Museum on April 16, 2024.

In an event poised to resonate through the heart of Austin's vibrant music scene, Dr. Cornel West, Independent Presidential Candidate, extended a warm invitation to the local community for an afternoon of critical dialogue and cultural celebration. Set against the backdrop of the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, a beacon of culture and history in East Austin, this roundtable discussion, titled 'The State of the Music Industry,' will address the pressing issues facing Austin's music community.

As Brother Cornel West has profoundly stated, “Music is the language of the soul, the sound of the collective heart beating together.”' This roundtable is a testament to the campaign’s belief in the transformative power of art, music, and the collective vote in bringing about systemic change. Brother Cornel mentioned many musical artists from the 60’s and 70’s.

Cornel West led the panel discussion with a City Councilmember representative, musician Ray Price, musician Courtney Santana, and venue owner Pedro Carvalho, as they delved into the unique challenges of affordability, labor concerns, and the broader implications for music industry workers in Austin.

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

04/17/2024

Dr. Cornel West was at the George Washington Carver Museum on April 16, 2024.

In an event poised to resonate through the heart of Austin's vibrant music scene, Dr. Cornel West, Independent Presidential Candidate, extended a warm invitation to the local community for an afternoon of critical dialogue and cultural celebration. Set against the backdrop of the George Washington Carver Museum, a beacon of culture and history in East Austin, this roundtable discussion, titled 'The State of the Music Industry,' will address the pressing issues facing Austin's music community.

As Brother Cornel West has profoundly stated, “Music is the language of the soul, the sound of the collective heart beating together.”' This roundtable is a testament to the campaign’s belief in the transformative power of art, music, and the collective vote in bringing about systemic change. Brother Cornel mentioned many musical artists from the 60’s and 70’s.

Cornel West led the panel discussion with a City Councilmember representative, musician Ray Price, musician Courtney Santana, and venue owner Pedro Carvalho, as they delved into the unique challenges of affordability, labor concerns, and the broader implications for music industry workers in Austin.
George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

04/15/2024

This is Kristen Currie and Jim Spencer, KXAN Weather Team, announcing the Kite winners on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the 96th ABC Kite Fest at Zilker Park.
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved
KXAN News

04/13/2024

The Frank Erwin Center (the Drum) is the place where millions of people watched basketball games, concerts, Disney shows, fashion shows, and many other entertaining events since 1977 is in the process of being demolished. In addition to the shell, they must dig 25 feet into the ground to remove everything. The completion date is September 2024.
Once the Erwin Center is demolished and the debris removed, a new University of Texas Medical Center will be built on the site. This is a joint project between UT Austin and MD Anderson Cancer Center according to UT Austin officials.
Here are some quick facts about the demolition from the press release:
The project is budgeted at $25 million. It’s ahead of schedule and under budget.
The project is on schedule for completion in September, but the structure itself will be pulled down in late May. After that, the demo project will involve grading and groundwork.
80% of the material will be recycled.
The demolition was done conventionally using construction equipment, rather than with explosives, for safety purposes and to minimally impact surrounding areas and buildings.

Nokoa The Observer
by Michael Lewis

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved


Frank Erwin Center

04/09/2024

Here are some of my total eclipse images. Due to a lot of clouds, I was only able to capture part of the total eclipse in Fredericksburg, Texas. We were in darkness for almost 4 minutes and 30 seconds. It was a great cosmic experience to have the sky turn completely dark and for the temperature to drop suddenly. Many of us don’t understand all of the things that happen on Earth and in the sky but when we were in darkness for a few minutes in the middle of the afternoon, many people felt and observed this relationship in the sky. This is a beautiful and jubilant earth.

If you missed the total eclipse on April 8, 2024, where the moon passed between the Earth and the sun.
Here are additional chances to catch a glimpse of the eclipse.
The next full solar eclipse, in 2026, will pass over the northern fringes of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.

The next U.S. taste of totality comes in 2033 when an eclipse brushes Alaska and Russia. And in 2044, one will cross Greenland and western Canada, touching swaths of North Dakota and Montana.

An eclipse on the scale of Monday's event won't happen again until Aug. 12, 2045. I plan to photograph the eclipse in 2045.
According to Mary Urquhart, a planetary scientist at the University of Texas at Dallas, “It’s going to go coast to coast and it will be pretty spectacular,”

That eclipse will first greet viewers in Northern California, slicing through Utah, Colorado, and Mississippi on its way to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

A Partial Lunar Eclipse will occur on September 18, 2024, and will be visible over Europe and much of Asia, Africa, North America, and South America.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

03/30/2024

SXSW 2024 featured session included Jane Fonda, David Fenton, and Sweta Chakraborty on Thursday, March 14. The panel discussed climate behavior for most of the 60 minutes with Jane Fonda being the most passionate about it. To sum it up, Fonda believes the United States government is not doing enough about climate change. The standing-room audience had a chance to hear how feisty Fonda, 86 can be when she is passionate about an issue.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

03/26/2024

The City of Austin City Manager Candidate Forum was held for a standing-room-only audience on March 25, 2024. The city of Austin will fill the role of city manager next month.

On Monday evening, finalists T.C. Broadnax, Jr. and Sara Hensley spoke at a “Meet the City Manager Candidates” event. They answered questions about how they would approach the job from Judy Maggio, former KEYE News Anchor.
The event was held at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Events Center on Wilhelmina Delco Drive.

On Tuesday, Broadnax and Hensley will undergo a private interview process hosted by the Austin City Council.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

03/26/2024

This is a future image of downtown Austin next to Ladybird Lake.
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

03/19/2024

Prince Harry is watching his wife, Meghan The Duchess of Sussex during International Women's Day at the 2024 SXSW festival, where she was a speaker on the keynote panel session on Friday, March 8. Seated next to Prince Harry is his best friend, Markus Anderson.
Photo credit: unknown
© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

03/12/2024

Ryan Goslin and Emily Blunt are in Austin for the movie Premiere Fall Guy. He was at the Oscars a few days ago.
Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved

03/11/2024

Keynote session: Sue Bird, Jessica Robertson, and Justine Brown were in Conversation about the Investment and Growth of Women’s Sports on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at SXSW.

© 2024 Michael Lewis Global Photography, All Rights Reserved