“Rumor del Viento”

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The last performance at Love By Design was singer, songwriter Ka Malinalli along with Leo Aether who’s latest album “Vuelo al Sur“is being released this month. It was getting close to dusk. The audience had thinned out, and volunteers began packing away tables and chairs.  

As part of the Swamp Sistas Songwriters Circle, a gathering of women under the
lead of  Beth McKee, Ka had written a song about the Pulse Tragedy. The song was written in Spanish, so before it was performed, she strummed the chords, as Leo read the translation. With Ka’s permission, I will share it here. 


“Rumor del Viento” (Whispering Wind)


The voices of the ones who fell travel in the whispering wind. 

The loves were silenced under fierce attacks of fire.

Joyful advocates of unconditional equality, transcendental essence of love.

They are victims of hatred deeply embedded in our history, invoking the light of humanity.


The grief of the ones who remain is kept by the whispering wind. 

They keep in their breath the names that inspired a grand movement, of strong defenders of unconditional equality, transcendental essence of love. 

And those who hate without thought,

will be blind as we march together,

beaming with this immense light of humanity.


We’ll be a great mountain. 

We’ll be a great wall. 

We’ll be a great canyon.

The whispering wind will find a refuge in the hearts

of those of us that can still appreciate the time given and look for reason.

And we will transform the songs of love,

into echoes of fight and revolution. 


Sung in Spanish the song was even more beautiful. Looking around, I realized there were only a handful of people experiencing this amazing moment. The lyrics quietly faded away in the early evening breeze. I was so glad that I stayed as long as I did. This song encapsulated the day. My eyes burned as I stood and clapped. There was a quiet beauty in the moment. Creativity flourished even if largely unnoticed.


 

Circa at Love By Design.

Posted on by Thor

In response to the tragedy at Pulse, AIGA Orlando invited the entire city to Love by Design, an event that will inspire and empower us all to stand against discrimination. Even more than a reflection on this tragic event, Love by Design will be an all-day celebration of The City Beautiful’s talent, diversity and resilience. Local artists and designers will donate original work for sale and auction. Food and entertainment will be provided by local musicians and food trucks. Proceeds will benefit OneOrlando, the fund formed by the mayor’s office to respond to the needs of our community in the wake of the Pulse Tragedy.

Circa was a solo act with plenty of heart. What made the performance so endearing was the fact that every song was directed to the performer’s girl friend seat in the front row. She beamed with pride as he sang and he looked he ” the eyes with every romantic note. Perhaps love can someday overcome hate.

I was drinking pear ciders and by this time, my sketches were loose and fluid. I got to enjoy the performance with Ka Malinalli and her daughter. Ka was the next performer in the line up. She referred to her daughter as the “barnacle” since the two of them are inseparable. Little did I know that it would be Ka’s performance that would bring home the meaning of the day’s fundraiser. Her original song “Whispering Wind” written in the make of the Pulse tragedy caused all the emotions to flood back…

Beartoe at Love by Design in the Milk District.

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Love by Design held in the Milk District, (2424 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL) was an all-day celebration of The City Beautiful’s talent, diversity and resilience. Local artists and designers will donate original work for sale and auction. Food and entertainment will be provided by local musicians and food trucks. Proceeds will benefit OneOrlando, the fund formed by the mayor’s office to respond to the needs of our community in the wake of the Pulse Tragedy.

Beartoe was the second band to get on stage a fly I arrived. It was a scorcher with the limited audience sitting under a tent in a parking lot. I was devouring a “Thor” from the Swedish Food Truck. A Thor, is basically a hotdog in a wrap surrounded by mashed potatoes and those crunchiest I usually only experience on Thanksgiving on top of green beans. It was a very filling meal washed down by a pear cider. It felt good knowing that proceeds would go to OneOrlando.

 Beartoe has been writing, performing and touring from The Historical
DeLand florida for over 10 years. With a 4 piece outfit they bring soul,
blues, country and folk together in a powerful way. They are very
quickly becoming recognized as a Florida staple. Look for them on the festival circuits and around
Florida. This is an act you don’t want to miss.

Love by Design in the Milk District.

Posted on by Thor

In response to the tragedy at Pulse, AIGA Orlando created Love by Design, an event that sought to inspire and empower us all to stand against discrimination.  Love By Design was for civic leaders, creative professionals and anyone else who cares about the future of our city. Representatives from the LGBTQ and Muslim communities shared their stories as we all begin the process of healing from our collective heartbreak. Together, we will determine how to move forward as a city that lives with more love every day.

Even more than a reflection on this tragic event, Love by Design was an all-day celebration of The City Beautiful’s talent, diversity and resilience.

Local artists and designers donated original work for sale and auction. Food and entertainment was be provided by local musicians and food trucks. Proceeds will benefit OneOrlando, the fund formed by the mayor’s office to respond to the needs of our community in the wake of the Pulse Tragedy.

AIGA Orlando is a professional association for design and creative professionals. Formed in 2000, the association currently has about 250 members, and grew 68% in 2015 alone. Their mission is to nurture a thriving creative community and serve as a hub for creatives in the area.

When I arrived, Beemo was the first band to get on stage. It was a scorching hot day and [ ordered a pear cider to quench my thirst as I sketched. Anna McCambridge Thomas helped organize the art available for sale. A tent helped keep the small audience coo in the parking lot behind the Milk Bar. Partial proceeds of all drink sales went to the One Orlando fund as well. “Is there light? Is there time? To set our world to right?”