1st Impressions Studio is a really DOPE photography and videography company which was established in 2007.  These young photographers Jaime A., Dudley C., and Wanthy D. are delivering quality work here in the DMV with artists like Wale, Phil Ade, Raheem Devaughn, RaTheMC and so many others.

This team enjoys conducting research on how to develop top notch music and advertising videos.

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Check out our snowman that my brothers and I did. See the page on NBC4 Washington’s Website. Everyone go out and enjoy this snow!

Meet Jennifer Lo, a young woman making a name for herself in Washington, DC art scene.  With the stroke of her paintbrush, she helps raise money for local foundations and creates awareness of abstract beauty amongst the political elite. “DC is actually a great place to create your own scene,” she explains.  “There isn’t a fight to be apart of something that has already been established.”

Jennifer, whose main bodies of work include abstract and portraiture art, graduated from the University of Maryland in 2004 and then went on to study at the University of Hawaii.  There, she worked on wooden sculptures and various forms of 3 dimensional art, but she quickly came home to put her focus back on her first love – the canvas.  When asked about how she got her start, she says, “I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember.  Some people choose their careers in life, but art chose me”

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Left to Right: Boom, Go Go Rob, KK, Crazy Legs

Originality. It is something very rare to find in today’s world where we often see one-hit-wonders, short-lived fads, and shallow creativity being passed off as entertainment or art. But since the “Beat yo Feet” dance craze first arrived in DC Go Gos in the late 90’s, it has been a significant part of urban DC culture for its unique and very original style. Now, a group of seasoned pros of the dance, Da Originalz, bring new excitement to “Beat Yo Feet”, as well as a variety of other classic Go Go dances. The members of the group are Crazy Legs, Tim, KK, and Go Go Rob. Also featured in our video interview with Da Originalz is Boom, one of the legends of the Beat Ya Feet dance along with its founder, Slush (R.I.P).

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Photos by Southside Henny

If you would’ve asked Tasha Robinson anything about make-up 10 years ago, she probably would’ve laughed in your face.  Growing up as a tomboy in Northern Virginia, being glamorous would’ve been the last thing on her mind.  But it was one fateful trip to a M.A.C make-up counter back in 2001, at the age 22, that she discovered her new love and natural talent for make-up artistry; which eventually led her to launch her business, Playing in Paint, earlier this year. “I’ve always had a unique sense of style,” Tasha explains.  “I’ve always just wanted to be different from everyone else.  I’m not a girly-girl but I love to play in paint.”
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It can be assured that the sense of sight is by far one that is underestimated and unappreciated by many. We all tend to forget that the perception we have of people, places, or things is credited largely to what we see with our own two eyes. But what if one could harness the imagination and creativity needed to manipulate the things we see – the ability to decide how we will perceive? Yes, it is true that we can define such people as artists, but not every “artist” has been able to keep up with the technological innovations of today. Today, graphic designers outlive many traditional artists, using their CPU’s as a tool to create. Let’s face it; we have come a long way from water colors and canvases – not to mention the limitations that lie within a picture frame.

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DMV’s own Beat Ya Feet Kings are on this season of “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV. Check out our exclusive interview with the Kings before they made it on the show! http://amadimag.com/blogosphere/?p=474

Don’t forget to watch them each week on America’s Best Dance Crew. Sunday nights at 9PM ET on MTV. Check out their video!

Week 1 Performance:

There’s something to be said about a person who has a dream.  There’s even more to be said about two people, with the same dream, who come to together and follow it.  Meet Jason Reynolds, the writer and poet,  and Jason Griffin, the artist.  The two came together to create their artistic journey within their new book, My Name is Jason,  Mine Too.  Our Story. Our Way.  It’s the story - their own story - of how the Big Apple beat down and built up two young men from the Maryland suburbs.

The Jasons’ first project together was a coffee table styled book, titled Self,  a book they self published and spent tens of thousands of dollars of their own money (and credit) to produce.  They took this work and left for New York City to find a literary agent.  Doors were constantly slammed in their faces as agencies told them that their hard work would not sell in stores. 
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