Internship Perks: Tony Gleaton

One of the greatest aspects of interning at the NMAAHC are the amazing presentations I get to sit-in on. Prime example being Tony Gleaton. Gleaton gave a presentation about his photography that challenges and transcends the boundaries of the African Diaspora to be truly inclusive of all African descent peoples and not just those connected to the Trans-Atlantic enslavement experience in the United States. He traveled throughout the Americas in the late 90s capturing photos of people within the African Diaspora and they are beautiful. Gleaton also has a collection of photographs dedicated to African American cowboys throughout western North America and his latest work captures the untold stories of the African American narrative that lay in landscapes.

His work is phenomenal, and Gleaton, as an artist is just as inspiring. Very humble, he acknowledged that his work with capturing the African Diaspora during the 90s had its flaws. The people in the photos often did not call themselves African or attributed any part of their heritage or culture to that of Africa, so the term for the collections, Gleaton noted, was more about him ascribing a title to these people, then the people themselves self identifying as such. All photos, he noted, are truly just about the relationship between the photographer and the subject. Gleaton's relationship with self-reflexivity is something that all social scientist can learn from. Now the photos provide a space for dialogue about identity. I look forward to his current project with landscapes. Checkout more HERE!

Foodtruck Festival DC: Truckeroo

so many food trucks! so little money

There is always something to do in DC. I, along with two friends attended the Truckeroo Food Truck Festival, a monthly day of junk food frivolity. Because I failed, yet again, with trying to cut out seafood from my lifestyle I chowed down a crab sandwich from Feelin Crabby. The only thing that made the day better were the sweet potato tots I had on the side from of trucks one dedicated to serving pizza, DC Slices. Running and weight training aside, a day of junk food does the soul good.

so many choices! so little tummy space!

THE crab sandwich

sweet potato tots

Chakula Tayari: Mushroom and Spinach Flatbread

This is one of my quickest meal options that always leaves me wanting more. It proves that anything sauteed with garlic and red onion can do no wrong. Throw in spinach, mushroom, and zucchini and you have magic in your mouth. Throw that one some Trader Joe's Flat Bread with a thick line of garlic hummus and you have dinner.

What you need:

• flat bread
• mushrooms
• spinach
• zucchini
• garlic
• red onion
• your favorite hummus 
• evoo

 Enjoy!