The initial impetus for the award came after I received an electronic invitation to the opening of Jason Eskenazi’s “Wonderland: A Fairytale of the Soviet Monolith.”  I am familiar with Jason’s work and knew that it wasn’t receiving the attention it deserved so I spontaneously gave him this award and forwarded the email to everyone on my list.

I told Derek Stroup the story of how I made up this award and he laughed.  He was very encouraging and said, “Just keep doing it, the next thing you know people will be sending you their portfolios.”

A month or so later, Jay Nubile happened to send me a You Tube link to a video he and Toby Kaplowitz made for an experimental video workshop.  I tried giving him five stars but the You Tube software had a bug in it and only three stars were given!  This made me mad so I gave Jay what he rightfully deserved -– 6 GOLD STARS ******!

The idea stems partially from my discomfort with traditional media’s methodology for reviewing books, films, art, etc.  I feel these large entities have too much power over what is promoted nationally.  How often does the New York Times review a photography or multimedia book?????  Most of the decisions to review something are coming from editors with an expertise only in writing and editing text.  The visual arts are so dominant in our society yet only a handful of these editors have a strong background in this area.

I’ve always had complex feelings about awards because they foster competition and if someone doesn’t win, the individual often feels sad.  I’m not a person who likes competition or believes people need to be validated by awards, especially in journalism, photography and the arts.  However, awards often promote stuff that might go unnoticed and the psychology behind an award is still very powerful……so the intent is for this to be a friendly, quirky, happy, nice award.

The name of the 6 GOLD STAR AWARD is derived from my early pre-internet days in photography when I used to star my favorite slides so the editors would know which ones to choose.  The best slides were exuberantly given numerous stars.  Despite my not so subtle efforts, these editors have a mind of their own and often choose photographs I don’t want published.  As anyone in field of communications knows these listening skill problems persist to this very day.

And of course….we can’t forget our days in elementary school when we eagerly awaited our gold stars.

——— STEVE LEHMAN

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Chris Erikson and The Kai Babies Pull Down An SL6™ for Their Song NO!

Chris Erikson and the Kai Babies Win a Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award for their song NO!

This song makes me laugh!  There's market for funny kid songs like this.  They're sitting on a goldmine.  There's real money in that space.  Chris and his kids should make an album.

I've know Chris since Kindergarten.  I remember him turning me onto albums (jefferson airplane, the mamas and the papas, doobie brothers, etc.) when were about six.  He always loved music and is getting buzz............his album Lost Track of Time was just named one of the 50 best of 2012!!!!!!



Last Resort Wins the SL6™ for being a Fascinating Television Show.

Last Resort wins the Steve Lehman Six Gold Star Award being a Fascinating Television Show. 



I like this show a lot. The psychology of it is fascinating. It's probably the best written TV show about the military I've seen. I love the concept, strategy, suspense, and complex moral questions, etc. I can't believe ABC is not renewing it!!!! Shows like this are the future.....they should keep it going.  It's cerebral and formulaic at the same time.  The network is afraid to let go, pull out all stops and make this show great.  They are almost there but need 15 to 25% more effort.



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Jules Mattsson Wins the SL6™ for Standing up for Free Speech

I herby give Jules Mattsson the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award for Standing up for Free Speech. I love this kid! You go get 'em Jules!!!!!! I love the fight in this 15 year old. Thankfully there are still some people in the world like him. It gives me some hope. He has greatness in him.



At just 15 years old, Jules Mattson, was photographing a military parade in the United Kingdom. Jules broke no laws. In an attempt to control information and increase their power, the police/government bullied, intimidated, and arrested Jules because he was a photographer. He valiantly stood up to authoritarianism and defended his right to free speech. After he was released from police custody, he stuck to his principles and fought for justice. He received an apology and was awarded a undisclosed settlement from the police. It's hard to take money off the cops. To reach in their pocket and give them a giant fuck you is hard. We need that lawyer of yours over here too!

I love how he shoved it up those cops ass for fucking with him. I can't stand when the police flagrantly break the law and waste taxpayer money. I want every New York photographer up the cops asses as hard as Jules for violating the First Amendment. That's what I want out of all the artists and photographers. That's what I want see....tough on artists' rights issues.

Three cheers for Jules. If you are ever in America you have place to stay. We like you. You go Jules. You made a name for yourself. You have a seat at the table in the world of photography. We don't want loser, REMF types, slithering around cheating people. We want passionate, idealists like you. This kid got some heart! Amen brother! Thank you.


http://www.pixiq.com/article/teenage-photographer-wins-settlement-from-london-policee

http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=1107

http://blog.julesmattsson.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/groups/artistsrightsnow/

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/you-have-every-right-photograph-cop

http://gothamist.com/2011/12/12/video_nypd_blocks_credentialed_phot.php

http://www.pixiq.com/article/nypd-continues-its-rampage

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Robert Stolarik Wins the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award™ for Standing up for the First Amendment.

Hurray For Robert! I love the feist in him. I love it. I hereby give Robert Stolarik the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award™ for Standing Up for the First Amendment.

Over last several years the police have been interfering with photographers/artists' photographing in public places. It came to a head when photographers covering the Occupy Wall Street Movement were attacked in New York City.

After protests from media organizations, NYPD refused to stop violating photographers' first amendment rights. In the video below you can clearly see how Robert Stolarik's stands up to police who bullied, intimidated, harassed, and assaulted him. He and others were targeted because they were photographers.





For more information, please see the following links:

http://gothamist.com/2011/12/12/video_nypd_blocks_credentialed_phot.php

http://www.facebook.com/groups/artistsrightsnow/

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/you-have-every-right-photograph-cop

http://www.pixiq.com/article/nypd-continues-its-rampage

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Timothy Alexander Wallace Wins The SL6 For Being A Great Pianist and Creating An Incredible Listening Environment!

Timothy Alexander Wallace wins the SL6 for being a Great Pianist and Creating An Incredible Listening Environment. This man has a great ear and great eye. Timothy has created a wonderful music experience in a beautifully decorated music salon. He is on to something special, this is the new way to listen music! 10 to to 30 people in intimate surroundings....enough of the huge concert hall. This is lightening in a bottle. Hurray! there's something cool in Connecticut. Torrington has a budding music scene, there's interesting stuff happening there.

Studio 59
59 Barber Street
Torrington, CT
860-482-6801
s t u d i o 5 9 m u s i c @ g m a i l . c o m
http://www.studio59ct.com/

Monday, September 13, 2010

Randy Moss Wins SL6 Great Wide Receiver Award.

Randy I appreciate you. You're a great receiver! I'm happy you're playing with the Patriots. You also help sell tickets and get people to watch on TV. Don't wory, I hear what your saying...the man ain't treating you well.

http://www.therealrandymoss.com/


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Moss

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Elyse Butler Wins SL6 for Being a Great Young Photographer

Elyse Butler Wins the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award for Being a Great Young Photographer! this woman has an interesting eye. If you look at tons and tons of photography it can all start to look the same after a while. Elyse's work makes me pause and look. Congratulations Elyse!!!

Her photography collective Aeveum (Chris Cappozella, Matt Mallans, Andrew Henderson, Yoon Byun) is doing some cool things too. These young photographers seem sincere, committed and passionate. They're a lot nicer, less conniving and jaded then some of these old &%$#*@'s who would sell their own mother for a picture. It seems like they actually care about people.

http://www.elysebutler.com
http://www.aevumphoto.com/

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Reggie Wins Bush the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award for Being My Favorite College Football Player.

Reggie Bush is expected to be stripped of his Heisman Trophy for receiving improper benefits. I think this is bull so in support I'm giving him the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award™ for Being My Favorite College Football Player. No one could run like him.

This is a huge issue. College sports is big business. College athletes make millions of dollars for the big schools and the NCAA yet they go unpaid. They're nearly the equivalent of professionals athletes. Being a college football player at a big university is a job. The NCAA and the big universities are very exploitative of these young men. So what if Reggie Bush received some gifts? The NCAA and USC were ripping him off. They were cheating him! The NCAA wanted him to work for free. Reggie essentially said, "blank off" to that idea. It's a legitimate statement for a young person to make. He was the guy that sold tickets and got people to watch on TV. I watch college football because of Reggie Bush and other great players not some shady NCAA official who figured out a way to get free labor from kids. He even got my mother to watch a college football game. What's the monetary value of that?

Reggie Bush was a poor kid and could have been injured at any time. Do remember Da'Sean Butler of West Virginia who blew out his knee in the final four last year? Did the NCAA have workers compensation insurance for him? or insurance to cover injuries that would prevent him from working as a professional athlete or shorten his career? Do they have insurance to cover the emotional trauma of major injuries? Does the NCAA care about him now that the game is over? The NCAA is dubious. You don't need to be Einstein to figure that one out. There's too much money in college sports not to debate athletes receiving compensation. The Universities and TV want all the money for themselves. This whole issue is very complicated because what happens when you start paying the kids? There's a lot of problems with that as well. This is Pandora's box.

http://www.reggiebush.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Bush

Monday, September 6, 2010

Ashley Tsai Wins the SL6 for her Stop Motion Video

MIR Sustainable Homes Stop-motion from Students of the World on Vimeo.


Ashley Tsai Wins the SL6 For Her Stop Motion Video. I was impressed by this video, Ashley is on to something. She's only a freshman in college and put this together. I'm happy to give her this award while it's helpful not 10 years later when she doesn't need it.

One of the reasons I created this award is because of my early experiences in college and starting out as an artist. The administration and faculty at Duke are often disrespectful of people with creative gifts. They have a limited understanding of creativity and its value. As a student and alumni I found them arrogant, rude and not very helpful. I didn't like it and I try to be nice and help people because of it. At Duke, the administration and faculty are not good with positive reinforcement. It's a big issue there.

http://www.ashleytsaiphotography.com
http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

Best Blueberries Ever Award goes to Riiska Brook Orchard

Riiska Brook Farms win the Steve Lehman 6 Gold Star Award for the Best Blueberries Ever. Riiska blueberries are the best I ever had. Fat, juicy and sweet. They are tasty. Go get some.


Additional Information:
Riiska Brook Orchard is based in Sandisfield MA. They feature over 10 varieties of apples ranging from Macs, Fujis and Braeburns. You can pick your own or buy them in the store. Blueberries and Pumpkins also available.
Open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9am-5pm.

101 New Hartford Rd. Sandisfield MA 01255
Phone 413-258-4761

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154952639400