The 99: Islam's first comic book

official website: the99.org/

comics page http://www.the99kids.com/


The 99: The Beginnings
free digital issue via ComiXology.com

"The 99" is a comicbook created by Naif Al-Mutawa, a Kuwaiti psychologist and entrepreneur, about a team of superheroes who's powers stem from the ancient Abbasid Empire. Released in 2006, Al-Mutawa's motivation to create the comic was the lack of positive influence and role-models for his sons. His comic has inspired an animation and even a crossover with the Justice League of America.



The term "99" comes from the 99 attributes of Allah. There are 99 super-powered beings in "the 99". Characters include Jabbar the Powerful, a teen with massive strength, Nor The Light, a girl with telepathic powers.


The 99 them up with the JLA:
digital comic via ComiXology

In direct contrast to "The Infatada Album", a sticker book marketed to children full of bloody images of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, made to fuel conflict and anger; "The 99's" social angle is to provide positive influence to the the Islamic community and the next generation of Islamic children; teaching tolerance and giving them heroes to believe in.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Skeletons" music video Directed by Barney Clay

Yeah Yeah Yeah's song "Skeletons", beautifully directed by director Barney Clay. The hazy black-and-white imagery, inspired by artist Tony Oursler's projection of images onto smoke, perfectly matches the feel and tone of the song, when imbued with Karen O's dancing movements that were inspired by the dance routines of modern dance pioneer Loie Fuller. The end product is a dreamlike experience of both visual and audio proportions.

interview with Barney Clay:

Conan weds same sex couple

Longtime Conan costume designer Scott Cronick and partner David Gorshein were married by none other than Conan O'Brian himself on stage of the set of Conan. Pushing the boundaries and setting a milestone for LGBT everywhere, hopefully sets precedent for the future and things to come.

If you can't occupy Wall Street, keep Wall Street occupied

YouTuber ransackedroom has come up with an ingenious way to support remotely the occupy wall street protests and get banks attention by using something free and abundant and most probably already available to you.

By using the return envelope that comes within unsolicited credit card offers, people can start a dialogue with the banks. As noted, ransackedroom points out the financial cost the banks would incur by tons of return letter sent back to them is a nice side-effect, but the real point is to force banks to react to the public's voice and demands.

"This isn’t really about running up the postage bill on the big banks, although that’s a nice side effect. The real effect of this is to force banks to react to us.

If they start getting hundreds and thousands of weird responses to their credit card applications, well they’re going to have to have meetings. They going to have to develop new procedures and every hour banks spend reacting to us is an hour banks don’t spend lobbying Congress on how to screw us. It’s an hour banks don’t spend foreclosing on our houses.

So I think that that’s progress."

November 25, 2011

"The last partial solar eclipse of 2011 will occur on November 25, 2011. This eclipse will be the last of the four partial solar eclipses in 2011 that occur throughout the year" timeanddate.com

"Mercury is in a shocking state, being in his detriment, peregrine and moving retrograde. As Mercury is generally thought to represent merchants, bankers and trade, it is not hard to come to an obvious conclusion. Looking back at William Lilly’s prediction that the eclipse will trigger “most dangerous seditions amongst men, and renders men’s minds averse to all manner of accommodations or Treaties” makes it all the more likely that we can expect some sort of upheaval or disturbance." starsandstones

"This eclipse will be visible across Antarctica in its summer 24 hour day sunlight, and New Zealand near sunset with less than 20% of the sun obscured. Parts of the western Antarctic Peninsula will experience nearly 90% obscuration of the sun." Solar_eclipse_of_November_25,_2011 via wikipedia

"keywords: to go against society; out of the mainstream--this is VP Joe Biden's natal Midheaven (MC) degree/star; our VP is an avowed 'Zionist' and seems to be proud to acknowledge it. Does a Zionist stance in America 'go against society'? I believe it does for those who desire a sovereign America that doesn't spend all its money on war while we-the-people go without the basics of life as our society crumbles around our ears. If the power elite's plan wasn't clear http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifbefore 2011, it should be now, even to the politically apathetic." Stars Over Washington

Black Friday vs Buy Nothing Day

Col. Mumar Gadaffi - Dead

After 42 year of dictatorship rebel groups have captured and killed Gadaffi in Sirte, Lybia.

"The death of Muammar Gaddafi marks an end to the first phase of the Libyan revolution. While some final fighting continues, the Libyan people have liberated their country. Now the Libyan people can focus all of their immense talents on strengthening their national unity, rebuilding their country and economy, proceeding with their democratic transition, and safeguarding the dignity and human rights of all Libyans. The United States, along with our European allies and Arab partners, must now deepen our support for the Libyan people, as they work to make the next phase of their democratic revolution as successful as the fight to free their country." -the guardian

timeline of rebel assault via the guardian

alleged photo of dead Gadaffi - WARNING GRAPHIC

alleged video of dead Gadaffi - WARNING GRAPHIC



story via Al Jazeera

story via Reuters

Esref Armagan: Turkish blind painter

"Esref is a blind painter, blind from birth. He has never been able to see nor understand colors as seeing people do. He has never been able to see the magic light at sunset nor the beauty of a flowering meadow in the spring. The stubborn persistence mixed with his unique genius has given Esref the voice to express himself and "the eyes to see with.""



multiple video links

www.esrefarmagan.com

www.armagan.com

Gilad Shalit: Isreli soldier freed in exchange for Palestinian soldiers

Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, captured 5 years ago has been released from a Hamas militant prison. Now 25 and visually gaunt, is very happy to be home, “I haven’t seen people in a long time.” The exchange occured from Gaza to Egypt by Hamas officials; in exchange Israel will release more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners.



story via the washington post

USMC Sgt. Shamar Thomas vs NYPD; speaks his mind

"United States Marine Corps. Sgt. Shamar Thomas from Roosevelt, NY went toe to toe with the New York Police Department. An activist in the Occupy Wall Street movement, Thomas voiced his opinions of the NYPD police brutality that had and has been plaguing the #OWS movement.

Thomas is a 24-year-old Marine Veteran (2 tours in Iraq), he currently plays amateur football and is in college.

Thomas comes from a long line of people who sacrifice for their country: Mother, Army Veteran (Iraq), Step father, Army, active duty (Afghanistan), Grand father, Air Force veteran (Vietnam), Great Grand Father Navy veteran (World War II)"

via youtuber BklynJHandy

Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr: Punished for art and self-expression

Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr has been sentenced to 90 lashes and a year in jail for portraying a life that of many young Iranians seek and experience; seeking a more modern western-styled life amid the strict Islamic state.

The 2009 movie My Tehran for Sale was jointly funded by the South Australian Film Corporation and the Adelaide Film Festival.

An unfortunate example of art imitating life, Vafamehr portrays a actress in Tehran whose artistry and theater is banned by the authorities. Noted controversial scenes include Vafamehr, head shaven and appearing without a hijab head-dress.



story via nydailynews.com

story via heraldsun.com.au

Beats not Bomb - Afghan Concert

Not since the 1970s have Afghans witness a display of art and music like this. Not since the Russian occupation and the subsequent reign of the Taliban have made artistic expression practically criminal.

story via NERDCORE

story via Aljazeera

Digital Dead Sea Scrolls

The Israel Museum in partnership with Google has made five of The Dead Sea Scrolls public via the digital domain.



official website - The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls via: http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/

"Don't ask, don't tell" repealed

story via the huffington post

story via the washington post

The other side of the story: Transgendered citizens will still be not allowed to serve openly in the military as they are considered medically disqualified to serve. more on the story at :via http://transequality.org/

STREET ART UTOPIA

"About streetartutopia.com: This is a homepage with street art collections, videos around street art and the most beloved
street art photos from Street Art Utopia on Facebook."

Contact: streetartutopia@gmail.com

http://www.streetartutopia.com/

Muses and Mistresses In Art History

The old saying tells us that "Behind every great man there is a great woman," but oftentimes artists keep their beauties right where they can see them.

the below link offers a slide show and description of the muses and mistresses of many famous artists, many of which had interesting and fullfilling lives as artisans themselves.

full story via http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Japanese art collective, Chim-Pom, create art inspired by Post-Tsunami Japan

"In the weeks and months after March 2011's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, the Tokyo-based art collective Chim↑Pom created a variety of pieces, from installation art to videos, representing a country in transition."

for gallery and video see the full story via PBS.org

Man who draws in his sleep

"Lee Hadwin, 36, from Denbigh has no artistic training, no natural sketching talent (during the day) and no inclination in waking life to be an artist."

story via - itn.co.uk

U.S. opens new front in fight with for-profit colleges

"Last Monday, the Department of Justice filed a complaint against Education Management Corp. (EDMC), marking the first time the federal government has gotten involved in one of many cases against such for-profit colleges"

"The complaint against EDMC, which operates schools in 105 locations under the names such as Art Institute, Argosy University, Brown Mackie College and South University, alleges the company paid its recruiters based on how many students they enrolled."

via today.msnbc.msn.com

Martyr's Square name in Tripoli reverted in Google maps

"Martyr's Square was the name of the square in Tripoli before Gaddafi regime renamed it. Google says the name change was made by a user late Sunday night, as rebel forces took over the city. It was approved by Google, meaning it was visible to the public, shortly thereafter."

via: http://www.readwriteweb.com/

Jon Sarkin - accident creates compusive artist

"Emerging from his near death experience, Sarkin transformed in an inexplicable fashion: he was overtaken with a profound desire to create art."

A stroke transformed this chiropractor into a full-time impassioned artist with works featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, ABC Primetime, This American Life, GQ, ArtNews, and galleries in New York, Los Angeles, and around the world. His lives and works in Gloucester Massachusetts.

My Strange Brain from Jon Sarkin on Vimeo.

official website @ jsarkin.com

story via NJ.com

story via Vanity Fair

UPDATE: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei released

After being detained by the Chinese government for the last two months, artist and activist Ai Wei Wei has been released on bail. The public outcry for his release hopefully paid into the release. Ai Wei Wei is outspoken about his government's policies; in particular to human rights. Also his art pieces help transcend these notions.

"Nicholas Bequelin, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, welcomed news of the 54-year-old artist's release."

"His detention was political and his release is political. It is the result of a huge domestic and international outcry that forced the government to this resolution … I think Beijing realised how damaging it was to hold China's most famous artist in detention,"

story via - The New York Times

story via - The Guardian

story via - The BBC

West Village bodega Hercules’ Fancy Grocery

"Having befriended Hercules after years of visiting his store, Jody learned that his 40-year plus business was at risk of shutting down by the end of the month.

The choice for a location was clear, Store Buyout had begun.

Two days later, on May 20th 2011, the artists descended upon Hercules’ Fancy Grocery with cameras, a briefcase full of cash (gathered via three days of cash advances) and a proposition for the unsuspecting proprietor."

story via - storebuyout.com

action via - storebuyout.com

more @ fusionartsmuseum.org

Brazillian Kayapo tribe loses land to dam construction

Brazillian President Dilma Vana Rousseff has won out on the long battle to steal the Kayapo tribe's land for the use of building a hydroelectric dam. People seem more wrapped up on pointless things like the reality tv and if the so called rapture is real. Real people's lives are at stake due to human doings; no more less by gods and imaginary beings in the sky. Puts perspective on things...

Chief Raoni cries from learning his and his peoples land will be destroyed for the Belo Monte Dam



story via - amazonwatch.org

story - via: NuovaEnergia.eu

Kayapo people - via: wikipeedia

Belo Monte Dam - via: wikipedia

Single Piece Slate - personal vinyl pressing

http://singlepieceslate.com/

Lisa Gunn - Sculpture Artist: Trauma and Healing of the Body

Lisa Gunn's art is on exhibit at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. She explore's her own body's journey from the trauma she faced with her accident and its path to healing.



"Gunn's work is primarily concerned with her own personal and emotional responses to body trauma. Her sculptures focus on growth, healing and preservation, while her films explore the overwhelming power of nature and its ability to age and erode."



story - via theherbert.org

news/details - via - theherbert.org

Mexican Electrical Workers Union - Fun and Facts

Many people may have seen the slight, even humorous, spectacle that occurred at the Mexican Electrical Workers Union (Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas - SME) protest in Mexico City. The worker's union had the support of their own El Luchador del SME.


As his presence is assuredly a welcomed if not inspiring one, the focus of the matter still lies in Mexican President Felipe Calderon's decision to lock over 44,000 SME workers out of their jobs since October 10, 2009.

"The Mexican Electrical Workers Union (SME) has asked for international solidarity in resisting the government liquidation of their company, the termination of the workers, and thus the destruction of the union."

The following link provides a short statement and the email of President Felipe Calderón. Stand with the Mexican Electrical Workers Union


"Federal Police seized the plants of the Central Light and Power Company of Mexico, firing 45,000 workers and crushing the independent Mexican Electrical Workers Union." Photo: María Luisa Severiano.

story - via TALKINGUNION.COM

publications and news- via UEINTERNATIONAL.ORG

story - via LABORNOTES.ORG


Humberto Montes de Oca (left) of the Mexican Electrical Workers

VIDEO - Mexico SME Electrical Workers Report On Union Busting And Privatization Of Their Union At SFLC

pictures by protest attendees - via FLICKR.COM
pictures by protest attendees - via FLICKRIVER.COM

TOR - Internet "Traffic Analysys" software

www.torproject.org

"Using Tor protects you against a common form of Internet surveillance known as "traffic analysis." Traffic analysis can be used to infer who is talking to whom over a public network. Knowing the source and destination of your Internet traffic allows others to track your behavior and interests."

"Tor is a network of virtual tunnels that allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the Internet. It also enables software developers to create new communication tools with built-in privacy features. Tor provides the foundation for a range of applications that allow organizations and individuals to share information over public networks without compromising their privacy."

How TOR works

Erasing David- Documentary

"A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT PRIVACY, SURVEILLANCE AND THE DATABASE STATE"

http://erasingdavid.com/

Erasing David Trailer from Green Lions on Vimeo.

"David Bond lives in one of the most intrusive surveillance states in the world. He decides to find out how much private companies and the government know about him by putting himself under surveillance and attempting to disappear, a decision that changes his life forever. Leaving his pregnant wife and young child behind, he is tracked across the database state on a chilling journey that forces him to contemplate the meaning of privacy and the loss of it."

Erasing David is a documentary about David Bond's experiment in attempting to become anonymous in a data driven world, while openly challenging investigators to attempt and track him down. Forgoing everything from his online presence to electronic forms of currency, David explores the far reaches for true anonymity through this journey away from the world's prying eyes.

Erasing David Short from Green Lions on Vimeo.

Queen visits The Garden of Remembrance in Central Dublin

"In a hugely symbolic gesture reflecting a new era in relations between the countries, the British monarch bowed her head as she laid a wreath at the memorial for those who died fighting for Irish freedom, before observing a minute’s silence."

story via Irishtimes.com

story via BCC News

Africa's Super Park - Photo - Frans Lanting

Photograph by Frans Lanting

"Namibia's civil war started in 1966 and lasted 22 years. In 1990, when Namibia at last gained independence from South Africa, it was one of the first countries in the world to write protection of the environment into its constitution. It was as if Namibians recognized that having fought for the land beneath their feet, they were now profoundly responsible for it."

Namibia's Coastal Parks - story via National Geographic

Filter Bubbles: personalization algorithms

Filters Bubbles, a term coined by Eli Pariserm, is basically the culmination of personalization algorithms that are present though out the internet; most notably on sites as Google, facebook, and twitter. These algorithms take note of habits on the internet and attempt to create a web experience that is curtailed to your likes and interests. Sounds like a good thing perhaps, but as explained the inherently mathematical algorithms degrade the diversity of information and isolate the user from potential useful or insightful information.

MEMES are the DESTRUCTION of ART -

MEMES are the DESTRUCTION of ART - MEMES are the DISSECTION of ART - MEMES are the DISTRACTION of ART - MEMES are the DISRUPTION of ART - MEMES are the DISSATISFACTION of ART - MEMES are the DESPERATION of ART - MEMES are the DISILLUSION of ART - MEMES are the DIFFUSION of ART - MEMES are the DEVASTATION of ART - MEMES are the DEVIATION of ART - MEMES are the DISRESPECTING of ART - MEMES are the DE-EVOLUTION of ART - MEMES are the DECONSTRUCTION of ART - MEMES are the DEMONSTRATION of ART - MEMES are the DEVIATIONS of ART - MEMES are the DERIVATIVES of ART - MEMES are the DIRECTORIALS of ART - MEMES are the DECEPTIONS of ART - MEMES are the DEMONISM of ART - MEMES are the DISLOCATION of ART - MEMES are the DISTRIBUTION of ART - MEMES are the DISEMBOWELMENT of ART - MEMES are the DUMBING-DOWN of ART - MEMES are the DEHUMANIZING of ART - MEMES are the DEFACING of ART - MEMES are the DIVISION of ART - MEMES are the DUPLICITY of ART - MEMES are the DIVULGING of ART - MEMES are the DELUSIONS of ART - MEMES are the DISAVOWING of ART - MEMES are the DILUTING of ART - MEMES are the DISCHORD of ART - MEMES are the DEVIATIONS of ART - MEMES are the DISASTERS of ART - MEMES are the DECREPIT of ART - MEMES are the DELIVERANCE of ART - MEMES are the DESTRUCTION of ART -

Film: North Korean FIlm Madness

Editors of Vice magazine get the hesitant okay to visit North Korea. The experience proves to be a strange mix of accommodating hospitality and over-watching suspicion. A rare look into the insular socialist "utopia".

north-korean-film-madness-full-length

Story via CNN.com

Art Talk: via VBS.tv

Great link to watch segments about contemporary and upcoming artist as brought to you buy VBS.tv, the broadband video network of Vice magazine.

Art Talk via vbs.tv

Artist Ai Wei Wei "UPDATE" Still missing, but present in Flash Graffiti

Outspoken human rights activist, artist Ai Wei Wei is still report missing since his April 3 arrest by the Chinese government, apparently under "economic" charges.

Though even in his absence, Ai Wei Wei's influence perpetuates. Flash Graffiti artist Cpak Ming projected an image of Wei Wei on the barracks of The People's Liberation Front.

"The People's Liberation Army in Hong Kong has taken the unprecedented step of saying it "reserves its legal right" to act over what it says was a breach of Hong Kong law when activists campaigning in support of Ai Weiwei projected the detained artist's image onto a wall at the PLA barracks in Admiralty."

full story - via LexisNexis News

Cpak Ming - Flash Graffiti Gallery - via facebook

Alex Pascual - Circa 2000/2001

Student Gallery - The Evergreen State College

Kaiser Road - Oly House

Me and the Paintings



Me in front of the Kaiser House freaking out. Music: Ram and the Dates

Music Painting - Matteo Negrin

gallery, process, and story - via hodeiprogetti.com

Disabled artists create paintings

Photo: Zhou Ge/Xinhua

"41-year-old Huang Guofu, from Chongqing, China, has learned to master the paintbrush with his mouth and right foot, after he lost both his hands in a childhood accident."

gallery and video via - China.org.sn

story via- odditycentral.com

Study: Narcissism On Rise In Pop Lyrics - via NPR

full story:
Study: Narcissism On Rise In Pop Lyrics - via NPR.org

"A psychology professor at the University of Kentucky analyzed hit songs between 1980 and 2007 and found a correlation between egotistical song lyrics and increasing narcissism in society. Michele Norris talks with Dr. Nathan DeWall about his study."

This phenomenon, I personally don't think is that new, but is becoming more prevalent in our society. As far as celebrity-dom and the individual, living vicariously through music, movies, and media has skipped a beat from harmless adulation to full-blown self-importance.

Our idols are constantly telling us how awesome they are, basking in the many awards they win and constantly patting themselves on the back. Naturally the response is to, I guess, is to emulate these behaviors and act in kind.

Collectively we seem to lack the self-confidence and awareness to truly be ourselves and not concoctions inflated egos.

Just as a small observation of the last few decades, the diaspora of our societies icons have shifted greatly in caliber.

When I look back to the world stage, say ten/twenty years ago, we where still influenced by icons such as: Princess Diana, Ghandi, MLK Jr., Mother Teressa. Now our concerns are with figures like the Paris Hiltons, Jusin Beibers, and Snookis of the world.

Yarnbombing - heart warming grafitti

Image courtesy of The Calgary Art Bomber

Yarnbombing. Herald as a form of graffiti, crocheters and weavers alike are turning their talents to the streets. Gone are the permanent and edgy aesthetics of spray cans and vandalism; enter the cosiness and endearing quality of a yarn covered urban sprawl.

Artists gather, mostly in early morning to spin out hours of their time to cover everything from street barriers, trees, to city statues. Hit the links below for more images.

story and audio via NPR

yarnbombing.com

Crochet On A Bear Statue from Jennifer Sharpe on Vimeo.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti - Late Afro-Beat King "returns" - Nigerian Elections

In the light of the Nigerian elections, the Broadway musical "Fela" has been performing in Lagos, Nigeria. The production is run and performed in part by Fela's survived children; son Femi and daughter Yeni.

Femi was a national icon to Nigerians. Not only recognized as the king of afro-beat, but was outspoken against his nation's corruption and military dictators.

story via msnbc

story via nigerianheadlines.com

Magdalene Program and Thistle Farms - Recovery and Living for prostitutes

The Magdalene Program in Nashville Tennessee provides healing and recovery for women who are reaching out to leave the life of prostitution behind them. Violence and drugs being a prevalent aspect to life in prostitution, the program provides housing, therapy, and work for the women.

The community of Magdalene runs Thistle Farms, a self-sustaining business, that allows a place of healing and work for Magdalene graduates. The women not only create the natural bath and body products themselves, but learn skills essential jobs skill in manufacturing, packaging, marketing and sales and administration.

Like the women and their namesake depicts, a thistle is a stubborn weed that manages to grow in desolation. Though at first only sharp and prickly on the outside the weed eventually blooms beautifully.

www.thistlefarms.org

Story and audio via NPR.com

25th Anniversary of Chernobyl Disaster

Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images

April 26, 1986. Chernobyl nuclear facility explosion maked the largest civil nuclear disaster.

THe following link shows archivial photos as well as photographers Diana Markosian and Michael Forster Rothbart documentation of the sites and lives of pensioners that still live in the radioactive affected areas.

25th anniversary Chernobyl Disaster picture gallery - via boston.com

Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu, April 15, 1924 – April 24, 2011

Madame Nhu passed away Sun, April 24, 2011. Nhu lived close to Vietnam's political arena, which ultimately played a part to her exile to Rome. Her glamorous allure and outspoken nature garnered herself a infamous reputation amongst the world's eye over her at times controversial actions on women's rights, politics, and religion.

Madame Nhu via The New York Times

Uplifting Japan advertisement - Kyushu

Japan Rail's advertisement introducing the connection of the shinkanzen, japanese bullet train system, to the southern most island of Japan, Kyushu.

Artist Blu's "Rennes" print by Studiocrombie

A print derived from Italian street artist Blu is now available from Studiocrombe.org

Titled "Rennes", the original was painted in Rennes, France and measured roughly 27" x 35". Prints are in an edition of 150, costing 400€ each.

original mural

via theworldsbestever.com

מופיע מדהים של איזון וכוח - Appears Incredible Power Balance

As of now, I can't seem to find too much about what this clip is from. But google translate loosely translates the hebrew text as: Appears incredible power balance.

Some of the comments of the forum feed on the video elude to a French talent show called "Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde". Without saying its a great feat of balance with a wonderful sense of drama added to it.

Bill Waterson - art for parkinson's, after 16 years

Bill Waterson, of Calvin and Hobbes fame, painted a 6x8 oil-on-board of Richard Thompson's character Petey Otterloop from the comic strip Cul de Sac. The piece is Waterson's contribution to Team Fox's fundraising project for parkinson's disease.

“I didn’t get my hopes up that [Watterson] would contribute,” says Caty Neis, a book editor at Andrews McMeel Universal — the parent company of Watterson’s syndicate — who has been spearheading the Team Cul de Sac effort. “Just the fact that this is first art that we have seen from him in 16 years is just so exciting, and what a great cause.”

MOCA - Art in the Streets

artist: Eddie Colla

New Banksy's and More at MOCA's Art in the Streets via mymodernmet.com

MOCA's 'Art In The Streets' Exhibit Invites Unwanted Graffiti via the huffington post

Oil-Smothered Nude protest

"Environmental protest group Liberate Tate commemorated the Deepwater Horizon explosion yesterday by covering one of their own in oil-like goop inside Tate’s classical sculpture exhibit room."

website: liberate-tate

story via: animalnewyork.com

Tim Hetherington - director & photojournalist - RIP

Tim Hetherington's website

Tim Hetherington was killed in Misrata, Lybia, Apr 21, 2011. Known for his photojournalism and the co-directing of Restrepo, a documentary on the Afghanistan war.

related stories:

Tim Hetherington via The Huffiington Post

Tim Hetherington via TIME

Interesting Post-Apocalyptic/Desert Nomad Costume

An interesting post-apocalyptic/desert nomad costume. I found this image from an outside source. I hope to find the originator/artist behind this design.

Leymah Gbowee - Women's Rights, Liberia

Leymah Gbowee became a voice for Liberian women amongst the civil war that affected her country. Continuing fighting for human rights she currently she helps promote education for young women.

Leymah Gbowee via exposureroom.com

external links:

http://www.gnwp.org/members/wipnet
http://www.wipsen-africa.org/wipsen/

Juliano Mer-Khamis - Artist/Humanitarian - 29 May 1958 – 4 April 2011

29 May 1958 – 4 April 2011

Juliano Mer-Khamis, director, actor, and political humanitarian, known for his founding of the Freedom Theater. Juliano's Palestinian and Jewish heritage culture and his experience always encouraged him to have an open voice. Through the theater he could provide opportunities for the youth and promote cultures undivided.

April 4th, 2011, Mer-Khamis was assassinated buy a gunned masked man in front of the Freedom Theater, in Jenin. According to Palestinian police, the murderer was a Jenin refugee named Mujahed Qaniri.

Joe Strummer - "Without People, You're Nothing" - RS Kill Team Photos

In the light of the release of "The Kill Team Photos" from Rolling Stone, the messages Joe Strummer breathed into his lyrics seem to have more meaning than ever before. This is not to say that violent tragedies have not plagued our history until now, but in our growing world of one-word headlines and "face-tweets", our attention to the world around us seems to grow smaller and smaller. As a media device that usually curtails more to the placidness of our current musical climate, Rolling Stone earns my respect in having the courage to give light on such stories. I heard someone say recently that "..if you want a good day don't look at the news." I say look everyday. Remind yourself that these things happen everyday and perhaps our actions towards each other will inspire and breath the humanity back in our and other's lives.

Ai Wei Wei - Update - PBS coverage

The below Link is the PBS coverage of Ai Wei Wei as reported by freelance journalist and film-maker Alison Klayman. She coverages life from his installation art to his fight against the Chinese government for social and civil liberties.

Original Video - via: PBS.org

additional link - via Peter Hill Museum of Contemporary Ideas:

Ai Wei Wei - via: Peter Hill

Gauguin's "Two Tahitian Women" Attacked

original story: via The Washington Post

Susan J. Burns was arrested for attempting to deface Gauguin's "Two Tahitian Women" at The National Gallery of Art. The arresting officer quotes her saying:

“I feel that Gauguin is evil. He has nudity, and it is bad for the children. He had two women in the painting, and it’s very homosexual,”

Artist Ai Wei Wei missing after detained at airport

Prominent Chinese artist, Ai Wei Wei, know for his exhibitions and architecture work on the Bejieng National Stadium, was arrested at an airport on his way to Hong Kong and is continued to be missing. Officials are silent to inquiries to Ai's whereabouts and condition.

Ai is known for his outspoken critiques of China's Communist state and organizing human rights organizations.