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.

How to Disappear in America - via: Walker Art Center

"Last summer, after writing a story for Wired magazine about people who fake their own deaths, journalist Evan Ratliff decided to vanish and invited the public to try to find him. While he attempted to stay hidden for 30 days, he was caught in 25, thanks in part to the digital breadcrumb trail he left behind. Join Peter Eleey, curator of The Talent Show, and Ratliff as they discuss data-mining, surveillance, and other ramifications of a culture awash in in information."

"...how hard it is to disappear is entirely a function of how hard people are looking for you..."

"...the information that you put out about yourself is actually the information that's the greatest threat or, you may not view it as a threat, but when it comes to privacy, most of the information that you would worry about is actually the information that you are revealing."

90 sq ft apt - Manhattan NY

Maybe a bit too extreme for my taste, but a reminder of how affluent we can be and reflect on what we really need to survive and/or to live as human beings. Her last line about traveling and having the comfort of coming back and not having to worry about curtailing her every deed to her possessions. This is a characteristic I hope to emulate.