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