An Amazing Discovery

I was amazed to learn that most of my students in one of my classes do not believe in Global Warming or believe that it is not man made. Wow. How to respond?

I came across these websites in searching for artists who address the issue of Global Warming: Global Warming Art which is filled with insightful and shocking graphs-not exactly what I call art but then again.... Green Museum is a great clearing house for artists working on this issue like Buster Simpson and for projects like the above Environmental Art Calendar.

Do you know of others? If so, please share them with me. I have a new syllabus to write! ;)

Praying for Tibet

Wind horse prayer flags.

A dear friend of mine from China once told me that they had been taught in school that Tibetans ate from human skulls. While he may recognize this now as so much cultural propaganda he still expresses the opinion that Tibet should remain a part of China. "How would you feel if Alaska wished to succeed?" he asked me. I see his point.

I also pray and worry that Tibet will loose its religious identity as China presses for integration. It is possible to now take a fast, cheap train ride from Beijing to Tibet but will it be possible to keep hold of Tibet without erasing its culture and religion? Maybe that's not the point.

As the news of today reports protests, deaths, and deadlines, I hope you take a moment to pray or meditate for Peace. Then check out Tibetan Aid Project, an organization dedicated to preserving the art and writing of Buddist Tibet. Here is an informative video on their efforts.

Tales of Water by Taco Anema

I found this book while browsing a used book store and immediately feel in love with it. When looking it up on Amazon to provide a link here, I was met with a promotional for Amazon's new digital book. Though it will save trees, I doubt that new devise will provide the pleasure this book does in paper and card board. Each page is filled with photos taken by Taco Anema of the two most important elements in our world; children and water. The relationship between the two that he captures takes me back to my own prehistoric (at least pre-digital) childhood when I spent hours exploring the creek bed behind my house, I still remember the crawdads and insect larva I discovered in its still clear and clean water. Sadly, those creek beds are now polluted as are many water sources around the world. Rather than depress us with pictures of a fallen Eden, Taco reminds us of the possibility of a cleaner, friendlier world, one we should devote our time here to preserving.

Art to the People

John Hitchcock, a printmaker that teaches at the Univ. of Wisconsin at Madison has organized a unique project in Argentina that takes activist themed printmaking out into the public and onto public transportation. This may sound trival to the art focused but think of the unique experience it may provide to the everyday person who experiences this stimulating gift. I know of another artist in Winston-Salem that put poetry on that city's buses and I am planning a mobile sculpture show wih my students that will follow the college crowd where I teach. That said, this type of activity is way too rare. Check out John's blog Hybrid Press for more on this project, other efforts, and some great printmaking links like Drive By Press. Thanks Bill for these links!

Go, See

Janet Jarman. Matamoros, Mexico, August 1996; color print. Courtesy of Janet Jarman

Maybe it is the big heavy doors, or the silence that greets you when you step into the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, but visiting carriers a certain weighted expectation. On my most recent visit I discovered "Picturing the World" a photographic group show pulled from UNC School of Journalism's alumni. There are pictures there that still haunt my memory. Like an unassuming picture of a building-nothing special until you notice a few small figures falling, then you notice a whiff of smoke and you realize you are witnessing the 9-11 Twin Towers Attack, but without the sound, or fury of the memories we all share as a nation. The scale makes you feel like a god standing next to the building- oh but we could have been god's and caught those poor souls falling like leaves of a pin oak. This picture disturbs me still.......

Then there is the picture above; a beautiful young child, illuminated by the morning's sunlight. But the dirt on her face betrays her as not from our safe, clean suburban world, rather she is a poor child living with her family on an Mexican trash dump waiting for the mornings delivery.

To see this works, like traveling, is to have your heart stretched to new dimensions. Be sure to see it before it closes in April, 2008.

Artist Pair Provokes Thought with New Show

I have admired Juan Logon's work for some time. I remember his abstracted Klansmen images from some years ago- tucking them into my visual memory filed under "respect." Shamefully, I just learned that another artist-friend Susan Harbage Page was married to Juan. Susan and I had met as photography jurors and developed a professional friendship which I also filed under "respect." So it goes without saying that I recommend their concurrent shows of new work at Dalton Downtown Arts Initiative (DDAI) titled Postcards from Home by Susan Harbage Page and Unintended Relations by Juan Logan on display from January 22 - March 14, 2008 at Clinton Jr. College, Dalton Gallery, Dalton, SC. Both artists explore the issue of race and racism from their own unique perspectives - an issue still embedded in the American Psyche. Take a moment to read Duke University Dr. Laurel Fredrickson's essay on their work. Then Go see their work in person and open your own files.

Restless, Searching, Hard Charging Mind

A Moment by Phil Hansen

Phil Hansen is one of the most innovative, hard working, thoughtful artists I have come across in my search for content for this site. Phil has had his 15 minutes of fame on an after-the-news entertainment news show, but his lasting value is in his search for meaning (there is some) and the bounderies of art (there are none.)

Check out his site and take a moment to read the background on each unique piece. While his search for content needs to continue pushing forward, his website and technical ability has arrived and is among the best out there.

Learning to Talk (and listen) Across Oceans

Imagine talking across the English Channel to someone without the use of a land line, cell phone, or satellite phone. This ability has existed since WWII. The Sound Mirror Project is working to make it possible once again.

I found this project on Social Design Site and found it amazing and engaging. I have seen something like this at Discovery Place in Charlotte but never imagined it would work across an ocean.

Wouldn't it be great if these could be constructed across all kinds of barriers and walls to allow people to talk- free and naturally-without censor, cost, or control. I hope this project gets its needed funding. Check out the other projects linked into the small pictures in Social Design Sites Banner.

Like a Time Capsule

Like capsules of lives, the still images of documentaries move across the top of this site, http://www.mediastorm.org/ . Pick one and you are likely to see yourself reflected; college lovers learning to be parents, a soldier realing from the after shock of war; middle aged adults caring for a father while their children watch. There is more, much more here. Listen to John Prine and blow up your TV, then turn onto the artists here, people like you and me brave enough to make art from the strings and stuffings of our collective soul.

Barn Stormers Paint Up a Storm

Artist David Ellis and the North Carolina rooted Barn Stormers create time lapse movies of their massive group paintings. This one has a polical edge and is engaging to watch. I wonder if these guys still come back to NorthCarolina to paint up barns outside of Raleigh. My favorite part comes at the end when Ellis uses white contour lines on a black background.

Art made from lost items of Undocumented Immigrants

Valarie James, an artist and art teacher in Amado, Arizona makes art from lost and discarded items she finds on walks in the desert. In doing so reminds of us of the tragedy that is on going along the US / Mexican Border; 3,000 plus deaths since the 1980's. Check out her slide show and article in this Wall Street Journal article.

Contemporary Kenyan Artist Speaking at UNC

Wangechi Mutu, a critically acclaimed Contemporary Kenyan-born artist, is speaking at UNC's Global Education Center on Tuesday, March 4th at 6PM. Mutu's works are collage based and use fashion magazines, National Geographics, and books about Africa to express the tension of modern Africa as it struggles to emerge from preconceptions, ancient tradition, and modern forces. Mutu's work is a evolutionary jump from the equally powerful collages of North Carolina's own Romare Bearden. This is must catch lecture brought to us by the Hanes Lecture Series and UNC's Art Department.

Finding a Land Called Paradise Starts Here

Film maker Lena Khan has made an outstanding short video set the music of Kareem Salama's song "A Land Called Paradise." This video shows Muslims in America in a new light that stands above the stereotypes becoming so fixed in our mind's eye. I must admit that something like a tight coil unwound inside of me as I watched this video. I sat smiling and crying afterwards. As an artist working on the very same subject, I was inspired by the quality, honesty, and humanity on display in this piece. Watch, think, and share.

Building Community Through Art

Thought bubbles made for The Talking Mobile

What's the best way to address fear and share hope? Artists Todd Drake and Wade Billeisen believe it is to talk about it. Their project, The Talking Mobile, attempts to get the fears and hopes of students coming together at a new high school out in the open. Why? They believe that by sharing these thoughts students will find common ground between seeming differences. "We believe that everyone coming to Northern Guilford High School has hopes for a better education and worry whether they will be safe, successful, and accepted." Principal Joe Yeager approved the project and provided funding because he believed it would build community, a central goal of his leadership role at the new school.

After asking every student coming to Northern High School to share their hopes and fears about coming to the new school, Wade and Todd read through the responses and selected 40 questions asked by the students. Their selection seeks to represented the mind set of the students. "A lot of students, on both campus's wrote about concerns over getting along and blending the two communities, others expressed concerns over being accepted whether because of race, looks, or income." says Drake. By putting these concerns out in the open Todd and Wade believe the concerns and hopes of the students will be honored and considered. "Some of their questions, like "Will they hate me?" break your heart, others like "Will I be 'that dude' at the new school?" were humorous, but all were insightful." said Drake. Every single student question will be included in a note book for review by anyone. "This note book of student questions should be read through by every teacher and administrator at Northern." said Drake.

After displaying the "thought bubbles" on both campuses of the soon to be merged school, Todd and Wade will hang all the questions at the new high school to greet students on their arrival. After a month of living and learning together, all the students will be asked to respond to the questions posed in the mobile and the most provocative and insightful answers will be displayed beneath the questions as "speaking bubbles." Some class time will be devoted to discussing these questions and responses.

By giving voice to the students in this unique way Todd and Wade hope this project will make the new Northern High School a stronger, more accepting community. Though all of Drake's art is community based, this project is very personal; "My school did nothing like this when we intergrated back in the 70's. The only fight I got into my life occured as a result. I hope this project helps these students learn to respect each other and see past stereotypes that, along with fear, often blind us to making friends of strangers."

Lucy Talks about Art and Death :)

Paul Klee, Ancient Sound

Lucy Daniels and her foundation have worked for years to give a unique voice to mental health and the arts in our community and beyond. On February 9th , 2008, (2:30 PM, NC Museum of Art) her foundation is sponsoring a workshop on creativity and self-repair as it relates to cancer. Their release states " The healing power of art is a complementary, active approach to illness.. (that can create)...a unique dialect between illness and health, between despair and new hope." Rock on Lucy! The foundation is also sponsoring a lecture on the art of Paul Klee called "In the Shadow of Death." Apparently 1/4 of Klee's best work was created in the last years of his life as he struggled with a terminal illness. (Why do they not teach this in school!) Fill in what you probably didn't know about Paul Klee by attending this lecture on Sunday, Feb.9th at 2:30 at the NCMA. Thanks Lucy! RSVP at Info@ldf.org or call 919-677-9888 x 123