Category: art

For many, the work place can feel like imprisonment--a necessary, inconvenient, and sometimes oppressive sacrifice of freedom to obtain the means of survival.  For at least one employer, however, she sees a potential for the environment to provide a profound sense of fulfillment and in the process generating far more productivity and profits.

Shankari the Alchemist, the world renowned jewelry designer of Talismans of Power by Shankari, pays her employees to meditate for the first hour of every work day.  At eight am her staff meets in a modest sized ballroom with carved stone dragon pillars and timber floors to do nothing except sit, breathe, and clear their minds to focus on the now--yoga and quiet Hindu chants are encouraged as well.

"People who are balanced and happy do great work," says Shankari.  "The first hour of each day is an investment in the quality of the work.  It sets the tone for the rest of the day and the good will created carries into each piece of jewelry and ultimately to the wearer.  This creates a product that not only looks great but it has spiritual integrity as well.  I think consumers really care about that sort of thing.  These days you must walk your talk to be taken seriously."

Talismans of Power jewelry is known for its original, homemade look and feel--there is a certain logic at play for happy workers to create such a product.

Shankari would love to see meditation become more widespread in other work places, but even she has to admit a certain image comes with the practice that doesn't quite jive with western thought systems.  As Andy Puddicombe notes on the corporate news site Management-Issues, "For most people the word meditation conjures up images of shaven-headed monks and nuns sitting in mountain retreats high in the himalayas.  Very few people would associate it with their office or place of work."

But as any practicing Buddhist can tell you, it isn't the place that is sacred, rather the person who makes it so.  People who can find a sense of meaning in their environment and work are bound to treat it more seriously, or if nothing else, they realize the helpful service it provides to another and still perform it well even if they are personally detached.

For any employers considering testing it out in the work place, know this:  at least meditation is cost-free.  As far as I see it, there's nothing to lose in giving it a shot.

 Who comes up with these idea to turn a popular film into an opera?  Sometimes it's the original filmmaking team.  David Cronenberg evolved a crazy idea to make his 1980’s cult classic film The Fly into an opera, and it actually worked.

Filipino artist Sunshine Plata’s paintings have something special in their canvases, giving the old ‘café artist’ cliché a new spin. Instant coffee. Plata uses the wake me up drink to paint landscapes and “whimsical scenes” that also give off the bean’s aroma.

The young artist, who lives in the Philippines, “maximizes the monochrome medium by mixing different quantities of coffee powder with water to create contrasting shades of brown.” (Rolando Ng, Reuters) Sunshine then uses a fixing material to ensure the paint lasts. Plata says she began painting with oil, but quickly switched to powdered coffee after “seeing a painting with a signature signed in coffee.” She began tampering with coffee mainly for economical reasoning. A tube of paint costs around 500 pesos in the Philippines ($11) whereas a jar of instant coffee is only approximately 150 pesos. ($3)  The former preschool teacher with a psychology degree draws fairies, butterflies, fish, monkeys and any image she says “are inspired by her dreams.”

She also teaches coffee painting workshops for school children, and aspiring artists alike. Some painting connoisseurs are turned off by her painting’s lack of color, but Richelle Ramirez, a university student who recently visited Plata’s exhibit, said that, “even though it lacks color, it’s still beautiful in its monochromatic sense.”

However, Sunshine admits she doesn’t drink the popular caffeinated substance she uses in her artwork. “I’m a tea addict, as a matter of fact” she says, “I don’t drink coffee because I love to sleep. If I ever drank coffee, I wouldn’t be able to sleep, and it’s through my sleep wherein I get my ideas and my dreams and my paintings from,” she added.

Because Plata’s paintings use coffee instead of paint, her work is expected to have a life line of around 75 to 100 years and sell for at least $400 a piece each. Her work has been featured on U.S. television shows and featured in New York. 

Special effects are about to to reach a pinnacle in realism for Hollywood movies.  Image Metrics, a huge company in the realm of facial animation, just created the most photo-realistic computer-generated (CG) face yet known.  

At the Siggraph Expo in Los Angeles, they recently demonstrated an animation of actress Emily O'Brien that has entertainment industry types in a joyous uproar.  The video, available here, depicts a short a video clip of O'Brien sitting and engaging in a dialogue that, in my opinion, looks just like an HD image of the real deal.  

According to an Image Works press release, the animation was created with a patented high-resolution image scanning process:

This newest process from the ICT Graphics Lab places the actor inside a sphere of LED lights, illuminating the talent with a set of polarized spherical gradient illumination patterns while a pair of high-resolution digital cameras takes around 15 photographs in under three seconds.

These patterns allow the shine of the skin to be photographed independently from the main skin tone so that precise colors and characteristics can be calculated at hundreds of measurements per square millimeter. The resulting CG models provide unprecedented detail of natural facial expressions - down to skin pores and fine wrinkles - with perfectly aligned shading information that allows photo-real faces to be rendered under any illumination and viewpoint with standard rendering packages.

David Barton, Image Metrics' producer said, "Out goal was to create a completely convincing, animated computer-generated face...Given the caliber of creative work and talent in our industry, it was a challenging goal, but one we were confident we could accomplish..."  Currently ICT's scanning method is the only one capable of acquiring such high-definition images. 

Expect James Cameron, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg to make some jaw-dropping films in the coming years.  

Apparently it's not enough that Italy holds the ruins of ancient Rome, the gorgeousness of Vatican City, or possibly the world's greatest collection of Renaissance artifacts.  The country's capital says it plans to build a Disneyland-style theme park to attract more tourists.

Deputy Mayor Mauro Cutrufo announced that the park would be modeled on Euro-Disney in Paris, but rather than featuring cute-sy mice with four fingers, visitors will be treated to an entertaining spectacle of the brutal days of Ancient Rome.  

The park would be family-friendly; however, it would allow visitors to "relive scenes from the Colosseum, from ancient Rome, gladiators or maybe Julius Caesar or other things," said a Rome city official.  Others like me are hoping for an interactive "Who's the real Spartacus?" game.

The idea for the park has already met some opposition, though, with some members of government calling too "American" of an idea to put forth in Italy.  Opposition comes from the government of the Lazio region, of which Rome is the capital.  The proposal for the park came from the wishes of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right, which often conflicts with the running center left.  

 Since I’ve recently moved back to London, I’ve either magically accidentally ran into one of the historical city’s many diversions or been dragged to the not so magical ones.

I stumbled upon the British Library the other day, having turned the wrong way, and was immediately enchanted by its rich collection of literature and fascinating archives and exhibits. The glass walls were stacked 5 stories high with antique books salvaged after World War II and yet the smell was still immaculately fresh.

 Featured lately has been the Ramayana exhibit, which takes the unfamiliar soul into the world of the ancient tale of Rama and Sita. Some believe this to be the first piece of romantic literature ever written in the eastern part of the world. The colorful media exhibit included video footage of puppet performances and old kitsch Bollywood films acting out the tale, as well as tapings of spiritual music and chants in Hindi worshiping the ‘ideal couple.’

The story takes place in India around 1000 BC and offers models in dharma. Ramayana is an oral account of how a young hero should behave. The original tale was a 24,000 couplet-long epic poem written by Sanskrit poet Valmiki. When Sita, Rama’s true love, is captured by the evil Ravana, the King of Lanka with 10 heads, Rama goes on a quest to win her back with the help of a monkey army led by Hanuman, their leader. To read a more descriptive version of the story, follow this link.

The British Library also had original prints of some of histories most impressive archives including the Beowulf manuscript, Jane Austen’s diaries, Mozart and Beethoven’s symphonies, lyrics scribbled on paper napkins by John Lennon and Paul McCartney that would later become record breaking hit pop songs, original versions of bibles, ancient maps, letters written by the Tudor family, including Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII and governmental letters written by presidents and prime ministers of the past. And that’s just the Western world.

Needless to say, as a whole, I was wickedly impressed by this place. When dragged to the British Museum I unfortunately did not gain the same experience. Not only was it more touristy (and I get a tad claustrophobic in big crowds) the exhibits were literally scattered all over the place with little to no structure involved. It was kind of like a maze of uncertainty, like one of those choose your own adventure comics where you have no clue which way to go.

The Egyptians were mixed in with the Pacific Islands and the Chinese combined with the Indian. Japan was the only country with a full exhibit completely on its own floor. The layout was sloppy and unappealing and I just found myself browsing through all of the impressive ancient artifacts without actually learning anything because I wanted to escape the entrapment. Most people who’ve been say you can’t possibly take it all in in one day. That may be true, but the problem is I don’t see myself wanting to go back.

Both venues are free, which is fortunate. However, I highly recommend spending time traveling to the British Library before the British Museum next time you happen to be in London. Just my humble opinion. 

There are at least two publishing houses in Sweden that guarantee their children's books are "scrutinized from a democracy, equality and diversity perspective."  They also feature characters such as a boy who likes to wear pink sandals, and a girl with two daddies.  Like anything else that challenges traditional views on gender or sexual orientation, the books haven't gone without criticism.

Vilda and another small publisher, Olika, both recently geared their businesses towards promoting liberal values and celebrating diversity in sexuality, race, and gender.  The Associated Press quoted Karin Salmson, the co-founder of Vilda:

"Many parents feel forced to change he to she or she to he and other details as they read stories for their children, because so many details in children's books are so very traditional," Salmson said."

Both companies feel the modern times call for modern books that more young people can increasingly relate to without feeling shame.  But some in the country argue the books serve as propaganda that puts a message in front of the story.  Lotta Olsson, a literary critic for the newspaper Dagens Nyheter says the values seem to take top priority, "and I think that is simply the wrong approach when you want to make good children's books."  Like art critic Donald Kuspit's assessment of activist art, she believes a story suffers and becomes less credible if some sort of personal value looms larger than the form.

In one book by Olika, some questioned why the sexual orientation of the main character's parents were brought up since it had nothing to do with the story.

Both publishers dismissed the criticism; however, defending their authors and illustrators storytelling abilities.  They also don't deny that their books fit outside the mainstream.  In most children's books, or even literature in general, a so-called "straight" couple is considered a given--also often brought up in a story even though it has nothing to do with the main plot.  When mommy and daddy kiss, it's considered normal.   Vilda and Olika; however, want to treat the concept of "daddy kissing daddy" just as casually.

For the most part the publishers continue to receive plenty of praise from other Swedes.  Scandinavia is widely considered the world leader in gender equality and minority rights--it also happens to be one of the most peaceful places on the planet according to the Global Peace Index.  The idea of alternative lifestyles making it to children's books there may not be such a surprise.

When it comes to foreign art forms and culture, the Western world has been pretty oblivious to the variety and dynamics of the East. But the ancient Indonesian practice of puppet art is beginning to catch on in places like the United States after being translated into English.

The puppetry craft, called wayang, combines traditional Indonesian music, rich color and characters, and morality/religious tale plots that go back to the beginning of the culture’s existence. The Hindu story of Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic of Rama and Sita is a popular one. The U.N.’s cultural agency UNESCO recognizes the art translation as a “masterpiece of humanity.” (Reuters)

Foreign interest is indeed growing in isolated places of the world like the United States, as the younger generation travel more than their parents did and have an innate curiosity of the world they know nothing about. 41-year old puppet master Ki Sigit Sabdo Prijono has been working towards promoting this old world tradition in the states and first performed wayang in English at the University of Michigan, where he has acted as lecturer since 2003. Prijono’s colleague at UM, Charlie Sullivan, says, “I’m very glad we are able to help the traditional form stay very strong…and that (strong) culture can also be translated nicely.” (Tommy Ardiansyah for Reuters) Both agree statistics show that cultural interest in such art is growing in the West.

Alex Castle, an interested American wayang student expressed his gratitude for the translation. “It gives me a better understanding I guess than if it was totally in Javanese.”

He makes an excellent point. Many people from the Eastern side of the world are already familiar with Western art because of modern technology like television, video games and computers. But Westerners are intimidated and isolated from most Eastern art because they simply can’t appreciate its meaning without translation. Perhaps if not only matters of government, politics, economy and environmental issues were translated, but art and culture as well, the two worlds would benefit from a higher level of human understanding as well as observe similarities that weave us together.

Prijono not only hopes that ancient traditions like wayang will spark interest in foreign art but that young “Westernized” Indonesians take notice as well and not always rely on the Internet, television or video games for entertainment.

In Banksy’s book Wall and Piece, a collection of his words and photos of his numerous public displays of graffiti art, the famously mysterious artist wrote a particularly revealing passage. I can only recall it in paraphrase, but he related a story in which he was painting one of his usual revolutionary themed murals when he had to suddenly run and seek cover—a couple guys had just broken into a nearby store and were making their getaway in his direction. While in hiding, he wondered if they looked at his art and mused, “This guy is only painting about the revolution—we’re living it!”

Banksy became aware of his limits as an artist and questioned his authenticity. The passage came immediately to mind and rung especially poignant with the recent news of his “unmasking.” As it turns out, Britain’s worldly famous, anonymous, underground critic of capitalism and fascism is no more than a 34-year-old “bloke” named Robin Gunningham. According to friends and early interviews, Gunningham is a middle-class white male who grew up in the suburbs and attended Bristol public schools. His biography is apparently, “Not exactly headline worthy,” according to the Guardian.

But should this news wreck his credibility as an artist? Do his critiques of modern day totalitarianism and capitalism-run-amok ring less true because it’s suddenly known he personally comes from a financially stable, average household? I suppose that depends on why you like Banksy, if at all. If you were responding more to the media hype surrounding his anonymity, maybe it now seems unfathomable that his paintings should sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars (a wall mural he painted earlier this year sold for $552,000). If you think his work speaks for itself; however, and the personality behind it is irrelevant, the news of his personal background is probably just as meaningless.

Personally, I fail to see how any person's background disqualifies them from making truthful statements that are relative to right now. Besides, what were people expecting? Some renegade leader of an underground radical resistance movement? Is that the requirement for anyone to make a credible, thought-provoking political statement despite their mastery of form and wit (those last two qualities, which I think explode from his work, are what made me even care enough to learn the name 'Banksy' to begin with)?

The controversial news story raises a big question on how we define art, though: is the work and the personality behind it inextricably linked? Also, is it possible for a work of art to be authentic in and of itself? Use the comments section below to share what you think.

Oh so many concerts so little time. Once the summer rolls around there are a plethora of out door activities one could participate in. But in the past several years the music festival has risen to be a popular destination for young and old. With so many to choose from how does one decide on which to attend. Some of them have all the artists you want to see, some have many you have never seen, others provide great locations, some are more geared to one genre of music, while others are more art oriented, and yet others are all about a cause. Well, you could make the sacrifice and just pick one or two to go to, unless you are well off financially and can just attend all of them. Or, you could attend the mother of all festivals, an exceptionally well executed mash up of all of the above. ROTHBURY!

The Rothbury Music Festival was set on the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan. Surrounded by tall luscious green trees, lakes, and clean crisp blues skies. It was a resort for all kinds of music lovers. From the gorgeous trails, to the woods, beach fronts on lakes you could swim in or canoe across, a tavern, a water park, random hammocks placed through out the festival, and onsite cabins it was by far one of the most fun and relaxing 4^th of July events going on this year. And that's just the location.

Over a hundred artists performed over the course of 4 days, such as the Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, John Mayer, 311, Snoop Dogg, Modest Mouse, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival, Of Montreal, a Crystal Method DJ Set, Steel Pulse, Beth Orton, The Wailers, Jakob Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels, Sage Francis, and Bassnectar to name a few. An eclectic array of artists got together to do more than just make incredible music but participate and stand up for the changes they would like to see happen to ensure a better future for us all.

Art played a major part in the festival as well. Installations could be found all over the festival grounds. Fascinating creations were laced through the high branches of the trees of Sherwood Forest (a section of the venue located in the woods). They were hiding and flashing between beams of lasers, illuminated by colorful lights, and mysteriously looming through fog from the smoke machines. The art even spilled out on to the stage through elaborate stage ornamentations brought to us by the California originated Do Lab.

Michael Kang, formally of the String Cheese Incident, brought in last year's Burning Man's favorite. A large art installation in the form of a tree that had monkeys hanging from it. As people around the tree created energy by pounding on drums, a strobe light pulsated. The strobe light gave illusions of the monkeys swinging from vine to vine as a snake slithered up the tree after the monkeys. Much like the concept of a zoetrope, "a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures."

There was also the introduction to many festival goers to a more circus and theatrical element that is has been popularized on the west coast. This included flying trapeze artists, outrageous characters on stilts and bikes, and full on theatrical and burlesque performances.

All of this laid the perfect foundation for the event to allow fans, artists, and activists to come together and enjoy each other, our planet, and great music. A place where we could share and exchange our ideas on how to create a better place for all of us to live. Rothbury's main cause this year was Climate Change and Clean Energy Alternatives. Attendees of the festival were given the opportunity to participate in Think Tanks and an Energy Fair. The Think Tank offered attendees the chance to participate in seminars and roundtable discussions with writers, progressive politicians, activists, scientists, youth leaders, and entertainers who were performing at the festival. Discussing topics like global warming, solar and biodiesel resources, motivating the masses, implementing change in communities, demanding change from our political leaders and the media, and how to get involved with moving our society in a positive forward motion.

While strolling through the grounds of Rothbury one might stumble upon a farmer's market, whose vendors all came from the local community. So instead of your every day festival hot dog you had the choice of fresh grown organic strawberries and other good clean energy items. And for those festival goers who can't leave home without their cell phones, was a solar powered battery charging station brought to us by Bauer Power. Where they charged approximately 4-500 phones a day. All one need to do is simple drop it off, much like a coat check. While continuing on through out the journey of your day you may notice site ops going through the festival clipping roots so patrons don't fall and injure themselves or strictly just picking up cigarette butts. All this goodness began to spill over into positive intention by majority of the festival goers. Many could be witnessed discussing how their trash was separated with Green Team members placed throughout the festival to help direct people on how to properly dispose of their waste at recycling, composting, and trash stations. And the young lady you see carrying 50 or so cups to one of the stations, doesn't just drink a lot, she gathered other peoples trash. A shining example of how many began to effortlessly do their part in helping keep the grounds pristine for us all to continue enjoying.

So much attention to detail was put into creating Rothbury. From it's purpose, to the lay out of the land, to the great paramedics and peacekeepers hired to help make sure things ran smooth and that no one seriously injured, to the infusion of art, and the line up of music it is by far one of the greatest festivals this summer one could attend. Through out the weekend you could hear everyone saying it was the "One of the Greatest Festivals Ever!" From the artists who performed, the staff who worked for weeks to produce it, the volunteers who graciously volunteered their time, the attendees who traveled far and wide to be there, the media capturing the festival to share with the world, and the promoters, all sang Rothbury's praises. But have no fear for this is only the inaugural run of Rothbury. It is quite possible a new tradition in rock and roll has been started and you will have the chance to be a part it next year. Until then, take a moment to see what you can do through the music you love to help you community grow and thrive.