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Tree Mural Defaced After Banksy Confirmed That the Street Art is His Work

Two days after Banksy confirmed that the new Tree Mural at Finsbury Park was his, vandals defaced the wall art by splashing white paint, which partially marred the green paint. The mural is of a stencilled image of a woman spraying green paint across the white building wall located directly behind a real tree. However, the tree has yet to spring back to full life by coming out with new leaves.

Finsbury Park Locals Take Pride that Banksy Chose Their Neighbourhood

finsbury park londonIf one takes a few steps back when viewing the mural, the green paint sprayed on the wall projects an artificial image of tree leaves forming a foliage. Apparently, at this time of the year, the tree in front of the mural should have already started coming out with leaves in branch stems and twigs.
Banksy somehow explained this concept by posting   on Instagram, a “Before” and an “After” image of the seemingly lifeless tree standing in front of the white wall backdrop.

Crowds of people living in the neighbourhood are taking pride that Banksy has chosen Finsbury Park as the site for his new mural. As a matter of fact, someone noticed that the green paint used by the famous street artist is similar to the green hue being useanksy murald in the signs posted by the Islington Council in the local area.
In light of the incident and even if the Tree Mural wall is already secured by a fence, the local council will install closed-circuit television (CCTV) to ward off vandals who still intend to do further damage to the Tree Mural.

bActually, such incidents involving Banksy works have become ongoing security concerns. Several Banksy murals in different boroughs have been defaced by vandals before, which made CCTVs essential as a countermeasure. The monitors have been effective in enabling authorities to make related arrests.

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D.C. Judge Upholds Rejection of Copyright Protection for AI Generated Artwork

The federal judge of the Columbia District Court, Judge Beryl A. Howell upheld the decision of the US Copyright Office to deny copyright protection to an artwork created by way of an AI system.

Stephen Thaler. a computer scientist who designed and built an Artificial Intelligence system called “Creativity Machine,” had filed an application for copyright protection for a 2D image captioned as “A Recent Entrance to Paradise.” Thaler contends that the artwork which depicted train tracks plying beneath a verdant stone arch, was created using AI of his own design.

US Copyright Office Cites Basic Tenets of Human Authorship and Product of Human Mind

The Copyright Office was steadfast in its decision to reject the application because the work does not meet the basic tenet of copyright laws, which require that the subject of protection must be of human authorship and the product of a human mind. The office said Thaler must either provide evidence that the artwork is the artistic product of human authorship and creativity; or submit an argument that will convince the Copyright Office to veer from the centuries-old philosophy of copyright laws. In the final rejection of Thaler’s application, the review board noted that the computer scientist did not submit or complied with any of the two conditions. Instead, Thaler sued the office in June 2022.

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Judge Howell’s Ruling on the Matter

In handing down the ruling upholding the rejection decision of the Copyright Office, Judge Beryl A. Howell wrote

 

Undoubtedly, since artists have put AI in their toolbox to use in generating new visuals, the art industry is approaching new frontiers in copyright. Protection in the generation of new artistic works and other visuals will prompt questions that challenge up to what degree of human involvement qualifies an artwork for copyright protection

 

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Ukrainian Pavilion in Venice Biennale, in the Throes of Russia’s War Against Civilization

The Ukranian Pavilion will hold an exhibit in the coming Venice Biennale this April, a plan officials of the most prestigious exhibition hope will push through. The Ukrainian team is set to present a contemporary version of Pablo Makov’s 1995 “The Fountain of Exhaustion” with water coming out of 78 bronze funnels.However, Ukrainian artist Pavlo Makov, reported that they had to stop the preparations they started in February.

As it is, Ukrainian cities have been bombed and destroyed, while all able bodied Ukranian citizen are doing what they can to help in the fight against Putin’s invasion, Russia’s continuing annihilation of Ukraine include not only the destruction of major cities but also of residential areas, which resulted in the death of many civilians. As all flights to and from Ukraine have been grounded, Makov and his team of curators cannot fly to Italy to continue working on the pavilion.
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The Venice Biennial officials said they will try to make arrangements to transport the installation and Makov’s team to Vienna. Yet it’s apparently no longer possible as Russia’s devastating assault on Uktaine and its citizens has already escalated, forcing millions of Ukrainians to evacuate in neighboring countries.

Makov Has No Plan of Leaving Ukraine

The situation in Ukraine today is that everyone, even ballet dancers have voluntarily taken up arms, or joined volunteer groups where they could take part in their country’s fight for freedom.

In an interview with Art Net last Febriary 24, the 63-year old visual artist said he has no plans of running and leaving Kharkiv, the second largest city that in the recent days had received heavy shelling and bombing from the advancing Russian forces.

He said that while many in Europe initially thought that what’s happening in Ukraine is a small conflict, it is now apparent that it’s a war against civilization. A war that began in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea. He added that the Russians will not stop but neither will Ukranians.

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Understanding the People Under Each Zodiac Sign : What They Could be as Artists

Read more about astrology, birth signs and traits, and then apply the information you gathered in creating interesting themes of perfect Zodiac tapestry. A lot of individuals are fascinated with horoscopes and zodiacs as they love to read about themselves, because some provide explanations about their personal views and outlook in life.

Aries

Aries individuals are always seen as the leader because they do not fear being in charge, or in spearheading a project. Moreover, what makes Aries guys and gals good leaders is that they have the determination and willpower to get the job done. However, individuals born under this zodiac sign tend to be short-tempered because patience is not among their virtues.

Taurus

Taurus creatives focus on making their art work convey calmness, which they themselves personally yearn. Through a calming art, Taurus artists and their audience can enjoy a brief respite from their fast paced individual lives.

Gemini

The social butterfly among astrological signs, Gemini is always the life of the party. Gemini artists prefer asking others for their opinion however, they seem to struggle in completing an artwork due

Cancer

Cancer in general, are controlled by their emotions, which more often than not, lead to feelings of despair. That is why many Cancer individuals feel afraid to explore their emotional side. Yet this can also work to their advantage if they let their complicated emotions pour into their artworks.

 

Leo

People born under the Leo sun sign are destined to become artists as they are very talented and love to be the center of the attention. A lot of people usually like them as they possess an electric presence.

Virgo

Virgos are perfectionists, which is a characteristic that can be very useful in the art industry particularly if you are aiming to be a gallery manager. Virgos believe in doing tasks efficiently and immediately. However, they tend to be worrisome and picky at times it could detract them from being productive in their own studio.

Libra

Libras love to collaborate and partner with other people as they have this talent that can create a balance between overwhelming personalities. In the art industry, a Libra’s measured and calm conduct is well appreciated as such trait is useful when networking.

Scorpio

Scorpio artists are dedicated and passionate about their art as they do not get afraid of becoming too involved in undertakings.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius people are comfortable in being independent and in discovering the world on their own. Mainly because they value self-expression over anything else. They fully stand by their beliefs and most of their artworks are created with a single vision.

Capricorn

Capricorns are natural troublemakers as they are intensely competitive and stubborn. This sign should be careful as these traits can become a hindrance to their future opportunities.

Aquarius

Individuals with Aquarius as zodiac sign believe and work on their goal to create masterpieces that they believe can change the world. These artists are more focused on making the world around them better than they found it, even if some of their audience do not see eye to eye with the his artistic views. Aquarius artists focus on the bigger picture and pay no heed to those who don’t agree with them.

Pisces

Pisces are very sensitive and compassionate, making abstract painting the perfect way for them to express their overwhelming emotions. The only thing that motivates a Pisces are things or activities that bring them joy. Furthermore, they are too benevolent for their own good, putting others before themselves. Sooner or later, they have to start focusing on themselves instead of others.

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Mexico Relentlessly Exerting Effort to Reclaim and Restore Its National Treasures

Mexico continues to exert efforts in restituting many of the pre-Columbian treasures taken by colonizers, which up to now are being sold in auction houses. Mexico’s government officials recently put a stop to the auction two pre-Columbian artifacts in Paris.

In order to appreciate the restitution actions steps being carried out by Mexico, understand that pre-Columbian objects particularly artifacts that originated during the mesoamerican era before the arrival of Genoese explorer Christoper Columbus.

Recent Auction Sale of Pre-Columbian Artifacts Halted by the Mexican Government

The most recent auction sale halted by the Mexican government was in November 02 at the Artculiar in Paris, which a collection of pre-Columbian objects along with some Islamic artifacts were put up for bidding.
Another auction was set to take place at Christie’s on November 10, is for a private collection of Taino and pre-Columbian treasures has been stopped.

The Mexican Embassy in France released a statement that conveyed their great concern about the legitimacy of the auction sales. Mexican officials emphasized in the letter that permitting the commercialization of archaeological pieces is tantamount to endorsing a transnational crime. Many engage in illegal excavations to dig out cultural property, which instead of being surrendered to the Mexican government are being smuggled out of the country to be sold to the highest bidder.

Mexico Calls on German Government to Put an End to the Auction Sale of Smuggled Mexican Treasures

Last September 20, the Mexican government stopped a German auction house from selling 36 of Mexico’s listed artifacts including an Olmec mask and figurine. According to El Universal, there were actually a total of 67 listed original Mexican pieces listed in the auction house’s sales catalogue. Diplomats across seven Latin American countries assembled to hold a joint press conference to call the attention of the German government to put an end to the auction of looted or smuggled treasures.

The Mexican government, through the Mexican Secretary of Culture Alejandra Fraustro , sent a letter directly to a Munich-based dealer named Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger. The letter specifically stated that archaeological objects are considered as “national patrimony” of which ownership belongs to the Mexican people through the the Instituto Nacional de Arqueologia e Historia.

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A Vintage Photo Confirms that Van Gogh’s Last Painting Referenced a Real Location

A 1907 photograph was discovered as having the same features of the view, which famous painter Van Gogh featured in his last painting “Tree Roots (1890).” The vintage photograph gives a better perspective on how Vincent Van Gogh spent his last moments before he shot himself in July 29, 1890, two days after completing the painting.

The glass plate negative of the photo shows a man in a position almost hidden in the trees during the summer of 1907. The negative is one of the glass plate collections of a Brussels lawyer named Edouard Van Halteren, known to be a yachtsman who collected glass plates of his voyages in the River Oise. Other photographs included in Van Halteren’s collections showed Auvers-sur-Oise, a commune in Paris, France where Van Gogh temporarily lodged during the spring of 1890.

How the Photograph was Discovered

The research started when Louis van Tilborgh, a senior researcher at Van Gogh’s Museum, noted in 2012 that “Tree Roots” is Van Gogh’s last artwork as was cited by an 1893 newspaper article. While other art specialists claimed that the “Tree Roots” view was a figment of Van Gogh’s imagination, Van Tilborgh believed that the painting referenced a real grove of trees.

In 2020, Institut Van Gogh’s scientific director Wouter van der Veen came across a postcard titled “Auvers-sur-Oise – Rue Daubigny” circa 1910. The image used in the postcard shows a scenery that is identical to the view of Van Gogh’s “Tree Roots.” Further research revealed that the spot where Van Gogh had last painted was in Auvers-sur-Oise.

The photograph used in the postcard was possibly taken during the summer of 1907 by one of Van Halteren’s friend, relative, or by a professional photographer, who went along in one of the lawyer’s many cruises along River Oise. The postcard photo was later traced as having a glass-photo negative in Van Halreren’s collection.

While the glass plate negatives captured mostly images of tourist attractions, the Auvers tree roots photo was the only exception. It was also discovered that it was taken because the moustached man sitting in the tree roots spot was Van Halteren.

Institut Van Gogh’s Scientific Director Wouter van der Veen admitted that the postcard is not really conclusive. Yet the 1907 photograph helped confirm the certainty that Van Gogh’s “Tree Roots” depicted a view of a real location. Moreover, the painting and the vintage photograph have been determined as having the same viewpoint; albeit done a few meters away from each other.

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What Makes NFTs Significant in the World of Digital Art

The NFT is an example of how crypto technology has creeped into the art world, as it provides proof of ownership over digital arts by way of blockchain. NFT stands for Non-Fungible Tokens, not at all related to cryptocurrencies but to the buying and selling of digital artworks in exchange for fiat money a or cryptocurrency.

The concept of NFT involves the issuance of a certificate of ownership for a particular digital art, by way of a decentralized encryption recording system similar to the cryptocurrency blockchain. The act is called minting, since the certificate of ownership serves as a “token” that will make a digital art unique and rare.

Since digital art can simply be copied and distributed throughout the world wide web, such copies have no, or have little value if sold in the market. The owner of a NFT for that particular digital art can lay claim to owning the original copy, which also gives him or her the right to transfer ownership by selling the NFT token to anyone who is interested.

Why Call the Token Non-Fungible?

The term fungible applies to assets or goods that have a per unit value that can be sold or bought using another type of asset with the same value. A physical art work is a fungible asset and has the quality of being rare in ways that can command an equivalent value when put up for sale in the market, usually in exchange for another fungible asset like fiat money or cryptocurrency.

Currencies are fungible assets because they can be bought and sold interchangeably in foreign exchange markets. The same is true for bitcoins and other types of crypto money, which can be exchanged for fiat money or another type of cryptocurrency at crypto trading platforms.

An item or object is non-fungible if it does not have a specific unit value to use as the basis for an asset exchange, but can be bought or sold using only fiat money. NFTs for digital art therefore give owners of an original copy of the digitally created artwork the ability to transfer ownership but only in exchange for fiat  or digital money.

Without an NFT to show for a copy of the digital art, it will be difficult for the seller to find a willing buyer in the marketplace because there is no proof to show that the seller owns the original and not a mere reproduction. To be clear, the NFT is the asset for sale and not the artwork, because only the original copy is unique. Since it is a non-fungible asset, the token can only be purchased by way of fiat money.

The NFTs of Kings of Leon’s Recently Released Album

The most recent example of a digital asset for which NFTs have been issued is the artwork appearing in the latest album released by Kings of Leon. While the digital art of the album will be produced in millions of copies, only a few will be released with NFTs.

The limited number of NFT albums were available for sale during the first two weeks after the album’s release in March 05, 2021. According to reports, only six NFT albums were released, while 12 were stored in a vault to make the NFT albums distinguishably more valuable than the other reproduced copies.

The six owners of the NFT Kings of Leon albums therefore, can fetch a market value for any one who decides to sell his or her copy along with its NFT .

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“Street Scene in Montmartre” Long Hidden Van Gogh Painting to Go on Exhibit Before Auction

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Street Scene in Montmartre” painting of a street scene in a Paris neighborhood will finally be shown to the public before the auction date. Van Gogh’s work will be displayed in Hong Kong, Paris, and Amsterdam before Sotheby’s auction house in Paris puts it up for sale on March 25, 2020. The painting is expected to sell at a price of between 5 and 8 million euros, or an equivalent of $6 million and $9.7 million. .

According to Sotheby’s auction house, the 1887 painting was kept for more than a century as part of a French family’s private collection and has rarely been viewed if ever.

Etienne Hellman, the Senior Director of Impressionist and Modern Art at Sotheby’s mentioned that the painting is an important piece of Van Gogh’s collection of artworks, as the artist had painted it while living with his brother Theo in Paris. Actually, Van Gogh lived in Montmartre when he moved to Paris in 1886, but later moved to southern France where stayed when he ended his life in 1890. Montmartre used to be a working-class village but later gained repute as an artistic centre. …

About the “Street Scene in Montmartre”

Van Gogh’s “Street Scene in Montmartre” was painted in 1887, three years before he committed suicide. It depicts people walking through the rural landscape of Montmartre, known to be as one of Paris’ popular historic streets.

Hellman described its colors as quite different as they had a blown-up effect which is rare since the colors in most of Van Gogh’s earlier paintings were much darker. In the painting, the Pepper Mill an iconic landmark denoting Montmartre’s history with windmills, can be seen from the street where a couple and their little girl can be seen strolling strolling in front of wooden fences.

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A Quick Look at How the Concept of Perfect Female Body Changed Through the Years

The human body whether of a male or female has always inspired artists, although it has been depicted in various forms in artworks created in different periods. Contemporary art recognizes the science-suggested standards of muscle-sculpted upper torso in males and the hour-glass body shape in females as the classic human body forms. Prior to such suggestions, there were different human body shapes that served as inspirations to the earlier generations of visual artists

 

The Female Body Form and Its Evolution as Reference for Art Works

Today, modern day artists no longer choose human body forms to use as reference based on what society thinks as the perfect body shape. Visual artists can freely draw, paint or sculpt according to their artistic visualizations. In fact, if one is to ask ordinary non-artist people of what is generally considered today as the perfect female figure, many would likely point to the likes of female celebrities like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and even Kim Kardashian as the epitome of women with perfect bodies.

Yet looking back, artists during ancient civilizations and subsequent eras had different concepts on what was considered as the perfect female human body.

In ancient Egypt, the art works depicted the ideal female shape as one that is slender, has narrow shoulders and small waist. The ancient Greeks and Romans were less mindful of the aesthetic qualities of the female body as the male body form drew more attention. Yet if women were to be regarded as having perfect bodies, it was not for art’s sake but for child-bearing purposes, which made being plump and full-bodied as the best female body form

When the Renaissance movement took place, the practice of artistically depicting the human body in its realistic form, included creating art work that presented the human body in the nude. The concept of realism also meant presenting the female body in its natural form, whilst still carrying on with the concept that for a woman to be regarded as sexually attractive, she must be plump and able to bear her husband many children. Renaissance art was more driven by philosophical views of the environment and its culture.

During the Victorian era in the 1800s, plump women were still desirable; but they should at least appear with cinched waists and wearing cleavage-revealing gowns in social gatherings and as models of arts works

As fashion started to evolve during the 1900s, so did the concept of producing icons who will represent the perfect examples of the female body form. The Golden Era of Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1950s, popularized the hour glass curves, large breasts and naturally small waists, Women must strive to achieve perfect body shape and measurement if they wanted to attract attention and perhaps be discovered as a glamorous Hollywood movie star.

In later years, during the 60s, 80s and 90s, the concepts of perfect female form depended on the kind of profession, career or occupation that a woman was in, or at least aspire to be in. The 60s fashion models were long-legged but thin and flat-chested like a child, while the 1980s introduced super models with toned athletic type bodies that at best still look svelte and sexy.

As a result of these changing concepts, women became conscious of keeping their figures slim at a young age, to avoid becoming plump or at worst obese. However, many women began encountering difficulties in gaining enough mass and flesh due to the rigors of academic work or the demands of their occupation.

One such supplement that is fast becoming popular among women trying to gain weight and develop body mass is apetamin. Although we still recommend consulting first with your physician if it’s the right supplement to take, to make sure there are no underlying health conditions affecting your inability to gain weight.

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Research Leads to the Discovery and Return of a Statue Stolen from India

The Mackenzie Art Gallery in Canada returned a statue stolen from an 18th century century shrine in India after an artist unraveled its related circumstances. The statue originated from a shrine located in India over 100 years ago, which the museum acquired in 1936 as part of a collection bequeathed by a benefactor named Norman Mackenzie.

Canadian artist Divya Mehra, discovered the statue’s origins while doing a research of the MacKenzie collection in preparation for her exhibition captioned as “From India to Canada and Back to India.” Through her research she was able to identify the stone statue as the depiction of the Hindu goddess of food, Annapoorna.

Based on the title, it seems that Ms. Mehra already had an inkling that it was the same statue that went missing after a Canadian lawyer named Norman MacKenzie was reported to have looted an active temple during his trip to Varanasi in 1913. However, the lawyer had mistakenly identified the statue as the god Vishnu and not Annapoorna.

According to Mehra, the adventure of Indiana Jones were based on the stories told by Edgar James Banks, who turned out to be a close friend of the lawyer-art collector Norman MacKenzie.

In 1936 MacKenzie died leaving a last will and testament, which included bequeathing his art collection to the University of Regina. The university in turn built the MacKenzie Art Gallery to house the collection, among them the stolen stone statue mislabeled as an image of Vishnu. .

The Statue’s Repatriation to India

In light of Ms. Mehra’s discovery, the art museum through the University of Regina will be returning the statue of Annaporna back to India at an unspecified future date in light of the still ongoing global pandemic. Still, a virtual repatriation ceremony was held last November 19, 2020 as the university underscored the importance of doing what is right to correct historical wrongs in order to take part in undoing the harmful consequences of colonialism.

To show her appreciation of the university’s cooperation in returning the stolen statue to India, Ms. Mehra offered the Mckenzie Art Gallery one of her sculptures as replacement for the returned statue The donated piece is among the sculptures in exhibit at the MacKenzie Art Gallery museum received a sculpture by Mehra that is included in her exhibition as a replacement, where her concept made use of a scene from an Raiders of the Lost Ark; the part where Indiana Jones stole a golden idol by replacing its weight with a bag of sand.

In a statement of John Hampton, the museum’s acting chief executive said that in light of Ms. Mehra’s discovery, they have started to conduct a research on all the other art works included in MacKenzie’s collection. So far a few of those examined are also due for repatriation. Mr. Hampton gave a promise that the museum will do everything in its power to return art works that have been acquired through improper means.

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Why Da Vinci’s Giant Crossbow was Never Built at All

While many know Leonardo Da Vinci as the Italian painter of iconic artworks like the “Monalisa” and “The Last Supper,” he is also well-known as an inventor. Recognized as a man of many interests, his concepts and designs for contraptions and equipment were way ahead of his time. In this article, our focus is on one of Da Vinci’s famous sketch plans for building a giant crossbow. It reflects not only Da Vinci’s work as a modern engineer but also as a genius caught between the world of art and military conflict.

Crossbows are said to have been invented in China in as early as the 5th century, during the country’s tumultuous “Warring States” era. The weapon later became the most important armament in Europe during medieval times until fire arms and gunpowder became the most favored weapon in battlefields.

What Drove Da Vinci to Make Plans for a Giant Crossbow

During his lifetime as an artist and an inventor in Italy, Da Vinci moved in a world where cities were independent states led by wealthy aristocrats. As head of such states, they coveted ownership of neighboring lands as a means to have greater wealth and power.

One way they could wield advantage over other territories is by having greater military power, for which they commissioned talented engineers and artisans to build the most destructive war machines possible.

One such talent was Leonardo Da Vinci, who in 1486 was hired by an Italian prince named Ludovico Sforza, who had plans to expand his sovereignty in the Milan region. Although Da Vinci responded to the request by presenting a sketch of a giant crossbow, which at that time was called “ballista” by Italians, it remained just a plan.

.The Italian prince was largely interested. As Da Vinci had described it, the giant crossbow will have such great propulsion it will be able to launch larger objects that can cause destruction at the highest level. Yet, as many historians had discovered, Da Vinci was a man who valued life more than anything else. Academicians widely surmised he had intentionally sabotaged the sketch plans for the giant crossbow, by deliberately making basic calculation errors that any skilled mathematician is not likely to overlook.
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Apparently, Da Vinci’s giant crossbow was not actually designed to cause the most damage but only to impress a great degree of intimidation. Word had spread that Da Vinci’s giant crossbow will propel huge balls of flames and giant boulders and not arrows. The mere though of battling against an enormous war machine was enough to sow fear and terror, it made Storza’s enemies think twice before challenging him in a battle.

Actually, Da Vinci’s giant crossbow worked, but only as a psychological weapon as it was never built at all; even as modern day engineers tried to do so.

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Museum Photography : Dealing with the Challenges Posed by Delicate Environments

Museums are usually strict on visitor photography; yet relationships between museums and professional photographers exist if in terms of museum photography. Museum photography is different because shots will be taken in a delicate environment Not unless it involves producing photographs for museum exhibition purposes.

When used as a method for documenting museum collections as well as promotions, museum photography facilitates archiving of historical, archaeological, anthropological or scientific objects, to be stored as supporting documents of artefacts, events and stories of museum exhibits.

In both cases, museum photographers share some tips on what to consider when taking photographs. The quality of the images rely not only on using the best photography cameras but also on the approaches used in taking shots of rare and delicate articles or special editions placed in dimly lit environments; whilst restricted from using flash and other photography equipment. Some museum artefacts tend to deteriorate overtime; rapidly at that if they are constantly exposed to bright lights.

Important Pointers for Museum Photography

Museums are confident that a professional photographer will use methodological approaches that conform to the limitations of the environment. Thankfully, advancements in digital technologies have enabled photographers to develop ways of working on modern and historical materials.

Dealing with Low Light

Use a camera with a large aperture, i.e. (f/2.8 – f/4), a fast shutter speed and push the ISO by up to 400 at the least. Doing so will allow an adequate amount of light in. Some artefacts displayed inside glass encasements have even dimmer lights as a way of minimizing reflective light. In such cases, set the ISO to 1600 to improve the lighting.

However, even if your camera offers a higher ISO, setting it too high can make the captured image look grainier.

Avoiding Glass Reflections

Rare artefacts and valuable paintings are often enclosed behind glass, which automatically eliminates the use of flash as a way to avoid glass reflection. One effective approach is to carefully push the lens right next to the glass without any gap in-between but do this only if permitted. If not, use a polarizing filter to reduce reflections.

Be Meticulous with the Details

If there is one thing that makes museum photographers stand out, it is their attention to details but without losing the drama of the story behind the object. If getting close to the artefact or precious object is allowed, use a macro lens as this can pick out details with precision. Still, when shooting from a distance use a zoom lens, especially on facial features, because you need to emphasize life behind the model who posed for the image.

If use of flash is not allowed, set the shutter speed to 1/60th of a second or even slower; but make sure to use a large aperture (f/1.8 – f/4).

Lastly, don’t forget to take shots of the museum’s indoor and outdoor architecture since they can help set the mood of the museum photography, especially if for promotional purposes. Most museums have incredibly ornate designs, they are art works by themselves.

Although museums do not prohibit visitor photography, they impose certain restrictions on who to allow, where and what can be photographed. After all, photographs taken by visitors also serve as promotions, knowing that selfie takers inside museums are likely to circulate their photos online across different social media sites.

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Screw Artist Andrew Myers – A Blind Man’s Artist

Through the years, art has been evolving; and many artists driven by the desire to be creatively unique, now enhance their artworks with multisensory components. Andrew Myers, one of the early proponents of multisensory art, invented Screw Art, which are paintings that can be enjoyed not only by the sighted, but by blind visitors as well.

As the art world is now seeing the development of multisensory art museums and art institutes have been exhibiting the screw paintings of Andrew Myers. In a Cantor Art interview, Myers said:

”For me, it is not enough to paint a beautiful figure … or to have the perfect thought to express a feeling.” “In my opinion, an artist is successful if he or she can express a feeling that can make someone think.”

Myers recalled that when his Screw Art first went on exhibit, one of his fondest memories is when he observed a blind man ran his hands over a huge 3-D portrait on which Andrew had spent hundreds of hours adding thousands of pieces of painted screws. Myers said he watched as the man’s blank expression broke into a warm smile, because to Myers, the smile meant the blind man had felt something that other visitors can only see.

What Inspired Andrew Myers to Invent and Develop Screw Art?

Actually, Andrew Myers said he invented Screw Art in 2008, out of necessity. It was the year of the financial crisis when people had stopped buying art. As he was trying to focus on new ideas, he realized that the art market is already full of great painters and sculptors, as well as thinkers. That was when he decided to go forward in his chosen career by becoming all three at the same time.

Since then, Andrew has been making visually appealing paintings, to which he adds a 3D effect by putting in painted screws to complete every artwork. For more than 15 years now, his works can be seen as a collection in art institutions throughout the world, while constantly being featured in major art exhibits.

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Street Artists Convey Messages of Gratitude, Oneness and Hope

In many parts of the world and while COVID-19 pandemic was rapidly spreading in communities, street artists came out to paint heart-warming messages. It cannot be said that the street artists intended to vandalize because they painted beautiful works of art to send messages of gratitude to the professionals and key workers in the medical industry, for braving the threats of the deadly virus.

The sad reality is that many medical workers and professionals are among fatalities included in death toll statistics. Their courageous and relentless efforts did not go unnoticed, which a lot of street artists made sure will be remembered for years by making use of empty public spaces as canvass for their artworks.

Murals Mostly Paid Tribute to Medical and Healthcare Workers

In the UK, the still anonymous street artist who goes only by the name of Banksy paid homage to the country’s NHS workers by leaving a painting  entitled “Game Changer.” outside of the Southampton Hospital. Banksy’s artwork depicts a young boy who has come to appreciate nurses as true heroes in real life; replacing his Spiderman and Batman action figures with that of a Hospital Nurse doll.

Another mystery street artist Rebel Bear, Banksy’s counterpart in Glasgow, Scotland also sent a message of love and gratitude for the tireless frontliners. Rebel Bear painted a mural of a nurse, whose hands formed a heart symbol.

In Milan, Italy, artist Lapo Fatai painted a mural that covered 90 square meters to present a nurse giving a thumbs-up signal for people who heeded stay-at-home orders. It can be recalled that Italy became the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic because many believed that the virus was not as serious as Italy’s health officials had warned.

One of Amsterdam’s famous street artists known as FAKE, created an impressive mural by painting a life-like illustration of a “Super Nurse,” wearing a face mask imprinted with Superman’s “S” logo.

 

Messages of Hope and Unity Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis

The UK seems to have the most number of artists who ventured out of their safe shelter to paint graffiti’s of “Thank You” missives and of words that encourage unity and hope. On walls, on sidewalks and even on public roads, and using paint sprays, artists wrote:

“Please believe these days will pass”
“We can beat this together.”
“We’re all in this together”
“Be kind. Let’s look out for one another.”
“ Thank You NHS and Keyworkers”

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Cultivating Creativity When Sheltered-in-Place

Chase away the blues of a mandatory shelter-in-place order by cultivating your creativity, instead of ceding your idle hours to moments of boredom

Staying cooped up all by yourself in your home for days or at worst, for an indefinite period of time, can really be downright disheartening. Until your community or state can control the spread of the Covid-19 disease, the best protection you can have against possible exposure to the virus is to stay within the safety of your home. However, there may be occasions when you experience moments of loneliness and anxiety, which could lead to depression.

Understanding the Rationale Behind Shelter-in-Place Restrictions

Keep in mind that you are not the only one who is going through this type of ordeal. Millions of people in China, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland , El Salvador and Spain are going through the same experience. The governments in those countries have implemented mass quarantine, as a measure that will prevent the disease from infecting the majority of their population.

Except for Italy, which took on the mass quarantine approach at a stage when thousands have already been infected, most of those countries, including China, have succeeded in “flattening the curve” so to speak. “Flattening the curve” as the World Health Organization (WHO) explains, is that phase of an epidemic in which the rate by which the infectious disease is spreading, has already slowed down. Once achieved, health care systems can manage and effectively attend to all patients needing medical attention. .

In the U.S. only the states of California, Illinois, New York and a handful of communities in Colorado, Georgia and Maine have imposed mass quarantine measures, which American authorities prefer to call a “shelter-in-place” directive. The rest of the nation is still trying to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 by ordering the closure of bars, nightclubs, casinos and movie houses, as well as prohibiting the holding of events, concerts, fairs, festivals or any gathering where more than 25 to 50 people will be in attendance.

Currently, the U.S. is still dealing with a rapid rate by which the Covid-19 disease is spreading. As it is, the number of community-transmitted cases has spiked from hundreds, to thousands, which to date is nearing 20 thousand in a matter of one week.

Embark on Creative Activities to Chase Away Quarantine Blues

Many of those who are currently under mandatory quarantine or shelter-in-place order, have put forward recommendations on how to while away time creatively and productively. So far, the most popular recommendation is to cultivate one’s creativity by learning how to draw, paint, sculpt or recycle scrap materials. After all, there are several how-to, easy-to-follow instructional videos available at YouTube.

Learning how to draw seems to be the most practical, since you will only be needing pencils, papers and erasers. Painting and sculpting materials tend to be expensive, and it would be wiser to save whatever extra money you have for food and for emergency purposes. However, do not drive yourself to frustration if it seems you do not have a natural ability to draw, no matter how hard you try.

According to astrologers, creativity among individuals comes in different aspects and not just in terms of creating art works. The sun sign and moon sign of a person can influence the kind of creativity possessed by a person, which suggests that it depends on the inclusive zodiac signs dates in which a person was born.

Some are said to be born under zodiac signs that yield individuals with natural talent to create artwork. Some others demonstrate creativity by analyzing and solving problems in ways that not everyone could imagine. There are also zodiac signs that influence a person’s creativity in developing designs, concepts, methods, approaches or applications on how to make life on Earth better.

The point being driven at is that in order not to be frustrated with your creativity project, it would be best to first find out your creative strengths. That way, you can focus on areas where you will likely be more productive during the shelter-in-home period.

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Mexican Art Critic Causes Controversy by Breaking a Sculpture at the Zona Maco Art Fair

Avelina Lesper, a Mexican art critic, has stirred quite a controversy when she decided to place her empty soda pop can next to a delicate glass-sculpture created by contemporary artist Gabriel Rico. As a result, the glass and stone art work in which several objects had hung on a balance, toppled down  and caused the glass pane to fall on the floor, shattering into bits and pieces.

 

The art fair host, Galeria OMR, known for supporting contemporary artists, condemned Ms. Lesper for her “enormous lack of professionalism and respect.” in a statement posted on Instagram, Galeria OMR said they do not understand why an art critic claiming to be a professional, would come close to an art work, and place an empty soda can, just to show her disdain.

The gallery added that Rico’s work is currently in high demand and the glass sculpture entitled “Nimble and Sinister Tricks (To Be Preserved Without Scandal and Corruption)” has an estimated value of US$20,000.

Although Ms. Lesper apologized and insisted that the destruction was not intentional, she admits placing the soda can on the glass sculpture to show her disdain for the piece. As a solution, she suggested that the gallery leave the shattered sculpture as it is, as a way of demonstrating its evolution. However, the suggestion was rejected by Galeria OMR; prompting Ms. Lesper to offer a replacement instead.

In a statement she made in Milenio, the Mexican newspaper that features Ms. Lesper’s column, the art critic described the incident as “lamentable,” whilst stating

”It was as if the work heard my comment and felt what I thought of it.”

Galeria OMR Still to Decide on What Actions to Take

Galeria OMR, the art gallery founded by Patricia Ortiz Monasterio and Jaime Riestra in 1983, and which The Observer cited last year as “one of Mexico City’s largest blue-chip and longest-running galleries” still has to decide on the appropriate actions to take,

The gallery officials informed Ms. Lesper that she will hear from them after discussing the matter with sculptor Gabriel Rico and the organizers of the Zona Marco art fair. The gallery made it known though that currently, the demand for Rico’s art work is high, being one of the most outstanding artists of today.

Gabriel Rico on the other hand told BBC News that he was saddened by the disrespect shown by Ms. Lesper, and has described the situation as regrettable.

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Will the Culturally Historic Binna Burra Lodge Rise Again?

The catastrophic Australian fire that is currently engulfing swathes of regions around the country had started out in September 2019. as a bushfire that decimated the culturally historic Binna Burra Lodge. The fire was swift, barely giving time to evacuate about a hundred guests staying at the heritage-listed lodge at the time the fire started.

Binna Burra Lodge Chairman, Steve Noakes said the experience of seeing the damage the bushfire made to the complex was fairly traumatic.The devastation was extensive and far worse than what Mr. Noakes had imagined. It practically took his breath away when he first saw the extent of the damage. Mr Noakes reported

“The places where people had gathered through generations, the dining area, the library, the lounge, and even parts of the newly built Skylodge buildings, are gone.”

 

Binna Burra Lodge a Significant Part of Australian Heritage

Since Binna Burra opened in 1933, the environmental lodge had provided temporary home to hundreds of thousands of ordinary people coming from different parts of the world, when they set to explore and experience the grandeur of the world-heritage rainforest site known as Lamington National Park.

Started 86 years ago by prominent Australian conservationist, journalist, photographer and adventurer Arthur Groom with fellow conservationist and national parks advocate and engineer Romeo Lahey, Binna Burra never took on the air of plush and luxury.

The quaint wood-slab cabins, and the reception lounge with its big fireplace were all built with ordinary folks in mind. Binna Burra gave access to the national forest with only one road in coming from the Gold Coast; from the ridge of Beechmont to a final climb through a single-lane through the eucalyptus forest going to the edge of the rainforest.

Spanning 86 years, the Binna Burra Lodge had served as a beacon to bushwalkers, camping out school children and tired business executives looking for moments of quiet respite.

Binna Burra is gone and its future remains uncertain at the moment, because restoring the site to its original condition has to take a lot of things into consideration. Mr. Noakes acknowledges that there are now different dynamics affecting the way land is managed today, when compared to how it was 86 years ago.

Professor Catherine Pickering from the Griffith University – School of Environment and Science at Griffith University, said that if rebuilding of the complex is to be tackled, the structures must be designed in a way that factor in changes in climate conditions. As it is, changing patterns of dryness and rainfalls have been expanding, which is also driving changes in the way humans must interact with the land and its ecosystems.

Still, the Binna Burra website carries on with hope for the rapid rebuilding and rehabilitation of Binna Burra Lodge with the help of the taskforce created by the Queensland State Government.

Note: This guest post is sponsored by mebsites.com, which provides facilities for web hosting gold coast.

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Art Censorship Wielded on Karachi Biennale’s “Karachi Killing Fields” Exhibit

Art censorship and repression have become issues that have received annual reports detailing documented cases of intolerance to artworks. In light of the threats posed to artistic freedom, Freemuse published a report last April 2019, captioned as “Whose Narrative Counts;” presenting hundreds of documented cases of art censorship from across 80 countries during the past year.

The most recent case that the Freemuse organization will like include in its next report is the closing down of the “Karachi Killing Fields,” sculptural exhibition of Paskistani artist Adeela Suleman. A few hours after the courtyard of the historic Frere Hall opened to display Suleman’s 444 tombstone-like sculptures, a pair of plainclothes policemen arrived and ordered the biennale organizers to shutdown that particular exhibit.

Suleman, who teaches at the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, held a press conference to voice her reaction against the censorship; saying

“My work was just a story of incidents that took place in Karachi around a year ago.” — There was nothing in it that was not already public knowledge”

However, Pakistani authorities also ordered the discontinuance of the press conference, since Suleman was referring to the numerous incidents of extrajudicial killings carried out by local police authorities working under former police chief superintendent Rao Anwar. Her tombstone sculptures reminded people of victims that died as a result of instantaneous and wide open summary killings.

Actually, Suleman’s tombstone sculptures were also knocked down and the door leading to the “Karachi Killing Fields” exhibition was padlocked. The head of the Karachi Parks Division later told Samas TV said that the exhibition was removed because Suleman’s installation was as a form of vandalism

Biennale Organizers’ Reaction to the Shutdown and Destruction of Suleman’s “Karachi Killing Fields” Exhibit

The shutdown of the exhibit mounted by Suleman sparked outcries of protests coming from both local and international artists and activists. Some even staged a “die-in” protest against the censorship, but to no avail.

The Karachi Biennale organizers issued a statement saying that they are also against censorship of art. However, with regard to the exhibit in question, they came to realize that the artist’s perspective was not compatible with the biennale’s theme of “Ecology and the Environment” and the ethos of the biennale under KB No.19.

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UK Study Provides Proof that the Arts and Culture Offer of Communities Pose as Place-Shaping Factors

In 2017, the Arts Council England commissioned Wavehill Ltd to conduct research to determine whether the arts and cultural offering of an area is a factor that attracts individuals and businesses to settle there; and of how that area’s cultural offer shapes local identity of that place.

The report on the study entitled “The Value of Arts and Culture in Place-Shaping” was published on August 21, 2019, giving insights on the impact of arts and culture in shaping six (6) different places: Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Halifax, Hastings, Southampton and Redruth. In conducting the study, the research company examined 1,756 responses to the UK-wide survey launched in 2017. The report proved that funding for the arts is a valid cause, as the analysis showed that art and cultural features have been instrumental in attracting new residents to the smaller communities.

Nicholas Serota, the chairperson of Arts Council England and former Tate director, also wrote an essay in The Guardian, giving emphasis to the hard evidence provided by the research. He elaborated on how the study shows that the arts matter to people across the country, giving support to the importance of making greater investments in cultural dwvelopments.

Based on the latest report commissioned by the Arts Council England, Mr. Serota wrote of how from Hull to Margate, creative projects not only brought money and life back to high streets but also also boosted wellbeing, among community dwellers. Moreover, the study also revealed how people tend to base decisions on where to live by looking into the arts and culture, in addition to offers of good schools. The Arts Council England chairman wrote

”There is not only tangible value in investment in the arts, but also huge public demand for it.”

The City of Hull Sets a Good Example of How Investments in Arts and Culture Create Positive Impact

In the essay, Chairman Serota cited the city of Hull as the most obvious example. The positive impact of art and culture made Hull the City of Culture in 2017. Hull’s economy received a boost from their programme, as the local tourism industry generated £300m throughout the year.

The Art Council England chair also wrote that the benefits experienced by the city went far beyond economic growth. Arts and culture helped instill in the local people, a renewed pride in the history of Hull and in boosting their confidence over its global role. At the end of the year, 75% of Hull residents said they were proud to live in the city.

Even worth mentioning is that Hull’s achievement has been replicated by smaller towns, including post-industrial, coastal and market towns.

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Studies Prove the Importance of Emotional Connection to Creative Marketing Ideas

Marketing professors Kelly Herd of the University of Connecticut and Ravi Mehta of the University of Illinois recently conducted experiments that proved the importance of emotional connection to the effectiveness of creative marketing ideas.

According to Professor Herd, the study can be linked to a 2016 report published in the Business News Daily, which found 82% of company executives sharing the belief that there is a strong connection between business results and creativity. The view relates to the current marketing strategy of sourcing new ideas directly from consumers; by asking suggestions about products or services that they want the company to introduce as new product line.

Professor Herd cited how companies like Starbucks, Frito-Lay, LEGO and even the U.S. Army, base their innovation, as well as their research and development mostly on consumer recommendations. The view is that in a highly competitive marketplace, innovation and new products based on consumer recommendations, will enable manufacturers to survive and endure the competition.

Yet mental imagery depicting consumer emotion, used creatively in marketing new products is also of utmost importance. Through their research, marketing professors Kelly Herd and Ravi Mehta, provided new evidence demonstrating the importance of creativity influenced by mental imagery and its ability to affect consumer emotion. They then presented the results in a report entitled “Head vs. Heart: the Effect of Objective versus Feelings-Based Mental Imagery on New Product Creativity,” .

How the Study was Conducted

The objective of the experiments conducted was to show, how giving value to an end-user’s feeling can be a powerful tool in developing designs for new products deemed as solutions to problems found in the marketplace.

The research was founded on the premise that initially focusing on emotions or feelings based on the point of view of consumers creates cognitive flexibility among the designers. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to simultaneously consider matters in different perspectives. In having such an ability, product designers can “shift avenues of thought” when perceiving and processing information toward creativity.

Separate experiments were conducted in which participants were asked to design a kid’s toy, to select ingredients for a new cereal for children and to reinvent a grocery cart for the benefit of the elderly. Half of the groups of participants were instructed to imagine their respective target consumer’s feelings and emotions before starting out with the task. The other half was simply tasked to perform the assignment objectively, without considering consumer emotions or feelings.

Judges regarded as experts in the subject product, were simply asked to identify the most creative design based on their own expertise and knowledge of the subject. They had no knowledge of the objective and the emotion-based approaches that specific groups received as instructions. As the judging results demonstrated, creative product designs that took into consideration consumer-emotions, proved the importance of using product imagery created by way of cognitive flexibility.

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Van Gogh’s Letter to Critic Who Wrote First Printed-Review of His Artwork Now on Public Exhibit

Vincent van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter acclaimed as the greatest Dutch painter next to Rembrandt, but only much later after his death in 1890 at the age of 37. Throughout his career as a painter, this famous Dutch artist was practically unknown, and had remained poor during his lifetime.

After a series of failed courtships and relationships, as well as rejections encountered in his bid to become an evangelist, Van Gogh’s psychological condition slowly deteriorated. Hi mental decline had led to a particular incident in which he cut off his ear and subsequently committed to a mental asylum.

Today, Van Gogh paintings are ranked among the most priceless in the world, fetching owners as much as $53.9 million, (“Irises”) to $82.5 million (“Portrait of Dr. Gachet”) at auctions.

A Backgrounder to the Critic’s Letter

Even while at the asylum, Van Gogh continued to paint, to which the most notable artwork he produced was “The Starry Night.” An art critic named Albert Aurier, wrote a first ever-printed review that praised one of Van Gogh’s works, describing it as

“…excess, excess in strength, excess in nervousness, violence in expression.”

Vincent was so elated over Aurier’s positive review, he wrote the critic a thank-you letter, expressing his appreciation,

. “I rediscover my canvases in your article, but better than they really are – richer, more significant…”

Sadly, four months after sending the thank-you letter, Vincent Willem van Gogh committed suicide. Although Van Gogh was discharged from the mental asylum earlier, he was still distraught about his future and apparently found a reason to end his life by fatally shooting himself in the chest.

Van Gogh’s Letter to Critic Aurier Goes On Public Display at Amsterdam Museum

Through the years since Van Gogh became one of the world’s most important artists, Van Gogh’s letter to the critic passed through the hands of several art collectors. The last owner, a murky character named Aristophil was able to purchase the letter from an auction where the Van Gogh Museum had hoped to procure it. Aristophil though, a known schemer of investments went bankrupt, finally sending the much coveted Van Gogh letter in the auction market in Paris.

Early this month, and with the financial assistance of Hong Kong tycoon Cheung Chung-kiu, the Van Gogh Museum was able to secure Van Gogh’s letter to Aurier, and put it in public display in what is believed to be a first time.