What is SOPA anyway?

Great question!  And one that many others have asked, particularly in the past day or so.  Yesterday, January 18^th, you may have visited your favorite website (Wikipedia, Google or Wired, among others) only to discover that they were participating in a “blackout” for the day.  Sure that may have been inconvenient, but what if that one-day blackout was permanent?

SOPA (the Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are two bills that have been in Congress and are set to be voted on by the Senate on January 24th.  The point of the bill is to crack down on copyright-infringement  by restricting access to sites that host pirated materials.  If passed, these bills will set regulations on web content and allow the government to block these websites from the internet or its search engines.  Giving unnecessary power to the government to control our now open and free internet is worrying to say the least.  Many sites have become active in encouraging its readers to sign petitions that will show our distaste of this bill.  Google’s “motto” for the blackout, “Stop Piracy, Not Liberty”, resonated most clearly with me.  While I appreciate an effort to protect our citizens’ privacy, I think it’s just as important to protect our citizens’ freedom of speech.

We already have many freedoms censored:  literature, art and video games all get censored on a regular basis.  When we allow one thing to be stripped of free speech, it opens the floodgates for everything else to be amended or suppressed as well.  Cutting social networks, blogs and other internet resources in turn cuts our access to knowledge and information.  With the potential to harm functionality of small businesses, it cuts jobs as well.  Most importantly, it cuts our basic constitutional right to speak our mind and be individuals in a nation of such varied cultures, races, backgrounds and lifestyles.

• 4.5 million people spoke up today and signed Google’s petition
• 103,785 people signed petitions through the We The People website (according to the White House blog).
• 25,000+ blogs on WordPress went black to support the cause
• 12,500 WordPress blogs added a “Stop Censorship” ribbon to their sites
• 50,000 sites promised participation in the online demonstration on Fight for the Future.org
• An average 2,000 calls per second were made through Engine Advocacy, a service that helps people call their local Congress members
• 4 million people used Wikimedia to look up contact information for their local representative

Our efforts are working: PIPA co-sponsor Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced yesterday that he is withdrawing his support of the bill!  Just because the blackout is over, doesn’t mean the fight is.  Support the protest of SOPA and PIPA by spreading the word, signing a petition, making sure you Twitter this article, share it on Facebook and LinkedIn (using the buttons below this article) or re-post it on your blog* to enlighten your peers, colleagues and readers.

(*If used on a blog, simply let me know that you’re using it by emailing me a link at artfeedonline@gmail.com and you must also link back to this site!)

As part of their “Inside the Music” series during the month of October, the Smithsonian Channel presents their latest feature— Hip-Hop: The Furious Force of Rhymes— this Friday (October 21st) at 8pm. View a Sneak Peak of the show as well as Director Joshua Atesh Litle’s remarks on “Women in Hip-Hop” below.

Hip-hop began in 1970s inner-city South Bronx but proved to be universal as it spread across the world and spoke to those with political, societal and personal hardships. This reinvention of music proved itself as a way for these individuals and communities to get their message heard as they rapped about their own culture’s struggles.

As poets use verse to express themselves, hip-hop is a lyrical and rhythmic way to use music as a reflection of their culture and the conditions that surround them. It has served as more than entertainment; for those who don’t have a voice, rap has become a universal language.

This special by the Smithsonian Channel spans globally, by exploring a number of different countries and stories, to discover why hip-hop acts as a way for individuals to revolt against and be elevated from their burdens: Germany’s Berlin Wall, Senegal’s female circumcision, rampant conflict in the Middle East. We meet hip-hop artists from the Bronx who formed the art; but also from France, Senegal, Germany, Palestine & Jerusalem, among others.

“What it really consists of, or what it was really intended to be, you’ll see that hip-hop is a saving grace for a lot of people around the world.” –Grandmaster Caz, from The Cold Crush Brothers

Director’s Q&A about Women in Hip-Hop:

Sneak Peak:

*NEW* View a Special Screening of the Full Episode here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVmI7zjpqOs&feature=sh_e_se&list=SL

Seeing as how this is a website dedicated to arts & culture, it’s quite necessary that I acknowledge the passing of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs.  After all, he all but created our current culture by altering both the way we communicate and the way we view the world.  He enhanced our lives with his innovative mind and opened up a world of possibilities to us all.

Steve Jobs turned passion and ideas into reality and taught us that our own powerful dreams can become a reality, too (in fact, his own accomplished visions are what pioneered the way for ours to come true as well).

May we all live life the way he did: with zest, dedication, passion and hope for our future.

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart… Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” — Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement address, June 2005.

Earlier today, it was revealed that half of “The White Shadow,” the first known film on which Hitchcock is credited, was discovered by archivists. They had been sifting through reels of film that were donated to the New Zealand Film Archive by the family of a former projectionist.

A statue newly attributed to Michelangelo. A new short story by Dashiell Hammett. Hundreds of Picasso works found? And now a new film from Hitchcock? Geniuses never truly rest.

The silent film, not directed by a 24-year-old Hitchcock but written by him, was filmed in 1923. He is also pinned as the Assistant Director, Editor and Art Director of the found footage. According to cnn.com, “film archivists describe ‘The White Shadow’ as ‘a wild, atmospheric melodrama starring Betty Compson in a dual role as twin sisters, one angelic and the other ‘without a soul.’” Only the first 3 of 6 reels of film–about 30 minutes of playtime– have been recovered.

Several still images from “The White Shadow” have been released, courtesy of the New Zealand Film Archive, and they are stunning. Reportedly, the film will be restored and then screened for the public.

I’ll admit that I’m bummed I didn’t get to write my review of The Book of Mormon earlier. After getting to see it during its first week of previews, let me say, with thorough sincerity, how deserving of awards and attention this show really is. But I think I’ll save all that for the review I just decided that I will still write. With several other shows currently playing that I’m absolutely anxious to see (especially War Horse and Normal Heart), and some that I’m pretty sure I can miss and never feel a hole in my heart (Sorry, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), the awards were all around worth the watch.

Highlights:

The performances:
Really the reason to watch the Tonys every year. It’s the perfect coming attraction for what you’re missing and should look forward to seeing. Every year, I pay close attention to what I haven’t seen and decide on which ones I must catch. Catch a performance now from the Best Musical:

The fashion: What’s an awards show without seeing Hollywood’s hottest at their best and at their worst. Get the highlights at Fed By Fashion.

The host: Neil Patrick Harris was a great host. He also became a trending topic on Twitter, mostly due to his opening number:

Memorable moments:

• Brooke Shields stuttered her way through a segment with Neil Patrick Harris and had to be given a sheet of paper with lyrics. She tried to make it right later on by poking fun at herself …only to curse on live television and get bleeped by the network.
• Nikki M. James (Book of Mormon) was adorably emotional and she truly seemed surprised by, and grateful for, her “Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical” win.
• “I want to thank my dad for his edge and my mother for her sweetness,” said Trey Parker after one of his many wins for The Book of Mormon.
• “It’s the proudest moment of my career. Being involved in something this important is I think a once-in-a-career opportunity. I’m so proud to be shouting out this message that needs to be heard, 30 years later.” Ellen Barkin, during her win for Normal Heart—a play about the AIDS epidemic.
• Mark Rylance, from Jeruselum, reciting a poem by Louis Jenkins for his acceptance speech. “Why? I don’t know. I was getting a little bored. I always think you should prepare something to say.”

The winners: See the winners at the Tonys website here.

Browsing through rows and rows and, well, rows of diverse, forward-thinking and emotive artwork. That’s how I spent my Sunday. Not bad, right? With an overwhelming amount of artwork, lectures and special guest appearances to sift through, Artexpo New York 2011 did not disappoint.

Really, it’s difficult to sum up, in one small article, an event that encompasses something so internationally expansive, so diverse in genres and so exploratory as art. It’s something that every human possesses in a completely unique way. That’s what the show itself represented to me: an array of individual interpretations of the life experience. Drawing from difference experiences, environments and circumstances, each artist brings to the table an entirely valid view—their view—of the world.

For South African artist Antoine de Villiers, a traumatic car accident became her inspiration for becoming an artist. A harrowing experience turned into her study of the human form, which is now rendered on canvas with an honest perspective—both complex and vulnerable in its own right. The juxtaposition between intentionally-unfinished sketch-work peeking out from behind intricately detailed figures gives the viewer a sense of voyeurism. It leaves them feeling as though they have experienced something emotional— a peek inside a woman’s internal struggle to discover herself and her world. (antoineart.com)

Not just a celebrity guest, Jane Seymour (Dancing with the Stars) is a gifted artist who gives back. Her “Open Hearts” watercolor collection (and partnership with Kay Jewelers) donates proceeds to charity, staying true to her theory that if you give love, you will receive love. She was nice enough to pose for me next to some of her work—exclusive ArtFeedOnline.com photos (above)! Her work in watercolor evokes a sense of free spirit and connection with the earth and its wonderful cycle of creation. Seymour opens herself up to self-reflection and lets us in to a degree that few public figures do. (janeseymour.com/art)

Daniel Sroka creates botanical abstract photography. His brochure explains it best: “Nature that isn’t cliché. Abstract that isn’t cold.” This photography brings new life to the literal life that is pictured within the art: a leaf becomes an ethereal display of beauty; a petal becomes an elaborate maze of physicality. In exploring soft inflections and delicate nuances, Sroka invites viewers to truly view that which surrounds them every day—but this time with the utmost attention and respect. (danielsroka.com)

Daniel Del Orfano’s delicate paintings, whether fictional or autobiographical, seem to represent vivid slices of life. A palate of earthy colors makes you feel like you’re looking through a mirage into a very personal, fleeting moment in the subject’s life. A pop of color, represented by a red umbrella in each individual work, brings consistency throughout the entire collection, making you feel like you are seeing small tidbits of a larger story. (delorfanoarts.com)

Anna Razumovskaya’s works scream of spontaneity, action and subtle beauty. The sense of movement in her work is palpable. Her oil/acrylic dance figures have a sensual grace to them, but I was most captivated by the technique used for her portraits. Black pastel and charcoal sketches enhanced with vibrant and textural acrylics, watercolors and oils look purposeful yet effortless. I seriously love these works. If anyone wants to buy “Scent of a Woman 3” for my office, I’d happily accept it with opened arms! (anna-art.com)

While extensively viewing the work of some of today’s most important artists, I also attended several lectures and panels that explored the current and future influence of art: from interior design, to charity, the psychology of color, societal trends and commercial influence. It is here that one can start to really place just how many roles there are for artwork in the world.

• In Color Foundations, Rodger Lippman (Architectural & Designer Representative for Benjamin Moore & Co.) discussed the psychological influence of color, the reflective nature of light (tip: always hold paint chip samples vertically for the most accurate view of the color and how it will appear in a room), and proper room painting techniques (tip: 1 coat of primer is the most important forgotten element. Follow it with 2 coats of paint).

• During Bring Art Buyers in Your Door with Exciting Events with Litsa Spanos (Founder of Art Design Consultants—ADC), the audience was inspired by the creative possibilities Spanos has used to draw designers and customers in toward sales (example: allowing many different designers to re-design the same space in their own unique ways). The importance of creating memorable events and promoting them with current technology is an invaluable piece of advice that can be taken now and in the future. Her innovative ways of bringing attention to her clients was inspiring and can be taken to heart for any marketing opportunity.

• During The Future of the Art World, a panel—consisting of John Haffey (Founder, Art World News), Robert Reeder (President, Artexpo Studio), Eric Smith (ArtExpo CEO) and James Thorn (Owner of multiple galleries)—analyzed the state of the art market and its sales. The most important lesson I took from their speaking was that art does not make a person commercially seen or successful. The artist must be smart about the presentation of their work—creating target-focused marketing, choosing the right agent if one is desired and placing the correct pricing for their work. Artists must get out of the studio and explore different venues for their art, deciding what the best choice for them, their goals and their work really is.

Amongst all of the booths at the expo, it was refreshing to see the outpouring of support for a nonprofit organization that encourages the education of the arts. This weekend, Jane Seymour teamed up with Free Arts NYC to paint a mural with local underprivileged youth in an effort to stay true to the organization’s motto of “Art Heals. Mentoring Works.” Signs hung in the booths of many artists who volunteered to donate 5% of their earnings to the organization alongside Artexpo New York, who offered up 10% of its ticket sales to the benefit.

With so many unique perspectives represented in so many works—and while we all have a different understanding of the same world—we still seem to see a part of ourselves within each and every work. And isn’t that what art is all about? When I spoke with Anna Razumovskaya briefly, she explained that her portraits aren’t meant to depict anyone in particular: “They’re just meant to be faces. So everyone can see themselves in it.” When a nearby woman responded with: “Really? I see you in a lot of these,” Anna smiled and said “Maybe subconsciously I am, but I see you in them, too.”

For its second year in collaboration with Art Production Fund, Show Media was on the money (pun intended?) with the timing of their public art initiative project—The city can use some beautification this time of year as its travelers shiver in the cold winter weather next to mounds of snow that will probably remain in place until mid-July!

Whether you’re a fan or foe; whether you call his work vandalism or a masterpiece, you can’t deny that Banksy has made quite a name for himself, without us ever knowing his real name to begin with.  There have been many guesses over the years, with no one’s claims being substantiated or confirmed.  Even with the 2010 release of a documentary focusing on the artist’s antics, Exit Through the Gift Shop gave no new clues to the mystery.

But just this week, an ebay user, jaybuysthings, claimed to have done his research by matching the artists’ sales with tax records and was ready for the big reveal—to one person who was willing to pay big bucks to find out.  Over two dozen bids were placed for a piece of paper with nothing but a name written on it—Banksy’s real identity.  In one week, what started as $3,000 turned into over 1 million before it was taken down by ebay.

Jaybuysthings tried this once before: An earlier auction for “Banksy’s identity” was initially shut down by the site because nothing tanglible was being sold.  So the ebay seller has written the name on a piece of paper, a “tangible” item for sale.  Still, on January 18th, the auction was pulled and several imitation-auctions have popped up from people claiming to have the same information as jaybuysthings.

All else considered, there is no true “tangible” evidence that this is not all a big scam.  We only have Jaybuysthings’ word for it and the public is not unsure that this is a scam from Banksy himself.  Referring to documentary’s anticipated Oscar nomination,  @scottmeaney considered on Twitter:

In the midst of award noms [for the Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop], I wouldnt be surprised if it turns out to just be Banksy himself trying to create some extra buzz… Of course, it also sounds like something Banksy might do ‘because it’s Tuesday’ too.

Banky’s work is consistently clever, sneaky and rather brilliant, so why should this be different?  For now, we’ll all have to wonder as Banksy’s identity remains under wraps.

Now I want to hear from you all!:
–> Would the mystique of Banksy’s allure be ruined if we found out who he was?
–> Do you think this auction is legitimate or a scam by Banksy himself?

Related Articles:
Banksy’s painting gets a painting

Joining the video will be 3 elemental structures that put the video and works contextually in place with Time, The World and The Museum, taking the personal accounts in the video and expanding them into constructs that are relatable to viewers through several other forms.

The online video series, which will update every Wednesday throughout 2011, will officially launch tomorrow, January 5th, with 4 videos posted. Quoted from the museum’s website, they are:

• Small Things: Associate Director Carrie Rebora Barratt looks for tiny works of art in the Museum’s collection.
• Virtuosity: Paintings conservator Michael Gallagher talks about the appeal of technical virtuosity.
• Maps: Medieval art curator Melanie Holcomb explains how maps help her make sense of the world.
• Tennessee: Video producer Christopher Noey describes how various works in the Museum bring to mind his childhood state of Tennessee.

Upcoming themes include White, Black, Religious Art, The Ideal Man, The Ideal Woman, and Light.

To view the new feature, visit www.metmuseum.org/connections.

My expectations were, in most ways, met.  Still in limited release, I had the pleasure of viewing Black Swan on Tuesday night.  Leaving the theater, I was captivated, excited and contemplative about what I had just seen.  I found myself thinking about the contrast between the two extremes that combine to form an intriguing portrait of a confused and eager-to-please ballerina. She had all of the ambition and self-destructiveness to propel her to the top of fame or drag her down to the depths of her own mental landscape.  The juxtaposition between black and white, good and evil, stiff precision and unbridled free-spiritedness were all stretched between torment and beauty–two extremes, melting into some shared form of psyche.

Shadowing the story of the classic fairytale Swan Lake, the movie turns a darker corner; following not only the performance but delving into the personal lives of its characters as they are engulfed by the poignancy of the story itself.  Natalie Portman plays Nina, a dancer who is a perfectionist vying for the part of Swan Queen.  She exhibits all of the qualities for the “White Swan” but struggles to also display those of the “Black Swan” vital in completing the Queen’s persona.  Nina is both terrified of, and enamored with, Mila Kunis’ Lily, a free spirit and Black Swan in every sense of the phrase.  To be truly perfect, Nina needs to become imperfect.  In doing so, she spirals into the unknown, blurring her personal sense of reality in the process.

Set to a lush set of mostly black and white detail, the costumes designed by Rodarte oozed with richness, the makeup characterized concepts without words and the music, based on Tchaikovsky’s infamous Swan Lake, was the perfect backdrop to the graceful White Swan and the falling Black Swan.

I have to say, in all honesty, that the movie was not exactly what I expected from the trailers and early reviews, but it in no way disappointed.  I was under the impression that Nina’s home life with her ex-ballerina mother was more oppressive than overbearing and while the movie included some disturbing and violent ideas, I anticipated more of them.  That being said, I’m glad that I didn’t get what I expected.

Though it was psychologically perverse, the movie was more grounded in reality and thought-process—which, knowing Aronofsky’s work, is what I hoped for rather than the violent “thriller” vibe I got from trailers.  This base of reality made the movie eerily more affecting, relatable and significant.  Aronofsky exquisitely portrays Nina’s slowly twisting self-perception and gives a genuine interpretation of the crumbling of a fragile perfectionist.