A Look at Art & Design

Art On Groton Bank

Come to the Left Bank...Groton's Left Bank: Art On Groton Bank's second summer event was a success! With almost 50 artists participating and a fine showing of public support, artists enjoyed a lovely summer day at the Thames River bank. A good deal of artwork was sold and according to one participant "This is a wonderful event. I sometimes spend $400 to enter a show, and do nowhere near as well... plus there is no hassle here - and everyone is so nice."

Artists enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, French ambience and the ability to not only display art but also to work on the grounds if they so desired. Artist John W. Malenda says "I haven't done an outside show for about 10 years and I sold enough and made contacts to justify doing the remainder of the series. Please put me on the list for the August show."

A recent addition to the AOGB was the welcome presence of recent Lyme Academy College of Fine Art grad student, Adam Peiffer and friend Kelsey. "What a painter." says AOGB organizer Audrey Heard, "I'm so happy he sold some pieces and he's coming back."

Summer festivals and art fairs are a great way for art lovers to view works from local and "up and coming artists" and to purchase some lovely pieces at reasonable prices. According to the Wall Street Journal "With [art] prices rising faster than ever, savvy collectors are shifting their strategies for nabbing deals." And one such way to nab a deal is by attending local events such as Art On Groton Bank.

Art on Groton Bank is a continuing festival of fine arts on the grounds of the Bill Memorial library. Upcoming events are August 18, and September 15 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Painters, sculptors, graphic artists and photographers are invited to work on the property or to exhibit. Families and art lovers are invited to come and make a day of it by exploring the grounds, picnic in a lovely setting, watch an artist at work or purchase a beautiful original piece of art. Sponsors include The City of Groton, The Bill Memorial Library, The Art Guide and Dragonfly Blu Design.

Visit the website for additional info. www.artongrontonbank.com

Seventeen New Sculptures Refresh The Sculpture Mile in Madison CT

MADISON CT-Half of the sculptures, in THE SCULPTURE MILE at Madison are new to the public. A total of 35 works created by nationally prominent artists opens this year’s exhibition. Among new names to Madison are: Gilbert Boro, Niki Ketchman, Irene Neal, Jonathan Waters—all from Connecticut, with Susan Griswold from New York and Andrew Logan from Pennsylvania.

The exhibit now includes artsts 30 artists from nine states from Maine to NorthCarolina. Newcomer Gilbert Boro’s flaming red Tres Gatos is an attention-grabber that greets visitors to Madison as they approach Main Street. “Hopper” a found object work by Susan Griswold is reminscent of an old water tower. Greek inspired “Corinthian ,” a wire mesh piece is by Niki Ketchman. A granite monolith by Andrew Logan reflrects Manhattan’s atmosphere. Irene Neal’s work is a mass of color adorning the entrance wall of Scranton Library, while the dramatically sited steel works by Jonathan Waters sited before ancient Samson Rock changes throughout the day as the sun travels westward.

An unusual feature of the present exhibition is the inclusion of three works by Anthony Padovano, three-time Prix de Rome winner, is a trio of sculptures displaying his wide range of stylistic approaches; from the figurative to the abstract. “Narcissus,” a figurative piece made of white marble is an exquisitely carved reflection of the vain youth. Viewers will observe this artist’s broad talent by viewing the other two works: “Gestation” and “Wizard’s Watch.”

Irene Neal’s work is a mass of color adorning the entrance wall of Scranton Library, while the dramatically sited steel works by Jonathan Waters sited before ancient Samson Rock changes throughout the day as the sun travels westward.

The Sculpture Mile at Madison is an ongoing, annually refreshed exhibit that is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Docent-led guided tours are available every Saturday at 11am and leave from the Scranton Park Pavilion, next to Stop & Shop. Contact the Hollycroft Foundation at (860) 767-2624 for more information.

Pictured here: “Narcissus” by Anthony Padovano

The Art of Self Management :: Part II

As promised, I've done my assessment of both Mark/Space's Missing Sync and Market Circle's Daylite.

Let's begin with Daylite. I have to say the program is pretty great. It is designed (oddly) to work in the same manner in which I personally organize my information so I found I didn't have to change my way of thinking to match the program.

I created my first database and Daylite sync'd my contacts etc right into the program. I began by setting up the calendar and task lists. There are A LOT of categories in which to file your info so I deleted a lot of those and kept the categories that work for me. The interface and display was very helpful...by setting up a Project, and it's associated task list, it was extremely useful to be able to view "the next activity" listed for any given long range project. Kept me right on task. I knew what I was doing and what I had to do next. What a time/stress saver because I didn't have to keep this info in my head anymore and I could truly focus on the task at hand.

I also LOVED what Daylite calls "The Pipeline" which is a series of stages needed to progress through a project until its completion. Because I deal with a lot of email correspondence from clients, I also appreciated the fact that I could sync my contacts/emails to a project in Daylite. Sooo... when I boot up a project in Daylite all my info is there. I can see the emails associated with the project, the contacts involved, and the series of tasks needed to be done.

Daylite also provides the ability to track "Opportunities" which I also found to be a nice surprise. As you get requests from potential clients you can add those for followup and progress....very nice! Daylite interfaces with Billings which is the next program I'll be reviewing to keep my accounting paperwork organized.

Now for the crappy part. Originally I found Daylite via Missing Sync. I had just purchased my first Blackberry and the ability to sync my daily management program with my Blackberry is KEY! At the Missing Sync website I read that Missing Sync is compatible with Daylite. Which indeed, I guess, it is...or could be. I don't know I must have misread the info. The problem is...Daylite is NOT compatible with Missing Sync. So despite the two weeks I've spent falling in love with Daylite... I will not purchase the program until I can sync (without having to jump thru hoops) with my Blackberry.

Additional info: I very much liked the little work timer that came with Daylite. With that timer I could begin a project, start the timer and actually have a accounting of the REAL time I was spending working for any given project/client. Daylite records those minutes/hours for later reference. Regardless of my decision to not purchase Daylite until synchronization is supposed with my Blackberry...I need the timer! I went in search of finding the stand alone application for Work Timer. Here is the freeware download for Work Timer 2.04 at Apple.

All in all I can say that Daylite would be an extremely good self management system for designers running their own shops or artists who want to manage their business and tasks. There are a host of features that I really can't get into here at ArtLOOK because I'm not writing a manual, but here is the link for Daylite's features. As for me, well... I love the gadgets and require certain beloved pieces of software to keep my business in check. But when it comes to "brain dumping" and sketching out ideas... I'll never give up my Moleskine.

Missing Sync: Mark/Space's Missing Sync is a synchronization application for MAC and your handheld device. I chose Missing Sync instead of the free PocketMac, which I heard had some issues. Supporting Windows Mobile, Palm OS etc, my interest was in Blackberry. I purchased Missing Sync for under $40 and I can report it works pretty well, and as advertised, with the exception of the whole Daylite compatibility issue. It transferred my contacts and my calendar very nicely. And it has the capability to also transfer selected photos and music from Iphoto and Itunes. Photos taken with the Blackberry can also be transferred very easily over to your computer. Being that I have an Ipod I don't use the music transfer for my Blackberry but another nice feature is the Notebook that is bundled along with Missing Sync. Notebook allows you to create, edit, categorize and sort notes on your MAC (or handheld) and then sync them. Missing Sync is made by people who love MAC and the interface is quite nice, easy to use and best of all...IT WORKS!

The One Campaign

During this last week of celebration of America's independence, I feel good.  I remember the TV show FRIENDS where Phoebe and Joey debated the unlikely notion of "the selfless act."  This last week I have taken steps to reach beyond my own borders to help others who are in greater need than myself. I wanted to reach out and learn more about strangers in need. On this week of America's independence I wanted to in my own small way provide a tiny shred of independence for someone else...or at least begin to work in that direction.  It was to be a "selfless act" but it didn't turn out to be so. My efforts (only just begun) feel really really good.  I feel connected to something bigger than myself and it is incredibly satisfying on a deep emotional level. It is a feeling I haven't experienced before.

What does this have to do with design?  Well, really not much.  This post won't talk about making a great online portfolio, or how to market your art.  But... it is my firm belief that as a designer and as a citizen of this world, I need to have a solid understanding of current events and issues effecting my neighbors on a global scale. I believe that as a designer I need to have a basic understanding of different cultures and that the field of graphic design is uniquely positioned toward ethics and social responsibility. I believe that significant damage has been done to the reputation of our nation during the present administration and I believe that leaving repair up to a handful of politicians is not going to be terribly effective..regardless of their party.  I believe that it is the people who can make a difference as long as we don't all sit in front of our TVs grumbling over the state of the things and do nothing.  We must move.  We must act.  And it is through this action that we might not only better someone else's life, strengthen diplomatic bonds between nations, but also experience that amazing feeling that comes with the "selfless act."

For those of you who read ArtLOOK regularly, you might already know that I have taken the pledge at Eric Karjaluoto's Design Can Change regarding issues surrounding global warming.  I believe this is an issue we should all be concerned with and act upon.  Making lifestyle changes toward this end, even the smallest changes (replacing light bulbs, using both sides of the paper in our printers), should be givens just as we wake up each morning and brush our teeth.  Designers, please consider taking the pledge.

Participating in one movement or concern shouldn't necessarily prevent us from caring about or participating in others.  Additional concerns I have are:
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Education for children and women in developing countries
Clean water for all

I don't consider myself a terribly religious person; however, I know that rather than having religion tear us apart it can, (and should) bring us together.  Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions all speak of the tenets on care for the widow, the orphan and the stranger.  This is a common bond.  From a political standpoint, lets look to the 2008 presidential candidates to inquire what they would do for the poorest in the world.  As Bono states in the July issue of Vanity Fair "It's hard to hate a country which puts your kids in school and gives medication to save your husbands life."

Books and publications: I have read the following to better educate myself on a variety of topics.  I recommend them to you:
The Mighty Heart by Mariane Pearl:  Story of Wall Street Journalist, Daniel Pearl
Dispatches From the Edge - Anderson Cooper
Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (excellent excellent!)
Note from my Travels - Angelina Jolie
The Assault on Reason - Al Gore
July Issue of Vanity Fair, Africa - Co edited by Bono (pick it up at the newsstand or visit the VF website)

Websites I have visited and read:
Save the Children
The One Campaign - Devoted to fighting extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS
Ryan's Well - Amazing story of ONE boy making a difference. H20 For Africa
One Shared World
Global Volunteers International
Vanity Fair, Africa
Vanity Fair, Green - sorry folks but each time I tried to access this site for the URL it crashed my browser! But you can find the issue of this magazine in your local library, I'm sure.
(Red)
Live Earth

Websites encouraging artistic expression and marketing for artists of developing countries:
Novica
Aid for Artisans - Please see my article in the August issue of INK (distributed in CT)

Steps I have taken thus far:
In addition to signing the pledge for Design Can Change, I have joined Live Earth.  I hope some of you were able to enjoy yesterday's amazing concerts from around the world and that the program offered you some ways in which you might be able to assist saving this beautiful planet.

I have also added my voice to The ONE Campaign. I have signed the Declaration, sent emails to Congressmen Joe Courtney, Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator Chris Dodd. I have joined as a volunteer to ONE and will be writing newspapers to increase awareness and open discussions up about extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS. It is my hope that this post also serves as a start to my beginnings on opening up and continuing a dialog on these issues.  I have made a small donation to ONE and will be also wearing my ONE wristband everyday with pride. A larger goal for myself, is to visit Tanzania in 2008 or 2009 to learn more about this area and to assist however I am needed.  I have looked into Global Volunteers International and to this end, I will put a percentage of my earnings toward this goal.

When I have finished this post, I will email everyone I know inviting them to visit ArtLOOK and the resources listed here to learn more about sustainability and extreme poverty.  I will send the URL to my contacts at the press and just about anyone else I can think of.  I don't know if my words will fall upon deaf ears.  I don't know who will take action.  I don't know who will provide feedback but I know...Americans are among the most generous and kind hearted people in the world.  And if ONE man, Greg Mortenson, can nearly single handedly begin a school building project in Pakistan and ONE boy, Ryan Hreljac, can build 266 wells providing clean water for Africa...I can certainly write a few articles and letters.  If just one of you clicks the banner below and signs your voice to the ONE campaign, my time writing here is well spent.  ONE is not looking for your money...just your signature and consideration.  With the some of following good people signing the ONE declaration we would be in good company: Claudia Schiffer, Bono, Dave Matthews, Danny Glover, Bob Geldof, No Doubt, John Cusack, Kate Hudson, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Kate Bosworth, Liam Neeson, Susan Sarandon, Steve Buscemi, Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, Heidi Klum, Tom Hanks. Already almost 2.5 million Americans have signed up for the ONE campaign...Please join us.

 


 

Live Earth Concerts

Live Earth kicks off it's series of concerts around the world today, starting in Sydney.  Airing on several TV and satellite radio stations be sure to tune in for some great performances and music from around the world.  Take the pledge, text your friends or visit the Live Earth website and see what your carbon footprint is.

The Varr: A Special News Report by David MacDonald

My oldest son, David, had to write a report for his writing work shop. Always a champion of my boys talent and imagination, I wanted to share this with you, my readers. Here it is from the mind of MacDonald:

Angelina Jolie Abducted by Aliens, US Government Refuses to Negotiate With Terrorists

When famous actress Angelina Jolie did not return to the set of her latest film one afternoon a frantic search began in the hopes of finding her. Her car was found on the top floor of a parking garage a day later, the doors locked and the interior burned to cinders. No body was discovered.

Two days ago a message was broadcast to the people of earth by a species of extraterrestrial beings. They claim to have abducted the actress in order to negotiate with the people of earth. Their demands: only the frozen wastelands of Antarctica. In return they would give us back Angelina Jolie and promise to help restore the environment and keep the poles frozen. Some would say this was an excellent deal.

The Bush administration however refuses to negotiate with the aliens, claiming that they “… will never negotiate with terrorists of any kind, and that is exactly what these aliens are, terrorists.” A move most of humanity considers absolutely retarded.

The extraterrestrial species, calling themselves the Varr, were at first confused and upped their original offer, promising to share technology with the potential to end world hunger and create a super efficient form of clean energy.

The Bush administration again refused stating that no matter what they offer the aliens are still a terrorist group and that if they did not return Angelina Jolie they would take immediate and appropriate military action against the hostile organization. It was then that the people of the world realized the Bush administration was bound and determined to end the world.

Civilians and military personnel alike have risen up to crush the suicidal regime that the presidency has become. Angelina Jolie is still in the care of the Varr who have been politely asked to wait for sanity to be restored to the United States government before continuing negotiations. Bono of U2 is upset that this also takes precedence over ending world hunger and misses the irony of this completely. The Varr are very confused.

While the US reorients itself, the rest of the world has already accepted the offer, the Varr however refuse to begin anything without the acceptance of all world powers. As such the world is pushing the new US government to quickly settle itself and accept the Varr’s offer.

The people of the world are split many different ways in their views of the new species. Oddly most view the matter with the same casual indifference that has marked this age of humanity. A few people as always fear and hate the Varr for being different. Some see them as Gods and a new cult has already formed based on worshiping these newcomers. Some people are curious and hope to foster good relationships with the new comers to the planet.