Are the Liberal Arts Useless?

Recent remarks from the POTUS and a longstanding criticism of liberal arts might make you think that all college kids are sitting around discussing abstract theories with no real job potential in sight (or mind), but the truth is far more complex...take a look.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/how-art-history-majors-power-the-us-economy/2012/01/06/gIQAUv36hP_blog.html

Open Ocean. Finally a Photo of an Older Piece.

Open Ocean.
24x48"
Acrylic and Pastel on masonite.

Obama Takes Shot at Art History Majors.

Isn't it great when people say they like something, only to pretty much discount it completely when the audience is right?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/30/obama-takes-a-shot-at-a-key-part-of-his-base-art-history-majors/

and some reaction from art history majors...
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/barack-obama-art-history-degree-102872.html

I think the big mistake here isn't that it's not partly true (you CAN make a very good living in a manufacturing career) it's that he decided to take down one group to prop up another...it's unnecessary. He should be able to talk about the benefits of manufacturing careers without tearing down a portion of hard-working, educated people.

You Can Copy Art But Can't Fake Originality.

The difference between "my kid could do that" and "Ya, but he didn't, did he?"
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/jan/31/jasper-johns-flag-rip-off-art

Dazzle Camouflage.

Take a look at the lost art of dazzle camouflage...
http://hyperallergic.com/106107/modernist-camouflage-reconstructed/

"Wrangler Men" Tweeted on Wrangler's Twitter!

Instead of trying to type that again, just check out the photo...

https://twitter.com/WranglerWestern/status/428246232771739648/photo/1

And a link to close-ups of the piece...
http://marionart23.blogspot.com/2014/01/wrangler-men-new-piece.html

Child Draws Plane. A New Piece.

Child Draws Plane.
20x20"
Acrylic on canvas.

Where Are the Women in Art?

A nice video going through the importance of women in art and their collective lack of representation in the art historical canon.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/30/jemima-kirke-art-video_n_4688242.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

Falling Birds. The What.

Falling Birds.

The thing about "flight" is that it, in some ways, stands as the ultimate symbol of ingenuity conquering nature, a symbol of man's greatest power...but while we are able to fly to the moon, across the ocean, and around the world with relative ease, the slightest misstep, miscalculation, or malfunction immediately reveals how absolutely powerless we really are as we plummet back to Earth. It's not to say this power we have isn't real, it's the realization that our "power", no matter how widespread, is in no way absolute or permanent.

When is a Mural Not a Mural?

When is a Mural Not a Mural? Apparently when there's a logo in it...
http://hyperallergic.com/105877/when-is-a-mural-not-a-mural/

Local Better and Cheaper Paper: UW Students Propel New Paper Business.

Take a look at this great local success story from a few people that know the value of some good paper...
http://www.jsonline.com/business/collaborative-spirit-students-propel-uw-stevens-point-paper-business-b99183812z1-242011841.html

Falling Birds. A New Piece.

Falling Birds.
20x20"
Acrylic on canvas.

Is Cleveland Museum Exhibiting Fake Van Gogh's?

According to the museum, the answer is "no"...but the authors of a new book on the subject disagree...
http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2014/01/the_cleveland_museum_of_art_re_1.html

WI Concertmaster Stun-gunned, Stradivarius Violin Stolen.

It's not often that a high-stakes theft makes its way to frigid Wisconsin...but a rare, famed, 300 yr old Stradivarius violin was stolen from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster Monday after a performance and Luther college. The violin is thought to be worth upwards of $1 million and was on loan to the concertmaster through the violins owners...take a look...
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/29/stradivarius-violin-stolen-in-armed-robbery

The State of the Union.

The State of the Union...
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/state-of-the-union-2014-address-barack-obama-102752.html

and here's a video of the speech...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hed1nP9X7pI

and some analysis...
http://www.nationaljournal.com/state-of-the-union-2014/good-speech-modest-agenda-diminished-leader-20140128

And another article asking if the entire "State of the Union" prime-time event is really all that necessary...
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/state-of-the-union-2014-make-it-stop-102787.html?hp=t1

The Real State of the Union.

Despite assurances that we're going to be fine, it's all working, and the economy is getting better, many people are still facing a very real pinch in the pocket-books...so...what's the REAL state of the union?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/state-of-union-workers_n_4681994.html

Surreal Post Soviet Architecture.

Take a look at this nice collection of really strange photos featuring oddly placed post-soviet architecture...
http://io9.com/the-towering-glory-and-infinite-weirdness-of-post-sovie-1510533543?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_facebook&utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

We've Gotta Get These Planes on the Ground. A New Piece.

We've Gotta Get These Planes on the Ground.

26x78"

Acrylic on wood.

Gawker Responds to Tarantino Suit.

Take a look at Gawker's rundown of why they aren't in the wrong...
http://gawker.com/quentin-tarantino-sues-gawker-over-link-to-script-he-wa-1510095159

POTUS to Raise Wages for Government Workers.

The President announced that he will raise wages for federal contract worker by executive order to $10.10 per hour for new hires. Take a look...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/obama-minimum-wage_n_4677355.html

Unfortunately, this doesn't address the government's "unpaid intern" problem.
http://www.cnsnews.com/mrctv-blog/matt-vespa/96-percent-dems-who-support-minimum-wage-hike-don-t-pay-their-interns
(above article conveniently leaves out the data on republicans...but I imagine it's close to the same...)

The Real 'Monuments Men'

I'm always excited when an art-related movie gets made...but even more-so when I get to find out the true story behind the movie. Check out the real story behind the upcoming Monuments Men.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/monuments-men_n_4660857.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

Tarantino Sues Gawker over Leaked Script.

Despite the fact that they didn't leak it and that Tarantino himself gave the script to a number of individuals, it's been revealed that he's suing Gawker over the recent "Hateful Eight" script leaking which has resulted in the filmmaker refusing to make the film. Take a look...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/quentin-tarantino-suing-gawker-leaked-674424

And that was quick...Gawker has already responded saying that Tarantino himself is the cause for all the publicity around the leak in the first place...
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/28/quentin-tarantino-script-gawker-sue-hateful-eight

Daniel Fleming (Sort of) Featured by Milwaukee Mag.

Check it out! My piece Wrangler, even if they didn't manage to get my name, is featured in Milwaukee Mag's recent article on Branding Creativity!

http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/1242014-TheArtofSynergy

Can WH Bring Back the Young?

Though the White House says they expect numbers to rise, can they ever bring back the age group that got them there and is needed to help the ACA succeed?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/26/curl-white-house-panics-as-millennials-wise-up-bai/?page=2

25 Great New Buildings.

Check out this nice list from HuffPo on 25 buildings that are making a splash in the architecture world.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/25/2014-archdaily-building-of-the-year-awards_n_4645591.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

Inventory: Rediscovered.

Some nice finds from the day doing inventory...

Inventory Day.

Speak to Me: Close Conversations.

Some close-ups of my recent piece...