Train Derailment, Oil Spill in VA.

Lots of trains seem to be derailing lately…
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-fiery-freight-train-derailment-lynchburg-20140430,0,1115962.story#axzz30P94bhKS

First Look. Collaboration with Sara Risley and Daniel Fleming.

Four Dog Party. A New Piece.

Four Dog Party.9x12"
Acrylic on canvas.

Ken Hanson on Creativity.

Ken Hanson takes on the design v. art debate and asks how we can bring the two together…take a look.

http://www.hansondodge.com/blog/2014/april/branding-creativity#.U2EnVOWxM74.facebook

and, if you're interested, here's why I decided to take on a project with the Branding Creativity exhibit…

 First off, I don't speak for anyone else. Some of the other artists may share the same thoughts, some may not, some may not have thought about it at all and some may still question the legitimacy of the show...but I think the overall thing to take away is that, no matter how you feel, the topic of "brand" ignites a conversation that is unfortunately absent from the majority of art shows....
The simplest defense of the topic i can think of is that it starts a conversation around art...and that's what we need for art to become powerful again...
but that's not the only reason...here is how I addressed the project in response to some questions about why an art show would focus on "brand"...
We live in a society where the use and inspiration of "brand" is impossible to escape. IMHO it's kind of pointless to criticize "brand" or how anyone decides to integrate it into their lives when everyone here is currently using blogspot, facebook, twitter or (insert internet company), a brand, to change other people's perceptions of their own lives. I am not one to personally celebrate any particular brand, but i was excited to take on the opportunity and challenge to create a piece of work that follows in the LONG LONG LONG line of artists who address corporate influence in their career. Where would Michelangelo have been without the catholic church as patrons? Where would Warhol be without mass production and industry...where would Banksy be without a brand-recognition?I'm not saying I'm going to now start including logos in every piece I make, but to ignore the opportunity and the long history of "The Brand" in art doesn't do anything to take their influence from our lives or help me grow as an artist. Everyone is free to their opinion and I welcome the alternative (the worst thing that could happen is you are introduced to another viewpoint and a conversation happens)...but i just dont get why you would want to restrict what art can focus on, even if it rubs you the wrong way. I'm not a lover of the corporate world in any sense...but as an artist im an unable to escape them and, to be perfectly honest, use brands constantly every day in design and the products I use. To pretend that, because i don't include them in my art, they no longer play a part in my life or work is simply a lie...and I took on this show as a way to address that while still creating a "daniel fleming" artwork. To deny myself the challenge would simply deny that experience and I don't see how that helps me grow as an artist. If Wrangler sales go up 500K this quarter because of my piece...I'll denounce everything I wrote and never take part in a brand-related show again...but until that happens I honestly don't feel like I'm, in any way, damaging any artistic credibility or letting a corporation take advantage of me. Again...everyone can have an opinion...this is just how i addressed the show and the focus.

Tolls on Interstates?

Despite a longtime ban on most interstates, the White House has opened the door for states to collect tolls on their interstate systems…take a look.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/white-house-opens-door-to-tolls-on-interstate-highways-removing-long-standing-prohibition/2014/04/29/5d2b9f30-cfac-11e3-b812-0c92213941f4_story.html

Manufactured Meaning: de Botton's Post-Its

Is one man's push to bring meaning to art really just distracting viewers from genuine reaction and the work itself?
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/apr/25/art-is-therapy-alain-de-botton-rijksmuseum-amsterdam-review

Dreaming of House Flies. A New Drawing.

Dreaming of House Flies.
9x12"
Ink on paper.

Weiwei Erased from Shanghai Show.

Censorship is a live and well…
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/ai-weiwei-erased-from-show-in-shanghai/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=design&_r=0

Sterling Banned for Life.

The hammer comes down…
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/04/29/nba-to-discuss-investigation-into-sterling/

and an interesting take on the situation from a man who wrote about Sterling's transgressions 9 years ago…
http://deadspin.com/in-10-minutes-espns-bomani-jones-lays-waste-to-the-ste-1569195989

Not My Arm. A New Drawing.

Not My Arm.
9x12"
Acrylic on paper.

Sun. A New Drawing.

Sun.
9x12"
Acrylic on paper.

My Other Face. A New Drawing.

My Other Face.
9x12"
Acrylic on paper.

Dog with Trouble. A New Drawing.

Dog with Trouble.

9x12"

Acrylic on paper.

Once Was Grand. A New Drawing

Once Was Grand.
9x12"
Acrylic on paper.

A Doctor's Declaration of Independence.

It's time to defy health-care mandates issued by bureaucrats not in the healing profession…

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304279904579518273176775310?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304279904579518273176775310.html

The Year Climate Change Closed Everest.

With the sherpas protesting, the climbers leaving, and the lucrative climbing season seemingly at an end, some are pointing to climate change as a cause for Everest's deadliest accident…and many fear the mountain will never be the same again...
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/04/the-year-climate-change-closed-everest/361114/

Know Your Art Lingo.

Stack the art-gallery deck in your favor with the correct usage of art lingo!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/29/misused-art-terms_n_5214488.html?utm_hp_ref=arts

New Drawings in Color.

Dog with Trouble.
9x12.
acrylic on paper

Sun.
9x12.
acrylic on paper

Lost Trailer (Once Was Great).
9x12.
acrylic on paper

My Other Face.
9x12.
acrylic on paper

Not My Arm.
9x12.
acrylic on paper

New Drawings In Color. Close-ups.

A sneak peak at some new drawings...

Remembering Basquiat.

A wonderfully insightful piece into Basquiat's biggest collectors and their recent decision to show their legendary collection…
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/05/jean-michel-basquiat-drawings-herbert-lenore-schorr_slideshow_item5_6

New Drawings.

Two new drawings for your viewing pleasure...

Is This Rothko Real?

The fascinating story behind one collector's search to authenticate a modern masterwork…
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303626804579509593850415408

The Biggest Animals of All Time.

The elephant is the largest land animal alive today…but it's minuscule next to the behemoths of the past. Take a look at the largest animals to ever exist on Earth…
http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2014/04/22/whales_or_dinosaurs_what_are_the_biggest_heaviest_longest_animals_ever.html

"At This Point, George W. Bush is Actually a Better Artist Than James Franco"

Ouch.
http://www.vulture.com/2014/04/jerry-saltz-on-james-francos-new-film-stills.html?mid=facebook_nymag

Tech Millionaire/Political Donor Beats Girlfriend, Caught on Video, Sentenced to 25 Hrs Community Service.

Tech Millionaire/Political Donor Gurbaksh Chahal beats his girlfriend, gets caught on video, and gets sentenced to 25 hrs community service and some probation…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/23/gurbaksh-chahal-domestic-violence_n_5201334.html

The State of Art Criticism Around the World.

A fascinating look at the state art criticism around the world as told by art critics.
http://hyperallergic.com/122138/questions-for-three-european-critics-about-art-criticism/

Feds Bailing on Net Neutrality.

Lame.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/23/net-neutrality_n_5201034.html

SCUBA. Details.

Check out the full piece here...

The Art World Needs To Get Real with James Franco.

Why does the art world coddle James Franco? Because he's famous...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/22/why-does-the-art-world-coddle-james-franco.html

Hedwig Hits the Stage.

A review of the new stage-version of the cult classic….
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/23/hedwig-angry-inch-review-belasco-new-york

SCOTUS Rules on Affirmative Action.

Colleges Look for New Path to Diversity.
Right Decision?
Sharpton Calls for Action.
Sotomayer Disagrees.
Takes Away the Rights of Minorities.
Response to Dissension.
An Ideological Split.

Sherpas Boycott Everest Following Deadly Avalanche.

A lucrative climbing season is in doubt for the Nepalese Government following a walkout by Sherpas from the base camp of Mount Everest. The climbing guides have long been unhappy with their treatment, wages and benefits, and last week's avalanche, which killed 16m, seemed to be a tipping point. Government officials offered the families of those sherpas killed in the avalanche only $415 for their loss and criticized the guides who have left the mountain as "hooligans." Take a look.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/23/sherpas-leave-mount-everest-boycott_n_5196917.html

Shakespeare's Dictionary on Ebay?

The sellers claim they have Shakespeare's personal dictionary, though experts say there's a bit more to figure out…
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/04/has-shakespeares-own-dictionary-been-found/361019/

US Emission Rule Change Would Outweigh Any Impact of Keystone XL.

A recent reports says that the Keystone pipelines effect on global warming would be "infinitesimal" and that changes already being worked on by the EPA would have far more meaningful effects…take a look.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/business/energy-environment/us-emission-rules-would-far-outweigh-impact-of-keystone-pipeline.html

SCOTUS Upholds State Ban on Affirmative Action in College Admissions.

A big ruling from the Supreme Court shows a large rift between the court judges on the issue.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/michigan-affirmative-action_n_5191458.html

Obamacare: The Headlines.

The latest headlines on Obamacare…

HuffPo: 8 Million!
Bloomberg: What Do The Latest Numbers Mean?
NYTimes: Citing Costs, Many Skip ACA
Dem. Lynch Says They'll Lose Seats, "Worst is Yet to Come"
Slashing Home Health Care?

Good Art or Expensive Art.

A new book from Annie Leibovitz challenges the usability of a book while the Wu Tang Clan try to make music more valued…but does that make either project good art?
http://hyperallergic.com/121728/annie-leibovitz-wu-tang-clan-and-the-aura-of-expensive-art/

Report Says Corn BioFuel Worse than Oil for Global Warming.

A new study shows that biofuels made from corn product waste is actually worse in the short term for global warming than oil, but the administration, which has sent over a billion dollars to cellulosic biofuels, says the study was too simplistic and drew conclusions from unrealistic scenarios. Take a look.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BIOFUELS_GLOBAL_WARMING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-04-21-04-02-59

SCUBA. A New Piece.

SCUBA.
28x53"
Acrylic on canvas.