“The ideal society of the Taoists was….”

“The ideal society of the Taoists was cooperative, not acquisitive.”
- Joseph Needham

Recognizing artistic light in darkness and courage in truth

I just came across this: the ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize. The US$ 100,000 prize is designed to recognize artists whose works promote human rights, free expression, empathy, equality and understanding. This international prize will recognize artists who use their talents to promote human rights, including the freedom of expression, empathy, equality and [...]

Women, Art, Politics show closing June 29

Judy Johnson-Williams and I went to the opening of this show back in March, and it is weird but I haven’t talk to one other woman who has seen it - SO GO IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT! It is a great show with some very provocative installations.
Organized by Yerba Buena Center of the Arts [...]

“Eyes Wide Open” Art Installation - human cost of Iraqi War, May 1-4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eyes Wide Open, the American Friends Service Committee’s widely-acclaimed exhibition on the human cost of the Iraq War, features a pair of boots honoring each California military casualty, a labyrinth of civilian shoes to memorialize the Iraqis killed in the conflict, and a display exploring the history, cost and consequences of the war. Come to [...]

Judy Johnson-Williams shows her stuff, May 1 reception

 

One of my most favorite artists and dear friend Judy is having a solo show.
 ARTworkSF Gallery
49 Geary St, Suite 234
San Francisco, CA
415-673-3080
hours 10:30-5:30pm Thurs-Sat
 Her reception is on May 1, 5:30-7:30pm,
with a curator’s talk about her work, at 5pm
Check out more of her work at: http://www.judyjohnson-williams.com/
  Judy Johnson-Williams is a self taught artist, who took a detour [...]

“We would have to have 3 to 5 extra planets…”

“We would have to have 3-5 extra planets if everyone consumed at
American rates.”
and why? Part of this is because,
“American consumers have 3000 advertisements targeted at them every day.”
sadly,
“30 percent of kids in the Congo have dropped out of school to mine metals,
the majority of which end up in cheap and disposable electronic products
bought by Americans.”
all [...]

The Way That We Rhyme: Women, Art, & Politics

To see photos I took at the show (which closes June 29, by the way) click here.
I am really looking forward to the opening and exhibit of this important show.
Organized by Yerba Buena Center of the Arts (YBCA), The Way That We Rhyme showcases the politically charged work of a new generation of women. Emphasizing [...]

Pranksters caught in SF film festival

 
Our own buddy David Latimer is working with some other folks in producing  the 1ST ANNUAL PRANKS FILM FESTIVAL
The festival is a three day celebration and tribute to the “Art of the Prank” and those pranksters that have courage enough to pull them off. The Festival will screen films about the masters like Alan Abel, John Law, The [...]

Do Not Ask Me - Pablo Neruda

 Oh how I love this poem. I very much identity with what he is talking about.
Do Not Ask Me
Some people ask me that human affairs
with names, surnames and laments
not be dealt with in the pages of my books,
not to give them space in my verses:
they say poetry died here,
some say I should not do it:
the [...]

Fired “nonviolent” teacher reinstated

A reader alerted me that Marianne Kearney-Brown got her job back!
 
HAYWARD, Calif. — A Quaker math instructor who was fired by Cal State East Bay after she refused on religious grounds to sign a state loyalty oath has been reinstated, university officials said Friday.
Marianne Kearney-Brown, a pacifist, was concerned that signing the oath to “support [...]