Sandpainting with artist Ted Lyddon Hatten

Check out our story on Channel 12!

Beautiful work everyone! Enjoy your winter break!

Invisible Children

You have the power to make a difference! Become a fan on facebook to learn more, check out their website and buy holiday gifts that will change their world.

Post Secret

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Post courtesy of Leighton

Music video for Tanya Davis' song Art by Andrea Dorfman

Showcase: In Microscopic Realm, Science Reveals Art

I found this on the New York Times website and I think it is a good example how science and art can collide and create beautiful results. The article that accompanies the slides has quotes from the scientists and artists who took the microscopic pictures. It shows attitudes about art from a scientist's perspective. ~Minh Tam Le

van Houtryve

I found a photographer that I thought you might be interested in. His name is Tomas van Houtryve and I found him while looking through the Foreign Policy magazine online for debate and I researched further. He is famous for getting into inaccessible places and has a running project going on to document places in the world that are under oppressive governments, usually communist. I was struck by his photographs of North Korea that he labeled in the Foreign Policy magazine as "The Land of no Smiles."-Adele

Bon Yurt

From Charlene- Click on the "Paintball Pop Art"! Pretty cool!

Taste your way around the world at Des Moines' premiere taste and entertainment event on October 9-11, 2009! Enjoy culinary delights from across the globe and taste samples for only $1.00!

If you go to World Food Festival and do an IWB page you will earn Above and Beyond points!!! You must write a food review, the history of the dish and something about the food from that particular country or region along with visual interest inspired by the experience!

Des Moines Social Club is rockin' central Iowans with a variety of arts and theater experiences. They offer some really cool classes too! A representative will be visiting us to discuss volunteer opportunities October 7th from 9:40 to 10am in the Art Studio! BE THERE OR BE SQUARE! What a fun way to earn CAS hours. It is only blocks from The Academy at 1408 Locust St. Hit their website for more information. BECOME DMSC FAN ON FACEBOOK!

GREAT DATE!

DATE NIGHT

IB DATE NIGHT

Thursday September 10th The Art Center 5pm Tara Donavan Exhibit Dinner TBA following

Sign up in the Art Studio if you plan to join us! You are responsible for your own transportation.

R U READY!?!?

Greetings IBebes! I hope you had a wonderful summer. Let me know if there is anything I can do to support you as you finish your altered book and summer studio projects. I look forward to seeing you all and sharing some exciting changes to your IB art experience!

BIG THANKS!!!!

Amer Al-Obaidi

An Artist Journey Amer al-Obaidi is a world renowned Iraqi artist whose paintings can be found in nearly every major museum of modern art in the Middle East. He is the former Director of the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad and former General Director of Fine Arts of Iraq. He has shown in exhibitions and galleries in cities in several continents. Amer’s story began in Baghdad, where he was born in 1943. He grew up in a large family who encouraged his passion for art throughout his childhood. His talent and mastery of design and color gained him early recognition and he won first prize at the celebrated International Festival in Ibiza, Spain at the age of 22. He began his career teaching art in Saudi Arabia, then designing illustrations for newspapers, magazines and children’s publications in his native Baghdad. Amer’s achievements in the cultural ministry gradually propelled him through the administrative ranks of the Iraqi govern¬ment’s best art museums. He organized national festivals, painted murals in airports across the country and traveled the world to display his work in Cairo, Sao Paulo, Moscow, London, Ibiza and Paris. In 1975, Amer married Sawsan Abdulkarim, a school teacher who has been his constant "muse". They raised two children, a son Bader and a daughter Bedor, in a big house in central Baghdad. Bader was killed in January, 2006, by a roadside bomb while he waited for his parents and sister who were shopping in the nearby market. Sawsan was seriously injured in the explosion and eventually lost her leg. To escape the ongoing violence in Baghdad, Amer and his family fled Iraq in 2007, along with most of his country’s cultural and intellectual elite who have been targeted for widespread attacks by extremists. After taking asylum in Syria, the family was referred for resettlement to a third country by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR). They arrived in Des Moines, Iowa in August, 2008 through the sponsorship of the Refugee Cooperative of Lutheran Services in Iowa /Catholic Charities. They carried five suitcases and one painting on a rolled up canvas.

~From Amer's Bio

Check out the story in the Des Moines Register too!

Art in Baghdad from the BBC

This is an interesting blog written by a girl in Iraq.

Please think about and write @ least two questions you can ask Mr. AlObaidi. Perhaps about life in Iraq, art, his choice of subject and materials, working habits, family, inspiration, life in Iowa, politics, war, family, etc.

Artist creates invisible car

A fun artist Mel found! Check it out!

Mail Art

Mail art is so totally cool! Sam found this great mail art project that is going on right now. Ask me to see the ones that I have done in the past! Which one of you will join the movement?

Mail Me Art is a British-based project, run by Darren Di Lieto, the founder and co-editor of the illustration news portal the Little Chimp Society. Over the course of a year, the first Mail Me Art project brought together a vast collection of artistic work sent in the form of mail by both professional and amateur artists of all ages from across the world. A wide variety of media were used in an equally wide variety of styles and the work arrived on everything from postcards and envelopes to boxes and pieces of wood.

MELODY ROCKS!

Our very own Melody is one of this year's National K-12 Ceramic winners!

As the convo con't

Graffiti FAIL from Michael Mandiberg on Vimeo. Mandiberg Solving Problems... Advertising is not Graffitti. Graffitti Walls are not places for Advertising, especially on the front of Eyebeam's space in Chelsea. for work by Michael: mandiberg.com for more anti-advertising work: antiadvertisingagency.com

Mel sent this to me after our conversation in class about graffiti and advertising. Watch it and tell us what YOU think!!!

H.O.P.E

HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) is an energy conscious 501(c)3 non-profit focused on involving artists and their contributions in campaigns, programs and events to support existing social projects that promote education and peace around the world. The organization was founded by Creative Producer and Graphic Artist, Andi Scull and former Marine Captain, International Cease Fire Monitor and Human Rights Advocate, Brian Steidle. They believed artists and creatives worldwide could use talents and skills to aid human rights issues, awareness building and sustainable global growth by becoming involved through HOPE and peace. In 2007, HOPE worked to bring the crisis in Darfur to the forefront of the media by raising awareness through the creative class and developing collaborative projects and funds to help existing social projects move forward in sustainability. With the help of Shepard Fairey, Obey Giant and several other groups and artists, HOPE brought awareness about genocide to over 10 million people and funded educational programs for Darfur and six other projects in Africa. HOPE is expanding in the U.S. and abroad. After the success and growth of 2008, HOPE is collaborating with more artists and partners to assist in the form of talent, technology, products and funds for 2009 HOPE Projects and Events. Visit http://www.hopeartists.org/ for more information. If you visit the 'artists' link you will see how different H.O.P.E. artists altered the image above.

William Lamson

Your first reaction to this footage may be something like: "Huh?" And your second reaction: "Anyone can string bananas to a tree!" But let's be honest. Have you ever thought to do it? That's William Lamson's strength -- creating unlikely pairs in simple but surprising ways. He's a Brooklyn based artist, interested in photography, sculpture and performance. Using inexpensive materials and simple structures, he creates visuals that are mesmerizing and, in one word, playful. ~NPR

I also really enjoyed his performance art Actions series. A great example of taking one theme, in his case black balloons, and creating anything and everything they mind can think of. His is website to see other projects.

Moose

Thanks to Melody's great find check out reverse graffiti artist Moose as he makes a big statement about a cleaner San Francisco. For most information visit www.reversegraffitiproject.com

The Art of Awareness

Tuesday April 14th 1 to 5pm

A group of Drake University seniors hope to raise environmental awareness in the Des Moines community by creating a wildlife mural along Gray's Lake Park’s Kruidenier Trail. What could you do to bring your work to the public or raise awareness of your own?

Plagiarist or Appropriation Artist?

The lawsuit of Shepard Fairey is a grand discussion in the art world as of late. It confronts the the question of copyright laws and artists responsibilities. Read this article for more information. What do you think? How is this any different than Andy Warhols work? What is the responsibility of the artist?Do I need to even mention the Yan Pei-Ming show at the Des Moines Art Center? Is this only an American issue with art or that of other countries too? Shepard Fairey and artists like Banksy challenge societies ideas of elitist art vs public art. Watch this YouTube interview with Fairey to hear his rational of his work. On another note, both Fairey and Banksy are great examples of stencil artists and propaganda. This posting brings up many aspects of art to think about. See what other people are saying too!

The Downtown Art Center

Print by Phillip Chen

Monday March 9th we will visit The Downtown Art Center to view the current show IOWA ARTISTS 2009.

A Powerful Noise LIVE

A Powerful Noise Live - Please join me on March 5 to stand in solidarity with women everywhere in the fight against global poverty and oppression. In honor of International Women’s Day, CARE will present A POWERFUL NOISE Live in 450 movie theatres nationwide for ONE NIGHT ONLY. The one-night event will feature the acclaimed documentary “A Powerful Noise,” which follows three women from different countries who bring lasting change to their communities. Immediately after the film, there will be a town hall discussion with Madeleine Albright, Christy Turlington Burns, Nicholas Kristof, and Helene Gayle broadcast live from New York City to participating theatres. Click here to buy tickets. Click here to learn more. Please join the movement to empower women to fight global poverty.

Feel free to bring your family and friends!

Thursday March 5th @ 6:30

Jordan Creek Theaters

I suggest buying your tickets early and online!

WIKI WIKI

Thanks to the DMPS Professional Development day I now (sort of) know how to manage a wiki. You can access our Academy Studio Wiki by clicking the link on the right side of our blog or by typing http://academystudiowiki.wikispaces.com/. This wiki will allow me to post Word documents and Power Points. Yahoo!!! On our wiki you will find our handbook, monthly reflection sheets, year planner, etc. So you never have to go without! Please let me know if this is a helpful tool for you and how I might improve it to better serve your needs.

I "heart" Polish Students!!

Thanks to Allison's great idea and Mirza's mad skills of organizing our peeps we will celebrate Valentines Day Tuesday, February 17th during art. I have boxes for everyone to decorate and we will give Valentines old school style aka grade school. Think about your favorite Valentines Day memory to share with the group. Ask your new Polish friends if they celebrate Valentines Day. From what I can find Polish celebrate"Women's Day" March 8th rather than Valentines Day. Oddly though it seems as if "Women's Day" was started in New York City when women factory workers went on strike to protest poor working conditions.

Coke Art

Check out this newly added blog to our "Blog-It" list.

Details!