24 November, 2009

A reply from the The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, P.C., M.P.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Re: Yaghoghil Shaolian , 19, sentenced to two and a half years in Iranian-prison‏

Mr. Perecowicz,

I apologize for the late reply to your email, dated November 12, 2009. I have enclosed the Minister’s response to your concerns. Please feel free to contact me should you have any additional inquires.

Regards,
Melissa Lantsman

—————————————

Dear Arieh Perecowicz :

Thank you for your email, sent to my Office on November 12, 2009, concerning the situation of human rights in Iran and the case of Mr. Yaghoghil Shaolian , an Iranian national detained by the Iranian government.

The Government of Canada is deeply troubled by the current situation in Iran and has taken many opportunities to express its condemnation of Iran’s human rights abuses and to call for the release of all those unjustly detained in Iran. On June 15, 2009, I made a statement in which I outlined Canada’s concerns regarding allegations of irregularities in the voting process and reports of violent crackdowns by Iranian security forces on their own citizens. Furthermore, on June 21, 2009, I made another statement condemning the use of violence against protestors. You may read my statements at http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/index.asp

Officials of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada have also relayed these concerns directly to the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in Ottawa, on a number of occasions, as Iran is not represented by an ambassador in Canada. As well, on June 22, 2009, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister, made a statement on the situation in Iran, which you may view at www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=3&id=2647. Canada has also consistently called upon the Iranian authorities to release all political prisoners and journalists who have been unjustly detained, and to uphold all of its human rights obligations, both in law and in practice.

On June 17, 2009, in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Harper clearly articulated Canada’s position on Iran:

There is no secret to the Government of Canada’s position. We have been outspoken for a very long time in the councils of the United Nations and elsewhere about the unacceptable ideology, democratic practices and human rights record of the Government of Iran. We are obviously strongly displeased by the reaction that has taken place by authorities to events this week.

We encourage those authorities to respect people’s basic human rights and to move forward on democratic progress in this country. We find the behaviour of that regime unacceptable in so many ways that I cannot even begin to name them.

On the same day, I stated in the House of Commons that:

Everyone knows that this government has been very active on the Iran file, particularly in terms of condemnation and the commitment we made at the United Nations to condemn human rights abuses.

In addition, Mr. John Weston, Member of Parliament and Government Liaison to the Persian and Iranian Community, introduced the following motion, which was unanimously adopted by the House of Commons:

That the House express:

its solidarity with, and support for, the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people;
its concern with ongoing violations of civil and human rights in Iran, and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners; and its support for a transparent electoral process that respects the genuine will of the Iranian people.

On July 8, 2009, Canada joined with other G8 countries in expressing serious concerns about recent events in Iran. G8 Leaders deplored the post-electoral violence, which led to the loss of lives of civilians, calling interference with media, unjustified detentions of journalists and recent arrests of foreign nationals unacceptable. They called upon Iran to solve the situation through democratic dialogue and the rule of law. You may read the statement at www.canadainternational.gc.ca/g8/summit-sommet/2009/political_declaration-declaration_politique.aspx.

On October 20, 2009, Prime Minister Harper welcomed the safe release of Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari by the Government of Iran. However, he stated that “while we rejoice today for Maziar Bahari’s homecoming, we must not forget about the countless others who remain unjustly imprisoned in Iran today.”

The Government of Canada will continue to call upon Iran to respect the human rights of all Iranians, and that ordinary Iranians must be able to freely express their views without fear of intimidation or violence.

The Canadian government’s concerns about human rights in Iran are long-standing. As part of its ongoing efforts to focus the international community’s attention on the human rights situation in Iran, Canada successfully led a resolution on this situation at the fall session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for six consecutive years. Canada and 41 co-sponsors tabled a resolution at Third Committee of UNGA, for the seventh year on November 10, 2009. The resolution, which passed with significant margin of support on Friday, Noverember 20, 2009 calls on the Government of Iran to fully respect its human rights obligations and implement previous resolutions. It also expresses deep concerns about increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities, recognized or otherwise, including, inter alia, Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders. Collective efforts to table such resolutions send a strong signal that the international community remains deeply concerned about Iran’s unacceptable human rights violations.

Please be assured that Canada will continue to use all means available to raise its concerns about human rights, including the post-election situation and the continued unjust detention of Iranian and foreign nationals, such as Mr. Shaolian , in Iran.

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your concerns.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs

FULL STORY

I was having a discussion with a good friend on the nature of the swiftly emerging phenomena called Afropolitans.  Actually I’m not quite sure what this emerging phenoma stands for, whether its a movement, a paradigm shift, a cultural revolution, a renaissance, or other.  I’m also not quite sure how to characterize the nature and purpose of this phenomena, whether it exists to change the image of Africa, to merely improve the image of Africa, to showcase the best of Africa, empower Africans, to offer itself as an alternative for Africa, or other.  Neither am I quite sure if I am or anyone else for that matter, to have such certainty of the definition of this phenomena, as it may still be in its early stages of being defined.  All I am certain of at this moment is that I want to contribute what I can towards any meaningful effort towards the development of the continent and improving its image.  It would be essential at this point it seems, to first know if I fit the profile to be categorized in the realm of the Afropolitan, second to know if my help is needed and where, and thirdly to understand the vision of the Afropolitan and the shared vision of Afropolitans.  In this ever-changing phenomena of assistance in Africa, even the African now has to measure whether or not he or she is good enough to participate in an African-centered phenomena.

As noted earlier, I had an interesting discussion with a good friend a few days ago, and in my haste to shuffle through my thoughts, I jotted them down without really putting it all together, taking a breath, and understanding my context of what I was trying to get across.  I’ll repost here just my thoughts, shuffled but compiled, to see if through my hasty expression for quest, I answered my own questions.  Note that what’s jotted down below may have grammatical errors or may seem a bit out of order and even repetitive.  This is because its simply copied and pasted with little editing.

“I’m trying to understand what the trend is with Afropolitans.  I wasn’t sure what to make of the cultural lifestyle of the Afropolitan movement, as I notice it is essentially a re-make of the Harlem Rennaissance but for Africans for Africa.  In fact that’s the parrallel I’m almost drawing now a parralel of the black movement and that of the African movement.  So what might be the trend of Afropolitans in comparison to the black movement up till the Harlem Rennaissance?  What significant contribution did the Harlem Rennaissance give to the black movement? Before the Harlem Rennaissance there was booker T, Dubois, douglas….just as before afropolitans there was Blyden, Crummel, Decker, etc…  Afropolitans is not just taking form in Africa, it is taking form in the African Diaspora as well.   In trying to figure out who Afropolitans are I’m also trying to figure out what practical contribution will they provide for Africa, and what might they have learned from the success and failures of the Harlem Rennaissance and its contributions to the black movement.  During the Harlem Renaissance, the Blacks in their effort to develop Black Pride, did so in their efforts against the whites, so in essence what and/or who are the Afropolitans fighting against?    I’m still trying to understand what and who the Afropolitans are fighting against and what is the vision, in order to push it towards or pull it away from it just being in actuality a remake of the Harlem Rennaissance by educated Africans who’ve become fanatics of black pride from having being graduates of or avid readers of African American history.  I’m trying to understand if its a legitimate copycat or a destructive one because during the Harlem Rennaissance, the artists and poets let it be known and reflected in their work the plight of the blacks, but I’m not too sure if they took it as far back as Timbuktu or Chaka or ITA or even creoles.   It was a contemporary renaissance based on contemprary conditions, with a reminder of a past.  It was after the Harlem Renaissance, all the way to the days of the black Panthers, that references were made to Nubia and Sumner, etc…, were Egyptology became the main theme.  So when has the past really been used to inspire the future?  Because it is as if, we always miss that follow-up were we talk about the time of Africa before slavery, al the way back when Africa was producing Mathematicians, scientists, Doctors, etc…, because after the Harlem Renassaince, we’re only getting a movie about Toussaint in 2010.  With the Afropolitans, I see a three sided war facing the neo-Africans.   On one side, they’re fighting the traditional African culture which has evolved into one of corruption, dependency, and inferiority complex.  On another side, they’re fighting foreigners, aid workers, foreign aid, western dominion, etc…  On the third side, they’re fighting western black culture, in essence to prove themselves worthy to be acknowledged on the same level and respected as black revolutionaries.  Outside of Sierra Leone, a typical Afropolitan who descend from Senegal, will likely know less of the actual impact of creoles, krios, settlers, etc…  I don’t see it as an intentional neglection of this history, it may just reflect the current dynamics of the Afropolitan movement.”

In the end, I suppose the Phenomena is still evolving and re-defining itself as time goes on and it becomes more mainstream.  At some point, I’ll gain an understanding of where this phenonema is edging to go.

I think Afropolitan, the emerging concept, will someday be institutionalized, and the name will be synonymous with all young Africans and African Americans relocating back to the continent.   
 
Nationalism is key, and despite the occasional rise and fall of this solution, we as a continent still have not accomplished the essence of nationalism itself.  Nationalism in the sense of it being a catalyst to the exodus of the African Diaspora to Africa, has been articulated by some of our greatest thinkers, including Edward Wilmot Blyden, JE Casely-Hayford, and Kwame Nkrumah.  Blyden, recognized as the father of Pan-Africanism, advocated for the return of the African Diaspora as agents for change and drivers of progress in the continent. 
 
Yes indeed, as the article rightly suggested, the Afropolitans are indeed a force to be reckoned with, as they will make some significant reforms in the continent.  But my skeptism falls on the long-term impact or sustainability of all these reforms.  Are Afropolitans approaching the continent’s root problems as an organized movement?  What role do they currently play or will play in the effort of nationalism?  And most of all, what sets this group of Afropolitans apart from all the others that have come and gone before them? 
 
Although the term “Afropolitan” is new, the concept itself, at least as I understand it, has been in existence for many years.  Couldn’t we classify the group of Africans who were educated/dwelled in the West & East, such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nkrumah, I.T.A. Wallace-Johnson, Leopold Senghor, and others who did their exodus around the same time period, with most of them becoming pioneers for Independence and others even becoming first Prime Ministers and Presidents. Or we can even go further back into history to the likes of Martin Delany, W.E.B. Dubois, Garvey, and others who also went back with theories, initaitives, organizations, etc…  Or we can recall the sometimes undisclosed impact that Africa had on pioneers of the Harlem Renaissance, such as Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and others, who travelled to the continent to regain their identity, equipping them with the natural creativity that they used to change the psyche of African Americans.
 
My point is, we’ve been there done that, and each time, a significant impact was made.  However, we never actually hit the mark, which is African Nationalism in its prime.  The Afropolitans of this era, must pay heed to the pre-Afropolitans of the past and the errors they made that hindered the process of nationalism.  It will mean an organized approach, one with an over-arching purpose and meaning of the various roles each Afropolitan would play in the process of nationalism.  This may mean making use of the vision of Blyden, the blueprint of Casely-Hayford, the passion of Garvey, the organization of Nkrumah, the dignity of Azikiwe, and so forth. It also means more cross-continent Heritage Tours, more DNA testing from Ancestry.com, more cultural  awareness, and so forth.  Afropolitans must not just relocate for a purpose, but for a shared vision, and more cooperation must be evident between the insight of these Afropolitans and the root problems and needs of the African people, so that we don’t end up in a state of “I know best because I’m from the West.” 
 
I think the Afropolitan concept is great, and its inspiring to see an emerging exodus of the African Diaspora to Africa.  I just hope that this time, we hit the mark, because I’m slightly pessimistic in the role that the future generations of African Diasporians will play in Africa, if this current youth generation fails in its efforts.  This period is more critical than any other faced by early Afropolitans, as the generation of children in the African Diaspora are as far removed from Africa as ever.  But there is hope indeed, that this time, the emerging Afropolitans may just hit the mark, and we’ll begin to enjoy the benefits of African Nationalism.  These young Afropolitans must ensure that they develop mecahanisms to pass on the torch to their little siblings and children, because without that, this Afropolitan concept will continue to be a generational thing, and the essence of African Nationalism will continue to rise and fall.  But I share the author’s hope.
 
Other questions I’d like to ask, include what has been the impact of this emerging exodus of Afropolitans, from the indigenous African’s perspective?  Does he/she share the same optimism or enthusiasm, or does he/she feel threatened by this sudden migration of “brains” and “talents”.  These are equally important, as the vision must be shared by both Afropolitans and the Africans that never left home.

Expression

ça recommence !

Les dernières répétitions d’Expression se déroulent dans la bonne humeur avec la volonté de présenter un spectacle de qualité. Cette année, la troupe de théâtre amateur a choisi un texte de Michaël Stiernon, un auteur belge qui assistera à la soirée du 28. Sa comédie s’intitule « ça recommence » et sera joué pour la première fois. Dans une mise en scène de Nicolas Dupuis, Armelle donne un coup de main dans l’organisation d’un repas chez les Picard et sera bien aidée par un objet, mystérieusement livré, à remettre de l’ordre dans cette famille de survoltés…

20h30 – salle des fêtes

27 et 28 Novembre, 4 et 5, 11 et 12 Décembre

Réservations au 06 05 09 45 29 ou expression45@free.fr

 It’s that time of year.  Another year older and wiser.  I’m taking this time to tell family and friends that they have been a wonderful blessing to me.  I am so thankful that I get to speak to them all the time.  Thank you to the many that have emailed me from cyberspace.  This is the time of year I love for many reasons. One thing I have learned is if you trust a fool you are a bigger fool than them. Read God’s letter and you will be able to deal with anything that comes up in life.  I  can not believe how the  world is ever-changing.  Thank You Lord for protecting me.  I know you take care of your own. Wishing I could do more for the helpless families there are so many. I serve a living God. Trust him he will provide. Where there is a will there is a way. Remember God is not a seasonal God. God is always there, yesterday, today, tomorrow. God’s gives us victory. I’m going to read St. John Ch. 8   We are judged by God’s Law. “Be Free” 

Deuteronomy means:  these words.

The head bob.  Widely seen across the Indian subcontinent (and first-generation immigrants in the States when they all reunite), the head bob is an enigmatic gesture.  Does it mean yes?  Does it mean no?  Does it mean “sure, go ahead and rob my apartment?”  Is that person thinking “this song is so good, SO GOOD yaar!”

The answer is E: all of the above.

The head bob is the Indian’s favorite gesture, and it shows.  Heads bob to agree.  Heads bob to disagree.  Heads bob to show they love a song.  Heads bob to show their chole is too good.  Heads bob to show they can’t stand the traffic they are parked in.

I love the head bob.  It is as familiar to me as my mother’s dahl, the smell of incense my aunt lights when she performs her daily puja, the dangle of jasmine flowers from a girl’s plait, the clank of glass bangles.  It is one of my favorite things about India.

It’s also contagious.  Whenever I’m speaking with someone who head bobs, I subconsciously begin to head bob as well.  After landing in Hyderabad with a strained neck (never forgetting my neck pillow again), trying to head bob as I enthusiastically noshed on my aunt’s dhibaroti was excruciating.  Now that my neck has recovered, my bobbing has resumed.

And bob I will, happily, for the rest of my trip.

Here it is! This is Part 2 of 2 on challenging our conceptions of feminism and femininity. Part 1 may be found here.

In Part 1, we discussed how femininity and feminism are not antithetical to one another, as inspired by this Feministing post. Here, I want to discuss the image and presentation of femininity, and how it influences our perceptions.

One of the tumblrs that I follow is La Douleur Exquise by Miss Wallflower that is basically a celebration of all things feminine. Every day dozens of pictures are uploaded that reflect the general theme, emphasizing fashion photography, bon bons, woodland creatures, books, tea and inspirational quotes. I am acutely aware of its flaws. The majority of women featured are white and waif-like. It emphasizes traditional gender roles and promotes women’s sexuality and aesthetic appeal as their primary quality. But for its artistic merit, it also forces me to confront these images, and question how their meaning is received today.

My feminist theory professor was also really into art, so receiving the presentation and questioning the meaning of these images goes hand in hand with cultural feminism for me. For example, here are a few photographs that piqued my interest:

Here, she’s kissing him. Subject-Verb-Object (props to any who get the reference to Catherine MacKinnon). I like this picture because it doesn’t necessarily convey traditional power dynamics. It’s true that he’s still in a suit, and she’s still in a dress, but to me this image speaks to a more balanced relationship than traditional feminine dependence.

This is in a typical artsy fashion spread style with the addition of a woodland creature (I find the ‘insert woodland creature’ trend to be hilarious). She looks angry, but I can’t tell if it’s because they made her wear the stupid dress or if she had a fight with the deer. OR perhaps she’s pissed about the Stupak amendment threatening her reproductive rights.

This image brought a number of questions to mind. Why is she almost naked? Is it really necessary for her to be naked? Does she want to be naked? Why shouldn’t she be naked? The appropriation of women’s bodies sometimes leads to a certain disconnect with the body as not one’s own. When it is naked, it is usually for someone else’s consumption. So what does it really mean for a woman to be naked in an image? Or more importantly, how do we communicate with and through our bodies in everyday life?

There are a number of book and reading themed images. I like this one from the movie Matilda. On the one hand, reading can be interpreted as feminine through its apparent passiveness as an activity. For me, reading is revolutionary. It empowers our imaginations and challenges our assumptions. It opens us to new worlds, adventures and possibilities. It brought me to feminism.

Finally, here is one of the few women of colour who are featured. Frida Kahlo was an incredible female artist in the 20th century who communicated her experience through the medium of her art. She’s featured more than once in Miss Wallflower’s tumblr, as are other female artists. I think this really speaks to the importance of female self-expression, as well as non-traditional standards of ‘beauty’.

There are thousands and thousands of images. I encourage you to check them out yourself, and ask your own questions about how they convey their meaning to you. In the end, I would argue that it is not femininity itself, but our perceptions of femininity that shape how we feel about it. Do we choose to see its strength or passivity? Expression or repression?

Most importantly, how can we shape the modern interpretation into something we’re comfortable with?

~Bex

This particular stunt is just driving Papa and Mama nuts! By bending over backwards whenever possible sure is one cool stunt!

The world sure looks funny upside down too. Wait a minute. The world is already funny right side up too. Hehe!

Because Sunday I just couldn’t, and I really need it today – something healthy to reflect upon that is – how about you?

When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.

- Vietnamese saying

Expressing everyday gratitude

How often do you remember the people that have made little things possible for you? It’s easy to take our privileges for granted. Today, be more aware of your surroundings–everything from your shirt, house, food, and car–and who has made them possible for you. Who has made it possible for you to experience such wonderful things? One way to let someone know that you truly appreciate their efforts is to send them a quick note or return the kindness in your own way.

Brought to you by SPARKPEOPLE.
____________________________________________________

Happy “short” week of the holiday! Can I thank the pilgrims? Thank you for making this holiday possible. Can I also thank all the turkeys out there? No, not your ex-boyfriends. The bird! No, not “Let’s all do the bird”, dance with Morris Day and the Time, or THE BIRDS by Alfred Hitchcock. I, totally, just dated myself.

I mean Turkey, and dressing served on platter. Yes, Yum! Happy Thanksgiving! I am so happy, and thankful – I swear it’s not just the extra days off (I think?).

This post is really about everyday grace, and not just the time of the year. My first thought that comes to mind is my mom. Hey, she wasn’t perfect by any means, but she PLAYED with us. She instilled manners, respect, morals, and fun. She is still fun, and she STILL plays. I love her! My delightful child-like mother, who encouraged independence, love of children, and animals, forever in my sentiment. Thanks mom for being you.

I am thankful for my health, and my limbs. Yes, that is what happens when you are raised by a handicap father. Suddenly, having healthy working legs is a BIG deal. How easy it is to take our mobility for granted. How quickly it can be taken from us.

Having and keeping a job in this economy. Can I just say, “WOW!” I never worried about my job during the Gulf War. I never worried when airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agencies, and the owners flipped their lids, and we had to start charging fees.

I was not even concerned when the internet arrived with Orbitz, and Travelocity, and the airlines following close behind, this book your own moxie. Why use a travel agent? But I knew not everyone would, especially larger corporate companies, which was my specialty. We were still needed.

Then, the devastating blow of 9/11 sucked the soul out of us, but not the heart. In spite of all that, NOTHING has compared to this last year in the travel industry. Nothing. So thank you, dear job, I am so grateful for you.

My sister, no we don’t live close. We are not close in age. I barely remember her living with us growing up. She was more of a little mommy than a sister. But oh, she is my livelihood. How I adore her, and look up to her, even now that I’m grown and can see, she actually has flaws. She will always be my big sister, and my best friend. God made us sisters, our hearts made us friends. That saying is so true with us.

My dear Jason, far and above, the most paramount man, I have ever met or known, besides my step dad. The thought this man puts into every single thing, a quiet responsible purpose of pursuit, with patience and utter endurance, just to offer the best of himself to those he loves.

Yet, he is always willing to listen to my flash bulbs of babbling brilliance. They pale in comparison to his “bigger” picture brain and burn out just as quickly in light of his deep embers. I can’t imagine a more fitting complement than what we are to each other.

Out of 9 MILLION people on Facebook, I found you, the one, and only you. How small I am compared to the grander illustration painted for both of us.

My daughter Sydney, you amaze and entertain me. Your quick wit, and non-typical teenage antics. By far you are more stylish than I ever could, would, or should be in this lifetime. Thank GOD, you know which shoes go with what. I will forever embarrass you with the wrong outfit just so you can say, “Mooooooommmmmmm, no.”

There are so many others, the scope of which encompasses to an eternity, and I hope you know who you are, because I don’t have enough words to attribute.

I hope I show my kindness to each of you in return. I hope you know how much you mean to me. I hope I express it, not just in words, or deeds, but in every hug, and in every email, text, or comment. I know where my appreciation comes from. It comes from YOU. It comes from your heart. It comes from where YOU came from. What a blessing you are. I am overjoyed to be in your life.

Graciously, I go into this wonderful week with you. Please share your gratitude with me. I’d love to hear it. And I know it will make you feel good (besides, I bet you have already typed it out, HA).

Roya was an afghan student I met at Jamia Milia Islamia in 2007 at a screening of Osama(2003). She told me over cups of tea about doing Women’s Studies in India, of her family which wants her to be educated and a Taliban regime that doesn’t. Unfortunately I lost touch with her, but she is in my thoughts.

Dear Roya…

What is it like?

To wake up every morning to a shattered world…

To know that your life is caged.

Within the twisted lies,

men -make

of God’s truth.

How does it feel? …

To peer through the darkness of a blue shroud

and  find the entire sky,

opening up inside of you.

What do you think…?

When alien ideas turn like keys inside your head.

Tell me,

Do you sometimes stand and stare at the light…

shining behind forbidden doors?

From Toy Story to Bolt, animation has brought us an array of wonderful characters to cherish and enjoy. This roundup highlights a selection of simply awe inspiring 3D characters.

Stunning 3D Characters

Captain Jack Sparrow

Created using 3DSmax, Zbrush and Photoshop, the attention to detail and expression are fantastic.

Bobby, The Little Octopus

Textured using ZBrush and decorated with Blender, taking 5 days of work. Bobby is a unique and fascinating piece of work.

Harlequin

Hauntingly realistic, Harlequin is truly a spectacular piece of art. At first glance, one might think this was a well lit photo.

Science Doc

Modeled in maya and rendered in Mental Ray, Science is an excellent character, with matching production values.

Goblin Mechanic

Inspired by Max Cant’s soldiers when modeling the furnace on his back he is full of expression and crammed with an array of wonderful details.

Will Smith Caricature

Hilarious and superbly created using Cinema 4D, ZBrush and Photoshop. It has a warmth and charm that make it stand out.

Jelly Spider Friend

Realistic and a little creepy, this is beautifully crafted with amazing colors and textures. The lighting adds to the freakish feel of the piece.

Cloud Tribute

A tribute to the popular Final Fantasy character Cloud, the emotion behind the eyes is extremely powerful.

Beautiful Vanadisa

Created in Daz Studio with a rendering time of over 22 hours, this is a simply breathtaking 3D portrait.

Isabelle

Modeled using a combination of Poser, Vue, Cinema 4D and Photoshop CS, she has a real sense of mystery and magic.

Art Ventura

A wonderful caricature, Art Ventura solves mysterious CG cases. The behind the scenes of its creation is worth viewing.

Ogryn Stare

The artists first project using ZBrush with the entire piece taking over two days. It makes great use of textures.

Rose

A beautiful pose and composition, great use of light and a thoroughly captivating expression make Rose a compelling piece.

Emocionado

A funny and charming piece with great attention to detail on the cloth patterns and the stubble on the chin.

Aztec Priest

Inspired by Mel Gibson’s movie “Apocalypto”, this Aztec Priest is detailed, imaginative and original.

Cyber Goth

Created using a combination of Poser and Photoshop, the design on her scalp and the eye markings really draw the eye.

Samurai Troll

The texture work in the armor plates and skin are amazing given that the artist views this as a work in progress.

Smoking Creature

I don’t what’s more frightening, the hideous character or the amazing amount of realism he possesses.

Kai

This is Kai, Nariko’s dedicated friend (from Heavenly Sword). Created using Poser, Vue and Photoshop.

Shadow Conscious

Absolutely incredible detail, the artist really captured the emptiness in her eyes and created a character deep in thought.

Female Vampire

Inspired by the vampire film 30 Days of Nights, this female vampire looks really realistic and deliciously evil.

Arwen

Created using Cinema 4D, Poser, Vue and Photoshop with an obscene render time, Arwen is a pearlescent beauty.

Fries With That

Fantastic modelling, texturing and shading make this utterly realistic, you will think it’s a photograph. An amazing achievement in 3D realism.

Suspicious Minds

An incredibly striking, beautiful, realistic and moving portrait with an interesting story behind it.

The Worlds Enemy

A superb model of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy with the rendering taking 3 hours and the post production taking 6 hours.

Chris In 3D

An absolutely stunning combination of Poser and Photoshop work. Do yourself a favor and check out this render’s immaculate details.

Cyborg Head 01

The level of detail is nothing short of amazing, enhanced by the textures and lightning that give this 3D render superb qualities.

Ethereal

Artwork based on the W40k universe, it’s an Ethereal from the TAU empire, taking 2 days to complete using Cinema 4D, ZBrush, VRay and Photoshop.

Knight of the Temple

A lone knight of the Temple, standing guard. The chainmail and stone are particularly brilliant in detail and texture.

Grandma

Just awesome detail, amazing textures, superb blending and the befuddling expression on the woman’s face make this a wonderful piece of work.

I think I must explain… in continuation of my previous entry.

I have been a little preoccupied this past week with endless preparation for my studies… but I have found you again. I have added my 2009 series that was also my Masters body of work on my artist website here. I think it is fairly obvious where my immediate inspiration has come from in this series. This inspiration is hysteria, the psychosomatic illness in vogue in 19th century Paris. I have been absolutely fascinated with the Iconography produced by Dr J. M. Charcot as it’s almost to fantastic to believe. The histrionics displayed are vivid, so there has obviously been much debate as to whether or not the women were actually performing for the doctors rather than suffering from a particularly romantic disease. There is this most fantastic quote I found during my research it goes something like this;

“There doesn’t seem to be anything medicine has not said about hysteria:

it is multiple, it is one, it is nothing; it is an entity, a malfunction, an illusion;

it is true and deceptive; organic or perhaps mental; it exists, it does not exist.”[1]

Hysteria seems to be this historical paradox of the human condition. It is, but it isn’t. It is everything, it is nothing. Have a look at some of the images from the Iconography below.

from the Iconographie de la Salpetriere, 1878

from the Iconographie de la Salpetriere, 1878

I take a lot of inspiration from 19th century medical photography. I saw an exhibition in Paris last year at the Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux-Arts entitled Figures du Corps. There I saw ‘in real life’ (lol) some of Duchenne’s photographs documenting facial expression. This is them:

from Duchenne's Mecanisme de la Physionomie Humaine, 1862

Anyway my internet is really annoying me at the moment, so I will leave it at that for the moment.

-J.

“Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other — it doesn’t matter who it is — and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.”
(Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997)

This is another portrait that I have shot last Sunday as I was walking near Lal ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Then I met several kids and young men bathing in the holy waters and listening to the lectures of a priest sitting under a big umbrella.
When they saw me each asked for a picture and of course I was happy to make a few portraits that I promised to print and to deliver at the same place today.

“Soul receives from soul that knowledge,
therefore not by book nor from tongue.
If knowledge of mysteries come after
emptiness of mind, that is illumination of heart.”
(A poem by alal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known as Jelaluddin Rumi – 1207–1273)

Last Sunday I was walking near Lal ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras) and I met several kids and young men who were bathing and listening to the lectures of a priest sitting under a big umbrella.
When they saw me each asked for a picture and of course I was happy to make a few portraits that I promised to print and to deliver at the same place tomorrow morning…

This picture was shot a few days ago at Prayag ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
I was watching this lady and I thought that whatever the sari can be it always gives a kind of radiance and a touch of dignity to women.
It is amazing that it is done by only a single straight length of cloth and yet it offers so much of variety provided by the fabrics, designs and colours.

“Is it your face
that adorns the garden?
Is it your fragrance
that intoxicates this garden?
Is it your spirit
that has made this brook
a river of wine?

Hundreds have looked for you
and died searching
in this garden
where you hide behind the scenes.

But this pain is not for those
who come as lovers.
You are easy to find here.
You are in the breeze
and in this river of wine.”

(Behind the Scenes, a Persian poem by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known as Jelaluddin Rumi – 1207–1273)

I took this picture of my friend Juliette Sushila last Sunday as we were walking on the ghats along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
It was one of the last summer days even though it was November.
That day she left for Paris and a kind of winter monsoon came.

Among several things my friend is running charity business with an hospital in the Indian state of Karnataka where she needs support.
www.donnonslavie.org/

YOUSPOKE is new and growing. I want to tell you how it came into my life, how’s it’s helped me and how happy I am to have become a part of this organization.

On the morning of July 17th, 2009, I checked the message on the answering machine that I had ignored the night before. The message was from a girl I went to High School with, that had dated and was very close to a man who I went to High School with as well and whom I was recently engaged to, whom i had left a little more than the year before and had hopes he would come back to me, someday. He had always felt like “my other half”, from the moment he and I met, we both felt it right away, we acknowledged that we felt like we had known each other before. 

She called to tell me that he had been found dead “yesterday”, from a self-inflicted gun-shot to the head.

I was glad it was she who called to tell me; it just made sense. She and I were sort of rivals over our lives with him.  But, I always had a respect for her and their deep friendship and she seemed to feel the same about me. So, when she called to tell me, there was a sort of “coming full circle” that was and is felt deeply by us both. The beauty in the relationship that we have since built, is another story…

Over the next few days, many talks with she who told me, and his parents, it was agreed that I would go to Las Vegas (where he was living) and pick up his dogs and bring them home with me, and we would figure it out in time, but at the time the only thing that made sense to me was to get his dogs that meant so much to him, that were there with him always and in his last days of his life.  And, I wanted to be in the town that I had lived with him. I had never been to Las Vegas but to be with him.  So, aside from the dogs, I believe I would have gone there anyway, to be in that space, to feel it, to say a sort of “goodbye” or something. It just made sense.

My mom and I went and picked up the dogs after a good friend of mine, in Las Vegas, rescued them from the shelter they were taken to, that has a very bad reputation…he helped us so much, getting the dogs to a safe place, to our vet, until we could get there to pick Tommy and Jack up.

We picked them up and headed straight home to Illinois. The whole trip was so cathartic. The whole time was quite sad and quiet beautiful. On the day I found out Mike had died, my family was in the midst of our family reunion. The day before, my great-aunt died. We were having a family reunion and we were dealing with great loss. We were so incredibly lucky to be around each other, we couldn’t have been more fortunate.

All the time since has just felt surreal.  i’ve been floating and i’ve been lost. A few weeks after his death, i suddenly felt my heart cry out for something else. I’d been getting such amazing support from everyone, and unbelievable messages from people on Facebook, some people I knew, some people I did not know, but they all new him, and we connected with our grieving and were helping each other through…My family and my friends and the friendships I have since built with people who were most close to him are remarkable. I have a few really great friendships now with people who were closest with him. We are there/here for each other in indescribable ways and are indescribably beautiful. I am so blessed for having them. But, that day, my heart screamed out, my soul screamed out for something different; a support group, something, somebody with some time on a similar situation. Some way for me to find out that I would heal. Some way that I could know that I would not feel this pain forever. That I would not feel surreal for the rest of my life. I had been to AA meetings, and that’s what occurred to me, what I had received at those meetings; somebody with years on me.

That evening, without actually asking, my sister, Wendy, sent me a text telling me that she thought I should contact a friend of hers that had just recently connected with a woman who started an organization called YOUSPOKE, for people who have been deeply affected by suicide in any way. I couldn’t believe her timing. (not that it’s shocking that she thought of telling me that, or that anybody would recommend a support group to me) I e-mailed her friend and told her a about me. She e-mailed me back and we decided to meet for lunch. We connected in so many ways and it helped a lot. She told me about Stefanie, the woman who created YOUSPOKE and said we had to meet.

I had received an e-mail from Stafanie already, saying that she really wanted to talk. We spoke on the phone soon after my lunch with my sister’s friend. Our phone conversation was amazing, and it was in that conversation that I admitted to Stafanie that I had tried to commit suicide in 2004. We talked about all the sides of suicide and how even when you think you understand it, it still hurts when you lose somebody to themselves. But only talking about it can shed any light on it. Stefanie’s point to starting YOUSPOKE is to bring some understanding of suicide to people who don’t understand it at all. Not to give it allowance, but to help people who are grieving, understand where the people who made the choice may have been coming from and to make the topic of suicide less taboo, so people aren’t as afraid to talk about it.

The more I talk about Mike’s suicide, the more I see my own suicide attempt as a helpful part of my story and my healing. Not just for myself, but for others’ healing and understanding as well. I am so different since my attempt. I have grown so much and have done so much work to get past and through those feelings I had so much of my life that led me to that decision.

When I met Stefanie and we shared our stories, I knew that she and this organization; what her plans for it are, were just what I was looking for. The afternoon she and I met, she was going to meet Travis, to hear his story and see how he wanted to be a part of this. She told me that day that she wanted she, and my sister’s friend and Travis to have a meeting together to start brainstorming about what YOUSPOKE could be and how it can grow. We agreed to stay in touch and get all of us together to get moving with YOUSPOKE.

It happened fast from there. We walked with The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in the “Out of the Darkness” walk in October and soon after Stefanie asked me if I would like to be on the board and I accepted, with honor.

When I first heard about Stefanie and YOUSPOKE, I checked out the website and watched her story and read her mission statement, I was almost jealous that I hadn’t thought about starting an organization like this myself. Then I thought, I was just glad somebody had. I love the idea that not only is she promoting actually talking openly about suicide, but creating art; any form of expression to help us heal, and putting it up on the site, for people to see, to inspire and share.

With all that I have felt, my whole life; my journey to getting better, and Mike’s passing, it just continues to feel like my mission is to help people feel better and the best way I can see to do that is by sharing my story with others and showing the huge steps I’ve made; from a person who just did not believe that those feelings of depression and wanting to die would or could ever go away; that i didn’t have the strength to do it, into a person who still struggles, but is constantly amazed at how much better I feel and how wrong I was about myself. I really want to share this with the world, especially with people who have lost or are losing hope. It gets better, it is unbelievable how it does. When I kept all of this to myself, I struggled more. We can help each other through, if we speak.

thank you for listening,

with love, kory

Even at my tender age, I have begun to develop certain fears. Fears that will cause me to tremble in my spot, unable to move, except for my tears…

Though the list may change or increase as I grow older, my challenge is to stay clear of these top three fears to date:

1. Automatic car washes – I am always traumatized whenever Papa drives the car through those automatic car washes where tonnes and tonnes of water and soap is splashed all over the car.

A bigger version of the above comes when this thing called rain starts to pour. Heavy rain feels like a giant car wash with water coming down from the sky. Sure is scary when accompanied with thunder and lightning.

2. Sniffing doggie noses – Doggies are cute only when they are not charging straight at you and smelling all over you. Scary experience!

3. Grass – Although I can step on it, my confidence is quickly shaken on this surface as I will be extra-careful…especially when they sometimes have those short thorny stuff that pricks the legs. Painful indeed!

We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in a big meeting with too much to do and too little time to do it.

There are serious issues that need to be addressed, but nobody is speaking their mind. The opinions that people share individually at lunch, over coffee or in the corridor just don’t come out in these meetings.

Just when it seems that things couldn’t get worse, someone suggests a seemingly attractive but impractical idea. Individually everyone knows the pitfalls, these are mistakes we’ve made before, but in the group, no one is prepared to be the first to speak out against the idea.

Despite serious personal reservations, the typical response is, “If its alright with me if its OK with everyone else.” As a result, the suggestion takes a life of its own and another group of adults is about is about to do something as a group that each of them as individuals would have had enough sense to have avoided

Interpersonal conflict can be unpleasant and disruptive. But when it comes to decision making, an early consensus can be far more damaging that a little conflict.

Peer pressure is generally assumed to be a negative influence that is exerted on the youth in our society. Consensus crisis is the adult version of peer pressure, only it occurs more frequently and has a more lasting and damaging impact.

Peer pressure is not so bad when it involves going along with what everyone else wants to do. It is particularly negative however, when it involves going along with what everyone else is doing when that is something that none of them really want to be doing.

A consensus crisis is the adult version of peer pressure.

Conflict within a business organization is often considered something that should be avoided.

On closer examination, however, not all conflicts within an organization can be considered by the same standards. Organizational conflict can be classified in one of two categorizes, policy and procedure.

Procedural conflicts are all of those upsetting interpersonal disputes that don’t involve the major strategic decisions of the business but are

You’ve been there before and you’ll be there again. While peer pressure amongst teenagers usually has its origins in informal gatherings when there’s nothing to do, adult consensus crises occur at organized gatherings when there’s plenty to do.

You’re sitting at a weekly meeting discussing the many things that need to be done. Someone suggests building a new product, penetrating a different market, or a different organizational approach.

Most new ideas sound good, but on closer examination, the cracks begin to show through.

Sure, we could do it, but who is really going to do it. Millions could be sold, but who really is going to buy it. It won’t cost all that much, but where is the money going to come from,

What’s the solution for the manager that wants to encourage the free flow of new ideas but wants to avoid the pitfalls of a consensus crisis? Encourage conflict. That’s right, encourage conflict, conflict as it pertains to policy, not personality. The experienced manager facilitates a healthy level of policy conflict by encouraging the expression of differing opinions while maintaining respect for the individuals expressing them.

The suggestion for today is to acknowledge and express thanks for those who have improved the human condition – for humanity in general and for myself in particular.

Today is known in the United States as ‘Thanksgiving Day.’ Here in Australia we know no such day – something which could be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing. Good, in that it is not another day commercialised and bad, in that there is no particular day for acknowledging our gratitude to those that have improved our lives, etc.

But why do we need a particular day for this – can we not be thankful and express our gratitude on a daily basis? I think we can. I am not calling for a false expression of gratitude and thankfulness, but that which is real and true – surely we can all find something to be thankful for? I know it isn’t hard for me to find plenty to be thankful for throughout each day.

A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton

This Morning “Seahorse”swam close to the Surface of the Water and Extended his Hand out so “Dragon Fly”could hold onto it,

They moved Forward Together through the Rough Crashing Tides,

At times it appeared that the Larger the Waves the Greater the Reward on the Other Side but this was Not Always the Case,

Together they Floated,

Swaying with the Oceans Natural Current,

Never travelling the same Flowing Water Path Twice

So Today,

I Leaped into the Blue Sky and Fragmented into a Million Tiny Pieces,

Each piece contained a Smaller Pattern of who I am as a whole,

Sort of like a Million Snow Flake Patterns being lifted away by the Wind,

Possibly spending years above the Ground being tossed around through the different Layers of the Atmosphere,

Each piece relaying information to the other pieces,

Fragmented yet Communicating as Unified