This is where our idea for Land Art got some ground under its feet: the ‘Tree of growing creativity’.

The creation of the 2.5 metre high wire baobab tree at the entrance of Soekershof in the beginning of 2002 has an enormous spin-off for wire-artist Messina Mussindo (“You may call me Joey”).

The making of the second tree, exhibited in the

South African embassy in Berlin, gave the international career of Joey momentum with various creations displayed in musea and galleries in Europe and the USA. Work of Joey can also be found in several private collections around the globe. The wire branch on the veranda of guesthouse Mardouw between Swellendam and Ashton is one of the refined examples of Joey’s work.

Joey is not subsidised as many other (wire) artists originating from ‘less priviliged communities’. He is glad to stand on his own feet. Joey has his workshop and outlet at Soekershof . Above all Joey’s demonstration of his so called ‘one-wire-art’ shows his ability of innovation in wire-art.

Boston’s Banditos Misteriosos announced a brand new event: a Revolutionary Water Gun Battle. The battle will take place on August 16th, but you should be able to sign up later today. Banditos have caused quite a ruckus (in the purely good sense) in just under a year since forming. They’ve gotten a good chunk of coverage from the press and were recently named “Boston’s Best Kept Secret” by the Improper Bostonian. Their staging of fun-filled, unusual, and engaging events such as pillow fights, silent dance parties, and (most recently) a scavenger hunt in the form of flash mobs is just what this city has been asking for. These events are the kind of thing that are needed to shake people out of their collective daily-routine-comas and engage them in community and openness while challenging their expectations with a surge of creativity and fun.

Banditos' pillow fight

In many ways, the random acts of fun inspired by Banditos are a reminder of the Punk Percussion Protests that were held in front of the South African Embassy in the summer of 1985. Back in emo’s infant days, Revolution Summer as it were, members of Positive Force and various individuals in the Dischord roster and faimly would gather infrequently by the embroiled embassy to stage impromptu protests. Demonstrating their newfound thirst for politics beyond their small community, the punks would gather a handful of times that summer and bang on all kinds of objects that would make a sound, end on end, in a vibrant and out-of-the-ordinary display of political fortitude and engaging idealism. At a time when hardcore had soured the image of punk for individuals within and out of the underground, the Punk Percussion Protests were one of many ways in which DC’s emo scene challenged expectations for all-things-normal in the world of punk (and outside of punk at that).

Positive Force/Fugazi flyer

Keeping up with the sense of challenging expectations, the Punk Percussion Protests against Apartheid ended that summer. However, they were brought back briefly at various intervals, which also included a Positive Force, Fugazi-encompassing protest against the first War against Iraq. The event, originally a protests in support of the homeless, grew with the timetable set by the Bush administration (again, the first one) for Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait. Aside from the large-Fugazi show, there was a mass drumming assembly in front of the White House. According to the book Dance of Days, the protests were so potent that “Bush complained to the press that ‘those damned drums are keeping me up all night.’” Talk about out of the ordinary.

Fugazi – Turnover (live at the Positive Force anti-war/homelessness protest):

Vitória !

Victory !

النصر!

Os dois técnicos da África do Sul presos por não terem permissão para trabalhar no Zimbábue estão de volta em casa.

Eles deixaram com segurança a OR Tambo Internacional apenas depois das 10 horas da noite a bordos de um vôo da SSA (South African Airway) Companhia área da África do Sul.

“Os familiares estão felizes com a sua vitória e emocionados de verem os dois de volta em casa.” disse o diretor financeiro da Globecast Africa, Abdulhak Gardee.

Sipho Maseko e Abdulla Gardee foram presos 27 de Março sob acusação de Acesso a Informação e Proteção dos direitos privados, no qual o governo trabalha com os termos de mídia no Zimbábue.

Eles foram presos depois de facilitarem um link para a CNN nas eleições de 29 de Março naquele país, por que eles não tinham cartão de autorização de mídia, entretanto eles tinham uma carta de autorização habilitando-os a trabalharem legalmente.

Gardee disse que os dois também estavam contentes, mas pareciam mais emocionados.

“A companhia verá qual assistência eles precisam e depois falarão com eles amanhã (terça-feira).”

Os dois foram absolvidos na Segunda-feira, e foram rapidamente encaminhados a embaixada da África do Sul em Harare por terem sidos presos de novo enquanto aguardavam pela devolução de seus passaportes. Notícia original (em inglês): http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=748565

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Parabéns, justiça foi feita !

Pelo menos para variar !