Shea Hembrey: "How I became 100 artists" at TED Talks

There are many artists, especially emerging ones, who aspire to reach success or at least due recognition. But that is not an easy task and few will achieve that goal.

A successful artistic career can be achieved through several ways, such as working hard developing technical skills, having a prolific imagination, owning some good connexions in the art world, or being good at marketing and branding, just to name a few.

Starting an artistic career involves creating artistic projects that demand knowing what one wants in first place, planning and lost of work. And after everything is done, there is the need to announce it and to show it to the public as to cause the most positive impact as possible, therefore leading to the expected results.

The TED Talk speaker artist and curator Shea Hembrey is an example of what has been delineated above. During his intervention "How I became 100 artists" Hembrey guides the audience through his early life, his artistic ideas and concepts, finalizing with his art project Seek.

Seek is a new international biennial that results from Shea Hembrey's idea of creating 100 works, each of them by a fictional artist, to whom the author even created a bio, and curated by Calinda Salazar and Fletcher Ramsey, also fictional charaters.

Even though the artists and the curators are fictional characters, the 100 works of art were all created by Hembrey, which attests the artist's capacitiy of developing a complex and successful creative process.

The inaugural exhibition of Seek biennial is available through a catalogue in a limited edition of 1000 that can be acquired through Shea Hemprey's website.

Shea Hembrey passed nine years studying art at university, though he continuously seeks to develop his methods and skills on his own. His art imitates nature’s forms, in an attempt to appreciate how humans have always appropriated and learned from forms in nature, which has led to projects such as "Mirror Nests."

He studied Maori art in New Zeland thanks to the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship program.
Hembrey also owns an MFA from Cornell University.

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

Extending from prehistory to the present day, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History is a chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated by the Museum's collection.

Since its start in 2000 that curators, conservators, and educators from the Metropolitan Museum continue to dedicate a great deal of their time researching and writing the Timeline, continuously developing its scope and complexity, reflecting the most up-to-date scholarship.

The Timeline of Art History is is indexed by chronology, geography, theme, and subject, encompassing four main categories:

World Maps and accompanying regional maps that can be used within a selected region or time period.

Timeline that includes a chart of time periods, representative works from the museum's collection and a historical overview that permits visitors to compare art from around the globe at any time in history.

Thematic Essays focusing on specific themes in art history, such as artistic movements and periods, archaeological sites, empires and civilizations, recurrent themes and concepts, media, and artists. Each thematic essay is complemented with links to related themes and timelines.

Works of Art are placed in a comprehensive chronological, geographical, and thematic context. Each image can be enlarged for closer scrutiny and is accompanied by supporting material, including when available, links to technical glossaries on CAMEO and artist biographies from Oxford Art Online.

A General Index providing a more direct search and a Bibliography comprised of over 3000 Metropolitan Museum of Art publications, complement this invaluable art resource.

Funded by the Heilbrunn Foundation, New Tamarind Foundation, and Zodiac Fund, the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History is an invaluable reference and research tool for students, educators, scholars, and anyone interested in the study of art history and related subjects.

Visit this page to know the names of those who have contributed to this project.

International Museum Day 2011

Established in 1977 and celebrated worldwide around the 18th of May, the International Museum Day aims to increase the public awareness about the role of museums in developing society.

Museum and Memory is the theme for the 2011 edition, showing how museums collect and transmit the individual and collective memories of our communities through objects.

These objects, many of them rare and in need of special care and conservation, are expressions of our natural and cultural heritage, fundamental witnesses of our identity.

To preserve the transmission of this cultural heritage to future generations, the International Council of Museums has initiated close institutional partnerships with other organisations that feel concerned by these questions and share ICOM’s preoccupation for the preservation of memory: the UNESCO “Memory of the World” programme, the Co-ordinating council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA), the International Council on Archives (ICA), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

During the International Museum Day 2011, museums around the world will organise several activities and will be open extended hours, often with free entrance.
On this page you can scroll down and have a glimpse of what will be on offer in the several continents.

IMD 2011 will focus on the African continent whose cultural contribution to the world is often unknown and deserves to be promoted.

Art Day at The Overland Inn Museum with Live Models in Victorian and Edwardian Clothing

Located in McCutchenville, Ohio, the once McCutchen Inn was built in 1829 by Col. Joseph McCutchen with the purpose of serving as a stagecoach stop on the Harrison Trail, a formerly Indian Trail that extended from the Scioto River at Columbus, Ohio and continued north to Lake Erie, later expanded by General Henry Harrison to accommodate his troops during the War of 1812

After serving as a hotel and an apartment building, the Inn was acquired in a state of deterioration by the Wyandot County Historical Society in 1964.

Three years volunteer work from the community transformed the building into a museum dedicated to stagecoach, where visitors can delight in the quaint structure furnished with antiques donated by residents of Wyandot County and sorrounding ones, as well has having a glimpse of the nineteenth century travel throughout Ohio and America.
To enhance the experience, the reception and bar room where travelers registered to spend the night is still original.

With the financial support from current and former Wyandot County residents, businesses and organizations, including money collected by McCutchenville school children, and help from volunteer workers, The Overland Inn Museum went through a major renovation that started in 2002 and stretched out over a four-year period.

On June 10, 2007, more than 500 people traveled to McCutchenville, Ohio, for the grand reopening of the Inn.

Now thanks to an idea conceived by the museum's curator Janet Engle, The Overland Inn Museum will hold on Saturday, September 24, 2011 (10h00 am - 12h00 pm) a drawing and photography session.

Entitled Art Inn-spiration, it will feature live models dressed in Victorian and Edwardian clothing and still life arrangements from the museum’s collection, all in period surrounding.

Participants will be able to sketch with dry media and photograph as much as they wish.

The vacancies are limited and the registration form must be sent by September 12, 2011.
A small fee of $5 applies.

An exhibition of the works completed by the participants will be held next year at a date yet to announce.

The Overland Inn Museum boasts an impressive collection of textiles, including weavings, embroideries, laces, and quilts from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It also provides workshops that offer its visitors the chance to travel to the pass and experience the American culture and life of their ancesters.

Flash:Light by Nuit Blanche New York 2011: images of the event and "Let Us Make Cake" video

On May 7 Nuit Blanche New York presented Flash:Light, a major art event that took place on Mulberry Street and Bowery, NY.

Now you can watch some of images from the event that gathered the general public and art lovers in this part of the city.
















The video "Let Us Make Cake", a 20-minute loop projection-mapped footage resulting from the collaboration between Nuit Blanche New York and Light Harvest Studios, was shown on the 174-foot façade of the New Museum (235 Bowery).

Let Us Make Cake (New Museum, NYC) from Nuit Blanche New York on Vimeo.

The video "Equation of Time" by Jeff Grantz, an architectural projection mapping showing the Audemars Piguet Signature movements, is expected to be available for viewing in the next few days.

The Art Inquirer wishes to thank Anna Muesig for her generous collaboration.

The Andy Monument by Rob Pruitt

Commissioned by Public Art Fund, NY, a nearly ten-foot-tall chrome finished sculpture of Andy Warhol created by Rob Pruitt, will be unveiled tomorow in the Union Square, Pedestrian Mall at 17th Street and Broadway, just outside the building that housed Warhol’s Factory for more than ten years in the 70s and early 80s, tomorow Wednesday March 30 at 11:00am.

Inspired by Warhol’s art and life and a tribute to the late artist, The Andy Monument will stand on the street corner, just as Warhol did when he signed and gave away copies of Interview magazine which he founded in 1969.

Based on a combination of digital scanning of a live model and hand sculpting, Rob's creation aims to represent Warhol as a ghostly, silver presence: a potent cultural force as both artist and self-created myth. The chrome figure wears his signature fright wig and carries a Polaroid camera around his neck. In his right hand he carries a medium brown bag, which Rob imagines to be filled with copies of Interview magazine.

In the likeness of what is becoming common these days, interaction through the use of technological devices and social media will be made possible.

The sculpture created by Rob Pruitt will stand in the Union Square, NY, until October 2, 2011.

Photo by James Ewing

Put Your Art on the map with The Arts Map

Google permits publishers to add their business to their Google Maps and define search parameters such as keywords.

On a similar basis was created a service that intends to make easier to find arts sources and resources on a geographical basis, providing an interface which will benefit artists, galleries, collectors, museums, art schools and services, in short everyone related to art who wishes to connect. When joining the service, users can specify the search terms for their presence within the map, add an image, make the necessary changes in the future, etc.

Because many artists are not gallery represented and only show their work via a website or blog, this service is a tool that can bring more confidence to potential buyers buy stating that the artist has a physical adress; of course that misleading information can be provide by its users, but is up to artists, galleries and collectors to take the usual precautions when doing business.

Created a couple of years ago, The Arts Map is a free (exceptions may apply), straightforward and useful service.

Applications are open for 3rd Edition of the INOV-ART internship programme

The 3rd edition of INOV-ART will award 150 scholarships for the completion of international professional internships in the following areas and respective number of vacancies: Architecture and Urbanism (17); Performing Arts (22); Visual Arts (17); Cinema and
Audiovisual (22); Design (17); Writing and Editing (8); Management, Creative Industries and
Marketing (15); New Media (12); Heritage (8); Educational Services (12);

INOV-ART is intended for young people between 18 and 30 years old who have been residing in Portugal for over 1 year by the time they apply, who are unemployed, looking for their first job or for a new job. The candidates must possess proven qualifications in the fields of the arts and culture that they are applying to, attested by a higher education diploma, or a specialised artistic education certificate and proven experience.

Joint applications resulting from a prior agreement established between candidates and placement organisations may be submited.

Internships are expected to last between three and six months, with abroad ones being carried out between July and December 2011. The selected candidates will receive financial support, health insurance during the period of internship abroad (when applicable) and personal accident insurance covering all seminar days, the internship abroad and days spent travelling.

The deadline for applying to the 3rd edition of INOV-ART is April 15, 2011 (at 16:59:59h local time in mainland Portugal).

Candidates should consult the rules and details of the programme and its calendar before submiting their applications.

Instructions to fill the form are available on this page.

INOV-ART is an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, fostered, managed and executed by DGArtes and funded by Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, I.P. with the aim of professionalization and specialization of young people in the fields of the arts and culture through the completion of professional internships at renowned organisations (“professional internship” is understood to mean the development of activities supervised by and internship coordinator which do not focus primarily on academic research, teaching, studying, nor individual projects that are not part of the activity of the placement organisation).

"Olha Por Mim" a multisensory exhibition

The City Hall of Lisbon in partnership with its Social Services Department will present the exhibition "Olha Por Mim", featuring the artworkd of Tânia Bailão Lopes, a multisensory project born in the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria in 2009 with the collaboration of Josélia Neves, Clara Mineiro, expert of the Accrediting Department and Museums Qualification and twenty one experts from several museums.

After being exhibited from North to South of Portugal, the exhibition will include soundpainting for the first time, where music, poetry and sound effects will transmit subjective messages to the visitors. Walter Marcos, responsible for the sound area, has come up with specific sounds, while using an original theme by a former Sting's group keyboard player for one of the works.

In poetry, Josélia Neves used metafors such as "chocolate face" for describing a black character or "cherry face" to describe the countours of another character.

The soundpainting initiative was developed in collaboration with visual and hearing impaired people who guided the authors through its process by indicating what would work and what would not. It was noticed that even conditioning the perception through sounds, the interpretations of the artwork would differ.

"Olha Por Mim" is also a tactile experience with the objective of reaching all audiences, but especially catered for those with visual and hearing problems.

With the works of Mirtilo Gomes (Tânia's homonym), the "Olha Por Mim" exhibition will be inaugurated this March 15 (15h00) at the Social Services building of the City Hall of Lisbon (Edifício dos Serviços Sociais da CML), located in the Av. Afonso Costa, 41 - Olaias, and will include the lecture “Comunicar a arte trocando os sentidos: acessibilidade e inclusão”, presented by Josélia Neves and Walter Marcos. The artist will also be present, as well as Deodato Guerreiro PhD, a blindness and low vision specialist.

Watch the videos about the exhibition and visitors statements on this page .

The exhibition can be visited until April 15, 2011.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts: smARTpower

Administered by The Bronx Museum of the Arts, with the purpose of increasing the mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries through social and cultural values, smARTpower will send fifteen American artists abroad to work with local artists and young people around the world to create community-based art projects and develop programs in cooperation with local arts organizations in host countries including China, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kosovo, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Venezuela.

The selected artists are required to address a full range of relevant subjects such as women’s empowerment, the environment, health, education, and civic engagement, which may be represented through several visual arts media, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, drawing, video, installation, photo-based work, public art, and interdisciplinary projects.
Artists are encouraged to work in group.

Among other requirements, the participating artists will be asked to establish professional working relationships with partner organizations, provide workshops and other outreach activities, facilitate the sustainability of the program's core concepts beyond the project, and communicate the development of their activities through blogging and other social media resources.

Each recipient will be provided with an honorarium of up to $11,000.00, travel funding, a budget for materials of up to $10,000.00, resources for documentation (including photography, video, and web posting), and on-site logistical support.

The smARTpower project is only open to professional artists who are not part of the Bronx Museum of the Arts staff, nor students currently enrolled in a BFA or MFA studio art program.
Entrants must also be United States citizens with at least 18 years of age, having resided in the U.S. within the last year. Residents and Green Card holders without citizenship are not eligible.

Owning experience in working with youth, engaging with other artists, art educators, and other community members, as well as being able to demonstrate high standards of quality and records of accomplishment, are of significant relevancy for being selected.

All applications and application materials must be received via the smARTpower website by midnight Eastern Standard Time, February 28, 2011.
Before sending their applications, the artists are advised to carefuly read all the participating requirements, including the submission process.

smARTpower is an initative of the Department of the State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with the participation of The Bronx Museum of the Arts.

Visit the Most Famous Museums and Collections with Art Project by Google

Brainstormed by a group of Google employees passionate about art who gathered to come up with project to help museums make their art more accessible to those who don't have the chance of exploring their artworks, the new Art Project powered by Google uses a similar technology to Street View adapted to the inside.

Still in its early stages, this project already permits users to take virtual tours inside 17 of the world’s most acclaimed art museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA in New York, The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Tate Britain & The National Gallery in London, Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Interiors can also be explored directly from within Street View in Google Maps.

Thanks to super high resolution photo-capturing technology called "gigapixel"and making use App Engine and Picasa, which includes a specially-built “microscope view”, users can zoom in with an extraordinary level of detail, allowing them to observe the brushwork of famous painters or explore hard to-see elements of an artwork.

When exploring an image, users are given information about the artwork through an info panel which also permits to find more works by the artist and watch related videos on YouYube.
A new clickable annotation feature enables visitors to quickly visit a particular artwork outside the museum that they're visiting at the moment.

Using the “Create an Artwork Collection” feature, users can save specific views of any of the artworks, add comments, and build their own personalized collection. The whole collection can then be shared with friends, family or on the web using the integrated goo.gl URL shortener.

At this moment Google's Art Project is comprised of over 1000 paintings by more than 400 artists, with plans to continue to add more museums and works of art.

The responsible team is putting alot of effort and giving their best, not only to offer an exciting virtual way of visiting museums and explore their collections, but also to serve as an inspiration to visit the real thing.

The Uncovered Artistry Project - Empowering Domestic Abuse Survivors

Created by Angela Spoto together with her sister Sarah, the Uncovered Artistry project intends to provide domestic abuse victims with means to improve their financial situation and express their creativity, as well as to share their experiences with others in the same situation.

Operating out of Seacoast New Hampshire, the project is a nonprofit online boutique that provides an outlet to the finely crafted work of domestic abuse survivors and non-survivors in America and Canada who support abuse awareness. Uncovered Artistry also educates its customers about domestic abuse in order to raise awareness and eliminate stereotypes.

In order to give a general idea of how things work and answer a few doubts that may raise from those interested in participating, either as artisans or as sponsors, The Art Inquirer has conducted an interview with the authors of the project.

TAI When did you come up with the idea for this project ?

UA We thought of Uncovered Artistry last winter when we heard about the Projects for Peace grant, which gives select students $10,000 to start a project that promotes peace. We knew we wanted to empower women in some way, and since we had previously owned a jewelry shop on Etsy, we deiced to take our skills and start a nonprofit boutique that sells the work of domestic and sexual abuse survivors. Luckily, we got the grant!

TAI Why did you decided to make this project ?

UA We believe in the empowering effects of entrepreneurship and art and wanted to give others the opportunity to expand their businesses.

TAI Where has this project started and if it's still on the same venue ?

UA Currently, we sell exclusively online at Uncoveredartistry.com. We operate out of two locations: Seacoast New Hampshire in the summer and Chicago during the school year while we are at college.

TAI Do you have plans to expand this project ?

UA Yes, definitely. We are currently exploring other grant possibilities. We'd like to have many more artisans, a larger website, and more employees. We intend to reach out to the community and host community events. Also, we hope to raise $10,000 for domestic abuse shelters.

TAI Why did you think that this specific project would be a successful option ?

UA We believe that taking a for-profit business model and creating a nonprofit will enable us to become self-sustaining and reach more individuals.

TAI According to the artists/crafters, how has this project improved their lives ?

UA Here are some quotations from several of our artisans:

"When I work on my jewelry, I feel peaceful. I'm so focused on the project that I am able to momentarily "forget" those bad experiences. And I feel good about myself when I'm done with a pair. Some of my self-worth and confidence has returned."

"Creating has always been a way to get away from reality. As well as show that you are worthwhile and talented which I heard over and over I wasn't. It gives me self confidence I don't think I could have gotten elsewhere.Creating has always been a way to get away from reality. As well as show that you are worthwhile and talented which I heard over and over I wasn't. It gives me self confidence I don't think I could have gotten elsewhere."

"It helps me focus more on beauty and seeing the beauty inside myself. It's helped me accept myself more and actually love myself more because I have the ability to highlight the beauty of others. I can make others smile with it and that is worth everything to me. To have contemplated suicide many times and then to be able to help others showcase their own beauty means the world to me. I not only survived, but I've overcome, I've learned to forgive, and I've learned patience."

TAI From which areas do you accept works ?

UA Our artisans are from all over the country, and we do accept artisan applications from Canada.

TAI How can people contribute for this project ?

UA We take donations, both monetary and artistic donations. For instance, students at Lake Forest College donated a number of jewelry pieces. We accept most types of items, including artwork, jewelry, accessories, and home decor. If you are interested in donating, please contact Sarah at sarah(at)uncoveredartistry.com.

TAI What kind of art/craft is more common ?

UA Most of our artisans create jewelry, but we also sell artwork, accessories, and home decor. Our most popular sellers are necklaces, sculptures, and earrings.

TAI For those who don't have any means to buy materials to start, can you provide them with any kind of help ?

UA Yes, Uncovered Artistry has set aside a microloan fund for the purpose of providing artisans who may not have the current financial means to start their business with a small loan ranging from $25 to $100.

TAI Do you think that besides its main function, this project is also a vehicle for its users to share their experiences with each other ?

UA We hope that our artisans feel a connection with other artisans who have gone through similar experiences. We hope to start an artisan newsletter through which UA artisans can get to know one another.

TAI Have you ever felt when gathering information and promoting this project, that the tabu of not interfering in a couple's life is still implated in our society when talking of domestic violence ?

UA We think that many times people chose to ignore domestic abuse when it is happening. We believe this is unacceptable. Domestic abuse and sexual abuse should not exist, and we hope to promote awareness.Domestic violence is certainly a touchy issue. We are always mindful of the comfort level of our artisans when talking about this issue. Some artisans don't mind discussing it, while others would like to avoid the issue.

TAI How are you advertising this project to reach the maximum number of people ? Have you gotten interested sponsors ?

UA We currently advertise online at craftcult.com, greatgreengods.com, and modishblog.com. We also write a weekly column for our college's newspaper.

The Uncovered Artistry project was made possible by a grant from Projects for Peace established by the international philantropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis, upon the occasion of her 100th birthday in 2007.

Roman Abramovich's Recent Art Project in the New Holland Island

Last month the russian billionaire and one of the top art collectors, Roman Abramovich, won a bid to run an island in the center of St. Petersburg (Russia) through a new venture called New Holland Development.

An 18th century former military base which belonged to the Russian admiralty, the New Holland island was created through the construction of two canals and ows its name for its resemblance to areas of Amsterdam.

According to news, Abramovich has plans to plans to transform the 18th century warehouses into a cultural and commercial centre that will eventually include galleries, offices, retail business, hotels, a museum and quite possible a permanent home for his own art collection.
Plans to open a satellite of the Garage Center are also predicted.

His better half Dasha Zhukova has played a decisive role on Abramovich's acquisitions of contemporary art and will certainly contribute with her expertise to this new art project of the Chealsea owner.

Zhukova, who graduated with honors in Slavic Studies and Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, is a philantropist, entrepeuneur, and magazine editor. In 2008 she founded the IRIS Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting contemporary culture.

Through IRIS, Zhukova and International Coordinator Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst launched The Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow, housed in one of Russia’s architectural masterpieces, the former Bakhmetevsky Bus Garage, designed in 1926 by the Constructivist architect, Konstanin Melnikov.

The development of this project is expected to take near six years to be completed.

Art Below and The Sun Newspaper Together For BreakThrough Breast Cancer

Resulting from a colaboration between Art Below and The Sun Newspaper, an art project to support the BreakThrough Breast Cancer charity has united some of Art Below's most valuable artists to create works inspired from UK's favourite pin-ups in celebration of Page 3's 40th Annyversary.

Contemporary artists such as Jon Burgerman, Julie Verhoeven and Nasser Azam, have produced works inspired by individual sittings with some of the glamour models of The Sun Newspaper's Page 3.

A selection of these artworks has been featured in an exclusive anniversary spread in the newspaper, coinciding with a selection of works displayed at major London subway stations including Angel, Bond Street, London Bridge, Old Street, and Sloane Square.

On Monday 13th December 2010, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, these works of art will be auctioned in support of BreakThrough Breast Cancer, the largest and most influential UK breast cancer charity, fighting the disease on three fronts - research, campaigning and education.

350 EARTH: A Global Scale Art Project

Consisted by monumental instalations created in several countries, the 350 Earth is a worldwide exhibit visible from space and is being documented by satellites moving at 17,000 miles per hour nearly 400 miles above the Earth, operated by Digital Globe.

Bringing together artists and other participants from across the globe, this global art project seeks to call the attention to everyone and especially to politians about the need to take effective measures to preserve our planet and its species.

350 EARTH will take place on the eve of the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico where delegates will work to create an international climate treaty.

Founded in 2008 by Bill McKibben and a team of college friends, the 350.org is named after the goal of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million to below 350 ppm, what scientists say is the safe upper limit for the planet.

Stop-Motion Animation by Eleanor Stewart

Hoedown from Rodeo from Eleanor Stewart on Vimeo.

Graduated by the Visual Communication at the Glasgow School of Art, Eleanor Stewart has created this cutout stop-motion animation inspired by Westerns.
The musical score is called "Hoedown", from the Rodeo Suite by Aaron Copland.
Eleanor did this work for her final year degree.