ADORABLE ONLINE PET PORTRAIT AUCTION, BY STUDENTS & FACULTY @ FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY GALLERY: BID'S START AT $20

My Brilliant, hard working, artist friend Meredith McNeal is the Director of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Education Programs, The Director of Rush East, N, and a practicing Fine Artist.

http://rushphilanthropic.org/Content/Main.aspx?pageId=1

Meredith has developed many creatively exciting education programs and workshops serving thousands of New York City children and adults each year.

One of the Saturday sessions that she created for the children in the neighborhood in Brooklyn which I think was so-right-on-the-mark, is a class that she designed called, The Pet Portrait Painting/Drawing class.

I remember seeing the children’s brilliant work, and I thought how great that project was, to teach how to visually articulate the emotion of the affection for the pet, and to turn that creative exercise into a work of art. REAL SMART MOVE MEREDITH!!!, (I wish I thought of that.)

Meredith has extended The Pet Portrait experience, by working with a drawing class at Fairleigh Dickinson University as a visiting artist, She stated, “During my recent exhibition "Dress Up" at FDU. I had the pleasure of working with Professor Marie Roberts' Drawing class as a invited artist on a pet painting class.”

The paintings created from that class are so full of character, charm and presence and they are now on view at FDU Gallery and are available for purchase through an online benefit auction.

Go to the link
http://ucoll.fdu.edu/arts/auction/index.php

To view more Pet Portraits to chose from.
I encourage you to place a bid at:

“Pet Portraits,” works by FDU students/faculty, proceeds to benefit Jersey Animal Coalition, Inc., South Orange, N.J.; $20 starting bid. To view portraits and submit bids go to

http://ucoll.fdu.edu/arts/auction/index.php

or go to the University College Art Gallery, Room 11, University Hall, Mon.–Fri., 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., or to Silent Auction, for information call 201-692-2801, 201-456-0660 or e-mail lima@fdu.edu.

I’m not sure about the size of each painting, but I’m sure if you got in contact with the school they could give you the information you need.

PANGEA DAY 5/10/08: VERY INSPIRING PROJECT, "FOR THE WORLD BY THE WORLD,"

Last week I was working on the PR package for the exhibit (RE) POSSESSED at the Jersey City Museum, the exhibits website, and some other administrative work for my art, ( I have not crochet art work for weeks ), I have to redesign a few items in the exhibit, I had a few ideas for additions from reading some inspirational magazines over the past few days.

Last Saturday I got my bike out and took it to the bike shop to get air in the tires, I am not used to having a bike, so when I saw that my tires on the bike were flat from lose of air over the winter, I thought I had a flat, but the guys at the bike shop informed me that air should be put in the tires about every three weeks or when ever air is needed.

I took a real slow ride around Central Park, I was supprised that there were not that many bikers or runners in the park, it was a very beautiful day, all of the trees were in full bloom, the magnolia trees were at their peak of glory.

I came back inside and started working on a Obama project. I will share it very soon.
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A INTERESTING GLOBAL PROJECT: Take a look at these films from a very special project called www.pangeaday.org. They are each just one minute long. They feature a choir in one country singing another country's national anthem: a simple idea that packs surprising emotional power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TGAYa21ciQ&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxhRukX-vAw&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T60NaNPiMg&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAWarHi0OgE&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBStEQvgcyM&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NRCt9NQqEE&feature=user

The link below is Jehane Noujaim Unveils Pangea Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CMQLwhwySs&NR=1

“They were shot by film directors looking to support the landmark TED project Pangea Day (which I hope you have calendared for Saturday, May 10).

The event is looking amazing, and I will be writing with some breaking news later in the week. Meanwhile, check out the trailer. And do feel free to forward this note.”

- Chris Anderson, TED Curator

http://pangeaday.org/

P.S. “There are more of these anthems on the way.”

I just got this information from TED. TED is a very inspiring & amazingly creative organization I have been following for about a year.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).

TED’s mission: Spreading ideas.

TED believes passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So they are building a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. The TED site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you're an important part of it. Have an idea? They want to hear from you.

You can go to www.ted.com, and get more detail about this organization.

OK WORLD, TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

Today is my birthday, I have plans to go to the Brooklyn Museum to opening of the Takashi Murakami Exhbit.

Brooklyn Museum First Saturday Web Link
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/visit/first_saturdays.php

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/arts/design/04mura.html?em&ex=1207540800&en=2399191ef5c14cbd&ei=5087%0A

The Brooklyn Museum will be open until 11:00pm, with activities, films, workshop and people mixing all day. I am going to act like I am having my birthday party at the Brooklyn Museum and everybody that comes to the museum, is coming to my Birthday Party.

I wish I could go see Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, on Broadway. That's one of my favorite plays by Tennessee Williams. But, that's not in the stars for my today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/theater/20cat.html

REMEMBERING THE LEGEND & LIFETIME OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

MY MENTOR, THE AMAZING TRAIL BLAZER, THE ONE & ONLY: ARTIST FAITH RINGGOLD

I went over to the Jersey City Museum today, with Fine Art Dealer Noel of New York, to see my exhibit (RE) POSSESSED, she really liked it, and she was all over the place taking photos. She was even taking photos inside the tent, (which I never thought of doing until after I saw the photos that she took.) She bought some of the products from the exhibit that were on sell in the gift shop, Noel is a true patron of the ARTS.

After Noel and I left the museum, I had an appointment to visit Eto Otitigbe, who is a artist and a engineer and owns a gallery called Esoro Gallery, this is a really wonderful new gallery, that is up the street and around the corner from the Jersey City Museum, a very easy distance, (even though I got lost, but Eto came out looking for me, as my journey to his gallery turned into a real estate tour of Jersey City.) We had a wonderful meeting, Eto offered me a glass of orange juice, and then he manually squeezed me a glass of fresh orange juice (I was totally impressed). I met Eto’s sister who is the gallery director and I met the artist that is going to be opening in the gallery tomorrow night with his art work. I can’t wait to see the finished exhibit, it looked very fun and interesting.
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The summer I graduated from college, 1977, was when I first introduced myself to The Fearless, Amazing Fine Artist Faith Ringgold. I had just graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn New York, and I had no idea of what my next step was going to be, as far as starting my career in New York as an artist.

As I was wondering around the abandoned campus after the end of the school year. I went down to the empty school cafeteria to look on the bulletin board searching for a posting of some kind of opportunity that was waiting for me.

I saw this flyer that read the Artist Faith Ringgold and another artist, (I since forgot the name of the other artist,) were planning a group exhibit and they were putting a call out to artist to apply.

Faith and the other artist had their phone numbers on the flyer, so I called Faith Ringgold, because I was more familiar with her work from an exhibit and a performance piece that she did at Studio Museum in Harlem that I had seen. I really was not prepared to be a part of a group exhibit, because I only had design work that I created from my senior thesis. I was calling her because I needed to speak to a working artist because I was at a blank about my next step to my future as an artist.

When I called her up, and I just started running off at the mouth, about how I just graduated from college, and I had no idea of what to do, or were to go next for the rest of my life. I also told her, that I had just used my last dime to call her and the operator just told me to add some more money if I wanted to use the telephone any longer. Faith told me to give her the telephone number in the phone booth and that she would call me right back. She did just that, and Faith and I stayed on the phone for over an hour talking, as I calmed down and was starting to get a clear idea of how to pull my life together.

She invited me over to her house in Harlem to share her art work with me and talk some more about the life of a ARTIST, That’s were I witnessed the ambitious drive, genius and the power of the Great Story Teller, Fine Artist, Faith Ringgold and she has been my role model, inspiration and mentor every since.

LOOKING FOR MYSTICAL CHILDREN'S BOOKS @ EAST WEST BOOK STORE NYC & IBIZA KIDZ STORE WITH A HEART, & THE GREATEST SOAP IN THE WORLD

Today in the salt mines, I had to go to the Post Office to mail off some things, went down to China Town for groceries, I got some really nice string beans 2 lbs for $1.25, tilapia fish was $3.20, I got a little over 2 lbs. I road the bus back to Harlem, I got four cans of solid white tuna for $4.00 (I need to go back and get more before the week is out). I got some mushrooms to steam my string beans with.

I got right back on the computer to work on website & press pack for the (RE) POSSESSED traveling exhibit at Jersey City Museum.
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Last night I was looking for mystical children’s books at East West Book Store Downtown Manhattan. I found one very special book that I really liked; it was titled STORIES FROM THE SILK ROAD. RETOLD BY CHERRY GILCHRIST and BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED BY NILESH MISTRY, BY BAREFOOT PAPER BACK PUBLICATIONS.

I loved how the stories were mixed with fantasy, folklore and history and technical detail about the DEVELOPMENT OF THE SILK INDUSTRY. The book stimulates interest in wanting to learn more about the ancient production of silk.

I love the East West bookstore because of all of the crystal, incense, chimes, healing bath salts, and,… let me tell you about the most amazing soap in the world. First I have to say, I have no connection to this product except I think it is worth it's weight in gold and I want to promote it so this company stay’s in business.

I’ll start by saying, I have very sensitive skin, I am really very allergic to just about every soap product in and off the market, so I really have to read ingredients and experiment a lot with soaps, that I think would be good for my skin. Last year, I found this Rock Soap, by tspink soap, you can go to the website and read about the soap.

www.tspink.com

The rock soap is kind of pricy, but for what it does for my skin, my since of well-being and with the added bonus of luxury, I am working it into my budget.

This rock soap not only looks pretty when you buy it, but all the while you are washing with it, it stays pretty as it reduces in size.

This rock soap has all pure natural ingredients that really cleans the skin without drying it out, it smells beautifully, but the oil don’t irritate my skin. It is a truly luxury soap, it makes my skin feel sooooo soft. I am writing about this soap so others will buy it, enjoy it, and spread the word. So the company will stay strong.

Using this soap is like going to a spa every time you use it, that's how I justify using this product, with the cost and all…. Plus, I figure, I am getting more mature and my skin needs that very special care to maintain a healthy texture. This soap alone is a reason to start a Co-Op in your community, if you belong to a Co-op, see if you can get this soap stocked on your shelves if you don’t already had it.

Oh, Yeah, they have the rock soap at
IBIZA KIDZ in
New York City at 61 4th Ave (btwn E. 9th & 10 Sts.).
New York City 10003
212 228-7990 & 212 375-9984

http://www.ibizakidz.com/

The Photo at the top of this post is the owner of IBIZA KIDZ, and two of her three Sugar Plum Children. I had to photograph her son prancing around the store in the fairy wings and the ballet tutu like his sister. I know years from now, he'll just love to see this.

Peace Ya'll

Xenobia Bailey Harlem USA