Dear AITD,

It’s an outrage. 2010 should start in a way that reflects our movement’s amazing accomplishments from last year — moving the ball forward to passage of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. Instead, our elected leaders are proposing policies that would set us back decades and let the worst polluters completely off the hook.

Despite the chorus of alarm bells sounding the need to address the climate crisis and stop polluting the air our families breathe and the water we drink, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and her allies are attacking the Clean Air Act — for the second time in six months.

And it gets worse. Last night, news broke that the original version of the amendment was literally drafted with lobbyists for the oil and coal industry.*

We can’t let this attack succeed. Write your Senators right now and tell them to vote NO on Senator Murkowski’s proposal.

We defeated this same effort once already, just six months ago — but the fossil fuel lobby is at it again. The amendment would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to regulate most carbon pollution, letting the worst polluters completely off the hook.

Efforts like this are designed to do one thing and one thing only — slow our transition to a clean energy economy that will create millions of new jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and solve the climate crisis.

Help flood your Senators with messages to vote NO on this attack on the Clean Air Act.

The very last thing we should do in the fight to end the climate crisis is throw away tools that we already know are effective at reducing pollution. But that’s exactly what Senator Murkowski’s proposal does.

For decades, the Clean Air Act has kept millions of tons of pollutants out of our air and water. Senator Murkowski’s proposal would create an Alaska-sized loophole in the Clean Air Act, giving a pass to the biggest carbon polluters.

Email your Senators now and tell them to vote NO on Senator Murkowski’s amendment — and protect our air, water and climate:

http://cpaf.repoweramerica.org/cleanair

In 2010, our movement to solve the climate crisis will face its biggest test yet — passing comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. But if Senator Murkowski’s amendment passes, some in Congress will use it as an excuse to keep stalling — and the long overdue promise of progress toward a 21st century clean energy economy will be lost.

You helped stop this toxic amendment once before. Together, we can and must stop it again.

Thank you,

Al Gore

A proposed bill storming through Uganda’s parliament is one of the most severe pieces of anti-homosexuality legislation in the entire world! If passed, it would establish an alarming precedent that would virtually annihilate the human rights of Uganda’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population.

Stop Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill!

Dear AITD,

In October 2009, Parliamentarian David Bahati introduced draconian legislation in Uganda that would make “any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex” punishable by prison or even death. The bill even takes aim at those offering protection or support to any lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) person by instituting harsh prison sentences of up to 7 years.

If the Ugandan Parliament chooses to endorse this hateful legislation, it would be responsible for depriving countless Ugandans of their human rights as well as placing LGBT people throughout the world at significantly greater risk.

The vote on this bill could happen as soon as the end of this month, so we’ve got to act fast.

Fortunately, momentum to fight Uganda’s egregious bill has already started building in Washington. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is spearheading a joint Congressional letter that will be sent to Uganda’s President urging him to put an end to this discrimination. We need all U.S. Representatives to unite in opposition to codify persecution and discrimination in Uganda.

Protest in front of the Ugandan Mission

Urge your Representative to sign-on to stop Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

We fear that the negative consequences sparked from the passage of such irresponsible legislation will not stop at Uganda’s borders, but will reverberate throughout the rest of Africa and even the world.

Make your voice heard and stand up for human rights in Uganda! Tell your Representative to condemn the proposed legislation that would deal a blow to human rights in Uganda and across the world.

In Solidarity,

Michael O’Reilly

Director, Individuals at Risk Campaign

Day of the Dead – NEW LOCATION Teacher/Youth Leader Orientation Saturday September 28th at 11 am

High School teachers and youth leaders are invited to attend a special orientation at

Self Help to learn about all of our youth arts programming including:

• The Digital Media/Cal Arts Project every Tuesday after school
• Aerosol/Graffiti Art workshops with Vyal on Fridays
• Summer of Youth art workshops and much more

Participants are also invited to take part in a silkscreening demonstration with artist Dewey Tafoya. Join us to learn more about our work with community youth!

Open Studio Drawing Every Monday from 7-10 pm Uninstructed drawing studio, open to artist of all ages. Come draw Monday nights in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Every week will feature a new themed model and still life. Model poses start at 2 minutes and build up to 20 minutes. Bring your own supplies in any media you wish to work in. September 14, 2009 — Female Folkloric Dancer September 21, 2009 — Aztec Man September 28, 2009 — Voluptuous Rockabilly Girl October 5, 2009 — Goth Female October 12, 2009 — Nude Male October 19, 2009 — (Female – theme TBA) October 26, 2009 — Calavera Must provide all supplies. Cost: $10.00 at the door. Hard N Da Paint Every Friday 3-9 pm nuAi and Self Help Graphics are collaborating to create Hard N Da Paint – a series of weekly workshops and performances centered on art and music. Hard N Da Paint occurs every Friday evening from 3-9 PM and also includes an all day festival one Saturday a month. Each Friday we’ll be going Hard N Da Paint @ SHG so artists can share, compete, learn and build. We invite artists of all genre’s to make Hard N Da Paint their own by contributing however they feel in the spirit of Self Help’s mission of fostering emerging artists. Hard N Da Paint is an accessible all ages outlet for the community to develop their talents and celebrate culture. Currently, there are several workshop components which include: Rap Workshops (open mic), Break dancing instruction (Los Angeles Breakers), Silk screening (Peace Be With You), Graffiti (Instructed by Vyal) and more. Our events stream live for those who cannot attend in person and we are committed to documenting our history to preserve the legacy of our arts. Cost: $5 at the door. 2009 Consejo Graphico Self Help is a member of Consejo Gráfico, an independent network of Latino print workshops that have formed to advance the legacy and viability of Latino printmaking in the United States. Ernesto Yerena has been selected to represent Self Help Graphics & Art for this year’s Serie Project focusing on immigration. For more information on Consejo Gráfico visit www.serieproject.org Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Day of the Dead – Workshops Saturday October 3, 1-3PM Saturday October 10, 1-3PM Saturday October 17, 1-3PM Saturday October 24, 1-3PM Self Help Graphics & Art is pleased to offer the following Dia de los Muertos workshops in October 2009.  These community workshops are designed for the WHOLE familia and are free. All materials and teachers are provided by Self Help Graphics & Art! Please be on time, wear clothes that are not too precious, enjoy a Saturday afternoon of fun & tradición with new friends and old ones too. The schedule includes Paper Flower Making taught by Ofelia Esparza, Paper Mache Masks taught by Dewey Tafoya, Calaca Mask Decorating taught by Becky Cortez, Luminarias taught by Theresa Hernandez and Papel Picado. For the full schedule and description of each workshop click the Day of the Dead image on the left.  Please note and mark the dates and times in your calendar. EVENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Email volunteer@selfhelpgraphics.com to learn more. Donate to Self Help Graphics Digital Arts Network (DAN) October 6  – December 16, 2009 4 pm – 7 pm This is a 30-week, free-of-charge program for teenagers(ages 15 to 18) which takes place on Tuesdays at Self-Help Graphics & Art. Students learn computer design applications, printmaking, T-Shirt design, screen printing and digital video production. The program culminates with an exhibition of the work at Self-Help Graphics & Art, at the California Institute of the Arts, as well as with a screening at the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex in downtown Los Angeles. Watch Some SHG TV Adult Workshops Saturday September 26, 2009 – Silk Screening with DEWEY Dewey Tafoya will be demonstrating how to burn your image onto an emulsion prepared screen using heat lights. Simple enough for anyone to easily do at home! Come early spaces are limited. All supplies, including screens will be provided for use in the workshop. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own image (one please) on a transparency film to be burned onto screen. Image should be no bigger then 8 1/2″ X 11″. Some images will be on hand for experimenting with. All screens are pre-prepared with emulsion before the class, so unfortunately attendees can not bring there own. Don’t forget to bring a blank t-shirt or 2 to print your work of art on! Paper will also be on hand for printing. Cost: $20/per person Time: 10 am – 2 pm Saturday October 3, 2009 – Demo by Judith Duran Printing Woodblock with dry pigments and Barem Cost: $10/per person Time: 10 am – 2 pm

Two weeks of intensive music workshops with several of the leading classical
music artists in Calcutta, the cultural Mecca of Hindustani music. Instructors
include: Partho Sarodi (sarod), Abhijit Banerjee (tabla) and others.
dates:
Calcutta, India December 09/Jan 2010
Save the dates ~ Dec 28th —> Jan 9th
more info to be announced shortly!

I went ahead and registered my parents phone number since all kinds of markerters called them at all hours of the day. They were so helpless so i decided to look for this “Do Not Call” thing i heard about. I think this is it. I registered their number and the calls have slowed. They still get calls from agencies they do business with like cable company or phone company but thats it, no more companies outside of who they actually do business with. You can also file a very simple complaint against who ever does call you that you are not doing business with. It takes 31 days after filing.

This is the Link, click on pic:

Or Call Toll Free

(888) 382-1222

TDD (866) 290-4236

]]> http://allisthedivine.com/?feed=rss2&p=438 0 http://allisthedivine.com/?p=365 http://allisthedivine.com/?p=365#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:46:57 +0000 Oneness http://allisthedivine.com/?p=365

SMEAR on full blast with his classic Liquor face character that Dream Works studios used on Bee Movie was the piece chosen for the window display. I thought it was a good choice because it made those whom are familiar with his street character welcome and at the same time gave a taste of the street SMEAR to the new crowd. It totally prepared me for the unexpected which was the main entrance piece. The main entrance piece had elements i hadn’t seen from SMEAR before. It was black paint as the back drop with blood red outlines. He added splashes of blues and i think some splashes of silver or was it white with Smear cards that also had red outlines and a 3-d finger painted Character that complimented the entire arrangement. A  real stunna that pulled the crowd in. I myself froze in its presence when i walked in.

This beautiful lady has so many Smear pieces that i want !!

This one next is called “I once smoked crack” which is one of my all time favorite pieces, its just perfect.

like these too. 1994 Smear?

The Homies..

The famous “Al Jafee” became available as a Gicle’e limited run.

Thats all I got with my shitty Iphone. I cant wait to see Amayzunla’s professional pics, i know she has the bomb!

More SMEAR here.  Hey that rhymes!

Smear has become one of my favorite artists of all times.

His painting style in my opinion is a representation of Life in its randomness captured at the spur of the moment. Life is always throwing curve balls at us and no matter how we plan ahead it has the authority to change our plans without notice. We either crash under the stress of relinquishing control or adapt and go with the flow. I see both of those actions in his paintings.

Smear constantly challenges my perception and acceptance with his paintings. He seems to reveal the conditioned degree my thought process is gravely in at times and puts whatever spiritual/progressive principles I claim to have to the test. I see what I need to drop in order to be free from a closed minded attitude that does nothing but keep one programmed in mediocre ness. The process proceeds with certain questions the piece asks me; like what is beauty? What is perfection? How does this relate? Why? And of course is this piece finished? His work would confuse me as to whether the piece was finished or not. I would ask myself; how can an artist leave something unfinished? I dug deeper and asked myself, does the perception of what looks unfinished tell me everything is in constant beginning and I should not give significance to end? If there is no end then surely there is no beginning which then takes me to a quote from Shri Krishna that says “For the soul there is neither birth nor death. The soul that is will never cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, underlying and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain”. Which brings us to “The Moment” as an eternal point of reference which is clearly what is the most important and perhaps what his paintings are about. You can see where I am going with this and that’s how deep I go with a smear piece. He has the ability to incite revolution in my head.

It isn’t always discovery in the head sometimes its plain fun and I do have friends that just simply enjoy his artwork because it’s fun and random, they seem to just get it right of the bat. Once in a while you will hear a “This is so wrong I love it!” at one of his shows. I recently seen a piece with his dirty socks clipped on wood with a drawing n paint strokes and the title of the piece was “come a little closer“! How much fun is that!? A moment of honest freedom and perhaps childhood playfulness we sometimes lack in our routine. Good Times! Some have political references for example I have seen a painting of the Una-Bomber with the word environmentalist on it. There is another one called “Yogis first Hooker” which is one of those so wrong its right pieces. Be warned though his myspace headline is “The Neighborhood Nasty Man” and you will find some of his pieces filled with perversion and repulsive themes. I heard about a commissioned piece called “Your barking up the wrong tree snoopy” which has three nude women in sexual poses and the rumors are that smear either mixed inside the paint or straight painted areas of that specific piece with certain bodily fluids. When I asked if the rumor was true he didn’t give me a yes or no or maybe he did, he simply said “The commissioning collector asked for a controversial piece filled with neighborhood nasty-man perversion and so I gave it all I had!” Lol!

I have heard about his past run-ins with the law and his continued struggle with the police using his probation status to unjustly raid his home and leave it in shambles. It is clear that smear has left tagging behind and that he is dedicating his energy on producing fine art but yet they still harass him. I hope he doesn’t let that bring him down and that he uses it as energy to fuel his motivation and grow his skill. There is also a list of people who do not like his work and they are entitled to their opinion. I never disliked his work I just didn’t get it. Now I do and I am excited to see and purchase more of it. You can catch his new works at the Lawrence Asher Gallery this August 15. Go and stimulate your brain.

the show!

PS: I probably described Abstract Expressionism or some other genre with my description of smears style or whatever the experts find his style falls under, but it so much better to write and talk about his style and what it does to me than to just to call it whatever label he’s considered under one or two words. This is also my interpretation of how I perceive his pieces which you will find I connect with transcendental philosophy. I am sure there are many interpretations and some might disagree with mine but no matter, it’s all left for interpretation, so tell me yours.

]]> http://allisthedivine.com/?feed=rss2&p=336 5 http://allisthedivine.com/?p=332 http://allisthedivine.com/?p=332#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:31:47 +0000 Oneness http://allisthedivine.com/?p=332 Greetings,

You are cordially invited to see the artwork of Ivan Godinez. This free event will be your best opportunity to see the personal work of Boyle Heights/East Los Angeles resident artist Ivan Godinez.

Biography-

Ivan Godinez was born in Guadalajara Jal, Mexico. His parents emigrated from Mexico to the United States when Ivan was 5yrs old. The Godinez families settled in East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) were they still reside till present day. The Godinez family grew with the birth of four boys and two girls.

Becoming the first person for the Godinez family to attend college, Ivan chose art to be his major at East Los Angeles College. I leave you with Ivan Godinez words, “Art has always been part of my life since I can remember. I attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights). I was fortunate to have art teachers who encourage me to pursue a career in the arts. I believe that anything that is challenging to accomplish my goals will only make me stronger. Accomplishing what I believe, a belief that one day I will help out my people by creating art studios, art galleries, with art programs for the children of my community.”

Ivan Godinez, a husband, a role model for his siblings, a son to beautiful parents, an uncle, proud of his heritage, culture, community and his people. All which can be seen in his art.