ART HAPPENING - "SHAME AND PREJUDICE: A STORY OF RESILIENCE" BY KENT MONKMAN (IUNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ART CENTRE)

As Canada celebrates its 150 years this year, it's very important to reflect those last 150 years in terms of Indigenous perspective. The exhibition "Shame and Prejudice: A story of resilience" by Kent Monkman that opens on January 26, 2017, at University of Toronto Art Centre.

The exhibit takes the viewer on a journey through Canada’s history that starts in the present and takes us back to a hundred and fifty years before Confederation. It shows archival objects alongside new, canvases created by Monkman. It narrates a story of Canada through the lens of First Nations’ resilience.

“It was a pretty deliberate effort to have people reflect on the last 150 years in terms of the Indigenous experience, Canada’s 150 years old—what does that mean for the First People? When I thought about it, I thought it includes the worst period, because it goes all the way back to the signing of the treaties, the beginning of the reserve system, this legacy of incarceration, residential schools, sickness, the removal of children in the ’60s, missing and murdered women. “So there’s a lot of material in the show that tries to encompass and stitch together this narrative that reflects back on 150 years... “I can’t think about the Indigenous experience without being critical of colonial policies that were genocidal, There is no lighter version of that—it’s pretty clear that I have to speak directly to these issues.”- Kent Monkman

"CASH FOR SOULS" BY KENT MONKMAN 

"DEATH OF THE VIRGIN ( AFTER CARAVAGGIO) BY KENT MONKMAN

 "THE BEARS OF CONFEDERATION" BY KENT MONKMAN

SHORT FILM- "1500 WORDS" BY ANDREW CHAPLIN

What would you do if you went to the doctors and discovered that you only had 1500 words left to live? What would you say? When Stanley Franks is told he has 1500 words left to live, he faces a battle to keep both his marriage and himself alive using the fewest words possible.

It's a funny, charming and heartbreaking short film.

 

ART- "THE MARRIAGE" BY NOREEN LOH HUI MIUN

Malaysian artist, Noreen Loh Hui Miun  ongoing sculptural series titled “The Marriage,”combines elements from real and fictional plantlife to create entirely new beautiful species. The enchanting and fragile looking sculptures starts with dried plant components like branches and moss to which she adds cut laminate petals reminiscent of reptile scales and other colorful components.

Miun known to explores different medium to express her creativity and unique experimental spirits. The whimsical sculptures were inspired by the structures of real flowers, each art piece blurs the lines between form and beauty, fantasy and life.

 "The Marriage"& "The Marriage II", is a series of flora sculptures installation handcrafted with lamitak’s imitation wood to mirror its origins and demonstrate its versatility.  The  imagination and reality come together in this collection of mixed media floral sculptures.

SHORT FILM - "EVERY SHIRT MATTERS" BY STUDIO FOX

Here's a short charming animation with powerful message that shows the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of people die in the Mediterranean Sea each and every year.

HERMES MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Designer Véronique Nichanian showed a lot of asymmetric coats mingle with contrasting lines and patchworks for luxury house HERMES men's fall-winter 2017-2018 collection.

Y-3 MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Y-3 is the most successful designer and sports wear brand collaborations. That's why it's most copied formula for any sport wear companies who want to have join project with designer house. Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas explore the relationship between nature and technology for fall-winter 2017-2018 collection.

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ISSEY MIYAKE MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Designer Yusuke Takahashi for Issey Miyake was inspired by botanical and forests for “mobile workwear” for men's fall collection. There were a wide mixture of textures and prints used on suits, jackets, sweaters. The outerwears came in various shapes and sizes.

SHORT FILM - "LA MADRE BUENA ( THE GOOD MOTHER) BY SARAH CLIFT

Here's another award winning short film.  It the topical tale of a Mexican mother torn between her politics and pleasing her only son’s request – to have a Donald Trump piñata for his birthday party.
 

ART HAPPENING- “MARKING THE INFINITE: CONTEMPORARY WOMEN ARTISTS FROM ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA” (MIAMI)

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU presents Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia, featuring the work of nine contemporary women artists hailing from remote Aboriginal areas: Nonggirrnga Marawili, Wintjiya Napaltjarri, Yukultji Napangati, Angelina Pwerle, Carlene West, Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Lena Yarinkura, Gulumbu Yunupingu and Nyapanyapa Yunupingu.

Until the 1980s the women in these Aboriginal cultures were not given the opportunity to paint for the market. As Aboriginal Australian men began to claim a viable market for their art production, women followed suit. This exhibition also narrates a story about a deeply profound sisterhood of women artists, who have risen to the challenge of becoming new leaders of their communities.

The Miami leg of this North American tour features the full breadth of the collection with seventy works showcased in the museum’s Grand Galleries, spanning more than 4,000 square feet. Miami-based collectors and philanthropists Debra and Dennis Scholl have lent the artworks, many of which are being seen publicly for the first time. The opening reception is free and open to the public on Saturday, Jan. 28 (4:00 - 7:00 p.m.), on view through May 7

SHORT FILM- "HOW ARTISTS RESPOND TO POLITICAL CRISES" BY MOMA (THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART)

Art and artistic expression help people reflect, produce and share knowledge. Here is a short film from The Museum of Modern Art that tackles three artist Dorothea Lange, Martha Rosler, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres in how they responded to the social, cultural and political issues of their time. 

"There is no such thing as an apolitical or inert artwork." —Felix Gonzalez-Torres.
 

VALENTINO MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino was inspired by Francis Bacon, artist Jamie Reid and punks for his men's fall-winter 2017-2018 collection.

SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY - "GET UP/SING ALONG" BY NICK GRANT FEAT. RICCO BARRINO, WATCH THE DUCK

There are moments when you see young talents, hear and watch them perform and you just go "WOW!". This is one of it. I'm betting Nick Grant will win a Grammy next year.

 

SHORT FILM - RED FOLDER BY BEN KALLAM

Here's a powerful short film about a high school student sets out to find his teacher's red folder.

NEIL BARRETT MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Neil Barrett's men's fall-winter 2017-2018 collection.

SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY- "DON'T LET GO" BY STRONG ASIAN MOTHERS

London trio Strong Asian Mothers (comprised of childhood friends Amer Chadha Patel, Josh Stadlen and Kalim Patel)has been receiving wide critical acclaim and making waves on London underground scenes with their live performances. The electro-pop group released this great rework of the En Vogue's soul classic, "Don't Let Go". Vocals, Keys / Kalim "K.9. aka Khushi aka Kali P" Patel
Drums / Josh "Yoshi Music aka Rogan Josh aka J-Dilla-Worth aka " Dilworth Stadlen
Keys, Sampling, Vocals / Amer "Chocolate Susan" Chadha - Patel


 

MONCLER GAMME BLEU MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Thom Browne used ropes are the main motif for his Moncler Gamme Bleu men's fall-winter 2017-2018 collection that's centered on the concept of mountaineering and hiking.. The show is the reflection of the synergy of Moncler’s expertise in active sportswear and outerwear with the hand-made tailoring sensibility of Thom Browne.

VERSACE MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

PRADA MEN'S FALL-WINTER 2017-2018

Simplicity and realness are the main points of view of this season collection for Miuccia Prda for her men's fall- winter 2017-2018. The clothes have dashes of 70's influenced, lots of cords paired with tan leather.

SHORT FILM- "ART IS THEFT" BY DANIEL CORDERO

"Good artists copy, great artists steal." - Pablo Picasso. Here is a short animation that illustrate how most creative process are based or influenced by other.
 



"It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”" — Jean-Luc Godard

SHORT FILM - "DEAD HEARTS" BY STEPHEN W. MARTIN

This is an entertaining dark comedy that won a lot of awards. A young mortician learns that not even death can stand in the way of true love. A whimsical, gothic bedtime story filled with love, loss, taxidermy, Kung Fu, and biker werewolves.

 
"DEAD HEARTS" BY STEPHEN W. MARTIN

THESE WERE THE BEST INDIE FILMS OF 2016 BY JASON GORDON

Big budget films may get the most attention from casual movie fans, but independent films tend to better received by the critics because of their ability to push boundaries and create a unique viewing experience for the audience. A large portion of the best films released every year come from independent studios, and 2016 was no different. These are the four best indie films of 2016.

Manchester by the Sea

Manchester by the Sea follows a struggling janitor from Massachusetts that is forced to take care of his brother's children after he suddenly dies of a heart attack. Despite having Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kenneth Lonergan and Matt Damon involved in the film, Manchester by the Sea never managed to make it in more than 1,300 theaters. The film is widely considered to be one of the best dramas released in the last few years, and Casey Affleck delivers a heartwarming performance that is guaranteed to earn him his first Academy Award.

MODEL PORTRAIT - DEAN (ELMER OLSEN MODELS) BY EDWIN CABRERA

Here are the photos I did with male model Dean from ELMER OLSEN MODELS.

Model: Dean (ELMER OLSEN MODELS)
Photographer: Edwin Cabrera (EDWIN CABRERA IMAGES)

SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY - "LAST DANCE" & "FXX IT" BY BIGBANG

Sadly,  "MADE" probably will be the last album of Kpop's biggest and most talented group BIGBANG. It was confirmed that three members of the group have enlisted in the military this year, T.O.P., G-Dragon and Taeyang.  It will be a big lost in Kpop industry, unlike other new popular Kpop bands they are not replaceable and have a different version in other markets. (I will never understand that concept.)


"FXX IT" BY BIGBANG


"LAST DANCE" BY BIGBANG

"THE PLINTH PROJECT" BY ETAGE PROJECT

Etage Projects is a design gallery situated in the centre of Copenhagen’s art district has a curated show that started pm 18th of November last year and will run until the 21st of January this year called "The Plinth Project."
In architecture, a plinth (from French plinthe, from Latin plinthus, from Greek πλίνθος plinthos, “brick”) is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. The plinth usually rests directly on the ground or stylobate. It exists to negotiate between a structure and the ground. Popularised in Greek antiquity, a plinth is an structural object that bridges sculpture and architecture.
"The Plinth Project" is an exhibition about the exploration of the interaction between body and object. It is a curated show of 12 demystified plinths shaped by designers of the gallery. This exhibition commissioned designers to produce a plinth in the same manner they would design any object.

"ANYWAY PART OF IT"  by Kueng Caputo

SHORT FILM- "WELCOME TO CANADA" BY GO PROJECT FILMS

This short film tells the story of Mohammed Alsaleh, a young Syrian refugee granted asylum in Canada in 2014. After fleeing torture and imprisonment by the Assad regime, he is rebuilding his life. Mohammed counsels newly-arrived Syrian refugee families with the same Vancouver-based NGO that aided him during his own resettlement process. Like Mohammed, these families have left loved ones behind and are struggling to adapt to a new land, finding resilience and hope for a new beginning. Like thousands of other newly-resettled refugees, Mohammed has been striving to bring his family to safety in Canada. Millions of Syrians are currently displaced within Syria’s borders and in neighboring countries.

SHORT FILM - "WHY YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD" BY THE SCHOOL OF LIFE

One of my major sources of inspirations in life is "The School of Life". This new video tells us that we all part of history that is happening at this moment and constantly changing. We have the power to change and form the world to a kind of place we want to live in.


"So, while the light fails on a winter’s afternoon, in a secluded chapel history is now and England." T.S. Eliot