Sunday Series | The Century of the Self

- Whatever's in my subconsciousness is none of my business.
- It, certainly, is business.

Been watching Adam Curtis's The Century of the Self documentary series. Thought I'd share it in here.
The video below includes all four episodes: Happiness Machines, The Engineering of Consent, There is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads: He Must Be Destroyed, and Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering.

The Century Of The Self-Full Length Documentary from JCBaird on Vimeo.

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Featured Project | Albanian Lapidar Survey

Help the Department of Eagles realize their latest project, the Albanian Lapidar Survey on Indiegogo. 

They can be found in every Albanian town and city, but no one knows how many there are: the lapidars. Their amazing form, architecture, and sculpture is unique to Albania, and the Albanian Lapidar Survey is the very first attempt to photograph, document and geotag every single one of them to preserve this important cultural heritage for future generations. The final publication will also include contributions from renowned theorists in the field of socialist realism and monumentality.

Introducing the Albanian Lapidar Survey for Indiegogo from Department of Eagles on Vimeo.

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Adrian Paci | The Story of a Stone

Albanian artist Adrian Paci (here, here, here, here) introduces his 2013 (video) work 'The Column'. An art piece "taken off the mountain, rolled down, brought onto the boat and then transformed by human actions." An ongoing process that keeps transforming the marble into a column, human actions into culture, authenticity into transit.   

It is a piece that becomes more powerful the more it is being worked on, the farther it moves and the human relationships it creates along the way.

*Interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner at Jeu de Paume, Paris. 

*Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

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Open Invitation | Public Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns on Media Integrity in South East Europe

SEE Media Observatory has announced a 

Call for Proposals for Grants 

to Implement Public Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns

on Media Integrity in South East Europe

Application deadline: February 28, 2014

The Center for Independent Journalism Budapest (call administrator) is seeking proposals from civil society organizations (CSOs) to implement public awareness and advocacy campaigns and organize actions aiming to support free, independent, pluralistic and viable media in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia.

Civil society organizations - professional associations, advocacy groups, research institutes, human rights organizations and other CSOs - specializing in media are invited to propose actions with a duration from 3 to 6 months to be implemented in 2014. The total funds available for this call for proposals are 25.000 EUR; a maximum grant amount of 5.000 EUR per country will be awarded.

This call for proposals is part of the project “South East European Media Observatory – Building Capacities and Coalitions for Monitoring Media Integrity and Advancing Media Reforms” which aims at supporting integrity both in public service and commercial media in South East Europe.

For more information about the grant and application docs, visit SEE Media Observatory website.

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The Street Photography of Maciej Dakowicz | Improbable but Coincidental Shots of Far-Reaching Places

In his travels, Polish street photographer Maciej Dakowicz, has artfully captured over 5,500 candid street shots through vastly different cultures. These are improbable moments as well as visual coincidences, both amusing and terrifying. 

The journey has taken him to India, Yemen, Turkey, Bangladesh, Tanzania, (and many others) but he's also been to Albania. The moments captured there seem flagrant and banal of daily street life, but in the context of the rest of his travel gallery there's a coincidental pattern of resemblance. The one of a kind fleeting moments become visual coincidences across geographies and cultures.

Check out his visual library on Flickr and Facebook.

Albania: Album 1, Album 2

photo credit: Maciej Dakowicz

photo credit: Maciej Dakowicz

photo credit: Maciej Dakowicz

photo credit: Maciej Dakowicz

via

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[Re]Visiting the Favelas | [Re]Painting Urbanism

Haas & Hahn are back at it in Rio and they want your help.

Eight years after painting the first façade, see how the project has evolved:

Check out their Kickstarter campaign!!

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Revisiting PAINTING URBANISM: LEARNING FROM RIO

Maybe we should take this opportunity to open back up this conversation 

in regards to the city of Tirana. 

What is the shelf life of painting urbanism? 

What are the urban, social and economic implications [short-term], 

and the lingering effects on future city growth models?

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Otherness | Misc. Projects of the Week

These two projects are great examples of spatial Otherness. The effects and products of a natural landscape [as analogue territory] vs. algorithm/code processes [as digital representations] - open up new [im]possibilities of future spatiality for these existing territories [both as a location and a tool].  

LAKE NATRON

by Nick Brandt

the highly toxic lake calcifies animals into stone-like corpses

nick brandt

via

ALGORITHMIC ART

by Adam Ferriss

psychodelic painting pieces made entirely with code

Adam Ferriss

via

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Off Book Series | The Creative Process

**Creative Sunday Series

What is Creativity? 

These are the truths and misconceptions, fears and successes of the process 

experienced and told by creatives themselves.

‘‘Creativity has always been essential for our cultural growth, but there are still many misconceptions about this elusive process. Being a powerful creative person involves letting go of preconceived notions of what an artist is, and discovering and inventing new processes that yield great ideas.’’ -via Off Book Series

tags: remixing culture, remix 1, 2, 3, 4, photoshop, glitch, wearables, gifs,

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Featured Project | Dithyrambalina - Musical Architecture

This project is a great example of spatial designers and musical artists coming together to create a sonic playground, performance venue and laboratory for musical architecture. 

What is it?

‘‘ A host of international artists, musicians and inventors are creating DITHYRAMBALINA – a landmark village of musical, playable houses. Invented instruments embedded into the walls, ceilings, and floors of Dithyrambalina’s architecture will support boundary-breaking musical performances and inspire wonder, exploration and invention in visitors of all ages. This New Orleans Airlift project is the evolving brainchild of artists Swoon, Delaney Martin, Taylor Lee Shepherd and Jay Pennington in collaboration with over 100 more artists and musicians to date. Last year they debuted THE MUSIC BOX, as a proof-of-concept for their vision.’’

Dithyrambalina: The Music Box and Beyond from TungstenMonkey on Vimeo.

Support their Kickstarter Campaign!!

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Miniature Urban Acts | Guerrilla Street Art

Artist Evol has turned urban fixtures and unused walls into mini cityscapes. 

Take a look.

via

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Burrneshat | The Sworn Virgins of Albania

Photographer Jill Peters traveled to Northern Albania to meet the “Sworn virgins” (Burrneshat) and capture a glimpse of their chosen life. 

‘‘ These women have decided to ignore their female identity and live as men in the Balkans. The decision to live as men is more related to gender roles in the Albanian culture rather than a statement of sexuality; these women live their lives appearing as men.

Sworn virgins have existed for centuries. According to tradition dating back to the 15th century developed out of the Kanun, a tribal code of law, tribal clans from the Balkans considered families without a male presence as pariahs. When blood feuds decimated all the men in a family, the only way to salvage their honor was for a woman to become the patriarch of the clan and start acting like a man.’’ via slate

Photo credit Jill Peters

tags: Kanun - Blood and Honour, The Forgiveness of Blood

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What Does It Mean To Photograph Portraits? | Off Book Series

**Creative Sunday Series

‘‘Humans have been creating likenesses of each other for thousands of years, but with the introduction of photography, a new language developed for capturing the human image. Photography created opportunities for not just for biography and documentation, but also depth, empathy, and experimentation. Many portrait photographers today elevate their work from mere photo to art, communicating ideas and capturing the human subject with dignity, all while exploring the meaning and potential of portraiture.’’

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Participatory Culture-Makers | DREAM - Art & Culture of Burning Man

**Creative Sunday Series 

Duke e parë kulturën e Burning Man (pelegrinazhi vjetor në shkretëtirën Black Rock të Nevadës) si një katalizator komuniteti, inovacioni dhe realizim ëndrrash, ky film ofron një pamje të përgjithshme të artit dhe kulturës së këtij publiku dinamik me shpresën për të nxitur një ëndërr brenda jush.

DREAM - Art & Culture of Burning Man from Spark Pictures on Vimeo.

‘‘ Illuminating the culture of Burning Man – the annual pilgrimage to Nevada's Black Rock Desert – as a catalyst for community, innovation and the actualization of dreams, this film offers a glimpse into the art and culture of this dynamic community with the hope to spark a dream within you.

DREAM premiered at the Sonoma International Film Festival. Directed and produced by Rich Van Every of lightworkscreative.tv. Rich also was a cinematographer for "Spark: A Burning Man Story," a feature film on the inside story of Burning Man during a year of unprecedented challenges and growth.

"Spark: A Burning Man Story" premiered at SXSW 2013 and will be in general release Summer 2013. See sparkpictures.com for more information and to sign up for email updates on upcoming screenings.’’

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Featured Exhibit | I Never Knew How To Explain... by Alban Muja

Galeria e Arteve e Kosovës / Kosovo Art Gallery

FTESË//INVITATION

Alban Muja

Kurrë nuk kom ditë me spjegu...// I never knew how to explain...

May 15, 2013 – June 15, 2013

Kuruar nga // Curated by 

Terez Logar

Galeria Kombëtare e Kosovës ka kënaqësinë t’ju ftojë në hapjen e ekspozitës personale së artistit Alban Muja, të mërkuren më 15 maj 2013. Ceremonia e hapjes do të bëhet në Galerinë Kombëtare të Kosovës, në orën 20:00. Ekspozita titullohet ‘Kurrë nuk kom ditë me spjegu…’ dhe është e kuruar nga Tevz Logar.

Kjo ekspozitë realizohet në bashkëpunim me Galerinë Škuc.

RSVP 

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National Gallery of Kosovo cordially invites you to the opening of the personal exhibition of Alban Muja on Wednesday 15th of May 2013. The opening ceremony will take place at the National Gallery of Kosovo at 20:00h. The exhibition is entitled ‘I never knew how to explain...’ and is curated by Tevz Logar.

The exhibition is organized in cooperation with Škuc Gallery.

RSVP 

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World's Largest Participatory Art Project | Inside Out by JR

French artist JR returns with another large format city streets "photography" (pasting) project. This time he has created the largest participatory art project with the potential to change the world.

INSIDE OUT is giving everyone the opportunity to share their portrait and make a statement for what they stand for. It is a global platform for people to share their untold stories and transform messages of personal identity into works of public art. Over 130,000 posters have been sent to more than 108 countries since March 2011.

Check out The Movie | INSIDE OUT PROJECT trailer.

photo credit

Want to Participate?

Gather 5 or more people around a same statement, submit the portraits, the organizers will print them as posters and send them to you so you can create and coordinate an exhibit together by pasting them in your community! 

For more info on organizing a Group Action read here.

Check out the Gallery of the best ones so far here.

JR is currently in NYC pasting large portraits in Time Square:

photo credit NYT

“ Before he arrived in New York, where, in addition to Times Square, he has taken his mobile photo booths to the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island, he visited cities on nearly every continent.” (via NYT)

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Artisti francez JR kthehet me një tjetër "projekt fotografik" portretesh të mëdha të ngjitura nëpër qytet.  Këtë herë ai ka krijuar veprën artistike me pjesëmarrjen më të madhe në botë dhe potencial për ndryshim.

INSIDE OUT i jep të gjithëve mundësinë e publikimit të portretit të tyre si një deklaratë për atë çka besojnë dhe qëndrojnë. Kjo është një platformë globale ku njerëzit mund të ndajnë historitë e tyre të pathëna dhe të transformojnë mesazhe të identitetit personal në vepra të artit publik. Mbi 130,000 postera janë dërguar në më shumë se 108 vende që nga Marsi 2011.

Hidhini një sy trailer-it The Movie | INSIDE OUT PROJECT.

photo credit

Dëshironi të merrni pjesë?

Mblidhni 5 ose më shumë persona rreth një deklarate të përpashkët dhe dërgoni portretet e secilit. Organizatorët do ti printojnë ato si postera dhe do tua dërgojnë mbrapsht që të keni mundësinë të krijoni dhe të koordinoni një ekspozitë së bashku duke i ngjitur ato në komunitetin tuaj!

Për më shumë informacion mbi organizimin e Grupit të Veprimit lexoni këtu.

Hidhini një sy Galerisë së projekteve më të mira këtu.

JR tani është në NYC duke ngjitur portrete në Time Square:

“ Para se të mbërrinte në New York, ku, përveç Times Square, ai e ka ndalur furgonin e tij (të pajisur me kabinë fotografike/printer) edhe në Bronx, Brooklyn e Staten Island, JR ka vizituar qytete në pothuajse çdo kontinent.” (via NYT)

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Open Invitation | PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival

PLURAL+ 2013 Call for Entries

Submit your videos now up until June 30th, 2013

The PLURAL+ Video Festival is a platform that recognizes youth as powerful agents of social change and supports them in addressing the key challenges of their communities related to migration, diversity and social inclusion.

Anyone can enter the Video Festival as long as they are between the ages of 9-25. 

All entries must be received by Midnight (New York City Time, GMT -5hours) on June 30th, 2013. 

The video should be about things like migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social unity. 

Be creative in your submission. Your video can be done in any style or genre – animation, documentary, drama, music video, comedy etc. – whatever you decide best represents what you think about migration and diversity.

Videos must be between 1 and 5 minutes long, including title and end credits. 

Any submissions falling outside of this time restraint will not be considered.

Preferably all videos should be submitted on DVDs, or through a file hosting website of choice. (see Rules and Regulations)

Your video can be in whatever language you want, however if the language of your video is not English then you must have English subtitles.

A prestigious international jury will select three winners in each age categories (9-12, 13-17, and 18-25). All the winners will be invited to New York, all travel expenses paid, to present their work at the PLURAL+ 2013 Awards Ceremony at the Paley Center for Media in December 2013. 

Read more about how to submit your videos here.

Watch the PLURAL+ 2012 winning videos here.

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Featured Exhibit | Art. 1 - LGBT Albania

Hapja e ekspozitës "Art. 1"

Opening of the exhibition "Art. 1"

13 Maj @18:00h // May 13 @6pm

Muzeu Historik Kombëtar // National Historical Museum

Tirana, AL

RSVP

Çdo vit, 17 maji festohet si Dita Ndërkombëtare Kundër Homofobisë, në përkujtim të heqjes së homoseksualitetit prej Klasifikimit Ndërkombëtar të Sëmundjeve të Organizatës Botërorë të Shëndetësisë më 17 maj 1990. Në mbarë botën kjo ditë kremtohet me ekspozita, manifestime dhe evente të tjera.

Këtë vit, Aleanca Kundër Diskriminimit të LGBT ka bashkëpunuar me Unstraight Museum (Muzeu Jostrejt) nga Suedia, falë mbështetjes së Institutit Suedez, për të organizuar dy javë aktivitetesh që rrethojnë ekspozitën e titulluar Art. 1 e cila do shfaqet në Muzeun Historik Kombëtar në Tiranë. Duke marrë nenin e parë të Deklaratës Universale të të Drejtave të Njëriut si pikënisje, Art. 1 dëshiron të jetë një hap i vogël në përpjekjen e stërgjatë për të siguruar të drejta të barabarta për të gjithë njerëzimin.

Kliko këtu për programin e plotë.

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Each year, May 17 is celebrated as the International Day Against Homophobia, in commemoration of the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization on May 17, 1990. All around the world this day is celebrated with exhibitions, manifestations, and other events.

This year, The Aliance Against Discriminion of LGBT has teamed up with The Unstraight Museum from Sweden, thanks to the support of the Swedish Institute, to organize two weeks of events around the exhibition entitled Art. 1, presented in The National Historical Museum in Tirana. Taking the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as its point of departure, Art. 1 wants to be a small step in the long struggle to secure equal rights for all mankind.

Go here for the full program.

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Featured Project | Photographing the City as a 2D Game

**Creative Sunday Series 

photo by Christian Åslund

Stockholm-based photographer Christian Åslund has shot a series of photos as a tribute to old school 2D video games with the streets of Hong Kong in the background. The work is part of an ad campaign for shoe brand Jim Rickey. Shot from serious heights with a tele-lens and positioning people flat on streets, sidewalks or roofs of the city, the artist creates new ways of viewing and exploring the spatiality of city elements and its environment. (via)

photo by Christian Åslund

photo by Christian Åslund

For more photos check out his website.

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Reuse: Not only for the Eco-Friendly | Cut, Copy, Paste: Remixing Culture

Internet (as a tool and enabler) has fundamentally changed our culture - the way we make, distribute and get paid for things.

The biggest explosion of creativity is happening as a result of:

1. Access to Media

2. Instant Publishing

What about copyright ©?

What's the legality of a remix?

Portland/CreativeMornings - Andy Baio from CreativeMornings/Portland on Vimeo. 

March 2013 Portland/CreativeMornings speaker was Andy Baio, writer and coder who loves making things. . The global theme was "Reuse," and Andy spoke about remix culture:

" Cut, copy, paste. The ability to reuse and remix is so deeply baked into our tools, it's rewritten our culture. We learn to make great art by copying, and we participate in our culture by reusing and modifying what we see. But the law hasn't caught up with our changing values, effectively criminalizing the creativity of millions. Cover songs on YouTube, fanfic, mashups, and supercuts all violate copyright, and lawyers are starting to find new tools to discover and enforce infringement. Welcome to the new Prohibition."

**follow creative mornings chapters all around the world here.

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Obey The Giant | The Story of Shepard Fairley

Since we're on the subject of color-bombing and mural street art check out this film. Based on the true story of Shepard Fairey's first act of street art during his time at Rhode Island School of Design from 1989-1992.

OBEY THE GIANT - The Story of Shepard Fairey from Julian Marshall on Vimeo.

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