Eden Unvanquished: Photos from the Gulf

Photographer, Clayton James Cubitt, aka Siege, has been cronicling his native Mississippi's slow emergence from disaster. His blog, Operation Eden is described as "a personal chronicle of what hurricane Katrina has done to my poor proud people."

In describing the process of finding and photographing the survivers, Siege writes:

"I normally shoot fashion and portraiture for magazine and advertising clients. I'm often called upon to make celebrities look heroic. Celebrities aren't heroic. These survivors are. I wanted to make portraits of them that showed their pride, and dignity, and strength, even in such low circumstances. I wanted to show my respect, and love."

Operating out of his rental car, transformed into a mini-production studio, this fashion photographer and writer for Nerve.com has been bringing us images of nobility and grit emerging from the rescue, recovery and now clean-up.

(Click here to see what mold can do to a home in these conditions.)

Clayton is tied directly to the disaster. His mom is one tough lady and made it through the hurricaine and the looting that ensued, with a pistol grip pump shotgun on her lap at all times.

From Operation Eden, On Location in the Gulf:

Here's how I worked on images I was shooting down in The Gulf. Conditions are basically 19th century, the only light cast by candles and hurricane lamps, so my rental car became my time machine back to the future. It was a glowing and humming and cooling cocoon. It was my rolling generator, converting gas to electricity. That red box on the floor is a DC inverter that plugged in to the lighter and provided me with two normal AC outlets. I was able to run my laptop off of it, and charge camera batteries and cell phones with it. It was the single most useful tool I had there.

That's a trackball I'm working with, and a CF-card reader rests on the seat next to my leg. I shot about 3GB of data each day. That glowing knob on the door handle is a Powermate, and I can't use Photoshop without one. On the dash is my cell phone, which worked decently when I first arrived and got progressively worse, strangely. It was my only lifeline out. Next to that are more CF cards waiting to be copied, and a notepad with all my shooting notes, the names and ages of people I shot, and phone numbers (including the infamous FEMA 800 Line Of Oblivion)

I was only able to get net access twice, in order to post what I posted. Once, when I drove three hours to a Jackson motel, and once when a nice National Guardsman let me borrow their connection. I already had images and words ready, and would set them all up to drop over a few days ahead.

Celebrating Pittsburgh Murals

Join The Sprout Fund this Friday, September 30th, to kick off a great weekend full of art activity with the dedication of the Downtown Sprout Public Art mural, The Two Andys, and the opening of the Static Free art showcase.

The mural dedication begins at 5:30pm at the corner of Strawberry Way and Smithfield Street, above Weiner World downtown.

Join community partner Steel City Media and enjoy live music from singer/songwriter Quilla. Listen to words from local leaders and remarks from the artists themselves, Thomas Mosser and Sara Zeffiro, on the impact of this landmark mural.

See map of all murals around Pittsburgh.

For more information about Sprout Public Art, including the schedule of other dedication events, please visit www.publicart.sproutfund.org.

After taking in the new mural, walk a quick block to SPACE Gallery to revel in the sights of Static Free, a contemporary fine art event showcasing the best and most renowned international and regional artists whose works have been directly influenced by urban street culture. See artwork from Calma, Stephen Powers, Tim Kaulen, Other, Delta, Jerry "Joker" Inscoe, Maya Hayuk, Michael D. Walsh, Seak M.A.C., Henry Chalfont, Pablo Aravena, Kwest, Dan Bergeron, Nicholas Ganz, and more.

Opening night will feature performances by Bobbito aka DJ Cucumberslice (Host of ESPN2's "It's the Shoes", VIBE Magazine, Bounce Magazine) and Miguel's Mariachi Fiesta. Throughout the month of October, Static Free will also feature an exhibition of regional artists at Future Tenant Gallery, a symposium of urban-influenced speakers and filmmakers, and a live mural painting on The Eliza Furnace Trail. Visit www.static-free.com for a complete events schedule and information.

Stay late in the Cultural District with the Cultural Trust’s Gallery Crawl until 9:00pm featuring 16 galleries and locations. More information on these free events can be found at www.pgharts.org.

This Friday night is just the beginning of an exciting fall season for The Sprout Fund! We look forward to seeing you taking part in this incredible weekend of public art, urban street culture, and cultural happenings for young people.
Support for Sprout Public Art and Static Free

The 2005 season of Sprout Public Art is funded in part through the generous support of the Laurel Foundation, The PNC Foundation, Citizens Bank Foundation, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Multicultural Arts Initiative (MCAI), Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services, PPG Industries Foundation, Henry J. Simonds Foundation, and Juliet Lea H. Simonds Foundation. Support for the Static Free gallery exhibition was provided in part by a Seed Award from The Sprout Fund. Other leading supporters and sponsors of Static Free include the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the A.W. Mellon Trust of the Pittsburgh Foundation, the Multicultural Arts Initiative, Scion, Pabst Brewing Company, and the American Eagle Outfitters Foundation.

The Sprout Fund
4920 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224-1609
(412) 325-0646
(412) 325-0647 fax
www.sproutfund.org

Phillipe Jacinto Valesquez Exhibit

LOCATION: Bosa Nova, 123 7th Street in Downtown Pittsburgh, 412-952-9652
DATE: October 1,2005

Similar to his hero and namesake, Velasquez is a a master painter deadicated to capturing realism and authenticity. After years of studying the Old Masters, Jacinto has produced a new crop of large scale oil paintings incorporating personal themes and mythology.

From Jacinto: "Hope you can make it. You don't need to buy any of my art, but it is a good excuse to come into the city on the weekend and buy a $10 dollar martini...LOL there will be live jazz music and lots of people. So come down and enjoy one of the last warm evenings of the year."

MacArthur Fellows

From Nikki Wise:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund (which we've all heard of ad-nauseam, I think) have a yearly fellows program, and the 25 recipients receive $100,000 each for the next 5 years. The recipients are shown on the foundation's website.

Some of the things these people are doing are fascinating, and of special interest to me because one of the 2005 recipients is Julie Meheretu, an artist whose work was displayed at the Carnegie International this year.

It's nice to see the cream of the crop getting recognized for a job well done, even if it's for fishing.

Another recepitent is Teresita Fernandez, a sculptor who...

"integrates architecture and the optical effects of color and light to produce exquisitely constructed, contemplative spaces. In her sculptural environments, Fernandez alters space to create illusions, subtly modifying the physical sensations of the viewer and dramatizing the role architecture plays in shaping our lives and perceptions.

Below: Fire
Silk yarn, steel armature, epoxy
In collaboration with The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia
SIZE: h: 96 x w: 144 in / h: 243.8 x w: 365.8 cm

Afghani Mobile Mini Circus for Children (part 3)

Previous letters:

• Wednesday, June 29, 2005
• Monday, July 25, 2005
• See slideshow

This is Zach Warren's email from Kabul.

Dear Friends,

Since I last wrote you, there have been at least three kidnappings (one British, two Japanese), three politically motivated assassinations, and over two dozen American and Afghan soldiers' lives lost in guerilla fighting. Closer to the circus, the father of Mujeeb, one of the unicycle boys featured in the picture I sent last time, died of a heart attack. And yesterday morning, a six year old boy and neighbor of one of the circus teachers died after he fell into a pot of boiling milk and suffered fatal burns.

At a glance, especially in news reports, life in Afghanistan walks a capricious tighrope over the gravity of death. The people seem to survive in the liminal space between stability and uncertainty, between hope and despair. But focusing on the dilemmas and dangers overlooks the heart of Afghanistan, the spirit and potential of the people.

In the past week, thousands of Afghan men and women with access to world news have expressed concern and said prayers for the survivors and families of victims who suffered in the New Orleans tragedy. O ver 100k has been donated from Afghanistan to New Orleans relief efforts -- a notable sum in this part of the world, with so many other needy projects at hand. With the spread of televisions and radios, the world is more connected now than ever. The level of international concern I've encountered among Afghans with the most basic means of connection -- sometimes just a radio on a push-cart selling radishes or peppers or popcorn -- inspires me.

It's kite season here, and the sky is filled with colorful paper shaped like diamonds. Hints of winter come in gusts, and my Afghan friends shiver at the suggestion of cold. I do too, but winter in Afghanistan is notably worse than winters in Boston.

In a few hours I leave for Delhi, then Bangkok, finally arriving in Boston on September 14. I'm going to miss the heck out of Afghanistan -- not only because of my close friends and teachers and students here, but also because of the sights and smells and sounds and sensations unique to my daily life, like the backdrop of the daily calls to prayer... the daily pleasure of riding the circus bike through herds of goats on the dusty streets of Karte Seh... waking up and shaking a dozen hands before I reach the bathroom... practicing the tabla drums in the afternoon... playing soccer with neighborhood kids at sunset in the local park... or bargaining over the price of a tarbuza, or yellow mellon, in the bazaar.

I'll miss the daily sights and landmarks of my neighborhood, Karte Seh -- like the King's Palace a mile away on Salake Darlemond, a majestic building painted with bright yellows and the craters of an army of mujaheddin bullets. Closer to the circus is Maktab Habibia, the high school where Karzai and most of the current government were educated, recently renovated with Indian government funds. Two blocks away is the enormous Shi'a madrasa being build with Iranian government funds, a hulk of a structure that will train the minority branch of Afghanistan's Islamic mullahs. Within sight, perched on a nearby mountaintop, is Zumburak Shah's mud brick palace. Zumburak literally means "little bee," and according to one of my taxi drivers, this one-time harsh Kabul ruler was also known to have a bit of a Napoleon complex.

I'll miss the interactions here -- like dancing the attan, the national dance, with the circus kids, or play-wrestling with Samir, one of the circus teachers, or joking with Fahim, my research assistant, about the phenomenon of "shosh kardan," a Farsi word for when people go to the bathroom just to sit and 'hang out.' The bathroom seems to be one of the only private spaces in Afghan daily life.

I'll miss the stories. In the last two days, I listened to stories from members of the underground Afghan Christian network, a story from a Canadian intelligence officer who proudly described the time he singlehandedly captured an armed Taliban leader in Khost, all the while posing as a Pashtun Afghan, and the story of Tony, a man who won the "Mr. Afghanistan" bodybuilding contest in 2001, during Taliban times. (Tony's now a security guard at Coco Cabana, Afghanistan's first and very controversial night club for foreigners.) I even like the stories that are obviously stretched and elaborated (there's a word for the Afghan tendency to exaggerate in storytelling -- in Farsi, it's 'laaf')

I'll miss the winding passages of the bazaars, the crowded streets and bustling markets, the taste of a spicy kebab, the lengthy customary greetings... More than anything, though, I'll miss the circus community, the kids and the teachers that make it a magical, creative, and hopeful place for children to grow. The experience of living and working at this circus gives me a rational hope for a peaceful and stable future for Afghanistan.

If you have any questions about my experiences in Afghanistan, or the Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children, or just want to catch up and swap stories, feel free to contact me after September 15th. I'd enjoy hearing from you. My (new) Cambridge cell phone number is 617-710-4121.

Shao ba hush (good night),
Zach

PS
Photos attached:
Smiles and laughter in Afghanistan... one from the MMCC's journalism class (the kids run their own radio program in Kabul)... one from a recent theatre education piece... two of Fahim, an Afghan researcher on laughter with me

Kabul, Afghanistan
Mob: (from US) 001-93-079424338

"One Wheel, One World"
www.Unicycle4Kids.org

Mattress Factory Sculpture Project

July 19, 2005
Originally uploaded by AlphachimpStudio.

Alphachimp Studio participated in summer programs for local kids at the Mattress Factory, a world-renowned museum and gallery space for installation art in Pittsburgh.

One class is working with sculptor, Tim Kaulen, to create a large-scale structure for a local playground. Kaulen works with found and salvaged material including discarded vinyl sheets, back-lit gas station placards and old billboards.

Another class created quilted banners and totem poles to serve as gateways to a children's garden in the inner city.

As part of the design process, each young artist creates a journal to capture ideas and artifacts that may inspire them. A collaborative design process involved determining the themes, interviewing neighbors and refining details of the sculpture.

The final pieces were built from large recycled signs.

ABOVE: The Mattress Factory installation art museum and performance space.

ABOVE: Sculptor Tim Kaulen shows kids at work in the Learning Lab.

ABOVE: Results from a brainstorming session.

Got Monkey Butt?

This must be a real product; they even have their own van!

What does it do? I don't know, but the website claims Anti Monkey Butt Powder is specially formulated...

To absorb excess sweat and reduce frictional skin irritation.

Ideal for butt busting activities such as truck driving, motorcycling, bicycling, horse back riding, and extreme sports. May also be applied inside footwear, under sports pads, and other areas prone to chafing. Indoors or outdoors, work or play, or on occasions when you sit on your butt all day, don’t let your buns get red, use Anti Monkey Butt Powder instead!

As always, another helpful link from our friend Jarrell McAlister of DonkeyTop.

Not Your Grandma's Quilt

In our talented family, we have many creative artists on all sides. Jeanette Jancius Durand of Oak Park, IL, will have one of her fiber works displayed in the upcoming show, A Fine Art Quilt in Memphis, TN.

The image at left is from Jeanette's piece titled, Growing In Rasnov (24" x 24"), inspired by Gustav Klimt and her sister, a Peace Corp. Volunteer.

"This quilted wall hanging is inspired by my sister's travels to Romania as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Her first letter home was post marked Rasnov; her correspondence was about a new culture in Eastern Europe and her gaining acceptance with the people of Romania."

READ press release from Jay Etkin Gallery (which also represents photographer Kemper Durand)
VISIT Jeanette's site and blog
SEE Jeanette's studio

Jay Etkin Gallery
Fine Art Quilts 2005
August 19 - September 10
Reception: August 19th from 6:00-9:00 pm

(Memphis, Tenn.) - A “Fine Art Quilt” is definitely not your average grandmother’s bed quilt. With the growing national interest in collecting textile art, these highly collectable works truly meet the definition of “fine art.” In a first for Mid-South art lovers, a major contemporary art quilt exhibition opens in Memphis in August.

Fine Art Quilts 2005 is a national juried competition and exhibition showcasing the best of contemporary art quilts. These original works of art are created from dyed, painted and printed fabrics, using colorful imagery, elaborate threadwork and different textures. The exhibit, which features 30 quilts from 30 different nationally known textile artists, runs August 19 through September 10 at the Jay Etkin Gallery at 409 South Main in Memphis. The public is invited to a Gala Artists Reception scheduled for August 19th from 6:00-9:00 pm. All works in the exhibition are for sale and will also be available in an exclusive on-line gallery at FineArtQuilts.org.

Fine Art Quilts 2005 is co-curated by Arlene Blackburn of Millington, Tennessee and Michele Hardy of Mandeville, Louisiana. “We are delighted to bring this incredible juried exhibition to Memphis and the Mid-South,” said Blackburn. “It’s a great opportunity for novice and experienced art collectors to have first-hand access to this quality of work. For those who are not familiar with fine art quilts, seeing these pieces in person is an incredible experience. We have the best new works from the very best textile artists in the country represented at this show.”

Valicenti's Book of Thirst

Fellow creative director and longest-time friend, Bo Maupin, sends us word of Emotion as Promotion: A book of Thirst, edited by Rick Valicenti, self-described as "a contemporary commentary on the state of contemporary communication design as evidenced in the professional practice from both Rick's public and personal realms."

From John "Bruno" Maupin:

Here’s a PDF [Suburban Maul] from a project Rick Valicenti, a designer who lives outside of Chicago – Barrington none-the-less, did a couple of years ago. I saw him speak at a design group function here in Columbus this spring. He’s a very good designer with a mind for how design affects our culture, and how our culture influences design. For better or worse.

This PDF is from a project he did with two of his interns (see the story that is in the article) about the large “Mac” mansions that were built near his studio in the 90’s “dot com” boom. He had his students take pictures of the houses and then find retail signage that seemed to fit the design of each house.

Kind of funny, a much deeper social commentary in reality. His article at the end of the PDF is nice with some good links to other information about the evolution (or de-evolution of architectural design) in suburban America.

Since I have drunk quite a few Leininkugels in a quaint cape cod in Barrington that was built long before Levittown was realized, and long before Leininkugel was considered a micro-brew (I think we paid $4.95 for a case of longneck, plus bottle deposit), and most of all, since one of my best friends grew up in Barrington – I really enjoyed this piece.

Peter – you should be able to use this on your site if you want. I included the links, there is no longer a site just for Thirst Type. Rick has a site that has most of his book “Emotion as Promotion” at rickvalicenti.com.

I hope every one is doing well. I must get back to my mindless job of turning PDFs into EPS files. Maybe a I shall go in search of a Leininkugels NA at lunch, for old times sake.

Bo

Failed State Index

Via the Z+ Partners blog, we learned about the Failed States Index. According to the Fund for Peace, the first Annual Fund for Peace/Foreign Policy Failed States Index shows that "about 2 billion people live in countries that are in danger of collapsing."

With index factors like "Legacy of Vengeance" and "Progressive Deterioration of Public Services", we are often times left wondering if the same index can be applied to urban neighborhoods in the US!

From FfP article:

"America is now threatened less by conquering states than we are by failing ones." That was the conclusion of the 2002 U.S. National Security Strategy. For a country whose foreign policy in the 20th century was dominated by the struggles against powerful states such as Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union, the U.S. assessment is striking. Nor is the United States alone in diagnosing the problem. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned that "ignoring failed states creates problems that sometimes come back to bite us." French President Jacques Chirac has spoken of "the threat that failed states carry for the world's equilibrium." World leaders once worried about who was amassing power; now they worry about the absence of it."

So, who are the top 3 biggest failures, according to the 12 factors used by the index?

• Dem. Rep. of the Congo - 105.3
• Sudan - 104.3
• Iraq - 103.2

The purpose of the Index is to "encourage others to utilize the Failed States Index to develop ideas for promoting greater stability worldwide."

The hope is that the Index will "spur conversations, encourage debate, and most of all help guide strategies for sustainable security."

In failed states, the commerce of destabilization becomes an industry in and of itself. In Iraq, the business of building and selling IEDs or "Improvized Explosive Devices" is--pardon the bad pun--booming.

Thomas P. M. Barnett's basic idea in The Pentagon's New Map is that Gap States (aka. failed states) are the source of all war, terrorism, disease, ethnic cleansing, mass migration, environmental degradation, etc. And, that the real game is keeping Seam States (those on the border of failure) from "slipping into the Gap".

• Listen to Barnett's brief on the topic.
• See text and images from the recent New Map Game event in Newport.

Global Guerrillas is a blog by Jon Robb focused on "networked tribes, infrastructure disruption, and the emerging bazaar of violence. An open notebook on the first epochal war of the 21st Century." Robb gives good insight into the complex ecosystem of insurgents, governments, NGOs and reconstruction/security contractors that make up the landscape of failed states.

The Failed State Index

1. Mounting Demographic Pressures
2. Massive Movement of Refugees and IDPs
3. Legacy of Vengeance - Seeking Group Grievance
4. Chronic and Sustained Human Flight
5. Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
6. Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline
7. Criminalization or Delegitimization of the State
8. Progressive Deterioration of Public Services
9. Widespread Violation of Human Rights
10. Security Apparatus as "State within a State"
11. Rise of Factionalized Elites
12. Intervention of Other States or External Actors