Félix Arauz

Felix Aruaz is a contemporary artist he is regarded as a very important very important Latin American painter from Ecuador. During Felix's childhood he was often alone and isolated, because of this he began to start doing his artwork. He used his emotions of loneliness and sadness to translate the world he saw into something better something like a dream. His artwork all hold a personal dreamlike aesthetic but in an abstract and dreamlike fashion.

His subjects usually include flowers, children, trees or landscapes all of which with his unique twist of this abstract and surreal vision. Aruaz uses bright colors and sharp and precise lines to give these common everyday objects something odd and worth taking another glance at. Aruaz has won many awards for this strange abstract style of art. I really enjoy this style of art its a wonderful dream land full of wonderful colors and dreamlike images. Arauz used his emotions to create beautiful and unique pieces of work, he turned his situation into something better by using his talents.

:) -jen

Art in Lebanon – the Last Thirty Years by artist Joseph Mattar, copyright 2008 LebanonArt.com (Published in Byblos Art N'2, 2009)

Art Related Article :)

"Contemporary reality animates the forces of our imagination, stimulates our faculties and manifests itself in works of every kind, with as support here a white sheet of paper, there a panel of wood, elsewhere some canvas, stone, a wooden block, various materials or even sound, taking on various forms as monuments or as words." - Joseph Mattar.

Art through out the ages has changed from age to age and influence to influence. Gradually changing from the religiously dominated art form during the 1600s changing to the more humanistic form through the renaissance and across oceans and time to Modern or Contemporary art of the days today. Obviously art styles differ from country to country especially in the middle east, an area characterized by old world thoughts and beliefs and strong customs. So in Mr. Mattars article about the changes of art in countries like Lebanon and other middle eastern countries examine not only the physical changes of the art but also its meaning and cultural ties developing.

Artist change with the world around them and the inspirations that motivate them, so it can be inferred that popular artist like Assadour, Sursock, Nakhleh, Ghali, Naomi to only name a few. These artists expresses political and religious concerns through their work. Giving you an image to a problem instead of just and abstract idea or feeling. Art in the middle east makes connections to your emotions or evokes a feeling within you.

The artists mention in my pervious paragraph gave way you more modern artist from the middle east like Abdallah Dadour, Bonfils and Jean (John) Lahoud, together with poets following the example of Joseph Abou Daher. Using more modern styles of writing and art now using computer programs and digital media. Art that is developing in the middle east (mostly lebanon) is not limited to paint and sculpture it now is including writing styles like poetry and digital media. As the world advances and "matures" in its ideals flow out and influence the people of the world. The people of the middle east have a rich and vibrant culture and now since of the recently acquired abilities to show their work around the world sharing their ideals and customs with people like us sitting here in America translated through their art.

And finally.......

"Art has conquered all the frontiers of countries and races and even of souls, with communication become so general." - Joseph Matter

This to me means that art and personal expression that connects the world through out time and the world. Its a special sort of communication to not only the world but yourself as humans. To observe a piece and decided how it makes you feel and how it communicates messages and emotions to people of completely different "worlds" that your own. It doesn't matter what you do or where you came from art is way to strip away all the expectations and basis of the world and show something special and meaningful.

GSA workshop

This past weekend I along with some of my classmates attended the GSA workshop at LO. After registration we were sent to the library to wait, and I have to say personally it was very daunting so have so many young and extremely talented people in one room. I met people from all over the district all with very different talents and interests. They then showed us all a video about the GSA program and it went through each discipline Visual Art, Vocal, Drama, New Media, Instrumental, and many others. I have always known what GSA was but this gave me much needed information about the program and real people who have participated and what they have to say to us. After the video we split up into our groups Visual to the art room, Vocal to the choir room, and so on and so forth.

The Visual program was very crowded and we all barely fit into the art room. Our instructor for the workshop was Mr. Bobby he was very nice and friendly, also extremely helpful when he reviewed our portfolios. ( ill go into that later). For the workshop we were making sculpture and personally I had a hard time thinking of something to create. Mr. Bobby was very helpful and soon my ideas were flowing, aside from the regular Gt art at LO I usually never get to meet many people who enjoy art and see what they have to say about it. At the workshop I met so many people, some with helpful advice and unique views all of which I greatly enjoyed.

Then we broke for lunch and afterward we returned to continue work on our sculptures. Then one by one Mr. Bobby called us out the hallway to help us review our portfolios and what he thought and how we can improve etc. It was one of the first times Ive actually had someone sit down and go over exactly what they thought and how I could improve (except you stamp you have) I really appreciated the instructors to take the time to talk to us and give us feedback from such accomplished people. The GSA workshop was a great experience that I am very glad I had the chance to partake in, I think I am more confident now and comfortable in doing art related things. So heres a shout out to all the great staff, instructors, and volunteers that helped out this past Saturday at the GSA workshop I believe that everyone else appreciated it and enjoyed it as much as I did.

Here is the link to the GSA website so check it out get some more info sign up for classes and workshops Im sure you will have a great experience to walk away with. :) http://www.kentuckygsa.com/

Job # 2 not for me :P

The second art related job that would not be for me would the job and or career in Cartooning. I have never been able to draw cartoon it just does not come easy to me. I prefer to draw and paint more realistically, it just seems to come naturally. However I just because I could never enjoy the life as a cartoonist I do greatly enjoy political cartoons and animated art and all those other types of cartoon related art forms. I think it is a simple art form but also a very good way to communicate your ideas in a way that is on another level and one that appeals to your inner child. Cartoons can be humorous and educational and that is why I respect the art form. Soooo what's your favorite political cartoon, animated character, or t.v show character :) comment if you love me! -jen

-MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFULLY BLESSED DAY!!!