Talent Speaks

The 23rd Annual Art Classic opens Saturday, September 20 and runs through September 28. An Open House is scheduled on Sunday, September 21 from 11:00 to 2:00. Entries may be made online through this website, by CD, or 35mm slide. Entry deadline is June 14, 2008.

Approximately 100+ pieces will be selected. Artists will be notified no later than July 25th. Opening night is Saturday, September 20th with a reservation only reception and buffet. An open house will be held Sunday, September 21st and the show remains open to the public through Sunday, September 28th.

Awards include the John Steven Jones $5,000 purchase award, $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place in the following categories: oil/acrylic, water media, drawing, sculpture, and other media (includes pastel & colored pencil). Please visit the website for entry details and further info on prizes.

Converse has teamed up with Eastbay and Utah Jazz Basketball star Kyle Korver to launch MyChucks, a contest inviting participants to design a Chuck Taylor All Star shoe with the chance to win the ultimate prize of having their shoe produced by Converse and sold exclusively by Eastbay.

The Chuck Taylor All Star shoe is one of the most iconic sneakers which has been worn by numerous music, sports, art and fashion icons. Contestants will have the chance to bring their own creativity and artistic designs to the Converse canvas and showcase their design to the world.

The Grand Prize will be announced on or about July 11, 2008 and the final version of the shoe will be produced and sold on Eastbay.com beginning in January 2009.

To be eligible for the MyChucks contests, participants must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. resident and enter their design by June 8, 2008. To enter, please visit mychucks.eastbay.com to download the entry kit which contains a silhouette of the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe and contest instructions.

A company called GreenPix has created an impressive combination sustainable technology and digital media. This groundbreaking experiment, called the Zero Energy Media Wall, is located on the curtain wall of the Xicui entertainment complex in Beijing.

Featuring the largest color LED display worldwide, the building performs as a self-sufficient organic system, harvesting solar energy by day and using it to illuminate the screen after dark.

The building will open to the public this month, with a specially commissioned program of video installations and live performances by artists from China, Europe and the US.

MyItThings.com, a leading publisher of user-generated fashion content, today announced the launch of the “It” Designer Contest, the ultimate opportunity for aspiring designers.

Entrants are invited to show off their pieces online for a chance to win the grand prize. Entries can be submitted today through July 15. Each designer is asked to submit five previously created looks. Site users will vote for their top 10 favorite designers.

Then, the three finalists will be awarded $1,500 to work on their looks for a Spring 2009 collection. A runway show will be conducted in Oct. in NYC, which will allow the three finalists to show off their work in a professional runway show.

The final winner will be chosen by a combined vote, which is 50 percent by the judges and 50 percent by the MyItThings.com community. A $5,000 Grand Prize, as well as exclusive collection sale on MyItThings.com, will be awarded to the winner.

Visit MyItThings.com for further details.

Over many years, Bob Dylan has been recognized and honored for his songwriting, performing, and recording. His records have earned Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards. It’s hard to deny Dylan’s musical talent, but many don’t know this iconographic musician is also a visual artist.

Beginning June 14th, one of London’s most prestigious galleries will present the first ever gallery exhibition of Bob Dylan’s artwork, titled The Drawn Blank Series.

The drawings and sketches in this series will unveil works made by Dylan while on the road during the period of 1989 through 1992. Along with the originals, a unique collection of limited edition graphics, signed by the artist, will also be available through selected galleries throughout the UK.

Dylan once said, “I dissolve myself into situations where I am invisible.” This personality might make him one of the most elusive presence in rock, however, his visual works will soon be on display for the world to see. 

You can sign up to be on the mailing list about The Drawn Blank Series at bobdylanart.com.  For information about his exhibition, visit Halcyon Gallery.

New York’s new buzz of the art world is the collaboration of Thomas Beard and Ed Halter called The Light Industry located in Industry City. Their plan is to focus on a wide range of artists and audiences within the city of New York by bringing art and the community together. This venue for new and established artists allows expression through film and electronic art.

The opportunities for other genres of art are also possible. Within Industry City affordable workspaces and studios have been developed for local artist. This will create an environment of cultural and industrial production in the community.

The Light Industry has several shows that are already scheduled for this month, admission is only $6.

To learn more about The Light Industry’s concept and to view their calendar for upcoming events, visit their website, lightindustry.org, and let’s support our local artists.

With a desire to remake the world, Lordy Rodriguez continues his exploration of topographies both real and imagined in the form of hand-drawn maps. Using the language of cartography, he makes drawings of imaginary terrain.

Rodriguez’s works start with a geological source and the human urge to locate/define oneself by charting our environment in precise detail.

As his drawings have evolved, the works have become more abstract, but the relationship to maps is still apparent. Rivers, lakes and mountainous terrain are identifiable, but begin to take on a life of their own.

If you would like to see Rodriguez’s work in person, visit the Hosfelt Gallery in San Francisco. His exhibit, 201 Drawings, will be on display May 10th through June 14th.

Electrolux Design lab, started in 2003, is an annual global design competition for undergrad and graduate industrial design students to create bold, original ideas for home appliances.

The challenge for Design Lab 2008 is to create appliances for the internet generation. The submissions need to address food storage, cooking and/or washing. Think mobility, entertaining, convenience, technology and sustainability.

The target audience is comprised of brand-conscious 25-35 year-olds who value technology, internet social networking and environmentalism.

Prizes range from 2,000 euro for third place to 5,000 euro and a six month scholarship to one of Electrolux Group’s global design center.

For more information, please visit http://www.electrolux.com/designlab/.

World Science reports that musical genes may be coming to light.

In their April 30, 2008 Special to World Science, they report on a first small study that suggests that musical ability is partly genetic and may share evolutionary roots with language.

Finnish scientists say they’ve found “approximte locations in our genome where genes affecting musical talent may lie.” The study was made on 254 individuals from 15 Finnish families, all with some musical talent.

It was published in the April 18 advance online issue of the Journal of Medical Genetics. To read more: http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/080429_music-genes.htm

Wanna be a star? Love America’s favorite sport? Then this Baby’s for you!

Create an original video that incorporates the Baby Ruth brand, maintains the integrity of the lyrics of the song and stars you as the lead performer and you could be on your way to singing at the 2008 All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium.

Three finalists will receive a trip to the 2008 MLB All-Star week for themselves and one guest. Trip includes transportation to the All Star Weekend in New York, tickets to the 2008 MLB All Star Game and ground transportation to/from hotel/airport and 4 days/3 nights hotel in the Big Apple.

This contest is open to U.S residents 18 years and older and all entries must be in by May 26, 2008.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fan_forum/babyruth/index.jsp