#juried group photo show

[artcontests]

Black Box Gallery - Dynamic: Shadow and Light

Black Box Gallery is excited to announce a juried group photo show on shadow and light. Photography is the documentation of patterns of darkness and light. Shadows enhance the relationships of subjects in an image, they give definition and dimension, which complements the quality of the light values. Photographers have used dramatic shadows and patterns in black and white images and have also explored using ethereal and moody shadows and textures in color photography. We will be looking for a range of how shadow and light are interpreted by contemporary photographers. 

DEADLINE: August 11, 2023

For more information: https://www.theartlist.com/black-box-gallery-dynamic-shadow-and-light-1

[journeyman-tier-fibercraft]

Shout out to knittingfool dot com for having a program to just input gauge out come the right numbers. A negative shout out (call out?) to me for refusing to knit sweaters in the round so I have to rework the whole pattern. I would’ve had to rework a lot of it anyway, the neckline instructions are.... Confusing. I’m still not quite sure what I have down is correct but the math checks out. And I see no reason not to add short rows to the back of the neck.

This was absolutely worth not having to try to track down a pattern with a matching gauge or trying to do all the math on my own tho, we’ll see if it works out for me.

[spacelazarwolf]

109 years ago today, leo frank, an innocent american jewish man, was lynched.

in 1913, leo frank was arrested for the murder of mary phagan. despite evidence that he was at home at the time of the murder, the jury decided in just four hours that he was guilty and the judge sentenced him to death. all of frank's appeals were rejected. protests erupted outside the governor's mansion when the governor decided to commute frank's sentence from death to life imprisonment, and on august 17th, 1915, a group of 25 men kidnapped frank from the prison hospital where he was recovering from an attempt on his life, drove him 100 miles to mary phagan's hometown, and lynched him. there are several photos of the lynching.

though frank is the only known jewish victim of lynching in america, antisemitism was baked into the nation's history in numerous other ways. during the trial, the prosecuting attorney framed him as a sexual pervert who was both a homosexual and preyed on young girls. this is not the first time a jewish man has been framed as a sexual predatory because of his jewishness. it was simply the culmination of centuries of antisemitism that still persists to this day. (content warning for antisemitic caricatures and one graphic photo of the lynching of leo frank)

leo frank was proven innocent after his death, though many people still insist he was guilty, particularly white supremacists.

a musical called parade about the trial and tragic death of leo frank was written by jewish composer jason robert brown and jewish playwright alfred uhry. it premiered in 1988 and was revived in 2023 on broadway, starring jewish actors ben platt and micaela diamond, where neo nazis protested outside the theatre, claiming the show was "glorifying a pedophile."

as of writing this, tomorrow is the first day of elul, the last month in the jewish calendar culminating in the high holy days, the holiest days of the jewish year. every year, synagogues see an increase in negative attention and antisemitism from their wider communities. we start to receive more hostile phone calls and emails, threats of violence, and this year there was a swatting campaign targeting at least 26 jewish institutions. we are supposed to be using this time to reflect and make amends with the people we've hurt, and instead so much of our time and energy had to go toward ensuring we can even safely walk into our communal spaces.

i don't have the answer for how to fix this or what you as a gentile should do. antisemitism is thousands of years old, and it's not going to stop because some well meaning people on tumblr read all the articles linked in this post. all i know is that jews all over the world are terrified and so, so tired.

[bfpnola]

introductory excerpts on COINTELPRO

it came to my awareness that some folks don't know what COINTELPRO is still, so imma drop some excerpts from the wikipedia page. ofc there are a billion other resources you can check out, especially firsthand accounts, but this is always a good place to start! link attached below:

[Note that the embedded link above's photo has the following caption: "COINTELPRO memo proposing a plan to expose the pregnancy of actress Jean Seberg, a financial supporter of the Black Panther Party, hoping to "possibly cause her embarrassment or tarnish her image with the general public". Covert campaigns to publicly discredit activists and destroy their interpersonal relationships were a common tactic used by COINTELPRO agents."]

The Introduction:

COINTELPRO (syllabic abbreviation derived from Counter Intelligence Program; 1956–1971) was a series of covert and illegal[1][2] projects actively conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic American political organizations.[3][4] FBI records show COINTELPRO resources targeted groups and individuals the FBI[5] deemed subversive,[6] including feminist organizations,[7][8] the Communist Party USA,[9] anti–Vietnam War organizers, activists of the civil rights and Black power movements (e.g. Martin Luther King Jr., the Nation of Islam, and the Black Panther Party), environmentalist and animal rights organizations, the American Indian Movement (AIM), Chicano and Mexican-American groups like the Brown Berets and the United Farm Workers, independence movements (including Puerto Rican independence groups such as the Young Lords and the Puerto Rican Socialist Party), a variety of organizations that were part of the broader New Left, and white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan[10][11] and the far-right group National States' Rights Party.[12]

Methods COINTELPRO Utilized

According to attorney Brian Glick in his book War at Home, the FBI used five main methods during COINTELPRO:

Infiltration: Agents and informers did not merely spy on political activists. Their main purpose was to discredit, disrupt and negatively redirect action. Their very presence served to undermine trust and scare off potential supporters. The FBI and police exploited this fear to smear genuine activists as agents.

Psychological warfare: The FBI and police used a myriad of "dirty tricks" to undermine movements. They planted false media stories and published bogus leaflets and other publications in the name of targeted groups. They forged correspondence, sent anonymous letters, and made anonymous telephone calls. They spread misinformation about meetings and events, set up pseudo movement groups run by government agents, and manipulated or strong-armed parents, employers, landlords, school officials, and others to cause trouble for activists. They used bad-jacketing to create suspicion about targeted activists, sometimes with lethal consequences.[74]

Harassment via the legal system: The FBI and police abused the legal system to harass dissidents and make them appear to be criminals. Officers of the law gave perjured testimony and presented fabricated evidence as a pretext for false arrests and wrongful imprisonment. They discriminatorily enforced tax laws and other government regulations and used conspicuous surveillance, "investigative" interviews, and grand jury subpoenas in an effort to intimidate activists and silence their supporters.[73][75]

Illegal force: The FBI conspired with local police departments to threaten dissidents; to conduct illegal break-ins in order to search dissident homes; and to commit vandalism, assaults, beatings and assassinations.[73] The objective was to frighten or eliminate dissidents and disrupt their movements.

Undermine public opinion: One of the primary ways the FBI targeted organizations was by challenging their reputations in the community and denying them a platform to gain legitimacy. Hoover specifically designed programs to block leaders from "spreading their philosophy publicly or through the communications media". Furthermore, the organization created and controlled negative media meant to undermine black power organizations. For instance, they oversaw the creation of "documentaries" skillfully edited to paint the Black Panther Party as aggressive, and false newspapers that spread misinformation about party members. The ability of the FBI to create distrust within and between revolutionary organizations tainted their public image and weakened chances at unity and public support.[49]

The FBI specifically developed tactics intended to heighten tension and hostility between various factions in the black power movement, for example between the Black Panthers and the US Organization. For instance, the FBI sent a fake letter to the US Organization exposing a supposed Black Panther plot to murder the head of the US Organization, Ron Karenga. They then intensified this by spreading falsely attributed cartoons in the black communities pitting the Black Panther Party against the US Organization.[49] This resulted in numerous deaths, among which were San Diego Black Panther Party members John Huggins, Bunchy Carter and Sylvester Bell.[73] Another example of the FBI's anonymous letter writing campaign is how they turned the Blackstone Rangers head, Jeff Fort, against former ally Fred Hampton, by stating that Hampton had a hit on Fort.[49] They also were instrumental in developing the rift between Black Panther Party leaders Eldridge Cleaver and Huey Newton, as executed through false letters inciting the two leaders of the Black Panther Party.[49]

...

In order to eliminate black militant leaders whom they considered dangerous, the FBI is believed to have worked with local police departments to target specific individuals,[78] accuse them of crimes they did not commit, suppress exculpatory evidence and falsely incarcerate them. Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, a Black Panther Party leader, was incarcerated for 27 years before a California Superior Court vacated his murder conviction, ultimately freeing him. Appearing before the court, an FBI agent testified that he believed Pratt had been framed, because both the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department knew he had not been in the area at the time the murder occurred.[79][80]

...

In 1969 the FBI special agent in San Francisco wrote Hoover that his investigation of the Black Panther Party had concluded that in his city, at least, the Panthers were primarily engaged in feeding breakfast to children. Hoover fired back a memo implying the agent's career goals would be directly affected by his supplying evidence to support Hoover's view that the Black Panther Party was "a violence-prone organization seeking to overthrow the Government by revolutionary means".[84]

Hoover supported using false claims to attack his political enemies. In one memo he wrote: "Purpose of counterintelligence action is to disrupt the Black Panther Party and it is immaterial whether facts exist to substantiate the charge."[85]

Intended Effects of COINTELPRO

The intended effect of the FBI's COINTELPRO was to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, or otherwise neutralize" groups that the FBI officials believed were "subversive"[58] by instructing FBI field operatives to:[59] 1. Create a negative public image for target groups (for example through surveilling activists and then releasing negative personal information to the public) 2. Break down internal organization by creating conflicts (for example, by having agents exacerbate racial tensions, or send anonymous letters to try to create conflicts) 3. Create dissension between groups (for example, by spreading rumors that other groups were stealing money) 4. Restrict access to public resources (for example, by pressuring non-profit organizations to cut off funding or material support) 5. Restrict the ability to organize protest (for example, through agents promoting violence against police during planning and at protests) 6. Restrict the ability of individuals to participate in group activities (for example, by character assassinations, false arrests, surveillance)

When did they start?

Centralized operations under COINTELPRO officially began in August 1956 with a program designed to "increase factionalism, cause disruption and win defections" inside the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). Tactics included anonymous phone calls, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits, and the creation of documents that would divide the American communist organization internally.[9] An October 1956 memo from Hoover reclassified the FBI's ongoing surveillance of black leaders, including it within COINTELPRO, with the justification that the movement was infiltrated by communists.[31] In 1956, Hoover sent an open letter denouncing Dr. T. R. M. Howard, a civil rights leader, surgeon, and wealthy entrepreneur in Mississippi who had criticized FBI inaction in solving recent murders of George W. Lee, Emmett Till, and other African Americans in the South.[32] When the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an African-American civil rights organization, was founded in 1957, the FBI began to monitor and target the group almost immediately, focusing particularly on Bayard Rustin, Stanley Levison, and eventually Martin Luther King Jr.[33]

How did the news get out about COINTELPRO?

The program was secret until March 8, 1971, when the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI burgled an FBI field office in Media, Pennsylvania, took several dossiers, and exposed the program by passing this material to news agencies.[1][54] The boxing match known as the Fight of the Century between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in March 1971 provided cover for the activist group to successfully pull off the burglary. Muhammad Ali was a COINTELPRO target because he had joined the Nation of Islam and the anti-war movement.[55] Many news organizations initially refused to immediately publish the information, with the notable exception of The Washington Post. After affirming the reliability of the documents, it published them on the front page (in defiance of the Attorney General's request), prompting other organizations to follow suit. Within the year, Director J. Edgar Hoover declared that the centralized COINTELPRO was over, and that all future counterintelligence operations would be handled case by case.[56][57]

[posttexasstressdisorder]

Is this the October Surprise?

Thom Hartmann

September 28, 2024 2:20PM ET

U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith makes a statement to reporters after a grand jury returned an indictment of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the special counsel's investigation of efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, at Smith's offices in Washington, U.S., August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

— October surprise?Jack Smith has filed a massive collection of evidence demonstrating Trump’s direct involvement in an attempted coup against the government of the United States, and Judge Chutkan may make it publicly available. The next two to three weeks will decide what we see and when, as Trump’s lawyers first will file their opposition to the release. For anybody who’s been paying attention, we all knew Trump and his buddies were criming against our country during the last weeks of his presidency (apparently Merrick Garland missed that for two years), but the release will probably drive a short news cycle which may inform a few low information voters.

— For the first time ever, Democrats make it rain in all 50 states. Over at Daily Kos, Morgan Stephens is reporting that the DNC is sending money to every state in the union, something we haven’t seen since Howard Dean’s “50 state strategy” back in 2008. This is great news; rightwing billionaires have been funding Republicans, particularly in low population states, for decades and the result has been the Red sweep of rural states and areas. Democrats are going to try to break some Republican supermajorities and help out down-ticket Red state candidates; the Harris campaign has also pitched in $25 million for the effort. Now, if they’d just convince some leftie mega donors to buy radio stations in those Red states (media is cheap in those areas!), we could seriously get about flipping a few purple or even Blue.

— Speaking of radio… Louise and I are in New Orleans where yesterday I was the opening keynote speaker for the Grassroots Radio Conference. Last night we hung out with old friends David Sirota and Sam Seder (who keynoted this morning) and new friend Wajahat Ali at the home of the conference organizers, Dr. MarkAlain Dery and his extraordinary wife Liana Elliott, who also started and run WHIV here in New Orleans. The conference is about and for mostly low-power FM stations that are popping up all around the country (my show is on many of them). This is a very encouraging trend!

— Justice Department sues Alabama for purging voters off the rolls. As I’ve noted in several of my newsletters here, Republicans across America are purging their voting rolls, depriving literally millions of people of their right to vote. Ever since 5 Republicans on the Supreme Court said a state can do this if a voter fails to vote in the last election, they’ve been going whole hog, but in a few cases they’ve been stopped or slowed down. Most recently, the Justice Department sued Alabama for their purges, saying it’s too close to the election. If you live in a state Republicans control, go to vote.gov and double-check your voter registration; if you live in a Blue part of the state and didn’t vote in the midterms, chances are they’ve already removed you from the rolls and you’ll have to re-register to vote.

— Jews and Catholics warn against Trump’s latest attack on religious voters. In two rallies, Trump has told Jewish people that if he fails to win the election it’ll be their fault. He made similar comments in a Truth Social post about Catholics. Now some religious groups are starting to push back by warning their people about political tests for religious people, but they’re massively outnumbered by the thousands of churches and televangelists and religious radio stations that are blatantly and illegally promoting Republican candidates this year. The IRS really needs to enforce the law!

— Will NYC Mayor Adams claim he was just taking tips? Ever since six Republicans on the Supreme Court ruled that if a politician does favors for somebody (in this case, the country of Turkey) and then gets paid or spiffed, that’s not a bribe that can be prosecuted but a tip. It’d be a novel defense and its probable that Adams took gifts before he helped out the Turks, so it’ll be interesting to see if his lawyers try this one out. The level of corruption among the six Republicans on the Court is truly breathtaking, and it’s a bad sign for our democracy as they continue to promote a corrupt political culture.

— Once again, the media will refuse to do their damn job and fact-check Republican lies, this time in Tuesday’s Vance/Walz debate. Expect Vance to use the “firehose of lies” strategy, where you throw out a half-dozen or so lies in a single sentence or two, forcing your opponent to burn his time rebutting them. Trump tried it with over 30 lies in his debate with Harris, and the moderators only called him on two of them. Now CBS “News” says they’ll allow Vance to tell all the lies he wants and it’ll be up to Walz to fact-check them because, apparently, facts don’t matter any longer in the American news media culture. Disgusting.

— Crazy Alert! JD Vance is attending an event today with a corrupt evangelist who said Harris uses “witchcraft.” Lance Wallnau is a big-shot in the evangelical world, and he’s doing a tour of swing states this month to encourage people to vote Republican. His efforts, by the way, are being subsidized by your and my tax dollars, as he claims a nonprofit statute. Earlier this month, Wallnau tried out the misogynistic and hateful old “Jezebel” trope against Vice President Harris, saying, “She can look presidential. That’s the seduction of what I would say is witchcraft. That’s the manipulation of imagery that creates an impression contrary to the truth, but it seduces you into seeing it. So that spirit, that occult spirit, I believe is operating on her and through her.” If anybody is channeling evil spirits, in my opinion it’s Wallnau; he’s the embodiment of the people Jesus warned us about.

NOW READ: Comrade Trump isn’t defending capitalism — he’s defending white power

[mybeingthere]

A beautiful photograph by a dear friend Sasa Gyoker from her numerous award winning works.

"Season of Silence"

Sasa tells: "In this series I have gathered works I took in winter. I live in Canada, and this season here can be a fertile terrain for meditative albeit fiercely cold walks. I find winter accentuates the graphic qualities of nature, while offering an invitation into a contemplative state enriched by silence."

"Sasa was born and lived in Budapest, Hungary, before moving to Canada. After completing her M.A. degree in Art History and working as a Curatorial Assistant at the National Gallery of Canada, she returned to study—this time graphic design, which has been her vocation ever since. In tandem with graphic design, her interest in and passion for photography has been growing stronger through the years. Her album, Of Trees and Birds and Snow and Silence, was published in 2015. Since then, she has won several international photography awards, and has participated in both solo and juried group exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Europe, and South Korea. Her works have been published and used for cover pages in books, albums, blogs, posters, literary journals and photo magazines, including her photograph in David Gibson: 100 Great Street Photographs (Munich, London, New York: Prestel, 2017), D. Tyler Bennett: The Coffee House Anthology—A Meeting Place for the Arts (Charnwood Arts, UK, 2016) as well as in LensCulture and Lomography Magazine, among others. Her photographs have also been shown in exhibitions worldwide, such as in the international juried exhibition at the Kiscelli Museum in Budapest, Hungary, a venue of the 2019 Budapest Photo Festival, and the exhibition of over 30 of her works at the ArtReach Gallery in Portland, Oregon, in 2021."

https://monovisionsawards.com/.../monovisions.../show/2206

[fallen-lights]

New post is up with sketches for the next group of paintings I want to get to! You can check it out -> here <- There's also a vote for what will be this year's holiday card art! I usually paint something to use in art juries for next year's show. So far, animal is winning (obviously lol) All patrons get a card in December! Come hang out for a while and wander through over 6 years of stuff! There's stories, sketches, posts about music, photos of flowers and bugs... -> Fallenlights Patreon <-

[mightyflamethrower]

The Red Tie Brigade, as I heard one conservative writer call them, show up each day at the courthouse in Manhattan and speak up to show support for former President Trump. Trump is under a gag order that prevents him from talking about the trial, especially the judge, the judge's Democrat fundraising daughter, and the jury members. 

So, the Republican politicians come from Washington and speak out to the press about the hush money trial going on. Trump can't so they do. It is a clever way to handle an unconstitutional gag order. 

Each day it is a group of men wearing dark suits and red ties, obviously coordinated, and a few women. The groups are mostly men, though. Donald Trump is a master marketer and this play by the Trump campaign is very effective. It shows support for Trump and it shows party unity. 

For example, here is a photo of some of the Trump supporters on Thursday.

A few politicians, such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Senator Rick Scott, showed up as the trial went into its first days. Senator Tim Scott came to support Trump. Trump's son Eric is a regular presence. Various Trump staffers show up, too. The interesting part has been the parade of current Republican senators and members of the House who show up. 

Senators J.D. Vance and Tommy Tuberville began this week's parade of Trump supporters. On Monday both of them spoke to the reporters outside the courthouse. New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird were with them. 

“Does any reasonable, sensible person believe anything that Michael Cohen says?” Vance told reporters outside of the criminal courthouse moments before Tuberville panned Cohen’s testimony as “an acting scene” and said he was a “serial liar.”

One day a group of those who are rumored to be on Trump's short list of potential running mates showed up. Among them were Vivek Ramaswamy, Governor Doug Burgam, and Rep. Byron Donalds. 

“The sooner that this scam trial can be concluded, the sooner that the president can get back to getting out campaigning and talking to the American people about the issues that matter to them,” Burgum told reporters as he bashed Cohen as a “serial perjurer.” Burgum later told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that he was there “completely as a volunteer,” and “because I care about the future of this country and where it’s going.” Ramaswamy said, “I learned a lot from being in there in person. It is one of the most depressing places I have been in my life, but it is fitting because the only thing more depressing than the environment of that courtroom is what’s actually happening in there.”

The most notable supporter to make the trip from Washington was Speaker Mike Johnson. It's not a surprise that he supports Trump but the speaker coming to Manhattan and speaking to reporters was a big endorsement.

Johnson told reporters, “I called President Trump and told him I wanted to be here myself to call out what is a travesty of justice, and I think everybody around the country can see that. President Trump is a friend and I wanted to be here to support him.”

Trump values loyalty and this is a way for some to curry favor. He acknowledged those who are showing up for him.

“I do have a lot of surrogates, and they are speaking very beautifully, and they come from all over Washington, and they’re highly respected,” Trump told media. “And they think this is the biggest scam they’ve ever seen.”

Mitt Romney pooh-poohed the show of support, because, we're talking about Trump. And fellow Never Trump Republican Lisa Murkowski said it is ridiculous. 

Sen. Mitt Romney told reporters he thought it was difficult to watch what’s happening with the surrogates. “I think it’s a little demeaning to show up in front of a courthouse, and particularly one where we’re talking about an allegation of paying a porn star,” said Romney. “There’s a level of dignity and decorum that you expect to people who are running for the highest station in the land,” said Romney. “And going out and prostrating themselves in front of the public to try and apparently curry favor with the person who’s our nominee — it’s a little embarrassing.” “Do we have something to do around here other than watch a stupid porn trial?” said Murkowski.

Who thinks if the tables were turned and those two were involved in a sham trial, they'd want colleagues to show up for them? Trump Derangement always comes into play. 

The trial continues on Monday. There were no court proceedings on Friday that required Trump to be in the courtroom. He was able to go to his son Barron's high school graduation. Then he was the featured speaker at a fundraiser in Minnesota for the Republican Party. 

[imasallstars]

283 PRODUCTIONS SHUFFLE ACTIVITY SUMMER EDITION

The SHUFFLE ACTIVITY voting has started! You are able to vote for a GROUP x SETTING once a day everyday. The highest voting choice will be getting a sSSR as well as outfits corresponding to the theme.

SCHEDULE

Voting Period: until January 21st 14:59 JST

The available choices are as follows:

GROUPS

Group A: Yuika Mitsumine, Chiyoko Sonoda, Hana Suzuki

Group B: Kaho Komiya, Amana Osaki, Nichika Nanakusa

Group C: Hiori Kazano, Rinze Morino, Koito Fukumaru

Group D: Meguru Hachimiya, Kogane Tsukioka, Mei Izumi

Group E: Sakuya Shirase, Juri Saijo, Fuyuko Mayuzumi

Group F: Kiriko Yukoku, Asahi Serizawa, Toru Asakura

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1: Apparel Campaign Girl♪ A private photo shoot as the campaign girl for "secret" pajama party

ACTIVITY 2: Playboy Bunny Variety♪ Spice up the variety show by dressing up in a sexy bunny outfit

ACTIVITY 3: Motor Sports Event Campaign Girl♪ Wave the flags and don't let your team be left behind in the dust

You need to vote for a combination of the two themes, so don’t forget to vote everyday!

[studiolevez]

Call to Artists: 

International Art Expo Competition

Xochi Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, Portugal

Artist opportunitiesXochi Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, opening in April 2025, has numerous opportunities for artists in our brick-and-mortar gallery, online gallery, print shop, Sculpture Park and pop-up locations. We are currently seeking artists for solo exhibitions, group shows and online expos. Whether you're a painter, sculptor, photographer, or mixed media artist, we invite you to showcase your work in our diverse artistic spaces.

Outdoor art

Are you a sculptor or installation artist? Our estate encompasses 9.2 hectares. Your work has a wide choice of beautiful locations providing stunning backdrops including the riverside, rocky outcrops, meadows, vineyards, woodland, forest and a flower garden.

Indoor art

We have opportunities for solo and group exhibitions in our bricks and mortar gallery in Vale de Amoreira that encompasses 100 m2 and for our pop-up exhibitions in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Madrid, Seville and other locations. Our group exhibitions in the gallery are in April, July and August. 

Online exhibition

We also have opportunities to exhibit online via our website xochi.art.

Competition

All works submitted in 2025 will be automatically entered into our yearly competition with the chance to win a first prize of a solo exhibition in 2026 in the brick-and-mortar gallery. Runner ups will be offered solo exhibitions in 2026 in galleries one and two respectively.

1st Prize - Solo Exhibition at Xochi Art Gallery

2nd Prize - Solo Exhibition in Gallery One, Xochi Art Gallery

3rd Prize - Solo Exhibition in Gallery Two, Xochi Art Gallery

Selected works - Group Exhibition at Xochi Art Gallery

All artists are invited to participate regardless of age, ethnicity or gender.

About the gallery

Located in Serra da Estrela Natural Park in the beautiful village of Vale de Amoreira, in Central Portugal, Xochi Art Gallery spans 100m² of indoor exhibition space, complemented by 9.2 hectares of scenic gardens, meadows, vineyards, river frontage and mountain woodlands. It is the perfect venue for artists to connect with nature while presenting their art to a global audience. 

The area attracts millions of tourists due to its outstanding natural beauty and outdoor pursuits. It is home to Portugal’s highest peak, Star Mountain and the Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark.

Don't miss your chance to be part of our opening year!

Submission guidelines

Artists should send 3 photos of their works via the submission page at  xochi.art

All works submitted must be for sale.

There is a non-refundable 30 euro administration fee for the submission of works.

Payment methods include credit card, paypal etc.

If you want to be considered for our 2025 programme of events then you should submit your work as early as possible. The deadline for the competition is 31st December 2025.

Submit your work at https://xochi.art/submissions

Terms and conditions

All selected artists will be offered an exhibition contract with the gallery.

The gallery will cover the cost of mounting the exhibition, the opening event and marketing.

The gallery charges the artist a commission of 40% of the retail price (exclusive VAT) on sales.

The gallery will install works in the bricks and mortar gallery.

Outdoor sculptures will be installed in collaboration with the artist. They may remain in place for the calendar year or longer as agreed with the gallery.

The artist is responsible for transporting their works to and from the gallery.

The selected artists will be published on the website xochi.art

The artist grants the gallery the right to use images of the artist and their art works for publicity and marketing purposes in all forms of print, digital and visual media.

Selected artists will be notified by email.

The decision of the jury is final.

Xochi.art      info@xochi.art  

[artcontests]

Black Box Gallery - Camera Work: Landscape and Architecture

Black Box Gallery is excited to announce a landscape and architecture juried group photo show. What is the process and diversity of observation, interpretation and documentation of these two photographic genres? How do we look for and create compelling, significant and relevant photographic work that engages the aesthetics, craft, tradition and concepts of landscape and architectural photography? 

DEADLINE: June 09, 2023

For more information: https://www.theartlist.com/black-box-gallery-camera-work-landscape-and-architecture

[michaelcosio]

Fabienne Cherisma: A Picture of a Dead Haitian Girl Surrounded by Photographers

May 30, 2013

On January 19, 2010, 15-year old Fabienne Cherisma died from a stray bullet while scavenging for supplies in the earthquake-ravaged city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Barely a week after the devastating 2010 Haitian Earthquake which killed more than 300,000 people, the death of one girl sparked more controversy about the disaster than before. It was because of the above photograph, showing a group of journalists flocking together to take a picture of the dead Haitian girl.

Days after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, international aid was somewhat slow to respond to the disaster, considering the scale of the destruction. In Port-au-Prince, thousands had taken to scavenging and looting in order to get by. Anything that looked like it was worth something was taken out of crumbling shops and homes, and local authorities were too overwhelmed to stop crowds of residents from stealing from each other.

In order to deter looters, police were authorized to shoot their guns into the air. Unfortunately, one of these stray bullets hit Fabienne Cherisma in the head while she was carrying picture frames back to her home. Soon after, photojournalists came onto the scene to capture the moment.

Fabienne's photograph did not become famous until two different photography award juries announced that the scene was the subject of two different winning photographs. In 2011, Paul Hensen's image above was chosen as the Picture of the Year in Sweden. A few weeks later, Lucas Oleniuk photograph below won the National Newspaper Awards in Canada.

In addition, Nathan Weber's version (the header photo) showed a group of photographers crowding together to take a picture of the dead Haitian girl. Criticism soon came out about the commercialization and selective nature of breaking-news photojournalism. To top it all off, accusations were hurled against the photographers that they had moved the body and the picture frames to make the scene look more dramatic (although other pictures and videos show that other civilians might have done this).

For most of these photographers, they were simply doing their job: photographing newsworthy situations in a way that would catch the attention of viewers. There's no doubt that the images of the deceased Fabienne Cherisma speak more than any article could and helped bring greater awareness to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake.

Still, these different angles really do put things into perspective, and the picture showing the photographers surrounding the dead Haitian girl shows even more plainly how a different perspective can result in a totally different picture. For more information on the different images, Prison Photography has an in-depth series on the controversial subject, with interviews from the different photographers who photographed the scene.

[freelessofficial]

Art Show Listings!

[2024 - 2025]

“Here are some art shows and competitions that are happening in 2024 and 2025”:

◩ Art Basel Miami Beach: This show will showcase artists, galleries, and new perspectives from around the world. 

[Florida]

◩ Art Cologne: This art fair is the world’s oldest and will celebrate its 57th edition in 2024. 

"Art Cologne is an art fair held annually in Cologne, Germany and was established in 1967 as Kölner Kunstmarkt. It is regarded as the world's oldest art fair of its kind."

◩ PMAC 2024 World Art Contest: This contest encourages participants to explore the topic of “Unity in Diversity: Promoting Inclusion and Health for Every Nation”. 

◩ PMAC 2024 World Art Contest: This contest encourages participants to explore the topic of "Unity in Diversity: Promoting Inclusion and Health for Every Nation".  [In Bangkok, Thailand]

◩ Wells Art Contemporary 2024: This international art competition will take place in August 2024. 

"Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) was established in 2012 by a group of artists in Wells, the beautiful cathedral city in the South-West of England."

◩ Ann Arbor Art Fair: This juried art fair is the largest in the United States and takes place in downtown Ann Arbor every July. 

[Michigan]

◩ Madison Art Fair on the Square: This free art fair will take place in Madison, WI on July 13-14, 2024.  

[Madison, WI]

◩ Armands Festival of the Arts: This festival will take place in October 2024. 

"Armands Fine Art Festival held on May 24-25, 2025 in St. Armands Circle. The event has always drawn from great demographics throughout this region of Florida."

◩ Carmel International Arts Festival: This festival will take place in 2024. 

[Indiana]

"The Carmel International Arts Festival (CIAF) is a 502(c)(3) organization who's mission is Educating the Community Through the Arts. This mission is carried out through a 2-day festival the last weekend of September in the Arts and Design District of Carmel, Indiana."

◩ ARTumn Festival in Crested Butte: This festival will take place in 2024. 

[Colorado]

"The Crested Butte Arts Festival will take place in Crested Butte, Colorado from August 1–3, 2025. The festival will be held on historic Elk Avenue in the downtown Creative District."

◩ Scottsdale Waterfront Fine Art & Wine Festival: This festival will take place in 2025. 

[Arizona]

14th Annual Waterfront Fine Art & Wine Festival

Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2025

Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E Camelback Rd

Scottsdale, AZ

[bllsbailey]

Black Church Coalition Urges MSNBC To Investigate Harris Campaign Payments To Al Sharpton Group

(L) Kamala Harris speaks in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Photo by Chris duMond/Getty Images) / (R) Rev. Al Sharpton speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

The National Black Church Initiative has called on MSNBC to look into payments made by Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign to a group that is run by controversial network host Al Sharpton.

Sharpton is a social justice activist, Baptist minister, radio talk show host, and media personality. He is also the founder of the National Action Network civil rights organization.

Sharpton has been criticized by his detractors throughout the years for his purported “anti-Semitic” comments and his “racist remarks against White people.”

“White folks was in the caves while we [Black people] was building empires. … We built pyramids before Donald Trump ever knew what architecture was. … We taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it,” Sharpton said previously. “So [if] some cracker come and tell you ‘Well, my mother and father blood go back to the Mayflower,’ you better hold your pocket. That ain’t nothing to be proud of. That means their forefathers was crooks.”

In the late 1980s, Sharpton first made headlines after he claimed that a White gang, which he said included Dutchess County assistant district attorney Steven Pagones, had kidnapped and sexually assaulted a Black teenage girl in the 1987 Tawana Brawley case. Sharpton publicly blamed Pagones and accused law enforcement of a “racist cover-up,” but he offered no proof. A grand jury later exonerated Pagones of all charges in 1988 after discovering that the incident had never even occurred. However, Pagones’s prosecutorial career was done, he and his family constantly received death threats, and the stress of it all prompted his marriage to fail. In 1998, Pagones defeated Sharpton in a defamation lawsuit, but Sharpton refused to pay the $65,000 in damages, claiming that he didn’t have the money, the Washington Examiner reported.

In 1991, Sharpton also incited violence after a Jewish driver accidentally ran over a 7-year-old Black boy named Gavin Cato, leading to protests and riots in the streets, which Sharpton cheered on. The riots included chants of “No Justice, No Peace!” and “Kill the Jews!”

Efraim Lipkind, a former Hasidic resident of Crown Heights during that time, testified that Sharpton began agitating the crowd, inciting even more violence.

“Then we had a famous man, Al Sharpton, who came down, and he said Tuesday night, kill the Jews, two times. I heard him, and he started to lead a charge across the street to Utica.”

At the time, Sharpton remarked on the incident, saying: “The world will tell us he was killed by accident… It’s an accident to allow an apartheid ambulance service in the middle of Crown Heights. … Talk about how Oppenheimer in South Africa sends diamonds straight to Tel Aviv and deals with the diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights.”

Fast forward to now, 2024.

In a Facebook post, “NBCI,” which labels itself as a coalition of Black churches, further questioned whether the Kamala Harris campaign truly paid Sharpton in order for the Democrat nominee to receive easy, “softball” questions in her October MSNBC interview with Sharpton.

“Rev. Sharpton does not have a degree in journalism, and it undermines the career of Black men and women who have more experience and journalism integrity,” their post reads. “The National Black Church Initiative demands that MSNBC launch an investigation into the donation or payment by the Harris campaign.”

According to Federal Election Commission records, on September 5th, “Harris for President” first sent $250,000 to Sharpton’s group, National Action Network. Additionally, on October 1st, the campaign sent another identical donation, totaling to $500,000 in funds sent to his organization.

Then, on October 20th, Sharpton conducted the interview in question with the current vice president.

“This payment calls into question Rev. Sharpton, a host on MSNBC journalism ethics,” NBCI wrote. “Do you have to pay Al Sharpton through a donation to his organization to get on his show or get a favorable interview?”

Additionally, NBCI asked exactly why the Harris campaign donated the $500,000 to the National Action Network, and whether Sharpton received any of the money. According to the coalition, one of its leaders seems to be selling “our voting” to “Harris for President,” which they expressed greatly worries them.

“Rev. Sharpton is loved and admired by many in our coalition, but that does take away from the fact he is facing significant moral and journalism ethics regarding this payment or donation to the National Action Network,” NBCI President Anthony Evans stated. “We will continue to pray for him.”

MSNBC later claimed to the outlet the Washington Free Beacon, which revealed the payments last month, that the network was unaware of them. NBCI still noted that “there are a lot of questions to be answered.”

“For many ministers, this type of action puts a moral stain on the integrity of the Black Church. The Rev. Al Sharpton needs to fully disclose the nature of the $500,000, why it was given and received, and for what purpose,” the post reads. “Where are the receipts? And did Rev. Sharpton receive any funds, and if so, what and for what purpose?”

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

[smartgen]

SmartGen | The SmartGen Application Case Competition starts once again

After a month of intensive preparation, the second case PK competition of SmartGen made a strong debut after the National Day.

This competition adopts a scoring system. The jury is led by the general manager of SmartGen. Scores are given based on performance from four dimensions to select the final winner.

All 25 contestants showed their respective abilities within the specified time, presenting their unique skills one after another, jointly creating a wonderful case "feast". 

After scoring by the jury, the first, second, and third prizes of this case PK competition were finally selected. Then, prizes and certificates were awarded, and group photos were taken with the winners.

The sales center is committed to building an expert sales team by means of different types of competitions and trainings. Although it is a competition, there is no winner or loser. In this competition, in addition to showing the advantageous product application projects in their respective fields, everyone also gains experience improvement brought by the excellent performance and wonderful sharing of other colleagues. Not only is the vision broader, but also the understanding of products in various fields of SmartGen is richer. Sales personnel and technical application engineers learn from each other, draw on each other's strengths to make up for weaknesses, and make progress together, reaping all the benefits brought by the competition.

The journey is long and arduous, but with perseverance, one will reach the destination. Keep going without ceasing, and the future is promising. SmartGen, making control smarter!

www.smartgen.cn

[workers-comp-massachusetts]

Effective Strategies for Legal Advocacy in Property Disputes

A qualified Advocate for property dispute can help settle a dispute. Managing issues, including setting limitations, landlord-tenant conflicts, and property transfer, requires a well-planned approach. Learn particular methods to defend your customers and confidently manage complex property situations. This blog describes How to employ these strategies for legal defense.

Thorough Evidence Collection

Winning a land dispute requires gathering all the evidence. Gather any relevant property documents, maps, contracts, and correspondence related to the dispute. These documents provide context and support your claims.

Photos and videos can also be crucial proof. They provide tangible documentation of the property's status or borders, strengthening your argument. Witness testimony can support your case by providing personal insight and corroborating initial evidence.

Logically sort your data. Advocate for property dispute use detailed chronology to show how the conflict occurred. This group enhances your presentation and makes it more challenging for the opposite side to dispute you.

Clear client communication

Good lobbying starts with client interaction. Set realistic legal process goals, outcomes, and dangers. Ensure your customer knows how lengthy, expensive, and involved the procedure will be.

Regular communication is crucial during the dispute. Informing your client of case developments builds trust and interest. Tell your clients to gather documentation and follow your legal advice. This function benefits the legal plan, and clients gain authority, which improves cooperation.

Good communication informs customers about the legal process and its outcomes. This reduces errors and improves lobbying.

Strategic Negotiation

Although the court is a popular alternative, many property matters may only be resolved with it. Effective negotiation starts with understanding all parties' primary interests. Determine these primary interests to find solutions that satisfy everyone's concerns and make everyone happy.

Be willing to compromise on little issues. Concessions can improve relations and increase deal-making. Mediation is another way to resolve disputes. It provides a secure space for discussion and fosters unique ideas that may not be evident via negotiating.

Negotiation can shorten and make court proceedings cheaper. It also gives you more control over results and helps maintain relationships, which is crucial when disagreements arise.

Persuasive Litigation

When negotiations fail, a solid judicial case is crucial. First, clearly describe your client's perspective and base your case theory on the material you've obtained. A well-organized case shows the judge or juries your client's perspective.

Prepare for cross-examination by anticipating counterarguments and answering well. Use charts and graphs to simplify and persuade. Visuals may clarify your arguments and boost performance.

Well-planned litigation raises the likelihood of a good outcome. Thorough planning and a successful trial performance are crucial for a positive result and client protection.

In conclusion

A competent Advocate for property dispute must prepare, bargain wisely, and argue successfully. Focus on obtaining evidence, interacting with clients, bargaining tactically, and developing a solid case plan to address property concerns confidently. Use these methods to resolve complex disputes. This will assist your customers in receiving the most outstanding results and boost your legal success.