Dozens of Palestinians have been killed or wounded in Israel’s latest bombing campaign of Gaza, while the Israeli military stubbornly insists the child-killing attacks are necessary to stop “terrorism”. Such bloody assaults on Gaza are unfortunately common, and those that took place over 2008-2009 may have been the most devastating.
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Art Threat: Kony 2012: the photographer who shot the hipsters with a proud colonial mindset
Photograph by Glenna Gordon (detail). By now you’ve heard of the Kony 2012 campaign, and I’ve already expended enough energy discussing it on Facebook to bring anything new and arts-related to the table. However, the Washington Post has provided a different angle by interviewing Glenna Gordon, the photographer who shot
Continue readingRob Maguire: I’m moving to Vancouver
My time in Saskatoon has come to an end. My partner and I will be moving to Vancouver on April 1 — no joke! Since arriving from Montreal three and a half years ago, I’ve experienced both the great warmth of Saskatchewan people and the deep freeze of prairie winters.
Continue readingArt Threat: It’s International Women’s Day – And we’re digging through the Art Threat archives
Sarah Maple — Signs, C-Type Print, 2007 As today is International Women’s Day, I thought it would be worthwhile to dig though our archives and offer up a selection of past content focused on women and feminist issues. Also, here’s a worthy read from The Guardian a few years back:
Continue readingArt Threat: Rush (band) pulls music from Rush (bigot)
North America has always been home to one good Rush and one evil Rush, but never have they engaged in battle … until now. Canadian prog rock legends Rush have demanded that the Rush Limbaugh Show stops using their music. The band’s music was regularly played leading in and out
Continue readingArt Threat: Rick Santorum’s gay porn mosaic
Gay news website Unicorn Booty published this beauty of a photo mosaic, featuring Rick Santorum’s headshot composed entirely of gay porn. It may not be the most artistic political portrait out there, but you’d be hard pressed to find one more appropriate. If you want to zoom in for the
Continue readingRob Maguire: Shake things up with snail mail
Disclaimer: I’m not talking about direct mail campaigns here. I figure you can come up with much more interesting ways to waste money on your own. I was listening to the always interesting Spark radio program on CBC Radio yesterday, and they were discussing A Month of Letters, an open
Continue readingArt Threat: Quit Stalin and be my valentine – Dictator Valentines by Ben Kling
Illustrator Ben Kling has produced a set of Dictator Valentines, which he acknowledges features some men who don’t really qualify as tyrants. Enjoy a giggle, and feel free to print them off and hand them out to your frenemies.
Continue readingArt Threat: The challenge of exhibiting feminist art
A valuable collection of insight into the exhibition of feminist artwork is now available to the public. FeministDialectic.ca is a new website that features ten curators, artists and museum professionals speaking on the challenges and opportunities presented by the acquisition, preservation and exhibition of feminist artwork by public art galleries
Continue readingArt Threat: Does girly Lego promote gender stereotypes?
A screenshot from the Lego Friends website. Critics are seething after Lego announced its new line of toys designed for girls. The super slim, anatomically incorrect Lego Friends figures have been accused of promoting damaging gender stereotypes and body dissatisfaction. Lego responded to the controversy by saying they were just
Continue readingArt Threat: Photos of Martin Luther Kings’s tragic death published by LIFE for the first time
LIFE photographer Henry Groskinsky captures the scene at the Lorraine Hotel after the shooting of MLK (detail). Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States, and LIFE has marked the occasion by publishing historic photosgraphs that has been lost for 44 years. Taken on that tragic day
Continue readingArt Threat: The Noise of Cairo explores art in revolution
The Noise of Cairo is an upcoming documentary about the Cairo art scene after the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Produced by scenesfrom, this “cinematic kaleidoscope” interviews a dozen artists and explores the role played by creatives during the revolution. Via African Digital Art.
Continue readingArt Threat: 23 political art stories from 2011
Washed Up by Alejandro Durán The New Year is officially upon us, but we want to take one last opportunity to look in the rear view mirror. Here are 23 of our favourite stories and projects that took place in the world of political art in 2011. Do you have
Continue readingArt Threat: Christmas Time This Year – Happy holidays from us and Ry Cooder
On this Christmas Day, we’d like to wish you and those you love a most wonderful holiday season. And for those with gifts left to give (be you Orthodox Christian, Jewish, or just running behind schedule), I can recommend Ry Cooder’s latest album, Pull Up Some Dirt and Sit Down.
Continue readingArt Threat: Pepper spray cop serenaded by Shearer – Monday Music: Ballad of the Pepper Spray Cop
Pepper Spray Cop infiltrates Georges Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Harry Shearer — yes, that Harry Shearer of Simpsons and Spinal Tap fame — has immortalized UC Davis’ infamous police officer in song. Entitled Ballad of the Pepper Spray Cop, the ditty debuted on Shearer’s
Continue readingArt Threat: Avengers comics spoof sexualizes the guys
Women in today’s comics are sexualized to absurd proportions. As a fantastic post on Autostraddle pointed out, the T&A shot favoured by comic book artists is anatomically near-impossible, yet it remains pervasive throughout the industry. Illustrator Kevin Bolk took a promo image for The Avengers featuring a sexually contortioned female
Continue readingArt Threat: Protected: Miley Cyrus’ Occupy anthem draws applause, jabs and jeers
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Continue readingArt Threat: Handpicked from the Internets
Cleaning out the digital mailbag this morning, I found a few gems pertaining to the Occupy movement, economic collapse, and intentionally bad, prizewinning art: Salon asks how the appalling image of U.C. Davis’ infamous pepper spray cop became a hilarious internet meme that parades through art history. “When I was
Continue readingRob Maguire: Movember: donate and I’ll write you a ditty
During the month of November, vanity will take a backseat while I grow a moustache for Movember to raise awareness and and a few bucks to fight prostate cancer. And I’m offering you a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Donate to my moustachioed campaign and I will write a song for you, and
Continue readingArt Threat: Radiohead to Occupy Wall Street today?
Rumor has it that Radiohead will be performing for the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators who are camping out in Lower Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park.
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