Although yes, it may technically be illegal, the idea of creating graffiti with yarn is too fun to not talk about! Yarn bombing is one of the newest crazes on the art scene. This past June 11th was declared National Yarn Bombing Day.

Placing yarn creations throughout your community can be a pleasant surprise for everyone. They are expressive, eye-catching, and non-permanent unlike typical graffiti!

Check out the yarn bombing Facebook page to share your creations and admire others!

Also visit Yarnbombing.com to see some of the results from National Yarn Bombing Day.

To some Shea Hembrey might seem to have a case of multiple personality disorder,  to others he is simply a genius. One thing’s for sure though, he is most definitely creative.

Shea knew that he wanted to produce his own biennial, which is typically a contemporary art show put together by a number of artists in two years time. He had certain “criteria” that he wanted fulfilled by these artists. Most of  his criteria was developed after seeing some contemporary art shows in Europe that seemed too inaccessible. Shea wanted artists and non-artists alike to be able to grasp and appreciate the different works. It was after realizing this that he knew he would have to create every piece himself.

Shea developed 100 different “characters” or different artists that he embodied to create unique art. These artists came from all over the world and each had their own story. His inventiveness both in his art and in his stories is impressive.

To see the video of his story and to see some of his work, please click here.

We’d like to think that genuises such as Rembrandt and Michaelangelo created their masterpieces with their own hands, but the reality is that they had assistants and apprentices to help them complete their works. Today, with the pressures artists feel from their dealers and followers, the trend of hired employees is on the rise. To many this seems untruthful, especially when the artist has absolutely no part in the actual painting/sculpting but instead acts as a “director” to the work process.

This trend though does seem to help those who are new to the art scene. Recent art graduates have the opportunity to work under well-known artists, gain practice and maybe a little recognition, and then branch out on their own. After the assistants have branched out, it seems as though they all tend to disagree with the use of assistants. Rachel Howard, who worked as an assistant to Damien Hirst, says that she “can’t think of anything worse” than having an assistant herself although she seems to have learned some valuable lessons about her own worth.

How do you feel about assembly line art? Would you be less inclined to buy art knowing other people had a part in its creation other than the artist who signed it?

To read the full article by Stan Sesser, please click here.

Children can be humbling and inspiring in so many ways.  Their creativity and determination can surprise us all. Kennedy, a second grader from California, is one of those surprises. After hearing of the gulf oil spill, she was determined to help. With her parents assistance, her simple idea of selling the artwork she created has now turned into an organization that donates profits to charities such as American Red Cross, Keep America Beautiful, and the Pet Adoption Fund, just to name a few.

All kids in grades K-12 can submit their artwork and be able to feel like they are part of something bigger. It is Kennedy’s hope that kids from all over will get involved and be inspired to “act on the things that move them”.

For more information on Friendly Neighborhood Helpers and to read the rest of the article, please click here and don’t forget to visit www.friendlyneighborhoodhelpers.org to purchase some great artwork and donate to your favorite charity!

The overwhelming devastation that happened from Japan’s earthquake last month left many of us feeling helpless. But the people at Daily Paintworks have come up with a simple way for many of us to both share our talents and help those in Japan. This “challenge” they created started March 19th, but artists and buyers can continue to participate. The challenge is for artist to submit their works to the Daily Paintworks auction, and agree to donate the proceeds to an organization aiding Japan of their choice. So far an impressive amount of almost $27,000 has been raised! Anyone and everyone should participate in this challenge. More and more beautiful paintings are being added every day.  To learn more about how to submit your own work or to place a bid on one of these paintings, please visit: The Help Japan Challenge.

Please help spread the word!

*Painting featured is by artist Millie Nguyen and can be found in The Help Japan Challenge auction.

What do fashion designer Zac Posen, actor Robert Redford, pop artist Andy Warhol, and author Truman Capote all have in common? Before they were famous, they were all chosen as receipients of The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Earlier this month, 1,500 more students from all across the U.S. joined them on that list. These creative students produced work in categories such as sculpture, painting, novel writing, poetry, fashion design, and even videogame design.  Each year ART.WRITE.NOW.,  an exhibition of some of the chosen works, is displayed across the country and this year’s tour began at the Seattle Art Museum. ART.WRITE.NOW. is made possible by sponsors such as Dick Blick Co., Ovation, and Scholastic Inc.

CEO of Dick Blick Co., Bob Buchsbaum, was a proud speaker this year at the ART.WRITE.NOW. exhibition, showing his much appreciated support and generosity. For more information on award winners, dates, and locations  of this exhibition, please visit the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

Help keep the arts alive by participating in the Pepsi Refresh Project. Nine organizations have entered this contest in hopes of winning up-to $250,000 to help make a difference to the arts in your community. These nine organizations are all part of the 111 Arts Coalition. Some of the organizations include NAMTA, The Dave Project, and ShenenArts.

Please visit this link to learn more information and to vote! Just a couple minutes of your time now through January 31st, 2011 can help make a difference to the arts in your community. You can vote in three different ways, so make sure to do all three and make your vote count!

Learn more about the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Funding for art education is not only disappearing in the U.S. but all across the world, and society is fighting back. The proof is in this picture taken at Trafalgar Square in London. Seen above, UK demonstrators marched against a new proposal by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to raise college tuition fees and cut funding for art colleges to ZERO. Many of the protesters include students of Goldsmiths, a college of the University of London, with the slogan “Education should be free for all, not a product for purchase”.

Goldsmiths is a renowned school for higher art education. Graduates from there have helped increase society’s awareness of London’s contemporary art presence, particularly Damien Hirst. With such talent  and inspiration coming from Goldsmiths and other art colleges, it is sad to hear that the UK’s government does not support them.

To read the article, “What London’s Student Protests Mean for the Future of Art” by Ben Davis, click here.

NAMTA, the International Art Materials Trade Association, is in the running for receiving funding of  250K from the Pepsi Refresh Project. NAMTA is a strong supporter of art education and they have developed a plan to help provide 25 different schools with the necessary funds to build a successful art program.  Should NAMTA receive enough votes on the Pepsi Refresh Challenge, each of the 25 schools will receive a $5,000 grant, art supplies, and a manual on how to integrate art into their classrooms and teaching.

Please take a minute to visit the Pepsi Refresh Project Website and vote for NAMTA’s proposal, “Help Teachers Bring the Arts to Life in their Classrooms!”.

YouTube Video: NAMTA Foundation Grant for Charlotte County Schools

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