Chinese Art Thanking COVID-19 Nurses & Doctors

Tributes for doctors and nurses are being created by artists worldwide. These artworks will become cemented in history, recognizing the pain and suffering that was felt throughout this period. The latest artist to create a tribute is Roy Wang, who implemented unique photography techniques to create a light painting. The photograph saw a model dressed in a hazmat suit be surrounded by heavenly wings. Protective gear was used to symbolize medical workers worldwide, with the wings symbolizing the 50+ thousand that have died globally.

The unknown model didn’t move for a prolonged period while the camera shutter remained open. Roy Wang used LED Lights built for this technique, moving around his subject strategically. This enables the heavenly wings to be created. Local news agencies would question Wang through his social media accounts. Roy expressed that medical workers in China are named “The Angels in White” and that this photograph respects his community of healthcare professionals.

Roy Wang saw significant suffering throughout China, which saw one of the largest regions become shut down for a prolonged period. Wuhan hasn’t been heard from for three months, ever since COVID-19 broke out on December 31st. It’s recorded that thirty-four healthcare professionals passed away while saving those with COVID-19. Roy Wang dedicated his artistic photograph to these fallen defenders.

The 2nd Photograph

Roy Wang photographed two “Light Paintings” before releasing them to the public via Instagram & other social media campaigns. This photograph depicted the novel coronavirus, which was created with a Neon Green Light. Shapes displayed in this photograph resemble the COVID-19 Strain, which has been seen worldwide in news headlines.

This isn’t the end of Roy Wang and his Light Paintings. He’s announced his next project, which will be named “Light the World”. It’ll be a combination of inspiring words from healthcare professionals and medical experts from across the world. Wang finished his social media remarks by expressing that COVID-19 is a global pandemic and that he hopes his art provided a moment’s relief during these uncertain times. Humanity will survive this plague, and we’ll become a better species from connecting. Roy Wang has a positive outlook of the fallout for COVID-19.

Canadian Provinces Assisting Artists During Covid-19

Artists throughout various Canadian provinces are receiving financial relief. This follows after the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario Governments announced that financial aid would be provided throughout the next two months. The Ontario and Alberta Coalitions for assisting local or professional artists will be facilitated through National Cities. Those include Calgary and Toronto. Below we’ve provided insight on their respective relief packages.

British Columbia

Government officials with British Columbia are accounting $3 million in relief funds for Art Organizations. These outfits won’t be permissible to pay bills throughout the pandemic. It was express by the Minister of Arts & Culture that social distancing has proven challenging for everyone, including the art sector. Considering that these artistic outfits were the 1st to agree with government orders on social distancing, their leadership deserves recognition. It should be mentioned that when provincial health officers implemented the social distancing measure, the art community immediately cancelled their festivals and performances.

Alberta

The Alberta Government is working with the “Calgary Arts Development Group”, who are creating a $1.1 million fund for Covid-19 Relief Aid. These funds will support artistic groups throughout the Calgary region, with funds being taken from local taxes. The details on dispensing these funds haven’t been provided, with it being noted that 170 Organizations will be given grants. This will assist hundreds of artists, who will help the community cope with Covid-19 after everything has settled. It’ll be the artistic and entertainment industries that bring relief after the virus is eliminated.

Ontario

Doug Ford’s Ontario Government hasn’t assisted the artistic community, believing their non-essential. This prompted the Toronto Arts Council to implement a Covid-19 Response Funds. Named the TO-Artist Covid-19 Response Funds, it’ll assist hundreds of artists in the region throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Relief aid is being supported through the Toronto Arts Foundation & Toronto Arts Council, enabling for $1,000.00 to be earned bi-weekly for Self-Employed Qualifying Artists.

The associated cost with performances and productions being shut down is forcing numerous artists to have limited funds. Considering that Covid-19 isn’t expected to stop throughout Canada until July or June, it’ll be a prolonged period before these actors and actresses can begin their performances again.

American Museums Shutdown Amidst COVID-19

Containing the spread of the coronavirus has become a critical concern for global citizens, with various sporting events and mass gathering having the be cancelled. This applies to museums holding multiple exhibitions across the United States of America. Multiple venues have shut down their operations until March 27th or later.

All venues have been prompted to re-evaluate the situation come months end, with most global analysts agreeing that these postponements for museums will extend to prolonged periods. Notable sites to shut down their operations in the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Washington National Gallery of Art, the New York Whitney Museum, the New York Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. Operation cancellations extend to Washington’s Smithsonian Museum as well.

Public Announcements

The New York Museum of Modern Art publicly revealed their shutdown through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. This announcement confirmed that the Satellite Museum would shutdown their artistic-themed activities as well. The period for which individuals cannot enter this public space extends to March 30th.

When it extends to the New York Whitney Museum, they haven’t officially terminated their operations. Instead of being open until 9 pm daily, the venue will be closed until 5 pm and will allow a maximum of one hundred visitors throughout the facility. Their public announcement mentioned that the highest priority is the wellbeing of volunteers, attendees and employees. It should be noted that more severe actions could’ve been taken.

When it applies to the National Gallery, they’ll be shutting down their operations starting on March 13th. This closure period will extend until April 4th, with this decision being made hours after the Genoese Baroque Art Exhibition was terminated. Museums are becoming concerned that obtaining loans from banking institutions and donators will become challenging in the coming months. This will make it challenging to reopen under these pandemic conditions.

The Smithsonian Institution

Most aren’t aware that the Smithsonian Institution operates seventeen locations throughout Washington, with an additional two following with New York. All iterations of the Smithsonian Institution will shut down following the WHO’s declared pandemic. This includes the Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Design Museum, National Museum of African American History, the American Indian Museum and the Cooper-Hewitt Art Institution. It’s not known when they’ll reopen.

Asian Prejudice Seen with UK Art Fair

Headlines throughout the global art community shocked thousands when it was revealed that a Vietnamese Curator was terminated because of the Coronavirus. This information was noted on March 5th, with this curator being informed that all Asians are being seen as carries of the Coronavirus. This followed after the British Chief Medical Officer expressed that individuals shouldn’t see Asian citizens as infectious, that this is purely racist.

This Vietnamese curator is being named Nguyen, with the female artist showcasing this racist behaviour through social media accounts. She was approached by Raquelle Azran, another curator and dealer specializing in Vietnamese Fine Art in the contemporary category. Raquelle was fully responsible with Nguyen’s role being terminated with the Affordable Art Show. Miss Azran believes that a Vietnamese presence would create hesitation around their booth.

The title organizers behind the Affordable Art Show publicly stated that they weren’t behind this decision and that it was the sole actions of Raquelle Azran. The event is slated to begin in Battersea, London next week. The AFF Organizers noted that they don’t condone this behaviour and will now hold a formal investigation against Raquelle Azran, indicating that her position has already been terminated.

The official email from Raquelle Azran read that she was sorry to inform Nguyen that her assistance wouldn’t be required at the Affordable Art Show. Azran told the Vietnamese curator that the Coronavirus was creating high anxiety and that Asians are seen as carries of COVID-19. Raquelle Azran believes that the presence of Nguyen would create hesitation for audience guests to enter their exhibition space. Raquelle Azran finished the email by mentioning that she hoped to work with Nguyen again, which won’t be possible going forward.

The Backlash

This Vietnamese curator didn’t take lightly to the racist remarks from Raquelle Azran. It prompted this woman to create a witch-hunt against her former employer. The Vietnamese woman demanded that social media friends share her Instagram and Facebook postings. It inspired more than a million people globally to see the message, including her former employer and the AAF Association.

A spokesperson with this gallery stated that after a mutually agreed-upon decision, Raquelle Azran wouldn’t be provided with the right to attend this gallery. Her racist behaviour is slated to have cost this exhibit holder more than $10,000.00 for the two-day weekend.

Artistic Clothing Through Plastic Bottles

Nigeria isn’t somewhere you’d expect to start adopting the green movement, with the country infamous for having discarded waste in the streets. This isn’t more of reality anywhere else other than Lagos, with one visual artist using it as a means to influence Nigerians towards the green movement. Adeyemi Emmanuel collects thousands of discarded plastic bottles, melts them down and creates various products for his people. This project is being accomplished to raise environmental awareness, with all of Adeyemi’s products relating to fashion. He’s manufactured wallets, bags, clothes, backpacks and gift boxes through these discarded plastic bottles.

Adeyemi Emmanuel maintains a fully-functional craft workshop and often spends twelve hours daily working on his designs. This Nigerian influencer has even begun hiring employees in Lagos to increase the rate of production. Subsequently, this young man is receiving praise from the local government on his efforts. It results in his having more than 10+ thousand followers on Instagram, where a large percentage of his products are sold. You can purchase his fashionable products for anywhere between $22 and $83.

Lagos supports twenty million people in Nigeria, with garbage and litter becoming commonplace. It’s prompted a significant problem for worldwide environmental associations, with a large percentage of Nigeria plastic waste entering their waterways. Lagos Waterways eventually lead to the Gulf of Guinea, resulting in thousands of pounds of plastic entering our oceans weekly. Luckily there are those in Nigeria that want to stop this rate of pollution. Both Nigeria Politicians and the Nigerian Maritime Administration are drafting legislation that will assist with limiting the rate of plastic entering the ocean from their nation.

It should be noted that multiple nations in Africa have already terminated plastic bags, with Kenya supporting some of the strongest laws against single-use plastics. Those that sell these plastic bags can be punished with a fine of $40,000.00 and 4x years in prison. Adeyemi Emmanuel hopes that through his efforts to inform Nigerian citizens, similar laws can be imposed in their country. It’d allow for an anticipate 77.25% decrease in plastic waste in Lagos and 89% across the entirety of Nigeria. Adeyemi also hopes that all remaining plastics in the country will be melted down and reused dozens of times. It’d drastically benefit our planet. 

Prehistoric Drawings Located in Spain

Northern Spain is home to the latest ancient paintings and carvings discovered by scientists. There are hundreds of carvings displayed in this cave, with some being more than fifteen thousand years. Vivid drawings relate to deer, horses, bulls and numerous symbols that are abstract to our society. Most familiar with prehistoric painting discoveries anticipated these to be found in Altamira, with them being located in Catalonia. Archaeologists and scientists discovered this incredibly decorated cave in October 2019.

It took them four months to release their discoveries, avoiding any potential criminal actions or defacing before examinations were complete. It should be noted that this mysterious Catalonia cave is now being governed by a large security force, which is being supported through the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology. These examinations note that these prehistoric paintings and carvings were located in Catalonia for religious purposes, with this location acting as a shrine.

After the initial testing was completed last week, additional archaeologists with proper tools were provided entry into the Catalonia Cave. These individuals used 3D Scanning Technologies to record each of these 200+ carvings, which were engraved into a soft layer of sand deposit. These deposits had re-collected over a 15+ thousand-year period, allowing for their location to remain unidentified since Archaeology Recording began in the modern era. Previous visitors to this location have damaged several of the figures, who would’ve been unaware of these drawings and carvings. Preserving this secretly located cave is now of the utmost importance for expects. The cave will likely be walled off, with permission granted to a minimal few on an unregular basis.

The Ancient Paintings

Archaeologist Experts governing over this Catalonia Cave have expressed that the oldest carving/painting dates back to the Late Stone Age. This is also considered the Upper Paleolithic Period, which follows similar dating’s seen from the Altamira Caves. Those drawings are dated to twenty thousand years, showing that the rate of travel during the Late Stone Age was minimal. Ancient humans traversed to new locations for dire situations, like the requirement for fresh food or new housing.

These researchers expressed that the various uncovered art was painted and carved for two continuous miles, with this location distancing itself by sixty miles from the Altamira Caves in Barcelona. It also took researchers more than 160+ years to find this second location, with the Altamira Caves being located in 1853. Those wanting to see wanting these newly found carvings will have to wait a prolonged period before this cave is opened to the public. 

Greta Thunberg Mural Terminated

The State Department of North Dakota confirmed that an approved mural for Greta Thunberg had been terminated going forward. Meant to be located in Bismarck, substantial backlash faced local politicians for appearing this artwork. Climate change activist and artist, Shane Balkowitsch is disappointed with the cancellation. He proposed the 2.1 Metre Mural to Bismarck authorities, which would’ve meant to honour the young woman who’s inspired thousands worldwide. It would’ve been located on an exterior wall of a downtown bakery, with it resembling an internationally recognized photo of Greta at the Rock Sioux Reservation.

Local government in Bismarck didn’t expect the overwhelming resentment towards the mural. Most of the workforce is employed with coal and oil reserves across North Dakota, with climate activists like Greta Thunberg and Shane Balkowitsch acting as substantial threats towards their industries. It prompted countless individuals to sent threats to Bismarck’s Town Hall, with most expressing that the mural would be destroyed time-and-time again without any hesitation. Government leaders in Bismarck also received threats against their lives for approving this project.

It took this artist a prolonged period to receive permission for this project, with Shane Balkowitsch having to gain access from the building owner of this bakery and the cities zoning staff. When looking through public documents via city records, it’s indicated that the Downtown Design Review Committee in Bismarck and Renaissance Zone Authority in North Dakota, demanded that this project move forward. Local law enforcement under the city records opposed murals development. It should be noted that after these documents were publicly released, the bakeries owner began being threated by unidentified assailants.

The Substantial Backlash

The Brick Oven Bakery is operated by Sandy & Steven Jacobson, who have expressed that they’re considering shutting down the business. The proposed location has still been vandalized, with the Jacobson’s being named traitors to the Bismarck area. It could prompt serious shortcoming with annual profits. Emotional impacts behind this mural became a city-wide issue, which has made the Brick Oven Bakery is a substantial target. Sandy and Steven Jacobson are concerned about leaving the “Mom & Pop Shop” late at night, with those concerns relating to their personal safety and the well-being of the business.

Most individuals worldwide believe that Greta Thunberg is an immature young teenager that cannot express her emotions appropriately. Her last formidable appearance in public saw her cry to world leaders, which allowed the teenager to receive the “Person of the Year” award from Time Magazine. Most believe she isn’t approaching the issues of climate change professionally or maturely. 

Portland Millionaire Create Artistic Home

Most homeowners would be shocked to find out the associated cost of owning property in Portland, Oregon. The area has become infamous for the overpriced property, with this becoming an overall norm across North America. Most individuals wanting to purchase property are concerned with the growing rates. However, one millionaire in Portland doesn’t have any problems selling an overpriced and unneeded home.

Information from the TVA Architecture Firm expressed that they’re selling a mansion located in the Forest Park Region on 5,200 acres for an asking price of $8.65 million. The previous owner is Ned Vaivoda, who has spent several years crafting the blueprints for this project. Subsequently, this home will be unlike any other structure built in the modern era. Terry Sprague, the real estate broker selling this property, said it’s unlike anything he’s ever witnessed and that’s it’s a piece of art. Whoever purchases this property should know it took five years until build completion, which ended in November 2003.

The Vision

When Ned Vaivoda completed this three story residence, it stood with twelve thousand square footage. Its physical design is meant to resemble stone walls from ancient architecture, with modern elements that were far beyond their time, implemented into the home as well. Nearly two decades later and this home remains more current than standard residences built by large-scale developers. Terry Sprague expressed that anybody purchasing this property must have an appreciation for history and art, this is a pre-requisite for the current homeowners.

The emotional connection associated with this property has forced Ned Vaivoda to be particular with whom purchases this property. The architect expressed that he spent more than several hundred hours designing the angles and curves of this home before it was finally constructed. Unfortunately, family obligations are forcing him to sell this dream home. Ned noted that with the money earned, he’ll develop a new property that compiles new visions for the future modern era. It’s for this exact reason that the TVA Architecture

Central Academy of Fine Arts Grand Opening Delayed

The coronavirus has been affecting numerous industries worldwide. The tourism market has lost billions in the last week and is creating a standstill with international fears on travelling. The importing and exporting markets through the Chinese economy have been gridlocked as well. This follows after 170 Chinese Nationals have been killed by this deadly virus, with it continuing to spread and affect hundreds worldwide. It’s considered the worst air-born illness since SARS. Chinese culture is also being influenced, with numerous artistic institutions facing unlikely scenarios throughout the last several days. They’ve been forced to shut down operations until all concerns relating to coronavirus have dissipated. 

It was confirmed this week that the Central Academy of Fine Arts, which was expected to open by February 20th, has cancelled their grand opening indefinitely. The CAFA Director provided information regarding the new date. During their announcement, this museum expressed that reducing mass gatherings is the responsibility of all Chinese nationals. This will lower the outbreak percentages in various Chinese states, which prompted CAFA to postpone their opening. This has caused severe inconveniences to artists that had expected exhibits to display. However, the director confirmed that these individuals wouldn’t take those placements with the future grand opening. 

Biggest Cancellation to Date

This is the most significant cancellation confirmed when it applies to Chinese culture. The Central Academy of Fine Arts is following the Hong Kong Art Basel, which received multiple cancellations following the consistent violent protests in the democratic nation. It’s anticipated that another cancellation will follow the Hong Kong Art Basel with the coronavirus. Subsequently, that specific event would be postponed by twelve months. Multiple galleries for the Art Basel requested that it be terminated, with safety more on the minds of Hong Kong citizens than the pride of art. It’s unknown when all fears relating to the coronavirus outbreak will disappear, meaning it could be months before artistic culture in China or Hong Kong is revitalized. 

The ironic nature behind the CAFAs first event named the Techne Triennial was centred around altering visitors’ sense of reality. Considering that the way of life for Chinese Nationals has been wholly changed, those who would’ve attended this event are receiving an entirely different form of reality. 130 Exhibitions were slated for this event, which would’ve allowed guests to consume thousands of pieces of artwork. 

Artist Survives Australian Fires in New Kiln

Millions throughout Australia were faced with some of the worst weather conditions seen in recorded history. Bushfires consumed a substantial percentage of Southern Australia, devastating buildings and environments in their path. This included Steve Harrison’s home in rural Australia, with the Artists having an incredible story to tell. Without little warning, the flames flew over the hills near Harrison’s house and approached his property. Using sprinklers and pumps, this artist did everything in his power to dampen the inferno.

There wasn’t an option for evacuation, which prompted the 67-year-old to jump inside his Kiln. This followed after Steve Harrison had created a home-based kiln with fireproof ceramic fibres, which he’d built one day prior. Harrison, along with his wife, entered the Kiln with their laptops, hard drives, fire blanket, extinguisher and bottle of water. It should be noted that pottery kilns are known for keeping heat, regardless if it’s inside or outside the Kiln. These design marvels resulted in Steve Harrison and his wife surviving the destructive blaze, which destroyed his entire property and home.

The Damage & Rebuilding Efforts

After emerging from the ceramic Kiln, there were few parts of his home remaining. The steel beams had become warped, with the core structure remaining intact. Only a few items remained undamaged from the blaze, which included his Kiln and most of the pottery created by Steve Harrison. Shockingly, the woodshed that kept his materials experienced minimal damage. This marked the first time that Janine and Steve Harrison had experienced a bush fire on their seven-acre property, which they’ve maintained for 45 years. Janine was expected to evacuate before her husband but remained on the property when authorities couldn’t reach their rural location. This self-reliant couple has lost everything they deem necessary, including family albums and sentimental items.

Steve and Janine Harrison live a few miles outside Balmoral, a small village in the New South Wales region. Balmoral was one of the hardest-hit locations with these bushfires. The Green Wattle Creek fire destroyed 90% of this town. There is a GoFundMe page available for those wanting to support the redevelopment of their property. Previously the Harrison’s have assisted two other families affected by the yearly wildfires that affect Australia. Regardless, Harrison’s have one of the most unique and harrowing stories to tell. December 21st will be one day neither of them forgets going forward, with Steve Harrison planning develop his new home with fire-resistant properties exclusively.