The insanely astonishing universe of Karin Taylor

This is magical, fantastic, incredible, incredibly beautiful, so cute, these colors!, childhood, elephant in my garden!, amazing, and so many words pop in your head while you are browsing Karin Taylor's portfolio.

She is an Australian artist that masters many techniques that she uses to make her pieces of incredible magical universes.

She also has a blog where she wrote:

"Drawing is what gives me peace of mind, and i think that's the gift I share with the world. I am so fortunate to be able to share my heart and my thoughts through my art.

The other day, i had this little revelation, that when a pencil is available to me, it's like having a microphone in my hand. I get to say, feel, express and outwardly share what i feel in my innermost parts and dreams, I'm so enjoying this process. I'd forgotten how good it felt."

Not only a great artist, what a great woman! Go, go... Take a look at her portfolio!

Pictures Copyright

© all rights Karin Taylor

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Sandra Bullock in "The Proposal" and Mary Steenburgen in "Tender is the night"

I watched this movie yesterday and if I remember correctly she replies... "Hence..." in a sarcastic way. Now I will have to see it again just to check it and if it is not this way I'll start thinking that I create scenes that doesn't exist. It will be quite strange. Anyway...
Sandra Bullock's strongest skill is the way she is so natural when performing and I believe she has that in common with Julia Roberts. 
Mary Steenburgen plays Ryan Reynolds mother and I love her. The first time I saw her was at the 1985's miniseries "Tender is the night" based on Scott Fitzgerald novel. Although it received awards and the outstanding performance by Mary as Nicole BBC never showed it again. I don't understand why BBC hide great productions.
images via Izismile.

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Homage to the Egyptian women who did the revolution

It seems so long ago but it was last January, 25 that these young people started gathering at the Tahir square doing the unthinkable. In January, 18 Asmaa Mahfouz did a video saying that four Egyptians had set themselves on fire to protest of the humiliation, hanger, poverty and degradation they lived for 30 years and they thought that their self-immolation could trigger a revolution like in Tunisia. One of them died that day. Some people's reaction was condemn claiming that he had sinned, killing himself for nothing.
Asmaa said that she would go to Tahir Square and hold up a banner and maybe people should show some honor. After a defeat in the first attempt she asked people to unite at Tahir Square to fight not for political rights but for human rights, for dignity in January, 25.
They went and they won. It was not easy, people died and others were injured but the revolution was peaceful if it wasn't for the crackdowns. 
That's the violent side of all revolutions and let's not forget Tiananmen square. This post made this blog censored in China.Two Chinese virtual friends stopped having access to the blog. I could hardly believe. 
At El Jazeera there is an article about women of the revolution and I copied part of two of them.

Mona Seif, 24, researcher

I have never felt as at peace and as safe as I did during those days in Tahrir

The daughter of a political activist who was imprisoned at the time of her birth and the sister of a blogger who was jailed by the Mubarak regime, Mona Seif says nothing could have prepared her for the scale and intensity of the protests.
"I didn't think it was going to be a revolution. I thought if we could [mobilise] a couple of thousand people then that would be great.

I was angry about the corruption in the country, [about the death of] Khaled Said and the torture of those suspected but never convicted [of being behind] the Alexandria Coptic church [bombing].

I realised this was going to be bigger than we had anticipated when 20,000 people marched towards Tahrir Square on January 25. That is when we saw a shift; it was not about the minimum wage or emergency law anymore. It became much bigger than this, it turned into a protest against the regime, demanding that Mubarak step down and that parliament be dissolved. (keep reading)

Salma El Tarzi, 33, filmmaker

What kept us going was the conviction that we did not have any option - it was either freedom or go to jail

"Having never been politically active, Salma El Tarzi was sceptical about the protesters’ chances of getting their demands met until the day when she stood on her balcony and saw the crowds. She decided to join the protesters and has not looked back since.
"I was protesting on my own on the 26th and 27th, but bumped into my younger brother in the crowd by chance on the 28th. We just carried on from then onward.

What kept us going was the conviction that we did not have any option - it was either stay and fight for freedom or go to jail.

My dad has been very supportive. He was getting to the point where he was telling me and my brother: "Don't run away from gun fire, run towards it."

While in Tahrir we were all receiving threatening calls telling us that if we didn’t vacate the square we would be hunted and killed. But we didn't care at that point. We were at the point of no return. (keep reading)"

I believe that Gigi Ibrahim, who became a spokesperson of the revolution in the western media, is known by most of the people who followed the revolution or is paying attention on the uprising still going on.
These young women and men made our hearts and minds dream again and believe that, yes, we can have our voices heard. But we have to start talking!
I don't understand why what is happening in Wisconsin is not being reported by any media in America. Here some news of the third month of Wisconsin Capitol protests. What is happening America? American women, guide them!

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Alexander Lebedev offered 1 million dollars reward for information about Anna Politkovskaya's killers

You might be surprised if you search for the first post of this blog. It's a Anna Politkovskaya's quotation and I have already published other posts about this woman who was fighting to tell the truth about Russian corruption and other problems.
Alexander Lebedev was the co-owner with Anna of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta and he was devastated at that time and offered the 1 million dollars reward as you can see at this video.
Now it seems he forgot about her or is frightened but I'm publishing this post because Anna's death will never be forgotten. He even forgot he said that the Russian secret services as "totally out of control".
I just watched him at BBC's interview with Stephen Sackur and when asked about Anna's killers he showed he doesn't care any more.
She is an amazing woman whose work could make a huge change in this world since she was denouncing those who work the other way. So, I will keep asking: 'Who killed Anna Politkovskaya?' and I'm not alone since Anna has fans all over the world.
At this video you will see her blood at the entrance of her house and her body being carried in a black plastic bag. This is the first time I saw it and I confess I was horrified. But it's worthy watching 'Murdering the Truth in Russia" you can find here.
For the first time I write a post like this but I cannot keep silent or touch very serious questions in a tangent way. Sometimes we have to scream to be heard and a human being like Anna Politkovskaya deserves so. This is the least I can do.
R.I.P. Anna Politkovskaya
‘People sometimes pay with their lives for saying out loud what they think,’ Anna Politkovskaya
Her books are available at Amazon.

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Amnesty International will pay tribute to Joan Baez: cyber-manifestation

"San Francisco – More than 1,000 Amnesty International activists from across the country will converge in San Francisco on Friday, March 18, to pay tribute to folk legend Joan Baez for a lifetime of human rights solidarity and advocacy. The tribute, which is part of the human rights organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) during its 50th anniversary year, will take place at the Fairmont Hotel and is open to the public. Tickets for the Baez event are $40; fans and activists attending the tribute are encouraged to arrive at 5:00 p.m. sharp for the AGM’s opening ceremonies to ensure seating." keep reading here.

A great singer, a great musician and a great woman. I do my share and signing petitions at the Amnesty International site only takes 30 seconds. Cyber-manifestation is one of tools we have now that can gather people from many countries fighting together. These are some of their priorities. Click to sign or go to their site to find a cause that you care:

No voting violence in Zimbabwe

Zimbabweans are expected to return to the polls this year to vote on a new constitution and potentially new presidential and parliamentary elections. There is much confusion on this issue, exactly when and what votes will occur, but there is no confusion on this point: any vote must be free, fair, without violence and in compliance with national and international standards.

Ensure Accountability for Crimes Committed in Darfur

Urge the United States to ensure accountability for crimes committed in Darfur and to support the work of the International Criminal Court.

Demand justice for ALL victims of the conflict in Gaza/Israel

Call on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to not stand in the way of international justice. Urge her to join with others to take concrete steps to ensure justice for all victims of this tragedy.

Urge New Tunisia Government to Respect Human Rights

A caretaker government in Tunisia now has the opportunity to break with the legacy of 23 years of human rights abuses. Bold and far-reaching changes to overhaul the institutions that have failed the Tunisian people are imperative. The security apparatus and the justice system, the main tools used by the authorities to crush dissent and silence critics, must be reformed immediately.

The authorities must acknowledge the true scale and severity of past human rights violations. They now have a historic opportunity to break with this infamous legacy and to carry out a human rights agenda for change.

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A Simple Kind of Life by No Doubt

I like Gwen Stefani very much and felt like sharing one of her videos. I decided for this one instead of Hella Good that has a rhythm that I feel more connected.

After seeing some comments at Youtube of some women claiming that they can relate to this song I started thinking that this is exactly what we all want, men and women: a simply kind of life. God! How it can be that it is becoming so hard?

There she is with her family. It seems she got it, of course with all the problems of a simple kind of life, but she is not a "celebrity" whose photo is daily at the news showing any silly event.

She is a singer. God! How hard it is to find good singers today!

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Suzanne Valadon model and artist helps seeing the difference among impressionists

Suzanne Valadon started modeling for impressionists at a very young age following her mother's steps but she did fight not to be stigmatized and treated like a whore like her mother. She became herself a painter and her son Maurice Utrillo is a known artist.
She modeled for Degas, Renoir, Puvis de Chavannes, Toulouse-Lautrec and others.
I didn't know it was her at this work by Toulouse Lautrec, The hangover, 1888 and another Lautrec's work I like, The Laundress, and published here.
By looking at the way the impressionists portrayed her what is striking is that it is possible to see the different approach of impressionists. Too much is said about what impressionists have in common and few about every artist uniqueness. I will just publish the Lautrec today because I really like this work and leave the others for another post.

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Xenophobia

That was the word Vanessa Redgrave did answer James Lipton for the question "What is your least favorite word?" on the famous "Inside Actor's Studio".
I admire this woman immensely. Julia is one of my favorites movies and she told how she came up producing and acting. She was on a theater and a cinema usher showed Lillian Hellman's book and as she didn't had read he lend it to her.
She did read it in one night and decided to make the movie.

Xenophobia comes from the Greek words ξένος (xenos), meaning "someone with whom you are not acquainted", and φόβος (phobos), meaning "fear".
In the beginning of this century while the word globalization conveys a sympathetic image but covers the worst face of the capitalistic system, whose sole aim seems to be producing money and it's values are spreading all over the world, xenophobia is being manifested in many different ways.
I would think twice spending one year in Paris while on the eighties I was received with great hospitality. Perhaps because I was around people linked to arts but I'm not sure. I was treated well by French people everywhere I went. I speak the language and it helps.
But I'm not sure if it would be the same.
I've received a six month visa in UK although I was just spending a week before returning home.
But from the news I've been reading and talking to some English and French people it seems that things would be very different.

I hope that I am wrong but I witness strange things happening in social networkings and virtual worlds. Still nothing is being discussed.

Adapted from a post I did at justAna .

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Anna Politkovskaya an homage and seven great women

This is not the first time I publish about Anna Politikovskaya. August, 30 would be her birthday and... I don't think I have to explain.
I took pictures at my virtual garden in front of the fence where I hanged some posters. At the left side is Vanessa Redgrave in the movie Julia.
We are talking about five great women since Lilian Hellman, who wrote the book that was adapted for the movie, has Jane Fonda as Lilian .

Now I'm remembering Natasha Richardson Vanessa's Redgrave daughter who did the movie Nell with Jodie Foster. The only man is Rimbaud who is designed in white graffiti at the fence.
R.I.P. Anna Politkovskaya
R.I.P. Natasha Richardson

(click the images to enlarge)

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New York, New York this diverse and amazing city by Nina Hagen, Edward Hopper and others

"New York, I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps..."

This is a very diverse city and this is part of it's charm. In the 80ies New York New York sang by Nina Hagen, an opera singer who is also a punk rock and other characters, was a big hit and I danced many times while she was singing even alive at the First Rock in Rio, 1985.
Her voice is amazing! Put your mouse on the pictures to see the titles.

"Keep in touch, keep in touch....."

"...Let there be light!

Because David Bowie is going to be here tonight!"

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Don't cry for me Argentina - Karen Carpenter and Argentina's history

Just watch and listen.

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Karen Carpenter an homage - Bless the Beasts and the Children

An amazing voice, a happy and child drums player... amazing women. R.I.P. and thank you for these beautiful songs you left Karen Carpenter.

"Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from a storm
Keep them safe
Keep them warm"

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Bill Withers - "Grandma's hands" for my grandma and the Madres/Abuelas of the Plaza de Mayo

Today morning when I woke up I thought about this song that makes me think of my grandma. Today is her birthday and this is the day I celebrate and remember of her because I erased from my memory the day she died. I didn't went to her funeral because I have decided at a very early age that I would never see her dead. I believe that when we die the body means nothing and our existence becomes something different.

I believe in God but I don't follow any religion. I don't know why and I don't want to think too much about it.

So this song is dedicated to my grandma and for the "madres"/mothers, today "abuelas" grandmas, of the Plaza de Mayo.

Like my grandma they did fight and are fighting for their children...

"The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, is a unique organization of Argentine women who have become human rights activists in order to achieve a common goal. For over three decades, the Mothers have fought for the right to re-unite with their abducted children.

In protests, they wear white head scarves with their children's names embroidered, to symbolize the blankets of the lost children. The name of the organization comes from the Plaza de Mayo in central Buenos Aires, where the bereaved mothers and grandmothers first gathered. They gather every Thursday afternoon for a half hour walk around the plaza."

I'm sure they will meet my grandma before me. May they be at peace.

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New Year's eve - time for change and women that changed lives - Happy New Year!

We all think about changes in the year last the of the year while waiting for the new one to arrive. Maybe we will forget it all at the first Monday of the year but I hope you don't and that you can reach some of the plans you did for the next 365 days.
I did chose four women from the movies that did changes in the lives of other people.
Although I think these are movies that everybody knows I will put the list:

"Sound of Music" and Maria (Julie Andrews)
"Bagda Cafe" and Jasmin (Marianne Sagebretch)
"Chocolat" and Vianne (Juliette Binoche)
"Le Fabuleux Destin de Amélie Poulain" Amélie (Audrey Tautou)

Happy New Year!

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