Archive for September, 2011

Response from FCC to group letter complaining about BART disruption of mobile phone and Internet service

By On September 25, 2011 In Art With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Response from FCC to group letter complaining about BART disruption of mobile phone and Internet servicePermalink

Dear Consumer:

This is in response to your recent e-mail to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Your e-mail relates to the August 11, 2011 incident in which the Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority (BART) reportedly shut off mobile Internet and cell phone service inside segments of the BART transit system in anticipation of an expected protest.

FCC staff is looking into the facts of what happened and whether BART’s actions were consistent with the federal Communications Act.  In reviewing this situation, the FCC is mindful of both the critical public safety role of local agencies, and the importance of uninterrupted public access to wireless communications for safety, free expression, and other purposes.

We thank you for bringing this matter to our attention  If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau website, at www.fcc.gov/cgb, or call us at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice; 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.

——-  Original Message  ——-
xxxxxxx@gmail.com wrote:

Aug 16, 2011

Chairman Julius Genachowski

Dear Chairman Genachowski,

When the BART Police suspended cell phone service before a planned
protest against BART police, it was the first known time in United
States history that a major government public transportation agency had
taken such a step. I find this action alarming and do not want it to
set a precedent. I ask you to nip such tactics in the bud and take a
stand against cell phone and internet censorship.

All over the world, people are using mobile devices to protest
oppressive regimes, and governments are shutting down cell phone towers
and the Internet to stop them. It’s outrageous that such a thing could
happen in the United States, but that is what BART has done. And
despite local, national and international outrage, BART officials
haven’t gotten the message yet. Agency spokesman Linton Johnson said
that the agency may cut cell phone service again in the future,
explaining that riders “don’t have the right to free speech inside
the fare gates.”

I urge you to condemn heavy-handed tactics that violate free speech
rights in an attempt to silence dissent. The FCC should conduct a full
and transparent review of the facts and circumstances of this incident
and hold those responsible to account so that such censorship does not
become accepted practice among government agencies seeking to quell
dissent.

Sincerely,

Mr.

Meridian Gallery: House at 100 – Arts Festival and Gala

Young Man, Moscow 1969 (detail), 2010, Each Panel 12.5" x 10" x .08", Undeglaze screen print on vitrified porcelain
By On September 20, 2011 In Art, Art Exhibits, Bay Area Artists, Media Arts With No Comments Permanent Link to Meridian Gallery: House at 100 – Arts Festival and GalaPermalink

House at 100: Arts Festival and Gala

Date: Sep 24 – Nov 26,2011

Time: 11:00 AM – 05:00 PM

The Meridian Gallery on Powell Street continues to excite with its reputation for unique interdisciplinary programs that are hard to match in the city. The Meridian is a precious jewel.   Saturday makes the kick off of the HOUSE AT 100: Arts Festival and Gala is a two month long interdisciplinary arts festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of Meridian Center for the Arts’ home through film, scholarly discourse, avant-garde dance, theatre and sound.

House at 100: Art Festival and Gala Fundraiser
The Centennial Celebration of the Home of Meridian Center for the Arts
September 24 -November 26, 2011

The HOUSE AT 100: Arts Festival and Gala is a two month long interdisciplinary arts festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of Meridian Center for the Arts’ home through film, scholarly discourse, avant-garde dance, theatre and sound. We will explore the architectural, political and critical history of this building, but also reflect on the Meridian Center for the Arts contributions and its relationships to San Francisco’s present and future.

Our line up of speakers include the poet and publisher at City Lights Books, Lawrence Ferlinghetti in conversation with fellow poet laureate Jack Hirschman, the novelist and elder statesman of the Beat Generation, Herbert Gold, a hands-on textile workshop lead by costume historian Erin Algeo, and the noted historical geographer and New Deal authority Dr. Gray Brechin. A dance performance by Choreographer in Residence, Alexis Iammarino entitled, Choreography as Community Engagement, will be developed directly with current Meridian Interns and Tread the Tendernob, a performed walking tour with performance artist Amy Lewis through the neighborhood north and south of Meridian Gallery.

 

The Festival will culminate in LOVE and BULLETS: A San Francisco Love Story, a one night fundraising gala on November 12, 2011 starting at 7 pm. Tickets only $50.

Also beginning Saturday, September 24th Meridian also presents:

Three Artists on Three Floors

Date: Sep 24 – Nov 26,2011
Reception date: Sep 24,2011
Curator: Theres Rohan

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 24, 2011 5-8pm
Three Artists Talk: Gallery Program
Date and Time: Saturday, October 29, 2011 4pm – 6pm
Topic: Process and Inspiration – how their work comes to be

 

DAVID LINGER: panels
narrative panels in vitrified porcelain

Young Man, Moscow 1969 (detail), 2010, Each Panel 12.5" x 10" x .08", Undeglaze screen print on vitrified porcelain

David Linger. The new work by David Linger will feature again, by his description, narrative panels in vitrified porcelain. With this new body of work his essay on art and life continues. The panels are composed of a complex clay/porcelain process and carry a silk- screened image. He arranges the images in cinematic sequence thus telling his story.

Caption: Young Man, Moscow 1969 (detail), 2010, Each Panel 12.5″ x 10″ x .08″, Undeglaze screen print on vitrified porcelain

 

 

 

 

SANDRA BEARD: magenta
objects and small-scale drawings on rice papers with pigment and wax

Circle Dance, 2009, Each 10" x 10" x 10", Kozo paper, pigment, wax

Sandra Beard. This new, her second show at Meridian Gallery, will feature small- scale drawings on various kinds of papers, as well as objects that further submit ideas of containment and secrecy presented in the two dimensional format. Her choice of materials, especially the fragile waxed rice papers, are a crucial factor of her visual expression.

Caption: Circle Dance, 2009, Each 10″ x 10″ x 10″, Kozo paper, pigment, wax

 

 

 

 

KIMETHA VANDERVEEN: pared down language
paintings on altered panels and folios from her drawing practice

Winter, 2011, 19 1/2" x 5 3/8", Oil paint on pine board

Kimetha Vanderveen. Her exhibition is titled ‘pared down language’ and will occupy the third floor of the gallery. She will feature painting on lightly sanded and highly polished wood panels. There will also be a selection from her extensive drawing practice. In painting, as well as in drawing, this artist’s concern is one of coming to visual essence – to essence of visual language. A small publication of her Nest Drawings will accompany the exhibition.

Caption: Winter, 2011, 19 1/2″ x 5 3/8″, Oil paint on pine board

The Activist Call to Occupy Wall Street Resonates Around the World: Roots in Madrid – UK Guardian

By On September 19, 2011 In Art With 2 Comments Permanent Link to The Activist Call to Occupy Wall Street Resonates Around the World: Roots in Madrid – UK GuardianPermalink

We need deeper changes to our financial system, or tent cities of people angry at corporate greed will keep appearing

and
guardian.co.uk,
On Saturday 17 September, many of us watched in awe as 5,000 Americans descended on to the financial district of lower Manhattan, waved signs, unfurled banners, beat drums, chanted slogans and proceeded to walk towards the “financial Gomorrah” of the nation. They vowed to “occupy Wall Street” and to “bring justice to the bankers”, but the New York police thwarted their efforts temporarily, locking down the symbolic street with barricades and checkpoints.
Spain and floated as a concept by a double-page poster in the 97th issue of Adbusters magazine, but it was spearheaded, orchestrated and accomplished by independent activists. It all started when Adbusters asked its network of culture jammers to flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens and peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. The idea caught on immediately on social networks and unaffiliated activists seized the meme and built an open-source organising site. A few days later, a general assembly was held in New York City and 150 people showed up. These activists became the core organisers of the occupation. The mystique of Anonymous pushed the meme into the mainstream media. Their video communique endorsing the action garnered 100,000 views and a warning from the Department of Homeland Security addressed to the nation’s bankers. When, in August, the indignados of Spain sent word that they would be holding a solidarity event in Madrid’s financial district, activists in Milan, Valencia, London, Lisbon, Athens, San Francisco, Madison, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Israel and beyond vowed to do the same.

 

AV Clash – Session 2: Generative Computer Art and Sound by Video Jack

By On September 16, 2011 In Art & Technology, Media Arts With 1 Comment Permanent Link to AV Clash – Session 2: Generative Computer Art and Sound by Video JackPermalink
AV Clash – Session 2

 

Screen capture from live session using AV Clash:
avclash.com
AV Clash (2010) is a project by Video Jack (videojackstudios.com) for creating audiovisual compositions, consisting of combinations of sound and audio-reactive animation loops. The sounds are retrieved from freesound.org.
More info:
videojackstudios.com/​projects/​avclash/​
Credits:
André Carrilho (visuals); Nuno Coreia (interaction); Gokce Taskan (coding); Freesound.org and community (sounds)

Cast: Video Jack

Tags: audiovisual, vj, vjing, motiongraphics, animation, videojack, avclash, music, musicvideo, freesound, andrecarrilho, nunocorreia and gokcetaskan

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