V-Day Book Review: Bloody Diamonds
Topic: Book Buzz
The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through The World Of Diamonds, Deceit And Desire
By Tom Zoellner 2006



Just in time for V-Day.org and more importantly on a marketing scale, the movie Blood Diamonds, comes the text dense memoir by Tom Zoellner. The Heartless Stone released late last year picks up where the original Blood Diamonds leaves off and presents a broader if not more disturbing picture of global diamond trade. This broader picture includes the negative effects both economically and environmentally within Africa aside from the regions considered to produce bloody diamonds. Thanks to the movie many people in America know the evil dubbed Blood Diamonds including people having their hands hacked off and children recruited for war but what many don't know is the so called clean diamonds from Africa are rather tainted as well. Tom paints a troubling picture of child labor, men being paid 3 USD an hour to mine diamonds that are resold for hundreds of thousands of dollars and then there are the mines themselves… in most cases nothing but large holes in the ground subject to cave ins, especially during the rainy season. As more and more would be brides are snubbing diamond engagement rings it makes one wonder if they read Tom’s chapters on how the secondary diamond market is almost nil (engagement ring diamonds = poor investments from a financial standpoint) and how the whole diamond engagement craze was woven into the fabric of American wedding dresses via brilliant marketing (Diamonds are Forever). While Tom’s reminiscing about his own failed engagement borders on sappy and even downright bizarre (do little boys really dream about their wedding day?) it seems like they serve a purpose and that’s to momentarily distract the reader from the bombardment of unsettling text. Tom also goes to great lengths to convince you everything in this book is the truth… the result of a “Million Little Pieces” I guess although I have a few doubts. Still, this is a major eye opener and may get a few people out of a sticky jam if they couldn’t afford a little bling for that special person this V-Day.org.

Save These Dates: CA USA
Topic: Openings & Event Dates
Exhibit: February 5-24, 2007, Modesto Art Museum, Anderson Gallery, 1323 J Street, Modesto, California USA Mon-Sat, 10-4 Free, "Future Vision".

Exhibit Reception: Anderson Gallery, 1323 J Street, Modesto, California, Thursday, Feb 15, 2007, 5-9 pm,$2 No charge to museum members or participating artists. Includes theremin demonstration.

More art news and reviews coming soon!

Save These Dates: Berlin Germany & GA USA

(2007 "untitled" ink on paper, copyright MAM, all rights reserved.)

Freitag, 9.Februar 2007
ab 19.00
zusatzlich geoffnet
Samstag, 10.Februar 2007
13-20 Uhr,
blutenweiss - Raum fur Kunst, Prenzlauer Allee 224
10405 Berlin Germany,
"Anonyme Zeichner 4"

&

Jan. 9th through Feb. 3rd with opening reception Jan 13th, 6pm to 9pm, Gallery RFD, 106 N. Green Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401 USA, "The Art of Communication"

Art News
Topic: Openings & Event Dates
Marie Anakee has donated a piece of her art to the FRAMING AIDS 2006 show in conjunction with World Day With(out) Art. This show started on the 2nd and will be going on through Dec. 10th at the Local Project, 21-36 44th Rd., Long Island City, NY http://www.qmad.org/ .

MAM will also be donating art to the OUR CHILDREN: HONOR WITH ART
Art book project started by Shawn Marie Hardy to raise funds and awareness for abducted, missing and exploited children. If you would like to become involved, bid and/or donate art, visit www.honorwithart.com .

Save These Dates: Berlin Germany & Remy De Provence France
Topic: Openings & Event Dates
Greetings everyone,

Here are the latest places to see MAM art:

Dec. 21st 2006 blutenweiss - Raum fur Kunst, Prenzlauer Allee 224
10405 Berlin Germany "Anonyme Zeichner 3"

Dec. 8th (preview) through Dec. 26th 2006 de la premiere exposition, La Cour Des Arts, 55 Avenue de la diberation, 13210 St. Remy De Provence, France, "Saint Remy de Provence" (no need to mention this of course but look for lots of Van Gogh's spirit in this one)

Save These Dates: KY & WI USA
Topic: Openings & Event Dates

(A Heavy Load by Molly Mckee for "Marriage, Home & Family" 2006)

Opening Reception, November 17, 5-8pm, Show Runs November 17 - December 15 Union Art Gallery, 2200 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI, "MARRIAGE, HOME & FAMILY". (see my mixed media piece, "Night of the Henna Hands")

Jan. 2007 Jeffersontown Library Exhibit Space, KY "Coffee - How does it make you feel?" and then travels March 2007 to Day's Esspresso & Coffee House, Bardstown Road, Louisville KY and April 6th 2007 to the Expressions Gallery, 1800 W Muhammad Ali Blvd, Louisville KY. (see my piece "Jitterbug")

Have a very happy and safe holidays everyone!

www.anakee.com

Save These Dates: Berlin Germany & NYC USA
Topic: Openings & Event Dates

("Manadala" by MAM 2005 for Carla Cryptic's "Manadala". Copyright MAM 2005.)

Nov 18th and Nov 19th 2006 blutenweiss - Raum fur Kunst, Prenzlauer Allee 224
10405 Berlin "Anonyme Zeichner 2"

(preview) Dec. 1st and (sale) Dec. 2nd 2006 Sikkema Jenkins & Co.
530 West 22nd Street (between 10th & 11th Avenues) "Postcards From the Edge Benefit"

Last Bloom Of the Season & Dave These Dates
Topic: Openings & Event Dates
Greetings everyone,

I hope you are all having a wonderful fall so far! As can be seen things have been exceptionally quiet here because I am hard art work on multiple projects (some of which you will soon see). I will be back in a few days with tons of art news, happenings and reviews. In the mean time here is my last bloom of the season.

Save These Dates (for those in the NYC area or who will be)

See the amazing Ice Theatre of New York do ice concerts at Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, etc., starting now through April 2007. Visit www.icetheatre.org for more information / dates. I adore them so much and once you see them, you'll know why!

Wednesday, Nov 8th, 5 - 10pm, "Night of 1,000 Drawings Benefit" at Artists Space, 28 Greene Street, 3rd Floor. Admission $10. (it'll be easy to find me, as usual).

Friday, Dec 1st through Jan. 5th "Annual 4x6 Benefit Show & Sale 2006", The Creative Center: Arts in Healthcare. 147 West 26th Street, 6th Floor.
www.anakee.com

Holiday Book Reviews
Topic: Book Buzz
Holiday Book Reviews

So many fantastic books have come in, that I'll be doing a series of book review posts. All of these books are perfect for the holidays, especially as gifts and for the artists in your life. Do people still have those? Onward...

Nonfiction:

The Davinci Notebooks by Leonardo Da Vinci, edited / introduction by Emma Dickens, (Profile Books Ltd UK 2005). What can I say? This small book is scrumptious! Let's go to a quote:

"Now there is a certain race of painters who, having studied but little, must take as their standard of beauty mere gold and azure, and these, with supreme conceit, declare that they will not give good work for miserable payment, and that they could do as well as any other if they were well paid. But, ye foolish folks! Cannot such artists keep some good work, and then say: this is a costly work and this more moderate and this average work and show that they can work at all prices?"

Boy do some, "foolish folk" come to mind but shall remain nameless. When was this written? Some 550 years ago!? Sad that some have not learned such sage advice and how bad of business it is to try and turn art elitist and court only the wealthy. Why else is everyone flocking to design for Target and H&M? This is just one passage that could spark so much debate. Leonardo's book would not only make for a welcome gift but it also could be put to such great "Salon" use with each sonnet making for deep discussion.

The Girl with the Gallery: Edith Gregor Halpert and the Making of the Modern Art Market by Lindsay Pollock (Public Affairs 2006). Now Edith comes from a line of women I like to call, "Chutzpah Women". Women who show guts and not only made great strides for women but for their industries and causes as well. Ms. Halpert happened to indeed be of Jewish decent but other Chutzpah women include Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, etc., and it's surprising to see threads of sameness stretching through all of their lives. A certain, "something". Coming to the US as a small girl from, as she would say Odessa Russia, Edith changed her name and told various white lies to get herself into art school and later sales jobs. All the while visiting museums and galleries with a keen interest in arts. When her own artistic talents didn't pan out, Edith went on to open up a series of revolutionary art galleries in NYC and has been credited with making American art not only popular but worthy of collection. Lindsy Pollock brings back into light a women who has sadly been virtually forgotten by both artists and art dealers. A woman who's life was spicy, successful and a good example of what going out on a limb can achieve.

Town & Country Handbook for Hosts: A Practical Guide to Party Planning and Gracious Entertaining by Adam Bluestein (Hearst Books 2006). Just in time for the holidays and all those Salons you wish to hold comes the perfect addition to your, "someone help me please!" library. A tad bit stuffy yet filled with chic illustrations and short paragraphs that sort of makeup for that, this is a book created to be used. Thick pages, lists of things to do, large type, sturdy cover. I was surprised at the helpful detail this book took the time to go into including how many people make up a good cocktail party, what sort of drinks to serve and even music suggestions (the music was indeed optimal) that won't compete with conversation. Small apartment entertaining has a few pages and a whole quarter to being a decent guest. This book is classy and very helpful yet the author reminds us, "The job of a host can be many wonderful things, but there is one thing it surely isn't--easy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." At least they're truthful.

Coming up next, even more books you'll want to add to your holiday wishlist including more non-fiction and new fiction releases.