I found this on Modern Art Obsession and thought it was a very apt comment on the current situation.

I am sure a lot of people would argue that this is humor, or despair and not art - But I beg to differ. I think that the accuracy of the comment, and the way this “new bill” would get a reaction either of laughter or tears from every single person in this country, and probably on the planet could would and should fall under the definition of art.

Mandalas seems to be the name of the game this season, and a lot of shows and artist are all about Mandalas. Joanne Mattera has recently posted about some of these upcoming shows, along with great images.

 The entrance of greater spirituality into our lives over the last decade or so is very evident in every walk of life, and it seems that one of its manifestations in art is through the Mandala.
You have some that are incredibly beautiful, but more obvious than others, like Tadasky’s work, but quite amazing a captivating in all of its obviousness, (follow link to see more (picture credit)

and others that would be what you would see after meditating on a Mandala for a while, like the ones by Bill Armstrong.

Photo credit Artclamp

He has a thoughtful and interesting process that I connect to immensely, he makes collages and then Photographs them, with the focus on infinity - resulting in very interesting, blurry images that are associated in my mind with staring at something intently for a long time, creating something completely different in your mind.
A completely different take on Mandalas, and the most delightful and creative  in my humble opinion is that of Marjorie Kaye, virtual kaleidoscope of geometric art, very detailed in what seems to be layers and mirrors of mirrors. You can get completely lost in these intricate works… it makes me wonder how long it takes her to emerge after she dives into one of these…

Marjorie Kaye Lightship photo courtesy of Belief-net

A New Paul Paiement Show will open at the Peter Blake Gallery Laguna Beach, CA.and run September 4-27, 2008. Seems definitely worth a visit. Paul’s work is both visually pleasing and intriguing.
This is an excerpt from the artists statement on his site:

Hybrids are a series of watercolor and egg tempera paintings based on psychological theories of visual perception. These pieces appear to be entomological studies of insects, but they actually explore perception’s effect on judgement. The paintings seek out the boundaries between what we believe to be factual and that which is fictitious.

My work addresses technology’s influence on society in two primary ways. I first consider the fusion of the organic and inorganic through the concept of cyborgs. Cyborgs are a hybrid of machine and organism created to enhance nature. Evidence of these sci-fi inventions exists in robotics, prosthetics, DNA testing, cloning, etc. Secondly, I choose to paint the subjects, rather than digitally render them to display distrust in our culture’s deification of technology….
…It is important that the paintings are rendered in a detailed, almost photographic manner so that the depicted objects are easily recognizable. Currently, the computer is the most precise tool we have. I decided to rival the computer by choosing one of the oldest painting mediums, egg-tempera. This is a medium that demands computer-like precision from the artist because it does not permit revision. Also, painting in a traditional manner allows for precise manipulations and alterations of which current graphic software is incapable. Altering an image to “fool the eye,” as I do, involves issues of representation that photography simply cannot address, even with imaging software and advanced dark room techniques.

I would love to get a chance to look at his work live, and not via computer screen for several reasons, the fist and the most obvious of which I have already stated above. Another reason is that in this computerized world of ours painting and art that has been hand made or touched directly by humans, has a certain warmth to it that is lacking in all computerized art. Paiement’s work however, is so perfectly accurate that it seems to be lacking in that certain human warmth. Although it seems his choices were very conscious, I would like to stand in front of a painting in person and see what the art does for me.

Source: The OC Art Blog

One of the most influential exhibits in all time was the 1863 , Salon Des Refusees, hat was initiated by the Napoleon III who commanded that all the rejected artists from the annual Paris Salon, A Jurried state exhibition, be included in an exhibition of there own.

Out of the 2000 rejected artist, 500 exhibited, amongst others Manet, Degas, and Renoir…. who although rejects from the mainstream art of the time became art world pioneers for impressionism and pretty much household names.

In a take of of that Philosophy, French lover art Dealer Steve Mendelson initiated the same sort of show for Pittsburgh artists.
The show exhibits 20 pieces from as many artist who where rejected by this years Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s exhibit.
Only 16 of the artist chosen showed up with there work a week prior to the opening.
For a full review of the show click here.
Source

This is a little off topic but I couldn’t resist…Found this on Cigarettes and Purity and wanted to share.