HM Artist Network

For many years now the Mormon church has been producing monthly magazines. Three main magazines have been produced in recent years and are currently in distribution:

“The Friend” – A publication for younger members of the church, this magazine has puzzles, pictures, games, and other activities that younger children enjoy. There is also a section called “Our Creative Friends” which contains artwork created by the youth of the church. The purpose of “The Friend” is to help build testimony and gospel knowledge in children.

“The New Era” – A church magazine for older youth and teens. This includes stories and articles to help teens and youth to come to a greater understanding of gospel principles through inspirational quotes from church leadership. This magazine also includes artwork and mormonads – pictures with catch phrases that teach a moral principle.

“The Ensign” – For adult members of the church, this publication has instruction direct from the leadership of the church. It includes a message from the first presidency, the highest governing body in the church as well as articles from other general authorities and church members. The magazine is filled with LDS art and other Mormon artwork.

Magazines have been an important part of the Mormon church from the early days as a way of spreading news of the church, sharing spiritual experiences and to providing gospel insights. LDS art has been used to help bring visual aids to make the articles more interesting. In every issue of “The Ensign”, they have a spot on the back featuring art from well known LDS artists. “The New Era” has LDS art used to inspire youth to make right choices. In recent years “The Friend” magazine has had cartoon artwork that has a similar style to modern cartoons to capture children’s interests.

LDS magazines give members of the church information and help build spiritual strength.

By: Trent Bowen

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Graffiti is a social expression as much as one would associate it as a personal one. Many people who are opposed to graffiti, see it as a reflection of social breakdown, rebellious attitude and a lack of sense of citizenship.

Should graffiti writers be allowed to do anything they wanted? I am a keen believer that ‘controlled graffiti’ has more benefits than negative impacts on the society. It is true that vandalism is not welcome in the society. However, there are many graffiti writers who treat graffiti art as a form of community beautification. By community beautification, I consider graffiti art in urban ‘dead spaces’. They help to spice up abandoned urban blight and educate the public on social issues.

Graffiti art is a contrast to other forms of public art. Art form that requires no gallery hierarchy and no merchandizing and commercial hustle. There is a feeling that public advertising is the real cause of urban decay. Too much commercialism has caused the declined of public interest towards political and social concerns.

Graffiti art is a vehicle for people to connect with. It is the perfect platform for urban dwellers to know what is going on with a city. Looking at the writing on the wall, you can tell what are the social and political problems that are happening in the country.

Graffiti art is the ultimate expression of artistic democracy. It is a true reflection of the culture that it comes from. Graffiti artists send to the public a strong message-we should be more concern with social issues amid the influx of negative commercialism.

By: Tan Ruixiang William

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Though some people assume that Cancun is full of nothing but overpriced souvenirs, there are plenty of great values to be found. Some of the best bargains in Cancun – for both entertainment and distinctive souvenirs – are provided by the vibrant local art community. Art is everywhere you look in Cancun. Wherever you travel in the Hotel Zone or downtown Cancun, you will spot artists selling their work on busy street corners or in outdoor markets. Meanwhile, the galleries of Cancun represent both the best work of the region and internationally-recognized artists. Regardless of your budget, you will be able to find the right piece to add to your collection in Cancun.

One of the most popular places to view the fruits of creative labor is Cancun’s folk art museum, known locally as Museo de Arte Popular Mexicano. Located on the second floor of El Embarcadero Marina in Cancun’s Hotel Zone, the folk art museum showcases everything from traditional Mexican masks and costumes to religious artifacts and handmade toys. With nearly 15,000 square feet of exhibition space, the museum is able to tell many stories about both the local culture and the history of the Mexican people. Besides all of the artistic objects on display, the onsite gift shop is also a great place to shop for locally made oddities. Furthermore, the folk art museum provides a fun and affordable nighttime activity, remaining open to the public until at least 9 pm each day.

Some of the best places to shop for art in Cancun are the large shopping centers located throughout the Hotel Zone. The best selection of both commercial art galleries and individual vendors is at the sprawling Plaza Kukulcan. Known primarily for its number of upscale clothing and jewelry stores, Plaza Kukulcan is also a bustling art marketplace. In the common areas of the shopping center, local artists are allowed to display their work and sell directly to the public every day. On any given day, you will be able to find artists selling everything from handmade jewelry and crafts to pottery and oil paintings.

Plaza Kukulcan is also the place to find the work of renowned local artist Sergio Bustamante. Represented in Cancun by the Xaman-Ek Galleries, Bustamante’s uniquely surrealistic work is collected worldwide. Though he trained as an architect in Mexico, Bustamante has spent years combining his Chinese and Indian influences with the Mexican art tradition. The result is a body of sculpture and ceramics exhibiting a distinctive sense of humor, spiritually guided realism and superior workmanship. With additional locations at Plaza Caracol and La Isla, the Xaman-Ek Galleries also sell all types of locally-made products including jewelry, painting and folk art sculpture.

As you tour the galleries and museums of Cancun, you can also expect to see work inspired by the ancient Mayan culture. As the city is located amongst scores of ancient ruins in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, the imagery of the ancient civilization has always found its way into local museums and galleries. For souvenir hunters and art collectors, some of the most sought after items in Cancun are the expert reproductions of Mayan artwork. One such artist working in this style is painter and Mayan scholar Miguel Castro. Known for his masterful reproductions of Mayan paintings, Castro also uses traditional tools and methods to create his pieces.

Before venturing out in search of galleries and local artwork, check the local guides available at your hotel or resort. Besides offering descriptions of individual galleries and providing directions, many publications detail the most current exhibitions. If you are hoping to find a specific type of artwork at one of the outdoor markets, ask your concierge for suggestions; they often know where the best artists sell their products.

By: Justin Burch

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After criminals are apprehended, their personal properties and goods acquired from ill-gotten money are seized by the law enforcement agencies. These goods are also termed government seized properties. After some time when these goods or properties reach a certain threshold, they are sold to the public through an auction. At these government seized property auctions, the goods can be various kinds as following:

VEHICLES: These form the most common type of government seized properties. SUV’s, pick-up trucks, luxury cars, motorcycles and amazingly even boats and airplanes could be available at an auction. You can get real beauties at good bargains, since vehicle value and condition can be assessed easily. It is important to check for other liabilities on the vehicles (ex: liens) before bidding.

REAL ESTATE: Even the small criminal or the biggest dons around need a roof on their heads. The most expensive category of government seized properties is real estate. It could be ready homes, vacant land, holiday cottages, mansions or suburban houses. Commercial real estate is also available in the form of car dealerships, ranches, retail outlets, restaurants or hotels etc. Both forms of government seized properties are available at a value far below the market rates and can be a very good bargain.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS: Criminals have been known to have better standards of living than most average people. On apprehension and seizure of their properties, it is evident that they also have household goods and furniture that have been seized. Government seized property auctions consist of an array of household goods that can be had for pennies in place of dollars.

FINE ART/ ANTIQUES: Goods like Chippendale furniture, Tiffany glass, paintings, sculptures, rugs etc are also available at government seized property auctions for far less that one could imagine. These fine art pieces become affordable that could otherwise blow a hole in the pocket.

CLOTHES AND JEWELRY: Designer suits and customized jewellery, once adorned by criminals and gotten by ill-gotten means can now be had from government seized auctions at fabulous throw away prices. Brands like Versace, Cartier, Vera Wang, Nautica, Tiffany, Bulgari can now be acquired at rock bottom prices from government seized property auctions.

Going to an auction does not really hurt, does it? Visit a government seized property auction to find out how crime pays for you. Check out local newspapers for announcements of dates and venues and please acquire a list of items in the auction with description to help yourself.

By: Tim Lee

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The Springfield Museums are located at 21 Edwards Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. It consists of four world class museums which are:

o Museum of Fine Arts

o George Walter Smith Art Museum

o Springfield Science Museum

o Connecticut Valley Historical Museum

The Museums Association is home to the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden, which is a series of full-scale bronze sculptures of Dr. Seuss’s whimsical creations.

There is one admission price to enjoy all four Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss Park. There are permanent collections and galleries. They also host major traveling art, history and science exhibitions. There will always be something new.
A few facts about the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts include:

o It is home to the Seymour Planetarium, which is the oldest operating planetarium in the United States.

o The ashes of George Walter Vincent Smith and his wife, Belle Townsley Smith, are inside one of the walls on the second floor of the Museum

o The Museum of Fine Arts has the largest permanent collection of Currier & Ives prints in the world.

o Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is the only one that exists to honor Theodor Geisel

The four Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden offer endless adventures in arts, sciences, and history. If you are a member, you can enjoy visit after visit. Membership gives unlimited opportunities to explore the Springfield Museums.

Weekend Family Fun Events

Programs include:

o A performance

o Art and science demonstration

o Hands-on craft workshops

All activities are designed to highlight holidays, special exhibitions, cultural traditions and topics to appeal to children.

Family Science Adventures

The museums feature ongoing, drop-in activities that allow families to experience together the wonders of scientific discovery. An example of an activity might be of a “roving scientist” who presents “hair-raising” electricity demonstrations using a Van de Graaff generator. You might want to experiment with chemical reactions, the physical properties of light and electrical circuits in the Science Discovery Laboratory.

Hasbro Games Art Discover Center Activities

The Art Discovery Center in the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is the setting for participatory activities. Children can try on costumes and armor, find their sign in the Chinese Zodiac and create make-it and take-it art projects.

School Vacation Week Programs

In December, February and April, the Springfield Museums are open extended hours. Children and families are invited to participate in a range of activities that may include:

o Children’s theater

o Puppet shows

o Magic programs

o Art-making workshops

o Planetarium shows

o Storytelling

o Science demonstrations

o Live animal programs

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties are unique at the Springfield Museums. They offer two-hour birthday parties for children ages 4 – 12 on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The parties are led by an experienced instructor in a private, decorated room. Activity themes include:

o Amazing Animals

o Dynamic Dinosaurs

o Journey Into Space

o On the Loose with Dr. Seuss

o Asian Art Adventures

Group Tours

If you desire a personalized exploration of the Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden, they can arrange a group tour for you. The tours can be arranged for you to discover their collections and exhibits on your own or with a trained docent.

Tours are paced to accommodate your schedule. Picnics can be enjoyed on the Quadrangle Green. Enjoy exploring the universe in their Seymour Planetarium, shopping in their Museum store or just enjoying your group’s company.

Host Your Event

The Springfield Museums can host your special events. They accommodate small groups and larger functions. A Special Events Coordinator can help you choose a location in one of the four stellar Museums or outside on the private lawns, surrounded by whimsical Dr. Seuss sculptures. They can host events from private cocktail receptions to full scale dinners and conference meeting rooms and streamline your event from start to finish. Their amenities include:

o Full cocktail bars

o Outdoor tents

o Music and live entertainment

o Photographers

o Valet parking for guests

o Private lectures by esteemed Museum Directors

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