Thursday, November 07, 2024

Loriann Signori at Gallery B opens tomorrow

 "Light is a Kind of Generosity" at Gallery B - Loriann Signori Exhibition Opens Tomorrow

"Light is a Kind of Generosity" by Loriann Signori opens tomorrow! Loriann's paintings, situated between abstraction and recognizable form, are explorations of the color of air and beauty. Loriann is recognized as an Eminent Pastelist with the International Pastel Society, and a winner of the President’s Award in 2024.

"Light is a Kind of Generosity" will run from November 8 - December 1, 2024. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-2pm. There will be an opening reception Friday, November 8 from 5:30-8:30pm, and an artist talk on Saturday, November 23 from 12-1pm.

Gallery B

The curious case of Eyder Peralta's Spanish translations on NPR

You constant readers know that I am a pedantic Virgo who often pokes fun at the Googletranslatization of America - this 2004 example is perhaps one of the funniest ones.

However, every once in a while one comes at what can best be described as an intellectually dishonest translation - that is, when the translator purposefully "slides" the translations around to drive home a point or position or opinion.

And thus my most recent case submitted for your evaluation.

This morning, as I've done for the past 20-30 years, I listened to NPR from about 7AM - 8AM.

At around 7:28AM, on WAMU I listened to NPR's Mexico City correspondent Eyder Peralta deliver a report on NPR's Morning Edition with the subject of "Mexico's leader says don't fret Trump's win, but Mexicans say they are worried."

You can listen to it here.

At the point in the report where Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum speaks in Spanish for the second time in the clip, Peralta translates it as:

"To our brothers and sisters who live in the United States, to the businesspeople, there is no reason to worry."

Is this translation is purposefully mistranslated?, I note that because Sheinbaum did NOT say "hermanos y hermanas" which is Spanish for "brothers and sisters", but "paisanos y paisanas" which means "countrymen and countrywomen", and there's a HUGE familial and political footprint on the meaning of those words.

Error? Intellectual dishonesty? A stretch of the translation?

No tengo idea... cough... cough...

Wednesday, November 06, 2024

Eccentric Exhibition at Alliance Gallery juried by Rosemary Feit Covey

My good friend Rosemary Feit Covey has put together what I hear is a great show in Arlington at the Arlington Artists Alliance gallery!

The exhibition explores the artists’ interpretation of the show’s title: Altered States. Themes  include but are not limited to: transformation and change, alternate realities, inner or personal growth, and shifting perspectives. 

From the innards of a giant fuzzy earthworm to the dark history of gynecology to the melting of the Alps, this show is unique and thought-provoking. 

All artists are from the DMV area. Almost all mediums are represented: video art, soft sculpture, hard sculpture, paintings, embroidery, photography, ceramics, and 3D printed objects. 

Alliance Gallery at The Crossing

The show is up until November 24 and gallery hours are Thursday-Sunday, 12-6PM.

Address: Alliance Gallery at The Crossing, 2700 Clarendon Blvd Suite 330 in the breezeway between SoulCycle and Chip City in Arlington VA.

Tuesday, November 05, 2024

The curious case of the mystery artist and the poop sculpture

On NPR Rachel Treisman told us about how Poop on Pelosi's desk, a neo-Nazi tiki torch: Mysterious statues are popping up in D.C. and we learned that:

An unusual bronze sculpture appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., last week: a replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk, topped with her nameplate, a landline phone, Post-it Notes, file folders and a perfectly swirled pile of feces, a la poop emoji.

Then Sebastian Smee at the WaPo, told us that it was "great public art, actually."

Then Joe Heim, also at the WaPo added that a new sculpture had appeared: "A neo-Nazi tiki torch statue for Trump.

And yesterday Makea Luzader from DC News Now, and today Heim added that the artist is now distributing mini replicas of the poopsculpture (see how I just invented a new word?). 

PoopSculpture in DC (Images courtesy of Civic Crafted)
(Images courtesy of Civic Crafted)
Luzader adds:

The statue’s permit ended on Oct. 31, but its legacy lives on — Civic Crafted, the organization that held the permit from the National Park Service, placed new poop memorabilia out for grabs.

You can't make this shit poop up!

Monday, November 04, 2024

Why Trump is going to win tomorrow

Before you read my prediction for tomorrow's election, read this 2005 post, where I warned the Democratic Party of the reasoning that I am about to use for the prediction.

This is part of what I wrote almost 20 years ago:

Talking about Mexico and Mexicans... it baffles me that the egg heads in the Democrat Party cannot foresee what every contemporary Latino/Hispanic knows in his or her heart: One day, not too far in the future, as the Hispanic population in the US continues to grow,  and because we are so diverse in thought, culture and perspectives, that one day, a decade or two from now, when Latino numbers make Latinos the largest ethnic minority in the US... the DNC will be shocked to "discover" that Latinos will not be obedient voters for the Democrat ticket only, and Latino/a politicians will run and win under the Republican party, and large percentages of the Latino vote will go to the right.

About tomorrow's election - I will predict that Trump will win, and his victory will be in large part due to the Hispanic vote.  If this doesn't make sense to you, then read the 2005 post again!

What are we going to see?

Florida has a HUGE Hispanic population - everyone knows Cuban-Americans vote in the high 90s for Republicans, and yet Miami's Dade County has been reliably Democratic for decades; Hillary Clinton won the county with 63% of the vote in 2016, and President Biden won it with 53% in 2020 -  that was a warning signal to the Dems that they failed to heed.  I predict that Trump will not only win Dade (and Florida), but also win it easily - around 51 - 55% of the vote.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Osceola County in Florida, as that county has a huge Puerto Rican population. If Trump wins that county, it's another nail in the coffin, a really nasty one, in view of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe stupid jokes at the Madison Square Garden rally held by the Trump campaign.

Texas also has a substantial Mexican-American population, and we're told that the pollsters are seeing a substantial move of the usually reliable Democrat voters towards the GOP. If they're right in Texas, then think all those Southwestern states and Harris is cooked.

Biden won Latino males by a 23 points (59%-36%) in the 2020 elections.  I predict that El Trumpo will not only reverse that, but get between 50-55% of the Latino male vote.

Latina women are a different story, but still a problem for Harris. Biden won Latina women votes by 39 points in 2020! Tall order for Harris (in my opinion). She will still win with Latina women, but will most likely underperform Biden, and win Latina women's vote by 20-25%, thus giving El Trumpo 14-19% more votes from Latinas; it adds up!

Bottom line: If you are one of those doomsayers who has been brainwashed by the press about the world ending if Trump wins, blame it on Latinos/Latinas/Hispanics.

Lo que no mata, engorda.

Sunday, November 03, 2024

Curtis Woody's Art Reception at Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex

 Meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments on Sunday, November 17, 2024, 2pm - 4pm at a free, public art reception in Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex.

Curtis G. Woody's powerful works enhance the unique, cultural characteristics of African American heritage and history. His intricate collage paintings are research based and draw inspiration from historical connection points that join individuals, families, generations and communities.

This exhibition at The Learning Gallery inside Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex will be open to the public through January 4, 2025.

SPLEX is located at 8001 Sheriff Rd, Landover, MD 20785. It is open to the public through January 4, 2025. Hours of operation are: Monday - Friday, 6am - 9pm, Saturday, 9am - 6pm, Sunday, 12pm - 6pm

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

If you can't paint well, paint BIG!

What Dali said...


Homage to Salvador Dali, 2024 by F. Lennox Campello
Homage to Salvador Dali, 2024 by F. Lennox Campello
Graphite & conte on broken, reclaimed, unfired Bisque