APRIL MARTIN CHARTRAND, M.S.’s Post

Link to Blog: a short 5 min read on my relationship with the forest and its imagery...

Blend the old with the new; mix styles and eras for a timeless appeal. #TimelessFusion #VintageMeetsModern #EraBlend #ClassicWithATwist #TimelessDesign #EclecticElegance #VintageReimagined #ModernClassic #RetroRevival #TimelessChic #HeritageReinvented #ContemporaryVintage #ClassicFusion #TimelessStyle #ModernVintageMix

Title: "Waves of Passion" by Rick McCawley Over 65 years, I've pursued a life rich in music and visual artistry, striving to capture the beauty in fleeting moments that others might overlook. This music video, which I have affectionately named "Waves of Passion" embodies over a half-century of my artistic journey—blending life's passions with state-of-the-art technology. Tools Used in Production: My Original Photography: Leveraging my 25-year "Water Woman" project, I utilized Mid Journey's /describe command to evolve my photography into new, dynamic forms. Mid Journey: A powerhouse of creativity, generating over 120,000 images in the last two years, this is a curated tiny sample of thousands of hours of production, that shaped the visual narrative of this project. Suno.ai: Infused with my own words and reflecting my deepest emotions, this tool helped orchestrate the music that threads through the visuals. Photoshop: Essential for retouching and expanding the imagery, retouching each element ensuring every frame was perfect. KREA: Transformed still images into flowing video, enhancing quality and depth to bring stillness to life. Dream Machine by Luma: The newest addition to my toolkit, used to create captivating 30-second clips, each upscaled for maximum impact. I designate this work: "Signature Worthy" as a testament to a life spent in pursuit of artistic excellence. Each frame is steeped in my humanity and dedication, meriting my signature not just as a mark of creation, but as a seal of my lifelong passion. I invite you to experience this journey with me, Rick McCawley https://lnkd.in/e9jPCSpQ

Another episode of our art and philosophy talks with my friend Richard K Blades, a contemporary painter from East Anglia. This time we're meeting in Richard's art studio in the countryside during my brief visit in the UK a few weeks back. It was a beautiful day to reunite in person after 20 years of pursuing our own paths independently, yet somewhat in parallel. In the conversation we delve into how our craftsmanship helped us develop a sense of existential meaning to our respective journeys, regardless of what medium we happened to express ourselves at different stages of it: image, sound, word, ideas... Choosing to live a life of existential meaning comes with many sacrifices we are asked to make for the sake of maintaining our authenticity and spontaneity as the origin of all genuine creativity. To transcend the limitations of the flesh and break through fetters of convention requires of us to assert our True Will that is guided by the right balance of intellect and intuition. Paradoxically, however, this balance has to be continuously disrupted to challenge the stability our perceptions so that our expression is such that has the power to transform, push boundaries and create new realities. We discussed the following themes: 1. What we want is not always what we need. 2. "The map is not the territory:" course-correcting and adaptability. 3. The insecurity of self-limiting beliefs vs. unrealistic self-assessment (reality vs. ambition). 4. Creativity, divine discontent, and imperfection. 5. Striving for ever-unfolding possibilities. 6. Creativity as a non-linear investment of energy into the unknown. 7. Finding your true calling: faith and sacrifice in the ritual of self-creation. 8. Fall in love with your fate: Amor Fati and Eternal Recurrence (Nietzsche). 9. Letting go of the outcome as a fundament of genuine self-expression. 10. The languages of art: pre-cognitive communication. 11. The timeless dimension of creative expression. 12. Style vs. a stylistic. 13. Contextuality and meaning. 14. Palaeolithic origins of art. 15. The artist's relationship with the material, medium and equipment (instrumental vs. intrinsic meaning). 16. Having the courage to recognise your True Will. 17. Integrity: embodying an authentic style.

Title: "World of Dreams and Fantasy" Description: The artwork depicts a character with an unusual appearance and purple hair, surrounded by vibrant, fantastical creatures. The background includes a nighttime window and a bulletin board with notes, including the phrase "ARE NOT REAL," symbolizing the blending of reality and dreams. The piece combines realism and fantasy, reflecting a world full of colors and imaginative ideas.

Another work. The integration of animation and live-action footage. #brazilero #animation #character2d #rigg #vfx

🕊️ Exploring Grief Through Art and Place Today, I visited Sculpture On The Edge, a stunning showcase where artistic innovation meets the imagined natural beauty of ancient land and deep time. The venue is beautifully maintained, with immaculate gardens. Yet, this careful curation feels like the surface layer of a palimpsest—partially obscuring, but not erasing, the ancient stories of the land. The land still "speaks" through its form, geography, and presence, though its voice feels muted beneath the curated surface. Walking with place, wearing my "death geography hat", I reflected on how death, like art, transcends boundaries—it touches all lives. This experience sparked a thought: how can art in cemeteries help us better understand the multifaceted nature of grief, bereavement, and loss? Cemeteries are often seen as spaces for traditional, commercialised memorialisation. But can they evolve to offer something more meaningful? ✨ What if local monumental masons—skilled artisans—collaborated with artists? Imagine the possibilities. Art has the power to convey the complexities of grief—personal, cultural, and environmental—creating a shared language for what words often cannot express. Cemeteries could transform into spaces of reflection, healing, and community connection, where stories of loss and learning are honoured in inclusive and innovative ways. Standing on this sacred land, I felt the intersection of art and place—a reminder of the layered histories, memories, and ongoing relationships held within the land. Imagine cemeteries as living landscapes of memory and creativity, amplifying the stories that shape our understanding of life and death—before we arrive and long after we are gone. I’m sharing some photos of my experience and reflections on place. Let’s reimagine these spaces together. ~ Gillian Hall 🌿 #GriefMatters #ArtAndPlace #DeathGeography #HealingWithArt #CommunitySpaces #WalkingWithPlace #Storying #Land #Reconciliation

The Statue of Liberty 🗽 will be 138 years old in October. That's monumental. The statue has endured both World War I and World War II. 🔫 💪🏻 The statue has been struck by lightning 600 times. 😱 The torch symbolizes liberty, freedom, inspiration, knowledge, and enlightenment.📢📯 People have been prohibited from climbing to the torch because, in 1916, it was damaged by a German attack. The original torch was replaced after the explosion. 🪖💣💥 The torch was replaced in 1986 due to the explosion. It reflects the sun's rays during the day and is illuminated by 16 LED floodlights at night. SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH ME 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 So lately, I've been urging people to deeply consider the causes they claim to support. As some of you already know, I'm pulled to structures and systems that outlive generations. Whatever cause or vision you're contributing to or pioneering, please think of future generations, think of posterity. Please don't live solely for yourself; think inclusion. LET'S INTERACT. ✍🏻 What major cause or vision are you contributing to? Are you pioneering any cause? 💪🏻🔥 What intrigues you about the Statue of Liberty? Can you spot any leadership and management lessons from the Statue of Liberty? 🗽😍 #statue #statueofliberty #generations #posterity #people #inspiration #knowledge #globalvisibilitychallengewithdrvivianmagnus _______________________________ Meeting me for the first time? 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐎𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲 𝐎𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐤𝐡𝐨, 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐈 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 📸 A rare picture of the crown on the Statue of Liberty from the torch.

SAFFRON : Note of Intent ■ We are about to embark on a cinematic journey with «SAFFRON.» My goal is to create a visually emotional and rich work that captures the essence of life while exploring deep themes. In «SAFFRON,» we will delve into a universe where reality and imagination blend harmoniously. Through the character of Houria, we will explore the mystical connection between girls and crocus flowers. When these flowers fade, it is a sign that the girls have experienced violence, revealing a powerful symbolic dimension. The culprit will be represented by the forest monster, a mysterious entity protected by a law that seems to defy human justice. This representation will allow us to address themes of social responsibility and the fight against injustice. In essence, «SAFFRON» will be much more than a simple film; it will be a profound exploration of the most intimate aspects of the human condition, while highlighting the challenges we face in our quest for justice and redemption.

With Trump’s return to the White House, anti-Trump graffiti and street art will likely increase in frequency. My study, ‘Anti-Trump Graffiti and Street Art in Washington, DC,’ https://buff.ly/3bwrpVZ analyzed and provided insights into this unique type of urban visual protest during Trump’s first term & may prove useful to people interested in this phenomenon. #graffiti #streetart #Trump #urbanenvironments