the Awkward Yeti’s Post

It has been a little while since I was last in touch. Just a little note to keep you abreast of what I've been dealing with in the Boise art world. I hope this note finds things are well with you all. Best, Preston As an Art Professor with an MFA, it was very disappointing and sad that BOSCO arts organization had to resort to censorship in order to ban my teddy bear images from being viewed in any of their exhibitions or events. Such a small minded, pedantic attitude was something unexpected to find in the leadership. I guess they didn't understand the social meaning behind my images. In case the board and the members need some education on the matter, here's the definition of what makes great art: Technical skill: Great art is well-crafted, with a solid understanding of the basics of art, such as color, composition, line, and proportion. Originality: Great art is unique and breaks with convention, either by disregarding established techniques or rules, or by finding a new take on something. Communication: Great art communicates a vision or idea that the artist has captured and that the viewer can benefit from. Attention to detail: Great art is well-crafted and the skill level is obvious. Timelessness: Great art stands the test of time and changes the way artists think about their field. Imagination: Great art involves imagination and is something that grabs attention. Adherence to rules: Great art adheres to the rules of the craft, or breaks them skillfully. BOSCO's new definition of what is, and what isn't acceptable to be exhibited under their guise is broad and open to interpretation by close minded individuals whose panties get ruffled by an image they personally find "inappropriate" or that challenges their religious or small world views. Instead of judging art by its craftsmanship, technique and professional presentation. As part of the Open Studio Tour this year, my images only elicited positive responses and laughter and I made sales. Sadly, this organization is doomed to remain a parochial, small-minded non-profit with limited outreach and impact on their community. A warning to the artists who are members, a pandora's box has been opened and you could be next. View the rest of my teddys at www.twistedteddys.com

Here’s a timelapse showing the illustration process for the UnitingWorld 'JOY' Christmas Card! 🎄 #CocoonCreative #BlueMountainsNSW #NonProfitDesign #IllustrationProcess #ChristmasCardDesign #JoyToTheWorld #UnitingWorld #PurposeDrivenDesign

Uncover the Fascinating Royal History of the UK, Commonwealth, and USA* London, UK - A new Kickstarter campaign is set to uncover the captivating royal history of the UK, Commonwealth, and USA. "Royal History: Exploring the Monarchies of the UK, Commonwealth, and USA" is a comprehensive project that delves into the intriguing stories and events that shaped the monarchies of these nations. Through a series of books, documentaries, and interactive exhibits, this project promises to engage audiences worldwide. With a goal of $10,000, the campaign aims to fund the research, production, and distribution of these exciting resources. *Key Highlights:* - In-depth exploration of royal genealogy, scandals, and triumphs - Exclusive interviews with historians, royal experts, and descendants of royal families - Stunning visuals, archival documents, and rare artifacts - Interactive exhibits and events for an immersive experience *Support the Campaign:* Join the journey to uncover the royal history that shaped the world. Back the project on Kickstarter today and be a part of this exciting venture! Uncover the fascinating secrets of Royal History! Join our journey through time and discover captivating tales of monarchs, empires, and the people who shaped their destinies. Support our Kickstarter campaign for exclusive access to engaging stories, stunning visuals, and in-depth research. Click the link to learn more and be a part of this exciting project! https://lnkd.in/ewyy6fBD Contact us here: stevenrameo@gmail.com #animation #kickstarter #campaign

📢 As Christians, we understand that money is more than paper, it is a seed. We serve #ChristianOwned businesses/non-profits because we're committed to seeing God's Kingdom flourish through YOU. What do you need to invest in to make greater impact? Is it branding, logos, web design, photography or social media strategy? We are here for YOU! Start Q1 with a intentionality, clarity, and power. https://lnkd.in/gf_nxUGH

Double the impact, double the smiles. With our easy matching gift tool, you can find out now if your #company can match your donation and make your #charity have an even greater impact. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4bhlW1d #donate #zakat #nonprofits

Step 12 of 15: Over the last month, we have improved the accessibility of our long-term client, International Fundraising Consultancy’s (IFCo) website – www.groupifco.com. Page titles and meta descriptions are crucial for web accessibility. They provide clear, concise information about a page's content and purpose, aiding users in navigating the web more effectively. These elements can be read aloud for individuals using screen readers, offering an immediate understanding of what to expect on the page. Descriptive titles and meta descriptions also enhance usability for those with cognitive disabilities by reducing confusion and helping users quickly find relevant content. Steps 13 - 15 will be posted daily - check out all the steps at Dominic Rutterford or Brother #accessibility #webaccessibility #accessibilitystatement #waiaria #aria #landmarks #wcag #a11y #lottieanimation #webanimation

In a breakout session organised by thinkingplace #Chesterfield #pizzazz24 on telling your place narrative using visual methods. A good example is Newhaven’s Look Again Supergraphics Festival https://lnkd.in/e4iWk9Q8 A few useful pointers for Institute of Place Management members: 1) Create a visual language to illustrate your place story - a set of graphics, fonts, colours, messages for people to use and share - co-create this (important!) 2) How does the place story affect environment/products/behaviour and communications e.g. train your taxi-drivers to tell stories when they pick up visitors from the airport or train station 3) Get stakeholders together who might tell your story - and provide tools for them to use 4) Think about multiple channels - story reels, bill boards, signage, events, underused sites and premises - target everyday spots used by regular and occasional visitors - not all litter bins and wayfinding need be municipal green or grey - use colour

Creatives are eternally facing the struggle of finding employment in their fields of expertise — and when they do find a job that pays the bills, there's a low likelihood that it also offers stable hours, benefits, and a functional work-life balance. "Woe is you!" come the derisive, sarcastic taunts in response to complaining about our industry, along with cries of "Get a real job!" and "What did you expect?" But how would society feel without our artists? How would we preserve any joy? Do we not all enjoy the little works of art we hang on our walls — that make a house feel homey and remind us of our favorite things? Isn't a night out made better by live music or the thrilling chorus of your favorite song? Do none of us bask in the glow of an excellent book, cherish our favorite mug, wear shirts and jewelry made by talented creators? Do we not all escape into the world of a well-made film or TV show to take our minds off our own circumstances for an hour or two? I am sick of the narrative that art is somehow superfluous, even though its myriad of forms impact all of us, every day, in some small way. For the last ten years, I've been carving out time to print at Spudnik Press — to desperately maintain that tenuous yet critical connection to my art practice. For the last two years, I've been bending over backwards to help operationally support this organization in a time of rising costs and shrinking financial support. I believe artmaking is essential to human life and history, and I love Spudnik because it exists purely to empower and help people make and learn art. It provides low-cost creative space and resources to thousands of artistic people every year, and offers classes to bring those who want to join us up to speed. It's a place that makes me feel like art is still important, somewhere. Today is #GivingTuesday, and as the Press faces a particularly brutal year of tight finances, I implore you to consider the importance of art, and the real need for spaces like Spudnik that offer positive avenues for creation and community. If you're an artist who was forced to "sell out," who's reading this from the creative-adjacent office job you took because you had to, consider joining as a member, or making a donation to support our work. To support part-time artists like yourself, to support the jobs we offer our staff and teaching artists, and to show our young people that there's still value and opportunity in the arts. And if you say you're "not an artist," I don't believe you. Maybe you're not a painter, but I'm sure there's a creative discipline out there you'll enjoy. We all benefit from dedicating time to make something with our hands, just because we can. Sign up for a class to learn with us, or make a donation to support the creatives in your community. Pretend you're a Medici for a year, or a day — patronage of the arts is cool, and today's a great day to start giving back. https://lnkd.in/g_A93rCN

My students have made excellent progress with their #neurodiversity project. The project execution phase has commenced! The date for the volleyball fundraiser has been confirmed (with a rain date in mind), and the students are in the process of promoting the event! Steps that have been accomplished: -Posters have been created and displayed throughout campus. -The project will be presented to the Board of Education during April's meeting. -A banner idea was pitched to stakeholders in the district's Graphic Design program; the banner will be used to draw attention to the event's sign-up table. -A spreadsheet that will be utilized to assist with the sign-up process has been created. -Timelines were set for the last date in which sign-ups can occur. -A board member from Different Brains, Inc may attend the event! -Various risks were discussed and mitigation plans were created. Future steps that will be taken include the following: -Monitoring scope creep -Managing communication with stakeholders in an #emotionallyintelligent way -Delivering project goals -Checking in with the team regarding progress towards goals Stay tuned for what will happen next! #projectmanagement #projectexecution #project #fundraisingproject

Understandable 🤓 Perhaps, it's the first word that comes to mind when we talk about #storytellingwithoutwords. Hard to believe? Let us inspire you with an example! Find four minutes and watch a short piece 'Home' made by animation studio Aardman and international children’s charity Save the Children. Within a few seconds, everyone gets a sense of what this is about 🟠🟣 https://loom.ly/qTHsM_4 Do you want to learn how to create narratives that blur any linguistic borders and directly appeal to the audience's senses and emotions? Sign up for our online course and master the art of non-verbal experiential storytelling! More info about the course Storytelling Without Words: https://loom.ly/lzFivUg