This spring and summer, CITYarts will be working with international youth in London during the Olympics to create our 5th mosaic peace wall; as well as a mural in one of the most underserved school and community in East New York.

CITYarts will mark its 44th Anniversary by celebrating “10 Years of Young Minds Build Bridges Program Partnership with ALLIANZ” and honoring five individuals who are truly making a difference in the arts:

* Alberta Arthurs is a leader in the arts and humanities, and a counselor on planning, research, programming and advocacy issues in culture and education.

* Bill Baker is the President Emeritus of Channel 13 whose commitment to arts and culture has influenced people of all ages, races and nationalities.

* Will Barnet is a distinguished artist and recipient of the 2011 National Medal of Arts, his work is collected by major museums internationally.

* David Finn is the co-founder and Chairman of Ruder Finn Inc. and a celebrated photographer, painter, and writer.

* Irwin Jaeger is a passionate leader dedicated to arts education in underserved communities.

In recognition of their accomplishments and inspiration to youth, the honorees will receive awards presented by young people who have participated in CITYarts projects.

“CITYarts is proud to celebrate 44 years of incredible collaborations between artists and young people, which have transformed communities and impacted lives. We believe that our projects encourage our youth to become active participants in shaping their communities and their futures. Thinking globally and acting locally, CITYarts’ Pieces for Peace project is now in 61 countries connecting youth around the world,” said Tsipi Ben-Haim, Executive & Creative Director, CITYarts, Inc.

Many world renowned artists who have supported CITYarts in the past will be included in the benefit auction. Such as Christo, William Wegman, Tony Bechara, among others, as well as emerging international artists.

This year, funds raised will support CITYarts’ on-going efforts to Make a Difference Through the Arts. Since 1968, contributions to CITYarts have enabled us to work with over 100,000 kids in New York and over 5,000 kids internationally, collaborate with over 500 artists, partner with over 1,500 sponsors, and engage over 500,000 volunteers in the creative process. CITYarts has revitalized and transformed the neighborhoods of New York City and internationally through more than 285 public art projects, including murals, mosaics, and sculptures. “I strongly believe that when kids create, they do not destroy,” said Tsipi Ben-Haim.

For more information, visit: http://cityarts.org .

News Source: CITYarts, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

As part of this grant program, Los Angeles-based Neotrope® is providing PR solutions, news dissemination (through its Send2Press® Newswire service), search marketing and advertising for CITYarts Inc. (www.cityarts.org) to help raise awareness to both media and the public regarding their efforts in producing permanent artworks that address important civic, educational and social issues while beautifying the urban environment of New York City’s five boroughs.

“We’re grateful to have Neotrope aboard to assist our efforts to bridge cultural differences within diverse communities and foster cultural understanding internationally,” stated Tsipi Ben-Haim, Executive and Creative Director, CITYarts. “Neotrope has done great work with many other non-profits, and I look forward to working with them in expanding the awareness of our efforts locally and internationally.”

“We’re honored in providing assistance for CITYarts Inc. as part of our grant program,” said Neotrope CEO, Christopher Laird Simmons; a member of PRSA and ASCAP. “As an artist and creative person inspired by the arts in my own youth, I highly value the importance of involving kids in the art process to open young minds to their own possibilities and potential.”

Additional information regarding the Neotrope PR Grants for U.S. charitable non-profits and other 2012 grant recipients can be found at: http://send2press.com/non-profit/index.shtml .

About CITYarts Inc.:
CITYarts, Inc. (www.cityarts.org) empowers children and youth by bringing them together with professional artists to create public art that addresses civic and social issues, impacts lives, and transforms their communities. Thinking globally and acting locally, CITYarts’ projects build bridges of cultural understanding, giving youth the opportunity to take an active role in shaping their own future. Since 1968, CITYarts has created over 284 projects that have transformed communities and impacted over 100,000 kids, collaborated with more than 500 artists, partnered with over 1,500 sponsors, and engaged over 500,000 volunteers in the process. CITYarts’ projects frequently foster community revitalization by galvanizing businesses, schools, and community organizations into developing youth programs and constructing playgrounds and gardens.

View current projects at: http://www.cityarts.org/current-projects/index.html .

“It is our responsibility as adults to open opportunities for our youth and direct their energies into positive activities. Art is vital to the life of New York’s neighborhoods and its youth in particular,” says Tsipi Ben-Haim, Executive and Creative Director, CITYarts. “For that reason, CITYarts created five programs that through art, address the civic, social, and educational issues facing today’s youth. Through these programs they create murals, sculptures and mosaics that impact their lives and transform their neighborhoods into vibrant, beautiful spaces for them to meet, celebrate their achievements, and bridge cultural differences.”

Thinking globally and acting locally, we most recently created the Young Minds Build Bridges program. Through this program we united the youth of New York City and their peers from around the globe around the common purposes of promoting peace and raising awareness of global warming.”

Learn more about CITYarts’ Five Programs: http://www.cityarts.org/our-five-programs/index.html .

About Neotrope:
Since 1983 Neotrope® has delivered services to raise organization awareness including brand identity, marketing, public relations (PR), and SEO services. Neotrope is also an entertainment publishing company involved in books, music, software, and online portals; is listed with GS1 for barcodes, with Bowker for ISBNs, and the RIAA for ISRC codes. The company pioneered the concept of search optimization of press release content back in 1997 (verifiable via archive-dot-org). Neotrope was an Inc. 5000 company in 2009, and has an A+ rating with the BBB. More information: www.Neotrope.com .

The Neotrope® marketing team includes Christopher Laird Simmons, who is an award-winning designer (including a design award from Apple Inc.), photographer, musician and digital artist. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and ASCAP. Simmons has been widely interviewed by publications as diverse as Entrepreneur, Chicago Post Tribune, PCWorld, Monster-com, and TrendWatch. He has been on the launch team for numerous successful companies including the second PPC company on the net, Findwhat; and the MacMall® mail-order company. He also built Oprah’s first ecommerce solution for her “Begin with Love” video series. Other team members include accredited public relations professionals, working journalists and broadcast veterans.

Neotrope’s annual Non-Profit PR Grants™ Program was originally launched in 2000 by company founders Christopher Simmons and the late Dr. JL Simmons, with the goal of providing a “better donation” for worthy U.S. charitable 501(c)3 non-profits than simply writing a small check; instead utilizing the company’s capabilities to grow awareness to media and the public, attract halo sponsors/donors, and bring together disparate resources not generally affordable to small organizations.

Past recipients of the Non-Profit PR Grant Program include Children Awaiting Parents, Girls Write Now, Paws of Life Foundation, Special Equestrians, The Bob Moog Foundation, The Starlight Children’s Foundation, The Native Voices Foundation, World Savvy, and many others.

About Send2Press:
Send2Press® (a service of Neotrope) offers best-in-class affordable Direct-to-Editors™ news distribution to working print and broadcast media, online and social media, and deep into search engines using proprietary Neotrope ContextEngine™ technology. Send2Press is unique because it was the first newswire service with staff entirely comprised of accredited public relations professionals, published authors, working journalists, and marketing experts. Originally launched as MindsetNetwire in 1997 exclusively for Neotrope’s corporate clients, the service became Send2Press® in 2000. Learn more about Send2Press at www.Send2Press.com .

News Source: CITYarts Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

“The Lady of Nazareth Chose to Play Along,” depicts the Virgin Mary, with Pope John the XXIII looking on, partially nude in provocative black panty hose and heels, but denied free will by bondage restraints that have her arms crossed and pinned. Her hands, sticking out passed curved hips, embrace the traditional aged crucifix and a wire hanger that represents the many brutal back-alley abortions that have been the unfortunate result of denied contraceptive practice.

“My image shows solidarity for the Virgin Mary, not blasphemy. I feel that as a woman she has been the submissive victim of male dominated Catholic hierarchy,” said artist Marilyn Artus. “But, I’ve already been met with a certain amount of anger with requests to not show the image coming from some of my friends and relatives who belong to the Conservative Right.”

Prominently placed over her private area is a scarlet F, marking the Catholic Church’s questionable area of focus in regard to their stances on birth control and abortion.

Lifelong congregation member Jeff Hamilton of Saint John the Baptist in the Oklahoma City area is not against the protest art. “It seems kind of sacrilegious to depict the Virginal Mother that way, but the church uses art for its message and this happens to be a case where an artist uses art to create an image the church wouldn’t agree with,” said Hamilton, adding, “As an adoptee, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel grateful to be here, but I support the artist’s right to protest the Catholic stance on birth control.”

The artist’s camp is expecting more contentious voices to emerge against the work that is set for display throughout the month. “The artist isn’t trying to anger anyone. She is simply saying the Catholic ban against modern contraception was put into place by a Pope, and it can be lifted by a Pope,” said spokesman Cory Allen.

Marilyn Artus’s past work includes “Our Lady of the Anti-Personnel Weapon and Her Stepford Friends.” The work depicting clashing conservative ideologies featured the religious icon wielding a knife and a hand grenade and was covered by the mainstream media in 2010.

The Virgin Mary portrait will be on a tour from coast to coast in the United States before going international. It will first publicly appear next Friday, April 6th, at AKA Gallery Oklahoma City, Okla., before heading to other galleries and festivals.

For more info, contact Cory Allen at 323-393-3115 or visit http://www.cacanet.com .

- 300dpi image download for media (no nudity): Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0329-artusvm_300dpi.jpg .
- Image Caption: “The Lady of Nazareth Chose to Play Along” by and Copr. © Marilyn Artus.

News Source: Cory Allen Contemporary Art :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

“Slammed and Dunked,” a life-size sculpture of the basketball salvaged from the celebrity’s residential trash, was partially inspired by Kardashian’s recently failed marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries and the questioned authenticity of their acclaimed nuptials.

“Many people in this country are still very concerned with marital rights – after Kim Kardashian’s mockery of marriage, why should anyone take anything she does seriously, anymore?” asks artist XVALA.

The sculpture was created out of a ‘recycled resin’ formulated from remaining leftover garbage that was also collected from the Kardashians’ trash bin. Also, a part of the collection is candid mobile phone self-portraits of the reality star that she took for Twitter and Instagram, which are backed with aluminum, also partially recycled from her personal garbage.

“By deleting everything that reveals who she really is, Kim Kardashian actually reveals her true self,” said XVALA, “You can always learn something about someone by looking at their garbage, and Kim produces a lot of garbage.”

“I agree with Jon Hamm. Kim Kardashian should refrain from making any more reality shows,” said Cory Allen. “People aren’t too entertained by divorce and failed relationships in these economically trying times.”

Dumpster diving is nothing new to the artist or the mainstream media. Late last year, XVALA invaded the residential dumpsters of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Apple’s Steve Jobs, who passed away a day after the release of his personal trash. XVALA was also responsible for reconstructing celebrity Scarlett Johansson’s nude photos for his “Fear Google” campaign, posting the two hacked images all through the streets in and around the Los Angeles area as street art.

“The Kim Kardashian Party,” curated by The Site Unscene, will be held on March 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif., on 1460 Naud Street, at the location’s roof top.

For more info, contact Cory Allen at 323-393-3115 or visit http://www.cacanet.com .

Media Contact:
Cory Allen
info@cacanet.com
323-393-3115.

No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.

* PHOTO: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0313-xvalakk_300dpi.jpg .
* Image caption: “Slammed and Dunked” by XVALA.

News Source: Cory Allen Contemporary Art :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

“We are privileged to be in a position to hire people,” says Daniel Bowen, president of Bowen Media. “In a time when many companies are having to lay people off, we are able to inspire growth.”

Bowen attributes a great deal of the growth to quality referrals and the ability to focus on the client as an individual entity.

“We focused the majority of our attention on regional start-ups and small to mid-size businesses that needed some hand holding,” says Bowen. “Additionally, clients do not receive ‘cookie-cutter services.’ We are not template driven like many of our competitors. We create and design these functional and effective websites from scratch.”

Bowen Media is working to brand itself as the “Go to Company” in Long Island web designing. It currently has approximately 200 clients and is planning to add more to its roster in 2012.

Founded in 2003, Bowen Media has become one of the key web design firms on Long Island.

“Our results-driven approach easily separates us from the competition,” adds Bowen. “We are dedicated to our customers and offer a plethora of important information to clients, free of charge that includes a business review and a complete web presence assessment.”

About Bowen Media:
Headquartered in Massapequa, Long Island, Bowen Media is a leader in Long Island website design and online marketing solutions. It offers a wide variety of specialized services to meet its clients’ needs. Services include: custom website design; e-commerce; website application development; mobile websites/applications; logo design/branding; search engine optimization; managed PPC campaigns; website hosting; and web consulting.

It designs and builds everything from small, information-based websites to large, database-driven e-commerce solutions. No job is too big or too small.

For more information, visit: www.BowenMedia.com .

News Source: Bowen Media :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

VIDEO:

All limited edition calendars will be signed by at least one of the “Pin Up Girl” activists for Ron Paul. The calendars will be for sale for the discounted price of $20, only at this event in Houston.

Special guest speakers for the event include: Micah Jackson (Houston Freethinkers), Debra Medina (WeTexans), Sheriff Mack (Oathkeepers), and Tom Woods (NYTimes best selling author).

Special appearances by Pin up girls, celebrity entertainers and Dr. Paul himself are not confirmed at this point. Please call Juliet at (310) 666-2544 closer to the event date for any confirmations not listed in the paragraph above.

As usual, we welcome the press for interviews and photos.

For more info about the “Pin ups for Ron Paul” 2012 Calendar, pictures and video, see: http://www.PinUps4RonPaul.com .

Please see the Facebook event page here for updates: http://www.facebook.com/events/154251701343699/ .

(*NOTE: Independently produced and not affiliated with the official Ron Paul Campaign.)

- Image Caption: “Pin-Ups for Ron Paul 2012″ Calendar Cover. Photo: Christopher Gahran.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Juliet Annerino
+1-310-666-2544
Juliet @ JulietAnnerino.com .

When diagnosed 16 years ago, Shirk closed his highly successful advertising agency, but was determined to make the most of his remaining years. IBM victims often die early, usually from pneumonia, as the muscles that support breathing and swallowing grow weaker. Today Mike feels fortunate that he has survived so long, which he attributes to remaining active and productive.

Mike’s blog features solutions to everyday living challenges he encounters as the debilitating effects of IBM increase. Mike shares everything from evaluating can and bottle openers to selecting vehicles and scooters. When easy-off, easy-on clothing was difficult to find, Mike bought a sewing machine and soon was making his own pants and even shoes.

Soon after diagnosis, Shirk began serious study of painting in watercolors. Mike thanks his wife, Beth, an accomplished artist, for his inspiration. Within a few years, his paintings had won national awards, been sold to dozens of collectors and he had become president of the prestigious San Diego Watercolor Society. During his term, Shirk relocated the Society to spacious new quarters and personally wrote business software applications to automate membership, paint-outs, calendars, exhibitions, and classes.

Mike also credits Apple products for making his life productive. He owns an iMac, MacBook Pro, an iPad and an iPhone. His new music video was made with Apple applications. Once a 100 WPM typist, Mike’s frozen fingers no longer can manipulate keyboards and he now dictates through the iPhone 4′s voice recognition software.

As long as he can, Shirk will continue to inspire the disabled and the rest of us. Will Mike give up? As these partial lyrics from his song say,
No, I won’t stand for that,
I’m too much man for that.
I never planned for this,
But life’s to grand for this.”
There are stories to be written,
And lessons to be learned.
Feelings to be captured,
And love to be returned.

Music is a growing part of medical therapy. It’s working for Mike.

Learn more at: www.lifedisabled.com .

- Image caption: Mike Shirk sings about IBM and adapting.

News Source: Mike Shirk :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Waguespack emerged onto the San Francisco art scene in 2005 fusing different mediums, oil, acrylic, ink, and industrial design, providing a fresh perspective to his figurative, abstract striped images inspired from current events and pop culture.

“This collection is a result of my time spent in Hollywood this summer. This body of new work encompasses deconstructing Hollywood icons to depicting the Los Angeles landscape. End result – ecstasy,” said John Waguespack.

The opening reception for the artist will take place on Thursday December 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the exhibition will remain on display until January 21, 2011.

“John is an innovator giving pop-art a fresh attitude by blending different mediums and techniques into his work. He is among the 21st Century artists who are strongly influenced by social media and the demands of young collectors to create art they can relate to. It is an exciting, evocative time,” states Joan McLoughlin, Gallerist, The McLoughlin Gallery.

Supporting Resources:
* Deconstruct Reconstruct: The Art of John Waguespack (PDF): http://www.mgart.com/files/Deconstruct%20Reconstruct_ArtPress_Dec_2010.pdf .

* John Waguespack Artist Page McLoughlin Gallery: http://www.mgart.com/artist-detail.php?id=159&title=John+Waguespack .

* John Waguespack Home Page: http://www.johnwaguespack.com/ .

* John Waguespack features on the cover of 7×7 SF July 2011 with The McLoughlin Gallery: http://www.7×7.com/arts-culture/new-guard-5-citys-most-exciting-new-galleries .

* View John Waguespack’s “Evolution of a Piece” on YouTube: http://youtu.be/DE12xh8j3gk .

About John Waguespack:
Born in 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia, John Waguespack is an emerging artist now residing in San Francisco. Using oil on canvas, John creates abstract painting incorporating pop-art icons to address political issues of today and the decade of his birth, the ’70s.

About The McLoughlin Gallery:
The McLoughlin Gallery (www.mgart.com) is an approachable, inviting gallery with a social conscience. The main focus of the gallery is to educate and intrigue by showcasing established European contemporary artists and local emerging artists while giving back to the community.

News Source: The McLoughlin Gallery :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

The project is curated by the SA Studios Artist Collective, and art enthusiasts can watch the artists at work and read about their experience by visiting andaz5thavenue.tumblr.com.

Artist M.Dreeland began October 6th:
M.Dreeland, utilizes a pop art style that mixes basic acrylics and techniques from the masters with high-tech tools of the present. M.Dreeland is known for presenting commonly recognizable objects in a new light by distorting images through an abundant use of color and layers of thick paint.

“Being precise and exactly up to the edge is not enjoyable,” says M.Dreeland. “Those little nicks, smudges, and blobs of paint over clean lines make this work limitless.”

M.Dreeland presented his view of New York City on the doors to the bar downstairs at Andaz 5th Avenue. He completed his mural in four days while passersby had the opportunity to view the artist at work on 5th Avenue. M.Dreeland’s work is currently featured at the Time Warner Center in NYC and at Art Basel in Miami this December.

Artist Mister Cartoon begins December 12th:
Guests will discover a new side of New York through the eyes of iconic tattoo and graffiti artist Mister Cartoon. Famous for exposing both the “vicious and vulnerable” side of his work, Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce have entrusted him to permanently expose some of their most intimate moments on their skin.

Mister Cartoon’s artwork has also been on prominent display in exhibitions such as MoCA’s seminal Art in the Streets exhibit, one of the most in-depth and comprehensive cross-sections of street art to date. Among Cartoon’s contributions is his fully muraled ice-cream truck, a breathtaking showpiece that took a decade to complete.

Additionally, as the hotel’s Tattoo Artist in Residence, Mister Cartoon will be offering guests his services as a tattoo artist. Anyone who books a room at Andaz 5th Avenue during his two week stay will be able to bypass Mister Cartoon’s year long waiting list.

Artist Claudia Gold begins February 12th:
Known as Claw Money, her graffiti alter ego, Gold will combine her eye for fashion with her edgy graffiti style on the doors to the bar downstairs. Claw Money has been tagging the New York City landscape with her iconic Claw tag for the past three decades and has paralleled her street cred into a luxury lifestyle brand. Claudia’s line, Claw Money, features clothing, accessories and sunglasses worn by celebs including Rihanna, MIA, and Nicki Minaj.

tbd Artist begins on June 12th:
The fourth mystery artist will create a dynamic piece to conclude the 2011 tbd Art series.

tbd Art’s Photographer:
The creation of the murals will be chronicled by photographer Brendan Burke. Brendan’s images will be available on http://andaz5thavenue.tumblr.com – which will also feature blog entries from the artists regarding their work and their experiences creating each of their murals. Additionally, each piece of art will be photographed and turned into limited edition post cards sold for $5 each at the bar downstairs. Proceeds will be donated to charity.

“Art is an integral part of Andaz 5th Avenue and we strive to find new ways to support art and design,” says Jonathan Frolich, General Manager of Andaz 5th Avenue. “We are delighted to launch tbd Art with such a diverse group of talented artists so that guests and New Yorkers alike can experience a unique view of New York City at Andaz 5th Avenue.”

Andaz Salon – Hosted by experts, Attended by locals, All are welcome:
Andaz recently launched a brand wide Andaz Salon series to foster cultural exploration and creativity from art exhibits to culinary emersions, performances by emerging musicians and celebration of the written word. Each Andaz Salon is designed to reflect the local cultural scene. Andaz 5th Avenue’s tbd Art program is a part of the Andaz Salon series along with Andaz Wall Street’s Impromptu Performance series and Andaz West Hollywood’s Art Seen at Andaz series. For more information, please visit the Andaz Salon on Facebook.

No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.

News Source: Andaz 5th Avenue :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Most Americans are familiar with the problems of illicit downloading and stolen software. But Mazzone argues that these familiar problems mask a greater threat to creativity and commerce-the ever-growing overreaching by publishers, producers, artists and corporations that claim stronger ownership rights than the law gives them.

Mazzone argues that something is wrong in a society where:
- Comics can be sued for making fun of Barbie;
- The Hells Angels stop production of Hollywood movies by charging misappropriation of images;
- Major League Baseball announces it can stop any human being from even describing a baseball game;
- Starbucks convinces customers that they don’t have the right to take photos in coffee shops;
- Electronic book and music distributors are stripping away the entire idea of ownership; and
- Universities spend millions of dollars each year requesting permission to reproduce public domain works by long dead authors.

Mazzone shows how growing abuse of intellectual property law has been abetted by confusion, unclear legal standards, outmoded law and economic bullying-and he illustrates the pervasive cost of these abuses. Finally, he introduces specific measures by which we can cure these problems.

Erudite, surprising and accessible, “Copyfraud and Other Abuses of Intellectual Property Law” is a breakthrough title that will change forever how we look at creativity, law and commerce.

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales calls “Copyfraud and Other Abuses of Intellectual Property Law,” “a must read for anyone who cares about the future of creativity.”

About the Author:
Jason Mazzone, author of “Copyfraud and Other Abuses of Intellectual Property Law,” is a chaired professor at Brooklyn Law School. He is a graduate of Harvard, Stanford and Yale universities. Before entering academia, Mazzone worked as a law clerk to two federal judges and he practiced intellectual property law with a major firm in New York City. Mazzone serves on the Board of Trustees of the Copyright Society of the USA.

Book website: www.copyfraud.com.

Book Summary:
Title: “Copyfraud and Other Abuses of Intellectual Property Law”
Author: Jason Mazzone
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Publication Date: Nov. 1, 2011
Hardcover ISBN: 9780804760065
Hardcover price: $27.95.

News Source: Jason Mazzone :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .