Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"Seeing Red"

Here's a preview of "Chinese Poppies III," my photo which will be on display at
the New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA)from February 1 – February 26, 2012.





The exhibit is called "Seeing Red", and it's an all-media unjuried show.
(However, since the work of NHAA artist members -- with very few exceptions -- must pass a rigorous jurying process before membership is permitted, the quality of work is typically pretty good.)


Take your Valentine to the opening reception on Friday, February 3, 2011, from 5 – 8pm.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Making a Traditional Anaglyph Image from a Single Shot

My husband and I went to see a RealD 3D movie today. After I got home, I wondered whether there was a way to make images in Photoshop that would look 3d when viewed with the RealD 3D glasses we ***didn't*** recycle at the end of the movie. After all, the movie looked like a 90-minute ViewMaster reel.....

After some Googling, I realized that there is no way to simulate the look, due to a complex polarization technology. This led me back to playing with traditional red-cyan anaglyphs. While there are many DIY tutorials out there (more than a few which are unnecessarily complicated), the one I used at PhotoKaboom is pretty intuitive.

Here's the result (you'll need the old-fashioned 3d glasses with one cyan lens and one red lens to see it properly):



Your mileage may vary. (Note that because I didn't have the same version of Photoshop as the author, I did not distort the layers before moving the cyan one.)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Lessons Art Wonkette Learned at the House Today


  • Do not give material (including "intent to speak" cards) to ANY "volunteers"; only directly to the chair.


  • Make sure your speech is different from your written testimony. The chair interrupted several speakers by asking, "Are you REALLY going to read this?"


  • Be able to change your outline "on the fly" after someone else shares your great idea first.


  • Never underestimate the power of people whose jobs are on the line to call in favors for speakers.


  • Never underestimate the gall of a representative to introduce an "amendment" to a unpopular not-even-yet-introduced bill, without giving the public time to review it first.


  • Consider just writing a letter next time.

Art Wonkette's Open Letter to the NH House of Reps

Here's the testimony I didn't get to give orally at the State House today. (I left during break, as there were still at least 17 more speakers to hear from -- apparently first one there gets put at the BOTTOM Of the pile...) However, I did have backup written copies handy.




Madame Chair, Department and Committee Members,

It is my understanding that the passage of HB 1274 would leave NH as the only state w/out a state arts council and would break what RSA 21-K:1 calls the “inextricable link” between the Council, state library, and historic preservation office.

While HB 1274 seems to be designed to relieve, in some small measure, the state’s budget situation, the Legislature has the obligation to consider at what long-term cost that relief might come. It also has the responsibility to reject the bill should it find – as I do -- that that cost is too high to the citizens of New Hampshire.

There has been inadequate discussion to date of how the absence of the Council (and the Cultural Commission) would impact those New Hampshire businesses which depend on a lively and vibrant arts culture. There has also been insufficient analysis of what the resultant potential loss of revenue would mean, not only to businesses, but also to the state itself. It concerns me that a state representative would bring forth a bill seemingly without first determining, to a reasonable degree, that the bill's benefits to the state clearly outweigh its negative impact on its citizens, and that it is an appropriate way to further the state’s interest.

Second, but just as important, the language of New Hampshire’s RSAs and the state Constitution strongly favor – if not out-and-out mandate -- the continued existence and state support of the Commission and Arts Council. Part 2, Article 83 of the State Constitution makes it the ongoing duty of legislators to encourage private and public institutions for the promotion of the arts. RSA 21-K:1 explicitly recognizes this ongoing duty by citing Part 2, Article 83 as the impetus for creating the Cultural Resources Commission/Department. 21-K:1 also states the legislature’s intent that “a single, strong, visible cultural agency shall assume equal status with other major departments of state government.” (Emphasis added.) Given the broad meaning of the word “institutions” as used in this context, I urge the House – if it has not already done so – to check with the Attorney General’s office -- or seek an opinion from the state Supreme Court -- as to the Constitutionality of HB 1274 before taking any further action on it,

Last year, when the House threatened to eviscerate the Commission and Council by eliminating their funding, opposition was quick and vigorous. One of the most poignant published comments was made by a Mr. John-Michael Albert, who noted, in response to the threatened cuts:

“A broad and deep artistic culture is a democracy’s debt to itself. And paying such a debt says something profound about the democracy’s identity. It says that the democracy believes in its future, and that it recognizes that a future with a rich balance of experiences…. is a future of hope. For a democracy to dismiss the vital contributions that the arts make to its depth and breadth is for that democracy to surrender to despair—the ultimate sin against the spirit of being human.”

Your focus today should be to balance the state’s interests in enacting HB 1274 against the interests of its citizens in benefitting from all that the arts have to offer them. I encourage you to send a clear and lasting message that, in New Hampshire, the arts are not a frivolous or expendable luxury: their value is firmly grounded in the State Constitution and they contribute -- in a meaningful and lasting manner -- to the quality of life to be found in the Granite State.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

What's YOUR "Heart's Desire"?

Today, I received notification that one of my newest photographs has been selected for inclusion in "Heart's Desire," a group art show to be held during the month of February 2012 at Sage Gallery.

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My lawyer friends (or habitual offender blog readers) will recognize this statue as being situated in the Federal Courthouse in Concord.

Practicing law - while also continuing to follow my interest in art -- is my long-time "Heart's Desire." I raised my daughter and waited nearly a quarter-century after earning my undergrad degree to go back to school and study for my JD. I encourage you to figure out what ***your*** heart's desire is and to pursue it with passion. (Lawyer disclaimer: keep it legal, please....)

An artists' reception for "Heart's Desire" is scheduled for February 10, 2012, with a snow date (this is New Hampshire, after all) of February 11, 2012. Sage Gallery is located at 70 Lowell St. in Manchester, NH. For additional information or directions, call (603) 626-SAGE.