"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim... Sometimes we must interfere." - Elie Wiesel

Hello, Readers.

I hope everyone had a wonderful International Women's Day, yesterday. We have many women to celebrate for their accomplishments in the arts, science, politics and every other field. Their contributions and sacrifices have created the playing field that we operate on today. They are our inspiration as we move forward in choosing the women that we become tomorrow.

Regardless of how long it has felt, we are currently five weeks into a new Republican-ish/Nationalist administration that seems to be hellbent on following a backwards path to some time they dubbed "great" as opposed to heading toward what the rest of the world took for granted as progress. Once the shock and anger of election night dissipated, I found myself thinking a great deal about what to do next, as a woman and as an artist and as a citizen.

What is the role of an artist? Is it to educate? Should the focus be on truth and facts or empathy? What does truth mean anyway? And, is all art political?

I do not believe that the majority of the country shares all of the sexist, racist, xenophobic and generally hateful views of this president and his cabinet. I saw a nation of voters who stopped caring about the democratic process, in many cases didn't have access to the facts and ultimately felt their votes didn't count.

Democracy only works when the people are well informed. So for me, the first way to move forward is by sharing information and staying vocal. This includes speaking up for those unable to do it themselves. I intend to amplify the voices of political artists, especially the women and artists of color who continue to be underrepresented.

Right now, I would like to share a list of ideas and resources for activism. This list contains a wide array of options from making a simple call to organizing local protests. I have included as many important dates, resources and organizations as I could muster for you to continue collecting information and fighting the good fight. Please share this post with anyone you know who wants to do something, but doesn't know where to start or anyone else you know for that matter. I will try to keep it updated as new information comes my way.

Read, educate yourself and remember that democracy only works when the people are informed.
Organize locally. March, go to events for cultural institutions, etc.
- March 11: International Women's Day March Toronto
- April 15: Tax March multiple locations
- April 22: March for Science DC and other locations
- November 6, 2018: Vote on 33 Senate seats and all 435 seats in the House.
Learn about and vote in local elections. This includes prosecutors, school boards, city councils, county clerks, mayors, sheriffs, etc.
- First, make sure you're registered to vote.
- USA.gov (You can also get absentee ballots here.)
- Ballotpedia
Support those under attack and report bullying, bigotry and hate crimes.
Engage in local politics. Form clubs, run yourself.
- The Working Families Party offers a model to form local political clubs that engage elected officials and push for progressive legislation.
- Run for office
- Especially, if you're a woman.
- Join your local Democrats
- If you're an expat like me, join Democrats Abroad.
Sign petitions.
- change.org to support the NEA
- pen.org telling Congress to reject any budget eliminating funding for the arts
Call representatives and senators. Go see them.
- Senators
- Representatives
- Other elected officials
- Some instructions on how/who to call.
Protect your data
- Here's an app to start with for messaging
- And, one for online browsing
Donate to organizations. The White House has said several social institutions will be defunded and dismantled, such as the NEA and NEH, so I plan to do what I can to contribute to them. There are many to choose from. Find the cause that gets you jazzed and show your support.

Mural of Trump and Putin, Unknown Artist

Here's where I challenge you, Dear Reader. Please, begin or continue to engage through your voice and art. Amplify the work of politically minded artists, especially women and artists of color. Question the status quo. The things that we previous took for granted as common values are no longer that. Stay vocal. Keep fighting. And, share information with everyone you can. Add your resources and information to the comments at the bottom of the page or simply email me and I will try to update this page. And, finally, don't forget to subscribe to this blog below. The next post will showcase some exciting contemporary female photographers to mark this Women's History Month. Thank you.

“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States." -W.E.B. Du Bois

"There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for." - J.R.R. Tolkien

This past weekend, I spent my time hiking on Long Island's North Shore, touring the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory campus where DNA was discovered, catching up with old friends and gallery hopping in Manhattan. It was action packed and my legs are still recovering from all the mileage.

If you're ever in need for a restaurant that offers gluten free options while gallery hopping in Chelsea, I recommend Friedmans Lunch in Chelsea Market. Their fish tacos hit the spot. (Thanks for a great lunch date, Dana!)

*Aditya Pande, RING ROAD DRAWINGS, Mixed media on paper, 2014*

The first exhibit at Aicon Gallery was selected works of Aditya Pande, a contemporary artist from India who works with painting, sculpture, installation art and video. His pop-artish works tend to include overlaying shapes, many incorporating paint, ink and glitter.

*Aditya Pande, HALF LIFE FORM VII & IX (DIPTYCH), Mixed media on archival paper, 2012*

*Aditya Pande, Half Life Form III, Mixed media on archival paper, 2012*

*Aditya Pande, PORTRAIT OF A DOG AS A YOUNG ARTIST, Mixed media on paper, 2015*

*Aditya Pande,* *A:H&M and C:H&M*, *Mixed media on paper, 2014*

The second artist represented at Aicon Gallery was Promotesh Das Pulak of Bangladesh whose work deals with social crisis, war and pollution. His exhibition, Betrayal of Innocence and Beauty, incorporated sculpture, video and photography.

Yossi Milo Gallery is currently showing the large scale photographs of John Chiara. These pieces were created in a van that the artist converted into a camera obscura that he enters to expose photographic paper directly to light, eliminating the darkroom steps. Chiara dodges, burns and filters the light to create these boldly colorful works that make us slow down and see familiar subjects in a new way.

*John Chiara, E14th Street at Avenue A*, *Two Negative Chromogenic Photographs, 2015*

*John Chiara, work from WEST SIDE AT TIORONDA exhibition,* *Negative Chromogenic Photograph*

*John Chiara, works from WEST SIDE AT TIORONDA exhibition,* *Negative Chromogenic Photographs*

Praxis International Art is showing the photography of Argentinian Lucia Fainzilber. In her exhibition, Wild Flowers, Fainzilber uses large scale portraits to explore women and their obsessions.

*Lucia Fainzilber, work from Wild Flowers, photography*

The exhibit, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters, at Yancey Richardson Gallery is the result of the creative and collaborative efforts of Sandro Miller and John Malkovich. Miller photographed the actor slipping into the "roles" of some of the most iconic images of the history of photography. This show depicts Malkovich as Marilyn Monroe, Einstein, Che Guevara, and Hemingway to name only a few.

*Sandro Miller at Yancey Richardson Gallery*

*Sandro Miller, photographs from Malkovich,* *Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters*

Also showing at Yancey Richardson was the work of Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri whose overhead images of landscapes are carefully manipulated to create the illusion that they are collages.

*Olivo Barbieri, Capri #8, photograph, 2013*

Israeli artist Lee Yanor uses photographic c-prints and and overlay of voile fabric which has also been printed on to create seemingly holographic images. The results are full of movement and they dance beautifully as the viewer changes location. Her work is on display at Onishi Gallery.

*Lee Yanor, works from Draw the Line, c-print & print on voile*

*Lee Yanor, work from Draw the Line, c-print & print on voile, 2015*

News

I will be taking part in this year's Art Walk & Street Fest in Kingston Road Village. Come down to support local artists and musicians along with the unique businesses in the area. It should be a load of fun. Hope to see you there!

Find more information click here and on Facebook. You can link and hashtag #kingstonroadvillage, as well.

My work can also still be found at Veloute Bistro in the Beaches. Come check it out and enjoy a glass of wine or a romantic dinner.

I will also be part of a group show in July at the Yellow House Gallery. Make sure to subscribe to this blog below so you'll be sure to get more information about that.

And, tomorrow, I'll be off to Boston to attend my reunion at Tufts University. I look forward to sharing what Boston's museums and galleries have to offer in my next post. Stay tuned.