The best art is said to take us not further, but instead closer, to reality. Chinese artist and activist Ai Wei Wei is a prime example. His artistic statements demonstrate a rare boldness, often pointing to the repressive underside of his society, putting him dangerously at odds with the Chinese communist state. A key element of his remarkable career has been powerful use of the internet.

During his 2010 exhibition of 100 million “Sunflower Seeds” at the Tate Modern museum in London, Wei Wei invited visitors to directly participate with him online. A booth was set up at the site, where participants could shoot and upload a video with their question, and Wei Wei would send his own video response. When visitors looked close, they realized that the sea of 100 million seeds were actually hand-painted replicas made of porcelain, hand-painted in gray. It took 1600 people two and a half years to manufacture them.

“Sunflower Seeds” is layered in meaning. During the famine years in China, the seeds were one of few reliable sources of food and comfort. And significantly, 100 million is a number that equals roughly one quarter of China’s internet users today. The internet may be the key instrument through which the rulers will be forced to distinguish and recognize individuals through the grey masses.

Art has always had the unique ability to speak directly to the public. As illuminated by Google’s decision to leave China, the Chinese government has traditionally succeeded in controlling both art and dissent of its population. But the internet is loosening its iron hold. Wei Wei’s blog had twelve million readers. That is, before Chinese authorities took it down.

His father, Ai Qing, was a renown poet who suffered during the Maoist revolution. Wei Wei himself has endured surveillance and repression, and perhaps key to his survival today is his high profile status on the international art scene.

See Multimedia Content below to see Wei Wei’s art and what motivates it:

Multimedia Content FRONTLINE VIDEO: on Wei Wei’s life, art and struggle CBS VIDEO: The Campaign against Wei Wei

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Who is Vivian Maier? It just might be, that she herself didn’t really know. Maier was completely unknown until a young Chicago real estate agent, John Maloof, discovered her work in an attic space after her death at age 83. Many are saying that the treasure trove of street photography she left behind ranks her as one of the master image makers of our age. Vivian is now taking the art world by storm, posthumously.

Vivian Maier was driven in her craft, that much is evident. Maloof has been working tirelessly to scan and archive 100,000 of her negatives. In addition, 900 or so undeveloped rolls of her film await processing. This suggests she was not fully aware of her own talent. Then again, perhaps she was keenly aware, and preferred to stay in love with her work, beyond the art world glare.

Vivian was born in New York in 1926 and was raised in France (her mother was French.) She returned to New York in 1951 and settled in Chicago, where she worked as a nanny for 40 years. On her days off, she roamed the streets of Chicago and New York, shooting with her Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera.

Maloof appears to be pleasantly bewildered by the work’s international response. He first discovered a box of Maier’s negatives at an auction while doing research for a book. Listening to his instincts, while not fully aware of what he was looking at, he plumbed the internet for advice. The rest is history, or, so to say, history in the making. Maloof and partner Anthony Rydzon are seeking to fund and create a film about Vivian Maier’s life and art.

See Multimedia Content below for links to an enchanting VIDEO and website to glimpse into how Vivian Maier perceived her world:

Multimedia Content The Vivian Maier Story Vivian Maier Website

Check out this Action Opportunities link: An appeal for funding the film:

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Where do you think interfaith dialog belongs? Do you think interfaith dialog produces positive results? If not, what do you think is missing?

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The year’s end brings reflection on the power of great creative work. This December, I spoke with Egyptian-American filmmaker Jehan Harney about her film “Dream of America,” which documents Iraqi men who fled to America after risking their lives in defiance of Saddam Hussein. The men’s story literally made Washington Post headlines earlier in 2010. The resulting publicity garnered welcome support for the film’s main subject, a father of four, whose fidelity to the U.S. led him into serious and continuing personal struggles.

In this Gateways To Action PODCAST, hear the award winning filmmaker’s perspective on moderate Islam, radical Islam, and her concern for the 50,000 Iraqi allies living among us, often below the radar to protect family members who remain overseas. Harney’s middle eastern background is brought to bear as she handles the subject of intercultural tension with sensitivity. She shares with us her motivation, hopes and creative process.

See Multimedia Content to listen to the interview:

Multimedia Content GATEWAYS ACTION PODCAST: Dream of America

Jehan’s other film projects: “Colors of the Veil,” “Beyond Faith,” “Mahmood’s Eye,” “Soul Mechanic,” “Emilie,” and “Sterile Dreams.” Visit Jehan’s Web site to read her bio and view trailers for these films:

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photo by: Joel Meyerowitz

For his project “Aftermath: The World Trade Center Archive,” photographer Joel Meyerowitz created an historically relevant and poignant record of ground zero. All documentation of the 9-11 site was initially prohibited, so his project was resisted from the start.

See Multimedia Content to watch the Joel Meyerowitz interview and his reflections on “Aftermath”:

Multimedia Content VIDEO: Joel Meyerowitz Interview: Aftermath VIDEO: Reflections of Ground Zero

Check out this Action Opportunities link for more on Joel Meyerowitz:

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JR is a young innovative French photographer who stays below radar. He offers few words about his work, but his enormous black and white portraits loom large in public areas of highly populated communities. He directs his subjects to make exaggerated facial expressions that manage, amidst the amusement, to raise questions about identity, sexism, complacency, poverty and violence.

JR reportedly stays anonymous in order to exhibit in surprising locations, most often without seeking permission. His oversized canvases transform unknown individuals into unforgettable icons. His museum locale is on the streets, where the public makes direct connection with his featured subjects, who dominate the walls of the landscape. Check out these fabulous VIDEOS in Multimedia Content below:

Multimedia Content VIDEO: JR: Women Are Heroes VIDEO: JR In Kenya

Visit JR’s Web site:

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Loss and creative power seem to be inextricably connected. This month of October marks the 9th year of concerts performed globally in memory of Daniel Pearl, a journalist (and musician) who was brutally murdered by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan, in early 2002.

As the story of Daniel’s life and death has spread to many corners of the world, the bravery demonstrated in face of terrorist actions has touched many hearts.

After the murder, which sent shock-waves through many countries, family and friends created a foundation to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music and innovative communications. Daniel Pearl World Music Days was created by the slain journalist’s musician friends in 2002 to honor “Danny’s” message of tolerance and hope for a more enlightened humanity. The variety of music performed aroung the world reflects Daniel’s own eclectic love of music, ranging from classical and jazz to folk and bluegrass. The annual event has grown to include over 6,000 performances in 105 countries.

Journalist Mariane Pearl, widow of Daniel Pearl, documented the events surrounding Daniel’s death in her book, “A Mighty Heart,” which later became a film by the same title. Through her writing and speaking, Mariane points to the investigation period of the crisis in Pakistan, during which a wide swath of officials, men and women from many backgrounds (Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian), worked together in solidarity to locate the perpetrators and try to save Daniel’s life. Mrs. Pearl has stated that this cross-cultural experience provided her with a ray of hope for a better world and a key to her own emotional survival through the loss of her husband.

Through the foundation’s activities, the unimaginable loss endured by Daniel’s family and friends has been channeled creatively into messages of tolerance and love: the truest weapons against hatred.

Follow this link to see a timeline of events surrounding Daniel Pearl’s Life.

In Multimedia Content below, see a VIDEO (below) of Mariane Pearl speaking about her mission in journalism: *NOTE: Click the YouTube icon to access all five segments of the video.* See also a VIDEO of a memorial lecture by Christopher Hitchens, tracing the pernicious history of anti-Semitism and our need to ensure its defeat for a more peaceful world:

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A dazzling collection of art by women from across the globe was originally intended to be auctioned off in 2003. New Orleans collector Richard C. Colton, Jr. was so moved by the power of the assemblage, however, that he bought it whole in order to keep it that way, and to share it with the world. Conceived by Claudia DeMonte, each of the 176 female artists of this fabulous collection donated their pieces to the exhibition to raise money to help other women. What was designed as a single transitory show has become an enduring, gender-transcending metaphor for the common ground of struggle and beauty among cultures. Read Richard Colton’s project story here.

Follow the link in Multimedia Content below to view the fabulous Women of the World galleries, and be sure to *click the arrow* at lower left at Gallery 1 and Gallery 2 to bring additional images into view:

Multimedia Content Women of the World GALLERIES

See the site for exhibition locations and info:

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President Obama is edging closer to a decision on whether to reinforce the 68,000 U.S. troops who will be fighting in Afghanistan by year’s end. Since routing out Al Qaeda and their Taliban hosts in Afghanistan after 9-11, the Taliban has made a steady comeback, fueled by failures of the Bush administration, profits from the opium trade and corruption under the country’s president, Hamid Karzai. Amid accusations of fraud during the August 20th presidential election and a deteriorating internal security situation, the country seems poised on foundations so tenuous that our leaders are in conflict about what to do.

Multimedia Content Artist SLIDESHOW: Recent Tour in Afghanistan Artist SLIDESHOW: Medics on the Front Line

General Stanley McChrystal is calling for 30,000 or more additional US troops. While Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham are in support of the proposal, President Obama seems unconvinced that sending more troops is warrented, and a credible future exit strategy appears elusive at best, given the circumstances.

Author Gordon Goldstein talks with the German news source, Spiegel Online, about the lessons of Viet Nam, in which he sees historical parallels to the current Afghanistan predicament. President Obama asked his security advisors to read Goldstein’s book, “Lessons in Disaster: McGeorge Bundy and the Path to War in Vietnam,” which traces the events that mired the U.S. in a tragic situation. See the INTERVIEW here.

The BBC is posting some remarkable images by artists who have documented the scene in Afghanistan (and elsewhere.) Check out Multimedia Content below to see a few samples in this poignant Slideshow series.

For artists and others:
The BBC features some wonderful interactive programming online. Weigh in on Afghanistan or other cutting edge topics by submitting your work:

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photo by: Marco Magrini

Copyright Reform of the U.S. Congress

I have only just discovered this interesting new voice on the public scene. His name is Lawrence Lessig. If you haven’t already heard of him, you might want to take note. His book, “Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy,” tackles art and copyright issues as they relate to new media. He outlines new realities that creators face in our online world. He also comments on President Barack Obama, whom he knew from his earlier Chicago days. Last but not least, he discusses reform of the U.S. congress, advocating the weaning of the system from its over-dependency on raising money. Follow the Multimedia Content link above for a very interesting Charlie Rose interview with Lawrence Lessig:

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photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt

Tribute to the Creative Life of Paul Newman

September brought a sad, sweet farewell to Paul Newman, who died of cancer at the age of 83. Amidst the media gloom and campaign rancor of the season, a glance at his life makes for refreshing fare.