STAINED

STAINED: Supporting the Gulf thru Art

Jewelry Topaz Gallery is pleased to introduce a new collection of work by Atlanta artists Shondra Leigh and Rochelle Nation. The collection incorporates tar from Grand Isle, LA.

The artists were inspired by the recent tragedy in the Gulf, and wanted to “turn something ugly into something beautiful.”

This unique jewelry collection is derived out of the frustration and anger of the artist to the appalling corporate and government reaction to the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion on April 20, 2010. As oil began washing up on the beaches of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in June, the magnitude of this catastrophe was evident in the extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats along the Gulf, as well as the resulting blow to the fishing and tourism industry. This is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry.

The abstract “tar paintings” of "Stained" are created from the oil of tarballs collected during the summer of 2010 from the beaches of Grand Isle, LA. The actual presence of oil in jewelry is meant to serve as an important reminder that the oil does not dissipate just because headlines disappear. "Stained" is created with the optimistic hope that all will be inspired by this reaction to the Gulf tragedy to act more responsibly for our environment through both conservation efforts and cleaner technologies.

We will also be presenting photos from the Gulf by Holt Webb, founder of The Vanishing America Project. Join us on the weekend of Friday and Saturday, October 29th and 30th to see the collection. Meet the artists and have refreshments on Friday, from 6 to 9pm.

20% of all sales will be donated to the advocacy efforts of Vanishing America and the Gulf clean-up. For more information on Vanishing America, go to www.vanishingamerica.net

NEW BOOK!

The new book is finally here!

The Vanishing America Project documents things in our country and our culture that may not be around for future generations to enjoy. And, when I heard about the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, I knew that there was a subject that fit my parameters perfectly, for it was clear that the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico would never be the same.

But my goal wasn't to be just another journalist documenting bad news. I wanted to create Art out of a terrible situation -- hence the name of the series Beautiful Images from a Disturbing Place. The images in this book are from that series. Beautiful images of disturbing places stir up a different kind of emotion than straightforward images of those same places. They force the mind to do a double-take and bypass the shock factor. And when the Art does that, the mind is free to process logically and emotionally together, making for a much clearer and effective response, allowing the viewer to stay long enough to absorb the message. And that's the point, isn't it?
The message.

This series of portraits shows some of the people involved with the spill – the fishermen, the cleanup workers, the wives, the business owners, the scientists, the volunteers... the people who call the Gulf of Mexico their home. More effective than mere words, their expressions show best how they feel about what is happening to them. Their faces show the sadness, anger, desperation, exhaustion and hope of regular human beings trying to cope with an uncertain future.

They are the People of the Spill.

Order your book here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1579833
Two versions are available. A vertically formatted version and a horizontally formatted version.

BP Blues now on sale!

The song is out! Drew Landry's newest single BP BLUES, made famous at the Oil Spill Commission Hearings, is now on sale at iTunes. 75% of the proceeds go to the Gulf Coast Waterkeepers.

The single is only $1.29! I know you can ALL afford $1.29. Every one of you should buy this song. Not only does it support a good cause, but it's a GREAT song!

Get it on iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bp-blues/id389899419?i=389899426&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Get it on Amazon.com here: http://www.amazon.com/BP-Blues/dp/B0041BTZM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1283270271&sr=8-1-catcorr

"Discharge of Oil Prohibited"

I really didn't want to get this deep into the problems here on the Gulf Coast. I wanted to document the troubles, the solutions, Americans pulling together and a vanishing coastline and then move on to my next destination.

But things have changed. I'm beginning to take it personally now.

In my many journeys out on boats, helicopters, ATVs, and on foot to see the damage done, the cleanup efforts and the areas yet to be hit by the oil spill; in my many conversations with residents whose lives have been affected by the oil spill; in my own personal direct observations of how clean a place can LOOK without really being clean I've come to the conclusion that we are in a serious mess indeed.

I've walked along beautiful beaches with fresh sand and soaring gulls only to stumble upon tidal pools bubbling with buried oil. I've gone swimming in the "safe" waters off the coast of Mississippi only to find that I'm swimming in dispersant and emulsified oil. And I've watched with utter disbelief while the media and the government that is supposed to protect us tells the nation that everything is okay.

Everything is not okay.

As I stated before, I didn't want to get this deep into the situation here, but I have no choice. The waterways, coastlines and wildlife all look normal, but they aren't. They aren't. And I can't sit idly by while we're told that they are. I'm not an activist... I'm an artist. But I've seen things here that make me sick. If this isn't Vanishing America, then I don't know what is.

In that vein, I've started a new series of images to parallel my portrait series, People of the Spill. This series is called Accountability. What you see in the hands of these people is a plaque that every boat over 26 feet is supposed to display. The statement is issued by the US Coast Guard and reads as follows:

DISCHARGE OF OIL PROHIBITED -- THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT PROHIBITS THE DISCHARGE OF OIL OR OILY WASTE INTO OR UPON THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES, OR THE WATERS OF THE CONTIGUOUS ZONE, OR WHICH MAY AFFECT NATURAL RESOURCES BELONGING TO, APPERTAINING TO, OR UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES, IF SUCH DISCHARGE CAUSES A FILM OR DISCOLORATION OF THE SURFACE OF THE WATER OR CAUSES A SLUDGE OR EMULSION BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. VIOLATORS ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL CIVIL PENALTIES AND/OR CRIMINAL SANCTIONS INCLUDING FINES AND IMPRISONMENT.

The water, the marshes and the beaches are not clean yet. They may look clean, but they are not. And until someone is held accountable for the cleanup -- the ENTIRE cleanup -- our coastline and our wildlife will continue to disappear.

THE BP BLUES www.dirtycajuns.com

Great song! Honest, soulful and real. This guy is the real deal.

Drew is one of the people I've photographed for my "People of the Spill" series, and is one talented songwriter. (I didn't shoot this clip, so I apologize for the beginning being a little jacked-up).

The Oil Spill is over. Bullshit!

Many of you may have been seeing on the news that the worst of the oil spill is over and the beaches are clean, the water is clean, and everything will be back to normal soon. I understand the point of view from where many of the reports are coming. The journalists are only reporting what they see. But that's exactly the problem. You can't judge a book just by looking at the cover. The Ocean is a tremendously varied system. The winds, the waves, the currents, etc. all do different things in different places.

Here in Louisiana there are stretches of clean beach, but there are also stretches of nasty beach. There are sections of clean marsh, but there are also sections of oily marsh. It just depends on where you look. I was out on the beaches today and found oil that wasn't there yesterday. I also found oil a foot under the sand that was deposited by the latest high tide.

Low tide, high tide... the beach is always changing. So, yeah, of course there are clean places. The entire Gulf isn't a pool of oil. It just has oil IN IT. And that oil will wash up in some places, settle to the seafloor in other places and not show up at all in still other places. That's just the way it is. It depends on where you look.

But you can be sure that the oil is out there, it IS still washing up, and it WILL continue to do so for quite some time. It's naive to think that it won't. If you are brave enough to want to see the TRUTH, go to www.pcolagregg.com. He's tied in with everyone who is trying to tell the truth. Yeah, there are a few eco-nazis that go over the top, but it's easy to separate them from the real storytellers. Gregg is the real deal. Visit his website. You will be treated with a very clear picture of what's really happening. Don't turn your backs on this. It ain't over.

Gulf Oil Spill Images

"Beautiful Images of a Disturbing Place" -- A new slideshow of imagery from The Vanishing America Project illustrating the effects the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has had on Southern Louisiana.

© www.vanishingamerica.net

Fine Art collector's edition images

Beautiful Images
of a Disturbing Place

Images from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Disaster - Part 1

Fine Art collector's edition images from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Disaster. Series of Six.

These images are a special edition and are available at:

http://vanishingamerica.smugmug.com/Art/OilSpillDisasterArt/13195203_4X8sM#957765471_xGekf

Beautiful images of a disturbing place

The above are abstract images of the patterns formed in the oil that has been washing up on the beaches here in southern Louisiana. And, if you look closely, you can see hermit crab trails cutting through the surface skin.

Vanishing America on The Weather Channel!

Looks like Channel 9 Baton Rouge reporter, Rick Portier, did such a good job on the video of The Vanishing America Project that it made The Weather Channel! It's called "Beautiful Images of a Disturbing Place".

Here is the link: http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/tropical-update-6584#17889

Remember, it's about the people, too.

Two nights ago I attended a town hall meeting about the Vessels of Opportunity program and then went to a candlelight vigil to honor the 11 men lost in the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. After the vigil, local musician Drew Landry serenaded the crowd with his raw style of Dirty Cajun blues. Great songs, great voice, great sound. Look for Drew on upcoming Vanishing America video clips and at www.bandryland.com.

This second shot is a portrait of local fisherman Brian Zito who, despite his best efforts (and the efforts of the community around him), has somehow been left off the list of fishing vessels available for helping with the oil cleanup. Because of the oil spill, Brian can't fish for a living... and now he can't even help clean the places he calls home.

I've been looking for some good to come out of this -- maybe communities pulling together, millions of dollars being raised to help clean up the mess... but I'm afraid there is little good to be found. People are trying, they are pushing, they are calling out to their leaders for help, but help is slow in coming... if it comes at all.

Tiny pebbles

(Remember, you can click on any image to view it larger)

Elmers Island, Louisiana --

What follows is a series of three images... so you can feel the same sense of disbelief that I felt when I came upon this scene. It's so subtle that I was dumbfounded. I've been at the site of the oil spill, I've seen the slicks, but I was still dumbfounded. The first image is a wide shot of the beautiful beach, lush with sand, framed by a gentle surf and strewn with tiny shells and pebbles.

The second image is a closer view of those pebbles, so round and perfect. Just like any beach might have.

This third image is a closeup of the pebbles. But, wait. Those aren't pebbles. I picked one up. It broke apart in my hand like a warm m&m. Those little "pebbles" are tar balls. Yes, tar balls. Little semi-solid nuggets of oil washing up on our beaches by the millions. They wash up every single day. The workers are dutifully cleaning the beaches, yet these little pellets of petroleum keep sweeping ashore like some bizarre kind of D-Day invasion.

Is this the kind of sand we want squishing between our toes?

What you don't see

So, this is the beach. Grasses blowing in the breeze, blue skies dappled with a puff of cottony afternoon clouds. So beautiful and clean. A great place to take off your shoes and just stroll through the breaking waves softly washing up on shore.

...or is it?

THIS is what lies just beneath the surface right at the water's edge. Going more than a foot deep, we discovered sand soaked with oil so thoroughly that, at first glance, it could easily be mistaken for mud. But mud is the last thing it is. THIS is oil. This is ruin. This is here forever.

What have we done?

Kindra Arnesen Interview Part 6

The Final Chapter in the Must-see video interview series with Louisiana resident and activist Kindra Arnesen! Part 6 of 6.

For a list of helpful charities, visit:

http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Gulf_Oil_Disaster.html

To help keep videos like this coming, please visit www.donatevanam.blogspot.com

For images and stories about the spill, cleanup efforts and the ecosystems that are vanishing, visit www.VanishingAmerica.net, www.facebook.com/VanishingAmerica, and www.YouTube.com/HoltWebb

Kindra Arnesen interview Part 5

Must-see video interview with Louisiana resident and activist Kindra Arnesen! Part 5 of 6.

For a list of helpful charities, visit:

http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Gulf_Oil_Disaster.html

To help keep videos like this coming, please visit www.donatevanam.blogspot.com

For images and stories about the spill, cleanup efforts and the ecosystems that are vanishing, visit www.VanishingAmerica.net, www.facebook.com/VanishingAmerica, and www.YouTube.com/HoltWebb

Kindra Arnesen interview Part 4

Must-see video interview with Louisiana resident and activist Kindra Arnesen! Part 4 of 6.

For a list of helpful charities, visit:

http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Gulf_Oil_Disaster.html

To help keep videos like this coming, please visit www.donatevanam.blogspot.com

For images and stories about the spill, cleanup efforts and the ecosystems that are vanishing, visit www.VanishingAmerica.net, www.facebook.com/VanishingAmerica, and www.YouTube.com/HoltWebb

Kindra Arnesen interview Part 2

Must-see video interview with Louisiana resident and activist Kindra Arnesen! Part 2 of 6.

For a list of helpful charities, visit:

http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Gulf_Oil_Disaster.html

To help keep videos like this coming, please visit www.donatevanam.blogspot.com

For images and stories about the spill, cleanup efforts and the ecosystems that are vanishing, visit www.VanishingAmerica.net, www.facebook.com/VanishingAmerica, and www.YouTube.com/HoltWebb

Kindra Arnesen interview Part 1

Must-see video interview with Louisiana resident and activist Kindra Arnesen! Part 1 of 6.

For a list of helpful charities, visit:

http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Gulf_Oil_Disaster.html

To help keep videos like this coming, please visit www.donatevanam.blogspot.com

For images and stories about the spill, cleanup efforts and the ecosystems that are vanishing, visit www.VanishingAmerica.net, www.facebook.com/VanishingAmerica, and www.YouTube.com/HoltWebb

I'm at the Gulf!

I've finally made it to the Gulf. A couple of days in New Orleans working to make some money (one of the many ways I support this project) and I'm off and running -- looking for stories and for any way I can help with the cleanup and protection of America's Gulf Coast.

I've listed myself and the project with all the states' volunteer websites, I've been in contact with the Deepwater Horizon Response and various states' tourism boards, and am woking hard to get you the information you need without the standard media spin we've come to distrust so much.

I've been doing a lot of research about what beaches have been affected, who is in charge of what programs and where the volunteer efforts are being concentrated. Any information or contacts you can send my way would be greatly appreciated.

In the meantime, if you would like to help with a monetary donation, please click on this link:

https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/3177

Whether you can afford $5 or $5000, any help is appreciated and goes directly to The Vanishing America Projects efforts in the Gulf. And... it's tax deductible!

The Vanishing America Project is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of this project may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

So, please help out. Remember... if we want ownership of this land, we must take responsibility!

Support the oil cleanup efforts

I'm beginning a campaign to raise money for my journey to the Gulf. As you know, it costs money to travel, and I need your help in order to bring you the images and stories of what's really happening out there.

And it's not just about images and stories... I will be getting my hands (and other parts of me) very dirty as I help with the protection and cleanup of our Gulf coastlines. This is your chance to get involved.

Any donation is appreciated and is tax-deductible when made through this link: https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/3177

Let's make a difference while we still can!

(The Vanishing America Project is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions in behalf of the project may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/3177 )