John T. Peters: Longtime Entrepreneur and Senior Executive Also Accomplished Artist

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 18, 2010

John T. Peters is well known in the travel and tourism field as the founder of Zeus Tours & Yacht Cruises and now the CEO of Tripology. However, he is also an accomplished painter.

John started drawing at the age of five. He began painting while still in high school. Later, in university, he continued studying both art and business. There he started painting using different kinds of media beyond just oil and acrylic, picked up his first professional quality brushes, and began painting and drawing the first of his pieces he would sell.

After college John spent each summer on the Greek island of Mykonos, painting watercolors of the white washed village, blue domed churches and tiny winding streets, not to mention the myriad of nude Scandinavian women. There he learned to differentiate between the whites of Mediterranean sunlight and the whites of reflective island moonlight and began developing more of his own style mixing pencil and ink. Many days were spent on Super Paradise beach with friends from around the world. Many evenings were spent at the famed Scandinavian Bar, a subject frequently painted by artists like Thomas McKnight and Johns longtime friend; Peter Apostolos.

Sacred to John are his Faces-in-the-Crowd drawings. Each is 3 feet by 2 feet and contains about 1,000 small faces, each one different from the next. This simple doodling technique has kept John busy for thousands of hours. Crowd themes include concerts, bullfights, Olympic venues, sporting events and car shows anywhere where a crowd might gather.

For years John has painted each weekend in his studio. Personal interests include international travel and ethnic food. John, his wife and two children live just outside of Chicago.

Professionally, John joined Tripology as President and CEO in 2008. Since then, John has guided the team at Tripology in hitting critical growth milestones. In 2009, Tripology processed its 100,000 trip request and has assembled a network of nearly 15,000 Travel Specialists.

Prior to Tripology, John was Vice President of Business Development & Travel Trade where he led the successful launch of Endless Vacation Rentals

John T. Peters: Longtime Entrepreneur and Senior Executive Also Accomplished Artist

Columnist and Artist, Karen J Lee, Launches Decor Showroom News Column

(PRWEB) July 20, 2011

Karen J Lee, columnist and designer/artist, has launched a creative column, combining an inviting approach to intertwine lifestyles with a palette of features for the cottage and home. The how to articles introduce classic timeless decor, with simple colors and textures – ideas that are both motivating and inspiring. Karen notes, An aspect of the features focuses on new releases for fabrics, wallpapers, tiles, paint colors, to coordinate with the arts. For example, Martha Stewarts newest paint colors are included as a complimentary feature to coordinate with the arts in a room setting.”

http://karenjlee.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/how-to-add-soulr-above-the-fireplace/

Karen has received recognition as a writer through awards from National Press Women and Wisconsin Press Women, and for her signature style as an artist. Recently her work was accepted for a Richeson Gallery National Juried show, and she has previously received art award recognitions. http://www.karenleeartgallery.com.

The Richeson Gallery 75 International show is juried by world famous artists. We are pleased to have Karens signature style of artwork with fresh Impressionism, and a blend of contemporary, as a feature in this show. Her Collections of coastal, floral, golf, and water views, are inviting and represent a keen approach to color, commented Rachael Kramer, Director of the Richeson School of Art & Gallery, a leading supplier of high quality art materials.

Combining writing and the arts has lead Karen to a published portfolio on the arts, and as a feature writer for a travel column that includes 5 star Resorts, and special destinations. She is published nationally at Examiner.com, and has written features for TravelWriters.com and Hello Metro. She is a graduate of University of WI – Green Bay, with studies in journalism and the arts, and has participated in art courses by leading educational instructors of the arts.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Visual Arts, WI, and is an avid contributor to several Hospitals. She serves on Hospital Development Committees for planning fund raising events. In addition to being involved in the Boards/Committees, Karen provides art contributions for fundraisers to several Hospitals for medical equipment, and for support services for the vulnerable in communities.

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San Francisco Singer/Songwriter Aoede, Afflicted with Extremely Rare & Debilitating Disease, Dermatomyositis, Wins 2012 Album of the Year & Best Folk/Acoustic Artist"

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 23, 2012

Singer/Songwriter Lisa Sniderman, aka: Aoede (pronounced A-E-D), has won Album of the Year for her 2011 release Affair with the Muse, and Best Folk/Acoustic Artist in the inaugural 2012 Artists In Music Awards. The awards were presented during the Artists in Music Awards ceremony, held during Grammy Week at the prestigious Key Club in Hollywood, California, February 10, 2012. The Artists in Music Awards gives special recognition to the best unsigned and independent music artists around the world. The Artists in Music Awards ceremony, created by casting agent, producer and host of the long-running online streaming radio program The Great Unknowns Presents, Mikey Jayy, was presented in front of a live audience of 1,400 people and was also streamed live online in HD.

Aoede will release her second full-length CD April 15, 2012, Skeletons of the Muse, which was partially funded by fans through Kickstarter. Skeletons of the Muse comes a little over one year since the release of her digital EP, Affair with the Muse, in March 2011, which shot her to #2 on Reverbnation’s San Francisco pop chart and #74 on the national chart. Also in that time, Aoede has garnered numerous accolades for her music, won multiple songwriting awards, developed a popular blog, engaged fans through social media, and participated in national motivational speaking engagements where she offers support, advice, and encouragement.

Aoede, who is also WomensRadio.coms recipient of a Top Album of the Decade honor, and Top Artist of the Year for 2008, in recognition of her CD release, Push and Pull, accomplished all of this, plus more, in quite the unorthodox fashion and against a very fierce obstacle – while suffering from a rare connective-tissue disease called Dermatomyositis for which there is no known cure. Dermatomyositis, which afflicts an estimated 5.5 people per million, attacks and weakens the immune system, muscles and skin as well as the mind and spirit, and if left untreated, could result in complete muscle wasting and long-term disability, as well as other complications.

Aoedes condition, the onset of which inexplicably began in mid-2008, worsened in September 2010 to where she had to be hospitalized for 24-days of treatment and rehabilitation. She credits two forms of treatment that is helping her rebuild her body and spirit: Intravenous therapies and creating Affair with the Muse and Skeletons of the Muse.

Aoede states, A large part of my healing process remains creating new music and connecting with people. The objective in getting these songs out was because I didnt know what life was going to bring. Music is my lifeline. I cannot perform live for awhile; so I hope to reach those who feel helpless and alone and offer inspiration and support with every ounce of my soul. Being recognized by Artists In Music Awards is a true honor and privilege and incredibly gratifying. It shows me it is really all about the music.

The unique Artists In Music Awards three-stage judging process stipulates that a combination of votes from fans and a panel of judges, comprised of music industry professionals, are required to advance the nominee to Final Category Winner Selection. A lack of first stage fan participation, resulting in low nominee fan votes, will lead to contest disqualification before advancing to the elimination round. In the event of a fan and judge vote tie, the fans cast the final vote.

According to Mikey Jayy, We believe we made the voting process as fair as possible. Aoede won Best Folk/Acoustic Artist with 50% of the votes, with the runner-up coming in with 25% of the votes. For Album of the Year, Aoede’s won with 63% of the votes, with the runner up coming in with 27% of the votes. Because she not only had the support of her fans, but also had the support of the judges, with that kind of support, no one can argue that she didnt deserve both awards.

Fans of Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor, Feist, Lily Allen and A Fine Frenzy resonate with Aoede’s prodigal and passionate songwriting skills that synergistically blend melody and lyric into compellingly captivating musical vignettes conveyed in her imitable breathy, bouncy, and enchantingly quirky soprano.

An avid philanthropist, Aoede is also a co-founder of WomenROCK (http://womenrocksf.wordpress.com/), a Bay Area-based women-in-music advocacy group, and a driven environmentalist with a passion for water resources.

For additional information, interviews, and journalists wishing to review Skeletons of the Muse and other Aoede music, please contact Christopher Buttner, tel: 415-233-7350 or email: chris(at)prthatrocks(dot)com, for download codes and other requests.

For digital distribution inquiries, please contact Jerome Forney at IDCDigital, at jerome(at)independentdistro(dot)com

For more info please check out, http://www.aoedemuse.com/

For more info about Dermatomyositis, please visit: http://www.myositis.org/

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San Francisco Singer/Songwriter Aoede, Afflicted with Extremely Rare & Debilitating Disease, Dermatomyositis, Wins 2012 Album of the Year & Best Folk/Acoustic Artist"

Joey Skaggs, Notorious Artist and Satirist, to Launch Pranks.com Web site on April 1, 2007

New York, NY, (PRWEB) March 26, 2007

Artist and satirist Joey Skaggs is proud to announce the debut of his new blog Pranks.com on April Fools Day, April 1, 2007. Here visitors will find insights, news and discussions on everything to do with pranks, hoaxes, culture jamming and reality hacking around the world – past, present and future – mainstream and counter culture.

With Skaggs as editor, the site will have submissions from many known and not so known pranksters, artists, performers, activists and writers. Pranks.com, launching April Fools Day, will provide a continuing and growing exploration into the art of the prank; the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer; and the contribution of the prank to society.

Pranks have traditionally been relegated to the realm of the juvenile bad-boy or special occasions, like April Fools Day. People typically think of the word prank as referring to funny, embarrassing, humiliating, non-redeeming acts of just plain silliness or revenge. And while this may represent the majority of pranks in the world, the role of the prankster throughout history has been quite significant and influential. Mythic archetypes such as the trickster and coyote; the jester in the royal court; and pranksters throughout literature will all be explored.

In addition, topics such as pranks in the news, the sociology and psychology of pranks; political pranks; First Amendment issues; hoax etiquette; publicity stunts; urban legends; illusion and magic; fraud and deception; hype; spin; and propaganda will all be fodder for thought. As will, of course, all sorts of practical jokes and mischief…

“April Fools Day, my favorite holiday, is the perfect launch date. This site will provide one stop shopping for anyone interested in mounting an insurrection, over-throwing a government, crashing a stock market, creating global chaos, growing hair, losing weight or keeping their horny dog satisfied. It will provide a sure way to get the federal government to tap your phone line, or, at the very least to embarrass and humiliate yourself, says artist, Joey Skaggs.”

Pranks offer an alternative palette for criticism and dissent, as well as a looking-glass into the human gullibility that results when critical analysis is suspended for wishful thinking. “I challenge personal belief systems that sustain status-quo thinking and that support close-mindedness, bias and prejudice, says Skaggs.” Key motives running throughout his personal work are to inspire people to question authority in all of its guises and to ultimately think for themselves.

With this new endeavor, launching April Fools Day, Skaggs hopes to reach a broad audience of people interested in the intersection of reality and illusion. Those interested in contributing content will be invited to do so once the blog launches.

Pranks.com will shed light on all aspects of the topic, examining the intent, content, technique, and the magic that makes a prank live. It will even include tutorials and how-to instructions. Although the site will not encourage or condone irresponsible, misguided, unlawful or unethical practices, some meaningful pranks rightfully test the limits and cross the boundaries of lawfulness. To trivialize, ignore or dismiss them for this reason would be a disservice to everyone.

About Joey Skaggs: Joey Skaggs has been a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief. Hailed as an entrepreneur extraordinaire, he created a bordello for dogs, was the proprietor of a celebrity sperm bank, and founded an organization to wipe out fat. He has saved the world with his cockroach vitamin elixir and was the first and only person to ever windsurf from Hawaii to California. As a pedaling priest with a confessional booth mounted on the back of a tricycle, he took confessions from politicians at the Democratic National Convention. As a real estate developer, he created the Final Curtain cemetery theme park mall and time share program for the dead. And as a computer scientist, he revolutionized the American Judicial System using a series of super computers that meted out equal justice to all.

Although these and other illustrious activities have been presented as truth in the annals of the international news media, in reality they have all been hoaxes, products of his imagination. For over 40 years Skaggs has been an artist and a satirist with a serious message. He has used the media as his canvas, creating performances to bring to light many of the difficult and complex socio-political issues of our day.

A life-long educator and performance art practioner, Skaggs has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Parsons/New School and he lectures and does presentations at schools, festivals and conferences around the world. His commentaries on media literacy and creative independent thinking are hilarious and thought provoking and have reached millions of people on a global scale. He has been hailed as The World’s Greatest Hoaxer.

To add to his bag of tricks, he recently designed and manufactured the Universal Bulls**t Detector Watch (a real product) to enable people to humorously call it as they see it. Available online at http://www.bswatch.com, it flashes, moos and poops. It also tells time.

And, if that’s not enough, New Yorkers are encouraged to attend prankster and performance artist Joey Skaggs’ 22nd Annual April Fools Day Parade. The press release is available in the News Flash section of http://joeyskaggs.com.

About Pranks.com: The pranks.com Web site is designed by David Bunde of DGB Design using WordPress software, and hosted, by Laughing Squid.

Contact:

Joey Skaggs

212-254-7878

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Joey Skaggs, Notorious Artist and Satirist, to Launch Pranks.com Web site on April 1, 2007

U.S. Artist Carole Turner on Olympic Sculpture World Tour

Portland, OR (PRWEB) October 25, 2007

Portland sculptor Carole Turner has been named as one of 3 finalists to represent the United States on the international tour of the Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Collection, and she has just returned from the Sacramento exhibition opening ceremonies.

According to the IOC the tour that is circling the globe and is now making stops in the U.S. “aims to promote the activities linked to the Olympic games and strengthen cultural links, thus showing the world a new cultural image of China.”

The competition, initiated by the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee in 2005, and overseen by renowned artist and cultural ambassador, Xikun Yuan, is documented as “the largest solicitation for sculptures in Olympic history,” and has attracted more than 2400 design proposals from 90 countries. In keeping with the theme, “One World, One Dream,” the goal was to collect landscape sculptures from around the world. And in honor of the 29th Olympiad, 29 sculptures will ultimately be chosen for monumental display throughout the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games venues.

A panel of 17 judges from the U.K., Russia, Italy, Germany, Austria, South Korea and the U.S. chose 290 “Excellent Works” from five continents. Among these finalist designs were 10 Americans. Winning artists were notified and sent their design models to China. The sculptures were then reproduced in the appropriate materials (bronze, stainless steel, etc.) in triplicate to allow for simultaneous exhibitions first in China, then abroad.

After a 6 month tour of China, the judges narrowed the list to the current 110 finalists for the International Tour. Carole’s sculpture is one of 3 chosen from the U.S. These sculptures will compete for the 29 gold, silver and bronze medals to be awarded in a nationally televised ceremony in China in January 2008.

Carole’s award winning bronze sculpture, “Rhythmic Dancer,” captures the exuberance and Olympic dreams of a young gymnast mastering the ribbon dance. She was honored to present “Olympic Dream,” a study for her Olympic sculpture, to Professor Xikun Yuan, Director of the Organizing Committee for 2008 Olympic Landscape Sculpture Designs Contest during the opening ceremonies in Sacramento.

Asked for her impression of the Olympic competition, Ms. Turner said, “I am just in awe seeing all of these sculptures for the first time,” and “I am very thankful to Professor Yuan for inviting me to enter the competition. It has been an amazing experience.” She and several of the finalists have followed the tour together via email and she was happy to finally meet them in person. Another highlight was the many emails she received from people around the world, “mostly sculptors who have seen my sculpture in different countries or in the exhibition catalog. We have been told that millions of people have seen this collection; isn’t that incredible?”

“I love the theme of the Beijing Olympic Games – One World, One Dream. It’s a great theme — not only for these Olympics, but for our global community. So much time is spent focusing on our differences, when we share so many similarities.”

That theme is nothing new to Carole. In recent years she has spent time in Asia and Europe creating large sculptures in stone, and earlier this year she went to Russia to participate in a bronze sculpture symposium. While there her sculpture, “Same Sky,” was acquired by the Penza Art Museum as the first American work of art in its permanent collection. “Same Sky” carries the same message as “One World, One Dream.”

The international tour of the Beijing Olympic Landscape Sculpture Collection debuted in London, host city of the next edition of the Olympic Games in 2012. It has traveled to many cities that have already hosted the Games, such as Athens, Seoul, Tokyo, Barcelona, Sydney and Los Angeles, passing through other cities, including Dubai, Wellington and the Olympic Capital, Lausanne, with a stay in the Olympic Museum.

The next Olympic Sculpture Collection exhibition will held at the Navy Pier in Chicago, October 23 – November 3, and the last U.S. stop will be a much-anticipated exhibition at the United Nations in New York in December 2007.

For more information:

Carole Turner

http://www.turnerstudio.com

Beijing Olympic Sculpture News

http://www.beijingolympicsculpture.wordpress.com

International Olympic Committee

http://www.olympic.org

http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/full_story_uk.asp?id=2325

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U.S. Artist Carole Turner on Olympic Sculpture World Tour