CBrajkovich Ramblings

Designers Against Child Slavery collaborated with The Blind Project on the second annual art exhibit and silent auction to support the movement to stop child sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. The show, Episodes, was the culmination of a year’s worth of work by a diverse group of talented artists from around the world who were chosen to depict one of three themes: Coercion, Enslavement, and Restoration. The images are so beautiful, and yet tell such a powerful story of an underground world where few go. We’ve seen the documentaries, but understand little of the impact on the victims. It’s exhibitions like this for amazing organizations that work to remove the bad from this world that shows that the beauty isn’t just in a stroke of color, but in the desire for change. So beautiful and compelling.

This particular piece by Rob Shields drew me to it because of the intensity of emotion amid the melancholy of defeat, while being wrapped in a package of beauty meant to entice against a tableau of gentility. There are so many more that are equally entrancing, so visit either site to find more details. So glad that I found this on Behance Network. It will be amazing to see what next year brings.

I love this image! The depiction of a sleeping innocent juxtaposed with the playful alertness of a child free from the trials of school is adorable. Alice Pasquini is a Rome-based visual artist who works on any paper or structure, creating street art that is so full of lively strength. Color is definitely a key element of all of her images, as they give her images a magical dreamlike quality that breathes of joy, excitement, and love. Take a look at some of her other wall images at her blog, and you’ll see what I mean. If you want to take some of her work home, well, it looks like she has also partnered in a graphic novel project, Vertigine, with Melissa P.

Check out more images of AliCè’s work on her Flickr page! She travels to a lot of countries and leaves her joyous mark.

Thanks again, My Modern Met, for this amazing artist. Her work simply makes you smile!

It’s a tough book, but the topic is also pretty tough. Frank Miller is once again at his best covering the conflict that man brings about, and the unintended consequences from acts of violence that move people in surprising ways. The story for Holy Terror is pure chaos that only comes about because of inexplicable actions that man does to one another (all in the name of the divine – in this case) and the repercussions that result. You’re floundering in the story’s emotions because it is depicting an event that can only make you feel that way. And while Frank calls it propaganda against the 9/11 attacks, it is also a powerful nod to how comics can illuminate a scenario through graphic characterization that brings it in your face. Subtle in conversation while still being excruciating in visual action. This is a story about America, and yet every country has similar ones because humans pretty much are the same in general instincts.

Here’s a review by Forbidden Planet UK, if you’re curious to find out more. But I can attest to the unique art that only Frank can accomplish. Beauty found in the grotesque, and hope found in the cinders of destruction. Life as we know it.

There is no happy ending in the common sense, because it captures a few moments in time. And time continue to tick after the last scene of this story. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. But we can predict the future by our current actions. Food for thought…

I found this image called Flutter by Jason Leveque (also known as Stuntkid) on This Isn’t Happiness blog by accident. Of course, this accident was all instigated by My Modern Met’s blog about the Top 10 Tumblr blogs to Creatively Inspire You. It just goes to show you that perseverance and curiosity go hand in hand, and pays off every time! Now, I’m off to explore Jason’s art more thoroughly since I’ve obviously missed some of his creations!  Can’t wait to see what else he’s done!  : )