$4 Million to stop Lead Poisoning

Fortunately, the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, decided to release four million dollars to be spent on cleaning up the lead outbreak in Nigeria. This recent led outbreak has caused the deaths of more than 400 children. The led is said to be caused by the mining company, Wildcat Gold-Mining. Also, due to the price of gold going up to $1,800 an ounce the previous year, villages decided to do their own mining. The gold that the villagers mine contain high amounts of lead which gets into the air, soil and water. Currently, more than 1,500 children are reported to have high lead levels. The $4 million of cleanup money has been blocked since 2011, but the choice to spend it on cleaning, "could be lifesaving for countless children," believes Jane Cohen, a researcher from Human Rights Watch.  

American Cinema in the Obama Era

Have you recently noticed more and more films about Lincoln and slavery hitting the big screen? Well New York Times authors A. O. Scott and Manohla Dargis believe that is because of President Obama. Lincoln, Django Unchained, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter are movies that have all been released in the past year. Some believe that this "Lincolnmania" began the day that Barack Obama announced that he was planning on running for president in 2007. Other movies are starting to more prominently display interracial couples ever since Obama was elected. Also, movies have hinted at different classes and issues with the economy. Four years ago, movies displayed hope which was Obama's campaign slogan, while now, movies are hinting at exaggerated challenges that we may face over the next few years. Also, an obvious movie that is related to the president is Dark Zero Thirty which is about the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Is the American cinema in the Obama Era or is it just a coincidence? Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/20/movies/lincoln-django-unchained-and-an-obama-inflected-cinema.html?ref=arts       

Turning Our Tragedy into a Moment of Transformation

On the one month anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, parents and community members have joined together to create the non-profit group, Sandy Hook Promise. The original name of the group was Newtown United. It asks people to sign a pledge to "encourage and support common sense solutions that make my community and our country safer from similar acts of violence." The non-profit group will not only focus on making schools, streets, malls, and public places safer, but also focus on a better discussion on mental health issues. Recently, parents of Anna Marquez Greene, one of the 20 children victims, appeared on Good Morning America to honor her memory. Her mother, Nelba Marquez-Green said, "We're hoping that through Sandy Hook Promise, we can bring awareness to issues, and start a conversation based on love and respect."  

http://abcnews.go.com/US/sandy-hook-shooting-month-parents-aim-bolster-dialogue/story?id=18209336

Stolen Matisse is Returned

Twenty-five years ago, "Le Jardin," an oil painting by Matisse was stolen from Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art. This painting is worth $1 million dollars and has recently been recovered. A member of the Art Loss Register, a database of stolen artwork, Christopher A. Marinello negotiated the return of "Le Jardin." Charles Roberts received the painting from an 85 year-old man a few years ago. Recently Roberts was searching the Art Loss Register and noticed that "Le Jardin" was listed as stolen. Mr. Roberts is unclear as to where the mysterious man got the painting from. Mr. Marinello said that, "I'm elated..." and is shocked that the painting is actually being returned and during the holiday break. 

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/07/stolen-matisse-to-be-returned-to-swedish-museum/?ref=arts

Bliss at the MoMA

This years Museum of Modern Art's Artist's Choice exhibition features art by Trisha Donnelly. She is known for her conceptual and performance style. She works with multiple mediums of art including drawing, photography, video, film and sound art. This particular exhibition features paintings, photographs, and sculptures in three different galleries located throughout the Museum. Donnelly pushes the boundaries and raises the question, "what is art?" One of the galleries includes 28 photographs that feature nature. The second gallery, on the fifth floor, includes drawings, prints, and photographs of landscapes and portraits. This exhibit does not only feature artwork by Donnelly. With help from MoMA's curator, she selected other pieces of work that she believed fit into her galleries. This exhibition is called Bliss, named after one of the museum's founder, Lillie P. Bliss. Bliss is known for being an, "eccentric, joyful, finely wrought excursion."
        
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/arts/design/trisha-donnelly-in-momas-artists-choice-series.html?pagewanted=1&ref=design