I have always believed that the duty of every "struggling" artist (literally or figuratively...we all struggle) was to assist other artists in receiving recognition for their own unique styles. Artists are an amazing breed. We see beauty in the ordinary and depth in the average. We have a gift for telling stories, creating myths, and transforming the world from the mundane to extraordinary ...sometimes without saying a word.
We struggle and suffer for our art, it is a part of us. We offer up little pieces of our soul for others to experience and judge, each time risking criticism, rejection and exploitation. We are a sensitive lot, and to subject ourselves to such scrutiny over and over requires nothing short of extreme bravery...or extreme determination. Either way, every once in a while someone comes along and gets it, and we validated...for a moment. Then we resume our struggle.
We create what we have to because we have to, we don't have a choice. Its in our DNA.

When I originally created my Studio Blue site, I had envisioned a place where people could go to view a mixture of my own work and the work of other artists I have come to admire. I thought it would be the perfect solution to achieving my oldest dream. There has been such an overwhelming response to my daily featured artists and I enjoy the process of discovery so much however, that I almost feel guilty throwing my own stuff in on occasion. So I have come up with a solution. I have decided to dedicate my Studio Blue site entirely to showing the work of others, and have recently added another site to the CommonMime family. StudioBlue Designs showcases my own work, new pieces alongside old favorites. All work shown is for sale, and each piece is offered in a variety of sizing options. Dimensions indicated are the original image dimensions. Please contact me at janeblue.art@gmail.com for more information.

I am also making constant updates to my gallery sites. Please have a look at some of the newest additions and be sure to keep checking back.

More Gallery Updates and Newest Site

I have decided that all of my "CommonMime Causes" deserved their own site. I have created a new blog CommonMime Causes , which you will find links to on all of my sites. This site will be updated periodically with articles pertaining to charitable organizations I support.
Typepad has apparently been experiencing difficulty with Tip Jars on my site (and perhaps others?) so i was advised by them to disable my "Good Deeds Jars" for now while they look into the matter and use the PayPal donation system instead, which i have done. Typepad uses PayPal for their Tip Jars as well, but going directly through PayPal offers contributors more confidence in the security of their charitable contribution.
Please research the charities I support on CharityNavigator.org. (I have included links to reviews of each in the sidebar of all of my blog sites) This is a wonderful nonprofit site that gives detailed information on how your donations are being utilized. All of the charities I support are organizations I feel strongly about, and are highly rated by CharityNavigator. I only support charitable organizations that utilize their money in the best way possible.
So please, make a donation today. During this time of year when the demands to purchase are so high, it never hurts to throw in a good deed here and there.
You can donate directly to my DonorsChoose challenge in support of New Orleans area schools See my post from December 2 for details through the links and thermometer widgets found on all of my blogs, or you can make a donation to CommonMime Causes through PayPal by clicking on the PayPal button found in the sidebar. Through PayPal you have the choice of making a general contribution (all revenue received is distributed evenly among each of the causes I support) or you can specify which cause(s) you would like to have receive your donation. One hundred percent of all donations I receive goes directly to charity.
When you make your contribution, please include your contact information so that I can thank you personally (this is optional, but it is important to me to personally thank those who support my causes).
Happy Holidays.
Jane

New CommonMime Causes site

I feel it necessary to post an update on the recent turn of events in the Helium saga.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had recently decided to “boycott” Helium.com.

My primary reason for leaving helium was simply based on principle. My most recently submitted article was rejected on the basis of “promotion” of an organization. Basicly I mentioned a recent gallery shows sponsored by a non profit organization that supports struggling artists and they wouldn't publish it. (That’s okay though. Other sites did. They are all anti-censorship.) I explained that I wasn't plugging for any personal gain. I wrote an article about the city I live in, and made reference to an organization I believe in, because I was inspired to do so. The article was written in a general and informative fashion, and the organization is one of integrity. There are so many "opinions" that get published on helium; I saw no grounds for rejecting my article...hence the hypocrisy comment. In all honesty, the article was more about the history of the city I live in than anything else. The organization was simply listed as a point reference to how far the city has come.

A bullet point: Helium.com is set up with specific topics (channels and sub channels) that the members choose to submit articles on. Usually I create my own topics, as I am rarely inspired by their suggestions. This one time, I chose to write about one of their suggested topics: Art and Humanities, The best galleries around the globe.

Cut to present. Over the past couple of days I have received an overwhelming response, both from Helium members and Helium staff. Many members agreed with me. A few did not. (That’s okay though, I am anti-censorship too.) After several emails from Helium staff, I was finally convinced to resubmit my “promotional” article based on the fact that they had possibly made an error in judgment.

The article was published immediately upon resubmit.

Then tonight I received another email from Helium.com. They have asked me to be one of ten participants in a monthly conference call with the CEO. “This is in an effort to create more dialogue with our participating writers”. My response you ask? Well, I would be delighted. (Like I’m going to pass that up, my curiosity alone would never allow it) So I will say this. Helium.com has certainly extended impressive efforts in trying to resolve the situation (Or at the very least, they’ve provided an impressive talent for quieting troublemakers… perhaps in the hopes of preventing, riots, looting, public lynching....)
Now I am not one to fall for a ruse. In fact, I tend to be a ~bit~ skeptical by nature. For instance, I will not be placing links to helium back on my sites any time in the near future. At the very least this has been an enlightening experience and all kidding aside, Helium does deserve some credit for actually responding to a situation, whatever their agenda may or may not be.
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

"If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time-a tremendous whack."

Winston Churchill

First. I would like to advertise that I am no longer a member of Helium.com. It is a truly long and not very interesting story, but take my word for it and please pass it along. Helium.com is not what they advertise themselves to be. In fact I went so far as to post to their message boards last night that they were a fraudulent hypocrisy. I got several responses.

Now. I can certainly respect not jumping on some crazy ranter’s bandwagon without first getting the facts. However, I would prefer not to bore others that may not be interested in my most recent rant. I feel it also important to mention that because I bend the ears of those close to me so frequently, vehemently, and passionately, that I exhaust everyone within earshot…including myself. So sometimes when I sit down to write about all those volumes of opinions...well....I got nothin'.

Anyway. Helium.com is no longer a site I support. Take note, I have removed all of their links from my various sites... (And if you happen to catch one I may have missed, please let me know)

Comments from other helim.com "victims" (used with their permission):

Hi Jane:

I too recently had an article rejected for being "opinionated". Can you believe that? They have the temerity to suggest they wont publish "opinionated" pieces. I wrote back to them drawing to their attention the fact that a significant majority (close to all) the pieces posted on Helium
is opinionated.

Regarding the so-called payment system, I have posted some in-depth (properly constructed) pieces, including an eight page essay I wrote back in university (which scored an A), and have been regularly spending significant
time rating articles, and all I have to show for over six or seven weeks is 12 cents.
The site is clearly an out-of-control joke.

Good luck!
_______________________________________
EXCERPT FROM MY RESPONSE TO HELIUM:
The high standards and workmanship you purport to be your aim is in truth an unrealized vision at best - isn't it? The average grade 12 student in high school, to the average Freshman in college, to the average graduate student
to the average Joe will all tell you that the vast majority (close to all) of the pieces posted on this website sir, or madam, is opinionated. Therefore, for you to tell me that this piece, that is the subject of your email, was rejected for being "opinionated" is the Grand Kahuna of all
paradoxes. This smacks more of censorship to me dear sir, or madam.

AND FINALLY. I highly recommend watching this video and checking out this site....

November 29, 2006

Wal-Mart workers speak out in holiday ads

Just a few minutes ago, Cleo Forward, a current Wal-Mart support manager in Dallas, Texas, called on Wal-Mart to change its anti-family policies and start putting America's families first at a powerful press conference.

Here is some of what Cleo said:
"Wal-Mart said I have a "duty of loyalty" to the company and that I cannot speak out. But what about my "duty of loyalty" to the 1.4 million Wal-Mart Associates who built this company, and are suffering under Wal-Mart's new anti-family policies? What about my "duty of loyalty" to tell the truth to the American people?"

Cleo is not alone. All over the country, Wal-Mart employees are calling on Wal-Mart to change for the better this Holiday season. And, for the first time, 3 brave Wal-Mart Associates are taking to the airwaves to tell the American people directly why Wal-Mart needs to change.
Our latest TV Ad, "Never," features Wal-Mart workers Cynthia Murray, Ramiro Gonzales and Charmaine Givens.

Wake-Up Wal-Mart's latest ad...and another boycott

The Hygienic Art Gallery is at the heart and soul of the rebirth of the city of New London. The story of the Hygienic, as it was told to me, goes something like this...

Once upon a time there lived a man who ran a diner on Bank Street, in the small waterfront city of New London, CT. Back in the days when the Imperial Theater still lived and teenagers still drank malts after school, this man (for purposes of this post we shall refer to him as "the Hygienic Angel") had a certain affinity for local art and local artists.

Once a year when the wind blew cold from the north and all the summer tourists had returned to their homes in New Jersey, the Hygienic Angel would open the doors of his popular diner and allow them come in (the artists). All the artists from far and wide ”Come one come all!”...”Hear ye hear ye!”....”Bring your work and show it for free!” So all the artists would come (from far and wide) and show their work and feel very special… for one whole weekend in January.

Then one day the Hygienic Angel died, and darkness fell upon the land. The Hygienic Diner was condemned and all that once was, was no longer. The artists began to roam the streets and along came the prostitutes and drug addicts....

Let’s face it. Artists are "stability challenged". One of the reasons I have always loved, and ventured back to, New London is for the energy. In a world where we are consumed with moving too fast, making too much, sleeping too little and creating not enough...New London has always inspired me. It has flavor. Energy. A raw passion that ignites anyone willing to catch fire.

Confession: I peruse the coffee shops on Bank Street when I am lacking inspiration hoping to find them filled with granola-artist types and musicians. I could sit at Monica's State Street Diner for hours on a Sunday morning and sketch the patrons sitting at the counter. The regulars. The characters.

Oh The happy ending! I apologize. It goes like this…
One day somebody came along and decided to reconstruct the Hygienic. “If you build it, they will come”...or something like that. They recreated the original design of the diner and turned the rest into gallery space (currently highly coveted gallery space mind you). The upstairs portion of the building was turned into Co-op apartment space for local artists meeting certain criteria (basically they must be earning a living and producing art regularly) ….And so they came.

As for the rest of the story, well that you’ll have to read about in the papers.

So here it is. I have lived in New York, I have lived in New Orleans, I have traveled through Europe, I have...well....I’ve been around. And I realized during my travels how quickly one becomes a teeny tiny fish in that big huge pond. So I love this city. I believe in it. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s even a bit cosmopolitan. And it’s just sheltered enough to protect us sensitive artists from the harsh realities of those big bad cities. It is a town located in a region, located in a state, located in a country, that has too much and consumes too much. We allow too much, we ignore too much, and we help too little. The artists flock here. They have always flocked here. And everybody knows....the artists know. After all, how many places are there in the world where you can be a medium sized fish? Not too big. Not too small. Just right.

A history lesson (sort of)