Call for Artists

Deadline: Wednesday, April 28, 2010

RAN • ART – Take Action Against Destructive Agribusiness, Substance and Rainforest Action Network

Tarnish&Gold Gallery – NE Minneapolis

Please send an e-mail to ranart@livewithsubstance.org

with the following information:

Name of Artist
E-mail
Title (if any)
Dimensions (inches x inches)
Medium(s)
Phone number (optional)

Once we receive your e-mail, we will coordinate uploading the file and transportation of the piece.

More information below:

___________________________________

For a quarter century, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has aggressively confronted multinational corporations over their destructive practices, exposing their disregard for human rights and the natural systems that sustain life.  Today, RAN takes on big agribusiness corporations to address their responsibility for the vast tropical deforestation undertaken to maximize the production of palm oil, used in 50% of all consumer goods.  New plantations decimate over 2.5 million acres of Indonesian rainforests every year, threatening hundreds of indigenous cultures and releasing a tremendous amount of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.

As part of RAN Rainforest Agribusiness campaign action in Minnesota, RAN is sponsoring an art contest and exhibition culminating in the selection of one image to be used in a billboard or public installation that increases public awareness of General Mills‘ use of socially and environmentally unsustainable palm oil sources.

Artists, illustrators, and designers are encouraged to explore the question, “What is the problem with palm oil?” as it pertains to the negative effects of big agribusiness, especially from Twin Cities giants Cargill Incorporated and General Mills.  All submissions are welcome, keeping in mind RAN’s past campaigns have embraced powerful images, satire, and spoofs of all sorts. The winning concept will put a clever spin on General Mills’ marketing and well-known brand images (such as Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillbury, and Hamburger Helper) to make the point.

Other winners will receive awards in the form of cinema tickets and gift certificates to local businesses.

Exhibited work will be for sale at the artists’ discretion, with a modest commission benefitting the gallery and Rainforest Action Network.

The deadline for submission of artwork is April 28.  This contest is open to all artists.  All static, two dimensional art is acceptable, including photography.  Digitally produced work must be vector or created at minimum 600dpi if it to be considered for reproduction on a large scale.

Submit digital images of your work here at http://livewithsubstance.org/ranart

Tarnish&Gold Gallery in northeast Minneapolis hosts the exhibition reception May 1.  Accepted work, originals or prints, must be ready to hang upon drop off.  Through popular vote and an ultimate decision by jury, one piece in the exhibition will be featured by RAN in coordination with campaign action.  This promises to generate considerable exposure for the artist and contribute to a vital campaign against destructive agribusiness.

RAN ART exhibition will be on display at Tarnish&Gold for the month of May.

Direct any questions to ranart@livewithsubstance.org or call Nolan Morice at 763-913-2192.

Rainforest Action Network:  http://ran.org/

The Problem with Palm Oil:  http://theproblemwithpalmoil.org

TARNISH&GOLD:  http://www.tarnishandgold.org

Connect on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=326541619076

Substance will be facilitating a workshop on April 10th with Guante of Tru Ruts, as well as hosting the V2V show on April 10th (more info below).

Show and Conference sponsored by Substance

vicestoverses.blogspot.com

Conference Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010

From Vices to Verses: A New Era of Hip Hop and Action
Three-day conference at the University of Minnesota to highlight the transformative power of hip hop.

From April 9 to April 11, the University of Minnesota will be hosting “From Vices to Verses” a conference featuring workshops, performances, discussions and educational events centered on how hip hop pedagogy, activism and culture can educate, empower and transform communities.

Organized by Voices Merging at the U of MN, along with University and community partners, the conference will focus on three central themes:

· April 9: “I Used to Love H.E.R.: Bring Back the Love,” exploring hip hop feminism and women’s roles—past, present and future—in the culture.  Keynote speaker: hip hop activist and former Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente.
· April 10: “Remixing Borders, Transcending Boundaries,” focusing on using hip hop as a tool to create unity and move beyond generational, national and cultural boundaries.  Keynote speaker: hip hop activist and author Bakari Kitwana.
· April 11: “Us,” focusing on hip hop’s power to heal and transform individuals and communities through organizing, activism and youth engagement.  Keynote speaker: educator and multidisciplinary artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Other presenters include filmmaker Rachel Ramist, Chaka Mkali of the Hope Community Center, Sage Morgan Hubbard of Northwestern University, Ruth Nicole Brown of the University of Illinois, poet and activist Tish Jones, rapper/poet/writer Kyle “Guante” Myhre, photographer B-Fresh and many more.

On Saturday, April 10, noted Twin Cities performers Toki Wright, Maria Isa, PosNoSys, Ill Chemistry, the Tru Ruts crew and others will take over the Cabooze for a special concert.  More details TBA.

Registration for the conference is free.  For updates, see http://vicestoverses.blogspot.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Moira Pirsch        |        vicestoverses@gmail.com |        608.772.2597

_____________________________________________

Concert Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2010

Vices 2 Verses Hip Hop Show

Concert to accompany V2V Conference

Saturday, April 10^th, 2010

Toki Wright, Maria Isa

Sabreena da Witch, Guante and Tru Ruts crew,

Ill Chemistry, PosNoSys, and more

@ The Cabooze
917 Cedar Ave S – West Bank – Minneapolis, MN

Doors @ 8:30PM, Show @ 9PM, 18+

$10 at door, $6 for students and conference attendees

Sponsored by Voices Merging, Cypher Coalition, and Substance

vicestoverses.blogspot.com
Come experience some of the livest Hip-Hop talent in the Twin Cities!

Vices to Verses Hip-Hop Show A concert celebrating the transformative power of hip-hop, put on by local organizers, starring local acts, and benefitting the international community.

On April 10^th, the University of Minnesota will be hosting “Vices to Verses Hip-Hop Show” a concert celebrating the ways hip-hop pedagogy; activism and culture can educate, empower and transform communities.

Organized by Voices Merging and the Cypher Coalition at the U of MN, along with Substance, and University and community partners, the concert will supplement the conference by stepping off of theory and engaging in the scene that motivated the conference to occur originally.

Toki Wright and Maria Isa will co-headline.  Other performers include PosNoSys, Ill Chemistry, the Tru Ruts crew and others will take over the Cabooze for a special concert.  The show will involved other elements of the hip hop community through a B-Boy Battle starting at 9pm, live visual art both on and off stage, as well as spoken word performances.

· Toki Wright – The first artist in the Rhymesayers Spotlight Series is none other than Toki Wright. Most known as opening act and hype man for Brother Ali, Toki is not only a well established emcee but one of the hardest working community activists in the Twin Cities area. In addition, Toki Wright has received numerous accolades and has a tour history that has taken him from New York to Uganada.

• · Maria Isa Born and raised in the Twin Cities to NuyoRican parents, emcee, singer, and songwriter Maria Isa is recognized for her dedication towards celebrating her cultural diversity through music and political activism.
  Following her nomination in 2006 for the Minnesota Music Award’s “Best Hip-Hop Artist” category, Isa released her first independent album M.I. Split Personalities in May of 2007 and has been promoting her music in the Twin Cities, Puerto Rico and nationally.

  $10 at the door, $6 for students and conference attendees.  For updates, see vicestoverses.blogspot.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Moira Pirsch        |        vicestoverses@gmail.com |        608.772.2597               |               for conference info

Jim Forrey             |               jim@livewithsubstance.org |               303.910.5111       |               for show info

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]]> http://www.livewithsubstance.org/2010/02/from-vices-to-verses-hip-hop-conference-u-of-m-this-april/feed/ 0 http://www.livewithsubstance.org/2010/02/buy-sell-trade-at-buffalo-exchange/ http://www.livewithsubstance.org/2010/02/buy-sell-trade-at-buffalo-exchange/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:21:31 +0000 erick http://www.livewithsubstance.org/?p=530 A huge thanks is in order to Buffalo Exchange in Minneapolis, and customers who gave us tokens. Several months ago, Substance was chosen as a participant in their “Tokens for Bags” program. With this, customers could donate a token to one of three organizations if they didn’t need to use a plastic bag from the store.

What would Nolan do without Buffalo Exchange?

Funding through programs that don’t restrict an organization’s programming is crucial in that it allows the organization to be flexible in operations and stick with the agenda. And, for a small organization like Substance, assistance like this is critical in keeping our virtual doors open.

So, if you’re looking to get your fix of recycled flannels, or trade in your hot pants, take a gander at the Buffalo Exchange.

The overturning of this decades old law by conservative activist judges seems inappropriate and unjust.  With this decision, corporations now have more freedom to influence elections than an average citizen, plus an obvious economic advantage.

See more on the story here:  minnesota.publicradio.org

Substance would like to encourage everyone that believes in democracy to step up and let it be known that corporations should not have unhindered ability to manipulate elections.  We also would like to cheer on pro-democracy activists like those at Democracy Matters and Common Cause for fighting for election reform; now is a more important time for this work than ever.

Check out www.democracymatters.org for more.

Many of our friends and allies – including a group of youth delegates through the Will Steger Foundation, The Uptake, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Rainforest Action Network – are on the ground participating in actions as well as formal meetings to influence the creation of a strong, binding and equitable climate treaty. So far, a lot of hope and energy have been mixed with warning signs of rich countries abusing their elite positioning. Denmark got a head start by drafting speculative agreements and letting the secrets slip through their fingers.

Follow along with Will Steger Foundation’s “Expedition Copenhagen” and other Midwestern coverage of COP15, and check out 350.org’s upcoming weekend of action.

Good luck out there,
Erick

Recent actions include a call-in to Cargill’s CEO asking to halt Palm Oil expansion that generated over 4,000 calls and an action outside of Cargill’s downtown office.

For the 350.org international day of climate action on October 24, Substance and RAN teamed up to promote the campaign and recruit at the POS show at 1st Avenue, downtown Minneapolis.

To get involved with RAN-TC, join the Facebook group and/or MeetUp page.
For information on the national campaign, click here.
Also check out theproblemwithpalmoil.org

Erick with RAN activists Hillary Lehr (left) and Ashley Shaeffer (right) at 1st Avenue

Stay tuned for the Tar Sands Resistance Tour video series, filmed June 2009, to be released here soon

Minnesota Public Radio’s story about Rage Against the Machine’s appearance at Substance’s Ripple Effect, during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota September 2nd, 2008

New song by Sage Francis at Substance’s Manifestation (March 27th, 2009) at First Avenue in Minneapolis – recorded by attendee, acquired via YouTube