Jun
23
Passionate Rings – A National Lecture Series by Alan Miller
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The Emotional Elements of 30,000 years of Art.
Through sponsorship of The Guild and The United Artists of New York, Alan Miller has launched a nationwide lecture series exploring the fundamental causations of conflicts in contemporary society, by the simple act of photographic artists recording all phases of the human drama.
We can gather through understanding of the human spirit that prehistoric tribes carried the same talents that exist today. A blacken stick was pulled from the fire and was used to create marks on a cave wall, the skin, or to attempt to create an understanding of the cosmos. Thus began the record of recorded images. But by creating this simple act, a division between those with vision and those without was established. It also gave rise to the power of images whose survival through time can still impact our current society.
“I believe it is true to say,” stated Alan, “that the power of an image through photography creates ripples beyond anyone’s comprehension.” “I would hazard a guess that the world would trade every portrait ever painted depicting “the Christ” for one photograph of him. When disaster strikes, after the family is secure, people rush in to collect the family photographs because “they are irreplaceable.” Be it so, it is extraordinary to myself and the photographic community of artists throughout the United States that document the many phases of the human drama, should be shaken by the ire of modern day anti-culturalists.”
The world is not governed by the precepts of the Disney Corporation, but in today’s world, rightwing extremist as well as law enforcement act as if it is. It is a very well defined group of people who have established themselves as anti-culturalists.
Coincidentally, when photographer Annie Liebowitz created the exquisite of portrait of Miley Cyrus which reflected an 18th century portrait, and Cyrus who is under contract with Disney for the billion dollar franchise Hanna Montana, the anti-culturalists were shocked.
We are happy to note that the same people were not in control when the Venus of Willendorf was discovered. The Venus of Willendorf is an icon of Paleolithic art from the Gravettian period (c.28, 000 – 19,000 BC) that depicts a short naked female that was originally painted red and is considered a mother goddess and/or fertility icon for young women. This priceless relic would be considered pornographic by the anti-culturalists and would have been destroyed if they had their way. This artifact is one of the oldest surviving icons in the world and thankfully resides at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna and away from Americans.
Abusus non tollit usus, “the abuse of a thing should not take away the use of a thing,” and yes, there are people who create evil through imagery, yet in the landmark case of the 1990 State of Ohio vs. photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, established that life exists before the lens of a camera regardless of the disagreement of the anti-culturalists.
Seven Mapplethorpe photographs were put on trial in Cincinnati Ohio in 1990 and were defended successfully by art scholar’s Janet Kardon and Jacquelynn Baas, directors of the University Art Museum at Berkeley. They interpreted the Mapplethorpe’s images out of fundamental literalness into a formalist analysis as art understandable to the mythic “Average American”.
The 1990 Mapplethorpe case in Cincinnati was the first such prosecution of an art gallery in U.S. history. On April 7, 1990, the Contemporary Arts Center and its director, Dennis Barrie, were charged with pandering obscenity and the use of a minor in nude materials in a suit fueled by the “National Council Against Pornography” and its Cincinnati connection “Citizens for Community Values.” The indictment cited, out of the Mapplethorpe photographs in The Perfect Moment, two portraits, one of a boy nude (”Jesse McBride, 1976″) and one of a girl with her genitals exposed (”Honey, 1976″), and five other photographs depicting typical late 1970s homoerotic or sadomasochistic images.
The jury declared Mapplethorpe’s work was valid and serious art thus ending the trial on October 5, 1990. This trial and its findings have acted as a legal cornerstone for photographers who have been charged by society for violating a constant flow of illogical morality laws.
Alan Miller is a serious artist, and in late spring of 2008 his studio and home were raided under the same pretext. This raid was not just a clear and identifiable violation of fundamental rights, but a direct attack on artistic freedom and pursuits of all serious photographers throughout the United States.
The legacy of our Founding Fathers gave us the Constitution and the freedoms in which we live by. George Bush and the anti-culturalists have given us The Constriction, a one-size-fits-all vision of the future coupled with enacted laws that gives sweeping powers to police forces as they transform into paramilitary units that rage into the private lives of the very citizenry they are charged to protect.
Yet Alan’s lecture series are about hope. At this moment the creations may be under attack, but the creators will always survive. The work of photographers, like all artists, will outlive their critics and will have a direct impact on our culture. Michelangelo (1475 - 1564) and his aesthetic vision of the Sistine Chapel are brought to mind. During the Reformation, the duly elected band of political anti-culturalist painted over parts of Michelangelo’s vision in order to bring his enlightened work in line to the sensibilities of the day.
But like all political illusionist from Reformationist to George Bush, images created by artists with vision will always outlive the politicians and on a happy note, the Sistine Chapel has recently been restored to Michelangelo’s original grandeur.
Viva La Vida.
Jun
4
Photographer Organizes a $50 Million Dollar Lawsuit Against Canon City Colorado
Filed Under Alanworks Studio News | 9 Comments
“Canon City Colorado Law Enforcement Bigotry still prevails from
Ancestral Home of the Hooded Empire”
NYC & FLORENCE COLORADO (JUNE 06,2008) Say it isn’t true in 2008,
where an evangelical preacher from Penrose, Colorado can pass an
“allegation against a Jewish Photographer” and then have the
photographers business and home raided in search of drugs and
pornography with the aid of law enforcement.
Alleged anti-Semite James G. Howell, an investigator with the Fremont
County District Attorneys office and sidekick Brenda LaGree, police
officer number 97 of the Canon City Police Department have done just
that.
Aided by a search warrant by a nameless and faceless accuser (who is
now known), Alanworks Studio Productions of 115 South Pikes Peak Ave
Florence Colorado was raided on April 30th 2008 by Fremont County
Combined Investigative Response Team. Led by the alleged anti-Semite
James G. Howell who lived up to his reputation by allegedly referring
to Jewish photographer and owner of Alanworks Studio Productions as a
“kike” in front of witnesses, the task force confiscated just about
everything from the studio.
“I was simply amazed, about the raid, but knocked over by the 1960’s
style of Jew baiting from a officer of the Court. But Canon City is
famous for being the home of the Klan and Police corruption, yet I’m
seeing it first hand was out of an old newsreel,” stated Alan, and
added, “Our studio is located in Florence, Colorado and it was the
Canon City Police (a neighboring town) under the veil of Fremont
County who conducted the raid. In addition to our photographic fashion
studies and images for an upcoming fashion and photography show, the
studio’s complete photo-log of the Democratic Party Caucus that
included Buffie McFadyen, Hal Bidlack, Anna Lord and other statewide
Democratic notables are now sitting at the Canon City Police
Department.”
But one of the strangest moments came, according to Alan, when the
Canon City Police walked out with two art books of famed Photographer
Richard Avedon. (http://richardavedon.com)
“Avedon is one, if not the greatest photographer of our lifetime.
Avedon is my mentor, the one photographer who could flawlessly cross
the line of art and fashion and has impacted the American culture
beyond measure. My only guess on why the Canon City Police walked out
with Avedon’s two books was that they have no idea who he is, or that
Avedon is Jewish,” stated Alan.
“The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects every
photograph, book or magazine and video found at our studio. It is a
slap in the face to myself, and every artist in the United States,
said Alan, and then added, Florence Colorado is an enclave of
painters, photographers, antique dealers, and writers. We have an
interesting and diverse racial population that reflects national
norms. Any given Sunday, it’s difficult to find parking on our main
street because Florence is a thriving small town of people who get
along with one another and respect each other’s lives. Whereas, Canon
City’s Main Street is a ghost town with boarded up storefronts, severe
drug and alcohol problems, fueled by a bars and bad attitudes. In the
last three to four years, Florence has received many people with open
arms that have relocated from Canon City to retreat from the Police
State tactics.”
Fast forward to May 29th, 2008, Alan Miller receives a phone call from
a resident at the ranch where they live. Again, allege anti-Semite
James G. Howell and sidekick Brenda LaGree with others, have just
raided their home.
As Alan entered their home, he finds the allege anti-Semite James G.
Howell rummaging through his underwear drawer uncovering a pink
container that holds Alan’s late grandmothers false teeth.
“On one level it was quite humorous,” stated Alan, I wanted to tell
him to be careful, those are Jewish teeth and they might bite you, but
the look on his face was priceless. I can guarantee that this old
allege anti-Semite James G. Howell hasn’t been around artists, since
most artist have a habit of collecting all sorts of things. It just
didn’t fit his prescribed mentality of drugs and pornography, just old
teeth that he couldn’t use to prosecute me with.”
In addition to violating all the members of the ranches civil rights
the moment they entered, Brenda LaGree, the Canon City Police officer
who was now standing in a private ranch located in Penrose Colorado,
(yet another town that isn’t Canon City) stated in a loud voice (to
insure she was being heard) whilst she searched through a basket of
yarn and knitting needles which belonged to one of the residents of
the ranch, ” I’m glad she knits, knitting is such great therapy and
she’s really going to need it.”
Canon City Colorado, an island onto itself.
The national reputation of Canon City Colorado has been rated by
“Sperlings – Best Places to Live in the United States,” as follows:
According to the FBI, Canon City has almost 800 violent crimes per
100,000 residents — where 450 is the national average and 700 is
considered high. Even more insulting is the fact that Canon City only
had 200 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2003. You heard that
right — crime in Canon City has QUADRUPLED in just 3 years! Canon
City is a terrible place to live and raise a family, with its high
crime (especially for such a small town), bad public schools, and
Police corruption. If you want a good place to live and raise a
family, check out Colorado Springs, 50 miles northeast. But whatever
you do, avoid Canon City at all costs, and don’t say we didn’t warn
you!
In regards to the view Canon City’s Police reputation, consider what
the Canon City Police did to one their own. “Former police officer
Roger Parsons has settled his lawsuit with the City of Canon City
alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. The settlement was
reached after more than five hours of deliberation between Parsons and
his attorneys, John Husson of Colorado Springs and Rocco Meconi of
Canon City, and the city’s attorneys, James Gaspich and Daniel McCune,
both of Denver. Roger Parsons, 44, was fired in November 2005, after
more than 11 years on the Canon City police force. He was terminated
for physical disability six months after he was paralyzed as the
result of an off-duty motorcycle accident.” From
http://media.progressnowaction.org
The Evangelical mindsets are the new Klan
Consider Canon City Colorado past and living present. “During the
1920s, Colorado had the largest and most influential Knights of the Ku
Klux Klan following of any other state west of the Mississippi River.
In the 1924 elections, the Klan gained control not only of state
government with the election of Governor Morley, but also of many
local governments. Klan was atypical in view of its leader, who was a
charismatic First Baptist minister and who had the state and national
political power within the Klan to later inherit the Grand Dragon’s
position after John Galen Locke. Yet, at the same time, the Cañon City
Klan was typical of the national and other state Klans because it
employed those aspects of the national Klan agenda that were
applicable to the concerns of local Protestants. This agenda
advertised a pro-Protestant, native-born American, white-supremacist
philosophy. Because the Klan leaders wholeheartedly embraced the
agenda touting political and social reasons for organizing, the
underlying ethos motivating their movement in Cañon City was the
preservation of their Protestant beliefs and way of life. From LaDonna
Gunn, The University of Colorado
http://www.ccpl.lib.co.us/History_Old/KKK/KKK%20Essay.htm
Current Evangelicals have a new weapon in their arsenal of intolerance
that echoes the past edict of the Canon City Klan, which is aided and
abetted by the Canon City Police Department. It appears, the
Evangelical bully pulpit now can simply place a call, fill out a few
forms and fade into the background by simply pointing a finger at
someone that isn’t living their lives up to Evangelical standards. By
making an “anonymous” complaint the Canon City Police Department,
irregardless of evidence of any kind, will raid your home or business
or both. As the allege anti-Semite James G. Howell is fond of saying,
“It doesn’t matter what you think or say. If we charge you with a
crime, then you will find out who your accuser is. But until then,
just sit on the curb. So this is Carte Blanc for the Evangelicals and
the Canon City Police Department to have absolute power over any
citizen in Fremont County.
The Evangelicals, or the Canon City Police Department or both, don’t
like you, then they can destroy you. You have no rights or protection
from the very people who are charge with community protection.
The sixth Amendment of The Constitution states: …and to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the
witnesses against him… but of course the loophole is “you haven’t been
charge with a crime as of yet.” The current target is a Jewish
Photographer. Is the next target a lesbian track coach at a local high
school, or a lesbian couple who run a local restaurant or a gay man at
the local coffee shop? How about couples who are adopting children not
through a Evangelical organization. Are they under suspicion because a
picture of Jesus is not hanging on their wall?
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
Citizens depend on their police to protect and keep neighborhoods and
homes safe. But when police officers invade businesses and homes,
violate rights, and aim to destroy the very citizenry who don’t
conform to a prescribed model, something is very wrong in our world.
It is a battle to preserve constitutional rights and protect the
citizenry from current incidents of police abuse. ” I am up to the
challenge, said Alan, and added, “This is not the first time in
history that the State has lost its way. Pol Pots Cambodia, Stalin’s
Russia, and of course Hitler’s Germany are just a few examples of the
State turning against its own people. But I can reassure my friends
from Florence Colorado to New York City, this is not a Jew who will
walk calmly into the ovens. I will put this on the front page of every
newspaper in the country if I must. But the people of Florence
Colorado, let alone, photographers, painters, and other enlighten
citizens from around the United States will be participating in this
lawsuit by lending their support and talents. This story will be
streaming across the blogosphere, television and radio starting Monday
the second of June.”
The $50 Million dollar lawsuit that Alan has organized also claims
that the policies and customs of the County of Fremont Colorado, the
Commissioners of Fremont County, the City of Canon City Colorado, the
City Council of Canon City and the Canon City Police Department led to
the alleged unlawful behavior of the police officers from Canon City.
In addition, an evangelical preacher from Penrose Colorado will be
headlined in the lawsuit. The lawsuit will be filed in Denver Colorado
with a proxy suit filed in New York City, New York on the behalf of
New York University law department’s Legal History Colloquium and
media studies.
According to Alan, in order to defend and uphold the constitutional
rights of all citizens, and to deter such future abuses, in the end,
it is the public outcry from ordinary citizens that police abuses of
power will not be tolerated that will most effectively gain the
attention of the State of Colorado and the Justice Department in
Washington DC. It’s all about permanent change and it starts today.
For More Information Contact:
Media Relations @ Alanworks Studio Productions 719-784-6068
May
15
“Zendagi Migzara - Life Goes On”, the largest Photography and Fashion event produced in the State of Colorado on July 11, 2008, located at the Smokebrush Center in Colorado Springs Colorado, will unveil the political portrait “Freedom” by Alan of Alanworks.
The Smokebrush Center is located at 218 West Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs Colorado 80903, with the event starting at 6:00 pm and closing at 9:00 pm. The show itself will run for the entire month of July.
The Portrait’s Inspiration:
Freedom had always started with a “NO”, and Alan Miller of Alanworks Studio has brought his camera into political focus once again. The political juxtaposition on the world stage has returned full circle and is currently teaching that disease is as instructive as health, since it tells people to flee the former and seek the latter. Unfortunately, when it comes to world politics, many people can’t tell the difference between the two, and in fact see disease as health, ungodliness’ as holiness, war as peace, ignorance as strength and the inherent rights of a few to dominate the many.
The satisfaction of this appetite for illusion merely serves to increase until it consumes the society as a whole.
It’s time for a course correction, to acknowledge the human aesthetic.
Photographer Alan Miller of Alanworks Studio has created an image to challenge the media snapshot at its cultural roots. A tattooed woman in a traditional Afghani Blue Burka gives dramatic expression to the moment. A kind of psychic fourth dimension that could suggest life in the tortured immobility of religious and cultural intolerance has trapped the world in a moment of fear.
The woman, through the pose has said… “No”, and lifted her veil and revealed herself.
Freedom.
As Margaret Mead wrote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” and Alan has added, “especially if they are women and those women are mad, very mad.”
About Alanworks Studio Productions:
Alanworks Studio Productions began with a very simple thought. A group of fashion-aficionados, photographers and makeup artist, got together to entertain, educate and enlighten audiences. Alanworks Studio Productions is self-evolving, infusing their projects with the energy and inspiration that is the essence of their work and is lead by Master photographer Alan Miller.
Contact: Alan Miller of Alanworks
Executive Director
Office: 719.784.6068
May
9
Alan Works Info
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ALANWORKS STUDIO PRODUCTIONS 2008
Alanworks Studio Productions,had been established with the scope and purpose to advance the arts, dance, fashion, and photography as performance. Alanworks Studio Productions is not associated nor affiliated with any other entity or charity,and has no financial relationship or legal obligation to any other entity.
Defy Mediocrity
May
9
Alanworks.net coming back today!
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Please stay tuned, an interactive Alanworks coming today!