JBA Central Blog System

There are varying types of musical genres that exist today. Rap, R&B, country, classical, rock, etc… just to name a few. One genre that has made quite an impact on the musical scene has been dubbed ‘scream-o.’ This music generally consists of loud guitars, fast drums, and yup, you guessed it… a lot of screaming. Does this screaming classify as music or is it really just a bunch of noise? Musicians and artists alike argue that this music is not just a group of people looking for attention, but rather, music that is reinforced by pain and suffering and the artists only wish to convey that message. Despite the potential message that may or may not be intended, a lot of music lovers can’t get passed the screaming and thrashing sounds that can assault your ears. No matter what people say or how they react, it is obvious that the music writers are content in their display of artistic ability and that only goes to show that musicians only wish to share their artwork with the world.

When it comes to the great wild world of western wear, a visit to the World Equestrian Games is one sure way to get a glimpse of the wide range of high quality workmanship that is out there. Vending at the Games is selective, so you'll only find vendors of a certain caliber- which is exactly the desire of the discerning shopper to begin with. As well all know, quality is about more than value when it comes to western goods- it is part of the history of western wear and in many cases is essential for safety and well-being! The artisans that exist within this world are highly renowned and respected, so if you're expecting everything to come with a brand name, you might want to think again- you'll find everything from the top names in cowboy boots to the creative arts products you'd expect at any western wear vending event.

Growing up, everybody has aspirations of wanting to be great at something or another - One trade or skill that will hopefully net them large sums of money and from that, sprout happiness. As it turns out, very few people find their niche in the creative side of their lives. But, for those that try to find their creative home, drawing and painting are gateway to greatness. Painters can transform images in their mind’s eye into a beautiful scene on a canvass. The more unique the painter, the more of their own unique twist and interpretation that they put on things while they paint. What may look like just a single red line on a white canvass to one person, may symbolize solidarity or something else to another. Painters often leave their artwork open to interpretation, especially from those people that are willing to spend money on these works of art. Painting from the soul gives the painter the chance to share their views with others in hopes to get their point across.

Whether you live by yourself on a farm, in the city in a multifamily housing unit or anywhere else, home is a place to hang your hat, to nourish yourself and your family and to feel comfortable in. One of the ways that comfort can be increased is through the use of art. Art is more than decoration- it speaks to the spirit in a way that cannot be underestimated. Being surrounded by that which you find beautiful or meaningful is part of what makes a space feel your own as well. Calming imagery, inspiring imagery, even whimsical imagery can make your house feel unique and special to you. Garden spaces, even if only a few potted plants on a doorstep or windowsill can also add a cheery sense to the home, making it feel welcoming and cared for- two things that people inherently seek in a space.

Southern California solar energy installation is something that is happening more and more everyday. In a land of abundant sunshine, what better way to help move towards more sustainable energy sources that to use the power of the sun? There are two main types of systems that are going in: point of use systems in which all of the energy is used by and stored at the home, and systems that are tied into the grid.

More and more creativity is being allowed into this process now as we move away from a single type of solar panel. For example, flexi-solar panels now exist, and there are even paint-on solar panels out there. A large installation of solar panels can look very different today than it did ten or even five years ago. Along with this technology comes the ability to make solar installations as artful a part of the architecture as we like.

These ideas, inspired by The Martha Stewart Show, are lovely ways to decorate a table, indoors or out.

Bamboo Candles
You'll need bamboo canes (4 - 6" in diameter)
, a large wick with a metal tab, a saw, 
wax, 
and a double boiler
.

First, saw the bamboo canes at varying lengths. Bottoms should be level. To be safe, saw 2" above each built-in shelf. Next, melt the wax in your double boiler and pour in just enough to coat the surface of each shelf. Insert the wick and let the wax dry. Then fill almost to the top with wax and let it cool for 4 hours. Finally, trim the wick to 1/4" before lighting.

Twig Coasters
For one coaster, you'll need 22 straight twigs, trimmed down to 5" in length. Take a length of waxed twine and double it. On the first twig, loop the twine and tie it once about an inch from the end of the twig. Continue to tie the twine around the remaining twigs, tying a knot and cutting off the excess twine. Repeat this on the other side.

Celebrities, by and large, are entertainers. Sure, some are Supreme Court Justices, CEOs of multi-billion dollar companies, scientists, astronauts, etc., but for the most part, celebrities are there to entertain. Despite their seemingly single-faceted purpose, on many given issues, a famous pop singer would likely have more "pull" than a room full of Congressmen. This makes them perfect candidates for large-scale marketing projects, celebrity marketing projects to be exact. Everyday, we are watching celebrities use both their image and their creative prowess by influencing audiences to buy into a brand or a cause. Celebrity placement in marketing campaigns is a strategy more and more companies and not-for-profits are looking towards to maximize their exposure. The use of celebrity placement in marketing campaigns is something that's been going on for a long time now, and today it is one of the quickest and most effective way of getting your name out there.

Work is only work if it is something that you don't enjoy. Making your living from your passion or your talent and sharing it with the world is the most satisfying way to make your living. Most people just dream of spending their days creating beautiful art- whether that be just to admire or to be functional art. Artists are a different kind of human being, they want to project their talent and most go beyond that by giving people another perspective on life or reality as they see it. Photo journalists are those that tell stories through pictures- not necessarily to drive home a specific point but to offer a view of the world that most people would never get to contemplate if it wasn't for their images.

Over the years, these photographers have brought us visions of the horror of war and suffering and the wonder and beauty of the world. Others have told stories of great triumph with a stop action shot of a handicapped runner win a world title. Still others show us a world under the sea that most of us will never get to visit but yet we can wonder at the creatures that are so well adapted to their environment with built in lighting or the unbelievable ability to camouflage themselves by replicating the colors and patterns of the sea floor.

Struggling artist is not just a saying- most people who attempt to make their living with their art have a unique challenge in marketing. Most of the outlets that artists have is by word of mouth and what better to promote by that word than by celebrity marketing. People that the general public are familiar with and who they trust to give them the best advice. Not only advice, since a lot of people like to buy and own the same works of art or functional art that their favorite celebrity owns. And satellite media tours are the best way to let people hear and see your artwork being promoted by someone well-known.

People trust their favorite celebrities and many of those people can be reached by radio media tours as well. So who does an artist turn to in order to get a media personality to engage the general public to seek out your artwork? The best choice is a firm that knows entertainment marketing from the inside out. A lot of work goes into planning and scheduling media placement and it shouldn't be left to the amateurs. And let's face it, artist want to spend their time creating, not on the phones all day talking to managers and booking agents, and television and radio producers trying to convince them that they should first commit their client to promote you or producers to book your celebrity representative. So be smart as you are talented and get the professionals to promote your art.

These days, creating art out of recycled or re-purposed items is very nearly a trend. Galleries featuring sculptures or multi-media artwork are well visited and clothing made from fabrics that have found and turned into something new and fabulous sells well- at least in certain markets. However, it isn't just people with gallery clothes or boutique contracts that are doing this- it is everyday people doing it in their home.

Some people are hoarders by nature, saving everything that they think will be useful in the future. Others save up everything they can potentially use for an art project. While hoarding is a bit of a dangerous activity (you've got to have room for all those saved items, after all) it can also be one that provides you with ample opportunities to create art- or useful art, even better- with items that would otherwise have ended up in the trash. Start small- used toilet paper rolls and a scrap of fabric can create the most ingenious power cord organizers you've ever seen.