CR Newsletter: July/August 2013

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An Introduction



Hallo and welcome to the latest Community Relations newsletter for Abstract & Surreal Photography, written for communityrelations. Here you'll find relevant information from the last two months of abstract and surreal activity, as well as information about my features and any particular plans for the future. As always, I shall direct your attention to my Roadmap, and my Daily Deviation Guidelines; two documents that one should keep a keen eye on. The former conveniently indexes all my previous journal entries, while the latter provides useful information regarding Daily Deviation suggestions. It also links through to an editorial I published back in December regarding controversy around Daily Deviation features.

Abstract/Surreal: RoadmapAbstract & Surreal CR Newsletter
A bi-monthly round-up of news, contests and events in the Abstract & Surreal category, written for the official Community Relations newsletter. These will also form the basis of bi-monthly road-maps of their own, going into more detail than is presented here.
November & December 2012
January & February 2013
March & April 2013
May & June 2013
July & August 2013
September & October 2013
Abstract & Surreal DD Report
Published on the first day of each month, these are formal articles that give detail of the precedin
Abstract/Surreal: DD GuidelinesDetailed Guidelines
If you're thinking about submitting a piece of art for consideration as a Daily Deviation, please consider the following:
I am the CV for Abstract and Surreal photography: this means that I will only consider work that is situated in either of these categories. If the piece you're wishing to suggest is not categorised in Abstract or Surreal photography, please consult this list of Community Volunteers to ascertain who an appropriate recipient would be.
To make a suggestion, just drop me a note with the subject line of DD Suggestion. Include the :thumb#########: code for the piece, which can be found to the right-hand sid
A Note on Daily Deviation FeaturesAt ten features into my tenure as Community Volunteer for Abstract & Surreal Photography I am noticing a certain trend in response to abstract and surreal Daily Deviations. I shall address some of the recurring themes here, and hopefully answer some questions along the way. At this point I would like to mention that I am talking about a small and vocal minority, and I sincerely thank the overwhelming majority for supporting the featured artists and their work. You're what makes this site such a great community.
With that said, let's get to the troublesome themes I am coming across.
The "This is crap!" Argument
As an observer and a critic, you're entitled to think that something isn't very good. However, exclaiming as such on the comments of a piece of work that an artist has spent time and energy creating is not only counter-productive, but rude and insulting, especially if it's not followed up with some advice about how you think they could make their



General News



In an attempt to chronicle all relevant activity within the abstract and surreal community, I've taken to publishing and maintaining a monthly pin-board that provides a single point of access for anyone wishing to learn about what's going on: be sure to check them out for archival information regarding group and artist projects. These articles also feature news about my Forum Thumbshare, which is a monthly drive to encourage people to share their abstract and surreal works, and the works of others that they particularly enjoy. So far this has been a successful venture; I am glad to see so many people participating each month.

Abstract/Surreal Pinboard: July 2013Hallo everyone, and welcome to July. Excuse me whilst I melt into my office chair. Anyone living in a sub-arctic climate feel like offering me a job or residence?
This is just a short piece of correspondence to let you know about some current Community Relations-led events that might be of interest and relevance to the Abstract & Surreal community. Feel free to take part, or to inform me of other abstract and surreal happenings that you know of or are involved with: I'll be sure to update this journal to include them here.
Monthly Photography Critique Thread
Watched over by Kaz-D and 3wyl, this is a monthly initiative to get people to comment and particularly critique on the works of others. It also offers artists the chance to submit one piece of their own work for critique by their peers. This is a worthwhile cause, and I feel it may be useful to members of the abstract and surreal community whose work struggles to garner feedback. The July
Abstract/Surreal Pinboard: August 2013Hallo everyone, and welcome to August. Heatwaves abound in the northern hemisphere, but I hope that some of you at least are enjoying the warmth. Me, I'm waiting for the onset of autumn.
This is just a short piece of correspondence to let you know about some current Community Relations-led events that might be of interest and relevance to the Abstract & Surreal community. Feel free to take part, or to inform me of other abstract and surreal happenings that you know of or are involved with: I'll be sure to update this journal to include them here.
Monthly Photography Critique Thread
Watched over by Kaz-D and 3wyl, this is a monthly initiative to get people to comment and particularly critique on the works of others. It also offers artists the chance to submit one piece of their own work for critique by their peers. This is a worthwhile cause, and I feel it may be useful to members of the abstract and surreal community whose work struggles to ga



Daily Deviations



As Community Volunteer for Abstract and Surreal Photography, I publish Daily Deviation features each and every day. At the end of each month I collate these into reports, and since the last update there have been two of those. Additionally, I have a category in my favourites which exhibits, together, all the pieces that I have featured. As always, I am open to Daily Deviation suggestions, but please follow the guidelines I have set out and don't be discouraged if I don't reply to your note; being a CV is like spinning plates, and some forms of correspondence need to take priority over others.




Friday Feature



Since the last newsletter, a large number of Friday Features have been released. These journals feature work both within and outwith the abstract and surreal community, and cover media outside of photography. Affiliated with this series is my Forum Thumbshare series, and at the end of each month a special feature is published which contains the best work submitted in each month's edition. There have also been a number of preview editions, which looked at the work of a particular artist or style.

Friday Feature: Issue 032A Collection of -
Recent Discoveries










spusk by yozm-yozm
Aerial View of Flat City by mario837
City of Neon Lights by xMEGALOPOLISx
Hektik by DanNoland
Travelers by G-Moel
Let us free this world forever by iNeedChemicalX
:iconcarmenole: :iconeightoutside: :iconfardareismai: :icondavespertine:
:iconfotorapala: :iconiamthewoodendoor: :iconazaleos: :iconviedelamort:
:iconi-see-faces: :iconjameelah05: :iconyozm-yozm: :iconmario837:
:iconxmegalopolisx: :icondannoland: :icong-moel: :iconineedchemicalx:
Featured Artists
Other Entries
Friday Feature: Issue 033A Collection of -
Recent Discoveries










Avalon city by jfdupuis
:thumb364350106:
III by ShiNoKoe
VII.pt by AnaNaszynska
:thumb271858542:
:thumb370794639:
:icondyloulee: :iconmar-jus: :icondonmezerm: :iconknechter:
:iconkapanaga: :iconthinking-silence: :iconwariatka: :iconwiwionart:
:iconincolor16: :iconmegalithicmatt: :iconjfdupuis: :iconlifeisstillsweet:
:iconshinokoe: :iconanmari: :iconveeera: :iconhlycmrt:
Featured Artists
Other Entries
Friday Feature: Issue 034A Collection of -
Recent Discoveries










:thumb146396209:
Plate Tectonics by PfffitsLauren
:thumb374439971:
Rye by RobinHedberg
:thumb364568711:
Satori (with colors) by StephanePellennec
:iconlownaim: :iconartbycher: :iconlaflaneuse: :icon17blue:
:iconsteve2727: :icongregoriousone: :iconhengki24: :iconsonikgroove:
:iconsvenghali: :iconzewarfadhil: :iconmenoevil: :iconpfffitslauren:
:icong-heide: :iconrobinhedberg: :iconarlouette: :iconjakezdaniel:
Featured Artists
Other Entries
Friday Feature: Issue 35A Collection of -
Thumbshare Highlights









:iconpuken: :iconthesadstork: :iconjonesblachowicz:
:iconpassion-aesthete: :iconifsantag: :iconimage-heart:
:icontriinerg: :icondekoradum: :iconfremdartet:
Featured Artists
Other Entries
Friday Feature: Issue 036A Collection of -
Recent Discoveries










. . . by sandrawiklander
The Travelers by alicelevene
Ghost by insolitus85
the truth of the matter... by kvnvk
spiralling VI (Premium Content) by sth22art
Drama. by inbrainstorm
:iconeinsilbig: :icongratianus: :iconmegalithicmatt: :iconfilterkaffee:
:icondpressedsoul: :iconjfdupuis: :iconmescamesh: :icong-heide:
:iconvbagiatis: :icondontpaniic: :iconswiklander: :iconalicelevene:
:iconinsolitus85: :iconkvnvk: :iconsth22art: :iconinbrainstorm:
Featured Artists
Other Entries
Friday Feature: Issue 037A Collection of -
Recent Discoveries










Victory March by AbhishekJoshi
Nature around me 1 by FilipR8
:thumb270512418:
:thumb378602875:
..: Cold day - VI :.. by Mademoiselle-P
before you wake up by Darija-Blue
:iconporomaa: :iconlomatic: :iconalexandrinaana: :iconsgaze:
:iconseicke: :iconepytafe: :iconiso6400: :iconcrh:
:iconapolic: :iconjoannakossak: :iconimage-heart: :iconfilipr8:
:iconmeganbreukelman: :iconmenoevil: :iconmademoiselle-p: :icondarija9:
Featured Artists
Other Entries
Friday Feature: Issue 038A Collection of -
Recent Discoveries










:thumb338710815:
stalks by logaryphmic
double tree by daintyish
:thumb211834935:
macro by sebiepic
the last of the snow by The-music-of-hands
:icona-r-v: :iconactimelta: :iconrawimage: :iconenucleate:
:iconby-vertebrae: :iconnatur-mystik: :iconweissglut: :iconbutaforis:
:iconpfffitslauren: :iconboxtail: :iconsycamores-and-cedars: :iconlogaryphmic:
:icondaintyish: :iconrachelquerrien: :iconsebiepic: :iconthe-music-of-hands:
Featured Artists
Other Entries



Saturday Spotlight



My Saturday Spotlight series has become, perhaps, my most popular and well-received action since starting my tenure as Abstract and Surreal Community Volunteer. Each week, I interview a prominent member of the abstract and surreal community, and invite each artist to share their thoughts and opinions on the genre and their work. While it is the most time-consuming aspect of my role, it is definitely the most rewarding and I am glad that it's being enjoyed by the rest of the community: it was originally planned only to be a monthly feature running for one year, but recently I published my 38th edition and there's no end in sight just yet!

Saturday Spotlight: Volume 032An Interview with-
dreamingshadow










:icondreamingshadow:
dreamingshadow's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
I'm a 26-year-old writer and artist trying to find my way in the world. I'm also interested in photography, drama and performance; I think I'd try my hand at anything creative and expressive. Other than that, I love music just like anyone else, and I'm very dedicated to my pet fancy rats.
> Where did you begin with artistic endeavours? How did you come across Abstraction or Surrealism?
Pretty late, compared to others. I had studied Surrealism formally as part of my degree in drama at univers
Saturday Spotlight: Volume 033An Interview with-
scheinbar










:iconscheinbar:
scheinbar's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
I started with painting and drawing quite early in life; I always had a pencil or brush in my hands. Later on, I began to work with photography and although I had a huge SLR I didn't have enough time to use it because of family and work commitments and so on. This delayed my progress into photography for about a decade. With the advent of digital cameras, taking pictures has become far easier for me. So, recently, with more time and easier-to-use technology I started again with photography, and this time succeeded. I also spend my t
Saturday Spotlight: Volume 034An Interview with-
Poromaa










:iconPoromaa:
Poromaa's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
My name is Samuel Poromaa and I'm a professional artist & photographer living in Stockholm, Sweden. I was born 1960 in Kiruna, a small mining community way up north in Sweden, but moved to Stockholm 1983. I have been working with imagery and art for as long as I can remember, but on a more serious level after I finished my art studies at the Konstfack: National College of Arts Crafts & Design here in Stockholm, in 1989. I am a painter at heart, at least that is what I studied those five years at Kon
Saturday Spotlight: Volume 35An Interview with-
freMDart










:iconfreMDartet:
freMDartet's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
My name is Michael; I was born in 1970, and I live in a small town near the Odenwald in Germany. In school I always loved to draw and paint. Later on I discovered some digital software to create my pictures, and almost at the same time I bought my first semi-professional digital camera and started taking photos more seriously than before. Presently I focus only on photography, because I love hiking and discovering hidden places and it is much easier for me to capture the atmosphere of nature or urban places with a digital camera
Saturday Spotlight: Volume 36An Interview with-
JPtHart










:iconJPtHart:
JPtHart's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
My name is Jan-Pieter 't Hart, and I'm an 18-year-old residing in the countryside of The Netherlands. My main interests are visual arts and music. My own artistic attempts are mainly photography, but I have plans to experiment with other artistic media in the near future as well. Furthermore, I still go to school and like to play cello in my free time.
> Where did you begin with artistic endeavours? How did you come across Abstraction or Surrealism?
I've taken pictures for as far as I can remember. When I was fourteen,
Saturday Spotlight: Volume 037An Interview with-
HorstSchmier










:iconHorstSchmier:
HorstSchmier's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
I am mostly interested in making pictures and looking at pictures, whether still or moving or existing only in my own imagination and fantasy - whilst reading literature, for example. Besides that, I love to get outdoors and ride my bicycle.
> Where did you begin with artistic endeavours? How did you come across Abstraction or Surrealism?
I started photographing when I was ten years old; that was 55 years ago now. There was only black and white film readily available at that time, so I have been worki
Saturday Spotlight: Volume 038An Interview with-
NSolanki










:iconNSolanki:
NSolanki's Gallery
> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
Hello! My name is Nirav Solanki and I'm a freelance photographer living in Long Beach, California. I was born in Zambia, Africa and moved to the US in 1997. While growing up, my father's Yashica FX-D Quartz SLR camera was the most technical camera I had ever held. Since film was not readily available in the area where I lived, just holding my father's SLR camera brought me joy. It wasn't until I was given a regular point and shoot film camera that my interest in actually shooting photography began. From film, I slowly started growing in



Sunday Soundcheck



Planned to be something to end the week in a light-hearted manner, this series has proven to be surprisingly popular, and with the music I am featuring there is certainly a connection to the abstract and surreal genre; I tend to enjoy artists whose sound is either somewhat deconstructed or rebuilt beyond recognition. Nonetheless, this is a slightly off-topic look back at the journals that have been published since the last update. Maybe you'll find something you'll enjoy. Who knows?

Sunday Soundcheck: Set 032This week...
Radiohead

The King of Limbs - 2011

In Rainbows - 2007

Hail to the Thief - 2003

Amnesiac - 2001

Kid A - 2000

OK Computer - 1997

The Bends - 1995

Pablo Honey - 1993
Origin Point:
United Kingdom
Sounds Like:
Alternative Rock, Indie, Experimental, Progressive, Electronica, P
Sunday Soundcheck: Set 033This week...
Ulver

Shadows of the Sun - 2007

Blood Inside - 2005

A Quick Fix of Melancholy - 2003

Svidd Neger - 2003

Teachings in Silence - 2002

Perdition City - 2000
Sunday Soundcheck: Set 034This week...
Alaska

A Mountain Put to Sea - 2009
Origin Point:
United Kingdom
Sounds Like:
Post Rock, Post Metal, Ambient
This edition of the Sunday Soundcheck returns to the depths of obscurity after a few weeks featuring recognisable bands. I'm by no means finished going down that route, but I think it best to mix things up a bit.
Alaska, not to be confused with many acts of the same name - including some from the UK - was a short-lived post-rock act hailing from Carlisle in the United Kingdom, releasing only one EP before their apparent demise. Little is known about them, and this release is practically all that remains of them in terms of an online presence. In terms of sound they carve a heavy post-rock aesthetic with elements of post-metal and atmospheric sludge: over the four tracks on this EP they cover a lot of musical ground. This is definitely re
Sunday Soundcheck: Set 035This week...
The Ascent of Everest

From This Vantage - 2010

How Lonely Sits the City - 2006
Origin Point:
United States
Sounds Like:
Post Rock, Progressive, Ambient, Shoegaze, Neoclassical
The 35th edition of the Sunday Soundcheck features The Ascent Of Everest, an American post-rock collective with a beautifully elegant aesthetic. Warming up in 2006 with their début release, it's their second publication, From This Vantage, that pushes their sound forwards. Making heavy use of classical string instruments they put together a series of beautiful compositions; mostly instrumental, but with fine use of background vocals where necessary. This mixture of wall-of-sound guitar and singing far in the mix is not entirely det
Sunday Soundcheck: Set 036This week...
Less

Cover, Protective, Individual - 2004

Piano. Wire. Smile - 2001
Origin Point:
United States
Sounds Like:
Alternative Rock, Grunge, Progressive, Experimental, Acoustic, Ambient
Less by name, enigmatic by nature. The band formed in the late 1990s in the San Francisco bay area of the United States, and put out two albums before their demise: The brooding and gritty alternative rock of Piano.Wire.Smile and the beguiling acoustic notes of Cover,Protective,Individual. There is a middle-eastern influence to both albums; subtle in the first, but particularly prevalent in their second release. This title ditches distortion and overdrive for electronic glitches and acoustic passages, and is an interesting meltin
Sunday Soundcheck: Set 037This week...
Year of No Light

Vampyr - 2004

Ausserwelt - 2010

Nord - 2006
Origin Point:
France
Sounds Like:
Atmospheric Sludge Metal, Post Metal, Post Rock, Drone, Doom, Progressive, Experimental
Year Of No Light is a French band whose sound has evolved significantly with each release so far. Starting with a harsh sludge demo in 2004, these tracks evolved into the impressive aggressive atmospheric sludge sound of their first release, Nord. Their follow-up is much more expansive animal, with four tracks taking up nearly fifteen minutes each. In 2013 they went in another direction entirely, coming up with a haunting deconstruction to accompany the 1932 film Vampyr; a
Sunday Soundcheck: Set 038This week...
Rosetta

The Anaesthete - 2013

A Determinism of Morality - 2010

Wake/Lift - 2007

The Galilean Satellites - 2005
Origin Point:
United States
Sounds Like:
Atmospheric Sludge Metal, Post Metal, Drone, Ambient, Post Rock, Progressive, Experimental
As with last week's feature, this time around I look at a post-metal band whose sound has evolved constantly since their first release. Starting with the dual-layered, dense and inaccessible, two-disc début The Galilean Satellites, Rosetta have streamlined their sound with each following publication, culminating in the fine



In Closing



That's it for this edition. If you've any questions, comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to share your thoughts: I'm receptive to ideas and I enjoy feedback and conversation. Thank-you for your time and for your appreciation, and all the best for coping with mid-summer (or mid-winter!).

© 2013 - 2024 arctoa
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scheinbar's avatar
thanks for all your work and engagement... very very much appreciated