Culture in Canada, Top Five Cultural Communities

The top 5 cultural communities in Canada are

1 - Edmonton, Alberta - in the more than 125 000 population category

Edmonton, Capital city of the province of Alberta is known for its thriving arts and cultural communities including a downtown arts district where several major centers are located.

2 - Comox Valley, British Columbia - in the 50 000 to 125 000 population category

Comox Valley is a thriving arts and culture community with painters, potters, theatre and dance troupes perform in parks and a myriad of venues including renovated heritage churches, warehouses, sports arenas, resorts and restaurants.

3 - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan - in the less than 50 000 population category

Moose Jaw is famous for its Murals on buildings all over the city. Scenes depicting Moose Jaw's early history can be found on the sides and fronts of buildings throughout the downtown core.

4 - Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec - in the less than 50 000 population category

One of Quebec oldest municipalities, the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, a favorite of Canada's Group of Seven painters, and a heritage town with over 85 century-old homes, this city still draws
artists to this day.

5 - Wendake, Quebec - in the less than 50 000 population category

Located 10 kilometers north of the city of Quebec, the Carrefour des Nations is a festival of contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, showcasing the First Nations artists and their unique culture. Theatrical productions, exhibitions, literary readings, musical performances, and a traditional pow-wow are testimony to Wendake's commitment to the arts and culture.
These five communities were unanimously recommended by an independent advisory committee. The Cultural Capitals of Canada program celebrates the unique character of Canadian municipalities and recognizes the important role they play in highlighting the richness and diversity of our culture."

The Cultural Capitals of Canada Program highlights the achievements of communities that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture. These prizes are awarded for merit, for the quality of proposed projects, and for past achievements of the communities. The 5 communities receive anywhere from $ 500,000 up to $ 2,000,000 to finance projects that celebrate arts and culture in those communities.

Portrait Painting - Get Your Photo Painted by Portrait Artists

Every culture has its own way of understanding the social reality. One of the "hallmarks" of the popular culture became the portrait painting, and portrait painters contributed to the first universal culture in the history of humanity. By portrait painting, portrait painters have started to develop a system of values, myths and representations dedicated to the subjectivity, which emerged in the bourgeois family. Portrait painting from photos is a reaction undertaken by the portrait artists towards the current conditions of creating such paintings, which is influenced by the technical and audiovisual civilization.

Painting from photos has adapted successfully towards the current diversity in the cultural reality. In addition, the portrait painters create illusions of the public and aesthetic communication. The portrait painters give the subject/ object of portrait painting intellectual existence, which serve as reference to the differently situated in the time interpretations. Painting emanates the need of the individuals to express their personality and qualities and in this way this art creates importance of the existence of the individuals. Through their artworks, portrait artists develop existential projects, which have its ground on the popular culture. By portrait painting- portrait artists also defend the right of every person to become subject of happiness and dreams.

Drawing on Jose Ortega y Gasset, I claim that painting from photos represents a salvation from the life shipwrecked and by creating a painting, the portrait artists help the individuals to live without their life to become a meaningless tragedy or a total failure. Portrait painting creates such "salvation gestures" as long as portrait artists are relating their expression and technique to the experimental and talented usage of the traditions in their oil portraits.

Oil painting from photos has a vast number of followers and oil artists have the power to transmit accumulated cultural experience to the public. The flourishing of painting from photos might be explained with the invention of photography and the advantages it gives to the portrait painters and by the invention of Internet. Nowadays you can find the best artists for your subject on Internet, with turnaround times of 1 week until your painting is completed, and costs under $100 for a custom oil painting.

Jack Sam White is a vastly experienced writer. He often writes about Portrait Artists and painters. He has a great understanding about Oil Portrait Painting and Oil painting reproduction.

This Is the Most Enduring Inspiration to Keep You Painting

Patriotism means a simple, heartfelt appreciation of Homeland. It's a mindset distinct from jingoism: that extreme bias against anyone whose values are different. Normal, healthy people value all children. Yet, our own must come first. It's the same with our Homeland.

• For artists, the impulse to celebrate the culture, people and landscapes of your country can prove the most enduring inspiration.
• Your art will feed itself in serving this idea. Painting after painting springs from this over-arching influence: love of your own place, fascination with its folklore.

Painters who dedicated their art to this impulse include names famous in the world history of Art. On Australia Day, I'm sure you'll understand if I list a few countrymen here.

• Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin and Arthur Streeton, founders of the 'Heidelberg School' brought a form of Impressionism to Australian art.
• David Davies, Elioth Gruner and Hans Heysen freighted their landscapes with a spiritual sense of Nature as a force acting on the Australian psyche.
• Russel Drysdale, Sidney Nolan, Hugh Ramsay, William Dobell and the great draughtsman Lloyd Rees led the way prior to the advent of Abstract styles in mid-20th century Australian art.

My country celebrates Australia Day on 26 January each year to commemorate the landing of the First Fleet. 227 years of history makes a brief record in comparison with most nations. We are a young nation, built on the planet's oldest dry land, shared with descendants of the world's most ancient people.

The Aboriginal population is estimated at 300,000 when the First Fleet arrived. Their place of origin, and the routes used by their ancestors to reach Australia, are yet to be confirmed. Scientists generally agree to date their arrival around 40,000 years ago.

Discoveries in caves across this vast island continent show rock art recognised as the oldest paintings on Earth. The artists' purpose is unknown but their present-day descendants continue to maintain and refresh the images of Dreamtime.

• Fewer than 2,000 people formed the first non-Aboriginal population of Australia. They arrived in October 1786, as crew or passengers aboard 11 ships of the British Royal Navy.

Passengers included 700 British convicts sentenced to exile on a distant continent in the Southern Pacific. Only 16 years earlier, legendary explorer Captain James Cook charted and claimed this new territory for the British Crown.

Fare-paying settlers on board came from the Old World of Europe and the New World of the Americas. They aspired to prosperity and freedom greater than they could expect in their countries of origin. These pioneers established farms, small industry, schools and embryo-institutions of Science and the Arts.

• Out of this multi-cultural beginning, the colony progressed from a penal settlement to modern nationhood. In 1900, Federation sign-posted Australia's independence from Britain.

All Australians honour those nations everywhere who act with goodwill to achieve the goal of democratic freedom for all people.

Dorothy Gauvin is an Australian painter in oils who specialises in an epic theme of Australia's pioneers. 35 years as both artist and gallery director helps her to guide Beginners.Check out her blog-artlife for tips on becoming a professional artist.

http://www.artgallerygauvin.com/blog-artlife

See images of her 'Life-Story' portraits, an ABC of homemade tools for painters with arthritis on her website at http://www.artgallerygauvin.com/

Art and Culture in Australia and Oceania

From the historical perspective, culture has defined Australia and Oceania. Oceania is a group of many islands in Central and Southern Pacific Ocean. Australia, which is one of the smallest islands here, is rich in culture and has a lot to do with understanding of art and culture. With Australia being the main nation dominating Oceania, an exploration of the unique Australian cultures more interesting.

Art and culture of Australia and Oceania is creatively built around the traditional setup of the indigenous people of these societies. The Australian indigenous inhabitants were settlers of the first wave of people in the area. The arts of these indigenous people were mainly inclined to religion. Making of masks was one of the arts that they appreciated and kept.

They also practiced painting, wood carving, tattooing, stone carving and petroglyphs among others. The society's arts were mainly passed from one generation to the other and their main theme of creating arts was to praise the supernatural. They described their culture as united and hence the name Aboriginal Australian-which included almost all native cultures in Australia in one unified culture.

The Aboriginal Australian culture had a belief and strong spiritual attachments to the environment. It is interesting that the indigenous cultures had only one part to create in their arts-masks. These are even available today in these places as preserved cultural practice.

European colonization disrupted the formation and much practiced cultures of this society. Their paintings and carvings were not respected by the colonizers as they did. They were also forced into several and uneasy cultural forms that diverted their former unified state. Even with this, art and culture in Australia and Oceania were still preserved (but not as original as before).

The contemporary culture had introduced several ways that differed with their original settings. The arts of Australia were never erased by colonizers. Rock art, which is the traditional art known in Australia, remained to unite the Aborigines. They could still practice rock art and hold to their cultural practices like sports. Rugby is one of the most enticing sports that Australia and New Zealand is known for.

Theatre, dance and music are other arts that Australia and Oceania have immensely developed. Classical musicians and performers have since history translated the historical set-up of Australia to the present day. With valued culture in music, the Aborigines kept a unique style of music that is still copied in the contemporary styles.

Their music was respected, especially because it was a way to send messages and praise their unique culture and belief in the supernatural. Their religion was really important. Theatre and film have also shown great developments from simple and local performances to world-class and recognized art.

Kenth Bender artist, http://www.fine-art-bender.com Want to read more about Art and Culture Go to: http://www.fine-art-bender.com/art-and-culture.html

Western Painting - Folk Art - The Cultural Pulse of Mexico and America

Western Painting includes the art forms originated in European countries. Folk Art is the subtle and traditional art form that emerges out of a rural or country scene. It has a naïve enduring style that captures the simplicity and innocence of the places, people, or things. Western Folk Paintings, as the name suggests, depict the rich cultural grandeur of Europe and Americas. Western Folk Art has many fascinating features and can wondrously depict the rich colorful natural landscapes, green forests, and life at the local level. Renowned western artists, such as Goya, Picasso, and Rembrandt derived heavy inspirations from Western Folk Art. American Art is especially prolific and notable. Famous Mexican and American artists use many types of canvas or bases such as wood or handmade tiles, to display their talent. This article picks up the best wings of Western Folk Painting, American and Mexican.

Mexican Folk Paintings: Mexican Folk Art though western, is mingled with ancient Indian tribe culture and Spanish traditions. Every single region in Mexico has its own artistic side, handed down through ancestry. Some Mexican Folk Painting types are:

Bark Painting: Also known as Papel Amate, Bark Painting originated from the Guerrero Mountains of Mexico. These paintings are specialty art works of skilled Nahua Indians.

Clay Paintings: Mexican Clay Folk Paintings are usually done with and on pottery, plaques, and clay masks. The themes here are varied, spanning from a general village life to their gala festivals and rituals.

Wood Paintings: Wood Paintings employ Pyrography techniques. For this purpose, handmade special tiles are hand painted, depicting the interesting lives and scenes of Mexican pueblos.

American Folk Paintings

American Folk Paintings are done on glazed surfaces and Masonite bases. 18th and 19th century American paintings richly depicted village life, simple homes, vast farmlands, animal portraits, and sketches of fruits, flowers, & plants. Many American artists also dabbled in painting Biblical scenes of holy churches and the inner peripheral wonders of a church. Some important features of American Folk Art Paintings are:

o Competence: Due to their simplicity, originality, and great visual appeal, American Folk Art forms, such as polychromed wood based paintings and sculptures done during the 18th century, became very popular in the 20th century and have managed to gain prominent space in many American art museums.

o Themes: They are centered on local life, mainly young Americans, wild nature, cultural sequences, and ancient churches.

o Quality Artists: Gifted artists such as Barbara Steele Thibodeaux have given new life and meaning to Contemporary American Folk Art. American Folk artists mostly depict rich American culture and places of interest. The scenery down Old South, Louisiana, grand biblical sketches, and the portraits of American people are captured effortlessly by the talented artists of the new American Folk Art generation.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com.

Annette has bonus offers on her work only. Buy 2 paintings of any size and receive 1 painting of your choice for free of equal size and value. SHIPPING IS FREE IN CANADA AND US ON SMALLER ITEMS.

Please feel free to subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com.

Art and Culture in South America - And the World

Art and Culture in North America

Diverse - this probably characterizes the works of art in North America. Considered the melting pot of different cultures, we see works of art in various forms. The Northwest boasts the wonderful sight of totem poles; the Southwest regions offer the sight of figurines like the notable Kachina dolls; the arctic regions are known for its masks; and in the southwest, sand painting and pottery are famous. All of these art forms reflect the kind of culture that sustained the people who lived to create something spectacular.

Art and Culture in Europe

Rich - the right word to describe the works of art in Europe. Considered as the center of artistic revolution, Europe is home to the renowned paintings, sculptures, architecture, music, books, plays, and natural wonders. The Coliseum, the Stonehenge, and St. Peter's Basilica is only a few examples of how great Europe was in history. Until today, works of arts serve as remnants of the continent's colorful past.

Art and Culture in Asia

Magnificence - a term that may even be an underestimation when it comes to the architectural feats of the Asian continent. In the Islamic world, famous mosques create a panoramic skyline. Equally remarkable are the Buddhist stupas, Chinese pagodas, and the Hindu temples. In the Indus regions, figurines and seals abound. The unique eyes of early Asians also boast naturalistic images of bird and flowers. When it comes to handicraft, the Ming ceramics are precious to behold. This breadth of artistry illustrates the sort of early civilizations around the world who took to the arts in order to preserve their historic identities.

Art and Culture in Australia

Mesmerizing - a word that captures the spirit in the arts in the Oceania. In Australia, paintings by early settlers animate rocks and caves. In Melanesia and Polynesia, cloth painting is very much alive in clothing called the "tapa." The meeting houses built by the Maoris speak about the history of the continent's native people. And who would forget the enigmatic statues gracing the coasts of Easter Island? These art forms bring life to history that only the ocean waters have witnessed.

Art and Culture in South America

Mystifying - a word fit to describe sights like the Nazca Lines, the Tiwanaku, Machu Picchu, and Chan Chan. Considered works of arts, these were created through a succession of cultures starting from the Chavins, Nazcans and Moche cultures, the Tiwanaku-Waris, the Chimu, and the Inca cultures. Such are perfect sights to behold that their mystical qualities equally match the rich culture of the continent's most famous people: the Incas. It animates, it brings delight, and it educates. These are characterizations of the effects of arts. And as long as these works continue to exist, our minds will continue to be in awe.

Kenth Bender artist, meet him at: http://www.fine-art-bender.com Want to know more about Fine Art: Get the Free Report - The Deep Meaning Of Painting http://www.fine-art-bender.com/fine-art-free-report.html

Art And Culture In Antigua And Barbuda

It was also a resource for supplies such as crops and timber. With 96% of the population being descendants of African slaves, the language, music, and art have strong ties to their African heritage.

The British influence can be seen all over the islands. It can be seen in architecture and design of historical buildings and cobblestone roads. Although the modern dialect is a diverse one, the prominent language there is English. There are several religions among the residents, but the majority of the population is Christian.

Artists abound on the islands, from painters to sculptors, pottery designers to basket weavers, musicians to dancers. Art is important to the people and is evidenced in the number of museums, art galleries and cultural centers located there. The cultural centers offer classes in art, dancing and music. You can attend musical events, art exhibitions or see a play.

There are several museums on the islands. One museum has a display of carved jade pieces. Jade was mainly used to carve symbolic figures. The local jade was the only source for the early artisans.

Another natural resource available to the artists is clay. Clay is collected from local pits and used to hand craft pottery. The local clay is also used for sculpting. The art of Indians who populated the area before the British settled there has been incorporated into pottery, sculptures and other works of art.

The music of the islands is one place where you can find a strong African influence. Calypso is a lively type of music the slaves brought from their native home. It has an upbeat and happy rhythm though the words are usually satirical. Slaves working in the fields could not talk to each other. The plantation owners did not understand the native language of slaves, so they sang as they worked and communicated with music.

Drums were an important part of the slaves native music.. Since there was no bamboo available to make the types of drums played in their native land, they invented the steel drums that are featured in Calypso bands today. In 1834 the British government abolished slavery in the islands. Every year since, there is a huge celebration featuring a carnival and Calypso music.

As in most places, the art and culture in Antigua and Barbuda is closely tied to the ancestors of the people. The cultures that populated the area before them hold a place in the history of their land. The people celebrate their diverse culture, and keep it alive in museums, culture centers and art. As with most cultures, their history and ancestors define who they are today.

Kenth Bender artist, Want to know more go to: http://www.fine-art-bender.com