Saturday, February 27, 2010

FROM OUR FRIEND LUIZ COELHO

Dear friends in Christ,

As you might recall, last November, I sent you all an e-mail regarding my being chosen as one of the Anglican Communion representatives to the Edinburgh 2010 Mission Conference. Since there was a writing contest and a multimedia contest, I decided to join both, so I sent them an article (on the Ecumenical Role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model for mission) and an art project. Well, I've recently heard that the art project was pre-selected. I still don't know if it got any of the top prizes (haven't had any word regarding the paper either), but it is going to be exhibited there.

I decided to upload the project to lulu.com and self-publish it, as a means of offering it to people as a Lenten resource. It's called "The Stations of the Cross of Globalization" and it's probably the last piece of a series of artwork I've been working on for the last 1.5 year, which focuses on labor rights and exploitation, especially in poorer countries. As some of you might know, my work deals mostly with a dialogue on the power of imagery in contemporary world. I'd dare to say it's a conversation with some of the ideas put forward by Baudrillard in terms of hyperrealities, simulations and simulacra, and appropriate responses we should present to it. I'll continue exploring this idea, even though I might tackle new subjects other than labor rights.

So, here's the booklet. It's free to download, and available as paperback for 13 dollars. Unfortunately, it can't be cheaper, because it is a full-color booklet.

Also, all of those paintings are currently in Atlanta. I don't think the Edinburgh 2010 will have the necessary budget to pay for their transportation to Scotland, so we'll have prints instead. But if any of you is interested in having them exhibited somewhere else, please let me know. My friends Susan and Lisa are keeping them in Atlanta, and might be able to help with that, if it's not too troublesome for them.

I hope you all enjoy it. May all of you have a Holy Lent.

-
Luiz Coelho
http://www.luizcoelho.com


Luiz adds:

I'm going to send an update re: the prize and the competition, but until that happens, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to release this in early Lent.


Blessings to you!



Luiz, it's good to hear from you. Thanks for letting us know about your paintings and the booklet.

To my readers: The beautiful Madonna icon pictured on my sidebar, titled "Lady Enthroned" was written by Luiz. The icon rests in a place of honor in my house, and I consider it amongst my prized possessions.

6 comments:

  1. Luiz's work is extraordinary. I am off to look at the lulu link!

    Prayers for him - and for you too Mimi!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I downloaded a copy for myself. It's one of the most original and thoughtful Stations I've ever seen. The Stations as a series of carefully chosen still life objects -- I'd never have thought of that in a million years. It's very effective, and all the more powerful for being so understated.

    I hope he continues to paint after his ordination.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Counterlight, I decided to buy the booklet, along with another item that I wanted at Lulu. So far as I can tell, only the cover can be seen at the site, so I'll need to wait to see what the other images of the stations look like.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mimi,
    I could download the whole thing as a PDF file, and it is remarkable.
    I've sent the link to all of my "socialist" friends. Thanks for this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. John D. you keep bad company. You're keeping bad company hanging out here, you know. In fact, reading Wounded Bird is probably an occasion of sin.

    I love Luiz's work. And he's soooo good looking.

    ReplyDelete

Anonymous commenters, please sign a name, any name, to distinguish one anonymous commenter from another. Thank you.