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Meijer Brings Midwest Artists’ Works to Life in New Black History Month Collection Benefiting Urban Leagues USA – English 

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This month customers can find art by Black Indianapolis and Lansing-area artists featured on products in every Meijer supercenter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In celebration of Black History Month, Meijer launched a special collection of products featuring the art of three Black Midwestern artists – Dana Powell-Smith, Melina Brann and Shaunt’e Lewis – on products in every Meijer supercenter. The retailer will ultimately donate 5 percent of sales from the collection to Urban League affiliates in the artists’ home states of Indiana and Michigan.

In celebration of Black History Month, Meijer launched a special collection of products featuring the art of three Black Midwestern artists – Dana Powell-Smith, Melina Brann and Shaunt’e Lewis – on products in every Meijer supercenter. The retailer will ultimately donate 5 percent of sales from the collection to Urban League affiliates in the artists’ home states of Indiana and Michigan.

The collection includes a mix of paintings and digital art printed on decorative pillows, stationery, gift bags, canvas tote bags, key rings, kitchen towels and throw blankets, featuring the three winning pieces of art. The limited-edition products are available in all Meijer supercenters as supplies last now through Feb. 26.

The retailer selected the featured pieces from hundreds of submissions after putting out a call for culturally-inspired art in 2021 as part of its ongoing efforts to support underrepresented communities and ensure every customer sees themselves reflected on its shelves. The winning pieces were selected by Meijer merchants based on team member votes.

“What I love most about the art we’re highlighting is that while all three artists took inspiration from the same prompt of Black History Month, they each approached it from a totally different viewpoint with their own unique style,” said Carla Hendon, Director of Supplier Diversity and Indirect Procurement at Meijer. “It highlights the diversity we have within the Black community.”

For example, Lansing, Mich.-based social worker and artist Melina Brann purposefully uses a pastel color palette not typically associated with Black coloring to depict a “pyramid of faces” representing the building blocks of community.

“For this piece, I wanted to show how Black women and Black people in our community lift each other up,” Brann said. “I hope my art sends the message that we’re all in this together – no matter what we look like, no matter who we are – we can lift each other up and make anything happen.”

Indianapolis artist Dana Powell-Smith hopes to inspire viewers of her piece – which features bold “triangle people” that have become her calling card, against an abstract backdrop of names of important Black historical figures – to learn more about those who paved the way for the Black community. Among the names listed in the piece is Georgette Seabrooke Powell, a noted Harlem Renaissance muralist and illustrator, as well as Powell-Smith’s grandmother.

“To me, celebrating Black History Month means looking back. I hope that [customers] will take away a little history and really look into the names that are on [my art]… And maybe smile when they see my triangle people with their hairstyles,” Powell-Smith said. “I always want to make people smile with my art. It’s different, it’s a little quirky, but it’s relatable. That’s just really important to me – I want people to see themselves in it.”

In her piece, “Madam Queen,” Indianapolis artist Shaunt’e Lewis uses bold lines and colors to portray a powerful, empowered Black woman wearing a head covering, a common subject across her art. Lewis, who only began pursuing her art full-time in 2021, has already seen significant success in her community, painting a car live at the Indy500 and having art featured in the New York Times.

“It means quite a bit to me to know that this early on in my career, people believe in me enough to give me the opportunity to showcase my work in a major store like Meijer and that Meijer supports artists and local communities,” Lewis said. “It’s important for stores like Meijer to represent Black artists and all types of artists because we don’t always get to see ourselves in spaces like this.”

Meijer will donate 5 percent of the sales generated from the Black History Month art collection to Urban Leagues in the artists’ states – the Urban League of West Michigan and the Indianapolis Urban League.

This is the first of five local artist collections the retailer will unveil this year, with others tied to locally-inspired art, Women’s History Month, Pride Month and Hispanic Heritage Month to come. Customers can shop the Black History Month artist collection in stores or online at Meijer.com.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 501 supercenters, neighborhood markets, Meijer Grocery and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @Meijer and @MeijerPR or become a fan on Facebook.

SOURCE Meijer

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Reflecting on the 2024 Oscars: A Night of Wins, Laughter, and Fashion Statements

The 2024 Oscars: A night of wins, laughter, and elegant fashion. No mentions of past controversies, just a focus on cinematic excellence.

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The 2024 Oscars night was a whirlwind of excitement, surprises, and elegance as the film industry’s finest gathered to celebrate cinematic achievements. Among the standout moments was the triumph of “Oppenheimer,” a biopic that not only captivated audiences but also dominated the awards, clinching seven accolades, including Best Picture. Christopher Nolan’s directorial prowess shone through as he claimed the Best Director title, while Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. were honored for their outstanding performances as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

While “Oppenheimer” led the pack, “Poor Things” also made a mark with four wins, with Emma Stone’s portrayal earning her the coveted Best Actress award. The night was further enriched by captivating performances, including Ryan Gosling’s comedic surprises during his rendition of “I’m Just Ken” and the mesmerizing display of a dozen drummers in the performance of “Wahzhazhe.” The ceremony also featured memorable presenter antics, such as John Cena’s daring walk across the stage clad in nothing but an envelope.

The red carpet was ablaze with a stunning array of black, red, and metallic ensembles, showcasing the stars’ fashion prowess as they graced Hollywood’s grand event. Despite a few mishaps, like Emma Stone’s dress incident and Al Pacino’s potential oversight, the glamour and allure of the evening remained undiminished.

What truly stood out about this year’s Oscars was the absence of any reference to past controversies, notably the infamous Will Smith and Chris Rock incident from two years prior. Unlike previous telecasts, where the incident was repeatedly revisited, this year’s ceremony seemed to signal a collective move towards letting bygones be bygones. Host Jimmy Kimmel’s subtle nod to a bygone era of Oscars antics hinted at a shift in focus from past controversies to celebrating the artistry and talent that define the film industry.

As the curtain fell on the 2024 Oscars, it was evident that the night was not just about accolades and glamour but also about embracing new beginnings and a renewed focus on the magic of storytelling that unites us all. The 2024 Oscars will be remembered as a night of triumphs, laughter, and a subtle nod to moving forward—a celebration of cinema at its finest.

Source: AP

https://apnews.com/live/2024-Oscars-updates-winners

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Historic Moment: Space Shuttle Endeavour Takes Its Place at the California Science Center

Witness history as Space Shuttle Endeavour is lifted into its California Science Center home. Streaming live on Space.com at 12:30 a.m. EST.

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On the early morning of January 30, a monumental event is set to unfold as the space shuttle Endeavour is lifted into its new museum-exhibit home at the California Science Center. This complex operation, involving a towering 450-foot-tall crane, marks a historic achievement in exhibit installation, breaking new ground outside the realms of NASA or Air Force facilities.


Scheduled to commence at 12:30 a.m. EST (0530 GMT), viewers can witness the live action on Space.com, courtesy of the California Science Center, or directly via the Los Angeles museum. The duration of the lift remains uncertain, adding an element of suspense to this unprecedented event.

However, eager spectators should note that the Endeavour display won’t be immediately accessible. The future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a significant expansion of the California Science Center, is slated to become Endeavour’s permanent residence. With an anticipated 18-month construction period and subsequent artifact and exhibit installation, an official opening date is yet to be announced.

Endeavour, NASA’s youngest shuttle, holds a remarkable legacy, having completed 25 missions before the retirement of the space shuttle program in 2011. As it takes its place in this new chapter at the California Science Center, the Endeavour will continue to inspire and educate generations to come, embodying the spirit of human exploration and technological achievement.

Source: Space.com

https://www.space.com/space-shuttle-endeavour-museum-exhibit-stacking-webcast

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art, culture and humanities

Life is Artistic, It’s Fantastic

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MIAMI (Newswire.com) – Welcome to the vibrant and chic world of Miami’s art scene, where creativity knows no bounds and the city itself becomes a canvas of expression. At the heart of this sizzling cultural hub is No Vacancy, Miami Beach. The program’s fourth edition presents twelve artists whose site-specific projects are displayed at twelve iconic hotels in Miami Beach.


Samantha Modder in her series – Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks – at Catalina Hotel & Beach Club

No Vacancy coincides with Art Week Miami Beach and Art Basel Miami, the epitome of cultural sophistication and creativity, which will take place from December 4th through December 10th. The installations will be viewed from now through December 14th, 2023 to include three of South Beach Group Hotels boutique properties highlighting participants:

Samantha Modder in her series – Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks – at Catalina Hotel & Beach Club. It presents a subjective Black woman’s fairytale to process interlocking structures of oppression. Modder is a visual artist working figuratively in pen, collage, and digital media to portray larger-than-life Black, female characters taking up space in real and imagined worlds. 

Marco Inzerillo’s exhibit – SOBEautiful – is displayed at Hotel Croydon. He presents a series of photographs in both color and black and white, highlighting and celebrating the cultural variety of Miami Beach.

Riviera South Beach hosts Carola Bravo – Yield to Immigrants – challenging the concept of migration as a norm and not a crisis. The work addresses the tension between migration issues and the authority of public signs as civic markers. It also questions how manipulating traditional public signs alters their meaning, reminding us about the value of inclusion and our critical role in society.

Against the backdrop of sun-kissed beaches and eclectic neighborhoods, this annual extravaganza transforms Miami into a global art destination, bringing together the world’s leading galleries, artists, and enthusiasts.

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Source: South Beach Group

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