SUMMER 2019 ARTTOUR INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

NOW ACCEPTING

SUBMISSIONS! ATIM MASTERS AWARDS 2020

Each year ArtTour International has the honor of choosing sixty top artists from around the world to be recognized as one of our Top 60 Masters. This award is a great way to gain exposure and bring your career to the next level!

We're looking for artists that are inspiring, creative, and who stand out from the crowd. Sound like you? Â Send your submission today, If chosen, you will be featured in the Special Edition of ArtTour International Top 60 Masters issue, to be distributed at all Barnes & Noble Stores and over 1200 Newsstands Worldwide. This article will also be published on all of our digital platforms including iTunes, Magzter, and Kindle.

Picture yourself receiving this prestigious award at the ceremony to be held at the AUDITORIUM AL DUOMO in Florence, Italy on May 23rd, 2020! Dream big, stay inspired!

Send your submissions here:

www.arttourinternational.com/submissions-top-60/

CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS

Yadira Roman, Verbivore, Selas Smith, Yadira Roman,Mia Realk Wriart, Dean Kab,James SteveTailor, Joel Aser Jameson, Lauren Avery

Katrina Sevilla katrina@arttourinternational.com

ON THE COVER

Get Featured! ArtTour International is delighted to feature artists who are making a difference. We have several ways for you to get featured. Email info@artTourinternational.com for more information.

988 Columbus Ave

“Believe” Mixed Media On Canvas By Mague Brewer "Stardust" Oil On Canvas By Jerry Venditti

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A Letter from our Editor-in-Chief Dear reader, Welcome to Summer 2019, a new issue celebrating the importance of artistic expression and human creativity, brimming with vivid and exclusive images as well as fantastic multimedia articles.

For our cover story, we bring you the exciting art of awardwinning Mexican artist Mague Brewer, flip the pages to discover a world of inspiration and a profound message in each one of Mague's works.

Our travel article presents mesmerizing images of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free village for Africans in the Americas. During a one day tour to Palenque, in my most recent visit to my hometown of Cartagena, Colombia, I was compelled to share their valuable contribution to the history and culture. Enjoy this travel article!

For this issue, we also bring you articles featuring artworks by top contemporary artists from all corners of the world. Throughout the pages of our summer issue, you'll find the stories of inspiring artists who have overcome career and personal challenges, and in turn come out on top and made significant strides in the fields of visual arts, each journey is an example of how commitment, persistence, and passion can lead us all to success.

We are also proud to reveal that this past May we published of our ATIM's Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art 2018. This sought-after, much- anticipated catalog, amasses sixty modern artists and provides interviews, art reviews, and compelling images of their works. It is available at all Barnes & Noble Stores and our independent stores and newsstands.

For digital readers, the online issue of Summer 2018, available on iTunes, Magzter, and Issuu, provides the opportunity to click on the breathtaking images accompanying each article and be redirected to the accompanying video.

I hope you are enjoying this summer and supporting the arts. Thanks for being part of the ArtTour International Family. We're glad you're here to share the journey with us!

Enjoying my beautiful hometown, Cartagena de Indias, in the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Photo by Mario Lorduy. Copyright © 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

Viviana Puello Editor-in-Chief ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

www.arttourinternational.com

SUMMER 2019

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INDEX

Meet our Cover Artist!

2019 summer ISSUE Page 08

“A Tour To San Basilio de Palenque”

“The First Free Village For Africans In The Americas”

Page 46

Mague Brewer - “The Spark Of A New Moment” Feautered Artists - Agnethe Maagaard - Brian Rock - Caren Akers - Carla Kleekamp - Cecilia Del Toro - Delphine Collot - Donna Bonin - Evadi - Frans Frengen - Hélène DeSerres - Jerry Venditti - Knichka - Laurence Lher - Natalia Rose - Raymond John Westraadt - Ric Conn - Sahar Alford - Susan N. McCollough

P-24 P-25 P-26 P-27 P-16 P-28 P-29 P-30 P-31 P-18 P-20 P-36 P-37 P-38 P-40 P-41 P-42 P-43

- Svetlana Sintseva - Wendy Cohen

P-44 P-45

Howard Harris

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“Artist Of The Year!”

Jodi Simmons

Page 34

Barbara Tylar Ahlfield 14

Events!

Uniting Artists Worldwide

Page 56

“ROOTS” INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION

“SHEROES” INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION

Page 64

“Wonders Of Nature”

A solo Exhibition By Australian Artist Betty Collier 68

Page 66

ReBel's Universe

A solo Exhibition By Australian Artist ReBel 68

Thursdays 5:30 pm EST.

Channel 5 (Spectrum 1993) or Streaming Live on MNN.ORG ArtTour International is an Arts & Travel TV Show that features celebrities in the art scene and natural and architectural wonders.

Join Viviana Puello as we bring you the most exciting artists in the international art scene and awe-inspiring locations around the world, tune in every Thursday at 5:30 pm and discover a world of inspiration!

Follow us!

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Mague Brewer “The Spark Of A New Moment”

“Certainty” Acrylic And Gouache On Canvas, With Semi-Precious Stones And Metals Arrangeable With Magnets, 60”X48”

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By Viviana Puello

exican-born artist Mague seeks to imbue the viewer with a reflection on moments of transformation.

To create dimensional, abstract paintings, Mague combines bright and airy color schemes with diverse materials such as oil, cloth, and gouache; natural elements such as wood and metal and paper; and overlays of different media. Drawing her

subject matter from nature and often incorporating found objects into her pictures, Mague pushes the boundaries of two-dimensional painting with the layering of pigments and materials. She creates a sense of depth and offers the audience an opportunity to step into the window of the subconscious and the exploration of the human experience.

“All my art pieces or paintings have been collected by my subconscious or spiritual self, inviting me to find out about possibilities that can become choices in my life in a nonimposing way. ” -Mague Brewer

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Photography By Alexander A. Driscoll

www.arttourinternational.com

Mague exhibits a prolific journey of beauty and presents to her audience a keen-eyed representation of exquisite detailing and empowerment through the use of symbolism — an exemplified resonance in the deeper meanings and messages of life.

During her creative process, Mague applies powerful brush strokes, layers various mediums, and arranges found objects in new relations and settings to create harmony, as well as contrasts in form and color. A self-taught artist, she has an unconventional way of using various materials, hiding meaning in a myriad of techniques.

As an extensive world traveler, Mague is inspired by both different cultures and mother culture, from which she draws personal and spiritual experiences. She bends and joins color to fashion a space where the innocence and flexibility of nature take center stage. The strong central message of hope is present in all her works. Enjoy the following interview with our cover artist done by Arttour International Magazine Managing Editor, Yadira Roman.

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“Believe” Gouache, Acrylic, Fabric, Wood And Swarovski Stones On Canvas, Covered By Veil, 48”X72”

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“A Morning with Mague Brewer”

By Yadira Roman

Our call begins with words as warm and as welcoming as Mague's playfully brilliant paintings. She is generously kind and an active businesswoman in the arts, one who discovers her self-expression through acting and painting, in addition to treasured moments in passing.

"Tell me about your work Mague; I'd love to know."

Her voice deepens, and I realize that she wants to be as honest as possible.

"I feel as if it's up to someone else to decide what it means for them. However, I will say it is very special to me. So many things happen while I'm painting, you know? It's like this deep connection happens."

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“Dunstable I.E: Quite Clear And Straight Forward” Oil On Linen, 39”X39”

“The Spirit Is The True Self. Cicero” Oil On Canvas, 39”X39”

“The Cord (El Cordon De Plata)” Oil On Canvas, 14”X17”

“Whenever And Wherever” Oil On Linen, 20”X28”

SUMMER 2019

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“Among Individuals And Nations Alike, Respect For Other People Is What Constitutes Peace".

Benito Juarez.

“We All Deserve Our Own Garden".

Mague Brewer Oil On Canvas Wood, Semiprecious And Precious Stones, Glass And Fresh Flowers.

2018, 60”X 48”

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“We're All Worthwhile” Acrylic And Gouache, Silver, Wood And Semi-Precious Stones On Canvas, 60”X72”

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We enjoy a moment of rich silence before I decide to explore her beyond her canvases and to learn about how her travels in Italy and Russia have inspired her to paint, and how historical figures of architectural art have influenced her respect and fondness for the creative process itself.

fact, every aspect of her life is a piece being added to her canvas. In her travels, she often finds garments, images, and people who leave traces of life for her to return to at a later moment through her brush.

We share excitement for the fragile objects that she has found to utilize in her recent work. This is not new for her; in

www.maguebrewer.com

“Inspired” Gouache And Acrylic, Swarovski Stones On Canvas, 48”X56”

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Barbara Tylar Ahlfield “Artist Of The Year!”

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by Yadira Roman

his past April, ArtTour International Magazine celebrated the ATIM Masters Awards with an exciting ceremony that took place at the Museum of Art and Design in Manhattan. Awarded as the artist of the year was an international star, American artist Barbara Tyler Ahlfield who presented an alluring new theme to her portfolio showcasing her masterpiece "Viviana's Dream" on the cover of the ATIM Top 60 Masters 2019.

Barbara Tyler Ahlfield During Atim Masters Awards Ceremony

Inspired by smoke, the masterful use of the subjects, posing, textures, and dramatic colors are the signature style of Barbara Tyler Ahlfield's

Atim’s Top 60 Masters 2019 Cover

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www.arttourinternational.com

"Svora Borzoi Babs" Oil On Canvas, 60"X48"

genius. These masterfully wielded elements are dramatically displayed in her current work "Shrimp Taffeta", where her expert use of light and color create a lavish feast of textures, from the shimmering gathers of pink fabric and glittering stones, counterposed with the richness of red velvet. Also revealed in the painting is her current passion for joining elements from nature with dramatic character figures. The undulating water swirling around and through a rocky seashore is brilliantly contrasted with the peaceful countenance and pose of the serene model.

"Shrimp Taffeta” Oil On Canvas, 60”X36"

Honored also as one ATIM's Top 60 Master Artist Of The Year for 2019, Ahlfield's stated purpose as an artist is "create something beautiful, inspiring and memorably unique." Her work embodies this mission, evidenced in multi-faceted compositions of her life's journey in creating beautiful art.

www.barbaratylerahlfield.com

"Pink Prowl” Oil On Canvas, 60"X48"

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Cecilia Del Toro “Portraits of Sacredness For Healing and Harmony”

“Look Inside My Heart” Oil On Canvas, 24"X48"

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by Viviana Puello

ward-winning master artist Cecilia Del Toro, Princess to the Royal House of Samu Samu breaks ground Internationally through her symbolically thought to provoke paintings providing a unique narrative on sacred figures and harmonious portraits filled with rich detail in each precisely blended layer of color. Her soft marks provide a delicate backdrop that brings forth brilliant and glowing light onto her subjects as she brings moments to life with harmonious and vibrant color patterns matched with her realistic imagery.

art and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) in different countries.

With masterful use of line, shape, and form, soft textures matching smooth blends of vibrant colors bring to life mesmerizing compositions that depict the celebratory mood in her subjects. Del Toro renders her figures with a sense of confidence and bewilderment focusing on humanitarian topics through sensitivity to emotion and connecting to representations of the divine as messengers of her vision.

It is her life's work to create an opportunity for healing and self-awareness. Her art is a mirror of this; each aspect of her canvas holds great depth and meaning. The layers of knowledge that she exhibits can be experienced in what seems to resemble geometric patterns when looking at the bigger picture of the elements that make up each portrait; one of many forms in which she uses Universal elements to invite a moment of self-reflection, and raw connection. Coming from a Colombian background and a prosperous career in the medical field as a Doctor, DelToro shares her continuous passion in spreading messages of peace, healing, and a Universal collective effort to transform together. She is an outstanding author and inspirational speaker with years of experience, offering seminars and workshops on the fields of

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“Royaltie Woman” Oil on Canvas, Mixed Media and Collage Made With Pieces of Silver, Gold Tone, Gold Leaf, Swarovski Crystals and More, 36"X48"

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“Happiness Buddha” Oil On Canvas, 30"X40"

Del Toro's artistic work has been exhibited and continues to be shown in museums and galleries worldwide. She has received numerous awards. Some of her paintings are part of

“Loving Soul” Oil On Canvas, 36"X48"

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“Divine Carrier” Oil on Canvas, Mixed Media and Collage Made With Pieces of Silver, Gold Tone, Gold Leaf, Swarovski Crystals and More, 36"X48"

the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Southern Nevada.

www.ceciliadeltoro.com

“The Wedding Kiss” Oil On Canvas, 36"X48"

SUMMER 2019

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Hélène DeSerres

“Émotions” Mixed Media On Canvas, 30”X40”

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by Gaben Field

ontinuing her life-long journey through a myriad of creative artistic phases, Canadian born master artist Hélène DeSerres beautifully expresses her passion for our planet through the mediums of photography, sculpture, jewelry design, watercolor, and combined media with oil on canvas.

and textures within her abstract impressionistic pieces, DeSerres effectively matches the essence of her dream-like portraits with the warm hues of earth's natural elements. In ''Windblown'' DeSerres effectively captures the way the sun shines through the petals while focusing on the movement of the moment through the direction of each flower, as they remain together while pushed apart. The

With her dramatically skillful use of vibrant colors

“Sisters” Mixed Media On Canvas, 40”X30”

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“Sadness” Mixed Media On Yuppo, 24”X20”

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“New Beginning” Fine Art Photography

romance of life’s events, are often captured in her work in the most unexpected ways.

Internationally renowned and recognized by the art community, the artwork of DeSerres is displayed in many galleries and exhibitions In Europe and North America.

“Windblown” Fine Art Photography

Critical acclaim for her artwork is featured in numerous professional art publications.

www.helenedeserres.com

“New Beginning” Fine Art Photography

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Jerry Venditti “Stardust”

by Yadira Roman and Viviana Puello

"Stardust" Oil On Canvas, 34"X30"

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merican painter and social activist Jerry Venditti is recognized for his meticulous technique embodied in his personalized spiritual endeavor and profound message to take care of our planet, and those inhabiting it.

Venditti’s delicate oil paintings render imagery with the utmost attention to detail, further drawing the viewer into his new reality. Subtle yet provocative, the artist coaxes the viewer with his artistic visual representation of his works while playing with significant themes of environmental conservation, the loss of innocence, morality, and peace awareness. What feels precious becomes a cultural exploration, inspiring the audience to rethink their relationship to the subjects of his paintings.

With masterful color application and an excellent drawing technique, Jerry Venditti adds narrative to every scene; his works capture interactions between cultural characters, nature, words, creating compelling stories that offer an

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honest look at the issues crippling our society in current times.

Venditti follows his intuition as it inspires his work that breaches topics concerning all aspects of the human experience. Each dramatic brush-stroke is intentionally manipulated to blend his lifelike imageries with his canvas; his compositions offer impeccable attention to detail of his work and a vista of third dimension luring his viewers to reach a state of illusion.

A warm reminder of the support and impact made through action, ''Stardust'', is a reflection of historical trailblazers in American History, an inspirational view of the very essence in the art that created a movement for change. This modern fusion leaves cleverly covered messages like "Some more star than dust,” "We are the world," "Imagination more valuable than knowledge," and features the creative genius like

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"Why?" Oil On Linen, 24"X16"

Einstein, Micheal Jackson and John Lennon. Venditti reveals this recent composition as an addition to his continuous efforts to spread social and environmental awareness. In partnership with his son Jayce Venditti and wife Deenie

"Fox" Oil On Canvas, 22"X16"

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Venditti, he has created A Face Of Change, ''a charitable nonprofit organization. AFOC intends to create sustainable systems that promote our planet's health & longevity. '' Cont. Next Page

"Kestrel Hawk" Oil On Canvas, 16"X12"

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"Entrenched" Oil On Canvas, 16"X24" By Jerry Venditti A Signed, Numbered, Limited Edition Df 25 Giclée Prints Will Be Available For Sale.

Jayce Venditti, the founder of AFOC, a Face of Change, is writing, producing, directing and acting in a film about the effects of PTSD. AFOC, in collaboration with Cammies & Canines (CAC), another nonprofit organization, is launching a fundraiser on April 27th, in San Diego, CA, to help win the war against Veteran PTSD and homelessness.

The release of AFOC’s short film titled the “ENTRENCHED PROLOGUE” is to help create the momentum to fund the full movie “ENTRENCHED’’, with the intention of bringing awareness to the public.

"We poison our sweet water; We cut down our green trees; The food we feed our children, Is the cause of their disease...."

QSMS "Heroes" Oil On Canvas, 20"X18" A Signed, Numbered, Limited Edition Df 25 Giclée Prints Will Be Available For Sale.

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www.arttourinternational.com

Jerry Venditti is a passionate master artist in love with life, peace, nature, animals, and colors, all of which he incorporates into his artwork. His story is still unfolding, while he keeps voicing his message with each brushstroke.

Venditti is an excellent demonstration of innate talent, ongoing exploration and artistic mastery embodied in a big-

hearted and a beautiful soul. For ArtTour International Magazine, it is an honor to present him as the cover story of Spring 2019 with his masterpiece "Stardust". We hope you enjoy it, but above all, receive his message of peace and inspiration.

www.jerryvenditti.com

"Pollinator" Oil On Canvas, 14"X12"

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Agnethe Maagaard

“Phylosophical And Playful Glass Sculptures With A Profound Message”

“The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” Glass Sculpture

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By Viviana Puello

aking a bold statement through her driving passion for the discovery of life, Denmark based glass artist Agnethe Maagaard creates intricate glass sculptures out of American Bulls Eye artistic glass, and German Artista glass. After twenty years of experimenting with different tools and techniques,

and masterful artistry offered with an exciting playfulness making each peace engaging and worthy of in-depth exploration.

Utilizing various techniques and firing methods, Agnethe Maagaard offers her audience work that can is both playful and philosophical by incorporating words and a magical fusion of vibrant colors, lines, geometrical shapes and organic forms that capture great depth of emotion. Vibrant and rich, her work blends aspects of modern and traditional to create an entirely new style of her own opening up a dialogue about the connections between human, nature, and culture.

Most recently, Maagaard was named as one of our Top 60 Masters in 2019 and was included in the annual exhibition in New York City; The collection she chose to display focused on liberty, featuring elements of The Statue of Liberty, and encompassing themes such as immigration, courage, and the hope of a better life.

Agnethe Maagaard’s work conveys a universal message of peace rooted in her rich cultural experience.

Agnethe Maagaard’s work is represented in New York by Viviana Puello and can be viewed at Grimandi Art Gallery.

For more information email info@vividartsnetwork.com

“The Torch of Liberty” Glass Sculpture

www.maagaardglass.com

Maagaard has developed a creative process that brings forth the final result of her glass sculptures, drawing in a diverse audience.

Her work is inspired by the beauty and simplicity of nature though many of her sculptures celebrate the intricate lines and elements of modern architecture.

Through her work, Agnethe Maagaard conjures a world of power and dynamism with free form glass structures that present organic fluidity. Bright opaque colors contrasting with the radiance of glass shown on different textures ad a new level of visual stimulation

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“The Promised Land” Glass Sculpture

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Brian Rock

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by Viviana Puello

ward-winning artist, Brian Rock utilizes a variety of objects and techniques to create works that convey strong sentimentality, promote healing and expose hidden depths in the human condition.

Inspired by his life experience, Rock creates abstract expressions of memories, moods, thoughts and his environment. His unique technique of hand mixing his mediums directly onto the canvas, allows Rock a direct contact with the audience, imprinting his memories and sharing his healing process on each one of his paintings. Making use of mixed media, Rock's work shows remnants of war, dirt, glass, ash, wire, nails, bullet casings and shrapnel. Applying colors as well as found objects to create conceptual c o m p o s i t i o n s , i m p o r t i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i ve references that maintain a connection with reality and focus on a more direct view of our society. These influences can be seen in artworks like “Journey” and “Playground,” the latter being an amalgamation of objects and painting techniques that result in a compelling, bold image. The viewer who comes in touch with his work is directly experiencing this context, as the background themes have a profoundly social character that observes contemporary society.

All this complexity behind the work of Brian Rock can be seen as an honest, and vulnerable testimony of his life's journey, a statement which is of significant influence as it leaves an open invitation for others to relate. Rock uses rich warm and

“Self” Acrylic, 24"X18"

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chromatic colors, with inviting textures showcasing his world within ours. Using his art as a source of healing, Rock is vocal about the definite influence art has had in his life during his journey of overcoming trauma. Living with the desire to give back as a veteran, he is active with several charities, being of contribution to his community through empowerment and creativity. Rocks work is the open expression of uncertainty in healing, and he continues to live his truth through it.

brianrockart.vpweb.com

“Post NY Jesus” Acrylic On Canvas, 24"X30"

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Caren Akers

“Lightspeed” Acylic On Canvas, 24"X24"X1.5"

“D

o you see speed and feel the rush of travel? Do you feel like you are floating in space and going no where fast?

Or do you feel like you are going in circles? This collection is all about movement. And once the movement is complete, can you feel or see the calm and tranquility of getting to

“Ribbons” Acylic On Canvas, 20"X20"X1.5"

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where you want to be? These paintings are my interpretation of moving through life.”

www.caren-akers.com

“Moonlight Swim” Acylic On Canvas, 24"X24"X1.5"

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Carla Kleekamp

“M

ost of my themes in my work; etchings, drawings and aquarelles in Japanese style, on rice paper are focused on continuous suppression and exhaustion of Nature by Human beings.”

”Our overbearing economy has consequences, climate change, plastic soup, fine dust.”

-Thomas Rau

Haiku: Often I wake up Because of sobs in the night Mother Earth weeps.

www.carlakleekamp.nl “Fake News” Etching/Aquarelle, 16"X16"

“Camille Claudel” Etching/Aquarelle, 14"X8"

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“Ranne” Etching/Aquarelle, 14”X9"

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Delphine Collot

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elphine Collot, a lover of all things nature has long been a supporter of the environment and all issues that surround its preservation. However, Collot is not just a supporter; she is an avid campaigner for the green planet. Collot’s work embodies much that such movements aspire to, passive acceptance, mere observance, are not enough, involvement at a practical level is a necessity. While celebrating the natural rhythms around us, her work seeks to transcend mere normality by its emphasis and exaggeration of color and the effect that color can have in re-interpreting all it comes into contact with. It is less a matter of her trying to change the world she sees, as to her inviting it to be viewed, remembered and, above all, preserved in different ways. In this, certainly, her work is visionary.

Collot’s re-interpretation of the world around extends to a reexamination of the very concept of color. In her seminal works, blue mixed media, green mixed media, and yellow mixed media, she uses texture to challenge the viewer to see through different eyes and explore her art on her own. While a qualified architect- a passion she still shares with her audience- much of her painting reaches inside living things and attempts new found belief at a cellular level. Perhaps it is this profound understanding of structure that imbues her work with its symmetry. Not balance regarding its shape, but concerning the satisfaction, the viewer feels in its embrace.

Each piece is as it was intended to be. Using the senses, our immediate form of understanding she is a catalyst for change in perception and action.

www.collot-d2l.blogspot.com “Lympheas” Ink and Acrylic on Canvas, 39”X31"

“H30” Ink on Paper, 12"X12"

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“Blue Imaginal” Ink on Canvas, 47"X47"

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Donna Bonin

“Beach Repose” Watercolor, 21"X18"

“I

embrace summer as a time for family, relaxation, and travel. In all my paintings, including summer, I tend to rely on personal experiences and feelings to guide color choices and development of a mood. Frequently the finished paintings, like 'Beach Repose', and 'Street of Stairs' have developed far differently from my visual perceptions. My greatest joy is watching paintings develop themselves."

www.donnabonin.ca

“The Builders” Watercolor, 22"X18"

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“Street of Stairs” Watercolor, 21"X26"

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Evadi

By Jane Crawler

Vivid Arts Network is proud to present Evadi, an international awarded artist based in Amsterdam, known for her stunningly beautiful and realistic portraiture work.

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vadi depicts her subjects on large linen canvasses, wood, or plexiglass using oil paints and in bistre drawings on either handmade or photographic paper. She often incorporates various techniques into her drawings such as drypoint prints and monoprints in oil. Her paintings depict young people growing up under different circumstances, in different cultures. She heavily focuses on the refugee crisis, hoping to give her subjects a voice through her work, and her uncanny ability to convey a range of genuine emotion through her paintings and drawings.

www.evadi.nl

“What Do They Leave Behind 12” Oil On Linen, 46.8"X70.2"

“Fortune Seeker? 10” Oil On Linen, 46.8"X70.2"

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“Transition 3” Oil On Linen, 46.8”X78"

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Frans Frengen

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ith fumagine, to paint with a flame, a sculptural installation of soot, started in 1976, Frengen completed fighting against environmental pollution, for a better planet with a recognizable, personal commitment of sensitivity, a fleeting, creamy allegation of the erosion of responsible human actions. In this unique style, he recognizes elements in the figuration that are extremely varied, contemporary. He adds movable squares,

“To Rebuild, What Do You, Here” Fumagine and Acrylic Paint and Dots, 11.8"X11.8"

sculpts with dots of paint, even DNA, for interaction and a new touch of reality.

www.allart-frengen.be

“To Rebuild, Clouds Are Looking” Fumagine and Acrylic Paint and Dots, 11.8"X11.8"

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“To Rebuild, The Point Of White” Fumagine and Acrylic Paint and Dots, 11.8"X11.8"

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Howard Harris

“Miro’s Dream” Digital Print on Aluminum With Acrylic Overlay, 36”X30"

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merican-born photographer Howard Harris, in his carefully altered digital prints, takes on what is perhaps the most American of themes: the interrelationship of perception and technology.

Howard Harris has received many awards. Most recently he was awarded the ATIM Top 60 Masters Awards 2019 by ArtTour International Magazine For more info contact: h-harris@live.com

Harris explores how the whole emotional complex underlying one's personality integrates into the structural logic of architecture and design.

As Harris himself frames it, "my aim is to combine technology and aesthetics in a way that expands the viewer's experience of photographic art.”

“Patterns” Digital Print on Aluminum With Acrylic Overlay, 30”X36”

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www.hharrisphoto.com

“Power” Digital Print on Aluminum With Acrylic Overlay, 30”X36”

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“Sardines” Digital Print on Aluminum With Acrylic Overlay, 36”X30"

“Soldiers” Digital Print on Aluminum With Acrylic Overlay, 36”X30"

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Jodi Simmons “In our next issue! ” We’re happy to introduce the cover artist for our next issue Fall 2019 “Artists For A Green Planet”. Jodi Simmons, recognized by her paintings of modern icons and historically admired figures in bright colors and gold leaf, is preparing an exciting piece dedicated to planet earth.

“Mexican Sunflower: Symbiosis at the Border” Egg Tempera and 24k Gold on Archival Kaolin Clayboard, 16"X16"

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"The word 'icon' means image; in the context of art, it means image of the Divine.

image. Now, after 25 years, my work remains personal indeed, but the icon has expanded my sense of person from my limited being, to a union with the larger image of the One which sustains all being and in which I participate. It has been a humbling and exalting journey which has blessed me with enduring amazement and gratitude for the sustaining symphony of harmonious beauty at play in our created world.

My first ten years working with icons were spent studying and painting as a personal spiritual practice in search of my own

For a long time, I have been drawn to women from history who were strong and independent in the face of crushing

ost recently, Jodi Simmons presented a selection of works in the exhibit "Sheroes" at the Viviana Puello Gallery in Manhattan this past May. Here is a message from the artist.

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“Garden Angel” Egg Tempera and 24k Gold on Walnut, 11"X12"

“Sophia: Divine Wisdom” Egg Tempera and 24k Gold on Wood, 16"X26"

patriarchy. From this came much inspiration, courage and help in freeing my consciousness to pierce the common patriarchal narrative of dominance, power and control - and to grasp how that narrative runs a parallel course between women and the natural resources of this planet. The connection has become increasingly clear, as has the severe imbalance and destruction it has caused.

It has brought creation to the point of crisis.

As my vision of the Divine Image expands, so does my work. I can think of no better platforms than the Sheroes exhibition at Viviana Puello Gallery in which I participated this past April and the Artists For A Green Planet exhibition this coming November."

Fall is the exciting time when we celebrate mother earth at ArtTour International Magazine with our special issue "Artists For A Green Planet" and look forward to sharing it with you.

www.jodisimmons.com “An Evening With St. Francis: Composing the Canticle” Egg Tempera and 24k Gold on Wood, 25"X25"

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Knichka

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by Jameson Clore

ivid Arts Network presents their new member, awardwinning artist Knichka, an abstract artist-painter based in Montreal, Canada.

Knichka is recognized by his bright, abstract paintings, which are often highly geometric in design, ranging from ultra-modern to classical in tone. While much of Knichka's work deals in the intensity of contrasting colors and varying patterns, his heavily textured, layered paintings often feel dramatic. Knichka has spent decades working in the arts, honing his craft, and developing his unique style.

In his words "The abstract is the most concrete in artwork because it takes birth in the deepest part of oneself."

For more info contact: kevinnichka@gmail.com

knichka.tumblr.com @Kevnichka

“Discovery” Oil on Canvas, 48"X36"

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“Cross Roads” Oil on Canvas, 48”X30"

“Inuksuk” Oil On Canvas, 48"X30"

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Laurence Lher

“Fleur d'épice” Acrylic on Canvas, 28.7"X39.4"

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aurence LHER was born in 1965 in Castres (OCCITANIE).

Her interest in Art began at an early age when she designed and made collages. After extensive University studies, she worked freelance in the field of Human Relations and Real Estate. She painted in a Workshop of Fine Arts, creating portraits, marked by Expressionism. Later, Laurence LHER evolved towards an Abstract painting style, close to

Colorfield Painting and Minimal Art. Currently, she produces purified forms which reflect a desire for objectivity. Her artworks have been shown in several International Exhibitions.

For more info contact: lher@wanadoo.fr

www.laurence-lher.com

“Riviéra” Acrylic On Canvas, 28.7"X39.4"

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“Magic” Acrylic and Décopatch Papers on Canvas & Cardboard, 19.7"X25.6"

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Natalia Rose

“Between Black and White” Acrylic on Linen, 39"X39"

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atalia Rose (born 1953, Russia) creates paintings, drawings and conceptual artworks. Rose absorbs the tradition of remembrance art into daily practice through the use of abstractions. A key element of her work is the absence of clear cut references.

By challenging the conventional separation between the realm of memory and the realm of experience, her work generates diverse meanings. Associations and interpretation's collide. Space becomes time and language becomes an image.

Her work radiates latent power and force, maybe even violence. Disconcerting beauty emerges. Playing with sign processes, she seduces the viewer to enter a world of ongoing equilibrium and an interval that articulates the stream of daily events. Moments are depicted to punctuate human drama to clarify our existence and to find poetic meaning in everyday life.

Colorful lines and long lines of text populate Natalia Rose's canvases. She explores identity and eroticization of the stranger. The Russian-born artist, who is living and working in Denmark, draws from historical and cultural imagery to create a visual map of identity—an identity that mingles Eastern and Western beauty ideals and mythologies. Tensions between the diverse cultures emerge in the juxtaposition of Danish and

Russian worlds, as well as in the celebration and antagonization of the Eastern and Western ideas of beauty and cartoons.

Her works are based on formal associations which open a unique poetic vein. Multilayered images arise in which the fragility and instability of our seemingly certain reality is questioned. By emphasizing aesthetics, she tries to grasp language. Transformed into art, language becomes an ornament. At that moment, lots of ambiguities and indistinctnesses, which are inherent to the phenomenon, come to the surface.

“Nature Morte” Acrylic On Canvas, 39"X39"

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“Black Sun” Acrylic on Canvas, 35"X51"

The possible seems true, and the truth exists, but it has many faces.

Rose's primary interest is in pictorial phenomena: the illusion of three-dimensional space, composition, and the optical effects of color. “It is not the form that dictates color, but the color that brings out the form,” the famous American painter Hans Hofmann said in the 1950s. Her paintings pursue the exploration of the relativity of color, developing technique by which warm and cool colors interact to produce effects of movement, space and depth.

“Unrest” Acrylic On Linen, 47"X31"

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Natalia Rose finds it boring, when painting seems to be all too well planned. She also likes to refer to the words of Philip Guston: "I mean there is a forgotten place of being and things, which I need to remember. I want to see this place. I paint, what I want to see.''

Natalia Rose is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

www.natalia-rose.dk

“Please Stop the Rain” Acrylic on Linen, 51"X35"

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Raymond John Westraadt

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by Yadira Roman

nspired by his first home in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Raymond John Westraadt has turned to his take on realism and life mirroring oil paintings as a tool to shed light on the effects mass production and repurposing of communities are having on people all over the world.

Westraadt has focused on using buildings once used for a simple life, and community gatherings, historical buildings, and traditional cars as a narrative for the lives that existed within each of these material subjects.

Using muted color tones to maintain focus on the narrative and draw his audience into relating to their connection to architectural marks, Westraadt tackles essential issues and captures thought-provoking moments on his canvas.

As of recently, Westraadt has been inspired to paint human subjects. He is focusing on the life transitions of elders and the challenges and joys they face. He effectively creates spacial elements between his subjects and the background by using white tones, adding the element of the unknown as a symbolic representation of life. His new figurative works have already earned him Best In Show at a recent exhibition in the Viviana Puello Gallery in New York. These paintings are part of a series that will be showcased on his solo exhibition at the Grimandi Art Gallery in New York this coming December. Stay tuned for more news from this award-winning artist!

www.rjwestraadt.com “Viae Mortis V” Oil On Canvas, 47"X35"

“The Light Within” Oil on Canvas, 47”X35"

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“The Silence Beyond” Oil on Canvas, 47”X35"

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Ric Conn

“M

y work is concerned not with objective reality but rather the subjective perspective-positive or negative. Distortion, exaggeration, and fantasy are the filters through which I paint the modern world in order to evoke moods or ideas. When an idea presents itself I am motivated to explore that subject in drawings and paintings.

My work is not conventional, academic, or the new modernism. I am creating a new avant-garde. “ For more info contact: ric.conn.art@gmail.com

www.ricconn.com

“Lavender Lady” Oil on Canvas, 36”X24”

“The Black Cat” Oil on Canvas, 36”X24”

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“The Backroom” Oil on Canvas, 36”X24”

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Sahar Alford

“Counting Night Stars” Oil on Canvas, 18”X24”

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ahar was born in Iran and has lived in the United States since 2011. She is a self-taught painter with a focus on pencil drawing and oil painting.

“Light as a Butterfly” Oil on Canvas, 24”X30”

each painting holds and capture it in my painting. I want my work to bring a smile, a change, and positive force in this world”.

For more info contact: saharsartanddesign@gmail.com

“As an artist, my mission is to connect to others through my art, I love the story that

www.saharsartanddesign.com @saharsartanddesign1 @saharkalford

“Fruit Party” Oil on Canvas, 20”X24”

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Susan N. McCollough

“Focus” Oil On Canvas, 48”X48”

“From the Sea” Oil on Canvas, 60”X60”

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usan N. McCollough, International Artist, was selected “Artist of the Year” 2017 by Art Tour International and selected one of the Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art. She was selected for The Best Modern/Contemporary Artist of 2015-2017. McCollough is a painter and sculptor who has exhibited on four continents.

Special exhibitions are The Florence Biennale, The NY ArtExpo, Paris Louvre Expo, Contemporaries at Uffizi, and Ontario, Canada(2018).

For more info contact: susannmccolloughart@aol.com

www.susannmccolloughart.media

“Emerald Coast” Oil on Canvas, 48”X60”

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“Mysterious Universe” Oil on Canvas, 48”X60”

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Svetlana Sintseva

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vetlana Sintseva, a Belgian baroque painter of Russian descent. She combines European and Asian influences into a balanced and highly detailed art form.

One aspect that makes Sintseva’s art so unique is her process, is the fact that she paints without the aid of photographs and other technologies, and her painting technique is inspired by the work of such classical art masters Rubens and Rembrandt.

She has shown her art all across the world, from New York to Japan & The Netherlands.

“Clarity of Purpose” Oil on Canvas, 20”X24”

“Camel” Oil On Canvas, 20”X28”

For more info contact: sintsevaart@outlook.com

www.sintseva-art.com @SintsevaArt

“Forest Flowers” Oil on Canvas, 24”X24"

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Wendy Cohen

“Hues of Blues” Oil On Canvas, 40”X40”

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by Sam Lift

ivid Arts Network presents its newest member, award-winning Australian based artist, Wendy Cohen.

She exhibits her work in various mediums, including painting, and drawing using a wide array of often recycled materials.

Cohen incorporates cohesive colors, shapes, and patterns into her paintings. Her work delivers a dreamlike essence; her signature style is found in her soft yet vibrant color palette, using color as a tool for therapeutic windows into the human psyche. She is fond of allowing her work to have a positive

“Shapes Relating to the Hexagon” Mixed Media on Hexagonal Canvas, 33"X36"

reflection of the human experience and its relationship with the world. Her use of nature resembling texture creates fluid movement through each canvas, coupled with abstract spacial elements offering an open invitation for personal interpretation of each narrative.

www.wendycohen.net.au “The Hexagonal Horizon” Mixed Media on Hexagonal Canvas, 33"X36"

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@wendycohen123 SUMMER 2019

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“A Tour To San Basilio de Palenque” The First Free Village For Africans in the Americas

Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the world wander the colonial streets of my hometown, Cartagena de Indias. When you take a stroll through the city, it is impossible to miss a striking group of women, dressed in colorful skirts and turbans, selling goods with large baskets of traditional treats and tropical fruits balanced on their heads. These women are the famous Palenqueras, icons of Cartagena's history. The Palenqueras sell irresistible sweets such as coconut cake, syrups, tamarindo balls, peanut balls, sugared papaya, traditional cheeses, aniseed—and my very

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favorite, "Alegrias" ("Happiness"). These cereal balls with honey and coconuts are delicious.

As a native, I have always admired these strong women who come to Cartagena each day from their village, about fifty miles away, to meet tourists and sell their goods. Their dedication to keeping their traditions alive has earned them a special place in my heart. During my most recent visit, I took the time to visit San Basilio de Palenque and learn more about the history of the town where our amazing Palenqueras come from.

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The first ‘free town’ in the Americas has been preserved intact in Colombia. It’s a unique place, famous for its culture, gastronomy, language, and, of course, its history. The village was founded by Benkos Biohó also known as Domingo Biohó, a leader who commanded a rebellion of runaway slaves in the New Kingdom of Granada in the 17th century.

Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright © 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

Arriving in Palenque When arriving from Cartagena, the colorful town is located behind a mountain range, and over swamps and a river, protective barriers in the past against slave traders.

Nowadays, San Basilio de Palenque is part of the Decenio Internacional de Los Afrodescendientes, an organization that strives for justice and equality for black people.

The first "free town" in the Americas has been preserved intact in Colombia. It’s a unique place, famous for its culture, gastronomy, language, and, of course, its history. The village

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was founded by Benkos Biohó also known as Domingo Biohó, a leader who commanded a rebellion of runaway slaves in the New Kingdom of Granada in the 17th century.

Palenqueros The village of San Basilio de Palenque is inhabited by AfroColombians, who are direct descendants of African slaves brought by the Europeans during the Colonization of the Americas. These descendants have preserved their ancestral traditions and also developed their own language: Palenquero (aka, Spanish Creole”), a mix of the African Kikongo language, Spanish, and Portuguese.

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Located about an hour and a half south of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, in the foothills of the Montes de María, the village has a population of about 3,500 inhabitants.

The word "palenque" means "walled city," and San Basilio de Palenque was the first of many walled communities, or palenques, that were founded by escaped slaves as a refuge in the seventeenth century. Of the many palenques of escaped slaves that once existed, San Basilio is the only one that still survives.

History At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the most significant source of wealth from the Spanish colonies in America did not come from gold or silver but sugarcane.

This crop required extensive and virgin lands, as well as abundant working hands. These working hands were taken from Africa and brought to work the sugarcane plantations.

Through the Royal Decree of 1789, freedom was granted for the trade of African slaves. The rise of slavery and the emergence of a new socio-economic structure that depended upon the work of the slaves spurred the regulation of this abominable practice.

Spaniards introduced kidnapped African slaves in South America through the important port of Cartagena de Indias, where ships full of Africans arrived. The first Africans were transported to Colombia in the 1520s, and the first slave revolt happened only a decade later, becoming a common occurrence at regular intervals over the next three hundred years. Benkos Biohó, alleged to be an African king, was brought as a slave to Cartagena in 1599. He promptly escaped into the swampy jungles surrounding the city with many followers. They settled in the Serranía de San Jacinto mountains, fighting battles and freeing slaves from the city of Cartagena and the passing boats. Biohó and his followers then took them to the refuge of the fortress, which Biohó founded in 1603.

San Basilio de Palenque became the symbol of freedom since every person who became part of a palenque was automatically free.

An interesting fact that the locals shared with us was that women’s braids were not only used as maps to lead people to the free town but also used as a transportation method for seeds.

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Monument to Benkos Biohó in the central plaza of San Basilio de Palenque.

Founder of San Basilio de Palenque, Benkos Domingo Biohó was a leader who commanded a rebellion of runaway slaves in the New Kingdom of Granada in the 17th century. Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright © 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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Left: At the entrance of San Basilio de Palenque, a plaque announces the International Decade for People of African Descent.

As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme of the International Decade is "Afro-descendants: recognition, justice and development".

The United Nations declared the International Decade for People of African Descent. Launched in January 2015, the decade focuses on protecting the rights of people of African descent, recognizing their contributions and preserving their rich cultural heritage.

In proclaiming this decade, the international community recognizes that people of African descent represent a specific group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. Around 200 million people who identify themselves as descendants of Africans live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside the African continent.

Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright © 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

Most signs in San Basilio de Palenque are in Spanish and Palenquero, their native language. Palenquero’s recognized that preserving their language is an essential means of transmitting cultural identity and educating future generations about their traditions, a major reason that UNESCO declared San Basilio de Palenque a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright © 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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San Basilio de Palenque The free lands of San Basilio de Palenque were founded more than two hundred years before Colombia achieved independence from Spain. A “capitulation of peace” was signed between the Spaniards and the former slaves in 1603.

While, in 1713, the Spanish crown issued a Royal Decree that officially freed the people of the palenque from slavery. Their culture and traditions have survived intact, a major reason that UNESCO declared San Basilio de Palenque a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. It’s a unique place, where gastronomy, language, music, culture, medicine, and societal organization have a rare and unique significance.

San Basilio de Palenque is a village without a police force. It is organized into groups called ma-kuagro, a system of rights and duties that ensures that citizens watch out for one another. The Cimarrona Guard work for the community’s overall welfare and the ma-kuagro manages community matters such as the lumablú. The lumablú is a funeral ceremony that lasts nine days, with songs, dances, and feasts

in honor of the deceased. On the final day, a pechiche drum sounds a final farewell.

A monument to Domingo Benkos Biohó stands in the center of the central park, and Palenqueros are proud of the prominent figures that have come from this unique village, including boxer Antonio Cervantes, famous champeta musician and teacher Rafael Cassiani, and the rap group Kombilesa Mí.

During our walk through the streets of San Basilio de Palenque, trees and flowers fill the air with unforgettable aromas, and you can see women selling cocadas, alegrias, and enyucados. You can also hear the drums and songs in the houses of the natives enjoying their favorite beats.

We made a few stops to visit Kombilesa Mí’s house and place of rehearsal, and we also stopped by Antonio Cervante's statue and Benkos Biohó monument. Our most fascinating moment was spending time with maestro Rafael Cassiani, who keeps his doors open to welcome tourists and visitors and share his music, listen and dance to his most famous songs. Cont. Page 54

Below: The rehearsal place for the group Kombilesa Mí. Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright © 2019, ArtTour International Publications, Inc. The group Kombilesa Mí takes its name from the traditional language, which translated into Spanish means my friends. It is made up of young Afro-descendants proud of their ancestral roots, who have given themselves to the task of retaking and innovating the empirical musical knowledge of San Basilio de Palenque and the Colombian Caribbean.

Its main sound comes from the traditional instruments Palenquera, Tambora, Tambor Alegre, Marímbula, Llamador and Maracas, fusing it with the elements of contemporary music, giving rise to Palenquero folkloric Rap and thus producing a global sound, based on the black root of our Colombian coast. The songs are composed in the Palenquero language, Spanish and a mixture of the two. Palenque, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Medellin, Bogotá, among other beautiful places of the Colombian territory, have witnessed the musical talent of the group "Kombilesa Mí” and they have also traveled internationally bringing their sound to other corners of the world.

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Above: My most fascinating moment was spending time with maestro Rafael Cassiani,Cassiani who keeps his doors open to share his music, listen and dance to his most famous songs. Rafael Cassiani,is the leader of the group Sexteto Tabala, artisans of the ancestral Afro-Columbian son and among the most representative musical expressions of the African communities in Colombia, guardians of Afro-Latin musical history.

The drumbeat is the pulse of San Basilio de Palenque, for Palenqueros, drumming is about connecting with the ancestors, spirit-energies, dancers, singers and every member of their community. Rafael Cassiani Cassiani speaks about this connection seating with us in the patio of his home while playing his marímbula, a rectangular box instrument with metal keys. Music has been an essential element in the life and history that he embodies. Below: The rehearsal place for the group Kombilesa Mí. Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright © 2019, ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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Traditional remedies are an integral part of the culture. Folk-medicine uses herbs from the local flora in the treatment of the most common human diseases and health disorders in the area. Medicinal use of 135 plants was registered, of which 57 species belonging to 58 botanical families has been identified.

The majority of the remedies are prepared from freshly collected plants from the medicine garden. The preparation of remedies includes boiling infusions, extraction of fresh or dry whole plants, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, and seeds. The parts of the plants most frequently used are the leaves.

New research efforts on the search for new drugs are turning to the study of the traditional uses of medicinal plants and a controversy has arisen on the patentability of the Palenquero traditional medicine due to the signing of the Agreement of Commercial Promotion between Colombia and the United States, which rules since May 15, 2012. It is alleged that the agreement violates existing guarantees for traditional knowledge opening the doors for North American pharmaceutical companies to patent chemical molecules of plants used in traditional Palenquero medicine, without economic benefits equitable for this community.

Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright Š 2019, ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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San Basilio de Palenque is a closely knit and unique community that takes great pride in their African heritage. Local artists often draw colorful and vibrant murals on the walls across the town; the paintings often showcasing black pride and culture. Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright Š 2019, ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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The cultural heritage of San Basilio de Palenque, its people, its town, its history, its language, are testimonies of the efforts for the creation of an identity of the African diaspora in America. In Colombia, they are the experience of the African-American bridge.

Palenque is not a regular village; it is a place where you can sense the peace and calm of its habitants. A place that serves as a testimony of human perseverance and the strength of

those who gave everything for freedom and justice, not only for themselves but also for their future generations. San Basilio de Palenque is a great stop for those willing to learn about the Palenquero way of living, as well as for those passionate about history, culture, and music. They are sure to have an inspiring experience in San Basilio de Palenque with an exceptional group of people that continues to achieve extraordinary things.

Photos around San Basilio de Palenque. Photo by Viviana Puello. Copyright Š 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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The Palenqueras travel across the region sharing recipes that have been passed down through generations for more than three centuries. Some of their best-loved dishes include the catfish mote (a cheese and tuber soup) the traditional Caribbean cheese mote, seafood rice, and smoked catfish in a creamy sauce, all of them based on ingredients such as cassava, cane sugar, pigeon peas, and coconut milk.

The excellence of Palenque’s cousin was recognized globally at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in 2014, held in Beijing, China. More than 15,000 cookbooks written by culinary stars from 184 countries entered into the awards, including a cookbook written in San Basilio de Palenque called Kumina ri Palenge pa tó paraje. Thirty-eight people from the Palenque shared their ancestral secrets and wrote recipes for the book, published in Palenque language. The book won the top prize at the awards, nicknamed the 'Oscar for Gastronomy.’

Photo by Alan Grimandi Copyright © 2019 ArtTour International Publications, Inc.

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Uniting Artists Worldwide

"JUST BE INSPIRED” — the message of the night during ArtTour International Magazine's 2019 ATIM Master Awards

(7th edition) ceremony— was felt in every corner of the theater at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, where award-winning artists and guests gathered from all corners of the world. The night marked a memorable international celebration of life and art hosted by international art personality, Viviana Puello, Editor-in-Chief of ArtTour International Magazine and founder of the prestigious ATIM Top 60 Masters award program.

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rtTour International Magazine teamed up with Create4Peace for a weekend of celebration and awards in the heart of New York City. During three days of events that touched the hearts of art lovers and community leaders, more than sixty artists from over forty nations united to give voice to their messages of peace.

The annual ceremony honored 60 impactful, transformational, and inspiring artists of the year. Each artist displayed outstanding humanitarian efforts through their work, as well as a cultural influence in their countries of residence. The ceremony provided the opportunity to celebrate world peace through unity, authenticity, and a sense of elevation in the camaraderie experienced among the artists.

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Viviana Puello Alan Grimandi

Artists Svetlana Sintseva and Jeesun Mo

Viviana Puello's vibrant and intimate message on the concept of" inspiration" guided the night, providing an in-depth look into the state of inspiration and the magic that makes these Top 60 artists, Master Artists.

The weekend of events was dedicated to bringing peace awareness and promoting Create4Peace as a conduit to spread peace through the arts.

Over 650 guests attended the Create4Peace exhibition, which included over sixty pieces of artworks by the awarded artists, all communicating a thought-provoking message for change. The artists exhibited various styles to express themselves on many pressing issues facing our world today, unifying their efforts to promote human and animal rights, environmental conservation, and world peace.

The event included live performances of dance and song that evoked a sense of unity across various cultures, celebrating life itself, hand-in-hand.

Create4Peace is a non-profit organization founded to reduce the transgenerational transmission of pain and suffering, Artist Jim Fitzpatrick (Left)

Artist Cecilia Del Toro

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Artist Liv Babra

Artist Barbara Tyler Ahlfield

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Artist Lina Faroussi

Artist Wendy Carmichael Bauld

Artist Janice Alamanou

Anna-Louise Pickering

Viviana Puello

From Left To Right Artists Nathalie Monac, Rebel, Subodh Maheshwari, Jessica Feldman

Artists Jeesun Mo and Bo Mi Jo

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Artist Nathalie Monac

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Artist Johanna Wray

Artist Jarl Goli

utilizing art to impact people's imaginations and creativity to transmit love, peace, and personal responsibility. With the presence of more than sixty artists from over forty countries, this exhibition represented the first steps in uniting and reawakening a sense of universal connection within the international art community. Create4Peace is providing a platform for international artists to express and take action on their social concerns. By allowing people to voice their truth through the arts, this platform is a true beacon of light.

Artists Jessica Feldman and Pedro Trueba

Artist Viral Padiya

Artist Johnny E. SJ. Otilano

Artist Hsi Chun Huang

"It's all about falling in love with the universe and making choices from that point of love. We are beacons of light, and together we can do extraordinary things, bringing peace to our planet can be one of them. Let's enter the field of infinite possibilities and make miracles come true." Viviana Puello - ATIM Editor-in-Chief.

Viviana Puello, Alan Grimandi

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T

he artists gathered on Saturday morning at MNN El Barrio Firehouse Community Media Center to share their message live for the ArtTour International Show.

Together they reached an international audience of over two hundred and five countries with their message of inspiration.

Zenaida Mendez Director of Manhattan Neighborhood Network

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The show directed by award-winning director Alan Grimandi and hosted by Viviana Puello airs every Thursday at 5:30 pm through Spectrum 1993 and received for the second time the Public Media Awards of Excellence this past May.

Viviana Puello And Elaine Tejeda

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collective exhibition hosted at the Viviana Puello Gallery allowed the public to appreciate the works published by the artists at the ATIM TOP 60 Masters book which compiles all top 60 awarded artists.

Over 650 guests were present at the Create4Peace exhibition, which included over sixty pieces of artworks by the awarded artists, all communicating a thought-provoking message for change.

Artists Johnny E. SJ. Otilano and Janice Alamanou

Artists Wendy Carmichael Bauld and Lina Faroussi

Artist Subodh Maheshwari

Artist Zahir Uddin Babar

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“For the creation of a masterpiece, a human part must passionately commit and engage in the task, but it is also important to allow the divine part reign. That’s when a great artist becomes a master. The master uses everything that has collected through human experience to create a masterpiece. The master artist allows the spirit to pick up the pieces of his/her being, the heartbreaks, the pain, the loss, the joy, the bliss – all facets of the master’s identity combine to create the energetic new. Such an inspired work touches people and evokes feelings – it becomes an instrument of healing – not only for the troubled and downtrodden but also for those already on their healing journey.

That is the intention of spirit to bring art into to this realm.” - Viviana Puello

Artists Nathalie Monac and Liv Babra

Artist Ganga Duleep

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Artist Cecilia Del Toro

Artist Nicholas Teetelli

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fter a gala night of celebration, the artists gathered for brunch the following morning at the prestigious Grimandi Art Gallery.

Artist Jarl Goli

Artists Ganga Duleep and Subodh Maheshwari

Artists Viral Padiya, Howard Harris and Jim Fitzpatrick

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Artist Lina Faroussi

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“SHEROES” “Celebrating International Women's Month”

Artworks by Artist John Nieman

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by Viviana Puello

elebrating International Women's Month, the "Sheroes" International exhibition at the Viviana Puello Gallery from March 19th- April 4th successfully united female and male activists to use their art as a tool for movement, and change. With guests who take an active role in female equality, the gallery was filled with local community leaders, humanitarians, and educators present to contribute to the cause. An inspiring exhibit that showcased narratives from different generations speaking up about real issues, challenges, and achievements by women across the world, "Sheroes" was an opportunity for women and men of all corners of life to share their stories, and be a mirror of hope, and courage. With a live broadcasting, and touching words by all artists, the exhibit reached hearts beyond the walls of the gallery.

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Artworks by Artist Olivia Kapoor

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Artworks by Artist Susan Rood

Artwork by Artist Janice Alamanou

Artworks by Artist Wendy Cohen

Participating artists included John Nieman, Miranda Smith, Jodi Simmons, Sahar Alford, Joerg G a l k a -Te i s s ey r e , K a t h e r i n e D u Tr e m b l e , M a r y M o r g a n , Michael Victor Ruggiero, Olivia Kapoor, Pedro Alberti, Ric Conn, Susan Rood, Susan Obermeyer Strauss, Wendy Cohen and Janice Alamanou.

Artist Jodi Simmons

Artist Ric Conn

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Artist Joerg Galka-Teisseyre during “Art2Heart� Interview with Viviana Puello

Artist Katherine DuTremble

Artist Susan Obermeyer Strauss

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Artist Michael Victor Ruggiero

Artist Mary Morgan (Right)

Artist Miranda Smith

Artist Sahar Alford

Artist Pedro Alberti

SUMMER 2019

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“ROOTS�

INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION

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by Yadira Roman

uzzing with excitement on May 17, 2019, the Viviana Puello Gallery in New York City gathered an international audience for the "ROOTS" juried group exhibition opening reception.

Celebrating "Roots" encourages us to look into our family history and ancestry and into that which influences who we are. Roots are about personal identity and how multiculturalism enriches our communities and can help path a way to the next generations. Artists took to their approach for the concept; the night was filled with traditional art from across the world, ancestral honoring inspired paintings, modern architectural displays, as well as intimate visual narratives into the

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Artist Sonia

Artist Howard Harris

lifespan of humanity. Fashion did not fall behind as guests showed off their backgrounds through unique garments as well as celebratory cultural music.

Westraadt, Ric conn, Tami Mitt, Sonia, Vera Tsepkova, Wendy Cohen, and Wendy Yeo. The four winning artists of the night included Knichka, Howard Harris, Evadi and Raymond Westraadt.

Participating artist included Evadi, Knichka, Howard Harris, Ayano Ishiyama, Finnur Frodason, Viviana Puello, Allison Barrows-Young, Jeong-Ah Zhang, Raymond John

Artworks by Artist Jeong-Ah Zhan

Artist Evadi

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Artwork By Artist Raymond John Westraadt

Artist Knichka

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Artworks By Artist Ayano Ishiyama

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“Wonders Of Nature�

A solo Exhibition By Australian Artist Betty Collier

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by Yadira Roman

his past May, Grimandi Gallery in New York presented "Wonders of Nature" a solo exhibition by Australian artist Betty Collier. The show brought wildlife to the streets of Manhattan with a magnificent display of exotic wild animals. Using ink, and watercolor the avid traveller filled the gallery with the rich essence of a botanical garden.

Collier displayed a unique narrative through her work, providing awareness for animals nearing extinction and highlighting their unique gifts to the world by sharing intimate stories through each animal portrait, focusing on the vulnerability of their eyes through her perspective.

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A former Art Teacher with over 30's years at Tertiary level, teaching Sculpture, Drawing and Painting at Federation University, Balla rat, Betty Collier has concentrated on her development in creating sculpture, drawing and painting since her retirement in 2005. Her love of travel to places like Galapagos, South America, South Africa, Turkey and Europe has inspired her art visually, imaginatively and emotionally.

www.bettycollier.com www.vividartsnetwork.com

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SUMMER 2019

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ReBel's Universe

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by Yadira Roman

his past May Grimandi Gallery in New York presented Canadian artist ReBel's solo exhibit, ''Rebels Universe''.

RenĂŠe Bellavance, better known as ReBel, is a professional contemporary visual artist based in Canada. Her works are a vivid expression of the four elements, wind, water, earth, and fire, created in acrylic 3D visuals that aim at not only to capture the attention of the viewer but to evoke a multitude of mixed emotions that reflect her work.

Rebel has expressed that her creative process is therapeutic for herself and her audience. The exhibition drew in crowds from all walks of life, as her unique style in portraying natural elements of the earth, as well as abstract expressions of

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Universal concepts, spoke to a diverse audience. Her paintings created great depth and evoked a lively and thought-provoking reaction. The show was on display from May 7th to the 24th.

reneebellavance.com www.vividartsnetwork.com

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SUMMER 2019

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4th - 17th September 2019

“OLD FRIENDS” Exhibition of loved pets by Australian artist

Catherine Tait GRIMANDI ART GALLERY 988 COLUMBUS AVE New York

mber 6pm "Dogs are universal. No matter what country you live in, people love their pets.They are man’s best friend.

The paintings and sculptures feature dogs with attitude, pets I knew, friends and old souls. Look into their eyes” -Catherine Tait

OPENING RECEPTION

SEPTEMBER 6th, 6:00 p.m.

5% proceeds of sold works will be donated to Gumtree Greys adopt a greyhound foundation

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“Garden Strawberries” (Detail) By A. C. Lindner