Stephen Colbert: 'America is Exceptional Because of our Greatness'

			Just in time for the presidential election and the holiday season, Stephen Colbert released his second book, America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t. Stated was at the Barnes & Noble in New York’s Union Square earlier this month to hear Colbert read from his book on a stage filled with his co-authors. Colbert joined a packed house—many of whom waited three hours for a seat near the front—about an hour late after coming across town in the rain post-Colbert Report taping. He signed his new book and answered questions from the crowd, who had come hoping to catch him both in and out of character. In one exchange, an audience member asked, “Are there any politicians that you deliberately avoid?” Colbert responded, “No, no, no. I would have any of them into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.” It’s fun to compare the delicious, patronizing, and jingoistic word salad of his new book with what our real-world political leaders are feeding to both their base and the undecideds: Although funny, it’s difficult to parody the already absurd world of political stump speeches. In fact, Mitt Romney may have a legal case against Colbert for plagiarizing his Primary victory speech in New Hampshire, April 24, 2012…
			“But the real question is, ‘Are America’s best days ahead of us?’ Of course they are, and always have been. We have the greatest history in the history of history. But never forget that our best days are ahead of us and always will be. Because America also has the greatest history in the history of the future. It’s our present that’s the problem, and always is be.” - Stephen Colbert			I think the true discovery of America is before us. I think the true fulfillment of our spirit, of our people, of our mighty and immortal land, is yet to come. I think the true discovery of our own democracy is still before us. And I think that all these things are certain as the morning, as inevitable as noon. I think I speak for most men living when I say that our America is Here, is Now, and beckons on before us, and that this glorious assurance is not only our living hope, but our dream to be accomplished. - Mitt Romney
			(Photos: Thomas V. Hartmann)

ART: Molly Crabapple's World Maker Faire New York 2012 Poster

Illustrator Molly Crabapple, previously featured in a video interview with stated, has created lively and intricate poster art for this weekend’s World Maker Faire 2012 in New York City, which she has posted to her Tumblr.

She describes it as having “Many things hidden within,” so clearly a closer look is required.

The World Maker Faire, part of “New York Maker Week,” will be held today and tomorrow, Sept. 29-30, at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, NY. 

General Assembly Event: The Fusion of Fine Art and Fashion

General Assembly and Active Ideas Productions are hosting another panel discussion in their popular “Art as Entrepreneurship” series.

Come to “The Fusion of Fine Art and Fashion” event in New York City on Wednesday, November 16th from 7-9:30pm where you’ll learn how an artist breaks into the fashion world. Hear panelists discuss how a designer decides to work with an established or upcoming artist. Explore how the retail landscape and the reproducible nature of fashion items have affected this partnership, and how the fashion market is being influenced by art. These, and many more questions, will be addressed as Annika Connor leads the discussion exploring “The Fusion of Fine Art and Fashion.”

Panelists include photographer Patrick McMullan, fashion designer Austin Scarlett, and co-founder of VandM.com, Bill Indursky.

New York City Marathon: ING Brings the Thrill of the Finish to the Streets

In honor of today’s ING New York City Marathon, here’s a clever promotional stunt staged earlier in the week by ING Runner’s Nation and New York-based gueriila marketing boutique, Michael Alan Group. New Yorkers were given the surprise thrill of emerging from the subway to find themselves crossing the finish line. Great fun and a smart idea.

Art Outside the Gallery

General Assembly and Active Ideas Productions are hosting what is sure to be a fascinating panel discussion on the topic of “Art Outside the Gallery”.

The event will be held in New York City on Wednesday, September 28th from 7-9pm and panelists include artist Richard Phillips, set decorator Christina Tonkin, Director of AD Projects Jill Murphy, and creator of Art.sy and The Art Genome Project, Carter Cleveland.

Talking points will cover “ways in which the internet has become a venue for showcasing artwork, pop-up curation, and the immersion of fine art into everyday life.”

Moderator Annika Connor, an extraordinarily talented contemporary romantic painter, will also be the new curator for the fine arts portion of stated. She is a Young Fellow of the Frick Collection, on the Guggenheim’s Young Collectors Council & Acquisitions Committee, The Roundtable, and the Fashion Committee at the National Arts Club.

We look forward to seeing where Annika takes the conversation with this excellent panel and prevailing topic. A future General Assemply and Active Ideas Production event to also consider is The Fusion of Fine Art and Fashion.