Happy Birthday Charles Darwin

2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species (24 November 1859) and the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth (12 February 1809). I painted this portrait of Darwin as a demo for the students of the Illustration Academy. Darwin is a hero to me not only because of his brilliant discoveries that changed the face of modern science and anthropology but also because he dared to publish his ideas knowing full well the criticism he would surely face. A few years ago I saw a Darwin show at the Museum of Natural History in New York. The simple elegance of the examples in that show are a profound proof of what simply can no longer be denied.

Google Chrome

I have recently been publicly criticized  for a decision to contribute an image to the Google Chrome portfolio initiative. Please see https://tools.google.com/chrome/intl/en/themes/index.html
I was contacted about this project several months ago and the following is my opinion after much thought . I’ve never presumed to tell anyone how they should run their business, and I’ve never confronted anyone about any of their project choices.

TOP TEN REASONS I’M ALLOWING GOOGLE TO USE ONE OF MY IMAGES:

1. Because I think that full credit with a link to my website (and millions of potential hits a day) plus a statement about me and my work is a good exchange for a non exclusive use of a single image. And by using an image from my archive I do not have to make any effort..an image that will probably otherwise languish in a folder somewhere with no further life. Some things I do for prosperity, some for posterity and some for promotion. This is for promotion.

2. Because I don’t think money is the only currency. I look for opportunities to get my art into the culture. To me that’s what illustration is all about. This is not an issue of morality but simply being practical. It’s business. And it’s to an audience vastly larger than any magazine or book.

3. Because I’m an independent contractor, not a victim and don’t automatically assume that everyone is trying to screw me. Nor do I make business decisions based on peer pressure. I consider each project separately and carefully and weigh the pros and cons of what I’m getting, making sure it’s commensurate with what I’m offering.

4. Because I know a paradigm shift when I see one. Darwinism says survival isn’t about being the strongest but rather the most adaptable. Longevity in this field requires flexibility and open-mindedness . In this new information age we are witnessing changes that are as monumental as those of the industrial age. I think that what we as illustrators do is great, and I think we should be out in the larger world, not solely existing in our clubs and associations.

5. Because print is unfortunately increasingly redundant as a medium and I think l for one need to develop an alternate strategy for making art, making money and getting my work into the public.

6. Because allowing Google to use an image in trade for hundreds of millions of web hits doesn’t mean I’m FOR free copyright. I’m not. I disagree with the free content zealots of the world . I simply don’t see this as black and white issue.

7. Because Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons and Karim Rashid see the value in this project. And Vivienne Westwood. And Wes Craven. And Kid Robot. And Kate and Jack Spade. And Dale Chihuly. And many others who have said yes to this initiative. All understand the value of this kind of exposure.

8. Because I’d rather get the millions of website hits and autonomy with an image that’s my idea and my execution (not heavily art directed), than treat this as an anonymous advertising job with art direction ad nauseum for money but without credit (as most ad jobs are.)

9. Because I remember how sadly ineffective the Conde Nast cancellation campaign was. And after the Tasini victory we now see even worse magazine and newspaper contracts. Because Google is infinitely larger than Conde Nast and the New York Times, and trying to fight them in my opinion is a waste of time and energy. Energy I’d rather use to make art. Because I use Google dozens of times a day, for a myriad of functions. Because Google has mapped the world, mapped the oceans, and has as their express mission to help with the issues of climate change, global public health, and global poverty. We have WAY bigger things to fight on this planet than each other.

10. Finally, illustration by its very nature is about compromise on some level. I’m rarely 100 percent comfortable with who I work for. To what degree do I agree with the editorial content? How many publishers have had ethics different from mine? How many trees have been cut to make the paper to print the magazines I’ve worked for? How toxic are the inks? How much have the magazines I’ve worked for contributed to climate change? The only thing I know for certain is there will be more and more changes in this industry. And I’m going to try and navigate those changes. I’m going to do my best to swim not sink.

New books and prints

I’ve recently been working on producing some new book and print editions. Please visit
http://www.anitakunz.com/pages/Store%2001.html
if you are interested in purchasing or simply viewing.

Bear market!

Here’s an image from my archive. I painted it for Time magazine during the last recession. Somehow it seems even more appropriate now!

Michael Jackson

Today marks the memorial service for Michael Jackson. This is an image I painted many years ago, when he still had a certain innocence but was already a major talent. Later of course he was to become very troubled and who knows if the allegations of pedophelia are true or not.
Since his death there has been almost no news in North America of anything else. It amazes me how we elevate some to god-like status.
This image was published again on the cover of Argentinian Rolling Stone. Please visit http://visualmente.blogspot.com/2009/07/exclusivo-anita-kunz-dibuja-michael.html. There you will see a very interesting Argentinian artists’ blog (and a short interview with me.)

Amazing and shocking image

This is an image that I want to share with everybody on the planet. It’s by Dave Gallo from the TED conference and shows three comparative spheres. The first one is our planet. The second one is the amount of water on our planet. And the third shows the amount of FRESH water on the planet. Really shocking. Look closely. It’s barely visible. I think that most of us assume that there’s lots and lots more water. Please pass it on…..

Order of Canada

I am thrilled, honoured and humbled to announce that I am being appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour by
her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.
For more information please see http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5815.
The ceremonies will take place in Ottawa later this year. My deepest thanks to those who nominated and confirmed me.

Illustration Academy

Chris Payne, Sterling Hundley, Doug Chayka, Robert Meganck, Jon Foster. Mary Pratt with me, John English, Brent Watkinson, George Pratt

I just returned from teaching at the Illustration Academy at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota Florida. I’m going to attempt to put the student work up here, but the resolution won’t be great. I gave a conceptual portrait assignment to the students, and after rounds of sketch critiques they came up with some great work! Thanks to John English for making the school happen and thanks to the students for making my time at the Academy fun and inspiring. For more information about the Academy please visit:
www.illustrationacademy.com

ideaCity

This week marked the 10th anniversary of the remarkable ideaCity conference in Toronto, hosted by media guru Moses Znaimer. I had the great pleasure of once again attending. I’ve given talks about my work and successes in the past and this year thought I’d give the audience a brief talk about my failures!
I showed some of my ideas that were killed by the New Yorker magazine. There have been a few books published recently showcasing rejected artists’ ideas by The New Yorker and also by the New York Times.
In any event, the conference was amazing as usual.
Fifty speakers talked about everything from astronomy to bee societies. Dr. Josef Penninger the brilliant Austrian scientist gave us an update about how he will have a vaccine within a year that will significantly reduce the incidences of breast cancer
(he has already isolated the osteoporosis gene and his vaccine against that disease will shortly be available.)
Bobby Kennedy inspired us all with his activism stories related to saving fresh water systems.
Mark Showalter showed us gorgeous photos of Saturn’s rings. David Ben showed us how gambling greats cheat at cards! Tom Harpur spoke of uniting the great religions with the idea of peace. Richard MacDonald spoke of allowing severely ill people to die with compassion. Maude Barlow spoke of how we are in danger of ruining what fresh water we have left. The remarkable anthropologist Wade Davis eloquently spoke of tribal cultures. And much of that was only the first day!
It was great to see my friends Michelle Rainey (marijuana legalization activist)  Dr. Jaymie Matthews (astrophysicist and party animal) actor and artist Marilyn Lightstone, oceanographer Dr. Joe MacInnis (of the movie ” Titanic”) and the many others.
Happy anniversary Moses and thanks for allowing me to to be part of the ideaCity family.
Images:
Bobby Kennedy and me
Dr. Jaymie Matthews and me

Paris

My partner and I returned last week from 2 weeks in France. We spent one week in Paris which in my opinion is the most beautiful city in the world, and then spent one week near Avignon in the south with the wonderful Ralph and Anna Steadman, at Ralph’s daughter’s summer home. The entire time we were in the south I was plotting how it might be possible to retire there (now!!) I can understand why artists like Picasso and more recently Robert Crumb moved there to live and work.

Anyway, if anyone doesn’t know who Ralph Steadman is, he’s wildly famous for his collaborations with Hunter Thompson (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, etc etc) along with his incredible books, both written and illustrated. Despite his Gonzo fame, I’m most impressed with his compassion toward humanity, and his concern about the world and the human condition (on his website you’ll find the Declaration of Human Rights). I’m humbled to know him.

While in Paris we met with Philip Brooker and his beautiful wife Lulu. Please see www.philipbrooker.com

Philip has recently moved to Paris from Miami where he is now working as a fine artist. And he’s currently got work at the Pompidou Center with another show coming this fall. Congratulations Philip!

Tomorrow I’m going to teach at the Illutration Academy for a week. I’ve been teaching there summers for going on 15 years now. I’ll report when I return. In the meantime please see www.illustrationacademy.com