REUSE Exhibition Opens 28 November 12 noon!

On behalf of the AUK Department of Art and Graphic Design and AUK Library, you are cordially invited to attend the REUSE Exhibition that opens tomorrow, November 28th, at 12pm noon.  

Student artwork made from scrap / recycled materials will be displayed in this exhibition that promotes environmental sustainability while creating a platform on which aspiring young artists can share their work. Winning artwork from this event will later be exhibited with student artworks from other educational institutions and will compete with each other for the best works made entirely out of scrap / recycled materials. This student exhibition is part of 'The en.v Initiative", an organisation promoting social responsibility in the Arab world. 

The show runs through December 8th, 2013 and will be held in the AUK Library.

AUK Library Hours

Regular working hours 

Sunday - Thursday	8:00am-9:00pm
Friday	Closed
Saturday	12:00pm-6:00pm

Whales and Dolphins in Kuwait?

Whales and Dolphins and their presence in Kuwait's Sea - Sunday 28 April - 6:00 PM at AUK

Wisconsin mine to be sold to a Chinese-owned corporation?

My 2008 artwork "Wisconsin China Made" guerrilla installed in Milwaukee
 and exhibited in the show Seeing Green.

"... we now find out about this obscure provision that could allow the mine to be sold to a Chinese-owned corporation. ... people have a right to know who is behind this, who stands to benefit and why this provision is buried in the budget rather than being debated on its own merits.” 

Public Deserves Answers to Questions Surrounding Mysterious Budget Provision to Benefit Foreign Countries

Example of my 2005 artwork critiquing the sale of Milwaukee Electric Tools to a China-based corporation.  This work was shown in multiple exhibits including the Wisconsin Triennial.

for those saying the mining bill will "create jobs"

• The bill does nothing to guarantee that jobs will be created for Wisconsinites.
• The bill opens the entire state to mining and plays favorites by placing the needs of the mining industry above those of every other economic sector.
• The bill forces other businesses to subsidize mining companies’ profits.
• The bill does nothing to mitigate the boom-and-bust cycle that Wisconsin experienced during the early days of the timber industry and earlier mining enterprises.
• The bill exposes taxpayers to costly lawsuits.

Read more:http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/editorial/gop-mining-bill-fails-on-job-creation/article_a94a3814-665c-11e2-92b0-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz2IzyvUzIZ

GOP mining bill fails on job creation : Ct

host.madison.com

What do responsible business advocates say about the proposal from Gov. Scott Walker and his legislative allies to radically alter Wisconsin’s rules for the development of mines?

Selling Out Wisconsin

"The corporate influence and biased nature of the proceedings were evident throughout the day. According to Williams’ rules, the bill’s sponsors would be given 10 minutes to speak, and the Department of Natural Resources would be given 5. Everybody else was supposed to restrict their remarks to 2 minutes, with time allowed for committee members to ask a maximum of two questions.

But it was no surprise when the CEO, Chief Engineer and lobbyist for Gogebic Taconite – the company that is proposing to blast a 1,000 foot deep open pit mine 21 miles long and half a mile across at the headwaters of the Bad River near the shores of Lake Superior – took up nearly an hour of the committee’s time. GTac was also allowed to show pictures and graphs – something others were prohibited from doing."

The Million Dollar Bill

Mining Votes Will Make Or Break Wisconsin and Leader' Good Names

BREAKING: Public hearing scheduled for the Open Pit Mining Bill for Wednesday, January 23. Learn how you can help protect these hills here: http://bit.ly/13NVZj6   Image of Penokee Hills: Derek Johnson

A lawmaker voting "aye" for the bill is saying... 'I want to clear cut the Penokees, blow a pristine mountain range to smithereens, gouge out miles of open pit scars and release tons of acid runoff into publicly-held rivers, lakes, streams and the Bad River Band's treaty-protected water, wild-rice food supply and culture.'

Mining Votes Will Make Or Break Wisconsin and Leader' Good Names 

HAPPY NEW YEAR from BERLIN 2013

“A bridge of silver wings stretches from the dead ashes of an unforgiving nightmare to the jeweled vision of a life started anew.” 
― Aberjhani, The River of Winged Dreams

The Holocaust Memorial, Berlin, Germany

The mirrored cone at the center of the Reichstag building dome, Berlin, Germany

The Reichstag building dome, Berlin, Germany

HAPPY NEW YEAR from BERLIN, GERMANY 2013

AUK cuts energy costs by 87%

American University of Kuwait 'AUK' cuts energy costs by 87% with latest Lenovo ThinkCentre all-in-one workstations

In line with its commitment to providing students with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, the American University of Kuwait, in partnership with Lenovo, has renovated and upgraded four computer labs with the latest Lenovo ThinkCentre M71z all-in-one desktops.

Designed to increase productivity and significantly reduce operational costs, the new machines have enabled the University to enhance student output whilst cutting energy costs by a staggering 87%.

Optimizing the same space, AUK increased computer count from 108 machines to 156 by using the smaller footprint of the ThinkCentre all-in-one workstations.

click here for more of the story...

Video of Sulfur Gas leakage and blast in Kuwait

Video of Sulfur Gas leakage and blast in Kuwait

Sulfur Gas leak in Kuwait!

Now I know what was that strange sickening smell at the art opening this evening in downtown Kuwait!  Gas leak at one of the oil fields this evening... make sure you do not light a candle to help get rid of the smell. Turn on the fans to help ventilate, apparently the gas can be toxic....

Deadly toxic gas spreads across Kuwait after leak - Firemen manage to contain escaping hydrogen sulfide 

Tibetan deaths continue under China's policies...

Tibetans’ are forced to bow down as they are taken away by Chinese security forces. (From a Chinese military forum)

For my Chinese friends who insist that China's Tibetan policy is strictly humanitarian and as some put it, "China does not want anything from Tibet except to help a 'backwards' and 'less advanced' people":

China: Protester Killed as Police Fire on Demonstration

By ANDREW JACOBS (NYT)

As many as 1,000 people demonstrated against mining operations in an environmentally fragile part of Tibet on Wednesday, Radio Free Asia reported. 

Self-Immolations Continue in China

By EDWARD WONG (NYT)

Two young Tibetan men set themselves on fire on Monday in a Tibetan region of western China to protest Chinese rule.

Tell KFC to stop using rainforest destruction before it's too late!

Tell KFC to stop using rainforest destruction before it's too late!

KFC is driving the destruction of critical Sumatran tiger habitat with its throw-away packaging! But KFC can stop this by dumping rainforest destroyer APP from its supply chain. Join Greenpeace and take action now!

more on the REUSE 5.0 exibition

AUK student Basmah Al-Qatami with her artwork "Rainbow Bicycle Table" made from recycled or reused materials (you can also see another AUK student's artwork in the background ( Noor Al-Sabah's "Re-Floppy.")). AUK Participates in REUSE 5.0 The American University of Kuwait participated in the annual REUSE 5.0 exhibition, held this year on the premises of the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK). During the exhibition, a number of AUK students and professors showcased their work under two categories; the Social Programs category and the Community category. The AUK exhibits included artwork made of reused or re-purposed materials that promote environmental conservation. The AUK delegation was led by Professor William Andersen of the Art and Graphic Design Program, and Professor Charles Cange of the newly introduced Environmental Studies Minor Program at AUK. AUK's Environmental Studies Program is the first of its kind in Kuwait...

AUK student Alzahra Jamal and her "Pepsragon," 
some visitors to the exhibit, and me.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

my students' work at REUSE 5.0!

Pepsragon by Alzahra Jamal

my students' work at REUSE 5.0!

cola cans, floppies and a broken bicycle: mr. andersen’s class | The Kulture Mag

www.thekulturemag.com

A look at 3 unconventional and uber-functional re-purposed art pieces at REUSE 5.0, designed and created by AUK students of Professor William Andersen’s class…

Rainbow Bicycle Table 
by Basmah Al-Qatami (this work sold!)

Re-Floppy by Noor Al-Sabah

REUSE 5.0 Celebrates Earth Day with 85 Students from 7 Schools in Kuwait

Really good speakers and a great day!  I am the guy in the back with the dark sunglasses and making the V-sign...

en.v Celebrates Earth Day at REUSE 5.0 with 85 Students from 7 Schools in Kuwait - en.v

www.envearth.com

On April 22nd, The en.v Initiative (en.v), an organization dedicated to social responsibility in the Arab world hosted a three hour interactive “Earth Day Celebration” event at REUSE 5.0 at the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK).The event was attended by 85 students from seven public and private sch...

REUSE 5.0 still on tonight and tomorrow 5-9pm!

REUSE 5.0 list of organizations, artists, students (the AUK students are MY students!), etc. participating in REUSE 5.0.

Check out the list of organizations, artists, students (the AUK students are MY students!), etc. participating in REUSE 5.0.

en.v Announces REUSE 5.0 Participants

projectreuseme.wordpress.com

REUSE, now in its fifth year, serves as an opportunity for non-profit organizations, companies, professionals and aspiring creative talents to showcase their accomplishments in the fields of social responsibility and sustainability via a range of artistic mediums and interactive activities for the general public.

This year REUSE 5.0 is being held on April 19-22 of 2012 on the premises of the Australian College of Kuwaitfrom 5 to 9pm daily with an expansive participation list to date.  On a daily basis, REUSE 5.0 will feature a dynamic mix of art galleries, music, short films, a lounge, trendy eco- fashion & accessories & more. We have compiled a detailed list of participants to date. We apologize if certain names were not mentioned – we definitely appreciate everything you have done for us thus far and look forward to showcasing your talents at REUSE 5.0!

Buddhist pilgrimage starts tonight...

Komusō represented the Fuke Zen Buddhist School, a branch of Buddhism originating from China. Their unusual and distinctive feature, the straw basket worn on the head, symbolized the “absence of ego". 

Two friends and I are doing a kind of pilgrimage to the historic Buddhist sites in India ( Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar, etc).   We leave tonight, but I already hear the hypnotic 

Tanpura  music playing in my head...

More Deaths and Anti-Chinese Protests in Tibet

A Tibetan woman outside a monastery in the Sichuan province of China. Photograph: David Gray/Reuters  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/09/another-monk

China: 2 Tibetans Reported Killed in Self-Immolation Protest

By RICK GLADSTONE (NYT)

Chinese security forces shot and killed two Tibetans on Thursday who had been involved in antigovernment protests, the American broadcaster Radio Free Asia reported.

China: Exile Groups Report Another Self-Immolation in Tibet

By IAN JOHNSON (NYT)

The latest report brings the total number of Tibetans who have taken their lives to protest Chinese rule since March 2009 to 20.  

Also see previous posts on Tibet:

William of Arabia: Chinese Police Fire on Tibetan Protesters Again...

Jan 28, 2012

By DAN LEVIN (NYT). Far from the eyes of Beijing technocrats, students learn to write Tibetan and get their first formal introduction to a history, culture and religion that many call embattled. Posted by William Andersen at 3:22 ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: 3 Tibetans Self-Immolate in Anti-Chinese Protest

Feb 06, 2012

Since March 2011, as many as 19 Tibetans have set fire to themselves in Tibet; 7 since 6 January 2012. There was a further self-immolation in 2009. http://standupfortibet.org/ ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Tenth Tibetan Monk Sets Self on Fire!

Oct 26, 2011

By RICK GLADSTONE (NYT). The group Free Tibet said the self-immolation happened outside a monastery in Garze, and that the monk's identity, condition and whereabouts were not known. For more on Tibet in this blog see ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: China 'disappeared' Tibet's Panchen Lama

Apr 25, 2011

I don't think you will receive this letter. I know that you're being watched, monitored and controlled 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But deep down I have this stubborn hope that maybe you will hear us. Maybe you'll see us ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Two Tibetan Monks Set Themselves on Fire in ...

Sep 26, 2011

Lobsang Kalsang and Lobsang Konchok of Kirti Monastery are the 3rd and 4th monks to have self-immolated in the last six months, an act that Tibet had never seen before 2009. The two young monks, both aged 18, called for ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Chinese security forces opened fire on Tibetan ...

Jan 24, 2012

Police officers opened fire on Tibetan protesters in western China on Monday in the largest violent confrontation in ethnic Tibetan areas of China since 2008. HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR??? Posted by William Andersen at ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Twelfth Tibetan Self-Immolates in anti-China protest

Dec 03, 2011

A former Tibetan monk set fire to himself on Thursday as an anti-China political protest in Tibet's Chamdo township. Posted by William Andersen at 6:12 PM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Horrifying image of Tibetan nun in flames on street ...

Nov 21, 2011

The image is taken from a video released by protest group Students for a Free Tibet, who smuggled it out of southwest China following the incident. Posted by William Andersen at 7:51 PM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: 11th Tibetan sets self on fire to protest Chinese ...

Nov 04, 2011

Tibetans-in-exile hold placards showing the monks who had set themselves on fire to protest against the Chinese rule in Tibet during a protest march in Dharamshala. (AFP Photo/Lobsang Wangyal) ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Petition to Release Tibetan poet Tashi Rabten

Nov 12, 2011

High Peaks Pure Earth, 100 Thousand Poets for Change, Split This Rock, members of the Tibetan community, and human rights/freedom of speech supporters... Posted by William Andersen at 9:09 PM · Email ThisBlogThis!

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: New siege on Tibetan Monastery by Chinese ...

Apr 17, 2011

The current situation prevailing at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in northeastern Tibet is extremely grim because of the stand-off between the Chinese military forces and the local Tibetans... Posted by William Andersen at 12:19 AM ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

lecture at Milwaukee Art Museum: Emperor Qianlong & Tibetan ...

Aug 02, 2011

Lecture: Palace Tantra: Emperor Qianlong's Fascination with Tibetan Buddhism. THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011, 6:15 PM. Lubar Auditorium of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Free with Museum admission (first Thursdays of the ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: Censorship...

Mar 26, 2009

Although many of the students had very little knowledge of Tibet or the heavy-handed censorship of Tibetan culture and religion in China, they were very interested in censorship, especially of the internet. The Kuwaiti ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/

William of Arabia: China 22 years later...

Jun 04, 2011

-Tibet Post International. Hong Kong Residents to Hold Vigil Marking Tiananmen...‎ - Bloomberg. Tiananmen Square Anniversary: 22 Years Later - Huffington Post. Tiananmen legacy: Crush any hint of dissent‎ - Vancouver ...

http://williamjandersen.blogspot.com/