San Francisco sketch artist Lisa Demb wishes to share the latest from her new series “Happy Armageddon.” The drawings depict biblical apocalyptic imagery, such as a blood-red moon and vanishing sun, yet present the scenes as interesting, positive, even playful. To Demb, perhaps one can approach impending, even cataclysmic changes with curiosity and optimism.

Demb lives with some health conditions, and the work “Margaritaville” pays tribute to her caregiver Margarita, whom Demb credits with changing her life.

Lisa Demb welcomes comments, questions, requests, and any feedback regarding her artwork. She also produces custom-designed stationery, which you may order directly from her. You may write to Ms. Demb at 140 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 or call 415-776-2115 and ask for her by name.

Making Halloween Less Scary for Small Farmers: Families Celebrating with Fair Trade Chocolate

In conversation with Adrienne Fitch-Frankel of Global Exchange

This Halloween, Synchronized Chaos Magazine encountered an intriguing advertisement for Reverse Trick-Or-Treating, where children gave out free candy along with flyers concerning the values of Global Exchange’s fair-trade chocolate. Here we discuss the ins and outs of the campaign, along with broader economic and ecological and cultural issues, with Global Exchange’s Adrienne Fitch-Frankel.

For our readers – Global Exchange offers free fair-trade Reverse Trick-Or-Treating kits available for kids and families who wish to participate…more information and the signup form available here: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/ Deadline for church/temple/mosque/school etc group signups is the end of September, deadline for individual trick or treaters is October 13^th. So you know, they can and do run out of chocolate!

Synchronized Chaos: Many of us in the Western world hear the phrase ‘fair-trade’ frequently, even at Starbucks and Peet’s. What does that label usually represent, and how does Global Exchange incorporate fair trade practices?

Adrienne Fitch-Frankel (paraphrased): Fair trade involves a commitment to building a business relationship with farmers where those who work the land may earn a decent standard of living. This can happen through practices such as guaranteeing a minimum price every year so one poor harvest does not bankrupt farm workers. Or by facilitating farm cooperatives so farmers may pool their capital and invest in education, healthcare, or sustainable environmental practices such as relatively inexpensive, nontoxic ways to fight fungi and improve crop yields.

Synchronized Chaos: Great humanitarian ideas, and decent business model, too – surely bankrupting one’s suppliers would not be to a company’s economic advantage. But, could ordinary people (in the Western world) still afford coffee or cocoa produced this way?

Continue reading →

Rock Paper Scissors Collective (community based gallery in downtown Oakland) seeks submissions for the upcoming exhibition “Social Structures.” Interesting little gallery space – hosts serious professional talent and also works with and provides educational and social support for emerging artists (including young people and zinesters!)

Background on the show’s concept, and contact information:

A social structure is constructed to enhance the relationship between people through design. Designers of these structures feel they are solving social problems through their projects, which affects communities and individuals on a personal level. Projects are related to addressing some basic needs such as shelter, communication, food security, safety, and intimacy.

Submissions can consist of proposals, prototypes, photo documentation, scale models, or drawings. RPSC accepts electronic submissions only, which can be emailed to gallery@rpscollective.com Submissions are due on October 1st, 2009. For more information visit http://www.rpscollective.com

The producers of the Solo Sundays/Words First series, a critically acclaimed showcase of the San Francisco Bay Area’s best solo spoken word performers, are offering a limited number of free tickets to this Sunday night’s performance at StageWerx Theatre.

Solo Sundays performers blend original humor with poignant, thoughtful commentary on modern life. Topics explored include race and intergenerational relations, coming of age or facing midlife crises in an unsettling economy, and coming to terms with one’s spiritual and/or cultural background.

Each of the solo spoken word actors brings an incredible level of energy and dedication to his or her piece, and develops his/her writing within a supportive professional community geared towards helping emerging artists to perfect their craft. You may find yourself re-thinking your values and attitudes while laughing and having fun. I’ve (Cristina Deptula – your Synchronized Chaos Creative Facilitator) had the privilege of attending several of these multi-layered, complex presentations and remember nodding with recognition and relief at several moments because someone out there actually understood my thoughts and experiences…even while watching the actors play characters from cultural backgrounds very different from my own.  At other times the humane, insightful storytelling provoked me to reconsider and challenge my assumptions about various types of people.

Solo Sundays’ producers invite Synchronized Chaos readers and contributors to experience for free the joy, creativity, passion and wisdom of their productions.

If you are 100% CERTAIN you can attend this Sunday night’s show, please copy and paste these four items into an email to brupach@gmail.com :

1. Solo Sundays  at StageWerx Theatre
2. Sunday, September 27 at 7:00
3. Your FIRST and LAST name
4. Whether you’d like one or two tickets (additional tickets are just $5 each)

We will confirm all reservations. Again, only respond if you are 100% certain you can attend. Thank you very much, and we look forward to welcoming you to the show!

Solo Sundays
Sunday, September 27 at 7:00
StageWerx Theater
533 Sutter (at Powell)
San Francisco

Day of the Dead- Dearly Beloved

Call of Art deadline Sept 30. Submission Fee $65 (includes membership to Sun Gallery).
Up to 6 works, or a space no larger than 5′ wide x 5′ deep.

Reception Nov 7, Saturday, 5-9pm

2 workshops for families Nov 14 and 21 School Field Trips can be scheduled for a fee of $125 up to 30 kids.

10/30/09 — 11/21/09

Curated by Orlando Somozo

Link to their webpage for more information on this opportunity and the gallery in general: http://www.sungallery.org/exhibitions.asp

One of the oldest, most respected literary journals west of the Mississippi River (in the United States.) Now seeking submissions of all types, please email them in to the address provided before November 1st for publication in the Spring 2010 issue.

The link says no previously published material – I spoke with some of the editors today for clarification and they said you may submit anything so long as you have the permission of the previous publication. Synchronized Chaos Magazine extends permission for any and all of our contributors to also submit pieces to Reed or any other magazine/newspaper, including contributions we have already published.

About Reed Magazine:

Reed Magazine is sponsored by San Jose State University. Reed is produced annually in the spring. We welcome submissions of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Please do not submit any pornographic material, science fiction, fantasy, or children’s literature. We do not publish translations or previously published material.

Website for Reed Magazine (to read the latest issue)

http://www.reedmag.org

Link to submit to Reed Magazine:

http://reedmag.org/drupal/?q=node/7 – follow the procedure, fill out the form provided, use compatible (not docx files) and select non-contest entries.

San Francisco Artist Network Professional Development Seminars for Visual Artists, covers topics such as Presentation: Preparing Your Artist Statement and Packet, Promotion: Creative Venues to Show Your Artwork, and Networking Online and Offline.

Several seminars, reasonably priced from $15-30 for an evening with Dr. Stephen C. Wagner, professional artist and art educator.

Located at venues around San Francisco and Oakland and a few in Marin County. Link for directions and more information here: http://web.mac.com/stephencwagner/iWeb/SFArtistNetwork/PROGRAMS.html

Global Affairs – a Spanish online journal for international relations graduate students and professors covering highlights, features, and perspectives on world affairs – at http://www.globalaffairs.es – seeks a Spanish/English translator. If you are interested please email (si tenga interes por favor escriba a) Eva Diez at eva.diez@globalaffairs.es

From Robert Brewer, editor of the Writer’s Market online version:

I’m looking for “publishing experts” to interview for WritersMarket.com. If you’re a publishing expert who’s interested in being featured on the site, then please send me an e-mail with the subject line “I’m a publishing expert.”

What qualifies as a publishing expert?
* Published author of books (fiction, nonfiction, children’s, or poetry)
* Freelance writer who gets regular work with multiple magazines
* Staff writer (magazines, websites, or newspapers)
* Freelance or salaried editors
* Freelance copy writers, technical writers, etc.
* Playwrights (who’ve had their work performed)
* Screenwriters (who’ve sold or optioned scripts)
* Agents (literary or script)
* Book publicists
* Artistic directors at theaters
* Producers
* Conference or Contest directors

Bottom line: Make a case for being a publishing professional, and we’ll go from there as far as the interview. (Note: I don’t want writers who wish to someday be publishing experts; I’m not interested in that slant, though I’m sure I’ll still get a few who pitch that angle to me.)

Specs:
* Send an email to me at robert.brewer@fwmedia.com
* Have subject line read: I’m a publishing expert
* Include your name and a short paragraph or two qualifying you as a publishing expert
* If possible, include some areas that you would be especially skilled at discussing (For instance, publicists would be good at talking about things they do for authors to promote books. Remember: WritersMarket.com is slanted to the needs of writers trying to get published and/or paid for their writing efforts.)

Please feel free to forward this message as you see fit.

Best,

Robert Lee Brewer
Editor
Writer’s Market
WritersMarket.com