alissasheldon

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https://soundcloud.com/alissasheldon/alissa-sheldon-commercial-vo-reel

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https://soundcloud.com/alissasheldon/covenant-medical-center-tv-vo-30tv

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Welcome to my Tumblr! In this space, you will find a collection of my writing as well as my voice over work. (Turns out I will also talk for food.) Please help yourself: click through the pictures to read my words or hear my voice. I hope you enjoy them both. Cheers, Alissa

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Works by Keith Haring, Photo credit:  David Safris

URBAN VISIONARIES

by Alissa Sheldon

Those who attended the Urban Visionaries show last year remember the pleasant shock of stumbling into Viaduct Gallery after a day at the Des Moines Arts Festival and coming face-to-face with the works of Keith Haring, Banksy, and Shepard Fairey.  Just as noteworthy was the interaction with knowledgeable and approachable David Safris, President of Visionary Services, an IT consulting company, who is the driving force behind the show. On June 24, Safris is bringing his collection, including work by D*Face and FAILE, back to the Des Moines Social Club for Art Week.

This year, two female artists from the United States, Caledonia Curry (Swoon) and Maya Hayuk, will be exhibited with the collection.  Safris says, “Swoon puts her heart and soul into every installation she works on and the artwork is transforming and amazing for the communities she works with.  Maya Hayuk creates fantastic multi colored geometric patterns and has done mural work in cities around the world.”

To hear more about the show from Safris, see the videos below.

Urban Visionaries Show

What is Urban Art?

Urban Art and “Selling Out”

Works by Shepard Fairey, Photo Credit:  David Safris

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S.O.S.

by Alissa Sheldon

       Last night I walked out of the blazing heat into the cool cocoon of The Lift to view Van Holmgren’s new show, “S.O.S.”, and found the artist himself seated with friends, flashing his signature grin through the dark of the bar. For Holmgren, who has received national attention recently for his mural featured on “The Bachelor” and his live painting of a food truck that turned the heads of Wu-Tang Clan, “S.O.S.” is a departure from his previous work and takes a turn down a more serious alley.

       The show reflects upon the ways in which S.O.S., the internationally recognized distress signal for “Save Our Souls”, has lost its prevalence as it has been replaced by other acronyms used in everyday life of texting and social media.  Holmgren says:

       “When I look at the content we post in social media, a majority of what is shared are cries for help. The constant struggle of people in our country and around the world is at the forefront of our culture, and fresh news stories come out every day with that theme. The world is spiraling more and more out of control as we live and work for the ideal lives we all deserve.

       Money and power are both at the root of the problem, controlled by the very people that we look to for help and protection. This show illustrates and reflects our interactions with these necessities and our resulting cries for help: white picket fences to symbolize our ideal lives in which we are all safe with no fear; cardboard signs are used for begging on the street by people without a home or family; traps set and arrows shot by the same people we look to for protection; bottles used either in celebration or as a way to numb the pain.”

       Holmgren’s signature style fits well with this commentary on modern society and delivers his message by provoking thought rather than slamming his audience in the head with a sledge hammer.  Viewers feel clever in connecting to the images, and through this experience, the message is made even more powerful.

Artist contact info:

vanholmgren.com

van.holmgren@gmail.com

@vanholmgren (Instagram)

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"Women Writers In the Round" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, March 2013

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"Chin up. heart open. one foot in front of the other." ~ Alissa Sheldon for behappy.me, March 2013

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"Finds Light in the Dark" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Art Beacon Des Moines, February 2013

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"MyPlate Healthy Family Recipes" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Diabetic Living, February 2013

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"Des Moines Social Club Swings in the New Year" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, December 2012

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"Home for the Holidays with Max Wellman" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, December 2012

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"Women Who Rock:  Amanda Crosby" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, November 2012

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"An Interview With William Elliott Whitmore" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, November 2012

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Thomas Demand, "Pacific Sun" ~ Alissa Sheldon for Art Beacon, November 2012

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The Wallflowers at Wooly's ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, November 2012

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Pieta Brown at Vaudeville Mews ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, October 2012

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Women Who Rock:  Julia Mahlstadt ~ Alissa Sheldon for Iowa Music Buzz, October 2012