Lacquer Sitting Buddhas @ Vivre

I love these lacquered Buddha statuettes I found at Vivre. Their pop-ish colors give it a totally modern tongue-in-cheek touch to an eclectic decorated home. I have a teeny faux-jade Buddha that sits atop my fridge, back to the front door, to attract wealth as Asian-Brazilian superstition dictates.

These spiritual resin handmade statuettes are suppose to bring luck and peace plus a jolt of color to your home. Lacquer finish. No two are alike. Choose orange, yellow, red, or green. 18"tall. And if the US$450.00 is too steep of a price tag you can always visit your local Chinatown for a least expensive option. Hit Home Depot's paint department and grab a can of super-glossy spray paint and make your own one-of-a-kind icon.

Available at Vivre

Hookers For Jesus

Hookers for Jesus is a nondenominational, faith-based organization reaching out to men and women who are currently associated with or working as prostitutes, porn stars, pimps, and exotic dancers. Their vision includes promoting spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness in the lives of those who have been affected by sexual trauma and related forms of abuse in the adult entertainment industry. Founder Annie Lobért, an ex-sex worker herself, states on the website's mission and purpose:

"Our efforts include loving and accepting men and women REGARDLESS of their past or current lifestyle and encouraging them to achieve their FULL potential! There will be no judgement. It is our heart’s desire that our friends that are working as sex workers would be released from their past and healed through a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ. To that end, we are committed to going wherever God leads us in order to bring those that are in this lifestyle. Whether it be in the casinos, the street, the escort services, the strip clubs, the night clubs … we are willing to go where no one has gone before to let them know that God loves them no matter what."

Lobért's touching testimonial unveils the darker side of the so called "high class call girls" and her own tortured upbringing and descent into prostitution. You can also purchase Hooker For Jesus T-shirts and tank tops for US$25.00 each at their online store.

Muslin Women Can Jump

Who says Muslin women can't have fun?

I took these shots at the Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, FL, a couple of weeks ago and you can clearly see that Muslin women can jump! I must confess that I was a little weary of snapping paparazzi-style pictures of complete strangers, as you never know how they might react (if they catch you). I wasn't meaning to be disrespectful but it was such a great shot that I had to document it. Sometimes you have all these preconceived ideas of how some people and cultures are supposed to behave and it's cool to realize that people are all the same in the end, despite different habits, costumes or religious practices.

She has clearly having a great time and they didn't put a jihad on me!

You May Quote Me On That: Dorothy Parker

"If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to."

Dorothy Parker

Jesus Stencil Art

Via Moblog / Wooster Collective / Yatzer

You May Quote Me On That: Napoleon Bonaparte

"Religion is what keeps the poor man from murdering the rich."

Napoleon Bonaparte

Fulla - Don't Call Her Muslim Barbie

Princess Halleh also told me about the Fulla Doll, though out since 2003, I had never heard about it before. I thought it would make a good posting, so here it is!

Fulla is the name of an 11 1/2 inch Barbie-like fashion doll marketed to children of Islamic and Middle-Eastern countries as an alternative to the American icon. Fulla is sold in China, North Africa, Egypt and Brazil(!) while few are sold in the US (wonder why?). Although there had been many other dolls in the past that were created with a hijab none of them had ever been as popular as Fulla. She is a role-model to some Muslim people, displaying how most Muslin people would prefer their daughters to dress and behave. Though often compared to Barbie, they actually have more differences than similarities. For instance, while Barbie has a free life and a wide range of jobs, Fulla doesn't have much to do but shop, spend time with her friends, cook, read, and pray. The brand claimed that there will be a doctor and a teacher Fulla in the future, as "these are two respected careers for women that we would like to encourage small girls to follow." Also, Barbie has a boyfriend, but Fulla doesn't and never will.

But do not pity the young Muslim girls! In the Western world we have the anorexic blond-bimbo Barbie (the infidel) to contend with, "helping" girls have a more messed up sense of self and skewed body image.

Cool Shop in Rio - Complexo B

I went in Complexo B last week when killing time in Ipanema for a doctors' appointment. Their shop is located on the second level of Quartier Ipanema, one of the many "galerias" around the neighborhood. I had seen an editorial a while back featuring one of their tees and that was the first time I got around to go check it out. Complexo B is the creation of Beto Neves (the B in the label's name) and has been around since 1994, when they opened their first showroom in Copacabana. This season the label's inspiration is all about the Brazilian sacred icons from Candomble, the spiritual African religion brought here during slavery times. Images of Saint George, killing a dragon atop his white horse , adorn the shop as well as their T-shirts, having become the label's signature motif. Stylized illustrations of deities like preto-velhos, pomba giras, Exu, Iansa and Oxum made really cool (and tasteful) tees as well - I bought 4 myself. Basic tees start at R$55.00 to R$134.00 for the embroidered models. The icons show up on colorful fridge magnets as well. The small unisex shop's decor reflects the season's theme, with an awe-striking wall installation of glossy-white religious icons. The mix of Catholic saints and Candomble gods, is the perfect example of the Brazilian religious melting pot.

Pay them a visit and you probably won't walk out empty handed either! They also own a small outlet shop at Galeria River in Arpoador, known for it's great mark downs.

For address info click here & to visit their virtual shop go here.

Religion & Politics vs Artistic Freedom or Bin Laden as Jesus

In the 56 years since it was first awarded, the Blake Prize for Religious Art, In Sydney Australia, has not been noted for controversy. But this year's entries for the coveted £6,000 award have caused a chorus of outrage from Christians and Muslims alike. They include a portrait of Osama Bin Laden which, viewed from an angle, morphs into an image of Christ. And just for good measure there is a figure of the Virgin Mary, hands clasped in prayer, with an Islamic burqa concealing her upper body apart from the eyes.
While such exhibits might merely cause raised eyebrows if entered for Britain's always-controversial Turner Prize, the decision to place them on show at the National Art School in Sydney has caused deep upset in Australia, whose 20million population is predominantly Christian.
"The choice of such artwork is gratuitously offensive to the religious beliefs of many Australians," said Prime Minister John Howard. And Labour Opposition leader Kevin Rudd said: "I accept people can have artistic freedom, but I find this painting off, off in the extreme. I understand how people would be offended by it." Glynis Quinlan, spokesman for the Australian Christian Lobby, said: "It's really unfortunate that people take liberties with the Christian faith that they wouldn't dare take with other religions." She described the Bin Laden/Jesus picture as a "big mistake", adding: "Jesus brought a message of love and forgiveness that has nothing to do with terrorism."

Sydney artist Luke Sullivan, creator of the Virgin Mary entry, entitled "The Fourth Secret of Fatima", said his work was intended to pose the question of what was the future of religion.
Queensland lawyer Priscilla Bracks, who painted the Bin Laden portrait entitled "Bearded Orientals: Making the Empire Cross", said it was not meant to compare Jesus to the terror leader but was a commentary on the way Bin Laden had been treated in the media. She was concerned, she said, that Bin Laden would be unintentionally glorified in years to come.

In an astonishing defence, the chairman of the Blake Society, the Rev Rod Pattenden, denied that they were likely to cause harm because "the Christian community doesn't look at art a great deal". (!?)

As always, politicians being politicians. If a controversial subject is on the table (religion, gay weddings, abortion) it's always safer to play conservative and guarantee future votes.

The Blake Prize @ The National Art School in Sydney, via The Daily Mail.