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HighlandsArtCollective
We believe the enjoyment of art belongs to everyone, not an elite few. The art events we produce go beyond “stuff on the wall”, featuring fun ways for attendees to participate and engage with the art, and to be involved in creating art on the spot, in the moment.
Our artists and their styles:
TIA - Smart Contemporary
eNUf - Streetcore
KANSEL - Satire, Parody, Humor
WILLIAM - Classic Eternal Beauty
The artists in the collective have attended the finest art schools, and have a deep knowledge of art history. In addition, they are bonded by the shared belief that the art is the hero…not the artist.
Reviews
Dialogues: Jordan B. Peterson (2016)
Epic production often diminishes a sound message.
Dr. Peterson knows of what he speaks. With depth and candor. Regrettably for this reviewer, his delivery is often cluttered by the inclusion of bombastic musical accompaniment and vigorous editing designed to amp up the "momentousness" of his presentation.
Shame when it happens, because it seems to add insincere self-awareness and more than just a little narcissistic bloat. But remove that window dressing and what one finds inside the store is insightful and valuable--and reminds the viewer of the critical personal values that are necessary for the individual to add value in the world.
Not a bad message to convey in these times when superficiality is too often celebrated.
Cue the trumpets and timpani drums! Actually, let's not, okay?
Brand X with Russell Brand (2012)
Truth with cheery English pithiness.
Mr. Brand gets dinged sometimes for inconsistency, but who among us is 100 24/7/365? Whether one series of his is deemed stronger than another is less important to this reviewer than the generally high observational value presented at any time.
So why is it that humorists with English bloodlines (a nod to Konstantin Kisin here too) are often at the front of the satirist line? Deeper literary genes perhaps. Close geographical vulnerability to aggressive forces in two World Wars maybe too.
Whatever the nature of the decidedly English truth-to-power acumen, it typically rings deeply to the observer paying attention. And Mr. Brand carries that tradition with joyful aplomb.
TurleyTalks with Dr. Steve Turley (2021)
Thoughtful--regardless of the exclamation points!
Mr. Turley uses lots of exclamation points. It's true!
Normally, this reviewer finds the exclamation point the most useless of punctuation marks, as most times it signals an attempt at contrived emotion--Look! This is important! The exclamation point is proof!
However, in Mr. Turley's case, it's easier to accept them because his arguments and assessments typically reflect thoughtful analyzation of varying viewpoints on the issue at hand.
The fact they're generally relegated to only the headline of his commentary helps too. Okay, it's an attention getter. But read on and the contrivance of the exclamation point is deflated. By genuine analysis.
Dr. Turley often falls prey to catch-terms of the day. Sometimes ironically, and sometimes not, it appears. But in the end a reasonable conclusion is typically offered. And that can negate some nitpicking.
So there you have it!
The Joe Rogan Experience (2009)
Real conversations. Like a regular Joe.
Joe talks with subject matter experts the way you and I would. Casual questioning to understand the issue rather than trying to support at a preconceived conclusion.
The vast majority of these types of shows succumb to the mainstream media intent to create conflict simply for entertainment, and to perpetuate the opinion tribalism that gets them ratings and gets us nowhere.
Joe's show doesn't. Of course he offers his own opinions and will combat opposing ones. As we all should--have an opinion, but examine counter-arguments with genuine intent to understand. Not to reject out of hand.
The end game should be to acquire non-propagandist information, induce self-reflection and practice empathy. Those happen here most times.
So why a 9 and not a 10? Because none of us are infallible.