people made history twenty years ago. in the truest sense of the word: they created historic facts.

because that night was not special. nothing like any of the mass demonstrations days beforehand or the desperate mass exodus of thousands to west germany. nothing special was said by günter schabowski, official of the socialist unity party of (eastern) germany. he merely announced the lifting of all travelling rules for citizens of east germany.

which motivated tens of thousands of people to immediately go to the berlin wall and demand their right to cross the border. the vastly outnumbered border guards simply opened the access points and allowed them through - leading to a revolution without a single shot being fired and the biggest spontaneous party berlin had ever seen.

people on the streets created the historical facts that lead to the end of the cold war and the reunification of germany.
that evening was made possible by reforms in eastern europe - namely hungary and poland, especially by people like polish trade union activist lech wałęsa and his solidarność.

lesson from those events?
1. peaceful change is possible.
2. your voice counts. grassroots campaigns can move the world.
3. some warm, rainless autumn nights are always helpful when trying to get people on the streets to demand political participation.



---------- contemporary artworks dealing with the subject ----------


---------- historical images ----------

regarding the last image: also from 1989. to remember those whose freedom of thought is still oppressed.

----------------------------
update january 24th, 2009: against elitism
"if i knew what art was, i wouldn't tell anybody." (pablo picasso)
well, there are some people who don't live up to that statement. =TheKnowledge1 is a new community, which aims to share technical knowledge. so if you need or like to offer help, have a look. this group is vastly growing and still in need of mentors - especially if you are bi-/multilingual.
you have got skills? share the love!

this goes out to and .
thank you for giving me my third daily deviation feature. i surely don't deserve it - being so inactive in the fractal realm recently. nonetheless i'm feeling deeply honored and if that's your way of pushing me back at apophysis for creating new stuff ... you may have found a strategy there. *laughs*.

daniela

----------------------------
update january 24th, 2009: against elitism
"if i knew what art was, i wouldn't tell anybody." (pablo picasso)
well, there are some people who don't live up to that statement. =TheKnowledge1 is a new community, which aims to share technical knowledge. so if you need or like to offer help, have a look. this group is vastly growing and still in need of mentors - especially if you are bi-/multilingual.
you have got skills? share the love!


:thumb108705371:

i proudly present the winners of the infrared photo competition hosted by and .

first place
"austrian tree" by ~sorny



second place
"fantasy land" by ~popalogic



third place
"fantasy" by =akuiblis



honorary mentions


thanks for all the brilliant entries! choising was tough.

----------------------------
update january 24th, 2009: against elitism
"if i knew what art was, i wouldn't tell anybody." (pablo picasso)
well, there are some people who don't live up to that statement. =TheKnowledge1 is a new community, which aims to share technical knowledge. so if you need or like to offer help, have a look. this group is vastly growing and still in need of mentors - especially if you are bi-/multilingual.
you have got skills? share the love!

i've always thought the american tax system was simpler than the german one. the last few hours taught me otherwise.
my microstock agency kindly suprised my by telling me 30% of my income will be withheld by the IRS, if i don't fill out their online W-8BEN form.

however, to be able to use that service i've got to obtain a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). which means filing some forms i've never even heard of before. in a language that's supposed to be english, but is hardly recognisable as such (i've read latin inscriptions easier to translate).
AND i have to verify my identity by attaching at least TWO notarised documents with full personal information. big brother much?

so either i have 30% less to give to charity (as already stated in another journal: i have a secure job and don't need that money) or i'm stripping myself naked in front of the beaurocratic bloodsuckers.
what a choice.

----------------------------
update january 24th, 2009: against elitism
"if i knew what art was, i wouldn't tell anybody." (pablo picasso)
well, there are some people who don't live up to that statement. =TheKnowledge1 is a new community, which aims to share technical knowledge. so if you need or like to offer help, have a look. this group is vastly growing and still in need of mentors - especially if you are bi-/multilingual.
you have got skills? share the love!

... time for breaking out the infrared equipment!
has announced a contest in his journal [link] looking for *your* best ir shot. whether it be old work or new, send it in and win fun prizes, such as *subscriptions* and features in several journals, including mine.

----------------------------
update january 24th, 2009: against elitism
"if i knew what art was, i wouldn't tell anybody." (pablo picasso)
well, there are some people who don't live up to that statement. =TheKnowledge1 is a new community, which aims to share technical knowledge. so if you need or like to offer help, have a look. this group is vastly growing and still in need of mentors - especially if you are bi-/multilingual.
you have got skills? share the love!