This show will run February 1-28, 2017. Artists from around the world were called to submit their work. There were 96 accepted entries and they came from 13 different states in the USA and 17 other countries: Canada, Cyprus, France, Georgia, India, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, and Ukraine. A variety of styles and mediums were entered including, acrylic, colored pencil, digital, gouache, marker, mixed media, mosaic, oil, pastel, pen & ink, photography, plastic, silkscreen, spray paint, tempera, typewriter ribbon, and watercolor. The judging criterion was originality, interpretation, quality, demonstration of ability, and usage of medium. Other factors, such as the clarity of the images provided and their ability to be viewed online, as well as relating to the theme, also contributed to our decision. “Best of Show”, “First Place”, and “Second Place” winners received a monetary award in addition to special recognition.

We were very happy to donate 10% of all entry fees from this show to Red Cross. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. For more information, please visit their website http://www.ifrc.org/en/. Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, LLC is not affiliated with the Red Cross. It is our hope that this small act of kindness will blossom and grow to help someone else.

Thank you to all the artists who participated! Your talents and skills gave us a diverse body of work to create this attractive show.

Buyers- Please contact the artists directly for sales. Colors of Humanity Art Gallery does not handle any part of the sale or collect any commission, it is solely between the buyer and artist. You may find a link to the artist’s website or email address below their work.

My name is Nyle Major. I am a freelance visual artist from Auckland, New Zealand. I have been actively creating, studying and exhibiting for over 9 years. I have studied locally and overseas, have had considerable experience as an artist, and as a result, have developed and promoted my practice to a conceptually sound, technically adept and highly professional practice. My practice is based upon the 19th century techniques I learned while studying in France. Coupled with a contemporary background, my work has evolved into strong and visually intense atmospheric scenes which attract the viewer to experience multiple levels of visual and conceptual detail.

www.major-art.com

I was born and grew up in Saint-Petersburg. Maturing of me as an artist is closely linked to the State Academy of Arts. I am proud to tell, that it is the greatest institute of classic art in Russia and one of of the greatest in the whole world. However, commitment to the tradition doesn't prevent me from experimenting with painting techniques, figurative language and semantic content of my art. I believe, realistic art is a great base for searching for your own unique visual language in painting.

She could have danced all night

She basks in the glow of lights

ready to dance away the night.

The expectant audience waits,

     to watch her sway and swirl.

She twirls rhythmically as music begins,

     her skirt flows and bounces

     baring her ankles with ghunghroos*,

the odhni** slips off her shoulder

     plays hide and seek over

          her heaving chest under the blouse,

teases the crowd

     their ogling eyes oozing admiration at

     transient exposure of clad nudity.

She gyrates to the beat of the drum

     and pirouettes oblivious of their moans and groans,

Dynamic tapping of her feet

in perfect harmony with the cadence of the song.

She halts when music ends,

every fibre of her clothing falling where it belongs

protecting her dignity,

smiles gracefully and takes a full bow of Namaste***

to our gasps and shouts of ‘Encore, encore”.

*Ghunghroo is a cluster of many small metallic bells strung together to form a musical anklet tied to the feet of classi- cal Indian dancers.

** Odhni- a soft or flexible covering for the head and upper body consisting of a narrow strip of silk or other material worn over the shoulders.

***Namaste- It is used both for salutation and valediction. The greeting may also be spoken without the gesture or the gesture performed wordlessly, carrying the same meaning.