MODERN URBAN-EXPRESSIONISM, The Art of Marcus Antonius Jansen is a stunning new collection and introduction of the New York City native’s gritty urban “lifescapes.” His work captures his own personal interpretation of the 21st century urban environment like no other painter to date. “They gave me the feeling of seeing paintings that had leaped 100 to 150 years from the American style of the Ash Can School,” says Jerome A. Donson (Director of the American Vanguard Exhibitions 1961 in Europe). Jansen is noted as a leader in an international Urban Contemporary art movement that is quickly changing the face of visual media. His Co-publishers American Art Gallery located in the famous Le Marais in Paris France introduces his paintings through the solely committed Jansen gallery with further representation in Los Angeles, New York and Naples. The book is a 152 page hardcover publication with 45 large spread works of Jansen’s paintings that continue to draw an international following. His work was recently acquired by the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington D.C. permanent collection as well as the Southwest Florida Museum of History. The foreword of the book is by one of America’s most noted museum curators and directors, Jerome A. Donson.  Donson was selected by the U.S. State Department and U.S. Information Agency in 1961 to direct the American Vanguard exhibitions in Europe that exhibited “Action Painters” such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. The publication has a 1000 copy first run with limited signed copies that show works between 2000-2006 painted at the beginning of the century. It also includes biographical details color imagery and black and white photos with testimonials by an international cast of contributors which include: Laszlo Hagymasi (producer), Budapest, Hungary; Co-publisher American Art Gallery, Paris, France; Florence Parkinson, sociologist and ret. from College of Staten Island (CUNY); Essay by Gerri Reaves Ph.D. whose awards include two scholar/humanist fellowships from the Florida Humanities Council and a Teacher Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities; Laurence Gartel, digital artist who worked closely with Andy Warhol and went to school with Keith Haring; Bruce George, Co-founder of Def Poetry Jam, New York; Naomi Donson, MUSE Award recipient and Monty Montgomery, President of the American Academy of the Angel of the Arts Award, which Jansen was awarded in 2005.  Jansen resides and works in Southwest Florida. More information online: www.marcusjansen.com             

Stephen Mead recently released a cd, "Safe & Other Love Poems", in addition to an illustrated book called "Selected Works".  "Safe & Other Love Poems" From the early 1990's, Stephen Mead's poetry has been appearing in both literary print magazines and online sites internationally. Much of this well received work has been spiritual explorations of sensuality often combined with his art. A few years ago Stephen sent some poems to Frank Moore of Love Underground Visionary Revolution, www.luver.com, and in Jan. '06 Frank wrote back saying he'd play Stephen's poetry on his radio show should Stephen care to send in a tape. At the time Stephen was working on recording his poetry in conjunction with making films of his artwork, including his well known sensuous piece "31 Kisses", so in typical obsessively creative fashion Stephen got to work on this recording. The result became "Safe & Other Love Poems", a fifty minute celebration of romance set to music. A big thank you goes to Simon Toon of "Slam Idol Poetry Podcast", Linda DiFeterici of "Eadon's Place" and Michael Potter of "Coffee House To Go", for already sharing some of these mp3's with the world.