how to apply for social security

To apply for Social Security benefits in the United States, you can follow these steps:

1. Determine your eligibility: You must be at least 62 years old or have a qualifying disability to apply for Social Security benefits.

2. Gather required information: You will need to provide your Social Security number, birth certificate, W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns, and any other relevant financial documents.

3. Decide on a filing strategy: You can file for benefits as soon as you're eligible or delay filing to receive a higher benefit. You should consider your personal circumstances and financial goals to determine the best strategy for you.

4. Apply for benefits: You can apply for Social Security benefits online at the Social Security Administration website, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office.

5. Follow up: After you apply, you can check the status of your application online or by calling the Social Security Administration.

It's important to note that the application process can take several months, so it's a good idea to start the process as soon as possible if you think you may be eligible for benefits.

Layered and Embellished Trapunto Paintings Exude Spirit in Pacita Abad’s First Retrospective

Image courtesy of Pacita Abad Art Estate, shared with permission

Having created more than 5,000 paintings in her lifetime, traveled the world, and shown in over 200 exhibitions, Pacita Abad (1946-2004) was one of the most prolific and lauded Filipina-American artists. Now on view at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, her first retrospective showcases over 100 of her bold, distinctive works.

Abad was born in Basco, Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines. As her parents were politicians, the young artist initially had the aspirations of following in their diplomatic footsteps, and she avidly organized student demonstrations against the authoritarian Marcos regime, which eventually led to the political persecution of both Abad and her family. To escape this unrest and find security, her parents urged her to move overseas.

During what was initially a pit stop in California, Abad’s amazement with the unencumbered vibrancy and freedom of expression in San Francisco acted as a catalyst for her abundant life-long career. Informed by her experiences with despotism, political refuge, and immigration, Abad began to create work underscoring these disquietudes.

 

Exhibition view at MCAD, Manila, (2018). Image courtesy of Walker Art Center, shared with permission

The years that followed involved travel, living in a number of different countries, and connecting with creative communities in every hemisphere. Abad was able to learn artistic techniques from different cultures and gather materials from diverse environments, which she would later incorporate into her own practice, especially her mask painting series.

Along the gallery’s pink walls at the Walker, hand-stitched meandering lines run across canvas hanging more than two meters high. Though it was not Abad’s intention for her art to be seen from both sides, viewers are able to experience her work in a more intimate way by observing the artist’s hand, evident from the delicate stitching on each backside. Part of her signature trapunto painting technique, these sewn sections of canvas puff up with padding as geometric patterns house vibrant areas of color. Calling to Africa’s masks and abstract carving, Tibet’s Thangka tapestries, and Italy’s trapunto techniques, Abad’s series of masks are a conglomeration of community encounters as well as real stories of strength and strife inspired by those that she met along the way.

Abad’s retrospective is on view at the Walker Art Center until September 3. Later this month, Tina Kim Gallery in New York will be showcasing Abad’s work in a solo exhibition, as well.

 

Image courtesy of Pacita Abad Art Estate, shared with permission

Exhibition view at the Walker (2023). Image courtesy of Walker Art Center, shared with permission

Image courtesy of Pacita Abad Art Estate, shared with permission

Abad with the work. Image courtesy of Walker Art Center, shared with permission

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‘One Hundred Famous Views of Edo’: Hiroshige’s Seminal Series of Woodblock Prints Gets a Vibrant Reprint

All images © Utagawa Hiroshige, courtesy of Taschen

From the 17th through the 19th centuries, a genre of Japanese art called ukiyo-e—translating to “pictures of the floating world”—centered on colorful depictions of landscapes, performers and sumo wrestlers, and scenes from folklore and history in vivid woodblock prints. Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), one of the most renowned artists in the tradition—and one of the last—was famous for his chromatic vistas depicting recognizable features like blossoming cherry trees and the omnipresent snow-capped cone of Mount Fuji. His final project, an ambitious collection of 120 woodblock illustrations, became known as One Hundred Famous Views of Edo and depicts what is now Tokyo throughout the seasons.

A new reprint from Taschen pairs each of the artist’s remarkable prints with text by authors Lorenz Bichler and Melanie Trede, celebrating the scenery, the city’s history, and Hiroshige’s contribution to ukiyo-e. The authors highlight how the colorful depictions of the country helped define the Western world’s visual interpretation of Japan, referencing the influence of Japonisme on European decorative arts and painters like Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, and James McNeill Whistler. The new edition is presented in a case and bound in a traditional Japanese style known as stab binding in which a series of holes are punched in the cover and the spine is elegantly bound with string.

Scheduled for release next month, you can pre-order One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: The Complete Plates on Taschen’s website. You might also enjoy Hiroshige’s instructional shadow puppet prints and a look back at a recent exhibition focusing on landscapes in the Art Institute of Chicago’s ukiyo-e archive.

 

   

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article ‘One Hundred Famous Views of Edo’: Hiroshige’s Seminal Series of Woodblock Prints Gets a Vibrant Reprint appeared first on Colossal.

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how to attract a pisces

Pisces are known for being sensitive, intuitive, and creative individuals. If you're interested in attracting a Pisces, here are some tips that may help:

1. Show your emotional side: Pisces are emotional creatures and are attracted to partners who are in touch with their emotions. Expressing your feelings and being vulnerable can help build a strong emotional connection.

2. Be patient: Pisces can be indecisive and take their time when it comes to making decisions, so it's important to be patient and not rush them.

3. Show your creative side: Pisces are often creative individuals who appreciate art, music, and other forms of self-expression. Sharing your own creative pursuits or showing an interest in theirs can help build a connection.

4. Be kind and compassionate: Pisces are empathetic and compassionate individuals who value kindness and understanding. Showing compassion and empathy towards them and others can help attract a Pisces.

5. Listen attentively: Pisces are good listeners and appreciate partners who can do the same. Taking the time to listen to their thoughts and feelings can help build trust and strengthen the relationship.

Remember, everyone is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all formula for attracting someone. Ultimately, being yourself and building a genuine connection based on mutual interests and values is key to attracting a Pisces or anyone else.

Tom Hegen’s Aerial Photos of Spanish Olive Groves Reveal Undulating Patterns and Deep Traditions

All images © Tom Hegen, shared with permission

For millennia, Spain has been leading producer of olives thanks to the Mediterranean climate’s long, hot summers and mild winter temperatures. Harvested and cured in brine or ground up to extract the natural oils, the fruits are grown on trees planted in vast groves that stretch for miles over the undulating landscape. The region of Andalusia in particular boasts a time-honored tradition of olive cultivation, producing and exporting more than any other part of the country. For German photographer Tom Hegen, the rows and grid-like patterns of the groves presented an irresistible subject.

Known for his aerial photos of swaths of earth that have been impacted by human presence, such as salt extraction sites, Florida beaches, and solar plants, Hegen captures expansive Spanish landscapes that when viewed from above, morph into abstractions of pattern and texture. He highlights the immense monocultures that spread over nearly six million acres of Spanish countryside, documenting both large-scale agricultural production and smaller farms managed by individual families for whom producing olive oil is a centuries-old vocation.

Explore more of Hegen’s aerial photography on his website and Instagram.

 

 

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A Reel-to-Reel Recorder Animates Wildlife Automata Using Carl Sagan’s Warning of Climate Disasters

A new advertisement for the United Nations Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability program in the world, recalls the nearly 40-year-old speeches of the prescient American scientist and cosmologist Carl Sagan. Famously testifying to Congress in 1985 to alert of the dangers of a warming environment, Sagan was an unflinching advocate for transitioning the world away from fossil fuels and protecting the planet for generations to come.

In “Carl Sagan’s Message,” the Brazilian production company Boiler Filmes and ad agency AlmapBBDO bring the scientist’s words back to life alongside a menagerie of wildlife automata. As a reel-to-reel audio recorder plays his speeches, a kangaroo, elephant, moose, and more—all of which were created by artist Pablo Lavezzari—begin to wiggle. Each is part of a larger installation, a fitting metaphor for the connection of all living beings.

Throughout the nearly two-minute ad, Sagan warns, “We’re doing something immensely stupid…The abundance of greenhouse gases is increasing. One degree of temperature change is enough to produce widespread suffering and famine worldwide.” Unfortunately in 2023, the planet has already surpassed one degree, and we now face the immense task of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celcius. “40 years ago it was urgent,” the ad reads. “Now it’s an emergency.”

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article A Reel-to-Reel Recorder Animates Wildlife Automata Using Carl Sagan’s Warning of Climate Disasters appeared first on Colossal.

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how to ask good questions

Asking good questions can be a valuable skill in various areas of life, including education, career, and personal relationships. Here are some tips for asking good questions:

1. Be clear about what you want to know: Before asking a question, take a moment to consider what information you are seeking. Be specific and avoid vague or ambiguous language.

2. Consider your audience: The type of question you ask may depend on the person or group you are asking. For example, a technical question to a specialist in the field may be more detailed than a general question to someone unfamiliar with the topic.

3. Use open-ended questions: Open-ended questions encourage discussion and can lead to more information than closed-ended questions. For example, instead of asking, "Did you like the movie?" you can ask, "What did you think of the movie?"

4. Avoid leading questions: Leading questions can imply a particular answer and may influence the person's response. For example, asking, "Don't you think the movie was terrible?" suggests a negative opinion.

5. Avoid judgmental language: Using judgmental language can make people defensive and less likely to answer the question. For example, instead of saying, "Why did you do that stupid thing?" you can say, "Can you explain your reasoning behind that decision?"

6. Listen actively: Pay attention to the response to your question, and ask follow-up questions if necessary. Active listening can help you gain more insights and better understanding of the topic.

7. Ask for clarification if needed: If you don't understand the answer or need more information, ask for clarification. It shows that you are interested in the topic and value the other person's perspective.

Overall, asking good questions requires clarity, openness, and curiosity. By asking good questions, you can gain more insights, deepen your understanding, and build better relationships with others.