http://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/33026/1/thirteen-photographers-to-get-to-know-at-unseen-amsterdam

RACHEL CHANDLER

Rachel Chandler interned for famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier when she was studying History of Art in New York, and since then has carved out a career taking photos of her own social and creative scene. Working for Purple Diary, Chandler also frequently contributes to Vogue and Industrie, and Dazed – shooting the Art Baby Gallery initiative for the winter 2015 issue.

https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/36302/1/marina-abramovic-jeff-koons-front-first-online-vr-gallery

Marina Abramović, Jeff Koons and Olafur Eliasson are premiering artwork on a new major virtual reality arts platform, Acute Art.

The three interactive works from the iconic contemporary artists were previewed at Stockholm’s Brilliant Minds this week. The VR digital gallery hopes to explore and encourage art’s transition from the physical art word to the new age of online. The project officially launches in Autumn 2017 with plans to bring in young and emerging artists.

Videos from Koons, Abramović and Eliasson illustrate how each piece of art was created in VR form.

Digital art spaces have long been blossoming, like Art Baby Gallery, and talented young digital artists pushing their innovation to totally new dimensions, from May Waver to Kim Laughton. Elsewhere, there's the Wrong Biennale, celebrating the art of the vast virtual world, Digital Museum of Digital Art, founded by Alfredo Salazar-Caro and William Robertson, the New Museum's initiative and FLOAT, the creation of artists Ben Vance and Kate Parsons.

Marina Abramović additionally presents “Rising”. The Serbian performance artist is unafraid to break artistic boundaries, collaborating with everyone from Jay-Z to Lady Gaga and directing Givenchy and Adidas, and on-the-nose, thought-provoking shows like “512 Hours”, “Rhythm 5” and “Breathing In / Breathing Out”.

“Rising” sees the artist harness virtual reality to confront an audience with the climate crisis shaking the IRL world. It’s a strong call to action: viewers come face-to-face with Abramović in the VR space – her avatar invites you towards her glass tank, that’s slowly filling with water. She then takes you across the world to see the melting ice caps and glaciers. If you make a commitment to help, the water level in her tank goes down, if you make none, she drowns.

https://theintercept.com/2019/03/22/house-democratic-leadership-warns-it-will-cut-off-any-firms-who-challenge-incumbents/

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee warned political strategists and vendors Thursday night that if they support candidates mounting primary challenges against incumbent House Democrats, the party will cut them off from business.

The news was officially announced Friday morning, paired with a statement on the committee’s commitment to diversity in consulting — “which obviously, is just to give themselves cover,” a Democratic political consultant who learned of it Thursday told The Intercept. The consultant asked for anonymity given their relationship with the DCCC, and the party organization’s professed strategy of blacklisting firms who don’t fall in line.

To apply to become a preferred vendor in the 2020 cycle, firms must agree to a set of standards that includes agreeing not to work with anyone challenging an incumbent.

https://apnews.com/67d968d7338c448c90100a300451cf67

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — PolyMet Mining Corp. has received the final permit it needs to proceed with building Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine, the company and the Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday.

The Corps said it issued the permit late Tuesday. It deals with the steps PolyMet must take to mitigate the project’s effects on wetlands. The announcement said the project will impact 500 fewer acres of wetlands than PolyMet’s original proposal.

“We are confident that we have identified an appropriately balanced alternative and proffered a permit that will allow access to an important mineral resource, while maximizing protection to natural resources including wetlands,” Col. Sam Calkins, commander of the Corps’ St Paul District, said in a statement.

In a separate statement, PolyMet called it a “historic achievement” that will let it move forward with Minnesota’s first copper-nickel-precious mine.