Last Monday I participated in a conference called "Christmas in art", sponsored by Espejo De Alicante (EDA), the artists association to which I belong. The conference started at 7:30 PM, and was about the presence of Christmas in different art disciplines. Ignacio Egido Marcos talked about Christmas in architecture. In literature and poetry, the poet Rita Quinto. About music, Consuelo Giner. Antogonza, the painter, about classic paintings. Pilar Lopez was the moderator. And I talked about cinema and photography. Photo by Jordi R. Cardona In the beginning I had to prepare the topic of cinema, but in the last moments, the person who was going to talk about photography got a flu and I had to replace him, so I had to talk about 2 topics: cinema, and photography. For my speech I prepared a video with some photos of famous Christmas movies, with a special mention to the great movie of Frank Capra "It's a wonderful life". I have to say that I love that movie. But also talked about other kind of Christmas films, and it's curious because there are all kind of movies which actions happen on these holidays: religious, horror, action, humor, drama... I also had a special mention of the brilliant director Tim Burton. And also Charles Dickens, whose book "A Christmas Carol" has been and is a classic in movies of these holidays. Photo by Jordi R. Cardona About photography I talked about the different typical themes of Christmas in this artistic scope, like winter, families, or Christmas ornaments. After that some of us the speakers went to eat sushi that is a good way of ending a conference :)

My husband Jordi and me have made this product, inspired in this cold season :D The product consists in that you can make an unlimited number of winter, snow and high mountain scenes with this complete kit. It works in Poser and DAZ Studio. Contains: Panorama + Morphing terrain + props + lights + manuals + render settings Get it now as launch price 30% Off!!! Get it here: Snowy Scenes Creator

"We're gonna have a gothic christmas; that is what we'll do We're gonna have a gothic christmas; hope you'll have one too Santa's going to wear a black dress just for me and you. Santa's going to grunt in latin and slay a dragon or two. Rudolph, he will change his name 'Cause rudolph just sounds pretty lame. Now we'll call him Ragnagord, the evil reindeer overlord. His nose it shall be red no more. It will be blackened to the core. His eyes will glow an evil glow to guide the chariot through the snow. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. We're gonna have a gothic christmas; that is what we'll do. We're gonna have a gothic christmas; hope you have one too. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. We want to wish you a gothic christmas. Hope you'll have a gothic christmas too." -lyrics of the original song- With this song of Within Temptation called "Gothic Christmas", I want to wish you, my dear readers, a wonderful Christmas. And remember there is not a "standard" Christmas. Each one must celebrate like one wants. There is only a obligation: Be happy, and the most important, make others happy. God bless you and I love you!

Saint Nicholas was born in the IV century in a place that belongs to Turkey in our times. He was a man that provided from a rich family and became famous in those times because of his generosity with the poor. An epidemic left him without family so he became the heir of a big fortune. When he was 19, he became a priest. He invested big fortunes in making presents to poor children and orphans. Years later, Nicholas was vested bishop in Myra (Turkey). Photo By Klearchos Kapoutsis There are many stories around the generosity of Saint Nicholas. One of them is that when Christmas was near, a ruined merchant couldn't pay his daughter's dowry so she can marry. Nicholas heard this and left him a bag full of gold coins in his door. Since that moment the custom of exchanging presents in Christmas started to become more popular. Although the origin of giving presents for Christmas came from ancient Rome, when in the middle of December there were some celebrations in honor of Saturn in which the people gave presents to the children. Photo By Hammer51012 Saint Nicholas died in a date near Christmas so in some way it turned for History and forever into something like the father of Christmas, representing the values of generosity and goodness. The mortal remains of Saint Nicholas were taken to Bari (Italy), where a church with his name was built. Although Saint Nicholas was a thin man and carried the clothes of a priest, the image of Saint Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, or "Santa") today is very different from this, and is due to the writer Clement C. Moore, who in a poem in 1823 described him as a fun, fat, short man, that carried a sleigh with 9 reindeer. Photo By MoonSoleil Years later the drawer Thomas Nast depicted a Santa Claus that was wearing red clothes with a hat, tall boots, and had a toy workshop in the North Pole. Haddon Sundblom, the Swedish drawer, in 1931, gave Santa Claus the popular appearance that has today, and was a commissioned work for Coca Cola.

Some months ago, I was asked if I wanted to take part in an exhibition for the Human Rights. The exhibition consisted in that different artists (sculptors, photographers, watercolorists, collage artists...) had to choose an article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and make an artwork based on it. I chose the 7th article, basically around Justice. I chose this article because I think that in some way it comprises the essence of Human Rights. It is just that everyone has the same opportunities, that everybody can opt to the same education. It is just that we all can be the same. Here you can see me with my artwork. You can also watch it at my portfolio. Photo by Franchi The exhibition was on day December 10, 2010, in the day of Human Rights. Remember that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved on December 10, 1948. The exhibition opened at 20:30 PM. It was presented by Vicente Pertegas, coordinator of International Amnesty, Jose Francisco Morales, councilor of culture of Elda, Ana Martinez in representation of all the artists, Consuelo Giner, the President of EDA, and Maravillas Cano, a poet that read some poems. This exhibition started on Alicante, in Panoramis Gallery, and will route through another cities and art galleries. Photo by Jordi R. Cardona There were many people and we got lots of signatures for several human rights issues. I am very happy of participating in this. Photo by Jordi R. Cardona Oh, and another thing, many people liked my Justice. They asked me about the artwork. This kind of situations flatter and blush me :D

The Warrior's Way Director: Sngmoo Lee Screenwriter: Sngmoo Lee Starring: Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush, Danny Huston, Tony Cox Genre: Action, Fantasy Plot: Yan is a swords master. One day, he decides to change all his way of living and abandons Asia. He leaves with a baby called April, the last descendant of the enemy lineage. He moves to America, but his destiny and his enemies will chase him everywhere he goes. The Tourist Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Screenwriter: Julian Fellowes, Christopher McQuarrie and Jeffrey Nachmanoff Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton, Steven Berkoff Genre: Thriller Plot: Anthony Zimmer is a swindler. All the polices from all over the world are after him. His only weak point is Chiara (Angelina Jolie). A policeman called Akerman knows that sooner or later Zimmer and Chiara will meet together. So to fool the police, Chiara will approach a stranger whose life will soon turn into a hell. Little Fockers Director: Paul Weitz Screenwriter: Larry Stuckey, John Hamburg, Victoria Strouse Starring: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, Harvey Keitel, Teri Polo, Barbra Streisand Genre: Comedy Plot: If you liked "Meet the parents" and "Meet the Fockers", this is the third part of this saga. Now, the couple are parents of twins, and their problems with the father-in-law (Robert De Niro) will continue, in addition to the reappearing of the old boyfriend of Pam.

"The stars are putting on their glittering belts. They throw around their shoulders cloaks that flash Like a great shadow's last embellishment." -Wallace Stevens- Like in a dream, Northern Lights appear like magic to our eyes and hearts. Only people of cold countries can enjoy this magnificent natural show, they and you in this moment. Photo By Image Editor Photo By leehasacamera Photo By artic pj Photo By nick_russill Photo By Deivis Photo By Jökull Másson Photo By madmack66 Photo By nick_russill Photo By nick_russill Photo By GuideGunnar - Arctic Norway Photo By FredMikeRudy Photo By Philgarlic