Transrealism by Zsuzsa Mathe Transrealism is the art of the 21st century fulfilling the long awaited return to the basics: art is communication, and it shall be understandable by the observer; it shall not expect the audience to be sophisticated or educated in the subject. Instead it is the artist's responsibility to be versed enough in their profession and their tools of art to be able to express themselves to convey a message and be universally understood.

Human Forms by Howie Doyle Oil, acrylic, and charcoal on canvas In the words of artist Gerrit Verstraete: "If good art is to remain good medicine for the human spirit, it must remain firmly rooted in our relationships. In the 'high art' of curatorial criticism, relationships are discarded for the sake of abstract archival critique that seldom touches anyone anywhere but in the intellect." Mindful to touch the heart, I will aspire as Van Gogh did, "I hope I shall be able to make some drawings in which there is something human."

Across the Underverse Underwater photo series with model Mel Vega. 2009, Houston TX Many Thanks to Reefpix.org.

Underwater: Daffodils The waves beside [the daffodils] danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought.... Model: Mel Vega; 2009, Houston TX Many Thanks to Reefpix.org.

Urban (r)Evolutions This photo series by Jessica Leza will be presented in Festival Miden's Urban (r)Evolutions in Greece, July 2009. These photos were taken 2003-2006 in Hong Kong, Xiangtan, and Changsha (Hunan Province) People's Republic of China.

Images of South China This photo series by Jessica Leza was awarded the People's Choice Award in Travel-Tourism by the 2007 Prix de la Photographie Paris. These photos were taken 2003-2006 in Hunan, Guangxi, and Yunnan province.

Melanie Muņoz Melanie Muņoz is a Houston based model and artist. These acrylic paintings are an auto- biographical complement to short stories & album art to be published on alarana.net in the fall of 2009. These paintings have been adapted to magnets, ceramic mugs, gift cards, and more for sale via deviantART. Melanie Muņoz on MySpace E-mail: melanie @alarana.net

alarana.net | 2009 | Houston, TX