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Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts

Giving U.S. Tax Forms A Much Needed Makeover - Modernizing The W-9 and 1040.






A self-initiated design project by FormNation, they took it upon themselves to give such US Tax forms as the ol' W9 and 1040 a much needed makeover for both hardcopies and digital. No one likes doing taxes and the fact that these painfully necessary forms are both confusing and downright ugly does not help.

Original and redesigned US Tax Forms 1040 and W-9:



Setting out to prove that design can help to innovate, promote ease of use, and add value to business and society, FormNation streamlined the fonts, clearly prioritized the sections and added color to help distinguish the forms.

The redesigned 1040 form:





The redesigned W-9 form:




“Change in the broad sense can be transitional, revolutionary, and transformative. It’s about making life easier, and making things more possible.” - FormNation




Nice work guys, now if only the US Government would follow suit.


FormNation

Forget Pitching to Hollywood. Zach Braff Raises $1.9 Million in 2 Days on Kickstarter.




Actor-director Zach Braff is killing it on Kickstarter. He has forgone traditional ways of getting Hollywood backing and has raised $1.9 million (and counting) in two days on the crowdsourcing platform, for "Wish I Was Here," his follow-up to "Garden State." His goal was to reach $2 million in funding in a month.



above: Zach wrote the move with his brother Adam last summer.

His pitch on Kickstarter launched two days ago, April 24th and as of 7:30pm April 26th (Pacific Time) he has raised $1,916,889 from 27,135 backers. He still has 27 days to reach his $2,000,000 goal, which he obviously will surpass.

His earnest and likeable video pitch on Kickstarter has appearances by Jim Parsons, Donald Faison and Chris Hardwick:


Cinematographer Larry Sher, who shot Zach's first film, Garden State, as well as the hangover franchise, has agreed to shoot "Wish I Was Here":


Here is a drawing of the film's characters by Colin Fix (the film in NOT animated):


To get all the details about the film or to become a supporter and see what goodies various pledges will get you, visit Zach's Kickstarter project.

Better Late Than Never. The New 100$ Bill And Its High Tech Security Features Explained.




The Federal Reserve Board announced on Wednesday that the redesigned $100 note will finally begin circulating on October 8, 2013. This note, which incorporates new security features such as a blue, 3-D security ribbon, will be easier for the public to authenticate but more difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.

The new design for the $100 note was unveiled in 2010, but its introduction was postponed following an unexpected production delay. (It was supposed to start circulating in February of 2011).

The new $100 as seen in regular light:


The new $100 as seen when backlit:


The new $100 as seen in UV or Black light:


To ensure a smooth transition to the redesigned note when it begins circulating in October, the U.S. Currency Education Program is reaching out to businesses and consumers around the world to raise awareness about the new design and inform them about how to use its security features.

I had already done that in this post back in 2010, so here it is again for you:

Officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the United States Secret Service recently unveiled the new design for the $100 note. Complete with advanced technology to combat counterfeiting, the new design for the $100 note retains the traditional look of U.S. currency.



There are a number of security features in the redesigned $100 note, including two new features, the 3-D Security Ribbon and the Bell in the Inkwell. These security features are easy for consumers and merchants to use to authenticate their currency.



The blue 3-D Security Ribbon on the front of the new $100 note contains images of bells and 100s that move and change from one to the other as you tilt the note. The Bell in the Inkwell on the front of the note is another new security feature. The bell changes color from copper to green when the note is tilted, an effect that makes it seem to appear and disappear within the copper inkwell.

The new $100 note also displays American symbols of freedom, including phrases from the Declaration of Independence and the quill the Founding Fathers used to sign this historic document. Both are located to the right of the portrait on the front of the note.

The back of the note has a new vignette of Independence Hall featuring the rear, rather than the front, of the building. Both the vignette on the back of the note and the portrait on the front have been enlarged, and the oval that previously appeared around both images has been removed.

Although less than 1/100th of one percent of the value of all U.S. currency in circulation is reported counterfeit, the $100 note is the most widely circulated and most often counterfeited denomination outside the U.S.

The New Security Features
Below is a close-up look at the new features to help you learn how to identify the real thing and use the two advanced security features: the 3-D Security Ribbon and the Bell in the Inkwell.



1. Portrait Watermark
Hold the note to light and look for a faint image of Benjamin Franklin in the blank space to the right of the portrait.

3. Color-Shifting 100
Tilt the note to see the numeral 100 in the lower right corner of the front of the note shift from copper to green.



2. Security Thread
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.

4. Raised Printing
Move your finger up and down Benjamin Franklin’s shoulder on the left side of the note. It should feel rough to the touch, a result of the enhanced intaglio printing process used to create the image. Traditional raised printing can be felt throughout the $100 note, and gives genuine U.S. currency its distinctive texture.

6. Microprinting
Look carefully to see the small printed words which appear on Benjamin Franklin’s jacket collar, around the blank space containing the portrait watermark, along the golden quill, and in the note borders.



5. Gold 100
Look for a large gold numeral 100 on the back of the note. It helps those with visual impairments distinguish the denomination.

FW Indicator (not shown here)
The redesigned $100 notes printed in Fort Worth, Texas, will have a small FW in the top left corner on the front of the note to the right of the numeral 100. If a note does not have an FW indicator, it was printed in Washington, D.C.

All U.S. currency remains legal tender, regardless of when it was issued. Visit www.newmoney.gov where you can watch an animated video and click through an interactive note.

More information about the new design $100 note, as well as training and educational materials, can be found at www.newmoney.gov. For media inquiries, call 202-452-2955

See A Penny, Pick It Up. Or Paint It, If You're Jacqueline Lou Skaggs.



above: Venus Dreams, 1963

13 pennies are used as miniature canvases for oil paintings titled "Tondi Observations" by Indiana artist Jacqueline Lou Skaggs.


above: The Plastic Magician, 1984

In the artist's own words:
"This small body of twelve works consist of images painted on found, discarded pennies. These pictures pay homage to, not only, the binding ideologies that define our family, religious, social and political worlds- but also to the resonating mythological powers of traditional painting and miniature picture making- much like the Dutch oils on copper from the 17th century. Paid tribute no less on the face of discarded coins these iconic images transcend the coins value while, to some extent, defacing it.

"Abe's Millennium" is a portrait from a found thrift-store photograph (regrettably sold at a yard sale). The title comes from my knowing that we still have a long way to go.

above: Abe's Millenium, 1973

"Kisses and Ghosts" is from a portrait of my mother as a child standing next to a bird bath with her brother. I once read a report in which children were asked what they feared most. The two most popular answers were "kisses" and "ghosts".

above: Kisses and Ghosts, 1951

"Four Witches Stand" is a line in the Pledge of Allegiance.

above: four Witches Stand, 1978

"The Unburning Bush" is a bush that never burned.

above: The Unburning Bush, 1992

"The Field of Sleeping Peasants" is waiting for Picasso.

above: Field of Sleeping Peasants, 1971

"The Baptistery" honors the rain Gods for suburban birds.

above: the Baptistry, 1980

"Through carelessness..." is a random line chosen with my eyes closed from the Chinese book of chance, I-Ching.

above: Through Carelessness He Loses His Cow, 1944

"A Pile of Burnt Wood" is just that, in the approaching evening light. "A Still Life" is too still... and so on.

above: A Pile Of Burnt Wood, 1983

above: A Still Life, 1976

Initially these coins were going to be spent- nestled with other coins in an exchange of goods. Or tossed back to the sidewalks from whence they came. Nice thoughts. However, these works remain hoarded as art rather than currency or discarded, valueless copper."


above: The Last Supper Table, 1990

Jacqueline is currently represented by SUGAR, 449 Troutman St #3-5, Bushwick, Brooklyn #718.417.1180
jacquelinelouskaggs.com

brought to my attention by the Global Art Junkie

Mark Wagner Gives All Other Currency Artists A Run For Their Money. UPDATED.





At the moment, tattoo artist Scott Campbell's cut currency seems to be the most blogged about and cited artwork when it comes to cut up money. And artist Hanna von Goeler paints upon United States currency. But it's the work of artist Mark Wagner that I find the most impressive. Using only $1 bills, Mark creates extraordinary 'currency collages'.

The image below is brand new, sent to me by the artist late last night. Titled "Duh-dunt…" after the Jaws theme:

detail:

Other examples:


detail from above right image:




His latest and most topical currency collage, Vote With Your Pocketbook, features the presidential candidates Obama and Romney for 2012:




Mark's currency collages are a sight to behold. The dedication, composition and cutting up of one dollar bills to create intricate detailed tapestry-like posters is simply astounding.

From recreating famous artworks like Grant Wood's American Gothic and Chuck Close's self-portrait:

American Gothic details:


Chuck Close portrait details:



...to creating original images of animals, faces, scenes and plants, the collages are all made with American one dollar bills, a blade, glue, patience and a butt-load of talent.


detail of center piece above:




detail from above piece:





It is amazing what Wagner can create with the limited palette of colors, shapes and subjects from the two color inked engraved dollar bills. Below is a close-up look at some of my favorites.

Mermaid:





Honeycomb and bees:


Lion Tamer:



Circus Lion:



Flower Monster:



Angler fish/ Monster/Mermaid:


Three Georges In a Boat:



About the Artist:
Mark Wagner was born quietly in the rural Midwest at the tail end of thirteen children. Since leaving the sandbox at the age of fourteen, he has continued his creative career in the fields of writing, collage, and bookmaking. He is co-founder of The Booklyn Artists Alliance, and has published books under the name Bird Brain Press and X-ing Books.
Wagner's work is collected by dozens of institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, The Walker Art Center, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. It has shown at The Metropolitan Museum, The Getty Research Institute, and The Brooklyn Museum.

The Artist's Statement About His Currency Collages:

The one dollar bill is the most ubiquitous piece of paper in America. Collage asks the question: what might be done to make it something else? It is a ripe material: intaglio printed on sturdy linen stock, covered in decorative filigree, and steeped in symbolism and concept. Blade and glue transform it-reproducing the effects of tapestries, paints, engravings, mosaics, and computers—striving for something bizarre, beautiful, or unbelievable... the foreign in the familiar.
Mark Wagner
American, B. 1976

For books and posters go to X-ing Books
Inquire about original currency collages at Pavel Zoubok Gallery
Inquire about artists books at The Booklyn Artists Alliance
In the Chicago area contact Western Exhibitions

Mark Wagner website

Please donate

C'mon people, it's only a dollar.