These attitudes are the products of a pervasive culture in which, from time to time, the interests and passions of one class boil over, scorching the interests of the others.

In the last 30 years, starting before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the forces of finance capital launched a hostile takeover bid for the world, and, in places like Jamaica, recruited a substantial quota of middle-class people who bought into the idea that if their lusts were attended to, health, wealth and happiness would naturally follow for the ‘less fortunate’.

That phrase – ‘the less fortunate’ – both conceals and exposes the real truth: that life in a world ruled by finance capital is a lottery, a matter of chance, fortune, of luck rather than ability or work.

So, people like P J Patterson and Edward Seaga were able to believe, no doubt sincerely, that separating thousands of people from their jobs was in their own best interests, and that somehow the people who had worked to build Jamaica over 500 years were parasites who had to be taught to work.

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Just visiting the Beatrice Wood Art Gallery is a full immersion experience. After nearly an hour-long drive through the Ojai Valley and onto Highway 150, the idyllic setting put me into that nature-appreciating, artistic mindset in which I wistfully imagine what it would feel like to have ceramics experience beyond elementary school pinch-pot projects. The panoramic view of Beato’s beloved Happy Valley had me in cliché transcendental-poet mode before I even opened the door.

But not a solitary Hudson River School oil is to be found within the walls of the Mama of Dada’s home-turned-gallery. Augmenting the permanent collection of Woods’ works adorning the walls — and the occasional fireplace mantel — is the first of two small rooms devoted to Contemporary California Clay, which began July 12 and runs through August 24.

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He owned and operated the Dunes Art Gallery, from 1969 to 1974 in Grand Haven, and then on Oceana Drive just outside Pentwater until 1985, where he lived at his gallery. He also opened a gallery in Whitehall in 1988.

Roberts’ galleries handled work by artists from West Michigan and other Midwest states. In addition to paintings and photography, his galleries also featured fiber art and driftwood.

Roberts’ own black and white photographs captured nature’s beauty with a powerful simplicity. One of his favorites was a photograph taken in 1970 called “Anatomy of Winter,” a scene of snow and sand.

It was exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Muskegon Museum of Art, which then was called Hackley Art Gallery.

Roberts always maintained that: “You don’t have to go to Chicago or Detroit for good art.

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“We believe that through culture we can reach out to foreign affairs and foreign policies, and the more the heads of state are aware of the positive cultural actions, the more they are positive towards Tibet and China,” she added.

MacBain is also the founder of the New Globalization Platform, part of the Global Creative Leadership Initiative that has gained an increasing influence. She has been working to promote exchanges between different cultures.

While meeting the delegation, headed by Tobdrub Wangben, vice minister of the State Commission for Ethnic Affairs of China, MacBain said that she would like to set up a special session at the coming “Global Creative Leadership Summit” scheduled on Sept. 21-23.

She said that she has invited Chinese leaders and experts to brief the world on the situation in Tibet so that “the heads of state attending the meeting will gain more knowledge of Tibet.”

Noting that “culture is the window to understand values, beliefs and tradition so that we can respect our differences,” MacBain said that she would also organize exhibitions of Tibetan cultures in “major world capitals like London, New York and Washington.”

She is also considering of organizing a grand exhibition of Tibetan culture in the United Nations in cooperation with a partner from China or simply with the U.N.

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Located in the gallery with the Civil War photos exhibit is “A Selection of Civil War Items from the Rosanna A. Blake Confederate Collection, Marshall University,” made up of artifacts from one of the finest private collections of Confederate history in the United States.

And located in Gallery Three is “Presidential Politicking: Campaign Memorabilia from George Washington to George W.”

The three Civil War exhibits are open through Sept. 21, while Presidential Politicking is up through Sept. 14.

Doug Charles said he was elated to see so many people, and so many young people, enjoying the history-themed exhibits that showcase images by Union photographers Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, George N. Barnard, Timothy O’Sullivan and A.J. Russell as well as rare images by photographers traveling in the South, such as A.J.

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Will Ford’s retrograde corporate culture, the frozen middle that has endured wave after wave of cutbacks and layoffs and doesn’t have weekly access to Mulally and the top guys who run the place, coalesce behind a transformation plan that does not account for mediocrity or poor execution?

Mulally, an eternal optimist, certainly would say yes and yes. But it’s not only up to him and his Toyota-ized plan — and that’s the biggest challenge of all.

Daniel Howes’ column runs Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be reached at (313) 222-2106, dchowes@detnews.com or detnews.com/howes. Catch him Fridays with Paul W. Smith on NewsTalk 760-WJR.

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Three new art galleries debuted in Downtown recently. PYO Gallery was scheduled to hold an opening reception on Saturday, July 12, for its inaugural exhibit featuring the paintings of Paris-based artist Kim Tschang-Yeul (Los Angeles Downtown News went to press before the event). Specializing in modern and contemporary fine art by Asian and international artists, PYO Gallery opened its first space in Seoul, Korea, in 1981 and subsequently started three others. Heidi Chang is director of the first U.S. branch at 1100 S. Hope St., Suite 105. On Thursday, July 10, Phyllis Stein Art debuted with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by 14th District Councilman Jos Huizar. The fine art gallery started by Phyllis Stein focuses on emerging artists. It received assistance from the Historic Downtown Retail Project to launch at 207 W.

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“I always think of this place as the soul of Navajo culture,” says park ranger Ailema Benally.

“It’s important to spend some good personal time here,” she said. “Time to sit awhile and listen with your mind [to] what the canyon has to say to you.”

The monument is managed by the federal government but the land remains Navajo-owned. Only the canyon rim and a single trail leading to the ruins of a dwelling called the White House are accessible without a Navajo guide.

Ask the guides, or let them tell you about the Navajo deities who are said to reside there. You’ll hear stories of the medicine men who bless this sacred site, and tales of the massacres and forced relocations of the tribe from the Spanish colonial era through America’s 19th century westward expansion.

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‘Must see’ museums include the Guggenheim featuring international works of contemporary art, the Academy Gallery and the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Verona, the setting of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also regarded as one of the most well-preserved cities in Veneto. It displays an array of magnificent medieval and roman architecture including the impressive amphitheatre and arena.

If you are looking for a quieter day trip, Chioggia is a charming town south of Venice which is dominated by narrow streets and numerous canals without the crowds of tourists, and as a result is affectionately known as ‘Mini Venice’. Marostica is also a town full of character, and is well worth a visit in early autumn. Every year, during the second weekend in September, the town hosts a larger than life chess game involving real people as chess pieces.

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Four Generations Art Gallery Memorial tribute to Paul D. Ortlip. Runs all season. Extraordinary Portraits: Every picture tells a story. Runs through July 27. Vineyard Haven. 508-693-5501.

The Granary Gallery Alison Shaw, Scott Terry, Carol Maguire. West Tisbury. Runs through July 19. 508-693-0455.

Hammond Harkins Galleries Paul Hamilton: Paintings from Farm and Vineyard. Through July 20. 508-627-9066.

Hermine Merel Smith Fine Art Woodcuts by Ruth Kirchmeier, oil paintings by Hermine Hull. Runs through Columbus Day. West Tisbury. 508-693-7719.

Louisa Gould Gallery Sixth annual Boat Show. Nat Benjamin’s line drawings, Donald Demurs’ prints, Brooke Olsen’s scrimshaw, Bob Tilton’s miniature boats, Ovid Ward’s paintings, Maya Farber’s paintings, Chris Pendergast’s paintings, Louis Gould’s paintings and photography, Scarlet Blair’s sailors’ valentines.

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