Chinese artists have been attracting more attention recently; both from the international art community and—more troublingly—the Chinese government. With the detention, release and subsequent $2.2 Million dollar fine “back taxes” imposed on dissident artist Ai Weiwie, China is proving itself to be both a dangerous place for artistic expression, and—ironically—one where such expression matters most.

Check out the awesome bike sculpture Ai Weiwie welded up from hundreds of frames made by the Chinese state-run bike company over at Adventure Journal.

It’s that context which makes the impressive trompe l’oeil photographs of Liu Bolin more than simply grand optical illusions. And it is a great illusion: one doesn’t need to understand the politics of political repression in China to appreciate Liu’s clever trademark of painting himself into the Chinese landscape. In each of the massive prints—up to 5′ wide in a recent exhibit titled “Hiding in the City” at Stockholm’s Fotografiska Museet—he is literally painted into the landscape.

Ostensibly, the purpose of the project is to “explore the relationship between people and their environment.” But given the history of censorship under the Chinese regime, enforced by a chilling ability to make artists literally disappear, it’s also a powerfully revealing work of camouflage. And, as the exhibit draws crowds to art galleries around the world (including New York—check out the film below), it’s proof of the power of art to make change.

See more of Liu Bolin’s photographs from The Invisible Man project, visit the website of the Eli Klein Gallery.

Back in 2010, we challenged visitors to our New York pop-up shop to join us in creating change half a world away, by helping to build a well in Ethiopia. For one night, we donated 10% of sales to Charity:Water, an organization championed by Adrian Grenier, and which he’d shared with us during the shoot for our ongoing Portraits series. [See the film here.]

“Charity:Water does something very important, but very simple,” Adrian explained. ”It brings clean drinking water to people in developing nations. I believe in the goal. Clean drinking water is at the root of good health, and allowing people to take that next step toward their own success.”

Eighteen months later, the 175 more people are taking that step. Through the work of our friends at Charity:Water—and the communities they work with—that gift 18 months ago has created change. As Scott Harrison, Founder and President of Charity:Water, writes:

The gift you’ve given will bring life, health, hope and dignity to people you’ve never met. For many people, your gift was an answer to years—sometimes decades—of prayer. For others. it was a sudden realized and unexplained hope in a forgotten place where dreams of a better future had died long ago. That change has now been realized, and thanks to you, the people of Golomye no longer have to drink water that makes them sick. You’ve done an amazing thing, and I’m so truly grateful for your support.

Today, we’re pleased to pass those thanks along to the people who really made it happen: you, the supporters of the New York Pop-Up shop whose generosity allowed us to make this gift. It’s a reminder that change can be easy when made collectively—whether it’s for communities around the block or on the other side of the world.

Set to launch on Earth Day, the Truck Farm armada (financed by a generous micro grant from Truck Farm) will host a national school garden contest as well truck planting events in select cities across the US. So grab a rake and friend and join a movement.

To learn more, check out www.truck-farm.com.

two entries from the 2010 school garden contest

Nau’s love affair with Mark began at Sydney’s (the old Brecken) back in December 2006 and we’ve had a crush on him ever since.  We’ve been lucky enough to share a carefully brewed coffee with him about every six months in recent years as he’s moved from Alaska, Brazil, Valencia, and finally Annecy.  Like any consuming crush, we had to set him free to see if it was meant to be. We’re still hoping there’s a chance he’ll come back. There’s always a chance…. right??

Until then, we’ll continue to get lost in his photos and dream about our next reunion. One of us might need to hand deliver his new M3 Hoody.

And for everyone else, do you want to win a prize of your own and have us write a blog post all about YOU?  Send a photo to share@nau.com of you and your friends wearing your favorite Nau threads. Next month we’re giving away a men’s or women’s Wafter Pullover.  We’ll announce the winner here on the Thought Kitchen on Tuesday April 12th.

And if your lift tickets and ski jacket are covered, we know you’ll race up to your favorite mountain even faster.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER YOUR NAME IN A DRAWING FOR:

2 lift tickets to a ski area of your choice
1 free Nau jacket (also your choice)

We’ll hold our first drawing TODAY at 5pm PST (with a 2nd drawing on Friday, January 28th) and we’ll announce the winners here in the Thought Kitchen and on Twitter and Facebook.

We’ve had a great winter, and we want to share. Let us make your snowy dreams come true.

Congratulations to Justin Castillo for answering last month’s trivia question correctly.  Portraits subject Jeff Curtes shot the photos for this season’s on-mountain styles near Mt. Hood’s Elliot Glacier.

Justin, an M3 Hoody is headed your way.  It’s a staff favorite, enjoy!

Whether you’re on a world tour or visiting your local mountain on the weekend, send us your best shots of Nau in the snow.  Next month’s winner will receive a men’s or women’s Shroud of Purrin Hoody. Send your photos to share@nau.com and keep in touch, next month’s winner will be announced on February 8.

You probably know that clocks were designed with hands to mimic the movement of the sun around the earth. But then, a few centuries back, we realized that things were actually the other way around. Like so many things, it wasn’t the world that changed, it was us.

On a day when we’re all changing our clocks, check out this new perspective on telling time. Jason Linde produces these Wenge veneer clocks in New York; you can find them on Supermarket.