Joe Chiappetta Art • Comics • Books

Star Chosen Soundtrack

2026-02-06T15:03:00.000-08:00

12-Song Soundtrack Now Available on Spotify & Apple Music

The space-rock-opera has blasted off! Star Chosen, the musical soundtrack of sci-fi, spiritual epic-ness, is now available to stream for free!

The album has a dozen all-new rock, folk, pop, and retro songs that propel a space opera of intergalactic conflict. I wrote the lyrics over a 4-month period, and Paolix Guitar did the music production. This Star Chosen soundtrack serves as a companion piece to the full-length, illustrated sci-fi novel I wrote of the same title (which took 20 years to write). Join the Star Chosen and give these catchy tunes a listen!

Digital Art History from a Silly Daddy, Star Chosen, and Old Pocket PC Perspective

2025-10-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Looking Back at the Past 25 years to Look Forward

Joe Chiappetta, 10/30/2025

Since the earliest days of Microsoft's Pocket PC in 2000 AD and later, the Pocket PC Phone, various art and drawing programs were available to load onto the Windows Mobile platform. While this operating system eventually lost out to the more famous ones of today (Android, Apple), with the right software back then, such devices--because they came with a great and resonsive stylus--were transformed into virtual, but miniature, art studios. Mind you these were really fully functional mini-drawing tablets decades before Apple Pencil and e-ink drawing tablets were available.

Yet are there any visual artists who consistently created viable bodies of artwork on such pocketable gadgets who are still active in digital art today? From the digitized word balloons of myself, a longtime cartoonist and digital artist, the answer is a resounding "Tap Stylus Here!"

While my long-running series, "Silly Daddy," contains comics drawn on all types of media, what's noteworthy to the digital art and mobile device community is that over 500 of those cartoons were created entirely on devices running Windows Mobile (as of 2009). After that milestone, I stopped counting. This creative utilization includes phones and personal digital assistant devices (PDAs). The last device of choice I used for Windows Pocket PC was the HP iPAQ 210 Enterprise Handheld, with its 4" screen. I drew, lettered and colored webcomics on that Pocket PC using Conduits Pocket Artist software (a mini version similar to Adobe Photoshop) or Vectorsoft Draw (a mini version similar to Adobe Illustrator).

Other Windows Mobile devices that I, for my "Silly Daddy" comics had used to create webcomics include the Samsung Omnia phone, the Verizon XV6700 (HTC) phone, the Verizon 6900 (HTC Touch), and from back in 2002, the die-hard Compaq iPAQ 3955.

The comics created entirely on mobile phones even spawned their own art subcategory: "telephomics." I do warn however, that when artists aren't using an earpiece while making telephomics, they can expect the drawing process to be interrupted frequently if a lot of phone calls are coming in. Such is the lot with all-in-one devices.

Back in the day, I also used the word processing power of Microsoft's Word Mobile program, which came standard with the operating system, to write out story ideas and Silly Daddy dialog. I even used the Pocket PC in 2005 to start writing a large portion of a full length science fiction novel (finished 20 years later), but that's another story altogether... called "Star Chosen."

What all this digital art retrospective has done for me is quite profound. I see how far technology has advanced in the past quarter century, yet also how much all is still the same. Indeed, the handheld devices of today now do literally everything. But as for me, at heart, professionally, I am still somewhat like the patriarch Jacob. I have blessings which I am most grateful for, yet I believe I will receive even more. So I keep wrestling all night--not just with God as in the case of Jacob--but also with the ever-evolving digital art and publishing ecosystem. I won't let go until the blessings of being a digital creator are fully realized... or until the power goes out.

I invite you to read more about my digital art journey in a recent interview conducted by Digital Arts Blog. I'm so grateful to Cansu Waldron there for interviewing me about my long history in the arts! It was an absolute joy, privilege, and a blast to be featured there, as Digital Arts Blog has an impressive track record of crafting top-notch coverage of the digital art field! Cansu's insightful questions pulled so many unexpected and deep truths out of me--even career-enduring patterns I had never fully formulated until recently! We go into behind-the-scenes art-centric topics in a fun and fascinating way that I hope all can appreciate! You can read the interview at https://www.digitalartsblog.com/artist-spotlights/artist-interview-joe-chiappetta.

Star Chosen sci-fi novel: 20 Years in the Making

2025-08-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

My allegorical sci-fi novel about Christianity in space called "Star Chosen" took 20 years to (finally) bring to completion.

TIMELINE

2005: Started writing Christian sci-fi novel with the initial idea to have the tale be a series of television episodes.

2010: Started releasing story segments, both long and short story arcs.

2025: Finished "Star Chosen" as 360 page novel with 126 illustrations!

Enjoy this spiritual space opera and lively labor of love at https://joechiappetta.blogspot.com/2010/03/buy-book-now-star-chosen-science.html

Why I Released 50 NFT Comics on zeroone

2024-05-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Having spent the past 3 decades releasing art on the Internet, it would be an understatement to say that I have tried more than a few different art-related platforms over the years. For most of these websites, they offered timely tools for art marketplace access, publicity, sharing, and exploration. The art site I now prefer, "zeroone," has all that and so much more. As an incredibly visionary art site I have used almost exclusively for the past 10 months, zeroone also offers art ownership, gifting, and gamification. I could probably write pages of reasons why I appreciate the site, yet for the sake of brevity, here are the top 5 reasons I have spent nearly a year releasing 53 original comic NFTs on zeroone while also collecting nearly 500 art NFTs:

1. zeroone is THE place to collect original art NFTs where each person uses their own art as "currency" to gain collector passes. For every piece you release through zeroone's site, you can collect up to 10 artworks from other artists.

2. The community is typically un-snooty, easy-going, giving, and kind... which is refreshing to experience in the arts.

3. NFTs on a blockchain have historically been complicated to access, yet zeroone, running on the Avalanche blockchain, has made the NFT art collecting and releasing process ridiculously easy, quick, and free. This holds untapped potential for creative-minded people and institutions such as libraries, museums, schools, and galleries to start archiving their special collections on the blockchain where provenance is built into the platform.

4. While so much of the art world has a greed-mentality ingrained into its fabric, zeroone has a giving-mentality baked in. The only way to receive any art there is to give art.

5. zeroone is one of the rare places that has successfully turned NFT art-releasing and art-collecting into a game of sorts. It's fun and surprising to check the site and see if I'm in time to collect from one of my favorite artist's work there before all their editions run out--or before my collect passes run out. This game of art never seems to end--spurring me on to make and mint even more art in a festival of giving!

Play it with me and my son at https://zeroone.art/profile/joechiappetta and https://zeroone.art/profile/lukechiappetta

Mini-Comics Oral History Archives: Joe Chiappetta Interview

2024-04-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

Enjoy this funny, educational, and inspiring trip into comics history from the 1980s and 90s as cartoonist and comics champion Tom Hart, of Sequential Artists Workshop (SAW), interviews Joe Chiappetta about his early mini-comics publishing adventures!

Take this journey into never-before revealed comics history in the above video or audio only version: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/90s-mini-comics-oral-hist/episodes/Joe-Chiappetta---90s-Mini-Comics-Oral-History-Archives-e2hu75c/a-ab4p3g1

Video Playlist for ArtVndngMchn Mission Wonderful

2023-07-18T13:49:00.010-07:00

Here's a playlist of all the videos highlighting our 2023 art book that reads more like a cutting-edge zine: ArtVndngMchn Mission Wonderful. This playlist includes many in-progress handmade art scenes and some fun promo movies.

To read more about this multi-faceted 88-page fine art on paperback project, including its NFT and digital download components, go to https://joechiappetta.blogspot.com/p/artvndngmchn-mission-wonderful.html

Book & NFT Release: ArtVndngMchn: Mission Wonderful

2023-05-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

ArtVndngMchn: Mission Wonderful book cover by Joe Chiappetta

ArtVndngMchn: Mission Wonderful is an 88 page book of inspiration. It's more art-object than book-object, more zine than magazine, and more light than dark.

Always uplifting and avant-garde, ArtVndngMchn: Mission Wonderful features new comics, art, and literature from Southern California to around the world, published and curated by award-winning Silly Daddy cartoonist Joe Chiappetta.

Available in the following formats:

(each sold separately)

Paperback:

88 pages, square bound 6" x 9" with color cover and black and white interior, loaded with art and lit straight from the heart.

NFT bundled with Painting on Paperback and eBook:
A very rare edition of 30 ArtVndngMchn: Mission Wonderful NFTs comes bundled with 2 incredible treats: a painting on paperback and an eBook!

Full details at ArtVndngMchn: Mission Wonderful book ordering page

Macho Motors

2022-12-20T12:40:00.003-08:00

Macho Motors by Joe Chiappetta is a rare digital art edition of only 9 NFTs, available on AtomicHub NFT marketplace using the WAX blockchain.

BENEDICTION: I charge the people of this earth, drive to be not just another flashy gas guzzler, but a vehicle of positive impact, racing with power, boldness, zeal, directness, and the leadership that God is calling us to embrace along the unpredictable and exciting road of life.

BACKSTORY: I set out to make an artwork that inspired viewers in multiple ways, calling us all to a higher level of helpfulness in this world. As my "Macho Motors" piece was almost finished, my son, Luke Chiappetta, released his own piece of rare digital art through his NFTnT Gallery called "No One Else Has To Die," which is the first-ever End Overdose NFT. Luke is part of that organization, with a mission to End Overdose by distributing fentanyl testing strips and to spread awareness on the opioid crisis (https://endoverdose.net/). As a tribute to the inspiring work Luke is doing, both artistically and with End Overdose, you can partially see Luke's artwork in the background on the blue billboard.

BONUS: This NFT also comes with unlockable content available exclusively to NFT token holders. This means the only way to see the bonus art is to buy the NFT.

What is a NFT?

A NFT (non-fungible token) is a unique computer-coded asset assigned to specific digital artworks, making provenance, ownership history, trading, and collecting possible through blockchain technology. Also known as cryptoart and rare digital art, to own an NFT each collector typically needs a digital wallet.

For the WAX blockchain, NFT collectors can get a wallet from a number of providers, including AtomicHub or WAX Cloud Wallet.

The Most Wonderful Impromptu Concert

2022-11-03T09:40:00.001-07:00

The Most Wonderful Impromptu Concert is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available as an NFT on OpenSea.

My wife and I went on a double date with some friends to see a chamber concert at La Sierra University. As an artist, one of my favorite things to do is go to concerts and draw the performers. However, when we got to the campus concert hall, much to our surprise, the building was mostly unoccupied with few lights on. It soon became clear that I had the wrong date in my calendar. Yet as a man of faith, I prayed, "God, I don't know what is going on here, but please, make tonight's concert still happen."

Shortly thereafter, I discovered a mysterious young man sitting quietly in the otherwise empty lobby. His name was Rafael. I asked him if he played any instruments. He said confidently that he did. Then I asked him if he would do a solo concert for us--on the spot. In fact, I asked him if he could play 45 minutes of material for us. He said he didn't think he knew 45 minutes of material that was concert-ready.

As soon as he said that, I concluded that he was a humble man and therefore anything he performed would be genuine and inspiring. So I countered, "How about 30 minutes?" When Rafael said nothing, I rephrased, "How about 15 minutes? Just give me what you've got... please. I am sure it will be fantastic!"

"I can do that, yes," Rafael replied in an almost bewildered tone. Was he bewildered that I would ask him for a concert without ever hearing him play, or was he surprised that he was cooperating with a complete stranger? Perhaps it was both.

A new twist occurred, however. He remembered that he did not have much time as he was going to dinner with a friend and that she was just finishing practicing a song somewhere else in the building. So I asked if both of them would do a concert for us right then and there. He left to go ask his friend, and about 5 minutes later, they graciously invited us into the concert hall for the most delightful musical experience ever!

Rafael Braga and Isabel Pulido, both undergraduate students in La Sierra's music department, performed an unforgettable and heart-moving concert loaded with 6 songs plus endless inspiration for all.

Here is the list of what they boldly and passionately played with all professionalism and power:

1 - J.S Bach Prelude in g minor - BWV 558

2 - L. v. Beethoven Piano sonata Op. 13 "Pathétique" - 2nd and 3rd movements

3 - J.S Bach Gavotte en Rondeau and Gigue from the Partita no. 3 for violin solo

4 - J.S Bach Sarabande from the Partita no. 2 for violin solo

5 - J. Brahms concerto in D major for violin - 1st movement

6 - J. Haydn violin concerto in C major - 2nd movement

At the end of this spectacular evening, our tiny front row of 4 concert-goers were compelled to thank Rafael, Isabel, and God with the utmost sincerity, joy, and astonishment. Such kindness, giving spirit, flexibility, and desire for excellence (regardless of size of the audience) speaks volumes. Indeed, our gratitude resounds.

Silly Daddy 30th Anniversary

2022-07-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

The Most Epic Battle is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

Starting July 11th, 2022, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Silly Daddy Comics, Joe Chiappetta begins releasing new rare digital artworks as editions of 30 NFTs for only 30 WAX. Some of Chiappetta's work sells for thousands of dollars in the NFT market, so this anniversary discount is a way to give back to the community.

Shortly after cartoonist Joe Chiappetta became a father, he started publishing a comic book series in 1992 called Silly Daddy. Over the years, Silly Daddy/Chiappetta has won awards from the Xeric Foundation as well as the Illinois Arts Council. Chiappetta's offbeat yet upbeat comics have earned him a historical place as an innovator in independent comic book publishing as well as in cryptoart. The loosely autobiographical and surreal comic series has branched off into graphic novels, comic strips, webcomics, merch, rare handmade books, zines, paintings, experimental art, songs, videos, metaverse gaming exhibits, and rare digital art NFTs.

Given Chiappetta's role as a cryptoart OG, project leader on ArtVndngMchn, and autobio comics pioneer on Silly Daddy, this NFT drop event is one to excite the whole family. Silly Daddy's origins began in year one as profound, silly, or profoundly silly. Thirty years later, that legacy continues, as profound and silly as ever.

https://sillydaddy.net

ArtVndngMchn Series 3 Announcement

2022-01-18T17:47:00.025-08:00

ArtVndngMchn Series 3: CryptoSkateboards and Other Things that Fly

Launched February 26th, 2022
Fine art NFTs wrapped in randomized packages
10% donated to charity
Cryptoart OGs and emerging artists
On Wax Blockchain
Coincides with 3D virtual exhibit in the metaverse

ArtVndngMchn Series 3 NFT fine art pack art by Joe Chiappetta

ArtVndngMchn is a digital fine art collection that wraps curated, top-notch paintings and drawings into surprise NFT packages on the WAX blockchain. With its new Series 3 pack release, ArtVndngMchn is back to paint the world in all colors with fun and uplifting inspiration. Much of the Series 3 art will revolve around the theme of skateboards, fantastic cars, and other high-flying vehicles.

On this same day as the NFT pack release, many of the fine art pieces from this collection will be on exhibit in a Minecraft metaverse at The Brawl Gallery, where visitors have to fight monsters and complete mazes before they win the rare privilege of viewing this special exhibition. This 3D virtual gallery is located within the massive ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park in The Uplift World. Experiencing ArtVndngMchn Series 3 paintings in The Brawl Gallery is an art adventure to die for... because the in-game monsters may (virtually) kill you a few times before you make it through the labyrinth that leads to the Brawl Gallery's main exhibit hall.

As with each preceding pack release, a percentage of the revenue will be donated to help the poor through MERCYworldwide. To date thousands of dollars have been donated. For this series, 10% from the initial sale will go toward helping youth who are blind learn independent living skills at the Kyiv School for the Visually Impaired!

Curated by award winning cartoonist Joe Chiappetta, cryptoart OGs as well as emerging artists have contributed some of their best artworks to this lively fine art collection. Artists included in Series 3 include Bruce Bachelder, Jennifer Barrett, Anna, Denise, Joe, and Luke Chiappetta, Beth and Caleb Cohen, Kara Mia, Sean O'Kana, Mike Rende, Melida Rios, Fabi Yamada, Richard Yates, and Marko Zubak.

Each piece in this collection serves as stand-alone high-quality fine art... plus some of these pieces can also be blended through NeftyBlocks into even more stunning and rare pieces of artwork. The ArtVndngMchn series is a fine art experience with an unpredictably gamified NFT life of its own. Join in the fun now!

Follow joeychips on Twitter for more frequent ArtVndngMchn updates.

What Is ArtVndngMchn?

2021-12-02T11:06:00.008-08:00

Series 1, Series 2, Series 3

Park Afternoon is rare digital art by famly.photo, available on AtomicHub.

The first thing to understand about ArtVndngMchn is that it is a multifaceted art project. As soon as a community member tries to describe it, they are simultaneously correct--yet leaving out so much. That's because ArtVndngMchn has never been about just one thing.

In fact, ArtVndngMchn is many things. Like our lives, it has multiple dimensions. Yet all of ArtVndngMchn's aspects are art-related, meant to be uplifting, and shepherded by Joe Chiappetta, having been in the cryptoart space since 2015, and a cartoonist since the mid-1980s. In one sentence it can be summarized that ArtVndngMchn is fine art experience with an unpredictably gamified life of its own. It is where the lines between gaming and fine art are intentionally blurred into many new things.

So what are these many new things that have become ArtVndngMchn?

Digitally wrapped and randomized packages of fine art NFTs from over 20 international artists. ArtVndngMchn was the first to do this with fine art NFTs. Much mentoring of emerging artists takes place through the many crytoart OGs in the project.

ArtVndngMchn fine art NFT packs available on AtomicHub.
A 3D virtual gallery and entertainment game space called ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park, experienced through a Minecraft server called The Uplift World in their Gratitude map at coordinates 3320, 2370.

Sunrise Over ArtVndngMchn Land is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.
NFT assets that can be used as disposable ingredients to acquire new fine art NFTs through a process called blending in Neftyblocks.
Totally California Window Scene is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Neftyblocks.
An art project used to raise money for the poor through MERCYworldwide.

Drilling down into these varied components of the project, it is also accurate to say that ArtVndngMchn is...

An Artwork Theme of Fun and Family
A Pioneering NFT Collection
A Game within Minecraft
A Metaverse Event Destination
An Interactive Art Performance

Certified Art Jumper Badge is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub and acquired at special art events where players fall through multiple levels of fine art.
A Metaverse Rollercoaster
And more.

ArtVndngMchn Origins

Solidified under the project name "ArtVndngMchn," this ongoing series is widely know for its May 2021 on the WAX blockchain, consisting of hundreds of different fine artworks as NFTs, which sold out in seconds. New NFT pack collections come out at least twice per year.

ArtVndngMchn Propaganda Video is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub where often the promotional pieces became works of art too.

However in the generic sense, art vending machine paintings and drawings released as NFTs by Chiappetta can be traced back much earlier.

Crypto-Art ATM is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available as part of the CrystalsCraft Collection in the early years of NFTs on Counterparty.

In 2018, early versions of art vending machines were created on Bitcoin/Counterparty, and later on Ethereum as well as EOS blockchains prior to the project's release on WAX.

In an even bigger-picture sense, ArtVndngMchn is a statement of human artistic development and progression in more ways than one.

Humans is rare digital art by Isa Kost, available on Atomic Hub.

The order of this creative human development online goes something like this:

As it relates to fine art, the internet started as an art catalog.
Then it became an art market via online ordering and shipping.
Then it became an art creation tool through sites like Dada.art and others.
Then, through the invention of rare digital art (later called NFT), the internet became an art vending machine.
Finally, through the merging of all of the above, the internet became an art metaverse.

Inside the ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park, where 2 virtual rollercoasters end.

What happens next is anyone's guess, but ArtVndngMchn is here to stay.

Follow joeychips on Twitter for the latest ArtVndngMchn news!

Short Story Party

2021-10-21T12:07:00.009-07:00

Short Story Party is an event flyer and rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

Is this a metaverse event flyer or an animated piece of art? Yes to both.

While the below event has concluded, you can still visit this site for an out-of-this-world fine art, gaming, and reading experience.

ArtVndngMchn presents:

Short Story Party!

When: Friday October 22, 2021 from 7pm to 8pm UTC.

What: Come to ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park and read exclusive (very) short stories as part of this interactive fine art, gaming, and literature experience in our 3D virtual world.

Where: Minecraft Java Edition in The Uplift World server called Gratitude at coordinates 3320 2370. This metaverse is currently in closed alpha phase, meaning only land owners and those whitelisted can participate. To get whitelisted, direct message your Minecraft username to joeychips on Twitter before event starts.

Receive Free NFT: Complete all steps to receive free NFT:

Take in-game selfie screenshot reading one of the short stories.
Post screenshot as a Quote Tweet to joeychips' tweet from day of event.
Write a 2-sentence review of one of the short stories.
Include your WAX address.

Short Stories: At this in-game event, 7 super-short stories by Chiappetta (an award-winning author) and others are on display to be read in the main gallery. These stories are not available anywhere else and can only be accessed in the ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park. Stories include...

Another Story Daddy (Silly Daddy short story)
ArtVndngMchn Woman on a Mission (sci-fi)
Me and Edgar Lee (poem)
A Mountain of Snow (Silly Daddy surreal slice-of-life song lyrics)
The Parable of the Creator's Kingdom (a fine art allegory)
The Parable of the Five Elements (sci-fi)
Starleah (sci-fi)

NFT Releases: To celebrate this event, the ArtVndngMchn NFT Collection will simultaneously release 10 new NFTs. This includes 9 unique Superblends at Neftyblocks as well as 1 new NFT on Ethereum Network called Art and Gaming Wisdom for the Ages.

Follow joeychips on Twitter for more updates.

ArtVndngMchn Woman

2021-10-04T14:22:00.004-07:00

ArtVndngMchn Woman is 1 of 1 rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. This new painting represents a stand-alone NFT piece of retro fine art while also serving as an illustration to a sci-fi short story that can only be read in the ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park on a Minecraft server called The Uplift World. As someone living in Southern California for many years now, I appreciate how this artwork looks like it could be a scene from one of our beachfront piers or marketplaces just off the beach.

While the below event has concluded, you can still visit this site for an out-of-this-world fine art, gaming, and reading experience.

I am pleased to announce the start of a new adventure in art, gaming, and reading where participants can earn a free NFT!

ArtVndngMchn Uplift Short Story Quest

Today through October 6th, 2021.

ArtVndngMchn Woman on a Mission is a short story readable only in ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park, which is a 3D virtual world in a Minecraft server called The Uplift World on a map called Gratitude at coordinates 3320 2370.

How to Receive Free NFT:

Follow joeychips on Twitter and retweet his related tweet with a selfie screenshot of you reading that short story in-game and write a 3-sentence review of that story to get a free NFT! Include your WAX address.

NFT Events in The Uplift World

2021-09-21T13:27:00.003-07:00

Art Jump is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on NeftyBlocks. At ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park, players can come to do art jumps through multiple elevations of fine art... if only they dare!

While the below events have concluded, you can still visit all of these sites for an out-of-this-world fine art and gaming experience.

Through my ArtVndngMchn fine art project, I am co-hosting a number of highly interactive events in The Uplift World this week. The Uplift World is basically Minecraft morphed into 3D art galleries of interactive exhibits and adventures with NFT integration built into the environment. We are giving away a number of free NFTs at these Autumn 2021 events: the first event is on September 22nd with 3 NFT projects participating and the second event is September 24th with 4 NFT projects participating. I will be present at both events leading tours of participants on ArtVndngMchn art jumps and roller coaster rides like nothing ever experienced.

To receive NFTs, participants must (a) attend in-game, (b) take 1 screenshot of each session, (c) post screenshot on each host's Twitter as a retweet to host's post of that day. and (d) include your WAX wallet in that retweet.

September 22, 2021 - NFT Fun Fair

A day of entertaining quests, art performances, and NFT giveaways in The Uplift World! Those who participate in all parts of this event will receive NFTs from each participating host project. For those who collect them all, these NFTs can then be blended to create an exclusive collaborative NFT.

3pm UTC: ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park

Server/Location: Gratitude 3195 2277
joeychips on Twitter

Take part in a thrilling art jump, dropping through multiple artworks as part of an historic art performance.

4pm UTC: The Aztec Hotel by MitzisNiFTis & Sovoccor

Server/Location: Upluft 1000 2000
mitzisNiFTis on Twitter

Virtual video game immersion experience

5pm UTC: Rocket Gallery

Server/Location: Genesis 3550 3200
swedish_gold on Twitter

Jump in the aquarium and find out which artist is showcased now and the name of the art piece. Take a selfie/screenshot.

September 24, 2021 - Gratitude NFT Quest

Many of you have been curious about the Gratitude server in The Uplift World, and it is our pleasure to announce we are hosting our very first Gratitude wide event! Gratitude is currently full of NFT artists hard at work, creating a server full of activities and amenities for everyone, and we are thrilled to invite you to this exclusive sneak peek at the progress we have made so far! There will be events, a scavenger hunt, and prizes for all, including NFT and in game prize. We can't wait for you to see what Gratitude is all about!

Visit participating sites any time throughout the day, or follow the schedule for these cool happenings:

Gratitude wide: Starting at 12AM UTC we will release our scavenger hunt list, take selfies at each location in the hunt (make sure your avatar is in the photo) to win a prize! First person to complete the hunt gets their choice of an in-game prize, and a WCH NFT! Prizes will be included for participants as well.

Anders | Anyobservation

Location: 1700 1700

anyobservation on Twitter

12AM UTC: Kick off the event with a full day of hunting for selfies in the depths of the Anyobservation pyramid and earn some exclusive NFT's

3pm UTC : Anders will go live

Anders will release selfie scavenger hunt list on his twitter the day before the event, all selfie submissions received on twitter from between 12AM UTC and 11:59PM UTC will be eligible

ArtVndngMchn Amusement Park

Location: Gratitude 3195 2277

7pm UTC: Take part in a thrilling art jump, dropping through multiple artworks as part of an historic art performance to receive a free NFT.

joeychips on Twitter

WCH Designs

Location: Gratitude 1650 850

11pm UTC boat race

12am UTC parkour course

WCHDESIGNXXX on Twitter

EOSUSA

Location: Gratitude 4200, 2100

All Day - take a selfie in front of EOSUSA's logo and the best 3 submissions will get 100 WAX.

ivote4_eos_usa on Twitter

Come and join the fun!

MERCYworldwide Thanks ArtVndngMchn

2021-07-09T19:39:00.005-07:00

ArtVndngMchn is a fine art project involving over 20 international artists releasing fine art NFTs in wrapped randomized bundles on the WAX blockchain. Series 1 of ArtVndngMchn donated over $4,000 to MERCYworldwide. ArtVndngMchn Series 2, which launched July 10th, will donate 25% of the profits to MERCYworldwide. On the eve of the series 2 launch, Nick Bordieri, the Executive Director of MERCYworldwide, sent the following thank-you letter.

Dear Joe,
A BIG thank you to you and your fellow ArtVndngMchn artists for your generous donation from Series 1 to MERCYworldwide. What an impact you have had on the 100 children at the Real MERCY School in Okobaba, Nigeria: one of the poorest floating cities in the world!

ArtVndngMchn Series 1 funded the International Day of MERCY event last weekend for 100 children and 60 parents. We were able to purchase the necessary items to help launch the new meal program at the school. The nutritious meal we provide every child every day at school may be the only meal some of these children have throughout the day. Thank you for supporting the children and for making this event incredible.

Gas tank and gas stove for cooking

MERCY Ambassadors prepared the meals for the children and parents during the event. The children were so excited. And the parents were so grateful to witness their children receiving a quality education in a safe, nurturing environment.

The children shouted for joy!

The funds from ArtVndngMchn Series 2 will be used for the continued support of the children at the Real MERCY School, as well as The MERCY International School in Jacmel, Haiti, considered to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere!

Thank you for your support to create opportunities for all these children and their families to live better lives!

Respectfully,
Nick Bordieri
Executive Director
MERCYworldwide

ArtVndngMchn 2: Restocked with New Fine Art

2021-06-30T11:27:00.006-07:00

ArtVndngMchn is a fine art NFT collection wrapped in randomized bundles on WAX blockchain. Series 2 goes on sale July 10th, 2021 at 9am PST. (Series 1 sold out in 26 seconds.)

25% donated to MERCYworldwide's Real MERCY School, Okobaba, Nigeria.
22 artists contribute some of their best artworks.
Fine artists from 6 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Italy, USA.
214 original rare digital artworks minted in a variety of rarity levels, including 74 Mythic editions of only 1.
Themes: Uplifting, positive, hopeful, fun, inspiring.
Artists: Anna, Denise, Joe, Luke & Maria Chiappetta, Bruce Bachelder, Beth Cohen, Donna Fenton, Caleb Hudson, ilan katin, Isa Kost, mBlu, Laerth Motta, Sean O'Kana, Holly & Mike Rende, Rare Scrilla & Rare Junior, Robness, Vanesa Stati, Dunja Zubak (Dunas), Marko Zubak.
Multiple artist families and communities represented: including father/son, mother/son, husband/wife, husband/wife/children, church family, as well as cryptoart OGs, the DADA.art members, UpLift.art members, and more.
Curated by Joe Chiappetta.
4 NFTs = Standard Pack $12.50 (USD in WAX): lower chance of rarer art--with only 2,000 packs available.
8 NFTs = Master Pack $125 (USD in WAX): much higher chance of rarer art, containing only Mythic, Legendary, and Epic rarities--with only 211 packs available.
9688 total NFTs available.
Using AtomicHub cryptoart marketplace.

Official Sale Page: https://ArtVndngMchn.com

Chiappetta Fine Art NFTs on WAX

2021-03-12T11:10:00.006-08:00

Bold Face of Color is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

Chiappetta Collection of Fine Art Comes to WAX

Old-School Artist Finds New Groove on WAX Blockchain

March 2021 by Joe Chiappetta, Riverside, California

WAX has become world-famous as the go-to blockchain to release brand-name collectible cards and gaming items, also known as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Atari, William Shatner, Garbage Pail Kids, and Street Fighter are just some of the prominent official NFT collections that have all launched highly coveted products through WAX. More big names and big projects are on the way.

Meanwhile, as an award winning cartoonist (best known for Silly Daddy Comics) and fine artist with over 30 years in the industry, I have spent the last 5 years releasing rare digital art on the blockchain through a number of platforms with a good deal of success. A fine art sub-category of NFTs, rare digital art has breathed fresh new life in many an artist and art collector in this increasingly digital age. My own rare digital art efforts have typically gone quite well on a myriad of blockchains. Yet none of those networks were built specifically with art and collectibles distribution in mind. It's more like previous blockchains were retrofitted to sell NFTs as best they could. That is why each of these chains, while all making art history as innovators, left at least a little something to be desired in terms of user friendliness as well as ease of simulating and improving upon mainstream art distribution.

For the mainstream art world, which still has not largely caught on to how game-changing rare digital art is, much improvement is sorely needed. The data supports this in an almost embarrassing way. Mainstream art industry sales dropped 58% when comparing the first half of 2020 to the first half of 2019, according to Artnet. Meanwhile rare digital art sales volume keeps increasing at a record pace. My own personal sales in this space reflect that nicely.

Focusing back on the mainstream art world (AKA non-NFT), its sales decline means incredible opportunity in the rare digital art space. Going live in June of 2019, along came a blockchain called WAX, and 12 months later, one of its main marketplaces: AtomicHub. Both were built by learning from the constraints of previous blockchain ecosystems while focusing strategically on delivering rare digital art in a fast, secure, user-friendly and frictionless manner. Gifting, collecting, releasing, trading, selling, and discovering digital art is now as simple as it gets. Literally, from the moment I saw how WAX works on Atomic Hub, I knew everything was going to change for me. Indeed, it already has.

Woman of the Garden is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

While not yet famous in the mainstream art world for it, I am certain that WAX will become one of the most prominent online vehicles for fine art distribution on the planet. In fact, for the artists already using WAX through AtomicHub, it already is an effective and exciting vehicle in which to release fine art. That's why, as a veteran cartoonist and fine artist, I have recently committed to releasing new art on WAX as the blockchain to take fine art into the future. I see it as a serious contender to be a perfect blockchain for the art world. My actions reflect this assessment; through AtomicHub, a whopping 77 of my latest artworks have just been released to the art marketplace, and this is only the beginning!

On May 8th, 2021, I will release a huge fine art NFT project with multiple artists on WAX called ArtVndngMchn!

World's Fair of Rare Digital Art

2021-02-09T16:23:00.006-08:00

Where the Buffalo Browse is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub Marketplace. While this cartoon pokes fun at virtual reality culture, behind the fun just might be an economic revival for the art industry--the likes of which has never been seen--at least not while wearing a buffalo helmet.

World's Fair of Rare Digital Art:

Digital Art Needs a Multidimensional Digital World

Joe Chiappetta, February 2021

When virtual reality (VR) becomes user-friendly, affordable, with universal technical standards integrated from online gallery to gallery, the art-loving world could see a revival more influential even than the Italian Renaissance. Indeed, everyone (with internet access) could witness this World's Fair of Online Art, open 24-7, poised to impress and built to buy/sell rare digital art as if you were floating through a game-like world because... well... because you would indeed be floating through a game-like world--virtually speaking. Such a place would have free admission for all, economic opportunity for all, and operate in 4 virtual dimensions of height, width, depth, and the dimension of "Wow, this is awesome!"

Of course, online 3-D digital worlds are nothing new, as any player of Minecraft or Second Life will tell you. Neither is cryptocurrency a new thing. In fact, all 3 of these systems have been operational for over 10 years. Yet what would happen if a 3-D digital world were well-integrated with digital art, community equality, and cryptocurrency? It could become the art industry's "killer app."

Silly Daddy VR Helmet is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub

At 64 billion dollars for 2019, the global art market saw a decline in sales from the previous year. While 2020 statistics are not compiled yet, it is likely that this figure will be even lower. With fast transactions and borderless payment power, some are scrambling to declare cryptocurrency as the soon-to-be savior of a slumping global art market.

However, the truth is at least a little more complex. Made possible by cryptocurrency, a small but excited number of people do collect rare digital art. But most in the art world still have no idea what such terms really mean.

What is rare digital art? It's online creative work tied to cryptocurrency that has been released in limited quantities, verifiable on a blockchain. For those in need of a refresher on what cryptocurrency is, think of it as coded internet money or credits released (usually) by entrepreneurs in specific predefined amounts. I should know; I have been researching and writing about this space for many years. In fact, I'm one of those rare digital art collectors. Many know that I am also a pretty prolific rare digital artist and educator in this space as well.

If you are just joining the rare digital art industry now, don't think you are late to the party. While rare digital art is 6 years old, the earliest pioneering developments from 2014 were not widely publicized and very slow in adoption (running on top of Bitcoin, often using Counterparty). Indeed, the first 4 years of rare digital art went by without much notice. Even now, the mainstream art world remains quite slow to completely jump on the bandwagon. So we are still in the very early days of rare digital art! For example, the Italian Renaissance lasted about 200 years, and some art historians find traces of the Renaissance roughly 100 years prior to its start through the work of Giotto.

Whether the Italian Renaissance lasted 200 or 300 years, is not the point. Rather, it is significant that when a new movement starts, the early years of that movement are never as defined as historians make them out to be. Therefore if you are in rare digital art now, congratulations, fellow pioneer! You will be one of the early ones to help define and further shape it.

Since we are the early adopters, the question at hand is "Where do we go from here?" The first step is to soberly see where we really are now. The practice of buying rare digital art is only slowly being adopted by mainstream art collectors, and much of the rare digital art industry is dominated by speculators looking to make a quick profit flipping art.

As an old-school physical collector turned rare digital art collector, I am not a flipper or speculator. In fact, of the many rare digital artworks in my collection, I rarely sell pieces from my collection. That is because I acquired the art in the first place because I wanted it for the fun of it. The art spoke to me in a unique way and simply made me happy. So if I can add such a piece to my collection, I will, and not worry about whether or not I can make money off of it later.

Zine Machine is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub.

By contrast, I do sell a nice amount of my own original artworks. That has been a practice of mine in the physical world (since the 1990s at comic book conventions) as well as in the digital world on rare digital art markets. While (literally by the grace of God) I have collectively sold hundreds of pieces of rare digital art on Ethereum Network, SuperRare, Atomic Hub, and Book of Orbs. I can't say the same for everyone. Indeed, the opposite is true; the majority of artists--despite their great talent--are not selling much.

Unlike myself, not everyone has the benefit of 4 decades experience in the arts as well as authoring one of the longest running autobiographical comics about family like I have with Silly Daddy Comics and Silly Daddy Zine. Most folks are just starting out as artists, or are really strapped for time working odd jobs and doing art on the side. Therefore, people can't be wasting time on markets where they may never sell anything. Everyone's time is valuable. So it is important, as we shape the rare digital art economy, that we build more opportunity in it--not just for the superstars, but for everyone.

Loyal Daddy is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub.

Despite the challenges of emerging artists struggling to make significant impact, artists are flocking to release new works on rare digital art markets in ever-increasing numbers. Naturally, due to the sad difference between supply and demand, as I alluded to previously, most of these artists will not sell anything there, and will soon leave the market discouraged. Some, in bitterness, may even spread a bad report about the true innovation going on in this still growing space, but don't be deceived; the best is still yet to come!

Next Steps for Rare Digital Art Markets

So what's the solution to increase demand for this kind of art? A higher quantity of serious art collectors will need a number of good reasons to jump into the rare digital art market. That's because the experience of collecting most digital art (rare or otherwise) is often--for lack of a better term--anticlimactic. It is hardly a social activity since collectors typically buy their art alone on their computers--with absolutely no fanfare. I know this because that is what I do as an art collector.

Aside from the excitement of in-person rare digital art auctions, which are few and far between, why does collecting rare digital art hover on the sometimes anticlimactic side? It is actually a design problem. For most web sites selling rare digital art, the pieces are almost always offered in a visually dull grid layout. This is basically a 2-D catalog experience. Such design conventions have not changed since the mail order days which showcased department store catalogs of centuries gone by. That's not much different than scrolling through an Instagram art feed. Things really must change, and they can.

Gratefully, we have the technology to make those changes now. Online galleries who move to a virtual 3-D exhibit experience can be the ones who can stay relevant in an increasingly digital world. As art-seeking and collecting becomes more of a game environment, more people will get excited about it.

The WAX community, and in particular the Atomic Hub Marketplace, is doing an incredible job at making 2-D rare digital art galleries fun, gamified, and incredibly user friendly. In fact, Atomic Hub has a "bundle" feature that allows collectors to buy multiple pieces of art in the same transaction. I liken it to the coolness and excitement of being a kid and buying a pack of trading cards.

Digital Art Needs a Multidimensional Digital World by Joe Chiappetta. It's rare digital art available on Ethereum Network.

Another example of innovation is the unlockable content feature for owners of rare digital art. OpenSea and a growing number of other rare digital art markets have this feature. I used this feature to release my newest book, Silly Daddy Zine #1. Here's how it works: everyone can just see the cover of the book. But only those who buy it as rare digital art gain access to download the 50 page book. This unlockable download for owners is one of the most exciting new features in the industry, providing more incentive for further adoption.

Silly Daddy Zine #1 is rare digital art and a 50-page book by Joe Chiappetta, available on Ethereum Network.

Looking to the future, the next bold step is to migrate the best of these current rare digital art markets, like OpenSea and Atomic Hub, onto one virtual 3-D world that is only somewhat similar to Minecraft, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels, or Somnium Space. I say "only somewhat similar to..." because none of those sites have all of the below essential features:

VR Art Gallery Essentials

Exhibitors earn the rights to virtual 3-D land and wall space by purchasing affordable rare digital art in this world.
The virtual 3-D land to have gallery space will always be cheap and not manipulated by early speculators trying to drive up the price of land.
The virtual land borders keep expanding as more users exhibit in the space. Like the internet, where users can make an unlimited amount of new web pages, the same goes for wall and land space. More gets created as more is needed.
Collectors can explore, exhibit their collections, and still buy and sell art all in a 3-D realm.
The virtual 3-D gallery can be explored without a VR headset, plus users can buy and sell art without a headset too.
The virtual 3-D gallery world has a 2-D auto-generated counterpart for those with slower technology.
The 3-D world and its members have a code of conduct that adheres to the moral standard outlined in the FCC's guidelines and is a kid-friendly environment.
Users can create individualized exhibit space right in the 3-D environment without any coding knowledge. All necessary virtual building materials are available for free.
A few non-essential, yet more flashy premium gallery building materials are earned by those who buy a high volume of rare digital art, or complete defined and helpful tasks to advance the community.
Users can teleport to any location in the "world" quickly and easily. These links work in-world and also as links on a regular website.
Users can customize their own avatars.
The gallery does not issue its own new cryptocurrency, but rather leverages existing and widely adopted currencies. The art and art experience is the product, not another alt-coin.
Transactions to buy and sell art in the 3-D virtual environment can be done via credit card, PayPal, or existing crypto such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS, and WAX. These cryptocurrencies are mentioned as they all have an existing and established track record of being used in current art markets. By default, financial actions on the site should be using blockchains that have no transaction fees to use the network.
No sign-in is needed to view and explore this world.
Open standards are used to foster as much continued development and international collaboration as possible. Perhaps Blockchain Game Alliance can help make this happen since they are a diverse professional coalition from a variety of blockchain and gaming platforms.
The environment also has 3-D games that a user can play--kind of like walking through a carnival; there's a game booth, and next to it is an art booth, including a collaborative VR drawing space, like a VR version of Dada.art. Prizes won in the game booth can include rare digital art. As an added example, imagine being able to play a great rare digital art shooter game called Spells of Genesis in a multiplayer 3-D universe and receive game points, crypto, or rare digital art as your winnings!
This VR cryptoart world should also have built-in user-to-user messaging (perhaps through secure chat), audio capabilities, and parental controls.
Designed as an ever-expanding World's Fair of Online Art, collectors can seamlessly use their avatars to explore a 3-D version of contemporary high-end Expressionist art from various galleries on one virtual block, perhaps on a street called Emotional Way. Then they would turn a corner and walk down Budget-Buy Boulevard, where all rare digital art is no more expensive than a bottle of water.
Such a site should also have a daily virtual newspaper, which aggregates relevant art news from this realm and sends it to members who subscribe. This would be things like how many new pieces of art were sold, created, who collects the most art, who releases the most art, who sells the most art, who has spent a lot of time on the site yet is not receiving many gallery visitors, who refers the most new users to the site through a referral code... kind of like a game leader board, but also designed to help everyone.
Site should have the ability for creators to upload new rare digital art of their own creation to be displayed on exhibit space owned by the artist. The operators of the site would take a commission on these sales and artist would receive the bulk of the sales. The artist could also receive a percentage of the resale commission on all secondary market sales if made via blockchain through the platform.

While it must be acknowledged that some VR art galleries are already operational (and have been for years), most just feature artists creating VR experiences as an isolated piece, not other kinds of art, and not connected to a whole VR world. Additionally, few of these galleries use cryptocurrency, none of them are household names, and they're all fragmented realms. More importantly, none of the existing sites have even a fraction of the features numbered above. Yet this is what is needed for wide consumer adoption.

That's not to say that existing VR galleries are failing or prospering; the data on that is not easily available (or reliable). Yet like the rest of the art world, these sites are typically siloed, many requiring expensive hardware to view (while this same hardware will be obsolete in a few years), and most of the existing VR galleries are hustling to make an individual name for themselves. There's nothing wrong with hustling to self-promote, but much effort must also be spent on collaborating to build a unified virtual art fair experience.

Consider this analogy as the current state of VR art galleries: disconnected food trucks with delicious food, yet non-uniform procedures exist at random, hard to find parking lots, while what is really required is a cohesive international full service food court. A combination of the above-listed elements could create a very compelling art environment that would be unprecedented, and perhaps even become the "Ready Player One" artistic universe of tomorrow... yet live in our own time. It would inspire many repeat customers, delighted to explore a dynamic virtual art market in an exciting and gamified role as art collectors, art-seekers, and new art pioneers.

Joe Chiappetta
http://SillyDaddy.net

The War Is Not Over

2021-02-01T13:07:00.004-08:00

The War Is Not Over

A flash fiction story by Joe Chiappetta

"I know how we can defeat Mr. Vigilant," said Dr. Bad Guy with a sinister wrinkle of his nose. "Trick him into thinking that the war is over; let him think he's won."

The idea was half the battle--or perhaps even more--because it was such a powerful concept. The rest was simple application of deceptive tradecraft: a few false rumors about Mr. Vigilant's fellow soldiers, a fake retreat by Dr. Bad Guy and his forces, a year of free virtual reality movies "anonymously" gifted to Mr. Vigilant, and a breathtakingly beautiful and lonely woman who "just happened" to move in right next door to him.

When a person believes their fight is over, they stop fighting. As a reliable agent fighting on the side of good v. evil, Mr. Vigilant had many years of fighting left in him. Yet such truths escaped him during that critical time. His heart for righteous battle was replaced with a heart for immediate comfort.

Later, Mr. Vigilant would recall with shame... as well as a renewed earnestness, "I let my guard down. I let my people down. But I live to fight again... for the victor's crown."

Read more of my new short stories only available in my latest zine!

Silly Daddy Zine #1

2021-01-18T10:36:00.002-08:00

My newest book is out now on Ethereum Network!

Available exclusively to owners of this rare digital art, only those who purchase Silly Daddy Zine #1 will gain access to this 50 page book as an unlockable, high resolution PDF download. It has been released as a limited edition of only 10 rare digital books. Through blockchain technology, this means only 10 book art collectors can ever own it at the same time.

I have been in the publishing industry since the mid 1980s and have won awards in cartooning as well as writing, yet this book represents a unique career milestone. Silly Daddy Zine #1 is my 13th book, yet the very first one I have issued on the blockchain. It is 50 full-color pages long, plus a painted cover and back cover. The entire book took over 1 year to create. Think of this museum-worthy volume as part comics, part home-grown magazine, part fine art exhibit, part short story collection, and part experimental coolness. Every page is either a brand new work of fine art or a never before published short story.

This very rare book is entirely a product of California. I started drawing, painting, and writing it using an iPad Pro with Apple Pencil while living in Pasadena, CA. Yet I finished the art book after we moved to Riverside, California, and released it through MakersPlace: a very user-friendly rare digital art market headquartered in San Francisco.

Those who have been following my work a long time know that zines, rare book publishing, and art/writing experimentation are my roots. This new digital book contains an eclectic blend of those elements, and it reads like a lively trip to an unpredictable art happening. The pages of Silly Daddy Zine #1 are new, previously unpublished digital artworks that could stand on their own hanging from a gallery wall, yet are loaded into a book full of concentrated art rarity.

Buy this rare digital book at https://opensea.io/item/ethereum/0x2a46f2ffd99e19a89476e2f62270e0a35bbf0756/75813

FAQs for Silly Daddy Zine #1

1. Why can't anyone preview pages of the book before becoming a potential buyer?

My preference is that this book/zine be a complete surprise to each person who buys it. I liken it to the early days of the zine scene that I was a part of in the 1980s. It was a time of great creativity and fascination. You'd see one tiny ad or one picture of a zine's cover in a print catalog, read the description, and then order that zine. After a few weeks, the zine would be delivered to you and for the very first time you would find out what was inside. I want to recapture that sense of discovery with Silly Daddy Zine #1. That's why there are no preview pages or review copies that have been sent to anyone.
Limiting who can see the book to just those who bought it also increases the book's exclusivity and rarity.
My previous artworks and books have been in circulation and easily accessible on the Internet. In fact, literally hundreds of my previous drawings and artworks can be viewed for free online. Therefore anyone can readily gain a clear idea of what I am about as an artist, writer, and creator through the integrity of my previous works.

2. Since the book title is Silly Daddy Zine #1, does this mean this is the start of a series of Silly Daddy Zines?

Making a series of unique art zines was the original intent when I started making this book. I really do hope to continue this series.
However, after finishing every book I have ever released, I always like to take an extended deep breath and just be grateful that I was given the ability to bring the book to completion.
Therefore I will not make any promises, but continuing this series is a very real possibility.
Given enough encouragement from collectors of this zine would certainly influence me in a positive way to continue expanding my creativity in the wonderful world of zines.

Zip into the warm and wonderful community zine scene with Silly Daddy Zine #1

Loyalty

2020-12-14T10:07:00.001-08:00

Loyalty is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Ethereum Network.

Our church has been going through inspiring lessons on loyalty in the Bible and I have been one of the teachers who has preached an installment of this eye-opening series. To compliment such things, I thought it would be fitting to draw a visual representation of loyalty. Two friends, fighting side by side, where each one has the other's back, seemed to be a most lively way to portray the excitement and commitment wrapped up in the godly trait of loyalty.

You can also watch the lesson I preached called Loyalty + Self Denial = Disciple. It is at https://youtu.be/J9QLegIFjR4 and below are the notes from my sermon.

Loyalty + Self Denial = Disciple

See the connection between Loyalty and Self Denial. In Christ, you can't have one without the other. Both are requirements of Christianity.

Luke 9:20-24

[20] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

[21] Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. [22] And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

[23] Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Denying self is a must-have behavior of disciples.
Denying self is a salvation issue.
"Deny" self here could also be translated as "disown" self, "refuse" self, "reject" self.
One of the main requirements of following Jesus is not being selfish. Disown what you want; replace it with what Jesus wants.
Can't be loyal to self and Jesus at the same time.
If you are truly following Jesus then, like Jesus did, you are building a team of loyal disciples.
If you deny self for Jesus, then you are loyal to Jesus, then you are loyal to his church.
If you are selfish, then you are not loyal.
If not loyal, then not a disciple of Jesus.

1 Samuel 22:1-23

Intense period in the life of David.
Use as framework to test godly loyalty in our own lives.
In my easily deceived mind I can believe that many people are loyal to me and imagine me doing great things to lead them. Yet I’ve thought this during periods when I wasn’t really leading anyone; in fact when I examined things closely no one was loyal to me. I wasn’t loyal to anyone.

1 Samuel 22:1-23

[1] David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. [2] All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

[3] From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” [4] So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

[5] But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

[6] Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. [7] Saul said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? [8] Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

[9] But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. [10] Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

[11] Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. [12] Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

[13] Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

[14] Ahimelech answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? [15] Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

[16] But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family.”

[17] Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

[18] The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. [19] He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

[20] But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. [21] He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. [22] Then David said to Abiathar: “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. [23] Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.”

Verse 1-2: When David was heavily persecuted by Saul, why did hundreds of people still follow David?
David became a leader of hundreds of troubled people.
Person loyal to God will not abandon others because of their own hardship.
Reflect on the loyalty that David inspired.
Think about loyalty in your own life.
Who have you shown loyalty to in the past month?
Is God pleased with your level of loyalty?

1 Samuel 22:3

“...Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?”

David shows his loyalty to God by waiting for God to make things clear.
David was God's learner.
David learned loyalty by waiting for God and following God's way.
David did this even if that meant being separated from family.

1 Samuel 22:8

"Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."

Saul's attitude is only loyal to self.
How many times does he mention "me" or "my"? Eight times!
If you are selfish, it is impossible to be loyal.
Contrast with loyalty between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.
Godly people make a solemn agreement (covenant) of righteousness regardless of physical family influence or persecution.

Reread 1 Samuel 22:14

"Ahimelech answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household?"

The Hebrew word in verse 14 translated as "loyal" can also be translated as "to sustain, to support with the arm, to carry a child, to nourish, to be faithful." As we examine loyalty in ourselves, ask "who am I supporting; who am I nourishing?"
David was known and praised for his loyalty to God, God's kingdom, and God's people--even in times of deadly hardship and injustice.
Can you see how David was respected because of his loyalty?
People respect loyalty.

1Samuel 22:18

[18] The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

Doeg picked the wrong person and the wrong orders to be loyal to.
Perhaps you’re loyal, but you’re loyal to the wrong doctor and the wrong.
Misplaced loyalty damages God’s kingdom.

Ask yourself these questions and answer objectively:

Are you known for your loyalty to God? Who knows this?
Are you known for your loyalty to God's kingdom?
Are you known for your loyalty to God's people?
Are you known for loyalty to the team of people you are working with closely throughout the week to advance God's mission? We call this group a "Bible Talk."

1 Samuel 22:20-23

Why does David take responsibility for Abiathar's safety?
Loyalty breeds loyalty.
Loyalty goes both ways.
When people truly have a shared mission, they will get united, take risks, deny self, and be loyal to God and his people.

Challenge:

1. Make a list of what and who you are taking responsibility for in the church.

2. Ask one of Jesus’ disciples today if loyalty to God and his kingdom are one of your strengths.

3. Pray to have a heart of godly loyalty and godly responsibility--just like David, a person "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14).

Art Wars

2020-12-02T12:21:00.004-08:00

Art Wars is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta available as a limited edition of 5 on Ethereum Network.

After working on this artwork off and on for over a year, it is finally finished. The animation serves as a preliminary concept painting for a rare digital art game that I hope to create called Art Wars. This artwork is more of a poster for the game rather than a depiction of the actual game play. In the Art Wars game design, art collectors battle with each other using their actual digital art collection as shielding against each other's attacks.

Ready your battlestations in style... with Art Wars!

Art v Economy: Declaring a New Winner

2020-11-09T10:39:00.008-08:00

Art v Economy by Joe Chiappetta is rare digital art available on MakersPlace. The initial drawing started out as a still image drawn by Joe on the Dada.art online drawing community. He has drawn over 350 original digital drawings and paintings directly through the Dada.art online drawing tool.

Art v Economy: Declaring a New Winner

By Joe and Denise Chiappetta

A Southern California husband/wife team with the combined traits of being artist/author/collector draw up battle plans in a peaceful fight to create new opportunities for artists and art-lovers.

Let's start by stating the obvious before we move to something radical. The economy heavily influences art. Some creators, especially those who spend more time on the business side of art, might even say that the economy oppressively influences art. The pursuit of wealth and/or income in the arts reshapes art into a highly altered state. Most art we see today is not quite pure art; rather it is art under the intoxicating influence of the pressure to make money. In fact, too many artists find themselves ever-transitioning their under-funded careers based on what they think the market will eventually pay them for.

Of course, in the early stages of an artist’s life cycle, he or she often creates whatever they want. Yet, someone needs to pay the bills. Such artists eventually go from following that inner voice to following what they think will sell--hopefully without compromising “too many” of their principles. It’s a survival issue that, like it or not, heavily influences most artists who are not independently wealthy.

Can we also say the reverse is true: that art heavily influences the economy? Hardly. When was the last time you saw a painting that compelled you to forgive a debt owed to you? Try asking a banker that same question.

Art sales are certainly part of the economy, yet art almost never has a heavy influence on the mechanics of the economy itself. Sure, art can move people’s hearts for a time, and it should. Yet an artwork’s influence rarely scales from the heart to the pocketbook and on into the wallet of every practicing artist. The term “starving artist” is common for a reason.

Sadly, there is an all-too-easy way to prove this. As wonderful as art is, most restaurants will not let the average artist exchange a drawing as payment for their meal. Landlords will not accept a mural to satisfy the upcoming rent due. Moreover, it is well known that most artists do not make a sustained, sufficient living off of their art creations. Art school typically increases an artist’s debt: oftentimes, sadly, without increasing the likelihood of paid employment in the arts.

Why are such things true? It is a supply and demand issue. The economy historically does not have enough art demand to pay a living wage to even one-tenth of all the artists active today. For those keeping score--thus far--the economy wins. Artists lose, culture loses and therefore everyone loses. Thus the status quo marches on.

"Meet the new boss; same as the old boss." Pete Townshend wrote that classic lyric into The Who's hit song Won't Get Fooled Again back in 1971. Sadly, that statement keeps ringing true in way too many areas--including the art market. It was hoped, with the rise of cryptocurrency--which is revolutionizing money--that most artists could also benefit through a related innovation called "rare digital art." Without getting too technical, that's an emerging practice of releasing digital art paired to an unique cryptocurrency token that can be easily traded and authenticated instantly online.

Yet rare digital art is already 5 years old, and most artists who use it have not experienced a significant lifestyle improvement due to this technology. To be clear, rare digital art is incredible technology and and growth opportunities exist in this field. In fact, our family has benefited from it significantly. However that is not the case for the majority of participating creative people. That's because no one (so far) has successfully merged an art community sharing mentality with a conscientious art collector's mentality while also making the process fun, social, fair, friendly, and economical.

Is there a solution to this issue? Yes, there is. Mind you, it is one that will take a heavy degree of coordination, but it can be done. Indeed, there is a way for artists to win, which in turn, means everybody who participates wins.

The steps required to create this new paradigm--where artwork has an extended socioeconomic reach--is multifaceted and off the beaten path. Getting there can happen as soon as most of the following challenges/opportunities/steps are fulfilled.

A Dozen Steps to Art Victory

Create a symbiotic culture where gifting art is highly valued, thereby increasing the value of the art, the value of the community, and the value of the art-creating and art-acquiring experience.
Incentivize the community to value commitment over popularity, and ensure that latecomers are not disadvantaged.
Create a network where sharing and open collaboration are rewarded.
To log all the art provenance data, use a publicly accessible decentralized blockchain that operates quickly, is user friendly to non-tech people, and also has 0 (or near 0) end-user fees to transact on the network.
Bring in vendors and suppliers who accept art tokens as payment or discounts for their services.
Transform art collectors into art stewards. These custodians of art can pay for the honor and public recognition of being custodians of particular pieces, yet the majority of sales commissions go back to the artist, with the whole community also getting a distributed cut of the action.
Reward non-artists for measurable actions that advance this art community.
Operate the community as a somewhat decentralized organization where roles are delegated to those who have proven their worth to the community, and the duration of each role is reassessed regularly.
To guard against counterfeit art, build an online art creation tool that authenticates who created which art.
Make this art creation tool collaborative, where artists have the option to collaborate on works together.
Enable the art creation tool to issue a tradable token uniquely tied via blockchain to each piece created on the art tool, thereby giving market functionality to every piece created in the community.
Structure the community in kindness as a blend of online and in-person interactions.

If all this sounds like it is too theoretical, it actually is not. At least one-third of these components are already in place in a rare digital art community called Dada.art, and the rest are in active development in that very same community. Think of DADA as an endless jazz session, yet for people who draw.

This twelve-step plan--in a nutshell--is to incentivize a nurturing creative original art ecosystem that benefits all participants while making the economic components of art less celebrated yet still important. In the Dada community, such a vision is increasingly called “The Invisible Economy.” Once all dozen of these steps are completed, we believe everyone will call it “progress.”

The current state of this world we all share is troubling, with a worldwide health crisis, a global economic crisis, as well as widespread political and racial unrest. However, we have been given the gift of advanced technology and a philosophy to structure a nurturing international ecosystem for the art community. Used wisely, it can rework the traditional landscape of both art and the economy, while building bridges of compassion and creativity across the borders of nations around the world.

Using these twelve steps, an online drawing platform that turns individual drawings into art conversations becomes supercharged into a functional force of hope, artistic equality, and even an art market revolution. Creators and art lovers will soon have the opportunity to create, share, influence, and extend the value of authenticated art as they practice their craft. A time for change beckons. Join us and be a part of it. In an epic race that has spanned for centuries, we plan to see you at the victory line: where art is finally declared the winner!

When Paddy Fights

2020-08-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

When Paddy Fights is rare digital art and a story of flash fiction by Joe Chiappetta on pixEOS Gallery.

When Paddy Fights

Paddy finally said what he had been thinking in frustration for decades; "Lofticuff Clan, I don't like losing... and I especially don't like losing to you! In fact, I absolutely hate it. And now I am ready to do something about it."

Some words come and go quicker than treats in a hungry dog's mouth. Yet these words--at least for Paddy--lingered. They had a sort of power. So he decided to spread them around. Paddy, his family, and friends drafted handwritten flyers with these exact words on them. There was something extra powerful about a growing group of unified people saying the same exact thing--and posting it for all to read throughout the town. In fact, it was the brevity of Paddy's words that unified them; their shared pain of failure made them a tribe of their own.

Meanwhile, Paddy's enemies, the ever-privileged clan known as the Lofticuffs, could care less. They liked that Paddy had always been the loser and subject to them in all too many things due to Paddy's poverty and low standing in society. With boastful and fairly aloof hearts, the Lofticuffs assumed this incident of Paddy's public outburst would be nothing more than a passing hiccup: a thing to giggle at and forget.

The irony of the whole situation never once occurred to any of the Lofticuffs. While they had oppressed Paddy and whole communities of people for the entirety of their selfish existence, it was all quite unnecessary. The Lofticuffs did not actually need anything from Paddy or his associates. Nevertheless, the Lofticuffs simply enjoyed the process of dominating others. It was their sick family sport, and they were the reigning champions at it thus far. Paddy suspected such things, and hated that too.

Therefore Paddy proceeded to further organize and gather all his weapons (which were not many), his currency (which was not much), his fellow underprivileged allies, and his few possessions... with one single focal point in mind. It was partly a mumbling question that transformed into half a prayer, and half a battle cry. "How can we use all our collective resources to defeat the Lofticuffs? We must defeat them--at least once. I believe it is surely possible, and I have believed this for a long time. Because if... no... when we do it one time, then we can do it again... and again. And then we can teach others to do the same."

This was the moment... that precious moment that changed history. Upon reflection, most others would say the pivotal point of Clan Lofticuff's defeat was in the final--and quite costly--battle surge with heavy casualties on either side. Paddy respected that: particularly the high cost of victory. Yet Paddy had an added perspective. He understood that the battle was actually won the moment he resolutely decided to have faith, take action, and never give up.