Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Abbie Johnson Taylor of Sheridan featured in Maine newspaper article about Behind Our Eyes


Sheridan's Abbie Johnson Taylor, long-time members of Wyoming Writers, Inc., and WyoPoets, is a member of a writers' group with disabilities called Behind Our Eyes. That's also the title of the group's 2007 anthology. Abbie's work is featured in the book. A second volume is in the works.

Today's issue of The Kennebec Journal in Augusta, Maine, has a story about this group and its publishing ventures. It includes some quotes from Abbie, who is the editorial staff of the online magazine Magnets and Ladders:
"We're working on a second anthology as well as the online magazine. Since the group's inception, several of our members, myself included, have published our own books."

FMI: Elisa Busch at 571-257-7355 or glbusch@comcast.net; Bobbie LaChance, 571-795-8999 or e-mail blachance@roadrunner.com. Website: www.freewebs.com/behindoureyes/&

"Painting with Nancy" starts June 9 at AVA Center

Get your copy of Pat Frolander's Married Into It this weekend at Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference

Wyomingarts looks forward to getting a signed copy of Patricia Frolander's new book this week in Casper at the Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference. Married Into It is a collection of poetry by Pat. Published by Glendo's High Plains Press, it features a cover illustration by award-winning Wyoming artist Sarah Rodgers. The WWInc conference bookstore is sure to have plenty of copies. If for some strange reason you're not coming to Casper this weekend (for the first time ever, the conference hotel may be accessible by boat!), you can order a signed copy from the author at Patricia Frolander, 19652 US Highway 14, Sundance, WY 82729. It is $12.95 plus $2 S&H. You can also buy copies at www.highplainspress.com or your favorite local bookstore or www.amazon.com.

Here are some review comments:

South Dakota writer Kent Meyers, author of The Work of Wolves:
Patricia Frolander writes of a place and way of life where disaster can be measured in seconds and where the most harrowing loss can emerge from the simplest of mistakes. Frolander understands just how indifferent the world is to human presence, but she makes of that understanding a quiet grandeur. Against indifference, these poems insist on redemptive beauty and the power of relationship. They are unstinting and clear-eyed, poems about the world as-it-is and about how human beings live not in but with it, and with each other, in both endurance and mutual support. 
Laurie Wagner Buyer, Colorado, author of When I Came West:
Vivid, honest, full of the beautiful clarity of hard-won expression, these poems will change the way the world thinks about women in ranching. Beneath the tough conditions and unrelenting work of western ranch life lie unbreakable threads of tenderness and conviction, one that ties working hands to stalwart hearts, and observant minds to the absolute souls of the earth.
John D. Nesbitt, novelist and poet, Torrinton, Wyo., Gather My Horses:
The poems in Married Into It show true Western spirit as they express a love for the land, the animals, and the ranching way of life.  This collection is evocative-rich with details and toned with perfect elegy.
Get more info on the author at the Bear Lodge Writers web site. Congratulations, Pat. See you Friday in Casper

Friday, May 27, 2011

Red Desert Rendezvous and Art Show June 17-19

Photo by Ken Driese
From the Wyoming Association of Churches:

We welcome your participation at the Red Desert Rendezvous and Art Show scheduled in and around Rock Springs for June 17-19.

The Rendezvous will offer people an opportunity to come and experience the Red Desert first hand with tours and an evening educational session on June 18. The goal of our collective effort for Red Desert Week and the Red Desert Rendezvous is to focus attention on this spectacular and mostly unknown piece of Wyoming's landscape and to do what we can to protect this important part of our heritage. Many in our coalition of Red Desert supporters would love to see the best parts of these lands designated a National Conservation Area while others would be content to see responsible federal and state agencies work to protect its unique features.

For a guided tour, you must sign up in advance.  There are four tour options. The tours are limited to 20 each per BLM requirements.  Registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.  Travel costs for gas will be shared.  You will be contacted to confirm your reservation and for specific directions. 

For the dinner, we also need advance registration and payment by June 13th. The Red Desert Rendezvous dinner is on Saturday, June 18, 5:30 pm at the Young at Heart Senior Center, 2400 Reagan Avenue, Rock Springs.  The dinner is $16 per person payable to the Wyoming Association of Churches on line at the link below or by check sent to:
Warren Murphy
50 Diamond View Drive
Cody, WY 82414

All other events are free – Also at the Young at Heart Senior Center, Saturday, June 18
Reception with an art show, 3 – 5:30 pm
Key note speaker and panel, 7 pm
Ecumenical Service for the Earth on Sunday, June 19 at 1 pm, at an outdoor site yet to be selected.  Plan to be there by 12:30 and bring a picnic lunch!

Overnight camping is allowed in the Red Desert.

A small block of rooms for June 17 and 18 are being held until June 15 at the new Comfort Inn & Suites in Rock Springs at 2622 Commercial Way. Call 307-362-9100 and ask for the BOCES block.  The cost is $99/night and includes breakfast.

Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference just a week away!

Here are all the links you need for information about the annual conference of Wyoming Writers, Inc., in Casper June 3-5:

2011 Wyoming Writers, Inc. Conference
June 3-5 in Casper, Wyoming

Presenters:
Peter McCarthyVice President of Marketing
Editor Katie Dublinski, Graywolf Press
Agent Peter Steinberg, The Steinberg Agency

Go to the WWInc web site for conference brochure

Jessica Sonner performs June 1 at UW Simpson Plaza

Denver-based musician Jessica Sonner will perform a free concert from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the University of Wyoming Simpson Plaza.
Sonner's performance is the first of a summer series though July that will feature live music every Wednesday in Simpson Plaza.
Sonner has been involved in music since a young age and took part in the soprano section in choir. She pursued a degree in music business at Anderson University in Indiana where she began to write and sing her own songs.
"The range of Sonner's voice is quite impressive as she flawlessly dives into differing styles of music," says Scene Magazine's Joshua Espinosa.
Sonner's music has been featured on the HBO television show "Big Love." She has shared the stage with Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles and Third Eye Blind since beginning her career almost six years ago.
"Jessica Sonner is captivating live. Sweet, friendly and bright, she will steal your heart and leave you wondering where she has been all of your life," says Tiffiny Kallina from americanindie.net.
For more information and music samples visit www.jessicasonner.com .
This concert series is sponsored by the Campus Activities Center Summer Programs. Individuals needing assistance to attend this event can contact the CAC at 766-6340.
Photo: Denver-based singer/songwriter Jessica Sonner will perform a free concert in Simpson Plaza Wednesday, June 1, from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Old West Days Celebration means music, theatre, parades, good food and great skiing

Jackson launches into summer with the 30th Annual Old West Days (locals call it "Cold Wet Days") Celebration May 27-30. With Jackson Hole's rich history, its no wonder Old West Days is a favorite among visitors and locals alike. People from all over the country come to appreciate live music, theatrical entertainment, arts and crafts, delicious food, rodeo events and much, much more.

For more information, contact the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, info@jacksonholechamber.com, or 307.733.3316.

Bring your skis. According to Jim Stanford at JH Underground
Skiers and snowboarders should enjoy good coverage and fresh powder when the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram opens for the season Saturday. Meteorologist Jim Woodmencey is calling for up to 8 inches of snow by Sunday, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center has rated the danger as moderate.

Music legend Leon Russell performs in Sheridan Aug. 14

On Sunday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m., music legend Leon Russell performs at the WYO Theater in Sheridan. Tickets are $32 for adults, $30 seniors and military and $20 students.

Now's your chance to see the music legend, Leon Russell LIVE at the WYO Theater! You definitely don't want to miss this opportunity experience by perhaps the most accomplished and versatile musician in the history of rock 'n roll. In his distinguished and unique 50 year career, Russell has played on, arranged, written and/or produced pop, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, standards, gospel, and surf records. As a session musician, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, record company owner, bandleader, and touring musician, he has collaborated with hundreds of artists, including Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Bruce Hornsby, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand, Ike & Tina Turner, Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Ann-Margret, Dean Martin, Marvin Gaye, Dave Mason, Steve Winwood, and groups such as The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Rolling Stones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Everly Brothers, The Righteous Brothers, and more...He most recently toured and appeared on Saturday Night Live with Elton John. The guy's just plain cool.

Amazing Arthur on stage June 25 at NIC Fest

Self-proclaimed “professional showoff” and “comedy superhero” Arthur Fratelli – who’s also known as The Amazing Arthur – will be one of the featured Family Area performers for NIC Fest 2011. On Saturday, June 25, Arthur will be showing off his talents at the Natrona County Public Library at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. He will take to the NIC Fest Family Area Stage on Sunday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. As a professional family entertainer, Fratelli travels the country performing a unique blend of magic, juggling, yoyo tricks and comedy.  Fratelli has more than 12 years of full-time stage experience, and is constantly refining his act. He is also a former elementary school teacher and a past student in the prestigious Second City comedy school in Chicago. For more information about The Amazing Arthur, visit www.theamazingarthur.com.

"Jentel Presents" June 7 at Sagebrush Community Art Center in Sheridan

Photo:  L to R: Rochelle Hurt, Robyn Moore, Jeff Eisenberg, Susannah Israel, Annie Varnot, Charlotte Rodenberg

Jentel Artist Residency Program is pleased to present this month’s residents in an event open to the public.  “Jentel Presents” will take place Tuesday, June 7, 2011 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Sagebrush Community Art Center at the Historic Train Depot on 5th and Broadway, across from The Sheridan Inn.   This month’s presenters include a painter, a poet, a contemporary ceramic critic, photographer, a mixed media artist, and a sculptor. “Jentel Presents” is a community outreach program that features visual presentations and readings by the visual artists and writers at the residency.

Presenters include: Jeff Eisenberg, San Francisco, CA; A painter/drawer, Jeff has been fortunate to have had a lot of different travel adventures. He has discovered he is most excited when he really gets a sense of the place he is visiting, its’ own rhythms and culture. Rochelle Hurt, Youngstown, OH; A poet, Rochelle was forged from iron ore in the steel mills of Ohio. She has since moved to North Carolina to explore the South. Susannah Israel, Oakland, CA; A contemporary ceramic critic, Susannah was raised by a writer, historian and biologist. She learned very early how important written communication can be. It links us across time and space. Robyn Moore, Cleveland, MS; A photographer/filmmaker, Robyn is originally from Virginia. She returned from Peru with many adventures to share. Charlotte Rodenberg, Portland, OR; A mixed media artist, Charlotte loves her dog, rabbit and guinea pigs. Someday outside of her studio practice, she aspires to have a rabbit refuge and a political puppet theater. Annie Varnot, Brooklyn, NY; A sculptor, Annie has run the San Francisco marathon, is currently training for the NYC marathon and has just completed a 3 week hike on the Pacific Coast Trail. This activity inspires her work.

For anyone looking for a stimulating evening, come join the crowd at the Sagebrush Community Art Center at the Historic Train Depot, 5th and Broadway.  There is no admission charge for “Jentel Presents” and refreshments are available.

The Jentel Foundation offers dedicated individuals a supportive environment in which to further their creative development. While at Jentel, visual artists and writers have the opportunity to experience unfettered time to allow for thoughtful reflection and meditation on the creative process in a setting that preserves the agricultural and historical integrity of the land.

The Jentel Artist Residency Program accepts applications twice a year from visual artists in all media and writers in all genres for a one-month residency. A residency includes a comfortable accommodation; common living, dining and recreation areas; a private workspace and a stipend to help defray expenses during the program.  For more information please visit www.jentelarts.org or call Jentel at (307)737-2311. 

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Blue Star Museums in Wyoming and across the U.S. offer free summer admission to military families

On the steps of the San Diego Museum of Art, from L-R: Rocco Landesman, Lt. Gen. R.G. Milstead, Kathy Roth-Douquet, and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Photo by Sandy Huffaker

On May 23, NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman and Blue Star Families Chairman Kathy Roth-Douquet announced the second annual launch of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. See the complete list of participating museums. Wyoming museums are:

Gillette
National Bighorn Sheep Center
National Bighorn Sheep Center
Dubois
Wyoming State Museum
Cheyenne


The launch of the program was announced today at a press event on the steps of the San Diego Museum of Art hosted by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Mr. Landesman and Ms. Roth-Douquet were joined by Lt Gen R.E. Milstead, Jr., Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps; Vicki Reed, Chair of the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture; and representatives from San Diego's more than 150,000 active duty military personnel and the 17 San Diego museums participating in Blue Star Museums.

Call for entries: Lander Art Center juried show

From Dannine Donaho at the Lander Art Center:

At a conference where an artist once spoke about her work in detail, the audience laughed out loud when halfway through she said, "As it turns out, I'm from Pittsburgh." After learning so much about her artwork it seemed perfectly fitting that her large steel sculptures would be influenced by this historically industrial city.

Many of us make an exodus at some point in our lives-- to seek out a life of our own. Those who don't make an exodus might gladly identify with their background. Either way, our roots often appear in subtle and interesting ways even if we don't intend for it to happen or notice until later.

In this exhibition: "As it turns out, I'm from..." The object is to connect your artwork to your roots. The connection may be as simple as the artist mentioned above from Pittsburgh who makes large steel sculptures. Or it may be a connection more direct like painting place related childhood memories or using found objects from your hometown. The interpretation of the connection is in the hands of the artist. Your "home" can be a city, state, country, culture or even a state of mind. 

Whatever the connection, the Lander Art Center wants you to discover it and share it with us. Link for more info: http://www.landerartcenter.com/juriedshow

Wyoming Arts Council announces recipients of 2011 performing arts fellowships

Anne Guzzo
Anne Marie Guzzo of Laramie and Jeff Troxel of Cody have been named the winners of the 2010 Wyoming Arts Council performing arts fellowships. They each will receive a $3,000 prize. An honorable mention was given to Warren Keldsen of Cheyenne.

This year’s awards honor the most exciting and creative work by Wyoming music composers.

Guzzo’s winning entry included Conigli for flute and piano, Haddayr Blogs for soprano, flute, clarinet and piano, and Scenes of Love and Hate for viola and symphony orchestra. Her compositions have been performed in 2011 at the Cortona Sessions for New Music in Cortona, Italy; at a 2010 performance of individual solo compositions in Bologna, Italy; at the China Conservatory in Beijing; and at the University of New Mexico. She is assistant professor of theory and composition in the UW Music Department.

Singer/songwriter Jeff Troxel submitted three originals songs for the competition: Joseph, November Sidewalk and The World Yet to Come. A longtime member of the Wyoming Arts Council artist roster, Troxel has performed and taught classes throughout Wyoming and the West. He has five CDs – with another on the way in June – and is a board member of the Yellowstone Jazz Festival.

Warren Keldsen has been composing and performing music for 22 years. His application included three original songs: Soul’s Highway, Bags She Carried and Watch the Angels.

Jeff Troxel
Judges for the fellowships were composer and musician Forest Greenough of Fort Collins, Colo., and Chris Guillot from Denver.

Category for the 2012 performing arts fellowships will be theatre and dance performance. Applications will be available in January 2012 with an April 2012 deadline.

For more information, contact Michael Shay, Individual artists program specialist, 307-777-5234 or mike.shay@wyo.gov

Cheyenne Hispanic Festival June 3-5

The Cheyenne Hispanic Festival, supported in part by a Cultural Trust Fund grant, will occur in the Cheyenne Depot Plaza June 3 -5, 2011. The festival will include mariachis, jalapeno contest, Aztec dancers, food and craft vendors, live entertainment and more. The Festival will include educational and cultural exhibits. This event provides the opportunity to celebrate the various Hispanic cultures throughout our communities. The event is free to the public. For more information, visit the website. Photo courtesy Cheyenne Hispanic Festival, 2010. 

Michigan researchers find that cuts in arts funding hamper economic recovery

This comes from a story posted yesterday on www.physorg.com
Michigan is hurting its chances at economic recovery by slashing funding for the arts, according to a study by Michigan State University researchers. 
 The study found that arts and crafts activities – such as painting, dancing and filmmaking – are closely related to success of the scientists, engineers and other innovators who create new companies and inventions that stimulate the economy.  
Yet during the past decade Michigan has cut funding for the arts by some 90 percent – from about $25 million in 2002 to $2.3 million this year. In Detroit, officials attempting to balance the budget have proposed large cuts to the city’s arts and cultural institutions. 
 "Politicians often strip funding for arts and cultural assets, assuming they are expendable ‘extras,’ but this may be a serious policy error based on false assumptions,” said Rex LaMore, lead researcher on the project and director of MSU’s Center of Community and Economic Development.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Lights on for LightsOn! June 3 in Cheyenne

www.lightsondowntown.org

Robert Greer addresses NAACP banquet -- and signs books -- June 4 in Cheyenne

The multi-talented Robert Greer will come to the Cheyenne Holiday Inn on Saturday, June 4, to speak at the annual banquet of the Wyoming NAACP. His theme will be the contributions that African-Americans made to the history of the West. He will sign copies of his books from 6-7 p.m.. Dinner will follow, with Dr. Greer's speech at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, $50 per couple. You can purchase tickets for the event by calling Abe Stevenson at 307-634-8304 or Bennie McLaughlin, 307-634-5527.

When he's not writing, Dr. Greer is a professor of pathology, medicine, surgery and dentistry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in DenverHe also holds a master's degree in creative writing from Boston University and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Miami University of Ohio, his alma mater.


Greer has lived in Denver for thirty years. In 1986 he founded The High Plains Literary Review and continues to serve as its editor-in-chief. He is the author or co-author of three medical textbooks and over 125 scientific articles. His short stories have appeared in dozens of national literary magazines and his short story collection, Isolation and Other Stories, published in 2000 by the Davies Group Publishers, is also wonderfully illustrated. 

Greer has been involved in cancer research at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for more than thirty years. In 1983 his research group was the first in the world to report a synergistic link between smokeless tobacco use and human papillomaviruses in certain cancers of the mouth. That research foundation is the basis for the plot of his novel, The Devil's Hatband, the author's first novel featuring Denver bail bondsman and detective CJ Floyd. Several of his novels are set in Wyoming.


Spoon, Greer’s 2009 novel of the contemporary American West, won the Colorado Book Award for literary fiction. It also was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award and received the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union 2010 Media of the Year Award. Wyoming’s Craig Johnson, author of Another Man's Moccasins and The Dark Horse , had this to say about the novel: "With Spoon, Robert Greer tells the story of a modern-day range war in wildfire prose both taut and lyrical."

Greer also reviews books for a Denver National Public Radio affiliate, KUVO, and raises cattle on a ranch in Platte County, Wyoming

Lynn Friess wins IPPY Award for "Western Lullaby"

From a press release:

A Jackson Hole picture book, Western Lullaby, written by Lynn Estes Friess (shown in photo) and illustrated by Barbara Leonard Gibson (Mariposa Ranch Press, 2010), has won a gold medal in the national 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Launched in 1996, the “IPPY” Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to deserving but often unsung titles from independent publishers.  Western Lullaby by Jackson Hole resident Lynn Friess took first place in the category of “Children’s Picture Books (7 & Under).”

Author Friess, a grandmother of 10 and avid art collector, wrote the award-winning Western Lullaby as a bedtime story focusing on the nocturnal sights and sounds of the West, combining the dreamy tale of a little cowgirl’s nighttime surroundings with vivid illustrations by Gibson of the Western outdoors.  An audio CD of the lullaby that inspired the book is included, performed by Wyoming singer-songwriter Marilee Gordon.

This year’s “IPPY” Awards presented gold, silver and bronze medals to winners in 69 national categories as well as regional awards and 12 Outstanding Books of the Year.  Western Lullaby tied for the gold in its category with Henry! You’re Late Again! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl, illustrated by Brian Barber (Beaver’s Pond Press).  According to Independent Publisher, the 346 medal-winning books for 2011 came from a pool of 3,907 total entries, representing 45 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces, and seven countries overseas.  A full listing of the 2011 “IPPY” Award winners is available here on the Independent Publisher website.

Western Lullaby was the first picture book written by Friess, a close friend and supporter of the Jackson Hole-based National Museum of Wildlife Art.  In September 2010, Friess published her second picture book, Jackson Hole’s Carl Discovers Wildlife Art, illustrated by John Potter, and written as an engaging way to introduce children to wildlife art and the museum.  The Carl title is the first in a planned series, and proceeds from the book help sponsor programs, exhibits and operating support for the museum.

Media Contact: Ponteir Sackrey, National Museum of Wildlife Art, 307.732.5444, psackrey@wildlifeart.org

Wyoming Arts Council announces results of 2011 visual arts fellowship competition

"Lamps," Jenny Dowd, muslin, fabricated steel
armature, porcelain, 64x34x14 inches

Jenny Dowd of Alpine, David Klaren of Pinedale and Adrienne Vetter of Lander have been named the winners of the 2011 Wyoming Arts Council visual arts fellowships.

Each artist will receive a $3,000 prize. Their work will be on display Nov. 4-Dec. 30 at the Art Center in Jackson as part of the WAC’s 2010-2011 biennial exhibition.

Two artists received honorable mentions in the 2011 competition. They are Abbie Miller of Jackson and Suzanne Morlock of Wilson. There is no cash prize, but both artists’ work will be featured in the biennial show.

Judges for this year’s fellowships were Nancy Bowen, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Mark Klett, Tempe, Ariz.; and Joshua Wiener, Boulder, Colo.

Jenny Dowd is a mixed-media artist who works with paper, ink, porcelain, acrylic and muslin fabric, among other materials. She is education director and painting and drawing studio manager at the Arts Center in Jackson. Her work was featured in the 2010 Wyoming Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition, the 2011 Feats of Clay XXIV exhibit in Lincoln, Calif., and the 2007 Texas National exhibit in Nacogdoches, Texas.

"Black Gulf," David Klaren, ink on vellum,
 18x24 inches
David Klaren draws with ink and graphite on paper and vellum. He’s exhibited his work throughout Wyoming and at galleries and museums in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska, Idaho and Montana. He’s a member of the Pipeline Art Project, a group of contemporary artists who “promote their work in the wider world while maintaining Wyoming residency.”

Adrienne Vetter grew up in Wyoming and studied art at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, the University of Wyoming and the University of Michigan. She is program manager for Wyoming Kids First of the Wind River Reservation. She works in sculpture and multimedia installation and is interested in “social class, cross-cultural organizing, autobiography and rural culture.”

"White Trash Beautiful" (interior), Adrienne Vetter,
installation, life-size
Abbie Miller is a sculptor who works with a variety of materials, including cloth, vinyl, zippers, wood and metal. Suzanne Morlock is a sculptor who incorporates local materials into her work, using local newspapers in Lodz, Poland, and cast-off nets at a fishing village in Iceland.

The Wyoming Arts Council has offered fellowships to individual artists since 1987. Applications for the 2012 visual arts competitions will be available in March 2012 with a deadline in May.

For more information, contact Michael Shay at mike.shay@wyo.gov or 307-777-5234.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Penny Zeller, Amanda Cabot and Audra Harders sign books June 4 in Cheyenne

Penny Zeller will be joined by Amanda Cabot (a Wyoming author with over 25 novels published) and Audra Harders on Saturday, June 4, at Cornerstone Christian Supply from 10 a.m.-noon  and at Barnes and Noble from 2-4 p.m., Cheyenne. All three authors write historical fiction and will be signing books in that genre. Penny will be signing one of her nonfiction books. Her books include McKenzie and Kaydie (books one and two in Penny's Montana Skies series) and 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference. FMI: www.pennyzeller.com

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Reception June 2 in Sheridan for Davi Arnold's "Viewscapes"

http://www.sheridanwyolibrary.org/

Call for artists: "Energy" show at Hotel Hadley Studios (N.C.)

Hotel Hadley Studios is seeking artwork of any media for a show entitled, “Energy.” The show will open July 15. There are many definitions to the word and we encourage artists to consider expanded interpretations. One could look at Energy as fuel for our electricity and cars. Energy as caloric and biochemical fuel for our bodies and minds. Or Energy that fuels our soul through the momentum of human and nature interactions. The show is envisioned as an exhibition of artwork reflecting on energy, in all its glorious forms, and an opportunity to educate about alternative energy resources in Chatham County, the pros/cons of current energy sources, including information on hydro-fracturing and the future of natural gas. We will be partnering with NCWARN and others for this event.

Please limit submissions to 3 samples of your artwork by June 10. Work submitted does not need to be the exact piece for the show but indicative of the work intended for the show. Don't forget to include your name, title of piece, media and size. This is a juried show. There is no submission fee, but there will be a participation fee for those exhibiting. This fee will be a sliding scale starting at $25. Artists will be responsible for the cost of transporting their work to the show and back.

Sarah Kuhn, Hotel Hadley Studios, 130 N. Chatham Ave., Siler City, NC 27344, www.hotelhadleystudios.com

Judy Slack signs copies of "Big Horn City" May 21 at Sheridan Stationery

On Saturday, May 21, 1-3 p.m., Judy Slack will sign copies of her new book, "Images of America: Big Horn City" at Sheridan Stationery Books and Gallery, 206 N. Main. Sheridan. There are many other "Images of America" books in the store such as: Sheridan, Cody, Buffalo, Fort Laramie, Sundance, Yellowstone National Park, Gillette and Cheyenne. FMI: 307-674-8080

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Fractured Atlas visits the Wyoming Arts Council

Adam J. Natale from Fractured Atlas in NYC dropped by the Wyoming Arts Council this week. After a weekend on the road working with arts groups in Denver and Fort Collins, he decided to make the short drive up I-25 to Cheyenne.

As is the case with many artists, Adam found himself working in arts administration. After a five-year stint at the National Endowment for the Arts, he joined Fractured Atlas. It's a non-profit organization that helps artists and arts organizations with fund-raising, insurance, advocacy, technology and education, among other services.

It keeps overhead low with a heavy Internet presence. But Adam said that it's expanding its presence outside of the East Coast arts corridor, working with South Arts in Atlanta, the Utah Arts Council in Salt Lake City and Colorado Creative Industries in Denver. Organization staffers also work with individual artists all over the U.S.

Fractured Atlas provides helpful "pocket guides," such as "Insurance for Film Makers" and "Insurance for Dancers and Dance Companies." The user-friendly 12-page guides address insurance issues relating to liability, health care, disability, etc.

Wyomingarts thanked Adam for dropping by, and invited him to return to Wyoming for a presentation about his organization.

Meanwhile, check out the org's web site at www.fracturedatlas.org

Opening reception for Jamie Burmeister's "Shooting Gallery" May 20 at the NIC

Jamie Burmeister, "Funky Junk"
The Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper invites you to the opening reception to "Shooting Gallery," an exhibition by Jamie Burmeister, on Friday, May 20. The museum members' preview begins at 5 p.m. and includes a lecture by the artist. The free public opening begins at 6 p.m.

Through experiments with sculpture, installation, mechanics, electronics, everyday materials, the Internet, interactivity, and sound and video, Jamie Burmeister has put together a diverse body of work that revolves around his conscious experience of the world. Many of his artworks have elements of humor, absurdity and the mundane. Many of the pieces are also interactive, creating situations where the viewer becomes a part of the piece. The experience of the work is unique depending upon how the viewers choose to interact with it.

The exhibit will be on display May 20-Aug. 7.

Dutch Hop Polka in Pine Bluffs June 11

Washakie Museum in Worland receives $10,000 grant from National Endowment for the Arts

Washakie Museum and Cultural Center. Photo by David Huber
The Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland is the recipient of a $10,000 Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

According to a May 17 NEA press release, the grant will “support a series of visual and performing arts presentations. Project activities will include traveling exhibitions of Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers; American Legacy: Our National Parks, On Location with the Plein-Air Painters of America; Montana Repertory Theatre's performance of Doubt; and a music performance by mezzo-soprano Lindsay Craft with the Museum Singers Choir.

"Images from Cuba, Tanzania and Rwanda" June 16 at the Teton County Library

On Thursday, June 16, 6:30 p.m., the Teton County Public Library presents "Images from Afar: Cuba, Tanzania and Rwanda" with Morris Weintraub. 

Did you know that open heart surgery costs less than a pair of eyeglasses in Cuba? Or that twelve goats equal one cow in Tanzania? Or that drinking orange Fanta signals that you're single and available in Rwanda? Join local documentary photographer Morris Weintraub for an evening of artistic imagery and entertaining stories transporting the viewer to three unique cultures struggling to overcome political, ecological and social issues challenging their societies. 

Location: Ordway Auditorium. Free. 

FMI: Adult Humanities Coordinator, Oona Doherty, 733-2164 ext. 135, odoherty@tclib.org.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Schedule announced for UW Snowy Range Theatre & Dance Festival

The 2011 Snowy Range Summer Theatre and Dance Festival, presented by the University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance, will feature three full-length plays in June and July.

The festival, established in 2005 as an outgrowth of UW's longstanding summer theatre program and its annual dance festival, opens June 14-18, with Theresa Rebeck's backstage comedy "The Understudy" and continues June 28-July 2, with playwright-in-residence William Missouri Downs' new comedy/drama "Forgiving John Lennon" and July 12-16, with Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd's musical revue "A ... My Name is Alice."

The Dance Festival Student Showcase Concert (July 27), Dance Festival Gala Concert (July 30) and Vertical Dance at Vedauwoo (Aug. 20-21) conclude the festival.

All theatre performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the UW Fine Arts studio theatre. Both festival dance performances will be in the UW Arts and Sciences auditorium, with the Dance Festival Student Showcase Concert beginning at 7 p.m. and the Dance Festival Gala Concert beginning at 4 p.m. Vertical Dance will be at the Vedauwoo Recreation Area.

Tickets for theatre performances cost $10 for the public, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for students. Tickets for dance are $12 at the door or $10 pre-purchased. Tickets for vertical dance cost $6.50 per person or dog.

For tickets and information, call 307-766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts 

Cheyenne International Film Festival film highlights the arts in downtown Cheyenne

The Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) short documentary airs on Bresnan Cable Channel 19 in Cheyenne daily at noon and 7 p.m. The program emphasizes the importance of the arts in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. The documentary features filmmakers MaryLee Herrmann, Patrick Mallek and Ken Wajda discussing film festivals and independent film. Local economic and community development officials Darren Rudloff of Visit Cheyenne, Michell Howard of the Wyoming Film Office and Randy Oestman from the Wyoming Arts Council discuss the importance of the arts.

"Weekend of Workshops" June 10-12 in Buffalo

Jenny Wuerker will teach plein air workshop June 11
A Weekend of Workshops
June 10-12, 2011
Lobban Artists' Row, Buffalo WY
Choose from: Blacksmithing, Plein Air Painting, Ceramics, or Zumba

Plein Air "Wuerkshop": June 11, 2:30 - 8 p.m. Call 307-217-1322. $50 fee. 

Get Hooked on Blacksmithing: June 11, 9-4pm. Led by Dave Osmundsen of Arrowhead Forge. Call 307-684-2338.

Perfecting Porcelain with Martha Grover: June 10-12. Call 307-684-4555.

ZUMBA: June 11- June 12. Call 307-250-3815.