"Best Friends" exhibit reception Feb. 5 at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library

BEST FRIENDS EXHIBIT on the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library Mezzanine in February

Dolls by Michelle Havenga and Watercolor by Gail Sidletsky

JOIN US for an artists' reception on Tuesday, February 5 from 5 - 7 pm

Teton County wildlife art gets winterized courtesy of The Knitting Project

The Knitting Project is dressing up wildlife art in Teton County, such as "Bruce the Moose" in Wilson shown above. Find out more at Suzanne Morlock's web site or read an article about the unique project in the winter issue of Wyoming Artscapes, which comes out next week. 

More details on the recipients of the 2012 Governor’s Arts Awards

More details about the 2012 Governor's Arts Awards recipients:

Advocacy for Visual Arts (AVA) Center in Gillette, musician Jalan Crossland of Ten Sleep and visual artist and educator Lynn Munns of Casper will be honored at the annual Awards Gala Feb. 8, 2013, at Little America in Cheyenne.

                AVA Center opened in 1998, and now offers a slate of classes conducted by professional and volunteer instructors including pottery, mosaics, pine needle weaving, painting, drawing, felting and tile glazing. AVA recently began the “Uncorked” series as an evening for friends, dating couples, and co-workers to get together to create a piece of art while partaking in fellowship and a favorite wine. “Little Tykes” and “Van Gogh Kiddies” are just two of the many classes AVA offers for children. 

Singer/songwriter Jalan Crossland writes music inspired by his Wyoming roots. His prowess on the banjo and guitar and ability to create humorously honest lyrics dazzles audiences from Nashville, Key West and New Orleans, to towns across Wyoming. He performs every August at the NoWoodstock Festival in his home town. Crossland has toured as the opening act with alternative country legend Robert Earl Keen, and has appeared on television and radio shows. He has been profiled in The New York Times, No Depression and Fingerstyle Guitar. His latest solo CD is Portrait of a Fish.

Casper potter and arts educator Lynn Munns began teaching at Casper College in 1971. During his tenure, he expanded the ceramics program to include an array of course offerings, new equipment and increased studio space. Munns served as the chairman of the Visual Arts Department from 1973-1980, then as chairman of the Fine Arts Division until his retirement in 2006. He also directed the Goodstein Visual Arts Gallery. In 1989, he received two outstanding educator awards. He has served as a board member for state and national arts organizations, including the Wyoming Arts Council.

For more information, contact Camellia El-Antably at the Wyoming Arts Council, 307-777-5305 or camellia.elantably@wyo.gov.
This post has been updated.

Job opportunity: Executive Director of Colorado Creative Industries

Our sister state arts agency in Colorado is looking for a new director. Here's a synopsis of the job description take from a WESTAF press release:

The Creative Industries Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade is looking for a new executive director. The agency’s mission is to promote, support, and expand the nonprofit and for-profit creative industries in order to enhance Colorado’s quality of life, drive Colorado’s economy, and grow jobs. The Division grew out of a long tradition of service as a state arts agency and continues many of those traditional services even as it strives to recast its work in terms of the broader “Creative Industries” charge.

The successful applicant will benefit from the interest of an arts and creative economy governor.  As Governor, John Hickenlooper maintains the pro-active interest in the development of the arts and the creative economy he exercised as Mayor of Denver, and as a successful member of Denver’s business community. In addition, the successful applicant will work intensively with Robert Clasen, the recently retired Chair and CEO of Starz, LLC. Mr. Clasen remains active in the entertainment industry and is a working chair of the policy council that guides the work of the Colorado Creative Industries Division.

The position of the Director of the Creative Industries Division is responsible for working with the Colorado Creative Industries Council to develop and implement the Division’s strategic plan. In addition, the Director is responsible for the direction, management, and evaluation of all agency operations, programs, and services, and for maintaining effective internal and external relations. The holder of this position provides leadership to the nonprofit and for-profit creative industries in Colorado; represents the agency and its advisory body to governmental and legislative bodies, arts organizations, creative industry corporations, private foundations, the media, and the public.  The Director manages the administration of agency operations; and provides leadership to the agency’s personnel and contractors. The Creative Industries Director reports to the Director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), serves on the OEDIT leadership team, and is responsible for the management of three full-time employees and three contracted professionals.

Applications are due on Friday, January 18, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to: Laurel Sherman, Search Coordinator, WESTAF, 1743 Wazee, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202. Electronic submittals are welcome: Laurel.Sherman@WESTAF.org

AVA, Jalan Crossland and Lynn Munns are 2012 Governor's Arts Awards honorees

Announcing the 2012 Wyoming Governor's Arts Awards recipients: Advocacy for Visual Arts (AVA) Center of Gillette, musician Jalan Crossland of Ten Sleep and artist and educator Lynn Munns of Casper. Congratulations! See you all at the awards gala Feb. 8 in Cheyenne. More details soon !

Grants available to develop "tourism assets" in the Lander area

If an arts organization isn't a "tourism asset" we don't know what is:

Lander's Tourism Asset Development (TAD) Program offers assistance through the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce from lodging tax proceeds from the Wind River Visitor’s Council.

All applicants are subject to guidelines for requesting Tourism Asset Development funds from the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce.  All requests require appropriate application materials and recommendation of the TAD committee and approval of the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  Eligible candidates include groups that are able to demonstrate that their programming has a direct benefit to the tourism industry specifically in the Lander area.  The purpose of the TAD Grant program is to attract potential visitors from outside of the Lander area.

Those eligible to apply for the TAD program are non-governmental tourist-related organizations, non-profit organization, Civic organizations or tourism related organizations for the purpose of developing tourism assets in the Lander area.  Eligible expenditures include but are not limited to print media, website, radio, television.  Other expenditures may be eligible dependent upon approval of the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

TAD grants may be awarded for applications in any amount up to $1,000.

Applications must be submitted to the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce by February 1, 2013 for projects to be completed in 2013.

Call the Lander Area Chamber of Commerce at 307-332-3892.

Poet and labor activist Mark Nowak wants to hear your story about "Working in Wyoming"

Poet, teacher and and labor activist Mark Nowak will serve as eminent writer-in-residence for the University of Wyoming creative writing program in February. He sent this info about the "Working (in Wyoming)" project he'll be conducting when he's in the state. Here it is:

Working (in Wyoming) is a community-building, creative investigation of what it means to labor in Wyoming.

A series of creative writing workshops will be held in southeastern  Wyoming (Laramie and Cheyenne) in February of 2013. These workshops will be facilitated by Wyoming writing instructors and students in the University of Wyoming's MFA program in creative writing. In these workshops, Wyoming workers of diverse backgrounds will have the opportunity to collaborate with others in the Wyoming community to create a short piece of creative writing (a poem, a parable, a short story, a piece of flash fiction/nonfiction, etc.).

Working (in Wyoming) will culminate in a large-scale yet intimate evening event in Laramie on February 28. Here working people from across the state will have the opportunity to share what it means to work in Wyoming with a presentation of pieces created in workshops.

FMI: Kay Northrop at knorthrop@uwyo.edu or Brie Fleming at briennafleming5@gmail.com

Read more on the project's Facebook page. 

Cheyenne Artists Guild features work by Donna Person and Dee James for Art Design and Dine

Donna Person and Dee James invite you to come by the Cheyenne Artists Guild in Holliday Park and visit with them during the December 13 Art Design and Dine. Both Dee and Donna are active in supporting the Guild.  Both serve on the board, Dee as 2012 President and Donna as Secretary. This December 13 from 5-8 pm, they will be showing some of their favorite pieces of art for this last Art Design and Dine of the 2012 season. Be sure to come by to say hello to Donna and Dee and view their beautiful works of art!

2Shot Art Show in Torrington offers close encounters with work by 21 regional artists

From Laramie's Joy Keown: This watercolor painting, "Close Encounter," was done from a photo that I took during our 2009 visit to the Serengeti in Tanzania.  I will be showing several Africa paintings as well as landscapes, western and wildlife paintings at the 2Shot Goose Hunt Art show this Friday and Saturday in Torrington.

View work by 21 artists from around the region at the annual 2Shot Goose Hunt Art Show at the Goshen County Fairgrounds Rendezvous Center in Torrington. Hours are noon-4 p.m. today with a quick draw from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with an auction to follow. Hours on Saturday, Dec. 8, are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., followed by a banquet and art auction from 7-10 p.m. FMI: Toby Lewis at 307-532-7364.

UUCC WinterMart Dec. 14-15 offers local handmade wares for the holidays

Gifts made by artists, crafts people and other vendors of handmade wares can be found at the annual Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne WinterMart, 3005 Thomes Avenue, December 14-15, Friday 4:30-6:30 pm, Saturday 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Lunch and baked goods will be available. Proceeds benefit programs supported by UUCC. For information, call Terry at (307) 214-3932, UUCC at (307) 638-4554 or go to www.uucheyenne.org.

Community Fine Arts Center celebrates the beauty of Wyoming's Red Desert

From the Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs:

Please join us for a variety of art-related events in January at the Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs and help celebrate the beauty of the Wyoming's Red Desert 

Wednesday January 2, 2013: 

Free Public Lecture and Discussion by Joan Hoffmann 

"History of American Landscape Painting and Public Lands"
7 pm - 8 pm

Thursday January 3, 2013:

Art Class by Joan Hoffmann
For more details call:307-362-6212

Free Exhibition Critique
4:30 pm -5:30 pm

Free Exhibition Opening Reception
Free refreshments!
5:30 pm– 7:30 pm

Exhibition Duration:
January 3-28, 2013

Art and Landscapes the Red Desert is is a professional-level juried art exhibition that includes photography and fine art pieces by local and national artists. The intent of Art and Landscapes of the Red Desert is to create a dialogue about public lands in the Red Desert and communicate how these lands are used and their significance to those who live, work, play in, and otherwise value this area. The BLM is currently revising its 20-year management plan for large portions of public lands in the Red Desert and it is our hope that a visual dialogue will encourage community engagement with this public land planning process.

Supported in part by a grant by the Wyoming Arts Council, through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts

Artful Hand's Japanese Design show puts the "D" in Dec. 13 Art, Design & Dine

The Dec. 13 Art Design and Dine art walk in Cheyenne features this show at Artful Hand Studio & Gallery. This is the final AD&D of the season. Stay tuned for the spring 2013 schedule. 

Latest Alexander Payne film "Nebraska" on location near Buffalo

Alexander Payne's ("The Descendants," "About Schmidt") latest film "Nebraska" is shooting at the Lake Stop near Buffalo. The film is about "an aging, booze-addled father who makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes prize." And we know that all roads from MT to NE go through WY. Shots are production stills taken off of the Wyoming Film Office's Facebook page.

Call for applications: Rosemary Kennedy Internship Initiative

The 2013 Rosemary Kennedy Internship Initiative is now open and accepting applications from qualified organizations. This initiative provides funding of up to $25,000 to arts organizations, from across the country, to initiate internship and apprenticeship programs for youth with disabilities that provide pre-professional skill development in the fields of arts, arts management and arts education.

Application deadline is January 7, 2013.

FMI:  Sonja Cendak, Assistant Manager, Artist Services, VSA / Accessibility Department, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, (202) 416-8823 or http://www.kennedy-center.org/accessibility/career.cfm

Lone Wyoming audition for Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps this weekend in Cheyenne

From the Casper Star-Tribune:

The only Wyoming audition for the 2013 Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps — brass, percussion and color guard — will be held Friday evening through Sunday at Cheyenne’s Storey Gym.

“Anyone interested still has time to register on our website,” corps director Fred Morris said. Other camps are being held this month in Texas, Las Vegas and Daytona Beach, Fla.

The elite 150 people chosen will represent Wyoming’s 55-year tradition of participation in the world class drum and bugle corps activity.

Selection at audition camps is based on musical ability, positive attitude, time commitment and the ability to meet financial requirements.

Even if summer participation is uncertain at this point, students who are interested are encouraged to attend a camp. Each member receives an evaluation at the end of the weekend with suggestions for improvement and an assessment of placement within the corps.

The nonrefundable fee to audition is $75, and the camp fee is $50 for meals, facilities and miscellaneous expenses. Tuition for the 2013 season is $2,550, payable on a monthly schedule January through August.

For information, visit troopersdrumcorps.org.

Cowboy Christmas Poetry Gathering Dec. 15 at Buffalo High School

New co-op gallery in Laramie holds artists' reception Dec. 2

Sean Hart is holding an artists’ reception at his new co-op gallery in Laramie, 404 S. Second St. It’s on Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mimosas and coffee cake will be served, along with artwork by Bruce Amimanni, Patrick Kelly, Allison Wagg, and Sean Gote, photography by Jennifer Faulkner and Ryan Parker and jewelry by Dolores De Harte. Sean invites everyone to slide on by and see what these artists have to offer. See you there.

Wyoming Office of Tourism announces co-op advertising project for 2013

Alan Dubberley, Deputy Director Wyoming Office of Tourism, shared this letter with the Wyoming Arts Council. We thought we'd pass it along in case there are any arts organizations or artists (or groups of artists) interested in placing a co-op ad for the national Family Motorcoach Association rally in June at CAM-PLEX in Gillette. Here's the info:  

 

Hello Tourism Partners,

 

The Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) is providing a new co-op opportunity for 2013 that will reach the RV audience.

 

The Family Motorcoach Association (FMCA) will be hosting their annual membership rally at the Cam-Plex in Gillette June 19-22, 2013. This is the association's 50th anniversary celebration and they are expecting a great turnout with over 2,200 RVs in attendance. These travelers will not only be spending their days in Gillette, they will be exploring all over the state and region. A great opportunity for us to give them plenty of reason to explore Wyoming.

 

The FMCA membership is over 100,000 strong and the WOT is providing a co-op opportunity in their March edition of Family Motorcoaching magazine. This co-op will not only reach the audience planning to attend the Wyoming event, but their entire membership.

 

WOT will purchase a full page ad and 1/6 page ads will be made available to all interested parties at $1,000 each. All ads will be placed in a Wyoming section to create a great presence for the state. The WOT is also supporting this buy with banners on the FMCA website and ads in the FMCA e-newsletter. The web banners and e-newsletter ads are not part of the co-op, but if you are interested in purchasing web advertising from FMCA, feel free to discuss that with the contact below.

 

If you are interested in participating in the co-op, you can contact:

Ranita Jones - FMCA sales manager

1-800-543-3622 ext. 214

rjones@fmca.com

 

Space reservation deadline: January 13, 2013

Materials deadline: January 20, 2013

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me back or call me at one of the numbers listed below.

 

Warmest Regards,

Alan Dubberley, Deputy Director

Wyoming Office of Tourism

5611 High Plains Road

Cheyenne, WY 82007

O: 307-777-8561

M: 307-214-1530

alan.dubberley@wyo.gov

www.wyomingtourism.org

www.wyomingofficeoftourism.gov

"The Art of Storyelling" this weekend at Casper's Corridor Gallery and Wind City Books

"Glitch" by Karla Oceanak with illustrations by Kendra Spanjer. Spanjer's work will be featured in "The Art Of Storytelling"
art show and book sale in Casper Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

From the Nov. 23 Casper Star-Tribune Weekender section:

The Corridor Gallery and Wind City Books in downtown Casper present an art show and book signing celebrating “The Art of Storytelling.”

The gallery show features original artworks used in illustrated books by artists Bruce MacPherson, Aumi K. Perry, Zachary Pullen and Kendra Spanjer. In conjunction, Wind City Books will host these illustrators and many Wyoming authors in an all-day book signing.

MacPherson, of Vienna, Va., has illustrated for magazines, newspapers, games, books and national advertising campaigns. His clients include Mattel, National Geographic Society, New York Times, Texas Roadhouse Restaurants, Radio Shack, Red Robin Restaurants and many more.

Perry, of Casper, earned her fine arts degree from the University of Wyoming in 2001. She then studied drawing and painting under Hans-Peter Szameit and Sanna Tomac for three years. She has also studied with noted painters John Michael Carter and David Leffel. Aumi’s paintings have been featured in shows, galleries and private collections across the U.S.

Pullen’s character-oriented illustrations have been seen in The New York Times Book Review, Sports Illustrated, Esquire, GolfWorld, The Wall Street Journal and many other publications. His first picture book, “The Toughest Cowboy or How the Wild West was Tamed,” garnered a starred review from the School Library Journal and was placed on the Texas Blue Bonnet Master List for 2006-2007. His second book, “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” also received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. He lives in Casper.

Spanjer divides her time between being “a writer who illustrates” and “an illustrator who writes.” She and Karla Oceanak are the co-creators of an alphabetically-inspired graphic novel for middle grade readers: the Aldo Zelnick Comic Novel Series, published by Bailiwick Press. Titles so far include “Artsy-Fartsy” (December 2009), “Bogus” (June 2010), “Cahoots” (May 2011), "Dumbstruck” (August 2011), “Egghead” (May 2012), “Finicky” (September 2012) and “Glitch” (November 2012). She lives in Fort Collins, Colo.

Details:

Gallery show: Opening reception is 7 p.m. NOV. 30 at the Corridor Gallery, 120 E. Second St. The show will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DEC. 1. It is free.

Book signing: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. DEC. 1 at Wind City Books, 152 S. Center St. The art show illustrators will be joined by authors Craig Johnson, Gayle Irwin, Cat Urbigkit, Walter Jones, Curt Wendleboe, Kendra Spanjer, Bill Sniffin, Margo Bean and Gene Gagliano.

Info: www.windcitybooks.com, www.thecorridorgallery.com

Drama students from throughout Wyoming compete in Riverton Nov. 29-Dec. 1

Our Wyoming Arts Council colleague Camellia El-Antably is heading off to Riverton tomorrow for the Wyoming State Drama Competition. Here's her description of the event:

The Wyoming State Drama Competition is put on by the Wyoming Educators of Secondary Theatre (WEST) each year. It rotates between college campuses across the state. This year it is at Central Wyoming College in Riverton Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

It is one of the most complex theatre competitions nationally, because schools/students may compete in all areas of performance and tech, including:

Proscenium, Arena, Reader's Theatre, Original Scripts (3 kinds), Duets & Monologues (humorous or dramatic), Makeup, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Publicity, Costume. The tech areas (makeup, scene, lights, publicity, costume) offer four levels with stronger criteria as the student gains experience.

 

All high schools are eligible to participate, another departure from competitions in other states, as there are no district-level competitions.

Approximately 35 high schools participate. CWC's Fine Arts Building will be overrun with students putting on makeup, rehearsing, watching performances or viewing technical entries. Students participate in critiques with professional judges. Judges are drawn from colleges and professional theatre groups in Wyoming and neighboring states.

WEST is a membership group of teachers and coaches and other interested parties from across the state. The competition is run entirely by them, with no paid staff. Anyone supportive of theatre in the schools can be a member of WEST. Find out more about WEST at: http://www.wyoest.net/