Call for entries: Cheyenne Depot Museum's Railway Art Show

Dedication celebration for new I-90 welcome center sculptures set for Oct. 14

A celebration recognizing the installation of three new sculptures at the Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center, located just off I-90 Exit 199 near the South Dakota border, is scheduled for October 14 at 10 a.m.

A life-sized bronze mountain lion greets visitors as they drive up to the center, and two bronze fawns are nestled near the building’s front entrance. Residents from the area are invited to join in the celebration followed by refreshments in the center.

The three bronze pieces by part-time Lander artist, David R. Nelson, were made possible through the State’s Art in Public Buildings “1 percent for Arts” program that allows 1 percent of the construction costs of any new, state-funded construction projects, up to a maximum of $100,000, to be spent on art work for those facilities.

Nelson’s work was selected from a pool of Wyoming artist submissions by an Art in Public Buildings (APB) Selection Committee which included N.E. Wyoming residents, Ila Miller of Aladdin, Jaymi Gilmore of Gillette, Rocky Courchaine of Sundance and Robert Vore of Beulah in addition to the architect for the facility and representatives from the Wyoming Office of Tourism and State Construction Management Office. 

The Wyoming Arts Council oversees APB projects for the State of Wyoming, and all art work becomes part of the State’s art collection, which is administered by the Wyoming State Museum.

Nelson is a nationally and internationally recognized sculptor that specializes in wildlife and human form as well as contemporary life sized and monumental sculptures.  He has been a professional artist for over 26 years, and has been commissioned by corporations, public art programs and private homeowners for a number of site-specific sculptures.  His work can be found at www.davidnelsonsculptures.com . 

For more information on this celebration, please contact the Wyoming Arts Council office at 307-777-7742 or e-mail rita.basom@wyo.gov .

Call for entries: Public art project in Jackson

Public Art Opportunity: Functional Art for Complete Street
Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Request for Qualifications Deadline: October 30, 2011

Project Budget: $15,000

Public Art for the Redmond Street project should reflect the unique ecosystem, history and heritage of Jackson Hole. Designs should include interpretive features that educate and inspire.

Elements of the proposed designs should have the potential to connect to other complete streets, parks and green spaces throughout town. Functional public art in the form of wayfinding, seating and pavers and or interactive interpretive features is desired.

Official call and images can be found at www.JHPublicArt.org

Questions contact: Carrie Geraci Director of the Jackson Hole Public Art Initiative, 307-413-1474, P.O. 3706, Jackson, WY 83001, www.JHPublicArt.org

Call for entries: Northeast Wyoming Visitor Welcome Center's 1 Percent for Art Project

A call for entries for a sculpture for the Northeast Wyoming Visitor Welcome Center in Beulah has been issued by the Wyoming Arts Council. The deadline for submissions is May 13.

The Art in Public Building’s Committee for the project is requesting an existing sculpture by a Wyoming artist. An exterior island between the parking lot and main facility is the preferred site for the sculpture.

The Visitor Welcome Center, which opened in July 2010, is a state-of-the-art green facility blending both traditional western and contemporary eco-friendly design elements. The facility is integrated into a promontory site offering sweeping vistas of the surrounding landscape.

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the Visitor Welcome Center, a number of fresh mountain lion prints were observed around the site, and an adult mountain lion was observed in the vicinity. A full-size sculpture of a mountain lion, as well as indigenous wildlife such as elk, deer antelope, bear; or bucking horse and rider, the Sundance Kid or western outlaw, are subjects the committee finds appealing.

Information about the project is available through the WAC website at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us.

The WAC is responsible for the implementation of the 1% Art in Public Buildings legislation.

For more information, contact David L. Newell, curator of Art, Wyoming State Museum, 307-777-7677.

Call for artists: Jackson Hole pedestrian underpass public art project

Public Art Opportunity

Pedestrian Underpass Wing Walls Connecting the National Museum of Wildlife Art to Jackson Hole Community Pathways

Request for Qualifications Deadline: April 22

Project Budget: $25,000

Download the call and image Index at jhPublicArt.org

The Pedestrian Underpass connects the Jackson Hole Community Pathway’s System North Highway 89 Pathway to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The Underpass acts as a gateway to the Walter Hood designed sculpture trail which is scheduled for construction this summer. This section of Pathway will connect the Town of Jackson to Grand Teton National Park and runs parallel to the National Elk Refuge. Opportunities exist for artists to enhance the four concrete retaining walls on framing the underpass after they have been built.

You can also access the the file and image appendix at: jhPublicArt.org

FMI: Carrie Geraci, Director of the Jackson Hole Public Art Initiative, 307-413-1474

BBHC sculptures now greet travelers at Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody has loaned two sculptures to Yellowstone Regional Airport to help them give visitors a big western welcome to Cody and the Center! Here's a glimpse of the big move from Facebook. To see all of the photos, go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150164398670590&id=237069925589&aid=344200

WyoFile "Tales of I-80" -- "This road will give you religion, mister"

Don't know about anyone else, but wyomingarts can't think of I-80 without remembering lines from Barbara Smith's excellent poem "Interstate 80" (excerpt).

...even if you drive the same forty miles

morning and night to work

and know every pimple on the lady's ass

every curve or incline

you could drive it in your sleep or blind

like you do half of the time in January anyway

whiteout white knuckle terror

braced against the blast of triple trailers

whipping like rattlers in the ruts.

This road will give you religion, mister.

This poem was included in the 2003 anthology Deep West: A Literary Tour of Wyoming. Barb recently retired from her teaching job at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs. She's a Wyoming Arts Council roster artist. 

Speaking of I-80, WyoFile wants your stories of this scarifying passage:

Just about everyone in Wyoming has an I-80 story, so WyoFile is launching Tales of I-80. We begin with a series of vignettes told by WyoFile’s own contributors. Now we want to hear your I-80 stories, whether it’s a white-knuckle experience, something from the odd-but-true files or something more sublime. A lot of life happens on I-80. Please share your story.

Program change for Feb. 10 Wyoming State Museum presentation

Due to poor travel conditions, tomorrow night’s (Feb. 10) Wyoming State Museum Lecture Series program has been changed to “Rest and Refuel Along the Lincoln Highway,” by Heyward Schrock.

The program is 7 p.m., tomorrow and free and open to the public.

Traveling by automobile has been a popular pastime for Americans. Finding the necessary lodging and refueling business along the roadside have become standard normal activities today.

Using historic photographs, Schrock will discuss early roadside automobile-related businesses that offered services to travelers on the Lincoln Highway through Wyoming.

This program replaces the earlier scheduled Melanie O’Hara presentation of “Cow Town Victoriana.”

For more information about this and other State Museum programs, please call 777-7022. The Wyoming State Museum is located in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne.

Call for entries: Cheyenne Depot Museum Foundation

From the Cheyenne Depot Museum Foundation:

The foundation is presenting an opportunity for Wyoming and surrounding area artists to participate in a railroad art competition to develop a collection of artwork that represents the history of the railroads of America and how they helped build our Nation into the society it is today. The subject focus of this competition is artful renditions depicting the events, people, machinery and historical locations in all periods of time from the inception to the construction of rail and railways in their current form today.

Artists are asked to be historically correct in their presentations and will be judged on the accuracy of the details of their works.

All mediums will be accepted but must be ready to hang or place with accompanying info (title, media) when they arrive at the Depot by 5:00 PM on Monday May 2, 2011.

Interested parties are encouraged to get their entry forms turned in no later than February 15th 2011.

Entry forms should be sent to:
The Cheyenne Depot Museum Foundation
PO BOX 704
Cheyenne, WY 82003

Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners:
First place, $1,000
Second place, $750
Third place, $500

FMI: Gordon Horton at 307-421-7897 or the Cheyenne Depot Museum Foundation at 307-637-3376.

START Bus to shuttle fans from Jackson to "Music on Main" in Victor -- first concert features Jackson bands

JH Underground reported this on June 16:

The START Bus will shuttle people back and forth over the pass during the "Music on Main" concert series that kicks off July 15. The special START service will offer two pick-up times for concert goers coming from Jackson. The ride from Jackson to Victor, where "Music on Main" has been relocated to this year from Driggs, will take about an hour from the first bus stop, at the Snow King Center, and about a half-hour from Wilson, the last stop on the Wyoming side. Riders can take the round-trip ride for $8, or pay $5 for a one-way trip back to the Wyoming side. Shows are scheduled to end by 10 p.m. and a START bus will depart from Victor City Park at 10:10 p.m. The bus will also run the other direction from Victor, shuttling passengers to Driggs, Idaho, and Alta, Wyo.

The Valley Citizen carried this story about the concert line-up:

The series opens on Thursday, July 15 with Calle Mambo and Rotating Superstructure, two of Jackson Hole’s premier local talents.

“Calle Mambo played an opening set last season and was so well received that we simply had to bring them back,” Potter said. “And Rotating Superstructure is one of the youngest bands making waves in the regional scene.”

With any luck at all, the Foundation won’t be able to afford Big Sam’s Funky Nation in the future. Like Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue last year, Big Sam’s Funky Nation is likely to blow its way into the hearts of concert goers Thursday, July 22 after Teton Valley’s own LUNKuR sets the stage.

"Big Sam Williams has long been one of New Orleans’ best trombone players,” Potter said. “After honing his chops with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band for many years, Sam was inspired to form the Funky Nation after Dirty Dozen began touring with Widespread Panic. With upcoming appearances at Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes and Jamcruise, Big Sam’s Funky Nation will bring another set of high energy funk to the Music on Main stage.”

The last Thursday in July will feature the Band of Heathens, an Austin-based Rock/Americana group that has drawn comparisons to the Black Crowes, the Band and Little Feat.

“Following last year’s appearance on Austin City Limits, the Band of Heathens played the Mangy Moose with rave reviews, and they were recently added to this summer’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago,” Potter said.

Jackson Hole’s One Ton Pig is scheduled to open for the Band of Heathens.

While the band featured on the first Thursday in August is still up in the air, look for the black smoke of the Backyard Tire Fire on August 12. With recent comparisons to Wilco, Son Volt and the Flaming Lips, Backyard Tire Fire has drawn the critical acclaim of Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin, who produced the band’s newest release, “Good to Be."

“It takes a pretty special band to rivet the attention of everyone in my band,” Berlin said. “In my opinion, Backyard Tire Fire is one of America’s best young bands.”

Jackson Hole band the Outfit will open for Backyard Tire Fire.

Two beautiful and talented artists are set to wrap up the 2010 Music on Main series as Carolyn Wonderland and Margo Valiante are set to sing the blues August 19.

Wonderland was named Austin’s Best Female Vocalist and her band the Best Blues Band at the 2009 Austin Music Awards. She has toured with Buddy Guy and John Winter, jammed with Los Lobos and Bob Dylan, recorded with Asleep at the Wheel, and has been featured on Austin City Limits, drawing comparisons to the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi.

A Jackson Hole native, Valiante moved to Austin a few years ago and joined Wonderland on the 2010 Austin Music Awards Best Blues Band list. Valiante will join Wonderland again on stage as her opening act. As a volunteer driven organization, the Teton Valley Foundation is always in search of people interested in donating their time to their events and serving on committees. To get more involved, please contact Jeff Potter by emailing him at jeff@tetonvalleyfoundation.org

Call for artists: Rosa Parks Transit Station

The City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Art in Public Places Trust invite artists or artist teams to submit applications for the Rosa Parks Regional Transit Service (RTS) Downtown Station.

The public artwork will be installed at the Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station. The space allows for lighting, tile, panels and paving of the artist’s design, choice and materials. The theme is left to the artist’s discretion, but the artist may choose to use the title of the station (Rosa Parks) as inspiration for the design. This public art project will enhance the aesthetic quality of the busy downtown bus station for those who use its services everyday. The artwork will be accessible and contribute to Gainesville’s community pride.

One artist or a team of artists will be selected after the following information has been reviewed. The following documentation must arrive by the postmark deadline of Friday, August 14, 2009:

1. Letter of Interest: This one page maximum letter should outline the artist’s approach to public art. Please highlight relevant past experience on projects of similar budget and scope.
2. General Design Concept/Theme Proposal: Describe your overall “theme” and style of artwork. Include artist name, fees, for all service, drawings, and any additional services provided upon invoice. Explain your proposed schedule, process, medium and method by which you will involve the Downtown RTS Bus Station users in concept development and/or design development.
3. Professional Resume: Resumes should not be more than two pages. Please note that artist teams should submit a resume for each team member.
4. Fabrication and Installation: Describe the anticipated fabrication and installation needs for the permanent art work.
5. Annotated Image List: The image list must be provided with the Artist’s name, title, location, medium, dimensions, date of work, budget, the corresponding image number and short description of images (up to 10 maximum). The format for this submission should be on a CD in .jpg format, with each image no larger than 1MB.6.

Return Envelope: Self-addressed and stamped. Mail Application Materials (Postmarked by August 14, 2009) to: City of Gainesville Art in Public Places Trust Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, Station 30 PO Box 490, Gainesville, FL 32602-0490.

For additional questions please contact Erin Friedberg, Visual ArtsCoordinator, City of Gainesville Division of Cultural Affairs, (352) 393 – 8532.E-mail: friedbereh@cityofgainesville.org

Deadline: August 14, 2009

Ride the UW bus to Westword Music Showcase

From a UW press release:

Space is available for both University of Wyoming students and non-UW students for a June 13 bus trip to Denver for the Westword Music Showcase.

The bus leaves at noon from the east Wyoming Union parking lot and will return to campus around midnight. Cost is $10 for UW students and $15 for non-students. Tickets for the music showcase are available from the Wyoming Union information desk. Tickets include the bus ride and admittance to the music event.

For more information, contact the UW Campus Activities Center at (307) 766-6340 or e-mail cac@uwyo.edu.

More than 50 bands will perform at the music showcase on different stages set up around Lincoln Street in Denver. The showcase's Web site is http://musicshowcase.westword.com/index.php.

"5 Years of Freedom" exhibit in Meeteetse

Photographer and world traveler David Stalcup will exhibit his work this summer at the Meeteetse Museum, 1947 State St., Meeteetse. A reception will be held for the artists on Saturday, June 6, 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

FMI: 307-868-2423 or mmuseum@tctwest.net

For more on David, go to http://davidstalcup.com

"Yesterday's Cars" exhibit at Laramie County Public Library

From a Laramie County Public Library press release:

If you’re a car lover, then the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne has something for you.

Through June 15, the library is hosting a new exhibit, "Yesterday’s Cars," featuring both collectibles and photography. The photography comes from the talents of regional artist Beth Buskirk, who is drawn to rusting old cars that have been left to decay in fields.

"Wyoming is a great place for old cars," Buskirk said. "They are out there, part of the landscape, just waiting for someone to notice them and take their pictures."

The model cars are on loan courtesy of Lon Harper, who has been collecting precision model cars for more than 25 years. Many of them were produced by the Danbury and Franklin Mints. Both displays can be found on the first floor of the library, located at 2200 Pioneer Ave.

For more information about this exhibit or upcoming displays, call 634-3561 or visit http://www.lclsonline.org/.

Artist interested in carpooling to symposium

An artist from Cheyenne has registered for the "Public Art & Community" symposium April 2-4 in Laramie. She would like to carpool with other Cheyenne artists headed to the event. If you're interested, contact Mike Shay at the WAC at 307-777-5234 or mshay@state.wy.us. I'll pass the information on to her.

Juan Laden "Roadside Memorials" exhibit featured at Folklore in Lander

Here's a message from Lander photographer Juan Laden about his most recent exhibit:

I just wanted to let you know that my show, "Passing Memories, Descansos, Roadside Memorials of the West" which showed last winter in Skive, Denmark, and has done some touring in Wyoming is now showing at the Folklore, a coffee shop at 379 Main in Lander. The exhibit will be up until Nov. 9.

This show is especially poignant, since it was announced on Wyoming Public Radio on Oct. 4 that WYDOT will be removing approximately 300 of these memorials on the highways around the State. These "folk art" memorials that have seen an increase over the last 10 years, have been made illegal by WYDOT back in 2003. They gave a five-year adjustment time and now they will be actively removing them.

About Juan Laden: This show has been a project for the last 10 years of Juan Laden's, a fine-art photographer (in the old style "wet photography" using film and printing in a dark room). Juan is located in Lander, but had traveled extensively over three continents and has been creating photo images since the 1960s. This is an ongoing project and, as the conditions prevail, will become to some extent, a historical collection.

FMI: Juan Laden, 375 Market St., Lander, Wyoming 82520; (307) 332-0159