Cheyenne's C.J. Box (and spirit of Dashiell Hammett) featured at Colorado library benefit

2008 Edgar-Award nominated book "Blue Heaven" by C.J. Box


Amelia “Amy” Shelley used to be the “do-it-all” staffer at the Laramie County Library in Cheyenne. Wyomingarts served with her on the Cheyenne YMCA Writer’s Voice advisory committee, which brought in great writers such as best-selling mystery novelist Michael Connelly.

Amy left Cheyenne a few years ago to become the executive director of the Garfield County Public Libraries in Glenwood Springs, Colo. A check of the library web site shows that Amy has put together some cool events, including The Big Read Project. The NEA-sponsored series promotes reading. Now, everyone (a lot of people anyway) are reading “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett. Culmination of this event is the Big Read Black & White Gala on Saturday, March 21, 7 p.m., at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs. The gala will feature best-selling mystery author C.J. Box of Cheyenne. Also, live jazz with the Walt Smith Trio, screenings of the winning short films from The Big Read film contest, dancing, delicious food, and a cash bar. Tickets are available now at any of the six Garfield County libraries for $35 per person or $60 per couple. The gala is a fundraiser for the Garfield County Public Library Foundation.

FMI: Amelia Shelley, ashelley@marmot.org, 970-625-4270.

C.J. Box is up for the Mystery Writers of America’s 2008 Edgar Award for his novel “Blue Heaven.” His latest Joe Pickett mystery, “Below Zero,” will be out June 23. For tour info, go to his web site at http://www.cjbox.net/.

C.J. received a 1992 Wyoming Arts Council creative writing fellowship.

Carlson's latest novel set in Wind Rivers

Utah native Ron Carlson, who's served as a WAC fellowship judge and conducted a number of readings and workshops in Wyoming, has a new novel coming out in June. "The Signal" is set in the Wyoming's Wind River Mountains. It received a starred review in the latest issue of Publishers Weekly. Here's the PW review:

The dense Wind River Mountains of western Wyoming is where Carlson (Five Skies) sets his brooding latest, a tale of expired love and desperate measures. Mack, son of a longtime rancher, has made many missteps in life, culminating in a recent stint in jail where “he'd rusted like an old post when the weather turned.” While he's in jail, his recently ex-wife Vonnie agrees to join him one last time on their annual ritual of backpacking through the Wyoming wilderness to fish, camp and rediscover each other. Mack, though, has a hidden motive: a friend/technical genius has hired him to retrieve a valuable drone that's crash-landed in the forest. Carlson describes the couple's six days wandering the wooded terrain in delicate, measured prose, careful to miss neither the lush scenery nor the incrementally amplified tension as Mack edges closer to his prize and shady characters from the past appear. Carlson has produced a work of masterful fiction, combining the sad inevitability of a doomed relationship with sheer nail-biting suspense.

"The Signal," Ron Carlson. Viking, $25.95 (184p) ISBN 978-0-670-02100-0

St. Patrick's Day concert to benefit Cheyenne Little Theatre

Harpist Dave Shaul (in photo), a recent addition to the Wyoming Arts Council artist roster, will present a St. Patrick’s Day Concert on Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Atlas Theatre in downtown Cheyenne. This is a benefit concert in support of the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players. Tickets are $15 (general admission/general seating). Concessions include green beer (of course), shamrock cookies, pretzels, and more. Featuring: Dave Shaul, harpist (Irish/Celtic music), along with Amy Lenell on fiddle. Jeff Bowell will be a special guest. FMI: 307-638-6543.

"Gross National Happiness of Bhutan"

On Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m., you're invited to a community dialogue at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson with Bhutanese native Kelzang Lhaden and photographer Anne Muller who collaborated with Tashi Wangchuck on the book "Gross National Happiness of Bhutan." Registration required, begins April 1. Lunch provided. Cost: Free. Location: Ordway Auditorium. To reserve a space contact Adult Humanities Coordinator, 733-2164 ext. 135 or odoherty@tclib.org.

Wyoming Piatigorsky tour announced

From a Wyoming States Parks and Cultural Resources press release:

Clarinetist Igor Begelmen (shown in photo) and piano accompanist Anna Vinnitsky will perform a 10-concert tour of Wyoming March 30 through April 7. The public is invited to attend these free concerts that will be hosted in Evanston, Kemmerer, Green River, Dubois, Lander, Thermopolis, Greybull and Buffalo.

Details concerning venue, date and time of the concerts will be available in the near future.

The Muriel and Dr. Seymour Thickman Family Charitable Foundation in Sheridan underwrites the tour which features the two nationally known artists. This is the fourth year that the Thickman Family Foundation has sponsored the tour. The Piatigorsky Foundation is a national arts services organization, whose mission is to bring live classical music to individuals who do not have the geographical access or financial means to attend concerts.

Clarinetist Igor Begelmen has been praised by critics as a "remarkable display of music making" – which has earned him an impressive list of awards, engagements and honors.

Begelman has appeared as soloist with major orchestras in the United States and abroad. Raised in Kiev, Ukraine, Begelman received his master’s degree from The Juilliard School of Music and his bachelor’s degree from The Manhattan School of Music. His affiliation with The Piatigorsky Foundation allows him to teach and perform classical music in less traditional settings.

Pianist Anna Vinnitsky is a distinguished artist of great versatility whose piano repertoire embraces all genres and styles, and ranges from the innovations of late Renaissance and the elegancy of Chopin to the comprehensiveness of contemporary music.

Ms. Vinnitsky is enjoying an extensive career as a soloist and collaborative artist. She has appeared to critical acclaim at some of the world’s most prestigious concert venues, including Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, among others.

Currently, Ms. Vinnitsky holds the position of staff accompanist at The Mannes College of Music, and a teaching position at St. Luke’s School in New York City, while also pursuing her doctoral degree in piano performance at Stony Brook University Department of Music.

This year’s tour was coordinated by the Wyoming Arts Council in conjunction with the Piatigorsky Foundation.

For more information about this and other Wyoming Arts Council Programs, please call 307-777-7742.

Wyoming band performs at national conference

This news comes from Mike Masterson in the Northwest College Music Department in Powell. Mike has served as a Wyoming Arts Council board member.

Here's the news:

On Friday, March 20, an adult brass band involving many WMEA and MMEA (Montana) members will be performing in Denver at the national conference of the Society for American Music (SAM), an organization dedicated to the study of the history and culture of American music.

Chosen by the SAM executive board, and directed by Wild West music researcher, Mike Masterson, from Northwest College in Powell, the band will be playing music originally performed by Buffalo Bill's Cowboy Band that provided the music for Buffalo Bill's West Show as it traveled in the U.S. and Europe from 1883 to 1916. Featuring such renowned band directors over the years as William Sweeney, Karl King, and Merle Evans, Buffalo's Bill's Cowboy Band played all kinds of American Music from marches and dances to popular songs, classic band overtures, and medleys of music from European operetta composers like Offenbach.

The current version of Buffalo Bill's Cowboy Band, comprised of performers from Northern Wyoming and Southern Montana, recreates the original band in both repertoire and costume in their performances. For more than a decade, this 20-piece band has played for Wild West shows and other indoor and outdoor community events, parades, and concerts.

We will perform a concert in Powell on Wednesday night, March 18, at the Northwest College auditorium as a dress rehearsal for the Denver gig. Hope to see some of you there. On the way to Denver on Thursday, March 19, the Cowboy Band will stop in Casper to play a concert at Casper College at 2 p.m. in the music building auditorium. Doug Bull is our contact in Casper as he has played in the Cowboy Band several times over the last few years. We hope many of you and maybe your students too might be close enough to Casper to attend the concert. The Cowboy Band concert in Denver goes from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Friday, March 20 at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Denver. The band will provide music from the original Wild West Show along with slides of Wild West memorabilia, films of Buffalo Bill's original Wild West, and a narration by Dr. Paul Fees, past curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody.

The band members involved in this national conference presentation are listed below. You will recognize many familiar names I know. This kind of musical national exposure for Wyoming and Montana musicians is special and a gig we are eager to play.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Cowboy Band Personnel:
Piccolo: Leslie Viren, Sheridan
Clarinets: Michelle Hansen, Powell; Steve Hanley, Billings, Mont..; Marianne Bibbey, Powell
Cornets: Kerry Boggio, Red Lodge, Mont.; Ken Boggio, Hardin, Mont.; Neil Hansen, Powell; Rob Rumbolz, Powell; Tom Bibbey, Powell; Andy Mrozinsky, Cody
Horns: Pat Parmer, Lovell; Dana Prater, Sheridan; Warren Frank, Billings, Mont.
Trombones: John Henderson, Greybull; Rick Parmer, Lovell; Jack Nauman, Basin
Euphonium: Loren Marsteller, Tujunga, Calif.; Jeff Prater, Sheridan
Tuba: Dr. Ariel Downing, Sheridan
Drums: Ed Martin, Cody; Zack Paris, Cody
Director: Dr. Michael Masterson, Northwest College, Powell
Narrator: Dr. Paul Fees, Past Curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody

Conservation Stamp Show opens March 13

Here's a public invitation from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department:

You are cordially invited to attend the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's 26th Annual Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Competition, Sale and Art Show. This year featuring the Cinnamon Teal. Opening reception is on Friday, March 13, at the Wyoming State Museum in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue, Cheyenne.

Reception will commence in the museum lobby at 5 p.m. The awards ceremony band artwork sales will begin at 6 p.m.

FREE admission and Hors d'oeuvres.

Entries will remain on display and for sale through April 19.

FMI: Margaret James, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, 307-777-4538, margaret.james@wgf.state.wy.us

Pat Mendoza drops by to show latest film

Denver-based storyteller and musician Pat Mendoza has spent two decades making trips to Wyoming to perform in schools, libraries and arts centers. He dropped by the Wyoming Arts Council today to talk about his latest interest -- filmmaking. Pat, a Vietnam veteran, is making a new short film about a highly-decorated woman military veteran from Wyoming. He brought us copies of his 2008 film, "In the Shadow of Giants: A Return to Makin Atoll." As is always the case, Pat has almost as many stories about the making of the film as he has included in the film itself. It's the product of seven years of research, which included travels around the U.S. and a jaunt to the South Pacific. You can view a clip from the film here: http://web.mac.com/patmendoza/Site/The_Shadow_of_Giants.html

And more info about the film from Pat's web site:

In the Shadow of Giants: A Return to Makin Island, a film by Pat Mendoza, is the remarkable true story about the recovery of the remains of the 19 Marines who were killed in action in WWII. They were buried on the island and their remains were discovered 58 years later. The recovery was made by The U S Army’s Central Identification Lab Hawaii (now called JPAC--Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command).

This film clip is part of a full hour production about, not only the recovery, but of the men who served in Carlson’s 2nd Marine Raiders in 1942. On August 19, 2006. the U.S. Navy christened the ship the USS Makin Island (LHD8) to honor that engagement.

Traditional song "E Papa" and the "Marine Corps Hymn" arranged by Pat Mendoza. Song is performed by Makin Islanders and Pat Mendoza. "Marine Corps Hymn" performed on flugelhorn by Steve Wiest. Narration and music by Pat Mendoza and Steve Wiest

AVA's "Open Life Drawing" begins March 16

PFAC holds opera ticket raffle March 18

Don Pasquale goes West at Utah Opera

The Pinedale Fine Arts Council will be selling raffle tickets at its next event (Dallas Brass concert on March 18, 7:30 p.m.). Three winners will receive two tickets to the Utah Opera's performance of Don Pasquale on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. Winners will be announced at intermission of Dallas Brass show March 18.

Here’s more info about the opera from the PFAC web site:

While Don Pasquale is traditionally set in Rome, Utah Opera’s performance of Don Pasquale uses the Wild West as its backdrop. Don Pasquale is the story of an elderly, wealthy, (and miserly) bachelor who has no heir. To remedy the situation, he tries to persuade his young nephew Ernesto to accept an arranged marriage. Ernesto refuses to obey his uncle since his heart is already pledged to the glamorous yet penniless widow, Norina. In a fit of anger, Pasquale turns the tables on his nephew by disinheriting him and deciding to get married and produce an heir himself.

After a bewildering chain of events involving a little fraud and some bogus legal proceedings, the story ends well with true love conquering all—as we hope it always does.

The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Call for entries: Kala Fellowships

From a press release:

Artists producing innovative work in book arts, electronic/digital media (video, sound, animation, etc.), installation art, photography and printmaking are encouraged to apply for Kala Fellowships, Berkeley, Calif. Applicants will be judged on conceptual creativity, originality and artistic excellence as well as technical knowledge.

Nine artists will each receive a Fellowship consisting of:
$3,000 cash award
Up to six consecutive months of studio residency at Kala Art Institute
24/7 access to Kala’s studio (Individual studio space may be also available depending on artists' projects and schedules.)
Exhibition of artwork created during the residency in a group show at the Kala Gallery

The Fellowship Competition is juried by a Kala jurying panel including an outside Bay Area arts professional. Kala is pleased to announce that Larry Rinder, Director of Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives, will be our guest Fellowship juror for this year.

The Fellowship does not include housing.

For information about Kala and application instructions, please check: http://www.kala.org/fellow/fellow_ap.html Website: http://www.kala.org/fellow/fellow_ap.html

Online community of artists

Spraygraphic is a free online creative community. The site allows members to share their Art, Design, Music, Video, and Writing projects and portfolios with each other. Spraygraphic is a great place to find both international and local artists, designers, galleries, museums, studios, and events.Spraygraphic is dedicated to bringing creative people together. www.spraygraphic.com/
To view selections from their 4x4 art show (above), go to http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/9017/normal.html

Register now for symposium and discounted lodging! Avoid Elton John concert rush!

The early registration deadline is March 15 for the Public Art & Community: Inspiration and Reflection” Symposium April 2-4 at the UW Conference Center in Laramie. Register by Saturday Sunday, March 15, to receive the $100 rate, which includes the full conference, opening and closing receptions and two lunches.

Registrants should keep in mind that a block of $99/night hotel rooms are available only through March 15. Lodging in Laramie that weekend will be at a premium as 12,000 Elton John fans hit town for his April 3 benefit concert.

For information or downloadable registration forms for this exciting symposium, please visit the UW Art Museum web page at www.uwyo.edu/ArtMuseum or the Wyoming Arts Council web site at wyoarts.state.wy.us. The Art Museum and WAC are co-sponsors of the event.

Wyoming visual artists! This is your first opportunity since the WAC’s ARTSPEAK conferences to gather together with fellow artists from around the state. You are invited to attend a series of roundtable discussions with WAC staffers on Friday and Saturday to discuss the agency’s programs for individual artists. Stick around for the closing reception at 5 p.m. Saturday when the WAC will award its 2009 visual arts fellowships. Meet this year’s fellowship jurors Greg Esser, Gina Ruggeri and Lawrence Argent.

Conference attendees will have a chance to hear inspiring talks by renowned artists such as Texas’s Jesus Moroles, winner of a 2008 National Medal of Arts; Lawrence Argent, creator of the “Big Blue Bear” sculpture at the Colorado Convention Center which has become the most photographed site in downtown Denver; Charmaine Locke, whose six-foot-tall multi-armed “Open Book” bronze now greets Laramie’s library patrons; and Ursula Von Rydingsvard, a New York-based monumental sculptor whose work was influenced by a childhood in World War II Germany and post-war refugee camps.

Three artists featured in “Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational” – Moroles, von Rydingsvard and Tennessee sculptor John Henry -- will stage an “Art Slam” at 7:30 p.m. on the symposium’s opening night on April 2.

UW’s Jeff Lockwood brings a philosophical and scientific slant to sculpture during a 9:20 a.m. talk on April 3. At 1:40 p.m. on April 4, UW Music Professor Rod Garnett will perform a musical interpretation of UW’s year-long Sculpture Invitational. Wyoming First Lady Nancy Freudenthal speaks later that afternoon (4:20 p.m.) about her involvement in the arts.

A full schedule of symposium sessions is available on the WAC blog at wyomingarts.blogspot.com (see March 11 posts).

FMI: Call the WAC at 307-777-7742.

No woes here

California cows might be the happiest, but as far as people go, Wyoming comes in at #3 in a Happiness Poll. Read the full article at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090311/ap_on_re_us/states_of_happiness.

Art students destined for "weekend of culture"

Here's an excerpt from an article written by Liz Wood in the March 10 edition of the Saratoga Sun:

This coming weekend, eight Art II and Advanced Art students of the Encampment School will have a weekend of culture, from staying at an historic hotel in Denver, to visiting the Denver Art Museum, gallery districts, attend a ballet, and a Broadway performance. The students will see “Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Phantom of the Opera.” They will also have the opportunity to eat at a Moroccan restaurant, see a belly dance performance, and eat at a Thai restaurant. Students going on the trip include Abbey Davidson, Theresa Wagnon-Sosa, Danial Barkhurst, Lauren Jenio, Chelsie Knottwell, Elizabeth Keyser, Bradley Russell, and Payton Jackson.

The students sold their own artwork plus paid $100 each to help pay for the costs of the weekend, while the school paid for transportation and a meal. The hotel and performing art centers provided reduced rates for the students, while the grants covered the balance of the trip, which was a significant amount, according to Kraft. She believes the project is important for her students because it will “promote a deeper understanding of what the fine, performing, and culinary arts encompass, potentially expanding students’ involvement as audience or as career or recreation participants in their lives beyond school.”

The students will leave Encampment early Friday morning, and return Sunday afternoon. The students will stop and tour the University of Wyoming Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit in Laramie, Sunday, after lunch, before returning to Encampment. The students’ experience will not end after the weekend is over, they will have homework for their art class. They will be required to express in a visual art form, their most memorable experience of the trip. The students will use the higher level thinking skills to propose and create the work of art.

Additional funding for the project comes from the Wyoming Arts Council and Wyoming Humanities Council.

Final schedule announced for "Public Art & Community" Symposium at UW April 2-4

Here is the latest update of the schedule for the Public Art & Community Symposium April 2-4 at the UC Conference Center in Laramie:

Thursday, April 2, 2009
1-5 p.m.: Registration, UW Conference Center
5 p.m.: Opening Reception, University of Wyoming Art Museum
7:30 p.m.: Art Talk Slam, UW Conference Center -- Artists John Henry, Ursula von Rydingsvard and Jesus Moroles will discuss their involvement with "Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational," and their larger body of work.
9:30 p.m.: Q&A with presenters
10 p.m.: 20:20 -- PowerPoint Presentations by conference attendees (20 slides; 20 sec. each); Sign Up required . Please note that the "Art Talk Slam" and "20:20" are free and open to the public.

Friday, April 3, 2009
7 a.m.: WAC Roundtable; Coal Creek Coffee, downtown Laramie
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: Registration at the UW Conference Center
8 a.m.: "Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational" -- This video documentary shows interviews with the artists in Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational.
8:20-8:40 a.m.: Terry Cooper, ARK Regional Services, "Public Art: Opening the Door into the 'World of Art' for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities." Cooper will discuss her experience working with ARK residents and artists and how the opportunities of the Sculpture Invitational changed the residents' and public perceptions.
9 a.m.: Lawrence Argent, Artist and WAC fellowship juror. Argent will talk about copyright issues and public art, especially in regard to his own work and experiences.
9:20 a.m.: Jeff Lockwood, UW professor of philosophy. “The Blind Leading the Young: A Scientist Teaches Children how to Write About Sculpture.” The Story: An entomologist, who knows nothing about sculpture, but imagines himself a philosopher and writer, is asked to teach groups of creative and energetic kids how to write about art. Taking a page from his experience in nature writing, he encourages the children to perceive sculpture in ways that he’s found to be fruitful with respect to engaging the natural world.
9:40 a.m.: BREAK
10-10:20 a.m.: Art Talk with Steven Siegel, sculptor. Siegel will talk about his involvement with sculpture and share some of his other public works.
10:40 Peter Moran, UW Professor, College of Education. “Public Art and Controversy: The College of Education Mural” This presentation will explore the controversial nature of a mural depicting the history of Wyoming located in the foyer of the College of Education auditorium. Completed in 1952 by Wyoming artist Edward T. Grigware, the mural features what many viewers conclude are stereotypical, ethnically-biased, and historically inaccurate representations of Native Americans, while implicitly communicating the superiority of Anglo culture in the state’s history.
11 a.m.: Melanie Howlett, Starrett Jr. High Teacher, Lander. “Making the Connection: Contemporary Sculpture Inspires Jr. High Students” This presentation will discuss the use of Sculpture in the K-12 classroom, including field trips made to Laramie to investigate the works.
11:20 a.m.: Travis Ivey and Jedadiah Cracco, UW students. These two UW students will share their experiences assisting the artists with installation, and also the process behind selecting the artwork.
11:40 Q&A session
Noon: Lunch, which includes WAC Roundtable: WAC Programs for Visual Artists (locations TBA)
1-1:20 p.m.: Art Talk with Carl Reed, sculptor. “Vandalism and Validation” As Reed’s piece was one of the sculptures vandalized, he would like to assure the audience that such things happen everywhere and offer some speculations on the causes. Among other things, it seems to reflect the power of public sculpture to get people's attention, for better or for worse. In addition, he wants to make some specific remarks about the importance of this show to his life and career.
1:40 p.m.: Harvey Hix, UW Professor, MFA Creative Writing Program and poet. “Against Mimesis: Thoughts on the Sculpture of Ursula von Rydingsvard.” Hix offers a creative reflection on the work of Ursula von Rysdingsvard.
2 p.m.: Mike Massie, Wyoming State Senator. Senator Massie will share his thoughts on the role that legislators play in supporting public art.
2:20 p.m.: Paul Harrison, Director, Laramie Parks & Recreation. Harrison will offer behind the scenes stories on the installation of sculpture in Laramie from the perspective of Parks and Recreation.
2:40 p.m.: BREAK
3-3:20 p.m.: Art Talk with Linda Fleming, sculptor. Fleming will talk about her larger body of work, including her artistic development that led to creating works like the one in Sculpture Invitational.
3:40 p.m.: Ashley Carlisle/David Jones, UW sculpture professors. “From Campus to Classroom; Utilizing the Sculpture Invitational” These two sculpture professors will talk about the use of Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational in the academic studio.
4 p.m.: Howard Major, Dean, Arts and Humanities, LCCC. Major will talk on the role that community colleges can play in supporting cultural arts and provide examples from LCCC’s experience in supporting Cheyenne’s cultural arts programs and organizations.
4:20 p.m.: Nancy Freudenthal, Wyoming’s First Lady. Ms. Freudenthal will discuss her activities with public art and community.
4:40 p.m.: Questions/discussion
5 p.m.: Dinner on your own, with WAC Roundtable (Topics TBD) at various restaurants; 10 people max at each roundtable; sign-up at registration.

Saturday, April 4, 2009
7 a.m.: WAC Roundtable at Coal Creek Coffee, downtown Laramie.
8 a.m.: Art Talk with Charles Parson, sculptor. “Personal Space on the Horizon” Parson will discuss his body of work, including the piece on campus, and how it integrates ideas of human presence in the Western landscape, and in particular, he will talk about how the horizon influences his work.
8:40 a.m.: Margaret Wilson, UW professor, dance. “How Sculpture Invites Us to Move” Wilson will discuss how several of her dance students developed creative responses to sculpture and public art.
9 a.m.: Duane Evenson, Mayor, Gillette. Mayor Evenson will talk about the public art program in Gillette.
9:20 a.m.: Phill Harris, UW VP Administration. Harris will share behind the scenes stories about the Sculpture Invitational installation on campus.
9:40 a.m.: BREAK
10 a.m.: Art Talk with Charmaine Locke, sculptor. Locke will talk on her work in Sculpture Invitational, as well as her career in Texas and, currently, in Colorado.
10:40 a.m.: Nita Kehoe, Art professor, CWC, Riverton. “Contemporary Sculpture in Rural Wyoming” Kehoe will be discussing the creation and evolution of the sculpture collection at CWC.
11 a.m.: Ben Hornok, Haselden Construction. “Commitment to Art and Building” Hornok will talk about Haselden's commitment to contributing to the communities they work in and are a part of; and also the importance of understanding the artistic aspect in construction.
11:20 a.m.: Joe Sanchez, Pat Jones, & Albert Haskins, UW Physical Plant. These three Physical Plant employees will share stories of working with artists to install their sculpture, and the challenges they came across.
11:40 a.m.: Questions/discussion
Noon: Lunch, with WAC Roundtable: Feedback from Wyoming artists.
1 p.m.: Art Talk: Stan Dolega, sculptor. This Laramie artist will talk about some of his earlier work, his current piece in this exhibition, and some plans and ideas for future works.
1:40 p.m.: Rod Garnett, UW professor, music. Garnett will offer his creative response to Sculpture Invitational and play some sound recordings that reflect the atmosphere and reactions to the sculpture.
2 p.m.: Rachael Sisneros and Dale Jones, UW Physical Plant Employees. Sisneros and Jones will discuss the installation of the sculptures from an engineering perspective.
2:20 p.m.: Greg Esser, WAC juror. Esser will address public art’s ability to revitalize communities.
2:40 p.m.: BREAK
3 p.m.: Art Talk with James Surls, sculptor. Surls will talk on the transitional phases of his artistic career and show some of his work in other media.
3:40 p.m.: Allen Trent, UW Professor, Educational Studies. “Teaching Public Art: It Was a Very Good Year" or "Ben and Bear Take Backseat to Sculpture Invitational.” In this session, Trent will discuss the educational value of public art and will provide some examples of how he used the Wyoming Sculpture Invitational to engage students from elementary age through adult.
4: p.m.: Pam Wolfe, Chair, Green River Arts Council. “Green River Arts Council ‘Art on the Green’ Program.” The mission statement for Art on the Green is "Fostering Community Pride by Promoting Public Art and Creativity for the Citizens of Green River." This program exists to support and encourage the expression of a variety of arts for the citizens of Green River and visitors; to enjoy now and for the benefit of generations to come. A goal of the GRAC is to increase community awareness of the arts and culture, which will benefit individuals, establish community identity, and increase economic strength.
4:20 p.m.: John Schiffer, Wyoming State Senator, Kaycee. Senator Schiffer will share his thoughts on the role that legislators play in supporting public art.
4:40 p.m.: Questions/discussion/closing remarks
5 p.m.: Closing session: 2009 WAC Fellowship Awards Reception

EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 15. FEE FOR ENTIRE SYMPOSIUM IS $100 ($125 AFTER MARCH 15). BOOK THOSE HOTEL ROOMS BY MARCH 15 OR ELTON JOHN CONCERT-GOERS WILL GOBBLE THEM UP!

FMI: http://www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum/events.asp. Or call WAC at 307-777-7742.

AVA Center in Gillette goes "YUPO"

New library in Lander opens March 21 with "The Writers Room"

The Fremont County Public Library in Lander, newly renovated and expanded, will feature a selection of the state's authors at "The Writers Room" on Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Writers will be on hand to talk about their books, as well as sell and sign copies.

According to the library's Ann Harris, these writers have confirmed that they will attend: Mackie D'Arge, Cat Urbigkit, Pam Sinclair, Theodore Judson, Buck Tilton and Keith Holmes.

Space is still available for more writers and their books. If you're interested in participating, please contact Ann Harris at 307-332-5194 or aharris@fclsonline.org. Please reply by March 18. The only requirement for authors is that they have at least one published book. There is no registration fee.

So, drop Ann a line and haul yourself (and your books) to Lander on the first day of spring. While there, take a tour of the spiffy new library.

Michael Riversong at Phoenix Books 3/12/09

On Thursday, March 12, 6 p.m., Michael Riversong will perform at at Phoenix Books on Capitol Avenue, just one-half block north of Lincolnway in Cheyenne.

This is a special presentation, "The Life and Work of St. Patrick." It includes live storytelling with Michael's Celtic Harp. This is a rare opportunity to hear the whole story of St. Patrick of Ireland and his exploits. A precursor to St. Patrick's Day (March 17).

Michael's concerts are always family friendly.

FMI: http://home.earthlink.net/~mriversong

CWC "Author Tea" features Craig Johnson

Jalan Crossland films concert DVD at UW

Ten Sleep's Jalan Crossland and his band are coming to Laramie on Wednesday, March 11. At 11 a.m., you can hear an interview with Jalan and the band on Morning Music with Grady Kirkpatrick on Wyoming Public Radio. That night, the band will performin concert in the Yellowstone Ballroom at the University of Wyoming Student Union. This is a Live DVD Concert Shoot. Tickets are free. Bring your dancing shoes.

On Thursday, March 12, the Jalan Crossland Band performs at the Big Horn Bar in Ten Sleep. On Friday, March 13, the band's in Thermopolis at the Holiday Inn's Safari Lounge (info at 307-864-3131).

Attend UW's Art Symposium, April 2-4

Public Art and Community: Inspiration and Reflection is a symposium designed to expand the conversation and dialogue about the importance of public art in Wyoming’s communities and campuses. Building upon the success of Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational, this symposium will bring together artists, community leaders, college and university administrators, faculty and teachers, students, and more to provide insight and share information on public art in Wyoming today.

Why should you attend?
• Hear internationally renowned artists discuss their work
• Learn how public art inspires us and supports educational goals
• Learn about public art programs in Wyoming’s cities and colleges
• Hear behind the scenes stories about the installation of Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational
• Network with colleagues and make new friends in Wyoming’s arts community
• Reconnect with artists, the Wyoming Arts Council, arts organizations, and other community members.

Speakers include artists John Henry, Jesus Moroles, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Steven Siegel, Charmaine Locke, James Surls, Charles Parson, Carl Reed, Linda Fleming and Stan Dolega; Wyoming Fellowship jurors Lawrence Argent and Greg Esser; Phill Harris, UW VP Administration; Howard Major, Dean, Arts & Humanities, Laramie County Community College; Pam Wolfe, Chair, Green River Arts Council; Nita Kehoe, Professor of Art, Central Wyoming College, Riverton; Melanie Howlett, art teacher, Starrett Junior High School, Lander; Duane Evenson, Mayor, Gillette; Ben Hornok, Haselden Construction; Terry Cooper, ARK; UW faculty Harvey Hix, Margaret Wilson, Rod Garnett, Ashley Hope Carlisle, David Jones, Allen Trent, and Peter Moran; UW students Travis Ivey and Jedadiah Cracco; Rachael Sisneros, Joe Sanchez, Albert Haskins and Pat Jones, UW Physical Plant, and more!

SCHEDULE AND SESSIONS
Thursday, April 2
1 – 5 pm Symposium Registration & Check-in, UW Conference Center
5 – 7 pm Welcoming Reception, University of Wyoming Art Museum
7:30 pm: Art Slam with John Henry, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and Jesús Moroles, UW Conference Center
10:00 pm – to midnite: 20:20 Artists and arts organizations, this is your chance to share what you are creating and what is happening in the arts in your community! Advance sign-up is required; contact Rachel Miller, rmiller@uwyo.edu or 766-6621 for information and to sign-up.

Friday, April 3
7 am: Visual Arts Roundtable with the Wyoming Arts Council @ Coal Creek Coffee (adjacent to the Hilton Hotel on Grand Ave)
7:30 am – 5 pm: Symposium Registration & Check-in UW Conference Center
8 am – 12 noon: Symposium sessions
12 noon – 1 pm: Lunch including a Roundtable for visual artists with the Wyoming Arts Council
1 pm – 5 pm: Symposium sessions
5:30 pm: Dinner on your own. Visual Artists Roundtables with the Wyoming Arts Council at various restaurants; sign-up required; a maximum of 10 at each Roundtable. Sign-up at check-in.
Evening event suggestions: Downtown Laramie Gallery Walk; UW Dept. of Theatre & Dance Spring Concert; Elton John Concert

Saturday, April 4
7 am: Visual Arts Roundtable with the Wyoming Arts Council @ Coal Creek Coffee (adjacent to the Hilton Hotel on Grand Ave)
7:30 am – 3 pm: Symposium Registration & Check-in UW Conference Center
8 am – 12 noon: Symposium sessions
12 noon – 1 pm: Lunch including a Roundtable for visual artists and the Wyoming Arts Council
1 pm – 5 pm: Symposium sessions

5 pm: Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship Award Ceremony and Closing Reception

Note: Click on heading above for link to the UW Art Museum website which links to the full registration form.

Win a full scholarship to 2009 Jackson Hole Writers Conference

This info comes from the Jackson Hole Writers Conference:

Calling all writers! Up for a little competition? Here´s your chance to warm up the mind and release some of those creative juices with a Flash Fiction contest. Winner receives a full
scholarship to the Jackson Hole Writers Conference, June 25-28. And the winning story will be printed in the Jackson Hole News and Guide.

No fee to enter. Very few rules apply:
- Submit your Flash Fiction - 600 words or less - by April 1, 2009. - Paste your entire story entry, including title, your name and contact information, into the ¨Leave a Reply¨ section at http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JacksonHoleWritersCo/fa6e9e7589/5e24d4f10b/19270b921e
- Entries will be judged by a panel of JHWC faculty.
- Stories can be mysterious, funny, sorrowful, adventurous, reflective, or anything in between. If it moves you, it will move us.
Further flash fiction questions: 307-413-3331 or nicole@jacksonholewritersconference.com .
- Winner to be announced on May 1 at the William Haywood Henderson reading at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson. Need not be present to win.
- Winning entry will also be published in the Jackson Hole News and Guide in May. Other selected story entries will be published at the above site to honor your quality creative inputs and to entertain!
Have fun. And give us your best plot!

Works of Wyoming (WOW)

Found on the Wyoming Women's Business Center website:

Works of Wyoming (WOW) is seeking applications from artists in the Laramie area needing display space, studio and equipment rentals, art business training and more. Contact Rebecca Sissman for details from the WWBC website.

Grant books are now available

If you would like a grant book, call the WAC at 307-777-7742 and we'll send one to you.

Defining a creative economy

It was show-and-tell time at a recent meeting of Boys, Bobbins and Beer. Jason Henschen displayed his work in progress - a yellow cotton sundress for his girlfriend - to Matthew Sharp, a novice who was struggling with his own project, a receiving blanket.

From an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Karen Heller:

From tents to saucy dresses for girlfriends and anime costumes, these guys use their hobby to stitch together friendships.

Boys, Bobbins and Beer is an all-male sewing circle launched in November, 2008 that gathers in Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill. Eight to eleven men--ranging in age from 23 to 50--gather to sew, do some beer-tasting and bake.

One of the co-founders, Json Henschen, made a nine-foot tent that he used on his 2,633-mile trek of the Pacific Crest Trail while raising money for the poor. His current project: a saucy little silk charmeuse dress that he's making for his girlfriend to celebrate their four-year anniversay.

Set designer Curtis Coyote is working on a fanciful quilted coat out of upholstery fabric that he found in the trash, as much art as garment.

Matt Hagele is there because his wife told him to go to learn how to sew on buttons.

Whole Foods manager Abe Heller is launching his own line of bibs, diapers, hooded towels, a knitting-needle bag and pajama pants for his wife based on a retailer's design. He making gifts for everyone he knows.

Jon Cannon makes drum cloth covers. Barista Dan Lemoine is creating a costume to enter in a competition--the Chemist character from the video game Final Fantasy Tactics, kind of medieval peasant meets Japanese anime.

Most of the the guys have experience with the needle, learning sewing in home economics classes or from their mothers. Dan was always doing crafty things.

Says other founder Parker Whitehead, " I grew up in Oklahoma, where self-reliance is a good thing. He's fashioning a priest's cassock; why? something about flying.

They meet in the back room of Fabrics on the Hill. Owner Kathryn Greer says, "This is the first all-man's group we've ever had." She's worked with seamstresses for years, but says, "The guys tend to be more interested in the mechanics." She lets them use the in-house machines for free.

Jason is excited about his pair of pinking shears, not knowing what they were for. And he's dually excited about his rotary cutter. Jason's is eighteen millimeters. "Hah! That's nothing," says Parker. His is 45mm. Guys will be guys.

Jason and Parker launched the sewing circle as a lark, but the men love it, sewing more than they imbibe.

For the entire article, go to: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20090207_Karen_Heller__Boys__Bobbins_and_Beer_stitch_together.html

New roster artist Julianne Couch

Julianne teaches writing and editing in the English department at UW. She is editor of the UW Alumnews and is a regular columnist for DailyYonder.com. Her first non-fiction book, Jukeboxes & Jackalopes: A Wyoming Bar Journey, details her tour of off-the-beaten-path Wyoming "watering holes." Her current project is a narrative non-fiction travel book about energy development in the U.S., titled Earth, Wind and Sky: A Power Trip. Julianne's workshops include how to blend "facts" from the here and now with aspects of memoir, and how to submit polished manuscripts and confident queries. E-mail: mailto:jcouch@uwyo.edu.
Website: http://www.myspace.com/wyojulianne.

Call for entries: Spring into Art Festival

One more chance to see "The Foreigner"

Moss Kent (left) as Owen and Troy Rumpf as Charley in the Cheyenne Little Theatre's production of "The Foreigner." Final performance on Sunday, March 8, 2 p.m., at the Mary Godfrey Playhouse in Cheyenne. FMI: 307-638-6543

UW grad Lara Azar works with California's Gov

Lara Azar, graduate of the University of Wyoming journalism school, is shown with Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger. She is his special assistant for executive communicatons. For the complete story go to: http://www.uwyo.edu/news/showrelease.asp?id=28685

Supercomputing coming to Cheyenne

The design for the new supercomputing center. For a full article about the center go to:

http://www.uwyo.edu/news/showrelease.asp?id=28601

N. Scott Momaday visits Fremont County

Carol Deering, Central Wyoming College librarian, sends this:

N. Scott Momaday, the first Native American to win a Pulitzer Prize (for his first novel, House Made of Dawn), will spend two days in Fremont County this April. On April 2, he will present, "Establishing Good Relations: Recognizing What We Have in Common," at 7 p.m. in the Robert A. Peck Theatre at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. Afterwards, he will sign books (some will be for sale that night, for cash or check).

On April 3, Dr. Momaday will be celebrated at a community-honoring feast at Rocky Mountain Hall, in Ft. Washakie, from 6-9 p.m. Both of these events are free and open to the public. They are partially funded by the Wyoming Humanities Council.

Come for the presentation, stay for the celebration!

FMI: cdeering@cwc.edu.

AVA hosts Youth Art Show reception 3/6/09

WAC fellowship musician in concert March 11

Theresa Bogard, a 2009 Wyoming Arts Council performing arts fellowship winner, will perform a solo concert on Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m., in the Fine Arts Center concert hall at UW in Laramie. Her theme is "Music by Women Composers." Tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $7 for others.

Her recital will include pieces by Margaret Bonds, Clara Schumann, Julie Perry, Joan Tower, Emma Lou Diemer, Denise Garcia and Louise Talma. She will perform the same program later this semester in Tennessee, South Korea, China and Casper.

Tickets are available at the Fine Arts box office, by calling (307) 766-6666 or online at www.uwyo.edu/FineArts.

"Doin' Time: Through the Visiting Glass"

From a UW press release:

A one-woman show that examines the impact of incarceration on families can be seen Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in the University of Wyoming Fine Arts studio theatre. The performance is free and open to the public.

Written and performed by Ashley Lucas, "Doin' Time: Through the Visiting Glass" is a joint production of the departments of Theatre and Dance and Criminal Justice and the Women's Studies and Chicano Studies programs. The play is also supported in part by the Wyoming Arts Council through the National Endowment of the Arts.

Lucas began conducting research for the play when her father was denied parole in the summer of 2003. As a graduate student in theatre and ethnic studies at University of California-San Diego, Lucas wanted to study the unrecognized community of prisoners' families and simultaneously write a play about the experience of having a loved one in prison.

Using her training in ethnography, Lucas conducted interviews in California, Texas and New York with prisoners' family members, former prisoners and people who do work connected to prisons or prison activism. She also corresponded with more than 400 prisoners from across the United States.

"Doin' Time: Through the Visiting Glass" uses monologues, voice-overs and video clips by videographers Jorge Nava and Nancy Loiselle to convey a variety of perspectives on the families of the incarcerated.

Photo: Ashley Lucas will perform her one-woman show "Doin' Time: Through the Visiting Glass" Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts studio theatre. The performance is free and open to the public.

Cobb & Slaughter photos at Open Range Images Gallery in Cody

Just talked to Elijah Cobb (shown at right), photographer and one-time WAC visual arts fellowship winner. He told me about new exhibits going up at the Open Range Images Gallery, a co-op space in Cody that he's a member of. The new show features new work by him and fellow member Randi Slaughter.

They invite everyone to come to an opening reception at the gallery on Friday, March 6, 4-7 p.m. The event is free and opoen to the public. The work will be on display through April 30.

"From My Mother’s Chair" by Elijah Cobb is a series of "photographic contemplations" shot from his mother’s chair. Here are comments from the artist:

After my mother’s passing, I received her writing table and chair. I found it unsettling that her chair and table were in my studio. It didn’t belong there -- so I had to sit in the chair until images came to me. The process has allowed me to accept her passing and the presence of her creative seat in my life. The images all include a window in Cobb’s log cabin studio wall and illustrate changing natural light and colored light playing across his still life subjects.

Randi's exhibition is "In a Different Light," which features "local scenery by infrared, dawn and moonlight to show familiar landscapes in unfamiliar ways, going beyond what our eyes can perceive."

Here's more:

Slaughter worked with black and white infrared film years ago but now is recreating the look and feel of that medium through digital interpretation. She has used hazy light around hot objects, higher contrast and more grain, to create penetrating and stark images. Slaughter also uses extended exposures to show us landscapes illuminated by moonlight and the early pink of dawn. Living in a rural area, she has access to clear dark skies that many people are no longer privileged to enjoy.

FMI: Elijah Cobb, 307-587-5218, ecobb@tritel.net; Randi Slaughter, 307-645-3358, rslaughter@nemont.net

Lunchtime chat with James Salter

James Salter likes sentences that taste good.

Salter has been the guest of the UW creative writing graduate program for the last couple of days. At a lunchtime chat scheduled for the creative writing grad students today, Salter talked about his early writing career, WWII, and what it's like to be a writer.

He said that he didn't particularly strive or worry about trying to write beautiful sentences; not because he doesn't like them. He felt some authors' sentences were very beautiful (like Updike), but he liked his sentences to give dignity to the work overall, to be submissive to the work.

He began by saying that a person is who they are and their writing also holds the quality of who a person is. "You may go to a psychiatrist or counseling if you're having some problems, but in the end, you are who you are, and as a writer, this holds especially true."

Salter was a senior in high school when the announcement came over the radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. He said the country turned its complete attention to the war effort. He eventually joined the air force, because one of his friend's cousins was, and "he looked real good," Salter said. After the war was over, he was sent to Manila, instead of Europe where he really wanted to go, and he remembers standing on the stern of the ship and reading the banner that said "Welcome home, heroes." "Of course, we were going the other way," he joked.

When asked by a student how difficult or easy it was for him to sit down and write, Salter said that the hardest part for him is to sit down. "Writing is a difficult task," he said. "There were a group of painters around where I lived in New York state at the time, and when we'd get together in the evenings, they were always fairly happy, because they were able to get a little something done." He talked about his early years of writing in a house that had a big table, "I loved the way the top of the table felt," and there were windows and light and he could look out over the garden. He would get up early in the morning and begin writing in that room. "I wrote everything in long hand so I was very quiet and didn't disturb my wife." He remembered those halcyon days as the best time of his writing years, but said, "it gets harder to remember how things really were. After all, the past becomes a fiction eventually."

While he was in the service, he had been thinking about a book that he'd wanted to begin writing. One day he suddenly visualized how the story would be written, and he wrote about a page and a half of notes about it. He'd risen to a position of authority and so every night he began to type out his story. A fellow soldier wondered what he was doing every night typing, and asked him, "What, are you writing a book or something?" Salter said, "Oh, no."

He also talked about the circularity of writing, and how sometimes you have to let something percolate for a day, a week, a month, even thirty years. An editor had asked Salter if he would consider re-writing an earlier published book. At first he said not really, but then reconsidered. He also said that sometimes you can write on something until you just can't anymore. He quoted Collette, saying "You never quit writing something, you abandon it."

If you've never read Salter, try him out. His phrasing is magical and his stories stick to his ethical choices about what he wants from his work.

"The Disappeared/Los Desaparecidos" exhibit comes to UW Art Museum

From a UW press release:

The University of Wyoming Art Museum galleries, after being closed for over a year, will reopen Friday, March 6, with the international touring exhibition "The Disappeared/Los Desaparecidos." The exhibition will be on view through May 9.

Curated by Laurel Reuter, director and chief curator of the North Dakota Museum of Art, the exhibition presents the work of 26 Latin American artists who have incorporated their personal and cultural experiences of the "disappeared."

The opening reception on March 6 at 6 p.m. launches many public programs for the exhibition, which include a gallery walk-through March 6 at 10:30 a.m. and an art talk with Reuter March 7 at 10 a.m.

Reuter writes in the exhibition catalog, "The word 'disappeared' was newly defined during the mid-20th century military dictatorships in Latin America. 'Disappear' evolved into a noun used to identify people who were kidnapped, tortured and killed by their own governments in the later decades of the 20th century in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela. Columbia with its 50-year civil war and Guatemala with its own 37-year civil war further expanded the meanings and uses of 'disappear.'"

"The Disappeared/Los Desaparecidos" comes to UW from the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C. In addition to other U.S. venues, it has been displayed in museums in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Guatemala and Columbia.

For additional information on the exhibition and the series of related public programs, call the UW Art Museum at (307) 766-6622 or visit www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum or the museum's blog, http://www.uwartmuseum.blogspot.com/.

The museum is located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive in Laramie. The museum is open Mondays from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free.

Photo: Nicolas Guagnini's "30,000" is among works in "The Disappeared/Los Desaparecidos" on view March 6-May 9 at the University of Wyoming Art Museum (North Dakota Museum of Art).

NEA releases research on artist unemployment

From the National Endowment for the Arts:

Washington, D.C. - Unemployment rates are up among working artists and the artist workforce has contracted, according to new research from the National Endowment for the Arts. Artists in a Year of Recession: Impact on Jobs in 2008 examines how the economic slowdown has affected the nation's working artists. The study looks at artist employment patterns during two spikes in the current recession -- the fourth quarters of 2007 and 2008. This downturn reflects larger economic declines: a Commerce Department report last week noted a 6.2 percent decrease in the gross domestic product in the last quarter of 2008.

For the full press release, visit http://www.arts.gov/news/news09/artist-unemployment-rates.html

The art (and politics) of undergarments

From a Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources press release:

Melanie O’Hara will explore the social and political implications of 19th century women’s clothing during a Wyoming State Museum program titled "Wyoming Women: Why We Took Off Our Corsets – The Curious Connection Between Undergarments and Suffrage," March 12, at 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Wyoming State Museum, State Museum Volunteers and presented by the Wyoming Humanities Council, the program is free and open to the public.

This presentation will take a "before" and "after" look at women who came from Victorian East Coast traditions and values out west to Wyoming. Women who traveled to and settled in the west declared their independence from undergarments that impeded their newfound freedoms of mobility, survival, transportation, critical thinking, economics and politics once they got to Wyoming.

O’Hara’s presentation is offer by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities through its 2009 Humanities Forum. Council programs explore the human experience – our lives, our communities, our world – in partnership with nonprofit organizations throughout Wyoming. Emphasis is placed on fostering forums for discussion among Wyoming residents.

The Wyoming State Museum is located in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne.

FMI: 307-777-7022.

New roster artist Dave Shaul

Dave Shaul is a Wyoming native who studied pedal harp with Suzanne McDonald. Over the years his range has expanded to include cross-strung, Celtic, Latin, and Asian harps. He has been principal harpist with symphony orchestras in Arizona and California. A virtuoso performer on both folk and pedal harp, Dave does concerts, workshops, and lectures on World harps, pan-Celtic, and Renaissance/Baroque harp music. Dave's harp styles range from Latin to European to Asian. With a Ph.D. in anthropological linguistics from Berkeley, he speaks two Native American languages. E-mail: wyomingharp@yahoo.com.

"Take your snuggie out" for a night on the town

Chicagoans David Barnes and Dan Kuthy are taking the snuggie--the blanket with arms--away from the couch and onto the streets.

They have organized a "Snuggie Pub Crawl," for April 18. Participants will shuffle down Clark Street, wearing their favorite color (there are only three to choose from, what's up with that?) of snuggie.

Over 1,150 people have replied back to the website, http://www.snuggiepubcrawl.com/, set up to take names of the interested. And just think how many people were able to reply from the confort of their home while wearing their snuggies!

Barnes and Kuthy have full time Internet marketing jobs in Chicago. Other cities have gotten into the snuggie spirit, as well.

You can eat popcorn, pet your dog, play backgammon, talk on the phone, hug somebody, and cheer for your favorite team, and now, go to your favorite bar, all while wearing the blanket with arms.

So forget about budget woes and the stock market deflating (maybe they could have snuggie Friday), and get out and celebrate the snuggie.

Three cheers for the snuggie!

Local Jewish artists, "HeeB 100" photographs, at Lyndsay McCandless Gallery

Planet Jackson Hole reports that the opening party for “The HeeB 100” photo exhibit, along with an art show by local Jewish artists, will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at the Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary Gallery, 130 S. Jackson St., Jackson. This follows the First Friday event, with an open bar continuing until 8 p.m. DJ Vert One will provide entertainment.

For the last three years, the national quarterly HeeB Magazine has published a list of 100 up-and-coming, young Jews and then has shipped their photographs around the country until the next list is due. The exhibit is a “who’s who of Jews . . . young people on cusp of greatness,” publisher Josh Neuman said. “It’s as much a celebration of our photographers as the subjects. We work with many great photographers. These are our best.”

Steven Glass, curator of the local exhibition, said that the show in the side room of LMC will feature artists of varying age and medium, the main requirement being that they are local and Jewish.

Neuman said that he was surprised to discover Jackson Hole has a thriving Jewish community, but that the event may work to change that common perception. “It’s an opportunity to learn more about the community,” Neuman said.

http://www.planetjh.com/music_arts_culture/Article.aspx?ArticleID=104823

Look who's reading "Deep West"

During the 2009 Legislative Session, many Wyoming legislators took time out from the House and Senate floors to have READ posters created of themselves. These posters will be displayed at the libraries in the legislators' districts.

Here are some legislators with the obvious good taste to read the 2003 collection "Deep West: A Literary Tour of Wyoming," sponsored by the Wyoming Center for the Book and published by Pronghorn Press in Greybull. They are (from the top): Rep. Sue Wallis (R, HD-52), Recluse, on the right, shown with Campbell County Librarian Patty Myers; Rep. Debbie Hammons (D, HD-27), Worland; and Sen. Dan Dockstader (R, SD-16), Afton. To see all the READ posters, go to http://wyla.org/read.

Presenters needed for 2009 WLA meeting

Barbara Osborne is looking for writers who might be willing to conduct a presentation and/or panel discussion at the 2009 meeting of the Wyoming Library Association Sept. 30-Oct.2 in Laramie. Subject possibility: "How to get published." Conference web site is http://conference.wyla.org/events.html

FMI: Barbara Osborne, 307-672-2113 (work), 307-674-6320 (home), osborneb@scsd2.com

Jackson Hole Writers Conference offers scholarships to teachers

Tim Sandlin, Grand Poobah of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference, sends this news:

I have six scholarships funded by the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund to award to teachers. The University of Wyoming will also award Graduate Enrichment Credit units for a fee of $40. Please spread the word and let me know if you find anyone interested in these scholarships.

For conference details, check out http://jacksonholewritersconference.com

You will learn a lot and have fun.

FMI: Tim Sandlin, 307-413-3331 or tim@jacksonholewritersconference.com

Choral groups perform Haydn's "The Creation"

The Laramie County Community College Choral Ensembles and the Capitol Chorale will perform Die Schopfung (The Creation) by Franz Joseph Haydn on Friday, April 3, 7:30 p.m., at the Cheyenne Civic Center, 510 E. 20th St. Tickets are $10; free for children under 12 and active military members.

Tickets will be sold by all Capitol Chorale members and also will be available at the door. For more information call 307.433.8834.

The Creation has been Haydn’s most popular work since its first performance in Swarzenberg Palace in Vienna in 1798. The text was put together for Haydn by Gottfried van Swieten. With references to The Book of Genesis in The Bible, the oratorio beautifully tells the biblical account of the story of the creation of light, land and sea, plant life, heavenly spheres, animals, birds, fish, and man and woman.

NEA invites recent grantees to apply for Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants

From a National Endowment for the Arts press release:

Application guidelines for The Arts and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are now available on the NEA's website here

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 recognizes that the nonprofit arts industry is an important sector of the economy. In accordance with this Act, the National Endowment for the Arts has received funds to help preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector that are threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn. This program will be carried out through one-time grants to eligible nonprofit organizations including arts organizations, local arts agencies, statewide assemblies of local arts agencies, arts service organizations, units of state or local government, and a wide range of other organizations that can help advance the goals of the Arts Endowment and this program.

Grants will be made to organizations for their own job preservation projects and to designated local arts agencies, eligible to subgrant, for subgranting programs to eligible nonprofit organizations. All applicants must be previous NEA award recipients from the past four years (see "Applicant Eligibility" for more information). In addition to guidelines, please see the Frequently Asked Questions

Electronic application through Grants.gov is MANDATORY. Deadline is April 2, 2009.

The Grants.gov help desk is available to assist you 7 a.m.-9 p.m., EST/EDT, M-F. Phone: 1.800.518.4726.

Submit your application outside of Grants.gov's hours of heaviest usage, generally noon-5 p.m., EST/EDT.

For questions about your specific project or the content of your application, contact the staff for the field/discipline that is most appropriate for your project:

Artist Communities, Music, Opera, Presenting: 202.682.5438
Dance, Design, Media Arts, Museums, Visual Arts: 202.682.5452
Traditional Arts, Musical Theater, Theater: 202.682.5428
Literature: 202.682.5757
Local Arts Agencies: 202.682.5097

FMI: NEA at http://www.arts.gov/ or 202.682.5400

Construction begins on Powell arts center

Here's some interesting news from the Powell Tribune (via Google Alerts) regarding the city's new arts center:

Plaza Diane was fenced off Monday morning as construction began to transform the downtown location into a community arts center.

“Construction is starting this week and we’re right on schedule,” said Anya Feichtl, CTA’s lead architect on the project. Feichtl said the project should be completed by Aug. 1.

Sletten Construction of Wyoming was awarded the bid for Plaza Diane/Community Center for the Arts. The company had the lowest bid at $594,300, which was $120,700 less than the $715,000 budgeted for construction....

CTA, a Billings-based architecture and engineering firm, designed the project, which includes both interior and exterior remodeling of the 1,345-square-foot retro-style filling station.

The Plaza Diane steering committee, in partnership with the city of Powell, obtained a Community Facilities Grant of more than $900,000 from the Wyoming Business Council last fall. The grant covers the majority of construction and renovation costs. Because the project was less than the anticipated budget, the excess grant money will go back to the state to fund future Community Facilities Grant projects.

The interior of the former gas station will be renovated to accommodate art shows, classes, meetings and other local events. A new kitchen area will allow for food preparation. An additional restroom — with outside access — and a storage space will be added on to the east end of the building.

The exterior remodeling focuses on making the area more comfortable and usable during summer months. The project includes a canopy over the stage, wooden pergolas and fabric “sails” to provide shade, a water-spray pad for children and low-maintenance, drought-tolerant gardens.

The majority of construction and renovation will be completed by Big Horn Basin subcontractors, according to Shawn Warner, president of Sletten Construction.

“Other than specialty subcontractors that were directly specified, we are proud to have a great team pulled together that largely consists of companies from Powell and Cody,” Warner wrote in a statement to CTA.

Call for entries: "Big Food Show!"

From Terry Reid at NorthernFront in Laramie:

Laramie Big Hollow Food Co-op's "Big Food Show" is accepting submissions now.

Artists will exhibit art about food — all takes on food: fruit, veggies, dinner or breakfast, your favorite roadside diner, classic farms, agriculture, sustainable growing, green farming...like I said: all takes on food: vegetarian and meat lovers alike, all media welcome. Please bring your works to the Co-op. There will be awards. Big Hollow co-op will host membership and annual meeting in conjunction with the art event. Besides all your grocery needs, you will find fine art and quality crafts for all seasons. Event co-sponsored by NorthernFront.

Please contact Terry 399-2777 or Marla (307) 745-3586. Big Hollow is located at 119 S. 1st St. Laramie, WY.

Call for entries: "Women, Fact or Myth?"

Ciao Gallery in Wilson is accepting artist applications for the upcoming show, "Women, Fact or Myth" March 21-April 24. THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 7, 2009. Online submissions are welcome at www.ciaogallery.com/calltoartists.php.

This show encourages an open interpretation of the fabling of women. All mediums, 2-D, 3-D formats encouraged. Ciao Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in the Jackson Hole area of Wyoming.

"Super Yooper" comedy at UW Theatre

ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, by Jeff Daniels and directed by Jonathan Hunt Sell, will be presented March 5,6 and 7, 7:30 p.m., in the UW Fine Arts Studio Theatre in Laramie.

Description:

A "super yooper" comedy by actor and Michigan native Jeff Daniels (Dumb and Dumber, The Purple Rose of Cairo), ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT is a hilariously twisted comedy about five Yoopers -- residents of Michigan's Upper Peninsula -- and their escapades at a ramshackle deer camp on the eve on the opening day of hunting season.

"Challenging what anyone might consider 'legitimate' theatre, Daniels breaks new theatrical ground..." - The Detroit News

"...a tall tale inspired by a larger than life corner of America...Daniels gives his audience plenty to laugh at plus a little something to think about." - The Oakland Press

Tickets: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/FINEARTS/eventsticketed.asp

Sign Stage Theatre presents "Dr. Doolittle"

Sign Stage Theatre’s "Dr. Dolittle" will be on stage Monday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., at Natrona County High School in Casper.

Description from ARTCORE web site:

In the story of Dr. Dolittle, we are introduced to the good Dr. who gives up treating people after Polynesia, his parrot, teaches him animal languages. He already knew sign language. Who would have thought he could learn animal languages too? His fame in the animal kingdom quickly spreads throughout the world. Using ALL his language skills, he sets off to cure a monkey epidemic in Africa, finding all sorts of adventures on the way.

Sign Stage on Tour is a specialist in Sign Language Theatre where deaf and hearing actors perform together on stage. Whenever a character speaks, the character speaking uses Sign Language but you’ll always hear the voice too. The voice comes from a different actor speaking through a microphone, sometimes on-stage and sometimes off-stage.

Visually, the stage is filled with the movement of hands and bodies yet every word is spoken to make sure all audience members, both deaf and hearing, don’t miss a thing. It’s a magical blend of language created when performing a play simultaneously in spoken English and in the spatial beauty of American Sign Language.

Tickets: Seniors (60 & over) $11, adults $12, students teachers, $6, children (12 and under) $4.

"Jump Into Jewels" Feb. 28 in Cheyenne

Habitat for Humanity Women Build Project presents "Jump Into Jewels" on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1126 White Water Court (The Pointe) in Cheyenne. More than 15,000 new and lightly used jewelry have been donated to to this Habitat project.

There will be VIP Champagne Brunch and Preview Party between 10 a.m.-noon. Tickets are $15 per person. You can purchase tickets online at http://www.cheyennehabitat.org, or by calling 307-214-1457.

From noon-8 p.m., "Jump Into Jewels" is free and open to the public.