Early bird registration deadline May 9 for Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference in Casper

2011 Wyoming Writers, Inc. Conference

June 3-5 in Casper, Wyoming

Ramada Plaza Riverside.

Presenters:

Author Lucia St. Clair Robson

Poet Chris Fischbach

Peter McCarthy, Vice President of Marketing

at Random House.

Editor Katie Dublinski, Graywolf Press

Agent Peter Steinberg, The Steinberg Agency

Register here. Early bird registration deadline is May 9!

Works of Wyoming flyer lists May 21 workshops

Click image for larger version

Ensembles and soloists take the stage May 5 at Casper College

A concert consisting of small ensembles and soloists will take place on Thursday, May 5 beginning at 7 p.m. in Durham Recital Hall at Casper College in Casper.

The concert will feature the Casper College Brass Ensemble under the direction of Douglas Bull, brass instructor, and the Casper College Flute Ensemble under the direction of Delores Thornton, adjunct flute instructor.

In addition to the ensembles, the concert will feature brass duets, flute duets, a flute solo, a scene from an opera, and others to be announced at the concert.

Durham Recital Hall is located in the Aley Fine Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

Follow Casper College events on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/caspercollegeadmissions 

Save the date: 4Cs conference in Cody Oct. 6-9

More info coming soon from the Wyoming Arts Council

Cheyenne International Film Festival to screen 47 indie films at Historic Atlas Theatre

The 2nd Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) screens at the Historic Atlas Theatre in Downtown Cheyenne May 19-22. The program will consist of 47 independent films at the historic Atlas Theatre.

Last year, CIFF honored BIFF alumnus and Oscar nominee Daniel Junge. His documentary, “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010.

“We like to include the community as much as possible in CIFF,” CIFF Producer Alan O’Hashi said. “We have a Call2ACTion program similar to BIFF’s which links up with local non-profits and we show films that allow each organization to ‘talk-back’ with the audience about their issues in the save space of art, in our case, film.”

The Call2Action partners this year include, The Old West Museum (1911 Silent Film), the Southeast Wyoming Intertribal Powwow Association (Divided Trails by Jerry Aronson), V.F.W. Post 1881 (A Warm Wind), Safehouse (Mother by Chris Fauchere) Grant Family Farms (What’s Organic About Organic) and the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance (Your Neighbor’s Child).

Kicking off the CIFF is a day-long event called Exploring the Creative Economy Conference and Expo featuring Hollywood screenwriter Rachel Powell and a video production seminar by Michael Conti. 

For more information about the festival program, visit the website at http://www.ciff1.com and join the CIFF facebook page at http://www.cheyenneinternationalfilmfestival.org

Call for entries: Gallery 234 at UW

To apply for Gallery 234 exhibits at UW, go to http://www.uwyo.edu/union/cac/gallery234/exhibit-application.html

Postmark deadline draws near for WAC visual arts fellowships

The postmark deadline for the Wyoming Arts Council’s 2011 Visual Arts Fellowships is Friday, May 13. The applications will be judged by mixed-media artist Nancy Bowen, photographer Mark Klett and sculptor Joshua Wiener.

The WAC will award up to three fellowships of $3,000 each to honor the work of visual artists that reflects serious and exceptional aesthetic investigation. Painters, sculptors, printmakers, potters, media artists, craftspeople, video, film and others are invited to apply by submitting digital images of their work.

This competition is open to Wyoming residents only.

Printable applications are on the WAC web site at www.wyomingartscouncil.org. For more information, contact Mike Shay at the WAC at 307-777-5234 or mike.shay@wyo.gov.

Call for proposals: Arizona Historical Advisory Committee Goldwater statue project

The Arizona Historical Advisory Commission is seeking proposals for a commemorative, site-specific sculpture of Barry M. Goldwater for placement in National Statuary Hall, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. The RFP requirements http://www.spo.az.gov/docs/Notices/Solicitations/AHAC-Goldwater2012.pdf should be reviewed carefully before submitting a proposal. RFP is open April 29, 2011 through July 29, 2011.

Next Art Design & Dine tour takes place May 12

Schedule announced for May 21 WAC workshops for artists

The Wyoming Arts Council is sponsoring a series of professional development workshops for visual artists on Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Works of Wyoming, 710 Garfield St., Laramie. There is no fee for the workshops (lunch included) but you do have to register in advance. Contact Michael Shay at the WAC at 307-777-5234 or mike.shay@wyo.gov

Here is the workshop schedule:

9-10:30 a.m.: Joshua Wiener, sculptor, Louisville, Colo.: “Everything you wanted to know about successful public art proposals.”

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Mark Klett, photographer, Tempe, Ariz.: "Rethinking landscape photography (and all photographic practice) in the digital age." 

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Lunch and announcement of WAC visual arts fellowship winners.

1:45-3:15 p.m.: Nancy Bowen, mixed-media artist, Brooklyn, N.Y.: “How to prepare and organize your work for visual arts competitions.” 

3:30-4:30 p.m.: WAC debuts its online Artist Image Registry; Annie Wood speaks about the Business Council’s Wyoming Made program; and a Q&A with workshop instructors.

Construction update: National Museum of Wildlife Art

Excavation preparation began this week on the underpass that will link the Jackson-to-Grand Teton North 89 Pathway to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. When completed in late May, the new underpass will connect the pathway for bicyclists, pedestrians and other non-motorized users to the museum and its new sculpture trail, which is also under construction and slated for fall 2011 completion.

“Wingwalls” for the underpass are being installed this week on the sides of the road, according to Pathways Coordinator Brian Schilling, who adds that signs are being placed this week to alert travelers about the construction. The week of May 8, traffic cones will narrow multiple lanes of Highway 89 to two lanes for 3,000 feet in each direction, with excavation taking place around the clock all week for quick completion. The underpass itself will be installed by mid-May with construction completed by the end of the month. The museum will remain open on its regular schedule during all phases of the construction.

In addition to the Teton County/Jackson Hole Community Pathways underpass project, the museum is undergoing capital improvements of its own, including a new roof and upfit to exterior walls, as well as construction of the new multimillion-dollar sculpture trail designed by renowned landscape architect Walter Hood , which will further integrate the museum’s collection with its natural Wyoming setting. Beginning June 1, free hard hat tours of the under-construction sculpture trail will be available twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

A member of the Museums West consortium and accredited by the American Association of Museums, the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States provides an exciting calendar of exhibitions from its permanent collection and changing exhibitions from around the globe. A complete schedule of museum exhibitions and events is available online at www.wildlifeart.org . The museum is also active on Facebook at wildlifeartjh and on Twitter at @wildlifeartjh.

Media Contacts: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, 307.734.5335, darla@wordenpr.com; Ponteir Sackrey, National Museum of Wildlife Art, 307.732.5444, psackrey@wildlifeart.org.

Students screen their films tonight at Casper College

Students will present a variety of short films during the Fourth Annual Casper College Student Film Festival on Tuesday, May 3 (tonight!) beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Durham Recital Hall located in the Aley Fine Arts Center in Casper.

The festival features the works of the college’s two video production classes offered last fall and this spring. Films will include mockumentaries, advertisements, movie trailers, musical pieces, and commentaries. The 90-minute program will conclude with the showing of two short narrative movies developed by the student teams.

“The Casper College students were in charge of every aspect of the production process, from the writing of the script to the filming of the scenes to the long hours spent editing the materials,” said Pete Van Houten, Casper College communication and media instructor. “Some of the early work is a little rough, though you can really see some growth in their abilities with the addition of each new assignment,” he added.

The student filmmakers include Greg Bullinger, Brian Castillo, Blake Trimmer, Jason Reinhardt, Calvin Grinder, Karen Hatlestad, Kellan Hawley, Nikki Stevenson, Stephen Christensen, Justin Pehrson, Scott Long, Austin Martinez, Cody Box, Danielle Brown and Trevor Wroble.

The film festival is free and open to the public. Food and refreshments will be served.

Song-writing workshop with Miss "V"

Miss "V" The Gypsy Cowbelle will teach a song-writing workshop May 20-22 at the Miner's Delight Bed & Breakfast in Atlantic City.

Registration is limited to 16 students. Workshop-only fee: $150. Workshop and lodging fee: one person: $315 in a room or $285 in a cabin. For two attendees who desire to share a room or cabin, call us for rates. The lodging fee includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's lunch and dinner are not included, but are available within walking distance. For more information, contact Barbara and Bob Townsend at 307-332-0248 or bandb@minersdelightinn.com, or “V” at 307-231-9252 or gypsycowbelle@gmail.com.

Editor's note: Let me say that "V" is one heck of a song-writer. She's been doing it now for over fifteen years, and can craft a song lyric with the best of them. I had a chance to listen to her newest songs,(she's in the process of recording a new CD), and they are a nostalgic reflection of her life at this point in time. --Linda

Buffalo Bill Historical Center competes in the EPA’s “Battle of the Buildings”

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center has been selected to participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings to help improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and protect the environment. In the spirit of popular weight-loss competitions, the Historical Center will battle it out against hundreds of other teams from buildings across the country to work off the waste through improvements in energy efficiency with help from EPA’s Energy Star program.

“The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is honored to be a part of this competition,” says Phil Anthony, operating engineer at the Center and a leader of its sustainability program. “We are committed to continuing to improve our energy efficiency and we look forward to seeing how we measure up against other buildings across the nation.”

--snip--

According to EPA, energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and energy use at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. On average, 30 percent of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted. Thousands of businesses and organizations work with EPA’s Energy Star program and are saving billions of dollars and preventing millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering our atmosphere each year.

To watch the competition unfold, visit www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings. More information on the Buffalo Bill Historical Center can be found by exploring www.bbhc.org.

In Memoriam: Harry Jackson

Always supportive of the arts community, Harry Jackson attended an artists’ reception at Stone Soup Studios in 2007 with (from left) Janet Bedford, Melodie Ferri, Stephanie Hedrick, Sybil Hedrick, the Rev. Daphne Grimes and Lura Brewes. Cody Enterprise photo.

From the Cody Enterprise:

Cody lost a living legend and the art world an icon when Harry Jackson died Monday, April 25.

The internationally-renowned artist, who turned 87 on April 18, passed away at the V.A. Hospital in Sheridan. He finally succumbed to the life-long effects of head wounds he suffered as a front-line combat marine and combat artist in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

Read entire obituary here

Steve Traylor's departure leaves music department vacancy at Central Wyoming College

Robert Hussa, Fine Arts Department Coordinator at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, sends this news:

Central Wyoming College would like to announce that Steve Traylor, Director of Bands and Fine Arts Recruiter, will be leaving us after this year to take a position at Hutchison Community College in Hutchison, KS.

Steve has been with us for five years, bringing his expertise in concert band, jazz ensemble, and low brass to our students and to the State of Wyoming.  However, the position at Hutchison is close to his parents and brothers (he grew up in eastern Kansas), and he was recruited by the man who is retiring out of the position. It was a choice for “family.”

We are very sad to see him go, but we wish him the best in his future endeavors!  Steve will be writing to all of you in a separate email.

So, this message is to inform you of the upcoming faculty vacancy in Instrumental Music here at CWC.   Central Wyoming is one of the seven community colleges in Wyoming; we offer a transfer program for music majors and we also have strong music support  in the community.  It’s a great place to work!  Please log into www.cwc.edu, click on QuickLinks, then jobs@Central, to look at the position announcements.  This particular one is not posted yet, but it will be very soon. Check it out if you are interested; or you have friends/colleagues who might be interested, please send this email to them.

Tickets still available for Laramie County Library Foundation May 7 luncheon with sci-fi author Connie Willis

From Tina Ann Forkner, president of the Laramie County Public Library Foundation:

We still have tickets to the Library Luncheon this coming Saturday to hear Sci-Fi author Connie Willis. If you haven’t decided yet, I urge you to go, but please hurry and RSVP! This is always a fun community event and the price for your meal ticket benefits the Library. You will love this luncheon. It is always a low key, casual time at our spring event. There is no pressure for you to do anything, but enjoy the author/speaker, Connie Willis, and enjoy a wonderful lunch out at Little America. 

RSVP to Mary Meyer at the foundation today: 307-773-7221

Mary would prefer she hear from you asap today if you plan to go. (She might take reservations tomorrow morning, but I am not sure, so today would be best.) *Please tell Mary that you are “with” me.
She will be happy to sit all my friends together, or feel free to get some friends together and request to sit with them (still mention my name so she will know who referred them).  I’m afraid I must attend a field trip with my child, so I cannot be there, but please don’t let this deter you from going. 

I hope to hear about your RSVP from Mary! Please let me know if you go.

Travel Through Time With Award-Winning and Best-Selling Author, Connie Willis, from Greeley Colorado 

May 7^th, 12:00 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.) at Little America in Cheyenne, Wyoming
$30 for a great lunch and entertaining talk by author (I heard she’s funny)
Meet the author during and after the lunch
Books available for purchase or bring your own if you wish to have it signed
Call the Foundation ASAP:
Mary Meyer, DirectorTelephone: 307-773-7221
http://www.lclsonline.org/foundation/events/

Raising Readers fund-raiser May 14 in Cheyenne

Raising Readers in Wyoming board members Sherri Geringer, former Wyoming First Lady, and Judy Catchpole, former Superintendent of Public Instruction, were on Channel 5's morning show to promote their upcoming fund-raiser. FMI: http://www.raisingreadersinwyoming.org

Laramie writers read April 30 at Second Story Books

From Laramie writer Julianne Couch:
If you are in Laramie, please join us at Second Story Books Saturday, April 30, at 7 p.m. for a reading by Val Pexton, Paul Bergstrasser, Luke Stricker, Nina McGonigley and me! Food and beverages provided. What more could you ask for?! Second Story Books is located at 105 Ivinson Ave. in downtown Laramie

First summer melodrama volunteer sign-up and orientation May 2 at the Atlas Theatre

From the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players web site:

The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players Melodrama Committee invites you to this season's first volunteer sign-up night and orientation. It will be on Monday, May 2, 7 p.m., at the Atlas Theatre. 

This session is for front-of-house volunteers: box office ticket sellers, house managers, wait staff, bartenders, concessions staff and raffle ticket sellers. There will be signup sheets at the meeting for the melodrama's 19 performance days: July 14-17 (one show); July 21-30 (two shows during CFD); July 31 and Aug. 4-7 (one show). Come on out and sign up early for your favorite job on your favorite night. 

New volunteers are always welcome. Committee members will be there to conduct a short orientation and tour of the historic theatre. 

Reminder: Bartenders must have TIPS training, and it is also recommended for waitstaff. The next session is on Tuesday, May 3, 5 p.m., at the American Legion. We will have info on upcoming TIPS training sessions at Monday's meeting.

Melodrama auditions for "Dirty Deeds at the Depot" will be the week of May 23. Check out the CLTP web site at http://www.cheyennelittletheatre.org for more info.

See you on Monday. Feel free to bring your volunteer-minded friends and family members!