WY Game and Fish names winners in 29th annual Conservation Stamp competition

This  just gives a real life image
of what a Greater Short-horned
Lizard looks like, and does not
represent any visual art images
that were entered in the contest.

A reception, awards ceremony, sales and art show was held at the Cheyenne Wyoming Game and Fish headquarters on April 13, 2012 to name the winners in the 2013 Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Compeition, featuring the Greater Short-Horned Lizard.

Linda Johnson of Riverton, a Wyoming Arts Council roster artist, received 3rd place for her water color entry. She quotes, "I felt very honored, as there were a lot of really great entries."

                                                  

Amy Kitchener, literary activist and "Angel"

Check out Amy's "Literary Angels Without Wings FDN" website here: http://www.amykitchenerfdn.org/  There's a lot going on and poetry contests to enter.

Here's a link to her newsletter, featuring Neal Whitman, the 2012 White Buffalo Native American Poet Laureate: http://amykitchenerfdn.org/2012_april_diploemat/april-2012.html

Good stuff!

Opening reception April 18 for Susan Thulin and Suzanne Morlock at Tayloe Piggott Gallery

Casper College Opera Workshop performs scenes from "The Magic Flute" on April 21

The Casper College Opera Workshop will perform six scenes from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” on Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. in Durham Recital Hall.

The workshop is under the direction of Kristen Robinson, Casper College voice instructor. This is the third semester for the opera workshop, but it is the first time that we will be doing all scenes from one opera,” said Robinson.

Members of the CC Opera Workshop are Ty Hebbert, Danielle Hockett, Molly Green, Alex Arveschoug, Mike Schadwill, Ashlee Belveal, Gwen Colgrove, Phil Carlson, Alison Zick, Heather McAteer, and Emily Appel. Paula Flynn, who provided musical preparation, will provide piano accompaniment for the concert.

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

Call for entries: Lander Art Center Annual Members' Show

The Lander Art Center's Annual Members' Show is scheduled to open May 18, 2012.  We encourage artists around the state to become a Lander Art Center member and participate. Entry fee is $20 for up to three pieces or free to members at the supporter level and up. Deadline is May 5. All mediums accepted. Details and entry guidelines at http://www.landerartcenter.com.

Fire destroys Rock Springs studio of artist and arts advocate Gregory Gaylor

Long-time Rock Springs artist and arts advocate Gregory Gaylor's studio burned down this week. He lost a lifetime of artwork and all of his digital records. He needs our encouragement and support and would welcome emails to kgaylor@sweetwaterhsa.com. Greg also is a past board member of the Wyoming Arts Council. Artist friends are working on a fund-raiser. Find updates on this blog and at the Studio Wyoming Facebook page.

Nicolaysen hosting recording artist Pete Martinez

UW Art Museum screens "Art21" PBS Series on April 16

Beet Street unveils Arts Incubator of the Rockies curriculum design at April 25 public meeting

The Wyoming Arts Council is one of the state arts agencies in the West participating in the Arts Incubator of the Rockies (AIR) project launched last year by Beet Street in Fort Collins, Colo. Here's a press release from Beet Street about the next phase of AIR:

The Arts Incubator of the Rockies (AIR) is proud to announce a public unveiling of the AIR Curriculum Design that will highlight the hard work, time, and creativity that has been put into place over the past three months of developing the core curriculum. On Wednesday, April 25th, AIR will be hosting an "Unveiling of Curriculum Design" from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, Canyon West room.

The Arts Incubator of the Rockies (AIR) is an ambitious initiative of Beet Street, created in partnership with the City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department, and Colorado State University (CSU) School of the Arts. AIR is a regional arts incubator that serves 10 states and more than 280,000 artists and creatives in the Intermountain West. Based in Fort Collins, AIR is designed to serve both the local and regional cultural workforce by providing professional development classes, entrepreneurial and business training and other skills-based activities through distance learning, internships, collaborations and resource sharing. AIR serves all creative and community members who want to shift the paradigms about art, money, value, and community. 

Please RSVP online at Beet Street by April 23, 2012. Seating is limited.  

Steve Schrepferman conducts workshop April 19-20 at CWC Ceramics Studio

Steve Schrepferman will conduct a

TWO-DAY DEMONSTRATION WORKSHOP

THURSDAY, APRIL 19 (10 am-4 pm)

FRIDAY, APRIL 20 (10 am-4 pm)

Central Wyoming College, Ceramics Studio, Fine Arts Building

2660 Peck, Riverton, Wyoming

Cost:  $60 per person, Free to currently enrolled CWC Art Students

Steve Schrepferman is a mudman who tailors workshops in clay construction, surface treatment and concept development. He is best known for his constructed work of tying wire around soft wheel-thrown clay forms. During his over 30-plus years of professional experience, Steve has mastered a variety of hand building, sculpture, and surface treatment techniques. Steve juggles the making of his art with adjunct teaching at Northwest College in Powell, the duties of being Executive Director for the Park County Arts Council, and the responsibilities serving as Co-President of the Wyoming Arts Alliance. He also is a member of the Wyoming Arts Council artist roster.

FMI: Deborah Britt at britt.deborah@gmail.com

Sponsored in part by POWR, Central Wyoming College, Lander Art Center and Wyoming Arts Council.

Cheyenne's 1st of the season Art Design and Dine tomorrow, April 12

Brave the rain, maybe even snow and hit the pavement tomorrow evening for Cheyenne's first of the season Art Design and Dine on April 12. Check out the website here for participating galleries, art venues, and businesses.

2012 Equality State Book Festival announces confirmed slate of authors and illustrators

Holly Wendt & Laurie Lye, co-directors of the 2012 Equality State Book Festival, send word that the bookfest web site has been updated with some exciting news to share about September's event in Casper:

The Equality State Book Festival organizers are pleased to announce this year's festival date has been set for Sept. 14-15 in Casper. This celebration marks the 26th anniversary of the annual Casper College/ARTCORE Literary Conference, which has been called "The Equality State Book Festival" every other year since 2006, this being our fourth venture in that spirit.

For the two-day event, more than 15 authors and illustrators will share their talents, giving readings, leading craft talks, emceeing a poetry slam, visiting local schools, and participating on panels. This year's group includes poets, novelists, memoirists, essayists, illustrators, and publishers. 

Among the participants slated are state-wide and regional favorites: Pat Frolander, current Poet Laureate for Wyoming; Zak Pullen, Cat Urbigkit, Kendra Spanjer and Karla Oceanak who will be making school visits; Alyson Hagy and David Romtvedt, faculty from University of Wyoming's MFA program, who will give readings and lead craft talks; and essayist and poet Linda Hasselstrom. From further regions, we are also joined by Rebecca O'Connor and Renee d'Aoust.

The Wyoming Arts Council will be announcing their annual Creative Writing Fellowship awards which celebrate poetry this year and will be judged by Brian Turner. Our friends at Natrona County Public Library are sponsoring a visit from Luis Carlos Montalvan. 

We hope you can join us to appreciate the good company of fellow readers and writers and help celebrate books and the written word Sept. 14-15, 2012, at Casper College and a few other Casper locations, all to be detailed on this web site soon.

For more book festival information, please contact Laurie Lye at llye@caspercollege.edu or 307-268-2639.

UW Writer-in-Residence Mark Jenkins departs for Everest Expedition

 

Mark Jenkins in Ireland

From a UW press release:

The last time Mark Jenkins tried to climb Mount Everest, he was pursuing a master's degree in geography at the University of Wyoming. He was unable to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain on that 1986 expedition but, as part of his research into acid snow, he collected snow samples at a higher elevation than anyone had before.

In the 26 years since, the Laramie resident has traveled the world as an adventurer and writer. Jenkins' excursions have included ascents of some of the globe's other tallest peaks, dangerous trips to some of the world's last remote regions, and travel by foot or bicycle across continents. He's an internationally recognized author and journalist now working as a field staff writer for National Geographic -- and as writer-in-residence for the UW master's degree program in creative writing .

And he's heading back for another try at Mount Everest.

Read the rest of the story at http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2012/04/uw-writer-in-residence-departs-for-everest-expedition.html

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mark has received two creative writing fellowships from the Wyoming Arts Council. The WAC wishes him well on his latest adventure.

Judging & reception for Wyoming Conservation Stamp Art Competition will be held April 13 in Cheyenne

Greater short horned lizard or horned toad

Judging and a reception for the 29th annual Wyoming State Conservation Stamp Art Competition will be held Friday, April 13, at Wyoming Game and Fish Headquarters, 5400 Bishop Blvd. in Cheyenne. The wildlife species for this year's competition is the greater short horned lizard or horned toad.

The Game and Fish has received 59 paintings this year from artists in 18 states competing for the $3,500 first place prize money and the right to have their work reproduced on the 2013 conservation stamp. All paintings will be on display at the reception. A conservation stamp is required for most licensed hunters and anglers. Approximately 100,000 conservation stamps are printed each year.

Judging will take place on the afternoon of April 13. Following the judging, Wyoming Wildlife- The Foundation and the department will host a reception open to the public beginning at 5 p.m. with winners announced at 6 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

All paintings will remain on display at Game and Fish Headquarters through May 11. Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540 

Call for proposals: City of Ketchum, Idaho, public art project

The City of Ketchum’s Ketchum Arts Commission (KAC) invites artists to apply for a public art project for vinyl images of original art to be applied (wrapped) on selected utility boxes located throughout the city. The intention of the project is to use utility boxes as canvases to further enliven the city with art.

The selection process is two steps – a Request for Qualifications, due May 4, 2012, with selected artists submitting proposals later. Full information may be obtained on the City of Ketchum website at www.ketchumidaho.org.

New artists join the 2012-2013 WAC Artist Roster

Summit Chamber Players

Twenty-one Wyoming artists were approved by the Wyoming Arts Council (WAC) Board to be included in the Council’s Artist Roster, which serves as a resource for communities seeking artists for festivals, performances and other types of art programs. Seventy-nine artists complete the 2012-2013 roster.

Robert Berky

New Roster Artists include performing artists: Summit Chamber Players and Verismo Trio, both classical chamber music groups from Laramie; Amy Gorbey, Cheyenne, a director and producer of youth theater camps and after school programs; Robert Berky, Jackson, an actor, theatrical clown and playwright; Fat City Mardi Gras Band, Riverton, New Orleans style and early jazz music; Flores De Colores, Cheyenne, a Mexican folkloric dance group; Scott Bragonier, Cody, Jared Rogerson, Pinedale, and Dave Munsick, Dayton, cowboy singer/songwriters.

Dan Hayward

Visual artists include, from Laramie: Larry W. Hazlett, a theater and technical design consultant; Daniel Hayward, photographer; and Mary Maynard, tatter and needle artist. Dave Buckles, Cody, wildlife woodcarver; Curt Theobald, Pine Bluffs, segmented woodturner; Joshua Ray Smith, Rawlins, sculptural and public art installations; Aaron Wallis, Jackson, works in printmaking, silkscreening and letterpress; Terry Kreuzer, Cheyenne, ceramist and sculptor; and David Osmundsen, Buffalo, an artist blacksmith.

Dave Buckles

Literary artists include Pat Frolander, Wyoming’s Poet Laureate; Eugene Gagliano, Buffalo, poet and children’s author; and Barbara Smith, Rock Springs, poet and creative non-fiction writer.

WAC Roster Artists are selected through a rigorous panel process that rates artists on art professionalism, presentation, expression and subject matter. Artists represent a wide range of art forms, cultural and ethnic programs and presentation styles. Organizations can apply to the WAC’s Artists Across Wyoming grant category to bring a Wyoming roster artist into their communities and schools for performances, readings, workshops, presentations and more.

For more information on the Artist Roster, go to the WAC’s web site at www.wyomingartscouncil.org or call the Council office at 307-777-7742.

Nominations for 2013 Community Spirit Awards are open

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS MAY 31, 2011

The Community Spirit Awards is a national fellowship award for American Indian artists. First Peoples Fund chooses honorees for their commitment to sustaining the cultural values of native people. The process of bringing spirit back to community is an important responsibility for artists - it is part of a sacred honor system. First Peoples Fund works to strengthen that honor system by recognizing these exceptional artists for knowing themselves, honoring others, and sustaining spirit in their own communities.

Nominees must be:
Practicing artists of demonstrated maturity in their field.
Continually practicing artists for a minimum of 10 years.
Documented affiliate of a United States tribe. (Native Alaska or Hawaii included!)
Note: In addition to Visual Arts, First Peoples recognizes contemporary and traditional forms of Performing Arts and Literary Arts.

Fellowships will be awarded to artists who demonstrate:
An artistic practice that passes on the traditions and the life ways of the people.
A commitment to building the strength of native communities by sharing their skills and talents with others in their respective communities; and
Deeply rooted and maintain direct ties to their tribal community.

Nomination Procedure:
Nominate online at First Peoples Fund or send a postcard to include complete names and addresses of both nominee and nominator to PO Box 2977, Rapid City, SD 57709.
Nominated candidates must be from an American Indian community.
Applications will be mailed out after nomination deadline has passed.

Selection Process and Expectations:
A national selection committee will review nominees and select awardees from those that meet the outlined qualifications.
Fellowship recipients will receive $5,000 designed to give them the opportunity to "practice their art."

First Peoples Fund
PO Box 2977
Rapid City, SD 57709
605.348.0324
http://www.firstpeoplesfund.org/

2011 "Oklahoma Painters" Paris art show features Native American artists

Heap of Birds, with his painting, "Smile for Racism"

From Indian Country Today Media Network, LLC, an internationally-recognized multimedia platform, solely-owned by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York, comprised of a full-service website, and This Week from Indian Country Today, a weekly magazine, comes this article about the 2011 art show in Paris that included eleven Native American artists from Oklahoma.

"On the road" with Nebraska writer Poe Ballantine

Attend a presentation by Nebraska writer Poe Ballantine on Monday, April 9, 7-9 p.m., at Recover Wyoming, 512 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne. It's free and open to the public with refreshments provided. Poe will be at LCCC's Conferences and Institutes Building on Tuesday, April 10, for a writing workshop at 2 p.m. and a reading at 7 p.m. These events also are free and open to the public.

Share in the insights of Poe Ballantine, his writing life and the experiences he draws from decades of tramping about the country, taking odd jobs, living on $400 a month and failing spectacularly. Poe has been called “The Voice of the People” and the “The King of the Personal Essay.” You are invited to view into his writing life, how he got here, how he sustains, the imperative of virgins in volcanoes and the ghosts who watch over us, matters of process, magic, mechanics, flambéing with banana liqueur and whatever else you want to know.

Wyoming Humanities Council seeks programs for forum

The Wyoming Humanities Council seeks programs for the Humanities Forum. The forum is a roster of independent contractors who travel throughout Wyoming, speaking on humanities-centered topics.  The format of presentations varies, but they should be 30 to 45 minutes long, followed by focused audience discussions.  The Wyoming Humanities Council pays a $150 honorarium for each presentation, as well as mileage, lodging, and per diem expenses. 

The council is especially interested in presentations related to the upcoming Wyoming tour of “Key Ingredients: America by Food,” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit about food and foodways. 

The deadline for applications is June 15, 2012. For information on how to apply, see:
http://www.uwyo.edu/humanities/_files/HF_RFP.pdf