Tickets go on sale Oct. 25 for Casper College Madrigal Feaste

Tickets for the 17th Annual Casper College Madrigal Feaste will go on sale on Tuesday, Oct. 25 beginning at 8 a.m.

Those purchasing tickets will be able to do so by one of three ways: online, in person, or by phone.

The feaste will be held December 7 through 10, 2011 in the Thomas H. Empey Studio Theatre, located in the Gertrude Krampert Theatre Complex. Tickets are $45 per person.

Tickets will also be available for what is known as “First Knight.” Tickets for “First Knight,” which is the dress rehearsal scheduled for Monday, Dec. 6, are $25 each.

The feaste features the Casper College Collegiate Chorale, Men’s and Women’s Choirs, and the Contemporary Singers, all under the direction of Pat Patton, voice and choir instructor at Casper College. Each year a new script, written by Patton and the cast, is performed in the Madrigal Feaste.

Tickets will be available online at , in person in the Aley Fine Arts Center, Room 303, or by calling 268-2606.

Arts Design & Dine features artwork by Gene & Mary Schumacher Oct. 13

"Bouquet," Mary Schumacher

Gene and Mary Schumacher will be exhibiting at the Cheyenne Artists' Guild for the October 13 art tour from 5-8 p.m. There will be a reception and an opportunity to talk to the artist about their work.

Mary says this about her art, "I started painting soon after my father died, about 20 years ago. He left me all of his art supplies, which were plentiful. At first I didn’t know what to do with all of it, but in going through it, I discovered how intriguing it was—water colors, oils, pastels, etc. It wasn’t long before I was dabbling away, and then taking workshops, and studying with Russ Hamilton in Fort Collins. Watercolor is my favorite medium, but lately I’ve been experimenting with collage, abstractions, spray paint—anything and everything, including cat fur and dryer lint. Not everything turns out beautifully, but it is all great fun"!

Salzburger Echo yodels in Octoberfest celebration in Lander

From the Lander Art Center:


Join us at the Museum of the American West on October 7 for Salzburger Echo (pictured above): the lederhosen wearing, alpenhorn playing, yodeling, cowbell ringers from Salt Lake City.

Tickets are $10 and proceeds will benefit the Lander Art Center. Kids 12 and under are free. 

Kids activities will include a costume photo booth (dress up and picture taking free, prints $5), face-painting and other activities. 

Brats and beer will be sold by Gannet Grill. 

Family time from 5-7 p.m. Ages 21 and over welcome from 7-9 p.m.

Young Sheridan artist brings menagerie of imagined animals to the canvas

Sheridan Artist Lauren Sarantopulos from Indie Media: The New Journalism on Vimeo.

More video from the Randy Oestman and Alan O'Hashi CVI road trip. This is an interview with young artist Lauren Sarantopolous at the Sagebrush Community Art Center in Sheridan.

The creativity is in these creatives' custom pies

Jackson Farmers' Market - Creative Bakeries from Indie Media: The New Journalism on Vimeo.

WAC staffer Randy Oestman and videographer Alan O'Hashi have been traveling the state gathering footage for a film about Wyoming's Creative Vitality Index (CVI). Most of you won't be surprised to learn that Jackson, Wyo., has one of the highest CVI rates in the region. And who can quibble with that once you see pies like these? This was filmed at Jackson's Saturday Market.

Literary Connection offers free writing workshop by three fine writers Sept. 30 at LCCC

Lee Ann Roripaugh

Three fine writers will discuss their work and lead a workshop Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne.

LCCC Foundation presents the "Literary Connection" in the LCCC Health Science Building, Room 111/113, on Friday, September 30, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. This is a free writing workshop with Colorado mystery writer Margaret Coel, young adult writer Ben Mikaelsen from Montana, and poet (and Wyoming native) Lee Ann Roripaugh, creative writing professor at the University of South Dakota. Continental breakfast will be provided. Space is limited, pre-registration is required.

On Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., spend a day with three best-selling authors Margaret Coel, Ben Mikaelsen, Lee Ann Roripaugh. Lunch included. Book signing to follow event. Registration: $45. Space is limited.

FMI: 307-778-1285

Suzanne Morlock says: Check out Laura Splan's work at the NIC in Casper

From Wilson artist (and WAC fellowship biennial artist) Suzanne Morlock (via Facebook): 

For all of you in the Casper area on Friday, September 30 -- head to the Nicolaysen Art Museum for its opening reception which starts at 6 p.m. A friend from Brooklyn, Laura Splan, will be one of three artists the Nic is showing. Her show is entitled "Reformulations" and it's in the McMurry Gallery. Tell Laura I sent you as I've got health stuff here that won't enable me to attend. Should be a fun show. Go to http://www.thenic.org/index.php?%2Fevents%2Fmore%2Fexhibition_opening%2F

"Happy Z-Day" -- and don't forget "Undead Lovers"

News from Wyoming filmmaker Harrison Sweeney:

Here are some pics (top of post and at the bottom) from Big Horn Samurai Sinema's latest short film produced in 24 Hours for the Cheyenne Shootout this past weekend.  What you're seeing are select members of the Naughty Pines Derby Dames inside the state capitol for the end credits of "Happy Z-Day," which was shot with a cast of over 20 Wyomingites under a day in Cheyenne and Laramie. As per this festival's regulations, the featurette was edited entirely in-camera.

BHSS will be showing its featurette, "Undead Lovers," this Saturday, October 1st at the Atlas theatre during the Cheyenne Zombie Fest.  The  film is already hitting film festivals around the nation, starting with the Might & Fright Fest at the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con during Halloween.

Following Saturday's screening, the next Wyoming exhibition of  "Undead Lovers" will be on Monday, October 24th at Metro Coffee in Casper.

The Executive Producer of BHSS graduated from Worland High School in 1996 and from the University of Wyoming in 2001.  After starring in and producing commericals, television, and film in Los Angeles for the past 7 years, (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3151489/) he is aiming to base his production company in Wyoming to encourage filmmakers to bring outside money to the Cowboy State.

From the Casper Star-Tribune:

http://trib.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/article_5e894a5e-eead-5bf5-871f-1d68cba09e00.html

From Ireland:

http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2011/08/04/help-reunite-the-cast-of-red-dead-redemptionn/

From Australia:

http://kotaku.com/5836817/red-dead-redemption-cast-members-reunite-for-a-live+action-horror-movie#

From Orlando:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theinvisibleworld/2011/08/25/the-invisible-world-ep-71

New video from The Snaz: Pond-skimming at 10,000 feet

Cool pond-skimming vid by The Snaz in Jackson. Go to http://thesnaz.com/post/10134423208/pond-skimming-and-cliff-jumping-at-nearly-10-000

"Bright Spots" in the state's creative economy will be highlighted Oct. 7 at Convergence Wyoming

This historic preservation project, Evanston's railyard roundhouse, wasn't
much of a "bright spot" when the renovation began ten years ago. 

Here's the same section of the roundhouse as it looks now,
all shiny and bright. 

Convergence Wyoming will feature sessions highlighting some of the many engaging projects already underway in the state's creative economy. Register online here.

The “Bright Spots” session will be held from 10-11:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, at the Cody Holiday Inn.

It will feature these community efforts:

·         Saturday University and Teton County Poetry Box in Jackson

·         Gillette’s AVA Center

·         Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland

·         the Historic Preservation Commission in Douglas

·         the Roundhouse restoration in Evanston

·         downtown rehabilitation projects in Cheyenne

·         art galleries in downtown Lander

·         Main Street projects in Dubois and Rawlins

·         Sheridan’s growing recognition as an “exciting and livable community” through its cultural initiatives

Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, Worland

Felicia Follum's November exhibit in Laramie focuses on African-American culture

You read it first on Felicia Follum's blog. You read it here second:

Dear Blog Reader:

Who. You are one of the first few people to be cordially invited to my next art show.

What: This show is still in progress but will be addressing topics in the realm of African American history and African American religious culture. The current goal is to look at the American history that is often left out of our education and use it to help people understand the historical context that various American heroes such as Malcolm X and James Cone were responding to.

When: The show will be up from November 8-17 (possibly a bit longer).  The opening will be Thursday, Nov. 10, 6-8 p.m.

Where: The University of Wyoming UpGallery.  In the Fine Arts building.

Here is the Facebook event page and my art page for those of you who use FB (you don't need a FB account to view the pages).  Feel free to RSVP.

Hope to see you there!

Who needs football -- Wyoming fiction writers read from their work Saturday afternoon in Casper

Pam Houston

The Pokes are going to cream the Huskers anyway, so why not come out to a free reading of Wyoming Arts Council creative writing fellowship winners Saturday, Sept. 24 (tomorrow!) in the lobby of Casper College's Goodstein Foundation Library.

Noted fiction writer and fellowship judge Pam Houston gets things started at 2 p.m. with a reading and discussion of her own work.

At 3 p.m.., fellowship recipients Sam Western, Stefani Farris and Kathy Bjornestad take the stage to read their work.

Get details about the rest of Saturday's schedule (including reception and poetry slam) at http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com/p/fellowship-reading-set-for-sept-24-in.html

Fiercest and baddest of rabbits perform Sept. 24 in Casper

Fierce Bad Rabbit performs on Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m., at the American Legion Hall in Casper.

When Fierce Bad Rabbit formed in 2009, regional media called them a “supergroup.” The standout talent of each member of the band was already well established in Northern Colorado. But supergroups are engineered by record labels. The members of Fierce Bad Rabbit were magnetically drawn together to create indie pop music with a hook and a heart.

Featuring Chris Anderson (vocals/guitar/piano), Alana Rolfe (viola/vocals), Dayton Hicks (bass), and Adam Pitner (drums/percussion), Fierce Bad Rabbit found regional success nearly immediately after coming together. Songwriting came natural, and the band soon released a self-titled EP that had airplay before it hit the streets. They were voted “Best Indie Rock” by peers in the Fort Collins Musicians Association, and Westword nominated the band for “Best Indie Pop.” They performed at the 2010 South by Southwest in Austin, received featured airplay on stations throughout the region, and were selected for the inaugural class of SpokesBUZZ Fort Collins, a non-profit that raises awareness of Fort Collins as a music hub.

With the October 2010 release of their first studio LP, Spools of Thread, the band is poised to gain broad attention. The songs on the album are an emotionally powerful, infectious brand of indie pop. Songs like “Everything’s Alright” and “All I Have Is You,” are radio-ready sing-a-longs without the triteness and disposability too often found in pop music. Instead, Anderson pens songs with an honesty and depth that captures and connects listeners.

Get tix at http://www.artcorewy.com/tickets.php

Third mural goes up in downtown Laramie

Laramie artist Travis Ivey has begun work on the third installation in the Laramie Mural Project, an extension of the University of Wyoming Art Museum's public art exhibition "Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational."

Ivey's mural "Hollyhock Haven" will be located on Custer Street between First and Second streets. When complete, "Hollyhock Haven" will be 20 feet high and attract bees and bugs. In the summer when the hollyhocks grow along its length, it will reference a natural history diorama.

A fifth-generation Wyoming native, Ivey is known for his representational paintings that reflect the beauty of the modern West and the impacts of development on the landscape. He has a background in street art and a desire to unify his interests in public art and the landscape.

The Laramie Mural Project's first mural, located on the north wall of Big Hollow Food Co-op, is "Tierra y Libertad" by Laramie artist Talal Cockar. The second mural, "Grainery Grove," is on the alley wall of The Whole Earth Grainery and was created by local artist Meghan Meier. Ivey's mural will complete the planned murals for the Laramie Mural Project in 2011.

The Laramie Mural Project is a partnership between the Laramie Main Street Alliance and the UW Art Museum. It is funded in part by the Wyoming Arts Council, Guthrie Family Foundation, Laramie Beautification Committee, and the City of Laramie.

For additional information about the UW Art Museum, call (307) 766-6622 or visit the museum's web page orblog .

Photo: Travis Ivey's "Hollyhock Haven," the third mural to be painted in downtown Laramie, will be located on Custer Street between First and Second streets. The murals are an extension of the UW Art Museum's public art exhibition "Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational." (Travis Ivey)

SocialWyo holds social media conference Oct. 13 at Hynds Building in downtown Cheyenne

From the SocialWyo blog:

Thanks to the generous support of Laramie County Community College and the College of Workforce and Community Development, the third SocialWyo conference will be Oct. 13.

And to celebrate some of the great stuff going on downtown, we're switching it up a bit! Here's the quick and dirty breakdown:

SocialWyo 3.0 will be at the Hynds Building, 1602 Capitol Ave., in downtown Cheyenne on Oct. 13.

Admission is $99 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Call LCCC's Darlene Kaelin at 778-4381 to register. (Sorry, phone registrations only.) 

Here's the schedule:
8 a.m. Doors Open
8:30 -10 a.m. Facebook for Marketers
10:15 - 11:45 a.m. Twitter for Business
Noon - 1:30 p.m. Lunch and Keynote Speaker Erika Napoletano
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Roundtable Discussions

You want details? OK!

The Facebook and Twitter classes will start at the ground level, but if you're an experienced marketer, you will get something out of the sessions. We'll cover, quickly, the basic set up of a fan page and Twitter account, introduce you to the Facebook algorithm and basic Twitter operation and help you develop strategies for deploying your new knowledge. If you're trying to figure out how often to tweet or post, much less what you should tweet or post, we'll help you out.

After those sessions, we'll move onto lunch with keynote speaker Erika Napoletano, head redhead at Redhead Writing. She'll discuss personal branding and how not to look like a doofus online -- all of that material will be relevant to your personal and professional brands. And judging from her social media presence, I'm pretty sure you won't want to miss out. I've been following her (and laughing with her!) for about a year now, and I'm increasingly impressed with her commitment to teaching and learning about social and branding. Based in Denver, she blogs regularly, tweets and posts often and writes a column for Entrepreneur.com. On any platform, she promises unfiltered content, blunt advice and unpopular thoughts. Follow her. 

After all of that, we'll still want to make sure you've got a plan of action when you return to the office. Roundtable discussions will help you work out some finer points of your content strategy, answer more detailed or even more basic questions about social media and marketing, much less connect directly with professionals whose goals for social are similar to your own.

Ready to learn? OK. Here are the digits: 778-4381. Register. Or else.

UW Student Art League hosts life drawing sessions every Thursday (beginning Sept. 22)

The Student Art League at the University of Wyoming will be hosting life drawing sessions from 7-9 p.m. Thursday evenings (beginning the 22nd of this month). It will be held in room 227 of the Fine Arts Building. Best of all, it only cost $5 for community members, $2 for students and $1 for SAL members. FMI: Felicia Follum Art and Design 

Abbie Miller chosen for "emerging designer" competition at Portland Fashion Week

AM Renegade (a.k.a. Abbie Miller) of Jackson, WY, is one of nine Catapult; The Emerging Designer Award Competitors, debuting at Portland Fashion Week Oct. 5.  Audience members in attendance will vote for the top designer who will win an exclusive prize package. FMI: http://portlandfashionweek.net. Abbie will be part of the WAC fellowship biennial exhibit opening Nov. 4 at the Art Association gallery in the Center for the Arts in Jackson.

Register now for "Social Media Seminar" Sept. 23 in Lander

Register today for “Tools to Build Your Online Presence: Social Media Seminar” presented at CWC Lander on Friday, September 23.  We only have a few Lander slots left!  The Riverton session is now full.  This full day seminar is presented by our local social media experts from Pitch Engine – Jason Kintzler, CEO, and Fabian Lobera, COO. 

Please see the attachment for details.  Simply respond to this email or call Anne or Michael at 332-3394 to register.

During this seminar, you will learn how to create and maintain your digital brand.  No one can ignore the increasing role social media is playing in consumer behavior today.  This course walks you through the construction of your organization’s online presence, using available low-to-no cost cloud-based tools.  They will identify and show you how to use sites such as Twitter, Facebook Fan Pages and Ads, Gmail, Google AdWords and Alerts, and PitchEngine to help attract customers. 

Empey Studio Theatre dedication set for Sept. 29 at Casper College

The Casper College Board of Trustees in July approved the renaming of the Black Box Theatre to the Thomas H. Empey Studio Theatre to recognize his role as the modern architect of today's theatre program at Casper College. On Thursday, Sept. 29, please join Tom, the Casper College Board of Trustees, the Casper College Foundation Board of Directors, the Theatre Advisory Board, and others from the Casper College community for the unveiling of new interior and exterior signs, a portrait of Tom in the Krampert Theatre Complex south lobby, and the design for a bronze plaque commemorating the dedication. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. A reception will follow with refreshments, compliments of the Theatre Advisory Board. The reception will conclude prior to the 7:30 p.m. curtain of Death of a Salesman.

"Dueling Pianos" on Saturdays at Suite 1901

"Dee and the Mammoth" going to the National Book Festival

Dee Susan Vittitow Mark sends this: "Dee and the Mammoth" by Gene Gagliano and Zak Pullen has been selected by the Wyoming State Library to be the featured book for Wyoming,at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. in September. Wyoming has a booth in the Pavilion of States tent on the National Mall. Gene and Zak will be part of the Wyoming Book Festival Road Show this fall. Dee and the Mammoth recently received the Wyoming State Historical Society Book Award for fiction.

UW launches theatre season with comic musical by alumnus Sean Stone

Happiness and its dysfunctional and often hilarious pursuit is the theme of a new comic musical that will have its premiere at the University of Wyoming this month.

"Rainy Day People," composed, written and directed by celebrated UW alumnus Sean Stone ("Good Morning, Athens"), launches the Department of Theatre and Dance's 2011-2012 production season Sept. 28 through Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. on the Fine Arts main stage.

Tickets cost $14 for the public, $11 for senior citizens and $7 for students. For tickets and information call (307) 766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts .

Based on an award-winning play by UW alumnus Todd McCullough, "Rainy Day People" is a musical about people who wish that they were happy, but are content only when they are making themselves or others miserable.

Stone auditioned for McCullough's wistful comedy when it was first produced at UW in 2002, and even though he wasn't cast, he was taken with the piece. So when he was required to adapt a work for his graduate thesis at New York University, the choice was obvious.

"I loved Todd's piece the first time I saw it," Stone said. "There were so many really great characters and unanswered questions about them that I wanted explore further."

McCullough's play was inspired by Dostoyevsky's "Notes from the Underground," a novella detailing a love affair between an emotionally stunted government employee and a prostitute.

Stone's musical expands on the original play to explore parallels between modern America and Dostoyevsky's Russia: an overbearing government and culture, a significant class divide, a sense of helplessness among people, and a disconnect between individuals and the consequences of their actions.

The musical examines how this environment leads to "rainy day people" who set their own world into chaos because they do not know how to engage fully in their own lives. The music supports the theme and features bright, fun, catchy pop tunes that belie the characters' jaded view of the world.

"Why is it as a society that we perceive ourselves to be largely unhappy, while societies that are much worse off economically and politically seem to have their heads wrapped around how to be happy in their day-to-day lives?" asked Stone.

Stone notes that as dark a comedy as "Rainy Day People" is, it is ultimately a hopeful show, because it's about people learning to identify and pursue healthy wants and needs and become their whole and best selves.

Photo: UW student Caitlin-Denney Turner rehearses for "Rainy Day People" that can be seen from Sept. 28 through Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. on the UW Fine Arts main stage.

"Creatures" exhibit at Wyoming State Library Sept. 26-30

Artwork by Paul Clymer, a Wyoming artist from Park County, will be displayed at the State Library Sept. 26 -30.

According to Paul, “My ‘creatures’ are built of tree trimmings, pine burls, scrap wood, dumpster-sourced clothing, antlers, skulls, plaster of Paris, epoxy and paint. I like to think of it as  art with a sense of humor and a nod to Native American Kachinas and other indigenous pre-Christian idols and sentinel figures. They take four to six months to complete after the skulls are modified and painted (three-six weeks) but often more than one are going at once.”

There will be an opening reception for this exhibit on Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wyoming State Library, 2800 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY. For more information, call Tina Lyles at 307.777.6338. 

Call for applications: Denali National Park and Preserve artists' residency program

Denali National Park and Preserve offers residencies to artists through their Artist-in-Residence program. Each residency is ten days long and takes place between June and September. Residents stay at the East Fork Cabin located inside Denali National Park in Denali Park, AK. Residents do not receive a stipend and are responsible for their own food and transportation. In exchange for the use of the cabin, each resident is expected to donate one piece of art and offer at least one public presentation. The work will be displayed in various sites throughout the park. All artists and writers are eligible to apply. Along with their application, artists must submit six images with an image list, and all writers must submit a one-page writing sample. All applicants also must submit an artist statement and artist résumé. For more information and directions on how to apply, click here.

Application deadline extended: Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts

The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, an exclusive, independent guest ranch set amid century-old working cattle ranch in south central Wyoming, announced today the launch of the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts. Offering writers, visual and performing artists, musicians and composers alike the time and space for artistic exploration through immersion in the extraordinary beauty of the West, the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts is a unique retreat where artists can grow their craft. The pilot program, which will consist of non-juried artists, will run from August to December, 2011. Application deadline for the official program has been extended to October 15, 2011 with juried residencies beginning in January 2012.

The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch is an exclusive, independent guest ranch outside of Saratoga in south central Wyoming's North Platte River Valley. Sitting on 13,000 acres and bordering a million acres of federal wild lands, Brush Creek Ranch's Grand Lodge and collection of new and renovated historic guest cabins and quarters are open to destination weddings, private corporate events and select group and family retreats. Offering an unsurpassed, all-inclusive adventure experience, The Lodge and Spa at Brush Creek Ranch provides a genuine Western spirit of hospitality and a vast array of outdoor activities that, coupled with an inspiring landscape and a dedication to sustainable ranching, come together to create a new icon in luxury Western destinations. The Foundation was created to give artists the opportunity to be inspired by the Ranch’s authentic surroundings.

“There is nowhere quite like Brush Creek Ranch when it comes to true Western beauty,” explained Beth White, owner of Brush Creek Ranch. “The idea for sharing this incredible landscape with aspiring and established artists for inspiration has been a dream of our family’s since the beginning of this journey, and we are so proud to finally open its doors to the world.”

Chosen by a blind jury based on work samples, awarded artists will receive housing, performance or studio space, all meals, travel to and from Laramie airport and access to general facilities.  The artists’ housing features eight individual residences with private bath, closet and work space. Shared facilities include kitchen, library, family room, and laundry facility. Meals include continental breakfast in the dining room, boxed lunch delivered to studios and dinner prepared by the Ranch’s chef communally shared in dining room.

The eight studio spaces are located in restored ranch buildings that combine comfort and refinement. Of the eight spaces, four are visual art studios that are equipped with large transom windows for abundant natural light and full spectrum daylight track lighting for late work. Two of the spaces are quiet studios reserved for writers and the remaining two studios are for composers, one of which was converted from an historic schoolhouse and contains a beautiful Steinway piano.

The Foundation will be lead by director, Kate Christensen. Christensen holds a Masters of Fine Arts, 2D studies with an emphasis in printmaking from Bowling Green State University. She has participated in over 30 exhibitions and exchanges over the last ten years, the most recent of which was in Wyoming.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this unique program and have no doubt that Brush Creek Ranch will provide an unmatched location for creative motivation,” said Christensen. “Wyoming is my home and I find endless inspiration here – I know that other artists will fall in love with the incomparable beauty of Wyoming and Brush Creek Ranch as well.”

The Foundation offers two- to four-week residencies, based on the season. No stipends or fellowships/awards are available at this time. Artists are responsible for their own supplies. There will be ample opportunity on-Ranch for artists who want to share their work, especially during the summer months. For more information and how to apply visit www.brushcreekarts.org.

Simpson Gallagher Gallery hosts Sept. 22 reception for "Wipfler and the Boys: A Reunion of Friends"

http://www.simpsongallaghergallery.com

Open Range Images Gallery artists' reception Sept. 22 in Cody

Craig Johnson brings along Sheriff Walt for the "Booklovers' Bash" in Cheyenne Oct. 28

http://wwwwlaramiecountylibrary.org/foundation

Call for artists: "Embracing Our Differences" exhibit

From 2011 "Embracing Our Differences" exhibit: "Reflections"

by John Stanish, 10th Grade, Eldora, IA. Teacher: Lori Topp,

South Hardin High School

"Embracing Our Differences" invites art submissions for its 9th annual outdoor art exhibit celebrating diversity. 

National and international submissions are encouraged. 39 artists will be selected for the exhibit. 

The Exhibit will be displayed April and May 2012 at Island Park along Sarasota, Florida’s beautiful bayfront. Since 2004, the exhibit has been viewed by more than 1,100,000 visitors. The exhibit will contain 39 billboard-sized (16 feet wide by 12 1/2 feet high) images of the selected artworks.

Final selections will be chosen based on artistic excellence in reflection of the theme “embracing our differences”. Submissions will also be evaluated on how effectively it will read outdoors when enlarged to billboard size. Final selections will be made by a 3-judge panel of professional artists, curators and art professionals. A total of $3,000.00 in awards will be presented.

Submissions must be postmarked no later than January 9, 2012. There is no submission fee nor limit on the number of entries.

The mission of Embracing Our Differences is to use art as a catalyst for creating awareness and promoting the value of diversity, the benefits of inclusion and the significance of the active rejection of hatred and prejudice.

Submission forms and more information concerning past winning entries are available at www.EmbracingOurDifferences.org or by emailing info@EmbracingOurDifferences.org.

Jalan Crossland Band featured at UW Biodiversity Conservation Alliance Badger Ball Sept. 23

The Jalan Crossland Band will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, in the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. Tickets cost $10 for students and $15 for the public.

The concert is part of the annual Biodiversity Conservation Alliance's Badger Ball, to raise funds for the BCA , a non-profit organization in Laramie. The concert is sponsored by UW's ACRES Student Farm and the BCA. All proceeds will go toward protecting Wyoming public lands and wildlife.

Crossland adds dazzling guitar and banjo finger-picking to his tales of 21st century rural life.

Black Crow, White Crow will open Friday's concert.

Photo: The Jalan Crossland Band will perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, in the UW College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. (Brummond Photo)

Call for applications: Creating the "Snow White Sessions" in Laramie

From Works of Wyoming in Laramie: On December 4, 2011, Ballet 7220 will perform the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White at the Laramie Plains Civic Center. Works of Wyoming, in partnership with the Laramie Dance Center, is inviting artists to attend rehearsals to document the making of Snow White through whatever media they choose.... painting, drawing, film, etc! Selected works created during the "Snow White Sessions" will be on display in the Works of Wyoming gallery Dec. 2-Jan. 6. An opening reception will be held on Dec. 9.  Download an application here.

Call for entries: Public art project in Jackson

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

Request for Qualifications Deadline: October 30, 2011

Project Budget: $15,000

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

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

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

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

Wyoming Flute Day Sept. 17 in Lander

Nicole Riner sends this:

I am the flute professor at University of Wyoming, and I'd like to tell you about a very exciting music event we are having at Lander Valley High School this weekend!  The first ever annual Wyoming Flute Day will take place Saturday, September 17 from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., including master classes, a professionals' recital featuring flutists from around the state, and a mass flute choir (so far, 30 participants and counting!). A free lunch will be provided by Mammoth Music of Riverton. You can read more details here: http://www.uwyo.edu/music/flute_day/flute_day.html. Thank you for helping us get word out to support this free event!  

Big day of literary events set for Sept. 24 in Casper

You're invited to a free reading by Wyoming Arts Council creative writing fellowship winners on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2-4 p.m., in the lobby of the Goodstein Foundation Library at Casper College. This is part of the three-day Casper College Literary Conference.

Pam Houston

The event gets underway at 2 p.m. Saturday with a presentation by WAC fellowship judge Pam Houston, "A Reading and Conversation about Places and Moving Among Therm." Pam knows a lot about moving among places. Two days before she flies into Casper, she'll be returning from a trip to Hungary. After the conference, she goes off to Colorado and then California. Pam is author of two short-story collections, including "Cowboys are My Weakness." Her new novel, "Contents May Have Shifted," will be out in 2012. 

At 3 p.m., Pam will join WAC individual artist programs specialist Michael Shay at the podium to introduce fellowship winners Sam Western, Sheridan; Kathy Bjornestad, Sundance; and Stefani Farris, Lander. They will be reading from their award-winning fiction submissions.

At 4 p.m. in the lobby, Kristen Elias Rowley of the University of Nebraska Press will talkl about "Book Business: Publishing with a University Press."

At 5 p.m., there will be a free public reception in the library. Everyone is invited to stick around for food and beverages provided by Casper College President Dr. Walt Nolte.

George Vlastos

At 9 p.m., the literary conference hosts its closing session -- a raucous open reading and poetry slam at Metro Coffee Company, 241 S. David in downtown Casper. Poet George Vlastos will serve as emcee. Bring your prose and poetry. Musicians are also invited to get up on stage.

The planning committee tells wyomingarts that there are slots remaining in some of the workshops. For more info on workshops, contact Jill Hughes at 307-268-2383 or jhughes@caspercollege.edu. For general questions, contact Terry Rasmussen at trasmuss@caspercollege.edu or call 307-268-2480.

For full schedule, go to http://www.caspercollege.edu/events/lit

To RSVP, go to event Facebook page.

Free screening of "Out in the Silence" tonight in Laramie

From Jeran Artery at Wyoming Equality:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wyoming is proud to partner with Wyoming Equality to present a film screening of Out in the Silence, followed by a discussion about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) issues in Wyoming. The aim of this event is to expand public awareness about the difficulties that LGBT people face in Wyoming, and to promote dialogue and action that will help people on all sides of the issues find common ground.

This event is free and open to the public.

ABOUT THE FILM: Out in the Silence captures the remarkable chain of events that unfold when the announcement of filmmaker Joe Wilson’s wedding to another man ignites a firestorm of controversy in his small Pennsylvania hometown. Wilson’s journey dramatically illustrates the universal challenges of being an outsider in a conservative environment and the transformation that is possible when those who have long been constrained by a traditional code of silence summon the courage to break it.

Pipeline Art Project artists accepted at Red Dot Art Fair at 2011 Art Basel in Miami

Stray Voltage (2009), JB Bond, mild steel and stainless steel, 9.5 x 9.5 inches

David Klaren in his Pinedale studio with "Mud Crab," graphite on Arches cover, 53x72 inches

The Pipeline Art Project has been accepted to the Red Dot Art Fair at Art Basel in Miami this December! Exhibiting Pipeline artists will be Sue Sommers, JB Bond, and David K. Klaren, all from Pinedale and vicinity. FMI: Pipeline Art Project or Red Dot Art Fair or Art Basel.