Sign up begins Jan. 16 for Teton County Library's "Gary Snyder and the Coming Revolution"

On Monday, January 16, sign up begins at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson for “Gary Snyder and the Coming Revolution.”

In anticipation of upcoming guest author Gary Snyder at March’s "Page to the Podium" program, join library staff member Julia Hysell for a two-day workshop on Feb. 6 and March 5 to be held at Thai Me Up restaurant.

Explore the “rucksack revolution” described in Jack Kerouac’s best-selling novel, "The Dharma Bums" (1958), which features a young Gary Snyder as the model for Japhy Ryder, the novel’s hero and proposed leader of the revolution. Read "The Dharma Bums," a fictionalized version of historical events associated with Beat poets in the 1950s, in tandem with Snyder’s original poetry and essays including: “Buddhism and the Coming Revolution,” “Migration of Birds,” and “The Berry Feast.”

Programs are free. Registration required; space is limited! A free copy of “The Dharma Bums” will be given to the first 10 registrants. To register, contact Adult Humanities Coordinator, Oona Doherty, 733-2164 ext. 135, odoherty@tclib.org.

Help wanted: Wyoming Office of Tourism

Alan Dubberly, deputy director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism, sends this:

The Wyoming Office of Tourism has two open positions and we need your help spreading the word. We are seeking two excellent candidates to fill the positions of Visitor Services Manager and Marketing Specialist. Job descriptions and application requirements can be found at www.wyomingofficeoftourism.gov. We will give priority review to those resumes received by December 30, 2011.

Lyn Dalebout's "7 Stars for 7 Bears" featured in Jackson's Poetry Box

Meg Daly sends this news:

I am thrilled to announce that, for Solstice, the Poetry Box will feature a new poem by Lyn Dalebout written especially for Solstice this year. Entitled "7 Stars for 7 Bears," the poem celebrates our bounty of grizzly sightings this year... 

Lyn's poem will be in the Poetry Box until next Saturday, Dec. 24. Make sure to get your copy - the box remains in its trusty location outside of Valley Bookstore in downtown Jackson.

And keep your ear to the ground for upcoming poems by locals David Porter, Amely Greeven, Sunny Hoover, and Laura Garrard...

Read more poems by Lyn Dalebout at http://www.earthwordskyword.com/poetry.html

Dan Hayward launches "Crow Tribal Photographs, Then and Now" project on KickStarter

From photographer Dan Hayward in Laramie:

I’ve embarked on a large fund raising campaign to raise the initial funds for a project called “Crow Tribal Photographs, Then and Now.” Through the project I’ll create of a current photographic and narrative record of life on the Crow Reservation during the next year, which will then be combined and juxtaposed with Crow photographs taken by Richard Throssel 100 years ago.

The funding campaign is through the web site KickStarter, the world’s leading funding platform for creative projects. I launched the project’s funding today, Dec. 15, and, although the campaign extends into January, I hope to reach my $28,000 goal by New Years Day!!! That way, as people continue contributing, the project will gain the funding to grow into a more comprehensive body of work to be presented in more and more mediums. (The full project budget is well over $100K…..)
This is a huge undertaking, but with everyone helping out by sharing this message with their families and friends, by posting it on their FaceBook, Twitter and other social media networks, and by asking everyone else to share the message with their families, friends and other contacts, it’s a doable thing!!! Donations begin at $1 and rise from there… (Can’t really go down from there….). And EVERY contributor of $5 and above will receive rewards directly from the project for their assistance.

Simply click http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1171655471/crow-tribal-photographs-then-and-now to go to my KickStarter page and you’ll find the short video I produced to introduce and explain the project to everyone. Additionally, you’ll find more project and fund raising information on the page, as well as descriptions of the rewards each person will receive for their pledge. I’ll update the site as things proceed and as new information becomes available…. And as new video and still photographs are shot. (I received a small $500 grant from the Wyoming Arts Council for the project so I can make a trip to the reservation in the next few days to meet with elders and others on the res, and to photograph and edit the first still and video images taken specifically for the project itself).

Your pledge is just that: a pledge that will be debited to your credit card account in the days immediately following the end of the campaign, but ONLY IF the funding goal is reached. The kicker about KickStarter is that their funding campaigns are all-or-nothing propositions. When we reach and exceed my $28K goal, all of the funds pledged will then go to the project. However, if we don’t reach the goal by the campaign’s end, the project receives none of your pledges. Zero. Bupkis. Zilch. Nada…..

That’s why it’s so important that you become part of the project and help me spread the word by sharing this message and the link to my KickStarter page. It’s less about large donations and more about large numbers of people spreading the message and giving smaller amounts. People don’t have to know me to become involved, so please share and help it viral.

"Dance your Ph.D." -- or just dance for the sake of dance

From TEDx Brussels

Chanman Roots Band CD release party tonight at Mangy Moose

Peter Chandler, founder of the Chanman Roots Band, is on the
Wyoming Arts Council's artist roster. Get more info here.

Arts Alliance of Cheyenne exploring possible merger with Cheyenne Arts Council

From the Arts Alliance of Cheyenne:

The Arts Alliance of Cheyenne is exploring a possible merger with the Cheyenne Arts Council. 

We believe that a merger will have many benefits:
        Provide one face for the arts in Cheyenne

Cohesiveness in planning

Inclusion and more direct participation of all Art forms, Arts organizations, and individual artists

Pooling of resources so that they are used more efficiently

Consolidated fund-raising

Let us know what you think!  Please email us (ArtsAllianceCheyenne@gmail.com) or Facebook us. The Alliance would greatly appreciate your input and thoughts. Ideas for fund-raising? Let us know!

Both the Arts Alliance and the Cheyenne Arts Council are hopeful of a terrific outcome.  Your good wishes are much appreciated!  

We wanted to keep you informed.

Call for proposals: Beet Street's Arts Incubator of the Rockies project

Beet Street of Fort Collins, Colorado, a registered 501c(3) nonprofit, is accepting proposals to develop professional development curricula for the Arts Incubator of the Rockies, AIR, the regional arts incubator being launched by Beet Street. This will be a concept to completion project that will include significant public comment and committee interaction. This project is funded, in part, by a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant. Federal guidelines are being followed to ensure that this RFP process provides a fair evaluation for all candidates and to provide the candidates with the evaluation criteria against which they will be judged.

Beet Street will be hiring a lead consultant to help design the educational program and facilitate work with additional consultants, staff and stakeholders. In addition to serving as a project manager, the candidate will be expected to deliver curriculum and materials for the program. The candidate could be considered for writing and editing the entire curriculum or, if additional writers are needed to complete the project on time, candidate could provide high level editing in addition to writing.

Candidate should have experience with curriculum development for adult learners, the arts, strong writing and facilitation skills, and experience working with a volunteer committee. Preference will be given to local small, women-owned, and/or minority-owned businesses.

The project will begin in January 2012. Heavy conceptual work would be done in January and February. Writing of the actual class materials would begin in March. Writing/materials will be reviewed by staff and volunteer committee through May. July pilot program of the full curricula is desired. First classes should be ready to implement for fall 2012.

Questions regarding this RFP may be directed to Beth Flowers, bflowers@beetstreet.org.

Proposals are due no later than 3:00 pm MST, Friday, January 6, 2012. 

Sign up now for Uinta Mountains Writer's Workshop March 10 in Evanston

Hats off to Ed Close, organizer of the first-ever Uinta Mountain Writer's in Evanston.
Find the event on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/234753113262334/

Videos from TEDxJacksonHole now online

Nona Yehia

The Wyoming Arts Council gave a partnership grant to Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival this year to support the Tedx project. A library of Tedx videos now exists. Presenters include one by Wyoming Bob Berky and a presentation by Contemporary Dance Wyoming. Some of these can be accessed from the web site at http://tedxjacksonhole.org/speakers/. Here are the links to all of them for your viewing pleasure:

Louie Schwartzberg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QVNoeENM8c

Bob Berkey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQCKBU7DMbk&feature=BFa&list=SPC12CA379BFFA2DAA&lf=list_related

Kyle Ruddick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o991qXufTXA&feature=relmfu

Nona Yehia & Jefferson Ellinger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqsbnee80gQ&feature=relmfu

Mike Chamberlain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpLzI27febM&feature=BFa&list=SPC12CA379BFFA2DAA&lf=list_related

David Gonzales

Laly Lichtenfeld:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL79XLvVBsc&feature=BFa&list=SPC12CA379BFFA2DAA&lf=list_related

Contemporary Dance Wyoming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zituLZ1hhtY&feature=BFa&list=SPC12CA379BFFA2DAA&lf=list_related

Juan Martinez: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_yM7eojpLs&feature=BFa&list=SPC12CA379BFFA2DAA&lf=list_related

David Gonzales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS9kHk8slRI&feature=BFa&list=SPC12CA379BFFA2DAA&lf=list_related

"Handel's Messiah" Dec. 18 at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Casper

"Handel's Messiah"
December 18, 2011 • 4:00 p.m.
Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, Casper

The Casper Chamber Society and ARTCORE will present the Christmas section of Messiah by George Frideric Handel. The performance will feature a Casper select chorus, soloists, and orchestra under the direction of Frederick Taylor. Although written to be performed during the Lent and Easter seasons, Messiah is most often heard during the Christmas season. Its first performance was in Dublin in1742, with Handel himself at the harpsichord. The libretto was designed and organized by Charles Jennens from both Old and New Testaments.

The work was well received in Dublin but did not become popular for another decade. Handel revised sections of the work for many subsequent performances based on the availability of soloists. During the nineteenth century, and especially during Victorian times, it became fashionable to perform Messiah with huge choruses and orchestras. The style of Messiah is essentially that of Italian Baroque opera requiring a certain virtuosity in solo arias.

The nature of most baroque music is that it was done with small ensembles and small choirs. Today we would call it chamber music. There is a brilliance, pungency, and intimacy with smaller ensembles that is often lost with larger organizations, yet is the essence of Handel’s music.

This will be the first Casper performance of Handel’s Messiah in several years.
Casper Chamber Music Society members will be admitted by their season tickets.

Dec. 22 is final day to see six UW Art Museum exhibits

The final day to see exhibitions on display at the University of Wyoming Art Museum is Thursday, Dec. 22.

They are "Albany County Student Art"; "The West of Eliot Porter: Images of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah"; "Talismans of Protection from Choson Korea: Antique Locks, Latches, and Key Charms"; "Donovan Widmer: Small Metals"; "Terror in the Theater: Fifties Fears"; and "300 Years of British Silver: Hallmarks of the Monarchies."

"The Albany County Student Art Exhibition" showcases the artwork created throughout the course of the year by students in all local schools, from elementary to high school.

"The West of Eliot Porter: Images of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah" presents color landscape photographs from the Art Museum's permanent collection. Porter began working in color in 1939, long before his fellow photographers accepted the medium.

"Talismans of Protection from Choson Korea: Antique Locks, Latches, and Key Charms" is an exhibition of rare antique metalwork on loan from the Lock Museum in Seoul, Korea. The objects, which are in the forms of dragons, turtles, butterflies and more, are richly symbolic and exquisitely decorative examples of traditional Korean aesthetic and craft traditions.

"Donovan Widmer: Small Metals" includes work from Widmer's four most recent series. He uses traditional metalsmithing processes to create images and objects that are amusing, sardonic and sometimes peculiar.

"Terror in the Theater: Fifties Fears" features posters, photos, a film clip and props used in science fiction movies. Visitors have the opportunity to view a tribble from the famous Star Trek episode and the animatronic Triceratops from the original King Kong. The items on view are from the American Heritage Center's Forrest Ackerman Collection.

"300 Years of British Silver: Hallmarks of the Monarchies" presents flatware and other silver dating back to the reign of William III and Mary II (1689-1702). This comprehensive and chronological collection includes silver from each British monarchy all the way up to today's Queen Elizabeth II.

For additional information about the UW Art Museum call (307) 766-6622 or visit the museum's webpage atwww.uwyo.edu/artmuseum or blog at www.uwartmuseum.blogspot.com .

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

Photo: Donovan Widmer's "The Cycle Has Been Completed" is among works on display through Dec. 22 at the UW Art Museum. (Donovan Widmer)

Call for entries: Cheyenne Little Theatre Players' New Play Project

ATTENTION PLAYWRIGHTS: ENTER YOUR WORK IN THE CHEYENNE LITTLE THEATRE PLAYERS 4th ANNUAL 2011-2012 NEW PLAY PROJECT

Cheyenne Little Theatre Players is proud to announce our 4th Annual New Play Project Competition. The New Play Project Competition is a program created by the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players (CLTP) to encourage, recognize and support new and established playwrights and encourage new works in the field of dramatic literature.

Past Winners:
2008-2009: “Inherit the Whole” Dana Lynn Formby, Cheyenne, WY
2009-2010: “Tumbling Inn” Carrie Printz, Denver, CO
2010-2011: “Rust To Dust: A New Western” John Remington, Moscow, ID

 We are currently seeking submissions from experienced or first-time playwrights in the seven state region of Utah, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. Entries must be full-length plays that have not been performed previously; no film scripts or musicals are allowed. The winning stage play will receive a staged reading by CLTP during its 2012-2013 Season. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2012 and the winning entry will be announced by June 1, 2012. The winning playwright will receive a $250 cash award as well as a $200.00 stipend to assist with travel to Cheyenne, WY to attend production meetings, auditions, rehearsals, and performances of the work. The competition entry fee is $20 per play submitted.

Submission guidelines, application form and a release form are available at the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players website:
http://www.cheyennelittletheatre.org/new_play_competition.asp

Please email questions to jbatson@cheyennelittletheatre.org

Start planning now to attend the 30th annual Plains Indian Museum Powwow in Cody

30th Annual Plains Indian Museum Powwow
High Energy, History, and Fun!

June 16 – 17, 2012

Joe Robbie Powwow Garden
Grand Entries: Saturday, Noon & 6 p.m. and Sunday, Noon

Take part in the dancing, music, and energy of the Plains Indian Museum Powwow. Dancers, drum groups, and artists gather from across the Northern Plains to celebrate the vibrant cultural traditions and histories of the people of the Plains that are still present today. Our Powwow is not a demonstration but a competitive event that brings in talented dancers and drum groups who will show you what a Powwow is all about.

A popular educational program is the Powwow Learning Tipi. Gloria Goggles, a Lakota educator from Ethete, Wyoming, invites visitors to discover the traditions of powwow. Young visitors have the opportunity to try on different types of powwow clothing. The tipi provides a relaxed atmosphere to explore different powwow dance styles and their origins.

Over forty Native artists will have booths on the Powwow grounds, along with fry bread vendors and a grill menu and beverages in the concession stand.

Curious about the history of powwows and powwow dance styles? Our website is just the beginning to your powwow experience...

Admission Prices and Schedule

Gate opens to the public at 9:30 a.m. Admission is good for one day of the event, please check the event schedule, which is a general guide and subject to change due to weather and number of participants.

·                   $7 for adults (18 and older)

·                   $3 for youths (7 – 17)

·                   Children 6 and under are free

·                   Tickets may be purchased at the gates only

·                   No senior or group discounts

·                   Press passes are available with prior arrangements

·                   BBHC Members receive $1 discount on admission price each day with a valid membership card

Visitors are welcome to bring chairs or blankets for our outdoor, grass ampitheater. Please—no pets. For travel and lodging information contact the Cody Chamber of Commerce. For questions about visiting the Buffalo Bill Historical Center contact Nancy McClure at 307.578.4102, email nancym@bbhc.org.

For Our Dancers

2012 officials and invited drums will be announed in the spring. Dancers and their families recieve a free pass to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center exhibits at dancer registration. Registration 8 a.m. – noon Saturday; late registration or for specials on stage both days. Contact: Rebecca at 307.578.4049, email rebeccaw@bbhc.org.

Dance Categories and Schedule of Events

Competitive dance categories include men's and women's traditional and fancy, women's jingle, men's grass, and men's and women's golden age. Several special are yet to be announced.

·                   Adults (18 – 54) & Golden Age

·                   Teens (13 – 17)

·                   Boys & Girls (7 – 12)

·                   Team Dancing Special

Vendor Information

The Powwow welcomes vendors who are selling arts and crafts made by enrolled members of North American Indian tribes and Nations. No food booths please. For more information on vendor spaces, e-mail Rebecca West or call 307.578.4049.

"The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" continue through Dec. 17 at Stage II Theatre in Casper

THE TRIAL OF EBENEZER SCROOGE Stage III Community Theatre in Casper By Mark Brown and directed by Todd von Gunten. One year after A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge sues Jacob Marley and the Christmas ghosts for kidnapping, assault, slander, and more. Is he once again a miser, or does Scrooge have a lesson about the true spirit of Christmas, sprinkled with lots of laughs? Performances will run December 15, 16, and 17th, at 7:30 p.m.

Proceeds from AVA's Dec. 22 Miracle Tree Raffle 2011 go to scholarship fund

http://www.avacenter.org

"Longmire" promo hits the airwaves

New "Longmire" promo on A&E, tied in with promos for "The Glades" and "Bag of Bones." Longmire the TV series is based on the mystery novels by Craig Johnson of Ucross. "Longmire" refers to Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire in the novels "The Cold Dish," "Another Man's Moccasins," etc. FMI: http://www.craigallenjohnson.com

"Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change" report asks some tough questions -- and provides some answers

http://www.giarts.org/article/fusing-arts-culture-and-social-change

Holly Sidford writes on the Grantmakers for the Arts site about the new report she authored, "Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change: High Impact Strategies for Philanthropy," for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. Sidford is a strategic planner, program developer and fund-raiser with 30 years experience with cultural organizations and philanthropy. Here's her intro:

Every year, approximately 11 percent of foundation giving – about $2.3 billion in 2009 – is awarded to nonprofit arts and cultural institutions. The distribution of these funds is demonstrably out of balance with our evolving cultural landscape and with the changing demographics of our communities. Current arts grantmaking disregards large segments of cultural practice, and by doing so, it disregards large segments of our society.

Food for thought for all of us who work in the arts-funding biz. 

Maceo Parker performs Jan. 7 at Center for the Arts in Jackson

Maceo Parker performs on Saturday, Jan. 7, 7:30-9 pm in the Center Theater at the Center for the Arts in Jackson. Reserved seats are $25 and $35.

Info: “Quite simply, there is no better living showman than Maceo Parker. Catching one of the alto sax maestro's marathon three-hour shows is a truly transcendent experience for any fan of funk, jazz, hip-hop, R&B and soul: His performances are never disappointing, always worth the money, and a funky, funky good time.”

Tickets: https://boxoffice.jhcenterforthearts.org/2000/maxshop.exe?STORE=CFA&PG=99&LINKTO=EVENT_969

Julianne Couch has a new publisher for her "Traveling the Power Line" book

Very good news from author Julianne Couch, formerly of Laramie and now an Iowan:

I am pleased to announce that the University of Nebraska press plans to publish Traveling the Power Line: An Electrical Memoir in spring 2013. The book title has changed a bit since I started this project and may still change again if the marketing folks can think of something better. The delay in publication since this project has transferred from Texas Tech press to UNeb has given me the opportunity to update much of my research. I'm currently at work revising and updating my chapter on wind. I learned that there is much more wind development in Wyoming on private land on public. That's because the regulatory environment on public land(state and federal, such as BLM) is vastly more layered than on private land development. I've also revisited the 2009 Harris poll on attitudes toward energy development in the United States. In the 2011 survey, respondents say much the same thing: while only 12 percent of Americans say they are "very knowledgeable" about energy development, 53 percent say they are interested in learning more.I hope a few of those folks are regular readers! I'll continue to post some of my new findings in this blog. The publication impasse lulled me elsewhere, but I'm back!

The Wyoming Arts Council played a small part in Julianne's book research, okaying an Individual Artist Professional Development grant to her a few years ago. If you're a writer, artist or performer requiring some funding for the next step in your career, call Mike Shay at 307-777-5234 at the WAC for more info.

Call for entries: U.S. State Department's American Music Abroad Program

Using music as a means to engage audiences worldwide, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced that the American Music Abroad program is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 season. Musicians interested in applying for this international exchange program, which consists of month-long, multi-country tours for approximately 10 ensembles from a variety of American musical genres, may apply at www.americanvoices.org/ama. American Music Abroad ensembles will be selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to educational and cultural engagement. The deadline for applicants is January 16, 2012 at 5 p.m. PST. For more information, visit www.exchanges.state.gov 

Archaeologist Mark Laughlin to speak on the Finley Site and “Early Man” Dec. 15 in Cheyenne

Archaeologist Mark Laughlin to speak on the Finley Site and “Early Man”

Hosted by the Wyoming Archaeological Society

Thursday, December 15, 7 p.m.

The Cheyenne Chapter of the Wyoming Archaeological Society guest speaker is John Lauglin. He will be talking about the Finley Site which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. The Finley Site’s significance lies in the contribution it made to “Early Man” (Paleoindian) studies.  Presented here will be a history of excavation at the Cody Complex site gathered from the original 1940 field notes and photographs housed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.  Additionally, investigations from 2009 will be discussed along with recent radiocarbon dates from both bone beds.

Laughlin is a staff archaeologist with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office in Cheyenne.  He received his archaeological training at the University of Wyoming.  Prior to joining the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO), Mr. Laughlin worked for the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist in Laramie.

We will be meeting at LCCC, Health Science Building, Room 111. For more information, feel free to contact Dan Bach at  307-287-3334

Website: http://wyomingarchaeology.org/waswaschapterinfo/cheyennechapter.html

Call for entries: U.S./Japan Creative Artists' Program

The U.S/Japan Creative Artists' Program provides support for up to five outstanding contemporary or traditional artists from the United States to spend a three-month residency in Japan.  Eligible applicants are architects, choreographers, composers, creative writers, designers, media artists, playwrights, visual artists, or solo theater artists who work with original material (including puppeteers, storytellers and performance artists). Multidisciplinary artists and artistic directors of theater or dance companies are also eligible.

The next deadline for this program is March 1, 2012 for residencies in 2013.

The U.S/Japan Creative Artists' Program is extremely competitive; applicants should have regional or national recognition and anticipate a highly rigorous review of their work.  Artists should also present compelling reasons for wanting to work in Japan.

Selected artists will receive:

• A grant award in the amount of $20,000 to cover housing, living, and professional expenses

·         Up to $2,000 for round trip transportation for the artist

Additional information, including guidelines and the application, can be found at http://www.jusfc.gov/creativeartists.asp.

Exhibit of Ginnie Madsen's prints and watercolors opens Dec. 16 at Lander Art Center

Lander Art Center sends this:

Come and join us for the opening reception of "What I've Made from What I've Seen: Prints and Watercolors by Ginnie Madsen" on Friday, December 16, 6-8 p.m. Appetizers provided by Lander Art Center members and members of the Lander Community. Beverages provided by Lander Bar. Ginnie Madsen will give a short talk about 7 p.m.

Ginnie Madsen on her life, art and exhibition at the Lander Art Center:

"I grew up in Chicago, but have lived in Laramie, WY for about 35 years. I earned a BFA at the University of Chicago in 1968, and taught elementary school art for two years.  After several years raising a family, I went back to school.  I received my MFA from the University of Wyoming in 1991. I taught drawing, printmaking and sculpture in the University of Wyoming’s Art Department from 1996-2007. I am now retired.

I enjoy working in several mediums: making oil paintings, watercolors and prints. I believe that producing images in different mediums feeds and strengthens each of them.

Most of my work starts with direct observations of places and activities, or recollections of these. My artistic goal is to create work that expresses my interest and delight in both the natural and man-made world. I wish to capture the beauty or excitement I find in these observations on canvas and paper.

I have painted for many years, but in this body of work I am interested in exploring what unique benefits the process of printing will provide. For me, one of these benefits is that work created through a relief print process requires the simplification or distillation of the subject or idea.  I believe that aside from the objects depicted, colors, textures, and shapes can also evoke emotional states. I am interested in finding and using techniques that are unique to relief prints.  Picking up wet ink with another plate (a process used in “Parking” and “Warming Up”), bleeding hues (frequently used in my work and shown in “At a Distance” and “Early Spring”), and working on different papers (as in “First Light” and  “Weathered”) can create an ambiance in the work that is harder to achieve in other mediums."

To get to GroVont, do I have to drive through Absaroka County?

The following items represent fictional places in a very real state, Wyoming. Name the very creative authors who have given us the sheriff of Absaroka County (No. 24 on state license plates) and the town of GroVont with its fictitious school calendar. There are no prizes for correct guesses. However, you will sleep better knowing that you are up-to-date on your knowledge of Wyoming writers. (P.S.: The books and accompanying paraphernalia make great Christmas presents!).

2012 Cheyenne Frontier Days poster debuts Dec. 18 at Deselms Gallery in Cheyenne

Brandon Bailey will be at Deselms Gallerty on Sunday to personalize the hot-off-the-press 2012 Official Cheyenne Frontier Days poster, "Sweethearts of the Rodeo." Gift certificate for framing will be available; posters are only $15. A great affordable last minute Christmas Gift. Reception will be at the Deselms Galley in downtown Cheyenne on Sunday, Dec. 18, 1:30-4 p.m.

Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi, member of U.S. Senate Arts Caucus, promotes arts education bill

Sen. Mike Enzi, co-sponsor of arts education bill in U.S. Senate

Tom Birch of the National Assembly of States Arts Agencies sends this Congressional update: 

Three appropriations bills, combined into a single spending package, have passed Congress, along with a second continuing resolution carrying fiscal 2012 spending at 2011 levels until December 16. The funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has been passed on the House floor at $135 million, and the Senate appropriators have okayed a companion bill maintaining the NEA money at the 2011 level of $155 million. Work isn't done on the final spending measure requiring agreement between the two chambers, but at least the parameters have been set for reaching an agreement. What's more, House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee chair Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) succeeded in shepherding a bill through the House that preserves the congressional mandate allocating 40% of NEA program funds to the states, and directing the NEA to consult with the states on important matters such as defining the requirements for state matching funds and the conditions for waiver of the match. 

Some good news comes out of the Senate, too. The Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved with bipartisan support a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, languishing on the congressional to-do list for the past four or five years. The measure, sponsored by the committee's chair, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), and its ranking Republican, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), supports arts education by maintaining the arts as a core academic subject and broadening the opportunities in the statute for funding support of activities addressing the core subjects.

Some fun for the Christmas season

Celebrity impressionist Jim Meskimen reads The Night Before Christmas.

"It's a Wonderful Life" radio play Dec. 15-23 at Off Square Theatre in Jackson

http://www.offsquare.org