MFAers in Casper read to enthusiastic crowds

The readings began at noon in the Vista Lounge in the Student Center at Casper College. Thanks to Dylan Llewlyan for providing us with sub sandwiches and refreshments and for setting up all the details of these readings. Josh Olenslager (who has been published a handful of times), read his wonderfully image-rich poetry. Jason Burge read his fiction story about the "he" giving his daughter a bow and arrow set and the consequences of that action--a humorous and dramatic work. George Vlastos, who is a teacher at Star Lane Academy in Casper, read his narrative poetry. I fell somewhere in between those, reading poetry and some short non-fiction pieces.

At 1:30, we went to Star Lane and read to 16-18 year old youths. They were attentive and very polite. They laughed at the the chapter Jason read there, about finding the foundling on "his" doorstep. Josh read more of his terrific poetry, George read some very interesting prose poetry about sampling the olive bar and one titled "Wet Dreams." The kids laughed at Jason's story, and at George's. They were very receptive to us.

At 7:00 that night, we read at Metro Coffee Shop, surrounded by Tom Loepp's art work that was on display. Tom is a local artist there, and while we were at the college, sketched each one of us at the podium as we read. He asked us to sign his sketch book for him, too. He does portraiture and very realistic scenes. Beautiful stuff! The crowd was relaxed and so were the readers by this time. Josh was almost on the verge of slamming, and Jason's chapter, about taking the foundling to the welfare office to get him some proper care was hilarious. George read more of his insightful prose poetry, the subject of which is often about his two young sons, Greece, and his trip to the Parthenon. I read more poetry, and a short story about trying to get rid of the autumn leaves in my parent's yard after my father's death.

New Alta Branch Library gets go-ahead

Readers in Alta received some good news last week (from a press release):

On Jan. 22, Teton County Commissioners' voted to purchase land in Alta to relocate the Alta Branch Library. The County will purchase a 1.5 acre parcel from St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church. The parcel is situated at the northern boundary of the church's land.

"We are thrilled with the County Commissioners' decision to secure an ideal location for the Alta Branch," said Deb Adams, Teton County Library director. "The site is at the heart of the Alta community, adjacent to the school and church."

Now that the land purchase has been approved, the next step for the library will be to work with the County Commissioners to determine funding for the building, parking and grounds. A future workshop will be scheduled with the commissioners to discuss cost estimates and begin the county building approval process. In the initial workshop, library leaders will present a recommendation for a 2,000-square-foot building, including 1,500 square feet to accommodate library services and a 500-square-foot area for community meeting space.

The Alta Branch Library is housed in a classroom in the Alta Elementary School through a cooperative agreement with the Teton County School District.

Find out more about the Alta Branch Library at its website at http://tclib.org/alta/index.php.

Yazzolino & Thomasma at Teton Co. Library

On Friday, Feb. 8, 7-8 p.m., local teacher-musicians Terry Yazzolino and Dan Thomasma explore history through music at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson. They will play songs from their new CD and perform historical re-enactments to celebrate Black History Month. For families with school-age children and up. Snacks provided. Cost: Free. Location: Ordway Auditorium. Contact: Youth Services, 733-2164 ext. 103.

"Power of Place" lectures in Carbon County

The lecture series, "The Power of Place: Legacies of Carbon County," continues through March at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, 705 Rodeo St., Rawlins. The lectures are being recorded and archived at CCHEC and the Carbon County Museum. Soon they will be available as podcasts on the CCHEC website. Time for all lectures is 7-8:30 p.m.

Some of the upcoming topics include:
The Vibrant Political History of Carbon County, Bill Vasey (2/5/08)
The Rich Heritage of the Little Snake River Valley, Linda Fleming (2/12/08)
Where History is Made, Nancy Anderson and Marv Cronberg (2/19/08)
Strong Women of Carbon County, Margaret Brown (3/4/08)
The Legacy of Native Americans in Carbon County, Merle Haas and Alonso Moss (3/18/08)
Final presentation: "The History of Carbon County: A Celebration," by local historians (3/28 and 3/29).

FMI: 307-328-9274

JCAHC to award college scholarship

The Johnson County Arts and Humanities Council will award a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior in Buffalo or Kaycee high schools who intends to pursue studies in the arts and humanities after graduation. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of merit and demonstrated ability for that person to succeed in his/her chosen field. Application deadline is March 1.

For more information, contact Vicki Chenette at Meadowlark School, 307-684-9518 or vchenette@jcsd1.K12.wy.us.

Bluegrass band kicks off climate change event

From a UW press release:

The bluegrass band "Head for the Hills" will perform Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Skylight lounge. The performance will kick off the University of Wyoming's climate change symposium scheduled Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Wyoming Union.

The band plays a mixture of homegrown compositions, traditional harmonies and has an "innovative approach to improvisation that reflects the band's experiences living the mountain life." Hailing from Fort Collins, Colo., the members use their influence from nature and life experiences to create their unique sound.

The band has played with legendary mandolin player David Grisman, members of the Yonder Mountain String Band, and Benny Galloway and the Wayword Songs.

Preceding the concert is a 6 p.m. "Webinar" (rhymes with "seminar") that will show students how to make a difference in the fight against global warming.

The event is sponsored by ASUW's Student Activities Council and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

FMI: Mike Lange at (307) 766-6340.

Call for entries: Riverton Art Show & Sale

Entry forms are now available for the Riverton National Art Show and Sale June 6-15 at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. It's sponsored by the Riverton Artists Guild.

Completed application forms and fees ($10 per entry) are due by May 15. Shipped works are due on May 31. Hand-delivered works may be brought through 3 p.m. on June 5 to the Robert A. Peck Gallery at CWC. Judging takes place on June 6; the exhibit opens June 7.

Applications are available by writing to the Riverton National Art Show and Sale, Riverton Artists Guild, PO Box 6117, Riverton, WY 82501-6117.

Montana clay artists invade Wyoming

"Red Lodge Clay Center Comes to Northwest" features the work of Montana clay artists through Feb. 8 at the Northwest College Gallery in the Cabre Building in Powell.

Artists in the exhibit are David Hiltner, Dawn Holder, Frank Saliani, Stephanie Lanter, and Tara Wilon.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday; also open 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays.

FMI: http://www.northwestcollege.edu/area/Art/news/index.html

The invitations are in the mail!

This past week, the Wyoming Arts Council mailed thousands of invitations for its 26th annual Governor's Arts Awards gala Feb. 22 at the Taco John's Events Center in Cheyenne. Thanks to our excellent corps of WAC volunteers for stuffing, stamping, and labeling the multitude of envelopes.

If we miss you, let us know and we'll send one out. You can also go to the WAC web site and get the details at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us.

This year's Governor's Arts Awards honorees are:

• Neil Hansen, associate professor of music, Northwest College, Powell
• Lander Community Concerts Association, Lander
• Michael McClure, photographer, Lander
• Tucker Smith, wildlife artist, Pinedale
  

Tickets are $50 apiece. The Hitching Post Inn adjacent to the events center is offering rooms for the occasion at $70 per night.

FMI: 307-777-7742

MFAers in Casper tomorrow

In the effort to promote the MFA creative writing program at UW, a group of University of Wyoming MFA creative writing students, including Jason Burge, Josh Olenslager, and yours truly, Linda Coatney, will be reading in Casper on Friday, January 25 beginning at noon on the Casper College campus in the Vista Lounge in the student center building. A reading will take place at one of the high schools (sorry, I don't know which one yet) at 1:30, and then at 7:00 p.m. at Metro Coffee Shop.

Music students featured at UW convocation

University of Wyoming music students will be featured at the second Chair's Honor Convocation Thursday, Jan. 31, recognizing their outstanding performances last fall. The performances will be at 1:10 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center concert hall.

Students representing various performance areas will be recognized by Dr. David Brinkman, chair of the Department of Music.

Vocal arts performances will be Meghan Dawson (Lander), James Christopher McCann (Rawlins), and Amber Nordvik (Cheyenne). Harrison Welshimer (Gillette) on woodwinds and Antonion Camacho (Mexico City, Mexico) on strings also will be featured.

For more information, call the music department at (307) 766-5242 or visit www.uwyo.edu/Music.

ART MUSEUM TO OPEN SPRING EXHIBITIONS

The University of Wyoming Art Museum will open a number of new exhibitions during a free public reception Friday, Feb. 1, from 6-8 p.m.

The 33rd Annual Juried University of Wyoming Student Exhibition will be featured during the reception with an award ceremony to announce cash and purchase awards. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. The juror for the exhibition is Linny Frickman, director of the Hatton Gallery at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. The award-winning students will present an informal gallery walk on Monday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.

Other spring exhibitions include:

Recently Acquired: New Art in the Collection, featuring new acquisitions by artists Kaarina Kaikkonen, Richard Misrach, Martin Stupich, Joan Myers, Jody Forster, Neelon Crawford, Stuart Klipper, and Debbie Fleming Caffery. Seven works gifted from the JP Morgan Chase through the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. – Association of College and University Museums and Galleries will also be on view.

UW Art Department Faculty Exhibition presents recent artwork by new and adjunct faculty. Participating artists are Department Head Ricki Klages (painting), Ashley Hope Carlisle (sculpture), Mark Ritchie (printmaking), Leah Hardy (metals), Doug Russell (drawing), Shelby Shadwell (drawing), Diane Baumbauch (mixed media), Jenny Venn (graphic design), Margaret K. Haydon (ceramics), and David Jones (sculpture).

Hell on Wheels: Union Pacific Railroad Towns in Wyoming is presented by the American Heritage Center. It examines the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad across southern Wyoming during the late 1860s. The exhibit includes photographs and excerpts from letters and diaries found from the Center’s collection.

All exhibitions close March 1, 2008 in order to prepare for renovations in the Centennial Complex. The Art Museum Store and the museum’s education programs will continue without interruption.

Bringing the world of art to Wyoming, the Art Museum is located in the Centennial Complex at 22nd & Willett Drive in Laramie. The Museum and Museum Store are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Mondays, Feb. through April. Admission is free.

From the UW Art Department Faculty Exhibition

(Top: Ricki Klages -- Panzano in Chianti: Papaveri 2006, oil on panel, 20 x 20 inches;

Bottom: Doug Russell--Another Nature #4 2007, Prismacolor pencil, 30 x 22 inches)

Writing contest: one week and counting

The postmark deadline for the Wyoming Writers 2008 Writing Contest is one week from today -- January 31. Here are some details:

Entry Fee: Prose: $10 per entry for members of Wyoming Writers, Inc.; $15 per entry for non-members. Poetry: $5.00 per entry for members of Wyoming Writers, Inc. and $10.00 per entry for non-members. All surcharges for non-members may be applied to membership. See our website www.wyowriters.org for membership information or e-mail the Contest Chair at the below address to receive an application for membership form. No limit on the number of entries allowed. Include one check for the total amount. No entry fees will be refunded unless a category has nine or fewer entries. Those manuscripts will not be judged and entrants’ fees and manuscripts will be returned.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all Wyoming residents and non-residents. All works must be original and in English. An Affidavit of Authorship (attached) must accompany each entry. Previously published material or work accepted or under consideration for publication elsewhere, or entered in another contest simultaneously is NOT eligible. Work that has previously placed or received honorable mention in a Wyoming Writers, Inc. contest is NOT eligible. Work may be submitted to other contests or for publication after the contest deadline.

Length: Not more than 3,500 words per prose entry; not more than 40 lines per poem.

Categories:

·Adult Fiction
·Adult Non-fiction
·Fiction for Children
·Free Verse
·Traditional Poetry

Prizes: Cash prizes of $50, $30 and $20 will be awarded in each judged category.

Critique: Entrants may request a critique for a $10 fee. Include critique fees with entry fees.

Get more info at the WW web site at http://www.wyowriters.org.

It's a great day for poetry

From Ted Kooser, Poet Laureate 2004-2006

I've written about the pleasures of poetry that offers us vivid scenes but which lets us draw our own conclusions about the implications of what we're being shown. The poet can steer us a little by the selection of details, but a lot of the effect of the poem is in what is not said, in what we deduce. Lee McCarthy is a California poet, and here is something seen from across the street, something quite ordinary yet packed with life.

Santa Paula

There's a woman kissing a cowboy
across the street. His eight-year-old son
watches from the bus stop bench.
She's really planting one on him,
his Stetson in danger.
It must have been some weekend.
Seeing no room in that embrace for himself,
the boy measures his future, legs
straight out in front of him.
Both hands hold onto a suitcase handle,
thin arms ready to prove themselves.

New season begins for "Jentel Presents"

News from the Jentel Foundation in Banner:

After being closed for our annual cleaning and maintenance break, Jentel is pleased to start the New Year off with a diverse and exciting group of talented artists and writers for "Jentel Presents."

This month’s residents from the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Banner will be featured in an event open to the public at Davis Gallery in Sheridan on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. "Jentel Presents" is a community outreach program that features slide presentations and readings by the visual artists and writers at the residency.

Presenters include:

• Thomas Doran, Chester, Va. A printmaker, Thomas makes mysterious prints of unusual delicacy
• Laura Guese, Englewood, Colo. A painter working in gouache and oil bar, Laura utilizes the massive, powerful Western sky in her work
• Dottie Horn, Cary, N.C.; a creative non-fiction writer who has written about numerous topics related to health and biomedical research
• David Linneweh, Sharewood, Ill. David's an oil painter who finds that his childhood shaped much of his interest in his surroundings and landscape
• Julie D. Strasheim, Centennial, Colo. a painter who has immersed herself in the history of art by living in Europe
• Cheryl Zeeb, Denver, Colo., a writer, humorist and performer has many aliases that pique the interest of her audiences.

For anyone looking for a stimulating evening, come join the crowd at Davis Gallery, 32 North Main St, Sheridan. There is no admission charge for "Jentel Presents" and refreshments are available.

The Jentel Foundation offers dedicated individuals a supportive environment in which to further their creative development. While at Jentel, visual artists and writers have the opportunity to experience unfettered time to allow for thoughtful reflection and meditation on the creative process in a setting that preserves the agricultural and historical integrity of the land.

The Jentel Artist Residency Program accepts applications twice a year from visual artists in all media and writers in all genres for a one-month residency. A residency includes a comfortable accommodation, common living, dining and recreation areas, a private workspace and a stipend to help defray expenses during the program.

Call for entries: Wyo. Short Film Contest

The Wyoming Film Office announces its first-ever Wyoming Short Film Contest.

The premise is simple: make a short film that takes place in Wyoming, features Wyoming, or presents Wyoming as a major character in the story line, and you’ve got a shot at winning the $25,000 grand prize (applied to the production budget of your next made-in-Wyoming film), along with an exclusive premiere at the 2008 Jackson Hole Film Festival.

All submissions are due on or before May 9, 2008. Winners will be announced and contacted on or about May 23. Judge's decisions are final. There is no entry fee.

For more information, or to submit a short film, visit http://www.filmwyoming.com/.

Reserve tix now for Governor's Arts Awards

The Taco John's Events Center in Cheyenne is the site for the 26th annual Governor's Arts Awards gala on Friday, Feb. 22. Social hours begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 and the awards ceremony at 8.


This year's honorees are:
Neil Hansen, associate professor of music, Northwest College, Powell
Lander Community Concerts Association, Lander
Michael McClure, photographer, Lander
Tucker Smith, wildlife artist, Pinedale

Tickets are $50 apiece. The Hitching Post Inn adjacent to the events center is offering rooms for the occasion at $70 per night.

For more information, go to the WAC web site at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/ or call 307-777-7742.

PHOTO: This is a sample from this year's Governor's Arts Awards invitation, featuring the photography of honoree Michael McClure.

Jahiel photographs featured at State Museum

A series of black and white silver gelatin photographic prints of working cowboys are featured in the exhibit, "Cowboys on the Range: Photographs by Adam Jahiel," at the Wyoming State Museum from January 22 through March 7.

The public is invited to a talk by Jahiel from 4-5 p.m. on February 21. A reception will follow the talk from 5-7 p.m.

For more than a decade, Jahiel has packed his tent, saddle, stove, lantern and cameras and headed west to his regular circuit of Great Basin ranches.

Once there, he spends several weeks shadowing roundups and photographing. These cowboys don’t carry much and don’t own much, making for a simple existence in the isolated, lonely big-sky of the Great Basin. This area is one of the most inhospitable and sparsely inhabited areas of the United States. The Basin covers most of Nevada, over half of Utah and parts of California, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.

Jahiel, a two-time recipient of the Arts Council’s Visual Arts Fellowship Award, has been a resident of Story for more than 15 years. His work has been featured in "Lens Work," "Photo Insider," "Camera Darkroom" and "Southwest Art" magazines.

His photographs have been featured in exhibitions at the Nevada Museum of Art, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the Joslyn Art Museum, the Yellowstone Art Museum, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

The Wyoming State Museum is located in the Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne, and is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.

FMI: 307-777-7022.

News about the WAC visual arts fellowships

Open letter to Wyoming visual artists:

The past two years have brought a lot of changes to the Wyoming Arts Council. We have a new director in Rita Basom, whom you all knew as the manager of our Grants to Organizations program, and two new staffers: Randy Oestman and Ann Larson. I now have a much longer title: Individual Artists Program Specialist/Newsletter Editor. So, I'm now running the fellowship programs for literature, performing arts, and visual arts, as well as the Individual Artist Professional Development grants for those disciplines. By now, I hope you've seen our new print newsletter, Wyoming Artscapes, which is back by popular demand. Assistant Editor Linda Coatney does most of the writing and I do all of the editing. Linda and I also share posting chores for this blog.

All of this brings me to the point of this post. I'm late getting to the visual arts fellowships. I apologize for the tardiness. Some of you have called and asked if we are discontinuing our programs for individual artists. No, we are not. Grants to individuals are as important as grants to arts organizations. So important, in fact, that they are part of the WAC Strategic Plan.

Not to say there won't be changes. There's already been one. In years past, we recruited three jurors to come to Wyoming to screen the fellowship applications, decide on the winners, and then participate in a visual arts roundtable on topics important to the field. This year, for the first time, I'm taking the applications to the jurors. I've asked three fantastic artists in the Denver area to serve on the panel. Thus far, I have a firm commitment from only one. I'm certain that I will have my panel by the end of this week. The application will be ready by Feb. 1. The postmark deadline will probably be April 30. In mid-May, I will pack up the entries and take them to Denver for the judging session. Fellowship recipients should be announced by June 2.

We've used this same process for the past two years for the performing arts fellowships and it's worked well.

Next, we plan to come up with an event similar to the discontinued visual arts roundtable. Any suggestions?

If you're not sure whether your contact info is on our mailing list, e-mail me your name and address by clicking on the e-mail link below (or over on the right sidebar).

Again, sorry for the delay.

--Michael Shay

"Three Cups of Tea" author in Jackson

From a Teton County Library press release:

For journalist Karin Ronnow, following in the footsteps of humanitarian Greg Mortenson turned out to be exhausting, exhilarating, enlightening and even life-changing.

Ronnow will offer a behind-the-scenes peak at Mortenson's mission to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan during a Teton County Library discussion of the bestselling book, "Three Cups of Tea," on Friday, January 25 at 7 p.m. at the library. The book discussion is free and open to the public through the generous support of the Central Asia Institute and Teton County
Library Foundation. Seating in the library's Reading Room is limited to 75 and will be offered first-come, first-serve with no reservations available.

Ronnow traveled from Montana to Pakistan and Afghanistan to document Mortenson's efforts to promote education and literacy -- and possibly even peace -- by building schools, especially for girls, in the Taliban's backyard. Mortenson is the subject of "Three Cups of Tea," a New York Times bestseller written by Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The book recounts Mortenson's unlikely endeavor to promote education and peace in the Middle East.

The library book discussion is a prelude to Mortenson's own presentation Monday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Grand Room at Snow King Resort. The Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs is bringing Mortenson to Jackson with the support of InterConnections 21, Teton County Library and Valley Bookstore. Free tickets for the Jan. 28 presentation are currently sold out.

In July of 2007, Ronnow and photographer Deirdre Eitel joined Mortenson to document the progress of his grassroots nonprofit Central Asia Institute for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Mortenson's hometown newspaper. The Chronicle published an in-depth series of articles, "Journey of Hope," by Ronnow, the newspaper's assistant managing editor, and Eitel, chief
photographer. The stories proved so popular, the newspaper compiled the articles into a report, which will be available for free at the talk.

Mortenson's school-building mission began after he drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram mountains in 1993 after his failed attempt to climb K2. He wanted to thank the villagers for their hospitality and experienced a "eureka moment" when he saw 84 children
sitting in the dirt writing with sticks in the sand. So far, his institute has built more than 60 schools.

Contact the library's Adult Program Coordinator at 733-2164 ext. 135. To discover more about the Central Asia Institute, go to http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ or http://www.ikat.org/.