WY Poet Laureate Pat Frolander will read from her work and sign books in Casper Nov. 17-18

Nice article in today's Casper Star-Tribune about new Wyoming Poet Laureate Pat Frolander of Sundance. Pat will be signing copies of her book, Married Into It," on Thursday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m., at Wind City Books, 152 Center Street, Casper. On Friday, Nov. 18, she will host a poetry reading and book signing at the Wyoming Women in Ag Symposium at the Parkway Plaza.

the artist formerly known as Puccini

This dispatch comes from Wyomingarts' friend formerly known as Sophia Puccini. Shown in the photo below is Sophia in her new guise with the mural she has been working on for the last few months which graces the side of her dance studio in Saratoga.

I will be traveling throughout Mexico, Central and South America Jan-March 2012. The pink Burka is my exploration of being an invisible woman in exhile. I am writing a book. Wish me luck.

As they say in the Mahabarata, when in exile, go on adventures, listen to stories, meet people.... Love to you all from Venus Martinez formerly known as Sophia.

We here at Wyomingarts think the winter's as good a time as any to head south. In 1971, the Stones left England, owing more taxes than they could pay, and settled in and around the south of France. For them, what came of that self-enforced eviction was Exile on Main Street, now regarded as their best album. Whatever the reason for exile...see you on the other side. For the young girl still within, Adieu, jeune femme!

 Linda

Jeffrey Lockwood writes about the collision of "Art & Energy" in Wyoming

"Carbon Sink: What Goes Around Comes Around," a sculpture by Chris Drury on the UW campus.

Wyoming author and science writer Jeffrey Lockwood writes on WyoFile about Art & Energy: Coal’s reaction to ‘Carbon Sink’ sculpture reveals the power of art — and the essence of education.

Gov. Matt Mead names Pat Frolander of Sundance the new Wyoming Poet Laureate

High Plains Press published Pat Frolander's
new book of poetry earlier this year.

Press release from Gov. Matt Mead:

Governor Matt Mead signed an Executive Order today naming Patricia Frolander as Poet Laureate of Wyoming. Frolander is Wyoming’s fifth Poet Laureate and is a rancher from Wyoming’s Black Hills.

At the signing ceremony today, Governor Mead noted that Frolander has won several awards for her work and been published in anthologies, literary reviews, magazines and newspapers. Governor Mead complimented Frolander for her book of poetry titled, Married Into It. “It’s great work and it resonates with me and should resonate with all of Wyoming because it speaks about Wyoming and speaks about our people.”

The Poet Laureate of Wyoming position is an honorary title and Frolander will serve without compensation. She can submit writings for occasions of her choice. Today, Frolander came to the Capitol with a group of fellow writers. She said receiving this distinction was a great honor. “It’s a privilege and I am excited to serve the State of Wyoming. I not only want to further poetry, but literature in general. I think this is a wonderful opportunity and I would like to thank everyone who accompanied me and all of those poets in Wyoming whom I dearly love.”

Governor Mead also expressed thanks to the Wyoming Arts Council and its board for the help in selecting a Poet Laureate.

Space aliens invade WYO Theater Nov. 12

"Exquisite Animal" debuts Nov. 8 at National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson

From the Jackson Hole Art Blog:

Mix’d Media, a new once-monthly adult arts n’ media n’ mingling event, debuts at the National Museum of Wildlife Art on Tuesday, November 8. The inaugeral party, a “convergence of music, art-making, conversation, and delicious fare,” includes checking out Exquisite Animal: A Community Art Exhibit, an updated version of a Surrealist parlor game, “Exquisite Corpse.” Assistant Curator of Art Bronwyn Minton is the exhibit’s mastermind. Participating artists were given a piece of paper folded in thirds – and each artist drew either a head, body or legs on the top, middle, or bottom of the paper without looking at the parts drawn by other artists. When the paper unfolds, sublime fantasy characters make themselves known. Many local artists lent their talents to the show, on display through February 5, 2012.

“The nature of this game is that it is a surprise and a fast turnaround,” says Minton. “It’s exciting and suspenseful to let chance take a bit of control in this way. The artists don’t know who they are collaborating with, the animal will be imaginary – combining three parts of different animals – and the outcome is certain to be surprising, fantastical and delightful.”

Mix’d Media happens 6-9 pm, at the Museum. A $5 cover charge gets you in to meet the artists, make your own silk-screened artwork “inspired by exhibition artist DJ Vert-One,” enjoy comedy by Jackson’s Laff Staff, and check out a bar and great food from Rising Sage Café.

“Exquisite” artists include Dwayne Harty, Jennifer Hoffman, Jenny Dowd, Sharon Thomas, Kelly Halpin, Greta Gretzinger, Mark Nowlin, Amy Ringholz, and David Klaren. FMI: www.wildlifeart.org

Made in Wyoming: Laurie Thal's glass art

Laurie Thal shows how glass-blowing is done at her Teton Couty studio.

Laurie Thal (right) takes on a new glass-blowing apprentice in Rita Basom, manager of the Wyoming Arts Council. Laurie was holding studio tours this past weekend in which groups are invited to her studio and people can blow their own Christmas tree ornaments. This continues through the holiday season. FMI: www.thalglass.com

Wyoming Arts Council Manager Rita Basom (left) talks about glass blowing with Laurie Thal at her studio and gallery near Wilson. Some of her award-winning glass art lines the table in foreground. 

"Mug Shots" opens tonight at Old Town Coffee in Lander

"Mug Shots" is a collaboration between potter Jenny Reeves-Johnson and photographer Juan Laden. This is a show of mugs by Jenny and portraits by Juan. Opening reception will be held at Old Town Coffee, 3rd and Main, Lander, 7-9 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 4. The show will continue through to the end of November.

This is in a sense a celebration of Jenny's opening of her "Sweetwater Studio, about clay", at 135 North Second Street, Lander. You can contact her at sweetwaterstudioclay@gmail.com.

Juan's photos are diptych silver gelatin print photos of locals and various other characters in Lander, one a frontal and one a profile. This has become a larger project than the show is an ongoing work. 

Juan is also located in Lander and can be reached at juantontomatoe@gmail.com and other work seen at http://www.juanladenphotography.com

Wyoming Arts Council members tour new Sculpture Trail at National Museum of Wildlife Art

Wyoming Arts Council board members and staffers toured the new National Museum of Wildlife Art Sculpture Trail north of Jackson. Education Coordinator Jane Lavino led the tour. The trail is a new three quarter-mile outdoor art venue for the museum. It was designed by award-winning landscape architect, Walter Hood. Overlooking the National Elk Refuge, the trail will feature nearly 30 permanent and temporary works of art. The design allows for display of works against the Gros Ventre Range backdrop, and a naturally sheltered amphitheater space near the museum entrance. The Sculpture Trail will also connect to a recently constructed Jackson-to-Grand Teton National Park pathway via a new underpass for easy biker and hiker access. The Museum offers free "hard hat tours" of the under-construction Sculpture Trail daily. FMI: 307-733-5771.

View Steven Tepper's talk (part one) from 2011 Convergence Wyoming Conference

Artists install work for biennial fellowship show

Diana Baumbach (left), Laramie, talks with Alpine artist Jenny Dowd Thursday afternoon during installation of artwork featured in the Art Association Gallery in Jackson.

Adrienne Vetter (left), Lander, and collaborator Colleen Friday work on artwork installation for biennial fellowship exhibit. 

Laramie artist David L. Jones (left), puts finishes touches on fellowship biennial artwork while WAC Deputy Director Camellia El-Antably looks on. 

Sylvia Plath as sketch artist

Plath and children, 1962

Here is a link showing some of a selection of Sylvia Plath's exquisite drawings that are going on exhibit at the Mayor Gallery from 1 November until 17 December 2011.

Also, a link to an article by Freida Hughes, Plath and Ted Hughes daughter.

Artist Talk & Reception Nov. 3 at Coe Library

Biennial Fellowship Exhibit opens Nov. 4 at Center for the Arts in Jackson

Opening reception Friday, Nov. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Art
Association Gallery at the Center for the Arts in Jackson. Free
and open to the public.

Asia Project performs at UW Nov. 4

Asia Project, a modern poet, will perform a free show at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in the Wyoming Union lower level at the University of Wyoming.

An unusual poet, Asia Project combines spoken words and music to captivate audiences with a hip-hop twist to words of inspiration.

Asia Project is an aspiring novelist, astronaut, oil painter, brain surgeon and ninja who says he never thought he would make a living as a spoken-word artist. His words combine humor and inspiration while provoking thought and self-reflection.

Free refreshments will be available.

For more information, contact Friday Night Fever at (307) 766-6340 or email fnf@uwyo.edu

Photo: Asia Project, a poet who combines the spoken word with music, will perform a free show at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in the lower level of the Wyoming Union.

Culinary artists meet creative placemakers at Wyoming Winter Farmers' Markets

"Three Acts of Cruelty" Nov. 5 in UW Fine Arts Studio Theatre

Anna Katen sends this announcement from UW:

“Three Acts of Cruelty -- Imaginary Friends, Suicide and Communism”

Saturday, November 5, 7:30-10:30 p.m., in the University of Wyoming Fine Arts Studio Theatre, Laramie.

Created by Christopher William Wolter, Aaron Hampton, Kimberly Lockhart

“Three Acts of Cruelty” is a production of three one-act plays directed by University of Wyoming advanced directing students. 

Three plays exploring issues of cruelty, identity, forgiveness, politics and the nature of man. A mixture of comedy and tragedy, with production styles ranging from realistic, surreal and choral/ensemble. This will be a night of theatre unlike any you've seen before. 

The Plays:

“Leon & Joey”
Written by Keith Huff
Directed by Kimberly Lockhart

“December”
Written by Seraphina Richardson
Directed by Aaron Hampton

“The Measures Taken” 
Written by Bertolt Brecht
Directed by Christopher Wolter

Roy Pilcher transforms bug-kill trees into works of art

Roy Pilcher - Chain Saw Artist: Devils Tower, Wyoming from Indie Media: The New Journalism on Vimeo.

Roy Pilcher is a chainsaw artist from Devils Tower. He's on the Wyoming Arts Council artist roster. Bring him and his amazing carving skills to your town with an Arts Across Wyoming grant. Go to www.wyomingartscouncil.org and click on "grants." Thanks to Alan O'Hashi for this fine video.

Any fantastic photo welcomed for Arts Alliance of Cheyenne photo contest on Facebook

The Arts Alliance of Cheyenne hosts a continuous Photo Contest on Facebook.   Every month a new theme is selected, and a new award is made.

This Session’s Theme:  No theme!  Any fantastic photo goes.  Show us what you got.

To upload your photo onto the Facebook Photo Competition, follow these steps:

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/ArtsAllianceCheyenne
2. “Like” the page with your personal Facebook profile
3. Go to the photo contest tab and upload your photo
4. Vote during the designated voting period. All entrants MUST vote at least once.

Greybull's GPS Art Club chosen to create ornaments for Wyoming's Christmas tree for D.C. display

Greybull’s GPS Art Club has been chosen to design and create the ornaments for Wyoming’s tree for the 2011 National Christmas Tree display in President’s Park in Washington, D.C., the National Park Foundation announced today. [Shown above: Video from 2010 Christmas tree lighting ceremony.]

Local artists and local youth were selected from each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia to design and create 24 ornaments.  Twenty-three of the ornaments will be hung from the state or territory tree as part of the National Christmas Tree display in President’s Park.  One of the ornaments will decorate the White House Visitor Center Christmas tree, which showcases one ornament from all 56 states, territories and the District of Columbia.

“The decorating of the state and territory trees in President’s Park is a highly anticipated holiday tradition,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation.  “We look forward to including the creations of Karyne Dunbar and the GPS Art Club, representing Wyoming during the 89^th annual celebration.”

As one of America’s oldest holiday traditions, the National Christmas Tree Lighting began on Christmas Eve in 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the Ellipse in President’s Park.  Since 1923, each succeeding President has carried on the tradition of what now has become a month-long event presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service.  In addition to the National Christmas Tree display, President’s Park hosts a variety of family-oriented holiday attractions, such as the Santa’s Workshop, nightly holiday performances, a Yule log, nativity scene, and model train display. 

“It is an honor to be selected because we are a small community, yet typical of so much of Wyoming, said Karyne Dunbar, artist and teacher. “We are excited to be a part of the National Christmas Tree display because Wyoming has a very wonderful blend of cultures that we can hope to represent with our ornaments.”

“Our participating young artists were quick to get involved as we discussed possible themes that would best represent our state. They have been inventive with materials, trying for a good blend of images that really say Wyoming mixed with Christmas sparkle and optimism.”

Four weeks of holiday events in President’s Park will kick off with the 89th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony hosted by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. EST. This year’s talent line up for the lighting ceremony will be announced in November.  Talent announcements, as well as other event details and a live web stream of the ceremony will be available at www.thenationaltree.org.  

Tickets for the event will be awarded via an online lottery system, providing the general public a chance to obtain free tickets to the ceremony.  The online lottery will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, November 3 (or 9:00 a.m. CST, 8:00 a.m. MST and 7:00 a.m. PST).   The ticket lottery remains open through 9:59 a.m. EST on Monday, November 7 (or 8:59 a.m. CST, 7:59 a.m. MST and 6:59 a.m. PST). Visit www.thenationaltree.org for more information.

About the GPS Art Club: Students have been meeting with teacher Karyne Dunbar for after school studio time for the past 29 years. Both middle school and High School students can participate and adults have joined in activities from time to time. Art Club  members participate in art activities, special workshops, field trips and fund raisers. They provide prize money for purchase awards and scholarships.

FMI: www.nationalparks.org, http://www.facebook.com/nationalpark, http://twitter.com/goparks