| THE LOSINGEST
KITTEN
It's about how it
makes you feel
Dear Mo,
NOTE--To forward this newsletter intact, you must scroll
all the way down to the bottom and use the blue, "forward
newsletter" link on the left provided by constant contact.
<--From
kittenwar. Everything in life makes sense eventually. Like,
why I turned on the auto-name-filler feature this week even
though it freaks
some people out but not others.
Today Kelsey
and her cute little dog Willa came to my studio and we all
played newsletter together. I usually work with the radio
on and it was kinda confusing to hear the Kelsey on the
radio simulcast with the Kelsey in my studio (and the voices
in my head).
Kelsey took lots of pictures documenting our day and will
be posting them later on local.masslive.com
so if you want to see how cute and helpful Willa (a Katrina
rescue pet) is, or what my post office box looks like, then
try that link later. Kelsey is a super speedy learner and
had constant contact figured out in no time so I got to
be co-pilot and provide a safe lap for Willa while Kelsey
manned the computer. And I was really impressed because
Kelsey knows how to REALLY type. Like, she doesn't even
look at the keyboard while she types. Whoa. It made me realize
that my junior high typing teacher was right, knowing how
to type is a valuable thing indeed and showing up for typing
class *is* cool. But, what's done is done.
Anyway-we were talking about pets and I was telling her
how when I was little I had all these pet kittens for a
few hours. I'd bring them home to our house, where pets
were undemocratically forbidden, thinking I could hide them
under my bed and keep them forever but somehow I always
got caught. I didn't know then that after Kelsey and
Willa left and I started writing this part that it would
somehow inevitably lead to kittens. So, after they left
I was finishing up this newsletter when I got an email trumpeting
a new art site. The email came from Steve. Steve's new site
is called ArtFaceOff.
I tend to think of *off* as being that word that sometimes
follows a *command* word, at times involving a hyphen and
maybe an exclamation point, and which can be off-putting,
yet the email announced that this site is changing the
way the world does art. Wow. This is huge. And so I
share his email with you:
~~Hi, (<--no
automatic name fill-in going on here. hmmm. I am going to
turn that feature on for this newsletter just because I
can)
We found you on [site redacted] and thought you would be
excited to find out about another website that is changing
the way the world does art.
ArtFaceOff.com is a beautiful art community website that makes viewing
easy and enjoyable. We have created a free democratic system
that makes art lovers and curators excited to view art.
We receive
over 400,000 hits a day. Here's what one artist said about
her experience with Art Face Off.
Steve,
This is exciting, isn't it? I'm loving the responses I've
been getting to my work. Already, I've been contacted by
an Australian website and publishing house to be a part
of their group and by a grassroots TV show in Chicago who
wants to do a feature on my work. I can't say thank you
enough.
-[name redacted]
Our democratic style has made the papers like speigel.de
and techcrunch, AND WE ONLY BEEN ONLINE FOR 4 MONTHS.
(cut and pasted exactly from original email)
Our system works very well, because when an artist signs
up, they send postcards to their friends and family asking
them to rate them. Through this and other systems in
place artists get great amounts of exposure. It just
keeps growing and growing that way. Curators from all over
the world are using our system to curate shows too. At
the end of this year we are going to present the best artists
worldwide in a show that rivals the Oscars. Come join
the movement! This is a PR Art World like never seen before!
Thanks
Steve
http://ArtFaceOff.com~~
This for some reason made me remember that I hadn't taken
my fish oil capsules today and further, to wonder *why*
this would make me think of my fish oil capsules. But the
most pressing question is - [continued at bottom of newsletter]
JAMIE YOUNG
@ KAREN SPRAGUE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
Reception
Jan. 26th 5:30 - 7:00 with music by [read on]
 You are
cordially invited to an Exhibit from Jamie
Young
Pictured: Path to the Well, 11"x11" oil on panel,
2006
Passages
Jamie Young
Retrospective 1970-2007
open to public
Jan. 26th - Feb. 26th 2007
Reception Jan. 26th 5:30 - 7:00 with music by Sean Black,
AKA DJ Blackadile
a benifit for the Homer Street Elementry School
Being shown at
Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
American
International College,
1000 State Street, Springfield, MA
Click here for directions
FINE LINES
AND SHADOWS: New Prints by Victoria Burge and Nancy Diessne
January 12,
2007 - February 16, 2007
 The Gallery
at Zea Mays Printmaking presents FINE LINES AND SHADOWS: New
Prints by Victoria Burge and Nancy Diessne January 12, 2007
- February 16, 2007 Reception: Friday, January 12, 5:30 –
7:30 PM
The Gallery at Zea Mays Printmaking is pleased to host a new
print exhibition by Victoria Burge and Nancy Diessner, “Fine
Lines and Shadows”. Exhibit dates are January 12 – February
5. The gallery is located at 221 Pine Street, on the third
floor of the Arts and Industry Building in Florence, MA.
The phone number is 413.584.1783. Exhibit hours are: Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday 12 - 5, Wednesday, 12 - 8, the first and
third Saturdays and Sundays of the month, 12 - 5, and by appointment.
Both Diessner and Burge have created new work for this exhibition.
Nancy Diessner is Associate Professor and Chair of Interdisciplinary
Studies at Chester College of New England in New Hampshire.
Her work is in major collections in the US. Her current work
explores the new processes of photopolymer intaglio.
Diessner's
photo based images of humans and animals explore the common
ground between the species. Victoria Burge lives and works
in western Massachusetts. Over the past month she has been
at an artists residency program in northern Vermont working
on a series of encaustic paintings entitled," The Names
of Things". Her etchings combine a childlike naiveté with
a darker, edgier feel to create images that haunt and entice.
for more information: www.zeamaysprintmaking.com or 413.584.1783
The Gun Show
in the main gallery at Studio Place Arts
Barre, Vermont
 The Gun
Show in the main gallery at Studio Place Arts (SPA) in Barre,
Vermont, a group multi-media show that examines the potent
symbolism of guns, runs from January 16 - February 24, 2007.
The exhibit contains the work of 28 artists, with some interesting
distinct categories: works created using fired bullets (David
Bradshaw, Patty Mucha, and Marilyn Wenker); guns wrapped in
fabric, one of which is carved from granite (Anne Dushanko
Dobek, Jerry Williams, and R.G. Solbert); and photographs
of naked men with guns (John B. Douglas and Matt Thorsen).
Plus futuristic guns, an installation using machine gun casings
and stainless steel "puffs", clay, t-shirts, drawings, and
assorted photographs and paintings.
While you're at SPA (a place not to miss when you're in central
Vermont), also check out Pria Cambio's show of Landscapes
in Dryer Lint on the second floor, and still life watercolors
by Jean Cannon on the third floor. The galleries are open
Tuesday-Friday 10AM - 5PM, and Saturdays noon-4PM. Visit www.studioplacearts.com/current.html
for more information, or call 802 479 7069.
Jan 28th the
The Florence Poets Society presents "JAN SLAM 2007"
at the Florence
Community Center Auditorium
 On Sunday,
Jan 28th there will be no football - but there will be some
slammin' as the The Florence Poets Society presents "JAN SLAM
2007" at the Florence Community Center Auditorium, 140 Pine
St, Florence (the old Florence Grammar School).
Cash prizes, all poets welcome! Home Baked Goodies, Free Entry
and Admission! Come and join us for this poetry slammin' extravaganza!
Event: JAN SLAM 2007
Venue: Florence Community Center Auditorium
140 Pine St, Florence
Time: 1-5 pm
Date: Sunday, Jan 28, 2007
Free: Admission and Entry
Contact: Tom 584-5914 or Email us at FPOETS@localnet.com
or check out our web page at www.florencepoetssociety.org
Pictured: Rubber
slapper - billy club alternative from 1933. Kelsey and
I chose this image together since the poets didn't provide
one.
This Wednesday Tom Clark, founder of the FPS, will be
my co-host on Mo Radio from 8-9 AM on FM 103.3, www.valleyfreeradio.org
NEW WORKS
AT A.P.E. Gallery
Opening Reception:
Friday, February 9 5pm-8pm
 A.P.E. Gallery
February 7 – March 4
Opening Reception: Friday, February 9 5pm-8pm
Third Floor, Thornes Market, 150 Main St., Northampton, MA
www.apearts.org
(413) 586-5553
WILL THAT BE ALL?
New works by Teddy O’Connor, Ali Osborn, Raphy Griswold
After graduating from Wesleyan University in May 2006, where
they majored in studio art, Teddy, Raphy, and Ali moved to
Northampton. Here, the three young artists are trying to come
to grips with the reality of working to support themselves
while simultaneously finding time and energy to make art.
Are these things compatible? How can they make art pay? Did
they find everything they were looking for? Will that be all?
is a show of drawings, prints, and mixed media installation
in which all of their musings on these questions will be revealed
and exhibited.
February
7 – March 4, 2007 at A.P.E. Gallery Third Floor, Thornes
Marketplace, 150 Main St., Northampton, MA
For more information, call Lisa Thompson at A.P.E. Gallery:
413-586-5553 or visit www.apreats.org.
MAJUSCULES: Charcoal Drawings by Jay Rathaus
Jay Rathaus’s charcoal “Majuscules” act as a font pre-loaded
with social and political commentary. If each letter may
be considered a fractured narrative, then when placed together
as words, they begin to resonate with the emergent truths
of our political world.
Opening reception: Friday, February 9th, 5-8pm
The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10-5 and Sunday
from 12-5
Pictured: Top, work by Ali Osborn, Bottom, work by Jay Rathaus
What’s Left:
Working Sessions and Collaborations
A.P.E. Performance
Space
 A.P.E. Performance
Space
Third Floor/ Thornes Marketplace
150 Main St., Northampton
Information: 413.586.5553
What’s Left: Working Sessions and Collaborations With David
Hurwith, Jamm Leary, Gordon Thorne, Michael Tillyer
PUBLIC is INVITED at 5 pm: January 19, January 26, February
2
FREE
I was inspired to initiate and organize this event, Working
Sessions and Collaborations, by the transition in the relationship
between Thornes Marketplace and the APE Gallery and Performing
Space. It is important and special that there is a place for
artists to work not in isolation, but in the center of the
commercial and social life of a city. This adds to the vitality
and uniqueness of Northampton. Also, I heard of the time when
people worked on the Third Floor without so many walls and
the collaborations that evolved from the collegial happenstance
of seeing each other while working. Instead of lamenting or
pining away I thought let’s offer the public the opportunity
to see artists working and here we are . . David Hurwith
FREE DAY &
a rockin' dance party too
January 27
Free Day!
 FREE DAY!
Join us on January 27 as we throw open the doors to MASS MoCA
and welcome one and all into our galleries free of charge.
Guided tours will leave from the information desk every half
hour beginning at 11:30 AM. Start your day with a tour, peruse
the galleries at your leisure, grab some dinner at Lickety
Split, and finish off the day with a rockin' dance party in
our Club B-10 with Latin surf-rockers, The Cuban Cowboys.
“If the Mambo
Kings had bigger culos, they still wouldn't come close to
the Latin rock phenomenon that is the Cuban Cowboys.” —METRO
(NY)
“Land Visions”
at the Elusie Gallery in Easthampton’s Old Town Hall
Opening Reception
February 10th from 5 to 8pm
 Close to
40 artists respond to the Eastmont Art Fund’s Call to help
Save Echodale Farm!
Jill Lewis and Jean-Pierre Pasche of the Eastmont Art Fund
had approached the Pascommuck Conservation Trust last fall
with a innovative proposition to help raise funds and awareness
to their Save Echodale Farm Campaign, through the creation
of a juried exhibition open to any Pioneer Valley Artists.
Entitled “Land Visions” this exhibition will take place
at the Elusie Gallery in Easthampton’s Old Town Hall from
February 3rd through March 17th with the opening reception
and Jury’s selection announcement on February 10th from 5
to 8pm.
A notable Jury will review all the submitted entries and select
one piece of art, from which a series of Limited Edition Prints
will be published. That Limited Edition Print will be given
to donors for a $150.00 contribution. Most original artwork
exhibited will also be available for sale. Proceeds from the
sale of the L/E print and original artwork will benefit the
PCT’s fundraising campaign as well as the artists whose work
will have sold, unlike traditional fundraisers where artists
donate their work and do not get any compensation for their
donation.
“Land Visions” therefore has dual purpose in the minds of
Pasche and Lewis, awareness and fundraising to help save the
Echodale Farm, and celebration and promotion of the creative
talent in the Pioneer Valley.
For more information, please call Jill or Jean-Pierre at 413-529-9265
JANUARY &
FEBRUARY EVENTS AT THE NCA
NEW! -->
Painting workshops with Bob Markey in Febraury
 JANUARY
EVENTS
~~Monday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m. Anastasia Christie starts
a new series of ballroom and Latin dance classes that will
run on Mondays through February 26. A choreographer as
well as a teacher, Christie has 17 years of dance experience
and has been a prizewinner in many ballroom competitions in
Russia and Europe. Ballroom dance classes are from 6:30 to
7:30 p.m.; Latin from 7:30 to 8:30; and Latin, level 2, from
8:30 to 9:30 p.m. For further information and fees, go to
her Web site www.socialdanceschool.com/
~~Friday, January 26, 7 to 10:30 p.m., the Northampton
Youth Commission will sponsor the Main Event Benefit Concert
to raise money for the creation of a youth center serving
middle school students in Northampton. “Bullseye,” “NorWhale”
and “Stand Up Get Down,” three student bands, chosen by members
of the Youth Commission from a pool of applicants, will play.
Admission is $5 The Northampton Youth Commission is a group
of young people between the ages of 13 and 18 whose goal is
to explore issues of concern to their peers and work toward
solutions for those issues. The concert has been planned by,
staffed by and created by young people interested in this
project.
The Northampton Center for the Arts is on the third floor
at 17 New South Street in the Sullivan Building of the Old
School Commons. Its office and galleries are open Tuesday
through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For lots more about ongoing programs, renting the space, etc.,
visit our Web site, www.nohoarts.org
FEBRUARY
EVENTS
Paintings by Robert Markey, which combine the visual
and the conceptual, will be showing in the Northampton Center
for the Arts gallery from February 1-28.
Markey says his work “often speaks about hope, about humor
and about the human condition: what it is and what it could
be. Much of my earlier work was visually brutal, showing
the suffering that one group of people cause to another.
My later work pushes this brutality beneath the surface,
showing more the beauty and hope that is possible.”
Markey, who lives in Ashfield, was born in New York in 1947.
He earned his B.S. in physics from M.I.T in 1969 and his
M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts
in 1982. Until 1980, his main focus was music, including
performances on classical guitar and sitar. In 1981, he
began to work in the visual arts and also to study Tae Kwon
Do. For the past 25 years, those two disciplines have been
at the center of his life.
On February 18 and 25, Markey will offer workshops from
2 to 5 p.m., "Abstract Painting: A Deeper Understanding
of the Painting Process." The workshops will be inaugural
events in the Center’s newly renovated arts space.
The cost is $80 per session with 30% to benefit the Center.
Participants may sign up for one or both sessions. Says
Markey, "the workshop is about understanding and seeing
what makes a painting work...We will look at the process
of creating a painting and what pushes a painting to be
more interesting and how to know when a painting is finished."
This is a hands-on class. Participants will be working in
acrylic on medium- to large-sized panels or canvases and
will find the workshop relevant, whether their work is abstract
or representational.
UNTITLED &
UNBRIDLED
the new show
of paintings by Luke J. Cavagnac
 "UNTITLED
& UNBRIDLED"
the new show of paintings by
Luke J. Cavagnac
Please come to the Opening/Party:
SATURDAY February 10th, 2007
6-9 pm
at
THE INVISIBLE FOUNTAIN
116 Pleasant Street Suite #206
Eastworks Building
Easthampton MA 01027
413.527.9300
invisiblefountain.com
gallery hours: T&T 11-7, W&F 11-6, M&Sa 11-4
wine & food & lots of stuff to see
complete show dates: 2/10/07 through 5/11/07
The Invisible Fountain is where Cavagnac paints and displays
his "Art". You'll find approximately 1,000 different paintings
on display on any given day. Look for a music night in March
& poetry night in April.
ART FOR ALL & ALL FOR ART
Keith Hollingworth
& Guru Karam Khalsa @ Gallery A3
A two-person
show at Gallery A3 with Keith Hollingworth and Guru Karam
Khalsa.
 Keith Hollingworth
and Guru Karam Khalsa at Gallery A3
A two-person show at Gallery A3 with Keith Hollingworth and
Guru Karam Khalsa.
Keith Hollingworth combines colored plexiglass and found objects
in a series of homages to 20th century artists. "My recent
works are constructions using florescent light and color.
Light de-materializes form as color enriches our world. Combined,
they illuminate a spirit. I am interested in the spirit. These
works are titled as homages to art world luminaries."
Migratory birds and the global environment are at the center
of Guru Karam Khalsa’s newest works. These birds – with associations
of nature, spirit or magic – are presented in the context
of global warming. Khalsa explores these images with nontraditional
materials, painting with oils, gouache or ink on cement, wood,
stone and found objects
Exhibition dates: February 1 – 24, 2007.
Opening reception: Thursday, February 1 from 5-8.
Conversations with Artists: Thursday February 22 at 7:30.
Gallery hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 12-6 pm.
Gallery A3
28 Amity Street
Amherst Cinema Building
Amherst, MA
413-256-4250
SPECIAL THANKS
TO REALLY SPECIAL PEOPLE
SuperFriends
of Jamoka and this newsletter.
 Special thanks
to the following for donations to this newsletter and to help
defray the costs of Jamoka's hospitalization and treatment.
People just blow me away sometimes.
Pics
from the Jamoka memorial Bonfire thing, by Jon
Whitney.
If I somehow missed anyone please let me know. I get scatterbrained
lately.
<--Image courtesy of Anna Slezak.
DEBIN BRUCE
SUSAN BERGERON-WEST
CHARLES STERN
JANET FRAIDSTERN
MAUREEN DENNING AND CHARLES ENOS
LARRY SLEZAK
TERRY ROONEY
ANNE BURTON
DEAN NIMMER
BILL MYERS
KATHLEEN TRESTKA
ANITA HUNT
KATHY SERVICE & TIM DECHRISTOPHER
DAVID SMITH
JEFF MACK
LYNN PETERFREUND
BRADLEY FOX
KAREN AXELROD
AACO (AMERICAN ARTS COLLECTIVE ORGANIZATION), In memory
of our artists friends who were victims of AIDS and in honor
of Aids Awareness Day, December 1st
KELSEY FLYNN
LYN HORAN
HILARY PRICE & KERRY LABOUNTY
BRONWEN HODGKINSON
BRIANA TAYLOR
DORIS MADSEN
BETSY DAWN WILLIAMS
MARY WITT
JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA
MAUREEN DENNING AND CHARLES (Donation made to Humane Society
in Jamoka's name)
DARYL LAFLEUR
WEDNESDAY NELENA SOROKIN
LINDA BATCHELOR
RENEGADES
- 25 Years of Performance at Exit December 16,
2006 – January 27, 2007
RENEGADES
- 25 Years of Performance at Exit Art
A Selection from the Archives
December 16, 2006 – January 27, 2007
Live performances by Trickster Theater
Saturdays, January 20 and 27, 2007 8-10PM
Featuring Rob Andrews, Mayumi Ishino, Saeri Kiritani, Jodie
Lyn-Kee-Chow, Wanda Ortiz, Jolie Pichardo, Pasha Radetzki,
Boryana Rossa, Rafael Sanchez, Mark Stafford, Traci Tullius
RENEGADES is a history of performance that was produced or
presented at Exit Art over its 25-year history. Through documentation
from the archives including video, photographs, slides, ephemera
and other archival materials, this exhibition examines Exit
Art’s seminal place in the history of performance. In 2007-2008
Exit Art will celebrate its 25th Anniversary.
This silver anniversary will be commemorated during the year
through new programming initiatives and other special events
to include an exciting series of exhibitions that explore
Exit Art’s rich and diverse history. The first exhibition,
RENEGADES, highlights our history of fostering and presenting
performance art in New York City. Drawn directly from our
archive, this exhibition offers the opportunity to revisit
a number of historically important performances as well as
exhibitions that explored the contemporary history of performance
art.
Exit Art 475 Tenth Avenue (Corner 36 Street) NYC 10018
Make Valentines
at Wistariahurst Museum
Feb. 10, 10am
till noon
 Make Valentines
at Wistariahurst Museum
On Saturday, February 10, come join Marjorie Latham of Marjidoll.com,
for a fun and creative hands-on workshop crafting valentines
in the beautiful surroundings of Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke.
The cost is $3 per person or $5 per family.
Materials will be provided.
Wistariahurst Museum is located at 238 Cabot Street in Holyoke,
MA.
For more information, call Melissa at Wistariahurst; 413 322
5660 or go to www.wistariahurst.org
DWIGHT SMITH'S MOVIE PICS
El Laberinto
del Fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) (2006)
 El Laberinto
del Fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) (2006)
Directed and written by Guillermo del Toro
Ariadna Gil as Carmen Vidal, Ivana Baquero as Ofelia, Sergi
López as Capitán Vidal, Maribel Verdú as Mercedes
Over the past few weeks I’ve had friends from different points
on the globe rave to me about this film. And then I saw that
the critics were almost unanimous in their praise so I rushed
out to see it when it first appeared here. Films often arrive
later here in Montreal because distributors must have a French
version of their film before showing it in Quebec.
I’ve decided
to pick this film because it appears to be one that so many
people feel that others should see but, in all honesty,
I don’t understand why.
I mean, it’s
a beautifully done film. The acting is great, especially
Sergi López who puts a highly original spin on arch villain
and Maribel Verdú, who almost steals the show and the satyr
a.k.a. Pan, played by Doug Jones, is very convincing. And
the Spanish do gore in a way that makes anything Hollywood
can do look tame. But I didn’t leave the film in the least
bit overwhelmed. I don’t know why but then I’m no critic.
Perhaps it was that the story of 1944 Franco Spain was so
strong it left the parallel fantasy somewhat obscure or
that I wasn’t convinced by the ending or that I was simply
not in the right mood. Nonetheless I think it’s a film worth
seeing and if anyone can tell me what I missed or didn’t
get, I’d really appreciate it. Sometimes, I admit, I can
be pretty slow.
NOTE:
I want to invite anyone who sees a film that they think
others on this list might like to hear about to let me know.
I welcome recommendations since as I hope I’ve made clear
elsewhere, I don’t see them all and I’m no expert.
Send me an email at wadwight@videotron.ca. If I can swing
it, I’ll see the film and if I agree (it is my column after
all right!?) I’ll write about it but either way I will share
your recommendation. I promise.
BREAK INTO
THE INTERNATIONAL ART WORLD
Limited space
left in conference
 Learn how
to break into the international art world. Join leading figures
from around the world to hear about long- and short- term
international residency opportunities for artists (working
in every medium) as well as biennales and other global exhibition
possibilities.
Register early to ensure your participation in this weekend-long
event.
Come meet, network with and have your work seen by the conference’s
distinguished curators, critics and panelists. This is an
excellent resource for professional development. Advance conference
registration, which includes admission to all the panels,
networking events and a private one-on-one consultation with
one of the conference’s international guests, curators or
critics is $150 All advance registrations must be received
by February 1, 2007.
Click on http://transculturalexchange.org/conference_2007.htm
for schedule of talks, details and to register.
Location: Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave; Massachusetts
College of Art, 621 Huntington Ave., Boston; Satellite Venue
(Sunday Panel) MIT, Cambridge.
TransCultural Exchange would like to thank the LEF Foundation;
McDougal Littell, a Division of Houghton Mifflin Company;
Fred Johnson; Northeastern University; and Massachusetts College
of Art for their support of the conference.
www.artspacefinder.com
a free online
directory of artist spaces in Massachusetts supported by the
Massachusetts Cultural Council
 Hi There!
Did you know you can now list your gallery on www.artspacefinder.com,
a free online directory of artist spaces in Massachusetts
supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. It a new
easy way to let artists know about your gallery and how they
might contact you.
This new service is part of ArtistLink, an initiative to help
artists connect with their communities by helping them to
find places to live, work and exhibit.
We would greatly appreciate your help in contributing to this
growing resource. To add a listing for your space on www.artspacefinder.com,
simply create a free account and place a post in the "Directory
of Artist Space".
Please be sure to make your listing as detailed as possible
as this will help artists navigate the expectations and requirements
of individual galleries. Posting on the network allows both
artists and gallery owners alike to connect with each other,
and makes communication and cooperation easy and efficient.
If you have any questions about this new service, feel free
to contact us.
Thank you for your help.
Best Regards,
The ArtistLink Team
617.727.3668
artistlink@artistlink.org
www.artistlink.org
www.artspacefinder.com
Spread the word! Tell other art organizations, businesses
and artists in your area about www.artspacefinder.com!
The Robert
Floyd Photo Gallery
is extending
the current photo exhibit.
The Robert
Floyd Photo Gallery is extending the current photo exhibit
"Sky and Stone: Images of the Southwest" by Ms. Erin Kassis
through Sunday, February 18. Yesterday's Opening Reception
drew 36 visitors under adverse weather conditions and the
New England Patriots game!
Erin Kassis is exhibiting (13) thirteen black and white photographs
created with her medium format film camera. Dramatic scenes
of the cliffs, mountains and the ever changing sky. A Smith
College freshman, Erin was the newspaper photo editor at Williston
Academy. She has won prizes for her artwork and has delivered
several Gallery Talks. The artist exposed and printed the
images herself tin the traditional wet darkroom to share her
interpretation of our South West lands. She resides in Southampton.
"The images in Sky and Stone attempt to recreate the power
that the Southwest landscape holds. This beauty is the result
of the extensive natural history of the region. Each technical
decision...to use a red filter to highlight the contrast in
the clouds or to alter the exposure to portray the richness
of the rock...was made to capture the emotion in these ancient
places." __Erin Kassis
"She does much better work than I did when I was her age."
__Paul Wainwright, another former photography editor for the
Willistonian and winner of Photography's esteemed Lucie Award.
"Gorgeous!"_Diana Mara Henry, Photojournalist, former photographer
for the Harvard Crimson and collected in the Library of Congress,
the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives and the
Schlesinger Library.
"Once in a awhile, a strong and creative talent emerges. For
most, it takes a lifetime; Erin has arrived and she is only
18 years old!__Robert Floyd, Photojournalist, Gallery Owner
Exhibit will run from JAN 2 thru FEB 18, 2007 Gallery Hours:
TU, SA and SU, 1 PM to 6 PM Also by Chance/Appointment
Closing Reception: FEB 11, 2007. 1 - 6 PM Gallery Talk (FEB
11) at 3 PM. Refreshments will be served.
Zany Performance
Art Weekend
Earthdance
Retreat Center in Plainfield, MA March 2-4, 2007
Zany Performance
Art Weekend at Earthdance Retreat Center in Plainfield, MA
March 2-4, 2007
Learning to master multi-disciplinary performance through
movement, singing, sounding, and the spoken word.
Facilitated by Rythea Lee and Rose Oceania
A great gift to give yourself if you've been wanting to dive
into the creative process and get to know other adventurous
people.
We will lead participants through a supportive journey of
autobiographical storytelling, clowning and character development,
state changing, and sourcing spontaneous creations. We offer
theatrical and movement based structures that bust through
logical thinking into the realm of weird, absurd, expansive,
beautiful art making.
As a dance theatre company, we have developed an in-depth
approach into heart based, embodied performance. Fun homework
and assignments are an important part of this series.
Go to www.earthdance.net to register (don't delay)
Call 413-586-7390 ext.1 for info about any of the above programs.
THE LOSINGEST
KITTEN AND HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL
Continued
from top
 Pictured: "the Losingest Kitten"
(continued from intro)- why this is "The Greatest Art Competition
in the History of Mankind". I visited the site and it
seems all visitors are encouraged to vote in *Face-Offs* which
entail choosing between 2 images presented side by side. The
Face Off Gallery shows past Art Face Offs ranked from highest
to lowest. There are a lot of superlatives jauntily thrown
about. Evidently the *best* art is that which is voted to
be so. The problem with ranking highest to lowest is that
someone has to be that poor Lowest ranking artist. I kinda
feel bad for the lowest ranking artist. But I guess if someone
participates in the Art Face Off in the first place then they
must be a very competitive artist and therefor they know there
is a risk of losing yet perhaps they want to be the WINNER,
thus making some other artist the LOSER. So maybe they get
what they bargain for. Such competitions also tend to attract
those people vying to be the loser, and so I wonder if this
system would attract non-artists wanting to be voted the worst
artist, just for the notoriety and the successful sham of
it.
Curious, I did some overt sleuthing. I checked out the lowest
ranking artist. I checked out the page of *sponsors* and clicked
each link (reccommended). I googled the artist whose testimonial
is included in the introductory email. I went to techcrunch.com
and spiegel.de, the sites they mention in their email, and
I found a lot of clever commentary on the one site that did
have an article on AFOff.
On www.spiegel.de/ there was no AFOff article so I checked
the archives. The search result message said, "Sichern
Sie sich die Vorteile der SPIEGEL-Archiv Rabattkarte. Für
nur 10 Euro erhalten Sie Inhalte im Wert von 20 Euro . Jetzt
kaufen!" which I translated to, "Certain you itself the
advantages of the MIRROR-archive discount card. For only 10
Euro, you receive contents in the value of 20 Euro. Now buy!"
I guess if speigel.de ran an article about AFOff then it is
archived and you need 10 Euro to read it. I have no euros
so I moved on.
Then I checked www.techcrunch.com and found the
AFOff post. It read, "It’s odd to compare one piece of
art to another and decide which is “better.” People who know
about art and try to explain it to me always say art is about
how it makes you feel, not if it’s better or worse than other
art. But the site certainly gives new artists a place to show
their stuff and interact with users, so it can’t be all bad.
Still, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
The comments on the article were pretty hilariously anti-AFOff
but my fave said, "See also www.kittenwar.com
- same concept but for kittens". <--HILARIOUS. The
kittens are also ranked in endless side by side voting and
ranked from the winningest kitten to the losingest kitten.
I guess you could sit the losingest kitten down and explain
in the simplest terms that they are famous on the web for
being the losingest kitten and it's likely they'd not suffer
from the bottom falling out of their self-esteem. But, people
who understand kittens and try to explain it to me say kitten
cuteness is about "how it makes you feel".
One last point
I ponder; if they are getting 400,000 visits a day, why
is there no advertising on the site? That's 14,600,000 hits
a year. That many views would generate some crazy big ad
revenue. I could take this whole newsletter community out
for sushi and quit my side job as a charwoman (see: anything
by Emile Zola) on that sort of ad money. And my favorite
line from the email; "At the end of this year we are going
to present the best artists worldwide in a show that rivals
the Oscars". My mind is shorting out with the possibilities.
Now, for some reason, every time I type in *Face-Off*, my
mind fills in a different f word.
RESOURCES
FOR ARTISTS
|
Valley Entrepreneurs! Our service area just
expanded! Valley CDC can help you:
Explore your business ideas, Market your art, products
& services, Identify new markets, Get more customers,
Write your business plan, Explore financial viability,
Improve business operations, Seek financing, and
more.
Free Business Counseling ?! Starting a business?
Need more business? Let us help! It's what we do.
Now serving ALL Amherst, Hadley, Northampton &
Easthampton businesses with 20 employees or less.
No income restrictions. We deliver more. Call for
a confidential appointment today! 413 529-0420,
ValleyCDC.com
Funded by MA Commonwealth's Dept. of Business and
Technology-SBTA Grant, the City of Easthampton through
the MA Community Development Block Grant -Ready
Resource, the City of Northampton-CDBG Program,
and Florence Savings Bank.
|
CALLS FOR
ARTISTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
NOTE: I cull this information from many sources
and it is really time consuming to add it and format
each line of text. So I apologize if at times there
is expired information here. Some weeks I don't
have time to get to this section. ~Mo
Deadline February 1, 2007 The *Artist in
Research* program seeks to support artists involved
in the early stages of projects that require investigation,
dialogue, and support from an artistic community.
The AIR Program is particularly interested in working
with artists whose work explores contemporary and
experimental genres such as electronics, sound,
installation, performance, film, video, and other
time-based media. The AIR Program supports projects
that have already been conceptualized, but need
time, money and critical feedback to complete.
This residency is most appropriate for individuals
or groups who wish to explore the potential for
collaboration and creative exchange with peers working
in a wide range of media. Regularly scheduled critiques,
open studios, closing events and our web forum provide
residents with opportunities for critical feedback
from curators, artists, scholars and members of
the public. Artists in Research are encouraged to
focus their efforts on exploration and the processes
of innovative art-making rather than the completion
of a finished product.
Please visit the "AIR" section of www.berwickinstitute.org
to learn more
about past AIR artists and the types of projects
we are interested in and are able to support.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline February 5, 2007 SEEKING ARTIST'S
PROPOSALS FOR SUMMER RESIDENCY As a Blue Sky Project
Artist-In-Residence, you will cross-pollinate with
other practicing artists, collaborate with teens,
expand your ideas and add artistic breadth and depth
to the McHenry County community. Artists gather
for eight weeks from mid-June to mid August in McHenry
County, located 60 miles from downtown Chicago.
Your recent studio practice and new ideas should
provide the foundation for your activities. Stipend:
$6000 Additional $1000 working budget per project,
that does not go to the artist, for supplies, materials
to implement project, etc.. Does not include costs
associated with preparing project for exhibition,
which are covered by the project. Deadline for application
is February 5, 2007. Contact: Blue Sky Project OR
http://www.blueskyart.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline September 1, 2007 INTERNATIONAL
ARTISTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Seeking visual artists, writers, and composers for
2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-wk-long residencies, Jan 1 - Jun
15, 2008. Free housing and studio space and a $100/wk
stipend. For application and complete guidelines
please contact: Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for
the Arts, 801 3rd Corso, Nebraska City NE 68410
OR 402-874-9600 OR http://www.KHNCenterfortheArts.org
OR info@KHNCenterfortheArts.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: JOIN TRANSCULTURAL EXCHANGE
IN BOSTON FROM APRIL 27 TO APRIL 29, 2007 FOR THE
CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
ARTS
http://transculturalexchange.org/conference_2007.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline Februray 15, 2007. Bazaar Productions/The
Berkshire Fringe is now accepting submissions of
dynamic works of theater, dance and mutli-media
performance for its 2007 season. The third annual
festival held in Great Barrington, MA will present
21 days of original performances, free workshops,
and artist discussions by and with emerging artists
from across the United States. The Berkshire Fringe
provides a unique opportunity for emerging and early-career
artists from around the country to present work
in a fresh and exciting atmosphere.
Founded in 2003 by a cohort of Berkshire natives
and graduates of Simon's Rock College, Bazaar Productions,
Inc (Sara Kathryn Katzoff, Timothy Ryan Olson and
Peter Wise) aims to fill a growing need in the community
for exciting new work at affordable ticket prices.
The Berkshire Fringe continues to grow into a bustling
community and has featured more than two dozen new
works and events that have blended genres, represented
new styles, and delved into traditions underrepresented
in the mainstream.
In 2007 the festival will take place during July
and August and will invite six companies or individuals
to participate. Performers from all backgrounds
and disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply.
Bazaar Productions is also dedicated to focusing
funds and resources to create an exemplary experience
for all participating artists. The festival is scheduled
so that performers can see each other's work, can
participate in each other's workshops and can share
ideas and experiences. These initiatives establish
a center for artistic exchange while providing accessible,
affordable and unparalleled cultural enrichment
to the community.
Perspective or interested applicants may visit www.berkshirefringe.org
for more information and to obtain an application.
Inquiries can be answered by e-mailing co-artistic
director Sara Katzoff at sara(at)berkshirefringe.org
or calling the offices of Bazaar Productions at
(413) 320-4175. The deadline for applications
is Februray 15, 2007. All applications must be received
by February 15, 2007.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline - Ongoing *Three Rivers Community College
Reviewing Work for Exhibitions, CT Three Rivers
Community College in Norwich Connecticut is accepting
portfolios to review for 1-to-2 month exhibitions.
No fee. For consideration, sent 10-20 slides, resume,
statement, and return postage to: Sandra Jeknavorian,
Instructor of Art, Three Rivers Community College,
Thames Valley Campus, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich
CT, 06360 / SJeknavorian@trcc.commnet.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ongoing GALLERY A3 SEEKING NEW MEMBERS-
SUBMIT ONLINE FOR ART WALK EASTHAMPTON
Art Walk Easthampton, a monthly, self-guided walking
tour of arts and culture, has added a proposal page
to its website where visual, music and performance
artists can outline what they would like to show
or perform if given the opportunity.
All the locations that participate in Art Walk Easthampton
can view the submissions for possible inclusion
in an upcoming event. The talent describes the work,
provides images, identifies the types of venues
they would like to be in, the dates they are available
and provides contact information. If there's a match
between the submission and the venue's interest,
the venue contacts the talent directly to handle
booking arrangements.
The proposal form is available at www.ArtWalkEasthampton.org
and is open to all local and regional artists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONGOING
An offer from Joe Blumenthal of Downtown Sounds
who generously would like to have artists display
their work there. (Downtown Sounds, 21 Pleasant
St., Northampton, next to the Pleasant St. Theater)
The window is quite large, and has three panels,
each one about 6' X 6', and is about 24" deep. It
is exposed to intense sunlight in the morning; the
heat of the sun plus the narrowness of the window
make it inappropriate to display most musical instruments.
However, the sunlight doesn't hurt most artwork
since it's only exposed for a month to six weeks.
I normally pay $150 to the artist who installs the
window, and work out a consignment agreement for
the store to take a percentage of the price if the
art is for sale and we manage to sell some of it.
The artwork can be freestanding, lean against a
wall at the back of the window that's about three
feet high, or (if it's not heavy) be hung from the
ceiling.
It's great when the art can have a musical theme,
but it's not necessary. Because of its highly visible
commercial location, the work should have a mainstream
appeal and not have themes which could be offensive.
Small pieces don't work well since the window is
so large.
If one of your readers is interested in displaying
in this context, please have them contact me via
email: musician@downtownsounds.com, or via phone
at 413- 586-0998.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONGOING.
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs + Image
Registry The New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs (DCLA) is the largest public funder of arts
and culture in the country. The Percent for Art
artist slide registry is an up-to-date and important
component of the Program. The registry is consulted
by the architects, panelists, and City agencies
for each project. The Percent for Art staff prepares
a slide presentation from the registry for each
panel meeting. The registry is open to any professional
visual artist residing in the United States. Deadline:
On-going Information: www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/panyc/
slide_reg.shtml
|
LINKS TO PEOPLE
AND STUFF
| |
