Mardi Gras Hats

Here is a project I did at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fort Collins, Colorado as part of their Mardi Gras pancake supper. This project is fun, easy and always a success because people really get into it. It is the PERFECT Community Arts project.

I first did this project during the 1 year anniversary for the Community Playground near the Stadium Place YMCA in Baltimore, MD. This community built playground united the residents of Waverly, Ednor Gardens, and Lakeside to come together to build a playground for the community. Unfortunately, last Fall arsonists burned the structure to the ground. The good news? The community has pledged to build it again. Way to go!

Fort Collins Community Open Show EXTENDED!

Just received word that the Fort Collins Community Open SHow at the Poudre River Arts Center has been extended a month. The show will reman up until March 25th. Bop by and see it!

Girl Scout Cookie Time!

If you haven't purchased your Girl Scout Cookies yet, get going! The sale only lasts a few more weeks and Girl Scouts is such an awesome cause!

My First Colorado Show!

I just received word (in an amazing turnaround time, by the way) that my work, "Carni Basket" will be included in the Colorado Open 2009 at the Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado. I am very excited to be in a show in my new home state. Feels back to normal a little bit at least. The show will run from April 4-May 31, 2009. The opening reception will be held on April 3rd from 5:30-8 pm. This show was curated by Christoph Heinrich the new curator at the Denver Art Museum and Michael Chavez, the Curator at Foothills Art Center.

WRITER's EYE @ YORK ARTS

Last year, I was in a great show in York, Pennsylvania called "Arts & Industry". The lively curator, Donna Sylvester brought together artists with local businesses in York to created artwork. It was a great experience for me. I was paired with Adhesives Research. They provided a variety of tapes as well as people power to create an installation in the Yorkarts gallery.

During the shows installation, Yorkarts> sponsored the Writer's Eye competition. The Writer's eye competition was open to students in grades 4 through 12, college students, and adults. A compilation of the winning entries were gathered into a great book made possible due to the generous support of Yorkart members. I have posted some pictures of the installations the some of the writers responded to as well as their writings. What a great way to bridge several different creative enterprises!

AERIAL BURIAL Inspired by Elizabeth Lundberg Morisette's "Marrow 1 & 2"
by Emily Deardorff
college/adult
1st place

Note the black mash of bruised mortar sky
and the heart of me unleashing its thin
cetaceous wail while the pestle
of moon grinds my ribcage
down to fine
ivory dust.

Bleached as bone, I cradel the small mound as salt from the deep, imponderable sea.

What it means to hold the marrow of your being
then blow it free as petals

falling through
space

Is what it means to stand between two
mirrors and watch yourself flower
out into an eternity wide as the
tusk of memory we carve
the elegies of dreams
into.

SILVER's BOAT
Inspired by Elizabeth Lundberg Morisette's, "Metallic Basket"
by Macx Hoffacker
Grade 8, York Country Day School
2nd Place

In the rising sun a boat appears,
a symbol of those who have yet to come.
It's silver hull and entrance welcome,
For the river's outstretched arms.

As the sun sets as it always has,
The guardian slows while staying on course, careful to stay near the never ending shore.

Not far behind another arrives
And as the first-
Travels not far behind,
Never straying from the path laid before-
Its open bow.

BRAIN OF MANY SIGHTS
Inspired by Elizabeth Lundberg Morisette's, "Metallic Basket"
by Jacob Danner
Grade 8, York Country Day School
3rd Place

A Metallic BAsket

Always collapsing on itself

With the appearance

Of an extremely heavy brain

Ever changing with a network

Of tunnels

Like and army any colony

That is alive and writhing in

Different pathways

That work their way to the core.

Colorado Council on the Arts

I attended an information session recently sponsored by the Colorado Council on the Arts. They were mostly speaking about the State's limited resources for the next year and how all Arts Grants from their organization are on hold until they know their final budget. At the session, the director, Elaine Mariner, talked about a study the CCA had commissioned to find out how the Arts affect the state of Colorado economically. This study has some pretty staggering numbers, it shows that 186,251 jobs in the state are associated with creative enterprises and creative occupations. Colorado’s creative enterprises alone employed over 122,000 individuals in about 8,000 establishments. This accounts for 3.9% of the state’s estimated 3.2 million jobs, making it Colorado’s 5th largest employment sector, almost as large as biotechnology/biomedical and IT & telecommunications, and larger than defense & security and agribusiness, food processing & technology. Employee earnings in these jobs, including employee benefits, were about $5 billion. Another 64,000 individuals worked in creative occupations in non-creative enterprises.

Wow.

The study finds that the resource of creative capital is an untapped resource for many Colorado communities. For creative people, this study is a little bit like, duh, yea, of course creative people generate economic growth. But, for those in the midst of the states (and every states) budgetary concerns, a study like this gives concrete proof that Artists are an untapped resource in many communities. It also expands the definition of an Artist to folks who might not consider what they do an Art, like a mason or a carpenter.

Let's hope Colorado decides to fully fund the Arts Council and their grant programs. I am certainly looking forward to finding out more about the Creative Community in my new home state

Open Studio at MOCA

This Friday is First Friday in Old Town Fort Collins. Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art will have an opening for its two new exhibits, "Out of Shapes"; a really mind blowing group of sculpture by Artist Bret Price,and "Dress Code"; an exhibit focusing on how Artists interpret clothing and dressing the part.

I will also have my studio open from 6-9. Come by and say "hi!" This piece'"Surrender Gracefully" will be there along with other works to check out.

Everyday Joe's Art Exhibit

I will have 5 pieces in a show at Everyday Joe's in Old Town Fort Collins from February 2nd-28th. This is a cool, funky place with high ceilings and a great stage. Go by and Check it out. These two pieces, "Pod and "Biotic" will be in the show.