In Cheyenne tonight: "The Music of Star Wars"

From the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle:

Toby Rush is set to give his "The Music of Star Wars" presentation, a hit on the UNC campus, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne. By all accounts, prepare to come away with a new appreciation for "Star Wars." 

"But this isn't a straight-laced academic, hoity-toity, bow-tie presentation," Rush said. "We have a tremendous amount of fun. We have a lot of laughs. A lot of it is just enjoying some of the great scenes and the music from those films."

"Star Wars": Behind the music behind the movies - Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online

Edington and Watford exhibit at Cheyenne Family YMCA's "Art on the Walls" program

Title: Poppies
Medium: pastel
Dimensions: 9" wide x 10" high

The work of Vanda Edington and Gail Watford will be exhibited at the Cheyenne Family YMCA through August. An artists' reception will be held on Thursday, July 14, 5 p.m., in conjunction with the Art Design & Dine art walk.

New bronze at Historic Cheyenne Depot celebrates Wyoming's history as "The Equality State"

A new bronze statue by Veryl Goodnight, "A New Beginning," will be dedicated Wednesday (today) at 3 p.m., at the Historic Cheyenne Depot. The event is free and open to the public. The artist will be at the ceremony. Her work often celebrates the West and has been displayed all over the world. She has created 20 different "Women of the West" bronzes since 1984. Goodnight lives in Mancos, Colo., and shows her work at the Goodnight Trail Gallery of Western Art.

Read the entire article and see a photo of the sculpture at New bronze statue at depot honors early pioneer women - Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online

Cheyenne's Reproacher launches new CD July 15 at Ernie November

May the food be with you -- at July 7 "Star Wars" food-raiser

Darth Vader wants your food -- for Cheyenne NEEDS

Highlands United Presbyterian Church announces its "Star Wars" Festival “food-raiser” for NEEDS. The STAR WARS FESTIVAL, is scheduled for 6:30-9:30 p..m., Thursday, July 7, at the Highlands United Presbyterian Church, 2390 Pattison Ave., Cheyenne . The public is invited to attend. Admission is FREE with the donation of any non-perishable food item or baby item such as diapers. All items collected will be donated to NEEDS, Inc. for their food bank.

A variety of events are planned as part of this family evening: 

6:30 pm - Intergalatic Meet-and-Greet
Want to meet Darth Vader, Imperial Stormtroopers or R2D2? Come early to the talk and meet some of your favorite characters from the Star War films. Bring your camera and take as many pictures as you like! Re-enactors include members of the Mountain Garrison of the 501st Legion -- www.501st.com. Members reside in both Colorado and Wyoming.

Dr. Toby Rush presents "The Music of Star Wars"

7:30 pm - Presentation: The music of Star Wars 
This 90-minute multimedia presentation from UNC music professor TOBY RUSH, includes excerpts from all six films. Dr. Rush will present the music of Star Wars and explore how John Williams used the soundtrack to help tell George Lucas' epic tale.

9 pm - Costume Contest
Wear your Star Wars costume! Guests are encouraged to dress as characters from any of the Star Wars films. A short fashion show, allowing guests to strut their stuff, will be held following Dr. Rush’s talk. Prizes will be awarded for the top outfits!

All this FREE with your donation for NEEDS! So bring the family, this is one event you don’t want to miss! And it’s for a good cause – with all foodstuffs to be donated to NEEDS Cheyenne. 

Highlands Presbyterian Church is located in north Cheyenne at 2390 Pattison Avenue. From Dell Range at Mountain, drive north on Mountain Road to the intersection of Pattison and Mountain.

For more information, contact Rodger McDaniel, pastor of Highlands Presbyterian, at 307-634-2962 (church office) or rodger.mcdaniel@bresnan.net.

40 years after -- Cheyenne's Class of 1971 celebrates through art

Hynds Building art space, downtown Cheyenne

Class reunions usually consist of picnics and boozy receptions recalling the good ol' (or not so good ol') days. Here's a unique event centered around 40th reunion activities for grads of Cheyenne high schools. Class of '71 grads B.J. Buckley (poet) and Alan O'Hashi (filmmaker) sent me this info:

Gallery 71, sponsored by the Cheyenne High Schools Class of 1971, is hosting an art show and sale in association with the Deselms Gallery and LightsOn! Downtown. It will take place June 21-Aug. 7 at Deselms Fine Art, 300 E. 17^th St., and the Hynds Building, 1608 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne.

The class seeks works from artists who are associated or were associated with the Laramie County School District No. 1 as students or faculty. 

There's a nominal $10 fee per artist. We'll accept up to five entries per artists, however, the number of pieces shown will be dictated by the number of artists who participate. You'll get a chance to determine which of your works will be hung.

Works of art may be of any media. If any of your work sell, there's a 60-40 split with the Deselms Gallery.

Participating artists also may take part in the Friday July 22 Quick Draw event. Artists will set up at the Hynds Building and be provided a painting surface. Open house-goers will get a chance to observe artists in action as they create works of art on the spot. More details will follow. Each quick draw entry will be auctioned off. The proceeds will be spit 50-50 with the artists and LightsOn! Downtown Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

How to enter? Download the entry form by opening the "Art Show" tab at http://www.wyocomedia.com/

If you have questions, please email alan@ciff1.com or call 307-509-0182

Call for public art proposals: WY Military Joint Force Readiness Center

Photo by Sue Sommers

FMI: Wyoming Military Joint Force Readiness Center, Cheyenne. Deadline is June 30, 2011 

Tha BossFoundation performs at VFW 1881 for Fourth of July weekend concert

Get updates at Tha BossFoundation on Facebook

Buffalo Bill Boycott rides into Cheyenne July 10

Join us at the Historic Governor's Mansion on Sunday, July 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m. for a performance by Lander's Buffalo Bill Boycott, a Wyoming and western entertainer (and a member of the Wyoming Arts Council's artist roster). A free family event. Location: 300 E. 21st Street., Cheyenne. 307-777-7878. FMI: http://buffalobillboycott.com

Benefit for Old West Museum features Neal McCoy

Neal McCoy

The Old West Museum continues its partnership with the Outlaw Saloon in Cheyenne for a benefit concert on Saturday June 25, by Neal McCoy.  Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 the day of the show.  To buy tickets or for more information, visit www.oldwestmuseum.org or call (307)635-7552 or (307)778-7290.

Neal McCoy has 3 platinum albums and 1 gold album with such chart toppers as Wink, No Doubt About It, The Shake and Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On.  McCoy has just released a new inspirational book entitled New Mountain to Climb.  For more information on Neal McCoy visit his web-site at www.nealmccoy.com.

Proceeds benefit the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum’s rotating exhibits, year-round children’s and educational programs, art shows and our collection of over 75,000 artifacts.

Work featured in the 2011 Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition for sale at State Museum

Marsha Barritt
Upton, Wyoming
"Reflections"
photo giclee
22" x 25"
$700

The 2011 Governor's Capitol Art exhibition and Sale celebrates Wyoming artists. This juried competition is building a unique art collection for display in the executive offices and public areas of government facilities in the Cheyenne area. The annual exhibition is a joint partnership between the five elected officials, the Governor’s Residence, Wyoming Travel & Tourism, Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, which includes the Wyoming Arts Council, the Wyoming State Museum and the Wyoming State Archives. Monies realized from the sale of works in the Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition are utilized to acquire new works for the permanent art collection of the Wyoming State Museum. Artwork is available for purchase through June 25. Please support this effort by personally selecting one, or more, of these unique works created by a Wyoming artist. Sales are handled through the Museum Store at the Wyoming State Museum. Your generosity is appreciated.

Artsy fun for families at Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

Cheyenne author Josh Mitchell signs copies of his new book June 10 at City News

Cheyenne newspaper reporter and author Josh Mitchell will be signing copies of his new book, My Life in Executive Session, from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, June 10, at City News, 1722 Carey Ave., in downtown Cheyenne.

A blurb from the book's promo material:

When investigative journalist Warren Bradley goes to work for a newspaper in Jupiter, Arkansas, he wants to report the truth about the corrupt politicians in the small town. But his boss is part of the local good-ol'-boys system and censors the real news. Bradley uncovers too much and is fired in an attempt to make him leave town. Instead of hitting the road, Bradley starts an online newspaper and is finally able to report the truth. Set in the rural South, the novel has many colorful characters and unforgettable scenes.

Find out more from the publisher at www.westsouthpublishing.com

Justin Richards' unique furniture featured at Art Design & Dine June 9

Infill Nesting Tables, Justin Richards

Cheyenne artist Justin Richards will display his unique furniture at Glen Garrett's architectural studio and offices in downtown Cheyenne. The exhibit debuts during Art Design & Dine from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, in various locales around central Cheyenne.

Justin Richards is a furniture designer who recently completed an 8 week residency at Anderson Ranch in Colorado.

Justin had this to say about his work: "As a student of architecture and a practitioner of furniture design, I blur any distinction that exists between the two trades. My recent work invokes a hybrid notion of “designed intervention” -- I approach architecture from a level of detail found in furniture design, and I design furniture with consideration for its architectural impact. I am as immersed in fabrication as I am in design, and I constantly move between the two as I identify problems and pursue solutions."

Summer means time for reading

Time to get going on summer reading. The Laramie County Public Library launches its Summer reading celebration for all ages. Sign up at http://lclsonline.org/src/2011/

Also at the library is the "One World, Wyoming Stories" exhibition. Items from various ethnic traditions in Wyoming will be in display cases throughout the building. Presented in partnership with Wyoming Arts Council’s Folk & Traditional Arts Program and University of Wyoming’s American Studies Program. 

Cheyenne Hispanic Festival June 3-5

The Cheyenne Hispanic Festival, supported in part by a Cultural Trust Fund grant, will occur in the Cheyenne Depot Plaza June 3 -5, 2011. The festival will include mariachis, jalapeno contest, Aztec dancers, food and craft vendors, live entertainment and more. The Festival will include educational and cultural exhibits. This event provides the opportunity to celebrate the various Hispanic cultures throughout our communities. The event is free to the public. For more information, visit the website. Photo courtesy Cheyenne Hispanic Festival, 2010. 

Lights on for LightsOn! June 3 in Cheyenne

www.lightsondowntown.org

Penny Zeller, Amanda Cabot and Audra Harders sign books June 4 in Cheyenne

Penny Zeller will be joined by Amanda Cabot (a Wyoming author with over 25 novels published) and Audra Harders on Saturday, June 4, at Cornerstone Christian Supply from 10 a.m.-noon  and at Barnes and Noble from 2-4 p.m., Cheyenne. All three authors write historical fiction and will be signing books in that genre. Penny will be signing one of her nonfiction books. Her books include McKenzie and Kaydie (books one and two in Penny's Montana Skies series) and 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference. FMI: www.pennyzeller.com

Dutch Hop Polka in Pine Bluffs June 11

Cheyenne International Film Festival film highlights the arts in downtown Cheyenne

The Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) short documentary airs on Bresnan Cable Channel 19 in Cheyenne daily at noon and 7 p.m. The program emphasizes the importance of the arts in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. The documentary features filmmakers MaryLee Herrmann, Patrick Mallek and Ken Wajda discussing film festivals and independent film. Local economic and community development officials Darren Rudloff of Visit Cheyenne, Michell Howard of the Wyoming Film Office and Randy Oestman from the Wyoming Arts Council discuss the importance of the arts.