Link Gallery hosts Ringo Stavrowsky's art and film festival preview April 14 for Art Design & Dine

This announcement comes from Rebecca Barrett at the Link Gallery in downtown Cheyenne:

Come and join us on Thursday April 14th from 5PM to 8PM at the Link Gallery at 124 West Lincolnway for our monthly Art, Design and Dine art walk.  This month we have some very exciting things  that we think will provide an evening you won't soon forget, including the Cheyenne International Film Festival program release reception and party, and new paintings from a wonderful new artist, Ringo Stavrowsky.

This Art, Design and Dine evening we will be hosting the second Cheyenne international Film Festival's Program Release Reception.  Be among the first to know what movies they will be screening at the Historic Atlas Theatre from May 19th to the 22nd. Join friends and make new acquaintances as you enjoy an evening of catered food sponsored by Suite 1901 and tickle your palette with a wine tasting sponsored by Table Mountain Wines  or enjoy a choice of beers provided by and sponsored by Shadow's Restaurant.  It promises to be a wonderful evening so be sure to bring your friends along as well.

We will also be showcasing the art of Elvira Stavrowsky, better known as "Ringo." Ringo Stavrowsky's art is best described as whimsical Western,  a sort of Walt Disney approach to the West.  It will bring a twinkle to your eye.  Ringo, whose background is in interior design, was encouraged by her father in law, the famous artist Oleg Stavrowski, to paint the West as she saw it while growing up on the shores of the Black Sea in the Ukraine at Odessa.

"I remember seeing films and reading books about the West," she recalls. "I knew that I would find a way to get there.  Even when there was almost no hope of getting out of the Soviet Union I felt this special place calling to me and I knew that I belonged there.  I saw an overdubbed version of John Ford's "Stagecoach" and i was completely captivated by it.  I kept going back again and again until my friends began calling me "Ringo".  The name stuck and I did finally find my way to the wonderful  Wild West.  Originally  my work was more traditional but as I gained competence I found myself longing to do something different.  I began distorting and stylizing my work into something more interesting for me and into something that is  much more of a personal expression of how I feel about the West."

Among Ringo's pieces that we will be displaying are "Two of a Kind" a 16X20 Acrylic on Canvas which portrays the humorous relationship between a cowboy and his horse.  We will also have "War Party" and "The Archer"  two 16X20 acrylic on canvas pieces  and also "Hunters" a  24X35 acrylic which portray the American Indian in her singular way.  We also have "Gaucho" an 11X14 acrylic on canvas done in Ringo's singular style.

Art Design & Dine show at Clay Paper Scissors in Cheyenne

From Clay Paper Scissors in Cheyenne:

How are you braving the March snow? Feel a like the ground hogs lied to you? Got a little Cabin Fever? Then get out of the house and out to the galleries this Thursday! That's right, it's Art, Design and Dine this Thursday, March 10 from 5-8pm.

CPS's show this month, "Origins: Fifteen Years of Printmaking from the University of Wyoming", is a beautiful range of prints from 17 very talented artists.

All of the artists participating in Origins have at least one thing in common -- they have all passed through the doors of the University of Wyoming in the past fifteen years under the direction of faculty member Mark Ritchie. The idea of the project came about, as many good things in the printmaking world do, over a few pints at printmaking conferences, with the final conversation taking place at the Mid-America Print Council conference in Fargo, North Dakota the fall of 2008.

Two years later the resulting portfolio and exhibition have already began to connect a number of Artist Printmakers who all have printmaking roots in Wainwright Bungalow, # 1833, home of the print studio at the University.

As makers of multiples, printmakers have often created portfolio exchanges that allow all participants to share each other’s work. It is a lot like writing a note to someone, except in this case the 18 participants each have created an edition of 21 prints and each of them will receive a portfolio containing a print from all of the participants, the remaining three portfolios being for archiving and exhibiting.

As the prints came in it slowly became clear that many of the artists share more than just the print studio at the University of Wyoming.

There are common themes present in some of the work, conversations between abstraction and object representation, even the sense of color and space used by each artist. So now the question arises if these similarities have roots from seeds planted in our print studio in Laramie or are they purely coincidental.

Join us for some amazing art, great treats, and even better conversation this Thursday at Clay Paper Scissors. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/claypaperscissors

Ford Foundation announces new program to fund art spaces around the U.S.

The Ford Foundation announced new $100 million program to fund art spaces during the next 10 years. Last year, the foundation awarded a $1 million grant to ArtSpace Projects, a Minneapolis non-profit that finances live-work spaces for artists. Representatives from ArtSpace spoke last September at the Wyoming Arts Summit in Cheyenne and at the "Upstairs in Wyoming" conference last May in Sheridan.

Artspace Projects has received more than $1 million toward, among other things, transforming an abandoned public school in East Harlem into such a development, in partnership with El Barrio’s Operation Fightback, a New York community organization.

The project is to include 72 units of housing for artists and their families and a large space that can be used for art exhibitions, cultural events, conferences and gatherings of community groups.

Read the entire New York Times article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/arts/design/05ford.html?hp

Artspace launches toolkit to help communities find affordable space for the arts

Representatives from Minneapolis-based Artspace spoke at the "Living Upstairs in Wyoming" conference last spring in Sheridan and at the September 2009 Arts Summit in Cheyenne. They also conducted a site visit a few years ago in Casper.

Artspace now has designed a toolkit for communities to use as they investigate affordable spaces for the arts.

Here are some details from a press release:

Artspace Projects, the country’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts, is pleased to announce the launch of its Consulting Toolkit. This comprehensive resource will help arts organizations and advocates, community development professionals, and municipal leaders, effectively explore the process and options for development of affordable space for the arts in their communities.

With more than 25 properties developed nationwide, Artspace has long been recognized for setting the standard in creating affordable space for artists and arts organizations. Artspace’s projects are frequently cited as playing a critical role in bringing economic and physical rejuvenation to city centers large and small, while providing affordable space for area artists and arts organizations.

Artspace’s Consulting and New Projects division is in high demand as communities seek their expertise. In light of this demand, and in lieu of embarking on a full-scale consulting contract, Artspace’s Consulting and New Projects’ staff now has the Consulting Toolkit to offer as a next-step for some communities.

The Artspace Consulting Toolkit is an online tool, designed to help communities clarify their interest and determine the feasibility of creating affordable space for the arts. The Toolkit is self-guided, cost-effective, and offers a wide range of information including downloadable documents, relevant website links, and robust descriptions of steps to complete the entire process. Topics such as How to Survey Your Market, How to Analyze a Site, How to Identify Funding Sources and How to Identify and Cultivate Local Leaders are all covered as part of the Consulting Toolkit.

--snip--

“We hope people will look into this new tool,” said Wendy Holmes, Artspace vice president for consulting and resource development. “If an organization is interested, they can simply fill out the online questionnaire, and one of our staff consultants will contact them within five working days to discuss whether the Consulting Toolkit is the right resource to help them maximize their community’s opportunity.”

For more information on the Artspace Consulting Toolkit visit www.artspace.org and click on “Consulting.”

Miss "V" at Pinedale Library March 9

Miss "V" the Gypsy Cowbelle will be be conducting a program to celebrate Women's History Month on Tuesday, March 9, 1:30 p.m. at the Sublette County Public Library in Pinedale. The event is free and open to the public.

Earlier in the day, "V" will be the guest at the library's story hour. She''ll entertain the kids with stories and songs on her homemade instruments. That afternoon, she'll perform for the library's after-school program.

You can bring Miss "V" to your library or school or community center through a WAC Arts Across Wyoming grant. Just click on www.wyomingartscouncil.org and go to the "Grants" link on the left sidebar.

Paul Taylor performs in Casper Jan. 15

Wyoming Arts Council roster artist Paul Taylor performs in concert on Friday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m. in the John F. Welsh Auditorium at Natrona County High School in Casper.

Co-Sponsors: KCWY-13 & Mount Rushmore Broadcasting, Ramada Plaza, & Nicolaysen Art Museum.Call 265-1564 for details of a three-day Mural-making project. Partial funding is from the Wyoming Arts Council through the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Schneider Fund in the Wyoming Community Foundation, the McMurry Foundation, Natrona County School District No. 1, and the City of Casper.

From the ARTCORE web site:

Paul Taylor, Australian storyteller, didjeridoo player and traveler, came to the U.S. from Adelaide, South Australia, on the invitation of Bobby Bridger and the Adelaide-Austin, TX, sister city program. Bridger is a descendent of the legendary western pioneer, Jim Bridger. In 1986, Paul acted as guide for Bobby Bridger on an extensive tour of South Australia. Bridger performed his acclaimed one-man show "Ballad of the West," on tour in the outback and to the Pitjantatjara Aboriginal community. Bridger invited Paul to Texas and then to Wyoming to act in "Ballad of the West" at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Attending the Jackson Hole Centennial Rendezvous in 1990, Paul was given the name of "Walking Stick." Paul loved his visit to the U.S. and decided to return in 1992 for an extensive walkabout of the U.S. He is based in Laramie, Wyoming - the heart of America's outback. Paul graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1980. His interest in the Aboriginal culture of his own country is born from time spent as a social worker among the Aboriginal people and was introduced to the tradition of storytelling and the music of the didjeridoo. Paul is mentored by Yidumduma Bill Harney, custodian of the Wardaman culture in Australia's Northern Territory. In the mid-eighties Paul trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, UK. He worked professionally as an actor and clown, joined a circus show and performed throughout England, Scotland and Wales. He returned to his homeland and worked for the Adelaide Festival of Arts and in regional theatres throughout Australia. Paul has won 6 National awards including NAPPA Gold Award, Parent's Choice Gold Award and Storytelling World. Paul's credits include: New Orleans Jazz Festival, National Geographic, and Disney Music Center LA.

You're invited to pre-Summit workshop on arts-based development in the West

This e-mail invitation comes from wyomingarts' colleague Randy Oestman:

Greetings Everyone,

I'm hoping you might be able to spread the word on this Pre-Summit Workshop I am putting together. Anyone may attend free regardless of attending the WAC Arts Summit.

Pre-Summit Workshop
"Creating and Sustaining Arts Based Development in the Rural West"
Facilitated by Dan Wecks
Wednesday September 23, 2009
Location: Cheyenne Depot Museum
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This Workshop is free to all, but attendees must RSVP!

More than ever communities across Wyoming are realizing the importance of Community Development and the Arts with may of the same questions being raised. Where do we start? How do we determine and communicate the importance of arts and creativity? What are possible projects? How do we attract participants? How do we fund this project and make it sustainable?

This will be an open discussion exploring successful and unsuccessful examples of Community Development and Arts projects from smaller communities with an opportunity to glean information from a very successful Community Development Leader. This meeting will also provide an opportunity for community leaders with similar visions to network and connect for assistance in making things happen throughout Wyoming.

Dan Wecks has a broad background of experience including government, non-profit, and private business. Before deciding to follow his heart to do what mattered to him, he was President of a large real estate and development company. He was elected to the Manitou City Council and later as its Mayor. During this time he became the Executive Director of the Business of Art Center, a business incubator for artists and arts organizations in Manitou Springs.. Dan’s twin loves are assisting arts/community organizations, schools and government in looking to creative solutions to community issues and helping build Strength Based organizations through the development of their people.

In recognition of challenging economic times, the Wyoming Arts Council is offering travel stipends to Wyoming artists, arts organization representatives and community leaders interested in attending the Arts Summit Sept. 24-25 at Little America in Cheyenne.

Thank you!

Cheers,

Randy Oestman
Wyoming Arts Council
Community Development and the Arts Specialist
307.777.7109