Trio Fine Art in Jackson offers full slate of summer exhibits

Kathryn Turner

Wyomingarts made the acquaintance today (via phone) with Kathryn Mapes Turner, one of the artist-owners of Trio Fine Art gallery in Jackson.

Wyomingarts has yet to visit this gallery, but will make up for the oversight in two weeks while shepherding the WAC's fellowship exhibit curator around the state.

Kathryn says that there are four landscape painters involved with the gallery (it began with three, thus the name): Kathryn, September Vhay, Lee Carlman Riddell and Jennifer L. Hoffman.

If you're in The Hole this week, you're in luck -- the gallery is holding a reception featuring September Vhay's work on Thursday, July 7, 5-8 p.m. Here's the gallery's full event schedule:

September Vhay

July 7 -- September Vhay
July 28 -- Lee and Ed Riddell 
August 18 -- Jennifer Hoffman 
September 8 -- Kathryn Mapes Turner 
September 9 -- Palettes to Palates 

Kathryn's Wyoming roots go deep. According to her web site bio, she's the fourth generation of her family raised on the Triangle X Ranch in Grand Teton National Park. She's been awarded with such honors as Wyoming Best Watercolor Artist and was included in SouthwestArt Magazine’s “Annual Profile of Young Artists with Promising Careers.”

See samples of her work at www.turnerfineart.com

Trio Fine Art, 545 N. Cache Street, is located four blocks north of the Jackson town square across from the north end of the visitors’ center. It’s open Wednesday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Kathryn says there’s always an artist minding the store. What better reason do you need to drop by, say hi and view some fine art?

NEAT exhibit opens July 1 at Lander Art Center

"Black Coal" by Colleen Friday

The Native Emerging Artist Training (NEAT) exhibition is scheduled to open July 1, 2011 and run through August 6 at the Lander Art Center in downtown Lander.

The NEAT program began in 2009 to help train Native artists from the Wind River Reservation how to enter juried exhibitions and how to market their artwork.

This year, the show consists of young artists from Wyoming Indian Middle School as well as skillful adult artists.

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

Functional meets fanciful at "Upcycling 101" in Casper

Wyomingarts had a chance to meet with Casper artist and performer Betsy Bower on Sunday. Betsy's mom, writer Cindy Bower, arranged the meeting as she was wrapping up the annual Wyoming Writers, Inc., conference at Ramada Riverside.

Everyone in Casper was out and about this weekend, no doubt because it was the first good weather of the spring. Betsy had participated Saturday in "Upcycling 101" at the Winter Methodist Church and the adjacent James Reeb Memorial Community Playground in north Casper. When she wasn't demonstrating how to upcycle old wine bottles into drinking glasses using a portable forge, she was peddling her blendercycle. Here's a description of the contraption from an article by Tom Morton in Sunday's Casper Star-Tribune:

Bower had on display a creation that wasn’t particularly useful, definitely not beautiful, but certainly fun. 

She enhanced a child’s bicycle by mounting a blender on a wooden platform on the rear bumper and running a vertical axle from the blender to the top of the rear tire, which would drive the axle to power the blender. Sort of margaritas on the go. 

Forget the margaritas. Betsy spent at least part of the day pedaling smoothies into an eco-friendly froth. Anne MacKinnon's Little Hands organization had several work stations for children and adults at the event. The organization, funded by the Wyoming Arts Council, the Natrona County Recreation Joint Powers Board and AmeriCorps, operates free programs for children 6 and under who, with their parents, learn art. 

She, a few children and a couple of others involved with Little Hands played and created art by smearing thinset mortar — used in laying tile — on a sheet of plastic covering a worn metal patio table. They chose stones, discarded jewelry, lids and other items from a box, then placed them at random in the thinset to create a tabletop.

You can call it upcycling or recycling or reusing. Or just creativity.

Call for entries: Lander Art Center juried show

From Dannine Donaho at the Lander Art Center:

At a conference where an artist once spoke about her work in detail, the audience laughed out loud when halfway through she said, "As it turns out, I'm from Pittsburgh." After learning so much about her artwork it seemed perfectly fitting that her large steel sculptures would be influenced by this historically industrial city.

Many of us make an exodus at some point in our lives-- to seek out a life of our own. Those who don't make an exodus might gladly identify with their background. Either way, our roots often appear in subtle and interesting ways even if we don't intend for it to happen or notice until later.

In this exhibition: "As it turns out, I'm from..." The object is to connect your artwork to your roots. The connection may be as simple as the artist mentioned above from Pittsburgh who makes large steel sculptures. Or it may be a connection more direct like painting place related childhood memories or using found objects from your hometown. The interpretation of the connection is in the hands of the artist. Your "home" can be a city, state, country, culture or even a state of mind. 

Whatever the connection, the Lander Art Center wants you to discover it and share it with us. Link for more info: http://www.landerartcenter.com/juriedshow

Michigan researchers find that cuts in arts funding hamper economic recovery

This comes from a story posted yesterday on www.physorg.com

Michigan is hurting its chances at economic recovery by slashing funding for the arts, according to a study by Michigan State University researchers. 

 The study found that arts and crafts activities – such as painting, dancing and filmmaking – are closely related to success of the scientists, engineers and other innovators who create new companies and inventions that stimulate the economy.  

Yet during the past decade Michigan has cut funding for the arts by some 90 percent – from about $25 million in 2002 to $2.3 million this year. In Detroit, officials attempting to balance the budget have proposed large cuts to the city’s arts and cultural institutions. 

 "Politicians often strip funding for arts and cultural assets, assuming they are expendable ‘extras,’ but this may be a serious policy error based on false assumptions,” said Rex LaMore, lead researcher on the project and director of MSU’s Center of Community and Economic Development.

Mother's Day grand-reopening of Night Heron Books in downtown Laramie

From the Downtown Laramie Facebook site: "It was a beautiful Mother's Day downtown. Perfect for celebrating the grand re-opening of Night Heron Books!"

Cheyenne International Film Festival to screen 47 indie films at Historic Atlas Theatre

The 2nd Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) screens at the Historic Atlas Theatre in Downtown Cheyenne May 19-22. The program will consist of 47 independent films at the historic Atlas Theatre.

Last year, CIFF honored BIFF alumnus and Oscar nominee Daniel Junge. His documentary, “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010.

“We like to include the community as much as possible in CIFF,” CIFF Producer Alan O’Hashi said. “We have a Call2ACTion program similar to BIFF’s which links up with local non-profits and we show films that allow each organization to ‘talk-back’ with the audience about their issues in the save space of art, in our case, film.”

The Call2Action partners this year include, The Old West Museum (1911 Silent Film), the Southeast Wyoming Intertribal Powwow Association (Divided Trails by Jerry Aronson), V.F.W. Post 1881 (A Warm Wind), Safehouse (Mother by Chris Fauchere) Grant Family Farms (What’s Organic About Organic) and the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance (Your Neighbor’s Child).

Kicking off the CIFF is a day-long event called Exploring the Creative Economy Conference and Expo featuring Hollywood screenwriter Rachel Powell and a video production seminar by Michael Conti. 

For more information about the festival program, visit the website at http://www.ciff1.com and join the CIFF facebook page at http://www.cheyenneinternationalfilmfestival.org

Attention artists and artisans -- check out the Wyoming Made program

You may have seen Annie Wood of the Wyoming Business Council on Channel 5's early morning show. She promotes the Wyoming Made program. Her office annually issues a spiffy full-color Wyoming Made Product Catalog. In it, you'll find well-known homegrown companies such as Chugwater Chili Corp., Coal Creek Coffee in Laramie, High Plains Press in Glendo and Roy Pilcher's Bears and Company in Devils Tower. There are makers of soy candles, bison jerky, natural soaps, furniture, clothes, etc. Many of those featured in the catalog are artists and artisans.

Here's some background info:

The Wyoming First Program is a way to identify and showcase great products made in Wyoming. All of the companies call Wyoming home and are proud of the quality they represent. All of the Wyoming First products are unique and made in Wyoming.

The Wyoming First Program is designed to assist Wyoming companies with the identification and promotion of their Wyoming Made products or substantially enhanced products and services. Membership allows Wyoming First participants to use the familiar "Bucking Horse and Rider" design stickers and hang tags on their products.

Wyoming First is a program of the Wyoming Business Council. The opportunities for Wyoming First Members include: the ability to use the Wyoming First Bucking Horse and Rider stickers and tags, notification of marketing opportunities, listing on this Web site, one free roll of 250 stickers with the option to purchase additional rolls, eligibility for Trade Show Incentive Grants, Wyoming First posters, and more!

FMI: Annie Wood, Senior Marketing & Attraction Specialist, Wyoming First Program Manager, Wyoming Business Council. Direct: 307.777.2844  Cell: 307.275.5298

On the web at http://www.wyomingbusiness.org/ or http://www.wyomingfirst.org/

Wyomingarts encourages the state's artists to contact Annie about becoming a member. There is a small fee but you get a lot for your money.

Wyomingarts met with Annie from Wyoming First and Anne Dramko of the Arts Alliance of Cheyenne on Wednesday morning. We talked about ways we can work together to promote creative work by Wyoming residents. The Arts Alliance of Cheyenne works with arts organizations and individual artists in Laramie County. The Arts Alliance's user-friendly web site features a calendar of events and a directory of links to local arts and cultural resources.

Anne is interested in working with the Wyoming Arts Council in promoting artists. The WAC is in the process of putting its Artist Image Registry on its web site. It's been a long process but we at the WAC plan to have the AIR up and running in June. It will be a database searchable by artist's name, medium(s) and location. The AIR will show up to five images from each visual artist along with web site and/or blog addresses and other contact info. This will be one more way that the WAC supports the state's individual artists.

Anne at the Arts Alliance of Cheyenne already is planning to link up with the AIR. Down the road, the WAC will encourage its arts partners around Wyoming to provide links to AIR and encourage their local artists to register with it.

Both the WAC and Wyoming First have a statewide mission but both know that arts happen at the local level. More and more communities are forging local partnerships among artists, arts organizations, arts councils, retail businesses, farmers' markets, local governments, civic and church organizations, etc. The WAC even has Community Arts Partnership (CAP) grants that provides funding and technical assistance for these community-based arts initiatives. Get more info from the WAC's Randy Oestman at 307-777-7742.

Wyomingarts will keep you posted on the progress of the AIR project. Meanwhile, we'll see you at your local arts events this summer.

Attention arts entrepreneurs: WY Entrepreneur SBDC’s Sustainable Profits program may be for you

From Wyoming Entrepreneur:

Would you like to:

• Upgrade your business to one that is more eco-friendly and
• sustainable?
• Discover new markets and customers?
• Save money by reducing waste and energy costs?
• Develop a business plan to guide you through the process?
• Receive grant funding of up $2000 to help you implement your sustainability plans?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the WyomingEntrepreneur SBDC’s Sustainable Profits program is for you!
Enrollment is free — but limited. Don’t wait. Enroll today!

Understanding and implementing sustainable business practices in your business can save you money, help you reach new markets, provide a healthy and safe workplace for you and your employees, and help your business survive in a world that is increasingly focused on sustainability.

Wyoming Entrepreneur SBDC is offering a valuable training program and grant package to help you understand and implement sustainable business practices in your business. It allows you to become more efficient, profitable and able to serve your customers for years to come.

The Wyoming Entrepreneur Sustainable Profits package is worth up to $2,500 to your business. This free program includes:

• A seven session online course that will guide you through the process of developing a sustainable business plan. This course will include a one-hour webinar each week plus group coaching sessions.
• A year-long license to the powerful online tool, “Solutions at the Speed of Business,” featuring modules on Lighting, Heating and Cooling, and Office Equipment. Visit www.NatCapSolutions.org
• Free consultation offered by the business specialists at Wyoming Entrepreneur.
• Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible to apply for a grant of up to $2000 that may be used to implement sustainable practices identified in their business plan.

To be eligible for the Sustainable Profits program you must:

• Have been in business at least six months or obtain prior approval to apply from sustainability team.
• Agree to the program terms, specified in the application.
• Be a Wyoming company.

GRANT REQUIREMENTS:

• Complete an application. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 30, 2011.
• Attend a 7-week online course and participate in group coaching sessions, write a sustainable business plan, and utilize the three “Solutions at the Speed of Business” tools.
• Participants who meet these requirements will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $2000 to support implementation of their sustainability plans.
• Participants will also be expected to report on their progress and outcomes and showcase their successes.

Download

Sustainable Profits Brochure or Sustainable Profits Application

Sunstainible Business Consulting:

Susan Jerke
Regional Director, Wyoming Entrepreneur

2001 West Lakeway Road, Suite D
Gillette, Wyoming 82718

307.682.5232 or in Wyoming 888.956.6060

Email Susan

Ways for artists and artisans to help Japan

From Cornelia Carey at the Craft Emergency Relief Fund:

All of us are standing by with great concern as the aftermath of last Friday’s powerful earthquake in Japan continues to unfold. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families as well as those who are on the front lines of the relief efforts there. 

A number of you have written looking for suggestions about where to send contributions and aid. We strongly encourage supporting the first responders and want to pass along Network for Good’s list of some of them: http://www1.networkforgood.org/help-survivors-pacific-quake-tsunami. We have also put feelers out to the arts community in Japan about artists and cultural workers who could use our support further down the line. We will keep you informed about what we uncover. Please also let us know if you have contacts or recommendations for us.

Still time to register for Miss V's song-writing workshop at Miner's Delight B&B

Miss "V" The Gypsy Cowbelle will teach a song-writing workshop May 20-22 at the Miner's Delight Bed & Breakfast in Atlantic City.

Registration is limited to 16 students. Workshop-only fee: $150. Workshop and lodging fee: one person: $315 in a room or $285 in a cabin. For two attendees who desire to share a room or cabin, call us for rates. The lodging fee includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday's lunch and dinner are not included, but are available within walking distance. For more information, contact Barbara and Bob Townsend at 307-332-0248 or bandb@minersdelightinn.com, or “V” at 307-231-9252 or gypsycowbelle@gmail.com. 

Corridor Gallery debuts "Abstracted Landscapes in the Kingdom of the Sky Queen" March 25

The Corridor Gallery announces the debut showing of “Abstracted Landscapes in the Kingdom of the Sky Queen” by Casper artists Maria Rose and E.K. Wimmer. Opening Friday, March 25, 7 p.m. and showing through Sunday, March 27, “Abstracted Landscapes in the Kingdom of the Sky Queen” is mixed-media assembly based closely on a story. The chronicle depicted is that of a general whose quest for a mystic book holding the secrets of creation guarded by the Sky Queen and her loyal Bird Army. The story is brought to life with sculpture, paintings, collage and motion picture. Rose and Wimmer meticulously deliver their original whimsical mixed-media story transporting the viewer into full concept immersion.

E.K. Wimmer and Maria Rose biography:

E.K. Wimmer was born in New York in 1980 and spent his early years in New Mexico. He began making short films and studying classical music around the age of 11. Maria Rose was born in 1981 in Havre, Montana. She began formal art training at age 13. E.K. and Maria attended art classes together in high school under the training of the allegorical painter Michael Copeland. In 1999 they co-wrote “A Tendentious Man Discovers Theology”, their first short film together. After high school they both studied art in Europe with Michael Copeland. In 1999 E.K. had his first solo photography show called Photomontages. That same year they both attended college in NM for art. Maria, attending by the Lorraine Schula Art Scholarship studied painting and E.K. studied photography. E.K. and Maria were married in the summer of 2001 and shortly after transferred to the University of Montana to finish their undergraduate degrees. During this time, E.K.’s photography was represented in the Steve Bicknell Gallery in London, England. After completing their undergraduate education in Montana the couple moved to Denver to begin coursework at the University of Denver, both seeking master’s degrees in art history. While in Denver they exhibited in several shows between the years 2007-2009, including E.K.’s second solo exhibit, She, at the 023 Gallery and a duel show between Maria and E.K. called Silhouettes and Abstracts at the Other Side Arts Gallery. The couple also organized and showed in the Iandi Art Movement Spring Salon in 2007. They have co-written and directed several music videos and short films including Peel This Onion and Simply Call My Name, the latter of which was screened at the 5F Film Festival. The couple and their work have been featured in several publications including: Phosphorescence, Side Down and Hey Quarterly. The couple has work in private collections throughout North America and Europe including New York City, London and Los Angeles. E.K. Wimmer and Maria Rose moved to Casper, WY in 2009. E.K. is currently the curator of the Wyoming Veterans’ Memorial Museum and Maria teaches art history at Casper College.

Event Title: Abstracted Landscapes in the Kingdom of the Sky Queen
Opening Date/Time: March 25, 2011 doors open at 7 pm, cash bar
Showing: Regular business hours, Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday Noon – 4pm
Where: The Corridor Gallery 120 East second street Casper Wyoming 82601
Contact: The corridor 307 333 7035, Zak direct 307 262 3549 or Reed direct 307 259 8001