Big West Arts Festival celebrates sixth year

http://www.bigwestartsfestival.com

The Big West Arts Festival celebrates its sixth year as a large cultural event on the front lawn of the Sheridan College campus in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Its site is nestled in the valley with the dramatic Big Horn Mountains to the west and the spacious, wide-open plains to the east.  Sheridan lies midway between the Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park.

Sheridan College is sponsoring and hosting the festival on its beautiful campus.  Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD) is one of the seven community colleges in Wyoming that includes Sheridan College and Gillette College.  Sheridan College is known for its strong academics, arts, and variety of technical programs.  For more information about Sheridan College, visit www.sheridan.edu.

For demographics, cultural activities and services, call the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce at (800) 453-3650, or visit www.sheridanwyomingchamber.com.

Donkey Creek Festival June 24-26 at Gillette College

The Donkey Creek Festival takes place June 24-June 26 with music, vendors, film and food.

The Donkey Creek Festival kicks off on the evening of June 24, with an Avenues of Art Reception at the Gillette College Tech Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The night concludes with a free outdoor film on the lawn of Gillette Campus featuring the animated hit Megamind.

On June 25, the day begins with a 5K walk/run at the Gillette College Tech Center hosted by the Campbell County Parks and Recreation Department. Then, the Boy Scouts of America hosts an all-you-can-eat pancake feed at the Gillette College Health Sciences Building beginning at 8 a.m. The Classic Car Show runs for five hours beginning at 10 a.m. at the Gillette College Tech Center parking lot.

Both Saturday and Sunday is filled with 12 hours of live music from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. A beer garden is available from noon-9 p.m. Saturday, and from noon-7 p.m. on Sunday.

Altogether, the Avenues of Art Reception, musical performances, outdoor film, and the classic car show are all free and open to the public.

Schedule announced for UW Snowy Range Theatre & Dance Festival

The 2011 Snowy Range Summer Theatre and Dance Festival, presented by the University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance, will feature three full-length plays in June and July.

The festival, established in 2005 as an outgrowth of UW's longstanding summer theatre program and its annual dance festival, opens June 14-18, with Theresa Rebeck's backstage comedy "The Understudy" and continues June 28-July 2, with playwright-in-residence William Missouri Downs' new comedy/drama "Forgiving John Lennon" and July 12-16, with Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd's musical revue "A ... My Name is Alice."

The Dance Festival Student Showcase Concert (July 27), Dance Festival Gala Concert (July 30) and Vertical Dance at Vedauwoo (Aug. 20-21) conclude the festival.

All theatre performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the UW Fine Arts studio theatre. Both festival dance performances will be in the UW Arts and Sciences auditorium, with the Dance Festival Student Showcase Concert beginning at 7 p.m. and the Dance Festival Gala Concert beginning at 4 p.m. Vertical Dance will be at the Vedauwoo Recreation Area.

Tickets for theatre performances cost $10 for the public, $8 for senior citizens and $5 for students. Tickets for dance are $12 at the door or $10 pre-purchased. Tickets for vertical dance cost $6.50 per person or dog.

For tickets and information, call 307-766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts 

Noted actor Wilford Brimley will be the featured guest at the Cheyenne International Film Festival

Wilford Brimley in "The China Syndrome"

Actor Wilford Brimley and his wife Beverly will appear at the Cheyenne International Film Festival on Saturday, May 21. The evening will be co-presented by the Historic Plains Hotel, the CFD Old West Museum and Hands Across the Saddle. The ticket price is $30.

Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Historic Atlas Theatre and appetizers by the Plains Hotel and wine by the Table Mountain Vineyards.

Wilford Brimley most recently appeared in Did You Hear About the Morgans? The film was set in Wyoming and starred Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker. He is known for his roles in Seinfeld, The Firm, The China Syndrome, The Natural, Cocoon, The Hotel New Hampshire and Absence of Malice. He and his wife Beverly are founders of Hands Across the Saddle based in Greybull, Wyoming.

The audience will also be treated to a demonstration of traditional Northern Arapaho dancing and singing by members of the Wind River Dancers and the Wind River Tribal College language classes. The Plains Hotel has a long history with the Northern Arapaho, as a painting of Chief Little Shield hangs prominently in the lobby of the hotel.

The feature film on Saturday is a never-been-seen-before black and white silent film found in the archives of the Oregon State Historical Office. The silent film will have an original and spontaneous live piano score performed by Rattlesnake Jake Martin.

Pinedale LocalFest features food, jazz and a movie

Painted Sage Farm presents a gala reception for the 2011 Spring Into Summer LocalFest. Featuring locally grown food, drink and the compelling food film "FRESH, The Movie." Gourmet tapas prepared by Wyoming culinary artist Christine Wylde. Accompanied by favorite local musical talents, Johnson & Stowe. Sponsored by the Sublette Local Food Alliance and UW Cooperative Extension. Thursday, April 28, 6-9 p.m. at Sublette County Public Library, 155 S. Tyler, Pinedale.

Claire Lynch Band headlines BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival in Worland Aug. 19-20

The Grammy Award-winning Claire Lynch Band (pictured above) headlines the seventh annual Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival August 19-20, 2011, in Worland.

Other performers include Spring Creek, Left Over Biscuits, and the Mountain Holler Bluegrass Band. Also a jam session.

The festival gets under way on Friday, Aug. 19th at 5:30 p.m. For Friday, the festivities end at 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, August 20th, the event is from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Admission is free.

The event includes the Wyoming State BBQ Championship sanctioned by KCBS. Each year 30-plus BBQ cookers come to compete for this year's prizes totaling over $7,275 (plus trophies and ribbons).

FMI: http://wyo-bbq-bluegrass.com/

April 15 Brazilian Dance Workshop highlights fiesta at UW

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Application deadline extended to April 22 for Big West Arts Festival

News from the Big West Arts Festival:

You are invited to submit to be one of 50 exhibitors at the 6th annual celebration of the Big West Arts Festival taking place on the beautiful front lawn of Sheridan College at the foothills of the majestic Big Horn Mountains. Last year was a huge success and we are working hard to make our event the premier arts festival in the region. By keeping our number of artists to a reasonable number we strive to make our festival very lucrative for everyone involved. Our goal is to provide the public and our selected exhibitors with a show of unparalleled quality.

This Artist Prospectus and Exhibitor Application includes essential details on exhibitor participation and should be read carefully prior to applying.

Application deadline extended to April 22, 2011

The Big West Arts Festival’s mission is to show the breadth of fine art and fine craft that is not only found in Wyoming and the West, but to show the west what’s going on around the nation. It’s not a western art festival, but rather an Art Festival in the Big West. The Big West Arts Festival welcomes all different styles, forms and images from traditional to the avant-garde.

The Big West Arts Festival is a two-day outdoor celebration of the visual, culinary, and performing arts. The primary focus of the event is the juried exhibition of gallery quality fine art and fine crafts, giving our audience the rare opportunity to meet, interact with, view the works of and purchase art from the individuals who have created it. Additionally, the Arts Festival offers artist demonstrations, educational art activities for children and adults, live performances, special curated exhibitions and high-quality outdoor food vending. The Big West Arts Festival is a tax-exempt, art services organization, and all proceeds are used to produce the annual Arts Festival.

 Artist Application (116k) 
 Artist Information.pdf (142k)

CIFF announces its 2011 film program April 14 at the Link Gallery in Cheyenne

The Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) gets underway April 14 when its film program is released at the Link Gallery, 124 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne. The reception will be catered by Suite 1901 with a wine tasting by the Table Mountain Vinyards of Huntley, Wyoming. It is held in conjunction with the First Thursday Art Design & Dine Walk through downtown Cheyenne.

The CIFF which opens at the Atlas Theatre May 19 will feature over 40 films of all genres from Wyoming, the U.S. and from around the world.

The CIFF Call2ACTion program links up with local nonprofit community-based issues. Films are screened with the organization or cause members participating on a panel discussing the film in the context of their local organization. This year’s Call2ACTion partners are the Safe House Cheyenne, the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance, the VFW Post 1881, the Southeast Wyoming Intertribal Powwow Association and Grant Farms‘ Community Supported Agriculture program.

When released, the program is still subject to change based on the availability of filmmakers and celebrities. For more information, join the facebook page.

Casper College Multicultural Film Festival presents "The Secret of Roan Inish"

The second film of the Casper College Multicultural Film Festival, "Exploring Ireland Through Films," is "The Secret of Roan Inish," which tells the story of a young girl named Fiona, and the tales her grandfather tells of Selkies (creatures who are both woman and seal) and an Irish island called Roan Inish. The film, directed by John Sayles, will be shown on Friday, March 25 beginning at 7 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium, located in the Wold Physical Science Center, Room 103.

In his review, published in the Chicago Sun Times, movie critic Roger Ebert said: "One can easily guess how this legend could have been simplified and jollied up in other hands, how it could have been about cute little Selkies. But legends are, after all, told by adults, not children, and usually they record something essential to the culture that produces them. What this legend says, I think, is that the people who tell it live on the land but live from the sea, so that their loyalties are forever divided."

Casper College English instructor Joseph Campbell will lead the post-film discussion.

"The Secret of Roan Inish" is free and open to all and is sponsored by the Casper College Honors Program, the Casper College International Studies Program, and Casper College.

Wyoming Lifestyles Magazine wants to know about your favorite summer arts activities

Wyoming Lifestyles Magazine is creating a reader-and-fan's list of TOP 25 THINGS TO DO IN WYOMING IN THE SUMMER. See the discussion tab for details and share your recommendations! Go to http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?pic=19888&uid=258768099856

Don't forget the great summer arts events in WY! Some examples:

·                     Beartrap Festival

·                     Big Horn Mtn. Festival

·                     Big West Arts Festival

·                     Donkey Creek Jazz Festival

·                     Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering

·                     Grand Teton Music Festival

·                     NoWoodStock Festival

·                     Oyster Ridge Music Festival

 

And so on. See list on blog sidebar.

Medal of Arts winner: Dance has made "an important contribution to our world"

Jacob's Pillow Director Ella Baff receives National Medal of Arts from Pres. Barack Obama

Ella Baff, executive and artistic director of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Mass., accepted a National Medal of Arts at the White House on behalf of her organization. Among the ten arts-world awardees, including Van Cliburn, Meryl Streep, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones and James Taylor among others, Jacob's Pillow was the sole organization to be honored. It's the only dance presenter to garner the medal since the awards were first handed out in 1984.

Here is what Ms. Baff said (as quoted by Debra Levine March 4 on the artsmeme blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-levine/post_1787_b_830561.html:

"Less is known about dance than the other art forms, and there are many reasons why. I hope this visibility will carry meaning beyond the day, and that people will become more aware about dance," she added. "It's a real profession, and it's made an important contribution to our world."

Volunteers needed for RMTA Festival in Cheyenne

The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players are looking for people to volunteer for the Rocky Mountain Theatre Association Festival Feb. 9-12 in Cheyenne.

The festival will involve theatres from throughout the Rocky Mountain region including showcase performances, workshops, keynotes, and theatre competitions and auditions.

Volunteers are needed in various capacities each day. Below is a list of the dates and volunteer opportunities.

Wednesday February 9th:
Registration 8:00-4:00
Volunteers needed=2
10:00-1:00
Volunteers needed=2 (Timer and a Stage Manager)
2:00-3:00
Volunteers needed=2 (Timer and Stage Manager)
Performance-DRACULA
7:30 South High School
Volunteers needed=House Areas (Ushers, etc)

Thursday February 10th:
Registration 8:00-4:00
Volunteers needed=2
10:00-11:30
Volunteers needed=2 (Stage manager and Timer)
2:00-3:30-Performance at Mary Godfrey
Volunteers needed=1 (Stage Manager)
Performance 7:30
Volunteers needed=House Areas (Ushers, etc)

Friday February 11th:
8:00-4:00-Registration
Volunteers needed=2
10:00-1:00
Volunteers needed=2 (Timer and Stage Manager)
1:00-4:00-Tech Olympics-Maria
1:00-4:00-Bill Bowers-Mary Godfrey
Volunteers needed=1 (Stage Manager)
Performance 7:30
Volunteers needed=House Areas (Ushers, etc)

Saturday February 12th:
8:00-4:00-Registration
Volunteers needed=2
Performance 7:30
Volunteers needed=House Areas (Usher, etc)

BIG NEED!!!!!
2 Cocktail Hour Sponsors!
($250 each fee to sponsor)

If you are interested in volunteering, please email your contact information to dheying@cheyennelittletheatre.org

We will then pass this onto the organizers of the event.

For more information please go to www.cheyennelittletheatre.org or www.rmta.net

Bluegrass camps for kids July 6-8 in Buffalo

http://www.bighornmountainfestival.com

Kinser Jazz Festival tickets now on sale for Grammy-winning Yellowjackets

From a Casper College press release:

Tickets are now on sale for the Casper College Kinser Jazz Festival concert featuring the jazz-instrumental group Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The two-time Grammy Award-winning Yellowjackets, first formed in 1977, now feature original members Russell Ferrante (keyboards) and Jimmy Haslip (bass), along with Bob Mintzer (saxophone) and Will Kennedy (drums).

The group's 2008 album "Lifecycle" was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Ferrante was nominated for Best Instrumental Composer for the track "Claire's Closet" at the 2009 Grammy Awards. The group won a Grammy in 1986 for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and again in 1988 for Best Jazz Fusion Performance.

"Yellowjackets is known for the group's blending of jazz and funk, and are considered to be among the premier working jazz bands. We are thrilled to have the group as the headline act for this concert,* said
Jerome Fleg, jazz festival director.

Opening for Yellowjackets will be the Wyoming All-State Jazz Band, under the direction of Erik Applegate, jazz bassist and composer.

The Kinser Jazz Festival, now in its 44th year, provides a setting for high school and junior high/middle school band and choir ensembles to perform in a noncompetitive setting over a two-day period, according to Fleg.

Tickets for the Tuesday night concert featuring Yellowjackets are $15 each and may be purchased by calling the Casper College Music Department at 307-268-2606.

In photo (l to r): Russell Ferrante, keyboards; Bob Mintzer, saxophone; Jimmy Haslip, bass; Will Kennedy, drums.

FMI: Jerome Fleg, Casper College: 268-2246, jfleg@caspercollege.edu

Wyoming Community Media seeks intern/volunteer

WCM needs an intern or volunteer to cultivate additional capital and human resources in the forms of in kind and in cash contributions and volunteers for two events The Shoot Out Cheyenne 24 hour film making festival October 15 - 17 and the Cheyenne International Film Festival in May 2011. There are on going tasks related to fund development - sponsorships, events and donations from individuals and volunteer cultivation.

FMI: http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/servewyoming/OpenAboutOrganizationAction.do?organizationId=276101

Call for entries: 2011 Cheyenne International Film Festival

Cheyenne International Film Festival Seeks Movies for 2011.

Help develop the film and digital media community by supporting the Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) is a production of Wyoming Community Media (WCM) and set for May 20 - 22 2011, at the Historic Atlas Theater.

CIFF2 is now accepting entries through March 18, 2011. We're especially friendly to first-time filmmakers since CIFF is a grassroots festival. The CALL2ACTion program this year seeks movies about the empowerment of women and uplifting stories about people beating homelessness and poverty.

The mission of WCM is to encourage and celebrate the art of film and digital media through creative forums for artistic and social awareness in the community served.

CIFF is accepting movie entries in four categories: Feature films, Wyoming Showcase, Short films and CIFF Promo Videos. Click the tabs to learn more and enter. CIFF will notify you only your movie has been selected around April 1, 2010.

* GENERAL MOVIE SELECTION GUIDELINES Movies must have been completed on or after January 1, 2008.
* Screeners should be viewable on-line. When you enter, you'll be asked provide a link/password to your movie uploaded to www.vimeo.com
* If your movie is selected, it must be submitted as high-resolution Quicktime Movie H.264/MPG4 video and ACC audio files - either HD or SD on a hard drive, DVD or other media to be played as a digital file. If we can't play your movie, it won't be seen.
* Mark each File with the title, run time, your contact information.
* A media kit isn't required, but remember to include 100 word synopsis of your project.
* All entries will are the property of CIFF, hard drives will be returned at the producers' expense
* CIFF isn't responsible for files damaged during shipment. At the discretion of CIFF, a replacement may be requested from the entrant - shipping costs are paid by the entrant.
* CIFF reserves the right to interpret the guidelines and enforce them at its discretion. They can be changed without notice, so keep checking back.

OPT OUT OF PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION
* Entrants agree that all information about their movie may be published electronically on the festival web page, on TV, and trailers; and all hard copy materials including but not limited to newspaper ads, programs, posters.
* Movies may be shown in part or their entirety on non-commercial or educational TV and tentatively titled "CIFF Presents", or in off-season promotional screenings. This is an "opt out" system. You may opt out by sending an email to the festival upon notification.

For more information:
Alan O'Hashi and Michael Conti
The Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF)
Cheyenne, WY 82001
307-509-0182 (read less)
Help develop the film and digital media community by supporting the Cheyenne International Film Festival (CIFF) is a production of Wyoming Community Media (WCM) and set for May 20 - 22 2011.

CIFF2 is now accepting entries through March 18, 2011. We're especially friendly to first-time filmmakers since CIFF is a grassroots festival.

Help wanted: Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival is looking for people to take tickets and check credentials and several other tasks at the event in nearby Park City, Utah, from Jan. 20-30. Get more info at http://webapp.sundance.org/jobs/index.asp. Film festival updates now on Facebook.  

Call for entries: International Forest Film Festival

For more information on this press release, contact: Lisa Samford, Executive Director, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, (307) 733-7016, lisa@jhfestival.org or Sylvia Chen, United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat. chen14@un.org

Jackson Hole, WY – An International Forest Film Festival competition to mark the International Year of Forests, 2011 has named Vance Martin, Jan McAlpine, and Cristina Mittermeier as the judges who will select winning films from 18 finalists in six categories.

The International Forest Film Festival competition, launched by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, will announce the finalists in December 2010, and the winners will be honoured at the global launch of Forests 2011 at UN Headquarters in New York in February 2011.

“The International Forest Film Festival offers a unique opportunity to bring the issues and objectives of Forests 2011 to a global audience,” said Ms. McAlpine, director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat. “The power of cinematic art is universal. It connects with people all over the world on a personal level. The International Forest Film Festival will spread the message of Forests 2011 in that same powerful manner.”

Winning films will first be showcased at the global launch of Forests 2011 in New York, and will then be screened at other festivals and events around the world throughout the year. The film festival is part of a global effort to raise awareness on the importance of forests, their relationship with people and the sustainable management, conservation and development of all types of forests.

While the overall theme for the film submissions is “Forests for People,” specific film categories will explore the multitude of ways that people interact and benefit from forests. From the social, cultural, economic or spiritual aspects of the “360 Degrees on All Things Forest” category to highlighting uniquely dedicated individuals in the “forest heroes” category, the competition seeks to take an all-encompassing approach to forest issues. A full description of guidelines and categories is available at www.forestfilmfestival.org. Films made since 2000 are eligible for entry, and submissions will be accepted until November 30th 2010, through www.WithoutABox.com.

Vance Martin has been president of The WILD Foundation since 1983. An innovative leader known for bridging the interests of people and nature, he has lived extensively overseas, worked in over 45 countries, and helped to establish many non-profits. An avid supporter of the role of culture, media and the arts in helping solve environmental issues, he has also written and/or edited 10 books and many articles. Vance has also served on the boards of numerous organizations such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Friends of Peace Parks, Conservation & Preservation Charities of America, Fulcrum Publishing, Wilderness Foundation (South Africa), Wilderness Foundation (UK), International Conservation Caucus Foundation, and others.

Jan McAlpine is the Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, having held that position since November 2008. She has a long experience in international forest policy, initiatives and negotiations and has been part of the UNFF and its predecessors for 15 years. Over the years she helped shape important actions, decisions and resolutions, notably as a negotiator on issues relating to international forest and timber trade at the White House, and as the Senior Advisor and lead for Forests in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.

Cristina Mittermeier is the President and Founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, whose work with leading scientists, policy makers, government leaders and conservation groups produces the highest-quality documentary images of both the beauty and wonder of the natural world and the challenges facing it. As a photographer and writer, Cristina has co-edited nine books. From the popular to the scientific, Cristina’s work has appeared in major magazines around the world. Her evocative images focus on demonstrating the important relationship between human cultures, especially indigenous people and biodiversity.

"Music in the Wind" exhibit at UW Gallery 234 (w/10/8 update)

Lydia Renneisen's exhibition "Music in the Wind: Revealing the Diversity of Wyoming" can be seen through Friday, Oct. 15, in Gallery 234, Room 004 of the University of Wyoming Union.

A public reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. Renneisen will share her experiences photographing Wyoming culture and diversity that day at 8:30 p.m. in the Wyoming Union ballroom. Both events are free and open to the public. This evening event has been postponed due to conflict with UW Homecoming events.

A recent UW graduate with a B.S. degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management and environment and natural resources, Renneisen criss-crossed the state taking pictures of people attending Wyoming music festivals. The project was supported by a Larsh Bristol Memorial Scholarship for photojournalism and a creative activities grant from the Haub School.

"A number of symbols are used to represent Wyoming and are easily recognized by tourists and newcomers; however, natives are more acquainted with scenes that depict our heritage as cowboys and our love-hate relationship with energy development," she says. "Wyoming has a long, rich history of alternative cultural resources. There are many music festivals that have been held around the state for decades, providing a glimpse of the unique, diverse human nature of Wyoming."