Success Course of the Arts

September 28th, 2007 admin

Painter Robert Genn says he often gets asked to be a personal art coach for people. Instead he offers, “A sort of Jenny Craig Success Course of the Arts.”

Here it is:

Find a sanctuary where you can comfortably work.
Dedicate at least two hours a day to your art.
Have more than enough equipment and supplies.
Set short- and long-term goals and keep track of progress.
Think of your work as exercise, not championship play.
Explore series development and exhaust personal themes.
Work alone with the benefit of books and perhaps tapes.
Replace passive consumption with creative production.
Use your own intuition and master your technology.
Feel the joy of personal, self-generated sweat.
Fall in love with your own working processes.
Be forever on the lookout for the advent of style.
Try to be your own person and claim your rights.
Don’t bother setting yourself up for rejection.
Don’t swing too wildly and damage the well-being of others.
Don’t jump into the ring until you’re feeling fit.

What works for you? What advice would you offer to other artists?

Click here to check out more words on art from Robert Genn at the Painter’s Keys Community.

Posted in Art, Productivity, The Process | 1 Comment »

Local Writer Publishes E-Book

September 27th, 2007 admin

Local writer Gabriel LLanas just had Oh, Ragnarok published by Wild Child Publishing. The press release is below. You can also read the beginning of the novel on the Wild Child website.

Price: $5.95

About the Novel: Part psychological thriller, part dark fantasy, Oh, Ragnarok is the genre bending first novel from Punk Horror Press co founder Gabriel LLanas. The adventure of Sarah and Carlos, as the hunt down a mysterious killer who believes that by bestowing the “gift” of one of his victims belongings on another, that he can alter the course of that person’s life. Little does the killer know that he is hurtling the world toward annihilation and apocalypse.

Featuring a cast of characters both mundane and fantastical, the novel swings from one genre to another, touching base in crime drama, fantasy, and horror; making it a compelling and fantastical piece of fiction, and quite an interesting first novel, written originally as a National Novel Writing Month Novel.

About the Author: Gabriel LLanas is a husband of one and father of three, living in North East Colorado (read the part that is open plains and smells like cow dung). He is the Co-Founder of Punk Horror PressM, and the resident book reviewer for Dred Tales Webzine, and he has been published previously in Big Ole Face Full Of Monster, Aphelion Webzine, The Gutter Limits by Booger Murphy and The Drabbler. He is also the lead singer of the punk blues band I Carry The Fire. You can find out more about him on his personal web site www.dead-to-write.com.

Click here to get your copy.

Posted in Art on the Web, Written Arts | No Comments »

In This Life

September 27th, 2007 admin

Just passing along this information about the upcoming exhibition at Fort Collins MOCA. Thanks Kumiko.

I’m very pleased to announce an upcoming exhibition called “In This Life”. The exhibition will be showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Colorado for 11 weeks from September 25 to December 8 (Opening Reception: October 5, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m). This exhibition is a three-artist show relating to the topic of the Iraq war and current political events. Each artist will exhibit 5 paintings for a total of 15 paintings and most of them are quite large in size. The Museum will arrange several events related event to the show, which is very exciting.

Opening Reception: October 5, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Gallery Talk with the Artists: October 6, from 1:00 p.m.

Panel Discussions: Perspective on the War in Iraq: October 30, from 7:00 p.m.

Historical Perspectives on Politics & Art: November 13, from 7:00 p.m.

Lecture with Executive Director, Marianne Lorenz

Note: 10% of sales from the show will be donated for orphans in Iraq who lost their parents in the war.

Posted in Art, Event, Fort Collins | 1 Comment »

Use Dylan To Say Hello To A Friend

September 27th, 2007 admin

Today’s Very Short List has a link to a site worth sharing. Remember the old Dylan video Subterranean Homesick Blues? Well now you can use that old footage to send a message via email to a friend.

I wonder what the Bob Dylan in that video would think of this? And his music being given away by a corporate giant, Starbucks?

The Dylan message site can be found here.

Posted in Art on the Web | No Comments »

Congress Having A Chat With Artists

September 26th, 2007 admin

Musicians seem to be the most common artist to find themselves sitting before Congress. I can remember Tipper Gore and the PMRC. This week it is Hip-Hop that is under fire. And it is the same tension that it always is, just a different form of music.

Read the Denver Post article here.

What are your thoughts? Do artists have a responsibility to homogenize their art and experience to make it safe for all? Or do we need to restrict certain art? Thoughts?

Posted in Art, Art History, Event | No Comments »

Colorado Contemporary Music College

September 25th, 2007 admin

Scanning a bulletin board this morning I came across a flier for the Colorado Contemporary Music College or CCMC. I had no idea such a place existed, let alone here in Fort Collins over on 215 W. Magnolia. This is what their website had to say:

“Colorado Contemporary Music College offers the Rocky Mountain region’s only streamlined, one-year, academic-intensive program where students learn to teach and perform jazz, rock, blues, folk, country and bluegrass. Graduates of this rigorous, three-semester program are better prepared to become successful music teachers and thriving performers.

CCMC is only about contemporary music. Music theory. Ear training. Music technology. History of popular music. Songwriting. Composing. Students learn basics of today’s music business, hone instrument skills and work hard throughout.

Colorado Contemporary Music College (CCMC) was created by professional musicians for people who aspire to be professional musicians. Our 1 year program is designed to provide the working musician the tools and skills needed to succeed in the demanding world of music. CCMC focuses on enhancing the musician’s skills with their chosen instrument as well as all the practical information needed about writing, producing, performing, recording and selling music. Our full-time staff will provide the day-to-day study skills while our Seminar Instructors will provide real world examples of what works…and what does not.”

The flier also listed some of the classes they offer. Classes like Poetry as Song, Essentials of Song Writing, Bass Workshop, Beginning Guitar Class, and Guitar Improvisation. The classes seem to be in the $50 to $75 range.

Click here for the Colorado Contemporary Music College website.

Posted in Fort Collins | No Comments »

Ready To Write That Novel?

September 24th, 2007 admin

Northern Colorado Writers is hosting a special event:

“That Book Inside You, How to Write It, Publish It, Sell It” by noted author and writer’s coach Teresa R. Funke

The workshop is this Saturday the 29th of September. NCW’s website states that there is still room. The cost is $175 and that includes lunch and workbook.

For more information click here.

Teresa R. Funke’s website is here.

Posted in Art, Event, Fort Collins | No Comments »

A simple Way To Make A Difference

September 23rd, 2007 admin

I got this email from Lorri Acott Fowler and I thought I would share it with you all:

Hey everybody this is an EASY way to make a difference for someone. Please pass
onto at least 5 people, and there will be lots of us making a little bit of a
difference for a whole lot of women.

In November Nan, Lorri, and Ronda are going to Zimbabwe to plan taking the Women
with Wings Project to Zimbabwe, Botswana, and other countries in Africa. We
were contacted by Rev Mwanza and others that have a mission to empower the
women in Africa. We want to lift them up, inspire them, and restore their
dignity. We’re so excited to be able to participate in this mission with them.
The website telling about this project is www.womenwithwingsproject.org

You Can Participate!!

We are gathering small gifts from you that we can give to the women that we
meet. We would like you to attach a slip of paper with a few sentences about
why that item is meaningful to you, and what you hope for her to receive in
getting that gift. Can you imagine the power of a gift that represents the
courage of your grandmother, the love of your children, the strength of your
father? That’s what we want to give them from you. Some examples of gifts and
notes are here: http://www.womenwithwings.citymax.com/page/page/5000956.htm

We will collect their reactions and responses, their stories, and photographs
of the entire trip to bring back to the US. We hope to bring back molds of the
items that you gave them pressed into the clay overlaped and intertwined with
the items that represent their lives..a visual reminder of how we are all
connected.

Please forward this to anyone that you think wants to touch the heart and
uplift
the spirit of a woman in Africa!!

Here is how to participate:

1. Mail us your small objects By Nov 1 (remember, we only are allowed 50 lbs per
bag) along witha short note attached giving some symbolic meaning that item.
Notes should be on lightweight paper (not cardstock).

Lorri Fowler 1602 Charleston Way, Ft Collins, CO 80526

You can learn about an uplifting community art project at
www.womenwithwingsproject.org
You can see my sculpture at www.lorriacottfowler.com

Posted in Art, Event, For Change, Fort Collins | No Comments »

Who The #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?

September 21st, 2007 admin

Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? is a movie that documents a truck driver who buys a $5 painting in a thrift store and later learns it may be a Pollock. She sets out on a mission to prove that it is indeed a Pollock. Forensic science makes a strong case that it indeed a Pollock. But experts in the art world refuse to accept it.

The movie presents an interesting point of view of the elite art world. And it is worth watching just to see Thomas Hoving, as art expert who has a very high opinion of his own opinion, very high.

Click here to see the IMDb page on the movie.

Click here to the forensic scientist’s report on the painting.

Posted in Art, Film | No Comments »

Call for Art for Hodi’s

September 19th, 2007 admin

The opportunity is upon you once again, to participate in Studio Gallery Wrights next quarterly art extravaganza at Hodi’s Half Note. They are looking for visual artists, live artists, sculptors, mixed media, photographers, dancers, etc. And they are also looking for someone to film the event.

These events and exhibitions have been receiving tons of press and great feedback from Hodi’s customers.
It is $10 to submit, and we will need to see 3 examples of your artwork.
What to do:
E-mail 3 pics to: studiogallerywright@yahoo.com,
and send a check to:
Studio Gallery Wright
712 Alta Vista St.
For Collins, Co. 80524.

Or Paypal us at studiogallerywright@yahoo.com.
To be considered for the show, the $10 and the 3 pics must be received no later than September 31st.
After all entries are received, we will be selecting 10 artists to participate in the show.
Upon selection there will be a $20 hanging fee. This fee will cover installation of the show, PR and advertising. We will provide you with flyers for the show. We will also handle all sales and take 20% as a commission fee of all sales.
Don’t forget to let all your creative friends know about this great opportunity!

SGW

THINK LOCAL - Art, Music, Culture

Posted in Art, Call For Entries, Fort Collins | No Comments »