Friday Fun: Sometimes you just want to feel pretty…
I was at a Clayton Public Art Board meeting last night and we were talking about all of the various forms of public art and this came up. I really appreciate art that makes me laugh!
Sheep have wool to keep them warm during the cold winter months, but what about the trees? How do they keep warm? Until now they had to just shiver through winter, but now they can also keep warm with wool.
The Knit Knot tree on Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs, Ohio is getting a lot more love from passersby since covering up with a multi-colored, knitted tree sweater.
From an Associated Press article..
“What takes this to a different level is it is a community thing,” said Corrine Bayraktaroglu, an artist who helped start the “knitknot tree” project. “People are really, really enjoying it. They’re coming from towns to have their photograph taken with the tree. They’re adding stuff to the pockets.”
There’s more about the KnitKnot tree on Jafabrit’s blog here.
Some trees seem to be able to handle the weather better than others, and they only need to wear knickers.
The panties on trees are by artist Carol Hummel and are called Down Unders.
“Dirt Divers are a series of work that personifies trees highlighting human intrusion on natural objects. Instead of protection and care, this intrusion has the human element burying its head in the sand in denial of its impact. It raises questions about where human intrusion is appropriate when inflicted on our environment.” Carol Hummel
What the NC Gubernatorial Candidates Have to Say About Art…
For those of you that don’t know, ARTS NC is the advocacy arts organziation for the state of North Carolina. On Tuesday, they sent out a Call to Action to the arts organizations across the state to send in questions for Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate, and as always, North Carolina artists, arts councils, theatre organizations, dance troupes, bands and others came through in fine fashion. Below is the transcript of a part of the gubernatorial debate and the candidates response to an arts related question. In a few weeks, ARTS NC will have official policy statements from the candidates.
Cullen Browder: Let’s move on to another economic-related question. We got a lot of questions across the state related to the arts here in North Carolina. I think this was representative of a lot of those questions. It’s from Ira David Wood, a very well-known actor, theatre director here in Raleigh: “North Carolina is often referred to as ‘The State of the Arts’ because the arts generate a great deal of money in and for North Carolina. How will you create policy and support funding to focus on recruitment and retention of creative industries and small businesses here in North Carolina?”
El Greco to Velazquez
In an earlier post, I mentioned the Nasher Museum at Duke University. Their current exhibit, El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III is their biggest exhibit yet in the short history of the museum and you should make plans to see it before it leaves town (August 21 through November 9, 2008). Below is some more information about the exhibit-let’s get a group together and check it out!
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University presents “El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III,” the first exhibition to show both Spanish masters in context with other accomplished painters of their time.
The exhibition features 53 paintings, including seven late works by El Greco, three early works by Velázquez and works by their contemporaries, lesser known but talented artists. One of the most important old master exhibitions ever presented in the Southeast, “El Greco to Velázquez” will feature monumental altar pieces, life-size portraits, some of the earliest still-life paintings in Europe, full-length carved and painted wooden sculptures of Spanish mystics and more than 50 pieces of Spanish glass and ceramics. Many works are traveling to this country for the first time, some from the churches for which they were originally commissioned.
An Evening With Shawn Colvin at The Clayton Center
CLAYTON, N.C. – Spend an evening with multi-GRAMMY award winner Shawn Colvin at The Clayton Center, located at 111 E. 2nd Street, on Friday, September 26, 2008, at 8 p.m.
A longtime critical favorite, Colvin became known worldwide with the success of 1996’s platinum selling album, A Few Small Repairs. The number one radio single “Sunny Came Home” earned her two of GRAMMY’s highest awards: Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Colvin won her first GRAMMY for her 1989 debut album, Steady On.
The September concert is a prelude to The Clayton Center’s 2008-09 Palladian Series. The 2008-09 season schedule will be released August 28.
Tickets for An Evening with Shawn Colvin are $30. Reserved seating tickets may be purchased online at www.theclaytoncenter.com, by phone at 919.553.1737 or at The Clayton Center Box Office at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton. Box Office hours are from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For those local artists that use Etsy…
Nice article in the Financial TImes about Rob Kalin, 27, founder of Etsy, the online craft store for handmade items. From teen runaway to a degree in classics, Kalin, a furniture maker, started the site with $50,000 from an angel investor and now has support from other internet entrepreneurs (like the founders of Flickr and del.icio.us) and has sold more than $10M of goods (average sale $15-$20) since its launch! Also, did you know they have Etsy Labs at their place in Brooklyn where you can come and study crafts and sewing and get better at your craft–and network to boot. Something inspiring in all that.
(I originally saw this posting on Artblog)
Marcy Smith over at the N&O has been featuring local Etsy crafters on her blog recently too!
Friday Fun: Unique Public Art Idea
I just thought this was awesome and pretty fun. Nothing like having the community come together to participate in public art. I think I’m going to pick a lightpole in Downtown Clayton and start doing this-Guerilla Public Art! Who’s with me?
From Damaris Pierce’s Blog:
Like many coastal cities, South Carolina’s Charleston has a fabulous covered market that offers all sorts of tempting creations fashioned by local (or not so local) artisans. On a rainy day it’s a great destination in the heart of downtown. Prior to venturing through the long market, Ricki and I had lunch at the Noisy Oyster, a fabulous seafood restaurant directly across the street, when we spotted a strangely decorated pole right out front. Upon closer examination (luckily after our lunch had well settled…), we discovered the colorful spots up and down the pole to be nothing other than… CHEWING GUM!
While this seems, at first sight, absolutely disgusting, I can’t help but being drawn to this sort of spontaneous, urban art, created by many, anonymously and with readily available materials. I sorta wished I had some gum to add… Best part is to watch people’s faces as they unsuspectingly walk up to it, look for a moment, then realize what it is and either crack up or walk away with stern disapproval. Simplicity, surprise, constant interaction with the viewer… a perfect piece of public art!
Art. Ask for More.
The Americans for the Arts is an organization that generally promotes and supports the arts in America. I particularly like the campaign they have for increasing arts in our schools. They have video, radio, print ads, and web banners that you can download and use in your community as Public Service Announcements and as I assume you would expect nothing less from a creative-minded organization, some of the ads are very funny.
Television Spots
Check out the commerical for Raisin Brahms. There’s another video for Van Goghurt, but it weirds me out a little. Below is the video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u8-stngXKs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF3HjoFzfVc
Radio Spots
They’ve got a lot of spots for radio but I think I like the Boring Boy and Dancing Girl the best.
I LOVE these and as soon as I can, I think I’m going to try to add them to the Arts Council’s website.
I think I like Louis Armstrong and Caravaggio the best, although the Walt Whitman and Homer ones are pretty funny too.
Which do you like?
September 18 “Battle of the Bands” Lineup
From Downtown Clayton:
Five bands from the Triangle region have been selected for the Clayton Town Square Concert Series “Battle of the Bands” on September 18. A dozen bands from Boone to Rocky Mount applied for the five slots in which only the top 3 bands will receive the prize money of $1000, $500, and $250 respectively.
The bands, in alphabetical order, are:
Hip Sauce Fuquay-Varina
Sandbox Band Raleigh
South Station Raleigh
The Grey Area Raleigh
The Whistlestop Apex
The Clayton Town Square Concert Series is presented by the Clayton Downtown Development Association. All concerts begin at 7:00 pm and the final concert of the series will feature a Battle of the Bands on September 18.
Refreshments available at the Town Square include pizza, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks. Although folding chairs and blankets are encouraged for people to sit on, coolers are not allowed.
Sponsors for the concert series include Town of Clayton, Time Warner Cable, Clayton News Star, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, and Clayton Steak House. Contributing sponsors include Avent-Permenter Group Appraisals, Clayton Glass & Mirror, Hometowne Realty, Matthews Motors and True Line Surveying.
If you plan to attend the concerts, consider dinner out before the music begins. Downtown Clayton offers a variety of restaurants for an enjoyable pre-show meal. Consider The FlipSide on 408 E Second Street, 553-0123, Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street, 553-2299; Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant 217 E Main Street, 550-7400 or El Sabor de Oaxaca, 226 E Main Street, 359-1477 for traditional Mexican cuisine. All are in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of the Town Square.
The Town Square is in downtown Clayton and sits between West Main Street and S. O’Neil and Fayetteville streets. For more information and updates keep checking this blog. For further information call (919) 553-1545.
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Carrboro Named Top Arts Town
Writer John Villani calls Carrboro “one of North America’s most vibrant art communities,” in his new book “The 100 Best Art Towns in America: A Guide to Galleries, Museums, Festivals, Lodging and Dining.”
Villani is communications director with the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a former art critic with The Arizona Republic newspaper.
This is the fourth installment of his book, published by Countryman Press and distributed by W.W. Norton. Villani traveled extensively around the U.S. The listings are in alphabetical order, not by any rank, and include such areas as Newport, RI; Woodstock, NY; Burlington, VT; North Adams/Great Barrington, MA; Teluride, CO; and Carmel, CA.
Villani called Carrboro “one of the best examples I’ve found. It oozes art from every alley and open space. I understand why artists want to live there.”
Local Organizations get grants from North Carolina Arts Council
The North Carolina Arts Council recently announced the awarding of grant funding to three Johnston County organizations. Johnston Community College was awarded $5,000 for the development of an International Artists performance series, the West Johnston Band Parents Association was awarded $6,000 for two artist residencies that will result in the composition of new high school band or chorus music, and the Johnston County Arts Council was awarded $51,731 for various arts programs, administrative support, and subgrants in Johnston County.
The Johnston County Arts Council receives funding each year from the North Carolina Arts Council through the Grassroots Arts Program, which allows the Johnston County Arts Council to disperse funds to local organizations. The North Carolina Grassroots Arts Program is the only program in the United States that insures every North Carolina resident has access to the arts. The amount awarded in 2008-09 is an increase of $8,163 from 2007-08.
The North Carolina Arts Council will invest $7,427,425 in grants for arts programs and projects across North Carolina during 2008-2009.
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