20th annual Cultural Congress

Cultural Advocates, Join us for the 2012 Cultural Congress from Sunday, April 22 to Tuesday, April 24, 2012 in Yakima, Washington. This year’s Cultural Congress promises engaging workshops, community involvement, and inspiring discussions. Visit local cultural hotspots in Yakima. Create artwork. Tour Mighty Tieton. Listen to great music. Drink great wine. Engage with your peers, elected officials, funders, and representatives of local, state, and federal government. We’ve created an exciting schedule of speakers, artists, and workshops! This year’s Cultural Congress will feature artist-in-residence Lillian Pitt, keynote speaker Ralph Remington, and a musical performance by Mariachi Huenachi. Check out the complete Program, Workshop Sessions, Schedule, and REGISTER NOW! We’re still securing special guests for a panel discussion on proactive arts advocacy and we’re arranging thrilling cultural opportunities for a night-on-the-town in Yakima (envision thought provoking conversations on the future of the cultural field, advocacy, engagement, and participation while drinking great wine with friends old and new!) JOIN us for the 20th annual Cultural Congress – participate in this meeting between cultural delegates – together we can frame and create a positive future…. We’ve extended “Early Bird” registration! Save $50 – register before the end of the day on February 22.

For more information or to register visit wsaa.qwestoffice.net/congress.html

Opportunity: MEChA de Chiawana High School Art Exhibition

From Daisy Alvarado, President of MEChA de Chiawana High School:

“We are going to host an art show February 23rd to raise domestic violence awareness in the community. We are wondering if any of the artists would be interested in showcasing their art at this event. There is no obligation to sell any art. In fact, the event is just to show the art and if the artist wants to sell a piece it is completely their choice. This would be a wonderful opportunity for the artists to showcase themselves as well. Please respond with any questions by either emailing me or by calling my cell at 5094928262.”

From the Ground Up: Pastels by Bonnie Griffith

Exhibit opens tonight!

From the artist:

The world of art has always been a part of my life-

My works of pastel paintings are representational of the landscape of the west…Southeastern Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico and Montana. My goal is to create a piece that draws viewers into the landscape; letting them enjoy the season, the color…the astounding beauty of the areas.

Pastel is a favorite medium because of the rich, pure pigment that allows me to represent the texture, color and light that I personally love. I select and focus on a particular scene because of its contrast, e.g., a patch of aspen trees nestled up to the denseness of firs, shrubs and brush. I also look for the variety of texture and the way it all interacts with the light of the moment. I like to “push” color and texture as far as I can and yet not lose the realism of the subject.

This body of work is called “From the ‘Ground’ Up”…certainly a reference to the subject of landscape, but more importantly the surface on which pastels are used for drawing and painting. I use a variety of types of paper that are prepared with a “ground” – that is some sort of pumice or material is added to a gesso that gives the paper texture or “tooth” to grab the pastel pigment and allow the artist to layer color on top of color. Because pastels are a dry pigment, the mixing of color is done on the paper or layered to give the illusion of a mixed color. Some of the coatings for paper are colored; some clear. Sometimes I do a rough sketch with either acrylic or a wash with wetting the pastels as an underpainting; letting that dry – then painting the work over that. The work is about building texture and depth; about color…

Bonnie Zahn Griffith is a pastelist who works out of her Crooked Creek Studio in Walla Walla.

Opening reception for artist Bonnie Griffith and her exhibit, “From the ‘Ground’ Up,” is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the WSU CIC Art Center, Room 102, at 2770 Crimson Way, Richland. Admission is free and open to the public.  The exhibit runs through March 8.

Kathleen Flenniken named Washington State Poet Laureate

From the Washington State Arts Commission:

Kathleen Flenniken has been named the 2012-14 Washington State Poet Laureate. The lifelong Washington resident will serve a two-year term as the primary spokesperson, supporter and promoter of poetry throughout the state.

“This is a dream job – speaking in support of the arts and humanities, and of poetry in particular, getting the chance to organize poetry events around the state, visit schools, reach kids and teachers and remote communities,” said Flenniken.

Flenniken’s appointment is sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington, with the support of Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Flenniken was raised in Richland and currently lives in Seattle. She holds engineering degrees from Washington State University and the University of Washington, as well as a Masters in Fine Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University.

She is president of Floating Bridge Press, a nonprofit organization dedicated to publishing Washington poets, and teaches poetry writing to students of all ages with the support of arts organizations including the Washington State Arts Collection, Seattle Arts & Lectures’ Writers in the Schools program and Jack Straw Productions. She is the author of two collections of poetry: Famous (University of Nebraska Press, 2006) and Plume (University of Washington Press, 2012).

“We are thrilled to appoint Kathleen to this very important,position,” said Kris Tucker, executive director for the Washington State Arts Commission. “I am very excited about her potential to inspire the public statewide to deepen their appreciation and enjoyment of poetry.”

The Washington State Poet Laureate program was established by the 2007 Legislature as a partnership between the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington. Flenniken succeeds Samuel Green, who became the state’s inaugrual poet laureate in 2007.

For more information about Flenniken and the Washington State Poet Laureate program, visit washingtonpoetlaureate.org.

Paint the Town Red Art Contest

The Benton-Franklin Chapter is holding a community art contest in honor of Red Cross Month this March. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive scholarships donated from Red Cross sponsors!

Contest Guidelines:

• Must be a high school or college student within Benton or Franklin Counties.
• Media includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, and digital art.
• The theme for this contest is: What does the American Red Cross mean to you?

Remember: You can find information about Red Cross services and principles at redcross.org!

All artwork is due to the local chapter (7202 W. Deschutes Ave. Kennewick) by March 14th at 4:30 pm.

For more information please call 783-6195 x. 203 or email outreach@bfredcross.org

CBC Faculty Exhibition

2012 Faculty Exhibition

February 13 – March 8, 2012
Opening Reception: 3 PM, February 16 in the Esvelt Gallery

The annual faculty exhibition will showcase new work created by current and emeritus CBC art faculty. A variety of media – painting, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, photography, and styles from realistic to abstract to non-representational will be featured. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on February 16th at 3:00 p.m. in the Esvelt Gallery where they will have the opportunity to meet the art faculty and discuss the pieces in the show with them.

Participating artists:

Howard Barlow
Morse Clary
Jim Craig
Mary Dryburgh
Victoria Gravenslund
Zachary Mazur
Ted Neth
Tracy Petre
Greg Pierce
Karen Starkey

A report from Jenny Rieke

How do we balance the all-too-common, if unconscious, view that the arts are separate from (and above) everyday life? Arts advocacy, of course. Executive Director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council Roberto Bedoya says it well: “Our community of artists, arts organizations, and audiences provide visions and evidence about what’s right about our plurality — how we imagine and live our lives together.” In that spirit I spent Arts & Heritage Day, February 1, in Olympia criss crossing the capital campus to meet with legislators from districts 8, 9, and 16. As the sole representative from southeast WA, I received a warm welcome, open ears, and 3-20 minutes with eight officials. And Kris Tucker of WSAC sent me into a meeting with another from south central WA. While engagement, education and economy were message focal points, it was dialogue about a legislator’s recent personal experiences of arts & heritage, identifying favorites, learning what they care about that made for one intense brief encounter after another. I reinforced the value of engaging the creative sector, the arts community of southeast WA to message their constituency to educate, ask, and inform. I assured them that for over three years we’ve been networking to provide a way to contact the arts community of the TriCities area. Last year’s visits were built upon, and new relational conversations opened to future encounters. Such a rich experience, I hope a few of you will join me next year!

Art in the Highlands

The PTO at Highlands Middle School is hosting an Artist Showcase and PTO Fundraiser on March 17, 2012.

Alyssa St. Hilaire, the Principal at Highlands speaks highly of the PTO and about involving artists, “Our PTO is fantastic and always looking for ways to support student learning. Not only is this a fundraiser, but we really want to work on getting artists in classrooms to talk to students.”

“On March 16, we are setting aside class time for artists willing to share their talent with students. We are very interested in supporting and promoting our local artists as well.”

Interested?

You can find more information on their program on Facebook under “Art in the Highlands.”

“We want to make this an event a huge success for our school and the artists and help get the community into our school.”

Enter Allied Arts Annual Juried Show!

It’s time to submit your work for consideration in Allied Arts Annual Juried Show. They are giving away over $1900 in cash prizes. Deadline for application is February 17th.  Entry fees are between $9 (1 submission for members) and $33 (3 submissions for non-members).

More information and entry forms can be found here.

First Thursday Artwalk Downtown Kennewick

Join us for Art Walk tomorrow (Thursday, Feb 1) from 5-9p.m. Follow the balloons out front of the businesses so you know where to go!

DS Watkins Studio & TurtleDove Press in Historic Downtown Kennewick will be featuring hand-made Valentine cards by several local artists.

Come pick up a charming and unusual art card for your sweetie and chat with the artists about their creative process.

Located at 17b North Auburn Street, 5-9pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012. For more information call 509.546.1853 or email dswatkins@me.com.