NEA funding for 2018

Today, the U.S. House Interior Appropriations Committee advanced a bill to provide funding for our nation’s natural and cultural resources, proposing $145 million to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for FY2018. This is a $5 million cut from current levels and $10 million less than the request supported by a record number of members of Congress this year.

The good news is that this proposal counters and fully rejects the Administration’s call for termination of our nation’s cultural agencies that arts advocates have been fighting against since March when the Administration budget proposal was initially released.

This subcommittee action is even more relevant since this is the first authoritative step from Congress in this year’s funding cycle. It is a clear endorsement acknowledging the importance of the work of our nation’s cultural agencies. But there is still more to come.
 

Interior Subcommittee Members met today to advance a bill to the full Appropriations Committee for FY 2018

Next week, the full House Appropriations committee will likely meet to consider the bill. Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) stated in today's meeting that he "strongly supports" the NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  

Following the House appropriations process, the Senate Appropriations committee may advance their own proposal this fall. Funding for key arts education programs, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are being considered in a separate appropriations bill. Track all of this with us in our Arts Mobilization Center.

Take two minutes now to urge your congressional delegation to pass a budget that invests in our nation and supports access to the arts in America for all. Thank you for taking action.
 

More Details

Faced with a smaller overall allocation, the House appropriations subcommittee is proposing a 2.5 percent cut overall in its bill, with some agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeing more severe cuts. The NEA and NEH would be cut 3.3 percent under the current proposal to a level not seen since 2008.  Due to these cuts and other policy disagreements, the subcommittee Democrats voiced their opposition to the bill.

This proposal falls short of support for important environmental and cultural resources programs. It would reverse the past two-year trend of increases to our nation’s cultural agencies that have supported the expansion of the NEA’s Creative Forces program, which increases access to therapeutic arts activities in local communities for military members, veterans, and their families. These sites, located mostly at military bases in 10 states, have begun launching their programs this year.  The Creative Forces initiative could be in jeopardy due to the proposed $5 million cut to the NEA.  

Take two minutes to write to your member of Congress. We know members have been hearing from you. And, it is making a difference. Our grassroots advocacy this year has seen an all-time high with over 170,000 messages sent to Congress. Messages have been sent to all U.S. House and U.S. Senate offices. Thank you for helping to take that action and make that impact.

Want to do more? Help us continue this important work by also becoming an official member of the Arts Action Fund. If you are not already a member, play your part by joining the Arts Action Fund today - it's free and easy to join.

VSA Missouri:Let them eat Art Friday

Let Them Eat Art This Friday!

Friday, July 10 6pm-11pm
in Downtown Maplewood

Maplewood's annual Let Them Eat Art Festival is finally here! This Friday from 6pm-11pm there will be music, live art demonstrations, food, drinks and surprises. Living Arts will be OPEN with art activities and delicious food and drinks from The Living Room Cafe. Come and support your favorite art studio, 2814 Sutton Blvd, on a beautiful summer night. FUN IS GUARANTEED!

*as always, don't forget we have extended our Open Studio Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 10am-3pm!*

VSA of Missouri announces first Children's show

St. Louis (January 18, 2014)--VSA Missouri is looking for artwork and creative writing made by young creatives grades 6th-8th living with disabilities throughout the state of Missouri.


How to submit:
Writing: Submit up to three poems or three short fiction or creative non fiction pieces (each no longer than 1000 words - approx. 3 typed pages). Email as a “word document”.
Visual art: Submit up to three Black & White or color images. DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ART! Digital JPG image only. Must be 300 dpi and no smaller that 8” in any direction.


Each Submission must have the following information:
Parent or Teacher Name:
Artist/Writer Name/Age:
Title:
Medium (for visual art only):
Dimensions (for visual art only):
Mailing address, phone number and email contact.
Deadline for submission is March 31. 2014.


Selected contributors will be notified by email by May 5, 2014
Please email submissions to Gina Alvarez at vsamissouri@gmail.com
If you have any questions email or call 888-718-0866
IT IS FREE TO SUBMIT!!!


We are thrilled to have the following jurors making the selections of work to be included in our first anthology!

Jurors:
Visual Art - Edo Rosenblith is an art instructor at Giant Steps in St. Louis, MO and was awarded a P. Buckley Moss Foundation grant for children’s education and he was a participant in the 2013 Robert Rauschenberg Foundation “Power of Art” workshop in Washington D.C. Edo received his B.F.A. in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2011. His work has been exhibited in Brooklyn, NY, St. Louis, MO, Bogota Colombia Italy and Providence, RI. In 2011 he was awarded the Florence-Leif Peers Grant for painters.

Literary Arts - Nicky Rainy makes zines, writes poems, stories and letters to her pen-pals. She believes in the power of literature to unite community & is a DJ on 88.1 KDHX’s literary radio program, Literature for the Halibut. She represented St. Louis in the National Poetry Slam 2009. Her zines, "Let's Talk About People" & “Let’s Talk About Feelings” are a set of bound envelopes that invite the reader to answer questions. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mary Lou Corn Celebration

Long time Arts!Rolla member Mary Lou Corn, a National Watercolor Society signature member, will be honored at a gala event on September 21, 2013,  6:30pm, at the James Memorial Public Library, in St James, Missouri. 300 Bourbeuse St. in Saint James, Mo 65559. library@stjamesmo.org  (573 265 7211).
Mary Lou Corn is a top ranked watercolor artist, now in her 86th year, still painting, entering shows, and winning recognition and awards. She is a long time resident of St James Missouri, a community which has supported her art, and which she has give much to, in donations of time, civic events, and art work for charities.
    This gala event in her honor will be the premier showing of a documentary film, done by Gene Carney of St. James, whom many of you know from his radio jazz show on KMST at noon, weekdays. He is an accomplished filmmaker  who spent seven months, filming, editing and researching this project.
     On the evening of the gala, patrons will enter the library and be able to see paintings and prints of Mary Lou's work on special display. Cocktails and appetizers will be served in the Betty Lu Hughes room, while a slide show of images of Mary Lou Corn's work will be ongoing.  At around 730 pm, all will gather in the tent outside to view the actual film on a 16'x9' screen, brought in for the event.

      Tickets  for the event are $40 single and $70 couple. All tickets, raffle or event, can be purchased at Phelps County Banks, the St. James Library, members of the St James Friends of the Library, and from the St James Tourist Information center, located at highway 68 and I-44.

      Additional Raffle tickets $50. limited to 150, are being sold for a 
 First Prize of a Mexican Beach Vacation Home, for 7 days and 7 nights, donated by Chris and Tom Sowers of Rolla, Mo. This gorgeous home is 4 bdrm 4 bath, right on the water at Xcalak, Mexico, south of Cancun. a $700 cash bonus is included for travel expenses. It may be booked through 2014.

Second Prize is a framed print of a MLC original painting, valued at $400. It is now on view at the Library. Title is Still Life with Pewter Charger.

Third Prize is a smaller print of a Mary Lou Corn painting, valued at $200. "Sundown on the MO River".

  Raffle drawing will follow the showing of the film. You do not have to be present to win, but it would be so much more fun if you were!

Sponsors for the evening, are Phelps County Bank, Grellnor Distributing, and Bill and Mary Ellen Kirgan.
It is hosted by the Friends of the Library, St James, Missouri.
 All funds will go to the operating costs of the Library, which was given to the City of St James on May 1, 2013, by the James Foundation, of the New York Community Trust, who built it in 1953 and has operated it for sixty years.  We have still to organize and set up local  taxes and grants for the Library to continue.
We have a tremendous community who have loved this library all of its life, and are now rallying to help it grow and flourish in the years ahead.
Please Join us for this marvelous event to honor a local and national treasure, artist, Mary Lou Corn.

Capital Arts announces Katy Trail Exhibition

The Capital arts gallery is proud to announce their latest exhibition "Greenway/Katy Trail".  The exhibition marks visions and views from these two iconic trails in Missouri.  The featured artist for this exhibition is Chris Sheppard.  The artist reception will be August 4 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  The exhibition will be open from July 27 to September 12.

Capital arts is located on 1203 Missouri Blvd. in Jefferson city.  You can find out more at www.capitalarts.org or call 573-635-8355.

They have also announced that on Saturday, September 7 during the 22nd Annual Capital Jazzfest and Street fair they have an open call for chalk artist.

Come join us in celebrating the Arts!!

Summer events at Columbia Art League

 Just another update for those interested in Central Missouri art functions.  The Columbia art league has many activities set for this summer and beyond.  Celebrate creation in Columbia with your whole family!!

Art Uncork'd!
Wednesday, July 17th
5:30-7:30 PM

Join us with guest artist Patty Wayland for a playful experience with polymer clay.  Uncork your inner creativity with snacks courtesy of Jack's Gourmet and sample wines generously donated by Golden Barrel.


Check out this summer's Art Uncork'd lineup at http://www.columbiaartleague.org/arted/classes.html#adult.  Enroll in three or more classes and receive a 10% discount!



Upcoming Workshops and Events

A New Lease on Line with Cynthia McCord, July 20th
12:00-4:00 PM 



Is your inner artist squelched by the fact that you can't draw? Or are you a realist artist yearning to try something new? This is the class for you. Using colored pencils, micron pens, and more, we'll explore new possibilities through the expressive quality of line.   Come play with us!


Artrageous Friday, July 19th
6:00-9:00 PM

Don't forget to drop into the Art League this artrageous Friday and pick up a few tips form Kathleen Gardner of Tartelette Bakery who will be demonstrating how to create and design edible art. Learn how to frost and decorate cakes with buttercream, make simple flowers from gum paste, use edible paint, and make roses from apples. Complete this decadent art expertise with a sample of some dessert wine!


For younger visitors to the gallery, CAL will have an art making opportunity creating cake decorations out of polymer clay.



Find out more about upcoming workshops and classes here.



Don't forget, the Artist's Critique Group meets in the CAL studio this Friday, July 19th, from 12:00-1:15.  Please RSVP, if you plan to attend, to karen@columbiaartleague.org.

Columbia Upcycle Introduces a new kind of crafting

Columbia Upcycle is a Pay-as-you-wish arts and crafts supply store.  You can bring in your unused art and crafting supplies and they will find another home for them.  You can also browse their current selection of post-consumer materials and find a treasure. 

They have announced the following schedule.

June 15^th

Oasis School of Fiber Arts

Saturday, 11am to 4pm

July 6^th

ARTlandish Art Gallery

Saturday, 11am to 4pm

July 19^th

Artrageous Fridays

Downtown and North Village art districts

For more information please contact Michelle at

columbiaupcycle@gmail.com

www.columbiaupcycle.com

Memory lane and Candy Kane

Today I venture back into a year of many things.  As usual, some good and some bad.  As it should be.  And the things I wanted to share are in Art of course, but in things I did for the first time or that an event changed my own thinking or my own course.  One of these events took place at the Capital arts gallery in Jefferson city, MO.

I have been volunteering at the gallery since it opened in 2009.  Many art and many shows later I have witnessed Jefferson city mature into a small haven for those that create.  Art is not mainstream here by any stretch, but to have a place to show work and see others work is a form of therapy.  Every time I walk into the gallery I act as if I have never been there before.  I now it is childish, but it makes for an interesting walk into the womb of art.  To surround yourself in beauty is just the first step.  You must be able and willing to take time and enjoy it.

And as for this post, I share a first for me.  I showed work this past year at the gallery that is a standard large piece for myself, but also a piece that is in honor of the main reason I took up art-Bob Thompson.  A fauvist painter that did not live very long but one whom illustrated color the way I see and feel the world.  He is a wonder and a pain at the same time.  He died so young and it makes me feel sad to think about the paintings he didn't do instead of appreciate the ones he did.

I post some photos taken during the cities gallery crawl.  My work of Thompson is seen in the background.

And another view of Thompson...

I know it made a difference to me to show the work. I felt proud if maybe for the first time in the cause of my own work. For a few weeks he was alive again on a wall in Jefferson city. A new york jazz painter came to Missouri.

Thank you.

PS...it is eddie vedders birthday today. Happy birthday Grunge poets.
http://www.pearljam.com/

Art and a life remembered

Today I write about something meaningful to all, not just artisans in Missouri.  I reference an article written in the November issue of Art News.  To be fair, this is the only art magazine I subscribe to which does mean I play favorites.  I enjoy every aspect of this wonderful publication, but this article is a direct reference from art to psychology.  The article deals with the disease of Alzheimer’s.

The article is on pages 54-55 in the issue and is written by Gail Gregg.  It is entitled “The Persistence of Memories”.  Leaving Dali aside for now, the reader is immediately drawn within because it is a message for all.  Art saves lives.

Or rather, art can bring people back to life.  Many psychologists in the 90’s theorized that puzzles and color theory could trigger memory in the elderly which in turn could fight against the impact of the Alzheimer’s.  The idea that cognition could be saved through art was a revolutionary idea but one quickly dismissed due to the lack of empirical data.

I am not saying that Art News will dethrone Stanford University any time soon, but I highly recommend all of you taking time to go out and get a copy of Art News this Past November 2011 issue.  A short article about a big problem for all mankind.

And at the end of the read you find yourself knowing a truth.  Art saves lives.  Art is life.

Their website is www.artnews.com