thelmasmith

When a dear friend was in the process of moving the inevitable down sizing occurred.  Things were going up on Craig’s list.  I got a note saying, oh, I think the overhead projector is priced too low. I’m also worrying about the space for the easel.

So, last Monday I trucked on up to the edge of Oro Valley.  Or maybe it’s technically in the town of Marana.  I don’t know.

Anyway, look what came home with me.  I’ve learned something about manifesting abundance.  I have always known that first you notify the universe and then you get to work.  That has now been technologically enhanced.

I use Firefox  as a web browser.  It gives me the ability to open innumerable tabs and my macbook remembers them from one day to the next.

I had been researching easels.  I must have had every style and every manufacturer and every retailer of easels in my tabs.  At the end of getting my web work done I would browse through all the easel tabs.  Finally I deleted them.  That’s when I got the note from my good friend.

Yes, the universe does work in interesting ways.

July 30-August 2
Will present workshops, fiesta & concerts at The University of Arizona School of Music & the UA Centennial Hall July 30-August 2, 2008. Music & Dance Workshops will be hosted at The University of Arizona School of Music: Flamenco, Salsa, Hip Hop, Folklorico, Mariachi, Tejano, Guitar Trio, Classical Flamenco Guitar, Zumba and Voice. This year’s mariachi workshops will be directed by Jose Hernandez from Mariachi Sol De Mexico. VIVA FIESTA will be held in front of UA Centennial Hall on Saturday, August 2 from 3pm to 6pm. The AHS will conduct a Storycorps program at the fiesta, modeled on National Public Radio’s oral history project of that name, where the attendees can reminisce about how music and dance has influenced them in their everyday lives. Authentic Mexican and Spanish food and drink will also be available at the Fiesta.“VIVA ARIZONA!” 100 Years of Hispanic Musical Memories CONCERT at the University of Arizona Centennial Hall Saturday August 2,  2008 at 7:00pm. A Musical and Dance Production- showcasing the History and Evolution of Tucson’s Hispanic Musical Heritage. Featuring: Special Guest Jose Hernandez and Mariachi Sol de Mexico, IMAS,Hermanos Perez Trio, Olga Flores, Viva Orchestra under the direction of Jesse Tovar, the Viva Arizona Dancers and much more. Tickets available at the UA Centennial Hall Box Office 1020 E. University Blvd. (520) 621-3341 For more information you can visit www.vivaazworkshops.com

a national women’s art exhibition – deadline August 1
Sponsored by the Oakland Community College Womencenter, Farmington Hills, Mi., From Our Perspective is accepting digital entries, with a deadline of August 1st. This juried exhibit will feature women artists and will include two- and three-dimensional works of art.  The Juror, Susan Goethel Cambell, lives and works in Detroit, Mi. and has work in many public and private collections, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, The New York Public Library, The Detroit Institute of Arts, The Toledo Museum of Art and The University of Michigan Special Collections Library. Fee: $25 for up to 3 works. Awards: Best of Show $800.00, President’s Award $250.00 and a Purchase Prize of $250.00 (for smaller pieces).  To view full prospectus, and to upload images online, go to www.oaklandcc.edu/womencenter/artshow.htm.  Exhibit runs Sept. 18-Oct. 10 2008.  Please contact Arlene Frank with any questions at womenart@oaklandcc.edu

There is still time to turn in a letter of inquiry to be considered for National Native Creative Development Program for individual artists and the National Native Master Artist Initiative grant programs. Qualifying artists will be asked to complete a full application but only if you submit the letter of inquiry outlining your project first. These programs are open to all US Native people who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe, village, or state recognized tribe or village as well as to Native Hawaiian artists.
For more information visit: www.evergreen.edu

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has issued an RFP for this substantial grants program. Grants of $200,000 to $600,000 will support programs that “utilize the arts to engage civil society - particularly youth and diverse and underserved populations - and that foster linkages and build partnerships between U.S. and overseas nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and local communities.” Project themes are limited to: 1) Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums: Cultural Exchange between American Indigenous and Minority Artists and Indigenous and Afro-Latino Artists from Latin and Central America; and 2) Mixed Visual Artistic Mediums: Cultural Exchange between American Women Artists and Women Artists from Africa and/or the Middle East. Applications, due May 22, must be made through nonprofit organizations or institutions of higher education. www.communityarts.net/apinews/archivefiles/2008/04/grants_for_arts.php

Kate Lenkowsky and I met at the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2003. Lots of star power quilters to interview. The result is stunning.

This arrived by courier this afternoon. I have not had time to study more than the Table of Contents. The last quarter of the book, A Guide for Buyers & Collectors, is information that has never, to my knowledge, been put in one place. The information is extensive. Lenkowsky covers care, insuring and appraising as well as a long list of other topics in the guide.

Contemporary Quilt Art, An Introduction and Guide, by Kate Lenkowsky is published by
Indiana University Press. Extensive author’s commentary accompanies the large color photographs. The quality of the printing and binding are lovely. IBSN 978-0-253-35124-1

Dinnerware Artspace is beginning a new mural located at
Arizona Alley at (the 200 block of) E. Congress Street.

Young and older latino artists are invited to participate.

This mural is being created in conjunction with the
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) Regional Conference,  April 25-26, 2008, and the Tucson/Pima Arts Council.

Check the NALAC.org  website for more information on attending the workshop.

The mural title is “Tucson Colectivo”.
Bring your own paints and brushes.
The mural format is two giant spirals on a 40ft long mural.
Latino and latina artists can claim a section to paint on.

Tell your latino/latina artist friends about this project.

Contact me at Dinnerware Artspace for more details.

David Aguirre
Dinnerware Artspace
520 792-4503

Register now for the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Workshops, hosted by the Tucson Pima Arts Council, April 24, 25, and 26, at the Hotel Arizona in downtown Tucson. NALAC’s Regional Arts Training Workshops are convened throughout the nation to assist in strengthening local networks of Latino artists and arts and cultural organizations. All are welcome! Workshops will provide professional development opportunities and foster theoretical and aesthetic discussion. For more info contact Reuben Tomas Roqueni at 624-0595 x18 or reuben@tucsonpimaartscouncil.org   To register, visit the NALAC website at: www.nalac.org To view the just released NALAC Conference Agenda visit: www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org/about/AboutWordDocs/NALACAgenda.pdf

It’s time to get Published. J. Mercury & Maxed Art present: The Plume Zine: [bicycle] Conversations. The new theme is: anything relating to Bicycles or Conversations. All submissions must touch on this theme. Submit written work (poems, prose, micro fiction). Must be under two pages, double spaced. All written work is subject to a selection process. Submit images (drawing, collage, photography) no larger than 8×10. If emailing your image, it must be saved at 300dpi. Artwork will be proportionally formatted to fit the ‘zine. Submit all work by April 3. The Plume Zine is: art for people. Our debut zine, God & Love, a hand-bound, double pamphlet stitch, in an edition of 50, was distributed at select locations in Tucson and just about flew off the shelves. God & Love had 11 contributors and debuted with a reading at Dinnerware Artspace gallery. [bicycle] Conversations will have a special debut party TBA — don’t miss out! (view blog for images) Email submissions to MaxedArt@gmail.com or call 245-2681. The future awaits you at maxedart.blogspot.com

Someday I’ll tell you all about the Lady’s Aide. Today I’m just going to boast about my mechanical prowess.

My macbook now has 2 GB of memory. Thanks mostly to my set of lady’s micro tools that are kept in the bottom of my desk drawer.

Here’s the strangely wonky image from the macbook screen. It shows I got it right the first time.