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Greetings! ,
From the Executive Director
Yes, I know - it's been a MONTH! August winds blow in
with a few news items, a lesson in economics and a smattering of
upcoming event highlights. The Dog Days of summer are upon us, but
there's SO MUCH TO DO AND SEE!
Please visit the WVIA ArtScene Events Calendar for the broadest listing of cultural events in the region over the next couple of weeks.
We remind all venues to post their events to the calendar. It's easy - all you have to do is go to the Events Submission page and put in your stuff!
Submissions are due (must be postmarked by) August 20th for the Cultural Council's Third
Annual Juried Exhibition. You do NOT have to send the actual work - just a digital image or slide. The theme of this year's competition promotes the power of artistic
expression to enhance awareness and stewardship of the Susquehanna
River Watershed. Work does not have to depict the river in any way, nor must it
conform to the theme in order to be considered.
The exhibition will be presented at the Luzerne County
Courthouse, which celebrates its centennial in 2009. There will
be a gala opening reception on October 10th, and the exhibition will run
through November 7th. Submissions must be postmarked no later than
August 20th.
A total of $1,100 in awards will be presented in each of the
three categories, as well as Best of Show.
For complete details, see the links below:
CALL for ARTISTS
Complete instructions and a form which must be submitted
by all participating artists are available in the Call for Artists (PDF 548k). The Call for Artists may also be obtained by
calling the Cultural Council at 570-408-4439. Please leave your name and
complete address. But remember - in the mail by August 20th!
Applied Economics A seminal study by Americans for the Arts, titled "Arts and
Economic Prosperity," completed last year, shows that, on average, a dollar of
public funding generates sixteen dollars of economic activity. It's simple really - let's suppose there's a
grant to enable a performance. That
performance generates additional spending - people driving to town, parking,
eating at a restaurant, maybe drinks afterwards - as well as expenditures on
promotion, advertising, a program, payment to the performers. You get the idea.
I recently received some interesting data from our friends
at the Scranton Foundation, which administers the PA Partners for the Arts
grant program for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. In 2007, the program received grant
applications from 9 individuals and organizations in Luzerne
County and 18 from Lackawanna County. In 2008, they received 19 from Luzerne County
and 18 from Lackawanna
County. You read that right - Luzerne
County applications more than doubled;
Lackawanna County applications didn't change.
Now to be fair, the Cultural Council of Luzerne County
promoted this grant opportunity pretty heavily, and hosted a workshop on the
process, and there's never a guarantee that a grant application will be
funded. But still -
Let's suppose that 15 of our 19 grant applicants from Luzerne County are funded at $1,500 each. That's $33,500 in state money coming in to Luzerne County.
With a multiplier of 16, that means $360,000 - over a third of a million
dollars - of economic activity is generated from locally received grants. To say nothing of the people that enjoyed the
performance, the school kids that learned something from it and the performers
who bowed at the applause and the visiting out of town executive of a high tech
firm that thinks maybe this is a good place to locate his new headquarters.
Yet Another River Trip
What river is this?
Of course it's the Susquehanna as it flows under the Market Street bridge, right? The view from Nesbitt Park? But wait, something's out of place.
In fact, it's not the Susquehanna, but the Connecticut River as it flows through Hartford. Hartford made the decision to "Recover" the river (the project is called "River Recovery") a while back, and the results are impressive! The results are also instructive, as Luzerne County has made a similar decision, as evidenced by the massive construction along River Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Last month, Shelley Pearce, Chair of the CCLC Board, and I were pleased to be invited on a bus trip to tour the Hartford River Recovery project. As you might expect, I took my camera along. Here's the slide show: Hartford, CT River Recovery
Third Friday and Beyond
Anniversary
Show at Paper Kite Press
All Art On Display Is Free!!!
To celebrate Paper Kite Press' first anniversary on Main Street in
Edwardsville, the art from over 20 local artists will be on display for
the viewing public to mentally claim ownership.
Nothing official will happen until Sunday, Aug. 17.
On
Friday, patrons who view the work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be given
stickers on which they are to put their name and contact information.
When they return beginning at noon two days later, they are able to
affix the sticker to the artwork they desire. Featuring art donated by Henry Long, Mark Webber, David Hage, Martin Dull,
Maria Livrone, Ivana Pavelka, Pat Stump, Frances Carr, Lauren Hall, James
Dragocey, Stas Wroble, Curtis Salonick, Jen Bell, Alicia Grega, Loretta
Mestishan, Skip Sensbach, Phil Dente,
David Reinders, John Berezich, Steffi Schairer, Nat Bohlin, Billy Brandenburg,
Liz Revit, Bradley Coolbaugh, yours truly, and more. Much more.
Want to know more? Check out the cover story Diamond City!
Refreshments served. Donations always welcome, but not required.
Be There.
443 Main Street
Kingston, Pennsylvania
18704
Friday,
August 15th
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m
Come
for the Free Art, Stay for the Poetry!
Another Gallery has an Anniversary
Sordoni Gallery at Wilkes University Celebrates 35 years
"Inspired educator, accomplished artist, patron of the
arts, and remarkable American philanthropist." This is how the
"New York Times" summed up the extraordinary life of Helen Farr Sloan
in her obituary of December 30, 2005.
Add to this profile: devoted
supporter and long-time benefactor of the Sordoni
Art Gallery
at Wilkes University. This exhibition
"Remembering Helen," honors the memory and generosity of this special
friend of the Sordoni Art Gallery,
and marks the 35 anniversary of the Sordoni
Art Gallery's
founding.
This exhibition, drawn entirely from the Sordoni Art
Gallery's permanent
collection, features the many gifts of art to the Sordoni by and in honor of
Helen Farr Sloan. Remembering Helen: The Sordoni at 35.
Friday, August 15 - Sunday, October 5,
2008 Opening reception Friday, August 15, 5-8pm. 3rd FRIDAY!
A Portrait of Bluegrass
A bluegrass Festival in Kingston! With Photography and goodies! Saturday, August 16th 3:00 to 8:00
Photography by philip a. dente
Featuring
Danny Stewart's Jam Tent
Musicians, bring your instruments for the parking lot
session
Something Special Bakery and Cafe
23 West Walnut
St., Kingston PA
(Behind Abe's Hot Dogs)
This
event is hosted by Jan Sailus and her very "Special" staff who continue to provide an atmosphere of great hospitality,
terrific culinary fare, and a marvelous venue for established and emerging
artists.
Click HERE to see the official invitation. (It's worth it!)
ANOTHER River Trip?!?!?
Yes, but it's upstream a ways. From our friends in the Endless Mountains
16th Annual River Canoe Trip
August 16, 2008 - August 17, 2008
The 16th annual Susquehanna canoe trip for artists, musicians (and others who
love the river) will be happening again this year, but moved to August 16 and
17th. As usual we will start at the bridge in Ulster, PA, around noon on
Saturday and camp at the mouth of the Towanda Creek, then continue on to finish
at the PA Access point in Terrytown on Sunday afternoon- about 25 miles in all.
Come for it all or any section. A great opportunity to paint the river and
enjoy the beauty of the Endless
Mountains. Call Brian
Keeler if you're interested in coming and reserve your kayak or canoe from
David and Melody Buck at Endless Mountains Outfitters in Sugar Run at
570-746-9140 or kayaks@ptd.net or www.emo444.com
Ninth Annual Mudball Festival (I couldn't resist this one.)
Saturday August 23rd and Sunday August 24th.
Two full
days of puppets, music and storytelling, and a potluck picnic. Hosted by John
Bromberg and Pictures Moved by Strings Puppet Theatre, the festival will be
held from 3pm until dusk each day at PMS Farms, 639 South Preston Rd, Lakewood,
Pa, 20 miles north of Honesdale.
Camping will be available. For further information contact John Bromberg at
448-2033.
Fun, Food
and Tomatoes... (Not into mudballs? How about a tomato fight?)
Over fifty thousand people
will attend the four-day event that has been touted as one of the best
festivals in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Delicious food, a variety of live
entertainment, a parade, 5K run, games, rides, arts and crafts, bingo and of
course home-grown Pittston tomatoes keep bringing an enthusiastic crowd to the
festival year after year.
Don't miss the Tomato
Fights, which will be held on Saturday, August 23rd at 1:30 p.m. in the parking
lot of Cooper's on the Waterfront Restaurant, 304 Kennedy Blvd., Pittston. The entry
fee is $5, which includes use of protective eye goggles. All proceeds will
benefit local charities.
The Cultural Council
"Inspired educator, accomplished artist, patron of the
arts, and remarkable American philanthropist." This is how the
"New York Times" summed up the extraordinary life of Helen Farr Sloan
in her obituary of December 30, 2005. 