Arts Tour poster

Here's the 2006 Tour poster.

The new blog header image, replacing Shaffer gate, is the tour postcard. Both posters and postcards will be here next week. This image is from the proof. The final version has more copy on it, but this is what I have. Apparently, "ask and ye shall receive" does not always work.

Help distribute posters. Know a place that we need to advertise tour? Stop by Cibola and offer your services distributing posters.

Estancia (Margarita Hibbs' gallery), Tijeras, Madrid, UNM Valencia campus, Tomé Art Gallery, Belen Art League, Visitors Centers, Brushes (art supplies) in Los Lunas, Albuquerque locations, and others come to mind.

There will also be 8 1/2 x 11 flyers. Flyer makers await exact copy. When made and printed up, you should be able pick up copies at Cibola to distribute. If you have a printer, are willing, and possibly not making an extra trip, you can get flyer as an e-mail attachment.

Show Announcement: Fine Arts Unlimited of Valencia County

Submitted by Donna Van Leer:

Fine Arts Unlimited of Valencia County announces a show at the Harvey House Museum in Belen and runs from April 8-29, 12:30 to 3:30 Tuesday through Saturday. The Harvey House is located at 104 North First St. (505)861-0581.

For lack of a better title, we are touting the show as an "Outstanding Art Event - An invitational show featuring the paintings of exceptional artists from Valencia and Socorro Counties."

The opening reception, April 8th 12:30 to 3:30, is open to the public and will feature refreshments, musical interludes by Merris Atman's group, and a 15% discount coupon for Pete's Cafe, a Mexican restaurant located across the street from the Harvey House. The coupon is only for those attending the reception but will be good through the following Saturday.

Eight member artists will be in the show: Lee Bowen, Lorraine Lopez-Burleson, Judy Farrow, Sondra Schlotterback, Jean Stone, Aileen Turner, Donna Van Leer, and Evelyn Yoder. The group has been in existence for about three years. We are all painters and focus our efforts on personal improvement in that area. Following our show at the Harwood Art Center in Albuquerque last September, Fine Arts Unlimited was invited to hold a spring show at the Harvey House in Belen

Since we are a small group, we decided to make this an invitational show. The 13 artists accepted: Susan Brooke, David Coker, Sharon Fullingim, Gaye Garrison, Natasha Isenhour, Skeeter Leard, Margi Lucena, Fernando Mercado, Iva Morris, Brian O'Connor Mary Silverwood, Dan Stouffer, and Penny York.

All the artists in the show are from Valencia and Socorro counties.

Fiber Art Show at Cibola Arts

Submitted by Ann Adams for Cibola Arts

Fiber Art Show at Cibola Arts

Reserve April 8^th on your calendar! Cibola Arts Gallery in Mountainair will host a reception for their Fiber Arts Show from 2-4 pm featuring fiber artists Laura Anderson, Meg Chobanian, Addie Draper, Gary Fey, Judy Mowris, Terri Willet, and Lore Wills.

These artists offer a diversity of media that will be a feast for the eyes and the hands.

Laura Anderson and Gary Fey both create artful silk batik. Batik is the art of drawing on fabric with wax and then dyeing the fabric to create this colorful art. Laura, who shows her work through the Belen Art League, creates batik silk scarves, while Gary creates framed art on silk.

Pink Orchids, by Gary Fey

Gary Fey first dyed silk as a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the 70's. At first he dyes the silk and lets it set over night. The next day the silk is rinsed, dried, waxed over to save colors Gary wants to keep, and then the silk is re-dyed. Gary uses Jacquard silk, which adds a holographic pattern that flickers in the art when the viewer walks past the displayed painting. Dye on silk creates deep vivid saturated color, the reason he has batiked on silk for so long.

Leaves, by Meg Chobanian

Meg Chobanian is Cibola Arts newest member, and her artistic and functional quilt art reflects her desire to bring art into everyday living. Her artwork includes wall quilts and quilted placemats following both traditional patterns as well as more contemporary designs.

Basket by Addie Draper

Addie Draper has long been known for her pastel art. More recently she has expanded her artistic expression to woven pine needle baskets. Using her same strong sense of line and composition, Addie has created decorative baskets that have an Asian-fusion look. The baskets range in size and are made predominantly from sustainably-harvested material with accents of weathered tin, seeds, or willows.

Taos Sunset, by Judy Mowris

Judy Mowris has experimented with a variety of fiber arts. Her wall hangings are different sizes and different subjects, and she uses many bright colors with mostly recycled fabric. She also uses other media to enhance her hangings. For example, she uses polymer clay pieces and some acrylic paints as accents. This produces a layered piece, capturing the viewers’ interest. In this way she creates beautiful art from the beauty of fabric scraps.

Terri Willet brings her life-long passion for fiber into her needlepoint art at Cibola Arts. Her fascination with abstraction is noticeable in the three-dimensional quality of her art. She draws on a variety of cultures, from Amish quilts to Navajo blankets, as a foundation for the patterns in her needlepoint. In this way she brings the patterns of daily life into the realm of art.

Lore Wills has been a long-time guest artist at Cibola Arts. She has worked for 20 years to perfect her ruana weavings (a shawl-type cloth). She can use 20-30 colors in one weaving to create her colorful weavings in her Torreon studio. Lore is a native of Berlin, Germany and uses her art school background to create the depth of color in her creations. Her weavings are all plush chenille that accent these colors and have a wonderful feel and look.

The Fiber Art Show will run through the month of April. Cibola Arts is located at 217 W. Broadway in Mountainair. Gallery hours are 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. For more information contact the gallery at 847-0324 or visit Cibola Arts website at www.cibolaarts.com.

Here's the deal on tour promotion & web pages

Been off-blog for a few days...dogs to see about men, places to avoid, articles to write for the Steppin' Out deadline, that's this week and today is Friday. Articles on the studio tours, digital art exhibit, and spoken word have been shipped off via e-mail attachment.

Bert already submitted a general tour article, something on the Shaffer, and a short piece about Celeste Simon. I certainly hope he gave Kathleen and tour music their just due because I was not able to get around to that one. Anne Adams covered Cibola's April Fiber Arts show, which will also help promote the tour - Mountainair + tour exhibits having a significant fiber (sounds like bran) component. I am now rushing through a little something on guess what, blogging the arts in Mountainair, since Gwen expressed interest in our little blog.

Get ready to see changes on the tour page at the MMAC site, The Art Center of Mountainair. Members and tour participants need to do their part though. We can have a spiffy page that, like last year's tour pages, will garner lots of hits – and promote your work – but not without your help.

Using a model similar to the El Dorado artists’ directory, Robin plans to set up a portal page with a list of artists, musicians, studios – perhaps including exhibits, workshops, local points of interest, etc. as well. This format will be fast loading, easy to update and maintain. There will be a prominently displayed link to the portal page from the main Art Center of Mountainair page.

Each name on the list links to a separate, short - minimalist really – individual page for each:

• artist / performer name
• studio or performing group name
• image
• tour category (art exhibit, performance, home studio, etc)
• URL (if available)
• contact information (as appropriate)
• copy: short bio/artist's statement (description for exhibits, workshops, points of interest). A discreet amount of sales copy is welcome.

The webmaster reserves the right to edit (prune) copy at her discretion and as needed.

You must provide your own images in digital format unless either Robin or I or someone else already has them in stock. Get a digital camera, borrow one, or plead with someone to take pictures for you. Please remember that Robin donates her time to build and maintain this site and is in her final semester at UNM Valencia with not much time left over for extras such as writing or editing copy, taking pictures, or reminding artists, performers, and others to send material.

Send images (1 per registered tour participant, although that could increase to 2), URL (web site address), contact information, and ready to paste copy (artist’s statement, description of exhibit, brief bio) to Robin DesJardins at imagiosstudios@yahoo.com.

If you are exhibiting as one of multiple exhibitors under a single registration, it’s still just one picture for all of you. If you are digitally clever, there’s a way around that, but I’ll leave it up to you to figure that one out. Just as registering individually to exhibit gives you more space to display and doubles your opportunities to sell during the tour, it also gives you more online exposure and individual promotion on the tour web site.

March MMAC meeting update

The general meeting went well as such things go - good turn out, stayed on track, and did not last too long - followed by great music. More than worth attending (symbolic price of admission) just to hear Kathleen play. The baby grand has its own room (perhaps even its own name) and house acoustics apparently designed around it.

Treasurer’s report and minutes of January General meeting accepted as read. Yadda yadda. I’m taking everybody’s word for that since I arrived late. Good thing I sent the minutes on ahead of me. Kathleen was kind enough to print them out AND take notes.

Some memberships, tour registration, and promises came in at the meeting. Me, I would have HIGHLY TEMPTED to hand out reg. form and pens and stand over people (menacingly) until they filled them out and showed me the color of their money. This should make you appreciate dealing with Judy instead. Not much tour biz discussion at meeting (trying to keep it at one hour and do new business).

Judy gave a report/update – copy just posted. Just because I end typing more than I ever would have dreamed does not mean I prefer typing to pasting copy.

Rest of meeting:

Discussion of mural project on Laundrymat/Hair Enchantment building - up to $11,000 approved for materials/supplies. All have to be purchased by end of June for grant reimbursement. Megan Lemcke asked to speak (& did) about community and youth involvement/ participation in project, offering to coordinate the latter, with Deb Vetterman stepping forward (figuratively speaking) to help her. Not all artists on board for mural project want to paint in the proximity of minors, but that can surely be scheduled to accommodate all various druthers. Now that funds have been allotted, the mural committee will make all further determinations, presumably including papal negotiations. Chair Wray Simmons will be sending notices about mural project committee meetings (or having them sent).

Summer Concert/Performance Series - Sundays at the Gazebo: performances by local music artists; Chautauqua through the Museum of NM program; Community Choir. Although not specifically mentioned, the Church of the Nazarene has a music group directed by Pastor Alan Granat, a talented musician and arranger in his own right. There was another unsigned sign up sheet to match the one for tour volunteering. Mary called for someone to coordinate but I did not hear anyone speak out for the position. Of course, being near deaf in one ear, I might have missed it but don't think so.

Sunflower Festival - Mary Schultz requested that we all ponder sunflower questions between now and the next meeting (April) at which time we discuss (diss + cuss?) and decide. (Would this be 'sunflower meditation?) Do we embellish, add more sunflower stuff, or rename (not clear whether to drop "Sunflower" from name or call it something other than a festival). Bert pointed out that with Poets & Writers Picnic, Retablo Show, Children's Sunflower Art in windows all along Broadway and the Van of Enchantment, Sunflower already has more scheduled than last year. Likely additional activities include a probable Poetry Writing Workshop (definitely poetry - probably a workshop) and the return of the Sunflower Hat competition (I hope so since I have the hat but missed it last year).

I am thinking about setting up an online survey with sunflower questions, with link blogged here or sent by e-mail or both to build in redundancy.

End of Meeting Announcements – sample of poster & postcard shown (visual announcement); Cibola April Fiber Arts Show (wait until you see Judy Mowris’ latest wall hangings); distribution of handcrafted book samples for workshop preview; call for submissions for Installation project at Silver City NM in October, commissioned by NM Arts' Art in Public Places Program. I will also be blogging both fiber arts show & installation art in more detail later. PS - Megan Lemcke will be doing an installation for the tour – fascinating prospectus.

We then adjourned to coffee, cookies, and splendid barefoot music. I will resist (barely) the temptation to call it footloose but not that I thought of Gregor...spiritual nourishment...

Mountainair Arts Tour Report, March 19, 2006

Sent by Judy Reynolds

Advertising –

• Posters and postcards available at end of March.
• Ads in April/May Steppin’ Out and The Independent. More ads in other publications will appear closer to event date
• Ad and story in GuestLife New Mexico
• Listings in online calenders for Convention & Visitor Bureau’s Guide, Festivals.com, New Mexico Magazine, New Mexico Tourism, and NM CultureNet; various print and radio calendars.
• Stories and news releases for newspapers will be submitted later on. Artists are encouraged to submit own material for news releases.
• Large signs for Hwy 60 billboards, community center, and elementary school fence are planned.
• Signs for downtown lamp posts are to come.
• Streamers and signage for tour sites and events.
• Artists are encouraged to make their own signs for wherever they are showing.

Venues -
Approx. 18 locations for exhibits, performances, workshops, points of interest.

Lectures/demos/workshops –
Handcrafted books workshop Museum of NM curator of "Lasting Impressions" exhibit on Saturday; silk batik, spinning & weaving, cheese-making, forge art, demos or workshops - hoping for more.

Music –
Coordinated by Kathleen Clute - music indoors and outdoors both days. Classical to rock to bluegrass – something for every musical taste.

Spoken Word –
Performances on Saturday by Dale Harris, Art Goodtimes, Judyth Hill, and others. Perhaps sidewalk performances – strolling troubadours. Also open mike times.

School-wide art show at Elementary Gym both days. Anne Ravenstone will be giving two short performances on Saturday.

Food and other vendors – is work in progress.

Silent Auction –
Saturday 10-3. Artists and others please donate items. Could also use a few more volunteers. Contact Judy Reynolds.

Noisy Auction –
Sunday 2:30. Again, please donate and volunteer. These donations are more in the White Elephant category…like that pottery jug you can’t stand to look at any more and have been meaning to get rid of. Contact Linda Johnson (aka Food Lady)

Information Table –
To help visitors find all the venues, directions, brochures, all helpers wearing ASK ME tags. Water will be for sale at the information table.

Misc. attractions –
Classic car shuttle by Jock and Sandy Finley to Rancho Bonito, courtesy of the Model A Car Club (?); Virtual Exhibition of Digital Art at Up Hi Net...more in the works...

Next Tour meeting is Sunday, April 9, 2:00 pm in the meeting room at Ancient Cities and for everyone, artists, volunteers…all the people who are going to make this tour fun and successful.

Volunteer sign-up sheet –
At general meeting…and at every meeting from now until the tour.

MMAC Meeting REMINDER & Tour update on fly

Don't forget - MMAC General Meeting this Sunday, March 19, 2 pm at Kathleen Clute's. Promised to be mercifully brief & followed by short piano concert by Kathleen to set our spirits back in order. In addition to tour update (inevitable, ubiquitous, and, frankly, repetitious), the March general meeting agenda includes budget and planning summer concert series schedule.

One budget item will be Wray Simmon's proposal for funding materials for an outdoor mural on the side of the Townson's Laundrymat & Hair Enchantment building. By the way, that is not the only mural project afoot. More to come. Expect more blogs on and pictures of murals.

Regarding the summer performance series: as soon as I know (no doubt one of the usual suspects) who is in charge & tentative program, I'll blog the name and contact information so you, wise & gentle readers, can flood chair with input & recommendations.

Last Sunday the Tour committee met at Judy Reymolds - mostly reports (music - spoken word - venues - big signs for Hwy 60 billboards, community center & elementary school fence - publicity - all already blogged here so no need to repeat). The *pesky vendor policy was discussed, concluding - but not unanimously - that it is not fair to have one set of policies for local vendors and another for outside vendors. The tour will be ordering windsocks to mark tour participant locations not already in possession of banners. Maintaining a supply of markers (of whatever ilk) and large banners kept track of and accounted for would simplify future tour signage. The committee also discussed recycling election signs and making signs to put in the sign holders built into the ironwork cowboy cutouts but made no concrete plans beyond "looking into it." Overall, however, the signage situation is much better in hand this year.

Anyone wanting to order their own (should you prefer kites to windsocks) or additional - check out the online catalog Judy is ordering the windsocks from. Anyone want to speak out for MMAC investing in and maintaining a collection of "Art Tour Here" banners?

And, yes, we are getting registrations. In addition to new (first time) outside participants, there is a tentative scratch list of about 30 likelies (exhibited last year and indicated intentions to do so again). Even if only 2/3 come through this year, we'll have a good turn out. Now to nail them & their good intentions to the barn door.

Since the meeting - more music plans falling into place; another wave of requests (some very exciting ones too) for registration forms; confirmation of digital art exhibit at UpHi on Broadway; an additional venue (next door to Up HI & tentatively earmarked for fiber arts, which will constitute a significant segment of this year's tour).

* NO, the vendors are not pesky - just that policies are unclear & not always consistent. This is not just a Tour issue but one that surfaces regularly with all local events. I heard it again during the week with regard to another event being planned. Please feel free to add your two cents worth.

Wall Mural in Town

From Joan Collins (Joan's Home Studio):

Good Afternoon Mountainair Artists!

The town mural project will be meeting Saturday at Cibola at 2:00 pm The meeting concerns designs for a wall mural here in Mountainair. Rick from the Firehouse Restaurant has volunteered his wall, which extends from the Firehouse to the corner of Broadway, for this project.

There are two designs on the table so far. If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering time for this worthy community arts project, please attend this meeting. All ideas are welcome.

Thanks and hope to see you there!

Addendum: More About Murals...

• New Deal Art - murals in New Mexico Post Offices

Most of the Post Office works of art were funded through commissions under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts) and not the WPA.

"Often mistaken for WPA art, post office murals were actually executed by artists working for the Section of Fine Arts. Commonly known as "the Section," it was established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. Headed by Edward Bruce, a former lawyer, businessman, and artist, the Section's main function was to select art of high quality to decorate public buildings if the funding was available. By providing decoration in public buildings, the art was made accessible to all people." from "Articles from EnRoute: Off The Wall: New Deal Post Office Murals" by Patricia Raynor.

Clovis, NM Post Office (building now owned by private business)
"New Mexican Town" - oil on canvas, by Paul Lantz (1937)

• from Little Monkey Murals

The Benefits

Public art improves the visual environment for all residents, while strengthening community identity and boosting community pride, this then reduces vandalism and graffiti. Residents, newcomers, visitors and tourists alike appreciate the livability and beauty that public art adds to shared spaces where they work, visit, commute and recreate.

Colour in the Community brings people together through the creation of public art that improves the quality of life in their communities.

"One of the most important functions of public art is to open up sites and create a sense of ownership in the public;" said Dr Mowlam speaking in Northern Ireland, "Art can also challenge people, and introduce them to the ideas and works of contemporary artists;"

If this was not benefit enough, numerous studies show that if an area looks unloved then it will stay that way and slowly deteriorate. However if an area is kept nice or actively improved then this by the nature of the exercise deters this type of behaviour as the community will have pride in where they live.

So put some Colour in Your Community

• Article, Muralism," in issue 33 (current) of Public Art Review

Issue 33 investigates Muralism as a broad spectrum of activities, styles, practice, and forms of community engagement. From hip-hop graffiti culture to trompe l’oiel frescoes, programmable light displays to architectural glass curtain walls, murals are getting harder to define. What is the size of a mural? Can it be on a floor or a ceiling? What’s its life span? Can an advertisement be a mural? Who can make murals?

Muralism surveys mural towns (large and small) and mural makers (young and old), explores new directions and introduces the next generation. A special section on California public art features a roundtable forum of public artists and program administrators, and Bay-area artist Seyed Alavi takes over the center spread.

• Murals, trompe l'oeil & faux channel - News, articles, pictures, forum, and resources for muralists, designers, architects, and public art.

Reminder: tour committee meeting Sunday

Just a reminder that there is a tour committee meeting this Sunday, March 12, 2:00 pm at Judy Reynolds' house at 204 E Acoma, Mountainair.

If you have a progress report on progress updating that of the Feb. 19 meeting but are unable to attend, please pass the information to someone who is attending or send me an email.

Anyone interested in helping with the Tour is certainly welcome to attend.

Barebones Agenda (my best guess)

• Progress Reports
• Update on Registrations - exhibitors & performers
  
• Fee schedules (exhibitors, vendors, special rate categories)

FYI

# (non-exhibiting) bodies needed on days of Tour - approximately 7-10. Breakdown: 5-7 people to staff information desk for 2-3 hour shifts; a handful of runners. It has been pointed out that exhibiting artists cannot be available for helping out during tour days. Would it be possible for exhibiting artists to a) help with set up and putting out signs the day before as well as making sign, and/or b) bring someone with them to work those days.

Shirley Simmons is masterminding the big signs - on Hwy 60 welcome signs, the community center, and on the elementary school fence. Thank you Shirley! This does NOT mean that Shirley is doing them all by her lonesome. She is designing, setting up layout, and roughing out lettering for OTHERS to paint. A handful of signpainters will be needed...

Poster sized directional signs - studios and businesses should be taking care of their own signs. MMAC does have about 15 A-frames for signs that can be used. Is anyone looking into recycling political signage from recent campaign? A reminder: anyone putting out signs on public land (easements, rights of way, etc) needs to get permission.

Want your location to stand out? Take charge of your own promo - don't leave it all to the tour folk! THINK BALLOONS, BANNERS, STREAMERS, SIGNS.

A Town Square for Mountainair?

The idea is afoot - independently and simultaneously emerging from a number of sources - that Mountainair should have a town square. "Town center" public space is primarily the street and the post office. The park is also public space but, out of the way and not much used on a daily basis, it is not an adequate substitute for a town square.

Several members of the Zoning Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, and the mayor favor have been talking about the possibility of creating a town square by closing the block in front of the Town Hall and the Dr Saul Community Center to traffic. The street is already extra wide in this block – wider than the blocks leading into it. The space already seems a town square in the imagination, just waiting to be given life.

The resulting space would then be garnished with trees and shrubs, possibly paved with locally quarried stone slabs. Voilà – public space, a town square near the village “core,” complete with trees, benches, and pushcart vendors, hopefully some provisions for shelter from the elements, shade in the summer. A call for public art by local artists comes to mind. It would also provide a central location and focus point for events.

What do you think of the idea? What features do you think a town square should include?

Here are some questions used by the Project for Public Spaces to measure how public space is used, which spaces attract users, which spaces repel them, which spaces offer opportunities for people to interact with each other:

• Where did people sit, and what places did they avoid?
• How were their movements affected by sun, shade, water, flowers, trees, food, and types of available seating?
• What kinds of seating did they prefer?
• How did use patterns change over the course of the day?
• Did people use the space as single individuals or in groups?
• What elements of design invite them to move from the exterior into the public space?
• What moved them to interact with strangers?
• Would they move out of the path of foot traffic to conduct conversations, and if so, would they move to quieter, more out of the way spaces?
• How did these small public spaces relate to the commercial and civic buildings around them?
• Did they have a cross-fertilizing effect, generating foot traffic and more business, which might in turn generate users of the public spaces?
• If they were relatively unused, or used for undesirable purposes, did they cause people to stay away from the entire neighboring area?
  

TOUR IDEAS: a dialog

Consulting Artist: I was just thinking that a poetry ‘zine of Dale's poetry and others at the tour would be cool to sell at the tour, as well as online. What do you think? I'm just wondering if it’s something that the poets would want to do, not offering to do it for them. They're all writers so it shouldn't be a problem getting someone to edit it and print it, you think?

Me: Publishing proceedings of conferences, workshops, etc. is common practice. Less formal not quite book publications of poetry are called chapbooks or just proceedings rather than ‘zines. Since Dale is editor at Central Avenue, an Albuquerque poetry magazine, she would know how feasible this is or whether participating readers are likely to be interested.

Consulting Artist: If she already has a print magazine, why not format to ‘zine and e-zine format to sell online and at the tour? I think it'd be great if some independent literary artists came up with ways to make money with the tour rather than just the visual artists. The same goes for other performance artists. If they have CD's, they should try selling them at the Tour. Last year we didn't really have that many performers, but Dale sounds like she's really filling up a schedule of poets. Selling a magazine, ‘zine, or whatever you want to call it, would help the whole event look professional. At least I think so. Besides, I love getting things like that when I go to event.

Me: Let’s see what she has to say about the idea. Maybe something along this line could also be illustrated with a few pictures local scenes and tour artwork.

I've been reminding performance artists to be sure and bring CD, tapes, etc to sell and any promotional materials they have. If they don't have someone with them to handle it for them, each performance venue should have a table & person at it for that purpose. This is S.O.P. for readings. PWP does that as a matter of course. I set up and sat spoken word table at last year's tour.

An event chapbook is also something writers can list for publications. Online publication of poetry might go better as free – but promoting both Tour and poets. Printed versions, priced to sell well, at event would also make attractive, interesting souvenirs as much as anything else.

You're right - people like getting things when they go someplace. So fat, there is no tour memorabilia other than posters & postcards. Why not add t-shirts, mugs, whatever?

Consulting Artist: There seems to be a nice sized budget for this year. Why not do some CafePress mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads, lunch pails, or whatever with Michael's artwork on it? And have booths with the posters/postcards/art and poetry ‘zines/CD's/anything else performance participants want to sell? Actually, any independent artist make t-shirts, cards, and son on their own artwork (like Celeste's - I think her artwork would transfer well to products) to sell at the tour. Just a thought to float. We could blog it and see what the response is.

Me: I think past t-shirt arrangements have been with T-shirt King - support local biz etc & they cut local events a break. Doing everything else on CafePress makes sense – KISS rules.

Tour Progress Report: Music

Kathleen Clute, Music Coordinator (with Jess Davidson), is a composer and concert pianist. She and her husband Alan have relocated to the Mountainair area from California

Progress report on music for the Tour:

The Dr. Saul community center will be available for performance and used for the more formal “concert” type performances. Jess Davidson will set up Art Alley music venue w/ good PA & board w/ stereo outlets, mics for performers; and a 10 x 20 canopy. His rock group, Cognitive Dissidents, will play Saturday evening.

[Note: Dale Harris has contacted Joel and reports that the Shaffer Gazebo will also be available for spoken word and music performances]

Cognitive Dissidents at the 2005 Tour
Shaffer Gazebo, photo by Robin desJardins

Virginia Hinds’ students from the high school can probably play Saturday 5/20: "HS Ensemble" consists of 12-14 students playing 30 minutes of music: woodwind ensemble; brass & woodwind ensemble.

Wray Simmons and Kathleen will play a Sonatina duet composed by Kathleen, other duets with Kathleen & possibly solos.

Although not confirmed as of last report, Roberto Morales (guitar art, Cibola Gallery) Gary Fey, and Michael Godey are down to play the guitar. Apple Baker has offered to perform on the Native American flute, solo or accompanying poetry readings. The music committee will also be contacting the bluegrass grass group and Abby Linhart about her folk music group.

Patty Mahoney of the Mountainair Community Choir has flute/piano ragtime duos to perform w/ Wray or Kathleen and possible performance pieces w/ Ted Jones.

Responses have been very gratifying, and we still have many local musicians on our list to contact. If you are interested in performing in the music section of the Arts Tour, please e-mail Kathleen at herself@ackc.name.

OT but still poetry (sort of anyway)

I do have a (somewhat late) music update to post and more on tour committee bios (filling in mystery woman gaps), adding the committee member I missed (did you even notice?), and adding an odd coordinator or so. But this is Saturday...why be serious and on task?

For some mindless fun, check out Rob's Amazing Poem Generator

The page owner writes that he has resorted to programming to escape from productive labor. This one generates poetry. The poem you will see if you visit the page was generated by chance. If this entertains you, enter a URL and have it generate a poem based on the contents.

I tried the Mountainair Chamber of Commerce and The Art Center of Mountainair pages. I confess that multiple tries with the Chamber page yielded little of interest. Maybe you will fare better. Or try another page of your choice.

BBC's Dylan Thomas rpg page (working with better source material to be sure) turns out more interesting results. Maybe even something the daring (or foolish) would bring to a poetry open mic.

Baudelaire, in "Correspondances," evokes hidden metaphysical connections in nature that can be apprehended by the senses. Different objects and experiences can correspond to one another in an unexpected but purely aesthetic way. The connection can be metaphorical, or poetic even: in a rhyme or by juxtaposition in a line of verse. RPG's make random (algorithmic) juxtapositions.

A London Guardian blogger (arts section) suggests that mobile phones are random poetry generators with secret poetic intelligence because they make connections between things on the apparently random basis when key strokes for two different words are the same:

73532833 is both 'selected' and 'rejected
7468 - shot/riot/pint'
7259 - 'play' and 'slay'.
7638 - 'soft' and 'poet'

I wonder what Baudelaire or Rimbaud (the Drunken Boat guy), progenitors both of Tristan, would have thought of random poetry generators, whether they possess a secret poetic intelligence. They make connections by algorithm, on a random basis. But yet occasionally throw up startling combinations.

Other Random Poetry Generators:

• Sheenagh Pugh's poem generator
• Berkshire RPG
• RoboPoet
• The Cut-Up Page
• Icon Poet, a "surrealist writing toy"
• text manipulation, cut-up technique and computer generated writing links
  

American "Cut-Up" poetry, kin to "found poetry," dates back to the 50's when Brion Gysin sliced up part of a newspaper and happened to notice that by combining random parts of the text, one could come up with some interesting passages. William Burroughs followed suit. Cut-up technique started with Tristan Tzara's 1920's DaDa experiments

Anyone with a pair of scissors could be a poet. Now anyone with a JavaScript-compatible browser can generate poetry. Digital word collage. Leave the scissors in the drawer - you might fall and hurt yourself.

This is nuts? Wait until you see the mathematical formula I found for art appreciation... I kid you not!