The Arts Commission Announces 29th Annual Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition

What: Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition

Presented by The Arts Commission and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, in conjunction with Oberlin College and Firelands Association of the Visual Arts

When: (Toledo) Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 24, 2012
                        Reception: Sunday, February 12, 4 – 6 p.m.

             (Oberlin) Monday, March 5– Friday, March 30, 2012
                        Reception: Sunday, March 11, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Where:  (Toledo) Lobby of Fifth Third Center at One Seagate, Downtown Toledo

               (Oberlin) Oberlin College Science Center, 110 Woodland Ave., Oberlin

Once again,The Arts Commission and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur will celebrate the creativity and artistic talent of area youth with the Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition. Art teachers from high schools within Ohio’s Ninth District are invited to nominate two student artworks for display. Artworks are selected to receive awards by a jury composed of art educators, local artists, and representatives from institutions sponsoring awards. The artworks recognized with awards will be unveiled at the Toledo reception on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

This year’s jurors were Anna Kenar, Bowling Green State University, Instructor, Printmaking; Barry Whittaker, University of Toledo, Assistant Professor of Art, New Media Design Practices; Barbara Rollins, Firelands Association of the Visual Arts, Board Member and Painter, Jorge Gallardo, Toledo fine artist; Kate Pilacky, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Associate Field Director and Painter, Sandy Shult, Libbey Inc., Graphic Artist.

The Congressional First Place Award winner will have his or her artwork displayed in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. for one year. Those who receive the Congressional Runner-Up Award will have their work displayed throughout the year in Marcy Kaptur’s office. A new component was added to the competition for 2006, which invited students to explore the concepts of“commercial art” and “surface design”. A separate award is given to the artwork deemed most suitable for commercial design application. Employees at Libbey Inc. then produce a short run of Libbey glassware printed with a design derived from the selected artwork. A representative from Libbey Inc. judges this portion of the competition and also hosts a workshop introducing design careers, open to all students participating in the exhibition.

Other awards for this year’s exhibition have generously been sponsored by: Bowling Green State University School of Art, The University of Toledo Department of Art, Oberlin College, Lourdes University Department of Art, The Law Firm of Eastman and Smith, Valko and Associates, Rudolph Libbe Companies Inc., Kate Pilacky and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and Dennis Norman and Nicole Brandstrup.

This Exhibition is also made possible through the generous support of:  One Seagate, Libbey Inc., GEM Inc., Owens Community College and Scribbled Napkin Designs.

Sixty artworks from students attending 13 different local high schools are included in this year’s exhibition, with 29 different artworks receiving awards.While the level of the award received will not be unveiled until the opening reception, this year’s winners include:  Emily Aossey (Rogers), Kelly H. Barfield (Ottawa Hills), Frankey Cunningham (Toledo School for the Arts), Jacob Ervin(Whitmer), Drew Fleniken (Toledo School for the Arts), Alicia Gonzalez (Waite), Kara Guyton (Bowsher), Jacqueline Kari-DeFrain (Notre Dame), Dana Killam (St.Ursula), Haley Mann (Whitmer), Jenna Markovich (Toledo School for the Arts), Morgan Matney (Waite), Nicole Miller (Notre Dame), Lee Monday (Whitmer), Caitlyn Naus (Whitmer), Meredith Niehaus (St. Ursula), Sarah O’Leary (Whitmer), Marissa Penrod (Whitmer), Brooke Puthoff (Whitmer), Cole Reinhart (Bowsher), TaylorRoberts (Toledo School for the Arts), Robert Saldivar (Waite), Korie Sharrar(Whitmer), Jenna Stasko (Whitmer), Heidi Surface (Notre Dame), Adam Vartorella (Edison), Elizabeth Williams (Whitmer), Rachel Zbierajewski (Bowsher), and Bryan Ziegler (Bowsher).

The Arts Commission, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Firelands Association of the Visual Arts and Oberlin College present the Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Competition to honor artistic excellence demonstrated by area high school students. Marcy Kaptur has been presenting this opportunity to her district since 1981.

The Arts Commission is the longest standing arts agency in the state of Ohio that develops and promotes the arts in the community, serving Northwest Ohio since 1959. 1838 Parkwood Ave., Suite 120, Toledo, Ohio 43604. 419-254-ARTS

www.kaptur.house.gov           www.theartcommission.org 

Artist Call for Entries “Landscapes” Juried Art Contest

Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces a call for entries with the theme “Landscapes” for a juried art competition for the month of February 2012.  The gallery invites all 2D artists regardless of where they reside and regardless of their experience or education in the art field to send us your best interpretation of the theme “Landscapes" by depicting the natural world, outdoor scenery, geographical environments’ and any related landscape subjects.  A group exhibition will be held in March 2012 based on the entries. The deadline to enter is February 27, 2012.

Winners of the "Landscapes" Art Exhibition will receive extensive worldwide publicity in the form of email marketing, 70+ press release announcements posts, 65+ event announcements posts, social media marketing and increased website traffic in order to make the art world aware of the artist’s accomplishments. There will also be links back to the artist’s website as part of this achievement.
Interested artists should provide to us with your best landscape art now or before the deadline.  

For further information and to apply online http://www.lightspacetime.com

“All Women” Juried Art Competition Announced by Art Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces an “All Women” Juried Art Competition for the month of January 2012.  The gallery urges all 2D (women only) artists to submit their best art for inclusion into the gallery’s February 2012 online group exhibition.

The gallery would like to be able to exhibit only the best art that a women artist can submit with any 2D media, in any style and about any subject matter. Women are encouraged to submit their art regardless of where they reside and regardless of their experience or education in the art field.

A group exhibition of the top ten finalists will be held online at the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery during the month of February 2012. Awards will be for 1st through 5th places and in addition 5 artists will be recognized with Honorable Mention awards. Depending on the amount and the quality of the entries, these winning categories may be expanded and there also may be Special Recognition awards posted as well. The submission process and the deadline ends on January 29, 2012.

Winners of the "All Women" Art Exhibition will receive extensive worldwide publicity in the form of email marketing, 70+ press release announcements, 55+ event announcements, social media marketing and increased website traffic in order to make the art world aware of the artist’s accomplishments. There will also be links back to the artist’s website as part of this achievement.

Women artists provide us with your best art now.   Apply Online Here: http://www.lightspacetime.com

The Arts Commission Announces Brown, LaBay, LaValley & Yager Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Brown, LaBay, LaValley & Yager Exhibition will be on display January 17 –February 24, 2012 in the Parkwood Gallery.  The public is invited to joinus for a reception for the exhibition on Friday, February 3 from 6 to 8 pm.

The artists in this exhibition are united in a conceptual approach to art making.

Alyssa Brown uses photography as a documenting tool to explore how identity is created in one’s personal space and attire.  Sherepresents the memories that are attached to a single piece of clothing.  Thisseries pairs a journalistic photograph with a written statement recording a personal reflection from the subject of the photograph.  Alyssa is pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentration in New Media at the University of Toledo.

Another University of Toledo artist, Julia La Bay, uses casts of her own body to represent the raw emotion of specific life altering decisions. She captures the struggles that any woman may go through from relationships to abuse to motherhood.  Julia is completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree concentrating in Sculpture with a minor in Printmaking.

The artwork of Antoinette LaValley, M.D. reflects upon life of the individual and family through their bones. She connects the transformation of bones during life to the impact left on thebones at death.  Dr. LaValley has worked as a diagnostic neuroradiologistsince 1990.

Last, but certainly not least, the installation of Michael Yager provokes curiosity.  He encourages the viewer to interactwith his so-named space coconuts.  Interaction elicits light and soundresponses from this interactive installation.  Michael currently teachesas adjunct faculty at OwensCommunity College.

The Parkwood Gallery is open Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:30pm and is located at 1838 Parkwood Avenue,  Suite 120 off of Monroe Street in Downtown Toledo.

The Arts Commission is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio that develops and promotes the arts in thecommunity, serving Northwest Ohio since 1959.www.theartscommission.org. 419-254-ARTS

Red Fez Publications Announce Nominations for The Micro Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Underground authors recently published at Red Fez Publications receive nominations in recognition of their outstanding work.

THE FEZZERY. November 13, 2011 --Red Fez Publications is pleased to announce their nominations for The Micro Award.

In a continued effort to promote underground writing, the following stories have been nominated for The Micro Award, presented annually for a work of prose fiction written in English, of any genre, not above 1000 words in length: “Musketball” by Tom Andrews and “The Assignment” by Josh Olsen.

Both stories were published online in 2011.  They can be read in the archives at www.redfez.net.

From The Micro Award website: “The Micro Award was founded in 2008 by author Robert Laughlin to recognize outstanding flash fiction from both print and electronic media.”

Stories considered for the 5th Annual Micro Award must have been published originally in 2011. Qualifying venues are any form of print or electronic publication designed for public display. Self-published stories are eligible. An author may submit one story of his or her own; the senior editor of a magazine or anthology, or any staff member designated by him or her, may submit two stories if both are from his or her own publication and neither is self-written.

The deadline for nominations is December 31. There is no entry fee.

About Red Fez Publications:

Established in 2002 and founded by Leopold McGinnis, Red Fez Publications is an Independent publisher committed to bringing recognition to underground and under-recognized writers and artists. Red Fez publishes an online literary journal featuring literature and art and has published over 500 authors from around the world. Poems and short stories that have first appeared on Red Fez have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, storySouth Million Writers Award, Sundress Publications Best of the Net, Dzanc Books Best of the Web and The Micro Award.

"Countryside" Juried Art Competition - Apply Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces a Juried Art Competition for the month of November with the theme “Countryside”. A Group exhibition of the top ten finalists will be held online at the Light Space & Time Art Gallery for the month of December 2011.  The theme is the Countryside and the gallery wants all 2D artists to send us your best interpretation of the theme “Countryside" by depicting rural living, the outdoors and pastoral scenes.

Light Space & Time encourages entries from all 2D artists regardless of where they reside and regardless of their experience or education in the art field.  A group exhibition of the top five finalists, in addition, Honorable Mention and Special Recognition awards will also be awarded.  The submission process and the deadline is November 28, 2011.

For further information and to apply through the website http://www.lightspacetime.com  

Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Announces Young Artists at Work Open House Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) is pleased to announce an Open House Event commemorating the near completion of the 2011 Young Artists at Work (YAAW) program. The event is open to media, program sponsors, donors and partners, families of the YAAW apprentices, and the general public .

On Thursday, August 4, from 5 – 7 p.m., the YAAW 2011 worksite will be open for visitors. Attendees will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with the 2011 YAAW apprentices, view works of art created through the program, and purchase art work created by this year’s student apprentices.

The YAAW worksite is located in the basement of the University of Toledo’s Center for Visual Arts, 620 Grove Place, Toledo, OH 43624 (the gray building next to TMA). Parking is in the student lot, closest to Collingwood Blvd.

To attend the Open House, please RSVP by Wednesday, August 3.

Please call Emily at 419-254-2787, or email efinkel@acgt.org.

Program support for the 2011 YAAW program is provided by: AIGA- Toledo Chapter, Ms. Julie Beckert, Ms. Sally Binard, Barbara Chappell and Ace Acebedo, Charter One Bank, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Sara Jane  and Bill DeHoff, Mark and Mollie Dixon, Findlay Davies, Inc., Ms. Edith Franklin, Ms. Penny Gentieu, Mr. and Mrs. David Guip, Hanson Inc., HCR Manor Care, Health Care REIT, Mrs. Marcia Helman, Sharon A. Kerstetter, Key Bank, Kingston HealthCare Co., Dr. and Mrs. Allan Kirsner, Lakeside Interior Contractors, Inc., Leadership Toledo, Libbey Inc., Lighthouse Branding & Merchandising, Mr. Tedd Long, Lucas County Job and Family Services, Lucas County Summer Youth Employment Program, McDonald Partners, Jim Moore and Tim Valko, Mr. Michael Moran, Ohio Arts Council, OptiVue, Owens Corning, PART OF IT Project, The Perfect Measuring Tape, ProMedica Health System, Margaret and Richard Ressner, Rudolph/Libbe Companies, Savage & Associates, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S. Skinner, Jr., The Stranahan Foundation, Studio Sans Nom, TARTA, Toledo Blade, Toledo Community Foundation, Toledo Edison, Toledo.com, Toledo Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Trumbull, United North, University of Toledo College of Visual and Performing Arts, Wal-Mart Foundation and Facility #8139, Mr. and Mrs. David Weinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Zimmerman, Mr. Robert Zollweg, Mr. Edward Zraik, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Zraik.

This year’s apprentices are:
Colin Amos (Toledo School for the Arts), Kia Awls (Start High School), Kelly Barfield (Ottawa Hills High School), Karen Becerra (Waite High School), Christopher Bradford II (Summit Academy), Brooke Breckenridge (Perrysburg High School), Michael Burgete (Phoenix Academy), Jason Burgete (Phoenix Academy),Brandi Cabell (Start High School), Chelsie Cree (Bowsher High School), Jenna Daugherty (Rogers High School), Brianna DuBose (Summit Academy), Jerry J. Easter Jr. (Whitmer High School), Caitlin Fitzgerald (Phoenix Academy), Halle Foss (Sylvania Northview High School), La’Marious Harris (Achieve Career Preparatory Academy), Trenton Hertzfield (Perryburg Junior High), Morgan Hilbert (Anthony Wayne High School), Hasaan Hunter (Rogers High School), Caroline Jardine (Cardinal Stritch High School), Modesty Johnson (ECOT), Scott Johnson (Summit Academy), Kareem Jones (Waite High School), Allison Kuhr (Toledo School for the Arts), Vannessia Lawson (Bowsher High School), La' marquitta Long (Achieve Career Preparatory Academy), Tanasio Loudermill (Toledo Early College High School), Joseph Martin (Phoenix Academy), Treva Mathis (Phoenix Academy), Kalisa McCalland (Horizon Science Academy-Toledo), Bryanna McClure (Waite High School), Adriaonna McDuffey (Phoenix Academy), Jacob Menden (Sylvania Southview High School), Ryan Middlebrooks (Whitmer High School), Nadejda Mirochnitchenko (Sylvania Southview High School), My’Kaja Nash (Blessed Sacrament Junior High), Tori Nelson (Start High School), Erica Parker (Start High School), Steven Pedro (Anthony Wayne High School), David Person (Start High School), Nancy Ransom (Maumee Country Day School), Conner Restorick (Sylvania Southview High School), Robert Roberson (Penta Career Center), Salvador Rodriquez (Waite High School), Hannah Skowronek (Bedford Senior High), Marissa Stewart (Bowsher High School), Camille Sturdivant (Notre Dame Academy), Andrew Thomas (Toledo School for the Arts), Simone Tilmon (Horizon Science Academy-Toledo), Katelin Uhinck (Queen of Apostles Junior High), Devante Urbina (Woodward High School), Armand Velez (Summit Academy), Levia Warrick (Start High School), Paris Wells (Waite High School), Molly Wetter (Ladywood High School), Ettel Williams (Waite High School), and Pearline Young (Horizon Science Academy-Toledo).

Since 1994, the Arts Commission has sponsored the award winning YAAW program. This six-week summer employment opportunity enables diverse and at-risk youth to benefit from an intense exposure to the arts. The objective of YAAW is to provide an intensive arts experience that fosters artistic self-expression and a quality work ethic that can impact the youth throughout adulthood. The opportunity provides exposure to the concept of art as a business, as well as the creation of public art for the greater Toledo community.

To learn more about the YAAW program, please visit www.acgt.org

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio that develops and promotes the arts in the community, serving Northwest Ohio since 1959.

Red Reader #1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Red Reader #1 is the first in a series of print publications aimed at promoting the work of underground and under-recognized writers and artists. In conjunction with Lit Vision Press, Red Fez Publications will release a limited print edition of Red Reader #1 on August 6, 2011. Edited and designed by Michele McDannold, this limited edition is a 8 ½ x 11 side-stapled book with a sandpaper cover and full-color interior pages.

Pre-Order Red Reader #1 now until July 29th at the discounted rate of $9.99USD (plus shipping). All pre-ordered books will ship on August 1st. Regular orders for Red Reader #1 will begin on August 6th at $12.99USD (plus shipping).

Contributors: Lynn Alexander, Shane Allison, Shaindel Beers, Tyson Bley, April Michelle Bratten, Judy L. Brekke, Brad Burjan, Paul Corman-Roberts, Aleathia Drehmer, Mary Ann Loesch, Leopold McGinnis, Mathias Nelson, Puma Perl, Misti Rainwater-Lites and Luis Rivas.

For more information or to purchase visit http://theliteraryunderground.org/redreader1

 

Zygote in my Fez 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Zygote in my Coffee and Red Fez Publications invite you to join them for Zygote in my Fez 2011, a poetry feztival, brought to you with generous support from the Toledo Free Press.

Hosted by Michael Grover and Brian Fugett on August 6th at the Collingwood Arts Center in Toledo, past contributors to Zygote and Red Fez will be performing in the theater from 4-10pm. Following will be an after-party and open mic at the Blarney, 601 Monroe St., Downtown Toledo.

For more information and a list of performers, please visit http://www.redfez.net/zyfez .