While looking at art in art galleries, I also look at people looking at art. Artists, of course, tend to look at art for different reasons than ordinary folks and are, therefore, more difficult to study. Among ordinary folks, a wide range of discernible reaction and readable body language is apparent. Some reactions seem to be almost totally based on what people have been told or learned. I call these "programmed reactions." Other more direct and "pure" reactions range from awe to disgust. Thankfully, they often include joy. Some viewers have a visceral reaction that may even be accompanied by a temporary or prolonged state of trance. Jaws drop, bodies go limp and people are seen to sit or stand, not quite knowing what's happening.

The active ingredients of this sort of trance are feelings of confusion.

The much discussed and debated 20th century psychoanalyst and clinical hypnotist Milton H. Erickson had quite a bit to say about confusion. A consummate joker, even in his own practice, he used confusion and its incumbent trance to quickly open a window into his clients' psychotic or neurotic state.

A typical Erickson trick was the "confused handshake"--known among our friendly shrinks as "handshake induction." On meeting someone for the first time Erickson would reach out a hand only to grasp on to the other person's wrist. Then he would withdraw his hand in a sort of sensitive and sneaky way, trailing a finger or thumb lightly over the recipient's palm or finger tips. Surprised and disoriented by this unconventional touch, most recipients were at least temporarily set off in a state of trance.

Fact is, a state of trance (and thus psychological control) is readily effected by this sort of confusion.

I thoroughly recommend the hobby of watching people in galleries. In those arts where standards of craftsmanship and creative competence might be expected, a work of art with little or no craftsmanship or apparent competence has a good chance to beguile. Thus, a piece exhibited in a prestigious museum reaches out to the viewer like a handshake ready to be grasped and greeted--then rewards the viewer with something other than expected. Even uninterested viewers can be delivered a life-enhancing (or mind-bending) transportation that brings on a sense of awe.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Use of the confusion technique has many times effected exceedingly rapid hypnotic inductions under conditions such as acute pain and even in hostile, aggressive and resistant persons." (Milton H. Erickson)

Esoterica: Just as evangelicals, politicians, salespersons and psychiatrists can use baffling thoughts, images and ideas to accomplish their objectives, artists can employ similar means to attract and hold attention. Confusion is created by ambiguity, complexity, pattern interruption, insult, ignorance, contradiction, poor taste, shock, beguiling illusion, surprise, incompleteness and the propagation of riddle and mystery--all ploys that are familiar and readily available to visual artists.

Robert Genn has given ARTAZINE permission to post from his twice-weekly newsletter. For more of his artistic insights, visit his blog at www.painterspost.com.

Formerly call Arthop, this event is still being held by several gallery and business owners in Redding, Ca.

Plan on coming out and visiting and enjoying the talents of our local artisans!

BEVIE'S FINE ARTS will be featuring THE BEST OF THE BEST art work done by her students:

ELVA REHDORF
PEGGY ELWOOD
VIVI-ANNE THOMPSON
CAROL TAYLOR
OLGA ALVAREZ
VICKIE NORTH...
And the list is still growing!

Also at BEVIE'S will be the beautiful new glass pieces made by LINDA MCMAHON
and semi-precious jewelry by
Gallery owner BEV DEARMAN

Bevies Fine Art Studio
3404 Bechelli Lane Suite C
Redding CA 96001
530-355-3927

Elephant on Bulls Eyes wash - workshop with Sandi Palmer

Hello There Young Budding Artist,

This Tuesday will be the first Tuesday of the month, Feb. 7th and it is mini workshop day. Classes 10-1 and 5:30-8:30.
I have a fun exercise for you. An elephant on a bulls eyes wash. Photo attached

Supplies:
watercolors: Need a red, yellow and blue, bring everything
140 or 300 lb arches
Brushes
Paper towels

Call 347-4957 or email me if you can come....

Have a great weekend
Sandi Palmer

Paseo Arts Festival 36th Anniversary - OKC - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

DEADLINE: 2/5/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 5/26/2012 - 5/28/2012
A showcase for the original works of visual artists selected by jury, along with performance art and live music. Held in the historic Paseo Arts District which was named one of the Top 10 Neighborhoods in the United States in 2010. Paseo has been associated with the arts in Oklahoma since it was built in 1929. Today, 60,000 people enjoy the annual Memorial Day weekend festival.

Art& 2012 - Webster Groves, Missouri
DEADLINE: 2/5/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/1/2012 - 6/3/2012
Art& has gained a well-deserved reputation for presenting high-quality art in a warm, friendly environment with knowledgeable patrons who really want to know the artists and their work. Working hard to place the artist front and center, Art& is, according to Sunshine Artists Magazine, “known around the show circuit for its unbelievable artist treatment.” The 9th Annual Art& Fair, scheduled June 1-3, 2012, will attract more than 110 artists and 20,000 visitors to a spacious, oak-shaded park setting in the heart of historic Webster Groves, Missouri, just 10 minutes west of Downtown St. Louis. Webster Groves is a charming community of 19th and early 20th century homes-- many listed on the National Register of Historic Places--nestled among beautiful parks, gardens, public art installations, antique stores, bistros and boutiques. Supported by the Webster Community Arts Foundation, the Art& Fair also features on-site food provided by favorite local restaurant! s, non-stop live music performances, and creative activities that draw visitors and buyers.

Art& provides $7,500 in artist awards. For more information, see www.artandair.com.

Corpus Christi Festival of the Arts 2012 - Corpus Christi, Texas
DEADLINE: 2/5/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 3/30/2012 - 4/1/2012
Blue skies and warm Gulf breezes compliment the beautiful “Sparkling City by the Sea”. Corpus Christi is a creative oasis comprised of an eclectic mix of art enthusiasts, collectors and tourists. An excess of 10,000 regional and national art enthusiasts are expected at the annual Festival of the Arts. The 3 day event is FREE to the public and enriches the community’s cultural landscape by promoting participation in the Arts. The 2012 Festival of the Arts event will create a wonderful plethora of live performances in music and dance and exciting visual art exhibits. The Festival also features independent cinema/film, additional varieties of other live entertainment, educational family art activities, an art-full KidZone and quality food and beverages for purchase. The Festival of the Arts is a 501c3 non profit corporation that hosts the event with the support of the Downtown Management District, the City of Corpus Christi and community volunteers who understand the ! benefits of Art & Artists in their community.

Frederick Festival of the Arts - The 19th Annual - Frederick, Maryland
DEADLINE: 2/6/2012
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/2/2012 - 6/3/2012
Celebrating it's 19th year, the Frederick Festival of the Arts is held along Carroll Creek Linear Park in the heart of Historic downtown Frederick, Maryland. This juried fine arts and craft venue invites discerning art-lovers from the surrounding areas of: Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and Northern Virginia. The Festival is committed to presenting the finest of juried national artists and continuing their longstanding tradition of serving these invited artist's immediate needs, while providing a festive and enjoyable outdoor venue for all! Unique to this venue is its waterway and bridge crossings, and downtown location. Not only does this site provide water activity to keep children busy while parents shop, it seems somehow to spring the spirits of the summertime as well, on June 2 & 3. The community-supported organization is also committed to presenting the finest national artists in an exceptional arts venue bringing the best of quality fine art, performin! g opportunities, and providing for education in the arts. Join the high caliber Creekside Celebration!

Art Austin@The Domain (Spring) 2012 - Austin, Texas
DEADLINE: 2/6/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 3/23/2012 - 3/25/2012
Lynette Wallace Productions, LLC presents Art Austin @ The Domain. The newest art fair of the Blue Lotus Art Show Tour.

This juried three day art festival features fine art and contemporary craft in 13 media categories.

The Domain is Austin's premier shopping and entertainment venue with more than one million square feet of restaurants and luxury retailers such as Barneys, Tiffany and Neiman Marcus surrounded in a beautifully landscaped setting. The Domain includes luxury apartments as well as a Westin hotel and Aloft Hotel. The Domain is also a massive mixed-use development with commercial, office and residential in a contemporary setting.

Art Austin @ The Domain is opening weekend for the spring Texas art show tour. Welcoming Austin artists as wall as artists traveling the Texas show circuit.

Austin is always a vibrant city filled with music and culture. Art Austin @ The Domain will become a new Austin tradition showcasing the independent artist.

Austin is known around the world for its music, but it's also a major center for high-tech industries. Apple, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Google all have offices here. It's eclectic and diverse and Austinites have a reputation for being supportive of the arts and of independent businesses.

We look forward to seeing you at Art Austin @ The Domain.

This first year, any artist that has shown in a juried art festival Lynette has directed including Bayou City Art Festivals, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, Georgetown Art In Square or The Shops At La Cantera Art Festival will be automatically invited during the jury process as a thank you for supporting our work.

Fine Arts on the River 2012 - Savannah, Georgia
DEADLINE: 2/6/2012
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 4/20/2012 - 4/22/2012
FINE ENTERTAINMENT! SIMPLY FINE!
This Juried Fine Art and Fine Craft Show takes place on beautiful and historic River Street in Savannah, Georgia. In conjunction with the Mutual Liberty Legends of Golf Tournament literally just across the river and magnificent tourist and local foot traffic, exhibitors will experience a culturally rich and appropriate demographic audience.

Savannah Tall Ships Challenge® 2012 - Savannah, Georgia
DEADLINE: 2/6/2012
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/4/2012 - 5/6/2012
The SAVANNAH TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE®, scheduled for May 3-7, 2012 with festival dates of May 4-6, 2012, will take place on the historic banks of the Savannah River and will bring between 10 and 15 of the most magnificent tall ships into our City from North and South America, France and other ports abroad. We are the official starting point of the Tall Ships America® Tall Ships Challenge® 2012 Atlantic race series; ending in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the race will reach over 3.5 million people this summer!

We expect an international fleet of fully rigged, multi-masted tall ships to grace our riverfront arriving on Thursday, May 3 and departing in a Parade of Sail on Monday, May 7, 2012. It promises to be one of the most colorful and spectacular ticketed festivals our city has ever seen and will celebrate the art of Savannah itself, our rich maritime/nautical history and will recognize the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

We project an attendance figure for the four days to surpass 125,000 people. One of the many highlights of the festival is the inclusion of artisans on site. This element heightens the visitor experience and because of the themed nature of the event, we are limiting the art and crafts to maritime/nautical-related or Savannah-centric (representing Savannah and our coastal community). Because we have chosen to limit the genres, we hope to insure the quality of the event and the overall experience – both for the attendees and the exhibitors!

Sarasota Festival of the Arts - 24th Annual (Downtown Sarasota, FL) February 2012 - Sarasota, Florida
DEADLINE: 2/10/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 2/18/2012 - 2/19/2012
Ranked one of the top 100 Fine Art Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
One of Sarasota’s biggest and best art events. It is located on Main Street in downtown Sarasota and spans from 5 Points-Selby Park to Orange Avenue.

ArtsQuest Fine Arts & Music Festival 2012 - Seaside, Florida
DEADLINE: 2/10/2012
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 5/11/2012 - 5/13/2012
24th Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts & Music Festival May 11-12 2012 - Seaside, Florida

Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival 20th Anniversary February 2012 - Dunedin, Florida
DEADLINE: 2/10/2012
Jury Fee: $15.00
Event Dates: 2/18/2012 - 2/19/2012
Set in one of Tampa's most desirable suburbs, Dunedin is a charming and historic city. These factors all combine to form a fantastic craft festival.

Show is currently closed to jewelry & clothing. Jewelry & Clothing applications will be accepted for Wait List Only.

Madison Audubon Art Fair 2012, Madison, Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin
DEADLINE: 2/10/2012
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 5/5/2012 - 5/5/2012
We are now accepting artist applications for our 36th Annual Madison Audubon Art Fair!

This is a well-established, well-attended Spring Art Fair just before Mothers Day that draws visitors from southern Wisconsin and surrounding states. The beautiful park location in Madison, Wisconsin provides quality indoor booth facilities, easily accessed outdoor booth areas, and free parking. This colorful event includes artists in a wide variety of media. The timing is ideal - Mother's Day shopping brings people out in droves. We welcome a mix of art media and subjects including but not limited to bird and nature related art.
We welcome both returning artists and new artists, and look forward to seeing your application!

Art on the Greene 2012 - Arlington, Texas
DEADLINE: 2/10/2012
Jury Fee: $15.00
Event Dates: 3/23/2012 - 3/25/2012
Art on the Greene, an exciting new art festival coming to the City of Arlington, Texas. Located in the heart of the Dallas/Ft.Worth metroplex, lies Richard Greene Linear Park, home of Art on the Greene. Nestled between The Ballpark in Arlington and Cowboys Stadium this venue is sure to impress artists and art lovers alike!

Summerfair Cincinnati 2012 - Cincinnati, Ohio
DEADLINE: 2/10/2012
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/1/2012 - 6/3/2012
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO APPLY… to the 45th Summerfair - Cincinnati, Ohio's Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Fair.

Summerfair has consistently been identified as one of the 200 best shows in the United States by Sunshine Artist magazine during the last decade - most recently (September 2010) it was ranked the 23rd Best Fine Art and Design Show. In addition, since 1999 Summerfair has received three Artists' Choice Awards from the National Association of Independent Artists.
New Events
Stone Arch Bridge Festival 2012 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
OPEN DATE: 1/26/2012
DEADLINE: 4/6/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/16/2012 - 6/17/2012
The beautiful Minneapolis skyline and the Mississippi River are the backdrop for this 2 day art festival. This new festival continues the tradition of the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts. Same weekend, same dedication to the artists and same extensive media coverage.

Art Westport 2012 - 33rd Annual - Kansas City, Missouri
OPEN DATE: 1/27/2012
DEADLINE: 5/1/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/7/2012 - 9/9/2012
Art Westport, is Kansas City's only outdoor art festival exclusively for LOCAL artists. The historic Westport neighborhood district provides the perfect backdrop for our exhibition of painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry and more. Held on September 9th-11th, 2011. You must live within a 40 mile radius of the downtown Kansas City, MO post office to be eligible to apply.

Zona Rosa Arts Festival 2012 - Kansas City, Missouri
OPEN DATE: 1/27/2012
DEADLINE: 7/5/2012
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 9/14/2012 - 9/16/2012
The annual Zona Rosa Arts Festival, September 14-16, 2012, is a juried fine arts festival sponsored by Zona Rosa. The three day festival is free for the public to attend and features the talents of qualifying national and regional artists along with live musical and dance performances at Town Square.

The festival takes place in Zona Rosa, a dynamic shopping, dining, and entertainment district located just minutes from downtown Kansas City and Kansas City International Airport. Zona Rosa is a new urban retail development that opened in the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri in May, 2004. Zona Rosa is a mixed-use development, combining retail, restaurant and entertainment venues, along with office space and residential lofts and luxury apartments. The open-air, pedestrian-friendly center features a town square, children’s park and fountains, all designed to make Zona Rosa the premier shopping, dining and gathering spot for the local community.

Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts 2012 - Glen Ellyn, Illinois
OPEN DATE: 1/30/2012
DEADLINE: 4/30/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 8/25/2012 - 8/26/2012
Please joins us for the 43rd annual Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts. This a juried fine arts show held under the Oaks in beautiful Lake Ellyn Park. Artists Booths are along the sidewalk that runs though the park.

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild: 43rd Annual Fine Craft and Design Show 2012 - Raleigh, North Carolina
OPEN DATE: 1/30/2012
DEADLINE: 6/1/2012
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 11/23/2012 - 11/25/2012
Since 1970, the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild has provided a profitable marketplace for the finest contemporary crafts in the Southeast.Our Annual Fair on Thanksgiving weekend provides a premier showcase for CDCG Exhibiting Members in one of the most vital growth areas in the U.S. today.

GumTree Festival 2012 - Tupelo, Mississippi
OPEN DATE: 1/30/2012
DEADLINE: 2/29/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 5/12/2012 - 5/13/2012
GumTree Festival is a Mother's Day Tradition for Northeast Mississippi, and our Juried Fine Arts Festival is celebrating its 41st Anniversary this May. Join us around the historic court square in downtown Tupelo for a two day celebration of the visual and performing arts!

Berkshires Arts Festival (July, August) 2012 - Great Barrington, Massachusetts
OPEN DATE: 1/30/2012
DEADLINE: 2/28/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 7/6/2012 - 8/26/2012
The Berkshires Arts Festival has become a Berkshire tradition attracting thousands of art lovers who come to the Berkshires for theater, dance, music, and art.

Founded by Richard and Joanna Rothbard, owners of An American Craftsman Galleries, the Berkshires Arts Festival attracts top artists from all across the USA and Canada.

Most cultural events such as Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, and Berkshire Theatre Festival take place in the evening and our Berkshire Festival has become the chosen daytime, weekend attraction for 8,000 art lovers. Artists from across the country have discovered that this show has the potential to produce great sales, and that there is a strong customer base for higher priced work.

The Berkshires Arts Festival continues to thrive as one of the brightest small art fairs in the country.

Apply to BOTH July and August shows and pay one application fee. Booth fees reduced for the August show.
• 200 Exhibitors
• Indoor air-conditioned Booths
• Beautiful mountain setting
• Unload directly at booth
• Camping on site
• Online Artist Directory with link to artist's website

The Berkshires is comprised of 30 unique towns and 2 cities bordering Vermont, New York and Connecticut and is equidistant from Boston and New York City.

2.5 million visitors travel to the Berkshires each year to immerse themselves in the various cultural events from art, to music, theatre and dance.

American Founders Bank Woodland Art Fair 2012 - Lexington, Kentucky
OPEN DATE: 1/31/2012
DEADLINE: 3/31/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 8/18/2012 - 8/19/2012
Lexington Art League and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's Division of Parks & Recreation present the 37th annual American Founders Bank Woodland Art Fair located in scenic Woodland Park in Lexington, KY. The Fair is central Kentucky's largest FREE cultural event with an average attendance of 60,000 people, and has been recently voted among the Top 200 Fine Art & Design Fairs by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival 2012 - Newport News, Virginia
OPEN DATE: 1/31/2012
DEADLINE: 8/15/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 10/13/2012 - 10/14/2012
This 8th annual juried, fine arts festival is well known for exceptional treatment of the artists, many of whom return year after year.

Arts on Fire 2012 - scranton, Pennsylvania
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 4/15/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/2/2012 - 6/3/2012
The 3rd annual "Arts on Fire" will be held on Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday June 3rd at the Historic Iron Furnaces in Scranton PA. This exciting event has grown in popularity since its inception and this year we've expanded. Saturday will host all day glass blowing demonstrations and Sunday will be the Iron Pour, bands will provide a lively background and a variety of food vendors will keep everyone happy!

Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts 2012 - Montana
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 4/2/2012
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 8/3/2012 - 8/5/2012
The Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts takes place in scenic Bozeman, MT every first full weekend in August. Events include art shows, a parade, theatre, music and dance perfermances, children's activities, and the Arts and Crafts Sale. The festival typically attracts approximately 16,000 people.

Sidewalk Arts Festival 2012 - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 6/8/2012
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 9/8/2012 - 9/8/2012
The Sidewalk Arts Festival is the region’s largest one-day festival held in historic downtown Sioux Falls. This free event is a fundraiser for the Visual Arts Center of the Washington Pavilion, and it features over 200 vendors from 10 states. The Sidewalk Arts Festival has a large food court, activities for kids, live entertainment throughout the festival, and a large variety of vendors. Over 40,000 shoppers attend each year. Come, join the fun!

Open Studios Art Tour (Santa Cruz County) 2012 - Santa Cruz County, California
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 4/30/2012
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 10/6/2012 - 10/21/2012
The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County's Open Studios Art Tour is a self-guided tour open to permanent residents of Santa Cruz County, CA only. The tour showcases artists' studios throughout the county and takes place during the first three weekends of October.

Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market 2012 - Denver, Colorado
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 2/29/2012
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 6/9/2012 - 6/10/2012
The mission of the Summer Art Market is to sell and showcase fine art produced by the Art Students League’s active students, members and faculty, reflective of the media taught at the school. Applicants must be active participants in the Art Students League.

RiverArtsFest 2012 - Memphis, Tennessee
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 5/31/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 10/20/2012 - 10/21/2012
The 2012 RiverArtsFest event will host a juried Artist Market, along with other festival offerings. A successor to Arts-in-the Park and now in its sixth year, this organization has successfully presented the Mid-South’s rich cultural diversity and talent in the longest running fine arts festival in this region. The juried Artist Market has attracted more than 85,000 patrons with comments of "excellent examples of artistic creativity" and "great diversity in a high caliber of artists." Please visit our new website www.riverartsmemphis.org for more information. *Our website is undergoing new construction and will be available soon.

Ocala Arts Festival 2012 - Ocala, Florida
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 7/15/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 10/27/2012 - 10/28/2012
FINE ARTS FOR OCALA (FAFO) brings you the OCALA ARTS FESTIVAL. The show takes place at the McPherson Government Complex, a beautiful park-like setting. It offers big crowds, wide community support as well as highly promoted. Prize money totals $20,000.

Metro Arts Expo 2012 - Des Moines, Iowa
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 6/1/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/2/2012 - 11/4/2012
The Metro Arts EXPO features the work of 70 juried artists. This event is FREE to the public. There is a Children’s Workshop, interactive art projects for all ages, live musicians, demonstrations and an upbeat holiday shopping atmosphere. Des Moines is the most populated city in Iowa. The approximate Metro Population of 553,000 people. In 2009, Forbes Magazine rated the City of Des Moines as #3 in the "America's Most Livable Cities”. Capital Square at 400 Locust Street is in the heart of Downtown Des Moines. Thousands of people come to eat, shop and experience museums, music, amazing architecture.Capital Square is surrounded by cultural and social amenities such as, luxury condominiums, the Civic Center, upscale restaurants and businesses.

Plaza Art Fair 2012 - Missouri
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 5/2/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 9/21/2012 - 9/23/2012
One of the longest-running and most beloved art festivals in the country, the Plaza Art Fair is in its 81st year. Enjoyed by artists for its knowledgeable crowds, attentive staff and beautiful location on the historic Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, the Plaza Art Fair attracts 300,000 art patrons each year. Ranked in the top ten fine arts festivals in the Art Fair SourceBook, it has grown over seven decades to be a premier festival of fine art and fine craft. The Plaza Art Fair is consistently recognized as Kansas City’s best annual event. It marks the arrival of autumn for Kansas Citians and artists alike, and attracts tourists from all over the Midwest.

Black Swamp Arts Festival 2012, Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green, Ohio
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 4/1/2012
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 9/8/2012 - 9/9/2012
The Black Swamp Arts Festival is held each fall in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio on the weekend after Labor Day. The Festival is well-known for its all inclusive nature. The high quality of the visual arts combined with music, and youth arts activities are strongly supported by the Bowling Green community. The Festival draws over 60,000 area residents and visitors each year.

Art Show at the Fest, Kansas City Irish Festival 2012 - Kansas City, Missouri
OPEN DATE: 2/1/2012
DEADLINE: 6/1/2012
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 8/31/2012 - 9/2/2012
After another very successful year, the Kansas City Irish Festival is happy to continue their annual Art in the Park addition to their celebration of Celtic pride. Fifty artisans will be showcased in the beautiful tree-lined Washington Park, adjacent to Crown Center Square and in the heart of Kansas City’s burgeoning historical art district – the Crossroads. This year, the KC Irish Fest weekend corresponds with Kansas City’s First Fridays – the first Friday of each month when the Crossroads Community's art galleries, studios, and restaurants open their doors to showcase local and national artists.

The Kansas City Irish Festival, the fastest growing Irish festival in America, has an outstanding reputation among participants and visitors, attracting over 100,000 people annually. We showcase two dozen world class acts on five main stages, Irish heritage exhibits, fabulous traditional food, children’s activities, and an Irish Marketplace. Two hotels on site sell out over 2000 hotel nights over the weekend. This juried festival is open to all emerging and established artists. Where we are looking to add to the cultural climate of a Celtic Festival, we are not limited to Celtic themed art.

We are looking for Redding area playwrights to write us the first 5-9 pages of a full-length play in any genre (comedy, drama, tragedy, tragicomedy, absurdist, postmodern existentialist feminism, etc.), but then stop right there.

Just give us the most brilliant beginning to a play you can imagine.

Un-Scripted will be using three of those opening scenes for an encore presentation of Act One, Scene Two in Redding, and we’re hoping you’re interested in collaborating with us!  Need to have submission by February 4th.

The performances will be Feb. 24 & 25 at Riverfront Playhouse.  Visit www.riverfrontplayhouse.net for submission guidelines.

February 2012, in the Moon Lee Room at the Main Street Gallery
Play of Light—Portraits and Landscapes
by Malcolm Wilson
Malcolm Wilson, a native of England, has been sketching and drawing since he was a teenager. He started with landscapes, and eventually began to draw portraits. Career and family took center stage for many years, and his art was explored in drawing,
pottery, jewelry-making and clay sculpture classes in his spare time. Art was a hobby until 14 years ago, when he was able to
retire and devote time to painting.
As Malcolm himself states: “My original ambition was to paint in an impressionistic style, but I had no clear idea of why, except
that I loved impressionist paintings. It has taken me a long time to recognize that what especially attracted me was the emphasis on the effects of light and the way it can alter color, rather than the actual technique. In the past four years or so I have tried increasingly to explore the subtleties of light and shadow and the variations in colors as the light and weather change. This show concentrates on landscape paintings of this type, together with some portraits in paint and in clay.”

February 2012, in the Trinity Room at the Main Street Gallery—Member Show and Painting Raffle

Main Street Gallery
490 Main Street, P.O. Box 421,
Weaverville, California 96093
530-623-9259
mainstreetgallery@velotech.net

Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

Jackson Pollock - Number 8

CHILDREN AND ART
An Art Project to do With Young Children
LINE – DRIP PAINTING

by S.A. Barone

This art project is a fun one, especially with the Kindergarten children. Actually I’ve done this art project several times with all ages and it’s always been a favorite.
This project can be done almost anywhere, well, maybe not in the living room. At home, I usually did this project either on the back patio when the weather was warm, or in the rainy season, in the garage.
This is a perfect art project for the kids to learn about that famous abstract artist, Jackson Pollock. Pollock flung paint at canvases with a stick; he poured and hurled paint to create rolling shapes of color and lines, which always seemed to rotate like a powerful current of rapidly moving water. According to several New York art critics, Pollock was one of the greatest modern Abstract Expressionists that ever lived. He is certainly one of my favorite artists.
What you will need for this project.

MATERIALS:

Large Heavy White Paper, or Butcher Paper. Newspaper, Paper Cups, Paint, Old Tin Pie Plates or heavy duty Paper Plates. Cornstarch (optional). Mixing sticks.
(I have used old canvases, pieces of board, like thin Masonite or heavy pieces of cardboard. Any of these surfaces will work well for this project. I have also used left over house paint, water based of course. Actually I like this kind of paint better than tempera paint. However if using Tempera paints you can add cornstarch to each color and mix it until it is thick and creamy. Also make sure you have a good variety of colors, kids love color.)

PROCESS:

Spread newspaper on the floor or table before getting started. Make sure your work area is well covered.
Punch tiny holes in the bottom of the paper cups so the kids can drip the paint onto their surface. Let them drip, swirl, dribble, use slow and fast movements, and up and down movements. When they are done with a color they can put it on the pie or paper plate. Let the kids continue until they are satisfied with their paintings.

FINISH:

No matter what surface is used it’s a good idea to have it a reasonable size for framing. If the painting will be framed make sure it is dried thoroughly. Then paint a thin coat of acrylic gloss or matte medium over the painting. This will give it a finished look.
These paintings make great gifts for family members. Grandparents love getting gifts that are handmade from their grandchildren, especially art.

Have fun and keep creating!

S. A. Barone, Artist
Shirley is a published children’s writer. She has publishing credits in Highlights for Children, Turtle, Children’s Playmate, Humpty Dumpty, and Chicken Soup for the Pre-teen Soul. Shirley has won a Distinguished Meritorious Service Award from the California School Boards Association for authoring an elective program that was adopted in schools in the Western United States and in areas of New York City. To learn more about Shirley and her art, visit www.sabarone.com

Psychoanalyst Dr. Norman Doidge's remarkable book, The Brain That Changes Itself is full of stories showing how the human brain can be rewired. Doidge is of the "neuroplasticity" school of brain science. He doesn't think, for example, that there is one part of the brain that masters drawing and keeps it there. Like a giant hard drive on a computer that's capable of filing stuff randomly, any part of the brain, including left and right hemispheres, can learn and unlearn.

In one story, after a devastating stroke a man was able to gradually regain the use of a paralyzed leg. During his recovery he had come to rely more and more on his good leg. It was part of his process to mentally disable the good leg so the bad leg could begin again.

Psychiatrists note that during the sticky business of lovers parting, it's necessary for them to "disable" the forsaken one in order to begin to love someone else. This doesn't mean trashing the other, but the old has to be properly archived before new love-data can be entered. It's thought that those who don't need to do this didn't love in the first place.

Disabled neural paths can be difficult to regenerate--particularly as you grow older. But it does happen, and it's no miracle. It takes character and focus. You can teach old dogs new tricks--and get them to relearn old tricks they've forgotten. Artists frequently report the loss of drawing ability when they neglect drawing for even short periods of time. Since my heady, distracted days in art school, I've noticed a decline in my drawing ability. Just another case of "use it or lose it"?

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Neuroplasticity contributes to both the constrained and unconstrained aspects of our nature. It renders our brains not only more resourceful, but also more vulnerable to outside influences." (Norman Doidge)

Esoterica: Canadian painter John Newman suffered a stroke that caused Transverse Myelitus, permanently disabling the right side of his body. His right-handedness appeared to condemn him to no more painting. But with application and focus John was able to gain nearly similar dexterity with his left hand and has subsequently had lefty sell-out shows. FYI, we've put a selection of John Newman's left- and right-handed work at the top of the current clickback.

Robert Genn has given ARTAZINE permission to post from his twice-weekly newsletter. Thank you Robert! For more of his artistic insights, visit Robert's blot at www.painterspost.com!

One-Day Acting Master Class

Led By Leading Film, Television & Stage Actress

Westside Performing Arts Company is pleased to host a one-day acting master class led by Diane Venora. Diane is a leading stage, television and film actress who attended the Juilliard School on scholarship.

She has performed Shakespeare extensively, starring in Joseph Papp's productionof Hamlet at the New York Shakespeare Festival.

She has a long history with Hamlet, playing Ophelia opposite Kevin Kline and Gertrude onscreen opposite Ethan Hawke. TV credits include Law & Order, Chicago Hope, NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy. Film credits include Heat with Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, Romeo+Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, and The Insider with Russell Crowe, Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer.

This FULL Day workshop will be held Saturday, February 25 and will include a variety of acting techniques Diane has collected from her early years at Julliardto her success on roadway and in headlining films.

The class is for Intermediate to Advanced Actors only, 17 years of age and older.

For more information, go to www.westsideperforming.com.

Moo Pie - by Beth Olmo, illustrated by Erin Blunt

MOO PIE
Book Review by S. A. Barone
Moo Pie is a cute and fun simple story for the young child. It’s about a very handsome black and white cat. When he was born his owner thought he looked like a little black and white cow so she named him Moo. He was a wonderful cat, had a great disposition and loved taking naps in funny places. One funny place was the kitchen sink. Moo, unlike most cats, loved the water. He slept in the sink quite often. He even fell asleep once in a clean pie dish, on the table! From then on he was called, Moo Pie.
Moo Pie enjoyed where he lived, on a mountain on a ranch. Moo loved the long summer days and the dark summer nights. Moo Pie listened to the cricket’s songs and danced with the fireflies in the moonlight. Moo Pie loved being in the moonlight that was when he bathed.
Beth Olmo has created a lovable character and an entertaining rhyming book that any small child would love.
Erin Blunt’s illustrations are spectacular. I’m really not sure what medium was used, but I do know that her drawings are wonderful and would entertain any child. Erin lives in Okinawa, Japan with her husband and baby daughter. Erin is also the great niece of a very accomplished Redding artist, Mickey Theobald. I know where Erin gets her talent.
This is a self published book but I’m sure it can be found on Amazon or ordered from Peach Juice Publishing, www.PjPublishing.com.

Happy Reading!

Shirley is a published children’s writer. She has publishing credits in Highlights for Children, Turtle, Children’s Playmate, Humpty Dumpty, and Chicken Soup for the Pre-teen Soul. Shirley has won a Distinguished Meritorious Service Award from the California School Boards Association for authoring an elective program that was adopted in schools in the Western United States and in areas of New York City. To learn more about Shirley and her art, visit www.sabarone.com