Artistic Help Wanted

Here's a request from Sharon Hillman:

Greetings Folks,

I was wondering if there is an artist among us willing to make a simple drawing of what PPL Plaza will look like when Second Saturday is in full Swing. I understand the managing agent for the plaza is a hard sell and I thought a picture might insure the best image being placed in their minds when I ask.

Also, I'm shopping around for a graphic artist (for me personally). Of course I'm shopping "local" first.

Please call or email me. Time's a tickin'.

Thank you.
Sharon Hillman
lv_tango@msn.com
(610) 882-1688

3/28 Meeting Notes

Wow, lots of news to report on. Over 30 people attended our 3/28 meeting.


Sarah opened meeting and spoke about our AAM gallery show which will be June 7-28th with a two hour opening and closing. There will be a $10-$15 artist fee. Details will be posted at this blog. Contact Sarah at the chenarts e-mail for more info.


Chris Neyen, board member of Circle of Stones Theatre Ensemble and Arts Luminarium spoke about 3rd Annual Green Man Festival at Arts Park Sat. May 2nd 2-6pm. There is a $35 fee which includes dinner.


Joyce Marin, director of community and economic development, spoke about Homebuyer's Supermarket, program for buying home in the city, April 25th at The Palace, east side.
-For info on putting art in vacant storefronts, contact Duane Tolson, 610-439-5964.
-Summer Youth Programs ages 14-24, internships, work exp. Contact Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, 1601 Union Blvd, Allentown, 18109 for proposals.
-At PPL Plaza, Wed. Grower's Market, Tuesdays-Summer in City Music(Homegrown Music Series), Thursdays-Lee Butz/Chamber of Commerce after work jam, contact Miriam Huertas at Chamber if interested.


Ethel Drayton-Craig Pres. of Board of Arts Luminarium spoke about their innaugural multicultural event May 15, 16th, 17th, Latino culture is highlighted. There will be a Peace Parade and Yodi is making puppets. Ethel is on Jazz Committee of Allentown Symphony, May 8th is Dave Roper.


Sharon Hillman, 2nd Saturday Committee, spoke with city regarding plans for 2nd Saturday studio tours, street entertainment. Fundraising committee needed, so far Joe, Yodi, Sarah, and Pete have volunteered. Contact us through e-mail if you are interested in making a donation.


Yodi spoke about Artists in Action Program on 7th St., Second Saturdays starting April 11th.
Self promotion for artists, set up and make art at tables. HALA, hip-hop dancers, Symphony Hall Musicians scheduled to perform.
-Art Show at Mayor's Campaign office 2020 Hamilton, artists interested contact Yodi, daven27@hotmail.com


Joe Skrapits , Arts Commission spoke about up coming 1st Anniversary of Chen Arts Group, said "we are the leaders taking cultural development to the next level." Raises question, should we have a Board, a budget?
-After school teen program at 7th and Tilghman, making a video on Arts happenings, need video clips,will be shown at Arts Ovation Luncheon in May.
-Arts Park, do we want to coordinate event with our opening at AAM June 7th? Suggestion: paper lantern festival? Sell them to raise money.
-Studio Bldg 4th and Tilghman, 45 artist studios, will happen.
-organizing field trip to Yonkers to see Open Studio Tour
-808 Hamilton Ctr. for Arts, architect hired, 2nd floor could open in Sept.


Georgine mentioned Art in the Park at West Park, info at website


Title for our AAM show? "Velocity" suggested by Yodi


Pete Lewnes, 7th St. spoke about May 9th Flower and Flea Market on Gordon between 7th and 9th.
-Neighborhood Partnership Program, funding for community arts and youth
-Cafe Seats and planters for businesses
-Artists in Action Program, 2nd Saturdays, evening Mixer
-Opportunity for Arts Coordinator, contact Pete


Susan Weaver spoke about Music and Poetry Jam next Sat at Unitarian Church, Center St. Bethlehem 3-10pm. Marilyn Hazelton and Susan at 5:30 pm.

Questions or info contact at e-mail. chenarts@gmail.com

Angie Villa, secretary
Photo credit Joyce Marin

Get Involved - Peace Parade in Allentown

The Arts Luminarium Announces
Lehigh Valley’s First International
Peace Parade, Sunday, May 17
Part of Baila Conmigo festival, parade
will showcase area’s cultural diversity
Participants welcome; deadline April 25

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (March 23, 2009) — The Lehigh Valley’s rich cultural diversity will be on display in Allentown’s first International Peace Parade, May 17. Featuring the costumes, customs, music and dance of the area’s many cultures, the Peace Parade is part of The Arts Luminarium’s “Baila Conmigo” festival, May 15-17.
All groups, representing every culture, are encouraged to participate, and participation is free. Information and a signup form are available on the Arts Luminarium website, www.artsluminarium.org.
“The Arts Luminarium set out to create an annual festival to build bridges between different cultures,” said Pana Columbus, one of the founders of the Luminarium and chair of the International Peace Parade committee. “Just the process of creating the festival has forged many new friendships. We hope that many more cultural groups in the area will participate in the celebration.”
The deadline to register is April 25. Both official organizations and informal groups are welcome to participate.
Participants include the Kakumba Cha African Dance Ensemble, the Mexican Cultural Association, featuring Aztec dancers and Chinelos, the Hispanic American League of Artists, The CADA Youth Program, Emmanuel Church and Bernie’s Bike Brigade, featuring bicycling youth from the Seventh Street corridor. Mayor Ed Pawlowski also will appear in the parade.
Also featured: giant puppets created by Allentown artist Yodi Duane Vaden, including an enormous Chinese dragon and three giant peace doves.
The parade will begin at the Allentown Arts Park, Fifth and Linden streets, at 2 p.m. ending at Bucky Boyle Park, just beyond Front and Gordon streets. A festival at Bucky Boyle Park following the parade will feature music, food, stilt walkers from the Street Theatre Alliance, and children’s arts and crafts. Food vendors will include Chinese, Jamaican, Mexican, Italian and Puerto Rican cuisine.
A ceremony after the parade will feature members of each participating group, lighting a candle for peace and saying the word for “peace” in their native languages.
The Arts Luminarium was founded in 2007 as a temple of the arts, fostering community transformation, celebrating human experience and inspiring a culturally creative movement. A registered not-for-profit organization, the Luminarium aims to model environmental sustainability and educate through multicultural and multi-disciplinary programming.
Baila Conmigo, the Luminarium's first public event, presented in partnership with the City of Allentown Weed and Seed Program, will combine performances and presentations in dance, music, and film to highlight the vibrant and multifaceted Latino culture in the Lehigh Valley. Future events will highlight other cultural groups in the area.
“Our objectives are to build bridges within the Latino community and the community at large,” said Dr. Ethel Drayton-Craig, president of the Luminarium board of directors, “and to broaden awareness of the diversity that exists within the Valley's Latino culture and of the rich contributions that Latino culture makes to the community.”
More information about the Baila Conmigo festival and The Arts Luminarium is available at the Luminarium website, www.artsluminarium.org

Artists Adopting Vacant Storefronts

This was an article in Daily Candy Philadelphia submitted by artist Christine Simeone. It's something to think about:


Artful Execution
Arts on South Rent-Free Artist Co-Ops
get artsy!

You wanted to be a novelist; your parents said “ad copywriter.” You thought you’d be the next Basquiat; they said “graphic designer.”

Reclaim your dashed dreams on South Street (of all places). Hoping to inspire a renaissance, nonprofit group Arts on South is asking those of the creative persuasion to remake the hood.

Here’s the deal: Rather than let empty storefronts suck up space, they’re offering the buildings to artists to use as galleries. All you have to do is show a modicum of talent, pony up the cost of utilities (no rent), and set up shop.

Take the leap yourself or attend gallery openings to support the ballsy effort. So far, they’ve had seven takers — from ecoartists to new collective St. March Gallery.

None of whom are squatting; they’re in real estate.

Gallery applications at Eyes Gallery, 402 South Street (215-925-0193).

Downtown Bethlehem Association Seeks Artists...

...for 2009 Season of Artwalks

BETHLEHEM, PA- March 19, 2009 - The Downtown Bethlehem Association (DBA), a council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC), is looking for artists and musicians to participate in the 2009 season of ArtWalks, which will take place on the last Saturday of April, May, June, July and August.

ArtWalk is a great opportunity for artists and musicians to showcase their talents to visitors to Bethlehem’s Main and Broad Streets. The 2009 season will take place on April 25, May 30, June 27, July 25 and August 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Artists and musicians will be hosted by retail shops and restaurants in the Historic District and are welcome to participate while following this criteria:

Participants are asked to practice or perform their art as well as showcase completed pieces and/or works-in-progress
Participants are asked to engage in the spirit of celebrating arts in the Lehigh Valley as well as the enjoyment of activity on the streets of Bethlehem
Participants may only showcase their own ORIGINAL art work.

No vendor fee will be charged for participation in ArtWalk. However, artists and musicians MUST register with the Downtown Bethlehem Association. Registration deadlines are as follows:

For April’s ArtWalk: Register by Monday, April 6
For May’s ArtWalk: Register by Monday, May 4
For June’s ArtWalk: Register by Monday, June 1
For July’s ArtWalk: Register by Monday, July 6
For August’s ArtWalk: Register by Monday, August 3

After the final ArtWalk in August, artists will be invited to submit works that began or were completed during ArtWalk and will have a piece displayed during a fall DBA event.

To register or for more information, please contact Katie Lynch- Downtown Bethlehem Manager at KatieL@lehighvalleychamber.org or 610-841-5831.

KU Senior Exhibition

2009 Senior Exhibition Cycle. This series of exhibitions features artwork in a variety of mediums by Spring Graduates from Kutztown University's departments of Communication Design, Fine Arts, and Art Education and Crafts. Over 130 students will present artworks in these juried exhibitions. The public is invited to the exhibitions and receptions. Admission is free.

2009 Spring Senior Exhibition Cycle
Communication Design, March 21-29
Reception: Sunday, March 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Juried by the Communication Design Faculty
Fine Arts, April 4-12
Reception: Sunday, April 5, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Juried by Ricardo Viera, Director & Lehigh University Art Galleries
Art Education & Crafts, April 18-26
Reception: Sunday, April 19, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Juried by the Art Education and Crafts Faculty

AAM Community Gallery details

Here's a look at the Community Gallery at the Allentown Art Museum. Work can be hung on three walls each measuring 18, 49 and 64 feet in length.

One downside is that work can't be placed in the middle of the room because the museum directors hold weekly meetings in there. So, all work must be placed near the walls. Even 3-D items. The room is open during regular museum hours and is used during Art After Hours events, so patrons will be able to view our work then, as well, if we decide to display here.



You can see, this space is home to a student art show right now. Each piece measured 3x2 and the room was able to hold 24 pieces. For small works, the museum can mount an 8x4 panel on the wall that little pieces can be attached to. About 28 artists have said they are interested in showing here, so we'll have to see how things can fit.



The space has one blank wall that must be left alone because it is the Projector Wall. We've been told we might be able to use the projection system during opening/closing, but that it wouldn't be left on all the time.

You can tour this gallery in the lower-level of the museum for free every Sunday. It is open daily Wed-Sun along with the rest of the museum.

Feb. 28 Meeting Notes

Bill Villa gave a presentation re: Mayfair. The group would be unable to do anything with the festival this year but it is possible we could do a group show next year at a gallery offsite, possibly at Muhlenberg College. Otherwise, artists can spend $300 each to set up their own tents at Mayfair and display their work for sale. Of course, this would be cost-prohibitive to the group as a whole at this time.

Sarah Fulton gave a presentation on the possiblity of using the Allentown Art Museum's Community Gallery for a spring/summer group show. The group could rent the gallery for $100 a week. More details are coming on this idea.

Sharon Hillman spoke about Second Saturdays again. She would like to find out if there are artists in Allentown who have studios that would be interested in opening them to the public once a month. Sharon is also interested in utilizing PPL Plaza or other outdoor space downtown to have buskers, musicians and other street performers participate during Second Saturday. Please contact this address to be forwarded to Sharon: chenarts.info@gmail.com.

Joe Skrapits spoke about the 808 Hamilton St. building. (Pictured below.)



Joe said an architect will be examining the interior of the building to determine what kind of code and handicap improvements must be made for it to be occupied by various arts organizations and the public. The building contains 5,000 sq. ft. per floor.

The next meeting is tentatively set for (as usual) the last Sat. of the month, Mar. 28, at House of Chen unless someone offers to host.

Call For Artists:

The 5th Annual Juried Art Show at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove.

Here are the details received via email:

The art intake/delivery day is Monday, April 13, from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm.

Art selected for the show will be hung in the historic stone barn on our site, which is a great venue for the art. We can hang a maximum of 300 pieces.

The show will be open to the public from Sat., April 18 – Sunday, April 26 (closed Mon., April 20). Admission to the grounds is always free. Admission to the historic house museum will be free during the period of the art show.

Thanks very much for any assistance you are able to provide.


Contact person: Nancy S. Powell, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions

John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
1201 Pawlings Road
Audubon, PA 19403
610.666.5593 x 104
npowell@audubon.org
http://pa.audubon.org