Wednesday, May 27, 2009

West End Oktoberfest Seeking Artists and Craft Vendors

Suzanne at Blink Optical in Allentown is organizing the second annual Oktoberfest for Sat. Oct. 3 from noon to 10 p.m. in the 500 block of N. 19th Street, by Civic Theatre.

She is looking for artists and other creative vendors who might want to rent a space to sell their wares. Last year this event apparently attracted 1,500 participants and they're sensing even more interest this year.

If you're interested in participating, contact Suzanne at Blink Optical Boutique:
Blinkon19th.com

The vendor form can be viewed Here.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Meeting Notes 5/23/09

Another fun time with fun people at The House of Chen! Thanks to those who attended.

Sarah spoke about posters for Velocity show, handed out extra posters. They look FAB.
Velocity show drop off of work, scheduled for Friday June 5 between 10-5 at lower level of Museum.

31 artists are participating in the show. More details and info will be e-mailed to participants as we get closer to June 7.

Old Allentown Street Festival is June 20, and we will have a Chen Arts table set up there. Anyone intested in participating, contact us through e-mail.

Yodi brought posters for city events which we can participate in: The Summer in City music Series, 7th St. Festival, Blues and Brews. Lots going on this summer.

Yodi has made plans for Chen artists to show work in two vacant storefronts: The former Xertek Gym(more Soho style non traditional work), and Holiday Inn Floral Shop(traditional work), both on Hamilton. Phase 1 starts June 5th, phase 2 following week, and then a rotating schedule of artists. Please contact us if you would like to participate. This is a great opportunity.
Thanks Yodi!

He also mentioned the "Artists in Action" series for street artists, happening June 13th and June 20th on 7th St. Another opportunity for our artists to participate and educate young people.

Sharon Hillman spoke about her plans for organizing a 2nd Saturday event in downtown Allentown at the Plaza. She would like to start small with "Sat. night at the Plaza" with a singer, a salsa dance lesson, and dance party. She in envisioning something happening every Sat. night from June till Sept. Anyone interested in helping please contact us at the e-mail and we will forward to Sharon.

Oh, and please don't forget to put a link to your art work at this blog!

Don't miss Chenster Ro Geseck's fabulously cool mural with the kids at Mayfair!

So much going on, thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers.

Please keep checking the blog for updates.

Angie Villa (Secretary)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Artist Links

Attention Chensters,

I'd like to start putting up links (at the sidebar) to our artists. Please let me know if you would like to be included. If you have a website or blog please send me the link, and include your full name. Send the info to my e-mail and I will post the link. If you are a blog author at this blog, please add your own link. I'll start by posting my links.

Ayngie4@aol.com

Thanks,

Angie

Monday, May 18, 2009

Coates Shows in New York

Artist Gregory Coates is having a solo show at Rubin Chapelle in NYC through May 26. 410 W. 14th Street.


Greg submitted some photos from the recent opening. Congrats on a great show!








Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Arts Luminarium: Baila Conmigo

The Arts Luminarium will celebrate its inaugural weekend May 15 - 17, 2009. This group requests your support:

Please join us for the U.S. premiere screening of the film, El Sistema, a documentary about the transformative power of music among children in the barrios of Venezuela. The film will be shown on Friday, May 15th, as part of The Arts Luminarium’s “Baila Conmigo” festival, May 15-17. We especially want you there for the post-film discussion because of your leadership and commitment to the Lehigh Valley.

El Sistema is a network of children and youth orchestras, music centers and workshops in Venezuela, in which more than 250,000 children and young people are currently learning to play an instrument.

El Sistema will be shown Friday, May 15th only, at 7:00 p.m. The screening will take place at Zion's Reformed UCC Church, 620 W. Hamilton St., Allentown. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. It is not rated, but is appropriate for all ages, and runs 1 hour 30 minutes. The event is free.

Other events:

Saturday, May 16
1:00 Capoeira Demonstration
at the Weed & Seed Office, Buck Boyle Park
Front & Gordon Sts., Allentown

7:00-11:00 Baila Conmigo Dance Party
at Fearless Fire Co.
1221 S. Front St., Allentown
$7 in advance, $10 at the door
Tickets: Dominguez Grocery, 347 N. 2nd St.
or Sweet Italian Pizza, 535 N. 7th St.

Sunday, May 17
2:00 International Peace Parade
from Allentown Arts Park
to Buck Boyle Park, Allentown

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.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Informational Meeting on Arts Grants

Attention Artists:
The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is hosting a meeting Tuesday, May 12 from 4:00-5:30 PM at Lehigh County Government Center located at 17 S. 7th Street in Allentown to provide information about the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) 2009-2010 Project Stream funding.

PPA Project Stream grant funding supports new arts projects or activities taking place in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties and focuses on reaching underserved communities. Applicants do not have to have nonprofit status with the IRS, but cannot be for-profit.

Projects must take place between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010. Grants awards available up to $3,000.

Submission deadline: June 19, 2009

To register for a FREE workshop or for additional information, comments or questions, please contact PPA Program Coordinator Frank Forestieri at 610-437-5915 or email fforestieri@lvartscouncil.org.

It is recommended that attendees download and print a copy of the grant from the PCA website to bring with them to the workshop.

Other workshops will be held:

Thursday, May 14 from 4-5:30 pm
Anita Shapolsky Art Foundation20 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe

Tuesday, May 19 from 4-5:30 pm
NCC SouthSide Center511 East 3rd Street, Rm. 605, Bethlehem

Friday, May 8, 2009

Before you vote, something to consider:

From ArtsQuest:

HELP US SAVE FUNDING FOR THE ARTS!!!
The Pennsylvania Senate approved their version of the budget for FY 09-10 (SB850).
SB 850, includes ZERO funding for Pennsylvania Council on the Arts arts grants.

If the Senate version prevails, beginning July 1, 2009 there will be no arts grants in Pennsylvania. This will directly impact the Lehigh Valley and all its great art and cultural programs.


Below is just a short list of some of the organizations that will be deeply impacted by this budget cut:


Arts Community of Easton
ArtsQuest
Bach Choir
Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission
Godfrey Dainels
Illicks Mill Partnership
Lehigh University
Lafayette College
DeSales University
Moravian College Music Institute
Allentown Art Museum
Allentown Symphony
Banana Factory
Baum School of Art
Civic Theatre of Allentown
Liberty Bell Shrine
Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre
PA Shakespeare Festival
Musikfest
Celtic Classic
SouthSide Film Festival
PA Youth Theatre
PA Youth Ballet
MayFair
Lehigh Valley Arts Council
and so many more

Cultural arts really enhance the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley. It is so important that we let the Senate know that arts funding is important to us and to the economic vitality of the state.
Please contact your state senator today to let him/her know that $14 million for arts grants is important to you. If you wrote to your senator last week, give them a call today to tell them:
You don't support SB 850 with zero funding for arts grants and
You would like arts grants funded at the $14 million level.
You can find out contact information for your senator by visiting our Legislative Action Center at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102570078119&s=413&e=001N3cDoC-cRSOTkJ71uM6-1iPLwgbXStZK4CYyhwQAKQ6e0htjWwe9SzkyOo5xizR4ssPxZr--eWuw12tlwAscv4M21IB-qvBXfen5_k9WVJ-k5viXKOHWM3lVvzOEqP4HiKDUMwKmv_6y5tKzMVloHOat5DBR2Mt0 Type your zip code in the box at the top of the page and you will be taken to a page with information for all of your elected officials. Please personalize any phone conversation or letter that you may write with anecdotes about how arts funding has enriched your community.

Last of all, forward this e-mail to family, friends, co-workers, etc. and ask that they also contact their legislators in support of state arts funding. I'm singing to the choir, I know, but what a dreary state we would live in without the arts. If funding ceases to exist, that just may happen.
Thanks for all of your help with this important campaign.
If you have any questions, please contact Citizens for the Arts jlh@citizensfortheartsinpa.org or by phone at 717-234-0959.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Chen Artist Profile - "Yodi" Duane Vaden



This video was produced by Post Sputnik Video Productions. We will occasionally be doing profiles on different members of the Allentown Chen Arts Group in order to help promote local artists and share their thoughts and ideas with the rest of you.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Show Opening at Downtown Gallery, and more...



From Craig at Art N Soul:

The Art of Joshua Andrew Belanger will be on display. The opening starts @ 7pm. Free event,Live DJ, free food, free beer, free wine and one free kick ass time. Great way to start your saturday night. Wondering what josh is all about check him out - www.joshuaandrewbelanger.com

Also...
Art N Soul has launched PushArt. Pushart is a movement to help expose great art. PushArt is selling rare Limited Edition(signed & numbered) Gig posters from all over the world, Vinyl collectible toys, custom hats and original Art from PushArt's house Artists- Konnik, Adam Kuder and Mike Arehart. All of this great art stuff can be found in the Gallery of Art N Soul Studios. PushArt will soon have its own webpage along with a new and improved art n soul website. For now go to www.myspace.com/pushartmanagement

I gotta bridge to sell ya...

well...actually an amazing loft building...
Chensters...get the word out...the redevelopment authority is taking proposals for this amazing 7,000 square foot loft space. Old Allentown and the Redevelopment Authority have placed an ad in GlassQuarterly magazine to highlight this property to an international audience...

figured I'd put this out here just in case someone is interested in an amazing building at a great price...enjoy!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Life Drawing In Center City Allentown this week!

Hello fellow Chensters...I received this email from my friend Donna - aka the reason I'm in Allentown. She mentioned that there is a life drawing class being held this week...here's the info below. It would be great for them to have a good turnout to encourage this to keep happening!

original email:

Hi...next week on Tuesday the 5th we will be joining together for our first night of figure drawing. It would be great
if you can make it. It will be from 6-9pm and I'm asking people to bring a little something to eat...a bit of a "potluck". Depending on the amount of people showing up will depend on the price...however it won't be more than $9. Pat Sonne will be our model and we also will be in contact with Vince who has modeled locally. It will be held at the lofts at 727 N Meadow St in Allentown (directions below) We have horses and easels for you to use....just bring your medium. I look forward to seeing you and please RSVP by Sunday May 3rd. RSVP to stank_bill@yahoo.com,

Thanks,

Bill Stank
stank_bill@yahoo.com,
Directions

Tilghman St east to Jordan St

Left onto Jordan St

Travel 1 block to Green St

Right onto Green St

Travel 1 block to Meadow St

Left onto Meadow St

Travel .5 block to entrance on right hand side 727 N Meadow St