MINUTES OF THE FEB 25 CHEN ARTS MEETING

The meeting took place at House of Chen, 732 Hamilton Street. The meeting opened at 7:11 pm after those gathered at 6pm had time to socialize and enjoy a meal.

Attending: Loretta Becker, Alison Bessesdotter, Michelle Bodomer, Steven Condra, Davina M. DeLor, Zhera Follweiler, Heather Haas, Ana Hamilton, Ellen Ann Kafkalas, Tracey Lopez, Rafael Lopez Jr., Georgine Miller, Monica Santos-Navarez, Tara Shuey, and Annecatette Zeoli.

Ellen Ann Kafkalas opened the meeting by congratulating the artists who sold pieces at Metamorphosis: Alison Bessesdotter, Eileen Cressman-Reeder Heather Haas, Kate Hughes, Tracey Lopez, Michelle Neifert and Susan Weaver. A total of seven artists sold nine pieces, so all in all in all the show was a success in terms of sales and great PR for the group.

Kudos went out to Tracey Lopez, who chaired the receptions and all of her volunteers who worked for so hard.

A report on the money from the show was offered.

We took in $365 in submission fees. Out of that $350 was spent ($150 on space, $100 on musician, $100 on receptions) and there is $15 left toward the next show.

Dates for the next show at the Community Gallery Allentown Art Museum, which Georgine Miller secured for the group, were discussed: Sun, May 27 to Sun, June 10. Georgine signed the contract for the show, and a $200 fee will be charged for the two week rental.

The museum hours are: closed on Monday, open Tuesday–Saturday: 11 am to 5 pm and on Sunday: 12 pm to 5 pm. All business will be conducted during those hours. The Drop off was scheduled for 11am-1pm, which hanging directly after from 1pm-5pm on Saturday, May 26. The opening reception will be held from 2pm-5pm on Sunday, May 27 and the closing reception will be held from 1pm-4pm on Sunday, June 10th with a 4 pm artwork pick up. All artwork must be picked up that day after the closing reception.

Georgine pointed out that the contact states we can have alcohol; however we have to pay quite a hefty insurance fee. The group then decided alcohol was not necessary at the receptions.

The theme of the next show “Bridges Outside the Box” was introduced. The group is going to encourage all artists to create artwork that addresses this theme. To make sure we can hang all pieces for this show, only one piece of art per artist will be accepted. The submission deadline is April 30th. All forms and monies need to be in by then so that we can budget appropriately. At that time a photograph of your piece should also be submitted so that we can use the pieces in pre-publicity efforts.

The group decided on a $20 entry fee this time around.

We decided on a musician for the opening and poets for closing again. Michael Wall offered his services to play at the opening. He’s a classical guitarist, who is more than happy to offer background music for the opening. Cleveland Wall offered to put together the poetry portion of the closing reception, featuring about six poets.

A Discussion of how the sales will be handled took place. Instead of taking the name and number of the person interested in the piece at the opening, we should actually take the money as well.

A brief discussion of the name change to New Bridge Group was offered up. The response was positive, and based on positive feedback from the last show, the change will be gradual. For now the group will be called the New Bridge Group + Chen Arts, and eventually the transition will include dropping the Chen Arts. A reminder for the meeting on May 10th from 2pm-5pm at the Antonio Salemme Foundation where more discussion about the future of the group would occur was made.

A prospectus for the "Bridges Outside the Box" show will be sent to the New Bridge Group + Chen Arts before the end of February.

The meeting then ended at 8 pm.

An Invitation from Soft Machine for open mike night 2/24, 8 pm (The Outlet Unplugged)

725 North 15th Street, Suite 7
Allentown, PA 18102
484 838 4252
info@softmachinegallery.com
facebook
http://www.softmachinegallery.com/

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012
8 to 10 pm (or later)

THE OUTLET UNPLUGGED 'OPEN MIKE' NIGHT and comedian Tyler Rothrock
BYOB

On Friday, 2/24 from 8 to 10 pm, 'The Outlet Unplugged' will be using the gallery to feature comedian Tyler Rothrock as well as provide a space for an 'open mike'. Let's say it's an open-minded microphone too. Inventive ideas/variations of performance are welcomed (from Soft Machine's standpoint). i.e. performance art, spoken word, movement, dance, music, comedy, just plain silence and noise, etc. Let's shake this up a bit and push some expectations. And I think we can also speak for "The Outlet Unplugged". Of course, all mediums and ideas are welcome. It's open! If you've been wanting to perform for an audience (any medium), this sounds like a chance. Sign ups are at 7:30 pm, Tyler Rothrock starts everything off at 8 pm. The Outlet Unplugged intends on having this the last Friday night of every month. This is a free event and will be BYOB.

Tyler Rothrock is a writer for 'Pretending to be on TV' and has performed as a part of ArtsQuest's 'Two Laugh Minimum' comedy series and has hosted 'Tickle Me Tuesdays' at the Bethlehem Brew Works.

Reminder for Upcoming Chen Meeting Sat, Feb 25th

Don't forget to let us know if you're attending the Chen meeting this coming Sat, feb 25th....


Date: Saturday, February 25, 2012
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Place: The House of Chen,732 W Hamilton St Allentown, PA

Details: Georgine Miller was kind enough to secure the Allentown Museum Community Space for a May 27 to June 2 show. This meeting will be used to discuss the upcoming show.

From 6pm – 7 pm we will eat and socialize, the meeting will begin at 7 pm. Come and enjoy the food and/or just come for the meeting, either way we hope you’ll join us.

Please let us know if you're coming so we can have Jenny prepare the right space for us.


And don't forget...
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012
Time: 2pm – 5 pm
Place: The Antonio Salemme Foundation, 542 Hamilton Street, Suite 203, Allentown, PA
Details: This meeting is to discuss the future of the Chen Group.

Soft Machine Features Music, video, film this Tues, Feb 21st

It's Happening at Soft Machine ..


725 North 15th Street, Suite 7
Allentown, PA 18102
484 838 4252
info@softmachinegallery.com
facebook

www.softmachinegallery.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012
8 to 11 pm

Soft Machine will be hosting an exciting performance event consisting of
music, film and video organized by Kyle Page of Blind Willow in Emmaus, PA.
Please see the following links for some examples.


MICHAEL HALETA (new jersey)
voltage spooks (with Keith Rowe and Rick Reed), ex- wzt hearts
http://vimeo.com/11389323

MATT WELLINS (pittsburgh)
homemade analog electronic instruments
http://vimeo.com/15017923

SARAH HALPERN (brooklyn)
live film manipulation
http://vimeo.com/30736658

KYLE PAGE (coopersburg)
music for solo violin
https://sites.google.com/site/kylecpage/

VENDOR OPPORTUNITES FOR EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Muhlenberg is currently planning this year's Earth Day celebration which will take place on Friday April 20th and are looking to have vendors of sustainable products and eco-art come and sell their wares at the event. Music groups will be performing all day, different exhibits displaying new forms of energy and ways to be sustainable, as well as many other activities are planned. There is no fee for the vendors to come. Please let Amanda know whether or not you will be able to aid them in this again this year. If you would prefer to speak over the phone feel free to call Amanda directly at 908 656 0096 or reach her by email at armeier91@gmail.com

A MARCH AGAINST VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS / A STAND AGAINST POVERTY INFORMATION

VISIONS OF LIFE NEWSLETTER - FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS, ARLICIA INGRAM , and ALFONSO TODD AND ASSOCIATES present

"A MARCH AGAINST VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS / A STAND AGAINST POVERTY"

The purpose of this event is to highlight the confusion, chaos, and trauma that is overtaking the CITY OF ALLENTOWN and beyond...


WHEN: Saturday, February 25, 2012

TIME: 12:00pm until 3:00pm

WHERE:333 Hamilton Street (starting point is on side of CATCH 22 Nightclub, across from bus station)

We are encouraging the public to come and attend this event so that we can demonstrate unification and cultivate conversation, networking, and ideas of resolution/resolve.
 
Individuals, groups, and organizations will meet at 12:00 noon at 333 HAMILTON STREET (CATCH 22 NIGHT CLUB) and walk on the sidewalk, in an orderly fashion, to ALLENTOWN CITY HALL. There will be brief speeches and homage paid to those who are or have suffered due to homelessness and violence.


Afterwards, the public is invited to the offices of ALFONSO TODD AND ASSOCIATES at 1101 HAMILTON STREET, 3rd FL for refreshments!

For more information about participation, volunteering, or sponsorship, contact 484.619.6541 / alfonsotodd36@msn.com

In Loving Memory of Devon aka DAZE DYSH, TY SMOOTH, BLEEKO, JJ aka White Boy, Curk, Dudda, Andy Rojas, and EVERYONE else who has been lost due to senseless violence,,,,,

CALL FOR ARTISTS:

Allentown Freak Out is seeking submissions of Photographic images to exhibit at Allentown Art Works, 818 W. Hamilton Street, as part of the Allentown Freak Out Festival, June 2012. Allentown Freak Out is the region’s only festival focused on avant-garde arts and entertainment.

Kiki Nienaber, creative director of FUSE Art Infrastructure, will curate and organize this exhibit at Allentown Art Works.Working Title: BEYONDCall is open for: Digitally manipulated and traditional Photography. Artwork must be in a “freak out” fringe, experimental or avant-garde theme. Email the below information to fuse@allentownfuse.org for consideration:Subjectline: BEYONDNAME:EMAIL/PHONE/ADDRESS:ATTACHED IMAGES with titles (5 max) no larger than 300x300 ppi and a separate check list indicating – medium, size, year.or WEB LINK TO IMAGES:

SIZE OF WORKS:

DEADLINE is April 30, 2012. Accepted artists will be notified the following week and will receive an Allentown Art Works contract and follow-up email with drop-off instructions.

Allentown Art Works takes a 30 percent commission on all sales resulting from the exhibit.

Allentown Freak Out and FUSE Art Infrastructure assume no liability for the care or handling of artwork during this event. The artist will assume responsibility for delivery and pick up of work to Allentown Art Works. FUSE Art Infrastructure will be responsible for hanging all works.

LIVE WORK SPACE AVAILABLE ON MAIN STREET IN HELLERTOW

Jim Lynn purchased a building in Hellertown on Main Street.
It's a 3 unit building with a ground floor commercial space.
He would love to have that ground floor space a LiveWork space.
If you know anyone intereste have them call Jim @ 484-239-7535.

Artwork Needed for V-Day 2012 Auction

Artists-

We are reading a different set of monologues for 2012 but working for the same important cause, to end violence against women and girls everywhere:

A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER

A groundbreaking collection of monologues by world-renowned authors and playwrights, edited by Eve Ensler and Mollie Doyle and commissioned by V-Day for the first V-Day: UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS festival, which took place June 2006 in New York City.

Beyond the time constraint of five minutes or less and the theme of women and violence, each monologue was for the writer to realize. No constructs, restrictions, or rules. A fantasy of a world where there is no violence. A poem about the physics of a slap. A memory.

These writings are inspired, funny, angry, heartfelt, tragic, and beautiful. Together they create a true and profound portrait of how violence against women affects every one of us. A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT, AND A PRAYER is a call to the world to demand an end to violence against women.

Contributing writers include: Edward Albee; Tariq Ali; Hanan al-Shaykh; Erin Cressida Wilson; Kimberlé Crenshaw; Michael Cunningham; Ariel Dorfman; Edwidge Danticat; Michael Eric Dyson; Eve Ensler; Jane Fonda; Carol Gilligan; Suheir Hammad; Carol Kaplan; Michael Klein; Deborah Copaken Kagan; Nicholas Kristof; Mark Matousek; Susan Miller; Susan Minot; Robin Morgan; Kathy Najimy; Lynn Nottage; Anna Deavere Smith; Alice Walker; Jody Williams; Howard Zinn Attached is the auction donation information form.

Please note: paperwork from the artists should be submitted by Monday Feb. 27, 2012 for program purposes, but they do not need the actual donation until auction set up on Thursday March 22nd at Banana Factory. Paperwork was emailed to Chen Members, if you did not receive it and or have questions, please contact: Angela Sinkler esas518@verizon.net

A Message from Renaldo at NewVox Art Gallery this month

Hello everyone,


This month is full of great events at NewVox.

First, This month I have been showing my own work. We did not have an open reception for this exhibit, but a private dinner reception. I've had a lot of people ask me when the reception is, why they didn't receive a dinner invite, or they couldn't make it to the dinner and asked about the opening. Well... here it is!

Sat., Feb. 11th 7-10pm 'Under Glass & Time' closing party. Please join us and bring a friend, wine, food, or all of the above. Live Music to be announced.

Exhibit ends Feb 18th.

425 Wyandotte St.
Bethlehem, PA
18015

Metered parking at lot on corner of Wyandotte and W. 4th st. or on W. 4th St.




Saturday Feb. 25th 6:30-10pm

Artist Jeremy Siedt
" Corrosive Interactions "

Jeremy's paintings explore the boundaries and potential of corrosive metals in painting. Exploring each individual metal's property, amazing results of color and movement can occur during the process of corrosion. These images have been produced from the backside forward. The metal is laid behind the canvas and than worked from the front with different solutions to bring the corrosive property out staining the canvas. The composition of these paintings are predetermined in the way that the metal is placed behind the canvas, but as the solution begins to interact with metal the piece begins to evolve and breath on its own. The idea of process is the most important aspect of the creative method. Aesthetically the work should create a very soothing and deep trance like quality with fleeting moments of sporadic movement, depth and energy within the abstract landscape.



Artist Salon Feb. 29th 7-9:30pm

Artist Salon every last Wed. of the month 7-9:30pm. This is a group of visual artists seeking dialogue, support, challenge, and inspiring one another.

On February 29, Bill and Bridget George, co-founders of Touchstone Theatre and Little Pond Arts Retreat, will be there to talk about laying the foundations for grass-roots arts organizations with soul. Touchstone has been around for over 30 years, so they must have done something right!

We will be talking about plans for a "Art Swap" this summer.

We'd love to see you there.

Contact Liz Wheeler at lizwheeler76@yahoo.com or Reinaldo Valentin with questions.

NewVox Art Gallery is located at 425 Wyandotte St., Bethlehem, PA, 18015; 484 893 0731. Metered parking is available on the corner lot at Wyandotte and W.4th St (half a block up from gallery). Meter parking is also available on W. 4th St.

Kate Hughes Publicizes Chen on 90.3WXLV Tune In

Listen to Kate Hughes on the radio tomorrow (Fri, Feb 3) 6-9am
90.3WXLV or wxlvradio.com to stream live.
She'll be talking about the Chen show and more.