Monkeys Retreat -- Opening and Performance

Gallery Hop 2/7/09

Monkeys Retreat, 1202 N. High St. (294-9511), will celebrate the addition of Starfish Earth, the original clothing line of local artist and musician Michelle Ishida Lucey with an opening party from 7-10 pm for the February 7th Gallery Hop. Her son's group Crabfeather Quartet will provide live jazz for your shopping enjoyment. Crabfeather Quartet features Wes Perry on sax, Cole Ishida-Plavcan on bass, Hayden Huffman on drums and Eddie Loomis on guitar. The boys all attend Olentangy High School and are members of the Columbus Youth Jazz Programs. Check them out live on the web at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfo6AoKf9js or http://www.myspace.com/crabfeatherquartet

Pot Luck at Arts Upstairs Gallery

This came from my friends Alan and Lynn Fliegel who live in Phoenecia in the Catskill Mountains of New York. They were in town with a booth at the Ho Times festival this past weekend.

The Arts Upstairs Gallery, 60 Main St., Phoenicia, NY 12464, WWW.ArtsUpstairs.Com, 688-2142 Announces:

Art Opening for show theme entitled, "Pot Luck"
Opening, Saturday September 20, 6 to 9 + PM
Group Show including the works of assemblage artist Judith Singer in the Solo Room
contact person: Alan Fliegel, info@artsupstairs or 688-2142

A Taste of Soul

Rally for Rachel Widomski & Juli Liu at the Gallery Hop

This message came from John Angelo, Short North Business Association

Short North, Columbus, OH - On the evening of May 15, Rachel Widomski, a server at Haiku restaurant, and Juli Liu, co-owner of the restaurant, were seriously injured when they were literally run over by a dine-and-dash customer. Though Julie is on the road to recovery, Rachel's severe spinal cord trauma will leave her paralyzed from the waist down for life. Rachel's journey from this point will be long and extremely difficult. She and her family need our support for both immediate and long-term needs.

The Short North Business Association, the Central Ohio Restaurant Association and the Couchfire Collective (a Columbus arts organization) are collaboratively spearheading a series of events designed to help raise funds for Rachel's recovery. The events kick off with "Hope Weekend," Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 8. In particular, several initiatives are being orchestrated during Saturday's Gallery Hop. Beginning at 6:00PM, volunteers will spearhead an art auction at The Art Exchange (17 East Brickel), a letter writing and fundraising campaign (650 N. High Street), and a concert by area bands at the intersection of High Street and Hubbard Avenue (the site of Rachel's assault).

Join the effort and help turn a horrible, senseless act into a message of Hope for recovery, and a new beginning for Rachel and her family. Complete details are posted at www.HopeWeekend.com.

If you cannot make the Gallery Hop, but would like to contribute in support of the Rachel Widomski Medical Care Trust, please visit any area Huntington Bank or visit hopeweekend.com to make contributions online.

"Hope Weekend" consists of five key components:

1) Over 60 businesses are participating citywide by placing collection jars on their counters and inviting their patrons to donate. Many servers are contributing their own tips and numerous businesses are matching the proceeds.

2) A "Place of Reflection" will be set up in the shop windows at 650 N. High Street... the space will feature Rachel's art, messages from the community (many in the form of haikus), information about Rachel's status, and much more. The space will be staffed from 6PM to 10PM during Gallery Hop.

3) A silent auction of donated art will be held at the Art Exchange, 17 E. Brickel (proceeds will go to Rachel's Trust), 6pm - 10pm

4) A lineup of bands and performers will be on stage at High and Hubbard outside Haiku Restaurant
6:30 pm - Bob Ray Starker
7:30 pm - Megan Palmer
8:30 pm - Karate Coyote
9:30 pm - Paper Airplane
10:30 pm - Two Cow Garage

5) "Big Night" at Studio 35, 3055 Indianola Avenue

Sunday, June 8 4:00pm
See the film "Big Night" for only $5
All proceeds will benefit the recovery fund.

More information is available at haikuhelp.com

Notable contributions:

Sysco of Central Ohio has committed a minimum of $10,000 ($.10 of every case of food they sell through June 7 will go to the fund)

Heartland Payment Systems has pledged a matching grant of up to $25,000. The grant can be activated by donations from the public or other businesses.

Ohio Art League Exhibit

Saints, Sinners, Kings and Criminals
May 3 - 31, 2008

Works by
Dan Gerdeman, Ron Arps, Brad Bailey

Member Preview Reception: Friday, May 2, 7-9 pm
Opening reception: Saturday, May 3, 6-9 pm

954 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
614 299 8225
www.oal.org
oal@aol.com

Tom Radca & Brenda McMahon Pottery Weekend in North Ohio rustic studio/Barn

Nationally known artists Tom Raca and Brenda McMahon invite a select group of ceramic artists, ranging from polished and established to emerging and wanabees, to experience a unique weekend of intensive hands-on ceramic techniques, taught in a serenely beautiful section of Northern Ohio farmland surrounded by woods and rolling hills.

The instructions take place in the barn/studio, near the horse stalls, and the large walk-in kilns. Delicious informal meals, served throughout the weekend, generate stimulating conversations that inevitably create unique bonds of camaraderie among all participant

Please check out their websites and especially their blog: http://mcmahon-radca.blogspot.com/


-charlie

LARGE & L O O S E

Polished & Poetic

Throwing Large Platters & Saggar Firing

At the Studios of:

Tom Radca & Brenda McMahon

Port Washington, OH 43837.
740.498.4303 or 518.796.4207
www.TomRadca.com or www.Bluemoonclay.com
tom@tomradca.com or Brenda@BlueMoonClay.com

Throwing Large Platters & Saggar Firing Workshop

2 full days - demonstration & hands on firing intensive - $275

Date: May 17 & 18, 2008 (Sat & Sun) 10 – 5pm

Bring 1 – 3 small pots to include in the saggar firing.

This 2-day demonstration and firing intensive workshop is open to potters of all
skill levels from beginner to advanced. We will have 2 components to the weekend.

1. Throwing Large.
How much clay can you comfortably center at once? Is it 4lbs, 6lbs or 10lbs? Whatever you can comfortably center, Tom will teach you how to double and triple the amount of clay you can center and give you techniques on throwing that clay. Large and Loose is relative. If you throw 4 or 6lbs comfortably, learn to throw 12 in just one day. If you throw 12lbs comfortably, you’re ready to jump up to 24lbs. Tom regularly centers and throws 36lbs of clay, resulting is his dynamic 30” diameter platters. Throwing Large is for everyone – and we all know sometimes size does matter.

2. Polished & Poetic.
Brenda’s throwing, burnishing and saggar firing is about refinement and surface texture. Saggar firing is a contemporary pitfire process whereby Brenda uses natural materials, mineral salts and the chemistry of art and fire to create soft blushes on her burnished vessels. In this firing intensive section of the workshop, you will learn the philosophy and technique of saggar firing and how to build and fire a saggar kiln. Each participant is welcome to put 1 to 3 of his or her own pieces in the firing. Brenda gives throwing demonstrations, surface treatment, including burnishing & terra-sig as well as finishing techniques on the final saggar pieces. Please bring 1-3 small bisque fired pots to put in the saggar kiln.

Cost of the weekend is $275. Affordable housing options are available.
More info? 740.498.4303 or 518.796.4207
www.TomRadca.com or www.Bluemoonclay.com
tom@tomradca.com or Brenda@BlueMoonClay.com

Holiday Studio Open House and Art Sale in Olde Towne East, December 9

Sunday December 9, from 1 to 5pm

Enjoy a cup of holiday cheer in any of 5 studios exhibiting the works of 7 individual artists in Olde Towne East studios!

1. Gail Larned & Eric Marlow 144 S. Monroe Ave.
2. Roger Williams 108 S. Eighteenth
3. Ralph Williams 108 S. Eighteenth
4. Tom Sherman & Judy Sagara 910 Franklin Ave.
5. Harry Wozniak 994 Franklin Ave.

While shopping. explore the exciting architectural environments where these unique artist’s dens are located.

Ralph Williams

Eric Marlow

Judy Sagara

Gail Larned

Roger Williams

Harry Wozniak

Tom Sherman

Short North Arches Go Technicolor - September Gallery Hop

September Gallery Hop Celebrates “Summer Days and Technicolor Nights”
Color transformation with “glowing procession” will begin at Poplar and travel northward throughout the District


Saturday, September 1 • 9:00PM
at the 17 arches along High Street

“The effects will be amazing,” comments Sharon O’Brien, board member of the Short North SID. “This is the real eye-popper we’ve been waiting for since we began the project. Every bulb on every arch can be individually programmed to produce a million different effects. The lights can morph from one color to another, pulse and even appear to travel up and down the district.”

John Angelo, Director of the Short North Business Association (SNBA), adds: “The programmed arches will be unlike anything seen in the Midwest. In addition to adding to the experiential offerings of the Short North, the mile-long strip of High will become a barometer of major happenings in Columbus. The strip might be pink the night before the Race for the Cure. It could be silver, gold and white for the winter holidays. It could be a rolling rainbow for ComFest and the Pride Festival. The possibilities are endless.”

The arches were designed and installed as part of a collaborative effort between the City of Columbus and the Short North Arts District, working directly with the Short North Special Improvement District (SID). The programming of the arches will also be managed collaboratively by the city, the SID and the SNBA.

Look for up-to-the-minute news on the evening’s happenings at www.ShortNorth.org”

Arts Upstairs Current/New Show

The Arts Upstairs Gallery
60 Main St.
Phoenicia, NY
845-688-2142
www.artsupstairs.com

Group Show. "Just Around the Corner ," Saturday August 18 thru Sept. 9.
Opening reception Sept. 18, 6 to 10 PM
Gallery hours: Fri. 3 to 6; Sat. 10 to 6 and Sun. 10 to 4
Contact person: Alan Fliegel, info@artsupstairs.com or 688-2142
Come celebrate!