Katie's Blog!

Hiya there world… Katie here! Who am I and why should you read this fabulous blog I am writing about ARTS/West? Well probably because I’m awesome and pretty entertaining but mostly because I’m an intern at ARTS/West this summer! Huzzah!

I’m not exactly sure how to start a blog so I’ll just jump right in! Since the beginning of my internship at ARTS/West in June I’ve witnessed OVST’s theater camp production of Jennifer Hickok DeFratis’s play “Fury Tails with a Twist!”, The Appalachian Progressive Education Center (APE Center) plays “The Enchanted Necklace” and “Report the Past”, Athens Premier of the film “The Other House”, and the gallery opening featuring the beautiful art work of Kenneth Taylor… and that’s not all!

Recently a lot of my time has been spent reading the 20 play submissions we received for Humble Play! That’s a lot of reading but I’ve only got 3 more left to finish! I’ve learned a lot about what to look for in a play by talking with Emily Prince. She has a lot of real world experience and her stories are very helpful! I love hearing about all the plays she has read for past jobs and the tricks they used to weed out scripts quickly. For example, if a show had a “Noooooooooooooooooo!” within the first 5 pages it was automatically thrown out! (Never fear if you’ve written a script with this included, we understand that our submissions are works in progress!)

I have also been slowly but surely organizing paperwork from past years of Humble Play! (I swear one day it will be done!) I also started reading a series of books called “Focusing the Light; The Art and Practice of Planning.” They were developed by the Ohio Arts Council with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. I have not gotten through all of the volumes, but what I have read I learned a lot from. The first volume was called “Arts Advocacy and Planning.” It was all about “an overview of the public value of the arts and arts education.”

In addition to all this, I and the other interns have had tutorials with Emily Prince on how exactly a script turns into a play on a professional level. We also discussed readings and staged readings and Not-for-Profit Theater! Let us know if you’re interested in hearing about it and maybe an up-coming blog can give you some insight!

So far I’ve had a very positive experience at ARTS/West, it is truly a collaborative work environment! I think it’s brilliant that this venue houses so many activities… there really is something for everyone in the community! I encourage anyone and everyone to pop in and visit us if you’ve never been! You’re always welcome! And don’t forget we always want to hear from you but don’t get discouraged if the phone rings and rings. Please, leave us a message (740) 592-4315, send us and email (artswestathens at gmail), stalk us on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ARTSWest)!

CALL FOR ARTISTS

DOWNLOAD PROSPECTUS at www.womenofappalachia.net

WOMEN SPEAK - Autumn 2010

An evening of spoken art featuring story, poetry and song.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: August 6, 2010

EVENT DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, (THURSDAY) 2010, 6pm - 8pm, with a “social” immediately following

INTENT - TO PROVIDE AN EVENING IN WHICH WOMEN’S ISSUES CAN BE EXAMINED, ADDRESSED, DISSECTED, EMBELLISHED, AND SAFELY SHARED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND EACH OTHER THROUGH POETRY, PROSE, PERFORMANCE AND SONG.

Vision - to empower and strengthen southeastern Ohio women literary and performing artists in an open welcoming environment, while encouraging a positive community connection.

Mission - to provide the opportunity for a diverse group of local woman writer/performers to share their work, receive recognition and encouragement so they might continue to thrive, and to expose the community to one of Appalachian Ohio’s greatest assets, its literary and performing artists.

This is an invitational exhibit. The focus will be centered on producing an evening that is representative of the vast talent of this area while embracing a diversity of lifestyles and personal backgrounds. The curator, Kari Gunter-Seymour, along with two artists/community members will provide the jury process for the exhibit.


ELIGIBILITY:
Women residing in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, Washington, Perry, Vinton and Hocking counties are eligible to submit.

Curator, Kari Gunter-Seymour

supported by ARTS/West

Jurors: Becca J.R. Lachman and Marie Graham

Reading, Plays. Movies.

Oh man, where has the week gone?! I’ve been meeting with a group of community art leaders for the past three months and we are working on a grant proposal that has kept me pretty busy. There is a lot of exciting coordination going on in the arts. I have also been reading every available report on community building, creative communities, state of the arts reports, etc. Whew.

The Appalachian Progressive Education Center (APE Center) has been among us all week and they are ready to put on their plays: “The Enchanted Necklace” and “Report the Past” on Saturday, July 17, at 1:30. Their performance is free and you’re all invited!

We are very proud to be hosting the Athens Premier of the film “The Other House” July 16, 17 at 7pm both nights. Thank you Amy for trusting us with your film and your family’s story. You can read more about the film and its premier HERE in the Athens News.

If you missed the opening last weekend of Kenneth Taylor’s art work, never fear, it’s on display for the rest of the month of July. Quite impressive work.

Sounds like my meeting has just arrived, we’re going to be discussing Humble Play. Did I tell you we had 20 plays submitted this year? Yes, yes we did so I’ve got to get meeting and reading.

Don’t forget we always want to hear from you and don’t get discouraged if the phone rings and rings. Please, leave us a message (740) 592-4315, send us and email (artswestathens at gmail), stalk us on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ARTSWest)!

P.S. I wasn’t able to have anyone edit this for me or check my grammar so, Mr. Snook I am sorry.

The Other House

ARTS/West presents the local premiere of THE OTHER HOUSE, a movie

ARTS/West, 132 W. State St. is hosting the premiere of The Other House, directed by Steve Fetsch and produced by Amy Abercrombie, on July 16 and 17 at 7:00pm. Tickets to the film screenings are $4 and may be purchased at the door. Stick around after the movie for a reception to follow at 9:00pm on both nights!

The novel, The Other House, was written by Rebecca Hooper Eastman sometime before 1937, the year of her death. Seventy years later, it was privately published by her granddaughter, Amy Abercrombie, and is now an independent, full-length movie. Based on the Holdens and the Hoopers, the story centers on a beautiful young woman forced to flee to the South when a young man dies in a duel over her. She moves in with her sister in Walpole, NH where she encounters colorful relatives, two villains, and a handsome young architect who wins her heart.

The result of two years of filming in the culturally-rich Athens, OH is a striking motion picture that will surely please movie-goers everywhere. "The novel and the movie have dominated my life for nearly twenty years," admits granddaughter Abercrombie. "And I am so grateful to all who contributed to making the movie so fine." She adds that she wishes the entire country could see it and she plans to enter it into as many film festivals as possible.

For more information about the book and movie, including photographs, you can visit the website: www.theotherhousemovie.com.

Music and Art

Kenneth Taylor Art Opening and Gallery Show

Friday, July 9 at 6:00-8:00 pm

Join us for the gallery opening featuring the work of Kenneth Taylor.
In addition to the gallery opening Kenneth Taylors' art will be on display throughout the month of July. Gallery hours are M-F 10-4 or by appointment.

Here is what Kenneth has to say about his artwork:

"Artwork is my way of telling a story. It is for the most part all that I think about. My paintings are primarily of people. People are vastly different from each other and are always changing. I strive to capture the subject's complexity as well as their personality and beauty. I isolate the subject through color, contrast and composition, thereby making the scene more intimate and insuring that there are no distractions. I am fascinated by subjects that are unaware of the observer and try to portray a feeling of observation without involvement on the part of the viewer.

I paint using powdered pigments mixed with various mediums laid down in thick transparent glazes. This method allows me to mix colors optically by hatching energetic lines of saturated color over a dark under painting.

To me a great painting is visually provocative, well drafted, and ethereally real."

Check out more on the facebook event page HERE

Aquabear Live @ ARTS/West

Saturday, July 10 at 8:00 pm

Celebrate the always wonderful summer in Athens with a sweet show at an always wonderful venue!

Aquabear continues our live at ARTS/West concert series (now in its third year!) with:

Moon High (columbus, ohio)
www.myspace.com/moonhighmusic

Whale Zombie (athens, ohio)
www.myspace.com/whalezombie

and maybe Weedghost

Plus, I think we will be cooking up hot dogs and veggie dogs on the patio!

Remember: No Alcohol at ARTS/West but we will have coffee and pop (donations) and the show ends early so you can head right to the bars for more music!

If you have never been to ARTS/West for an Aquabear show this will be the perfect way to start that habit.

Support Ohio Music!
for more info on what we do visit www.aquabearlegion.com

Big Events Comming Up

OVST theater camp is rolling right along. They are working hard on producing Jennifer Hickok DeFratis’s play “Fury Tails with a Twist!” You are totally invited to see it on Friday, July 9th, 2010 at 11:00AM! Every aspect of the production is handled by students participating in the camp; this includes the props, costumes, tech, and even acting! We can’t wait!

We also invite you on the evening of July 9th from 6:00-8:00PM to view works by our artist Kenneth Taylor. Here is what he has to say about his artwork:

"Artwork is my way of telling a story. It is for the most part all that I think about. My paintings are primarily of people. People are vastly different from each other and are always changing. I strive to capture the subject’s complexity as well as their personality and beauty. I isolate the subject through color, contrast and composition, thereby making the scene more intimate and insuring that there are no distractions. I am fascinated by subjects that are unaware of the observer and try to portray a feeling of observation without involvement on the part of the viewer.

I paint using powdered pigments mixed with various mediums laid down in thick transparent glazes. This method allows me to mix colors optically by hatching energetic lines of saturated color over a dark under painting.

To me a great painting is visually provocative, well drafted, and ethereally real."

July 10th brings the triumphant return of Aquabear Live to ARTS/West at 8:00pm and I’ve heard a rumor that there will be hot dogs and rock and roll! What more could you ask for?

The humble play submissions are in and have been sent out to the review committee. We’ve had 18 plays submitted this year from all across the country and we are in the process of whittling them down to 4! Tough work so I’d better get reading!

Don’t forget that we always want to hear from you! But don’t get discouraged if the phone rings and rings to no avail. Please, leave us a message (740) 592-4315, send us and email (artswestathens at gmail), or stalk us on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ARTSWest)! (You know you do it anyway!)