April 2017
In this issue, we encourage you to share your thoughts for our fall 2017 Arts and Culture Summit. And, a reminder: i f you are a Clark County artist, consider applying for this year's Open Studios tour. Don't wait! The deadline is May 31.

ARTS brief is designed to intrigue you while sharing useful information, events, happenings, and current news related to arts growth in our region. If you love what you see here, please forward this to your friends and encourage them to   join our email list and subscribe
Advancing the arts
Planning underway for second Arts and Culture Summit

In March 2012, we held the first Clark County Arts and Culture Summit, a gathering of arts organizations, business leaders, local representatives, and individuals wanting to see a greater focus on the arts in our community. Now, five years later, we are planning our second summit on September 23 in the Artillery Building at the Fort Vancouver Reserve. The focus is to generate ideas and momentum to create much-needed spaces for arts and culture activities in Vancouver.
 
Like our 2012 summit, the fall event will include speakers, panel discussions and work sessions all designed to inspire action. The summit theme is "Creating Space for the Arts." Expect three major sub-topics: 1. Performing Arts: Creating a community-centric performing arts center; 2. Visual Arts: Developing an art center with space for classes, exhibits, and possibly live/work artist units; and 3. Available Spaces: Assessing real opportunities in Vancouver to create economically sustainable arts-related projects involving both new construction and adaptive reuse.
 
We are in the early stages of planning and welcome input and ideas from interested parties. Please contact   Annie Davern, Summit Committee chair, or Karen Madsen , Arts of Clark County chair. Please also watch ARTS brief for more developing details.
Call for Artists!
5th annual Open Studios tour

One outgrowth of the 2012 Arts and Culture Summit has been the very successful Clark County Open Studios tour. If you are a visual artist living in Clark County working in any medium, you are invited to apply to be a participating artist in the 5th annual Open Studios tour. 

This is a juried art event offering a unique opportunity to gain further recognition as an artist, open your studio doors to the public, exhibit, and sell your work. 

Community connection
For the community, Open Studios is free self-guided tour that will enhance your awareness of talented local artists, while enriching the cultural life of Clark County neighborhoods. Open Studios happens this fall on the weekend of November 11-12. 

The application deadline for artists is May 31, 2017.  

First Friday Picks

Graphic courtesy of Chelsea Parkhurst
and High End Market Place
Rainku
It's raining poetry

Vancouver's Downtown Association and Clark County Poet Laureate Christopher Luna are proud to announce a unique public art project for April 2017 National Poetry Month. 

Haiku and short poems depicting the downtown Vancouver experience will be applied to the sidewalk using a special paint visible only in the rain for the next two to four months.  

Each poem will reflect the downtown Vancouver experience, such as spending time outdoors, attending cultural events, or exploring the city with family and friends. The purpose of the poems is to lift the spirits of those who come upon them. 

Follow Rainku progress in social media using #dtVANrainku, and be sure to use this tag in your own photos! 

This event is presented by Vancouver's Downtown Association, Arts of Clark County, Realvest Corporation, Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, and The Columbian.


Don Gray, Muskeg, acrylic on paper 22 x 30
Don Gray
A View from Above

The paintings of Vancouver artist Don Gray will be on display in the Rebecca Anstine Gallery throughout March, April and May. The Anstine Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.   A reception honoring Gray will take place at the gallery from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the gallery. The event, sponsored by the Clark County Arts Commission, is free and open to the public.  

Gray has exhibited his work in museums and galleries across the country since 1977. As a young artist, Gray found inspiration in his surroundings growing up in rural Oregon. His work developed to incorporate both realistic and abstract images.  The exhibit, "A View from Above," shows Gray's joy of painting, and his enduring love of landscape, color, and composition. 

Public Service Center, Sixth Floor  
1300 Franklin St., Vancouver
Out and About

Jess Graff, Curator-in-Residence,
Vancouver City Hall
Curators-in-residence
Meet-and-greet April 18

Come out and meet Jess Graff, Vancouver City Hall's curator-in-residence for 2017. Graff will curate three City Hall exhibits this year. Join her at Angst Gallery April 18 for a casual meet-and-greet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Erin Dengerink, who has been curating the Rebecca Anstine Gallery on the sixth floor of Clark County Service Center for the past few years, will also attend.  Both Graff and Dengerink were selected by the Clark County Arts Commission for these two curatorial residencies.


Angst Gallery
1015 N. Main St., Vancouver
Arts+Biz 
Save the date: April 23

Arts+Biz bridges the gap between arts and business in SW Washington by fostering connections and encouraging collaboration within the community through quarterly networking events. 

The next Arts+Biz event will be held Sunday, April 23 at 6 p.m. at Vancouver Art Space. Stay updated with ticketing information by following the @artsbiz360 Facebook page or email Erika Bartlett
to be added to the Arts+Biz mailing list.

Vancouver Art Space
2701 NE 114th Ave. #3,  Vancouver
Poetry Happenings
Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic celebrates National Poetry Month Thursday, April 13 at 7 p.m. with two Ghost Town Poetry regulars: April Bullard, author of Short Cuts Through the Shadows; and Ian Caton, author of A Crate of Records.  The popular night of poetry is hosted by Christopher Luna and Toni Partington of Printed Matter Vancouver. Open mic sign up begins at 6:30 p.m.and closes at 7 p.m. 

Learn more


Angst Gallery
1015 Main St., Vancouver

5 ways to support the cause!
If you love what Arts of Clark County is doing for our community, please consider these ways to contribute: 

  1. Donate
    Use PayPal to make a tax-deductible donation to Arts of Clark County. 
     
  2. Shop
    Link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Arts of Clark County using our code #84120. Just by using your rewards card number, and at no cost to you, every time you shop you'll help Arts of Clark County earn a quarterly donation from Fred Meyer.
     
  3. Shop online
    Use this link to login to Amazon, and they will donate a portion of the proceeds from your purchase back to Arts of Clark County.

     
  4. Repurpose
    Donate quality or like-new items to Boomerang coffee house and consignment store. Specify that you would like proceeds to benefit Generosity Partner Arts of Clark County.
     
  5. Volunteer
    Arts of Clark County is an all-volunteer organization. If you have specialized skills, especially in fundraising, outreach and marketing,
    we'd love to talk with you.
ARTS brief team

Jackie Genis, writer, editor 
Cam Suttles, designer, editor
Editorial Policy and submission guidelines
ARTS brief is intended to be useful to readers by offering a curated selection of stories and announcements related to the growth of arts in our region. Submitted items should be newsworthy. This means that arts-related items for content consideration must perform well in at least two of the following five areas: timing, significance, proximity, prominence, and human interest. Please submit materials to our lead writer, Jackie Genis, jackiegenis@outlook.com, NO LATER THAN THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH. Note that submission does not guarantee publication. We evaluate each submission to determine how it fits our goals for ARTS brief and whether the item under consideration aligns with the mission and vision of Arts of Clark County. We do not accept materials that primarily have a commercial objective.
About Arts of Clark County
Arts of Clark County (AoCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created for the purpose of promoting, encouraging, and enhancing creative expression and artistic opportunities in Clark County and Southwest Washington. The arts contribute to this region's unique character as a desirable place to live, work, and visit. AoCC and its volunteer board of directors supports all forms of art--music, theater, dance, and literary, visual, and media art--and works to ensure that arts experiences are inclusive of individuals of all ages and backgrounds.