We all know that some places in this world are certifiably nuts. (We don't need to go into that.) But what about being certifiably
creative? The State of Washington and our friends at ArtsWA are preparing to make that possible. Find a cool spot, out of the heat, and read on.
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
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Ingredients for a Certified Creative District
We were so delighted last week to have Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) Executive Director Karen Hanan stop by Vancouver for a visit. She had a whirlwind tour with local leaders, catching up on arts initiatives here and also sharing her vision for the certified creative district program now passed into law. (On May 8, Governor Inslee signed the bill that authorizes ArtsWA to develop and administer a certified creative districts program.)
On a sunny Monday morning in beautiful downtown Camas, Hanan described the creative districts program to attendees at a Main Street Program quarterly meeting. A few of us with Arts of Clark County sat in to listen. This is a really smart program, modeled after the successful creative districts program in Colorado. ArtsWA also intends to have built-in protections against the fate that some arts communities have met in becoming gentrified victims of their own success.
Continue reading...
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Arts and Culture Summit 2
Creating Space for the Arts
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 holding our second summit on Saturday, 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.
Open registration ($35) will begin September 1.
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Megan Eckman,
Flatteringly Flat 2
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Artists selected for fall Open Studios tour
This year's 5th annual Clark County Open Studios tour will highlight a diverse array of artists and artisans selected by jurors
Herschel McGraw
, owner/director of Gallery 903 in Portland; and
Kicki Masthem
, artist and professor at Portland Community College and Multnomah Arts Center.
Each year Arts of Clark County recruits jurors from outside the community in order to ensure a fresh look at artists applying. Work is judged on both creativity and craftsmanship, with a limit of 50 studios for the tour. This year, almost half of the artists selected are new to Open Studios, more evidence of just how many artists there are here in Clark County.
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Our beautiful, happy, shiny Poetry Moves team. Photo by Annie Davern.
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Poetry Moves Season 4 takes off
Young student poets celebrated
Season 4 of Arts of Clark County's Poetry Moves program officially launched on July 15 with readings from ten young poets whose poems were chosen for display on every bus in the C-Tran fleet.
The student poets honored were from schools visited by poets in Clark County Poet Laureate Christopher Luna's "Poets in the Schools" Program. Workshops were led by April Bullard, Christopher Luna, Jim Martin, and Morgan Hutchinson. Christopher Luna supervised the instructors, and Printed Matter Vancouver co-founder Toni Partington managed and supported the team.
Through December, two student poems will appear on each C-Tran bus -- except for one special bus with all ten poems!
Ride the bus and catch a poem or two, or maybe ten.
Thank you Poets in the Schools, Christopher Luna and C-Tran!
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September 21
Once again, Arts of Clark County is participating in the amazing fundraising event called Give More 24!
This September 21st, our entire region comes together--online and offline--and gives for 24 hours straight to nonprofits like ours. Please keep this date on your radar. This year, The Community Foundation of Southwest Washington shares 24 reasons to give.
Reason #10: Arts and culture help us thrive.
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Sharon Svec,
Moonlight Meditation
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Sharon Svec's
Dances with Nature
On exhibit through September 1
In case you missed this --
These beautiful fabric art works created by Sharon Svec will remain on exhibit in the Rebecca Anstine Gallery through Friday, September 1.
But if you come First Friday, come early since the gallery is open to the public only until 5 p.m.
Dances with Nature is a tapestry series using the graphic style of multimedia art consisting of images printed onto fabric, layered with various stenciling techniques, and spray paint. The imagery focuses on meditation, figures of dance history, and other inspirational subjects. Sharon received her MFA in Professional Media Practice and BFA in Visual Communication from Southern Illinois University. The Anstine Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Rebecca Anstine Gallery
Clark County Public Service Center, 6th floor
1300 Franklin St., Vancouver
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WAF poster illustration by Cyndee Starr
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Saturday, August 12th
Artists and art lovers will come together at the Second Annual Washougal Art Festival, Saturday August 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Washougal's Refection Plaza. The festival will feature:
- More than 20 juried, professional regional artists displaying and selling their creations
- Live performance art from 10a.m. - 3p.m.
- Children's art area presented by The Paint Roller
- Hourly raffles for unique and valuable pieces donated by festival artists
Event proceeds will benefit the Washougal Arts and Cultural Alliance (WACA) and will fund additional public art in Washougal.
Reflection Plaza
1703 Main St., Washougal
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Support local Vancouver theater
Head over to Portland!
Wait, what?
Yes, our very own Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy, headquartered in Vancouver, is unable to find performing space on this side of the river. Another good reason to talk arts infrastructure. Hey, let's all work to help MPA get a space for performances here in Vancouver.
MPA presents The Fantasticks
With New York's recent closure of the longest running musical in the world, Metropolitan Performing Arts (MPA) re-imagines this classic tale.
The Fantasticks, written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, is as much about a love affair as it is a nod to the magic of theater itself. The production opens Thursday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m. and continues Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. through August 20.
The Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza (Triangle Productions)
1785 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland 97232.
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A Vital Forces Theatre production
Do you enjoy theatre, picnics and beautiful food? If so, please consider attending this fundraiser, as a patron and supporter of young artistry! Vital Forces is a physical theatre company designed for student performers and led by theatre professionals.
Free admission
picnic pasta dinner.
Please bring your own blanket, beverages and a dessert to share potluck style. A
nd donations, of course!
Saturday, August 12 at
3:30 p.m.
The Stemm's Farm
6911 NW Anderson Ave., Vancouver
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Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic is Thursday, August 10 at 7 p.m., featuring Portland native, Sean Aaron Bowers. His first collection of poetry, We Were Warriors (University of Hell Press, 2012), was published under the pseudonym Johnny No Bueno. His upcoming book, Concrete & Juniper is due to be released by University of Hell in late 2017 to mid 2018. 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
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5 ways to support the cause!
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If you love what Arts of Clark County is doing for our community, please consider these ways to contribute:
- Donate
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Editorial Policy and submission guidelines
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| 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. |
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About Arts of Clark County
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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.
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