NCLD's 2008 "Voices of LD" Competition

From NCLD:
Calling all creative people with learning disabilities.

In honor of our 31st anniversary, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is looking for self-portraits that capture what life is like for individuals with learning disabilities (LD).

What story does your portrait tell? Share with us expressions of your hopes, dreams, struggles and successes. Show us what the world is like through your eyes. Help us to celebrate the unique vision of children and adults affected by LD.

Selected submissions will be showcased on our Web site and at our Annual Benefit Dinner in April. In addition, our grand prize will be a trip to New York City and a chance to attend our Annual Benefit Dinner honoring Ted Turner. Two runners-up will receive $200 each. Prizes will be awarded for outstanding works in each of the following categories:

* Children: 4-12 years old
* Teens: 13-17 years old
* Adults: 18 and older

To enter, please send NCLD your submission(s), a photo of the artist, a short paragraph (three to five sentences) written by the artist detailing their experience with LD, and completed release forms. Grand prize winners must provide relevant documentation of a specific learning disability.

If you have any questions, please email Teneille Craig. All entries must be received no later than Friday, February 8, 2008. Click here to download rules and requirements of the competition.

ASL Christmas Carol Tonight

From Colleen Kelly, Director of American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse:
"An ASL Interpreted performance of A Christmas Carol has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia. Pre-show entertainment begins at 7:15 and the performance starts at 7:30. Please feel free to share this announcement with family and friends who would like to attend a signed performance.

Lindsey Snyder, ASL Interpreter, will be signing from the house-left side of the playhouse. To best see both the play and the interpreter, I recommend you purchase reserved seating in the house-center or house-right sections of rows D through K or purchase general admission seating which will allow you, upon arrival, to choose seats in the house-right side galley on the lower level of the playhouse or house-center or house-right in the upper balcony. Although we usually don’t reserve seats for general admission, I have asked the house staff to hold seats in the above sections for you the evening of Wednesday, December 19. Please arrive early if you would like to take advantage of this seating option.

To purchase tickets, please visit the box office in person at the playhouse, contact the box office by phone at 540-851-1733, or e-mail our box office at tickets@americanshakespearecenter.com. Let the box office staff know that you want the best seats to see both the play and the interpreter. If you are making your purchase through e-mail, please also include your name and contact information, the date of the show, and your preference for purchasing your tickets (you may reserve your tickets and purchase them Wednesday evening or pay through the e-mail by including your credit card number and card expiration date). We recommend you do not use our on-line purchasing system as it assigns random seating rather than an option of specific seating."

Longtime VSA arts of Virginia exhibitor passes away

Lori Konkle, painter, passed away this weekend at the age of 78. Lori participated every year in the VSA arts of Virginia - Charlottesville/Albemarle Annual Exhibition. She will be greatly missed by her friends at VSAVA.



"Sunset", Chesapeake Bay
A native of Chicago, Lori Konkle attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and received a B.A. Degree in Art Education from Michigan State University. She was an art consultant in the elementary schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan and a high school art teacher in Lansing, Michigan. She was physically challenged by Multiple Sclerosis and painted with a mouthstick brush. In later years, Lori lived near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and her landscapes often reflect the special character of that area. To view more of Lori's work visit her website.

The Art of Surviving

We're helping our friend Terry Lynn Smith spread the word:

The Art of Surviving: 3rd Annual Art Show
featuring female artists who have survived breast cancer, mastectomies, or other breast issues.

Seeking female artists who have survived breast issues that would like to share their experiences and stories through their works of art during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2007.

The Art of Surviving show will open on October 26 at 7:00 p.m. and will display through November 18, 2007 at Art Works
in the Corner Gallery on 320 Hull Street Richmond, Virginia.

Call for entries will be on Saturday, October 20 from Noon – 4:00 p.m. in Studio 125 at Art Works. Artists may submit up to 4 entries. The cost per entry is $5.00. This will be an all media juried show. Work may be of any subject matter that is considered healing to the artist. Artwork may be for sale or for showing only. Artists are encouraged to attend the opening of the show. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Art Works.

The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation will be present to answer questions and share the latest information about breast cancer. Donations may be made that evening to the VBCF in honor or in memory of those whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

For more information on entry submission, please contact Terry Lynn Smith by October 20th at fibrowoman@hotmail.com or calling 804-731-2481.

Terry Lynn Smith

Our good friend Terry Lynn Smith recently announced that her website has been updated with new work and scheduled shows. Visit the site here.

Want to share your latest news with the VSA arts of Virginia community? Send your news to ehickey_at_vsava.org. (Please replace "_at_" with the @ symbol).

Theatre IV: Auditions for Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter

From the emailer: Auditions for Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter are by appointment only and will be held at Theatre IV's Empire Theatre on Sunday, June 24th from 7:00-9:00pm and Monday, June 25th from 7:00-9:00pm.

Casting 10 actors: 5 Men and 5 Women, age 18 and up, of varied ages and types. All Roles are open.

Those auditioning are asked to prepare 16 bars of a song and to be prepared to dance. Please bring music in the correct key.

Rehearsals will begin on or around September 10, 2007
Performance dates: October 5-21, 2007

All performers will be paid.

Please call 344-8052 x4 to schedule and appointment or for additional information.

The Marketing Dog: Publicity, Promotion and Press for Artists

Our friend, Slash Coleman is offering workshops for artists:
"I wanted to tell you about a few classes that I’m teaching next weekend aimed at helping artists, musicians, writers, and performers make more money selling their art and become more business savvy.

"Packed with practical and useful advice for visual artists, writers, musicians, and performers, this class will give you practical and useful advice from beginning to sell your artwork to putting it on your own website to getting shows to increasing your sales at shows and increasing your exposure as an artist."

If you know an artist that might benefit from this information, please forward it along.

(This series of classes corresponds to my upcoming book, The Marketing Dog: Publicity, Promotion and Press for Artists).

Where: Crossroads Art Center, 2016 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA.
When: Saturday, June 2 from 1- 4pm and Saturday, June 16 from 1- 4pm.
Artists can register for one or both days.
Cost: Part 1 = $65 + $25 curriculum fee
Part 2 = $65 + $25 curriculum fee
Or sign-up for both for $100 and there is no curriculum fee and you save $80!

How to register: Call 804-278-8950 or visit www.crossroadsartcenter.com/class.html#money

Thanks,
Slash"

Congratulations to Gerry Mitchell

Here's the copy from an article recently publised in the Charlottesville Daily Progress:
Anything but a still life
By David A. Maurer
February 1, 2007

Gloomy skies and a steady rain were having a negative effect on three of the four people waiting at the Water Street bus stop.

Except for the cheerful man sitting in an obviously well traveled wheelchair, they were all complaining about the awful weather. Gerald E. Mitchell listened to the grumbling for a few minutes before offering his own take on the situation.

"I said, 'Well, I just spent three months in the hospital,' " Mitchell said, as a smile appeared on his face. " 'Trust me on this one, this rain is great.

" 'I don't mind sitting here in my electric wheelchair that I hope doesn't short out. And I don't mind that two buses have passed me by, because the lifts didn't work.

"I'm just thrilled to be here.' "

The fact that Mitchell is still very much here is a testament to faith, luck, modern medicine, the power of positive thinking and a keen sense of humor. In 1981 he was given six months to live when he was diagnosed with HIV.

In 1996 when Mitchell became desperately ill with full-blown AIDS, he returned to Charlottesville, his hometown, to die. But instead of dying he learned how to live. As an artist, he entered a new phase of creativity.

Now, at the age of 53, Mitchell is about to have what he suspects might be his last art exhibit. On Friday his show "Joy" opens at the Mudhouse on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.

Read the rest of the article here.

Thousand Hand Guan Yin

Anonymous excerpt from an email we received: "Considering the tight coordination required, the accomplishments of these dancers is nothing short of amazing -- even if they were not all deaf. Relying only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage, these extraordinary dancers deliver a visual spectacle that is at once intricate and stirring. Its first major international debut was in Athens last year at the closing ceremonies for the 2004 Paralympics. But it had long been in the repertoire of the Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe and had traveled to more than 40 countries. Its lead dancer is 29 year old Tai Lihua, who has a BA from the Hubei Fine Arts Institute. The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival celebrations this year. It takes a while to load. Be patient; it's worth it." Click on the arrow inside the image above to watch the video.

Theatre IV: Stage Explorers Summer Camp

Our Stage Explorers Summer Camp information - including dates and cost - will be posted online on Friday, February 16, 2007. Enrollment forms will also be available online from tomorrow. If you are interested in the camp, please visit our website Friday for the forms and return them as soon as possible. The camp fills up very quickly.

Camp information and forms will be available from the 16th at
http://www.theatreivrichmond.org/stage_exp.html

Questions? Call Janine Serresseque at 804-783-1688 ext. 13
or email j.serresseque@theatreivrichmond.org