Enter FAFA this summer

Attention Students! FAFA is holding their exhibition this summer. Be sure to enter! We have always done well with winning awards (think $ in your pocket!) You can request an entry by email now. Here is the information:

The 2009 Fine Arts Festival of Rockingham County will be accepting entries as follows in Rockingham Community College's Whitcomb Student Center:

Literature & Music - Thursday, June 11 - 10-7

All Other Categories - Wednesday, June 24 - 10-4
Thursday, June 25 - 1-7

To obtain a copy of the 2009 Registration Packet, please send an e-mail to:
fineartsfestival@yahoo.com

News Article

Check out this article on last semester's artist visit by Ahmed Fadaam, Iraqi sculptor.

http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/rockingham_news/article/iraqi_artist_speaks_to_rcc_art_class/8046/

Our Art is headed to Northern Ireland

Britt and Erica have flown away into the sunrise to visit Northern Ireland. They have taken our students' art, and their own, to share with students at our partner College in Newry, Northern Ireland. Thanks Dougal for making this happen. We look forward to your students work coming to see us next year! Man, wish I could say MY art has been exhibited in another country!

Top 10 Cities for Creative People

Great news! The RCC foundation has sponsored us again with money to help pay for our fall semester trip to Washington DC. THNAK YOU FOUNDATION GODS! Pat and I want to leave the Spring trip option up to the students to pick. We will gladly return to New York City, but Chicago has been suggested too. Here is a link to the top 10 places in the country for creative people. Check it out and be thinking about which of these would make a great trip. Go to http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/74718/real_estate/top_10_us_cities_for_creative_people.html
Post your ideas here!

Poly' Parade on the move

Artists Ian Gamble and Sarah Witt have created a new project to spur awareness of the waste material (plastic) and its uses called the Polymorphic Plastic Parade. Check out their new website and keep up with the BIG plans for this summer and beyond. Way to go Ian and Sarah! We are proud of your commitment to creativity and the environment.

International Arts Newsletter

Hi students and other art fans. Subscribe to this free newsletter on the arts and receive free news updates on art from around the world. go to http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=artknowledge

Tour Our 2009 Student Show

Earn Cash from Your Art with Threadless

Josh Tucker just told me about a great looking website company called Threadless that is paying big bucks (from $2,000 up to $22,500) for great T-shirt designs. You can submit your design for a critique before submitting it for the prize money, so it can be a great learning experience too. If you are looking for cash to travel or need something to do instead of sitting around this summer wishing you could find a job, consider putting your talent to work and going after these prizes. Go here to view the rules and process for entering.

Jewelry Making Comes to RCC

Necklace by Amber

Our Sculpture I Class now offers metal casting as a big part of its curriculum. Students are enjoying making a wide range of objects including necklaces, rings, and key chain fobs. This affordable process is also making money for students who are selling their creations. Amber has sold several pieces right off her neck while at work. Another student sold enough to help finance his trip to New York City. Unfortunately, so much has sold we will have less to show in the Student Show. A few pieces will be on display at the Monday Opening.

We are looking for a display case to show off our creations for future shows. If anyone has access to one that could be donated to the program, please contact Mr. Drake.

Flash Animation now offered at RCC

Here are a few animations made by students at RCC. They are their first attempts. Students are currently working on their second attempts which are even better. This class will be offered next fall semester. You should be an experienced at drawing and either meet the prerequisites or show Mr. Drake your portfolio to get into the class.



Rock Drop by Brandon Wall



Mad Monster by Michael Williams

New Images and Animation from RCC Computer Arts Class

Helen Lauzau created this great image in Photoshop as an assignment in Art 171. Students are also learning basic Illustrator skills and Flash animation. Stay tuned for more great works!

High Line in NYC

Check out what they are doing in NYC to improve community and reconnect people to nature. We will look out for this on our trip.
If you cannot watch this You Tube at RCC, check out the High Line Blog.

Northern Ireland Teleconference this Wednesday

We are meeting with our Northern Ireland counterparts this Wednesday, March 4th at 9AM in the teleconference room across from the Studio in Humanities. Please come and join in the fun as we open our "gift" boxes and plan our next steps in the exhibition. Students who participate will have their art shown in Northern Ireland!

Still Dreaming.....

I am still dreaming of a dedicated art gallery space for RCC. The possibilities for teaching opportunities for the entire community are endless. In these tough times the thought of bringing art to the students instead of making them travel to the art makes sense too. Space and funding are current road blocks, but everything we do starts with an idea. Maybe it's time to get really creative a carve out a space from a closet. We'll see. In the meantime read this interesting article on why university museums matter.

Student Trip to New York City

We are headed to New York City March 26th-March 30th.

Here are some relevant websites to help us all plan:

Same Day Broadway tickets: http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

West Side Studio Hostel: Our home away from home: http://www.hostels.com/maps/West-End-Studios/805

MTA: Subway System http://tripplanner.mta.info/
Check out this NY Times story on how some New York City subway cars sing part of broadway tune. Be sure to listen to audio file.
Museums:

MOMA - www.moma.org

MET- http://www.metmuseum.org/

Guggenheim http://www.guggenheim.org/
Whitney
AMerican Folk
New Museum
PS1

Folks we hope to meet with while in the City:

Curators of Exit Art
Artist Lauren Gibbes
Artist Jason Weatherspoon

Check out this great video that shows the working process of Dougherty Patrick, a sculptor we are visiting in April.

Student Presentations

We will be having student presentations on artists of importance this semester in many classes. Here is a good beginning point for researching artists. www.artfacts.com Top 100 Artists List Click on an name and you will get a short bio, sorry no good pictures. Also, this list shows their age, whether they are alive, and what their art is selling for at auction. This site is used by the buyers and sellers of art. I will also have a list of artists available in class from which you can choose.

Eric's in Chicago

You may remember the amazing sculpture Eric Isbanioly made last semester that lit up when you cranked it. Well, Eric was one of three RCC art students admitted by a visiting counselor from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has made the jump and is enrolled in art classes at the Institute in the Windy City. He is taking a neat foundry class next semester.

Drawing Students Check this out!

Check out this flicker group for doodle drawings. I have tried to encourage such imaginative drawing this semester in Drawing I. Maybe we need to start a flicker group of our own or maybe this is a beginning point idea for our Ireland Collaborative Project!

Go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/doodlersanonymous/pool/