Artisan Hurricane Relief

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art Exhibition Schedule

2008-03-12T12:36:00.001-05:00

Exhibitions & Events Schedule

Spring 2008
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
1596 Glenn Swetman St., Biloxi
www.georgeohr.org, 228.374.5547

Registration underway for Summer Art Camps. 228.374.5547.

Spring quarter art classes begin March 31. Museum members receive discounts on classes and camps. Membership is open to all; see www.georgeohr.org.

Year-round: The Mad Potter of Biloxi. Selections of George Ohr (1857-1918) pottery on display from the museum’s permanent collection. At the Swetman House.

Feb. 29-April 4 (Currently Under Way): Photographers on Painting. Thirty Mississippi coast photographers experiment within their own medium as a commentary on another art form: painting. Many works for sale. Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art at the Swetman House, 1596 Glenn Swetman Street, Biloxi. 228.374.5547. www.georgeohr.org

March 8, from 3-5 p.m. Fifth Annual Poetry Reading. 676 Howard Ave., Biloxi. Free admission; open to the public.

March 15, from 10-2, Miramar Park, Biloxi—Ohr’s Crafty Kids—free art day for families. Supplies provided. Museum is also open Saturdays from 10-2.

April 11-May 31: The Second Dimension: Painters (& Friends) Look at Pottery

An all-female show, featuring longtime friends and popular Gulf Coast artists—most of them members of the former ArtWave--make a nod toward the art of ceramics and its roots in the earth around us. Meet the artists at the opening reception April 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art at the Swetman House, 1596 Glenn Swetman St., Biloxi. www.georgeohr.org. 228.374.5547.

April 19, from 10-2, Miramar Park, Biloxi—Ohr’s Crafty Kids—free art day for families. Supplies provided. Museum is also open Saturdays from 10-2.

May 1: Ohr-O’Keefe benefit event at the IP. Theme: “Blue Hawaii”. Wear your best tropical outfit! 6-9 p.m. Great refreshments, music and silent auction.

May 17, from 10-2, Miramar Park, Biloxi—Ohr’s Crafty Kids—free art day for families. Supplies provided. Museum is also open Saturdays from 10-2.

June 1: Deadline for entries: George Ohr National Challenge—juried show. Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Enter online: www.georgeohr.org. $4,000 in awards. Jurors for 2D and 3D.

June 6-Aug. 22: “Domo Arigato: Thank You Very Much”~Mississippi Potters Pay Tribute to their Friends from around the U.S. Guest curator Brian Nettles. Great work by local potters, and other great work by national potters who helped many on the coast after the storm. Includes internationally known work by Paul Soldner, Toshiko Takaezu, Peter Callas…and more!
June 21: from 10-2, Miramar Park, Biloxi—Ohr’s Crafty Kids—free art day for families. Supplies provided. Museum is also open Saturdays from 10-2.

July 12: 151st birthday of George Edgar Ohr.

Aug. 29-Sept. 11: “Our Heroes: Firemen in a Ravaged World” Photographs from the first days after Hurricane Katrina by Lauren Byrd, a young, native Biloxian with fresh eyes on heroism and the human spirit.

Sept. 19-Nov. 7: “George Ohr’s National Challenge: The Juried Exhibition” The best in ceramics, sculpture, paintings and prints from across the nation.

Oct. 4-5: 15th Annual George Ohr Fall Festival of Arts. Biloxi Town Green.

October 16: 7th Annual Beau Rivage Gala

March Val's Notebook News

2008-03-12T12:34:00.000-05:00

Notebook News
I would like to personally invite you to attend a book signing event at the store. We finally picked a date and hopefully I've covered everything. We are so honored to have the Mississippi State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts come and sign their book Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember. I loved the book. I know Ann Guice, one of the writers in the book, very well and she has shopped in our store for many years. Reading some of the chapters about her "stuff", I recognized that she probably had stories about the things she acquired from us as well. Women tend to accumulate things over time: Irreplacable things; things inherited, created by an artist, given by a dear friend no longer among the living, things on sale no longer made, things from a trip they will never take again, things that were classic and things discovered. These things all have memories that go along with the purchase or the gift.

So I would like to create a new memory. One of a fun day with door prizes, something good to eat and a thank you to these women for sharing such a beautiful collection of very poignant stories. Please attend if you can. This Thursday, March 13, from 1 to 3p.m. @ EJM, 1013 Howard Avenue, Biloxi. We are one block North of the beach between the Biloxi Lighthouse and the Beau Rivage. We are on the south side of the street in a teal building with a large window display in yellows, salmon and blue.
You may call to reserve your copy
or if you already have a copy of the book you can bring it for signing. 374-8427

Melody Golding, www.melodygolding.com will be unable to attend. She is headed off to spring break. But she is also owed a debt of gratitude. Each day we have those volunteers that work at whatever they are particularly good at. She has taken this Katrina exhibit around the country and in each new city she visits she does the media circuit to promote the exhibit and the book. So we still have those who are telling our story and God bless their souls.

Hope to see you here, Valerie

Note From Michelle Allee
The Artist Deduction bill (S.548) would give artists the right to deduct the fair market value of their works of art when donating to a charity. This bill is non-partisan and fair. Click the link below and simply type in the basic info- it takes less than 60 seconds! A very nice letter of support will be sent to your senators and congressmen on your behalf. It benefits you, your favorite artist and your favorite charity. WIN-WIN-WIN!http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=9521951When art is sold or auctioned at a charity event, the highest bidder gets to deduct their financial contribution above the market value... whereas the contributing artists and artisans can only deduct the amount of the material costs of creating the work- the cost of paint, canvas, clay, paper. Material costs are far below what it really costs artists to produce these works of art when time, overhead, training and experience are considered- and it amounts to pennies when compared to the amount of funds raised by these works of art every year. These charities serve our communities in ways too numerous to mention, often in our times of greatest need. Please show your support (and encourage others to do the same!) by forwarding this to anyone who is an artist or a supporter the arts.

Listerine as bug repellant
I heard something about Listerine working as a mosquito repellant. Couldn't hurt to try it. Says to but it in a spray bottle and spray it all around when you are in the out doors. Although it didn't say whether or not it was mint...I am assuming they mean the minty kind because most bugs and fleas hate mint.

South MS Living Magazine is looking for a Graphic Designer
must be proficient in : Photoshop, Illustratior, InDesign and Acrobat
send resume to: advertising@smliving.net
228-385-7703

Precious Metal Clay Workshop Instructor: Nancilee Bodine
Held at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center - 1600 Government Street – Ocean Springs, Ms.
Precious Metal Clay is an organic substance with tiny flecks of silver imbedded in it. Artists will hand-build pieces that, when fired, will turn into pure silver. In the beginning PMC class, students will learn what PMC is and how to work with it. Students will make post earrings, dangling earrings, and pendant, a mold (much like a sprig mold) from a button, a starfish, or whatever would make a nice pendant or charm, and will finish each of the pieces with sterling silver findings. Additionally, students will learn to texture pieces, make a bail and set stones. A dehydrator and a PMC kiln will be used in the class to fire the pieces, and students will learn to prep and fire their pieces.
The three session class is $245 and includes all supplies, and firing fees. Included in the supplies are PMC, findings, CZs, a PMC tool kit, sanding papers, sanding sponges, and other tools used in making the pieces. A deposit of $125.00 will be required prior to April 1st. . Mail deposit to OSAA P.O. Box 136 Ocean Springs, Ms. 39564 or call Angie Davidson @ 228-861-5626. Class is limited to first 12 registered participants.
Schedule is as follows:
Thursday – April 10, 2008 9:00AM – 12:00PM Session I
12:00PM – 1:30PM Lunch on your own
1:30PM - 4:30PM Session II
Friday - April 11, 2008 9:00AM – 12:00PM Session III
New Arts Festival
Dena McKee is organizing the First Annual Dauphin Island Arts Festival, sponsored by the Dauphin Island Chamber of Commerce, to be held May 3. Dena hopes that many of you will participate. Email her at dmckee001@centurytel.com for a detailed application form. Applications are due by March 15.

Note From Ellis Anderson
Nationwide, stories about the insurance crisis appear almost daily. Even residents in New England are being affected by skyrocketing rates and vanishing coverage. On the Mississipppi Gulf Coast, many believe that ultimate recovery is impossible without insurance relief. You can take simple action to turn this around. Whatever state you reside in, write your senators today and urge them to support the Multiple Peril Insurance to provide one common sense policy for both wind and flood.
Go to: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Simply select your state and the contact information for your senators will appear. Urge them to support insurance reform and Multi-Peril coverage.
Click here to read more about the bill and why its passage is crucial to the well-being of the entire country.
http://www.congressmangenetaylor.com/taylor_pgs/reform.html

Click here to watch powerful short videos of Gene Taylor and other coast leaders explain why insurance reform is so important: http://www.youtube.com/user/USRepGeneTaylor

Calling all Mississippi artists!Are you looking for a place to display and sell your works of art? Then I may have the solution. I'm offering Mississippi artists a permanent gallery where you can exhibit and promote your work. I have 1200 square ft. of space available and would like to utilize the space as a gallery where Gulf Coast residents and tourists can purchase art work by local artists. The other half of the building is my antique shop. I will provide personnel to accommodate sales for both businesses. All you have to do is supply the art work, show up occasionally for social gatherings and a "Meet the Artist" social provided by the management and then collect payment for sales. There will be a minimal consignment fee based on the selling price of the item. Please drop by and see our newly renovated building on the corner of Trautman and W. Railroad in Long Beach. We're still working on the exterior but should be ready to open in April. If you're interested please contact Sandy Shaver at 228-324-1697 between 9 & 5 Mon-Fri for more details. I used several different mailing lists to send this announcement so forgive me if you receive it more then once. Sandy Shaver, ProprietorW. Railroad Merchants Mall608A W. Railroad St.Long Beach, MS. 39560228-324-1697Note From Kathryn Gray
I would like to personally invite each of you to attend the "Photographers on Painting" art opening this coming Friday evening, February 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum in Biloxi. I am one of 20 photographers who will be participating in this show, which will hang at the museum through April 4. More information about the exhibit is listed on the museum web site - www.georgeohr.org.

The museum's interim location is located at 1596 Glenn Swetman Street in Biloxi. Please let me know if you need directions or call the museum at 374-5547. Many thanks to all of you for your support and I hope to see you there Friday evening!

Glass ...Love It!!
If you are interested on classes from some really talented glass artists check out there work www.studioinferno.com and www.andrewjacksonpollack.com talk about beautiful!!! Contact Jenny and let her send you the class schedules. This seems to be an art form that is not in abundance. In our whole state we have very few people working in glass and Glass is hot! It's gorgeous, colorful, functional and eye catching. Has anyone seen the glass chandeliers and big charger wall art in Treasure Bay Casino? They went with the more modern elements of design in a really colorful pallette. I imagine as the 20 and 30 year olds age this type of design will be what they desire for their living spaces. Hard Rock is another one that went very modern and IP with their de'cor.
JennyStudio ManagerN.O.C.G.I.

Hello everyone! Please see the attached document for a class being offered by the Conservation Guild. For infornation please contact the guild at NOGUILD@aol.com or call 504-944-7900. In addition anyone interested in taking any of the glass classes NOCGI is offering, please contact me to reserve your seat.
Thanks!
JennyStudio ManagerN.O.C.G.I.504-482-6003jenny@nocgi.org

The following classes will be taught at the
New Orleans Conservation Guild
3620 Royal @ Independence in Bywater
To register or for more information,
please call 504-944-7900

Mosaics For The Garden
Saturday and Sunday May 24-25th, 2008

Instructor: Laurel True, Institute of Mosaic Art, Oakland, CA

Date: Saturday 10 – 3, Sunday 10 - 12

Any level

Class cost: $160 including materials, plus tool kit: a $40 tool kit will be provided, $200 total

Cancellation: $10 cancellation fee, and no refunds if cancelled less than one week before the class.

Min 4 students, maximum 10.

Description:

Join us for a weekend of mosaic making in sunny New Orleans!

Learn the basics of ceramic tile mosaics for exterior display in this fun and informative class.

Class will cover information on the correct surfaces and substrates for use with outdoor mosaics as well as the right adhesives to use so your garden mosaic will last in any weather.

Class will include lecture on basic design, setting, use of tile cutting and shaping tools, and information on different types of tile and other materials used for mosaic. Students will create a mosaic stepping stone to take home at the end of class for their garden. Day two of class will cover the correct and easy way to grout tile mosaics as well as information about sealing, display and maintenance.

This class is great for both beginning and continuing students. Class will include an inspiring digital presentation of exterior and garden mosaic projects and is a great building block for future larger scale projects.

Note From Carol Marie Stuart
The Art House @ 921 Cash Alley, Ocean Springs will be holding a reception for its new feature art room exhibit entitled “VINES AND TWIGS” The reception will be held Friday March 7th 5:00PM – 8:00PM.

Spring is what March is about and it is the Herb Festival Month. The Chamber has informed us that the calendula floweris the herb of the year. Subject matter for the painter or sculptor Also known as Mary's gold, pot goldmarigold or poor man's saffron.
The theme of the March show is an interpretation using vines and twigs, think sculpture, found objects painting etc..
The Art House is home to 31 local artists along the coast. It is a Co-Op where each artist shares in the ownership of the operating business.

Backyards and Beyond and Post Katrina: The Gulf Coast Perspective
to open at The Mississippi Arts Center

The Greater Jackson Arts Council is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition Backyards and Beyond by H.C. Porter on March 8, 2008 at the Mississippi Arts Center. Backyards and Beyond is a traveling exhibit that portrays Mississippians and their stories the first year after Katrina. This exhibit contains 80 compelling “Environmental Portraits”- each telling their personal story through live field recordings.

In keeping with the spirit of the show, the Greater Jackson Arts Council will also present Post Katrina: The Gulf Coast Perspective, a body of works for sale, produced by artists who are Katrina survivors from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is a multi medium show with approximately thirteen artists from all areas of the coast. “There is no specific theme or subject matter in the work,” says executive director Janet Scott. “The survivors themselves are the theme.” Mary Pat Forrest, one of the artists who will be a part of this collection is also featured in one of H.C. Porter’s portraits.

Some of the artists who will be participating in the Post Katrina: The Gulf Coast Perspective are Ruth Thompson, Lori Gordon, Mary Pat Forrest, Michelle Allee, Elizabeth Veglia, Mary Hardy, Kat Fitzpatrick, Richard Waters, Pat Walker-Fields, Robert Brooks, Sandy Ford, Carolyn Busenlener, and Sharon Mulligan.

The Mississippi Arts Center is located at 201 East Pascagoula Street in downtown Jackson, MS. Backyards and Beyond is scheduled to hang from March 8th to June 8th. Post Katrina: The Gulf Coast Perspective is scheduled to hang from March 8th to April 14th. The exhibits are open to the public free of charge. For more information call 601-960-1500.

If you would like to be removed from this mailing list please email me back at ejmbiloxi@earthlink.net or call me at 228-374-8427.. Valerie

Support This Bill

2008-03-12T12:31:00.000-05:00

From Carol Pigott

Dear friends,

The support you can give an artist by clicking below will make a significant difference to all of us who donate to every charity in the world. Up to now there was no significant tax benefit for the artist, the donation came mostly from the heart.

If passed THIS WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE in our being able to donate, and the quality of the work we could give.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ BELOW, AND PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE GENEROSITY OF ARTISTS.

FOR ALL ARTISTS, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP

CAROLE PIGOTT
www.carolepigott.com http://www.carolepigott.com/eudora_welty_series.htm

Note From Michelle Allee
The Artist Deduction bill (S.548) would give artists the right to deduct the fair market value of their works of art when donating to a charity. This bill is non-partisan and fair. Click the link below and simply type in the basic info- it takes less than 60 seconds! A very nice letter of support will be sent to your senators and congressmen on your behalf. It benefits you, your favorite artist and your favorite charity. WIN-WIN-WIN!

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=9521951

When art is sold or auctioned at a charity event, the highest bidder gets to deduct their financial contribution above the market value... whereas the contributing artists and artisans can only deduct the amount of the material costs of creating the work- the cost of paint, canvas, clay, paper.

Material costs are far below what it really costs artists to produce these works of art when time, overhead, training and experience are considered- and it amounts to pennies when compared to the amount of funds raised by these works of art every year.

These charities serve our communities in ways too numerous to mention, often in our times of greatest need. Please show your support (and encourage others to do the same!) by forwarding this to anyone who is an artist or a supporter the arts.

Feb 20 Notebook News

2008-02-20T12:40:00.000-05:00

Notebook News
...."When I speak of home, I speak of the place where-in default of a better-those I love are gathered together; and if that place were a gypsy's tent, or a barn, I should call it by the same good name notwithstanding." -Charles Dickens

Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember
Book Signing
Come and meet the photographer Melody Golding, www.MelodyGolding.com and other Members of the Mississippi State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The contribution of stories provides a personal insight into these women. We would like to thank them for sharing their stories.
Still no date yet. I will let everyone know when we decide on a date for this. This is a wonderful book. I do have it available here at the store. Valerie, EJM, 1013 Howard Avenue, Biloxi

Melody Golding's photographs of Romance of the Present and Trees speaks volumes about her soft spoken nature and love for all things beautiful. Shooting the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was a departure from this and yet she felt she was called to do it. Her images capture a quiet mood when all heads were bowed.

Recent exhibitions of 'Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember' are being held in Tunica's brand new museum. It is a traveling exhibition that Melody has devoted many hours to as a representative for us living here on the coast. She is another example of volunteerism that has helped drive our recovery.

"I try to capture in my work a sense not only of timelessness, but of grace. To convey an observance of order out of the usual chaos of visual forms. God has given me this gift to share in what I see in this world as a patient and ardent observer, and also a participant in what I see - the camera being the conduit of expression in my photography." -Melody Golding

A solo exhibition of Melody's work 'Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember' opened at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, March-May 2007. More than Fifty sepia toned silver gelatin prints and unique large imbue prints will be exhibited along with hours of black and white streaming video Melody has taken spanning from September 2005 to August 2006. This comprehensive exhibition and unique photographic journal, with its stunning sepia photographs of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina forms the basis of the book entitled 'Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember' published by the University Press of Mississippi in May 2007. Included are essays by noted authors Ellen Gilchrist and Mary Anderson Pickard. This book will join Melody's photographs of the storm's aftermath with the stories and reflections of those who lived through it. A compelling component of this exhibit is the interspersed text of poignant phrases drawn from the book.

As Melody documented the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Katrina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, some of her photographs were featured in The Royal Photographic Society Awards Journal, London October 2005. She is a member of The Royal Photographic Society, London.

Note From Pat Walker-Fields
Roger Dale Brown Workshop
This workshop is not full!
Please read carefully!
Coming to Mississippi!!
Don't miss this workshop...he is one of the best plein air painters...
Take a look for additional information roger's
web-site: http://rogerdalebrown.com
March 31-April 4, 2008
Click here for supply list.
Workshop instructors & schedule:
http://patwalker-workshops.com
228-463-2604 or RITSartist @ aol.com

This is a five day intensive workshop designed for the beginning/moderate artist or professional, with instructional work designed for each level of experience.There will be indoor class instruction and exercise, individual teaching, lots of paint time Indoor and Out.Class exercises will cover seeing color, value, shape, form and composition. You will learn valuable tools on how to gather information to produce a large studio painting. This will include painting on location, using photos as references, & drawing. You will hone your memory skills & learn how to make a creative decision and use opportunites in plein-air. There will be individual critiques, and group critiques.

Please forward this email to anyone that you feel would like to become a better landscape painter...Blessings, Pat Walker-Fields

Stores That Purchase or Sell Handmade Items
Here is a list of stores throughout the South that carry handmade items. If you are an artist you may find that galleries and frame stores do better with your work because patrons want the art framed. Potters may find great success in Kitchen or Home Decor stores. Jewelry may do better in boutiques and jewelry stores. If you are making things and looking for stores out of the area to carry your items then you might want to contact some of these. Most anyone in business loves having an item that no other store in their area will have ...so artist's work is coveted. You can look at the websites to see if the style of the store looks like the style of what you make. Listed stores and niche

www.artandinvention.com whimsical craft
www.squarerootsdecatur.com folk art emporium
www.beansferrypottery.net potter
www.amanogifts.com folk art paintings
www.esdcharleston.com pottery
www.rhballard.com art
www.cocoandcompany.com vintage things
www.nofo.com eclectic
www.artsycraftsy.com eclectic
www.spiralfoundation.org trays designed by local artists to support disabled children in Vietnam and Nepal
www.addintonosborne.com Childrens things
www.bdjeffries.com gifts and accessories
www.belleschoses.com children's boutique
www.chandlerygifts.com handpainted gifts, pottery
www.deauville-imports.com one of a kinds
www.pollenatlanta.com creative containers made by artists
www.raifordgallery.com jewelry, silk scarves, fine crafts
www.savvysnoot.com original art
www.thescarlettassel.com
www.southofmarket.biz
www.terracottagellc.com
www.eclecticfinds.com
Stores that carry Garden items
www.atlantawatergardens.com
www.autumnhillnursery.com
www.forrestersflowers.com
www.grassrootsgirls.com
www.habershamgardens.com
www.hallsflowershop.com
www.hastingsgarden-center.com
www.lushlifehomegarden.cm

Note From Leslie Holly
Her Mother is in the hospital having some really bad kidney problems and could lose her kidney. Leslie has been a sweet dear friend to us all living here and I hate to see her have to go thru all of this.

So please, if you or someone you know is on 3 or more blood pressure meds ask your doctor to test you for renal artery stenosis. It's an ultrasound. Cheap, easy, non invasive.

Biloxi Wholesale Gift Show Returns
Biloxi, Mississippi Wholesale Gift Show is returning to the Gulf Coast June 28-30, 2008. The Biloxi Gift Show relocated to Jackson, MS after Hurricane Katrina damaged the convention center in August 2005. Since then, we have received hundreds of inquiries from retailers who are open for business and wanting to know when the Biloxi Gift Show will be returning to the coast. We are happy to say it will be very soon!

We want to thank our buyers and exhibitors for their loyal support during this time of transition. We look forward toserving you in both of these locations and hope that by enhancing your buying options we will serve to increase your choices and ultimately, increase your bottom line. Again, we thank you for all of the support and encouragmentyou have shown since our very first Biloxi, MS show 14 years ago. Southern Hospitality indeed!

We hope you will make plans to be a part of this exciting experience. Again, the market dates June 28-30, 2008. Thank you!

To pre-register for either show, click on the appropriate link below:

http://www.wmigiftshows.com/pages/Biloxi/biloxionline.htm To Pre-Register for the June 28-30 BILOXI show

http://www.wmigiftshows.com/pages/Jackson/Jacksononline.htm To Pre-Register for August 23-25 JACKSON show.

Pam and Jim Haskin
Wholesale Markets, Inc
(800) 951-1994
BILOXI WHOLESALE GIFT SHOW
June 28-30, 2008
JACKSON WHOLESALE GIFT SHOW
August 23-25, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY WHOLESALE GIFT SHOW
March 8-10, 2008 & July 26-28, 2008
info@wmigiftshows.com
www.wmigiftshows.com
Newcomers and Visitors Guide Listings
http://www.newcomersandvisitorsguide.com/whatsnew_3.html
Folk Art Fest
World's largest art show and sale; works by self-taught artists at the North Atlanta Trade Center. www.slotinfolkart.com click on Folk Fest or 770-932-1000

Skills You Need
If you are selling anything or are in a co-op, it's a good idea to know how to put together a gift basket. Say a customer comes in and loves everything and says I want a gift basket with one of these and one of these, etc... check out www.giftbasketbusiness.com , www.giftbasketarticles.com and www.giftbaskettutorials.com . If you are working from the internet and selling products based on a photograph of the item you might want to check out www.cubelite.com

Digital Preservation
www.shoeboxreprints will scan up to 1,000 photos. Your originals are returned aong with a CD-ROM/DVD for $49.95. It's possible some of your local photographers might also do the same thing. This is a great service to offer. I have photos of my Mother that I wanted 2 copies made of to give each of my sisters....just haven't gotten around to it.

Trend Watch
There has been such an interest in all things handmade, custom, crafting, that anyone in a creative field might find these sites of particular interest. Jump-start your inspiration and love of design. Enjoy!
www.hobbyprincess.com
www.instructables.com
www.indiepublic.com
www.craftcouncil.org
www.craftinamerica.org

Ceramic Tiles of Italy
You can create your own lasting masterpeice. Before your next project visit www.italiantiles.com to see the latest trends and find retailers closest to you.

Promos
Log on to www.housebeautifulpromos.com for all of the latest news on events, contests and sweepstakes. Maybe even sugget something. Last year they gave away some complete kitchen appliances. I would have loved that.

Politics
www.opensecrets.org this is an interesting website that shows all the money that has been raised by each political candidate.

www.RealSimple.com
I bought this magazine around Christmas and it is just loaded with info from all kinds of unusual gifts (complete with website addresses) (might be a really good contact for those of you with websites to contact their editor) to cookie parties to ways to organize and simplify your life. It was very thick so their website is probably very thick too.
Some of the handcrafted sites listed along with pictures of items were
www.allysonsmith.com
www.jkadams.com
www.michelle-s.com
Besides all the great organizational stuff they had a neat item custom art from your fingerprints www.dna11.com

One of my favorite ideas was ways to reuse gift wrap.
Donate to local elementary school for art projects and wrap a bouquet of flowers or wine for hostess gift!

Note From Singing River Art Association
Anyone desiring membership with our organization can come to the depot and fill out an application. A donation of 20.00 a year will entitle them to membership and be able to display their art in our gallery. Membership is open to all persons 18 years and older. We have members from Gulfport, Biloxi and Ocean Springs, as well as Pascagoula and Moss Point.If anyone is interested in teaching at the Depot, please have them contact Darcie Crew, City of Pascagoula Parks and Recreation at 228-218-6032.Mona AmisCurator, Singing River Art Association

Negrottos Launches Website
We are proud and pleased to announce that Negrotto's Gallery has launched its website! Obviously it is not yet complete -- we will be adding additional works and artists on a regular basis until it is -- but even now we think it a great site and hope you visit us on it. Our many and eternal thanks go to Renny Sherman who did the real work in designing the site.

Over the course of the next month or two we should be adding a shopping cart to the site so that on-line purchases can be made -- until then we can always accept orders over the telephone -- but whether you want to purchase or just browse, please come and visit us at,

www.negrottosgallery.com

Exhibit at Hillyer House, 920 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs
Feb1st thru March30th
875-8065

Jean McKee Williams Acrylics
Roth Crystal
Natlie Helton's jewelry
Amber Poole's Pottery

Note From Richard Waters
Mark your calendars! The Mary C. has asked Bamboo Expert Richard Waters to give a lecture on March 18 at 7:00 p.m. in our Theatre. This informative lecture on bamboo is a free event being offered to the Public.

I will also being talking about bamboo at the Herb & Garden Festival at the Depot in Ocean Springs on March 29th and planon participating in the "drumming circle" that day. Hope you will all attend. Pass the word please.
Richard Waters

A Lesson in Love.
By Becky Dennis
As a craft-person and artist, I am continually amazed by the stories that I hear from other people when I sell my work at festivals and shows. The wife of a wood worker told one absolutely amazing story to me. She loved one of my clay turtle pieces, but was at first reluctant to buy it. When I told her that I trusted that each piece that I made was meant for a particular person, she said that she agreed wholeheartedly. This belief was formed after a customer purchased one of their husband’s wooden bowls.

Apparently, he had been a farm animal veterinarian for a number of years. While waiting for the delivery of the baby animal and the part he played in it’s emergence, he would sit and whittle small pieces. After a few years, he became quite good at it and found that he had a passion for it. Eventually he decided that it was time to retire from his profession and pursue his calling as a wood carver. Most of the man’s friends knew that he was always looking for fallen trees that could be used to create beautiful works of art.

One day a friend called and told him about an exceptional downed oak tree that needed to be removed. It would probably be enough wood to carve out at least four beautiful bowls. The wood carver contacted the caretaker of the land and was given permission to remove the downed tree. Since the man was deeply spiritual, he asked for guidance to create the most splendid wooden bowls possible. After hours, days and weeks, he was able to transform the tree into four perfect wooden bowls. The wife said that these bowls were splendid and they were overjoyed to display them at their next festival. One by one, each of the bowls found the perfect home very quickly, except for the last piece, which they simply could not sell.

Over the course of a year, the bowl was lovingly packed and unpacked and it seemed that not one person was interested in it. At one point, the wife said that she picked the bowl up and as she looked at it, questioned aloud “Is there something wrong with this piece? Why would the other three bowls from the same tree sell so quickly?” After being packed and unpacked many times, the older couple finally decided it was fair to lower the price significantly. Not long after that, a young woman walked into their booth space. Out of the many bowls on display that were carved from a variety of trees, the young woman went directly to the piece that would not sell. She picked it up and examined it carefully, then she did something that always gives an artist such JOY, she held it up to her heart. After holding it against her body for a few minutes, she walked up to the wife and explained that she did not have much money, but if they would work with her, she would pay them installments on the piece. Naturally, the older couple was thrilled that someone had finally shown interest in this piece that they simply could not sell. They agreed to work with her so that she could give the oak bowl a home. After deciding how she could make payments on it, they wrapped the bowl up for her. Then, she asked the couple where they had found such beautiful wood to create the piece. Within a few minutes, the man shared the story with the young woman about how he had been told about the tree and made a special journey to collect the wood to carve the four bowls. Then they laughed as they shared how the other three pieces had sold so quickly, but this one lingered as if it would never sell.

Out of curiosity, the young woman asked where they found this tree and the wood carver told her the place. As he revealed the location of the tree that was used to create this last and final bowl, the young woman’s eyes welled up with tears and she began to cry. The couple was disturbed that they had somehow upset her with their story, but the woman reassured them that her tears were not so much from sadness, but the realization that things really are connected in life. Sometimes, all we have to do is allow ourselves to be guided and open to the experience that unfolds. She explained to the couple that the area they found the tree was the place that she had lived for many years when she was a child. The man had removed the tree from an orphanage and she had looked out her window at that tree admiring its beauty for many years. It had been a great source of strength and comfort to her. Who would have thought that this old tree could have been transformed into the most beautiful work of art that could give such joy and love even in its death.

In the sharing of that story, I came to believe even more that being an artist is a calling and that we must learn how to serve other Beings with a kind and loving heart. It is often easy to be closed by the tragedies and traumas in life, but to remain open and steadfast is essential to our healing. When we show up at art festivals, we are risking a great deal. Sometimes it rains, sometimes the wind blows, sometimes pieces are broken. Sometimes we do not sell a single thing to anyone. In spite of all the obstacles that we face, we are bestowed with a great responsibility. We must recognize that most people buy our work because it is pretty, but sometimes they buy it because it touches their heart and soul. May we all trust that life is giving us everything that we need and move through our life lessons with love, tenderness and infinite compassion for our shared humanity.

CALL FOR ENTRIES! (Please Post)
Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art will present its 6th Annual Poetry Reading Saturday, March 8, 2008 in the auditorium of the Biloxi City Planning and Development Building (the Martin Luther King Building) from 3-5 p.m.
If you would like to participate, please submit your works to Lee Barnes, Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, 1596 Glenn L Swetman St., Biloxi, MS 39530 by February 23, 2008. The works may also be submitted via email to: ltbarnes4poetry@aol.com.
The event is open to participants ages 18 and older. The work must be original and read by the author. Space is limited, so get your entries in NOW!

For further information, please contact the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art at 228-374-5547.

Holly Zinner
Director of Operations
Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art
1596 Glenn Swetman Street
Biloxi, MS 39530
228-374-5547
www.georgeohr.org

Studio In The Woods

2008-02-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

New Orleans Artists, Writers, Musicians, Performers, COME HOME!

Restoration Residency Application Guidelines
13401 River Road, New Orleans, LA 70131-3204
Tel.: (504) 392-5359; e-mail: info@astudiointhewoods.org
Web: http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/.

2/15/08 Open House at A Studio in the Woods!
Mark your calendars for our Spring OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, March 30, from 1pm - 5pm.

Join us for an afternoon in the woods and enjoy:
• Native irises in bloom
• Presentations by former Restoration Residents
• Tours of our Louisiana wetlands with Environmental Curator Dave Baker
• The latest news on the Stewards’ Cottage including presentations from sustainable building experts

The Open House is free to the public so please invite your friends, family and neighbors. We look forward to seeing you for a beautiful afternoon.

CLICK HERE FOR MAP AND DIRECTIONS

The Latest on Restoration Residencies
Traditional jazz impresario and A Studio in the Woods alumni, DR. MICHAEL WHITE, benefited from a special invitation residency over the holidays, allowing him to make up for some of his tremendous losses after Hurricane Katrina. Dr. White once again was able to use the solitude of the woods to begin composing a multitude of new traditional jazz pieces – some of which he has further developed for his upcoming CD.

In January, filmmaker GIANNA CHACHERE followed in his footsteps to work on her film "My Daddy is Gay" using vintage Super 8 footage of Mardi Gras in the French Quarter. Currently, we are excited to welcome JON GROSS, local tuba player and budding composer, out to the woods to dive into composition projects he has not worked on since the storm.

And last but certainly not least, we are excited to announce that composer and jazz musician BRIGHAM HALL and poet MOOSE JACKSON are the two newest beneficiaries of a residency here at A Studio in the Woods this spring.

Stewards' Cottage Ground Breaking Scheduled - August 2008
A Studio in the Woods’ Board of Directors along with its Architecture Committee has scheduled the Stewards’ Cottage ground breaking. Mark your calendars for August 2008!

We still have lots of work to do before August including finalizing our construction drawings and raising the 75% needed to break ground. With the guidance of L.E.E.D. certified architect and A Studio in the Woods board member, John Anderson, we have a building design that truly respects the natural environment, and that fits easily in the surroundings by reducing the size of the original design. The roof has also been redesigned to increase its solar capacities.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project. We are pleased to report that of our $300,000 goal, we have raised $160,000 leaving $65,000 toward the initial goal.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE STEWARDS' COTTAGE

Coming up on the heels of the earliest Mardi Gras this century will see (the next is not until 2160!) Monday, January 28th saw another once-in-a-lifetime event at A Studio In the Woods: the community dinner celebrating the residency of filmmaker Gianna Chachere and a preview of the first chapter of her film, “My Daddy is Gay.”

The twenty or so guests warmed up to one of Joe Carmichael’s cozy fires while enjoying Gianna’s signature recipe for “Gumbo ze Herbes” that she has street-tested over the years while serving it from a food truck in the Bywater and other neighborhoods. All of the guests contributed to the potluck, and everyone enjoyed the homemade meal and the good company.

These dinners are an opportunity for each resident artist and the staff of A Studio In the Woods to invite small groups from New Orleans’ arts community out to the house to learn about both the artist and the organization in a relaxed social setting. Residents often present the work they've done at A Studio in the Woods – extending the circle of creative exchange and the cross pollination of ideas to the wider community.

9/20/07 Fall Open House - The Art of Sustainability
Please join us for our Fall Open House on Sunday, October 14, 2007 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.Come explore the Art of Sustainability and the secrets of our new building anticipated to break ground in Spring 2008, The Stewards’ Cottage. John Anderson, board member and project architect, will be on hand to share elements of sustainable design. Scott Oman, our solar expert, and Global Green's John Moore will share their knowledge with you.As always, our botanist Dave Baker will host tours of the Woods. Our studio will showcase work by Cuban visual artist, Damian Aquiles, who joins us in late October for our first International Residency. Valentine Pierce, past Restoration Resident, will read from her lastest book, Geometry of the Heart.
See you then!
CLICK HERE FOR MAP AND DIRECTIONS

Stewards Cottage Update
Progress is in the air! Our team of architects including board members Collette Creppel and John Anderson, and ASITW founders and staff have used the heat of the summer to fuel the energy behind the progress of the Stewards’ Cottage, what will be a simple, sustainable home and long-term study site in energy conservation.Our major work this summer has been to raise the funds needed to start construction. Founder, Lucianne Carmichael, has spent much of her time visiting with old and new friends to tell them more about the design and building plans for the Stewards’ Cottage. Our goal is $300,000 and we are extremely pleased to report that thanks to over 60 donors, we have raised $130,000! As we look toward breaking ground in the spring, we look to you, our friends, for your support. It will be because of our supporters that the Stewards’ Cottage will become a reality. For more information on how you can play role in this unique project, please visit www.astudiointhewoods.org or call (504) 392-5359.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE STEWARDS' COTTAGE

Celebrate Co-Founder Joe Carmichael's 80th Birthday!
We will host a special MEMBERS ONLY party at our OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate the 80th birthday of co-founder, Joe Carmichael. As expressed by loving wife and co-founder, Lucianne Carmichael, "Joe's is the generation...perhaps the last, of just about total self sufficiency. Witnessing this for the past 40 years has been an enlightening and humbling experience." If you're not a member and would like to come, please join us and become a member on-line or you can become a member on-site.
CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MEMBER ON-LINE

Residencies at the Woods
The pulse of Residencies continues supporting artists longing for personal and artistic recovery and expands this fall to include an international flair. May brought photographer and filmmaker Monique Michelle Verdin to the Woods as a Restoration Resident. Monique’s work is an extraordinary reflection of the intimate story of her family and community, the Pointe-au-Chien tribal members of St. Bernard Parish, expressed through film and photographs. “The restoration residency allowed me the opportunity to unpack my data,” reflects Monique. “Instead of reacting and producing, I finally had the chance to breath, analyze and absorb what I have attempted to communicate with my work to my audience.” The summer heat invited sculptor and visual artist Jane Hill in June. Jane found a safe place to return to New Orleans and dove deeply into the woods with her sketches and sculpture. “Coming to A Studio in the Woods has been like finally making a long exhalation, “ says Jane. About her work Jane says, “[my] sculptures are essays on faith- my attempt to express the reality of spiritual surrender and restoration.”In partnership with Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, our first international residency will feature Damian Aquiles, a visual artist from Cuba. Damian will be in the Woods from Oct 25 – Nov 24. He plans to explore the idea of mixing materials found in New Orleans with materials found in Cuba, bringing together rough and refined materials and looking for ways to unite the first and the third world. Damian will also give a public lecture at Tulane University’s Freeman Auditorium on the state of contemporary art in Cuba on Thursday, Nov 8.
Interested in applying for a Restoration Residency? Stay tuned to our website as we offer more opportunities for local artists through 2008

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION
Summer Camp Wrap-Up
Summer Camp was a big success this year! Camp was completely booked with great kids from all around the New Orleans area. Our wonderful teachers Lisa Sirgo and Laura Richens each led class for a week of exploring the woods and integrating the lessons into arts and crafts. Danielle Richard was the teachers' assistant. Teacher Laura Richens said this about camp, "What a beautiful convergence of art and nature and the imagination of a terrific group of kids. The students were focused and inquisitive and incredibly perceptive in a way that was very inspiring to me. I loved seeing the older student help the younger ones, and they all approached each new project with enthusiasm and fresh ideas, and all of it relating to our spectacular surroundings."
Stay tuned to our e-newsletter for registration information for next summer's camp!

We're Hiring!
Would you like to work at A Studio in the Woods? We're hiring a PART-TIME Program Coordinator. This position works with staff to coordinate programmatic and administrative operations. The part-time, non-exempt salary range is $ 11.06 per/hr - $16.03 per/hr. Benefits are included. Applications are accepted through Tulane University only. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SEPTEMBER 21, 2007.
GO TO JOB LISTINGS TO APPLY

2/7 Applications Available for 2007 Restoration Residencies!
A Studio in the Woods will continue offering Restoration Residencies in 2007. Residencies provide lodging, food, studio space and uninterrupted time for New Orleans artists who have lost their homes, studios and /or work in the hurricane and are either displaced in other cities and communities or back home without resources.Available residency dates are:
April 26 - May 24 (Application Due February 28) and June 10 - July 8 (Application due April 13)
As our response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, A Studio in the Woods has created eight four-week residencies during February 2006-January 2007 for New Orleans visual artists, musicians, composers, writers and performing artists who have lost their homes, studios and/or work in the hurricane and are either displaced in other cities and communities or back home in New Orleans without resources.
Residencies provide lodging, food, studio space and uninterrupted time in the rustic natural setting on the Westbank of New Orleans. Also provided are transportation costs to and from New Orleans and within the city, a $2000 stipend and funding for materials.
For more information and application guidelines:DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES BELOW or call us at 504- 392-5359.Deadline for December Residency is postmark October 25 (digital submissions preferred)

http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/pdfs/restor_res_app3.pdf

Vals Notebook

2008-02-01T19:13:00.001-05:00

2/1
Gloria Steinem said, "People waste more time waiting for someone to take charge of their lives than they do in any other pursuit." I would have to say in this particular instance that is a very true and factual statement. It's hard to take the bull by the horns when you can't find the damn horns. I've heard a lot of talk lately about people who were living in FEMA trailers rent free and why didn't they have money to move on, buy a house, etc... and it makes me wonder what world are they living in?

I can only guess that the $300- a week paycheck would be divided by $60- in gas, $80- in groceries, $60- miscellaneous..leaving a grand total of $100- a week to save and if it was me possibly buy alcohol and drink. If you were able to save $5,000 a year for two years making it $10,000...then what. A thousand dollar mortgage is out of the question and affordable housing is not in place. I doubt most were able to save anything because there are too many variables that make life fun...Nail in the tire $60-, School clothes $150-, Newer Car $300- payment, new found pet $60- month, Need to get out of this trailer or I'll go insane recreation fund $20- each time. So I don't blame anyone for waiting on someone to take charge of their lives.

I think we are all waiting in some form for someone to find solutions that will make life livable. I can only say that the volunteers who have come to this area have made such a huge impact. I don't know how they were able to put their lives on hold for any length of time. At this particular time the country is feeling the pinch all over. Higher gas prices I'm sure have cut into everyone's ability to try and help. We have been so blessed to have had help for such a length of time and should count our blessings each and every day.

http://www.ckg.com/ Has some articles on the Power of Optimism and Adapting to Change if you would like a good read. To sum up "The people who succeed are usually the first ones to recognize change and work with it." So here's to all of us who are working with the drastic changes forced upon us.

Book Signing Promotion...Your input is needed...please read
I decided to have a booksigning and after reading the book decided that each journal entry of a sort was really beautiful and was worthy of capturing it in a peice of art (pottery, collage, jewelry, etc...) So I thought what about making some things and then having a silent auction where the proceeds go to a rebuild project here on the coast. I thought the money would be best going to someone doing rebuilding because the book is Katrina:Mississippi Women Remember and destroyed homes is the topic of many of the stories.

What I would like to know is would any of you be willing to do a piece of art that we will auction off and then the proceeds will go to building in South MS? The booksigning and all of this should get lots of good publicity and I think it would be good for everyone involved. But I would like to know your thoughts on this. I don't think I would be able to create something for each journal entry myself...there are too many. So am asking for your help.

Here is a phrase or topic of some of the stories from the book..maybe one will grab you and what I was thinking is a peice of art that sums up the story of each of these ladies. If you've read the book or have a copy then you will know what I mean. They are the National Committee for Women in the Arts in Mississippi.

Because I would like the art (whether it be a collage box, topiary, sculpture, pottery whatever you would like to make) to be about each woman's story ...here is a partial listing. If you see one you would like to do let me know and I'll mark it off. If you can't find one on this list I have another I can send. Thanks, Valerie, EJM 228-374-8427

Pat Odom-Laundress, Survivor's Guilt
Betty Oswald-the piano
Gladys Lisanby-Katrina
Melody Golding-photographer, Downed Trees, Flags everywhere, Steel Magnolias
Sally Pfister-long sight, fabric of lives, cell phone network
Ellen Gilchrist-Mississippian, historian, Town House, Granddaughters take dance, Southern Women can't stand to look at a mess, Big Bad Wolf, in charge of the stuff
Lynn Brown-dreamed of flying and seeing the colored tile floors of her home
Joan Armstrong-upstairs dry, a place of my own, gypsy, post traumatic growth
Lyn Bailey- 10 dogs, Not on any military map helicopter saw underwear on the railing
Cookie Bello- the boat Boston Whaler, fire station, baby placed in a tupperware container
Pat Pinson-Cerulean Blue, Cats don't like a wet floor
(Kim) Pham- Sounds of the wind were like demons, destroyed photos, Ice was like gold
Kathy Blazer-Muddy Waters
Michelle Drane Smith-her bronzes were all patina with Salt water, She imagined her FEMA trailer to be like living on a boat.
Marjorie Butterworth-Starting over, china and crystal recovered
Liz Schafer-painter of music, bye bye Miss American Pie
Opal Smith- Gone, stretching out our hands to join the universe, writing is the most personal form of prayer
Maria Baisier-New Orleans, Tears, National Gaurd, an unmade face was a badge of honor, people looked into each others eyes
Betty Slay Bradley-Blue Roof
Ann Guice-Golden Fisherman (Neptune's Fishing Buddy) was he casting his net to capture life or souls, her stuff were purchases she made whether emotional, personal or absurd reasons, UPS Brown, New Friends, paradise again, found champagne glasses the message was clear "enjoy life drink champagne"
Nancy Guice- pines fell, closer to God
Mary Hardy-husband is with Biloxi Fire Department a hero, She's an art teacher at the college
Marjie Gowdy-lichen was the mark on the tree where the water started receeding, cat could have cared less, casino on top of the Ohr Museum, slow movement of time, bald eagle, future within our hearts
Martha Moss-Washed her computer CD in the commode
Dena McKee-273 emails
Melanie Moore- put her silk curtains in plastic bags, She is watching for how God is going to work something important thru all this

Just to give an example..I had thought I would do a topiary of Ann Guice's Golden Fisherman and then do the net full of fish and little shiny dancers (like little souls). ..But you get the idea!

Glass Paneling
I know not too many artists are working in glass but I still wanted to share these art glass panels. They are totally gorgeous and custom sized for various projects. www.palaceofglass.com Contacting your local design professionals about things you can create is a good way to stay busy.
Backgammon
I wish someone would paint a Backgammon board...maybe put some pretty flourishes and nice paint finish. They make they round glass tiles in all kinds of colors. You could get 2 different colors of tiles and some dice and it would be an awesome thing to make. I would love to have some in the store. I have thought about making some myself but I always run out of time.

Big D Art Galleries
As big cities go, Dallas is a nice one. They do tend to have a good bit of Southwestern art, but you will also see quite a bit of modern art. Many of you do artwork worthy of gallery representation. Here is a list if you would like to make contact with them.

http://www.afterimagegallery.com/ one of the oldest art galleries in the world devoted to photograpy.

http://www.americanfineart.com/ painting, sculpture and pottery

http://www.angstromgallery.com/ made a name by finding and cultivating new talent

http://www.arlingtonmuseum.org/ for emerging artists

http://www.artizenfinearts.com/ new artists

http://www.barrywhistler.com/ pioneer in Deep Ellum (this is considered Dallas' artsy area of downtown) Although he specializes in Texas should invite him down.

http://www.bathhouseculturalcenter.com/ diverse multi-cultural and discipline art gallery. visual artists and theater performance.

http://www.brookhavencollege.edu/ exhibits contemporary art this is a really nice setting and school.

http://www.carlyngalerie.com/ family business. Glass, jewelry, ceramics and wearable items. It's in an awesome location. represents 300 artists from the U.S.

http://www.craigheadgreen.com/ sculpture, origami,photography, oils contemporary art gallery. Nice selection.

http://www.conduitgallery.com/ They have what is called the Project Room where lesser-knowns become known. The coast could be their project.

http://www.dunnandbrown.com/ Contemporary large canvases

http://www.fairmountgallery.com/ National and international contemporary artists.

www.uta.edu/gallery Contemporary artists exhibitions

http://www.irvingartscenter.com/ exhibiting regional art in all media.

http://www.kettleart.com/ encourages emergin and mid-career artists and outsider art forms.

http://www.martinlawrence.com/ best of the emerging artists.

http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/ exhibits traveling nationally

http://www.reflectionfineart.com/ contemporary working in new techniques

http://www.thornwoodgallery.com/ features contemporary paintings and sculpture, etc... 2 galleries in Houston

Richard Waters Bamboo Topics
The Mary C O'Keefe Cultural Center, Ocean Springs, MS will be the location for a Bamboo Presentation by Richard Waters. Richard will be covering a wide range of bamboo topics including: best clumping and/or spreading bamboo for southern MS, how to propagate, fertilize, harvest and cure, how to control spreading bamboo, how to work bamboo with
which tools, craft projects, and bug control. There will also be offered information on shoot production for food.

Richard has a long history with bamboo including: running "A Bamboo Shoot" nursery in California, being instrumental in forming both the Northern CA Chapter of the American Bamboo Society(ABS) as well as the Hawaii Chapter of the ABS. He was the vice president of the Hawaii Chapter as well as that chapters representative to the ABS. He served several terms on the NCABS board of directors and was the first Arts/ Crafts Co-ordinator for the ABS and he initiated the "Use" or utility code for the ABS.

Richard attended the International Bamboo Conference in Bali in 1995 and the International Bamboo Workshop in Anji, China in 1997. Besides growing bamboo Richard utilizes bamboo in his musical crafts production.

This bamboo presentation with be on March 18, at 7 pm at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Cent 1600 Government St, in Ocean Springs, MS.

For more information call -228-818-2878

Class Schedules
Hello Everyone! Over the weekend we hosted 3 classes, a Box Casting Class, an Intro to Glass Blowing Workshop, and an Intro to Bead Making workshop. I am pleased to say the classes were a huge success. This week also began our 6 session Beginning Classes in Glass Blowing and Beadmaking. These classes are also off to a successful start. For those of you who were too late to get registered for these classes or were unable to fit them into your schedules, we will be offering them again in February. Be on the look out for the Schedule of Classes coming soon.

Jenny
Studio Manager
N.O.C.G.I.
504-482-6003
jenny@nocgi.org

Great Article on Bay St. Louis
http://www.cottageliving.com/cottage/travel/article/0,21135,1700162,00.html

Deal on Eating Out
http://www.coastcusine.com/ ... I think that's right...you can also look under www.wlox.com If you've seen the commercial you can get a $50- meal for $25-

If you would like to be removed from this email list please let me know. You can call me at 374-8427 or email me back. Thanks, Valerie, EJM

1/8 "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandi

I watched A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens over the holidays. When Ebenezer Scrooge meets with Marley and tells him he was such a good business person and can't believe what has happened to him in the afterlife, Marley tells him, "my business should have been mankind." So as we start the new year let us keep this Christmas Carol in our hearts. With 60,000 slabs to rebuild, 60,000 with major damage and 100,000 with minor damage on the Mississippi Gulf Coast alone any organization working on Hurricane Recovery can benefit from volunteers and our generosity. Let's not wait til next Christmas to be generous with neighbors, kind to strangers and to give of ourselves.

Our customers have been an answer to our prayers. They allow us to be in business and do what we love doing. I was impressed by a Mr. Bruce Heyman of
http://www.metrowindowfashions.com/ who has carried on a long tradition of community service in conjunction with running a very successful business. He donates fabric from a fabric trade in that his company does to Operation Sweet Dreams (Creates soft pillows for soldiers in the Middle East), Project Linus (creates quilts for AIDS babies and if I am not mistaken they did some for Pass Christian residents?), Clothing for Kids (underprivileged in Appalachia), Warm Up America (hats and scarves for needy children), Coats for Kids, Crafts for Kids (spend time in hospitals doing craft and sewing projects with patients). To read more about him and his projects at Draperies and Window Coverings Retailer of the Year. http://www.dwconline.com/
Valerie

New Business Opening in Long Beach-Space For Rent
My name is Sandy Shaver and I am opening an antique store in Long Beach in February. Is it possible to announce the opening to your email base? If so I will forward details as they are finalized.

ALso if you know of any small business looking for space please feel free to give them my name and number. I plan to utilize only half of the building for antiques and to rent out the rest to any small business with a need for space on a small budget.

I enjoy your emails - keep 'um coming.
Sandy Shaver
W Railroad Merchants Mall
608A W Railroad St
Long Beach MS
228-324-1697

Grow the Show
The wholesale show for Biloxi will have it's Grand Re-Opening in June 28-30 of 2008 rather than Feb. I think this would be a good show for any of you attempting to make wholesale contacts. www.wmigiftshows.com email info @ wmigiftshows.com 800-951-1994.

I know most of you are not able to produce enough of a product to sell it wholesale, but I think you could get hooked up with a manufacturer and license your artwork to be used on items being produced for wholesale. I keep thinking there has got to be a way to put the two of you together. I have talked to several reps that handle framed art and they are all looking for coastal artwork, but because not all of you have websites or you have your own and you aren't grouped with others it makes it harder to track you all down.

I had started compiling a list of what I had run across but even it is incomplete. I know there are many more out there doing their own thing. I just see this as a way to give you more exposure and make you a little more recognizable. Sylvia Corban and Marti Wilson are about the only two from this area that I have seen that have gone about licensing artwork.

Sylvia did several things for Coasterstone and then for another coaster company. She did a line of handpainted linens and then decided that was too much work and licensed some of her artwork for use on linens. Marty has done some of his prints thru this company we purchase from for framing. They then sell the framed items to furniture stores and designers.

Perhaps if you all were interested and talked to Pam the owner of the show she could work out a special section to showcase some of the artists from this area. Maybe everyone could bring one peice of art for exhibit with lots of business cards and leave it set up in the lobby with a "Support the Arts...Give an Artist a Job working on a project" kind of thing. I think all of the art associations might discuss this as a way to promote some of their very talented members and see if this or something like this would work.

I still think that Pam would like to know about the flight from Chicago. She could perhaps entice some of the vendors from the Chicago World Trade Center into coming to Biloxi to set up because most of us with a retail business in the area can't travel...we are too bogged down with work and the cost of fuel is up. These vendors might find a new market and at the same time find lots of new talent in the area to pull from. Anyway that is my thoughts on that. I know certain types of artists will not want to venture into the commercial realm, but those of you with an extensive portfolio of originals may feel that some of your artwork would look good gracing Greeting Cards, coasters, towels, vases, or even having prints framed for the masses. As always, I wish you great success in all your endeavors.

I really would like to see this show grow. I know we are not Las Vegas by any means but Vegas has had great success booking rooms and getting an extra influx of people by growing their market. http://www.lasvegasmarket.com/. Lots of small businesses want to go somewhere to market where they can eat, take in a show or do something after they have finished a hard day of working up orders. Las Vegas for many years was the home of SILK, a permanent floral show that showcased thousands of floral designers and their products. They moved the show back to Dallas and then Vegas started a closeout show and it has grown to be a pretty good size marketplace.

Note From Michele Hirata, Fat Thumb Originals
It's so hard to believe another year has passed; time really flies when you're having fun. There's so much going on in my life right now, so many changes ahead. All of you have been huge staples in my life and I want to wish all of you the happiest of days to come.

I will surely miss all my Mississippi buddies when I leave the area in a few short weeks. I've had the best time in Mississippi and will always hold the special times so close to my heart. All of us have made this world a better place, we've done amazing things together. Please, if you like Kid Rock, buy a ticket. He'll play the Gulf Coast Coliseum February 27th and tickets are very reasonable. My goal is to sell this venue out.
Happy Holidays, Y'all!

Imagine hope,
Michele

Note From Lori Gordon
Hey y'all,
I hope that this holiday season is finding you happy and healthy. As the New Year approaches, I find myself thinking about how fortunate I am. I wish the same for all of you.

2008 is starting out in a big way. On Saturday, January 5, the eve of Epiphany and the beginning of the Mardi Gras season, my new series of work will debut in Bay St. Louis. "Reliquary: Images of the Sacred" is a collection of mixed media assemblages which explores our ideas of the things we hold sacrosanct. Special guests at the opening reception will be Malcolm White, Executive Director of the Mississippi Arts Commission and Sallye Killebrew, Arts Recovery Coordinator at MAC. Both Malcolm and Sallye have worked tirelessly to get the coast arts community back on their feet since Hurricane Katrina, and I am honored to have them attend. Talented and well-loved local artists/musicians Ellis Anderson and Kat Fitzpatrick will delight us with a live musical performance during the event, and a production crew from the popular Mississippi Public Broadcasting program Mississippi Roads will also be in attendance. The program's producers will be wrapping up a couple of days of filming on the coast for a feature story on my work which will air next year.

Our gallery is located at 220 Main in Bay St. Louis, and the hours of the opening reception are 5-8 pm. Please join us and come ready to enjoy art, music, wine and a sportsman's gumbo, courtesy of the wonderful Pass Christian artist Michelle Allee. The show will remain up through February.

I have been asked by some folks in Gulfport, MS to participate in an event which will feature photos, stories and artwork related to the storm. It is tentatively scheduled for the first of February. Mississippi Magazine will be featuring a story on The Katrina Collection in their January/February issue, which will be out by mid-January. I have been in contact with the Sumner & Dene Gallery in Albuquerque, and the fine folks there have invited me to have an exhibition in June. I will have more information to pass on to you about these events later.

And finally, if you have not had the chance to go online and view the results of a collaboration between myself, good friend Stephanie Watts, my sweet brother Jon Gordon and the incomparable Jon Miller (ESPN announcer and "the voice" of the San Francisco Giants), please do so. You can watch the short documentary at the link provided below, or I will be happy to mail you a copy.

Thanks again to all of you for your friendship and your support.

Lori

Video on the work of Lori K. Gordon:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2196437802153719097&pr=goog-sl

Gordon blogs:
http://thekatrinacollectionbylorikgordon.blogspot.com/
http://lorikgordon.blogspot.com/
http://gordonmixedmedia.blogspot.com/

Mobile Grocery
I read lots of different things and have felt like my job over the past year or so is to read something and see if it would work for this area and suggest it. yes, suggest it to whoever will listen. Although the storm has wiped us away, it also has made room for all kinds of new opportunities. I was reading about www.nedstruck.com in Small Biz and they have taken the Grocery Business and made it mobile. I have bought plenty of frozen things from Schwan's because I didn't want to go to the grocery store and I imagine there are lots of folks who would use a service like this. She took 15,000 to buy and oufit an old plumber's truck with hardwood floors, refrigerators and stainless shelving. She is using it for gourmet and hard to find items but in areas where grocery stores have not built back yet I think even every day items would go.
"We need men who dream of things that never were." JFK

Love those Trees!
http://www.corkfloor.com/ I love cork floors, bamboo, tile and anything that doesn't involve chopping a tree down. I lived in Dallas for quite a while and also Birmingham, AL and the two are as different as night and day. Dallas is Asphalt, pavement, asphalt...hot, hot, hot and Birmingham is hills, trees and hills of trees....shady, cool, pleasant. So what sounds nicer to you?

50 Fun Things to Do on the MS Gulf Coast
Everytime there is a conference or an expo or a market...the city that is hosting it sends out a little 50 fun things to do and see in Atlanta...or Dallas or whenever it happens to be.

I looked at the list trying to see what was so wonderful about the city, that if I were going that I might would want to do....to tell you the truth if I am attending a show all I want to do after is go get in bed and eat....but just for fun...I wrote down the things to do in see on the coast. I know you must have a list of your own and if I have forgotten something please forgive.

Biloxi Saenger theatre...bit of history
Dolphins on the beach in wood and Renaissance Garden areas
Seawolves
See how Beauvoir is progressing
Take the devastation tour ...we need one of those.. Someone should run one...I think lots of people would find it fascinating. I know it still boggles my mind.
Tour Museums
HGTV's Katrina Memorial
Shop Crossroads
Shop the Outlet Mall
Shop the Mall
Casinos and Shows
Golf Courses...really good ones
Tri-Centennial we're that old
Forts and Islands
Art Galleries
Rivers Pascagoula
Wineries and Magnolia Beer in the Kiln
WLOX Tour...if we don't have that that ought to be part of a Katrina tour
Dine out...where are the restaurants??
Ocean Springs
Water Park
Water Line of storm at Mahoneys
Stennis
St. Michaels to see how it survived

Katrina Museum that is housed in the college ??William Carey?? it's on the upper floor??
Biloxi's Main Street District to get a sense of the old or Pass Christian's Scenic Drive...these old homes once covered the entire beach front.
Pick berries
Biloxi Lighthouse and all others
Schooners
Barq's Plant
Josettes and Mardi Gras
KaBoom Parks
Bodine Pottery in Wiggins
Casino Gaming
Fishing
Seafood Museum and Gator Farm
Libraries that the Gates Foundation has gifted us with
The coast that America is rebuilding

So after I did this little excercise I thought what is needed that they might have elsewhere that we don't have.

USM finished
Botanical Gardens at Beauvoir ..started once again
A Culinary School
Aquarium and zoo..more like a bird zoo (estuary)
Gulfport's Downtown filled
Our Regional Market show at the convention center back again and expanded

So I'm sure you all know who to go talk to to make this all happen and pdq!! I don't know why I felt the need to make a list. I long for progress to be made. I guess I am ruined to the speed of things from living in Dallas. I can go there and they will have a whole city built in a year and a 6 lane highway completed in 3 years.

I am excited by progress, but feel so terribly helpless when it comes to the big picture. I want to light a fire under someone's behind, but I don't know whose would be most effective! So many prayers for this wonderful coastline have yet to come to fruition.

Note From Mississippi Arts Commission
Franklin Furnace Announces Open Call for Artists Franklin Furnace Archive Inc.'s mission is "to present, preserve, interpret, proselytize, and advocate on behalf of avant-garde art, especially forms that may be vulnerable due to institutional neglect, their ephemeral nature, or politically unpopular content."
As part of that mission, Franklin Furnace annually awards project-based grants to emerging artists, allowing them to produce major works in New York.

Works may engage the Internet as an art medium and/or venue. Artists from all areas of the world are encouraged to apply. Full-time students are ineligible. Grants will range between $2,000 and $5,000 each.

Visit the Franklin Furnace Web site for complete program information and examples of previously funded projects.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP
Judi Pulliam
Director of Grants and Special Initiatives

Mississippi Arts Commission
501 North West Street
Suite 1101A Woolfolk Building
Jackson, MS 39201
phone: (601) 359-6034 fax: (601) 359-6008 www.arts.state.ms.us

What Kind of Styles are Popular with Retailers
http://www.giftbeat.com/ This is a magazine that if you have a gift shop they show you things that are hot and what you should be looking at carrying in your store. I think you could come up with some manufacturers to contact thru this magazine. Artists like Sandy Ford have artwork that would look really great on a rug. The ladies who painted the floors at the Ocean Springs Art House...that would look great on a rug and a manufacturer who would license this artwork would most likely pay a royalty fee on the number sold. So this might be worth investigating if you are an artist. If nothing else it can provide you with some insight on the styles of things that are popular right now. I am seeing a lot of nature inspired items.

Check out http://www.artandartifact.com/ Nadine Stamm's (former Bay St. Louis Artist) daughter has a company in Greenville, LA. I love this lady. Looks like she sold her plaques to this particular Mail Order Catalog. You will see her Sand cast or plaster cast fluer de lis wall plaques. Someone with a company that is able to produce quantities of their artwork can always contact a mail order company about selling their work. That is if you are able to wholesale.

Note From N.O.C.G.I:
I have one seat available for the Intro to Blowing workshop on Saturday Jan.12th from 11:00 am- 1:00pm.
The cost of the class is $60.00 and is available on a first come first serve basis. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. If you can't make this one; Check out the available dates for this class throughout the month and the seats available and course description listed below:

Intro to Glass Blowing Workshop w/ Charity Poskitt Class Description: In a fast Paced and exciting environment with an emphasis on teamwork, students will be introduced to glass. The objective of this experience will be to satisfy students' curiosities with how glass is made. With lots of help from the instructor, each student will create a colorful and inspired glass object. This is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours with a friend and learn something new. Basic materials and tools provided. The cost of this workshop is $60.00 and the seats that are available are on a first come first serve basis. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. If you are interested in this class please contact me via email or call the studio. There must be a minimum of 3 students in the class to make it run.
Workshop 1/12/08- 1 seats available
Workshop 1/19/08- 6 seats available
Workshop 1/26/08- 6 seats available

I also have seats available for the Intro to bead making workshops with Debi Deaux.
The cost of the class is $60.00 and is available on a first come first serve basis. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. Check out the available dates for this class throughout the month and the seats available and course description listed below:

Intro to Bead Making Workshop w/ Debi Deaux Class description: This 3 hr workshop will cover using a torch to make both fun and functional items out of Moretti/Effetre glass rods. Some techniques that will be covered are forming a gather of glass, making a basic bead on a mandrel, pulling and decorating with stringers and making dots. If time permits, Debi Deaux will demonstrate how to make one of her specialty beads. No glass working experience required. Basic materials and tools provided. The cost of this workshop is $60.00 and the seats that are available are on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in one of these workshops, contact me via email or call the studio. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. There must be a minimum of 3 students in the class to make it run.
Workshop 1/10/08- 5 seats available
Workshop 1/12/08- 1 seat available
Workshop 1/17/08- 5 seats available
Workshop 1/19/08- 5 seats available
Workshop 1/24/08- 5 seats available

In addition,
I am trying to fill our 6 session classes covering Beginning Glass Blowing with Charity Poskitt and Beginning Bead Making with Debi Deaux. These classes start next week. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. Check out the available dates for these classes and the seats available and course description listed below:

Beginning Glass Blowing 6 Session Class w/ Charity Poskitt Class Description: Learn the basics of glass blowing in this 18 hour, six session class. Working in teams, students will learn to use a blowpipe and glass working tools safely to shape hot glass into colorful and inspired objects. Repetitive practice in a supportive environment will allow students to learn the properties of glass while making solid and blown glass pieces. A brief discussion and practice session on cold working will teach students how to polish the rough bottoms of the objects they make. Basic materials and tools provided. The cost of this class is $330.00 and the seats that are available are on a first come first serve basis. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. If you are interested in this class please contact me via email or call the studio. There must be a minimum of 3 students in the class to make it run. The dates of this class are 1/14/08, 1/16/08, 1/21/08, 1/23/08, 1/28/08, 1/30/08. There are 4 seats available for this class.

Beginning Glass Beadmaking 6 Session Class w/ Debi Deaux Class Description: This 18 hour class will cover studio safety and setup, torches and tools, supplies and suppliers. Using Moretti/Effetre glass, students will learn about shaping, surface decoration techniques and color reactions. The student will be introduced to basic flameworking skills, including making stringers, stringer control, pulling cane, dots and dot distortion techniques, flowers and encased flowers, complex shaping and sculptural beads. Students should leave the class in possession of a fundamental knowledge of glass beadmaking, a collection of their own beads and enough safety information to setup their own studio or rent the lampworking studio here at N.O.C.G.I. Basic materials and tools provided. The cost of the class is $330.00 and the seats that are available are on a first come first serve basis. A deposit is required to hold your seat in the class. If you are interested in this class please contact me via email or call the studio. There must be a minimum of 3 students in the class to make it run. The class dates for this 6 session class are: 1/15/08, 1/22/08, 1/29/08, 2/12/08, 2/19/08, 2/26/08. There are 4 seats available for this class.

Got a group of 3 or more already and want a private workshop? Contact me at the studio to schedule your private workshop. Private workshops are a great way to develop team building skills. Must be scheduled at least one week in advance.

Thanks!

Jenny
Studio Manager
N.O.C.G.I.
504-482-6003
jenny @ nocgi.org

12/17
Notebook News

I almost feel guilty. I got some stuff in the mail for several organizations trying to get together some stuff to help with Christmas here on the coast but it's too much and too many that need help. I know a bunch of you all and I know how generous you all are and that you probably are already helping as many as you can. So I am not mentioning these last few...just know that you can open the paper, go online to WLOX and read the list, or walk down the street in most any community here on the coast and most likely there is someone who needs help. Even if it is someone like us ..a small business owner that is totally exhausted, some small gesture of kindness goes a long way towards spreading the spirit of Christmas. I'm really lucky I have some of the most wonderful customers who really think of us as extended family and check on us regularly. One of our customers came in Saturday to pick up bows and I was slammed and had no way to take a break so she went and picked up lunch for me. This kind of thing doesn't go on in big cities and probably many places...maybe it's a southern thing.. but it sure did make me feel appreciated.
Merry Christmas, Val

Love HGTV
www.HGTV.com/changetheworld I don't know if you all have seen this but it is voting for a city that needs help and I guess they are going to come do some projects. It's Change the World, start at home. Guess what I know a city or two or three or etc... that needs some projects done. They could definitely change our world and for the better. So everyone please pass this along and ask friends to give us a hand with the voting. We are all so grateful for all the help we've received that some may be hesitant to ask for more, but it's still needed!!...we need some wharp speed behind a few projects so we can get lots accomplished!! So pick a city and vote vote!!! Can anyone say lights on Beach Blvd! Thank you HGTV!

Any projects in the decorating realm that you would like to tackle can be found on www.HGTV.com/fortheholidays

Birmingham, AL Galleries
I went to High School in Birmingham and it is such a beautiful place. One of my mother's best friends is president of the local ASID chapter (Interior Designers). It might be a good idea to contact some of these gallery owners about your work.
http://www.barehandsgallery.org/ whimsical and culturally inspired
http://www.hawthorngallery.net/ paintings and sculpture
http://www.littlehousegalleries.com/ oldest and largest
http://www.lorettagoodwingallery.net/ impressionistic
http://www.lydarose.com/ contemporary
http://www.montystablergalleries.com/ voted the city's best
http://www.nordysgallery.com/ Young vibe very diverse
http://www.galleriealegria.com/ Contemporary
http://www.spaceoneeleven.org/ Forward thinking ..good place to get started

If you are looking for a fine art event to exhibit at http://www.antiquesatthegardens.com/ Held the first week in October with a black tie patrons party. Have heard good things about it. 205-414-3950

also check out other high brow affairs http://www.cacno.org/, http://www.greenvillemuseum.org/ , http://www.brevardsymphony.com/ All in October. San Antonio month long Photography Festival http://www.fotoseptiembreusa.com/

Note From Bobbie Fenton
Dear Friends -

Just wanted to take the time to thank those of you who sent cards, encouragement, and well wishes for those of you who knew of my husband's accident and to let you know that Mississippi Stone Pottery & Muddbugs Ceramic Shoppe is finally back open.

As most of you know, Katrina got the back of our building causing extensive damage. About the time we had fixed our roof to the point you could barely tell there had been 12 foot waterfall in the middle of the store... we were hit on the front of our building by a tornado. We built a new front on the building, and a month after re-opening, my husband's dump truck was hit by a DUI sending him plummeting over an embankment and he spent 10 days in ICU. I'm happy to say he is back up on two feet - and like our building, to look at him, you'd never know that just a few months ago he almost didn't make it.

They say disasters come in threes, and after being open only about 4 or 5 months in the last 2 years, we hope this is it for us! We've decided no to have a grand re-opening as every time we've begun to plan it - we were hit with a new disaster, so instead - we'd just like to invite you all to come by and see our new look and all the new work on the shelves.

There have been many new characters added to "The Wonderful World of Wiggins" as well as several new product lines. We are thinking of having a simple open House later in the Spring. We've begun work on the website again, and hope to have something up to replace the old one sometime in January at the latest. For those we've frustrated, we apologize and thank you for your patience, and to all we wish you the very merriest of Christmas' and a Happy New Year and hope if you get the chance you'll come to Wiggins and stop in and see us!

God bless you and yours,
Bobbie & Tommy Fenton
Mississippi Stone Pottery
Muddbugs Ceramic Shoppe
Wiggins, MS

Chicago to Biloxi
I'm so excited that we have a flight to and from Chicago. That's just got to be the greatest things in terms of people actually being able to get to the coast. Chicago is a major hub and also a major marketplace. I kept thinking what would make people want to come from Chicago to the Gulf Coast. In terms of the marketplace this would be a great place to pick up artists to design products for coastal looks for this very large marketplace. It's also a great place for them to come and have seafood. I think Chicago is very Barbeque, Steaks, man food and so coming here to enjoy some seafood would be good. I also thought how will they know where to go. It would be a similar situation if I were going to Chicago. But because Chicago is a huge city, huge marketplace ..they most likely have a book that tells you were to eat. When I plan my market trips to Dallas they send out this wonderful little book with places to stay and a map and restaurant reviews. They include this with the market directory. Biloxi has a regional market coming back in Feb and this would be great to include local artists in this venue and perhaps invite all of the Showrooms (Manufacturers) to the MS Gulf Coast to do some business. They can gamble, golf, eat and have a nice little trip...possibly think about investing in some nice restaurant and bring a bit of Chicago to the coast. I bet Beach Blvd or South MS Living could even do a really good job doing some sort of informational package...maybe including some magazines to people taking flights to the coast.

Note From Wallace Ann Austin
For those who enjoy going for a drive to see the Christmas Lights here is a different kind of Christmas light show.

The lights are on 45th street/Washington in Gulfport. You tune your car radio to a radio station, the sign is in the yard that tells you what station. It is 105.5 you tune your car radio station and it has a greeting from the house owners and the lights blink to music from the station. It is continuous so I guess it starts when it gets dark and runs late. You just drive by and pull over and tune in to 105.5.

Directions: If you are coming from Biloxi on the beach, you will turn at Courthouse Rd. go to Pass Rd. turn left on Pass Rd. and go past Pass Road Elementary and that light is Washington Avenue, turn right (north) on Washington Avenue and continue on and 45th street is down a ways on the left it is on the corner of 45th and Washington.

Wallace Ann Austin, RMT74
Certified Medical Massage Practitioner
Biloxi Bay Chamber Membership Division Vice President
Office: 228-324-8036

12/3/07
Notebook News
Albert Einstein said that "The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." That seems to be the way I always did things; getting stuck in a rut of doing what I have always done so that I don't have to think about it. Doing something different requires thought. As human beings, we don't learn from success. Only failure and setback inspires us to change. That being said I have made some changes and hopefully for the better. Writing about things that you need to do to market yourselves has been kind of like a little note to self. I can't very well tell you to do something that I haven't done myself! So here's to not being Insane! ...at least not totally.

Look for Homes we have done in December's Issue of Beach Blvd and South MS Living. I am so excited!
Val

Note From Myra with SAT
This is very good news when you have a manufacturer's rep wanting to find new images from you guys. I have had several reps looking and I have a website list but I doubt that it is complete. This company does art so they are looking at painter's work. See note below.

Hi Sam,
You recently asked about "coastal" art and I'm remembering a customer of mine in Biloxi who asked me about a manufacturer possibly using art from some of the Gulf Coast artists. Below is her newsletter with a section that refers to that. Thought you might consider this as a way to get new images/ideas. There is one more e-mail I'll send also with lots of contacts. Myra

National Media
I saw something in House and Garden (thank you Julie!) that had an article under preservation and a whole section of Volunteer to Help New Orleans. I think one of their editors may live over there, but I am pretty sure that she is a MS girl. Anyway it got me to thinking that the more and more I see New Orleans in the National press, the more and more everyone around here gets a defeated look. I was thinking that it would be nice if the Mississippi Development Authority were to hire a person whose sole responsibility was National press about Hurricane Katrina. This is the worst disaster in National history and yet the Nation seems to think it only happened to the city of New Orleans. I don't begrudge them help...Lord knows they need the help too. But it makes me angry that it is not both that are mentioned. The only thing I can figure out is that New Orleans has hired more than a few PR people who are very capable at handling the national media and have decided that they will run with it. I think it would be very easy for us along the coast to do the same. Make a list of magazines and publishers and contact them. Tell them our story.

March of Dimes "Spotlight on Success"
I love it when a plan comes together and the March of Dimes girls are such good planners and executers. The Spotlight on Success was such a beautiful function because of the Beau Rivage's attention to detail. And because so many of you sent pieces of all your gorgeous work the silent auction was a huge success. Rochelle Harper Band played and I thought she was so good. Music sets the tone for an evening and it was exactly the right tone. The people we honor each year are community leaders from different backgrounds. This year many of them were Public Relations types in addition to doing their regular jobs, they are also working tirelessly to promote what is exceptional about our coast. So congratulations to our 2007 Honorees!
Mayor Matthew Avara, Pascagoula
Debbie Batia, Owner Merchiston Hall
Dr. Don Gaddy, Gulfport OB/GYN
Lori K. Gordon, Artist
Butch Henley, Cable One
Steve Howard, Kmart
Susan Hunt, Executive Director Biloxi Bay Chamber
Nicole Learson, Director of Marketing, Harrison Co Tourism
Brad Orrison, The Shed
Paige Roberts, Southeast MS Chapter American Red Cross
Nicole Scardina, Keller Williams Commercial Realty
Karen Sock, Grand Casino
Elaine Stevens, Public Relations, IP Casino
Cheli Strumila, owner Coast Observer
Dave Vincent, Station Manager WLOX

Note From Wallace Ann Austin
Holiday Cards to Recovering SoldiersA Great Idea!When sending your holiday cards this year, take one card and sendit to a recovering soldier. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card,think of how many cards these wonderful special people who havesacrificed so much would get!Thanksgiving – Thank them for their sacrifice and protecting our freedomChristmas – Everyone loves a card from “home.”A Recovering American Soldierc/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center6900 Georgia Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20307-5001

Also something cool that xerox is doing if you got to http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. Only takes a few seconds.

Note From the Biloxi Lion's Club
I am once again selling fruit for the Biloxi Lions Club! As you know , this is our annual fund fundraiser! The price for 2/5 bushel, navel or ruby red grapefruit, is still the same @ $15.00!!!

The fruit comes from Indian River region in Florida and is delicious! Shipment will arrive Dec 6 & Dec 7th. Please respond to this email as soon as possible! Please let your friends, relatives, co workers, and neighbors know too!!

Thank you so much!
Arlene
435-9948
Arlene CanaanE-mail Address(es): ArleneCanaan@yahoo.com

Christmas Wish Lists
http://www.gcwcfn.org/ is the Gulf Coast Woman's Center for Non-violence. They are asking for help with Christmas. The need individuals and groups to sponsor Christmas for adults and children affected by abuse. Stacey Myers or Mary Buffington 228-432-2358. We are collecting items for them here at the store if you would like to drop off anything. What's needed is most anything you are able to give.

http://www.onlineredkettle.org/ Salvation Army is just so good. They were here probably almost a week or 2 weeks before Red Cross ever got here. They were set up in a tent feeding people immediately within 24 hours I think after the storm on the point in Biloxi.

Have you heard of http://www.networkforgood.org/ and http://www.nvoad.org/ There are people here also helping with people affected by the fires in California.

The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse is asking for help with Adopt a Family program. 228-868-8686

Have you heard of the IDTF. The Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force provides building materials, furniture and appliances free of charge to individuals and families who qualify through area Diaster Relief Organizations (DRO) and social services. Steven Howard at 354-0969 http://www.msidtf.org/

The JA (Junior Auxilliary) does a toy drive. They generally accept most donations of new clothing

The Marine's Toys for Tots does a toy drive and has a variety of drop points..usually Cableone will be one.

Loaves and Fishes is the only soup kitchen in Harrison County. They do lunches and a bag lunch for dinner. They used to have a shelter in Biloxi that would do dinner Seashore Manor. It was lost in the hurricane. They always need canned goods.

Police seek toys for the needy
The Biloxi Police Department is now accepting donations of new and unopened toys to be given to needy children as part of the department's annual "Santa Wears a Badge" campaign. Those interested can drop off toys at the Biloxi Police Department front desk, in the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center, 170 Porter Ave., two blocks north of the Biloxi Lighthouse. Toys should be dropped off before Dec. 15. Those with questions about this program should contact Officer Tom Goldsworthy, #119, at 435-6133 or via e-mail at tgoldsworthy @ biloxi.ms.us. To print a flier about the program, http://biloxi.ms/pdf/santabadge.pdf

Law enforcers to again deliver Thanksgiving Day meals
Harrison County Sheriff George Payne has announced that the Harrison County Volunteers to Feed the Needy, a group of law enforcement personnel and volunteers who deliver Thanksgiving Day meals to those less fortunate, have begun efforts for their 2007 drive. Names of anyone in need of a meal on Thanksgiving are currently being accepted, and letters soliciting donations have been sent to previous supporters of the drive. Donations can be mailed to the Harrison County Volunteers to Feed the Needy, 1801 23"' Ave., Gulfport, MS, 39501 or can be delivered to Payne's office at the Harrison County Courthouse.
Those interested in providing names of the needy may call the Gulfport Police Department at 868-5703, the Harrison County Sheriff's Department at 865-7095, the Biloxi Police Department at 435-6133, or the D'Iberville Police Department at 396-4252.
You may also fill out a form to register a person for a meal. To get the form, click http://biloxi.ms/pdf/mealsform.pdfMeals can be picked up or delivered for needy families in the Harrison County area. Volunteers who want to help prepare, pack or deliver meals should report to the Air National Guard Base, Hewes Avenue at Building 160, Gulfport, on Thursday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. Volunteers should check in at the base gate.
Rodney McGilvary, assistant chief of the Biloxi Police Department, said the Salvation Army has been instrumental in helping make this year's drive possible.

New places in Hancock county; let your friends know. They need the business and you need the fun! Restaurants are the perfect place to display art!
New facilities as follows:
1. Friendship Oaks Coffee and Creams Owners - Jesse Dupree and August Stierwald
4405 E. Aloha Dr. Diamondhead, MS
228-255-5505 09/13/07
2. Cool Beans Cafe and Catering, LLC Owner - Elfren Acosta
304 B Hwy 90, Waveland, MS
228-216-4537 09/14/07
3. Nickey's Restaurant and Bar Owner- Carolyn Travis
914 Hwy 90, Waveland, MS
228-304-0537 09/28/07
4. Marcel's Music Cafe and Bar Owner- Margaret Ruffin
1108 b hwy 90, Bay St. Louis
228-467-5980 10/02/07
5. P'zazz Restaurant and Bar Owner - Jon Trimmer
443 Yacht Club, Diamondhead, MS
228-586-0540 10/03/07
6. Lil Coffee Stop Owner -Diane Ryan
722 Hwy 90, Waveland, MS
228-671-9092 10/04/07
7. Nella's Donuts and More Owner - John and Penny Allen
828 Hwy 90, BSL, MS
228-466-5037 10/04/07

Marketing
http://www.handworksmarket.com/ This is a show held in the MS Trade Mart off High Street in Jackson. Friday Nov. 16 9-6 and Saturday, Nov. 17 9-4 with 150 exhibitors this might be a good show to exhibit your work at.

Christmas in the City Ho Ho Hope to see you there! It's Saturday, December 1st, 9:30-4:30. It's being held in the downtown Biloxi area near City Hall. The space is free for those raising money for community projects and I believe $60- otherwise. Please contact Kay Miller at Biloxi's Main Street Office 435-6339 or kmiller@biloxi.ms.us. Please let us know by the 20th of this month if you would like a spot still have about 15 left.

http://www.homemadeframes.com/ I love things made by hand. They have a different soul than items found in stores. We have done elaborate frames for Mardi Gras and most of our customers love things that can be customized. Pretty ribbon roses can be added to picture frames. Stencils, decoupage and gilding work well on frames and all kinds of paint finishes.

Want to get your name and business mentioned in Mississippi Magazine? One of the easiest ways is to design something (like an ornament) in the shape of the state. http://www.beansferrypottery.net/, http://www.oliviapottery.com/ and Heartfelt Traditions have done some really cute things. Then send a picture of the item with a short letter to the editor.

Note Found in Focus on the Coast
I found this in Focus on the Coast Magazine, Lisa Lanier http://www.newcomersandvisitorsguide.com/ They are looking for Websites to add to their directory. Attractions, Events, Hotels, Restaurants, Golf and Services. Businesses in the Al and MS Gulf Coast Regions to include in this directory should call 601-928-3619 or email lisa @ newcomersandvisitorsguide.com

Also* Group needs Sewing Machines RSVP has a group of senior volunteers (Sew Much Comfort) that sew clothes for soldiers with disabilities. The clothes are custom adapted to meet each soldiers needs. For example, a soldier with burned fingers cannot button a shirt so the volunteers put Velcro on the shirt so the soldier can still wear it. These seniors are doing a much need service. The work orders just keep pouring in. The volunteers desparately need more sewing machines. If you or anyone you know has a working sewing machine they are wiling to donate to Sew Much Comfort, please contact the following:
Magdelena (Mag) Holland, Director
Harrison County (RSVP) Retired Senior Volunteer Program
842 Commerce Street, Gulfport, MS 39507
office 896-0412 cell 861-0007 fax 896-0219

National and local Press Contacts
A while back ...maybe even a year ago I compiled a small list of press contacts for Artists and got to thinking I probably never passed them on to you. So for all of you with art associations this would be a good place to send important news. You might make a nice contact that would do a story in a magazine or paper. This is definitely not all but maybe some you don't have.

American Craft CouncilE-mail Address(es): editorial @ craftcouncil.org
Arts & Crafts PressE-mail Address(es): tabby @ pobox.com
Bennington CollegeE-mail Address(es): editor @ criticalceramics.org
Nicole LaCour YoungE-mail Address(es): nly @ mac.com
Ocean Springs RecordE-mail Address(es): osr_gi @ ametro.net
'Ocean Springs Record'E-mail Address(es): news @ osrecord.com
The American Ceramic SocietyE-mail Address(es): info @ acers.org

Cat Carriers
I hate to even ask because it is now a confession that I have not nutered my cats yet. But I need to borrow some cat carriers. You have to take them in their own individual cat carrier and I am not buying three cat carriers. If I leave and take them with me it will be in one carrier because they are very close and love each other and can't stand to be separated. I plan on buying one large dog one...but in order to take them to be fixed they have to be in their own little box. So if anyone has a carrier that I can borrow I would really appreciate it.
Val...EJM

I hope you attended**
If not I think they have another coming up in another county
The Mississippi Arts Commission is proud to offer an outstanding educational opportunity for artists across Mississippi. MAC will partner with the Mississippi Development Authority and the Small Business Development Center to provide sessions covering everything from marketing to taxes. The workshops are free and lunch will be provided to those who make reservations prior to the cut off date (see below.) Call 601/359-6030 to make your reservation. The times for all meetings will be 9am to 3:00pm. The dates and locations are as follows:
Wednesday, November 14 - Biloxi, Gulf Coast Business Technology Center, 1636 Popps Ferry Road (deadline for reservation - 11/07)
Gail Hendrickson
artofsteel @ cableone.net
228-760-0179

Thankfully, Valerie

9/13/07
March of Dimes "Spotlight on Success"
I am on the March of Dimes committee for "Spotlight on Success". It is an annual fundraiser that celebrates the individuals in communities across the coast and their success in their fields of business. We always have a really good group of honorees with impressive accomplishments. Because it is for such a worthy cause and benefits our South Ms Division of March of Dimes it might be something you all would like to donate a peice of art to. It is generally covered by the media, there is a program and is a great way to network. Those of you interested in attending (such as Art associations) might go in together to purchase a table of tickets. It is $50 a person and $90 a couple. The tables are a table of 10. More and more organizations are relying on the support of the community. Lately I have seen several organizations looking for speakers for different functions and because artists are so interesting this might even be something a group of you think about doing to further network. Speaking at a girl scout meeting, a civitan club, a Kiwanis group or a JA Meeting. Garden clubs love having artists at their meetings because they are able to learn something from your creative process. So networking with other artists is great...but also think about networking with others outside of artist circles!

Please let me know if you would like to contribute something to this year's March of Dimes "Spotlight on Success" or you can contact Jennifer Ternyak and she can make arrangements to get with you. Jennifer TernyakE-mail Address(es): JTernyak@marchofdimes.comPersonal Information: Phone: 896-0886 Fax: 896-8997 Mobile: 860-8312

Volunteer Work is fullfilling. Two great groups that are desparately needing volunteers are Special Olympics and the Humane Society. So if you love special needs children and animals give a few hours of your time to helping out. Food and cleaning supplies are in need at all your area shelters and perhaps your group can do a fund raiser to help with Special Olympics.

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
Calendar of Events for Fall 2007
The museum is now open M-F 9-4:30 and Sat 10-2 including an Open Studio for area potters. Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, 1596 Glenn Swetman St., Biloxi, 228.374.5547, info@georgeohr.org. http://www.georgeohr.org/

Sept. 7—Deadline for booth entries and juried arts entries into Ohr Fall Festival. http://www.georgeohr.org/.

BILOXI MAIN STREET TO HOST 3rd ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY.
Biloxi Main Street is hosting the 3rd Annual “Christmas in the City” Saturday December 1st, 2007. We are looking ahead for another great Christmas Festival in downtown Biloxi, featuring vendors from all over. There will be great entertainment, pictures with Santa, and special Biloxi treats. Main Street Biloxi will also have their Collectable Christmas ornaments available for sale, and much more. The event will take place on Saturday December 1st from 9:30 to 4:30 in downtown Biloxi.
We welcome any new vendors to participate in the Christmas in the City Festival.
We are very excited to move forward and continue a great Christmas tradition on the Coast.
For any information on Main Street Biloxi and this Christmas event, please contact Kay Miller at 228-435-6339 or 228-263-6339 & kmiller@biloxi.ms.us.

Travel South Showcase VolunteersThe Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB will host a Travel South Showcase planning meeting on September 12, 2007 at the Beau Rivage Resort – Azalea Ballroom C from 2:00pm until 4:00pm. Volunteers are needed for various committees including city tours, hospitality, volunteers, evening event, dine around, and sponsorship/fundraising. Please RSVP to Crystal Johnson, 228-896-6699 ext 215 or crystalj@gulfcoast.org, if you plan to attend.

Note From Cheli, Gulf Coast Observer
At a luncheon today I had the honor of taking a picture with some of my closests friends and Robin Roberts of GMA....the luncheon was held at Beau Rivage Casino for the Pink Heart Fund that provides free wigs and breast prosthesis to cancer/breast cancer patients (women, men, and children)....this was a beautiful event and as Joann talked of the struggles of fighting cancer there were many tears shed, espcecially by me since it was just a year ago that cancer robbed me of my beautiful mother!!

If you know of anyone fighting or surviving cancer in need of a wig or breast prosthesis, the pink hearts fund will provide them one free of charge!!
http://www.pinkheartfunds.com/
And if you would ever like to donate, every $$ goes to buy the wigs and prosthesis (It cost $100 for each wig they buy and $350 for each prosthesis)

Great Idea
Did you see the news on WLOX where the Harm's from Birmingham, AL did a 50th birthday party and rather than asking for gifts for themselves asked for Books for Biloxi. They collected around 250 that went to the Margaret Sherry Library. This is a great idea to help out with any kind of project. If you aren't sure that these kind of projects are still needed along the gulf coast then come on down and take a look around. I'm sure you can find one or two worthy projects that need tackling to plan your birthday around. Not only do you have all of the MS Gulf Coast to choose from but also parts of inland Southern MS, coastal Alabama and town south of and New Orleans. Write to your favorite publishers and see if they would help out with some book projects for your favorite libraries and school libraries.

Note From Kathryn Lewis
I so enjoy your emails, keep all of us posted. I have not replied before, but as the Project Director of the Telling Trees Project in Stone County for the last 2 1/2 years-it's time for all to know what we are doing, offering our assistance to others who would like to start a project like ours to celebrate who we are and where we live. Let me know if you need any further information. Again, thanks for all your work. Kathryn Lewis

The Stone County Telling Trees Project
“When an elder dies without sharing their story, it is like a library burning.”
-- National Storytelling Network

The Telling Trees Project honors and promotes the culture and heritage of Stone County by preserving its past through the telling of its stories – the stories of people, of place and of time. Through the project, the unique stories of Stone County are presented through oral histories and art, with a strong emphasis on education. The name Telling Trees comes from the first major industry in the county, the timber industry.

So far, the project has completed several oral histories, including the stories of Bill Mauldin, a forester, and his wife Delores; Gloria Scott, who was raised on a pecan orchard; Earlene Taylor and Noel Hatten, who lived on the Finkbine Lumber Company land during their childhood; and John Guthrie, a life-long forester. In their stories, these Stone Countians recount such memories as working at the age of 5; gathering on Finkbine Lumber land under the only lights in town to picnic, play and tell the news of the day; reforesting timber land; the railroad hauling timber to market; and making the family livelihood by gathering, cracking and selling pecans. They are also the stories of watching the last man executed in Mississippi’s “traveling electric chair” for the murder of Earlene’s father; building the first school for “colored students;” rushing to be the first one to the Straub theater to get the love seat; meeting at the train depot every day at 6 p.m. to listen and watch the loading of the train and returning home by skating down the brick road on Pine Street; singing and eating together under the street lights and hearing the bells ring to announce evening church.

The first year of the project brought local storytellers, writers, elders, students, teaching artists and the like together to hear and tell the voice of Stone County. The stories were told at Pine Hill Day, the Poplarville Blueberry Festival, Stone County Rotary, at after-school programs, and at a special “Tellabration” held to honor the stories and their owners. Pottery faces, detailed to look like the elders who shared their stories, were created by local potter Bobbi Fenton. A mosaic mural, the first of at least five to be completed, was created by world-renowned mosaic artist Elizabeth Veglia, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) art instructor Sandra Cassibry and her students, Stone County citizens, MGCCC instructors and alumni. The 8-by-13-foot mural incorporates images of plants and wildlife indigenous to Stone County and is on display in Blaylock Park in Wiggins. Future projects will highlight other aspects of Stone County.

Stories that will be completed as the project continues include tales of the Brown-Miller Pickle Plant; of the City of Pekinston; of Ramsey Springs, which was once a resort thought to have healing waters; and of other topics of cultural interest. The project will bring Telling Trees to the schools in Stone County as part of fifth- and ninth-grade Mississippi history studies.

If you have stories to share or know of someone who does, please contact Kathryn Lewis, project director, at 601-928-4344 or at klewis23@yahoo.com

Telling Trees Partners
City of Wiggins
Mississippi Arts Commission
Mississippi Forestry Commission
Mississippi Coastal Plains RC&D Council, Inc.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area
Mississippi Humanities Council
National Storytelling Network
Stone County Arts Council
Stone County Economic Development Partnership
Stone County School District Students
Stone County Supervisors

I think this would be a great project to duplicate in light of Hurricane Katrina. Everyone living on the coast has a story. I had thought maybe some people would be down here collecting stories for a project but have not heard of many, except for the few documentary projects. I believe USM intends to have a Katrina Museum and a collection of stories to go along with photos...something on the order of the Veteran's History Project would be a great project to tackle. Thank God that many of the magazines are up and running and that WLOX is gathering stories but their is room for others. I think it is anthropology? students that study things like this in foreign cultures and possibly they would be interested in this region of the country. We are separate and apart from other places in the US because of Mardi Gras celebrations and other things that make this area very unique from any other place.

Please help me fill in the blanks. On occasion if someone is interested in finding art, I will give this out. I know it's incomplete. If you are listed on one of these group websites then I don't need info from you. If you would like me to add you then please send me information.

If you go to http://www.carolepigott.com/ and click on hurricane assistance you will find a section of her website devoted solely to MS Gulf Coast Artists. She is a fantastic artist that has recently moved back to MS to start work illustrating one of Eudora Welty’s books. She knew Eudora before she passed away. She brought tons of art supplies to the coast.

If you go to http://www.gulfcoastartists.blogspot.com/ you will see Lori Gordon from Bay St. Louis was a writer for Art Magazine here before Katrina. Unfortunately the magazine is no longer. She is now writing for South MS Living. She has listed artists there. Also http://www.hancock-art.com/ has a good list.

http://www.osarthouse.org/ is a new one that is still being uploaded.

http://www.katrinaartists.blogspot.com/ is another lady Shaun Lea who after the storm offered to create websites for artists so their work could be seen.

http://www.artisanrelief.blogspot.com/ while this website will not have photos of work it was set up to make communications open for all artists living in this region. It has some of the links to various websites and volunteer groups and a link to my column.

Also if you go to http://www.magnoliaframing.com/ Mary Bennett was one of my reps years ago and she opened a custom frame store and has taken in several of the artists listed.

My column is at http://www.gulfcoastnightlifeobserver.com/ click on Valerie’s Gallery and there are page numbers at the bottom that take you to the different months. I have 6 artists I feature each month. I try to mix them up and have some from different cities and different types of art. http://www.patwalker-fields.com/, http://www.marypatforrest.blogspot.com/, http://www.johnmcdonaldstudio.com/ for complete listing of contact info please see the site. You will see Paulette Dove on my site her coastal things are really great but they aren’t pictured! Glenn Miller is another one that does great coastal work. He is a drawbridge operator.

http://www.richkoppphotography.com/ Photographer, also working with ghost imaging.

http://www.richardawaters.com/ Multi Media Artist
http://www.waterphone.com/

http://www.southerncreations.com/ Linda Nix photographer

http://www.redwirefilms.com/ Justin Pearce is the great-great-grandson of George E. Ohr, known world-wide as the "Mad Potter of Biloxi," and the grandson of Joe Moran, the artist who once captured on canvas the beauty of the Gulf Coast for all to see at Moran's Art Studio.

http://www.photoizzart.com/ Kathryn Taylor Gray has done some interesting things with salvaged materials. Her Barq’s mirrors are so neat.

http://www.artbyliz.com/ Elizabeth Schafer

http://www.georgeohr.org/ and http://www.walterandersonmuseum.org/ are the 2 museums here on the coast that should show some works on those.

There is also http://www.artinthepass.com/ that is an arts festival held each year that lists links to the artist and their websites. It has quite a few good ones. Chris Hartsfield should be on there and he is really good. Pass Christian Art Association.

http://www.lindatheobaldart.com/ .

Bodine Pottery has reopened in Wiggins. They were formally in Long Beach and started the Friendship Festival at the Friendship Oak. That’s a really good story. I think she has been fighting cancer and was in Hattiesburg for awhile after the storm. Everyone was scattered to the winds. http://www.bodinepottery.com/

Coming Down wanting to see artwork such as Galleries etc….

Andrew Jessup Gallery on Pass Road http://www.theandrewjessupgallery.com/

Negrotto’s Gallery behind the Edgewater Mall

William’s Gallery

Whistle Stop in Ocean Springs (owned by Magnolia Framing Gallery in Gautier)

Hillyer House in Ocean Springs

There are 2 artist’s co-ops one in Bay St. Louis at 220 Main Street http://www.theartistsof220main.blogspot.com/

And the Art House in Ocean Springs behind the L and N depot http://www.osarthouse.org/

http://www.biloxiartassociation.org/ has added some of its members’ artwork to the site.

Some Stores carrying some local artwork
Décor in Gulfport on Three Rivers Road

Sandpiper Gifts on Pass Road

EJM (that’s me…we are an Interior Design Business), 1013 Howard Avenue (one block north of the Beau Rivage and the Biloxi Lighthouse

Tickled Pink (inside the courtyard at Mary Mahoney’s Restaurant)..great place to eat and admire local works of art.

I think even more stores opening are carrying local artworks. Just don’t know all of them.

Also a new publication about the area http://www.smliving.net/ It is available online and is a really good magazine about the area. Also the Sun Herald has put out the new Beach Blvd. Magazine that has a tremendous amount of local color. Check it out!

Thank you very much,
Valerie
EJM, 1013 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530
228-374-8427
http://www.elephantsjugglingmonkeys.com/ Coming Soon!

This Month's Featured Artist Brenda Randolph at the Mockingbird Cafe and Art Gallery, Bay St. Louis
Second Saturday celebration this month will debut the exhibit's work, opening Saturday, Sept 8 from 4 til 8 PM
Her peices are autobiographical and explore the colorless, yet colorful world of debris, and her window hanging series "Survivors completes the story. The work of Kat Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Veglia will be on display thru mid October. More info contact Brenda Randolph at 586-0088

Small World
I must have been bored, because I watched a program on CSpan. It's the one they do on books and authors. I found it very interesting, because the professor was not speaking over my head but rather to me. He was talking about the world affairs and how something like rain in Brazil makes coffee less expensive and therefore you should buy stock in Starbucks, because the profit margins will increase. http://www.peternavarro.com/ and http://www.insideedge.org/ He was also speaking about China and the fact that the Chinese, now, have a little more money to spend and are adding more meat to their diets therefore, they need more farmland to grow soy to feed cattle and so Rainforests in South America are being cut down for the production of soybeans. Anyway, I found it interesting how connected we all are on the planet and how trade issues work. I know I have been suggesting that many of you contact manufacturing companies to have your items produced, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go to ones producing out of the country. Toland Enterprises used to have production facilities in LA, I believe they are using someone in VA now and many of the card companies have production facilities here in the U.S. The framing company (plant) I mentioned are located in AL.

Article on Leslie Holly, Vestal Resident Proves Actions Can Have Far Reaching Effect
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/COLUMNISTS01/709050310/1005/OPINION
I think we should all post a comment about how wonderful and helpful she has been these past 2 years.

Note from Leslie Holly on Sewing Circles
Do any of you know of any quilt guilds?
One of my contacts with the Blanket Brigade has a lot of quilt material donated to ship to a guild to make for those in need in BSL.
Any ideas? I know I can hook her up with other groups outside the area, but she would really like it to be someone down there...
Leslie HollyE-mail Address(es): katrinacoalition@aol.com

Architectural Landscaping Design
We need an artist to design a vision of an area of the Mississippi Renaissance Garden we are planning. We want to put the design in our MRG Organizational Statement that we send nationwide to secure funding sponsors. If you know of anyone who might be able to help us, please let me know.

Martha S. BoyceThe Mississippi Renaissance Gardenmboyce@msrengarden.org228-388-2622

If you wish to be removed from this email list please drop me an email or you can call me at 228-374-8427. Thanks, Valerie Cushman, EJM, 1013 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS

Juried Exhibit $4000 in Prizes

2008-02-01T17:37:00.000-05:00

CALL TO ALL GULF COAST ARTISTS:

After two years post-Katrina as a regional show, the George Ohr National Challenge, a highly visible juried exhibit and strong sales show for artists, returns to the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES—BY JPEG AND DISC ONLY—IS JUNE 1 AT 5 P.M. Jurors are: James Tanner for 3D and Ron Pokrasso for 2D. There are $4,000 in awards, including $1,000 Best in Show Award for Ceramics and $1,000 Best in Show Award for Two-Dimensional Work.

The entry fee is $20 for up to three jpegs, which may be emailed to Trish Lawrence, 228.374.5546, studio @ georgeohr.org

A registration form is also online at http://www.georgeohr.org/

The exhibit opens September 19 and runs through November 7 at the museum’s transitional location, 1596 Glenn Swetman St., Biloxi.

Information Index

2008-01-06T19:35:00.000-05:00

Getting Started On This Blog
I am sure the amount of information on this blog might be considered overwhelming. BUT - you don't have to act on it all at once and you don't have to read it all at once. That's why I've made this index.
As you are up to it, you can review the information in each category, use some of the information and then refer back to it as needed. I truly understand how difficult coping with losing everything is. That is why I'm doing all of the work I am.
There are also useful links in the side bar at the left.
Very little will be personal information. This is purely information for YOU to recover more quickly. Nothing more. OK?
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, additions, subtractions, corrections. I have wonderful people supplying me with information, but that doesn't mean I can't have more. You can email me, or post a comment - the link to do so is at the bottom of each page. KatrinaCoalition@aol.com

Introduction
This link has how to post comments and information on your own at the bottom of the pertinent post. Red is New, Green is Updated

Re-establishing Your Business
12/17/07 Valerie's Gallery - Monthly Column To Help YOU
Gulf Coast Observer Column
New Website Opportunity
Art Galleries Open To Artists
Marketing
Residencies and Other Assistance
NOLA Artist Assistance
Getty Foundation Grants Given
Networking Contacts
New Ways To Be Seen
Lawyers Who Will Assist
Be Persistant In Getting Seen
Carole Pigott's Relief and Recovery Site

Updates
9/20/07 Studio In The Woods

For Individuals
Resource Pages
Grandfamily/Single Parent Resources
Family Resources
Medical Resources
LA Family Resources
Education Assistance
Businesses
Mortgage Resources
Furniture and More
Home/Utility
Elderly
Resources for Children/Childcare
Disabled
Grants for Individuals - does not include homeowner or repair grants
Dental

Other Sites Related to Katrina Networking
Katrina Networking Updated the most frequently. Check here first...
Hancock County Agency Information
Pearlington
Waveland
BayStLouis
Gulf Coast Emergency Services Relief Blog
Real People Relief

Helping Without Going Down

Introduction

2007-09-15T09:14:00.000-05:00

Hello to all...

I've started this blog, along with the help of at least 2 others and likely many more to come, in order to get information out to the artisans along the Gulf Coast who were so severely affected by the 2005 hurricane season.

While I most likely will be the only one posting the information, I will be crediting those who send me the information.

Please review all posts regularly. I will most likely be reworking them to group similar information together as time goes on.

Please post comments regarding this information, and if you have any other information you think will be helpful to your art community. I will most likely include it in posts with similar information. To Post A Comment - scroll to the bottom of the post you'd like to comment about. In the bottom right, there is a hyperlink that states "o comments" (or 1,2,3, etc comments). Click on that link. It will open a new window where you can write whatever you wish. If you'd like me to respond to you, put your email address in. If you are a fellow blogger, sign in, and people can find your blog that way as well. Once you finish writing the comment, you'll have to type in a series of letters. This is only to avoid spammers. Yes, spammers.

Together, we can bring the art community back to the thriving industry (dirty word, I know) it was before August, 2005.

Leslie H

NOLA Art Hop Highlighted

2007-08-28T19:54:00.000-05:00

By SALLY WALKER DAVIES
Sure, most people think Bourbon Street or French Quarter when they think of New Orleans.

Beyond food and drink, however, there’s another way to indulge the senses in the Big Easy – through art.

For a taste of New Orleans that has nothing to do with food, we’ve put together five easy ways to see the cultural side of the city.

Gallery Hop
Start on Julia Street in the Warehouse District – what many call the ‘SoHo of the South’. Julia Street is home to more than 20 galleries. Try the Arthur Roger Gallery, which primarily features the works of contemporary regional artists, and chat with Roger or his knowledgeable staff about the state of the city’s art scene post-Katrina. When you wander over to the Quarter, stroll down Royal Street for more gallery hopping, including Marcus Akinlana’s Royal Heritage Gallery, where he exhibits his vibrant works of NOLA life.

Go on aFleur-De-Lis Hunt
All over town, intricately decorated fleur-de-lis are popping up as a response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. Painted by local artists and sold to companies and individuals for $10,000 each, the 40 sculptures, each 4 feet high, are the first public art initiative since the hurricane. Proceeds from the sale of the pieces benefit children’s charities as well as local artists; look for them throughout the Quarter and the Warehouse District in Jackson Square, Canal Place, The D Day Museum and the Children’s Museum.

Muse About Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art is back – now open five days a week with its extensive permanent collection of French and American art in City Park. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, in the Warehouse District, features the works of artists from 15 southern states dating back to 1773. Contemplate modern masters at the Contemporary Arts Center, also in the Warehouse District, or wander the five acres of sculptural wonders in City Park’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

Get Blown Away
By the city’s glass artists, that is. Watch glass blowers fashion their pieces from molten glass at the New Orleans Glass Works and Printmaking Studio in the Warehouse District. Part gallery, part working studio and part classroom, Glass Works brings together artisans from across the globe to demonstrate and educate; some are even dedicated to the culinary craft of chocolate sculpting and sugar blowing. Printmakers and other artists also display and demonstrate their craft.

Artful Accommodations
With original art glass in the bathroom, giclée prints in the bedroom, and a sculpture garden, gallery space and Chihuly chandeliers scattered throughout the two-story lobby, this isn’t your typical hotel. A former furniture factory, the Renaissance Arts Hotel is itself a destination for art lovers, if not the perfect place to lay your head while contemplating New Orleans’ art offerings. In the guest rooms, exposed brick walls are a gritty yet elegant juxtaposition to the clean, stylized lines of the furnishings and the lush bedding, while in the public spaces, art takes center stage throughout the hotel, with a glass wall in the lobby and huge woodcut prints of Louis Armstrong in the foyer.

Ohr Festival of Arts Information

2007-07-26T19:10:00.000-05:00

George Ohr Fall Festival of Arts Sept. 29-30, 2007

Public art project: Boards for the new construction fence

Returning for the first time since fall 2004, the 14th Annual George Ohr Fall Festival of Arts will be held Sept. 29-30 on the Biloxi Town Green. The Festival is sponsored by the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and the City of Biloxi. A number of long-time Festival participants will be on hand, including a coterie of blacksmiths (Ohr’s father was a blacksmith in mid 19th century Biloxi), the Raku booth run by Brian Nettles and friends, a lemonade stand in honor of Pleasant Reed, and “Art in Public Places”—as well as many local and regional artists.

Registration for booths may be made online or by calling Trish Lawrence or Holly Zinner at 228.374.5547; the booth fee is $125 until Sept. 7, after that it goes up to $150. Electricity is $25. There is a special juried section for fine artists and craftsmen; the deadline for entry into the juried section is also Sept. 7. The juried section provides cash awards to selected artists; a juror will be announced soon. Awards are: $1000 first; $500 second; $250 third; and a $100 Mad Potters’ Award. All information on registration may be found online at www.georgeohr.org.

The Festival is a family-based event, with numerous crafts-making events and competitions, attracting a few thousand visitors each year. Funds raised at the Festival support education and exhibits at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Among the most popular contests are the Potters’ Games, during which professional and amateur potters compete to make a pot blind-folded, build the largest pot the fastest, and similar games. There is also a Celebrity Throw, with local celebrities invited to make a pot.

Highly popular with families is the Best Mustache Contest, which this year will have the annual competition for adults and a new one for youngsters. The Art in Public Places event, held Sept. 29, provides young and old a chance to paint a plywood board for the construction fence at the new museum building site. There will also be tshirt painting and pinch pots, as well as the large, busy Children’s Art Tent, overseen by museum educator-potter Sara Miller and her volunteers. New this year will be a scrapbooking tent, with additional scrapbooking workshops offered throughout the weekend. There will also be great local food and entertainers on the main stage all weekend long. Also available will be a widescreen TV for fall football fans.

A poster contest is currently under way, with a deadline of August 10. The winning artist will receive $300 and will be on hand both days of Festival to autograph limited edition posters, which have become great collectibles. Festival tshirts, based on the design, will also be sold.

The Festival, always an early harbinger of the holiday shopping season, will feature artists and craftsmen with works ranging from pottery to paintings to photography and many other media. Chairman of the Festival for 10 years has been the indefatigable Paula April, a member of the museum’s Board of Trustees. Numerous other board members and city of Biloxi officials, as well as an army of volunteers and supporters, also work on the Festival each year.

For more information, see www.georgeohr.org, or call 228.374.5547.

Hancock County Artists Needed

2007-03-18T17:40:00.000-05:00

St. Louis Bay Bridge Public Art Project

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is inviting artists to submit artwork for a Bay St. Louis Bridge enhancement project. Brass plaques will project the artist renderings, and will be attached to balustrades on the south side of the pedestrian lane along with 1/10th mile markers.

Twenty (20) selected works will be transposed from 2-dimensional contour line drawings to 3-dimensional brass plaques and finished in low relief brass. A $500 award will be offered for each selected drawing.

This will be highly competitive and submission requirements are listed below.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Artists must be a current resident of Hancock or Harrison County and be at least 16 years old.
Artists may submit up to 5 pieces.
Artist's name must NOT appear on submissions. DO NOT SIGN WORK. Works are to be an original contour line drawing NO LARGER THAN 16"H x 22"W on 80# or heavier sketch paper that measures 18"H x 24"W (this will be the size of the finished plaque). The drawing is to be done in pen or pencil only; no color or shading.
All contact information is to be written on the application form which will be inserted into a self addressed, stamped envelope and attached to the drawing. There will be one submission form and envelope per drawing. DO NOT SEAL ENVELOPE!
ANY DEVIATION FROM THESE GUIDELINES WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION.

PROCEDURES

Deadline: No later than Monday, April 16, 2007, 5:00 P.M. (Office hours Monday - Friday 9: a.m. - 5: p.m.)

Delivery: The Arts office in the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce building, 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St. Louis, MS. 228-467-9048

Judging: An independent panel appointed by the Mississippi Arts Commission will review all submissions and make the final selections.

Notification: Artists will be notified by mail (postmarked no later than April 30, 2007).

Gulf States Juried Art Show

2007-02-16T17:18:00.000-05:00

Diggin’ It: Ohr Rising II
Gulf States Juried Arts Competition 2007

Deadline for entries (jpeg only): June 1, 2007

$3,500 in Awards This Year!
· Mad Potter’s Award for Ceramics $1,000
· Ceramics Best in Show $750
· All Media Best in Show $750
· Five $200 Juror’s Awards—All Media

Juror: Scott Young of San Juan Capistrano, California.
A former Guest Artist at the Ohr Fall Festival of Arts in Biloxi, Scott led a group of ceramists who raised money for the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art immediately after Katrina. We will never forget! Scott, a native of Hawaii and instructor at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, has familiarity & experience with many art forms; currently, he is working in American-style raku.

Eligibility to enter:
Artists 18 years of age and older who live in the states affected by the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. In 2008, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art will resume the George Ohr National Competition as its juried show. Sixty works will be accepted for the 2007 show, which will be exhibited in the museum’s transitional location at 1596 Glenn Swetman Drive in Biloxi. See http://www.georgeohr.org/ for details on entry and on the progress of the new museum. The entry form will be posted by March 1.

To enter:

Artists may submit up to three jpegs. All submissions must be by email or disc, and all submissions must be made NO LATER THAN Midnight, June 1, 2007. Late entries will not be accepted. Art in all media will be eligible for consideration.

Craft Emergency Relief Fund

2007-02-10T23:20:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

As the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making 2006 an unparalleled year for CERF’s rapid and sustained delivery of assistance to artists in crises. While we hope we will never need to mobilize our community to the degree that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita demanded, you demonstrated your capacity to respond generously and creatively and always with great heart.

As you probably already know, recovery on the Gulf Coast for most artists is just beginning. At a recent meeting during the Grantmakers in the Arts annual conference, representatives of foundations and arts agencies described some of the critical issues impeding artists’ abilities to get back to work:

Lack of affordable housing and studio space;
Poor communications and planning infrastructures;
Greatly weakened and, in some instances, nonexistent tourist economies;
Lack of mental health services.

We remain committed to an “on the ground” approach to monitoring and assisting progress towards rebuilding devastated lives and careers. We are equally committed to helping artists throughout the United States gain the skills and develop the tools to be better prepared for career-interrupting emergencies. If 2006 was about emergency response, 2007 will be about recovery and readiness.

From Slab to Rehab - The Katrina CERF Report
Louisville, KY March 14 -17 For more information contact: Craig Nutt

The 2008 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conference will be held in New Orleans. How are artists and arts organizations in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast faring nearly two years after the worst natural disaster in US history? We will talk with artists from the region, relate with a 6 minute video the experience of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) with hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and talk about what NCECA members can do to assist artists in their recovery efforts. Moderated by ceramic artist and CERF Board Member Lana Wilson and Craig Nutt, CERF director of programs.

Programs
http://craftemergency.org/programs/

Music Education Grant

2007-01-23T12:28:00.000-05:00

Mockingbird Foundation
SUMMARY: Nominations for the Mockingbird Foundation's DeLucia Award for Innovation in Music Education, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a passion for music through the use of unconventional genres,instruments, methods, or other aspects of music education that can be duplicated.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Mockingbird is particularly interested inorganizations with low overhead, innovative approaches, and/or collaborative elements to their work. Grants are typically made only tononprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code, or who have a sponsoring agency with this status. Organizations selected to submit a full proposal will berequired to submit documentation of their status as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exemptinstitution or as a public school. Public schools are tax-exempt and so eligible for funding, although school-based grantees cannot be independentof the school, must take place at the school, and must be supervised by the applicable municipality. Mockingbird does not normally consider grants to individuals or to fund research, fundraising organizations or events, programs that promote or engage in religious or political doctrine, ororganizations outside the United States. It is hoped that nonprofit organizations who apply for support are operated and organized without discrimination in hiring staff or providing services on the basis of race,religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability
DUE DATE: Letters of inquiry are considered in two annual cycles, February 1 and August 1.
AWARD AMOUNT: Grants range in size from $50.00 to $5,000.00 and are made on a one-time basis.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
The Mockingbird Foundation,
c/o Jack R. Lebowitz,Lemery Greisler,
10 Railroad Place, Suite 502,
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Email daime@mbird.org ,
web http://www.mockingbirdfoundation.org/

Biloxi Art Association

2006-12-04T09:15:00.000-05:00

http://biloxiartassociation.org/

They are looking for artists to feature on their website!
Contact the webmaster if you are interested in being highlighted:
artie@artoftheweb.net

Unfortunately, there's not much else to say about it. No new news. Sorry!

Main St Biloxi Info

2006-11-30T15:05:00.000-05:00

Dear Folks,

Christmas in the City is this Saturday and while I know you are preparing, I wanted to remind you....

Please pick up your vendor packets in the morning at the Creole Cottage. If you exit I-10 head south on I-110 (keesler AFB) take the loop headed towards Ocean Springs on Hwy 90. At the west side of the Town Green take a left and go North. The Creole cottage is across from City Hall. Kay should be there at 6:30 and volunteers at 7:00. You will pick up your booth assignment and tax information. You do have to collect 7% sales tax!

We are also enclosing a special for this Saturday only.

If you would like to do Hop to the Vieux, March 31 you can save $40. The show will cost you only $40- (regular priced at $80)

If you would like to do Christmas in the City next year you can save $40-. The show will cost you only $60- (regular priced at $100)

These both will be bigger and better events with all the prepretory work these shows will stay at these prices. So reserve your spots early. Both shows will cost you $100-.

There are no refunds in case of rain or your cancellation.

There will be no vehicles allowed down the Vieux Marche' for set up. Please come prepared. Bring your dollies!! We have arranged to have help for those of you who need help unloading. Please arrive early and a volunteer will be assigned to you.

Please do not call Kay to discuss any of this unless it is an emergency. She is making final prepartions for all the fun! Live entertainment, Children's Christmas Parade with Santa and the arrival of all of you, the artists who make up the show!!

You are automatically entered into the Best Decorated Booth Contest and the prize is $500- I hope you have been thinking about how to theme your booths. Judges for the events are

Keri Campbell is the Deputy Clerk of Council for the City of Biloxi Council members and has worked for the City for 13 years. She is a member of the Biloxi Main Street promotions committee and assists with Main Street’s Drive In Movies.

Ann Marie Petrovich, Director of Retail Operations for the IP Hotel and Casino, has focused many of her efforts on guest service training standards. I.P.’s gift shop, Essentials, offers an eclectic mix of merchandise typically, not found in casino gift shops.

Diane Barber, Director of Retail Operations at Beau Rivage, oversees the retail at the Beau Rivage’s 12 stores from Fashion to Logo for Ladies and Men, Gift to Fine Jewelry and one store at Fall Oak the Pro Shop.

Lisa Lanier of Focus Publishing Company has been serving new residents and visitors to South MS since 1996, providing cultural and pertinent information to help acquaint them on our area. She provides two free publications that are widely distributed, The Newcomers & Visitors Guide of South MS and Focus on the COAST Magazine.

So Good Luck and see you soon!

Yours Very Truly,
Valerie Cushman
EJM, Biloxi

Christmas in the City Committee

Arts Grant

2006-11-24T17:25:00.000-05:00

Craft Emergency Relief Fund
http://www.craftemergency.org/
CERF provides immediate support to professional crafts-people suffering career-threatening emergencies, thereby helping them sustain their craftsmaking as a livelihood and, by doing so, enriching the cultural and economic vitality of communities in the United States.

Make Mine MS Xmas

2006-11-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

I thought I would drop you a line and let you know that we still have space in Jackson's first annual Make Mine Mississippi Christmas that is taking place every Sat. from December 2 to December 23. 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The advertising campaign starts Nov. 19 2006. If you or anyone you know would like to take part they can get more information by emailing me at chotiagirl@aol.com or by calling (601)-212-9559.

Sincerely yours,
Alissa DeAmonti
MGCA President
601-212-9559
20778 Hwy. 80
Edwards, MS 39066

NOLA Craft Mafia Drawing

2006-11-20T21:47:00.000-05:00

I have NO clue what this is about...

GRAND PRIZE Package containing a gift from each of the New Orleans Craft Mafia members.
(A $175 value!)
1st PRIZE Package containing a gift from 3 New Orleans Craft Mafia members.
(A $75 value!)
LOYALTY PRIZE Package containing a gift from 4 New Orleans Craft Mafia members.(A $100 value!)
RULES FOR CONTEST: All NOCM newsletter subscribers who join between November 1 - 30, 2006, are automatically entered into the drawing for Grand Prize and 1st Prize. All NOCM newsletter subscribers who joined prior to November 1, 2006, are automatically entered into the drawing for the Loyalty Prize. A random drawing for winners' names will be held on December 1, 2006.
Winners will be notified via the NOCM e-mail newsletter only.
The 1st Prize winner will be notified by December 6.
The Loyalty Prize winner will be notified by December 13.
The Grand Prize winner will be notified by December 20.
Winners must claim their prize within 14 days via email.
Prize packages will be shipped to winners at the NOCM's expense. http://www.neworleanscraftmafia.com/newslettercontest1106.htm

Assistance For Musicians

2006-11-17T18:46:00.000-05:00

The "heart and soul" of MusiCares is the Emergency Financial Assistance Program that provides critical funds for music people struggling with financial, medical or personal crises. This program offers financial assistance for medical expenses including doctor, dental and hospital bills, prescriptions, addiction recovery treatment, psychotherapy, treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other critical illnesses, as well as basic living expenses such as rent and utilities.
Committed to providing prompt, confidential help to those in need, MusiCares is staffed by full-time Health and Human Service Managers in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. Each region has its own toll-free help line: 800.687.4227 (West Coast), 877.626.2748 (Central) and 877.303.6962 (Northeast).
http://www.grammy.com/MusiCares/Client_Services/Emergency_Financial_Assistance/

Bogalusa LA Street Fair

2006-11-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

"Gold Rush in the Magic City" 2nd Semi-Annual Street Fair
presented by Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce's "Festival in the Park"
The Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce has almost filled our spaces for this second semi-annual Street Fair, the "Gold Rush Days in the Magic City."
Coming up this second weekend of November, it begins Saturday, November 11th and continues Sunday, November 12th with the hours from 9:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m. Located on Louisiana Avenue, in Bogalusa, LA, the Street Fair will have forty-five craft vendors, non-profit groups and commercial vendors, as well as food and snack booths. Two blocks of Louisiana Ave. will be barricaded off, between Masonic Drive and Atlanta Street, for the two days of the event. Vendors are still being taken for the reserved area; set up is possible outside the reserved area on city property but vendors will be charged a fee as part of the street fair.
Applications are available by fax or email or over the phone.
Prices are $60 for a 10x10 and $80 for a 20x20 for crafters; all food vendors have already been accepted. Over the phone applications may be paid by credit card, with all major credit cards accepted.
Featured items include antiques, clothing, purses and accessories, Watkins products, woodwork, glassware, plants, needlework & crochet, paintings, airbrush items, candles and soap, jelly and jam, bedding, knives and swords, toys, stained glass, windchimes, scripture jars, birdhouses, silver and handmade jewelry, Big Daddy's Seasonings & Sauces, non-profit groups Lions Club, Humane Society and Torch Club. Bogalusa Main Street presents entertainment by Amanda Shaw, Big Daddy-O, and The Wash Tub Band on Saturday, with Veterans' Day ceremony at noon.
On Sunday, Bottoms Up, PaperTown and the Pettybones will play. Things for children include face painting, a spacewalk and pony rides.Food and drink booths will feature BBQ, funnel cakes, pulled pork sandwiches, fried Twinkies and Oreos, ice cream and more. The Chamber has a Coca-Cola wagon with Coca-Cola products for sale. Interested vendors (arts and crafts, commercial and non-profits) are invited to phone the Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce at 985-735-5731, fax at 985-735-6707, or email to bogalusachamber@bellsouth.net for space availability.

NOLA House Repair Assistance

2006-11-02T13:27:00.000-05:00

Total Community Action is taking applications to assist with home repairs. The assistance is limited to only a few zip codes: 70119, 70125, 70126 and maybe more.
Call to find out what other areas: 309-6707. 309-6708, 309-6709, 309-6713
Best wishes!
From FreeCycleNewOrleans

Improving Web Visability

2006-10-26T10:12:00.000-05:00

3/22 An offer to get your online...
This lady is great and very committed to the recovery effort. Let her work for you!

posted an example listing for Lori K. Gordon here:

http://www.cehwiedel.com/cohr/Xmas/2006/Individuals/G-H/CoHRHomePage.Xmas.Gordon-Lori-K.htm

What I'd like to receive (via email to cohr@cehwiedel.com) in order to build a similar listing for someone else:

- Shop Name (e.g., "The Katrina Collection")

- Individual's Name (e.g., Lori K. Gordon)

- Geographic Location (e.g., Bay St. Louis, MS)

- Contact Information (e.g., email address or snail mail address or telephone number)

- Background (e.g., personalized info like professional background)

- Publicity Photo (optional but highly recommended; doesn't have to be professional)

- A single item or service to highlight, with the following:

- item's photo or illustration

- pricing & availability

- description

- LINK to more stuff (e.g., the link to Lori's Katrina Collection website)

- any background information available on the item

I will take what I get and build a webpage, as I did for Lori Gordon. I'll post it, then request confirmation from the contact. Once confirmation is received, the webpage will be linked into the rest of the site.

Again, I want to emphasize that all this is FREE.

Any questions should be emailed to cohr@cehwiedel.com

Sincerely,

cehwiedel
"Carnival of Hurricane Relief"
http://www.cehwiedel.com/cohr/
"CoHR Squidoo Lens"
http://www.squidoo.com/cohr/

Pulled from Entrepreneur.com

So what do you have to do to get quality links that will actually count for something with the search engines?
Here's Google's answer to the question:
“Make sure all the sites that should know about your pages are aware your site is online.” (Get more tips from Google here.)
1. Search for organizations that are already established within your industry. Most have a directory that lists companies like yours (you’ll probably see some of your top-ranking competitors already listed there!).
2. Scour your competitors’ sites and see if they're affiliated with any associations you should be connected with but aren't yet.
3. Commit to writing an article (or having one written) at least once a month.
Then:
Upload it to your site.
Get it crawled by adding it to your Google and Yahoo! sitemaps.
Make a blog post about it, and link to it. (Waddaya mean you don’t have a blog yet?!)
A few weeks after the article's live on your site and has been cached, submit it to some of the organizations you contacted earlier. In the “About the author” section, or biography, at the end of the article, add the link to that specific article on your site and on your blog. This will help establish your business as the authoritative source of the article. It will also build link popularity to that specific page and allow readers to post comments about it on your blog. If you have a forum on your site, mention it there, too, and point users to it with a link.
It wouldn’t hurt to issue a press release about the article you wrote either. Make sure you link to the exact page where your article resides on your site as well as to your home page.

Essential Element #1: An Attention-Grabbing Headline. The first thing people see when they visit your site should be a compelling headline that describes the most important benefit your product or service offers. The headline is the key element of your site. It's what will persuade visitors to stick around and check out what you have to offer.

Essential Element #2: User-Friendly Navigation. Nothing will drive customers away faster than confusing or complicated navigation! Your customers should be able to know where they are on your site at all times, and should easily be able to find pages they've already visited.

Essential Element #3
Your salescopy should:
Immediately draw the reader in with exciting benefits and enticing copy so you can lead them toward the sale.
Establish your credibility--nobody will buy from you if they don't feel they can trust you.
Describe the benefits of your product or service and explain why your visitors need it.

Essential Element #4: A Clear "Call to Action." If you want people to buy your products or services, you have to tell them how to do it. Don't leave them guessing. You have to explain exactly what you want them to do, and you have to make it easy for them to do it.

Essential Element #5: Well-Chosen Images. Images can really help people visualize your products or services and their benefits. Be sure to include photos of every product you sell. Attractive product shots can really boost your sales.

#6 Strong Opt In Offer
In order to pursue a relationship with these potential customers, you should collect their e-mail addresses by encouraging them to subscribe to a free newsletter or a free download. This will give you the chance to send them updates and information, develop relationships with them, and enable them to trust you enough to buy from you.

Essential Element #7: Testimonials. The best way to establish credibility is to provide evidence that your product or service really works. And the best way to do that is to include testimonials from satisfied customers that explain how your product or service has helped improve their lives.

Essential Element #8: An "About Us" page. People are often hesitant to buy things online because they miss the personal interaction of doing business face to face. The best way to overcome their reluctance is to include an "About Us" page that provides information about you, your staff and your business. Be sure to include pictures of yourself and your staff members. This shows your customers they're doing business with real people and will help ease any worries they might have.

Essential Element #9: An FAQ Page. It's a good idea to include a "Frequently Asked Questions" page on your site. This is where you'll list the questions most commonly asked by your customers and provide answers to them. It allows your visitors immediate access to the answers they need before they'll consider buying your product or service.

Essential Element #10: Your Contact Info. In order to close sales and establish your credibility, you have to provide full contact information on your site. This includes your mailing address as well as fax and phone numbers. Businesses that only post e-mail addresses on their sites come across as unprofessional and possibly even disreputable.

LA Family Recovery Corps

2006-10-21T11:49:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps (LFRC) is an independent non-profit organization currently led by CEO Randy Ewing.
http://www.recoverycorps.com
The goal of the LFRC is to coordinate and mobilize a network of providers, organizations, and government agencies to deliver aid and services to displaced Louisiania families in transitional housing throughout the state.
The LFRC is dedicated to non duplication of services. To this end, all Family Liaisons will first refer clients to existing services within Government Agencies and private organizations that have capacity to handle the needs. If sufficient services are not available, however, or if the services do not exist, the LFRC will work with its regional partners to create or enhance direct services.

Are You in Need of Services?
The Louisiana Family Recovery Corps may be able to help you if you and your family meet these eligibility requirements:

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (must meet all three):
·Families with minor dependent children (pregnant women in their 6th month of pregnancy who meet the income and hurricane affected requirements may also qualify)
·Household income is less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (based on current income)
·Household displaced/affected by Hurricane Katrina/Rita (if family is living in their pre-hurricane residence and living in substandard housing conditions, the family may qualify for assistance)

SERVICES INCLUDE:
·Comprehensive individual case management for Katrina/Rita affected families
·Family needs assessment
·4-Month Recovery Plan development
·Employment/Career assistance
·Agency referrals
·Emergency assistance (funds are limited)

WE CAN ASSIST WITH (must be enrolled in LFRC Recovery program):
·Living accommodations (2 month maximum)
·Transportation
·Childcare
·Job skills training and development
·Out-patient substance abuse treatment
·Mental health services

To access services coordinated through the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps:
Lake Charles area: Family and Youth Counseling Agency (337) 433-8258
Baton Rouge area: Catholic Community Services (225) 242-0348
Shreveport area: Volunteers of America, Northwest Louisiana(877) 221-8404
Alexandria area: Volunteers of America, Central Louisiana (800) 520-8026
Monroe area: Volunteers of America, Northeast Louisiana (866) 322-2272
New Orleans area:Catholic CharitiesArchdiocese of New Orleans(504) 210-7204
Family Service of Greater New Orleans(504) 421-8513 or (504) 361-0926
Kingsley House(504) 523-6221
Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans(504) 835-3005

New Site Being Established

2006-10-18T10:02:00.000-05:00

As some of you may know, I've registered with the Make a Difference Day initiative being held on October 28, 2006. First, I urge you to do the same thing - http://www.makeadifferenceday.com/ is where you can do this.

Next, I registered a project that I had been planning for some time, and had only just decided to initiate. Because I want the Gulf Coast to have as much focus as possible, I am delaying the project by about a week. My project is called - Real People Relief and the address will be http://www.realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/. I have already registered the name, so no worries about a name change.

I know many of you work with individual families who, along with you, are struggling to find the money for their daily living and recovery efforts. I am able to highlight up to 1 family a week from each organization who contacts me - leaving the information of each family up as long as I receive 2 updates a month - whether from them or you. I am willing to post up to 3 current pictures (I'll touch them up if needed, and resize if needed) and will rotate pictures as new ones become available.

Individuals who contact me directly will be placed under my banner of Katrina Networking. All of you who send me information will have those families placed under YOUR organization's banner, along with your website and contact information, should a person choose who wants to help actually chooses to volunteer.

I will send you the links for each family (or person) whose information you send to me, so that you have me edit the information as needed. You will also be able to send this link to your reader/volunteer base so they can follow the information with less effort on your part.

Since I continue to receive an increasing number of emails from both organizations and citizens alike regarding the fact little money is trickling down to their level, I feel this is a very important thing to do. Add that most people are just wanting to know they are not forgotten, I feel this will be a very important emotional assistance to those we are all trying to assist.

With that, I will paste my questionnaire into this email and would great appreciate any participation on your part.

Sincerely,
Leslie Holly

Questionnaire For Inclusion On Real People Relief

Information Posted on Your Page
Name: - I would like first and last, but please note what you feel comfortable having posted for all to see.

Email: - only contact information public will have about you. You will decide if you want them to know your full information by emailing them.

Location: - where you were; where you are; where you plan to be in a year.

Number in Household: - Please include pets. First names, sex and age of each person.

Situation: – brief paragraph of what you’ve been through, who you’ve applied for help with, what has happened in the last year.

Current Living Arrangements: - FEMA Trailer, Apartment, House, Tent?

Help: - what help, if any, have you received thus far?

Photos: - Up to current photos – can be rotated through as new images are sent.

Needs: Please list preferences; if you’re going to want, you might as well want what you want! Below are examples and in the categories to be listed under.
Foods – non-perishable only
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Computer Supplies – paper, ink (give specific cartridges)
Clothing – list sizes and style color preference
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, kitchen supplies (pans, pots, etc.)
Stores you shop at – for possible gift cards or gift registry

Information Not Posted
Full Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number

What I Need from you
Twice monthly updates: - The more often I can update your information, the more frequently your information will be reviewed. People view blogs like an ongoing story. They get hooked on new little tidbits. If I don’t receive regular updates, the information will be pulled after 8 weeks.

MPB and MSA Reporters

2006-10-14T12:19:00.000-05:00

Contact them to see what they are working on and when you can help! It'll get you seen by a far greater audience!

CONTACT: Kathy Broom
September 11, 2006
601.432.6683
Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Mississippi Arts Commission establish radio reporter team
(Jackson, Miss.) - Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) and the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) joined forces to establish a unique team of reporters traversing our state to bring radio listeners samples of Mississippi’s varied cultural opportunities.
The arts reporters’ trio – Lida Gibson of Jackson, Ellen Ann Fentress of Jackson and Diane Heim of Starkville – will highlight arts and cultural information, stories, and events from around Mississippi, encompassing everything from the symphony, opera and ballet to the blues, gospel, and homespun crafts.
Funding for these positions is secured by the Mississippi Arts Commission through a grant received from the Wallace Foundation.
According to MAC Executive Director Malcolm White, “The partnership that has made it possible for Mississippi Public Broadcasting to have full-time, statewide arts reporters is testament to the possibilities of governmental collaboration, in this case between the Mississippi Arts Commission and MPB. The message is multifaceted and clear: arts and culture define who we are, and Mississippi is graced with an abundance of blessings.”
MPB Radio Producer Kevin Farrell added, “By teaming with the Mississippi Arts Commission, the state’s foremost arts organization, I believe we’ll provide MPB listeners with a broad spectrum of the flavor of Mississippi’s rich, artistic tradition. This is a tremendous opportunity to share stories of both the ‘known’ artists and the ‘unknown’ – like the neighbor down the street who creates art simply for the joy of creating it.”

The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art Schedule

2006-10-14T11:58:00.000-05:00

2/16 Juried Art Show Deadline
Deadline for Ohr Rising Gulf States Juried Exhibition: June 1. Details tba. Information at www.georgeohr.org.

2/16 Other information from the museum:

2/15 Art and Historic Grants Given
$98,000 in grants given to help rebuild historic places
11 get grants to help rebuild historic places
By LEIGH COLEMAN
SUN HERALD
BILOXI - Members of the Preservation Task Force gathered at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art Tuesday to award $98,000 in grants funded by the Sun Herald Preservation Fund.
The task force held the reception to announce the 11 grant recipients and to honor the Sun Herald for its commitment to preserving the historic resources of South Mississippi.
Members of the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum board also announced that they had voted to rebuild the museum at the original site on Biloxi Beach.
"I have heard it said here and from the governor that if we rebuild what we had before the hurricane, we would have failed," said Dave Dennis, co-chairman of the Gulf Coast Business Council who chaired the cultural preservation committee for the Governor's Commission on Renewal and Recovery. "It is just as important to revitalize and preserve the historical presence of the Mississippi Gulf Coast."
The grant recipients will use the preservation money to rebuild and preserve their historical buildings and homes. Historic landmarks across South Mississippi were heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina and the money will help save the structures.
Former Gov. William Winter, Sun Herald Publisher Ricky Mathews, Sun Herald marketing director John McFarland, Scott Walker, representative for Trent Lott, and former Sun Herald Publisher Roland Weeks were some of the notables attending the reception.
"I cannot wait to help this museum rebuild on the beach," said Mathews. "We need more than condos and casinos here, we need to do something national that will do more for Biloxi."
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Mississippi Heritage Trust, Mississippi Main Street Association, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area make up the Preservation Task Force.
Grant recipients
Coast Main Street Organizations
Captain Colle House, Pascagoula
Saint Michael's Church, Biloxi
Allenbach House, Bay St. Louis
Historic Buelah Methodist Church Community Center, Lyman
Edwards House, Pearlington
Walter Anderson Cottage, Ocean Springs
Soria City Masonic Lodge, Gulfport
Old Waveland School, Waveland
Randolph School, Pass Christian
Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, Creel House, Biloxi
1/20 - 2 items of interest
Thursday May 10: Annual Spring Fling Home Event, Details TBA
June 1: Deadline, Annual Ohr Rising Juried Exhibition

1/20
George’s Night the Museum: Friday Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m. Free & open to the community!
Event made possible by Biloxi Regional Medical Center and the City of Biloxi.
6 p.m.: Doors open to the public, after Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway cuts the ribbon!
Doorprize: Drawing for two tickets to March 8 Beau Rivage gala
Sign a Memory Tile: Sara Miller & volunteers with wet tiles on east sunporch. Glazed tiles will be mounted at Swetman House.
See the Return of the Urn, the William Woodward painting of George Ohr and Joseph Meyer, as well as a fine collection of Ohr pottery.
Shop for Valentine’s gifts in the museum store.
West sunroom: Meet local artists.
Dining room: Examples of affordable house models from Architects for Humanity.
Meet George’s own Night at the Museum characters, as they come alive: George Ohr and Josie Ohr from “Ohr Rising”, an original play written post-Katrina by Anna Harris & Kathy Bristol and performed by Biloxi High School drama students. Throughout the house and on front porch.
Papier-mache 9-foot Ohr “vase” made by Blaine Kern for the 2006 Rex Parade in New Orleans and donated by King Rex~in backyard.
Delicious catered refreshments from Biloxi Regional Medical Center!

12/4
Community Participation Exhibit: Pleasant’s Hands
The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art will resume in January 2007 its ongoing exhibit schedule devoted to diverse cultures, including the rich African-American cultures of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A set of exhibits running from January 15-February 28 at the museum’s transitional location at 1596 Glenn L. Swetman Drive in Biloxi will include an exhibit of affordable house designs from Architecture for Humanity, a film on Auburn University’s Rural Studio, and a community participation exhibit called “Pleasant’s Hands”.

The transitional museum will be open free to the public throughout the coming year, with hours Monday-Friday from 9 to 4:30 p.m. beginning January 3. Saturday hours may resume in the future.

Artists and those who enjoy art of all ages are invited to submit drawings, small sculptures, photographs and pottery for the Pleasant’s Hand exhibition. The museum will receive the artwork from Dec. 18-21 of this year and again from Jan. 3-12, 2007. There is no fee to enter. The recommendation is that art works reflect life on the Gulf Coast and particularly local homes: suggestions would include designs or photographs of favorite front porches, garden objects, kitchens and the like. Original clay flowerpots are particularly welcome. The museum will keep the works on display through February 28. This exhibition is dedicated to the legacy of Pleasant Reed, whose historic house was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Reed was a former slave who as a freed man worked to earn a living to build a shotgun house in Biloxi for his growing family. Two sons served in World War I, and daughter Theresa Reed lived in the family home her entire life; she was particularly known for saving documents about the American Civil Rights Movement, all of which survived Katrina and are in the archives of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art.

During February, a date will be set for local families to look at surviving photographs of African-American families donated to the museum before the storm; copies of the photographs will be made available to the public.

For more information, call 228.374.5547 or write info@georgeohr.org or marjie@georgeohr.org.
Our website is http://www.georgeohr.org/.

Getty Foundation Grants

2006-10-14T11:51:00.000-05:00

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Inc.
$68,000
For a conservation survey
The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum houses over 250 pieces of fine art pottery created by American ceramicist George E. Ohr, as well as related collections of Chinese and Japanese Sumida ceramics, and contemporary works in clay. The collection also includes African artifacts and African-American folk art, as well as extensive archival materials. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, a new Frank Gehry campus was being constructed, most of which was devastated by the storm. The Museum will work with a team of conservators to evaluate long-term conservation and storage needs for the collections.
Contact: Marjorie Gowdy (228) 374-5547

Administrators of the Tulane Education Fund
$15,000
For a conservation survey at the Newcomb Art Gallery

Louisiana Landmarks Society, Inc.
$75,000
For preparation of a conservation plan for the Pitot House

Contemporary Arts Center
$150,000
For transition planning

Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Inc.
$180,000
For transition planning

Longue Vue House and Gardens Corporation
$200,000
For transition planning and the development of a conservation plan

Louisiana Museum Foundation
$220,000
For transition planning for the Louisiana State Museum

Contemporary Arts Center
$250,000
For a collaborative transition planning project for the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans Museum of Art, Longue Vue House and Gardens, Ashé Cultural Center, Louisiana State Museum, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation

The Getty Foundation will accept another round of grant applications later this year.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Jaskol
Getty Communications Department
310-440-7607
jjaskol AT getty DOT edu
The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that features the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Getty Research Institute. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.

Online Christmas Marketing for YOU

2006-10-12T21:37:00.000-05:00

This week's Carnival of Hurricane Relief, #59, is hosted at Bad Pix:
http://www.cehwiedel.com/blogs/badpix/?p=271
Posts cover topics such as:
- how the Gulf Coast economy is recovering (or not)
- why Gulf Coast banks may not deserve their bad rep in response to Katrina
- looking for Katrina stories
- pennies from heaven
==========
The CoHR Squidoo Lens has also been updated:
- a video on the rebuilding of a small church
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Vacation Planner
A Squidoo Lens is an innovative tool for organizing online information, and is meant to generate money. Squidoo has made it easy for the owner of a Lens to designate a charity to receive that money, but the charity MUST register with Squidoo. The CoHR Squidoo Lens has now made TWO small payments to the GrameenFoundation USA. We would rather designate a local charity working directly on Gulf Coast recovery. If you work for such a charity, or know someone who does, tell them about Squidoo and urge them to register. Once registered, a charity becomes eligible for ANY lens-generated income.
==========
Finally, CoHR is putting together a special edition for the upcoming Christmas season that we would like your help with. We would like to feature Gulf Coast businesses that readers could be encouraged to patronize while doing online Christmas shopping. CoHR is willing to do the work if we can get personalized information.
If you own a Gulf Coast business or know of a Gulf Coast business that might benefit from this *free* exposure, send along the following information:
- business contact (name, email address, website URL)
- a *single* item to be featured (description, photo, link)
The idea is to make up an entry featuring the single item (or service) that includes an item description and illustration, a business (and/or personal) description, and how to purchase the item or service (link, phone number, email).
A sample page will be posted and linked from the CoHR homepage just as soon as possible.
==========
Please post about CoHR so that your readers will know. Thank you all for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
cehwiedel
"Carnival of Hurricane Relief"
http://www.cehwiedel.com/cohr/
"CoHR Squidoo Lens"
http://www.squidoo.com/cohr/

Assistance Groups

2006-10-07T15:34:00.000-05:00

Residencies
2/10 Made possible by Artists Communities Organization
http://www.artistcommunities.org/residencies.html

Alternate ROOTS - For Artists of All Media
http://www.alternateroots.org/
UPROOTED: The Katrina Project
"Show What You Know Festival"
Knoxville, TN
October 9 - 13, 2006
ARTISTIC ASSISTANCE
Call for Artistic Assistance Proposal
Fall 2006 Cycle 6
Receipt Deadline: Friday, October 20, 2006
View Artistic Assistance Cover Memo Word PDF
Download Application Word PDF

LA Division of The Arts
http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts/
This grant process has closed, as the application deadline has passed. Information about the next round of workshops and grant opportunities will be forthcoming. If you would like to receive email notification of upcoming grant opportunities from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, please subscribe to our e-Newsletter by sending an email to arts@crt.state.la.us with the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.

Crossroads Project - NOLA
2/10 http://www.xroadsproject.org/

The Actors Fund
http://www.actorsfund.org/
If You Need Assistance
If you are a professional in the entertainment industry in need of emergency assistance due to Hurricane Katrina, please call The Actors’ Fund at 800.221.7303. Please identify where you are calling from and ask to have an intake worker paged. If you call and get the voicemail system, dial extension 119.
The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic is pleased to offer our services to entertainment professionals from New Orleans who have relocated to the New York area due to Hurricane Katrina. The Actors’ Fund’s Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic is now the New York satellite facility of the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC). Click here to download a PDF for more information.
You can also click here for more Hurricane Relief Fund resources for the entertainment community.
How You Can Help
Your support of The Actors’ Fund helps those in the entertainment industry in times of need. You can help make this possible by donating to The Emergency Assistance Fund. Please send your check to The Actors’ Fund of America, 729 Seventh Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10019 or call 800.221.7303 x127. Thank you. You can also click here for more organizations who are taking donations in support of Hurricane Katrina victims.

Musicians' Assistance - Many Links. Will make this its own post soon.
Tipitinas
http://www.tipitinasfoundation.org/programs/relief/
The Tipitina's Foundation is coordinating relief to artists who are displaced and/or in need of help. Artists and donors may post listings so that the Foundation can match specific donations to artists in need. Artists and donors may also browse the lists themselves to try to make their own matches.
Music Maker
http://www.musicmaker.org/
The foundation provides sustenance programs, musical development and also established the New Orleans Musicians Fund to help those displaced musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Am still looking for HOW to apply for the funding. Will post when I have it...
Katrinas Piano Fund
http://www.katrinaspianofund.org/
Due to an overwhelming number of requests we regret that we must close the door for now, and work to fill the needs of those currently in line for assistance. I'll keep watching to see if they reopen this door.
Instruments other than pianos can be shipped directly to:
American Federation of Musicians
2401 Esplanade Ave
New Orleans, LA 70119
MusiCares
http://www.grammy.com/musicares/
Should you or a fellow musician affected by the hurricanes have a financial, medical or personal crises, please contact one of the four toll free phone lines listed below to inquire about assistance. MusiCares is committed to providing aid to those in need as quickly as possible and all inquires are confidential. MusiCares provides assistance for basic living expenses, doctor, dentist and hospital bills; addiction recovery treatment and sober living costs through our MAP Fund, psychotherapy, treatment for AIDS or hepatitis C and other critical illnesses.
West region – 800-687-4227
South Region – 877- 626-2748
North Region – 877- 303-6962
MAP Fund – 888- 627- 6271

Health Insurance Link
The Access to Health Insurance/Resources for Care Web site (www.ahirc.org) that contains more than 6,000 links to national, state and local information and assistance.

Idea Village - NOLA Only
http://www.ideavillage.org/
The Idea Village is located at 638 Camp Street New Orleans, La 70130
Current Information and Resources:
The deadline for submissions of grant applications has passed and we are no longer accepting applications at this time. Please complete the entrepreneur assessment form and we will add you to our database of entrepreneurs. We remain committed to your business and will keep you informed as additional resources become available.

NOLA Housing

2006-10-07T15:29:00.000-05:00

It's not what I call affordable, but at least they're trying...
This information was provided by "Momnick" with Katrina's Angels.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE:
Renaissance Property Group is completing a mixed-use historic rehabilitation of the Handelman Department Store. The building is located at 1824 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd (Dryades St), in the heart of the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans (just minutes from downtown). The site was left unflooded by Hurricane Katrina, and will be ready for occupation by the first week of January.
The rehabilitation includes the creation of 42 brand-new residential units and 9000 sq ft of beautiful Office/Commercial space. The building includes off-street parking, bus-line access, and on-site laundry facilities. The residential units contain new ovens, ranges, refrigerators, and dishwashers. In addition, the street front office/commercial space can be built out to the occupant's specifications and subdivided as necessary. Commercial rent will be determined by the duration of lease, credit strength, square footage required.

The Rent and Income Requirements for the apartments are as follows:

Multi-Family Units
18 (1 Bedroom) $475
6 (2 Bedroom) $575
Elderly Units (Age 55 and up)
14 (1 Bedroom) $475
4 (2 Bedroom) $575

Income Limits (No more than 60% of Area Median Income)
One Person $21,420
Two Persons $24,480
Three Persons $27,540
Four Persons $30,600

To this end, if any artists meet the income qualifications and are looking for housing or centrally located office space, please e-mail collinsgaudin21@hotmail.com or call (314) 968-9092 x23 to arrange for more information and a tour of the site.

And From Gary:
Final section of the city should get water service by Oct. 20
By Michelle Krupa
Staff writer
Safe drinking water should be flowing to the northern section of the Lower 9th Ward by Oct. 20, restoring the most basic public service to the last remaining sliver of the city without potable water. Preliminary tests by the Sewerage & Water Board show that water pressure in the area has reached an adequate, sustainable level, and that the water’s chemical composition is not harmful for drinking, cooking or bathing, agency spokesman Robert Jackson said Friday. Based on those results, S&WB officials expect that barring unusual problems, such as a busted water main, the state’s Department of Health and Hospitals will “certify” the water as safe for everyday use sometime in the next two weeks, he said.
The affected area is bounded by North Derbigny Street, Florida Avenue, the Industrial Canal and the St. Bernard Parish line. “We’ve done preliminary tests, and it’s now in the hands of the state,” Jackson said. “Hopefully we’ll hear something late next week, barring any out-of-the-ordinary problems.”
Residents of the northern swath of the Lower 9th Ward, arguably the section of the city hardest hit by the flood, have protested for months that without full water service, they have been exiled from their neighborhood. Though water has been available at their lots for several months, dozens of fractured subterranean pipes have resulted in inconsistent water pressure, making state certification impossible.
FEMA will not install travel trailers on private property if the lot cannot receive potable water. Tanya Harris, a leader of the local ACORN community action group, said Friday that she was thrilled with the news, which comes 10 days after S&WB officials initiated a series of face-to-face meetings with neighbors to detail the agency’s efforts to restore water service.
Water board directors last month ordered administrators to provide such updates after residents complained that they had witnessed little work being done in the area. Harris said ACORN now will turn its attention to other issues critical to the recovery of the Lower 9th Ward, including the restoration of electrical power by Entergy New Orleans to a six-by-nine block area immediately west of the Industrial Canal. “We want to make sure all the right-of-return issues are taken care of, and the one thing left is getting electricity back in that area closest to the breach,” she said.
Also on their agenda is reopening the Lower 9th Ward campus of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology, which has been operating at a Central City site this semester, and fighting expected rate hikes for homeowners insurance and residential electricity. “That’s going to price a lot of people out,” Harris said. “People are not going to be able to live in the homes that they own.”
Michelle Krupa can be reached at mkrupa@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3312.

NOLA Gutting Law II

2006-10-06T08:13:00.000-05:00

From The Times Picayune
N.O. begins second phase of gutting law
It's reinspecting 3,400 buildings ordered to be cleaned, secured
Thursday, October 05, 2006
By Bruce Eggler
Starting today, the city will begin reinspecting more than 3,000 blighted New Orleans buildings whose owners have been warned that their properties, most of them ravaged by Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters, are public nuisances and must be cleaned up.
It's the start of the second phase of the city's campaign to enforce the requirement that foul-smelling and environmentally hazardous buildings must be cleaned, gutted and secured.
The city also will soon begin asking nonprofit organizations that offer free gutting services to low-income residents whether they want financial aid from the city for their efforts.

See the rest at http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1160037688199750.xml&coll=1
-Nancy

Valerie's Gallery Column

2006-10-04T18:09:00.000-05:00

Am putting this in so you can see how she's trying to assist in the marketing of your wares, your skills and your existance. I know it's difficult, but you really need to blow your own horn - no one else will. http://www.coastnightlifeobserver.com/Coast_Artists.html

March's Column
Longing For Green
What a difference a year makes! I can feel lighter moods, easier smiles and actually see a little green here and there. Of course most of the green is in the form of weeds, but I’ll take it! I love green, from a color psychology point of view it is a soothing color palette and the color selected by most geniuses. Over 17 years ago, when we first opened our business on Howard Avenue, we painted the walls a shade of green. We have been discussing the need to repaint, after the storm everyone is trying to fix up a little. So what color do we keep coming back to….green! I guess the general lack of the color in our outdoor landscapes has made this a color I can’t seem to live without. .

I hope you like this month’s selection of green things by the many talented artists across the coast. From sage to lime they are all divine! March is all about clover, leprechauns, green beer, Easter egg hunts and being surrounded by Mother Nature and all her glorious green!

Each precious branch of every precious tree, the ancient oaks spread their leaves to blanket my sky with shade.
I see now each precious limb of so many twisted and scared; arms up as if to say, “Come to my aid”.
The blades of grass and all green are stripped away; miles of sky do I see only blue, no emerald and jade.

March 3, 2006
Valerie Cushman
Biloxi, MS

It will be featured in Gulf Coast Observer. Papers go out in heavily trafficed areas in your cities. Here in Biloxi you can find them at the Schooner restaurant and City Hall. In Ocean Springs in front of Hillyer House and Bayview Gourmet. At all Walmarts, Chambers and Casinos.

How To Submit Your Work
Leslie,
This is the format I have been asking for from the artists. I am theming each month to kind of go with the season so that it is timely and appropriate for what most people might be shopping for.

November is Thankful
December is Spiritual
January is Sweet (hearts, sugar bowl)
February is Masked
March is Green
April is Mississippi and Magnolias
May is Mother and Child
June is Hitched
July is Red, White and Blue Country
August is Water

This is my year of what I have planned if all goes ok.
I am asking if they have submissions that they strictly send me a link not a photo. My email is too slow. But mostly I am working from the websites and seeing whose work will fit into these themes.

Format
Phone Val for her email address - 228-374-8427. Once you have that, you can send her a link of your work (not an attachment, dial up is too slow!) If it works into one of these months, she will ask you to submit a .jpg to Cheli at the Coastal Observer. Label your email to Val (the Subject Line) with your name - both business (if you have one) and personal name and Valerie's Gallery/Month (month you wish to have your work highlighted).

In the body of your email, add the following:
"Title of piece"
Description and medium used
Created by (your name)
Available at (contact info for where it is sold address, phone, web, etc...)
5 sentence paragraph biography of you and your work.

Be Persistant

2006-10-04T17:56:00.000-05:00

From Val:

Just like in business...nothing is a guaranteed sale..you just have to stay persistant. I would never send photos of work without first sending a letter and asking if they would like to see photos of my work. Mainly because some people do not like attachments being sent to them and will not open the email if they don't know who it is from and has an attachment.

It took me two tries to get with Ann Marie at IP she is busy and sometimes a phone call works better than an email.

I was merely trying to help you along with a contact name and get your foot in the door. The other thing is this website may get thousands of submissions or possibly the person is on vacation, or maybe they have a board that has to review. I sent my thing in to MS Magazine and it was 6 weeks before I heard from them and they are a small publication. So be patient!

Another trick when looking for venues is read my new column in Gulf Coast Observer and look at where artists say their work is being sold. Try those same places and see if they would be interested in having your type of art. Many times you will have someone pick you up and maybe drop you because it is not selling well. It is not a personal reflection it is because that is not what that particular store's customers aren't looking for that. I have mentioned several times that I (my store) has no experience dealing in original art. I am not a gallery ..so it is not the first place that collectors will go looking for original art. So Galleries are your first stop!

I love all of your work and would have every single one of you but don't have enough space and would not be able to be sole support for any of you. But if you get a store in each city or a big casino account or are represented by a large gallery then you have it made. The trick is to be very visible. Thru websites and every kind of promotion...this way more people see your work. You get help from Shaun Lea or Leslie can help you create a blog. Get a website Get Noticed.

I need to do the same sorts of things. But invariably I put it off I am not making artwork..but like you I am creating visual displays within my store, merchandising, answering the phone and a day goes by and the accomplishments are visible or they are still on the to do list!

From Leslie:

Remember - Fortuna Pertinax Venia!
Fortune Favors the Persistant

Filled Exhibits

2006-09-30T21:47:00.000-05:00

Memories of Point Cadet
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi Presents
Free, Community receptions:
Tuesday, October 10, 5:30-7 pm, West Biloxi Library
Tuesday, October 17, 5:30-7 pm, Margaret Sherry Library
Thursday, October 26, 5:30-7 pm, Biloxi City Hall
(City Hall reception includes remarks by Mayor A. J. Holloway and Point Cadet remembrances from historian Murella Powell)
~Most works are available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds going to the artist~
Among the represented works:
Linda Nix of Biloxi, “Moses Legacy Lost”, “Church of the Redeemer”, “St. Michaels”, photographs
Donna Stokes of Biloxi, “Golden Fisherman at Boat Race”, “Biloxi Blast”, “Schooner”, “Shrimp Harbor”, photographs
Photographic collection of the late Joe Scholtes
Annual Seafood Festival Poster Collection, Becky Anzalone, Biloxi
John Rhodes of Biloxi, “Kuhn Street Pier”, “The Schooner”, “Biloxi Yacht Club”
Lewis Clark of Memphis and formerly of the Coast, “Cavalier”, “Shrimp Fleet”, “Shrimpboats”, “Biloxi Yacht Club”, “Reflections”, and prints
Dina O’Sullivan of Minneapolis and formerly the Coast, “Ghost Houses”
Claudia Cartee of Seminary, “Upheaval”, “Evolution”, “Apparition”, “Retrospection”
Kay Broussard of Biloxi, “End of Day”, “The Sea (Near the Point)”
Also, works will be arriving from other local, popular artists such as Marty Wilson, Mary Moran, Tommy Moran, Mike Williams and Peggy Soljan.

For more information, call Bob Brooks at 228.374.5547.

Competitions

2006-09-30T21:44:00.000-05:00

3/18 Bay St Louis Bridge Calling for Artists

3/16 Juried Art Show in Biloxi

MS Artist & Craftsman Hurricane Relief Assistance

2006-09-29T19:09:00.000-05:00

After hurricane Katrina, an estimated 600 artists and craftsmen lost their studios, equipment, homes, cars, gallery representation, collectors, and inventory of work at the beginning of the sales season. Every layer of the structure of the art colony was destroyed.

The purpose of this project is to restore the supplies and equipment the artisans on the Mississippi Gulf Coast had the day before Katrina. We feel that all levels of the arts on the coast need to be restored, but this project focus on the individual artist and craftsman. The structure of this project gives artists who had major investments in their craft a higher level of help than those who had a lesser commitment.

One of the problems this project hopes to correct is the lack of an advocate who focuses on the individual. Although the Arts Commissions are doing a tremendous job working to save the organizations, creative centers and museums, we feel that an art colony without practicing artists is not acceptable.

Two month after the hurricane, Artisans/Santa Fe, donated a truckload of painting supplies to the Miss Gulf Coast. With that first donation a relief effort was started that has now sent over $180,000.00 worth of equipment and supplies donated to the Art Relief Store set up in Gulfport, free to those who lost their studios. The response has been tremendous, but there is an estimated 2.75 million dollars more needed.

The majority of the artists on the recovery list have taken minimum wage jobs, and that income must be used to rebuild their homes and studios. But if they have the materials, they find the time and a place to create. Most of these artists were in their creative prime and were living through their creativity. Because so much of how an artist lives is in his or her own mind, they are able to block out much of this devastation, and their need to create is unbelievable. Many who have been able to restart their studios report the work has hit a new level, but the majority is struggling to rebuild their careers in an area of total devastation.

We would like to:
-continue restoring the equipment and supplies lost during Hurricane Katrina
-find venues outside of the devastated area to show and market their work
-to treat the artists and their work with respect.

THE ART SUPPLY RELIEF STORE.

Thanks to Greg Moran, who has taken on the responsibility of distributing the supplies and has given us a building to use, (Since the building is on his family's property, we ask that you sign a waver of responsibility when you go) Greg's place is in Gulfport and asks that you call ahead for an appointment. 228-539-5071.
Moran Road. • The mailbox 14457 marks the entrance to the property.

With the original shipment of art supplies, from Artisans/Santa Fe, a temporary art supply store was set up in Bay St. Louis, but due to the extreme destruction it was moved to Gulfport a more central location.

One of the sculptors we had been able to help, in gratitude, took a metal building and put it by his studio to house the art supplies. He is now the gatekeeper, and artists make appointments to pick up supplies needed as they are donated. The relief web site www.carolepigott.com/help is hosted by Carole Pigott, coordinator of the project. Through it a network has been set up to deliver information on help offered and to offer thanks for help given. There is a listing of grants for hurricane artists, another financial help. Also artisans who have been able to restart their studios are able to list their losses along with photographs of their work. The web site has been used very successfully in gathering donations and references for artist sales and grant applications.

As each offer of help is received, a network of emails go out to 170 artists and craftsmen which then go to a grapevine of efforts to reach everyone. Many still do not have computers, so we have as many as 10 sharing one, and addresses of friends who will pass the information on.

WEAVING GUILDS

An initial donation of a loom by a Santa Fe weaver sparked a donation drive by weaving guilds across the United States that has seen truckloads of materials sent to the weaving guilds on the Gulf Coast. We have made arrangements for free storage for artisans who cannot receive donations until their studios are repaired.

MOVING FORWARD

Several of the artists and craftsmen have been able to quit minimum wage jobs and return to their studio work. Greg Moran, sculptor, with our help is now taking commissions, and has restored his forge. In gratitude, he took responsibility for the relief store. Brian Nettles is now sharing his equipment and kilns with 44 other artists. The most beautiful part of this project is the community of the artisans, and when one is helped, they move forward and then turn to help another. This project is to rescue the Mississippi Hurricane Artists by giving them the tools to move forward. Not just the equipment and supplies lost, not just new venues to sell the new work but also the respect they deserve for their bravery in creating in such devastation, and using that energy to push their work to new levels.

Fair Housing Advocate

2006-09-29T09:17:00.000-05:00

I am working on the Hurricane Relief Project of the National Fair Housing Alliance.
Hurricane affected homeowners needing assistance with mortgage and insurance matters can contact the following local fair housing centers:
Mississippi - contact the Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center in Biloxi at 228-396-4008.
Louisiana: - contact the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center at 504-596-2100
Alabama - Center for Fair Housing in Mobile at 251-479-1532
If now residing in Houston - contact Greater Houston Fair Housing Center 713-641-3247 or the fair housing centers listed above.

Diane Cipollone
Special Project Attorney
Hurricane Relief Project
National Fair Housing Alliance
1212 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005202-898-1661
www.nationalfairhousing.org

Excerpts From RTR Biloxi

2006-09-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

TOURISM
• Replace, restore or repair the City’s historic sites and attractions to
provide tourists with a unique experience
• Work with local attractions to create a marketing program funded by a
1% food and beverage tax
• Expand the Point Cadet Marina and create a Waterfront area attraction,
funded grants from the Tidelands Trust Fund or bonds repaid by leases.
• Build fishing reefs using debris from the Biloxi Bay Bridge and old
fishing bridge.
• Expedite the process for approving and permitting project proposals.
• Zone East Biloxi and downtown Biloxi for mixed use and create TIF
Bond Districts.
• Revise the City’s parking requirements for Condotels.
• Support and encourage immediate expansion of the Mississippi Coast
Coliseum and Convention Center and create a “Convention
Center District.”
• Determine feasibility of an East Biloxi Convention Center.
• Extend hotel tax to include condotels.
• Commit property in East Biloxi for a privately developed minor league
baseball stadium.
• Work with CTA to create a “Park Once” transportation systems
for tourists.
• Replace the H-tract connector route.

SMALL BUSINESS
• Lobby Congress to seek changes in the HUBZone regulations to have
the entire City of Biloxi designated as a HUBZone area.
• Expand the scope of the new Community Center in East Biloxi to
become a multi-purpose, multi-story building to meet many needs of
the community.
• Encourage USM Gulf Coast to investigate the relocation of the campus
to the City of Biloxi.
• Develop a plan to upgrade wireless Internet access throughout the City
to create “hot spots” for connectivity.
• Develop a commerce park in the northern portion of the City to give
businesses location options outside potential flood area.
• Provide better communications and distribution of information for small
businesses in Biloxi to assure all citizens are aware of the resources are
available from various agencies.
• Investigate and implement grants/tax credits to small companies for
employment including hiring and retaining family members as these
parties are excluded as part of the Go Zone legislation.
• Adopt a residential and commercial rent stabilization ordinance to offer
affordable housing and office space for small businesses.
• Adopt a vacancy fine for commercial locations to encourage property
owners to lease or sell available property.
• Monitor legal issues including non-regulation of business insurance,
wages paid by FEMA, and unemployment tax rate increases.
• Review and update the City’s sign ordinance.
• Encourage diversity of small business in the City of Biloxi and provide
assistance to all businesses.
• Revitalize the Vieux Marche area.

Shows

2006-09-16T20:46:00.000-05:00

2007 (2006 is below for review for this coming year)
Added June 22
September 29-30, Biloxi Town Green:
15th Annual George Ohr Fall Festival of Arts
Sponsored by the City of Biloxi and Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
Call for details: 228.374.5547. www.georgeohr.org
Art booths; great food; children’s activities; live music. Mustache contest. Potters’ game. Raku booth.

3/23 - June Show Mississippi Market
Tthis is a MS Development Authority Event - ask them to please cut you some slack on the price of a space....and set up and do this Mississippi Market Wholesale Show. It's at the Trademart in Jackson on June 7th and 8th. 1-888-886-3323 or http://www.mississippimarket.org/
The first space is $255.00 and an additional 10 X 10 space is just 130.00. If 2 vendors go together, that is a total of 385.00. Both vendors get listings just like they are separate, but the spaces are cheaper that way...in case anyone is interested. That means instead of each vendor paying 255.00, they each only have to pay: 192.50 each. They have to register before March 30 though..to get that price. Kim

3/23 March of Dimes in April
March of Dimes Walk America is offering space at the festival at the City of Gulfport Sportsplex next to the Water park contact Kay Daneault, south MS March of Dimes Foundation Division Director at 228-896-0886 or cell 860-6650 April 28th www.marchofdimes.com/mississippi

3/22 Hop to the Vieux and Grillin' on the Green scheduled for March 31st from 9:30 to 4:30 Booths are $50 for either event. Please contact Kay Miller at the above numbers. Hop to the Vieux is an Arts and Crafts Show. Last year was the first year to have it. This year it will be held in conjunction with Grillin' on the Green (earn this years bragging rights for best BBQ in town!!)

Added 2/16 - June deadline
This show is done by the Mississippi Development Authority and is for items produced or businesses located in Mississippi. I don't know how many of you are large enough to produce work for sale (wholesale) but if you do wholesale and are interested in expanding your territory, perhaps making some contacts with a rep, etc... then this is a show to look into. http://www.mississippimarket.org/ 888-886-3323 It's being held June 7th and 8th at the Trademart in Jackson in the State Fairgrounds Complex off High Street. A lot of the food vendors, potters and bath product producers, etc.. do this show.

1/13 From Mary Bennett
Hi Valerie,
I am looking for an artist who has painted a beach scene in the area. We are working on a new commercial for Cable TV and the idea is that they are going to use their beach scene artwork in the commercial along with the original site of the scene. They will go to the spot that the artist used - film that and then pan into the artwork after in the commercial. If any of your artist are interested in participating and hanging in our gallery please have them call me as soon as possible. They would like to shoot the commercial in the next week or so.
We are still looking for new artist to showcase in both the Whistle Stop Gallery in Ocean Springs and Magnolia Framing in Gautier. People are getting back into their homes and we are selling lots of art in both locations.
The Whistle Stop is a success in Ocean Springs. People who can't find what they want in Ocean Springs are sent to our Magnolia Framing in Gautier. It is amazing how much traffic we are having.
We are also planning events in the near future and we are very big on Local Artist so if any one is interested please call.
Mary Bennett
Magnolia Framing & Art Gallery
The Whistle Stop
1-228-497-2211

2006 (review for this coming year's marketing)
10/18 - Chimneyville Craft Festival
http://www.mscraftsmensguild.org/events.cfm
Mississippi Trade Mart / Jackson, Mississippi
VIP Party Friday, December 1 • 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.Preview Party Friday, December 1 • 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. $50.00 per person
Festival Hours Saturday, December 2 • 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3 • 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m. General Admission $8.00 per person Children under 12 free

The Chimneyville Crafts Festival is held the first weekend in December at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, Mississippi. Over 160 booths showcase the finest talent in the region. Demonstrations graphically display some of the fascinating skills needed by master artisans. Crafts are available in a wide range of prices. Shoppers find everything from stocking stuffers to unique gifts reflecting Mississippi's heritage to useful and beautiful household objects and furnishings to exquisite, affordable art. Most craftsmen take orders for custom pieces to be made to the customer's specifications and some exhibitors sell wholesale to shop and gallery buyers. The festival is a "Southeastern Tourism Association Top Ten Event."

The New Mississippi Crafts Center is scheduled to open November 2006. The new 20,000 square foot building will be 2 miles north from Natchez Trace Exit 105-A.

For Membership
http://www.mscraftsmensguild.org/application.pdf

10/7 28th PETER ANDERSON ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL
November 4 & 5, 2006
Selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events!
This family affair features exceptional arts & crafts by some of the finest artisans, as well as entertainment & traditional & ethnic foods.
More info, 228-875-4424
Evening of the Arts in Autumn.
Walter Anderson Museum of Art
November 4th 228-872-3164

10/14
Not really a show, but a great way to be seen!
Free Community Art Day at Buddhist Temple
Sponsored by Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
228.374.5547
info@georgeohr.org, studio@georgeohr.org
Saturday, October 21, 2006, Oak Street
10 am-1 pm
All ages, families welcome—but especially for youngsters!
Work on the Great Tile Project, on pottery and painting and craft projects!

Market In The Park - Pass Christain - added 9/28
SATURDAYS
Fresh produce, plants & flowers and affordable art.
Times: 8am to 11am
Location: War Memorial Park, Pass Christian
Phone: 228-324-2109

Chefs of The Coast (added 9/28)
http://www.chefsofthecoast.com/ October 22, 2006 4-10PM
Karen Sinopoli has been in charge of Chefs of the coast forever it seems. She is a jewelry artist herself and is always extremely fair. She knows it is expensive time consuming and hard on most of us right now to donate anything so she is asking for rather than donations that maybe they sell your item and take a percentage. If it doesn't sell they will return it to you. There silent auction and all will be held in the arena. It's always a nice venue and is a good way for people to see your artwork and to leave business cards. She's really good about letting you put out promotional materials. Anyway contact Karen at Karen SinopoliE-mail Address(es): Katfish42@aol.com
or....
Chefs of the CoastE-mail Address(es): chefs@cableone.net
313 Eastview Drive
Biloxi, MS 39531
P # 228-380-5162
F # 228-385-1347
C # 228-380-5162

MS Visitor's Bureau
http://www.gulfcoast.org/
Contacts for them are listed below. Let them know when you are scheduling events. They are very helpful.

Janice Jones,
Manager, Publications/Media Relations
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
228-896-6699 ext 210: Fax: 228-896-6788

Nicole Learson
Marketing Director
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
nicolel@gulfcoast.org

Some of you may never want to venture into the wholesale business and some of you may be thinking that's something you want to try.
Pam Haskin
Wholesale Market
P.O. Box 56
Piedmont, OK 73078
800-951-1994
info@wmigiftshows.com
http://www.wmigiftshows.com/

They did a show here in Biloxi and because the MS Coast Colliseum is messed up they are holding the shows in Jackson. I think if some of you were to get together and split up some booths...maybe do a whole Katrina Artists section (terrible name) and talk to her about giving you a really big break on some booths because it would really help...she would be helpful. She is a business woman but not without some sense of things...and I think she wants it to be back here in Biloxi in February.

Shows
The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art is affiliated with the Smithsonian and they are putting together a show Memories of Point Cadet. They are in need of painters for the show. All interested artists should call Bob Brooks 860-1115 right away.

Christmas in the City Updated 10/4

Oct. 30th is the cut off for Christmas in the City. We are trying to get a map made with contact info so that we can hand those out during the event. So we need to know by then so that we have time to execute all of that. Hope that you will be able to make it

BILOXI MAIN STREET TO HOST 2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY
Biloxi Main Street is hosting the 2nd Annual Christmas in the City. We are looking forward to December as the Vieux Marche’ will transform into an outdoor art gallery. There will be Children’s activities, delicious specialty foods, live entertainment all day, pictures with Santa, and “Pusheratas” a Biloxi specialty treat made by the Slavonian Lodge ladies. Main Street Biloxi will also have their Collectible Christmas ornaments available for sale. The 2006 ornament is the Bond House and is significant in that Main Street has chosen to renovate this 100 year old home. The event will take place on Saturday, December 2nd from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm in downtown Biloxi on the Vieux Marche’. The day will be kicked off with the Children’s Christmas Walking Parade at 9:00 am. We are very excited to move forward and start a great new Christmas tradition on the Coast!

We will take registration for vendors through October 31, 2006. We welcome any new vendors to participate in the Christmas in the City Festival. Please submit 3 photos or a website address to view photos to Kay Miller.

For any information on Main Street Biloxi and this Christmas event, please contact Kay Miller at 228-435-6339 or 228-263-6339 & kmiller@biloxi.ms.us.

Gingerbread House Show
I talked to Kim Ries ...she is in Florence, MS and asked her what shows she was doing. She mentioned Canton, MS which is a huge show for Crafters and she mentioned Gingerbread House Show...Apple Annie's puts it on at the Ag Museum in Jackson..contacts are Ann Bryant and Gail Stewart 601-992-9925. This would be another show that would be geared more towards crafters.

Handworks
A really nice show to do is Handworks...it is http://www.handworksmarket.com/ ...it is a show geared specifically for Hand made items. It is a really nice show..I think booths are $250- in Jackson area.

Perhaps if you mention to these folks that you are coming out of an area and trying to get back to speed they will do a special rate. I have inquired about that at a wholesale show that is held in the Jackson area. I have not received a response. Feel free to inquire yourselves. Pam is the lady who owns the show. WHOLESALE MARKETS, INC
E-mail Address(es): info@wmigiftshows.com

Also is Mississippi Marketplace. It is another wholesale show that is geared towards all things made in Mississippi - held in Jackson.

Studio Space Available

2006-09-16T20:44:00.000-05:00

From Val Cushman

I got a note from one of you that mentioned rent increases and lack of studio space. I think most of us feel that some of these problems are bigger than all of us. This artist mentioned being asked to move so the property could be sold and wondered if there were people considering letting someone move in while the space was being worked on. I think that is a very individual question. But I will say that some people were already thinking of this very thing. Gulfport seems to be the perfect town in terms of all the downtown space that is available and would make a perfect arts district. But as to what they are trying to lease it for...I wouldn't know. Martha Mabey was working on that until she moved. Gulfport's Main St. Office would be the first place to start calling. www.msmainstreet.com and look for Gulfport's email address.

I wanted to let the people on the coast know that Bay Artists Co-op has two studio spaces available in Bay St Louis. The majority of Co-op members work in clay, from sculpture to mugs. This is a large unconditioned building with designated studio areas and 24/7access. The rent is very reasonable. This is our 11th year as a studio and they will be participating in ArtsAlive! in November. If interested, please call Regan at 228.216.0210.
I just read something recently in one of my trade magazines and it says "Change happens and we have to live with it, and we have to figure out how to turn changes to our advantage." This is so true no matter where you are living. Change is inevitable and it is never your choosing. It also said that "Loyalty, credibility, and integrity ....those three qualities lead to creativity, dedication and vision." I thought that was interesting since that sums up most artists.

Art Galleries

2006-09-16T20:39:00.000-05:00

NOLA
http://www.upperline.com/ Is an art gallery and a restaurant in New Orleans featuring some of the region's best art. If you were not wanting to pursue putting your artwork in a gallery in New Orleans maybe you know a restauranteur who wants to go this route.

MS and AL
The Mississippi Gift Company www.theMississippiGiftCompany.com
Original Artwork, pottery, candles, jewelry, books, cookbooks, gift baskets and gourmet foods.
Downtown Greenwood 1-800-467-7763
An Entire Store Dedicated to Products Made in Mississippi.

B Liles Studio
206 W. Jackson Street
Ridgeland, MS
601-607-7741
www.blilesstudio.com

Aloha Gallery (Pam Marshall)
4402 East Aloha Drive
Diamondhead, MS 39525

Beau Rivage Resort Casino (Diane Barber)
875 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi
386-7111

Finders Keepers Art Gallery
5161 Main Street
Lucedale, MS 39452
601-766-0406

Gallery 54
54 Upham Street
Mobile, AL 36607
251-473-7995

Brown's Fine Art
630 Fondren Place
Jackson, MS 39216
www.brownsfineart.com

Southside Gallery
150 Courthouse Square
Oxford, MS 38655
662-234-9090
www.southsideartgallery.com

Hollywood Casino
711 Hollywood BLVD
Bay St. Louis 39520
466-8078

Island View Resort Casino
3300 West Beach Blvd.
Gulfport, MS 39501
314-2100

Kathy's Frame Works
2300 Ingalls Avenue
Pascagoula, MS 39567

Magnolia Art Gallery (and Whistle Stop in Ocean Springs) Mary Bennett
2525 Hwy 90
Gautier, MS 39553

Negrotto's, Marv's, and Sandpiper Gifts off Pass Rd in Biloxi

Patina
54 Section Street North
Fairhope, AL 36532
928-2718

Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
(Most likely they have a gallery gift shop)
5th Avenue at 7th Street
Laurel, MS www.LRMA.org
601-649-6374

The Very Thing
929 Washington Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
872-8862

Wall Decor
25299 Canal Road
Orange Beach, AL 36561
251-974-1695

The Whistle Stop
636 Washington Avenue
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
875-1166

Mood
Howard Avenue
Biloxi, 39530

(Me at )EJM..I have a few things and check my column online and see where the other artists are selling their work. Although my store is less like a gallery.

co-op in Bay St. Louis and one in Ocean Springs.

Randy has opened a new Fine Art and Framing place
Landers
1224 E. Pass Road Gulfport, MS
604-2035

Newport News
A restaurant in Newport News and was very successful at showcasing local art. http://www.cowboysyds.com/ He is still mentioned on this website..he sold this and is opening a new one The Stove.

Art House in Ocean Springs was one of the few remaining galleries and has a really good group of artists there. Also Bay St. Louis 220 Main has formed a co-op. Mary Bennett of Magnolia Framing and Art Gallery in Gautier has purchased Whistle Stop in Ocean Springs. Here's a note from Mary...she needs some artists!

We will be buying "The Whistle Stop" frame shop in Ocean Springs within the next few weeks. Mr. White & his wife have decided to retire. We will be using the Whistle Stop as a gallery & design shop, all of the framing will be done in our main location in Gautier.

We are very excited about this as we have been looking for a location in Ocean Springs or Biloxi since the storm. As always we are looking for local artists, sculptors, etc that we can show and sell their works. My husband, sons & I believe so much in the local talent! We are proud of each of the artist who already hang in our gallery.

After we come back from market my husband will get busy on our website to showcase the artist who have prints to sell, also their originals. Check out our website and look at the talent we have so far. 2 more artist coming soon! Bob Walters & Ching Walters.
http://www.magnoliaframing.com/
Also take a look at some of the things we have framed under our framed examples - we like to be different!
Mary Bennett
Magnolia Framing & Art Gallery
1-800-336-3568

Biloxi Area
3/22 All Wrapped Up
Julie Tarranto owner of All Wrapped Up at 3586 Sangani Blvd, D'Iberville. Located in shopping center across from Walmart. She has a precious store and is looking for a few more local artist's work to carry in her store. Good high traffic location. 396-3677 I saw the neatest thing at Julie's store she had a poem framed with a little fluer dis lis finding glued to it. The poem was about Katrina and I think from the New Orleans area ...but it gave me the idea that possibly I need to frame up some of my poetry for sale. I hate that nobody from MS has done this yet.

Boomtown Buyers
Val stopped into Boomtown to see new room they added and while I was there I asked who did the buying for their gift shop. Sandra Kirke and Betty Ramey.
Contact Betty Ramey at Boomtown Buyers for Boomtown Casino in Biloxi - I don't have a phone number - sorry!

I would highly recommend before sending physical photos that you ask if that would be ok. She is very interested in having some local items. They have a very small shop and items like cards, jewelry, purses, scarves, candles, soap or anything that is easy to reproduce. If you are a photographer perhaps you have small postcards or magnets or inexpensive prints. Take into account they have a western theme and are located in Biloxi. Photos of Biloxi landmarks are going to be what they want versus other areas.

Jackson MS

Southern Breeze Gallery
Call - (601)982-4222
Email - southernbreeze@jam.rr.com
Postal -
4500 I55 North, Suite 160
Highland Village
Jackson, MS 39211
Events Schedule
October 15 - 1:30-4:30 - Charlie Busler & Sam Clark
November 10 - 5:00-8:00 - Virginia Shirley and Jackie Ellens
December 10 - 2:00-4:00 - Henry Muse
February 11 - Lee Gibson
March - Cathy Fonda

Maritime Museum
Robin David is in charge at this museum and while it is not an art museum ..it served as a place to display local artworks done by the descendants of boat builders and shrimpers. Had lots of very coastal artworks and pottery etc... and of course they are gone as well. They are still trying to get rebuilt or figure something out.
http://www.maritimemuseum.org/

Business Assistance

2006-09-16T17:03:00.000-05:00

Information and Development
Recovering Vital Documents
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Vital_Docs.shtml 8/21 - MS Fraud Unit
To learn more about the Hurricane fraud unit, or to file a complaint call 1-800-956-1846.
http://www.osa.state.ms.us/katrina-inv.htm
Setting Up Your Website and Web Publishing
http://thinknola.com/wiki/Category:Internet_Workshops
Alan has put together an incredible resource for NOLA. The great part is, all of his work can be applied to Hancock County and other areas as well. Please look.
Preparing for Disasters
http://hancockcountyrelief.blogspot.com/2006/06/preparing-for-disasters.html
A compilation of sites with upcoming suggestions from others who have lived it.
Working With The Government
http://www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov/
1-888-4USADOC
Website made just for small businesses who wish to get government contracts during the rebuilding process.
Building in a Box
http://www.NewHopeConstruction.org
Will work with you in designing a building to fit your needs. Will send it pre-cut for you to assemble.

Rebuild and Repair
Damaged Artwork - hoping to get another show set up:
Restoration Road Show (with advice about repairing or maintaining family treasures after a hurricane) will be sponsored by WAMA from 1-5 p.m.on Sunday, August 20. Conservators in ceramics,photography, furniture, silver, textiles & more will be on hand. Participants may bring up to 2 items each and the cost is $25, There will be a panel discussion and question & answer segment of the program. Refreshments and museum admission are included in the participation fee. Details: 228-872-3164.

Kiln Repair Information
News from Carol Pigott

Carole, I've been thinking about the people who had electric kilns that we through the flooding and I've talked to our kiln expert. Those kilns are not unusable. At the very least, they can be used as raku kilns. At the best, they just need to dry out, and may need to have their elements replaced. One question in determining this is whether or not the kiln has a controller. Our kiln expert, Sam Morrison, would be glad to e-mail advise to anyone who is not sure how to proceed. He can be reached at sam@highwaterclays.com
Gail
Highwater Clay

Website Assistance
Website Design Help

This is the kind of site that Shawn Lea of Meridian is doing for you (see link below katrina artists). Just so you have a web presence which in fact helps the media do a better job of covering you, etc... see http://www.carolepigott.com/ for Shawn's contact info.

I had a few questions for Michelle who recently had a website created. Was it simple enough working with Shawn Lea to get the website built? Is it a she or he....was it pretty fast?? And it was free, correct??

"She was very easy to deal with, a real delight, and yes, it's her gift to the arts, it's all free....she will even up date it too. I offered to pay her and she declined"
Michelle Allee
www.katrinaartists.com/MichelleAllee/

Blog Assistance
Lori Gordon has offered to assist anyone in setting up their blog. lorikgordon@gmail.com
Leslie Holly (the one putting this blog together) will also help. The set up is easy and once you get the hang of it, can be very sharp, very informative and easily updated. KatrinaCoalition@aol.com

Want to learn how to create a blogspot like Ellis Anderson and Lori Gordon? www.lorigordon.blogspot.com Here are three lessons.
www.earthlink.net/elink/issue80/focus.html
www.earthlink.net/elink/issue104/tech.htm
www.earthlink.net/elink/issue103/tech.html

Funding Opportunities
Possible Grants for Fishermen and Farmers
www.FishForTheFutureFoundation.org
http://www.farmaid.org/
- FarmHelp@FarmAid.org
1-800-FARMAID
MS Extension Service
http://msucares.com/disaster/index.html
For timber, farmer and citizen
Farm Assistance Money
http://www.usda.gov/HurricaneInfo.xml
A list of counties eligible for this assistance.
Economic Development Disaster Relief Grants
Federal Home Loan Bank - http://www.fhlb.com/
800-362-2944
Power of Hope Grant - http://www.fndmidsouth.org/
888-355-8168 or 601-397-2865
Emergency Farm Loans http://www.fsa.usda.gov/
MS - 601-965-4300
State Sponsored Bridge Loans - http://www.mississippi.org/
800-360-3323
View For Other Small Funding Possibilities
http://hancockcountyrelief.blogspot.com/2006/06/hancock-county-fishermen.html

Assistance For Families

2006-09-16T16:50:00.000-05:00

Please go through these and if any of them even only might pertain to you, call or look at the website. Any assistance is a good thing. And it's only that - assistance. Not a hand out!

General Assistance
New FEMA Call Center Open1-866-877-6075
A new Mississippi Maintenance/Applicant Support Call Center has been opened by FEMA to handle FEMA trailer maintenance problems and other issues. Is exclusively for applicants residing in Mississippi. Staff is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take calls.
7/25 LGBT Family Grants
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/lgbt-family-grants.html

Housing
For your information this is a good resource.
www.neworleans.craigslist.org - had housing on it - may still.

Assistance For Disabled
Help available in Bay St Louis/Waveland area through CityTeam Ministries
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/help-for-disabled.html
Also:7/25 Dental Assistance for Elderly and Disabled
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/dental-assistance.html
Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System, Inc
(228) 539-1793
(866) 467-2670
(228) 539-2022 (fax)
JMF Computer Giveaway Application
Do you have a disability? Are you in need of a free computer? The Jim Mullen Foundation is proud to provide free computers for people who have a disability.
http://www.jimmullen.com/ZoomSeq.asp?id=7948
Assistance For Children
8/21 Assistance from NYCFor more information, please contact Elizabeth Mullett, Ph.D. at (212)263-3682
Materials also can be downloaded from our website:
http://www.aboutourkids.org/.
Child Care Assistance
http://www.childcareaware.org/en/disaster/katrina.php
1-800-424-2246
For families displaced by Hurricane Katrina: There are over 800 local child care referral agencies around the country. If you have the zip code in which you are currently located, you can use this web site or call toll-free1-800-424-2246 to find out about child care resources in your new location.
Women, Infants and Children - food assistance
www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
Income Eligibility Requirements: $35,798/Yr for a family of 4
Tuition Assistance For Fishermen's Children
http://www.cfafish.org/
Father Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L.
aosusa@sbcglobal.net
(409) 982-5111.
Booklet on Helping Kids Cope With Disaster
http://childadvocate.net/disasterbooklet.pdf
Very great booklet you can DL and print out for yourself.
Free.
Article On Needs of Child in Distress
http://www.preparerespondrecover.com/childrensneeds/

Medical Assistance
Specific Medical Assistance 9/20
Go to this site and search for financial assistance for specific medical conditions (you can also search by state):
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/financialassistance.html
Prescription Assistance
https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php
There have been ads for this on TV.
If you need help, call them. A vetted organization with YOU in mind.

Senior Assistance with Medical Bills
800-MEDICARE
www.medicare.gov
Request information about Medicare Savings Programs by getting the publication, “Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.”
Income Eligibility Requirements: up to $12,576/yr for a single and $16,872/yr for a couple
Medicade Waiver For Evacuees
http://www.lacanadvocates.org/
Any recipients who have been told their services will end, for being out of state, may contact the Advocacy Center (1-800-960-7705) for possible assistance in making sure this misunderstanding does not affect their services.
And from the Kaiser Commission:
http://www.lsuhsc.edu/HCSD/GrantsInfo/files/medicaid_waiver_analysis.pdf
It compares 10 different possible waivers available.

Emotional Assistance
8/21 Photo Restoration
http://www.restorepict.com/
The Professional Photo Restoration Studio
PO Box 286157
New York, NY 10128
212-876-5012
Restorep@restorepict.com

Project Recovery Mental Health Assistance Line 1-866-856-3227

Measuring Your Stress
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/measuring-life-stress.html
Your Cumulative Stress
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/cumulative-stress-test.html
Book - Full Catastrophe Living
by Jon Kabat-Zinn - just republished. Excellent guide on stress management during times of disaster - health or otherwise

Food Sources
Angel Food Ministries
http://www.angelfoodministries.org/hosts.php
Your cost - $25. Their cost - at least $75. Delivered monthly if in your area.
Second Harvest
http://www.secondharvest.org/zip_code.jsp
Find a food bank closest to you just select your state or zip code.

Articles
7/25 Grant Update Article
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/ms-grant-statistics.html
Post Katrina Depression in NOLA
The article is technical but shows how the chronic stress of living in such devestation is taking its toll. Read it and understand you're not alone.
http://projectdisaster.com/?p=473
Preparing For Disaster
Many links on how to prepare you and your family in the event another disaster strikes.
Will be adding to this post regularly
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/06/preparing-for-disaster.html

MS Home Repair Assistance

2006-09-16T16:41:00.001-05:00

Please look into at least one of these a week. I KNOW how overwhelming it is. But just being doing one a week, you'll get through the list in no time AND you'll find at least one thing that will assist you - more than worth the effort!
From Leslie - her Katrina Networking site...
Tax Assistance
Tax Assistance - new dates!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/09/katrina-tax-relief.html
Tax site was updated in July of '06 - new dates for application and such.

8/2 Tax Assessors Office
Hancock County Board Tax Assessor Phone Number: 228-467-4425
Please consider contacted them to have your property reassessed. Otherwise you will have to pay taxes on the old assessed value!

7/25 MS Insurance Mediation Program - for Appealing Bad Insurance Rulings
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/07/insurance-mediation-program.html

Mortgage and Home Loan Assistance
8/21 MS Fraud Investigators
To learn more about the Hurricane fraud unit, or to file a complaint call 1-800-956-1846.
http://www.osa.state.ms.us/katrina-inv.htm

Home Corp
www.msHomeCorp.com
Mississippi Home Corporation at (601) 718-4636.
Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said that $40 million is being made available in low cost mortgages to Mississippi hurricane victims. Freddie Mac is the second-largest U.S. buyer and guarantor of home mortgages.

USDA Rural Assistance Grants
www.rurdev.usda.gov/
Homeowners 62 years and older are eligible for home improvement grants. Other low income families and individuals receive loans at a 1% interest rate directly from HCFP
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_repairloan.htm
HUD866-369-6302

http://www.mshomehelp.gov/
To qualify for the Katrina Homeowner Grant:
* The home must have been owner-occupied as of Aug. 29, 2005
* The home must be located in Jackson, Hancock, Harrison or Pearl River County.
* The home must be outside of the federally designated 100-year flood zone, yet flooded due to Hurricane Katrina.
* The owner must have had homeowners' insurance.

Salvation Army Homeownership Grants
- As a key piece of the plan, the Army, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, will provide homeownership assistance grants to survivors throughout Louisiana and Mississippi for the purchase of new Habitat homes.
Slidell, LA – (985) 781-3580
Biloxi, MS - (228) 435-4893
Gulfport, MS - (228) 822-2281(Tuesday and Thursdays – for appointments)
Pass Christian, MS - (228) 452-2121
Pascagoula, MS – (228) 475-4421
MS Home Grants
http://www.mississippi.org/www.MsHomeHelp.gov
1.866.369.6302
(601) 359-3449
With the new grant amounts, MDA will be accepting new appointments from homeowners who did not previously apply for the Katrina Homeowner Grant because of previous award limits. To make an appointment for the original Katrina Homeowner Grant program, call 866.369.6302. Please note that Katrina Grants do not impact federal or state benefits being paid, such as veteran’s benefits or disability payments. MDA urges all eligible citizens to apply.The agency is finalizing details of the Public Housing Assistance Program, which will provide $100 million to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Housing Authorities in Jackson, Hancock and Harrison

Rebuilding Together
http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/
This national organization assists people in rebuilding after disaster as well as low income, disabled and others remodel or refurbish their homes when they have few other choices. Very good organization!

Relief Now Network
http://www.reliefnownetwork.org/A newer non-profit that acts as a clearing house of information to assist areas in getting other organizations to help in their recovery efforts. I'm not certain of how effective they are, but it can't hurt to check them out.

Utilities Assistance
LIHEAP
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/
The Department of Health and Human Services announced it was releasing a $12,466,278 block grant to Mississippi to help families in need pay their home energy bills. The funds are administered by the Administration for Children and Families through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Insulation of Home Assistance
800-DIAL-DOE;
http://www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/
Income Eligibility Requirements: up to $28,418 for a family of 4

Telephone Assistance
http://www.calling-plans.com/fcc/lifeline.html
The first link explains the assistance program.
FCC in giving $130 credit for cell phone bills - call your cell phone service provider!

Odds and Ends
8/21 Photo Restoration - by a professionalFirst photo is free, will discuss price from there.
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/08/photo-restoration.html
http://www.restorepict.com/
The Professional Photo Restoration Studio
PO Box 286157
New York, NY 10128
212-876-5012
Restorep@restorepict.com

Recycling Home Goods
http://www.throwplace.com/
Throw Place is where people can post their gently used items to be donated to organizations and individuals for little or no cost. You may just find something of significant use there!

Marketing Opportunities

2006-09-15T18:23:00.000-05:00

Marketing Assistance
3/8 Marketing Seminar From a MS Resident
March 26, 2007
Marianna will present "Finding Your Niche in the Gen Y Market" at 3:45 p.m. at the National Main Streets Conference in Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit http://conference.mainstreet.org.
Her Site - you need to keep track of this one!
http://www.resultsrevolution.com/weblog/

Arts Marketing Organization.
http://www.artsmarketing.org/
This site can help your artist associations market themselves to better show your wares.

Charity Events
none at this time

Stores
Negrottos Carrying Local Arts
Contact information for Negrottos, now carrying Sylvia Corbon, Linda Theobald, Grady Byrd and a bunch more.
Romy Simpson
negrottosgallery@yahoo.com

Mood
I went by and talked to one of my neighbor businesses yesterday...she has a really cute space and wants more local artworks. She has pinks, lime green and teal and has a youthful vibe.
Betsy Boney
moodbiloxi@aim.com
Mood
1052-A Howard Avenue
Biloxi MS 39530
Phone: 365-5995

Aimee's Linens
I spoke with one of the girls at Aimee's Linens about artists submitting actual artwork to use on her linens. She said that Aimee at one time used to do all of it herself, then she had Cathie Milner doing some, now she has a very good friend of hers in Georgia that does it. But she said that they have a shop themselves and love carrying Mississippi Made Products and artworks and that she has an artist from the Gulfport area that she is carrying who lost her home and everything. So you can contact the girls at Aimee's Linens at 601-693-7698. A previous Notebook had the website address. Very nice people.

Allie's Cafe
Next to the March of Dimes on Courthouse is Allie's Cafe and they are offering space on their walls to show your artwork. You can contact Kay Daneault with the March of Dimes for more info. She is very sweet and has tons of great contacts.
KDaneault@marchofdimes.com

IP - Imperial Palace Casino
Ann Marie Petrovich and Maryann Gompper.

IP's Retail Division
The office phone number is (228) 436-3000 extension 3574.
Maryann Gompper
Retail Coordinator

Beau Rivage
Diane Barber 386-7111 Retail Buyer for the Beau Rivage.

Sara Miller who is the public relations person for the Beau says that her sisters have opened a store and are very interested in carrying some local artworks.

ALL WRAPPED UP. They sell gifts etc. They may be interested in featuring a few local artist. They do have Linda Theobald at this time. You can pass along the name Carrie Serpas or Julie Taranto 386-3677

Custom Products as Flags...
Custom Products Mean Big Sales

I don't know if you have ever thought about turning your artwork into custom flags but the factory Toland has used might be able to do that. Quite possibly you could sell some of your arwork to one of this companies for their use. Contact Toland in Mandeville, LA 800-989-6287 to see if they are interested in licensing (purchasing) some of your artwork for use on flags and floormats that they sell. Their factory in Burlington, NC is Holt Sublimation. Gil Bradshaw at Holt's email is gbradshaw@holtsublimation.com. My thoughts on this are if you are a painter and some place like the Beau Rivage wants something custom that they can sell then you could create and the factory can produce it and then the Beau can sell it. Or you could see if Toland is interested in buying and you could simply sell to them and they can take care of the selling it. Either way you have a way to offer your artwork on floormats and flags. The factory will most likely want a hefty order so by selling it to some place like the Beau they can take over the production costs.

Magazines and Websites
2/16 www.craftsfaironline.com From Val
This website has a random link on it and it links your website to theirs. So if you already have a website this might be another site to link to it.
2/16 www.artresources.com From Val
has connections and listings of thousands of museums, galleries, artists. See if you can get listed.
2/16 http://www.earthangelstoys.com/ From Val
This site has lots of folk art from artists.

2/15 Western Art Site
http://www.thewesternartist.com/
Got this as spam actually. Checked it out and it looks ok. Some of what they call "Western" art, is pretty non-descript. It could open your work to a new market...

2/10 Community Arts Network

10/18 Bobby Kennedy
I was told you were the go to person for local artist. I have started a website called Biloxi's Original Sin. Which is at www.biloxisoriginalsin.com
I am looking for Gulf Coast Artist that would like to put there art on my website. I do not make any money off the website. There is a set up fee for having my web designer create their space which would not be much and that would be their only expense, no other expense going forward. Anybody who wants to buy their art would have to deal directly with the artist.
If you go to the site and go down to Other Biloxi Artist you will see what the basic format is.
If you can help me on this I would greatly appreciate it. I am a Biloxi boy living in Chicago.
Thanks,
Bobby Kennedy

10/14 - Judy Stanley http://www.jstanleysales.com/
Val spoke to Judy Stanley an independent rep here in the state of Mississippi. Judy has a website that she uses to rep her products to her customers (retail stores in Mississippi) and she is very sweet and easy to talk to. We were discussing representing various artists. I had told her that while many of you did original art that would be primarily gallery material that some of you were doing other things on the side, suitable for retail sales. I mentioned Michelle Allee's rubble chunks she is doing. She said she was very interested and asked if I had given Michelle her number.
So this is where you have to just make the calls ...pitch what you are making. Most reps can sell something if they can wholesale it for a small enough dollar amount. They can take it to the north end of the state and for example...something that you retail here for $20- if you can mark it to $12 and then the rep will tack on a small percentage...then then can sell it wholesale for $15 and the retailers in the north end of the state can sell it for $30.
Anyway, if you have prints or things easily reproduced for retail sales call Judy!
Judy Stanley Information: Phone: 601-942-9882

My Space - added 9/29 Michelle Hirata
1. Do you have a Myspace account? If not, you should consider getting one. I get more sales off Myspace than my website and the sales are worldwide.

http://www.guild.com/ or http://www.artfulhome.com/ are good places to apply. They carry some of the most beautiful works from artisans all across the country that are shipped directly from their studios. It would be good to mention to them that this area is pretty messed up and possibly they should consider a Katrina page or two.

http://www.southernbreeze.com/ recently did an article on Linda Theobald of Diamondhead.

www.lindatheobaldart.com This is a good magazine that covers LA, MS, AL and FL ...the good life on the gulf coast. Try contacting some of their writers or editor for stories they can do on your business as you recover. They also did a nice feature on Pass Christian Soap Company. Paula Lindsay says she misses Pass Christian terribly. She has moved to Daphne, AL and has done a Katrina soap where all the proceeds are being donated to help the Pass rebuild.

Coast Observer
We are set for a print date of September 25. Please have all ads, ad changes, press releases, lineups, gigs, etc to us No later than Sept 22!!!
Best Wishes!!
Cheli Strumila Owner, Coast Observer
PO BOX 7374 Gulfport, MS 39506-7374
228.896.2295 Fax 228.896.5212
www.coastnightlifeobserver.com
http://www.chelistrumila.biz/

9/29 Update from Val
Cheli used to live next door to my store so I have known her a little while. She is upwardly mobile as she is just a very hard working gregarious person. She invited me to do a column to add to her paper. She had always wanted an artist section and now October will be first issue of that! I changed the name. I had initially though Eye of Katrina was good..a little play on words...I love to play with words! But after thinking it over, I thought a year from know that name is going to get stale and that the Eye of Katrina might get a black eye! So my sister said to me "Valerie's Gallery". I know it's kind of cute...but might be catchy name. I am writing 3 little paragraphs and leaving the rest of the space for all your beautiful artwork and info about yourself and where your art is sold! I invite you to submit by sending me a link to your work. Please don't send photos because my email is very slow. November's column is themed "Thankful" and December "Christmas". I don't want to leave anyone out. We will be featuring 6 of you each month. I thought 6 was much better than one. That gets 72 of you featured in a year.

Thanks,
Valerie

Lawyer Contacts

2006-09-15T18:03:00.000-05:00

From Val Cushman

I am not someone who generally watches PBS. I seem to like reality tv shows and whatever entertains. But back when they had the Insurance Public Hearings I watched and I listened. I have never screamed at a TV set and I screamed. I was so totally beaten down by that.

I watched 3 people who made it to the hearings and got up to speak and beg the commissioner not to raise rates, that the coast could not take another lick. Those 3 people were Billy Hewes of Gulfport, Bud Ray of Long Beach and William Weatherly of Gulfport. I wrote to Billy Hewes and Mr Weatherly and told them, "good job."

I guess this storm has forced me into some sort of action, because here I sit writing to you all and people I see on TV and in churches, thanking them over and over. It's funny because today I got a letter about Merlin Law Group that is representing hurricane victims and it had William Weatherly's contact info.

Law suits should always be the last course of action. But I would say if you want someone who has a vested interest in the MS Coast and is interested in the people who live here that he would be the person to call. I am sharing his contact info in case you saw the public hearings and were as impressed as I was.

William Weatherly
Merlin Law Group
368 Courthouse Road Suite C
Gulfport MS 39507
228-604-1175
Fax: 228-604-1176

From Bonnie Tanner

I received your last notebook news which is always helpful to us (the artists who lost everything and are displaced from our gulfcoast). I would like to add another contact person for the Merlin Law group representing hurricane victims in the gulfcoast area and especially Bay St Louis, Waveland and Hancock County. Randy Santa Cruz has his office in Bay St Louis and is my attorney. The following is contact information for him and I would like to pass this information to all in this area.
John R. Santa Cruz
718 Dunbar Avenue Suite 3A
Bay St Louis, MS 39520
228 468-9040
228 469-9039
He is a super attorney and has each of his clients best interests in dealing with the insurance companies. Please pass this on to all...thanks for your help...Bonnie Tanner

From Lori Gordon
http://mscenterforjustice.org/begin.html
The Mississippi Center for Justice is a nonprofit, public interest law firm committed to advancing racial and economic justice. The Center was founded in June 2002 by civil rights advocates, attorneys, social service advocates, and others committed to pursuing systemic advocacy strategies that combat discrimination and poverty in Mississippi. Its creation is responsive to a specific and urgent need to resurrect capacity for statewide, systemic, legal advocacy on behalf of low-income people and communities of color.

They have a large amount of information regarding legal relief efforts.

Artist Updates

2006-09-11T18:21:00.000-05:00

From Michelle Allee in BSL - 3/10
cottage living came and photographed our gallery........they said it may be a year before they use the photos, but we were all excited that they may include us in their magazine and bring focus to bay st louis............
southern living will be in bsl on march 10 for second saturday

From Mary Bennett
I am looking for an artist who has painted a beach scene in the area. We are working on a new commercial for Cable TV and the idea is that they are going to use their beach scene artwork in the commercial along with the original site of the scene. They will go to the spot that the artist used - film that and then pan into the artwork after in the commercial. If any of your artist are interested in participating and hanging in our gallery please have them call me as soon as possible. They would like to shoot the commercial in the next week or so.
We are still looking for new artist to showcase in both the Whistle Stop Gallery in Ocean Springs and Magnolia Framing in Gautier. People are getting back into their homes and we are selling lots of art in both locations.

The Whistle Stop is a success in Ocean Springs. People who can't find what they want in Ocean Springs are sent to our Magnolia Framing in Gautier. It is amazing how much traffic we are having.

We are also planning events in the near future and we are very big on Local Artist so if any one is interested please call.

Mary Bennett
Magnolia Framing & Art Gallery
The Whistle Stop
1-228-497-2211
From Schonda - Waveland MS
Our final home was in 1999 Waveland, MS where finally settled in and I was more focused on drawing and painting. Inspired by my new surroundings the beaches of the Gulf Coast took my breath away and showed me nature’s colors and designs. I began showing my work at local galleries in Bay St. Louis, I even signed up for more shows but all that changed on August 28, 2005.
Hurricane Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast taking with her thousands of lives, homes and livelihoods. We lost the bottom half of our home and my artist studio. Much of my work that I had on display in my home was destroyed. (Funny thing about that our home was still standing) Since returning to Virginia I have continued to paint and draw and had my first show at the Gala Gallery in Georgetown. I m very proud of my work and am inspired to do more shows in the future. I currently live in Northern Virginia still trying to decide where to move to next.

From Val - 11/8
ejmbiloxi@earthlink.net
If you don't here from me again...it is because I am short. I have been working on the Christmas in the City thing and I wanted to be finished with it...but I did not hit 100 and that is what I have advertised. Now it is past the deadline so don't have much time. I am at 80 vendors so need 20 more. I really had thought we would hit 100 easy because it has been advertised in a bunch more spots. My next meeting is the 15th. I tried to hand off all my stuff yesterday to Kay and she says don't you want to keep it and I said no..why? am I doing this next year. She is sitting smiling nodding her head.

Misc. Update - 10/4
I have been talking with some of the girls in Bay St. Louis and they are planning their Artwalk in November in Bay St. Louis and promoting it like crazy.

Peter Anderson is on everyone's mind. But just to remind you as artists you wait on these shows to make money and help give you insight to what the general public wants but at the same time if you rely on this for your living you will want to attract retailers who will support you all year long. Retailers will work hard to promote you and will place huge orders. So keep in mind that they often will expect to be the only one in their area carrying your merchandise...so don't sell it to neighboring business. Pick one and work with them!

I also hear that Hilyer House, award winning Niche' Magazine store formerly of Pass Christian, is re-opening near Salamagundi's in Ocean Springs. I know many of you are glad to hear that she will be back to promoting all your beautiful artwork.

Note From Val Updated 10/3
I had a nice day. One of our customers came in with this tea set up, scones and sandwiches for lunch. It seems that a church up in Indiana is sending teacups and saucers and calendars down here to Terry and she is going around and doing teas for everyone. Like the over worked! I told mother and Vicki that is amazing to me that before you have laid your head on the pillow to pray for something, someone has already thought of it and it has materialized.
Valerie, EJM, Biloxi

Magnolia Frame/Whistlestop Frame Shop
Written by Mary Bennett (posted 9/30)
Thought you might want to pass the following along. We take over the Whistle Stop this Saturday. The new building it is going to move into is awesome. Old wood floors, wood walls and we can't wait for it to be finished in a few weeks and move into it. Hopefully we will be up and rolling in the new building before Peter Anderson. Hope to see some of the artist drop by and say hello. We are hoping to have many of the talented artist show with us there.
Much love to you,
Mary Bennett

10/4
I have spoken with Mary and she is ready to fill her walls and tables with lots of artwork so I would urge you to call her and get with her. She is set up to really advertise your work. She has commercials that I see all the time and she is a tireless supporter of local artists.

Subject: Magnolia Framing and Art Gallery of Gautier, MS awarded “Top 100 Frame Shop in the United States” for the third year.

John and Mary Bennett, owners of Magnolia Framing and Art Gallery, are pleased to announce that they have been awarded the distinction of being one of the top 100 framers in the country in a competition sponsored by DÉCOR magazine and Tru-Vu glass company.

DÉCOR and Tru-Vu have been sponsoring this competition for the past four years. Magnolia Framing has been the honored recipient for the years 2003, 2005 and 2006.

The Bennett’s have owned Magnolia Framing for the past five years. Their shop is located in the Clear Pointe Shopping center (between GCO Carpet Center and Jerry Lee’s Grocery store) on the corner of Highway 90 and the Gautier-Van Cleave Road.

The Bennett’s are also finalizing plans for the purchase of The Whistle Stop Frame Shop and Art Gallery located in Ocean Springs, MS. They will be offering the same high quality service and innovative design to the citizens of west Jackson and Harrison counties. The purchase is expected to be finalized by October 1, 2006.

Realizations
I hope you will also help promote the tireless efforts of John "Johnny" Anderson who has taken on the daunting work of keeping Realizations, the family retail outlet in the old depot, going, as well as overseeing the restoration work of so many of his father's drawings and watercolors damaged by Katrina. Fascinating people with deep and solid roots in artistry here on the MS gulf coast. (sent by Larry Ray)

Annebelle Publishing
We are still involved in drastic changes due to Hurricane Katrina. As many of you know, Stella and I had worked out of offices in the back of our beachfront home and our all our books were stored there. The large house was washed away by Katrina’s 30+-foot storm surge, leaving nothing but the slab. Our inventory of 12,000 books was destroyed. Despite this, we have managed to continue publishing our books about the Mississippi coast using our website for most of our sales: www.annabellepublishing.com.

Our new book, A White Egret in the Shallows is now available and is selling very well thanks to readers such as you. Also, two of our best sellers, Sink or Be Sunk, and Holly!!, have been reprinted using plates that the printers luckily saved. Sink or Be Sunk is a revised edition of the naval action in the Bay of St Louis. Revised in that it contains a portrait and biography of Midshipman William P. Canby, one of the men mortally wounded in the naval action.

Stella's cookbook, Blueberry Peaches Red Robin Pie, and our audio book, Other Views from the Porch are also available and may be ordered now. We are not able to take credit cards at this time If you wish any of these items, fill out the order form and send us a check for the amount of the item plus $5.50 S&H, and we will ship out to you the same day. Don’t forget to include with your order the name of the person for which you wish it personalized. If you have lost your copies of our other books, Views from a Front Porch, Waiting for the White Pelicans and Where the Blue Herons Dance, we plans to reprint them in late summer of 2007. A principle change in these reprinted editions is that they will all be in hard back and have dust jackets.

We are still having problems, but I will try to print a story each month. However, Stella’s very limited kitchen precludes her writing a new column for a while. Her monthly columns will be repeats of her most popular columns and recipes. Please continue to visit our web site on a monthly basis. We will keep you informed as to our progress in getting back on our feet.

Thank all of you for your support during some very black days,

Paul E. La Violette
Publisher, Annabelle Publishing
laviolette AT datasync.com

Temporary Address:
707 Gray Station Rd.
Blairsville, PA 15717

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Gulf Coast Observer

2006-09-03T18:11:00.000-05:00

3/23/07 - Need Info for Columns
I am working on the next few columns for Gulf Coast Observer.
May will be art having to do with Women's forms or Mother and child,
June will be white, frilly or pairs,
July will be red, white and blue or folk art,
August is all about water.

If you have any art that you think might fit please let me know about it. I am spending a lot of time looking for art to fill the column. I know many of you still need a mention and please don't hesitate to toot your own horn. I would prefer you send me a link to a website for your art than an actual image. My computer is very slow.

After August I hope that you all will take the initiative (especially if you have not been mentioned in this column) and send this format directly to Cheli with the Observer so that she can continue to feature an Arts Column. I have been honored to work on it this first year and get everyone in the habit of sending and promoting their work. I am basically a small business and with only 3 of us, time is an issue. Cheli has always wanted an arts column and I see no reason why she wouldn't still keep it up as long as all of you all are still sending her items to publish. Some of the art organizations might even get together and send one artist from each group each month.

Format
Jpeg of image
title of piece
Medium
5 sentence biography about you
and most importantly...where your work is being sold (including stores, galleries, upcoming shows, contact info, websites, etc....)

This will help other news writers find you when they are wanting to do stories about the arts. Cheli's contact info is Cheli StrumilaE-mail Address(es): cheli@coastnightlifeobserver.comPersonal Information: Phone: 896-2295

You can view past columns at ...

http://www.coastnightlifeobserver.com/Coast_Artists.html

8/8 - Gulf Coast Observer Column
I'm working on some things and I'll let you know what happens. I asked asked Cheli to do a column for all you artists in Gulf Coast Observer and she said she did not have time to do another thing and asked if I wanted to write it. I got to thinking it would be easy enough just to do a lead and then have you guys send in photos of yourself and one of your work and then fill it up that way. I am hoping she will give me the space I requested and color. We'll just have to see. Nothing is definite. Cheli's Mother passed away so she is in Ft. Worth right now. Here is my title and lead.

Eye of Katrina
Ms Gulf Coast As Seen Thru the Eyes of Artists

By Valerie Cushman

Artists bring beauty to our lives; our personal environments are richer for their creativity. Now more than ever our homes, offices and places we live should reflect who we are and what we love! By surrounding ourselves with things that make us smile we are able to heal a little. In healing ourselves, we are in a better position to then give of ourselves. Our artists are what gives the MS Gulf Coast its’ very own style and flavor. They are in essence what is the very best about our community. Because so much of their life is lived inside their own head, they hold a torch so that all of us may follow. They are the visionaries and the truth tellers.

I hope that you will seek out and support those who bring so much beauty into our lives. When planning special things for your new home select a photo that marks a new beginning, a new collection of pottery shaped by those who love the earth, a breathtaking watercolor, a print of your favorite places, a piece of jewelry that makes your eyes dance, a verse that moves you to tears, glass that sparkles like the waters of the gulf in the sunlight, sculptures that beg for a caress, or a collage of objects fixed by purposeful hands that only see the beauty of the everyday.

9/8 Update
I spoke to Cheli at Gulf Coast Observer and she does want to still add an artist section. Right now, she doesn't have the room this month. She has to buy extra pages from the printers to expand her sections and that means she has to go and sell some more advertisers to pay for it. It is cheaper for her to buy 8 extra pages than 2.

So she is shooting for next month. I think she is going to try and give me 2 pages of those 8 so that is ultra nice of her. She has had a death in the family, her mother, last month.

I am trying to theme it each month and I thought scary artworks. Autumn, fall, Halloween - maybe oak trees with leaves stripped bare. Red Sky sunset paintings, Wrought Iron courtyard scenes. Twisted pottery, fragments of glass in orange - anything that creeps or any kind of artwork that is fall.

The lead is still the same for the EYE of Katrina Column. If you have anything that you would like to submit, please let me know. If you have it on a website that would be better and just send me the site's address. Smaller photos are better to send since my computer is slow.

The hope is to do a 2 paragraph lead and then pictures of your artworks with contact info underneath. So if you are selling your art through someone here along the coast we can list that info. If you prefer to be contacted directly, we will need that information. If you have a website, list that. Please list all information for all contacts where and how you sell your artwork.

Val

Getting Noticed

2006-08-08T20:18:00.000-05:00

http://www.lorigordon.blogspot.com/ Have you visited this site. She has the right idea. If you have a website it makes you a little more visible to the outside world.

I mentioned to Lori that she should teach others how to do what she is doing. She replied
"About a year before the storm, I printed up and mailed out a bunch of fliers to every artist I could find on every list on the coast, offering to write bios, press releases etc, and teach others how to do it-I did not get a single response. Maybe it is true, that artists are the worst at being willing to represent themselves. The Arts just finished up a whole series of workshops on things like that-bios, resumes, press releases etc etc-and there is talk of running some more-if it happens, I will make sure that you get the info. I offered to do one on setting up a blog. "

If this happens you would be wise to join in. I know everything takes time that you do not have but being media savvy can get you all kinds of free press. Knowing people to write to, giving interviews, having interesting information about yourself - these are the kinds of things that can get you hooked up with manufacturing companies wanting to reproduce your work on their wares and a blog seems like a good way to share a story. Your art is your story and your community gains from you visibility.

I recently spoke with one of my reps and told her that the artists down here were absolute geniuses and wanted to know if her company was looking for some fresh ideas. She said tell them to call me and she would put you in touch with the right people. She works for Silvestri. If you are unfamiliar with that company they have been recently acquired by EToys and are big in the gift industry. Larger companies license artwork from artists and reproduce it on different items they are selling. I would say look at their website http://www.silvestriinc.com/ .

Julie Minton's email address is julieminton AT midsouth.rr.com Julie also mentioned that she is trying to go independent. What that means is instead of only representing Silvestri, she would be able to choose other things that she would like to sell. Which means she could sell your items to other stores in her territory. She lives in Memphis and has that area too. Most reps take a percentage for selling your items. So make sure when pricing them that you have enough to include those fees.

Don't have a website? visit www.carolepigott.com. Shaun Lea of Meridian, MS is offering to create websites free of charge.

Contact Names

2006-07-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

From Valerie Cushman

I know not everyone would be interested in having a sales rep because you may be producing the kind of art that is one of a kind and that's how you like it....but if you are thinking maybe you would like to expand your territory (even to the whole state of MS) and you would like to work with a rep...then I have some names of contacts.

Some reps are independent and choose who they want to represent - Similar to a gallery. They take 20% usually. Some have their own showrooms at Market. They are selling to their accounts, which are retail stores and so products should be priced so that the store can Keystone them (that's double in retail language). Sometimes if you are pricing work for sale yourself, you may not have enough in it to sell it at 50% off, so do the math. But sometimes you can discount it a little and it will still sell in other areas at retail where you are not doing shows.

Mary is not a rep anymore but has a framing store in Gautier. She likes to carry local artwork. Mary Bennett
Magnolia Framing and Art Gallery
HWy 90, Gautier
phone 497-2211, fax 497-699.
She is a good contact and recently mentioned to me that she was looking for artists. She might also have contacts from the Atlanta Market with showrooms. You all are a hard bunch to find!
Update - Those of you who have not contacted Mary at Magnolia Framing in Gautier..really should. She has already picked up a couple of artists http://www.barbarabrodtmann.com/ and Laura Lindsey's pottery jewelry. Her email address is mary_b_39553@yahoo.com . You could always email her and then ask if she would like to see photos of your work and send her your website address. It is always better to ask if you can send photos first...just in case computer is like mine and is slow!

Also
Jdouglas in Atlanta - www.jdouglasatlanta.com
Emily Stringer - contact
emily@jdouglasatlanta.com
I don't know if Emily will take anyone on the side...but it never hurts to ask.

Judy Stanley - www.jstanleysales.com
judy@jstanleysales.com
Judy is new to me ...I have not worked with her yet...but she is very nice and she is an independent. See her website.

Krissy Savastano - www.claymetalstone.com
ksavastano@claymetalstone.com
They need someone in product design and did a Katrina Fund for Kids. See their website. You can always inquire if they would be interested in licensing your artwork for some of their products. It needs help.

Artist Designs for Manufacturer
www.linensbyaimee.com
This is a website that has one of Cathie Milner's designs ...local artist on Pass Road next to Circa 1909. Cathie is a folk artist and sold one of her designs to Aimee for use on her linens. I told Aimee I was giving out her info. You can always submit something...just keep trying til you find the right fit.

http://www.neqwa.com/
Has ornaments they do with original artwork. You might check with them on:
A. product design
B. using some of your art to have ornaments made to sell at upcoming festivals or in your own stores or galleries (if you have one)

www.tolandnet.com I think that's right...they manufacture flags and their factory was in Mandeville until the storm. I would think any inquiries to them about using (licensing) artwork to go on flags and rugs - if you mention that you are an artist in this devastated area - that perhaps that would go further with them. I don't know what they pay for use of an image but there are many companies that do this.
Sylvia Corban is a local artist...she was in Long Beach..I think she still is. She has had really good success with these kinds of practices. She has sold some of her work to http://www.coasterstone.com/ or might be hindostone.... for coasters.

Many of the local Museums...Seafood, Ohr, Walter Anderson, etc...are trying to beef up their contact lists so that when events, grant money etc... and this would include MAC (MS Arts Commission) that they are able to find you. So make sure you contact them and ask them to add you to their email lists if you aren't already.

And please share with fellow artists that don't do email.

I think there is another round of grants coming out in November. Check http://www.hancock-art.com/ and http://www.carolepigott.com/ for lists of websites with grant monies that apply to you, website design help, gallery showings and supplies. There are quite a few.

Biloxi's Main Street is having Christmas in the City, Dec. 2nd and we would love to have you all participate!
Contact Kay Miller and she will mail you an application. It is a one day outdoor show. There are lots of beautiful old buildings in the Vieux Marche where you can lean your art against!
Kay Miller
kmiller@biloxi.ms.us
Main Street Director
435-6339
Main Street Biloxi
P.O. Box 253
Biloxi MS 39533

www.gulfcoast.org Contacts for them are listed below. Let them know when you are scheduling events. They are very helpful.
Janice Jones
Manager, Publications/Media Relations
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
228-896-6699 ext 210
Fax: 228-896-6788
janicej@gulfcoast.org
Nicole Learson
Marketing Director
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
nicolel@gulfcoast.org

Imperial Palace Casino (IP)
I talked to their buyer for the gift shop and mentioned that locally made artworks would be something really good for their tourist trade. You should pursue this account. Make sure you have samples, pricelists, pictures and business cards.
IP - Imperial Palace CasinoAnn Marie Petrovich and Maryann Gompper.
IP's Retail Division
The office phone number is (228) 436-3000 extension 3574.
Maryann GompperRetail Coordinator

Beau Rivage
Diane Barber 386-7111 Retail Buyer for the Beau Rivage.
Sara Miller who is the public relations person for the Beau says that her sisters have opened a store and are very interested in carrying some local artworks.

All Wrapped Up
They sell gifts etc. They may be interested in featuring a few local artist. They do have Linda Theobald at this time.
Carrie Serpas or Julie Taranto 386-3677

Rose's Florist
Janie and her husband have Rose's Florist on Pass Road. Some of you may want to contact her as a possible retail source if you sell things that would work at a florist shop...like cards, etc... She has a DVD of the coast prior to the storm. It encompasses our entire Gulf Coast from Waveland to Pascagoula. I watched it and thought I want to go to those places.
Janie O'Keefe janie@okeefeedu.org