Artist Opportunity: Arteles Creative Residency Program 2015 in Finland

International residency program for creative professionals from all the fields of:

- Visual Arts

- Media & Tech Art

- Music & Sound

- Performing Arts

- Design

- Architecture

- Literature

- Research

- Philosophy

• 1-3 months residencies / February - September 2015 (for 2014 residencies, see additional Arteles programs on our page)
• Deadline for applications: 18th of July 2014
• Online Application form and more information: www.arteles.org

ARTELES CREATIVE CENTER - Arteles Creative Center in Finland is one of the largest and most international creative residencies in Scandinavia, welcoming over 90 selected visual artists/ curators/ musicians/ writers/ performance artists/ photographers/ designers / architects per year.

LICENSE TO CREATE - Designed to benefit both your present projects and long-term ambitions, our program allows you the time, space & facilities you need in order to develop yourself and your work. You can go experimental, test new ideas, produce works, collaborate with other energetic, international artists, or take it as an opportunity to turn towards to your inner self and the nature.

The center is located in the middle of extraordinary nature of Hämeenkyrö, Finland (European Union Landscape Award in 2009) where you can soak in the fresh air, enjoy the silence, go for wandering walks in the forests, swimming in the many lakes nearby, go skiing and skating at winter time, do hiking and trekking trips in the nearby nature or have daily relaxing in a traditional wood-fire sauna. You can also get to know the fascinating and rich old culture of Finland viewed through Kalevala Epic, full of trolls, witches, myths and its inherent ties with nature.

To apply and to read more about the program content, facilities and action, please visit our web site at: www.arteles.org

In case you you are looking for residencies in 2014, see our other residency programs at: http://www.arteles.org/residency_programs.html

If you need any further information, please contact us: info@arteles.org

CALL TO ARTISTS: CA State University Chico

California State University Chico is seeking applicants for a commissioned exterior artwork for the new Arts & Humanities building, currently under construction.  The project budget is $70,000 and is open to professional artists working in the United States. Please view the  complete RFQ athttp://www.csuchico.edu/purc/vendor/RFQ2014-01SR.shtml.

Sponsors sought for ACAA's Annual Open Studios Tour in September

Each year the Amador County Artists Association (ACAA) hosts a studio tour to showcase the richness and variety of artistic talent in Amador County.  Another goal of the tour is to raise money for scholarships, the student art show and other art related projects.  Because the tour is free to the public, ACAA generates funds through artist fees and a raffle of works submitted by participating artists.

To defray printing and other costs, the ACAA is looking for business or organization to help sponsor the event.  Anyone interested in doing so or obtaining additional information is invited to contact Fundraising Chair Janet Piccola at 209-304-6795 or PiccolaPottery@att.net.

Silk painter Ann Bowns featured at June's ACAA meeting

Silk painter Ann Bowns was the featured artist at the last ACAA meeting. Not only was the demo informative, but Ann has quite a sense of humor - and she makes the process look so easy.It was an enjoyable evening.

Anyone wishing to get in touch with Ann, who will be hosting upcoming classes (no schedule as yet), can email ART4NE1@surewest.net or call 916-729-3216.

2014 High School Student Art Show

The 2014 High School Student Art Show, sponsored by the Amador County Artists Association, opened with a reception and announcements of the top winners.  Juror Sharon Galligan, in her remarks prior to announcing the awards, said that it was difficult to judge the show due to the quality and

diversity of the entries.  She congratulated both the students and their teachers for their fine work.  She then presented the following with ribbons and cash prizes:

Best of Show - Matt Conrardy's "Balancing Nature and Industry." Matt, who was not present, took first place in painting for Amador High School, and Best of School for Amador.  Flanking his painting are, from left,   show coordinator Karen Crane, Argonaut art teacher Millie Butler, show Juror Sharon Galligan, and Amador art teacher Nicole Bommarito.

Best of School for Independence High School - Mercedes Black's "Pit Bull Puppy" which also placed first in the drawing category for her school.She was not present.

Best of School for Argonaut High School and first place in the painting category for Argonaut - Tanielle Wolin's "Through the Leaves."

Over 100 entries were submitted from the three high schools.  The artwork will be available for viewing at the Amador County School District Office, 217 Rex Avenue, Jackson, through May 30, Monday through Friday, 8 to 4:30. The best of school and best of show awards are sponsored by Ardyce and Cal Terhune.  The annual show is organized by the Amador County Artists Association and funded, in part, by the organization's fall Open Studios tour.

2014 Open Studios Features 25 Artists

2014 Open Studios September 20 and 21 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Participating this year will be 25 artists, many in their own studios and others grouped together at Rollingwood Clubhouse, Jackson Senior Center, and elsewhere. Painters, photographers, sculptors, and artists in ceramics, jewelry, fiber and gourds will take part in the FREE, self-guided tour.

Visitors will be able to enjoy demonstrations, inquire about an artist’s work, collect unique masterpieces and even get a chance to win a piece of artwork at the Artist Raffle by visiting the Rollingwood Clubhouse in Jackson during the tour.  Proceeds support the ACAA scholarship program, annual student art show, and other activities.

The FREE full-color map/brochure will help visitors make the most of the studio tour.  There are photographs and detailed directions to each location. While on the road, Studio Tour signs will help mark the way.  After August 15, maps will be available throughout the county at visitor centers, Jackson and Ione libraries, and other outlets, or by calling 209-223-1347 or 209-296-1779.

Art pictured below:

Janet Piccola

Dorothy Magoffin

Julie Trail

Karen Hale

Marie Mort

Amador County Artists Award Two Scholarships

At the May 15 awards ceremony at Amador High School, $1,200-scholarships were awarded by the Amador County Artists Association (ACAA) to two aspiring art students. Stefani Gelardi and Maria MacDonald not only excel in the field of art but manage to do so while taking part in extracurricular activities, working part time and maintaining GPAs of 4.0 or better.

Stefani plans to become an animator with the ultimate goal of working for an animation company. To further that goal, she has taken advanced art courses and recently exhibited several pieces in the Student Art Show organized by the ACAA. She voluntarily contributed to the design needs of the school’s theater department and her tennis team, including designing the team’s shirts for the past two years. Stefani also helped raise money to get the high school courts resurfaced. Over the four years at Amador she has achieved the rank of the No. 2 girl on the tennis team. And she works part time.

Maria is taking on a double major to study art and environmental studies and has worked extensively throughout her years at Amador in both areas. In the field of art, all of her classes have been advanced and her effort paid off in the recent Student Art Show. She placed first in ceramics and received an honorable mention in painting. Maria has taken numerous honors classes across the curriculum and yet has managed to devote time to martial arts, kickboxing, and ballet, earning a Second Degree Black Belt in karate. She also works part time, including a job painting murals at a dance school in Jackson.

The ACAA is pleased to award these exemplary students its 2014 scholarships and wishes them well on their artistic journeys. These scholarships are funded by the Open Studios tour held each September.

Julie Muela-Farris is Sutter Creek Gallery’s featured artist for the month of July

Horses, faith and country living inspire the art of Julie Muela-Farris, Sutter Creek Gallery’s featured artist for the month of July. She was raised and currently lives in the wine country surrounding Lodi on her family’s ranch. Her goal is to create drawings in charcoal and pastel that catch the essence of her subject matter. 

No one in Muela-Farris’s family draws or paints, but she was always drawing as a child. “I had an amazing teacher in high school that first ignited my interest in pursuing art in college,” she stated. As a result, she has taken classes in drawing, painting, and art history at local community colleges, as well as private lessons in portraiture and watercolor painting. She recently decided to continue her education at Cosumnes River College.

When rendering horses and other subjects, Muela-Farris gravitates toward sharp details, dramatic lighting and unique perspectives. In describing how art fits into her life, she quotes a dear friend, Rowland Cheney: “Art is a blessing from God that helps (me) bring spirituality, family, passions and a broad range of interests together.”

Sutter Creek Gallery invites you to spend some time with the artist at the July 5 reception, from 4 to 7 p.m., which is part of the region’s First Saturday Art Trek. Muela-Farris is one of 30 local artists exhibiting at the cooperative located in the heart of Sutter Creek at 35 Main Street. The gallery is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information, call 209-267-0228 or email suttercreekgallery@gmail.com

Pictured below:

"Pouring Bottle"
"Wading"
"Clay Potter's Hand"
"Bella"