Rotating Superstructure...

Another fun evening with local teen-sensation Rotating Superstructure. This time there were a few more above-age locals here to enjoy the music, shoot a YouTube video and to show their support for Obama and other dem's running in '08. Again, I can't stress enough how great this band is. I will be sure to let you all know when their CD release party is.
I can't wait for Tuesday November 4. I feel that change is in the air. Get out and vote! Make your voice heard!

ArtSpots by Olivia, 6

I just found all these ArtSpots that my daughter Olivia created at the party the other night. Something about kids' art just makes everyone smile. So I am "Art-ing It Forward" by sharing these smile-inducers with you.

Missing Raven...Looks Like Black Cat

Just got off The Snaz and noticed that they are missing a black cat. Well, there must be a gang of black cats hiding out somewhere in East Jackson wreaking havoc because mine went missing last week in the Gill Addition. Raven, black cat with long, white tufts coming out of his ears. Answers to "Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty" (although you have to get the right nuances to that call) and sometimes makes bird noises. Really, he imitates bird sounds to lure them closer, then pounces...it actually works for him. He's also known for his insane ninja-actions and chasing his own tail like a wire-walker on the beams in my house. Let me know if you see him anywhere.

Speaking of wire-walking, I saw the movie Man On Wire last night. I missed it on it's first round in Jackson last summer and heard so many people talking about what a fabulous movie it was that I made sure to get my favorite seat in the theater this time. SO glad I did! What a fantastic story about dreams and walking the line between fully living and being as close to dying as you could possibly be. GO SEE IT!!

10x10 and ArtSpot events

We always love an opportunity to "Art It Forward", so we recently hosted two events which brought a variety of art and community lovers together in the gallery to enjoy each other and amazing local music while supporting wonderful causes.

October 10 was the Teton Area 10x10 party sponsored by Pursue Balance and 1% for the Tetons. It was a success at introducing the concept and goals of reducing our energy use by 10% by the year 2010, and they gave away a lot of free prizes: bike bells from Friends of Pathways, energy saving power strips, and I saw a few warm jackets floating around. Thanks to Rocky Vertone of Four4 Productions and a few energetic dancing souls who got the moving started, it evolved into a great dance party.





Last night Thom Yorke played here. (maybe I'll just leave it at that and see if anyone really reads this thing.) OK, it was local teen-band Rotating Superstructure. I became an instant groupie when Victor hit it spot-on with his version of Radiohead's "Nude". They played a lot of originals mixed in with some fantastic covers. Make sure you go see these boys when you have a chance, although I don't think they are old enough to be playing in bars yet. You'll have to come here this winter for their CD-release party. They were here to support the 5Spot for the ArtSpot art party and fundraiser, an event sponsored by Center of Wonder, the Art Association and Rocky Mountain Bank. Four huge paintings were auctioned off to raise funds to support the next ArtSpot artist stipends. Fill-in-your-own-artspot stickers and brightly colored sharpies added to the creative celebration!

Thank you for bringing such fun events here and for all of you supporting these important causes.

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Attention All Nominally or Unemployed Artists...

Instant Grant Program from Steve Lambert on Vimeo.

It's late-night, and I was just checking out a favorite LMC art site, Wooster Collective, and discovered a new project from Steve Lambert called The Federation of Students and Nominally or Unemployed Artists. I have a feeling that there are quite a few Nominally or Unemployed Artists in Jackson. If you'd like to donate your time and/or raise money for a local version of this, let me know! Maybe for the next First Friday...

From the Federation's website:

How It Works

We all learn art in school. Every kid loves to draw at some point. People get fascinated with the details of their new camera, or spend free time writing poems. But eventually, there’s a not a teacher telling you how great your are, or the camera gets put away, or you just plain get busy and stop. Years could go by before you start again, if you ever do at all.

The FSNUA aims to re-inspire creative thinking and action in everyday people by removing a small barrier and providing encouragement. We give small, unsecured grants in the form of $10-$60 for creative projects thought up on the spot by everyday people. In the past this has included a merchant marine, two 10 year old girls, a US soldier on leave from Iraq, an accordion player from Alaska, and around 40 others. We funded their new paintings, drawings, knitting, and photojournalism projects, and the repair of one accordion. Projects that may not have happened had they not come across 10 people in the park to support and inspire the thought.

Beyond the small amount of money, the project encourages people to see themselves as something other than workers or consumers even if it just for the length of time required to apply for the FSNUA grant. We also hope to re-inspire dormant desires to create while presenting an example of generosity without an ulterior motive.

October's First Friday

Thank you to all who made it out to our First Friday event last night. We had lots of our regular art lovers, and also quite a few new faces. If you missed it, then click on the video below for a clip about Bronwyn Minton's installation and art, and maybe you'll be inspired to stop by this month and check it out. If you were here, then you enjoyed lots of great company, wine, art and live jazz by Papa Chan and Johnny C-Note. It's wonderful to have them back into our local music rotation as they took the summer off to play at a 'green' on the west bank. Peter and John, thanks for the smooth vibes last night to conteract the nasty construction vibrations that were reverberating around the gallery. (really...digging with a backoe at 7 on a Friday night?!?)

The evening began with a lively artist conversation between Bronwyn and about 45 "early-risers" who made it here by 5 for the opportunity to share some quality time with the artist. It reminded me that First Fridays actually grew out of the artist talks that we started two years ago. (2 years of FF's...that's 24 art events in as many months...that's about 24 kegs of beer, 48 cases of wine and countless amounts of art and inspiration) Those talks faded away as the events became busier and louder, but now they are back! Not because the events are any less busy, we just decided to have to have the artists talk a little louder, scream even if they have to. So put it on your radar screen to get here early next time to enjoy some screaming about art.

Hmmm...next time...what will November's First Friday bring us? What's on the horizon for LMC is veggie oil and lots of it. Enough to get Mike Devine's vintage race car back to New England. Veggie oil and art, how is that going to work? Intrigued? Me too. I can't wait to see what we come up with.

LMC presents: Bronwyn Minton

Here's the first in a series of videos about art.
Let us know what you think!