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Call to Artists – Climate Crisis Show Deadline Aug 25 2020

This show comes to us from the ValleyCAST! organization. The deadline for submission is August 25th, 2020 and the theme is the Climate Crisis.

The climate crisis and its looming consequences are terrifying. Most people think they either have no control over what’s to come or that it’s too late to do anything about it; individually or collectively.

But the current Pandemic crisis has proven that each person is able to contribute to a safer and more equitable world for all of us. Since the lock-down, air pollution has plunged in most areas around the globe. In fact, The Himalayan Mountain Range is now visible for the first time in 30 years!

Not only does pollution lower our resistance to disease, but it’s also hard to ignore the correlation between wildlife trafficking and deforestation and the rise of new infectious diseases, as 75% are transferred by animals. They are then spread rapidly through modern air and water transportation, according to a recent quote United Nations Environment Program in this informative article by The Guardian.

Project Drawdown, which calls itself “the world’s leading resource for climate solutions,” has listed 100 ways to help solve the climate crisis and we’re calling on artists to show us the way!

Instead of art and images depicting doom and gloom, we are asking for art that helps us to see how we can implement these solutions ourselves for a better Blackstone Valley and collectively for a better and safer world.

Physical exhibition dates September 10 – November 6. Virtual exhibits remain online indefinitely on our ValleyCAST website, Facebook and Instagram pages, and our ValleyCAST YouTube Channel.

Email submission deadline is August 25. Artists selected for our physical gallery exhibit will be contacted to schedule an artwork drop-off before August 31, 2020. Prizes will be awarded.

For full details, and to submit your entries, visit the ValleyCAST page!

https://www.openskycs.org/news-events/events/call-to-artists-solutions-to-the-climate-crisis/

2020 BVAA Sunflower Show at the Booklovers’ Gourmet


Image by Alexandra Spano

Our Fourth Annual BVAA Sunflower Show celebrates the sunny beautiful flower! The art show is in conjunction with a stunning lush garden of sunflowers out front of the Booklovers’ Gourmet.

Where?
The sunflower art show is held at the:
Booklovers’ Gourmet
72 E Main St – NOTE NEW LOCATION! DOWN THE STREET!!
Webster, MA 01570

About the Show
If there ever was a flower which symbolized glorious summertime, the sunflower is the one. Did you know that nearly all of the 70 species of sunflowers are native to North America? They can grow to be up to six feet tall and they even tilt as the sun moves so they always face it!

The Blackstone Valley Art Association is celebrating this sun-shaped delight with a sunflower show throughout the month of August at the Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster. Come on out to admire the live flowers, appreciate the artistic versions, and explore the shop’s offerings!

Submissions
The submission deadline for the sunflower show is Monday, July 27nd, 2020. We have limited wall space here for 18 items sized 16×20 so what we’ll do is have each member submit one JPG of an artwork via email to info@bvaa.org they’d like to include. If we get too many for the wall space we’ll do a Facebook vote. All submissions will be in the virtual version of the show.

This show is open to all BVAA members and is free to participate in. This is not a judged show – it is primarily a visibility and sales opportunity. Any sales will include a 30% commission taken by the shop. The BVAA takes no commission on this show. Full BVAA terms: BVAA Show Terms and Conditions

Drop-Off
The drop-off for the Sunflower Show is Friday, July 31st between 10am-5pm. If you can’t make this date, contact Lisa via the info@bvaa.org email and she’ll arrange something. The Booklovers’ Gourmet shop will take care of hanging the items.

Public Reception
For safety reasons there will not be an in-person public reception. We’ll arrange a virtual reception with the online video, date to be determined.

Pick-Up
Pick-up for the show is Tuesday, September 1st, any time during their open hours.

Theme
This show is all about sunflowers! The Booklovers’ Gourmet is well known for their beautiful sunflower garden, which will be in full bloom during the show’s run.

Here’s a look at previous shows, to give you some ideas!

News Clippings from the 2017 Sunflower Show

Photos from 2017 Sunflower Show

Photos from 2018 Sunflower Show

Sunflower Show 2019 – Image Collection

How to Record an Audio Narration for an Art Show

The Blackstone Valley Art Association has been doing a number of its art shows online in a virtual format. To do these, we arrange JPGs of the art in a slideshow format and then have the artist provide a narration to go with them.

The artist can speak at any speed they wish, and for as long as they wish. We will arrange the JPGs of the art to match along with the words.

The artist should have a computer with a microphone (built-in is fine) or a smartphone.

Luke MacNeil has kindly created this how-to for any artists who are using a Mac computer.

For those on a Windows PC, here are the steps. It might vary slightly depending on which versions of Windows you are using.

First, click the Windows icon in the lower left. You should be able to find “Sound Recorder” under Windows Accessories. In Windows 10 it is called “Voice Recorder”. Either way, if you search for “recorder” you should find it.

The recording function is fairly straightforward. You press the button to start recording. You talk. You press again to stop. If you want to do another take, just press the button fresh. Eventually you get a take that you like. If you need to do it in segments, that’s fine. That way you get each segment the way you like it and send those final segments along to us.

Making Recordings with your Smartphone

Your phone has a built-in microphone. It’s how it can hear you when you make phonecalls. It should also have a built in sound recorder. Look through your apps and you should find it. Again, just press the button to start recording, say what you want, and then press again to stop recording.

Ask with any questions!

How to receive Charity Donations via Facebook

You’ve probably seen charity donation requests on Facebook. Maybe someone is having a birthday and they’d like people to donate to their favorite charity. Maybe they are doing a Facebook Live presentation and the request is for people to donate to a charity.

How does a group get their name onto that list of charities, so they can be chosen?

First off, you do have to be an official non-profit organization. Every state and country has its own rules about how to acquire that non-profit ID. Check with your state or country to figure out the steps, and go through them.

In the US, you are required to have a 501(c)(3) organization with a Tax ID number. You also need an official bank account associated with that non-profit, that will receive the funds.

You need a Facebook page for your charity, so people know where to connect to.

Once those things are set, then you follow these instructions to enable your Facebook page for your charity’s donations.

https://www.facebook.com/help/1640008462980459

Ask with any questions!

Luke MacNeil and Laura Cenedella Workshops Sat May 16 2020

Our Saturday, May 16th, 2020 lineup is delightful! Set your alarm and enjoy a day of relaxing creativity! Free!

Luke MacNeil 10am – 1pm

Luke MacNeil is an absolute wizard with computer design. Come participate live on Facebook as Luke shows us how to work with shapes, text, and patterns to create wonderful banners, promotional images, and much, much more.

You can comment live as he works, ask questions, and practice along if you’d like!

Luke often uses Photoshop, Procreate, and other similar applications to create his works.

Free and open to the public!

ONLINE VIRTUAL ON FACEBOOK!

Let us know what else you’d like him to talk about!

Hang out and chat, work along with him, and enjoy your Saturday morning!

Ask with any questions.

https://www.facebook.com/luke.macnei1

Laura O. Cenedella 1pm – 3pm

ONLINE VIRTUAL ON FACEBOOK!

Come join Laura in her studio for an amazingly fun paint session! You can just watch and chat or you can paint along! Use oil paints or acrylic paints, your choice. Get a handle on shapes, values, and drawing!

Drawing and Painting with Oils or Acrylics


Palette knives/ straight edge like kitchen knife, credit card or anything similar
Artist Oil Color and Acrylic Artist Color or Comparable
White, Yellow Ochre, light yellow, Red, Blue

·        Grey Pad Disposable Paper Palette/Plate anything
·      oil  Impasto Mediums/ Walnut oil/ drying medium or Acrylic impasto medium
·        Mineral spirits/ Water for acrylic
·        Paper towels
·        Brushes for Oil or Acrylic Painting
·        A can or jar for mineral spirits/water
·        A bag for trash
·        A clip to clip your trash bag to your easel or tripod
·        An easel or paint box
·        Canvas Artist Board or Paper

Anything else you may be comfortable to use.

Ask with any questions. Free, open to the public, and relaxing fun!

Laura’s event runs here:
https://www.facebook.com/Laura-O-Cenedella-269143975260/