Textile Talk: Dream Weaver
Allie Bennett, owner and operator of Stitchville, on weaving.
Weaving is a time honored craft, and can create one of a kind and wonderful works of art.
Oh Britney- NO!
No no no, not that kind of weave. This:
Nothing fishy about this weave.
Weaving consists of 2 distinct sets of yarn- one going horizontally and one vertically- or, if you’d rather, the weft and the warp.
Oh, I’m warped baby.
The warp is thread that runs longitudinally . The fabric is created when another thread is run back and forth horizontally. This also creates the type of fabric, the three most common being plain weave, satin weave, or twill. These types of weaves are created by running the weft over and under certain strings of the warp.
Weaving is an ancient art, having numerous allusions in the bible, and can be done without a fancy loom (as looms were not invented until much later in history). So, don’t let it scare you. If you are interested in weaving, take a tip from this guy, and just use what you’ve got on hand. Necessity is the mother in invention.
I wove everything- this was all I had weft.
Community Connection: Arcadia
Little know fact: Arcadia is the highest elevated town in all of Louisiana.
Arcadia is the parish seat of Bienville Parish and home of the monthly Bonnie and Clyde Trade days, an event I’ve always loved going to since I was a youngster. Arcadia is named after the French Colony in Nova Scotia and the name means “beautiful hills.” The city has a rich history of outlaws, political uprising, and cotton.
Bienville Parish’s economy heavily depended on cotton before the Civil War. Farmers never quite lived the genteel plantation culture that we imagine was the norm for cotton farmers, but they were able to live well. Then came the Civil War. Slavery was finally abolished in the South. Costs of cotton production rose and demand dropped dramatically. King Cotton was taken off of his throne.
Sparta was the first parish seat of Bienville Parish, and in 1890, Arcadia and Gibsland petitioned the state to hold an election to change the parish seat. In the third referendum, Arcadia won the vote by 65 and beat out the other candidate towns. However, there is still controversy surrounding that election. The story goes that half an hour after the ballots were tabulated, six wagons loaded with Arcadians surrounded the empty courthouse. Some of them went into the courthouse and began tossing the records to their waiting companions. There was a wild chase that night in 1893, and some of the records were undoubtedly lost. Many newspapers referred to that night as the night the “Bienville government was stolen.”
Now these guys were small time compared to the most infamous duo to ever grace the pages of Arcadia newspapers. Enter Bonnie and Clyde. There could be several posts written about these two, so I’ll keep it short. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were notorious outlaws responsible for killing 9 police officers and several civilians throughout the central US. They were gunned down on May 23, 1934 in Bienville Parish and their bodies were brought to the Arcadia coroner’s office for examination. Today, Arcadia holds the monthly Bonnie and Clyde Trade Days, a huge weekend long flea market that takes place on the weekend before the third Monday of the month.
Arcadia will be hosting one of our Super Saturday Arts Camps on June 29 from 9am to 12pm. It will be held at the First United Methodist Church found on 2122 Myrtle St in Arcadia. The cost is only $20 if you register by June 19 and just $25 if you register after June 19. To register for the camp, click here to download the form or call the NCLAC office at 318.255.1450
Art Ed Wednesday: Candle Holders
Art Ed Wednesday is written each week by Rachel Johnston, a regional fiber artists and early childhood art educator. I love this idea for lighting up these nice spring evenings… Have a candlelit dinner outside!
Today I have a simple idea for making cute jar candleholders.
This is a fun and easy project for kids 3 and up.
You will need:
Small glass jar (mason jelly jars work great)
Tissue paper torn into small pieces
White school glue
Paintbrush
Dilute glue with water. A 50/50 mixture works well. Use paintbrush to apply glue to the jar, and stick tissue paper to it. Brush more glue on top of tissue paper. Repeat until jar is covered, and allow to dry. Once dry, the jar can be used as a candleholder, but be sure to keep it out of reach of children and pets! These jars are also great for storing pens, and pencils, or whatever small treasure your child wants to keep in it.
This is another project where recycled materials can be used, as well. Jars used for pickles, jams, etc. can be cleaned and reused. And instead of tissue paper, you can have children cut pictures from magazines for collage jars!
SAC Teacher Feature: Peter Hay
I hope you are enjoying the warm weather outside! As we get closer to the end of the school year, keep in mind that NCLAC’s Summer Arts Camps are a great way to help keep your child occupied while also enriching his or her creative and artistic development.
As part of our weekly “Teacher Feature,” I want to introduce you to another camp instructor: artist Peter Hay!
Peter was born in Maryland, moved to Ohio, and then settled for a while in Oklahoma. He received his Associate of Art degree from Northern Oklahoma college before earning his Bachelor of Arts at Northeaster State University in Tahlequah, OK. Peter is currently a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech University, working on this MFA in studio art. Peter’s surreal and still life paintings were featured during Holiday Arts Tour 2012 at the Dixie Center for the Arts.
Peter will teaching 2D (drawing and painting) at a weeklong camp in Jonesboro, from July 15-19.
Registration for weeklong camps is $60 if you pay before May 1 ($65 after that date). We also have several “Super Saturday” that are just $20 if you register and pay 10 days before the camp ($25 after that date). Camp fees include a snack.
Students entering grades 2-7 are eligible to participate.
Those interested may register by phone at 255-1450, or by downloading a registration form from our blog @ nclac.wordpress.com, or site @ nclarts.org. Forms and checks should be mailed to NCLAC, PO Box 911 Ruston, LA 71273
Art Talk Monday: North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble Festival
This week’s Art Talk Monday is written by Greg Lyons, Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at Louisiana Tech University. He directs the Percussion Ensemble in multiple concerts on and off campus each year. The event discussed was held last weekend; however, the article offers a wonderful glimpse of the event in case you missed it!
On Friday and Saturday, April 5 & 6, 2013, the Louisiana Tech University Percussion Studio will host the 2nd North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble Festival in Howard Auditorium (corner of Dan Reneau Dr. and Adams Blvd.). A festival opening concert will take place on Friday at 7:30 PM featuring guest artist/clinician, Dr. T. Adam Blackstock. The event continues on Saturday from 1-4:30 PM and concludes with a festival closing concert at 7:30 PM. Admission is $5/adults, $3/students w/id. A complete schedule of events is available at music.latech.edu (click Outreach).
“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
–Marcel Proust
North Louisiana is home to many outstanding school percussion programs, several of which will be featured this weekend at Louisiana Tech University as part of the North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble (NLYPE) Festival. The Ruston High School Intermediate and Advanced Percussion Ensembles as well as the Marimba Band will perform along with the West Ouachita High School Percussion Ensemble and the Ouachita Jr. High School Percussion Ensembles.
This year marks the second occurrence of the NLYPE Festival, which is hosted by the Louisiana Tech University Percussion Studio. Performer and educator Dr. T. Adam Blackstock (Troy University) will appear as a guest artist/clinician and will be joined by Implosion Percussion Group (Mel Mobley, John Pirkey, Michael Holdiness, and myself) for the Friday evening concert. That concert will include Steve Reich’s Drumming (I.) and Toru Takemitsu’s Rain Tree along with several solo works performed by Dr. Blackstock.
The school percussion ensembles start at 1 PM on Saturday. Each group will receive a short clinic with Dr. Blackstock following their performance. Dr. Blackstock will also present an hour clinic on a percussion topic at 3:30 PM. Capping off the festival is a closing concert at 7:30 PM, which will include a performance by the Louisiana Tech University Percussion Ensemble. Also featured on that concert will be the Honors Youth Percussion Ensembles, comprised of select students from the participating schools. Dr. Blackstock will coach these young musicians each afternoon in preparation for this unforgettable performance.
The idea for the NLYPE Festival was born in May 2010 during a presentation I attended as part of the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma. The presentation offered several reasons for creating this type of festival:
- Provides an opportunity to showcase local advanced student performers
- Addresses the fact that students often have a limited amount of performance opportunities
- Gives students the opportunity to see and hear more advanced performers
- Exposes students to a more diverse array of percussion literature
- Brings an atmosphere of seriousness to the art of percussion performance
- Offers students more experience on more instruments
- Fosters a sense that we are all in this together
- Allows college students to take on a practical role from a teaching/administrative perspective
Please come hear and support some of the best young percussionists in North Louisiana at this weekend’s NLYPE Festival. Bring your new eyes and discover great music right here in Ruston.
Visit latechpercussion.com to learn more about related events in the percussion studio.
Community Connection: Farmerville
Farmerville has a surprising lack of farmers. Well, farmers in the agricultural sense. The misleading name actually came from one of the founders of the town.
The first man to buy a lease of land in what is now Union Parish was John Honeycutt. John was a trapper, so the area was perfect for him. John got his lease from the Spanish government way back in 1790, and he settled in. A few years roll by with John scratching out a living doing his trapping thing when a roving band of Native Americans came through. They told John that there was another family that had settled in the area. When John went to meet the new neighbors, he was pleasantly surprised to find a settler named Feazel living with what could only be described as a house full of girls. The story says that John eventually asked Feazel for the hand of one of the girls. Typical guy.
People came from all over the South to settle in the area, and Union Parish was carved out of northern Ouachita Parish in 1839. Naming the parish seat proved to be a difficult matter. Matthew Wood donated the land for the town, but didn’t want the town to be called Woodville. (Maybe he thought the name would be too mainstream.) The name was decidedly named after the Farmer family. On May 17 of that year, the first Union Parish police jury made the ordinance to officially name the town Farmerville. It wasn’t until 1842 that the town received a charter and was incorporated.
There isn’t much trapping going on in Farmerville anymore, but the outdoors still plays a huge role in the area. Lake D’Arbonne is an artificial lake which started with a $1 000 000 appropration in 1957 and was completed in 1963 with a cost of about $3 000 000 (just over $22.7 million in today’s dollar). The lake covers 15 280 acres with 100 miles of shoreline and is 15 miles long. It’s fed mainly by Little Corney Bayou and Corney Bayou, but Bayou D’Arbonne, Middle Fork Bayou, and Little Bayou D’Arbonne are also contributing sources. Lake D’Arbonne boasts plenty of fishing and water sports along with camping at the state park.
A long history that revolves around the outdoors and the new lake can lend itself to a great future for the area. I had the opportunity to talk with Katie Knight, local country music artist and Farmerville native. Katie said that she loves her home town. “It’s a small town with a small town feel. Everybody knows everybody.” I asked Katie about how growing up in Farmerville has helped her songwriting. She says it gives her a perspective to work with. She knows what it’s like to live in such a small town and imagines what it would be like to live in a big city. To learn more about Katie Knight and her music check out her website.
Farmerville is hosting one of NCLAC’s very special Super Saturday Arts Camp on Saturday, June 15. At this exciting one day camp, your kids will participate in visual and performing arts. The camp will take place at the First Assembly of God on 900 S Main St.
Registration for this even is only $20 by June 5 and $25 after June 5. This includes supplies and a snack. Camp is from 9am – noon. If you’ve got a youngster that’s currently in 1-6 grade and you think they would enjoy a day full of fun arts based activities, click here to download the registration form. You could also call the NCLAC office at 255.1450 to register.
Award winning Author to read at Louisiana Tech on 4/11
From our friends at Louisiana Tech’s English Department:
Award winning author John Corey Whaley will return to Louisiana Tech, his alma mater on Thursday, April 11 to talk about his book tour and read from his book Where Things Come Back, which has now been released in paperback.
author Corey Whaley
Here is his schedule:
4-4:45p.m.Informal talk with Sigma Tau Delta members and English majors in GTM 223
6:30-7:30 p.m.Talk/reading followed by book signing in GTM 105
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a novelist with your Louisiana Tech English degree, you will want to meet Corey Whaley, a native of Springhill, La., and hear his story. He received his B. A. in English from Tech in 2006 and his M. A. Secondary English Education in 2009. After teaching in public school for five years, he had his first novel accepted by Simon & Schuster Atheneum Press. His novel, Where Things Come Back, received the U.S. Young Adult Library Services Association’s annual Printz Award that is open to all books published in the U.S. for young-adult readers. He also received YALSA’s award for new authors (debut books), 2012 William C. Morris YA Award. This is the first time a book has received both awards. The book was chosen as a Publishers Weekly Best Book 2011. Corey was selected by the National Book Foundation as a Top 5 Under 35 Author for 2011. He has just been hired to teach in the MFA program at Antioch University in Los Angeles.
He has finished his second novel and is on tour with his first. For more information, visit his website:
Art for the Garden….Art Ed Wednesday
Art Ed Wednesday is written each week by Rachel Johnston, a regional fiber artist and early childhood art educator.
Since it’s spring now, kids might have fun doing garden related projects. My classes recently made collages with pictures from seed catalogs, and painted clay flower pots. You can also make your own seed starting pots with newspaper, egg cartons, or small yogurt containers. Have kids come up with their own ideas about what other items could be recycled for seed starting. Chalkboard paint can be used on clay pots so that kids can decorate them with chalk and write the name of whatever is planted in it. Gardening is full of opportunities for children to experience creative sensory play!
SAC Teacher Feature: Bethany Raybourn
Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday. It is time for another installment of “Teacher Feature,” when we highlight one of the amazing individuals who will be helping NCLAC with Summer Arts Camps.
Today, I am happy to introduce you to Bethany Raybourn, our coordinator for the two Ruston camps this year. Bethany has been involved with NCLAC for quite some time now, demonstrating her commitment to arts education. Last year, Bethany was one of the volunteers who helped with SAC 2012. We are excited to have her with us for SAC 2013!
Here’s a little background about Bethany: she was born and raised in North Louisiana. She obtained her BA in English from Louisiana Tech University, and this May she will graduate with a Master of Arts in Teaching (Secondary English Education).
Bethany spends most of her time as a high school English teacher, which is a profession that she says she has grown to love and enjoy over the past year. In her spare time, she loves to write poetry, turn her poems into songs, and then perform them. She says that she developed a love for music, songwriting, and the arts in general at a very young age, and she is always excited to take part in any opportunity to participate in or volunteer for NCLAC events.
Are you interested in signing your child up for a Summer Arts Camp?
Students entering grades 2-7 are eligible to participate in Summer Arts Camps! This year, we will have both weeklong camps and several “Super Saturday” camps.
Weeklong camps are $60 if you register and pay by May 1; $65 after May 1. Camp fee includes supplies and a snack.
Super Saturday camps are $20 if you register and pay 10 days before the camp; $25 after that date. Camp fee includes supplies and a snack.
Those interested may register by phone at 255-1450, or by downloading a registration form from our blog @ nclac.wordpress.com, or site @ nclarts.org. Forms and checks should be mailed to NCLAC, PO Box 911 Ruston, LA 71273
Member news, and other regional art updates and opportunities
It’s spring, and the whirlwind of activity has my spirit full.
Today’s post is full as well, so let’s get started with the news!
Member News:
First up, Hooshang Khorasani currently has a solo exhibition in Bossier City at 1800 Prime in Boomtown Casino, as part of Bossier Arts Council’s exhibition series. His April 4 reception includes wine-tasting and a $15 entry fee.
Jerry Berg, of Louisiana Tech University, will be exhibiting at Livaudais Studio in Monroe for the April 4 Downtown Gallery Crawl. New works will be shown for this one night only event, and Jerry will give an artist’s talk at 6pm.
Congratulations to Christiane Drieling of Brush Hour Studio, who has been hired to teach art at Montessori School of Ruston. If your child attends Montessory School of Ruston, they will learn so much from Christiane.
Jake Dugard, from Louisiana Tech’s SoA Graduate program, will be interning at Hatch Show Print this summer in Nashville. Way to go, Jake!
Dorene Kordal of Fabulous Felt has been invited on an all expenses paid trip to Peru Moda because of her award winning wool felt stitch sampler. Peru–whoo-hoo! AND, Dorene will be blogging about her experience here on our blog upon her return.
At the Louisiana Tech Annual Student Show, currently on display in the School of Art, three NCLAC members won Red River Paper Honorable Mention Awards: Sophia Maras (our recently-moved Gallery Coordinator), Peter Hay and Casey Parkinson. Congratulations!
Next, our very own technical writing intern, Jennifer Downs, was awarded the opportunity to present a paper at the Sigma Tau Delta conference in Portland, Oregon last week. We are proud for you!
Calls for Entry:
Interactive Art Exhibition presented by Alexandria Museum of Art
Friday, May 10, 2013, 49pm & Saturday, May 11, 2013, 9am7pm
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 11, 2013
Alexandria Museum of Art is seeking artists to participate in the first annual Interactive Art Exhibition taking place on public sidewalks, green spaces, and streets along the riverfront area of downtown Alexandria during the 2013 Annual Louisiana Dragon Boat Races. Drawing over 10,000 attendees and 1,000 race participants, Louisiana Dragon Boat Races on the scenic Red River viewed from the amphitheater in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana is a spirited day of racing features more teams, food, elaborate costumes, and entertainment on and off the water than ever before. The Interactive Art Exhibition presented by Alexandria Museum of Art will feature art that is highly interactive and invites participation, inspired by local community themes and the spirit of the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races. Artists will have an opportunity to create new work, showcase their creativity to a large audience, and interact with the public, alongside food vendors, live music, and race spectators. Interactive art may require human interaction to complete the piece; involve the community and the audience in its creation; prompt the viewer to act; incorporate multi-sensory elements; prompt people to interact with one another; respond to participants and its environment; cause people to reflect on the larger community; respond to the communitys culture, needs, and environment in an innovative and unique way. Honorariums in varying amounts will be awarded to each selected artist or collective. For more information on how to submit a proposal:
https://www.facebook.com/events/478623825526828/
NCLAC’s is now accepting artist entries for our exhibition spaces at Crescent City, Dixie Center Lobby, the Bridge Project with Bossier Arts Council, and early notification for large group shows in a new space being renovated at Louisiana Tech University’s Student Center. Here is more information. The application is available in ‘the box’ at the bottom of your screen.
Fundraisers:
The Twin City Art Foundation and the Masur Museum of Art are asking artists to help with our annual fundraiser. The Off-the-Wall Fundraiser will include a silent auction. Please consider contributing a work of art to this important cause! The money raised will help fund upcoming exhibitions, educational outreach, and educational programming for adults and children. It’s your last chance to participate in this worthwhile and, frankly, very fun event! See more details here.
NCLAC’s Keep the Arts Afloat fundraiser is here! This annual event makes the arts council possible. We sell only 250 tickets, for $100 donations, and then we give away $5000. It’s great odds, and it’s a great way to make a tax-deductible donation. See any NCLAC board member to make your donation and get your ticket, call our office t 255-1450, or stop by the Dixie Center for the Arts at 212 North Vienna, Monday-Thursday from 9-3.
Summer of Arts! Art Talk Monday Edition
For twenty-five years, the North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) has been serving the region by providing arts opportunities in Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln and Union Parishes. One of our longest-running programs is Summer Arts Camps, known as Summer Arts Chautauqua when it began twenty years ago. Summer Arts Camps are interactive, multidisciplinary art adventures for students who have completed 1st through 6th grades. Campers explore visual art as well as drama, and are taught by artists from around the region. The camps are special community events, with space for classes donated by local groups to which we are extremely grateful. This year we are adding a twist to the program, by offering three five day camps, and three “Super Saturday” camps.
The five day camps this year will be from 9am-noon, Monday through Friday, with classes in 2D, such as drawing and painting; 3D, such as fiber and clay; and drama, such as movement, playwriting, and improv. 
The five day camp schedule is as follows:
Ruston 1, June 3-7, First Baptist Church, 200 S. Trenton
Ruston 2, July 8-12, First Baptist Church, 200 S. Trenton
Jonesboro, July 15-19, United Methodist Church, 402 Fourth St.
The camps are loads of fun, and students come back year after year, often volunteering as teachers’ assistants when they’ve “aged out” as campers. Tuition for each five day camp is $60 if you register and pay by May 1. After this date registration is $65. Payment upon registration is necessary in order for us to adequately order supplies.
Now on to the Super Saturday camps! These one day art camps will be held from 9am-noon, and will have classes in visual art (experimenting with 2D and 3D forms) as well as drama. Tuition for these camps is $20 if you register and pay ten days before the camp; $25 registration after that date.
Super Saturday locations are as follows:
Farmerville, June 15, First Assembly of God, 900 S. Main
Arcadia, June 29, First United Methodist Church, 2122 Myrtle St.
Homer, July 27, Homer City Hall, 400 E. Main
For all of the camps, supplies and a snack are included with your student’s tuition, and each camp ends with a final performance and exhibition of work. Students always enjoy performing for their parents, and parents enjoy seeing what their children have been learning and creating.
Another special part of NCLAC’s Summer Arts Camps is our scholarship program, Pick Your Picasso. This effort raises tuition for 25 students in NCLAC’s five parish region. Supporters in our area make donations to cover the tuition of students who have talent and interest in the arts, but are unable to pay for camp. Conversations with school counselors help our office compile the list of Picasso students, and then when monies are received, the scholarship students are invited to attend to the camp in their parish for free.
If you are interested in registering for a camp, or in becoming a Pick Your Picasso donor, please visit our website at nclarts.org, or call our office at 255-1450. Summer is just around the corner! Camps fill up quickly, so take care of your registration today.
Community Connection: Ruston
Peaches, railroads, and hall-of-famers. That’s what describes many of the highlights of Ruston, LA. Established in 1883 with land donated from Robert Edwin Russ, Ruston has blossomed into a bustling city that has brought some of the best in football, technology, and fun.
Every summer, Ruston celebrates the Squire Creek Country Club Peach Festival. The festival brings people from all over the state and all over the country to downtown Ruston for music, food, and fun. Saturday brings music as sweet as the peaches themselves. Vendors from all over line the streets peddling their wares. Visitors can enjoy juried art exhibits, kids activities, and the annual parade among a myriad of other activities.
Ruston is home to Louisiana Tech University. Louisiana Tech (known affectionately as Tech) has brought many breakthroughs in technology and research through their engineering department; beauty through the art, architecture, and performing arts departments; and business leaders through their business department. Tech was the first to offer a degree in Nanotechnology, has had award winning plays and playwrights, and has produced many prominent business leaders in the area and around the country. Tech is also home to many international students that bring their own cultures to the table. Tech recently hosted Nepal night, which brought together people from all over the community to celebrate Nepal’s culture. Food, music, and dancing took center stage. Nepal Night is just one of the many community events Louisiana Tech hosts that engages people in Ruston. Tech also has programs in the soft sciences (physchology, sociology, etc), liberal arts, and many other programs of study.
Another facet of Louisiana Tech is it’s rich sports history. Tech has produced a number of Hall of Fame members in different sports. Terry Bradshaw played quarterback for Tech and became the NFL first draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970. Bradshaw originally played second string behind Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame. Willie Roaf also went to Tech and is a current member of the NFL Hall of Fame after a career with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. Karl “The Mailman” Malone. played basketball for Tech and was drafted after three seasons by the Utah Jazz. Malone had a stellar career in the NBA and came home to became a member of the Louisiana Tech basketball staff in 2007.
Ruston hosts most NCLAC events. Since I started as an intern for NCLAC in 2012, I’ve been a part of Artoberfest, Holiday Arts Tour, and Summer Arts Camp. NCLAC also hosts many art openings and exhibits at Crescent City Coffee in Ruston among other locations. Artoberfest is an annual one evening festival celebrating homebrew craft beer, which is a surprisingly popular pastime in the area. The annual Holiday Arts Tour connects local artists and local business with the community. Artists are able to have their work displayed in participating businesses. There are personal studio tours and workshops, more art than you can handle, and live music to wrap up the weekend.
NCLAC will be hosting two week long Summer Arts Camps at First Baptist Church in Ruston this year. The first will be June 3 – June 7 and the second will be July 8 – 12. Classes will be held from 9am – 12pm (noon). Classes will involve work in 2D and 3D art as well as drama. Camp fees are just $60 if you register by May 1 and only $65 if you register after that. To register or for more information, call the NCLAC office at 318.255.1450. Or you can make it easy on yourself and click here to download the registration form.
We look forward to hearing from you!
-Rod
Art Ed Wednesday….on Thursday
Art Ed Wednesday is written each week by Rachel Johnston, an area fiber artist and early childhood art educator
If you’re planning to dye eggs this week, consider trying the following ideas for natural egg dyes! Kids will enjoy seeing which colors they get from different plant materials. Try other veggies, flowers, teas, and herbs as well to come up with your own color ideas!
Natural Egg Dyes
Blue: Cut ¼ head of red cabbage into large dice and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.
Orange: Add the skin of 6 yellow onions to 2 cups simmering water and simmer for 15 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar.
Brown: Add the skin of 6 red onions to 2 cups simmering water and simmer for 15 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar.
Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into large dice and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.
Light yellow: Cut 1 medium golden beet and ¼ head of red cabbage into large dice and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.
Pastel pink: Chop the stems off of 3 bunches of red chard and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.
Pastel yellow: Simmer the tops of 2 bunches of carrots in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.
Let dye cool to room temperature and strain. After straining, dye boiled eggs as usual. Natural dyes generally provide less saturation, so if you want darker colors, leave the eggs in the dye a little longer. For the eggs pictured, I used onion skins, blueberries, and hibiscus tea. I used tan eggs, so the colors would turn out differently on brown or white eggs.
SAC Teacher Feature: Emma Case Melville
Hello everyone! As part of our next “Teacher Feature,” I want to highlight another one of the amazing art instructors who will be teaching classes for Summer Arts Camps: Emma Case Melville! You may remember her simply as Emma Case; well, she got married recently. Congratulations to Emma and her husband!
Emma has been active in NCLAC and the surrounding community for over a year now: as an student of studio arts at Louisiana Tech University, as an assistant who helped organize SAC 2012, and then as a celebrated artist in Holiday Arts Tour 2012 (her ceramic art was featured at Rosemary’s Kitchen in Ruston). We are excited to have her as an instructor for Summer Arts Camps this year!
 |
 |
 |
This summer, Emma will be teaching two classes on 2D/3D art: one in Farmerville on 6/15 and the other in Arcadia on 6/29. If you want your child to take a class with Emma, call NCLAC’s offices at (318) 255-1450 between 10-2 on Monday-Thursday in order to speak to someone who can help you enroll. Emma’s classes in Farmerville and Arcadia will be one-day “Super Saturday” classes, so tuition is only $25 (or $20, if you register and pay at least 10 days before the camp).
Be sure to keep an eye on the blog for updates about each camp! Each location will offer at least two different kinds of art workshops (including 2D, 3D, and dramatic arts).
Just a reminder: students who are entering grades 2-7 are eligible to participate in Summer Arts Camps. Emma will be teaching two “Super Saturday” classes, but there are weeklong camps happening as well. For weeklong camps, tuition is $60 if you register and pay before May 1 (the tuition includes art supplies and a snack). Those interested may register by phone at 255-1450, or by downloading a registration form from our blog @ nclac.wordpress.com, or site @ nclarts.org. Forms and checks should be mailed to NCLAC, PO Box 911 Ruston, LA 71273
Stage Combat Workshop! Art Talk Monday
This week’s Art Talk Monday is written by Rowan Johnson of the Louisiana Tech Department of Theatre. Read below to find out about this interesting and unique event we have here in Ruston hosted by LA Tech Theatre Players.
The Tech Theatre Players, in conjunction with the University Theatre and Louisiana Tech University School of Performing Arts, is proud to host the 22nd-annual stage combat workshop on March 29th and 30th—a date fast approaching! This workshop has become one of the most popular events on the national schedule, and annually brings teachers and students from all corners of the globe right to our backyard.
This is the oldest regional stage combat workshop in America. For one weekend, eighteen master teachers, their assistants, students, and a dedicated staff of Tech Theatre Players will gather to share their varied knowledge of this specific yet vast artform. Among the teachers present will be Fight Masters Michael G. Chin and Scot Mann of the Society of American Fight Directors, and of course our very own Fight Master Mark D. Guinn who has recently been appointed Director of the School of Performing Arts. Visiting Australian director Nigel Poulton—the former president of the Society of Australian Fight Directors—who is currently using his expertise in theatrical biomechanics to train students in Louisiana Tech Theatre’s production of The Suicide, will be on faculty as well. Other organizations represented will be the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat, the Australian Stage Combat Association, and the International Order of the Sword and Pen.
Student coordinator Jake Guinn believes that what separates this workshop from others in the nation is its strong sense of identity. “Every workshop has a thing that defines it,” says Guinn. “For us, it’s our focus on Filipino combat systems.” While encompassing myriad weapons from rapier & dagger to broadsword to knife, etc. and teaching the art and business behind this movement profession, a specific martial arts flair permeates the workshop.
If you would like to join the combat adventure, visit the workshop’s website at performingarts.latech.edu/theatre/scwweb/scw.html or call the LA Tech Theatre Promotions Office at 318-257-2930. You can also participate before your arrival by joining the facebook event! The Tech Theatre Players and our team of movement professionals can’t wait to cross blades with you!
Community Connection: Jonesboro
Blink and you might miss it.
Jonesboro is the largest town and parish seat of Jackson Parish as well as the host of a week long session of this year’s Summer Arts Camp. Home of the Sunshine Festival and Christmas Wonderland in the Pines, Jonesboro boasts diverse opportunities to appreciate and cherish what makes small towns so great.
I grew up in Jackson Parish, and I’ve spent a lot of time in Jonesboro. Whether is driving through to get to Wal-Mart or spending time downtown “looping,” Jonesboro was always one of my favorite places to be. I’ve been to most of the churches, all of the schools, and to a lot of the downtown businesses.
Jackson Parish has many ways to pass the time and enjoy the outdoors. Jimmie Davis state park is a great place to spend a spring, summer, or fall day. You can enjoy swimming at the beach, water sports and fishing from either of two boat launches, or camping in the many cabins available at the park. There is also hunting available (in season of course) at the Jackson-Bienville Wildlife Reserve.
The United Methodist Church in Jonesboro is hosting this year’s week-long session of NCLAC’s Summer Arts Camps for Kids. The camp will take place July 15-19 from 9am-12pm each day. Registration is only $60 if you register before May 1 and only $65 after May 1. It’s simple to register, too. Just download the form below, fill it out, and send it, along with a check, to:
NCLAC
PO Box 911
Ruston LA 71273
If you have any questions, call us at (318) 255-1450. Can’t wait to see you this summer!
Art Ed Wednesday: Pointillism for Preschoolers
Art Ed Wednesday is written each week by Rachel Johnston, a local fiber artist and early childhood art educator.
Right now my students are learning about pointillism. They love learning new techniques and this is one they particularly enjoyed. This week I did an introduction to pointillism by providing cotton swabs that they could use to make dots. We also experimented with round sponges and pom poms for different sized dots. Since many of the kids I teach have been painting and drawing landscapes lately, next week I will offer them the opportunity to create pointillism landscapes. I notice that several of my oldest preschool students are ready to move on a bit in their art education. Pointillism is good for the stage they’re in now because it provides some structure for them, but still allows the creative freedom they need.
SAC Teacher Feature: Matthew Knopps
Hello, everyone! I’m Jennifer Downs, one of the interns here at NCLAC.
Summer Arts Camps are a few months away, but it is never too early to celebrate the teachers who dedicate their time and effort to showing children how to draw, paint, sculpt, and perform on stage. Every Tuesday for the next few weeks, I will be introducing you to one of the amazing individuals who will be teaching at an arts class this summer.
This week, our “Featured Teacher” is Matthew Knopps! You may remember him from last year; he was one of the instructors Summer Arts Camps 2012. Below is a picture from last year’s workshop, in which he showed the kids how to fold paper to create moveable shapes (origami).
Matthew Knopps, SAC 2012
Matthew is originally from Scottsboro, Alabama. He obtained his BA from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, focusing on painting and drawing. He is now enrolled at Louisiana Tech University and is pursuing his MFA in Studio Art. As an undergraduate, Matthew participated in numerous community and student art exhibitions. Recently, Matthew’s work has been featured in the 1st and 2nd year MFA Exhibition at Louisiana Tech University and the Annual Student Art Exhibition.
Students entering grades 2-7 are eligible to participate in Summer Arts Camps! This year, we will have both weeklong camps and several “Super Saturday” camps. The sooner you sign up your child for a camp, the sooner you can secure a spot and take advantage of our early-bird discounts.
Weeklong camps are $60 if you register and pay by May 1; $65 after May 1. Camp fee includes supplies and a snack.
Super Saturday camps are $20 if you register and pay 10 days before the camp; $25 after that date. Camp fee includes supplies and a snack.
Those interested may register by phone at 255-1450, or by downloading a registration form from our blog @ nclac.wordpress.com, or site @ nclarts.org. Forms and checks should be mailed to NCLAC, PO Box 911 Ruston, LA 71273
Art Talk Monday: SoA Annual Student Show
Today’s Art Talk Monday is written by Jes Schrom, Assistant Professor of Photography at Louisiana Tech University. The opening reception for the Annual Student Show is tomorrow night, so make plans to stop by and see the exhibition.
Louisiana Tech University School of Art Galleries: Annual Student Show
March 19 – April 9, 2013
The Annual Student Show is one of the most popular and well-attended exhibitions offered by the School of Art at Louisiana Tech University. A favorite of students, parents, and faculty alike, the show features a selection of the best student work produced during the year. All art students, from freshmen through graduate students are eligible to submit work to the show, but acceptance is competitive. This year, Cristin J. Nunez, the Assistant Director of Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans, has juried the show and determined the award winners. Her lecture, “Gallery Virgins: How to Court Your First Commercial Gallery” will be offered on Tuesday, March 19 at 5pm in the Taylor Visual Arts Center #103. The awards ceremony, generating much excitement, will follow the lecture in conjunction with an opening reception. In addition to Best of Show, cash prizes will be awarded for one work in each of five categories: communication design, core, photography, studio, and graduate level. Event is free and open to the public and refreshments provided.
Statement from juror, Cristin Nunez, Assistant Director of Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans, LA.
“Thank you to Marie Bukowski for inviting me to jury Louisiana Tech’s 2013 student exhibition, and many thanks to Jes Schrom, who diligently kept in touch with me and helped organize my involvement with the University. I am happy to be visiting Ruston for the first time and look forward to seeing the student show in person.
Seventy-nine impressive undergraduate and graduate students submitted art for consideration this year. It was very rewarding to review all of the entries, which ranged from traditional oil painting to video installations to fiber art. Just as there was a variety in media, there was also a variety in subject matter, and although there is no connecting theme between the selected works, it was refreshing to see such differences in the artists’ personalities.
The most important criterion for selection was that the student have mature sensibilities. Was the artwork mature in its subject matter, color palette and overall aesthetic? What was the student trying to say, and could I pick up on the message without having to read the artist’s description of the work? Did the student have an advanced understanding of his or her materials, and did the finished product look like the artist spent a significant amount of time planning and executing the piece? With my sales background, I am always conscious of whether a piece looks expensive, and for the working student, quality is paramount when pricing the work. Paintings and prints should look well thought out with as much work dedicated to the foreground as to the background. Figures should be proportional, color theory appealing to the eye, and for the many photographers in your program, I was looking for contrasts between value, color, and focus. I am also drawn to the more spontaneous photographs that show a strong appreciation for negative space.
For the graphic designer in the crowd, I look for readability and for the design that brands a product in the simplest, most organized way. Font selection and a reduced color palette are important to me. I believe written communication is most effective when the viewer doesn’t have to sift through visual commotion. And lastly, the three-dimensional artists deserve kudos for their originality and workmanship. This year, some of the most conceptual pieces in the show were sculptural, and I appreciate the sculptors’ experimentation with abstraction and scale.
Overall, I could see that many folks in the program have a future in the arts. Congratulations to all the art students! I look forward to meeting you in March and having more time to see the surfaces of your lovely pieces.”
Juror Cristin J. Nunez, Assistant Director of Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans, LA
Cristin J. Nunez, the Assistant Director of Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans, has worked in the gallery business for three years. She oversees about 45 artists and their work, managing inventory, client sales, gallery maintenance and student interns. In 2010, she co-curated Ancestors and Descendants: Ancient Southwestern America at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century at the New Orleans Museum of Art and co-authored the show’s namesake exhibition catalogue. The catalogue was loosely based on her Master’s Thesis for Tulane University, where she studied a little-known collection of Southwestern Native American artifacts at Tulane’s Middle American Research Institute. She graduated in 2009 with her M.A. in Art History. A native of New Orleans, Cristin also worked in Development at The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for two years. In 2005, she earned her B.A. in Art History and Journalism and Mass Communications at Washington and Lee University, where she wrote her Honors Thesis on the video art of Bill Viola. Her thesis won the Doyon Award for excellence in art historical writing.
The School of Art at Louisiana Tech University has two gallery spaces available to artists working in all media, including: painting, drawing, video, printmaking, installation, sculpture, photography, ceramics, fiber, and digital works. The mission of the galleries at The School of Art at Louisiana Tech University is to contribute to student and community learning through exposure to the work and philosophy of nationally recognized contemporary artists working in the visual arts.
The gallery committee is a fully volunteer group made up of dedicated Tech faculty, responsible for all exhibitions at the School of Art: Mary Louise Carter, Nicole Duet, Frank Hamrick, Patrick Miller, Jes Schrom, and Joey Slaughter.
Additional info can be found at www.art.latech.edu
Sew What?
Allie Bennett, owner of Stitchville, muses on the history of sewing:
Let’s talk about the oldest form of textile arts, shall we? It’s not knitting or weaving or spinning, but sewing! Neanderthals were sewing well before it was cool, making clothing and shelter out of skins and fur and fastening it using bones for needles and guts for thread. And you though sewing was for sissies!
Like my outfit? I made it myself. Using INNARDS!
Sewing was done by hand for thousands of years, until the sewing machine was made in the 19th century. And it’s not just for clothes! Shoemaking, bookbinding, and sailing- all of these occupations required skill with the needle and thread.
Sewing was largely woman’s work- as it was a woman’s duty to take care of the home. Fabric was expensive and the longevity of clothes was very important. Mending and revitalizing the clothing was critical. Even after a useful life, clothing could be made into quilts and other household items.
Patchwork. Before it was cool.
The invention of the sewing machine changed the lives of many. Barthelemy Thimonnier was the first to introduce a simplified machine to yield France’s military uniforms in 1841. However, a mob of angry tailors broke into the shop and destroyed the machines, believing they would be put out of work by them. Issac Singer produce a smaller and more accurate machine in 1850. This gave rise to the garment sweatshops in New York City and London, where thousands of machine operators cranked out clothing. Tailors were considered superfluous and employed only by those who could afford such finery.
Don’t worry. I’m a tailor
So whether you make clothes, quilts, or crafts, you now have an idea of how the oldest of the textile arts came about. As they say, necessity if the mother of all invention. So, sew!
Summer Arts Camps Schedule 2013
The North Central Louisiana Arts Council’s annual Summer Arts Camps are back for 2013! For more than 16 years, NCLAC has offered art camps for students entering 2nd-7th grades in Visual Arts and Drama. Serving our 5 parish region of Lincoln, Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson and Union, these camps are taught by artists and art educators. NCLAC has 3 weeklong camps and 3 Super Saturday camps planned for this year. Space is limited, so check your schedule and register your child today!
Weeklong camps are $60 if you register and pay by May 1; $65 after May 1. Camp fee includes supplies and a snack.
Super Saturday camps are $20 if you register and pay 10 days before the camp; $25 after that date. Camp fee includes supplies and a snack.
Those interested may register by phone at 255-1450, or by downloading a registration form from our blog @ nclac.wordpress.com, or site @ nclarts.org. Forms and checks should be mailed to NCLAC, PO Box 911 Ruston, LA 71273
The week-long camp schedule is as follows:
Ruston 1, June 3-7 at First Baptist Church
Ruston 2, July 8-12 at First Baptist Church
Jonesboro, July 15-19 at United Methodist Church
The Super Saturday camp schedule is as follows:
Farmerville, June 15 at First Assembly of God
Arcadia, June 29 at First United Methodist Church
Homer, July 27 at Homer City Hall
Art Ed Wednesday: Creative Freedom
Art Ed Wednesday is written each week by Rachel Johnston, a fiber artist and early childhood art educator in Lincoln Parish.
I sometimes work with kids who have what I call the “coloring book mentality”. By that I mean they want to be told exactly how to do an art project. Sometimes this seems to come from coloring books being a child’s most common art material. If that’s the case, they often think there is a “right” way to paint, draw, etc. and they aren’t confident in their own creativity. Coloring books can even be frustrating for some children if they don’t yet have the motor skills or coordination to color within the lines, but they think they are supposed to. I am not opposed to coloring books in general, but I don’t use them in my classes because I want kids to have the opportunity to express themselves and I feel that starting with a blank page is a good way to do that.
Some kids really enjoy coloring books and if that’s the case, they should have them. But encourage the kids in your life to explore their own creative process, and to create art that reflects how they see the world around them. When you’re 3 years old, there is no “right” or “wrong” in art.
What’s happening here…
NCLAC has several opportunities going on right now that you should know about!
Call for Entries, Vendor Opportunity, Summer Arts Camp registration, and Volunteer events
First, we are holding our annual Call for Entries for visual artists. The application is located in “the box” at the bottom of the blog page; this can be emailed to us with the requested items (such as images, bio, etc.) Deadline is May 1, with notification sent by June 1.
Our exhibition spaces include:
Dixie Center Lobby, where we display work by artists from our outside-of-Lincoln service areas (Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson and Union Parishes). Currently on exhibit in the Dixie Center Lobby is work by members of the Union Parish Arts Council.
Crescent City Coffee, in Ruston, where we hold quarterly receptions/exhibitions for area artists. Crescent City is a hopping place, with a steady stream of customers, so work displayed receives a lot of visibility. Currently on display is Exploring Abandonment, paintings by Becky Bennett.
New exhibition partnerships include:
Bridge Project, in collaboration with Bossier Arts Council, where NCLAC artists are given the opportunity to exhibit at Bossier Arts Council spaces without going through the Call for Entries process with BAC. Artists who apply to exhibit with NCLAC are placed in a “roster” that BAC will select from for selected exhibitions in their area, and BAC artists will be exhibited in NCLAC spaces, providing greater exposure for north Louisiana artists.
A Center Collaboration space, in partnership with Louisiana Tech University, will be a large exhibition area for themed group shows. This space will bring together community and student groups for art exhibitions and receptions. The space is currently being renovated with art-hanging in mind, so it’s an exciting opportunity. Artists who have applied to exhibit with NCLAC will be the first to receive Calls for Entries for these group shows.
Brand new next month is the Bazaar Experiment Festival and Market, whose vision is to a celebrate the products, arts, food and traditions that unite communities and support small-scale vendors, artist, crafters and producers.
This event will be held at Railroad Park in downtown Ruston on April 20. It’s a vast collaboration between many groups, including various organizations/departments from Louisiana Tech such as the International Student Organization, Departments of Theatre and Architecture, and the Enterprise Center as well as NCLAC and other community groups.
The Bazaar Experiment’s mission is to create environments that bring people of different regions and demography together – celebrating & supporting small-scale producers, crafters, artist, caterers and performers, encouraging organic, eco-friendly practices, contributing to local communities, leading & fostering educational opportunities.
What this means for you, is that there are vendor spaces open for the day! What a wonderful way to spend a spring Saturday, selling your unique, handmade items at an exciting new event in town. The vendor fee is only $30 if you apply by April 6; after that date, if there is still space available, the fee is $35. Follow this link for an application.
Items that are handmade, interesting, easily carried and relatively inexpensive will show best at this bazaar-style booth event. There’s room for creativity to make this brand new event an exciting happening in Ruston!
March means it’s time to begin registration for Summer Arts Camps 2013!
NCLAC’s traditional 5day Summer Arts Camps schedule is as follows:
Ruston 1, June 3-7, 9am-noon
Ruston 2, July 8-12, 9am-noon
Jonesboro July 15-19, 9am-noon
These camps will have classes in 2D, 3D and Drama. The camp fee, which includes supplies and a snack, is $60 if you register and pay by May 1. After May 1 the registration fee is $65. You may call our office to register at 255-1450.
Brand new for this summer are the following Summer Arts Super Saturdays:
Farmerville, June 15, 9am-noon
Arcadia, June 29, 9am-noon
Homer, July 27, 9am-noon
These one-day camps will teach Visual Arts and Drama. The camp fee, which includes supplies and a snack, is $20 if you register and pay by the Wednesday a week before camp….in case that’s confusing, here are the dates: For the discounted fee in Farmerville, register and pay by June 5; for Arcadia, register and pay by June 19; for Homer, register and pay by July 17. After that Wednesday, the camp fee is $25. You may call our office to register at 255-1450.
Spring and summer activities mean lots of opportunities for volunteerism!
Volunteering with a nonprofit is great for: meeting people with similar interests, feeling connected with your community, building your resume and networking. NCLAC will need volunteers for Summer Arts Camps, for our booth at the Ruston Farmer’s Market, and for the Bazaar Experiment. Volunteering with our children’s activities involves assisting teachers and students with the execution of projects. With the Bazaar Experiment, we’ll need help checking in and assisting vendors, as well as with our children’s booth. With these activities you should always dress comfortably and wear a smile. Contact our office for dates and details at 255-1450.
Art Talk Monday: Claire Lynch Band to Perform at Dixie Center
This week’s Art Talk Monday is by John Emory, Jr., President of the Dixie Center for the Arts. Get your tickets now for a great show this week!
Music diversity has been our goal at the Dixie Center for the Arts as we present of artists who represent the best in their chosen genre. We’re delighted to bring to Ruston Claire Lynch and the Claire Lynch Band on Thursday, March 14. The 7pm concert is a must see for the bluegrass fan as well as anyone who enjoys good music.
Lynch has long been recognized as a creative force in acoustic music and at the forefront of women who have expanded the bluegrass genre. She has twice earned The International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Female Vocalist of the Year” title, as well as two GRAMMY nominations. Most recently, Lynch was awarded one of the 50 USA Fellowships from United States Artists (USA). With only seven awards going to musicians this year, the 2012 USA Fellows represent the most innovative and influential artists in their fields – including cutting-edge thinkers and traditional practitioners from the fields of architecture and design, crafts and traditional arts, dance, literature, media, music, theater arts, and visual arts.
For over two decades, Lynch has delighted audiences and enjoyed reverent standing ovations for her shows at prestigious music festivals and theaters around the world. She has crafted one of the most instantly identifiable sounds in acoustic music, encompassing classic bluegrass and thoughtful infusions of contemporary folk, country, rock, and swing. As a songwriter of inventive and evocative Music Row hits, her songs have been recorded by Kathy Mattea, Patty Loveless, and others, and she has performed as a backing/harmony vocalist with Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and Pam Tillis — just to name a few.
By any measure, the Claire Lynch Band is high on the bluegrass world’s A-List, with musicians whose accolades include “The MerleFest Doc Watson Guitar Champion” (Matt Wingate); two IBMA Bass Player of the Year awards (Mark Schatz) and an unprecedented triple first-place win at the Winfield Kansas National Flatpicking Championship on guitar, fiddle and mandolin (Bryan McDowell).
Lynch will be previewing new songs from a forthcoming album during the Dixie concert . Tickets for the event are available by calling the box office at 255-1450. You may leave your name and phone number to reserve tickets. We want to thank GAP Farms Travel Center and Port-Au-Prince for supporting the arts as corporate sponsors.
