ART SPEAKS: Are you Listening? --- enters the "BLOGESPHERE"

The AiA "Art Speaks "Are You Listening" event is really gaining a LOT of attention!

Barbara Curtin from the Statesman Journal has just posted a very nice piece on the Stateman Journal's "Mid-Valley Arts Notes" blog.

Additionally AiA is very excited about the upcoming First Wednesday event on May 5th where AiA's "Art Speaks "Are You Listening" event will be partnering with the folks putting on the National Historic Preservation Month.

Downtown celebrates National Preservation Month with the introduction of the new historic walking tour brochure, a component of the Preserve America Grant. The brochure compliments the historic plaques that are now on display in 32 locations, most within the downtown core. Join City leaders and period costumed characters who will introduce you to a self guided tour of the Downtown Historic District. Inspired, cultural singing by Rich McCloud starting at 6pm.

ART SPEAKS: Are You Listening Event Goes International!

AiA member Mitch Clason sold one of his pieces from the "ART SPEAKS: Are You Listening" event to Rachel Price-Kreitz, Professor of American History at the University of Strasbourg, Alsace, France.

Rachel is "collecting" art from Oregon Artists and the AiA "ART SPEAKS: Are You Listening" event was the perfect opportunity for her to see and purchase art. After talking with Rachel I know she would have bought a lot more art from AiA artists if she could have figure out how to fit it all in her "carry on" bag.

Congratulation to Mitch for making his first "international" sale and a big "thank you" to Rachel for dropping by the AiA "ART SPEAKS: Are You Listening Event".

Rachel is here on a sabbatical while her husband, Ludwig Kreitz, who is at Willamette University on a "teaching sabbatical" teaching courses on the History of European politics as part of a faculty exchange program with the University of Strasbourg.

As part of the faculty exchange program, Willamette University President Lee Pelton is taking a sabbatical for the Spring of 2010, during which he will be in residence at the University of Strasbourg. President Pelton's area of academic focus is 19^th century British prose and poetry, and his duties at the renowned French school may include teaching but are likely to focus primarily on research.

Cheers,
Phil Krug
2010 AiA President

"ART SPEAKS: ARE YOU LISTENING?"

Last night's "Art Speaks: Are You Listening?" reception and kickoff was a HUGE success. We are guessing at least 200 people came to the reception.

I want to personally thank Roger Yost for providing the space for the event! I also want to thank Suzi Bicknell of Go Downtown and Maitland for being the catalyst for this event and working with AiA Board Member Marilyn Krug to make this event happen.

Also on my list to thank for their help with the reception is Randy Flook who provided the wonderful music and Jon from the Wild Pear for providing a wonderful assortment of food and drink.

I want to thank AiA members Marilyn Krug, Mitch Clason, Lorraine Dye and Joel Zak for the MANY hours of VERY HARD work to put the "Art Speaks: Are You Listening?" event all together AND for their continued support in helping provide access to the general public through May 8, 2010.

These folks came together to not only do all the hard work of taking art in on Saturday April 3rd but they also did all the work associated with "staging" the art and producing a very professional exhibit. I was very impress with how the upper level turn out and how may people at the reception "found" their way upstairs to enjoy both the art and to discuss the art with the artists and other folks attending the reception.

Special "THANKS" to Diane Trevett for updating the AiA "sandwich" boards!

I want to thank ALL the AiA members that are participating in "Art Speaks: Are You Listening?" exhibit. I think there are about 140 pieces of art being displayed! You all deserve a huge thanks from the community for your efforts. Several times I overheard "visitors" stating how professional the art was and how well it was presented.

Thank you again, one and all for making AiA the best artist group I can imagine. I am very proud to be a member of AiA and look forward to many more outstanding AiA events in 2010.

Additional photos from the Art Speaks Reception are HERE.

Phil Krug
President AiA 2010

OREGON CULTURAL TRUST!

I wanted to let folks know that there is something out there that should be of interest to all artists and art patrons that not only makes sense but in this case is a true "no brainier".

Its the Oregon Cultural Trust Oregon Tax Credit Program....

Typically when we make contributions to "cultural" non-profit organizations we are able to deduct those contributions from our federal and state taxes. This is always nice but there is a way to contribute a LOT more and won't cost you a penny!

The Oregon Cultural Trust has a program that allows you to "match" your contributions to your favorite cultural non-profit organization(s) to the Oregon Cultural Trust. The Oregon Cultural Trust has a list of 1,200 Oregon cultural non-profit organizations which are qualified for this program and Artists in Action is one of those organizations.

You can read all about this program HERE.

I encourage you all to take a look at this program and seriously consider sending a matching contribution to the Oregon Cultural Trust.

Cheers,
Phil Krug
President Artists in Action

CALL TO ARTISTS: “Art Speaks: Are You Listening?”

Thought I would let folks who follow this blog know about another GREAT AiA event coming up in April 2010.

This is a RARE and SPECIAL opportunity!

An Exhibit at the Capital Center in April 2010 invites the public to encounter “ART SPEAKS: ARE YOU LISTENING?”

Location: Capital Center Tower, 388 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301

Original Art Due: Saturday, April 3, noon-3 p.m.
Setup Dates: Monday-Tuesday, April 5-6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Exhibit Dates: April 7 – 23, 2010
First Wednesday Reception, April 7, 5-8 p.m.
Pick up Date: April 24, 2010, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please look HERE for complete details.....

All this information will be sent out to AiA Members very soon and it is also available on the AiA Bulletin Board under the "Opportunities" category.

Deanna White March 5-May 2 Focus Gallery at Salem Art Association

"In the Focus Gallery, Deanna White presents her body of work including encaustic paintings that breathe new life into founds natural objects, and pastel drawings comprised of an explosion of shapes, shades and imagination."

The Opening Reception was last night, Friday, March 5, 5 to 7 p.

Deanna's new show in the Salem Art Association's Focus Gallery is simply outstanding and last night's reception was GREAT. When we arrived at the reception the Focus Gallery at around 5:30 pm, the Focus Gallery was packed. I was really impressed with how many AiA Members were in attendance. Its nice when AiA Members support each other in this way.

If you drop by the Focus Gallery to see Deanna's works, I would recommend you also spend a few minutes in the A.N. Bush Gallery viewing the Salem-Keizer Schools Show. The Salem-Keizer Schools Show is one of my favorites.

Cheers,
Phil Krug
President Artists in Action

Roger Yost is Banking on Salem’s Treasures

There is a very nice article in the March 2010 Salem Business Journal about Roger Yost. As most AiA Member know, Roger has been instrumental in providing resources for AiA over the past several years. I invite you all to take a few minutes to read this article about Roger and next time you see Roger you might take a minute to thank him for all the great things he has done and continues to do for AiA.

Roger Yost is also listed on the AiA web site on the "Patrons/Partners" page.

Cheers,
Phil Krug
President Artists in Action