Archive: June 2010

Fairmount, IL - Sleepy Creek Vineyards is seeking talented artisans to display and sell their works at the 3rd annual Salt Fork River Art Festival. This is an annual show featuring fine arts and crafts along with music and locally produced foods and wine. The festival will also be used to raise awareness of local rivers. Sleepy Creek is partnering with Prairie Rivers Network (www.prairierivers.org), an organization dedicated to the conservation of rivers, and will donate 10% of its sales during the festival to Prairie Rivers Network.

Who can apply? Sleepy Creek Vineyards is seeking artists and crafts people that create quality, handcrafted, original items in any medium. Artist demostrations during the show are encouraged.

Where is it? The show is held on the grounds of Sleepy Creek Vineyards located near Oakwood, IL (and the Salt Fork River) in scenic Vermilion County. It is an outdoor show and will be limited to 50 artists.

When is it? The Festival will be held Saturday, September 25, from 10am to 6pm and
Sunday, September 26, 11am to 4pm.

Deadline: The deadline for registration is August 31, 2010. Artist must show both days and for the entire time.

How much does it cost? The entry fee is $40 for artists providing their own tent (approx. 12’X12’ space). The fee will be waived for artists who participated in last year’s festival. Electric may be available for an extra fee. The show is juried to insure quality. Artists will keep 100% of their sales.

How do I register? Contact Joe Taylor at joe@sleepycreekvineyards.com with two or three photos of work or call 217-733-0330 for more information.

Salt Fork River Art Festival At Sleepy Creek Vineyards
September 25-26, 2010

Sleepy Creek Vineyards is a winery, gallery and music venue located between Champaign and Danville. Take I74 to exit 206 at Oakwood and go south 3.5 miles. Look for the signs and the grapevines on the curve. Check the web site for hours: www.sleepycreekvineyards.com.

Sleepy Creek Vineyards
8254 E 1425 North Rd.
Fairmount IL 61841
(217) 733-0330

Champaign - Dreamscape Cinema has plans to shoot a Family/Fantasy feature film on location just west of Champaign, IL, beginning the week of July 25 for either 2 or 3 weeks.

Visit http://www.imdb.com/company/co0098372/ or http://www.dreamscape.bz/ for more.

The story surrounds a boy who discovers a portal to another universe that he has to close.  There are very few speaking roles, but the producers are auditioning for these:

• 9-13 year old male and female
• 15-18 year old male and female
• 35-45 male and female
• 60-80 male

Only SAG actors will be paid, all others will receive credit on screen if chosen.

NOTE: If you have already worked on a Dreamscape movie, you do not have to audition. Simply email the producers (with photo) and let them know your availability and interest.

AUDITIONS: 4-6pm on Wednesday, June 30 at Class Act Interactive, 114 S Neil Street, Champaign, IL. There will be a brief line reading from their sides (first come, first served). Please be prepared to list any scheduling conflicts through the end of August. If under 18, your parent or guardian must accompany you to the audition. 

If you cannot make it on that date, there is another chance: they will be doing callbacks and consider new walk-ins at 3-430pm on Sunday, July 11. (Try to make the 1st date if possible.)

Just want to be considered as an extra? Simply email a pic to pa@dreamscape.bz (or mail to Dreamscape Cinema, 2021 S. 1st Street, Champaign, Il 61820). They do not have reception desk, so no walks in to the office please.

All of Dreamscape’s recent feature films at this level have found distribution, so this is a serious undertaking with a high level of production values. Unfortunately, the budget is not complete, and they are looking for investors. Please email if you have any thoughts on this: robin@dreamscape.bz.

Urbana - The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center will host a benefit concert for Salt and Light Ministries at the UC-IMC, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana, on June 25 and 26, beginning at 7:00 pm.

Featuring a variety of music from local bands and including:

Angels Wings
The 7.5 Theory
Mark My Words
Our Only Sanctuary
Jake and Erin Kaugman, Bri Chapman and Eliza Foli
CJ Smithey
The Adrians

All proceeds will benefit two local non-profit organizations: Salt and Light and the Independent Media Center. Refreshments will be served.

Donations accepted at the door.  For more information contact Emma Rannebarger (217) 355 8451 or Jessica Adrian (217) 684-2048.

Champaign - Join the Champaign Park District for Ice Cream and Independence on Saturday, July 3. Due to renovations at the Virginia Theatre, this year’s event will take place at the First Christian Church on the corner of Staley and Curtis Roads in Champaign.

The live radio show is hosted by Jim Turpin and broadcast live that evening on NewsTalk 1400AM -WDWS.

Start celebrating early, doors will open at 5pm for the pre-event music and ice cream. All ticket holders will receive free ice cream courtesy of Marble Slab Creamery.  The Concert Band of Central Illinois, conducted by Peter Griffin, will take the stage at 7pm. This year’s concert will highlight Broadway show songs. 

Tickets are available at the Bresnan Meeting Center, 706 Kenwood Road, Champaign. The Bresnan Meeting Center is open Monday through Thursday, 8am-5:30pm and Friday, 8am-5pm.

Tickets are general admission; there will be no reserved seats at this year’s event.  If all the tickets are not sold in advance they will have ticket sales at the First Christian Church. They are selling only 750 tickets for this event so buy your ticket early!

$16.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors and students, and $8.00 for children under 12 years old.  Free parking available.

Ice Cream and Independence is sponsored by Champaign Park District, Newstalk 1400 - WDWS-AM, WCIA3, Busey Bank, Famous Dave’s, and Marble Slab Creamery.

Champaign - The School of Music at the University of Illinois Friday announced that it has canceled its fourth annual Summer Piano Institute, which was to have been held the week of June 14-18.

The master classes for students and teachers and private lessons have been canceled as have the concert by guest artist Boaz Sharon, which was scheduled for June 15, and the gala concert, scheduled for June 18, at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana.

According to Edward Rath, associate director of the School of Music, insufficient enrollment prompted cancelation of the programs this year. However, resident faculty members will perform as scheduled.

For details, see http://news.illinois.edu/news/10/0611piano.html

source: U of I News Bureau

Urbana - “Celebrate Summer at the Pines” is a one-time event that will be held at The Pines in Urbana. On June 26, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, bring the family out to experience some summer fun with free inflatables for kids to play on, a children’s fashion show, give-aways by participating businesses, plus some environment-friendly demos and fire education for the family.

Join The Atkins Group as well as several other businesses as they Celebrate Summer at the Pines! Come enjoy a relaxing, eventful day with others from around the community and see what The Pines has to offer.

If you would like more information about the event or a list of participating businesses, please contact Cody Stunkard, Events Intern, at the Urbana Business Association: (217) 344-3872 or intern@urbanabusiness.com.

Urbana - The City of Urbana invites the public to an opening of the current “Artist of the Corridor” art exhibit featuring the work of Betsem Atiback Benjamin.  On Wednesday, June 16th, from 4:00 – 5:00pm, a reception will be held in the City Building at 400 S. Vine Street to meet the artist Betsem Atiback Benjamin and view his work.  Benjamin’s work will be on display until August 2, 2010 and is open to the public. 

The City created an art exhibit space in March 2010 to feature artwork by Urbana artists in the City Building.  The Artist of the Corridor exhibits are displayed for a period of two months.

This program is part of the Urbana Public Arts Program that works to create a city where all residents engage with the arts in its many forms and where artists thrive and are valued.  

For additional information, contact the Public Arts Coordinator (217) 384-2311, or by email at alhochhalter@city.urbana.il.us.  Also, follow the Urbana Public Arts Program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/urbanapublicarts.

Champaign - The Public Art League (PAL) and City of Champaign, Illinois, are seeking artists to participate in the First Annual Sculpture Competition.

For complete details and an official entry form, download the PAL Call to Artists here: http://www.40north.org/news/10-08_PAL_Entry_1_5.pdf.

Sculpture entries will be judged, selected and then need to be delivered to the unveiling Ceremony August 20, 2010. They will be displayed at the Champaign Park District’s “Downtown Festival of the Arts” on August 21, then be available for a two year installation, during which time PAL will attempt to arrange purchase for the art as part of a permanent public/private collection in our community.

PAL and the City of Champaign reserve the right to determine the locations and number of sculptures that will be mounted into the downtown streetscape and Second Street Sculpture Park for exhibition from August 2010 - August 2012. Artwork will be selected to compliment its surroundings and will be displayed to serve as major visual anchor points, community identity and a statement that creativity and art are of vital importance to our existence in Central Illinois.

PAL Goals:

1) Promote a Creative environment in Champaign Urbana with a tangible display of Sculpture in the public domain and develop a permanent collection in our town.

2) To support the artists who create these great works of art with the promotion and sale of these Sculptures, which enables them to continue to produce their art.

Schedule:

• July 16, 2010, 5:00 p.m. Friday, Deadline for Entries
• July 23, Notification to Artists of Winning Entries
• August 20th 9:00 am Friday, Delivery of Sculptures to Downtown Champaign, IL
• August 20, 2010, 6-10:00 pm Sculpture unveiling Ceremony and Celebration
• August 21, 2010 Saturday, Downtown Festival of Art
• August 22-25, 2010, Install sculptures, weather permitting
• August 2012 De-installation of unsold sculptures

Budget:
The total budget for each selected and awarded entry is $1,500.00. This honorarium amount is to cover artist expenses such as the temporary loan of the artwork, transportation to and from the exhibition site, any insurance needed for artwork transport and exhibition, and artist fees for on-site availability during installation and deinstallation.

PAL, The City of Champaign and Business sponsors will provide logistical and staff support for site preparation and costs associated with the physical installation and promotional events and materials.

Artist Eligibility:
The Sculpture Competition is open to all professional visual artists, aged 18 and older, with public art experience that is commensurate with this project’s scope and budget. Professional artists are defined as a practicing fine artist, generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional of serious intent and ability. Indications of a person’s status as a professional artist may include, but are not limited to: income realized through the commission or sale of artwork, frequent or consistent art exhibitions, placement of artwork in public institutions or museums, receipt of honors and awards and training in the arts. There is not a limit on the number of entries submitted by one artist.

Artists living in the Champaign-Urbana area are strongly encouraged to apply for this project. Selection panelists and their immediate family members are not eligible for participation.

Artwork Themes:
There are no mandated themes for the artwork. There is a strong desire for artwork that reflects the cultural arts, diversity of our community and creativity. An important aspect of locating the artwork in downtown Champaign is to provide an identity for a cultural arts district, surrounding businesses and support the City’s downtown rejuvenation efforts. The entry of pieces with an overtly political, racial, sexual, religious or offensive nature are discouraged.

Artwork Qualities:
Artists must submit original, pre-existing artworks for temporary loan, exhibition and sale. There are no recommended materials but the artists should consider the viability of the work’s structure and appearance and ability to be displayed outdoors for many years. Due to the municipal and commercial activity in downtown Champaign, the artwork must be compatible with its surroundings, structures and pedestrian traffic. Art that may be hazardous, sharp or dangerous to the public or are easily vandalized, ruined or stolen are discouraged. PAL reserves the right to determine the viability of each piece.

All artwork must be durable and require limited to no maintenance. A statement of recommended maintenance for a 24-month period will be required for all submissions. The Champaign area is hot and humid with intense sunlight, periodic rain, thunderstorms and high winds during the summer, and very cold with frequent sub-zero temperatures during the winter. Materials that are sensitive to severe weather, rust and fading should be adequately protected.

Artist Responsibilities:
Artists selected to temporarily exhibit their art work as part of 2010-12 Sculpture Competition and exhibition will be responsible for:

• Transportation of artwork to and from the exhibition site
• Assistance and supervision of the installation and de-installation of unsold art
• Availability for public information, educational interviews and materials

Insurance:
Insurance covering the Art Works selected in the Sculpture Competition is as follows:

• General Liability Insurance will be provided.
• No insurance is provided by PAL or the City of Champaign for the value of the
  Art Work, however artists may provide their own policies, if desired.

Location Details:
The City of Champaign is experiencing a revitalization of its downtown core. This is the result of streetscape renovations in downtown Champaign. The Sculpture Competition is aimed at redefining the City’s downtown as a destination spot within a cultural arts district spanning Champaign, Urbana, and the University of Illinois. The revitalization of downtown Champaign features a pedestrian-friendly environment with newly landscaped sidewalks with decorative lighting, bike racks, medians, and areas for public art.

Selection Process and Criteria:
This public art exhibition is open to all qualified professional artists aged 18 and over regardless of such characteristics as, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. The Public Art League Selection Panel will review all eligible artist submissions and consists of: Members of the Public Art League Board of Directors; Two (2) artists or arts professionals (designer, curator, collector, public art administrator, etc.); One (1) representative from the city department associated with the project; One (1) representative from the community.

Artists will be asked to provide artwork for the Competition and exhibition. Their selection may be based upon these criteria:

• Artistic excellence and originality as evidenced by their entries, representations of past works, artistic career and other materials
• Appropriateness of the artist’s vision, medium, style, and experience
• Involvement with projects of a similar scale and scope.
• Appropriateness in a public environment

Notification:
Finalists will be notified of their selection by e-mail and will be awarded an honorarium of $1,500.00 to furnish, install, and de-install a unique artwork for the duration of the exhibition. If multiple pieces are selected from one artist an honorarium will be awarded
for each piece.

Lease Agreement:
A signed 2 year lease agreement will be required after the selection process, before the
honorarium is disbursed.

PUBLIC ART LEAGUE BOARD MEMBERS
James Barham, Lawrence Hamlin, Brian Knox, Casey Loving, Eric Robeson, and, David
B. Wilcoxen.

NOTE: the Public Art League and City of Champaign selection panel reserve the right to reject any proposals, to waive proposal informalities, or to terminate the selection process at any time for any project.

Questions and Additional Information
For questions and additional information, please contact the Public Art League at (217) 355-3700 or by e-mail to publicartleague@gmail.com.

For complete details and an official entry form, download the PAL Call to Artists here: http://www.40north.org/news/10-08_PAL_Entry_1_5.pdf.

Champaign - 40 North | 88 West - Champaign County’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council - has announced the next in its series of street-side performances to take place in downtown Champaign. There is no charge to attend:

ART & SOL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010

• 5pm – 5:45pm Billy Galt @ Walnut & Chester, solo acoustic guitar

Billy Galt has made blues his profession since 1980. Galt has honed his skills backing blues luminaries such as Homesick James, Sonny Boy Williamson Jr., Maxwell Street Jimmy, and Shirley King (daughter of the legendary B.B. King).

• 6:30pm - 7pm Kamokunani Hula Halau @ Taylor & Neil, Polynesian dance

Founded in 2001, Kamokunani Hula Halau has quickly established itself in the Northern and Central Illinois areas.  The students at the Halau study the basic language and culture of Hawaii and also explore the Polynesian influences including New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa.

• 7:15pm - 8pm Sarah Haas @ One Main Plaza, interpretive dance

Sarah Haas received a B.A. in Performance Art from Columbia College Chicago, and she is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Dance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

• 8pm - 9pm Chen-Yu Huang @ Cakes on Walnut, solo harpist

Chen-Yu Huang, a native of Tainan, Taiwan, is currently a doctoral student and a Teaching Assistant in harp performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying with Professor Ann Yeung. She began studying piano at age 3 and the harp at age 12. 

“Art & Sol” is a pilot program of 40 North bringing music, theatre and dance to the streets of downtown Champaign. “Art & Sol” is supported in part by the City of Champaign.

40 North | 88 West is committed to cultivating creativity in Champaign County. Through advocacy, information and collaboration, 40 North supports and promotes the important role that arts, culture and entertainment hold in making the community a great place to live, work, learn and play. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. For more, visit www.40north.org.

Champaign - Looking for a creative way to end the work week? Join 40 North this month for FINAL FRIDAY, from 5:00 pm on Friday, June 25 at The Blind Pig (120 N. Walnut Street, Champaign). For more on The Blind Pig, visit http://blindpigco.com/.

Start your weekend on the right note! Come to The Blind Pig for good times and even better company at 40 North’s June Final Friday arts social - free to attend, open to all, and a great way to catch up with others from Champaign County’s active arts scene.

Artists, arts organization staff, gallery owners, arts administrators and arts lovers and supporters of all kinds are invited to join 40 North for this relaxed social event. No agendas…no talking points…just creative conversation. We look forward to seeing you there!

• Have a question or challenge concerning the arts in Champaign County?
• Need a sounding board for your ideas and dreams?
• Want to catch up with 40 North and all the activities happening in Champaign County’s creative community?
• Just want to connect?

Go out on the town with 40 North! Drop by and download your week - and make a connection. Questions? Email Steven Bentz at 40 North (sbentz@40north.org).

Final Friday is hosted monthly - always in a different location - by 40 North | 88 West - Champaign County’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council.