| MERCY, BENIGNITY
AND POLLO GUISADO
and Narcisissistic
epidemia. oh my.
Image *courtesy*
(I stole it from her site) of Shelley
Lake.
Some perplexion from theblackribbon.org,
via the always enlightening Dwight Smith--
"The world is in a state of crisis. Today, like never before,
humanity faces serious threats to its continued existence
on this planet. Global warming, religious terrorism, nuclear
arms proliferation, incurable viral contagions, peak oil,
unchecked bioengineering, environmental degradation, Paris
Hilton, and the ever-present threat of killer asteroids may
seem like big problems. But these problems get far bigger
when no one has the mental space to deal with them—when 99%
of everyone’s attention is focused, 24/7, on themselves."
The site seems to be dedicated to educating us about the role
of Narcissism in the state of the world today. I read up on
Narcissism a lot for my Truth
Bidet sculpture. I covered the inner part of the bidet
with two way mirror glass and the outside with an abstract
Paperwhites pattern as they are a member of the Narcissus
family. There is a neon piece that spells TRUTH, which was
a gift from Gershon (see LETTER FROM ISRAEL below) emerging
from the drain of the *gazing pool of Narcissus* .
The site goes on to quote, ""Why are you unhappy? Because
99.9% percent of everything you think and everything you do,
is for your self— and there isn't one"
-Wei Wu Wei"
All this, in the slot canyons of my mind, (brilliantly captured
above, by Shelley Lake) ties in with the lyrics to Mercy
Now (way below) in this week's poetry space. Is Benign
Girl a prophet after all? A message? Is Benign Girl the anti-Paris
Hilton?
Anyway, what I found was that many scholarly interpretations
suggest that Narcissus was NOT in love with his own image
but rather was paranoid and insecure and worried that he didn't
actually exist. He believed that if he lost sight of himself
(metaphor alert) that he'd cease to exist. A reasonable fear.
I think my dog feels something like that. He freaks when I
am out of his sight.
And so Narcissus spent his days staring at his reflection
in a pool, miserably unable to tear himself away and enjoy
other pursuits, like a self-sentinal/validator of sorts. And
so there's that.
SLIPPERY SNEAKERS
FREE CONCERT IN PUTNEY
Featuring
the always Betsy-Dawn Williams
 From BD:
Hey youz guyz--
I wanted to let you know cuz we just about NEVER play anywhere
close to here, but the zydeco band I'm playing with, "Slippery
Sneakers" (who are based in Rhode Island and usually have
me driving all over creation to play with) is doing a FREE
concert, outdoors, this Friday on the Putney (vermont) town
common. So if you have nothing else exciting going on, consider
comin' up! Here are the deets:
Slippery Sneakers
www.slipperysneakers.com
Aug 4 (Fri)
Putney Town Lawn Concert Series
Putney, VT
6:30-8:30 rain or shine
Shine: Putney Town Green
Rain: Neumann Hall Putney, VT
FREE
What a jolly looking bunch. My how they've grown.
SALLY GREENHOUSE
AT THE NCA
a performance
video/sound installation, August 3-11
 Sally Greenhouse
“stare decisis”
From August 3-11, the Center will present "stare decisis,"
a performance video/sound installation by Sally Greenhouse
that combines videotape excerpts from the John Roberts Supreme
Court Senate Judiciary Committee hearings interwoven on a
triple track with Greenhouse’s original monologue exploring
the theological and feminist dimensions of abortion from an
autobiographical perspective and comments, as well, on the
ongoing patriarchal domination of women’s sexuality. "stare
decisis" is a Latin legal term that means "let the decision
stand."
The Roberts hearings centered on whether he had the intention
of overturning Roe v. Wade or whether he would honor "stare
decisis"—the legal precedent of legalized abortion. The Greenhouse
piece is approximately 23 minutes long and will run continuously
in a loop so people may come at any time during the Center’s
open hours and watch for as long as they wish. The installation
includes original videotape of the Judiciary Committee hearings
obtained through the office of Senator Edward Kennedy.
Greenhouse says the piece is “executed with my characteristic,
ironic tragicomedic style as reflected in my long-running
award-winning television series, ‘The Greenhouse Effect.’”
The series, broadcast on NCTV, was supported by the Massachusetts
Cultural Council Arts Grant in New Theatre Works/Playwriting.
Greenhouse, an alumna of Harvard Divinity School, is a member
of the faculty of the Honors College at the University of
Massachusetts, where she teaches performance art.
The Center’s is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The installation’s
opening will be August 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. and a closing
reception will coincide with Northampton’s Arts Night out
on August 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. (The galleries will be open
from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day.) Greenhouse will be at the
August 11 reception, in effect, as she puts it, “installed
along with the installation” and available to talk with visitors.
The project is funded by a grant from the Northampton Arts
Council.
Transperformance 16: All in the Family
The Pines
Theater in Look Park on Tuesday, August 15th from 4:00 pm
to 9:30 pm
Transperformance is celebrating its 16th year!!! The theme this year is
Family. Local bands will cover groups that have family in
their name or have members who are related, such as: The
Jackson Five, The Neville Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone,
The Kinks, and The Carpenters, to name just a few.
Many of the area’s finest musical performers are donating
time to create a memorable event that will have our community
rocking.
The show is earlier this year, falling in the middle of August
instead of the end. We will be at the Pines Theater in Look
Park on Tuesday, August 15th from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
We need volunteers to help in the box office and with ticket
tearing. The Volunteer Shifts are one hour long: 4-5, 5-6,
6-7, 7-8 and 8-9PM. Please send an email if you can help us
out, or forward this email along to others who might like
to have some great fun at Transperformance.
This year’s charming and witty hosts will portray the cast
of All in the Family: Buddy Rubbish (Archie), Julie Waggoner
(Edith), Leo T. Baldwin (Meathead), and Kelsey Flynn (Gloria).
They will keep things hopping and present this year’s great
lineup:
• King Radio with Strings Attached as Paul and Linda McCartney
and Wings
• The Drunk Stuntmen as The Allman Brothers
• The Nields as Sonny and Cher
• Spouse as INXS
• Tony Vacca and Gokh-Bi System as The Jackson Five
• Us as Oasis
• The Armenti Family with Ina Iansiti as The Carter Family
• The Amity Front as Black Crowes
• The UnStuntWare (USW) as The Stone Coyotes
• Kate O’Connor with Paris/Happy Valley as The Neville Brothers
• Winterpills as The Carpenters
• Sven Temple Pilots as Stone Temple Pilots
• School for the Dead as The Kinks
• Unit Seven with Kim Zombik as Sly and the Family Stone
• The Kennedys as The Everly Brothers
• Aloha Steamtrain as The Plastic Ono Band
• Cordelia’s Dad w/Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Singers
as Von Trapp Family Singers
Transperformance is the annual end-of-summer bash produced
by The Northampton Arts Council and the PTOs of the Northampton
public schools to support arts enrichment in Northampton's
schools and in the community. Northampton High School, J.F.K.
Middle School and the four Northampton elementary schools
are all beneficiaries of this fundraiser.
The sound for the show is provided by Dan Richardson, with
lights by Theatrix. Fabulous food from La Veracruzana, Bart’s
and elsewhere will be available for sale at the Pines Theater
to further benefit arts enrichment in the Northampton public
schools and in the community. Advanced tickets ($8 general
admission, $5 seniors, and $3 children under 12) are available
at the Northampton Arts Council in Memorial Hall, Northampton;
Cooper's Corner in Florence; State Street Fruit in Northampton;
Food for Thought in Amherst; and World Eye Books in Greenfield.
Look Park charges a $5 special events vehicle entry fee for
cars without a season pass. In case of rain, the show will
be performed the next night, August 16, at Look Park. If rain
is predicted for both days the show will be moved to the Northampton
High School on August 15th.
For more information visit our website at www.northamptonartscouncil.org.
Transperformance 16: All in the Family is sponsored
in part by Faces, Jones-Hutchins Realty, Bank of America,
93.9 The River, The Valley Advocate, La Veracruzana, the City
of Northampton and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Photos
furnished upon request.
MICHAEL POWERS
AT THE WILBRAHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
August 2 -
31, Reception August 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 An exhibit
of recent work by Holyoke artist Michael Powers will be on
display August 2 31 in the Brooks Room at the Wilbraham
Public Library. There will be an artist's reception, open
to the public, on August 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Michael is a painter whose work focuses primarily on the landscape.
Although naturalistic in handling, he does not treat the landscape
in a traditionally scenic manner; his often unorthodox compositions
are deliberately based on the juxtaposition of the shapes
of the elements within the painting and their arrangement
on a two dimensional surface.
Michael has been painting and drawing since he was five; he
holds a degree in painting from Massachusetts College of Art
and has also studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
and in Italy.
His work is in numerous private collections and has been displayed
at the White House, the Massachusetts State House, and at
galleries in and around Boston. He has taught drawing and
painting at The Fuller Art Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts,
The Guild Studio School in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and
at the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, Connecticut.
He relocated to western Massachusetts in 2001 and this is
his first solo exhibition in this area.
Viewing times may vary; to be certain that the gallery will
be open at a specific time, it is best to call the library
beforehand at (413) 596-6141.
WORKS ON PAPER
BY ELEVEN LOCAL ARTISTS
July 6 through
August 4 <---LAST CHANCE!
 WORKS ON
PAPER BY ELEVEN LOCAL ARTISTS IN JURIED SHOW AT THE CENTER
FOR THE ARTS
(pictured, work by Lyn Horan) NORTHAMPTON, MA —“Works
on Paper,” a juried show of photographs, watercolors, prints,
drawings and mixed-media, by 11 local artists, will be featured
from July 6 through August 4 in the galleries at The
Northampton Center for the Arts.
Participating artists are: Karen Alstadt, Ellen Augarten,
Elizabeth Bannish, Elizabeth Diamond, Taiga Ermansons, Carolyn
Horan, Rhoda Juels, Ronald Juels, Rachel Lepine, Paul Root
and Burns Maxey.
Galleries are open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m.
The Northampton Center for the Arts is located on the third
floor at 17 New South Street, opposite the Academy of Music.
Sweet!
The Taber
Art Gallery Presents SHOCKERS!
Original Ghanaian
movie posters from the collection of Michelle Gilbert
 The Taber
Art Gallery Presents SHOCKERS! Original Ghanaian movie posters
from the collection of Michelle Gilbert
July 26 - Sept. 28, 2006
Reception Sept. 13, 11:00am - 1:00pm
All work will be for sale starting at the incredibly low
deal of the century price of 350.00
Holyoke Community College
Taber Art Gallery
Amy Johnquest, Director
303 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413)552-2614
Amy: The village people run amock! Think it
should actually read: I "ATE" my village.
CYNDY SPERRY
AT THE OXBOW GALLERY
Artist talk
August 11, 4pm-5
 Painter
Cyndy Sperry is exhibiting mostly new work at the Oxbow Gallery,
275 Pleasant Street, Northampton MA, July 27-Aug 20.
OPENING RECEPTION July 28th 6-8, Artist talk, August 11,
4pm-5. Cyndy received a BA from Bowdoin College and an
MFA from The American University. She currently lives in Chesterfield
with her husband and two daughters.
She has taught painting, drawing, and printmaking at the former
Guild Studio School, the Williston Northampton School, and
El Arco Iris.
Cyndy's new paintings occupy a space between the internal
world of ideas and emotions and the external world of the
rural and urban landscape. Her paintings begin with a color
experience: wet spring leaves, black transparent pond ice,
winter sky. From there the artist uses color and line to build
a visual journal. The paintings take months, sometimes years
to create as they are in a constant state of being edited.
Eventually the paintings' identity begins to emerge with the
sum of its parts working together to reveal a larger whole.
Through this process the paintings become the recorder and
synthesizer of one individual's visual and emotional journey?
experience ? in the world. Cyndy Sperry draws inspiration
from early and late italian renaissance painters--particularly
Lorenzo Lorenzetti and Jacopo Pontormo.
THE TAMING
OF THE SHREW
MERCIFULLY
FREE!
 Bring some
mercy for your fellow humans, a sweetheart and blanket and
a picnic, and experience Shakespeare's THE TAMING OF THE
SHREW as you sit under the stars on Boston Common!
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
Can love tame a shrewish heart? Marriage, money, and madcap
misadventure will take center stage when Commonwealth Shakespeare
Company (CSC) brings THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, William Shakespeare’s
uproarious battle of the sexes, FREE to Boston audiences this
summer, in three weeks of performances on Boston Common.
Presented by The Wang Center for the Performing Arts and directed
by Wang Center Vice President of Artistic Programming and
CSC Artistic Director Steven Maler, The Taming of the Shrew
will be performed Saturday, July 22 through Sunday, August
13 2006.
There are no tickets needed for Free Shakespeare on the Common,
as it is just that free! Enjoy the performance!
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, July 26 @ 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 27 @ 8:00 p.m.
Friday, July 28 @ 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 29 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 30 @ 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 1 @ 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 2 @ 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 3 @ 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 4 @ 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 5 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 6 @ 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 8 @ 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 9 @ 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 10 @ 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 11 @ 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 12 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 13 @ 7:00 p.m. My pal Alan Sweetheart White
is in this too!
GET ACQUAINTED
WITH THE PAINTED
At the Invisible
Fountain at Eastworks
 You are cordially
invited to:
"GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE PAINTED"
More paintings by Luke J. Cavagnac
August 5th - November 10th, 2006
Opening/Party SATURDAY August 5th, 2006 from 7 until 10 p.m.
at
THE
INVISIBLE FOUNTAIN
116 Pleasant Street Suite #206
Easthampton MA 01027
413.527.9300
invisiblefountain.com
gallery hours: T&T 11-7, W&F 11-6
come see hundreds upon hundreds of paintings, taste the wine
& food, maybe even join the club!
plus...it's part of EASTWORKS GALLERY NIGHT!
The Invisible Fountain is where Luke Cavagnac paints and displays
his "Art." He has completed over 2000 paintings to date &
the gallery recently attained it's landmark 1000th day since
opening in 2003. Our motto: ART FOR ALL.
STUDIO OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for
new space? Unique opportunities available right now.
A NEW &
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN HOLYOKE
This is an excellent opportunity to get in at the beginning
and create a space. Excellent especially for a business needing
large piles of space. The overall space is 160,000 square
feet. OMG!
The building is on Appleton Street, next door to the police
station and across the street from Heritage state park (imagine
lunch breaks riding the merry-go-round
in the park!) with space to rent.
It is situated right on the canal. Parking is an issue however
so the owner, Ralph Thompson, is going to take half of the
first floor and create indoor parking. The roof has a spectacular
view and he will be making that into a huge roof deck, from
which you can see the park and merry-go-round, city hall,
sunsets and more! He is willing to discuss any modifications.
The ground floor is level with the driveway for easy loading/unloading.
The upper floors are perfect for artist studios. And, the
police are right next door. Check out pictures
here. Ralph is a really nice guy who recently went rock
hunting in China with our Kevin
Downey. And Kevin's a really nice guy so it's all logical
and therefor valid. It exists.
STUDIO SHARE AT ARTS & INDUTRIES
FRom Lisa Scollan-
I'm looking for someone to share my studio again starting
as early as August 1st if you hear of anyone. My rent goes
up in September so I'm going to ask $180 contact lisascollan@hotmail.com
4 STUDIO
SPACES TO BE AVAILABLE IN HOLYOKE BUILDING
There are possibly 4 WORK ONLY spaces becoming available
in the first floor of a cozy mill building in Holyoke. They
are 1280 sq ft for $586/month. They have really high cielings,
a loading dock, common area and bathroom. For more info
contact DAS048@aol.com
TEACH ART
TO KIDS AT--
THE GARDEN:
A CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND TEENS
 MERCY:
compassionate treatment of those in distress
From shelly bathe lenn,
I run a small non profit that offers bereavement support to
families with young children at no cost. we're called THE
GARDEN: A CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND TEENS. every
other month from october to june families with children ages
5-12 years are part of small groups where they do activities,
projects, games etc.
In planning for our next season I'm looking for an artist,
or 2 to come in and teach an art skill to the kids. ideally
the skill would culminate into a project that would relate
to our themes (ie memories and remembering; dreams, worries,
nightmares etc)! and then these projects would be put on public
display somewhere in northampton so as to help spread the
word about our program.
cheers, shelly
shelly bathe lenn
the garden: a center for grieving children and teens
413 584 7086 ext 124
www.garden-cgc.org
LIVE AT FOXHOLLOW
- An Evening of Progressive, Funk, and Fusion Jazz
Saturday,
August 12, 6-midnight
 LIVE AT
FOXHOLLOW
An Evening of Progressive, Funk, and Fusion Jazz
Saturday, August 12, 6-midnight
Foxhollow, Lenox, MA
Outdoor benefit concert featuring The Bad Plus, the
highly-acclaimed trio who are changing the face of contemporary
jazz and leading the Nu Jazz movement. David Fiuczynski –
hailed as one of the most inventive jazz-rock guitarists today
– and his band the Screaming Headless Torsos open,
along with Lenox-based international jazz- funk collective
Unfulfilled Desires.
Live at Foxhollow is sponsored by EnlightenNext, a nonprofit
educational organization dedicated to a revolution in consciousness
and culture. Proceeds benefit EnlightenNext's international
speakers series, which brings leading thinkers in business,
spirituality, politics, contemporary culture, science, and
environmental activism to the Berkshires year round.
Music from 6pm-midnight, doors open 5pm. Great food, beer,
and wine.
Tickets: $30 ($25 advance); students $20 ($15 advance); children
under 12 free.
Foxhollow Estates, 4 Foxhollow Dr., Lenox, MA
www.LiveAtFoxhollow.com for more information.
A SPECIAL
PLACE FOR SPECIAL TIMES
Like sitting
at a kitchen table in a really nice family's home in Salvador.
 Amy
Johnquest (of the stolen
car and movie
star daughter and the banners and all that) first told
me about this place. She discovered it shortly after moving
to Holyoke and found a gem.
I tried to
take a few pictures but I have such file size limitations
here, in addition to cheap camera limitations.
Anyway El Guanaco is a very special place. On 116
in South Hadley across the street from a biker bar called
Ebenezer Choos. When I see such a humble facade I think
it's either a fantastic secret or a disappointment. El Gunaco
is a discovery almost up there with Benign
Girl.  Wink.png)
The top pic is of the small the sign (circled) at the end
of its driveway. This is your cue to turn into the parking
lot and then you see the second picture. This is what you
would see coming across the 116 bridge from Holyoke.
The left half is take out and the right half is the restaurant,
all 4 tables of it. The food is delicious, simple and very
affordable but the dining experience definitely adds to
the charm.
The tamales, enchiladas and burritos are cheap and delicious.
The accompnaying salsa and sauces are amazing and the cilantro
tastes fresh picked. The stewed chicken is perfectly done
and languishes (ew, lofty foodspeak) in a sauce both familiar
and somehow unusual. The cuisine is Salvadoran/Mexican and
I like to think it authentic, based on my few dining travels
outside the tourist zones in Mexico.
Beverages include Horchata, a creamy drink made with milk,
nuts, water and sugar, as well as Lime and Tamarind sodas
(made with sugar, NOT High Fructose Corn Syrup, the cheap,
evil substitute). Otherwise you bring your own beverages
and they are happy to bring you wineglasses and a bucket
with ice if you ask. The Flourescent lights are harsh but
if you ask, they will turn them off. I think next time I'll
bring candles.
It is family owned and operated. The parents (I believe.
I didn't ask actually) take shifts cooking and there are
2 girls who seem to switch off nights waitressing. Both
are really sweet and genuine and refreshingly informal.
Clearly neither went to "waitressing training", ("push an
appetizer", "make a face if they order the cheap bottle
of wine and snort with derision as you suggest another,
more suitable, bottle", "push desserts", "get those totals
up"!) such as I endured in Boston restaurants.
Everyone I have brought there has been delighted by the
food, the atmosphere and the nice family that seems to work
ceaselessly. I brought Maureen
Scanlon there for a birthday dinner and she raved and
Maureen has a reputation for having a dsicerning palate
as well as being an artiste in the kitchen.
Another epicurially gifted dinner companion at EG was Jon
Whitney, who told the chef/father/owner/person that
it was the best food he had had since moving here from California.
And the list goes on. They have been open under a year and
I am hoping that they'll be able to keep it going. So go
and tell them I sent you. Bring candles. Enjoy! The check
will have mercy on you.
p.s. I'd suggest mapquesting directions or asking Amy. My
directions lack that certain something like the actual location.
HENDRIX TRIBUTE AND COLORING CONTEST 2006
So you think
you can play/color Hendrix?
 In conjunction
with an exhibit of Nona Hatay's photos & memorabilia
in the front window of DOWNTOWN SOUNDS (See standing offer
from Joe Blumenthal in the CALLS & OPPORTUNITIES section
way below), Pleasant Street, Northampton, there will be a
Jimi Hendrix "Astro Man" poster coloring contest.
The winner will be exhibited in Downtown Sounds front window
August 7 - 14.
Posters available at Studio Hatay. For information call
Nona Hatay 413-210-7907 or email nonahatay@hotmail.com.
Auditions
August 19 & 20 and by special arrangements
• We are looking for groups or solo performers to play Hendrix
at a Tribute concert and Multimedia event in October. We
will feature a “ Teen Tribute to Jimi Hendrix” with
Special guests. We love Hendrix compositions on different
instruments & styles - also wand good blues players
• All ages can audition groups and solo performers
• At the Tribute, the best three bands will be chosen to
be featured at an Hendrix Festival next Spring & other
prizes
• Set up equipment provided
• Also looking for light show presenters and Hendrix related
artworks for exhibit
For more information or to register: call (413) 210-7907
or email: hendrixtribute2006@yahoo.com
LETTER FROM
ISRAEL
That mercy
thing comes to mind again
 A lot of you
know Gershon who had a studio in the Arts & Industries
Building in Florence until June. Faced with having to find
a new studio he decided to move to Israel instead, as most
do.
Before he left he gave most of his things away. I got 2 pieces
of neon (one says *truth* and the other, *kindness*, indicative
of the artist and his installation/sculpture work) some power
tools and 5 wandering jews (yep) which I am learning to keep
alive. Anyway, I got permission to share a recent email from
him. He isn't able to write often but his infrequent missives
paint a something picture of his current situation:
Hi Mo,
I've stepped out of my fox hole long enough to send you
a "hello" from what was once upon a time called the Holy
Land.
To answer your question of "what's going on?", I can only
answer that I wish I knew. Nobody seems to know what is
going to happen from minute-to-minute. Hezbullah has said
that they have a "surprise for Israel". I can hardly wait
to find out what that surprise is. As the popular expression
back in the US goes..."Life Is Good".
So, I guess I needn't worry. I could get very philosophical
in trying to answer your second question, but I'll spare
you the pain. No, I'm not wondering why I am here. I'm just
trying to make the most significant contribution to the
national effort that I can with what I have to offer. I
was initially stationed on a naval base in Haifa, but when
the missles began falling the army, in its wisdom, decided
that I, along with the other nine in my group, should be
moved to safer quarters so now I'm on an army base just
ouside of Tel-Aviv where I'm busy packing medical kits.
And, if rockets begin falling on my head, I'll just get
back in my little ol' fox hole, roast marshmallows, sing
camp songs, and any oldie but goodie that I can remember.
Speaking of which, I really liked reading your last newsletter.
As if I have to tell you...you're really good at writing
your "editor's note" at the beginning and at putting the
rest of the newsletter together.
I no longer have the access I need to listen to your radio
broadcast...I assume it's still going on. It's a surleasitic
world here with all the military activity that's now so
much a part of daily life here. Coupled with the frenetic
life that has always played out here and you have one hell
of a social situation. Needless to say, any plans to bring
the Great American Pie to the Israeli table has been put
off for, possibly, another lifetime. And if so, I have to
go into plan "B" once I figure out what that might be.
Let's see, what else is there to report. Oh yes!, last night
a suspected suicide bomber was nabbed not that far from
where I, in my state of personal reality, was gazing out
over the sea. Seems that all of Tel-Aviv, except yours truly,
heard that there was an alert broadcast by the police for
everyone to get off the streets. Guess I should begin carrying
a radio when I'm out "gazing at the wonder of it all". I
don't have access to the internet on the army base so I
catch my emails on the fly whenever I get into Tel-Aviv.
Keep writing and I'll write back to you when I can.
Your buddy in the Land of Oz
Gershon
NOTE: Sunshine and Leor, who are subscribers to this
list and who many of you know from the arts & industry
building and the Hampshire Gazette, were on vacation in
Tel Aviv and ran into Gershon walking down the street one
day a few weeks back. That small world thing.
SALE AT EASTMONT
FRAMING
EASTMONT
CUSTOM FRAMING
159 MAIN ST. EASTHAMPTON
is getting ready for some exciting changes in the fall (can’t
tell what yet, but it’s all good!!!!) so we need to clear
as much of our inventory as possible.
that’s why, until further notice: EVERYTHING (except
for a few consigned items) in the store is 50% OFF!!!
MOLDINGS, MATBOARDS, GLASS, FOAMCORE, FRAMED ART, LOOSE PRINTS:
IF IT'S IN STOCK, IT'S 1/2 PRICE!!!
DWIGHT SMITH'S
MOVIE PICKS
No Mercy here
 Sympathy
for Mr. Vengeance by Chan Wook Park, part of a trilogy,
the last of three Lade Vengeance recently released.
RYU (SHIN Ha-kyun), a young factory worker, has recently quit
art school in order to look after his sister, who is dying
a slow, agonizing death for want of a kidney. When a doctor
tells Ryu that he is an unsuitable donor and that the chances
of finding one is slim, Ryu turns to the black market.
But the old lady who runs an underground organ ring cheats
him, taking both his life savings and his kidney and leaving
him without the kidney she promised in exchange. Ryu's girlfriend,
a Raggedy-Ann leftist named YOUNGMIN (BAE Doona), urges Ryu
to kidnap the four-year-old daughter of industrialist owner
PARK DONG-JIN (SONG Kang-ho), who recently laid off Ryu and
many other workers from his factory. Ryu agrees, but just
as the plan is on the verge of success, Ryu's sister discovers
what Ryu and Youngmin have been up to, and kills herself in
despair.
Compounding the tragedy, Ryu loses track of his little illicit
charge during a visit to his childhood haunts, and she drowns
in the river Ryu and his sister played in as kids. Dong-jin's
deep grief quickly turns to rage and he embarks on an implacable
quest for vengeance.
At the same time, Ryu goes after the organ traders, knowing
that if they had come through, none of the tragic occurrences
would ever have happened. Bound by their common sense of loss
and deep-seated anger, the two are on a collision course of
revenge. - -© Tartan Films
Previous picks:
Ma
Vie en Rose
The
Discreet Charm of the Bourgeousie
Loved
The
Shadow Dancer
THE
ROAD TO GUANTANAMO
MUNICH
I've
Heard the Mermaids Singing
“An inconvenient truth” with Al Gore.
Ellie
Parker
MirrorMask
2046
"Nine Lives."
The
Girl in the Cafe
Travellers
and Magicians
THIS NEWSLETTER
IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHELLEY LAKE
who is not
benign, narcissistic or in need of mercy.
 This week
an interesting circle of events happened within the newsletter
world. Nona Hatay saw Joe Blumenthal's offer in the newsletter
and arranged to do a window display (in this newsletter, somewhere)
and coloring contest. She then took a bunch of her photographs
to Shelley
Lake to have giclees made for said coloring contest.
Shelley, who is endearing, talented and is NOT Paris Hilton,
then made a generous donation to this newsletter. And so it
goes. AND, Shelley will be my guest on the radio tomorrow
from 8-9 am on Valley
Free Radio, 103.3 FM.
Still waiting to hear.
Peep Show,
Bettie Page
paper pigment print
30" by 40", in an edition of 100, signed by the Artist:
$950
24" by 32", in an edition of 100, signed by the Artist:
$800
16" by 20", in an edition of 250, signed by the Artist:
$400
THE POETRY
SPACE
Rather than a poem this week I am posting song
lyrics to a heartbreakingly
beautiful song by Mary
Gauthier (pronounced GoShay).
I have been a big fan since I bought her last Album,
Filth & Fire after reading an incredible
review in Rolling Stone. I heard her sing Mercy
live on The River Cafe the other evening and it
struck me for so many reasons and especially given
the current state of the world.
And then she mentioned, in the interview, that she
used to own my favorite Boston Restaurant, The
Dixie Kitchen. She is *that* woman I used to
say Hello to with the southern accent and the apron.
OMG! Her cooking rocked too. Artist/Band: Gauthier Mary
Lyrics for Song: Mercy Now
Lyrics for Album: Mercy Now
My father could use a little mercy now
The fruits of his labor
Fall and rot slowly on the ground
His work is almost over
It won't be long and he won't be around
I love my father, and he could use some mercy now
My brother could use a little mercy now
He's a stranger to freedom
He's shackled to his fears and doubts
The pain that he lives in is
Almost more than living will allow
I love my bother, and he could use some mercy now
My church and my country could use a little mercy
now
As they sink into a poisoned pit
That's going to take forever to climb out
They carry the weight of the faithful
Who follow them down
I love my church and country, and they could use
some mercy now
Every living thing could use a little mercy now
Only the hand of grace can end the race
Towards another mushroom cloud
People in power, well
They'll do anything to keep their crown
I love life, and life itself could use some mercy
now
Yeah, we all could use a little mercy now
I know we don't deserve it
But we need it anyhow
We hang in the balance
Dangle 'tween hell and hallowed ground
Every single one of us could use some mercy now
Every single one of us could use some mercy now
Every single one of us could use some mercy now
|
CALLS FOR
ARTISTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
|
DUE August 11, 2006
EasthamptonCulturalCouncil and WorkingPromisingArtists
(WPA) would like to officially invite you to
participate in this year's WindowsProject. The
dates for the show and special events are September15
thru October 3. You will find more details
in the Artists' Submission Package, just contact
us at windowsproject@gmail.com and we will
send it forward.
The submission deadline has been extended to August
11, 2006.
We intend to have parties, artists talks, visiting
artists, and a smattering of any other special events
you can think of.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CALL TO MASSACHUSETTS ARTISTS
FOURTH ANNUAL VORTEX: A JURIED EXHIBITION HOSTED
BY BLUE MAN GROUP AT THE CHARLES PLAYHOUSE
Deadline for Submissions is October 2, 2006
Vortex 2006: A Juried Art Exhibition hosted by Blue
Man Group at the Charles Playhouse, challenges Massachusetts
artists to submit original and inspirational work
that explores the role Interconnectivity plays in
art.
The Blue Men--who come from the part of us that
wants to express creativity, innovation, and humor--invite
all artists to examine, through their artwork, the
dynamics of Interconnectivity in their shared communities
This year's exhibition will be juried by Nora Donnelly,
Senior Registrar at Boston's Institute of Contemporary
Art, Ricardo D. Barreto, Director of UrbanArts Institute
at MassArt, Chris McCarthy, director of the Provincetown
Art Association and Museum as well as an artist
representative from the Blue Man Group Boston creative
community. Deadline for submissions is October 2,
2006.
Blue Man Group will accept artwork in two age
divisions: 12 - 17 years old and 18 + years old.
In the 18+ division, four selected artists' work
will be on exhibit in The Charles Playhouse lobby
for up to one year. In addition, the selected artists
in the 18 + division will receive cash prizes ($2500
Grand Prize, $1000 Second, $500 each for Third and
Fourth). In the 12 - 17 years old division, the
Grand Prize recipient will receive up to $500 tuition
reimbursement to art classes of their choice. Each
selected artist in the 12 - 17 years old division
will receive up to $100 worth of art supplies for
their school and have their artwork displayed at
the Boston Children's Museum. Selected artist's
work will be unveiled at a special event currently
scheduled for October 2006.
For submission guidelines (acceptable medium and
dimensions), instructions and downloadable entry
form go to www.blueman.com/vortex.
For questions call 617-542-6700 x12
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONGOING
A nice offer from Joe Blumenthal of Downtown
Sounds who generously would like to have artists
display their work there. (Downtown Sounds, 21 Pleasant
St., Northampton, next to the Pleasant St. Theater)
The window is quite large, and has three panels,
each one about 6' X 6', and is about 24" deep. It
is exposed to intense sunlight in the morning; the
heat of the sun plus the narrowness of the window
make it inappropriate to display most musical instruments.
However, the sunlight doesn't hurt most artwork
since it's only exposed for a month to six weeks.
I normally pay $150 to the artist who installs the
window, and work out a consignment agreement for
the store to take a percentage of the price if the
art is for sale and we manage to sell some of it.
The artwork can be freestanding, lean against a
wall at the back of the window that's about three
feet high, or (if it's not heavy) be hung from the
ceiling.
It's great when the art can have a musical theme,
but it's not necessary. Because of its highly visible
commercial location, the work should have a mainstream
appeal and not have themes which could be offensive.
Small pieces don't work well since the window is
so large.
If one of your readers is interested in displaying
in this context, please have them contact me via
email: musician@downtownsounds.com, or via phone
at 413- 586-0998.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONGOING.
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs + Image
Registry The New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs (DCLA) is the largest public funder of arts
and culture in the country. The Percent for Art
artist slide registry is an up-to-date and important
component of the Program. The registry is consulted
by the architects, panelists, and City agencies
for each project. The Percent for Art staff prepares
a slide presentation from the registry for each
panel meeting. The registry is open to any professional
visual artist residing in the United States. Deadline:
On-going Information: www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/panyc/
slide_reg.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
LINKS TO YOU
AND ME AND PEOPLE ON THIS LIST
TO MAKE A
DONATION OR SPONSOR THE NEWSLETTER
|
Unfortunately due to stuff I can't comprehend,
the button has to say, "Buy Now". I want it to say
"Hello Sweetheart!"
Anyway--thanks for your support!
If this button does not work you may have to try
another browser. sigh.
| | |
