COVID-19 AID AND INFO FOR ARTISTS

Arts organizations all over the country are coming together to help artists who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a teaching artist, I see firsthand how vital the arts are to the wellbeing of a community. Please support these efforts with your voice to increase legislative protection for freelancers, and donate if you are able. 
For freelancers: https://www.freelancersunion.org

Artist Relief Project - Anyone pursuing the arts as a career (any discipline, any level of experience) can request financial support from the Artist Relief Project, which will provide applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis with a one-time emergency stipend of $200 and free resources and support to pursue alternative economic opportunities.

Any artist in any discipline who has been impacted by COVID19-related cancellations and closures may apply for assistance. Stipends and support will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the only limitation being how much money we are able to raise.

The only requirements are (1) you demonstrate you’re an artist by sharing your resume and website, where applicable, and (2) you share this fundraiser with your own networks and provide a screenshot of that activity.

Initiative by Artly World, a registered 501c3 nonprofit based in Austin, TX. Artly World provides free arts and music programs to underserved communities and beneficial resources and opportunities to artists, musicians, and performers to share their work with a broader audience.

After seeing the devastating impact of COVID19-related cancellations and closures on people working in the arts industry, Artly World set up a fundraiser to collect funds that would directly benefit affected artists, musicians, and performers.  donations are tax deductible you can reach out to us at artistrelief@artlyworld.org with questions or concerns.

At Home

egret eating fish

Hope everyone is well. I watched an egret devouring his catch. He/she repositioned the fish to swallow it. I could see the outline of the fish as it went down. It was amazing!

And here are some links to things I've enjoyed during this “stay at home” period.

Theater  https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home

Literature No waiting to read or hear the audio of book 1 in the Harry Potter series through your local library with your card. or here stories.audible.com. OR OverDrive’s Libby app available through the end of April

For activities related to Harry Potter Harry Potter At Home hub here 

Nature African Tembe live stream watering hole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twVMjl_wPrc

Bird cams from around the world https://birdcams.live/ just watched this owl cam from the Netherlands https://nestkastlive.nl/steenuil3/

Art and Performance videos of lectures and performances from the Metropolitan Museum in NY https://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia. . archives

museums around the world are offering virtual tours

#anthonybourdainday

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain had been on my To Read pile for ages despite being a fan of his food/travel TV series. I don’t know what took me so long. I finally read it last month and it is now one of my favorite books – for writing. A raw, probing, honest, classic account of the restaurant business culture, the book is about people. A character study of those in the business, and a personal story of Bourdain’s struggles as he built his career. The writing is direct and brilliantly crafted, engaging from the first line. He had what publishers seek and writers aspire for, a voice unmistakably his own. Warning, there is foul language, instances of objectification of women, locker room antics and debauchery. He wrote it as shop talk for those in the business and was later surprised the book found a wider audience. 

Today is Anthony Bourdain Day. Gather your friends, put down your smartphones and have a conversation over a good meal. Then curl up with Kitchen Confidential and allow yourself to be drawn in by a consummate observer who was curious and thoughtful. Bourdain was, no is, a raconteur in the best of storytelling tradition. I urge you to read it.

Work In Progress

New series - seed pods. Finished work is on my website.

(Bark TBD, Catalpa sp., Paulownia tomantosa, Echinosystis lobata)

Family Arts Bash and ArtsMobile

Loads of fun drawing and painting animals at my station!

Seniors try their hand at painting flowers and fruit at New Rochelle Senior Center with Arts Westchester's Mobile Arts Van, bringing art to everyone.

 

Arts Westchester Family Arts Bash

Saturday, May 18th Family Arts Bash event for kids. Art activities based on the theme of FAMILY. A social unit or a tribe with a common ancestor is called a CLAN. All over the world, you'll see clan symbols, often associated with animals.  Think totems, crests, and flags, or perhaps it's a sports team mascot. Stop by and design your family symbol and visit the gallery to see  MODERN FAMILIES, a contemporary interpretation photo exhibit.

The Morgan Book Project

Over the years that I have participated as a judge for the Morgan Book Project, I've watched it develop and grow. The Morgan Library & Museum fully supports this educational program for children by looking for new ways to reach more kids. They've expanded the age range, included special needs and English language learners, and increased the number of participating schools. The students have the opportunity to visit the museum and experience the collection firsthand, fostering a connection to museums in general, and encouraging a lifelong interest in the arts.  Using original illuminated manuscripts from the collection as inspiration for their illustrations, the kids make the paint, write, and put the books together. They learn to appreciate books as an art form. The books are aligned with core curriculum studies: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Visual Arts. Topics range from biographies of noted individuals, history, world culture, poetry, and nature, to sometimes heart wrenching personal stories. The winning entries are viewed as representing the students' schools, and the kids are celebrated with an awards ceremony at the museum. The books are displayed on the Morgan Library's website, and 12 books will be on display in an exhibition at the museum, Inspiring and Illuminating the Classroom. The Morgan Library & Museum truly goes all out for this program. The exhibition will be on view from May 14 through June 16th.