I am writing to announce the organization of a benefit auction to assist ceramic artist Liz Summerfield and her family in their time of need. As most of you know by now, Liz was recently diagnosed with non-hodgkins Lymphoma. When she got the news of her cancer all studio work for Liz and her husband Scott, understandably, stopped. As artists we all know that there is rarely “paid time off” in this profession and a halt to work combined with illness and bills is a hardship often to large to manage alone. So, like most plans, our ideas for this benefit started out small and have since bloomed in to something that I believe will be a wonderful, fun and (most importantly) supportive event. With that said, I am extremely pleased to announce that we have a date picked, a location confirmed and now all we need is some wonderful work to auction off! So, please consider this is our official call-to-artists!
The benefit will take place on Sunday August 16th in the Northlight building at the Penland School of Crafts. Doors will open at 1:00pm at which point there will be light refreshments, local entertainment and visitors will have a chance to take a good look at the work available in the live and silent auctions. The live auction of work will begin at 2 pm. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to helping Liz get through this really
hard time.
We are asking that you create a piece of artwork with Liz in mind. Our only hope is that the pieces we auction off will be meaningful to you and their future owner. We certainly understand if your process does not allow for the creation of a new piece in this time frame. Any donations offered will be very appreciated! Twenty to thirty of the pieces we receive will be randomly selected to be in the live auction. All other (equally important!) pieces will be placed in the silent auction or will go in the Etsy shop that we opening up for an online sale. All media will be auctioned off… so please pass this email along to others that might want to donate!
If you are interested or if you have questions, please email me at rogerspottery@gmail.com by July. Once you have your piece completed we ask that you ship out, or deliver, it to the Crimson Laurel Gallery by July 31. The address for the gallery is: 23 Crimson Laurel Way, Bakersville, NC, 28705. Please include a retail value for the piece as well as any professional info (business card, bio, statement, etc) you would like to give.

Call for artists: “Mohawks & Mullets” exhibition. Artists are wanted to participate in an August exhibition open to all artistic representations of mullets and Mohawks. This exhibition will be held at The Beehive Salon, 102 E Weaver St, Carrboro. Deadline: July 25. For more information: Visit www.myspace.com/thebeehivesalon or call (919) 932-4483.

Caldwell Arts Council will issue the Caldwell Public Art Award to one artist for a one-year outdoor installation in Caldwell county from Sept 2009 to Sept 2010. Award includes a $2,000 stipend. Deadline: August 1. For more information: www.caldwellarts.com

K Space Contemporary in Corpus Christi, TX is accepting entries for the 3rd Coast National non-thematic juried exhibition of contemporary art. Artists must be at least 18 years of age and living in the U.S. to be eligible. All visual art forms and media are acceptable for the exhibition scheduled Oct. 17–Nov. 28. Cash awards. Deadline: Aug 1. For more information: www.kspacecontemporary.org/opportunities/opportunities.htm

Since 1964, Festival in the Park has been bringing popular and eclectic music, arts and crafts, and family entertainment to Charlotte residents and visitors from around the South. Exhibit spaces are awarded based on the quality and variety of the exhibitor pool. The 45th Festival in the Park will be held September 24–27. Deadline: July 15. For more information: Read guidelines and download an application at www.festivalinthepark.org or call (704) 338-1060.

The Artist-in-Residence Program for 2009–2010 at Grand Canyon National Park offers professional artists (writers, composers, visual and performing artists) the opportunity to spend three weeks in housing provided by the National Park Service at either the North or South Rim of Grand Canyon. In exchange for the adventure of living and working in a national park, the resident artist has the opportunity to create works that generate understanding and dialogue about the need to preserve this national treasure—one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Deadline: July 31. For more information: See guidelines at www.nps.gov/GRCA/supportyourpark/air.htm

The Chapel Hill Public Arts Office invites artists to apply for the 2009-2010 Juried Exhibitions Series. Original 2 and 3D artwork by selected artists will be displayed in ChapelHill Town Hall and the Chapel Hill Public Library from October, 2009 through December of 2010. Open to all artists creating original artwork that can be hung indoors or displayed in glass cases. App deadline: Friday, July 31. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the Town of Chapel Hill Public Arts Office: Public Arts Office, 405 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, info@chapelhillarts.org, 919-968-2749

Berea Arts Council Call for Entries, Submission Deadline Monday, July 20, postmarked.
This show will celebrate the personal and alternative point of view of artists honoring the past and future in photography. All themes will be considered. Entries for this show will include images made with toy cameras and alternative photographic processes. The alternative images can be achieved digitally or by employing the actual cameras and old processes. Prizes will be awarded. Berea Arts Council, 116 N Main Street, Berea, KY 40403. 859-985-9317 www.bereaartscouncil.org

Artspace is seeking innovative proposals from artists working in 2- or 3-D media for solo and/or group shows. Our galleries exhibit the work of both emerging and established artists. Proposals are being sought for exhibitions through early 2012. Exhibitions run for 6-8 weeks with an opening reception being held during First Friday Gallery Walks. Most exhibits include a gallery talk or slide lecture presented by the artist. All exhibits are supported by press and insurance coverage and are free and open to the public. Works may be for sale however, Artspace does not place an emphasis on the sale of artwork but rather on the artistic quality of the work being presented. Artspace takes a small commission of 30% on works sold in our galleries. Apply via www.callforentry.org. Submissions will NOT be accepted in any other format. For more information please contact: Lia Newman, lnewman@artspacenc.org,  919-821-2787.

Today, for the first time in 11 years, the federal government released a national report card on achievement in the arts among 8th graders. This long-awaited report finds that since 1997, our nation’s students have not made significant progress in developing their skills and knowledge in the arts. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in the Arts report is the only continuing, national measure of academic achievement in America’s schools.
A nationally representative sample of over 7,900 eighth grade students from public and private schools participated in the NAEP Arts NAssessment in 2008. Students were measured on their ability to create and respond to the visual arts; whereas, the study scaled back on music questions and only measured a student’s ability to respond and identify music. Unfortunately, theatre and dance skills were not assessed at Education Statistics.
As reported today in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor and USAToday, the findings are “mediocre,” “lackluster,” and “may make America’s arts instructors kind of blue.”  Not a great report card. However, new U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave a strong reaction in support of arts education, “This Arts Report Card should challenge all of us to make K-12 arts programs more available to America’s children …We can and should do better for America’s students.”
As you may know, Americans for the Arts has been leading a national effort to increase federal funding and to strengthen the role of the arts in the classroom through legislative efforts in Congress. We have published a set of legislative recommendations that calls for changes to the problematic No Child Left Behind Act. Our schools need greater support for arts education — take two minutes to send a message to your Congressional delegation, please visit our E-Advocacy Center.
To raise awareness of the importance of arts education, we have also been leading, along with The Ad Council, the NAMM Foundation and hundreds of local, state, and national campaign partners, a public service awareness campaign titled, “The Arts. Ask For More.” currently airing on radio and television and appearing in print media. In the television and radio ads, the arts are equated with a healthy diet; just like kids need healthy foods on a daily basis, kids need their daily serving of the arts. Included in the campaign is a list of “10 Simple Ways,” detailing how parents can get involved in their child’s arts education.
Please take action on this important education effort by sending a message to your member of Congress let your voice be heard: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/utr/1/MJDEKRHVQC/AJLUKRHVYE/3489886661