News and Stuff

Hi Everyone-
First, Thanks for your patience and understanding. I really appreciate it. I’ve been getting e-mails and phone calls and here’s the latest:

THE GROUP SHOW
Specifics

The group show will open at Positive Vibe Café August 18 and hang through October 13. Each artist can submit one work to the group show. The piece must be able to hang on the wall, weigh not more than 25 lbs and be no more than 36’ inches high and 40’ inches wide. All work on paper must be framed under acrylic or glass. If work is on stretched canvas, the sides must be finished if not framed. If you have a solo or shared show, you can participate in the group show. Just let me know which piece you want to be included in the group show.

VSAVA usually has an opportunity to show at the SunTrust Bank Art Gallery in their corporate headquarters here in Richmond every October for Disability Awareness Month. However this year, I’m told the gallery is not available. We have been in touch and are working on alternate space within SunTrust. As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know.

Deadline
If you are participating in the group show, work should be received not later than July 31st.

Shipping Requirements
Please do not use loose Styrofoam peanuts (popcorn) to pack your work in. I cannot stress this enough. Use bubble wrap, newspaper, or those plastic pouches filled with air. If must use Styrofoam peanuts (popcorn) please, please, please put it in zipper food storage bags (like Ziploc bags) to make pouches to pack around your work.

Shipping Address

To reduce handling work and make it easier to transport the show, please send your pieces to the VSAVA office unless you require a signature on delivery. If you require a delivery confirmation signature, you’ll need to send it to my studio address, as I am not in the office every day. COntact me via e-mail for my studio address or check your e-mail.

VSAVA Address

Krishanna Spencer
VSAVA/Outside the Lines
Zero E 4th Street
Studio 50
Richmond, VA 23224

SHIPPING TIPS
The least expensive, safest and easiest shipping method I have discovered is the US Postal Service Priority service. You can calculate and pay for postage, print shipping labels and schedule pick ups all on online. Aside from the website being a bit wonky, I’ve had good success using USPS to ship my own artwork. The URL is www.USPS.com .

SOLO & SHARED SHOWS
If you let me know you were interested in solo or shared shows, I have probably already gotten in touch with you. If you one of the few with whom I haven’t touched base give me a few more days and I’ll be sending you your dates. The schedule is done I just need another day or two to get in touch with you. Thanks!

DISCUSSION GROUP
I’ve started a discussion group for us at Google Groups called Outside the Lines. I sent out an invitation to everyone last week but I’m not sure everyone received it. It’s my hope we can use this group to connect and discuss art and art and disability. I will also use the group to communicate news and other tidbits to you all.

THE BLOG & VIRTUAL GALLERY
I have also established this blog for us. I’ll continue to post information about the Outside the Lines program, other exhibition information, arts opportunities and news and tidbits there as well.

The virtual gallery is located here. At the moment photos of Chris Wharam’s show at Positive Vibe is posted and I hope to be able to start on the online show in the next week or two.

Take care!
Thanks again!

Opportunity to participate in a research study about careers in the arts

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FREELY TO ALL WHO MAY BE INTERESTED:

If you are an American with a disability pursuing a primary career in the arts, or if you have been deeply involved in supporting careers in the arts for people with disabilities:

JOIN A “VIRTUAL FOCUS GROUP” ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC!

WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?
We are conducting a research project based at the University of Illinois at Chicago called, “Experiences of Individuals with Disabilities Pursuing Careers in the Arts: Creating a National Portrait” funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (PS 04-01). We are gathering data bearing on two primary research questions:

1. What are the barriers and facilitators mediating access to careers in the arts for Americans with disabilities?

2. What are the social, personal, and economic outcomes of training and work in the arts for Americans with disabilities?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Next month, we will open a 6-week e-mail discussion forum focusing on one question per week regarding careers in the arts for Americans with disabilities.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
You are eligible to participate in our “virtual focus group” if you are age 18 or over AND you are at least ONE of the following:

–a disabled or nondisabled resident of the U.S. with intensive involvement or experience in arts careers and disability.

–a U.S. resident with a disability working in or pursuing careers involving the arts (e.g., arts training, administration, program development), or a career artist with a disability in the U.S.

HOW TO JOIN:
For more information about participating, contact:

Terri Thrower
Graduate Research Assistant
tthrow1@uic.edu

Contact Ms. Thrower as soon as possible because the enrollment deadline is April 6, and the virtual focus group begins on April 16.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS: The researchers conducting this study are Carol J. Gill, Ph.D. and Carrie Sandahl, Ph.D. If you have questions, you may contact the researchers at:

University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 626)
(312) 355-0550 v
1640 W. Roosevelt Road, Room 236
(312) 996-1233 TTY
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 996-0885 fax
E-mail: cg16@uic.edu

Call for Art from VSA arts & Volkswagen

A National Juried Exhibition for Young Artists with Disabilities,
Ages 16 – 25
Deadline: Friday, July 6, 2007, midnight (MST)

Grand Prize: $20,000
First Award: $10,000
Second Award: $6,000
12 Awards of Excellence: $2,000

Sponsored by VSA arts with generous assistance from Volkswagen of America, Inc.

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

America’s love affair with the automobile extends beyond the visual cues of engines and sheet metal. Volkswagen believes that the “heartware” is equally as important as the “hardware.” For people with disabilities, the automobile provides both freedom of mobility and self-expression. Volkswagen. All drivers wanted.

Through Deaf Eyes

Wednesday, March 21 at 9 p.m. on East Coast and West Coast PBS stations

THROUGH DEAF EYES is a two-hour HDTV documentary that explores 200 years of Deaf life in America. The film includes interviews with prominent members of the Deaf community, including Marlee Maitlin and Galludet University president I. King Jordan.

Interwoven throughout the film are six short documentaries produced by Deaf media artists and filmmakers. Poignant, sometimes humorous, these commissioned stories bring a personalized sense of Deaf life in America to the film. Through first person accounts and the film as a whole, THROUGH DEAF EYES tells the story of conflicts, prejudice and affirmation that ultimately reaches the heart of what it means to be hu

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