http://www.artsworkindiana.org/rss/newsXML.phpNews XML Feedhttp://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=81http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=81"After finalizing the concept and budget for the new Photography by Kendal website, I believed that everything would to come together exactly as planned. As the saying goes, 'the best laid plans of mice and men…'." Kendal R. Miller of Frames, Phrases, and Photography by Kendal, LLC. describes how she researched do-it-yourself platforms and then decided to hire a designer to create a website Miller herself could update on an ongoing basis. Choosing layout options, backgrounds, and font colors were among the numerous decisions Miller made during the process.Miller's two-part article is the last installment in our View From the Field series.Read Creating a Website, from Concept to Web-Part 2http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=75http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=75"I recommend deciding what is and isn’t important to you and your business. Determine the goals of your website, and the financial investment that you can or want to make. Research and asking questions are essential to your project." Kendal R. Miller of Frames, Phrases, and Photography by Kendal, LLC. poses the essential questions and shares her recent experience creating a new site for her photography business."Creating and maintaining a web presence to showcase your artwork is essential for today’s artist," says Kendal R. Miller. Miller's two-part article is the last installment in our View From the Field series.Read Creating a Website, from Concept to Web-Part 1http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=74http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=74A group of writers is gathering in the southeast part of the state for the purpose of sharing their work with, and learning from, their fellow writers. The new group meets twice a month, on the 2nd and last Wednesday, from 6:30 to 8:20 pm. The group has been organized by area writer Sandy Olson-Hill, recently relocated from Florida where she was a VSA artist-in-residence. Writers of all genres are welcome. Free. Meetings are held at the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, 180 West Spring Street (telephone: 812-944-8464).For more information, contact Sandy Olson-Hill at imshill18@yahoo.com. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=72http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=72"The need for approval from other people hinders many artists from sharing their talents with the world. It also robs them of the boldness required to improve their skills, network and seek out resources. My own need for approval caused me to sit on a story idea for at least five years..."  Muncie author Jody Michele Powers has written the fourth article in our series, "View From the Field." Future topics of the View from the Field articles written for ArtsWORK Indiana will include a 2-part series on creating a website. The series is made possible by funding from the Indiana Arts Commission. Read Overcoming the Artist's Need for Approval by Jody Michele Powers.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=68http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=68Allan Yates is a Bloomington-based photographer. He made the presentation "Setting Up for a Successful Photograph" at a recent South Central ArtsWORK Indiana meeting. Allan took the time to put his detailed tips in writing for us.Read Photographing Artwork by Allan Yates.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=63http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=63"If you are a writer, you may wonder about the best way to get your work published in magazines. I sold my first article to a national magazine, New Mobility, back in 2009. Follow my advice to increase your odds of making your first big sell..."  Muncie author Jody Michele Powers offers the third article in our series, "View From the Field." Future topics of the View from the Field articles written for ArtsWORK Indiana will include creating a website and, as an artist, managing one's need for approval. The series is made possible by funding from the Indiana Arts Commission. Read Magazine Publishing 101 by Jody Michele Powers.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=59http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=59"Promotion is a never-ending task that can often feel like the homework of owning a business. While I would prefer spending all my time taking photographs or manipulating images, part of it has to be behind the scenes promoting my work. Fun? Not really. Necessary? Absolutely." Dillsboro photographer and writer Kendal Miller provides some practical tips garnered from experience. Future topics of these "View from the Field" articles written for ArtsWORK Indiana will include creating a website and getting published in a magazine. View from the Field is made possible by funding from the Indiana Arts Commission. Read Promoting Your Arts Business-101 by Kendal Miller of Frames, Phrases, and Photography by Kendal, LLC.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=56http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=56Jody Michele Powers says, "With Unmasking, I wanted to create a character with a disability who was just real. I think society sees people with disabilities as really different, but we are not. Through Unmasking, I hope people will appreciate Mandy Morgan's struggles. She has great strengths and flaws- just like everyone else. Also, with this work, I wanted to shed some light on some unique issues that people with disabilities face. Many times these issues aren't discussed, so I hope Unmasking will spark conversation." Powers writes on her website, "I was born with cerebral palsy I can't walk; I must use a power wheelchair to get around. I have limited use in my hands. I have a visual impairment, and I have a speech impairment. Looking at just this description or just glancing at me in public, people come to assumptions about me.  The biggest one is the idea that my life must not be very joyful or be worth living.  The truth is, however, I am more than my disability. I am more than what you see."You can purchase this 90 page e-book at http://www.jodymichele.com. Cost: $5.50.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=54http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=54"Everyone in the profession of acting is going to come up against and possibly be offered roles that challenge our belief in self, integrity, and independence. We must trust the best decision to be our guide, so that we can wake up and be ready to answer the phone in the morning." Future topics of these "View from the Field" articles written for ArtsWORK Indiana will include creating a website and getting published in a magazine. Read Finding Success in Acting, Sans Stereotypes by Ethan Crough.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=53http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=53Ethan Crough’s acting skills landed him jobs with a Broadway touring company and at Radio City Music Hall. He’s done television commercials, been cast in film roles, and appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show. So you might be surprised he feels he must write a book about something bigger than his stage career. A book to answer the questions he’s certain his children will ask him. “It comes down to, what do I tell these children as they grow up when they get dealt all of this?" Read about ArtsWORK Indiana's latest Featured Artist.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=7http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=7As of May 2011, Indianapolis artist Nina McCoy is providing temporary leadership for ArtsWORK Indiana, taking over the reins from Wug Laku. As ArtsWORK Chair for the past two years, Wug has been a great asset to our group. He has brought valuable, practical experience as a self-employed visual artist and gallery owner to this position, as well as his extensive connections within the Indianapolis art scene. He will continue to serve as Coordinator of the Creative Networks initiative through the end of the project this year. Thank you Wug! In addition to her identity as a fine art painter, Nina McCoy's impressive credentials include her work in a variety of administrative capacities as both a professional and volunteer. This spring she completed her project "Re-envisioning the Sacred Circle," funded by an Individual Artist grant from the Indiana Arts Commission. Welcome, Nina!http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=49http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=49ArtsWORKIndiana.org has a new look and new user-friendly design. Along with a face lift, we've made navigation and content changes so that it's easier to find and use information. You'll find lots of art by Indiana's visual artists with disabilities on our pages. The remodeling of this website is made possible, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, as well as by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Browse a little, and let us know what you think! NAME(S) EMAIL ADDRESS (mandatory) PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE FEEDBACK:[provide your feedback here]</html>http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=6http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=6Want to post a link to ArtsWORK's website on your web page?We  have a new logo image!Our logo was designed by artist Warren Miller of Indianapolis. Find logos for download on our About This Site page. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=4http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=4Our new color brochure is available! Designed by Indianapolis artist Warren Miller, the piece provides a quick introduction to ArtsWORK Indiana and its activities. View brochure in PDF format. Request free copies of brochure.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=84http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=174&newsId=84Especially for artists with little professional experience, the guidance of a mentor is an important contribution to a sustainable career and a successful arts-related business. Artists with disabilities, in particular, may encounter barriers of limited transportation, professional training and financial resources. They may not have access to mentor networks or to knowledge about how to approach a potential mentor and gain professional advancement from a mentoring relationship... Read more about mentorship training funding on the Indiana University website.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=88http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=88 Benefit for AMHPA: A NIGHT AT THE THEATRECelebrating Nobody Needs to Know, A one-act play disarming the stigma of mental illnessby Carol Bozena, LCSWCOME MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT!Reception & Silent Auction: 6-7 p.m.Including works by Zubin Ferzandi, Diane Lyon, and Katrina West  Play Performance & Program: 7 p.m.Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th StreetThursday, June 7, 2012$45/person (Priority seating)$20/person (Standard seating)Reserve tickets by May 23 More information about the AMPHA benefit is available on the AMPHA website at http://www.amhpa.org/benefit.html.  E-mail AMPA at amhpa@sbcglobal.net http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=86http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=86The arts festival sponsored by Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing comes to Louisville July 7, 2012.Visual Arts, Theater, Stories, Poetry. More details at http://kcdhh.ky.gov/deafestival/http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=78http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=78Tuesday, March 27 – Monday, May 7, 2012 "As my photographic vision grew and matured, I came to see that there were many manmade objects and urban scenes that could yield interesting images. My approach to image making began to relax and evolve. A door had been opened; I stepped through it to see where it would lead. With time, my photographic interests evolved to include travel photography, documentary image making and street photography." Allan Yates is a Bloomington-based photographer who uses manual focus mechanical film cameras in various formats for the majority of his work.Gallery Tour: Tuesday, March 27, 5:30 – 7:30 pm.Since 2000, Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis has collaborated with Hoosier artists to display their works in the Grand Lobby as part of a rotating art exhibit. The exhibition complements the annual performing arts fundraiser, SPOTLIGHT: One Night, One Stage, One Reason to raise money for the Indiana AIDS Fund and HIV/AIDS education and prevention. All artists have agreed to donate a portion of their sales to the fundraiser. The exhibition theme of Courage and Hope is relevant to all, and especially to those living with HIV and those who work to prevent the future spread of the disease. Exhibits are free and open to the public during regular business hours – Monday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm. For further information call 317-940-9697.Visit Allan Yates in the ArtsWORK Directory.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=60http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=60 AMHPA (Awareness of Mental Health through the Performing Arts) is currently touring with the one-act play "Nobody Needs to Know."  The play is by Carol Bozena, LCSA and is made possible by a grant from the Indiana Family and Social Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Free and open to the public. Remaining performances are listed below. See also the June 7th benefit performance.2012: May 8 - 6:30 p.m.Hamilton North Public Library209 West Brinton Street, Cicero  May 31 - 6:30 p.m.Lebanon Public Library 104 East Washington Street, Lebanon All performances followed by facilitated discussion.More information about the events is available on the AMPHA website at http://www.amhpa.org/.  E-mail AMPA at amhpa@sbcglobal.net http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=87http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=87Monsters and Entities - 19 small drawings by Thaniel Ion Lee. The New-Albany based artist shows hhis work at Swanson Reed Contemporary in Louisville and other venues.Opens Friday, May 18, 2012. 5:00pm until 7:00pm.On exhbit for one month.Location: Indiana University Southeast Library, Lower Level in New AlbanyVisit Lee's website.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=85http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=95&newsId=85Join us for the next monthly meeting of South Central ArtsWORK Indiana. Meetings are always free and open to the public. The regular discussion agenda addresses issues of interest to artists with disabilities and their supporters.WHEN:  Tuesday May 22, 2012 from 5:30 to 7 pm WHERE:  Bloomington City Hall, McCloskey Conference RoomThe building is fully accessible. Free parking after 5 pm in the lot to the south of the building. WHAT:  “Creativity and Aging: Prim Dolls and Prose Poems”  - talk by Bloomington poet Jenny Kander. She will describe her creative foray into making primitive dolls and creatures, with accompanying stories, while recuperating from illness. This event is part of the 2012 Creative Aging Festival. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Jenny Kander is a South African born naturalized American who has lived in Bloomington for 20 years. Kander has edited several volumes of poetry, produced programs for community and National Public Radio stations, and is a founding member of the Bloomington Free Verse (now Tuesday Poets) Workshop. Her own poetry has appeared in numerous publications and she has had two poetry chapbooks published. She has also worked in the medium of collage."Hattie" is one of Jenny Kander's original creations.EVENT FLYER: Please print, post and share the color flyer: Download 5/22 flyer for printing. Download 5/22 flyer as PDF for web and e-mailing.UPCOMING MEETINGS: Meetings are usually held at 5:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Bloomington City Hall. Each meeting includes open discussion, preceded by a presentation on some aspect of arts employment. These free events are open to artists of all disciplines (with or without disabilities) and their supporters. Help us set the direction of this group, share refreshments and make new friends. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=66http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=66Here are minutes prior to August 2011 from some of the statewide monthly meetings of ArtsWORK Indiana held in Indianapolis:July 2011 November 2010October 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=52http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=52WHAT:  ArtsWORK Indiana monthly meeting in Indianapolis. View meeting minutes. WHEN:  Thursday, October 27, 4:00 to 5:30 pm.  WHERE:  VSA Indiana (VSAI), at the Harrison Center for the Arts,1505 North Delaware Street in Indianapolis. Phone: (317) 974-4123http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=43http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=43Minutes for September 15, 2011.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=39http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=180&newsId=39ArtsWORK Indiana's monthly Indianapolis meetings will now be held at VSA Indiana, in the Harrison Center for the Arts at 1505 North Delaware Street. The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) has instituted a new parking fee for museum attendees. "ArtsWORK Indiana extends our heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude for being able to meet at IMA over the past years," says ArtsWORK Interim Chairperson Nina McCoy. "Based on careful and thoughtful consideration of the IMA's offer to let ArtsWORK Indiana hold our meetings on Mondays with no parking charge, we have decided to retain our fourth-Thursday-of-the-month meeting schedule and change our meeting location to VSA Indiana beginning in September. We look forward to look forward to continuing our relationship with the IMA and to future cooperative endeavors." Read about our monthly meetings.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=181&newsId=36http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=181&newsId=36April 23, 2011 Art WORK New Albany program at Carnegie Center for Art and History, New Albany Quilt artist PENNY SISTO, presenter The very best advice I can give to an artist is NOT to think, just DO it! ….. If you think too much it gets too careful and if you act too careful it will not live." Despite a thunderstorm and torrential rains, Penny Sisto, age 69 from Floyd Knobs, held an audience of more than 40 people totally spellbound for well over an hour. She stated that the original theme for her program was "our own lives, making our own art" which led her to think about her own history and one very personal quilt that she had never made. "Quilts come from pieces of our story but I try not to think when I’m creating just like a kid looking at a cloud". A native of Scotland’s Orkney Islands, Sisto shared an intimate account of how she left home at 16, pregnant and alone with very few skills besides "catching babies", believing that she had "very little to offer the world" and no "coosh cow (dowery) with which to begin a new life. Her "granny" asked her "Lassie, have you lived? Have you understood? Have you remembered? Your life is your coosh cow. Now get out of here and live it!!" Desperate to escape the hardships in Scotland, with this encouragement Sisto went to Africa for a number of years and eventually met and married a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya and ended up in the United States pregnant with yet another child and what turned out to be a violently abusive husband. "The sound of a cowboy boot hitting a breast is the sound of someone smashing a watermelon." This episode caused a miscarriage, surgery prevented the loss of her breast and Sisto eventually divorced. "No one judges us from making a mistake - they only judge us from those we remake." Sisto is a natural story teller as anyone who has seen her quilts would attest. Her narrative interests concern social justice, the rights of women and ancient spirituality and rituals. She sees great value and finds special resonance in certain objects such as turquoise stones, medicine pouches and barn owls, who seem to be her personal spirit guides. At one point while beginning her demonstration of how she develops her quilts Sisto stated, "My life’s desire is to get an eagle feather." Considering the fact that this is an artist who meditates each morning in a teepee, such a desire makes perfect sense. Often Sisto uses pieces of her worn out meditation tepees as the base fabric for a new quilt. She demonstrated how she looks carefully at the fabric, searching for any sort of image which she then outlines with a marker, oil pastels and paints before pinning and gluing additional pieces of other fabrics to build the piece. "I love polyester," she said. "It’s really easy to sew and has a shelf life of about a million years." The audience hung on each word and creative gesture as if receiving a personal gift from this amazing artist. One sensed that such rapt attentiveness was not so much because of the audience’s desire to receive such an unexpected gift but more from Sisto’s earnest desire to do the giving. Her open vulnerability about both her personal life as well as her creative process were an inspiration to everyone present, ample evidence as to the popularity of her quilted stories. Sisto asking if someone in the group wanted to "finish" the quilt she had just begun. After a moment of stunned silence a woman eagerly raised her hand and was given the newly started piece which had morphed into the rough image of a mother and child. Submitted by SusanGorsen, Artist Facilitator for ArtsWORK New Albany.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=181&newsId=35http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=181&newsId=35Topic / Speaker: Grant Proposal Writing and Practice with Karen Davis 11 persons were in attendance for this meeting and workshop which began promptly at 10:00 am with a very warm greeting and introduction from Sandy Braunbeck. Karen thanked Sandy for the introduction and us for the welcome before asking that we introduce ourselves and offer to the group why we are here and what we hope to get out of the discussion. Karen opened by saying that she would like to present in a conversation-style as opposed to a formal presentation. She encouraged all to interject and participate in any way. The first suggestion Karen had was to "know who you are and be true to yourself." This is absolutely integral to locating potential funding and or support. Use technology to your benefit. E-mail, libraries, workshops, mailing lists, networks. Check out websites in the genre; join a critique group once you reach the point of readiness. Show them that you are invested in yourself. "Tell them so you’ll know!" Ask yourself the difficult questions and answer them, others certainly will. Look for grants that match your Art. Be clear on your long-range vision. Often funders ask "What is your impact on the community?" Make sure you have a clear plot of what you plan to do with the resources if they are offered to you. Anticipate all you can and build it in to the structure of your proposal. Write your proposal "From the heart." Connect all the dots and pour your heart out. Don’t be afraid to just get it out there. Someone else can edit and spell-check. Letters of support from peers and colleagues can help tremendously. Visual Artists will be asked to provide photos or other forms to illustrate your Art. Review your submission packet over and over to make certain you have met all of the requirements. Give it to an objective person to review as a test. Once funded, maintain your integrity. Even if no follow-up report is asked for, send one anyway. If there are changes in the process, inform the funder and ask if the options are acceptable. Karen described her process and how things changed for her dramatically upon the onset of her disability. Karen was and is a poet however that has changed. She is now a proud Art Quilter after a physiological change in her hearing and a vivid dream changed the direction of her Art. Karen discussed what this means for her health, how she self-engages herself to know where she is, what she needs… Karen described that she "works small." Both figuratively and literally. Her quilts are very detailed and they take quite a bit of time to complete and that her Studio is not a vast space. Karen concluded that she feels very strongly that she has "come full circle." …and she is writing again.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=181&newsId=34http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=181&newsId=34Julie Schweitzer introduced Billy Hertz to the group. Billy opened the first gallery in downtown Louisville, the Zephr Gallery in 1989. He was also instrumental in organizing the "gallery hop" of all galleries which continues to this day with increasing participation by artists and community. Suggestions on getting your work accepted by a gallery: Billy stated that "It ‘s the image; image is what it is all about". When attempting to get your work accepted into a gallery he recommends that you "appeal to the owner ." When possible it is best to show the actual work rather than just pictures of the work. Personal appearance is important, be yourself , you want to show them your excitement about your work. When promoting your work, "Be persistent, no shame" send out press releases, e-mails a diverse means of publicizing your work. Billy cautioned that this persistent COULD be interpreted as "harassing"…..be certain to have gallery know when "you have "overstepped" the boundaries When showing work out of town, be certain to discuss all aspects of the showing with gallery owner. A signed contract is helpful, make sure issues such as insurance are discussed and agreed upon. If attempting to be accepted by a gallery in another city, do your cold calls during the day. One in the am and one in the pm.Create a person website…galleries love to go and see the work. Billy maintains that your ‘Must send the image to wet the appetite of the gallery". Use post cards to announce showing.Connect with others using facebook. Two local publications that Billy uses are Business First and The Voice. Make that "personal connection". Learn about the gallery owner , interest, family etc. Become known for your honesty. The work will not only represent the artist but will also represent the gallery Pricing of your work: Typically young artists overprice their work". Pricing also depends on where the gallery is, he suggested that the price stay the same when the gallery in within the same region. Billy discussed how his work had changed as a result of his disability. Billy was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2006. He showed samples of his work before the brain tumor and after. Before the work was quite large particularly his landscape works of Tuscany.He discussed how he dealt with the adverse effects of his disability. He stated that he lost all skills except "talking". After his disability which resulted in some limited physical abilities; Billy had to switch from acrylic to oil and also had to adjust the size of his work. He described his disability as a "life altering situation" that he will live with for the rest of his life.Comment: Billy is quite well known in the metropolitan area. The attendance that day was the largest yet with over 30 individuals in attendance. As one attendee stated, "I would go anywhere to hgear Billy speak". http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=79http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=79Read minutes for the February 2012 meeting of South Central ArtsWORK Indiana. WHEN:  Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 5:30 to 7 pm WHERE:  Bloomington City Hall, McCloskey Conference RoomThe building is fully accessible. Free parking after 5 pm in the lot to the south of the building. WHAT:  This month’s meeting will feature a talk and discussion about the City of Bloomington Council for Communit Accessibility with Craig Brenner.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=51http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=51 The October meeting will include a discussion agenda and a presentation by The Herald-Times arts editor, Nicole Brooks. Her presentation is titled "Above the Fold: Getting Media Coverage for Your Art." She will give tips on the best way to get your arts events into not only the local newspaper, but media outlets in general.Nicole Brooks has been with The Herald-Times for more than three years, first as a reporter and, for the last year and a half, as arts editor. She is a performing member of local modern dance company Windfall Dancers. WHEN:  Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 5:30 to 7 pm WHERE:  Bloomington City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street, McCloskey Conference Room, 1st Floor.The building is fully accessible and free parking is available after 5 pm in the lot adjacent to the entrance for City Hall. View the October Meeting Flyer | Download a Print-Quality Flyer for Posting UPCOMING MEETINGS: All meetings will be held at 5:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Bloomington City Hall. Each meeting includes open discussion, preceded by a presentation on some aspect of arts employment. These free events are open to artists of all disciplines (with or without disabilities) and their supporters. Help us set the direction of this new group, share refreshments and make new friends. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=70http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=70Read the March 2012 minutes for for the monthly meeting of South Central ArtsWORK Indiana. WHEN:  Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 5:30 to 7 pm WHERE:  Bloomington City Hall, McCloskey Conference Room WHAT:  This month's presentation was "Opportunities for Artists through City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department." Speaker Michael Simmons, Program Specialist with the department, will discuss performance, exhibition, teaching, and learning opportunities.  http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=29http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=29South Central ArtsWORK Indiana Satellite Group Meeting McCloskey Conference Room, Bloomington City Hall Presenter: Indianapolis artist Nina McCoy spoke on the topic of Looking Twice: My Inspiration and Journey as an Artist. Attending: Antonia M., Maggie H., Cori M., Cathy B., Michelle C., Jerry B., Rebecca P., Karen H., Kathy M.; Presenter: Nina McCoy; Artist-Facilitator: Nadine Pinede; Partner Organization Representative: Jane Harlan-Simmons, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (recording) Presentation Indianapolis artist Nina McCoy spoke on the topic of Looking Twice: My Inspiration and Journey as an Artist. McCoy brought original artwork to display from her recent project "Re-envisioning the Sacred Circle," funded by an Individual Artist grant from the Indiana Arts Commission. She described how she got started as an artist, which was not until she began to paint at age 50. She now exhibits her work at The Art Bank in Indianapolis. She characterizes her work as "person centered." She seeks to convey value and respect for people, and concern for the human condition. "Looking twice" is a reference to the subjective quality of her work, the aspect of looking within oneself. McCoy’s grant project is a series of paintings of black Indians. She shared some of the little-known history of the intersection of African-Americans and Native Americans. Her current project focuses on identity, with reference to contemporary African immigrants to Spain and Italy. Visit Nina McCoy’s website at http://ninamccoyart.com/ Updates Nadine announced that because of the helpful consultation given to group members Alice and Paul Sharp, she has invited staff from the Ivy Tech Cook Center for Entrepreneurship to make a presentation. The presentation, now scheduled for our September meeting, will be about starting an arts-related business and making it sustainable. There was a discussion about suggestions of topics for future meetings, including finding a mentor; making the transition from doing art for fun to selling it; record keeping and taxes; visual journaling; and self-publishing for writers. Topics from last month’s evaluation forms were web development, websites useful for writing, and "more demos," which Nadine interpreted to mean more interactive presentations. Group Member Announcements Cathy distributed a very helpful hand-out she developed for us on the subject of Hints and Tips for E-book Writing and Publishing. The document is included at the end of these minutes. She has learned about this subject as she prepares digital materials for her art students. Cathy is going to make some instructional videos, after learning about the process from our May speaker. She has a blog at http://elephantbooty.blogspot.com/ Nadine shared some useful free resources: (1) NYFA Current’s Deadlines & Headlines, a newsletter that lists opportunities and (2) ArtMarketingStrategy.com, a website with lots of helpful articles.  She also talked about her recent residency at the Vermont Studio Center and highly recommended this program. Michelle and Cathy are going to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts this summer, an art camp in Gatlinburg Tennessee.  Maggie reports that she is now employed at the Monroe Co. YMCA. Debbi Crane is an art teacher in Bedford who works in paper and cloth and has made a lot of handmade books. Cathy B. recommends her as a resource on visual journals. Debbi Crane's e-mail is debbicrane@yahoo.com and she has a blog at http://paperdollpost.blogspot.com . Next Meeting The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 pm. Next meeting is on July 26th. Gregory Acker is coming up from Louisville to talk about "World Music: Cultures of Inclusion." See you there! All meetings are on the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 pm. The details can be found on our web page. Hints and Tips for E-book Writing and Publishing Cathy Bullington magenta1000@yahoo.com Introduction The first and most important thing is to know what you want to write about. I am assuming if you are reading this that you have already accomplished the task of coming up with a great idea. Your next step is to compile that idea into text and illustrations compatible with e-readers. You may choose from several paths in e-publishing. You can self-publish from the ground up and save quite a bit of money. Self-publishing is for the patient and the tech savvy. If you do not want to mess with downloading software and marketing your e-book, you can use one of several services that will assist you with the process. The more you expect them to do for you, the more money they make and that comes out of your profit. I will begin by suggesting that you educate yourself on the process. Study what kinds of e-readers are readily available on the market and what kind of format they use. Good breakdowns of the different types are at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats and here http://ebookarchitects.com/conversions/formats.php You may be surprised to learn that the most popular e-reader device is the laptop! (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/11/and-the-most-popular-way-to-read-an-e-book-is/) The Kindle runs a close second, followed by the iPhone and the Sony e-reader. Many feel that the iPad is ready to see a lot of growth in the e-book market. The e-book market is ready to explode as the devices become more and more popular. Once you know which market you want to aim for, you need to read up on their formatting specifications to make sure your book will be accepted into their store. I will start with iBooks, then Kindle and then talk about formatting in general. Know The Requirements iBooks http://www.apple.com/ipad/guided-tours/#video-ibooks and https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/wa/apply you will have to submit your info and start an account with them in order to get your e-book in their store. You will need to meet their technical, financial and content requirements. Your file needs to be in the Epub format, and you will have to provide an ISBN number and a tax ID number for the IRS. You can get an ISBN or set of ISBNs from https://www.myidentifiers.com/ for a price. If you are selling your book in more than one format, you will need a unique ISBN for each format. (Some places that help you publish will assign you their own ISBN. Check to see what the requirements are.) You may also use one of their approved aggregators to assist you but they will take a cut of your profits. Two of the most popular are Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_ipad_ebooks and LibreDigital http://apple.libredigital.com/faq.php Smashwords also can distribute your ebook to many of the popular retailers if you make sure it meets their guidelines to be included in their premium catalog. http://www.smashwords.com/distribution Download their style guide http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52 and follow it exactly. Even if you are not using their service, following their style guide will make you more likely to have success with getting your ebook to read well on any ereader. Kindle self-publishing on Amazon and their formatting guidelines are at https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help/help?topicId=A17W8UM0MMSQX6 You will need an Amazon account to use their service. A plus for Amazon is that they have an active forum where you can discuss the process with other users and ask for advice and help. General Formatting Rules If you are ready to work on your book, keep these things in mind as they seem to be cross platform: Files need to be in .txt, .doc, .pdf, or .html format. Use the editor you are most comfortable with and be sure to back up your files. OpenOffice is a free editing program and you can now download Writer2ePub as an add on that will save your documents as ePub files. Keep it simple. Don’t go overboard with fancy fonts or fancy arrangements of type on the page as they will be lost in the conversion to an ebook. If your ebook must only look exactly as you have it laid out you will need to only publish in .pdf and it may not work on many ereaders. Use the basic fonts and stick to one. Times New Roman, Arial, Tahoma, or Verdana are safe bets. Do not use too large or too small fonts (standard is 12pt for the main body and 14 – 18pt for headings). Pictures need to be compressed and centered on the page. Some formats will not allow pictures and they will be lost in the conversion process so provide the alt text. (In word this can be done by right clicking the image and going to "Format Picture.") Set them to "in-line with text." Make sure they are no bigger than 4" x 6" and are at 300dpi and are optimized or compressed to save file size. Indent instead of tabbing or spacing to start a paragraph. Multiple paragraph returns will create blank pages in your book. Some formats allow bulleted lists and some do not. Use 1 inch margins all around as your standard. Remove all headers and footers. Use page breaks to separate chapters. Use a single space between sentences. Add a cover page, a copyright page, and a table of contents. A hyperlinked TOC is preferred. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=28http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=28South Central ArtsWORK Indiana Satellite Group Meeting McCloskey Conference Room, Bloomington City Hall Presenter: George Goehl, Brown County metal sculptor.  He spoke on the topic of "Making and Marketing Your Own Instructional Videos Online Attending: William P., Doc K., Carol B., Cynthia B., Ferne S., Allan Y., Cori M., Georgia S., Carolyn C., Lucy S., Cathy B., Michelle C. Presenter: George Goehl; Partner Representatives: Miah Michaelsen, City of Bloomington and Jane Harlan-Simmons, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (recording) Presentation Goehl is self-taught artist who successfully produces and sells his videos online, on techniques for working creatively with metal. After some time in traditional employment, he became self-employed. He started with "niche marketing," making metal bicycle sculptures. In 1993 when he got on the internet, he began selling sculpture nationally. He used to do craft shows, but does not miss them! At first, he made his instructional materials in PowerPoint, then in VHS, and now makes DVD’s. Goehl shoots the video sequentially, making short 5-minute segments and then combines them. Goehl uses a PC, which has to be fast because he does high definition video. Editing the audio is time consuming, he says (14 hours for a 60-minute video). He uses a $250 camera, wireless mics, and full-spectrum fluorescent reading lights for lighting. Adjusting the camera’s white balance is very important. He recommends the website www.bmyers.com where he pays a fee of $10 a month for advice that has saved him a lot of money on software and hardware purchases. Goehl uses Kunaki (kunaki.com) to burn his DVD’s, print the covers, and package them. He provides the file for the cover material. It costs him $1.40 to $1.95 per DVD. He has customers nationally and internationally. He uses Google ads and meta tags to help customers find him. He puts short videos on YouTube to promote his products. (As an aside he mentioned that many of his customers who are artists have had success selling their work on the website www.Etsy.com.) Goehl says there’s much more of a market for instructional videos for beginners than for experienced artists. Customers don’t want clever, flashy productions. The drawback to videos about technology is they have to be updated frequently. You can use Kindle to get your electronic publications onto www.amazon.com. Find more information about Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing online. He is very excited about these opportunities but says it is challenging to figure out how to format publications for Kindle. Visit George Goehl’s website at www.gsegmedia.com Updates Our Coordinator Nadine Pinede has been at a writer’s retreat in Vermont and so could not attend the meeting. She’ll be back with us in June. Today’s meeting is part of the inaugural Creative Aging Festival. The festival took place throughout the month of May in Bloomington. Indianapolis painter Nina McCoy will be our presenter for June. She’ll speak on the topic of "Looking Twice: My Inspiration and Journey as an Artist." We have speakers scheduled for our monthly meetings through September. Suggestions for future presentations are welcome. All meetings are on the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 pm. Find our more about our meetings. Group Member Announcements William shared some of the lessons he learned from entering work into the international SHIFT competition. Ferne brought flyers to share for her two books she has written and published. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 pm. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=27http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=27South Central ArtsWORK Indiana Satellite Group Meeting Hooker Conference Room, Bloomington City Hall Presenter: Hannah Moss & David Nosko Attending: Ferne S., Allan Y., Jim W., Alice S., Paul S., Antonia M., Cori M., Josh D. Coordinator: Nadine Pinede; Partner Representatives: Miah Michaelsen, City of Bloomington and Jane Harlan-Simmons, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (recording) Introductions Attendees introduced themselves and answered the question "In your art pursuits, what are you grateful for?" Participants mentioned affordable rent allowing them to buy equipment, having a dedicated painting teacher, getting assistance from the Cook Entrepreneurship Center, "collaboration not competition," membership in a writing group for over 37 years. Presentation Hannah Moss and David Nosko, Co-Founders and Artistic Directors of Theatre of the People (TOP) spoke on the topic of Inclusive Community Theatre. TOP is a Bloomington not-for-profit founded in 2008. It is a process-oriented arts and education organization that encourages players to experiment with artistic concepts beyond the confines of traditional theatre constructions and traditional audience expectations. Their mission is "to engage individuals through inclusive process-based theatre projects, educational community programs, and artistic collaborations that empower participants to productively express themselves." People of all ages and abilities have been involved in TOP productions. Hannah and David have observed marked growth in many of the individuals participating in these learning experiences. Some have moved on to be successful in traditional theatre ensembles. A number of people with autism have become "regulars" as TOP actors. TOP has also done residencies, including the Girls Club and Stone Belt. More information about TOP is on the web at http://theatreofthepeople.com Updates Today’s meeting room location was re-scheduled shortly before the meeting, due to priority given to City Commission meetings. When this happens, signs will be posted directing you to the new meeting room. The following useful information is attached to the March minutes on our website: Allan Yates’ notes from Making Art Work: 2011 Symposium on Careers in the Arts held on 2/25/11, and Kip May’s hand-out: "Marketing Tips for the Starving Artist: Do’s and Don’ts." Next month George Goehl will be our presenter. We have speakers scheduled for our monthly meetings through September. All are on the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 pm. Jane passed around a copy of the Creative Aging Festival calendar, listing events in Bloomington throughout May. Our May 24th meeting is listed in the calendar. The Festival is sponsored by the City of Bloomington and the Center on Aging at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. All events can be found online on the Commission on Aging webpage. Group Member Announcements Ferne brought two of the books she has written to share. She talked about the process of self-publishing. She used Author House, now called Author Solutions. It is a very large self-publishing company but because it happens to be located in Bloomington, Ferne was able to meet with their staff on a face to face basis. She appreciated not having her books altered by the kind of editing she would have received in a traditional publishing house. They print the books in Tennessee and Canada. Paper in her (softcover) books is acid-free. They also do electronic publishing. Nadine talked about Artist Residencies, and passed around a book that has a comprehensive listing of these opportunities. She has recently had a good experience with a writer’s residency at Ragdale which is located close to Chicago. Often the sponsoring organization will pay the artist’s expenses associated with their stays. These experiences allow people to devote uninterrupted time to their works in progress. They can also benefit from contact with other artists in residence. The book Nadine shared is titled Artists Communities: A Directory of Residencies that Offer Time and Space for Creativity, published by the Alliance of Artists Communities*. Their website is www.artistcommunities.org. Paul and Alice discussed a recent positive experience they had with the Cook Entrepreneurship Center at Ivy Tech. The staff there gave them some very helpful advice on their art business. It took a couple weeks to get an appointment. The services have been free. The Center has also made facilities at their Liberty Drive offices available to entrepreneurs who need space to meet with clients. Go to www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/entrepreneurship/index.html and click on Services for Individuals to request a consultation. Due to the room change Jim was unable to show the short video about Sean’s Cortright’s music project. They will show it to the group at the May meeting. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 pm. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=62http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=62Read minutes for the January 2012 meeting of South Central ArtsWORK Indiana. WHEN:  Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 5:30 to 7 pm WHERE:  Bloomington City Hall, McCloskey Conference RoomThe building is fully accessible. Free parking after 5 pm in the lot to the south of the building. WHAT:  This month’s meeting will be a discussion format. Our topic is Useful Websites for Furthering Your Goals as an Artist. We’ll do a live internet tour, so bring your favorite resources to share.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=26http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=26South Central ArtsWORK Indiana Satellite Group Meeting McCloskey Conference Room, Bloomington City Hall Presenter: Kip May, Owner of May Photography in Bloomington Attending: William P., Allan Y., Eric R., Jim W., Sean C., RJ T., Karen H., Maggie H., & Kathy M. Coordinator: Nadine Pinede; Partner Representative: Jane Harlan-Simmons, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (recording) Introductions Attendees introduced themselves and answered the question "What is your greatest marketing challenge?" New participants included poet Eric R., quilt artist, RJ T., and musician Sean C. Updates We have speakers scheduled for our monthly meetings through September. All are on the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 pm. The details can be found on our Web site. Five of our members attended the free arts careers symposium at the Indiana University School of Fine Arts on February 25th. Allan provided a brief summary of the sessions. Nadine mentioned two websites recommended by Alice and Paul Sharp, who could not attend the meeting: behance.net (for online portfolios) and cargocollective.com (for "out of the box" individual artist websites). Group Member Announcements William described the work he has entered for the SHIFT competition and his experience with the online application process. This is an annual international juried exhibition by artists with disabilities. It was an extensive undertaking and intimidating at first. However the procedure was made "easy" by the sponsors who take account of the needs of artists with disabilities. He learned a lot about photographing his 3-D work as he prepared the required images. Allan mentioned that April 9 is the deadline for the Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition sponsored by the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute.Maggie brought a selection of her matted photographs to share with the group. Jim and Sean have made a short video about Sean’s music project. They will show it to the group at the April meeting. Jane announced a free workshop sponsored by the Columbus Area Arts Council. >Speaker Ethan Crough is scheduled to talk about his life as an actor with dwarfism on March 24th at the Stillframes Gallery in Columbus. Presentation Kip May of Kip May Photography spoke on the topic of Marketing Tips for the Starving Artist. Kip has generously made a digital copy of his handout available to us. It is appended to these minutes. See the handout for more details on the points below. Kip says marketing is not easy but you can do it if you think of it as a table that has several legs: You need to have a web presence. BloomingtonOnline.net has free listings and does low cost websites. Luke Russell offers simple web pages at A SinglePage.com. After initial reluctance Kip has found Facebook is a great way to market his workshops. Get out and network in person. Bloomington now has a visual artist guild: VAGUE. There is a meeting on March 29th at the Pictura Gallery. Display your work in public places. Kip provides his framed photography to doctor’s offices and other locations where he can leave his business cards. Keep a database of your clients. Capture contact information. Sometimes it’s effective to repeat a mailing after an interval. Handwritten thank you notes are important. Answer your phone. Be ethical. Make sure you deliver the product you promise. He has not found that traditional advertising (print, billboard, etc.) brings results. Being community minded is good business. Kip contributes his work to many silent auctions benefiting charitable causes. Support other artists by attending their openings. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 pm. Click here to download additional information: Allan Yates: Notes from Making Art Work: 2011 Symposium on Careers in the Arts held on 2/25/2011 Kip May: Handout: Marketing Tips for the Starving Artists http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=25http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=25South Central ArtsWORK Indiana Satellite Group Meeting McCloskey Conference Room, Bloomington City Hall Presenter: Paul Daily, Artistic Director at Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center Attending: Antonia M., Cori M., William P., Alice S., Diana R., Allan Y., Paul S.;Coordinator: Nadine Pinede; Partner Representatives: Miah Michaelsen, City of Bloomington, and Jane Harlan-Simmons (recording), Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC). Introductions Jane introduced our new Artist-Facilitator Nadine Pinede, a Bloomington writer. Attendees introduced themselves and answered Nadine’s question "What is your great challenge right now?" New participants included Alice and Paul, illustrator/writer and illustrator, William, a 3-dimensional artist from Greene County, and Diana, a staff member of Citizen Advocacy of South Central Indiana (CASCI). Presentation Paul Daily talked about Opportunities for Artists and Performers at the new Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, where he is the Artistic Director. The Center offers opportunities for…•Performing artists: The facility has 2 performance spaces seating 90 and 200 people. The community has a priority period for scheduling dates for use of the space, then the schedule is opened up for Ivy Tech to reserve dates. Teaching: Contact Ivy Tech’s Susie Graham, the Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning at sgraham31@ivytech.edu or (812) 330-6247. Volunteering: the performance groups using the Waldron can always use volunteers. Paul also mentioned another Ivy Tech resource unrelated to the Waldron, the Cook Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center provides "practical tools for individuals who wish to start a business, further develop or expand a new idea within a current business or pursue coursework to better understand entrepreneurial practices." Contact Paul at pdaily3@ivytech.edu or (812) 330-6240. Updates Meeting dates are scheduled through the end of the Creative Networks Project grant period in September 2011. The City is continuing to make the McCloskey Conference. Room available for our meetings at 5:30 on the fourth Tuesday of each month. If the group wants to continue in some form beyond September, we’ll find a way to do that. Exciting plans have been made for future presentations: March 22 - Kip May (Kip May Photography) on "Marketing Tips for the Starving Artist" April 26 - Hannah and David Nosko of Bloomington’s Theatre of the People May 24 - Metal sculptor George Goehl "Creating and Marketing Online Instructional Videos" June 28 - Indianapolis painter Nina McCoy Gregory Acker, a community artist in world musics and homemade instrument-builder from Louisville, will be our speaker in July or August. September TBA. Arts Advocacy: There was an Arts Day at the Indiana Statehouse yesterday. You can keep informed about public funding issues via the Indiana Coalition for the Arts. Group Member Announcements & Discussion Diana says that there are several individuals associated with CASCI who are involved in art. She hopes they can participate in our meetings. She distributed brochures for CASCI, which has a fundraiser coming up at the Showers Bed & Breakfast. Contact CASCI at casci.inc@gmail.com Cori relates that she sold her first painting! William recommended the Café website that has calls for entry. He is entering the SHIFT competition and could use some help with the required images for the application. Nadine recommends the online resources for artists at NYFA.org and the Foundation Center. Antonia is a member of the Writers Guild of the Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington . The next meeting of the Guild is Saturday. Get to the I.U. Art Museum by 2:50 pm for admission to the building. William mentioned that Sculpture Trails, an outdoor sculpture museum in Solsberry, is in need of an all-terrain vehicle that could make the area more accessible to people with disabilities. He will spread the word about our group to others in Greene County. Paul and Alice have a website of their work at www.paulsharp.com. Alice got a certificate in web skills from IU that enabled her to create the site. An online resource for illustrators to show their art is theispot.com Miah: In addition to the City hosting our meetings, she reminds us that she is a resource for the regional arts partner grants, individual consultations for artists, and subscriptions to BEAD’s free weekly e-newsletter: michaelm@bloomington.in.gov The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:00 pm. Need to get in touch? Contact Nadine at npinede@post.harvard.edu or call Jane at 855-6508. http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=58http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=58Read minutes for the 12/20/11 meeting of South Central ArtsWORK Indiana. Allan Yates discussed "Setting Up for a Successful Photograph." Allan has prepared detailed notes for us on his presentation topic, posted here: Photographing Artwork by Allan Yates.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=55http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=55Read  minutes for SCAI's November 2011 monthly meeting. This month's minutes include a copy of the article “Bloom Where You’re Planted: Five Steps to Creating a Community Art Project” by SCAI member Nadine Pinede.The November meeting will include a discussion on the topic, "Where do we go from here? William Pratt, the new SCAI Artist-Facilitator, will lead the discussion. Your input is important. There will be no presentation this month. Please Note change of location. Our meetings are always free and open to the public.WHEN:  Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 5:30 to 7 pm WHERE:  Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Room 1A.The building is fully accessible. Park in the lot to the north of the building or on the street. UPCOMING MEETINGS: All meetings are usually held at 5:30 pm on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Bloomington City Hall. Each meeting includes open discussion, preceded by a presentation on some aspect of arts employment. These free events are open to artists of all disciplines (with or without disabilities) and their supporters. Help us set the direction of this new group, share refreshments and make new friends.  http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=20http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=20South Central ArtsWORK Indiana Satellite Group Kick-Off Meeting Hooker Conference Room, Bloomington City Hall Attending: Leslie Green, Josh Dickinson, Miah Michaelsen, Jane Harlan-Simmons (recording) Introductions and Background The attendees introduced themselves. Jane provided some background on ArtsWORK Indiana and the Creative Networks Project. ArtsWORK Indiana is a statewide group that has been focused on increasing opportunities for arts related employment of individuals with disabilities. The purpose of the project is to establish an area satellite group to meet the needs of people in South Central Indiana. The purpose of the group meetings will be to strengthen the support networks for artists, performers, and writers as well as to increase their professional skills. Therefore each monthly meeting will offer an informative presentation, as well as an agenda of issues for discussion. Organizational Support and Coordination for the Project The local partner organizations are the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, represented by Jane, and the City of Bloomington, represented by Miah. An Artist Facilitator will coordinate the arrangements for the group meetings. Our first Facilitator had to resign for health reasons before the project got underway, and so we are currently seeking a replacement. What are the Needs, Issues and Interests? Josh is a visual artist and former sign painter who has expertise in airbrush painting, particularly on automobiles. He is interested in transitioning his work to include teaching and training of apprentices who could take on some of the work he is doing. As the CEO of Stone Belt, Leslie is interested in connecting some of her agency’s clients to this group. There are a number of visual artists, actors, and aspiring graphic novelists among them. She would like them to gain a greater understanding of their identities as artists and what that entails. Bringing their work to these meetings and expanding their art horizons through studio visits, etc. would be helpful. Scheduling Presentations for These Meetings Miah suggested Lara Moore of Bella Bella, or Judith Rose of Textillery Weavers as possible presenters on the topic of working with apprentices. Joe LaMantia would be another resource. The group discussed selecting a topic of broad interest that would attract attendance at the next meeting, perhaps on the subject of funding. Miah suggested that grant information for arts organizations who wish to hire artists with disabilities might draw some interested parties. Finding a Coordinator and Participating Members Kristina Davis of the Indiana Arts Commission is providing text for a call-out announcement for the Coordinator position. Craig Brenner might have some ideas. Miah could place flyers on her table at the Fourth Street Fair this weekend. Jane will make up flyers for the coming meeting and get them there on Saturday. Diversity Theatre and the Theater of the People are groups that work with artists with disabilities and might be interested in getting involved. The Council on Community Accessibility has an arts committee, currently inactive, whose former members will be contacted. Set dates and location for future meetings The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 26th at 5:30 pm. It was felt that choosing a day earlier in the week, such as a Tuesday, would be more likely to attract membership. The October meeting will move to the first floor of City Hall, in the McCloskey Room, for improved physical access. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=19http://www.artsworkindiana.org/index.php?pageId=182&newsId=19September 27, 2011 Meeting Minutes (Word document - may take a minute to load.)