The traditional costumes gives an insight to culture

The Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill in Salem is an amazing fabric museum with events, programs and exhibits.  We visited their current exhibit The Art And Tradition of Kimono which began September 21st and will be available until December 24th.

The Kimono is the national costume of Japan.  The exhibit features kimonos created during the early 20th century.  The geometric simplicity of the silk fabric's cut contrasts with the elegant floral designs or regular bright patterns.  The kimono seems to reflect the Japanese culture which values simple form intertwined with equally simple but dramatic designs.

Liz looking at Kimono underware

In a calm, quiet space the exhibit has several kimonos and pictures and information about how they were created.  We had the kimonos to ourselves to study and admire at our leisure.  There is a nice slide show of the kimono exhibit at the Heritage website.  But nothing like seeing the kimonos' vibrancy in person.

The Art and Tradition of Kimono exhibit is housed on the second floor of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.  The Mill is close to a living museum, where you can walk among the machinery which skill works.  On the second floor landing the Mill is evident through windows.  Behind a discrete door the kimonos wait, floating on their stands, emblems of another time another culture.  Stepping into the exhibit from the big 19th century American style woolen mill is also an interesting contrast of cultures.

Donate to what is important to you

The annual gathering/auction/fundraiser of the Yamhill Watershed Stewardship Fund is Saturday November 10th.  It is an annual auction event, like so, so many other local groups who work on the needs of our community.  A long time member of the Stewardship Board Dave Hansen and a fellow artist on the Art Harvest Studio Tour sent out a poster for the Watersheds fundraiser.

In the past Dave has asked for donations and we have been happy to donate. Water and its watersheds is important to us.  This year before Dave could ask we asked him if he was collecting for the fundraiser.  He is.

Salter

I went into the studio looking for donations.  Who wanted to go help the Watersheds Fund?

Salter has been with me for a while and it was time to go out into the world and do some good.

To me Salter is a catlike creature who is patient and watchful.  A potential being of the watersheds.

Lock Nar

The studio is just recovering from the Art Harvest Tour and everything seems to have moved.    I looked for a companion for Salter.  Lock Nar has changed from a mild mannered uncle to a fierce guardian.  Paying attention.  Not to be messed with.  The Watersheds need to be paid attention to and they need to be guarded.

Hopefully Lock Nar will go home with someone on the evening of November 10th to hang at a special place and remind them that Watersheds are important.

Reviewing Grant Applications for Yamhill County Culture

Eve and Caryl reviewing grant applications

The grant cycle is upon us.  The Yamhill County Cultural Coalition grant committee met yesterday to review the applications for the coming year.

The Grant Committee, Eve Silverman, Caryl McIver, Deb Broocks and James Nelson and myself looked at projects primarily based in McMinnville and Newberg.  Although James was not at the committee meeting, he sent his comments in.  The projects ranged from writing, to music events, to art programs for seniors, to sign/music event for disabled, to programs for ethic groups, to historical excursions and more.

Eve Silverman, who is co-chair of the Grants Committee developed a very helpful spreadsheet of the applications, which made our work easier.

There never is enough money from the Oregon Cultural Trust to satisfy all of the needs.   The committee would love to recommend that Yamhill County Cultural Coalition board give everyone all of the money they asked for.  The Committee did its best to adjust grant recommendations to fit within the allocation that was given by the Cultural Trust, which was about $12,800.00 for 2013.

The Yamhill County Cultural Coalition Board will meet next week, Wednesday the 24th.  The Committee will give its recommendations.  The Board will discuss the grant applications and make its allocation decisions. The Grant funding announcements will likely go out to applicants in November.

I have been on the Yamhill County Cultural Coalition's Grant Committee for 4 or 5 years.  It is a wonderful experience to see the creative projects and to know that because of the generosity and the desire of Oregonians to have a vibrant cultural life, we can help culture here in Yamhill County.

Arts Alive appearance talking about Pottery

On October 18th we went down to the McMinnville Community Media studio to appear on Arts Alive the local arts and culture show.  Liz talked with host Lynda Phillippi first.  I posted the video of her.  I forgot to post my interview.

We talked about clay and pottery and the Art Harvest Studio Tour, of course.  The Tour was last weekend and the second weekend is coming up.

We had students on the Student/Education Studio Tour today.  They all seemed to come at once.  It was kind of frantic for awhile.  Still fun.

Art Harvest Student Education Studio Tour

Liz Santone demos felt making at her studio

The Art Harvest Studio Tour is on its 20th year.  For several years some of the Tour artists host an Art Harvest Student Education Studio Tour during the week between the regular weekend public Tour.

Today Liz and I hosted students from the Yamhill Carlton area.

Making a mask

Show youth how to make something from a fluff of wool or a lump of clay is a pleasure.

Making felt 

Some Tour artists across Yamhill County are opening their studios this Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday to demonstrate or talk about the art that they do.

Those who visit Liz get an extra surprise.  They get to have a hands-on experience of making felt and taking it home with them.

Because of the nature of clay, the students get to touch the clay and watch as I have all of the fun.  There is a magic in sharing a craft skill and the excitement of creating with young hearts.

Elizabeth Santone on Arts Alive

Elizabeth's segment of Arts Alive will show the week of September 22nd through 28th.  The schedule is on McMinnville Community Media  Liz talked with Lynda Phillippi about felting, painting and the Arts Alliance of Yamhill County's annual Art Harvest Studio Tour .

This was the first time Elizabeth has been on the Arts Alive show to talk about her felting and painting.

Painting with Fire

Nike of Samothrace

This summer I worked with artist Dwight Evalt on a video to show one of his painting techniques which uses fire. The beginning of the painting Nike of Samothrace.  It came together and a young local musician Treven Hughes' music fits the action.  The music was recorded last year at McMinnville Community Media studio.

Dwight and I are almost neighbors.  Dwight lives in Carlton Oregon.  His website is dwightevaltart.weebly.com

Liz and I and Dwight were on this year's Art Harvest Studio Tour  A program of the Arts Alliance of Yamhill County which has been sponsoring the Tour for 20 years.  The 2012 Tour was Friday Oct 5, 6, 7 and the second weekend Oct 12, 13 and 14.   With a Student Education Tour during the week between.

It was a pretty good Tour.  I don't think Dwight demonstrated painting with fire.  You can see here.