Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony

Congratulations to all the student artists and art teachers who are part of the annual Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit at the City Hall Gallery. The opening reception for the show was held on Dec. 3rd and middle and high school award winners were recognized at that reception.

Middle School
1st Place
Victor Castano, Florida State University School
Pam Wallheiser, Art Teacher

2nd Place
Savanna McDonald, Deerlake Middle School
Linda Johnson, Art Teacher

3rd Place
Holly Davidson, Raa Middle School
Teresa Coates, Art Teacher

Honorable Mention
Ben Dowling, Florida State University School
Pam Wallheiser, Art Teacher

Christian Liljestrand, Montford Middle School
Donald Sheppard, Art Teacher

Brianna Mead, Montford Middle School
Donald Sheppard, Art Teacher

High School
1st Place
David Hendon, Maclay High School
Cathy Hathaway, Art Teacher

2nd Place
Katie McTigue, SAIL High School
Becki Rutta, Art Teacher

3rd Place
Kate Bassett, Florida State University School
Barb Davis, Art Teacher

Honorable Mention
Lilly Atwell, Lincoln High School
Shannon Takács, Art Teacher

Sarah Patrick, Leon High School
Travis Giddings, Art Teacher

Kayleigh Rabitaille, Chiles High School
Julie Childers, Art Teacher

Mayor's Award

William Jackson, Rickards High School
Virginia Milne, Art Teacher

The 2010 Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit will be on view until Jan. 10, 2011 at the City Hall Art Gallery. It is free to the public and open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parking is available in Kleman Plaza.

Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit 2010 on display now until Jan. 11, 2011

Bird Eating Berries by Sanija Waller
Kindergarten; WT Moore Elementary School
Art Teacher, Jason McMillian

The Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit 2010 showcases youthful talent and imagination through 85 pieces of student artwork. Forty-three elementary, middle, and high school art teachers submitted work on behalf of their students for the competition. And, the entries represent 33 different area public and private schools. The dedication and professionalism of our area art teachers is evident in the quality of the student artwork on display in the City Hall gallery. And the exhibition is stunning.

A public reception for the exhibition begins at 6:00pm on Friday, December 3rd, and lasts until 7:30. The awards ceremony will start at 6:30pm in the City Hall Gallery. Mayor John Marks has chosen one piece of artwork to receive the best in show, "Mayor's Award." It promises to be an evening of great pride for the students and awe-inspired admiration for those who see the show.

For nearly 20 years, the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) has partnered with the City of Tallahassee’s Parks and Recreation Department to present the Winter Festival Youth Art Exhibit. It is one of a dozen exhibitions curated by COCA and is part of the City of Tallahassee’s Art in Public Places program. For more information about this exhibition, upcoming exhibitions, or the Art in Public Places program, contact Amanda Karioth Thompson (Amanda@cocanet.org) at COCA, (850) 224-2500.

Photofest 2010 Winners Announced

The Photofest 2010 opening reception and awards ceremony was held on Thursday, Nov. 18th. Although it is an honor to be selected for this exhibition, COCA announced some additional kudos to a few of the artists exhibited in this show.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

Volcano Arenal, Costa Rica by Inger Avant

Lily Magic by Diana Orrick

Bay Scallop by David Moynahan

3rd Place: Life is Fragile by Amy Higgins

2nd Place: The Thick Air Is Murderous. I Would Breathe Water by Bill Humphries

1st Place: Silence by Robert Hudson

Congratulations to these six artists and to all of the artists selected to exhibit in Photofest 2010.

Photofest 2010 Exhibit

The Council on Culture & Arts is pleased to present Photofest 2010, an annual exhibition at the Artport Gallery from November 14th, 2010 - January 7th, 2011 as part of the Arts in Public Places program.

From breathtaking landscapes to the mind-bending use of extreme close ups, the Photofest 2010 exhibition features photographs by twenty two local artists. The artists were selected by this year’s Arts Advisory Panel. COCA recruits a citizen committee of accomplished fine artists and non-artists to review images and select work for exhibition.

Photofest 2010 opens November 14th, with a free public reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, November 18th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Awards will be announced at 6:30 pm. Guests are asked to park in long-term parking and present parking tickets at the gallery for complimentary validation.

The exhibit continues through January 7th, 2011 and is an annual event presented by the Council on Culture & Arts as part of the Art in Public Places program sponsored by the City of Tallahassee. The gallery itself is located in the Tallahassee Regional Airport, 3300 Capital Circle SW, and is open daily from 8:00 am until 11:30 pm.

Call for Art - Gaines Street Public Art Project

(DEADLINE: Nov 12, 2010)

Sponsored by COCA and the City of Tallahassee. COCA is now accepting applications for a unique project to be completed in 2011. A regional artist or artists will be selected to install permanent original artwork on a retaining wall being built on Gaines Street to protect a historic oak tree. Call is open to all artists living within 100 miles of Tallahassee. The budget for this project is $15,000. Download the complete information, application and detailed illustrations of the wall here. There is an entry fee of $25 or $10 for current COCA members. Questions: contact Amanda Thompson at amanda@cocanet.org or 850-224-2500.

Tallahassee Selected as LivCom Finalist

The City of Tallahassee is one of the top 40 Cities in the World, as determined by the International Awards for Livable Communities (LivCom Awards). In addition, we have been named as one of the 8 international finalists in our population category for a Whole City Award.

In June, City staff and a community representative from the Council on Culture & Arts collaborated to prepare and submit the City's nomination package for this prestigious, international award. The areas highlighted in the competition are enhancement of natural and built landscapes; arts, culture and heritage; environmental best practices; community participation and empowerment; healthy lifestyle; and strategic planning.

"We are proud of being an 'All America City' and having some of the best parks in America," said Mayor John Marks. "Now, to be a finalist for international recognition for our environmental practices and being a livable community is another major accolade for the citizens of Tallahassee. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire community."

A Tallahassee delegation will attend the November 4-9 finals in Chicago. Due to limited funding, community sponsorships will be sought to help cover participation. Contact the City at 891-2476 for additional information.

Arts in Education Week Proclamation

announced by Mayor Marks

on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010

Whereas, arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students; and

Whereas, arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways to communicate and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as well as personal growth outside the classroom; and

Whereas, to succeed in today’s economy, students must masterfully use words, images, sounds, and movement to communicate; and

Whereas, as the arts equip students with a creative, competitive edge at a time when the nation is working to strengthen its foothold in the 21st century global economy; and

Whereas, the arts provide the skills and knowledge students need to develop the creativity and determination necessary for success in the global information age; and

Whereas, extraordinary results occur where schools and communities delivering high quality learning opportunities in, through, and about the arts for children; and

Whereas, studies have found that schools in under-resourced environments with large populations of students in economic poverty who are highly involved in the arts have better grades, less likelihood of dropping out by grade ten, have more positive attitudes about school, and are more likely to go onto college; and

Whereas, attracting and retaining the best teachers is vital and can be achieved by ensuring that schools embrace the arts, becoming havens for creativity and innovation; and

Whereas, arts education has the power to make students want to learn not just within the arts, but other areas of study; and

Whereas, art is integral to the lives of all citizens and essential to the health and vitality of our communities.

Now Therefore I, John R. Marks, III, in order to raise awareness of the value and importance of arts in education for all our children at every level of education and to acknowledge the extraordinary teachers who provide these students with the very best arts education here in the city of Tallahassee, proclaim September 12- 18, 2010 as

Arts in Education Week

Join us for Tallahassee's Arts in Education Week Announcement

Wednesday, September 15; 4:00pm at City Hall (300 S. Adams Street)

Mayor John Marks will present Leon County School Board member, Dee Dee Rasmussen with a proclamation during the City Commission meeting designating the second week in September as Arts in Eductaion Week in Tallahassee.

Inspired by the recently passed Congressional Resolution (H. Con. Res. 275) which does the same, the procalmation shows support for and celebrates all of the arts education disciplines including but not limited to dance, music, theater and visual arts.

COCA encourages all arts education supporters as well as arts educators who work within and outside of the school day to join us in the commission chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 4:00pm for this exciting announcement. Public parking is available in the Kleman parking garage and on the street.

Let's show the city just how much arts eductaion means to this community!

Imaginarium of Images: Marguerite Foxon and Stewart Nelson

The Council on Culture & Arts is pleased to present

Imaginarium of Images: Marguerite Foxon and Stewart Nelson

an exhibition at the City Hall Gallery from September 2 – November 16, 2010 as part of the Arts in Public Places program.

Through her photography, Marguerite Foxon challenges viewers to see everyday objects in a completely different way. On exhibit are images of a mesmerizing world, revealed in extreme close-ups. Her macro abstract photography captures the mysterious shades and textures of rust, the fascinating colors and designs of mold and the rich images buried in bark. Through her macro lens, intriguing shapes and patterns, colors and textures are revealed and things that are usually overlooked take on a new life. “It gives me great pleasure to find such beauty and inspiration in the discards of our society – a derelict car, an abandoned warehouse, a rusted can, a dying tree.”

Stewart Nelson combines traditional photography with computer imaging to produce digital/photographic fine art prints. After freezing a moment with his favorite camera, the Pentax Auto 110, which produces thumb nail sized negatives, Nelson manipulates the images until they evoke fading memories. He allows the film grain and processing flaws to remain, adding texture to the image. Nelson also explores digital image capture, using either a digital camera or a flatbed scanner to create art from found objects such as leaves and crushed cans. “My sense of color and texture pushes my photography beyond photorealism with the manipulation of color and light, changing their relationship and creating an altered reality.”

The exhibition is curated by the Council on Culture & Arts’ Arts in Public Places program on behalf of the City of Tallahassee. For more information about this exciting exhibition or upcoming exhibitions contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or Amanda@cocanet.org. For a schedule of other exhibitions and arts and culture programs throughout north Florida, visit http://www.morethanyouthought.com/. Learn more about COCA and sign up to receive COCA’s weekly email blast at http://www.cocanet.org/.

Art meets Football

In a little over a week the FSU stadium will be filled to the brim with 80,000 screaming fans anticipating the "Reign of Jimbo". No better drama than college football. Act I is a game of little consequence, unless of course the Seminoles lose. Then, we will all see the plot thicken.

But, that is not the only intersection of arts and football. No, Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue is where the arts will supply a critical Game Day demand.

Football fans, from near and far will all be searching for one thing- a place to park. There are of course ordinary parking places to choose from. But, there is only one place that will actually take your money and use it to build the exciting new Gaines Street destination known as the Arts Exchange.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, get your motors running and turn south at the corner of Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue. Look for the bunch of cool people wearing Arts Exchange T-shirts leading you to the best parking spots in town. You might recognize some of those volunteers as the young men from the world renowned Boys' Choir of Tallahassee, or dancers from the Tallahassee Ballet or, maybe even the FSU Golden Girls. One game you may be greeted by local writers and another by local musicians, all of whom are helping to build the Arts Exchange.

And, your ticket to park on game day will play a leading role in making that happen. The doors will open- oh sorry, back to the theatre analogy- the lot will open three hours before each game.
Tailgate if you'd like, walk across the street to Fat Sandwich, or mosey on over to Railroad Square and shop for some local art until it's time to stroll down to the stadium.

So, Go 'Noles. Let's go Parking for the Arts. See you on Game Day.


* The Arts Exchange parking lot does not discriminate based on school colors or affiliation. Money to park will not be refused from Bulldogs, Cougars, Demon Deacons, Eagles, Tar Heels, Tigers and especially Gators. The more you would like to give, the more we will like you.

The Council on Culture & Arts is pleased to present

The Works of Don Taylor: Creatures Great and Small

An exhibition at the Artport Gallery from August 26 – November 12, 2010 as part of the Arts in Public Places program.

As a veterinarian and a watercolorist, Don Taylor is uniquely capable of capturing not only the physical presence of animals but also their personalities. In this exhibit, Taylor presents a veritable menagerie from curious billy goats down on the farm to the mighty silverback of the African forests. The viewer can not help but connect to the spirit of these magnificent creatures when faced with Taylor’s thoughtfully composed paintings.

Taylor’s watercolors combine realism and impressionism, with a touch of abstract design. Through light, bold colors and lost edges, he strives to evoke the sense that there is more to the subject than a mere rendering. “I attempt to apply the illusion of detail in many works so that viewers can use their imagination to complete the image. Sometimes less is more.”

For more information about this or upcoming exhibitions contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or Amanda@cocanet.org. For a schedule of other exhibitions and arts and culture programs throughout north Florida, visit www.morethanyouthought.com. Learn more about COCA and sign up to receive COCA’s weekly email blast at www.cocanet.org.

16th Annual Fiber Arts Exhibition

July 15th - August 31st & Public Reception July 23rd

This 2010 exhibition showcases fiber art pieces composed of designs and color schemes that defy the imagination. The 16th Annual Fiber Arts Exhibition in City Hall Gallery has brought together fiber works from talented local artists of the Tallahassee Quilters Unlimited —as well as a very special selection of Quilts of Valor.

What makes this year unique is there are actually two shows in one: the first is a variety of quilts of great beauty; the second is quilts of great purpose. Quilts of Valor has created and provided more than 28,000 quilts for wounded U.S. soldiers. The national non-profit organization was started in 2003 by a woman whose son was deployed in Iraq. Since 2005, quilters from all over the country have participated in this great cause, including many local members of Quilters Unlimited, who are proud to be called “wartime quilters.” The Valor quilts in the exhibition will be sent to service members who return with physical or psychological war injuries.

For more information about the QOV Foundation, go to www.qovf.org. QOV’s goal is to cover all those service members and veterans touched by war with Quilts of Valor. For information about the Tallahassee Quilters Unlimited, contact www.quilttallahassee.com.

For further information about this exhibition, upcoming exhibitions, or COCA’s Art in Public Places program, contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at (850) 224-2500, Amanda@cocanet.org. Or find out more about COCA online at www.cocanet.org.

BOLD EDDIE BROWN: An Exhibition at Artport Gallery July 1 through August 24.

The Council on Culture & Arts is pleased to present Bold Eddie Brown, an Exhibition at the Artport Gallery from July 1^st until August 24^th as part of the Arts in Public Places program.

Eddie Brown, Sr., has two passions, he says. One is music. The other is art.

What appear to be faces emerging from stained glass dominate Eddie’s work. It is an unusual and captivating style that has few peers.

While his main media are oils and acrylics, Eddie has also used pastels and mixed media in his abstract pieces. He has been drawing and painting for more than 30 years, and his work has been exhibited internationally, as well as extensively throughout north Florida and south Georgia. His art has also been published in Warriors magazine and used commercially.

The exhibition is curated by the Council on Culture & Arts’ Arts in Public Places program on behalf of the City of Tallahassee. For more information about this program, visit www.cocanet.org.

For more information about this exciting exhibition or upcoming exhibitions contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or Amanda@cocanet.org. For a schedule of other exhibitions and arts and culture programs throughout north Florida, visit www.morethanyouthought.com. Learn more about COCA and sign up to receive COCA’s weekly email blast at www.cocanet.org.

Glee as Arts Education Advocacy?...ABSOLUTELY!

Let’s get this straight right off the bat, I’m a “Gleek” and have been entertained by Glee since day one. As a former cheerleader and musical theater performer, what’s not for me to love about this show? As an arts educator watching the season finale, I was more than just entertained. I was proud and moved by the message sent to viewers about what kids are really getting from their arts education experiences in school.

Glee viewers watched as a group of wildly different students came together. They started off with little in common and without the foggiest understanding of each other. In each episode, characters perpetrated and were victims of harassment and humiliation intended to preserve the natural order of high school. This recurring theme is fine for fiction but is also an unfortunate reflection of real life as confirmed by the recent upswing in bullying reports. We know that the arts teach tolerance and empathy, self-control and discipline, team-work and collaboration. Glee manages to illustrate this as viewers witness the evolution of unlikely friendships and camaraderie between disparate characters.

The arts have the power to change perceptions about kids, both of themselves and by their peers and teachers. Students who don’t fit in socially and struggle academically often shine in their arts classes, becoming stand outs in a positive way. The same is true for kids who do excel in their studies or athletics. For some of these students, participation and success in the arts prove that they are more than just their label of football player or honor roll student. We’ve watched as this very thing happened to the Glee characters.

In Glee’s season finale, I was pleased to see how much value was placed on the “journey.” Any arts educator worth their salt emphasizes the artistic process over whatever the final product happens to be (a monologue, a sculpture or an aria). Competition and judgment have a place in every disciple. Without that kind of feedback, how do we improve? That said, those components are deemphasized in arts education because the part that matters, the part that teaches us the most is the part that the judges rarely see. It’s the choices that an artist makes along the way, working out how to solve the problem, coming at it from a different angle if the first attempt doesn’t work as planned. And isn’t that the way it should be in art and in life? As Will Schuester stated, “life only really has one beginning and one end and the rest is just a whole lot of middle….Who cares what happens when we get there, when the getting there has been so much fun!”

Is it possible for a popular television show to send a message about the importance of arts education? It seems that answer is a surprising and emphatic, yes! At a time in our country when arts programs are being stripped from the educational landscape, Glee serves to illuminate what kids are actually learning in their arts classes and why that is so very important to preserve.

Watch the Glee season finale here.

TOWN (Tallahassee’s Own) Exhibition on display from May 25th-June 13th.

Artists’ Reception Set for Friday Evening, June 4th

People who live in our wonderful city may be used to seeing these artists as they respond to emergencies, repair utility lines or process paperwork. But the fact is, many City of Tallahassee employees and retirees are extremely talented artists. Each year the Council on Culture & Arts showcases their creativity, and this 6th annual TOWN exhibition proves just how spectacular their work continues to be.

Thirty current city employees and retirees submitted 58 pieces of work for this year’s TOWN show, now open in the City Hall Art Gallery, 300 South Adams Street (2nd Floor) through July 13, 2010. There will be an artist reception on Friday, June 4th from 6:00 until 7:30 pm. People may meet and talk with the artists while enjoying their work.

TOWN refers to “Tallahassee's Own.” The show recognizes the employee-artists who provide quality service to our city’s citizens each and every day—as well as retirees, whose past work has contributed to the city's excellent reputation.

City Hall Art Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

TOWN 2010 is one of more than a dozen annual exhibitions curated by the Council on Culture & Arts as part of the City of Tallahassee’s Art in Public Places program. For more information about this exhibition, upcoming exhibitions, or the Art in Public Places program, contact Amanda Thompson at COCA, (850) 224-2500 or amanda@cocanet.org

ART TIMES THREE: Hempel, O’Doogan and Pelc at Artport Gallery

Three extraordinary women. Three talented artists. Three deliciously diverse styles and media: acrylic on birch, watercolor, fine art quilting.

The Council on Culture & Arts is pleased to present Art Times Three: Hempel, O’Doogan and Pelc at the Artport Gallery from May 6th until June 29th as part of the Arts in Public Places program.

Anne Hempel’s grandmother, an artist in her own right, encouraged her to enter an art contest in the third grade. “Winning that contest gave me the confidence to pursue artistic endeavors throughout my life,” says Anne. Anne was a teacher until three years ago. Now she paints fanciful images on birch wood full-time.

Maureen O’Doogan is self-taught in matters of art. Her contemporary quilts have been exhibited and have won awards locally, nationally and internationally from Lyon, France, to Denver and Chicago. She explores that part of human nature that transcends challenges and seeks beauty. Maureen says she tries always to maintain a lightness and a sense of humor, “and from this mindset comes my work.”

Linda Pelc loves painting in watercolor because it is “most challenging and most satisfying.” Her images are filled with bright, intense colors and each painting tells a unique story. Linda says she has acquired the courage to try new techniques and new creative approaches. She is “passionate about creating.”

For more information about this exciting exhibition, about upcoming exhibitions or the Art in Public Places program, contact Amanda Karioth Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or Amanda@.cocanet.org. To learn about other exhibitions and arts and culture programs, visit www.morethanyouthought.com. Learn more about COCA and sign up to receive COCA’s weekly email blast at www.cocanet.org.

Creative Tallahassee 2010 Exhibition

Celebrate the skill, talent, ingenuity and creativity of some of the most exciting artists in the Big Bend area. In a month-long show at City Hall Gallery, the Council on Culture & Arts’ Creative Tallahassee 2010 highlights the work of many well-known Tallahassee artists, as well as emerging artists in this highly-anticipated annual juried exhibition. The exhibition will hang from March 25th until May 18th.

Competition in 2010 was fierce. Over 180 separate pieces were submitted for consideration. And from those, forty-four artists were selected by a special jury to be shown in this year’s Creative Tallahassee show.

Meet the artists in the City Hall Art Gallery during a reception and awards ceremony on Friday evening, April 2nd from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, and enjoy light refreshments. Awards will be presented at 6:30. There is no charge for the reception or the exhibition.

The City Hall Art Gallery is located on the second floor of City Hall at 300 South Adams Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:30 pm.

Creative Tallahassee 2010 is one of over a dozen annual exhibitions curated by the Council on Culture & Arts. The exhibit is part of the City of Tallahassee’s Art in Public Places program.

Natural Wonders: the Photography of Miguel Olivella

As stark and stunning as the work of Ansel Adams, Natural Wonders: the Photography of Miguel Olivella, is the latest exhibition at the Artport Gallery. “Mr. Adams was the epitome of what I consider to be the perfect blend of art and photographer,” says Miguel Olivella, whose work will be displayed through May 4th at the gallery at Tallahassee Regional Airport. “His images captured my attention in 1971 and were the catalyst for my interest in photography.”

Working in black-and-white, and focusing his attention for this exhibition on the western United States, Miguel’s photos can raise the hair on the back of one’s neck—study the alpha wolf’s piercing eyes—or cause one to sigh with wonder while glimpsing the underside of a dandelion.

Miguel makes his living as a lawyer and also works as sports photographer for the FSU Athletic Department, as well as a stringer for a major wire service. His photos are published regularly in Unconquered Magazine, in FSU marketing materials and on several websites, including ESPN.com.

The exhibition is curated by the Council on Culture & Arts’ Arts in Public Places program on behalf of the City of Tallahassee.

About The Arts Exchange on the first day of spring...

It's the first day of spring...always good for imagining new beginnings and planting both seeds and ideas. Both start with a dream of what can become.

So, today, on the vernal equinox (oooh, that makes me want to start writing like Rudyard Kipling, O Best Beloved) its a good day to write my first blog for The COCA Buzz (yes, I've been putting it off.) My position at COCA is Development Director for The Arts Exchange, a project that is a wonderful idea, and will grow to become a reality very soon.

Over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to meet with many of our local arts and cultural organizations and their boards of directors. I explain the concept of The Arts Exchange, an arts "village" that combines office, meeting and rehearsal spaces for our local arts organizations, features a 400 seat black box theatre (that is a BIG black box), affordable live-work housing, and arts-friendly retail on the corner of Gaines and Railroad. (If you aren't familiar, take a minute to visit http://www.the-arts-exchange.com/ and you can learn more.) Some folks are familiar with the project, some are eager to learn more.

Here's what inspires me. Almost everyone smiles and nods as I (or Randi or Peggy) explain. Maybe it's because we are enthusiastic, and we emote, and use our hands a lot when we talk. I think it's more than that though. I think people can picture themselves at such a destination. Talking to other arts organizations and sharing ideas. Taking a break mid-afternoon and grabbing a latte' (OK, I think my personal fantasy just crept in...and if that's so, let's add a chocolate chip cookie.) Attending a play or recital in the black box. Having a place to store music, files, take deliveries, have someone to answer the phone. Watching Gaines Street transform into something beautiful. The Arts Exchange can do this.

So again, it's spring. I am planting my seeds by writing this blog. I plan to watch The Arts Exchange grow into a reality. And when it's built I am going to bring over one BIG planter so I can grow some of my favorite flowers and watch them bloom. Here's to spring and watching things grow!

Don't Keep Your Opinions to Yourself!

The Council on Culture & Arts wants your thoughts on how we're doing. Your input will be invaluable in making sure we're providing the services and assistance that help to you most--both individually and as an arts or cultural organization.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey. It's short. It's sweet. And your opinions and ideas will benefit everyone.

Here's the link: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22ACCBJCA4E.

Please feel free to pass this along to your colleagues.

And, thank you.

Don't Lose the Sale!

Problem: Local artists were losing lucrative sales because they didn’t have a merchant account to accept credit cards.

Solution: COCA extended the use of our merchant account to members needing occasional, temporary access. Soon after, we realized some of our smaller cultural business members also needed access for workshop sales or single-event ticket sales.

The service is easy to use and doesn’t require any equipment other than a phone. After a brief training session at COCA, you’ll be up and running and ready to “take plastic.” (Some restrictions and fees apply.)

To learn more about COCA’s merchant account service, contact Holly Thompson at 850-224-2500 or holly@cocanet.org. This is just one of the benefits of COCA membership. See them all at http://www.cocanet.org/about/join.html.

Young@Heart

One of the most moving documentaries I’ve seen in a long time aired on January 12th on Independent Lens (a weekly PBS series). Young@Heart, by filmmaker Stephen Walker, is at once a heartbreaking and heartwarming look at the Young@Heart Chorus. The chorus is comprised of New England senior citizens with an average age hovering around 80. Their set list includes songs from artists such as Sonic Youth, James Brown, Coldplay and The Clash and these retirees deliver unexpected music with an equally unexpected perspective. In the film, we follow the chorus through weeks of grueling rehearsals and watch as they try to master new material while working through health challenges and the loss of loved ones. Though it tugs on your tear ducts, this film is about the joy of music and its ability to sustain us, regardless of our age. Check out clips from the film on PBS’s Independent Lens website. The film is also available for rental.

Plein Air Art Exhibition at ArtPort Gallery

COCA’s Stunning New Show at Artport Gallery Beginning Jan. 20th

The Council on Culture & Arts is pleased to present a new exhibition in the Artport Gallery. Featuring the works of Keith B. McCulloch, Natalia Andreeva and Lorraine Clark, the exhibition showcases a special technique of painting called plein air, which approaches painting on location outdoors with little or no editing back in the studio.

Plein air painting delivers a unique style because the artist records the day’s changing light with an essential spontaneity. Some paintings may look unfinished, some may be studies for reinterpretation back in the studio, and some may stand on their own as bright descriptions of the moment captured.

Keith B. McCulloch considers plein air painting to be a note-taking exercise. He likes to paint the effects of light. But because the sun moves so quickly, a scene can change dramatically in a few hours or less. He finds the challenge of plein air painting to be finding the right harmony of tones that honestly portray what he sees and feels. Keith teaches Oil painting at Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts.

Natalia Andreeva emerged as an artist from the fertile artistic climate of Siberia, after graduating from its most prestigious art college. Her studies of European art there—as well as the subsequent influence of eastern philosophy—have resulted in Natalia’s balance of spontaneous expression and classical realism. She also teaches oil painting at Lemoyne.

Lorraine Clark began her adventures with watercolor as an adult and is an active member of the Tallahassee Watercolor Society, as well as coordinator for Plein Air Tallahassee. She finds that doing watercolor enriches her life and becomes a genuine expression of her true self.

The three-artist show will continue in the Artport Gallery at Tallahassee Regional Airport through mid-March.

The exhibition is curated by the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) and is part of the City of Tallahassee’s Art in Public Places program. For further information on this exhibition, upcoming exhibitions, or the Art in Public Places program, contact Amanda Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or online at www.cocanet.org. To learn about other exhibitions and arts and culture programs, visit www.morethanyouthought.com and sign up to receive COCA’s weekly email blast at www.cocanet.org.

Style, Range and Beauty

COCA's New Three- Artist Show at City Hall Art Gallery Begins Jan. 13th

The Paintings of Randy and Debra Brienen and the Photographs of William Banks are remarkable in their scope and interpretation of regional subjects in the newest exhibition at Tallahassee’s City Hall Gallery.

The exhibition celebrates both the aesthetics and contrasting styles of the three featured artists. Randy Brienen works in acrylic and uses vibrant colors and bold textures to create his impressionistic and abstract paintings.

Debra Breinen also works in acrylic. Her paintings express an innate joy and happiness in living, and she has exhibited in many juried shows. Debra is a cancer survivor and donates a portion of each sale to the American Cancer Society.

The medium changes to photography for the third featured artist of the exhibition. William Banks’ subjects range from lotus blossoms to old rural highways. His genius comes from his passion for chronicling moments that resonate with people, as well as his ability to capture texture, color and the heart of each subject.

The three-artist show will continue on the second floor of City Hall through mid-March. City Hall Gallery is open from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm daily. Convenient parking is available at Kleman Plaza.

The exhibition is curated by the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) and is part of the City of Tallahassee’s Art in Public Places program. For further information on this exhibition, upcoming exhibitions, or the Art in Public Places program, contact Amanda Thompson at (850) 224-2500 or online at www.cocanet.org. To learn about other exhibitions and arts and culture programs, visit www.morethanyouthought.com and sign up to receive COCA’s weekly email blast at www.cocanet.org.

Time to Renew

Don't Forget to Join or Renew Your COCA Annual Membership (Now through September 30, 2010)

Whether you are an individual artist, cultural organization, business, or student, professional educator, business, please consider joining or renewing as a member of COCA, your local arts agency. The fees from these memberships assist us in maintaining a strong local arts agency with a commitment to serving you as resource, advocate, and partner in keeping the culture and heritage of the Capital area as a vital part of our quality of life. Individual memberships are $35 for practicing artists and $50 for organizations and businesses. Further details and membership forms can be downloaded here or call Clint Riley at (850) 224-2500.

COCA's Only a Matter of Time Workshop

Only A Matter Of Time: The Basics of Time Management (Registration Deadline: January 25, 2010)

Date of Workshop: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 5:00-6:30 pm in the upstairs COCA conference room (816 S. M.L. King Jr. Blvd.). General Public: $10. COCA Members: Free

Register here.

Time is the ONLY resource given to everyone in equal measure. Everyone in the world has the exact same 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 52 weeks a year, and almost of all us feel we can't get everything done. But the real problem isn't just running out of time. We allow too many interruptions and distractions to hijack our valuable time, leaving us with less time to devote to the things that are truly important.

This workshop will:

Explain the four-quadrant time management system that helps you identify the things that are important rather than the things that are just "urgent"

Provide you with a 30-minute weekly organizing process that will empower you to plan your week and actually accomplish your goals

Help you strike a balance among the various roles you play in life and the various responsibilities that go along with each one

Give you a method for dealing with unexpected challenges, opportunities, reasons and excuses for not doing what you planned to do

About the workshop leader: Randi Atwood, Associate Director, oversees programs, publications, and information technology for COCA. She also occasionally teaches theatre courses at Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Theatre Management and has been an independent theatrical director, Equity stage manager, grant writer, and website designer. It's no wonder Randi's an expert in time management.

Mike Pate's Still Sticking Around-Thank Heavens

He has been a friend to this community in many, many ways. Through his association with the Knight Foundation, but also through his wise counsel to leaders in local government and leaders of non-profit organizations.

But with the new changes at the Knight Foundation, Mike Pate will no longer be "local staff" for the their initiatives. The changes at the Foundation are not negative in any way, except that one. And, I have been assured that Mike will not leave Tallahassee and intends to make this his home in perpetuity.

But, it's a good opportunity to say thank you. A BIG thank you. Quietly perhaps because his help has often been quiet, seeking no credit for his own work. In writing, definitely, because this tool we use to communicate has been an integral piece of his world. Genuinely, because he is nothing if not genuine.

I do not plan to miss him, because I need his advice and am grateful he will be still be here.

It is just a good time to take the time to say thanks. So, thanks, Mike, from COCA, from all of us you have touched with important funding, often leading others to do the same.

And, thanks Mike for being the go-to guy for sage counsel and a sharp, witty comeback. And, just thanks for making Tallahassee a better place.