Read the Sept/Oct Gleaners newsletter

The latest issue of our OFFCenter newsletter, The Gleaners, is on newsstands now! Ok, not newsstands, just our website. Click the link above or the picture below to launch the September-October issue, pulled together again by our awesome resident volunteer graphic designer, Mary Lambert.

In this issue:

• Profile of OFFCenter's Creative Writing Group, mentored by Mandy Gardner
• First Friday Coffeehouse Oct. 2 with Katie Gill & Friends,
  PLUS
  Paper or Plastic? Community art made from recycled litter freshly gleaned from the Folk Art Festival, all proceeds go to OFFCenter.
• Call for Entries: Threads from the Dead
  Annual Day of the Dead show
  Entries accepted Oct. 21 thru 23.
• Calendar of upcoming classes & events
• Folk Art Festival and general Thank You's
• Art on Park Ave art market announcement.

"Art on Park Av" Support OFFCenter Artists

Every Saturday Morning, 8:00 am to 11:00 am
in the OFFCenter parking lot
8th & Central
across from Robinson Park and the Grower's Market

FINE ART CRAFTS JEWELRY CLAY

TEXTILES GLASS WATERCOLORS

PHOTOGRAPHY MORE

OFFCenter artists sell their original creations every Saturday, now through the end of October.

Giant Newspaper Hats

Where do we begin to describe the Folk Art Festival today? How can we possibly thank our community of sponsors (Mama's Minerals, RANA, and more to be fully acknowledged very soon), our loyal new and returning artists/vendors, our troops of volunteers, musicians, dancers, and tribe of mentors at the artmaking tents?

It may take several days. For now . . . enjoy the hats.

Sharie's Studio Journal: Hours and counting

Well there is one day left till the folk art festival. This week in the studio has been busy busy busy with last minute details getting taken care of and you know oh we forgot to do this or that. There are new signs to help you find all the must see things at the festival. A few changes but still planning to have a lot of fun. There is still time to pick a puppet or mask to carry and be a part of the parade so come by. Also if you have baked goods to contribute to the bake sale please bring them to the studio so we can get things priced and ready for tomorrow. Hope to see you there. The event opens at 10 am and the parade will start at 11 am come early so you can get a good place to watch the parade.

Sharie

Folk Art Festival Welcomes Volunteers Sept. 13

WE ART THE PEOPLE
Folk Art Festival
7th annual giant puppet parade!
Live music, 100+ arts & crafts booths.
This Sunday!! September 13th , 2009 from 10am to 5pm. Free at Robinson Park in Downtown Albuquerque

Featuring over one hundred folk art vendors, music, dance, food, and public art making activities.

Volunteers are needed to help prepare, set-up tents and vendor booths, to march in the giant puppet samba parade, lead art activities, and haul everything back and forth to OFFCenter at the beginning and end of the day. If you are interested please call 247.1172 for more information.

Entertainment includes:

11:00 am - The Giant Puppet Samba Parade
noon to 1:00pm - Guitarist and singer-songwriter Chuy Martinez & harpist, singer and violinist Oti Ruiz will be playing a selection of wonderful traditional Latin American music.
1pm to 2pm – Rouge Bindis, local tribal style belly dancer troupe.
1:15pm to 2:00pm - Cerrillos Islanders, with Dennis Overman lead singer and songwriter, daughter Gretchen Overman vocals, son Ian Overman vocals, banjo, guitars, percussion play an old-timey alternative folk style.
2:15pm to 3:30pm - Jasper, eclectic danceable music that includes jazz, rock, folk, country, blues with their own wild arrangements of cover tunes. Terry Bluhm is on bass, and guest artist and singer-songwriter Bonnie Bluhm.
3:45pm to 5:00pm - Wagogo, fabulous popular world music band rocks your socks off!

Funding in part by the Urban Enhancement
Trust Fund of the City of Albuquerque

Sharie's Studio Journal

We never know who we will meet on any given day whether on the streets of the city or in the studio here at OFFCenter. It may be an old friend we have not seen in a while or a new friend we just met and with more and more movies and tv series being filmed in New Mexico and some right here in Albuquerque. That being said you just never know who might come thru the door at OFFCenter. Last week I had the priviledge of being there when the set director of the TV Series Breaking Bad came in looking for art work to be used as props in an upcoming episode of the 3rd season. I have been told these pieces of art work will be used in the second episode airing in the Spring. I think it is exciting that this company knows about OFFCenter and recognizes that our art it unique and great. I hope there are others in the film industry that learn of us and find their way to our door and get more art whether for use in their movie or tv series and even for their personal collection of art. I will keep you posted .

Sharie

Sharie"s Studio Journal

Days and counting here are some photos of kids and parents and grandparents making masks this past Saturday. Clare Gonzales provided samples and instruction for making paper masks. The kids had a great time and I'm pretty sure I saw parents laughing and trying on masks as they assisted their children in the creation of masks. Don't dispair there are a few days left so come on in to the studio there are puppets to be repaired and made ready for the "Big Day", labels to be put on bottles of water and signs to be made and given fresh paint. You can still do your own art too. Come on and join the fun and there is one more night to learn the steps for the Samba Dancers to lead the Parade.

We also had a family here for the weekend from out of town join in the mask making.

Sharie's Studio Journal: One week til the Folk Art Festival

This week will go too fast as did this past week but time waits for no one. The studio continues to be a buzz with activity getting ready for the Folk Art Festival. And other regular activities continue to happen in the midst of all this prep. David's art/drawing class found a corner table among the puppets and other stuff going on to get their lesson this week. The Thursday Writing group found a niche to write and read their prose to one another inspite of the repair work happening to the puppets in order for them to be ready for the parade next Sunday (9/13). People are dropping in to secure their space to sell their art at the Festival. One table is busy with volunteers putting labels on water bottles for the festival and today every one was making room for the First Friday Coffee House.

If you didn't make it in for the coffee house you missed a really good band Tortuga. There were kids dancing and playing with the band (drums and tamborine) , frinds visiting with friends they had not seen in a while new friends being met and new people to OFFCenter. Art being bought and some really good food. All in all I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I know I did and liked the band too.

Congratulations to Sky sorry I missed your debut.

Congratulations Sky!

Sky performed in recital on Wednesday for the studio artists and has the honor of being the most accomplished finger picker to earn an iCreate guitar. She took lessons when she was 13 and learned finger patterns and chords. She now can play and read melody and is a singer and writer.

All iCreate guitar class students are eligible to earn an instrument by completing the program requirements which are:
1) attend at least 12 classes
2) learn 5 songs by heart
3) perform the 5 songs to others

Puppet Invasion

Greetings Everyone:

I goofed I tried to reorganize the photos I had posted and it deleted every thing . The puppets have come out of storage and are back in the studio. Some just need to be dusted off and some need a "face lift " and a few are getting an overhaul but they look great and are getting ready for their annual parade for the kickoff of the Folk Art Festival. There was a workshop (funshop) with Sunny Burkland and we have some new Puppets for the parade. It was great to watch brothers work side by side each creating their own winged creature to carry in the parade. Families seemed to be having a great time working on their own creatures. Mother and daughter worked together and Dad took care of the baby and all looked happy. Individuals and couples helping each other and comments and suggestions offered from other participants as well as a lot of That is sooooo coool and awesome or I would not of thought of doing that. Adabelle Allen, our new intern got assistance with the sewing part of her project and has so pretty cool wings for her Magpie.

If you missed this one or want to carry a puppet or mask in the parade there will be another opportunity this Saturday check our OFFCenter calendar for the times. Hope to see you there.

Sharie

Bake Sale Items Needed -- for Sept. 12 delivery

Please bake us some cookies, muffins, cupcakes, coffe cakes, layer cakes, breads, scones, or anything your culinary heart desires.

We need them for our annual bake sale to be held during our Folk Art Festival on Sunday, Sept. 13th from 10am to 4pm at Robinson Park.

The bake sale is a big hit each year! There is a big demand for gluten-free, wheat-free and sugar-free items, but everything is welcome!

Please drop off your baked goods at OFFCenter on SATURDAY Sept. 12, 8 to 11 am.

For more info or special drop off arrangements, contact us to get the Bake Sale Committee's contact info.

New! Free Weekly Embroidery Class thru Sept. 22

Learn or practice your Embroidery with Karen Hart, our longest commuting artist from Pittsburgh.

She will lead an open, all-levels class every Tuesday in the studio from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., through September 22 (or perhaps a bit longer if we can persuade her to stay through Balloon Fiesta).

Karen brings a lifetime of experience working with fabric and is patient, knowledgeable, and possesses a great sense of humor.

Anyone interested in embroidery is welcome to attend to learn and share with the group.

Thank you, Karen!

First Friday Coffeehouse with Tortuga!

First Friday Coffeehouse
Friday Sept. 4
5 to 8 pm

Bring a friend or two and come hear the jazz fusion sounds of Tortuga , featuring Pax and friends playing for your enjoyment. It's Free!

Our gallery will be filled with Folk Festival puppets, masks and other festive paraphernalia.

Coffee and delicious refreshments will be available along with the usual great supply of one of a kind local art work on sale in our shop.

A Pass the Hat Production, hosted by Bonnie Bluhm.

Our Second Guitar Class Graduate!

Congratulations Terry!
Today Terry Begay has the honor of being the first comedian to earn an iCreate guitar, and to get the most compliments from listeners who happen to be creating art while he plays music. Terry composes and improvises with great flair and skill. All iCreate guitar class students are eligible to earn an instrument by completing the program requirements which are:
1) attend at least 12 classes
2) learn 5 songs by heart
3) perform the 5 songs to others

Mayoral Candidates Forum on Arts & Culture

Tuesday, Aug. 25
6:00 to 7:30 pm
VSA North Fourth Arts Center
Albuquerque

A public form.

Members of the arts and cultural community as well as memb ers of the public will have the chance to ask the candidates for the city’s highest office to clarify their positions.

All of the candidates have been invited to attend.

Members of OFFCenter's Board, staff and artists plan to attend. We are formulating questions for the candidates. Let's hope we get called on! (The questions are submitted ahead of time.)