Thank you, Ron and Marcy

Do you come to the studio during open hours and find what you are looking for to work on your projects? Do you have art for sale in the shop? Were you a vendor or attendee at We Art The People Folk Art Festival? Have you enjoyed music, art and food at a First Friday Coffeehouse? Do you make OFFCenter one of your places? Then remember to say THANK YOU to Marcy and Ron, our two steady eddy staff people ever present in the studio.

Recently staff evaluations were completed for both Ron and Marcy and it was easy to see how much they do all the time to keep OFFCenter running smoothly and to make it a welcoming space for all. How many places in Albuquerque provide that?!

Thank you to Ron and Marcy, we all appreciate the hard work you do!

The OFFBag

Hello all OFFCenter folks! Yesterday I was OFF to do errands on my bike wearing my handy dandy OFFbag! It was perfect to hold whatever I was hauling OFF to the post office, etc. - and its diagonal strap keeps it from falling OFF my shoulder! Are you OFF to town with your OFFbag? I hope so! See all the new available OFFbags at OFFCenter, new sizes too!

Call for Artists: Threads from the Dead -- Who are you from?

Entries Accepted October 21st through 23rd.

Exhibit Opening Friday, October 30th 5pm –8pm

OFFCenter’s Annual Day of the Dead show open to all artists and mediums. All work should be dropped off by Oct 23rd and there is no entry fee.

Sponsored by NMATA ( New Mexico Art Therapist Association).

For further information call Marci at 247-1172.

Repujado Workshop Oct. 24

Repujado is an old European metalworking technique -- called "repousse" in French, where special tools are used to add dimention and texture to metal. This technique can add a beautiful lustre and antique finish to metal.


Come join us on October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The $60 course fee includes all materials. Please call OFFCenter at 505-247-1172 for more information -- your payment must be received at time of registration to confirm your spot in the class.




Jolanta Feliciano is a local repujado expert, who we're happy to have back at OFFCenter for another workshop.

Sharie's Studio Journal

Last week in the studio was busy in preparation for the opening of the Paper or Plastic Show and Thank you to our wonderful volunteers. There were not so many artists in the studio but there were new visitors coming in to check it out. Some said they had missed the Folk Art Festival due to being out of town others said a friend had attended the fest and told them about it so they wanted to see who we are and what we do. It ws nice to have the opportunity to share with new friends about OFFCenter and what we do and what a great place OFFCenter is.

Some are looking for a place to make art others want to donate materials and others their time and talents.

The photo of "roses in a box" these were made by several artists in the studio to be given to our valued volunteers we could not function without the great individuals (just a few shown here).

The Letters Home Project continues to meet at OFFCenter on Sunday afternoons to create cards and letter writing materials for military personnel overseas to have so they can write to their families and loved ones. (see photos)

Sharie's Studio Journal

Friday night and the Paper or Plastic Show opening is over---but the art is still on the wall and for sell so come in next week and see how artful trash can be. The music was great everyone looked like they were have a great time. There were artist making more art from the trash. New friends and old friends were there and it was fun to present the tissue roses to the many volunteers that gave time, energy and talent to help at OFFCenter before during and after the Folk Art Festival. We also really appreciate the staff and steadfast volunteers that are in the studio everyday. Ron. Marcia, Molly, Ayren, Adabelle, Georgia, Beverly, Rick, Theron, Tammy, Chami, Karen T., Clancy and all of you that I either didn't see you or know your name but you were there and helping or just making art-----T H A N K Y O U ! ! ! ! ! ! ! we could not do what we do with out all of you.

By the way remember that if your employer participates in the annual United Way Fund Raising Campaign you can designate that you contribution to go specifically to OFFCenter Community Art Project. So please consider us when you get your campaign pledge form. Thank you for your support.

Till next week see ya in the studio Sharie

Is OFFCenter *your* muse?

Here's an interesting perspective from one of Dave Blecha's talented drawing class students:

"Often we think of a person when we think of a muse ...and very often a person is. But this center has been a "muse" for me. A creative energy infuses this place. The intentions of so many people who have passed through here has fed the positive energy here. So much so that the creative energy has become an entity in and of itself......available to anyone who wants to tap into it."

--Eva

Thank you, Eva, for allowing us to share your insights here.

Dave's free drawing and painting classes are on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The Rogue Bindis

The Rogue Bindis performed at this year's Folk Art Festival, dancing in the grass to happy crowds. This lovely photo is by Elaine Russell, one of the vendors at the show.

Sharie's Studio Journal

Well the Folk Art Festival is over and as others have posted it was a success. Lots of art making, good food, great music and entertainment through out the park. I have not heard any negative comments. The studio has been quite this week and busy at the same time for those who have the energy to come in because all the supplies that were in the park for the festival now have to be sorted and put away. Today it looks more like the "studio". The puppets and masks remain but partly due to the rain making it impractical to transport them at this time.

If you missed this years festival I am sorry it was overall a great day and we did not get rained out as the forecast threatened.

Come on in to the studio as we are getting ready for the next in house show and fund raiser for OFFCenter. We are gathering and recycling trash left in the park after the festival. It will be fun to see what everyone creates from trash.

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