A Message from the Board

Dear OFFCenter Community,

WOW! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who helped make OFFCenter's 5th Annual Albuquirky House Tour such an amazing success.

We had TWICE the number of attendees this year compared to last year, largely thanks to the exposure we received in last weekend's Albuquerque Journal article. Volunteers (planners, house volunteers, musicians) did a fantastic job!! KUNM and Whole Foods helped out a ton also with promotion and refreshments!!!

A great success that helps OFFCenter to be able to continue to provide all the wonderful things OFFCenter does! We look forward to seeing all of you and more again next year.

Margaret Lopez, OFFCenter Board of Directors President

Photo by Deanna Nichols. Visit Deanna's website.

Thank you Silent Auction Artists

Your creativity inspired our new friends and community members. Your contributions of "little houses" helped us double our target goal for the 2010 Albuquirky House tour.
THANK YOU!

Visit our website for a complete list of Silent Auction artists. Stay tuned to this blog for more images and accolades.

We're still here -- thanks to you!

Sneak Peek Photo of another Albuquirky House

Here's a sneak peek, courtesy of Deanna Sauceda and crew at KRQE News 13, at another of the three homes ticket purchasers will get to tour on the 2010 Albuquirky House Tour fundraiser for OFFCenter.

Click the photo above to see the video that aired on KRQE. Click the Albuquirky House Tour links for details and tickets purchasing infor.

Thanks in advance for helping OFFCenter keep on serving up free art studio space for the good citizens of Albuquirky.

Tickets, by the way, are available right up to the Tour -- which begins at 1:00 this Saturday! (OFFCenter opens at 12:00).

Thanks, Stephanie Lerma

Let's add Stephanie Lerma to the list of local artists who have donated a "house" to our Silent Auction, to be held on Saturday, May 1, in conjunction with our annual Albuquirky House Tour.

Here's a bit of info about Stephanie, courtesy of OFFCenter friend Bethany (Buffy) Nelson's House of Figs:

http://www.house-of-figs.com/artists/stephanie-lerma/index.htm

OFFCenter Artists Celebrate Recyled Art and the Earth!

Visit the OFFCenter booths as we celebrate this year's Co-op Earth-Fest theme: "Making Change" at:

The Co-op’s Annual
Celebrate the Earth Festival
Sunday, April 25,
10am-6pm
BEHIND THE NOB HILL CO-OP, ON SILVER STREET BETWEEN CARLISLE AND TULANE
For a schedule of events, artists, musicians and more visit www.lamontanita.coop

Then venture across Central to see OFFCenter Artists Marcia Sednek and Susan Tische at
The 4th Annual Nob Hill Recycled
ART SHOW
SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 10-5PM SPONSORED BY MASKS Y MAS FURNITURE,
OUTSIDE AT 111 CARLISLE NE, AT COPPER
more info at http://www.dukecityfix.com/events/4th-annual-nob-hill-recycle

Thanks to the Co-op, Kenny Chavez & Kiko Torres for inviting OFFCenter artists who reuse materials in innovative ways!

OFFCenter will be on the Radio - 4/24 & 4/25

Thank you, Art Ortega of "Weekly Edition," for taking time - 15 MINUTES OF AIRTIME - to let listeners across 8 radio stations hear about OFFCenter Community Arts Project. We're very grateful to have had the opportunity this morning to let you know about some of the goings-on at OFFCenter.

The whole OFFCenter Community and the rest of Albuquerque can tune in at the following times and stations to hear Art's interview with OFFCenter's Ron Breen and Adabel Allen.

Time Station Dial Position

8:30am (Sat) KNML-AM 610 AM

5:30pm (Sat) KTBL-AM 1050 AM

6:00am (Sun) KDRF-FM 103.3 FM

Magic 99.5 99.5 FM

KKOB-FM 93.3 FM

KBZU-FM 96.3 FM

10:30am (Sun) KTBL-AM 1050 AM

5:30pm (Sun) KKOB-AM 770 AM

10:30pm (Sun) KRST-FM 92.3 FM

Altars of Light Exhibit

On Saturday, April 10th over 25 community artists exhibited work in the Altars of Light show to raise awareness and promote healing from the aftermath of sexual violence. 125 people attended the opening night. The following day 28 members of the community gathered in a circle to speak their truth, hear the truth of others, mourn, strengthen and renew. Following the panel discussion a smaller group returned to process and share through art making. Thank you to all involved for sharing your powerful imagery and wisdom.

Now House Tour Tickets at BOOKWORKS, too

Many thanks to Bookworks for helping us out with 2010 Albuquirky House Tour ticket sales. Bookworks is on Rio Grande north of Griegos next door to Flying Star. They are accepting cash only, $1 service charge. Hours are 9 to 9 M-Sat and 9 to 7 on Sun.

You can, of course, also purchase your tickets from our website, via Paypal, or by phone (credit card) or of course in person (check, cash, credit card, MO).

Yikes! Only a couple of weeks until the grand quirky fundraiser for OFFCenter on MAY 1! Find out more on our website -- where you can even get a VIDEO sneek peek at two of our quirky tour homes, thanks to Deanna Sauceda and KRQE:

http://www.offcenterarts.org/housetour.htm

We're still here -- thanks to you!

Victor Stands His Ground

Victor has been working steadily in the studio to perfect his Iron Man suit prototype with plans to make millions producing custom suits for would-be buyers once they get wind that he is in production. In this photo he dons his suit to brush aside a challenge from a studio broomsman.

Rick's B-Day Celebration

Longtime OFFCenter artist and volunteer Rick Hughart has his cake and eats it too along with a few friends who stopped by from the 19th Century to celebrate. You never know who will be making art in the studio so stop in when you get a chance and join the fun. Make art, buy art and meet new friends at OFFCenter!! By the way, that is a bottle of non-alchoholic sparkling cider on the table....

Mosaic Mirror Workshop with Lindy Hurst

Sunday, April 18th, 2010 1-4pm

Cost $35

All materials provided. (must pay and register in advance with OFFCenter -- 247-1172).

Embellish a small wall-hung mirror with ceramic mosaic and found objects.

Learn how to cut, set and grout mosaic.

Learn skills you can use on small planters, small murals, or walls at home!

All materials will be provided (tiles, grout, mirrors, all tools, etc) -- but if you would like to bring some favorite small trinkets, beads, etc to add to your piece, please do so!

Lindy has an MFA from UNM and has been teaching Folk Art workshops for more than 20 years in our community.

Call for Entries: "Shelter: A Refuge..."

“SHELTER: A Refuge for Mind, Body and Soul”

Whether in a tent, in a friend’s company, or by reading a good book, everyone seeks refuge from the world’s stresses and dangers. Once sheltered, we begin the process of restoration.

• Calling for artwork in any medium exploring how we find shelter and restoration in our lives.



• No fee.
• Non-juried community exhibit.
• Limit 2 entries per artist subject to space available.
• Artists are encouraged to provide statements about their art work.

Accepting work on Friday, April 23rd and Tuesday, April 27th at OFFCenter between noon and 6pm.

Exhibit Opens on Friday, May 7th 5-8pm.

Sat. Altars of Light Panel Discussion & Art Making

Saturday, Apr. 10
Co-sponsored by the New Mexico Art Therapy Association

Pre-registration is required separately for the panel discussion and art making sessions. CEU credits are available for Art Therapists and Counselors. For more information and to register contact Sahnta at 505.264.3933.

PANEL DISCUSSION 10am-12pm
The panelists will use the images within the “Altars of Light” exhibit to focus on raising awareness, healing and making visible what has been lost as a result of sexual violence.

Panelists

• ROSEMARY IMHOF, Panel Facilitator – Art and Family Therapist at UNMH


• CYNTHIA COOK – Artist and Chicana Feminist


• DEBORAH GAVEL - Painter, Educator and Art Activist. Co-coordinator for site installations “Honoring Women”, “Women of Juarez’, and “Women of the West Mesa ”


• DOREENA TORRES - Detective with the Sheriff's Office of Sexual Violence.


• GWEN PACKARD - Native Americian Activist - issues of sexual violence.


• BEVERLY WILKINS – Director for Peaceful Nations Consulting, former Director ABQ Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence


• NANCY MANCE – Counselor with the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center

ART MAKING WORKSHOP
Art and Family Therapist Rosemary Imhof will lead an art making session in response to the panel discussion and “Altars of Light” exhibit utilizing her training and experience to create an environment for participants to process through visual imagery, writing and sculpture.

Workshop runs from 1:30 to 3:30

Sharie"s Studio Journal

Happy Easter Everyone WEll we kicked off the Easter weekend with a well attended opening of the current show Altars of Light. It is a very impressive and moving collection of artwork. I want to say I thnk it is great to see OFFCenter Board of Directors in attendance at these events and we had eight in the house Friday night. I want to say thank you to all of you who attended and to those of you who "popped in " I think it is important for others to see board members there supporting the community. Thanks to you all for being a part of OFFCenter and keeping it going.

If you were not able to attend the opening please drop in during the week and have a look it is a great show.

Don't forget to get your tickets for the upcoming House Tour you can get them online or go by the studio and pick them up The date of the tour is May 1 (May Day)

Have a great weekend----Sharie

Purchase your House Tour tickets online

This year you have one more option for purchasing your Albuquirky House Tour tickets -- you can buy them right online at our website, via Paypal. Paypal is very secure, and you don't even need a Paypal account. You can use a credit card or bank transfer, or your good old Paypal account.

If this is an easier way for you to get your tickets, just click the link or image below to go to our House Tour page, then click on the Add to Cart button. We can mail them out to you until about a week before the event on May 1 (see the web page for more details).

OFFCenter's 2010 Albuquirky House Tour

Of course, you can still call 505-247-1172 to order your tickets (you'll need to give your credit card info), or stop in and pick them up.

We're still here -- thanks you YOU. We appreciate your support.