HMC is now accepting submissions for
the Artists-in-Residence Program and exhibition in 2021 at AIR-HMC, Budapest-Hungary. For applying, please write us for more info and application form to
bszechy@yahoo.com .
Application fee $20
We are looking forward to receiving applications of artists who have interest in our program.
Beata Szechy, HungarianMulticulturalCenter
(HMC)
https://www.facebook.com/Residencies-in-Budapest-Hungary-218959226890/
OPEN CALL: Environment & BookArt exhibition (9 X 12)
Bartok1 Gallery, Budapest 2020
Deadline: March 1, 2020
Artworks on or of paper may be any size, but MUST fit in a 9 X 12 (22.9X30.5cm) envelope or box. Unmatted, unframed photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, mixed media, cast or folded paper, multimedia or digital prints.
For more information and Application Form please email to: bszechy@yahoo.com
Open Call for Artists: Hungarian Multicultural Center AIR-HMC residency program in Budapest, Hungary.
Deadline: November 25, 2018
Subject: “Environmental Project & BookArt2”
Session 1: Tuesday, May 14 - Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Session 2: Tuesday, June 11 - Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Session 3: Tuesday, July 9 - Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Session 4: Tuesday, August 6 - Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Session 5: Thursday, December 26 - Friday, January 10, 2020
HMC International Artist Residency Program, a not-for-profit arts organization based in Dallas, TX / Budapest, Hungary - provides national and international artists to produce new work while engaging with the arts community in Budapest, Hungary.
For more info and application form write to: Beata Szechy
bszechy@yahoo.com
Hey everyone! I've recently started using my art for "good" and have created a children's book titled "What Makes You Special?" featuring my original paintings as illustrations and my original story.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1645616499/what-makes-you-special-childrens-book-by-britt-hal
It all started last fall when I created a painting of a narwhal. My husband told me it looked like it could be in a kid's book. I sorta brushed off the idea, but then at my fall art shows I also had a couple patrons tell me it looked like it could be in a kids book. Since this recurring theme kept presenting itself to me,I thought maybe I should think about it. So I started researching arctic animals, because there aren't a lot of animals where narwhals live, and realized all the animals were a bit like "misfits" of the animal kingdom. And so a story was born!
The hero of the story is Little Narwhal, who realizes that he is unlike the other arctic whales with his long tooth. Despite his papa trying to tell him how special he is, he has to see for himself and embarks on an adventure to see what makes other animals special. My book revolves around arctic animals – most of which many children will have never seen (narwhals, puffins, belugas, killer whales, moose, arctic foxes, harp seals, polar bears and musk oxen). Each animal offers something “strange” about themselves, but then also why that makes them special. At the end, Little Narwhal realizes that our differences make us who we are, and we should be proud to be ourselves!
Why is this important? I am increasingly concerned with the amount of bullying children are enduring and how cruel society can be to those who do not conform to its standards. If even one child reads this book and feels encouraged that he or she does not need to change who they are, then this book has been a success.
I am almost finished with all the artwork, will then have them professionally photographed, and will then be sending the book off to the printers! I'm estimating having everything to the printer by beginning of April. So I have started a Kickstarter campaign to help pay for the printing and shipping costs and other things like ISBNs and ebook conversion.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1645616499/what-makes-you-special-childrens-book-by-britt-hal
Rewards tiers start at just $10 (to be listed on my website as a supporter) and goes up to $650 (for the original cover art painting). You can pre-order one of the books for just $25 backing pledge.
The kickstarter page has tons of information about the quality of the book, excerpts from the book, some of the images, etc etc. So I wont hash it all out here. You can check out the page to read all of that if you're interested. But I hope that you will find it in your heart to help me get this book into the hands of kids who need to hear they are special just how they are. Even if its just $10. It all adds up!
Thanks so much!!! Oh, and feel free to share the Kickstarter link on your social media pages! The more people that see it the better! THANKS!
Metalsmith David Bacharach and jeweler Valerie Hector are compiling a book, "Craftspeople In Their Own Words." Do you have a personal story about working in a craft discipline or some great photos to include?
Please share your stories, I know you've got them! Profits from the book are going to CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund). Send your stories and photos to valeriehector@sbcglobal.net or mail@bacharachmetals.com
It's been a while since I've posted anything and that is due to be extremely busy. Have participated in a few retreats with a basket guild, doing photography ops and working on some fiber art. A lot of my time was taken up with proofing and approving a book that I have written. It has been released and I guess I'll be busy with the promotion of it. It's nothing earth shattering, but does get my foot in the door in the world of writers and it has been an interesting journey.
Just a reminder that the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival is fast approaching and if you would be interested in displaying/selling your work, please contact Melanie Kirn at mjk361@comcast.net and she will provide you with all the particulars. I will have a booth there again this year with photo's and photo/needle art combo's and perhaps a few other surprises and will be the official photographer for the Festival. Hope to see some new faces there.
All the best to each and every one of you.
Terr at the Drake's Nest in Ossineke, MI
When I applied for this show, I was looking for something close to the OKC 6-day show. The Book & Art fair is held every year on Mother's Day weekend at the Century II exhibit hall in Wichita, Kansas as a fundraiser for the local art museum. As the date of the show approached, my husband and I were faced with a couple of very unexpected and expensive events that had me questioning whether or not to do this one. He talked me into going, but I chose to drive and set-up on the same day to keep my hotel costs down, something that I don't normally do.
Set-Up
Set-up is on Friday from 10 am 'til 8pm. I arrived at 5pm and found easy parking at the loading dock. I was able to unload quickly onto one of the provided flatbed carts and dolly my stuff to my booth space. Set-up seemed to go smoothly for most people. Affordable electric ($35) was provided via an outlet on the floor right at your booth space, the floor was fairly level, and the aisles were wide. I managed to finish setting up at 7:45, a respectable time when I'm by myself.
The artist's parking was an easy one block walk from Century II. Because of my late arrival I didn't need to move my car to the artist's parking lot on Friday, just move it from the the dock space to another "loading" space. Saturady and Sunday that short walk was much appreciated in the 100 degree heat.
The Show
The show opened Saturday morning at 10am, and there was a line of shoppers at the door. Some of these folks went straight for the booths, others went right upstairs for the used book sale. By 2pm the crowd had thinned out to a mere trickle and pretty much remained that way until the 6pm closing time. Bargain shoppers abounded in the afternoon crowd, drwan in by the book sale. The artists had plenty of time to walk around and visit in the afternoon. I met many first-timers like myself, and one long-timer. Several of the artists had been in OKC like myself. All of the first-timers expressed that it would be nice to just make the booth fee for this one($200).
Sunday brought an 11am start time, and shoppers were once again lined up at the door. Most folks managed to make early sales, but by 2 o'clock the crowd had shifted again. The recycle metal worker across from me managed to keep the sales up for another hour or so, but most of the buying energy was gone. At 3pm, an announcement was mad that all of the used books were on sale for $3 per paper grocery bag full, and that sucked some of the shoppers up to the balcony to look for bargains. Several of the artists started a slow tear-down at 4:30 in preparation for the 5pm show close. Those I spoke to didn't have great sales on either day and were gald when the show was over.
Load Out
In anticipation of the forthcoming chaos of folks trying to leave a not-so-great show in a hurry, I brought in my own handtruck and packing materials when I arrived Sunday morning. The flatbed carts provided by the site were in short supply at teardown and I was gald to have a place to stack my ProPanels off of the floor. Everything was orderly and quick, and the hall was fairly empty when I departed at 6:30.
My Review
For some reason this show was very heavy on photography and jewelry. The jewelry I get - Mother's Day and shiny, 3-D things to touch. But photo? I'm a photographer and this was totally not my crowd. My stuff is higher-end, monochromatic, historic process work and this was a lower-end, 3-D, bargain-hunting crowd. Unfortunately this show doesn't really have a website, and you're only given a list of participating artists at check-in (without a notation of medium), so reasearch can't be done prior to application or acceptance to see if your work is a good fit. My hopes were that being sponsored by the local art museum the quality might be a little higher.
In terms of sales, under $100 seemed to be the hot price point. A nearby jeweler sold a piece well above that mark but had give a significant discount just to make the sale. In terms of 2-D, the hot item seemed to be the "print-in-a-bag" - no mat, just a flat print dropped in a clearbag. Even notecards were a hard sell at this show.
In the past this show was held in conjunction with RiverFest (now held in June), which apparently brought in bigger crowds on Saturday. This was the first year the the Book and Art show was on its own and despite a good advertising campaign the shoppers just weren't there. And this is first and foremost a used book sale. The art fair feels like a sideline - a few boothsitters, cookies at check-in, but that's it. Everyone was very nice, but that doesn't put gas in the car to get you home. If you live close by and need a filler show, this could be OK if you have lots of stuff in the $30 - $50 range.
