Page 20 - the Noise April 2017

ARTSBRIEFS: APRIL2017
A few of the Recycled Art Exhibit’s returning artists.
A RECYCLED WAY OF LIFE
As one of Arizona’s most anticipated annual community art show, the 15th Annual Re- cycled Art Exhibition returns through April 30 at the Arts Connection in the Flagstaff Mall — with a gala Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony held Saturday April 1, from 6-8PM.
This year “Best Use of Discarded Snow Play Materials” has been added to the awards, which also include Most Creative, Most Humorous, Most Useful, Best Use of Material, El- egance, Simplicity, Best of Show, and the People’s Choice Award, which audience members the night of the show are encouraged to vote upon.
Also this year, the Exhibition has a very special addition, which came from the Coalition’s encouraging and assisting US Military Veterans to participate free of charge in the exhibi- tion. Vets were provided with materials to create their own recycled art works, and many have found their own medium, as returning award-winning artist Ken Whitaker can attest. “The Recycled Show gave me my first impetus, my first real encouragement to begin mak- ing art, and now it’s turned into a passion for me, and folks seem to really appreciate what I’m doing,” Mr. Whitaker says, who made eyes pop two years ago with his “chopper” motor- cycles made of copper wire, which have since become a collector’s series.
“We also have a partnership with the Arizona Daily Sun to provide discarded snow play materials in almost unlimited quantities to create artwork with or supplement any other art materials. This year there are many new artists showing from all across Northern and Central Arizona,” says Coalition President, Mike Frankel, who opened up participation to Yavapai County and the Hopi and Navajo Nations bordering Flagstaff.
The Opening Reception showcases a great new recycled fashion show and a special one- man band, using all recycled made instruments. There will be the usual food and refresh- ments with fun for the whole family to enjoy. The Recycled Art Exhibit is presented by the Artists’ Coalition of Flagstaff, in cooperation with the City of Flagstaff and the Hozhoni Foundation, and made possible with grants from the Flagstaff Arts Council, the Arizona Community Foundation, and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Flagstaff-Arts.org
ROCK, PAPER, BINDER CLIPS
The upcoming “rock, paper, binder clips: kathryn martin assembles” exhibit at the NAU Art Museum is a homage to everyday inspirations.
Ms. Martin’s installations draw on iconic imagery from classic American rock music and oth- er pop-cultural phenomena, expressing her affiliations and memories through assemblages of materials. With a focus on observing everyday, often overlooked objects, the artist concen- trates on making decisions that are carefully calculated to take advantage of the materials.
“Kathryn’s work is both ambitious in scale and very personal in its references, whether in terms of her history or that of the larger culture from which she draws her inspirations,” says Director of the NAU Art Museum Dr. George Speer.
The exhibit is on display from March 28 through May 6, 2017. A 30-minute presentation with the artist and a public reception is from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the museum. “rock, paper, binder clips: kathryn martin assembles” is made possible, in part, by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Suitcase Export Fund for Visual Art.
The NAU Art Museum is open from noon to 5PM, Tuesday through Saturday at 620 S. Knoles Drive on NAU’s Flagstaff campus. Complimentary parking is available for rock, paper, binder clips: kathryn martin assembles reception from 4-5PM Tuesday, March 28, at the museum in lots P3 (behind Gammage), P8 (north of the College of Education on Knoles Dr.), and P4 (ADA stalls near Ashurst, must have hangtag). No permits are needed when you park in these des- ignated lots during the Art Museum event. For information, call the museum at 928-523-3471.
IDENTITY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY
“I learned there is more to taking photos than pressing a button,” replied Janelle Sagner when asked what she learned through in the recent 8th Grade Identity through Photog- raphy project at Williams Middle School. Eighth grader Chyanne Echeverria stated, “A photograph can move someone and make them think.”
Eighth grade students at Williams Middle School have completed a project entitled “Iden- tity through Photography” sponsored and conducted by Williams Alliance for the Arts. Professional photographers Amy Martin from Flagstaff and Grazina Wade of Sedona, with the help of Alliance President Kris Williams, instructed students in basic photography con- cepts and techniques. Students were introduced to professional photography practices, as opposed to simple snapshots, rules of composition, and other concepts such as lighting, mood, and color. Through these classes they learned the ways photographers can tell a story and communicate the identity of a person or community. With cameras and equip- ment purchased for the school by the Alliance, students explored the basics of operating a quality digital camera, and how to plan and control their photographs.
In their final assignment, students chose and edited three of their best photographs: a self-portrait, an object or collection of objects expressing their personal identity, and an im- age expressing the identity of their community. Student photos will be on display the entire month of April at The Gallery in Williams in downtown Williams. Selected student works will also be printed and displayed in large format or on special media. Many of the pieces will be available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds going to the student photographers.
Dudley Bacon
DUDLEY BACON
20 • April 2017 | the NOISE arts & news | www.thenoise.us
RHONDA DAVIS