'Sounds Surround' Sound Journeys Workshop

Harwood Art Center, 1114 7th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM Saturday, April 2, 10 am – 12 noon

Workshop Facilitator – Claire Coté Workshop is $15 - Preregistration Requested Morning tea and scones provided

The sounds surrounding us are an often neglected, but very important part of our perceptual experience of places and the world in general. This workshop provides guidance on deepening our listening in each place and how to bring soundscape awareness and sound journeys into our work. The workshop will include brief introductions to sound, listening and sound art as well as providing participants with experience-based listening exercises in and out of doors, to open our ears and minds to the sounds surrounding us.

“Sounds Surround” is open to all, but is especially geared towards artists, teachers, park rangers and interpretation specialists.

To register for the workshop please contact Claire Coté at 575-586-2362 or by email at email@clairecote.com.

‘Sounds Surround’ is presented in connection with “How Far From Home Are We?” an illustrated radio journey and a multi-sensory installation at the Harwood Center for the Arts. More information online at: howfarfromhomearewe.com

Follow the Money 2-26-11 - a success!

NACFR (National Association for Campaign Finance Reform) had it's first "Follow the Money" event on 2-26-11 at the Round House in Santa Fe and it was a great success.

By a coincidence in timing, the event was staged just proir to the Moveon.org rally in solidarity with the union members in Wisconsin.

Links to videos, audio footage and slide shows can be found at the NACFR website, nacfr.org.

Mail Art Call "My everyday object"

This is an interesting exhibition opportunity, in which I plan to participate. I invite you to join me!

The deadline is coming up fast  - March 31, 2011!

Name: Polifemo Fotografia E-mail address: polifemo.news@gmail.com Homepage URL: http://www.polifemo.org/ The Exhibition will take place  in Milan, on the occasion of Salone Internazionale del Mobile from April 12, 2011 through April 17, 2011.

Mail Art Call "My everyday object" -  one object, one postcard Dead Line: 31st of March 2011 No returns, No participation fee, No selection, No jury, Free Technique Postcard size only (A6 / 10,5 x 15 cm / 4.25" x 6") All works must be sent by snail mail

Each participant can send one or more postcards for each object chosen: one object, one postcard Dead Line: 31st of March 2011 Documentation online at polifemo.org (please include your email address for 
notification of documentation)

Send to: Polifemo La Fabbrica del Vapore Via Procaccini 4 20154 Milano Italia

Exhibition: from April 12, 2011 through April 17, 2011 at Polifemo, La Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan, Italy

La Fabbrica del Vapore, a center especially devoted to the youth's cultural productionand belonging to the Milan City Council, is house to several associations promoting many activities aimed at young people.The 50° Salone Internazionale del Mobile involves the city of Milan, providing an opportunity to continue a reflection on design, on creativity and on culture.Polifemo, a cultural association working inside La Fabbrica del Vapore, wants to reflect on the usage of everyday objects by creating a great international mail-art-exhibition held inside its space on the occasion of the Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

Join us! Feel free to forward this Mail Art Call!

Thank you.

My watercolor illustration on the cover of a new book!

A couple of year ago I was commissioned to paint two illustrations for a book by Peter Bigfoot, founder of Reevis Mountain School of Self Reliance, where Chris and I were visiting at the time. It was a fun and exciting process to conjure-up with my imagination and then manifest in watercolors imagery to embody Peter's description of what he wanted for his book. I found myself thriving on the challenge and was excited to provide him with something he was happy to use for his book!

Today I just got the word from Reevis that Peter's book,  Ancient Natural Remedies: Healing Yourself and Others with Herbs and Hands, is on its way from the publisher! It can be purchased for $18 (plus shipping+handling) from the Reevis Website.

From the Reevis website: A doctor may not be available when you need one - now you can learn to heal yourself!

The first part of the this book catalogs natural remedies - including herbs, honey, the use of hands, fasts, and dietary changes - for a wide variety of bodily conditions and illnesses.

The second part teaches you how to give healing treatments to others and yourself using Oriental Acupressure to clear blockages of energy in the body's meridians.

To see the table of contents, click here.

Includes a fold-out chart of pressure points. Wire bound, 240 pages. ISBN 0-9824091-0-9

Join us to "Follow The Money" this Saturday!

This Saturday, I will be collaborating with a group of enthusiastic artists and activists to lend a helping hand to New Mexico Governor, Susana Martinez to assist her in following through with her campaign promise of transparency in New Mexico State Government. Where: The Round House, New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico

When: Saturday, February 26^th 11:30 a.m.

This event is created by newly formed NACFR, The National Association for Campaign Finance Reform. NACFR is a project initiated by a group of artists, activists and concerned citizens eager to fulfil their civic duties through supporting and encouraging all Governors and members of Congress in their quest for transparency through events performances and art exhibitions. Learn more at nacfr.org.

NACFR agrees with Susana Martinez that, “Only bold change will end rampant abuse in state government,” (9/15/10 NMPolitics.net). And we know it’s hard, so we’re here to help!

‘Follow the Money’ is the first in a series of local and national events staged by NACFR to encourage and support our political representatives’ commitment to transparency.

On Saturday, Feb. 26th join NACFR’s own “Governor Susana Martinez” for a rare press conference and Follow the Money, patch by patch on her new official, state NACFR jacket, emblazoned with her sponsors, who coughed up cash for her election campaign. She will be flanked by her pit crew, TEAM Martinez, representing Oil and Gas industries, Dairy and Ranch industries, and Medical and Pharmaceutical companies, just to name a few.

“The Governor” will also applaud the US Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, blocking bans on corporate political spending and reaffirming corporate personhood (Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 1819 and Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 1886).

All of this is in the spirit of civil-minded transparency so YOU the voter can decide whose interests are being represented in the Round House.

Hope to see you on Saturday at the Round House in Santa Fe!

18 Days Opening - wow!

The 18 Days opening was absolutely packed with art enthusiasts, both exhibitors and the general public. As we drove up to the CCA, I found myself wondering if there was a big event happening at the nearby church or the Children's museum (there were cars overflowing out of the parking lots onto the shoulders of Old Pecos Trail). All too soon, as we tried to find a parking place at the CCA, we discovered it was all for the 18 Days opening reception. The work was varied and interesting with a wide variety of subject matter encompassed mostly by painting, prints, and drawing but also by photography, fiber, video, installation, welding, and "upcycled" fashion. All work was mounted on the wall, except for a select 3-4 piece,s which were suspended from the high ceiling.

My piece is tucked on the west end of a free-standing wall near the back of the gallery.

My favorite aspect of the opening (besides getting to talk with lovely people of course!) was having the opportunity to observe people to peering at my piece, leaning in close to examine its many small squares stitched together.

If you're in the Santa Fe area before March 20th, I recommend a visit. It is a show worth seeing and not just because my piece made the cut!

Click here for a little promo article from the Santa Fe Reporter.

18 Days

I am happy to announce that my piece, "63 Daily Nested Thoughts", pictured above, has been chosen to be included in "18 Days" Fine Arts Exhibition and Performing Arts Event at the CCA in Santa Fe. Visit my portfolio to learn more about my "Daily Nested Thoughts" series. Please join me and other selected New Mexico women artists for the opening of "18 Days" this coming Friday, (tomorrow) February 11th, 5:30 - 8:00 pm at the Munos Waxman Gallery at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe. More information can be found at ccasantafe.org. The Exhibition runs February 11th through March 20th at the  The Munos Maxman Gallery. The Gallery will be open Fridays and Saturdays 12-5 and Sundays 12-4 during that time. If you can't make the opening, hope that you can stop by the exhibition in the next six weeks.

Recycled Art Workshops at the Harwood!

For the past 3 weekends, I team-taught 3 Recycled Art Workshops at the Harwood Museum of Art with Taos artist, activist and educator, Sienna Sanderson.  It was wonderful to work with Siena and I loved the opportunity to provide a creative outlet for kids and families to create art using repurposed and recycled materials. The Taos News did a little feature on the project as well. You can read it here.

Sienna and I chose the theme of “nature in spring” with a focus on birds, flowers and bugs. Each week we had a particular focus with creating birds, then bird housing (bird houses and nests both bird-sized and kid-sized) and then food (bugs, caterpillars, slugs and snakes) for the birds along with lots of lowers, eggs and other inspired creations from participants’ imagination.

In the installation we chose to bridge the indoor and outdoor museum spaces by installing work both out of doors and inside the education installation area. For me the most exciting aspect of the workshops was witnessing and participating in the transformation of what would usually be considered "junk" into creative innovative, and beautiful birds, birdhouses, eggs, bugs and other creations. One of my favorites was the "bird nest hat" above made by Ewan from an unknown rubber ring, wire and a piece of badminton

The creations from the workshops are installed in the Education exhibition area of the Harwood Museum on Ledoux St. in Taos through the end of May 2010. If you have the chance to stop by, do it! You won't be disappointed!

We hope to be offering more opportunities to participate in other recycled art adventures at the Harwood! Visit the Harwood online at http://www.harwoodmuseum.org/

Also - I am mulling over some ideas for offering some recycled art workshops out of my studio this summer. I'll keep you posted on that as well.....

Wetlands in the Desert Project Blog.....

The posts have been thin on the ground here of late. However I have been chronicling a new project, "Wetlands in the Desert" at www.wetlandsinthedesert.blogspot.com. The focus of the project is a wetlands not far from my home. I am monitoring it, interacting with it and allowing it to drive my arts practice for a year.

Check it out, let me know what you think, get in touch, share an idea for the project or come with me for a walk in the wetlands.

Dispersal/Return Reception Invitation

Dispersal/Return: Land Arts of the American West 2000-2006

August 28th - December 20th, 2009 UNM Art Museum, Center for Fine Arts, Albuquerque

Claire Long and Anna Keleher invite you to join them on Friday September 25th, 5-7pm at the Center for Fine Arts (Popejoy Hall), University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque for the reception of  Dispersal/Return: Land Arts of the American West 2000-2006.

To visit the UNM Art Museum website click here.

Approaching an Exchange: Albuquerque

Potentising elements of our lives, cultures and times

A collaborative project by Claire Long and Anna Keleher

An inter-temporal "Exchange" initiated in Dartmoor National Park, England now comes to New Mexico! Through the idea of exchange, the participatory project presses against boundaries of time and preconceptions of past and present peoples and cultures. Film short - UNM Art Museum, August 28th - December 20th Visitors to Dispersal/Return at the UNM Art Museum are invited to experience "Approaching an Exchange: Dartmoor", a short collage of sound and image collected from visitors to a Bronze Age roundhouse on wild and windy Dartmoor during the project’s UK pilot phase.

Live events - September 29th and October 3rd, 10 am - 2 pm Artists Claire Long and Anna Keleher invite you to add your voice to the growing community of Exchange participants, journeying with them to a nearby prehistoric, archaeological site to share elements of your lives and cultures with the original inhabitants. Light lunch will be provided. Reservations required; early booking recommended; places limited.

For reservations or more information visit the museum, call 505-277-2868, email clairabell22@hotmail.com, or visit www.claireandanna.com

Claire Long (New Mexico) and Anna Keleher (Devon, UK) and  have been collaborating since October, 2007. Their collaborative practice arose from shared interests in archaeology, Dartmoor National Park, walking and sound collection and has evolved through continued exploration of place and site-specific works.

Presented as part of Dispersal/Return: Land Arts of the American West 2000 - 2006 August 28 – December 20, 2009 University of New Mexico Art Museum, Center for Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque And Land Arts New Mexico www.landartnm.org

Radical Raven Adventures

Today details were finalized on an upcoming 3 day summer camp that I will be co-facilitating with Roberta Salazar, executive director of Rivers and Birds. The camp will explore sustainability and ecology through art, games and other hands on projects. If you have kids who might be interested in attending, please call us at 575-776-5200 to reserve a place by June 25th, 2009. We hope that this will be a pilot project for camps and workshops in future years!