The impact of the arts on youth and communities is profound and has been extensively studied.
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Concept:
What makes you feel empowered?
Whether it is a quality about yourself that you’ve grown to love, someone in your life who lifts you up to your full potential, or anything else that represents your true inner magic, we want to see artistic representations of your empowerment!
Non-Refundable Entry Fee + Juror and Awards
Non-Refundable Entry Fee:
One entry for Arts Council Members – FREE
One entry for Not-Yet Arts Council Members – $20
Artist membership dues are $50 for a full 12 months of benefits.
Membership dues and registration fees can be paid by cash, check, or online at https://www.artswin.org/members/.
Juror and Awards:
This exhibit is not juried for inclusion, but for awards. The juror for Empowered will be announced at a later date.
The prizes for Empowered are:
• Third Place: $50
• Second Place: $150
• First Place: $300
Calendar:
- Registration deadline: May 12th by 11:59 p.m.
- Artwork drop off: May 15th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Exhibit dates: May 18th – June 29th
- Reception: June 15th, 5:30-7
- Artwork pick up: July 2nd, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Guidelines, Requirements, How to Register, and What to Expect
Guidelines and Requirements:
- All media are acceptable.
- Framed dimensions cannot exceed 60” in any direction.
- Submissions must be appropriately matted, framed, and securely wired, and READY TO HANG AND DISPLAY. No sawtooth hangers – must be wired.
- Artwork should be assembled and ready for hanging at the time of delivery, no exceptions.
- By registering, the artist agrees to the Arts Council’s Hold Harmless Policy and Sales Agreement.
- If you are entering from out of the Evansville city limits, you may submit up to three images of your piece to [email protected], to be juried digitally.
How to Register and What to Expect:
- Fill out the form on the last page of this document, and email it to [email protected], or mail it in a hard copy to 212 Main Street by the end of the day on May 12th, or find a link to the online Google form here: https://www.artswin.org/gallery_calls/.
- All entries must be pre-registered by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 12th.
- After you are registered, you will drop your work off at 212 Main Street on Wednesday, May 15th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- In the spirit of empowerment, this exhibit is not juried for inclusion.
- Questions about the exhibit can be directed to Gallery Director, Andrea Adams at (812) 303-3178 or [email protected].
Register HERE:
The impact of the arts on youth and communities is profound and has been extensively studied. A recently released study from Americans for the Arts documents the economic and social contributions of arts and culture on communities across the United States.
Key statistics highlighting the impact that vibrant arts and cultural programming has on communities and students include:
Youth Engagement and Development
- Academic Achievement: Students highly engaged in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. (Source: National Endowment for the Arts)
- Improved Test Scores: High school students participating in arts programs score an average of 100 points higher on the SATs than their peers with low arts involvement. (Source: The College Board)
- Increased Graduation Rates: Students with four years of arts or music classes in high school are more likely to graduate and pursue higher education. (Source: National Center for Education Statistics)
- Social Skills: Participation in the arts helps youth develop social and emotional skills, including teamwork, empathy, and self-expression. (Source: Arts Education Partnership)
Community Impact
- Economic Contribution: The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates over $166 billion in economic activity annually and supports 4.6 million jobs. (Source: Americans for the Arts)
- Tourism and Revenue: Cultural tourism, driven by arts and cultural attractions, contributes to local economies, with visitors spending money on accommodations, dining, and shopping. (Source: U.S. Travel Association)
- Property Values: Proximity to arts organizations and cultural amenities can increase property values in a community. (Source: Journal of Cultural Economics)
- Civic Engagement: Arts participation is associated with higher levels of community involvement, volunteering, and voting. (Source: National Endowment for the Arts)
- Crime Reduction: Communities with strong arts programs often experience reduced crime rates, particularly in urban areas. (Source: The Urban Institute)
- Social Cohesion: The arts promote social cohesion by bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to engage in creative and cultural activities. (Source: Brookings Institution)
- Health and Well-being: Arts programs in communities can improve overall well-being, reduce stress, and enhance mental health. (Source: World Health Organization)
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
- Diverse Representation: The arts play a crucial role in representing and celebrating cultural diversity, fostering inclusivity and understanding among different communities. (Source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies)
- Youth Empowerment: Arts programs empower young individuals to explore their cultural identities, preserve traditions, and express their unique voices. (Source: National Endowment for the Arts)
- Accessible Education: Arts programs promote equal access to education and cultural experiences, bridging gaps and fostering a sense of belonging. (Source: Arts Education Partnership)
- Creative Economy: Cultural diversity is integral to the creative economy, driving innovation and contributing to the vitality of communities. (Source: UNESCO)
These statistics underscore the multifaceted benefits of the arts for youth and communities, from educational and social development to economic and cultural enrichment. Investing in arts and cultural programs has a lasting impact on individuals and the places they call home.
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Tito’s Vodka is sharing Tito’s Love with the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana for the holiday season. Visit some local favorites, Chasers, Bokeh Lounge, or Walton’s, enjoy a Tito’s Merry Mule or Cause-Mo, and support the Arts Council!
For each Tito’s Merry Mule and Cause-Mo purchased at the designated venues between November 20 and December 31, a $1 donation will be made to the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (up to $1000).
Cheers to enjoying great cocktails and giving back to the local arts community!
The mission of the Arts Council: Enhancing quality of life and supporting economic development through advocacy and promotion of the arts, arts organizations, and arts education in southwestern Indiana.
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Is Halloween an everyday affair for you, or do you reserve it just for October? Regardless of your spooky inclinations, this year’s Arts Council gallery has a treat in store for you. Our hauntingly captivating Spooky Show, hosted at 212 Main, will be on display from October 5th to the 27th. Featuring a spine-chilling array of 129 entries from 97 talented artists, this exhibition showcases ceramics, stained glass, paintings, and repurposed creations from over 13 communities, including Evansville, Newburgh, Haubstadt, Mount Vernon, and beyond.
Here are the key details you need to know:
- Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm.
- Exhibition Dates: October 5th to October 27th.
- Artist Reception: Join us on October 21st from 5:00 to 6:30 pm for a ghoulishly delightful artist reception.
- Admission: This eerie experience is free and open to visitors of all ages.
- Exhibit Juror: Signature School Teacher, University of Evansville Adjunct Faculty (Printmaking), and Artist Kyle Darnell
- Awards will be announced at the Artist Reception on October 21st: First Place: $300, Second Place: $200, Third Place: $100
Please note that while the 200 block of Main Street is currently under construction, fret not! Ample parking options are available on the surrounding streets and in nearby garages. We remain open during our regular hours, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the construction project to conclude by the projected end date of November 17th.
We’re especially thrilled to announce that this year’s Spooky Show has received generous sponsorship from Engelbrecht Enterprises.
So, whether Halloween is your daily muse or an annual affair, make sure to immerse yourself in the otherworldly creativity of our Spooky Show this October. We can’t wait to welcome you to a world where every day is Halloween!
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I’ve seen the memes about the days of the week being irrelevant during the stay at home order, and that only Thisday and Thatday exist now. At first, I resisted the idea of complete anarchy of time. I tried to make sure my socks matched every work day and that I didn’t have too much wine at dinner before Friday.
I remember even putting on makeup for my first couple of Zoom calls. Oh, Past Andrea. So naive, so optimistic. Adorable.
Today, on this Thisday, I am barefoot, and I have abandoned my makeshift desk in the kitchen to stay on my bed (it’s made at least) and work from the Chromebook. I do plan to have a couple of glasses of wine after dinner this evening, as I am attending a recreational Zoom event. I probably won’t even brush my hair for it. Structure and foundation have crumbled for me, someone who has realized lately how much she thrives on timelines and schedules. It was fun to throw routine to the wayside at first. I can wake up after 7:30 a.m.? I don’t need to shower until after lunch? I can eat a bowl of Doritos in bed at 10:30 a.m.? And don’t get me started on what “bedtime” means anymore.
The novelty is wearing off. I can no longer use seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race as a clock (I reserve the right to reconsider this when I get to the All Stars seasons). Since time can’t be measured by work hours and weekends off anymore, it’s my mission to find a way to tally mark the days creatively. On Thisday, I draw cartoons of my breakfast and lunch chatting each other up. Thatdays are Crazy Makeup and Costume Days. Tomorrow is Latin Music Day (which may or may not also involve costumes). And Today is obviously Writing the Weekly Blog Day. The new normal is a different normal, and we might as well use these moments alone to make it weird and interesting.
Andrea Adams is the Gallery Director at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana.
Published April 20, 2020
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33 & 1/3 is a weekly column looking back at the albums and songs of 1970 to coincide with the Arts Council’s 50th anniversary. Community Director Zach Evans will write about one album (33) and one song (1/3) from 50 years ago.
Most musicians and bands don’t release two albums in the same year these days.
The industry is such that insiders say bands really shouldn’t put out full albums every year — the idea is to release singles and smaller releases more regularly to feed the content beast.
But in 1970, there were several acts who released two albums in a year. Black Sabbath released two of the most important albums in metal history in 1970 with “Black Sabbath” and “Paranoid” and Funkadelic released “Funkadelic” and “Free Your Mind .. and Your Ass Will Follow.”
Here’s a good list of other double releases in 1970 (I’m probably missing a few):
• Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Cosmo’s Factory” and “Pendulum”
• King Crimson – “The Wake of Poseidon” and “Lizard”
• Aretha Franklin – “This Girl’s in Love With You” and “Sprit in the Dark”
• Elton John – “Elton John” and “Tumbleweed Connection”
The most interesting double release in 1970 came from a band’s whose following and legacy is not largely connected to their studio releases: The Grateful Dead, which released “Workingman’s Dead” and “American Beauty” four months apart in 1970.
Both albums are a rich chapter in the Dead history, because the pair were a pivot from the electric kool-aid psychedelic sounds in the 1960s to an Americana / roots style in 1970. The stylistic switch is even apparent on the album covers, warm browns, greens and sepia tones versus the bright palette “Aoxomoxoa,” their album before “Workingman’s Dead.”
That Path is For Your Steps Alone
The Grateful Dead
Nov. 1, 1970
Stand-out tracks: “Ripple,” “Brokedown Palace,” “Candyman”
As I said, The Grateful Dead aren’t really known for their studio albums. They have a prolific live career: 37,000 songs performed live, 2,300 concerts, 450 unique songs, 300 cities and 30 years of touring. That’s just for the original Grateful Dead lineup and doesn’t include the subsequent spin-offs featuring members of the band, like The Dead or Dead & Co.
But if you ask most songwriters, musicians, or music fans about the Dead, they’ll probably say they like “American Beauty.” That’s because it’s hard to not appreciate the blending of American folk and rock music, poetic lyrics and woven strings and harmonies — kind of like CSNY, but not.
The album is exquisite, it’s hard to argue that isn’t. But I usually take issue when people say “I really don’t like the Dead, but I did like ‘American Beauty.'” There are differences between the two — the live Dead and the American folk-style studio Dead. But I embrace both deeply. Can’t a guy like a 30 minute Scarlet>Fire jam and a well-crafted 4-minute folk song from the same band?
Onto the actual album. I love the song “Candyman,” because of its slow creepiness and an absolutely beautiful pedal steel guitar solo played through a rotating Leslie speaker by Jerry Garcia.
What makes “American Beauty” so eternal to me is the songwriting marriage of Jerry’s roots-y musical stylings and Robert Hunter’s brilliant lyrics.
Much like the relationship between Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Robert Hunter would write lyrics and Jerry would write the music.
Hunter was a true American poet, with an ability to tap into the cultural psyche and tell us about it. “American Beauty” wasn’t the first album featuring lyrics by Hunter, but to me it’s his finest showcase and the best song on the album is “Ripple.”
“If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?”
The song has lyrics that invokes both Western religion and Eastern poetic style. The third verse, of which Hunter said he was most proud to write, is filled with biblical imagery, with phrases like, “Reach out your hand if your cup be empty / If your cup is full may it be again” and — the favorite line he ever wrote — “Let it be known there is a fountain / That was not made by the hands of men.”
Then there’s the chorus, which is a 17-syllable haiku poem washed in mystery.
“Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow”
Combine that with major key melodies, David Grisman on mandolin, rich harmonies and a sing-a-long ending of la-di-das, and you have one hell of a song.
What a Long Strange Trip it’s Been
Bob Weir recently mentioned on the podcast “Broken Records” in a conversation with Rick Rubin he wished the band had done more work in the studio. I do too. I love the energy and vibe of a well-connected, breathing live performance, but the artistry and intention that comes out in albums is unmatchable.
Jerry has been dead for 25 years and Robert Hunter died last September. In 1970, Rolling Stone reviewer Andy Zwerling said “American Beauty” would be enjoyed for the next 20 years. Jerry has been dead for 25 years and Robert Hunter died last September, but the songs are still loved and played to hundreds of thousands of fans every year (well, not this year) by surviving members in the off-shoot Dead & Co. featuring John Mayer and Oteil Burbridge.
I think it’s deeply appreciated at 50 and will be talked about and listened to for its 100th anniversary.
I Spent a Little Time on the Mountain
Workingman’s Dead
The Grateful Dead
June 14, 1970
“New Speedway Boogie” will make me noodle dance every time. You know, that stereotypical Dead-head hippy dance? Yeah, that’s all 6’7″ of me when I hear this song live.
I love this song for its groove, for the memories I have with it and for the memories I was hoping to have with it in the future.
I was in a string band called the “Pocket City Pushers” in the early 2010s and “New Speedway Boogie” was one of the first covers we practiced.
I had just performed my first gig as a keyboardist with Calabash in Cincinnati just days before our region began locking down. We played several Dead songs that night. We didn’t perform “New Speedway” but with gigs lined up in the coming weeks and months, I’m sure we would have (if it were a gig they invited to me play).
One day soon, we’ll all be boogying — at least, I hope.
Zach Evans is the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana’s Community Director. When life returns to normal, you can find him performing around town with his band Corduroy Orbison. You can reach him at [email protected].
Other 33 & 1/3 posts
Kristofferson & My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
Morrison Hotel & Isolation
Published April 18, 2020.
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