Newsletter - April, 2010

Hi all,

Happy Easter!

Guest Speaker - Since the last newsletter, I received an e-mail from Mayor Beazley to say that he wouldn’t be available during this year‘s Festival of Art; at which he was looking forward to being the guest speaker. He later realized that he was already scheduled to be in Ontario at a special event for Mayors. He suggested that I ask Windsor’s deputy mayor Laurie Murley. I have spoken with Laurie and she said she’d be pleased to be our guest speaker.

Display Space/Gallery at Home Hardware: a committee has been formed to handle all arrangements between Home Hardware and the HCAC. The members are: Jaki Durocher, Kristie Sheehy, Tacha Reed and David Howells. Last Wednesday, the four of us met at Tacha's home where we dubbed ourselves ‘The Gallery Committee‘. Many things were discussed. I’ll be able to provide the details about our arrangements with Jeff (Home Hardware) after we have met with him as a committee. Jeff will be at our AGM, but we are hoping to have a meeting with him before then. I’m excited about this new relationship and the possibilities this allows for the arts council and look forward to bringing you the details.

AGM - Our next meeting is our AGM (Annual General Meeting) and will be held on May 28 at 7 PM. All members are invited to attend.

It will be in a boardroom in the Enterprise Centre on Water Street in Windsor. The Enterprise Centre is inside the mall where Scotiabank is. Once you enter, follow the hallway to your right and you will find us or…home in on the smell of food and sound. We are having a potluck. Pat Gould-Thorpe has reserved two rooms for us. The one we use will be based on numbers, it would help if you could let me know if you plan to attend. The food will be kept simple (finger foods…sandwiches or sweets) but if you would like to bring shrimp or lobster, please do.

All members will receive a notice by e-mail 20 days before our AGM, in accordance with the Societies Act.

HCAC Donation - At our last meeting, the directors of the HCAC made the decision to donate $100 to the Hants North Drama Group. This drama group has been selected to perform in the world's largest and most prestigious arts festival, as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF). Each August, Edinburgh, Scotland hosts performing artists from around the world for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Hants North Rural High was the only school nominated in Nova Scotia during the first year Canada has been invited to attend and participate in the program.

Special Event - Free seminar on marketing art

Guenter Burr contacted Joe Landry about putting on a presentation on marketing art for us.
Sandra has followed up on this and made the arrangements. Although admission is free, a donation to the Landry Foundation was required and Sandra offered to donate a piece of her work at the time of booking Mr. Landry. A big Thank You to Sandra on behalf of all members of the arts Council. Guenter attended this presentation when it was given at the Art and Jules Gallery in Halifax. There were free information handouts at that presentation, which we understand Joe will be bringing to this seminar.

When: at 7 PM on Friday evening, April 16
Where: a boardroom in the Enterprise Centre, Water Street, Windsor
(the same place as our AGM… see details above)
Admission: Free


This newsletter will be added to: http://hantscountyartscouncil.blogspot.com

If you have any questions about anything in the Newsletters, just let me know. Please send any complaints to our president or the Easter Bunny.

All the best,

David


www.hantscountyartscouncil.com

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Get motivated…here’s a little prod many of us often need. Enjoy!


Make Your Art a Priority
by Keith Bond

I enjoy swimming laps 2 to 3 times a week. When I first started, I was frustratingly slow and I needed many rests. It was almost embarrassing to have swimmers twice my age lap me over and over. Yet, I had made goals and over time I improved. I reached several milestones and would then set my sights on new goals. I won't be winning any swim competitions any time soon, but I look back on where I started and I see tremendous improvement.

This past week, however, I have had a cold. Prior to my cold, I had a few conflicts which prevented me from swimming. So this morning was my first time swimming laps in a couple of weeks. I noticed a marked difference in my performance. I could not swim as far nor as quickly as I had just two weeks ago. Granted, I may still not be totally recovered from my bout with the little virus, but it is also true that when you stop exercising for a period of time, you lose ground. The longer the absence, the more is lost.

The same holds true with art.

Neglecting Your Art Results in Lost Ability

Perhaps you have devoted years to your art. Maybe it's been only a few months. Don't risk losing the progress you have made by neglecting your art for a period of time. You must continue to work at your art or you will lose it bit by bit. This is true of both the technical skills and creativity. You must work on both constantly, just like exercise.

Have a Productive Routine

Also, just like with physical exercise, the rate of improvement will depend upon your routine. Do you spend adequate time? Do you practice specific exercises to work on certain areas which need improvement? Do you have somewhere to do it? Is the set-up hindering your ability? Are you giving it your all? Do you push yourself? Or do you just dabble here and there once in a while?

Even When You Don't Want To

Some mornings I didn't want to swim because I wasn't up to it or I didn't feel like it. But when I made myself do it, I found that I got into it within a short time. Even if I didn't get all the way into it, I felt better afterwards and it helped me maintain what I had worked so hard for.
Likewise, you may have those days when you just can't find your muse or you just aren't in the mood. But if you just make yourself do something, you will find that you will usually get into it and your creative juices will begin to flow. At least do something related to your art.

Conquer Your Excuses

There are many, many reasons why we put off doing things. Why do you neglect your art? What prevents you from getting into your studio? Identify what obstacles you have and then set up a plan to conquer them. If art is truly a priority in your life, you owe it to yourself to let it take its rightful place. Don't use excuses. Conquer them. Rearrange your life to make art a more prominent part of it.

Make Time

If you truly want to make progress with your art; if you truly want to improve; you must set aside time to work on it. You must make those times productive. We could all use more time. But consider everything you do in the day. EVERYTHING. I'll bet you could find things that occupy your time that aren't as important to you as art. Some tasks you cannot remove from your to-do list right now. But many can be removed. Artist Scott Christensen wrote:

Don't use [time] as an excuse! I really advanced as a painter when I was "distracted" by another job! I taught in a public school and coached two sports. Athletics took up most of my time on weekends and my family was very important to me, but I painted.

I want to take away your excuse by giving you one simple truth: we all have the same amount of time at our disposal. How we use that time is very important! (Note: I cut this quote out of a magazine several years ago. I wish I knew which magazine, so I could give proper credit. I want to say that it was International Artist, but I may be wrong.)

"Yes," you say, "but my situation is different." STOP! That is another excuse! Don't use excuses. If art is truly important to you, you will find the time. If everything else on your list is more important, then focus on them, not art. Either way, don't use excuses! Yes, I am being blunt. Sometimes we need a kick in the behind. Sometimes we need to hear it like it is. Do you want to improve in your art? Do you want to maintain what you have worked years to achieve? Then make your art a priority.