Volunteer Mixer v.2

Freddy Hahne, President, BRAF Board of Directors, "Grant Seeking"

Nick Morgan, BRAF Board of Directors "BRAF Events"

Michael Barbarino "Web Development"

Johnathan "ScrapEden"

Harley Dubois, BRAF Vice President Board of Directors "Grants to Artists"

Dicky Davies, BRAF Board of Directors "Grants to Artists"
Mark Sinclair, BRAF Board of Directors "Civic Arts and Fundraising"

Harley Dubois, founding member of both the Burning Man Board and the BRAF Board hosted the evening, and just in case you were not there I thought you might like to see her note to the volunteers after the evening.

Dear BRAF Volunteers,

What a wonderful mixer we had last week! It was a real success. To those of you new to volunteering for BRAF, and are now new to this announcement list, welcome! To those of you currently volunteering with BRAF who were able to attend the mixer, I cannot thank you enough for joining us. There is no better person for a new volunteer to connect with than a committed and active volunteer. Your continued support is the key to our success. Thank You! I hope you feel the love coming through this email.

For those of you couldn’t make it, we had about 50 attendees. We presented quick overviews of nine different areas of volunteer needs:

Fundraising
Civic Arts
Grants to Artists
Grant Seeking
BRAF Events
Scrap Eden
Web Development
The BRAF Blog and social networking
Children’s Programming

It is not too late to express interest in any area. In fact, it is perfect timing. Just email volunteers@blackrockarts.org and we will be in touch.

Thanks everyone for a fun and engaging evening.

Harley
--
Harley K. Dubois
Vice President
Grants to
Artists Chair
Black Rock Arts Foundation

photos: Patricia Rusich

Installing "Duel Nature" in Reno

Duel Nature has arrived in Reno, Nevada

photos: Maria Partridge

X marks the spot, Duel Nature will be installed here at the corner of Sierra St. and Island Ave. in Reno, NV.
photo: Crimson Rose

Previously exhibited at Burning Man in 2006, Duel Nature, by artist Kate Raudenbush, is unique in its materials, (Plasma cut steel, steel tubing, red acrylic mirror) scale (38’ x 38’) and artistic vision. During Artown - Fire dancers and spinners from Controlled Burn will entertain Tuesday evenings 8:00 – 10:00. Hula Hoopers from Velocity Movement and bohohoops present "GET HOOPED" at Hoop Jams on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 - all levels and ages are welcome. Hula hoops provided or bring your own!.

Join us in celebration of Duel Nature at the opening celebration:

May 21, 2010
5 pm
Corner of Sierra St. and Island Ave. Reno, NV
Wine & Appetizers: Sierra Arts Foundation Gallery
and then along the RiverWalk

Hula Hoop Jam from 5-8,
followed by Fire Spinning by Controlled Burn
Music by DJSource

7 Mindblowing Multimedia Projects

The Public Radio MAKER’S QUEST 2.0 article begins with:

From time to time, I come across innovative media content that gets under my skin, wows me with its sheer beauty or gravity, its simplicity or complexity. Often, I discover these projects serendipitously. Sometimes, I'm tipped off by other blogs I follow that track inventive storytelling.

Since I'm the kinda gal who likes to share and connect people to new and inspiring ideas, I offer these fascinating ongoing projects to you. Despite digital divides, the internet makes the world a much, much smaller place. Digital media can give us a sense of what it might be like to be a child in India, an elder in Africa or even someone who lives just a few blocks away.

And the article goes on to top the list with BRAF's 2007 grant recipient Global Lives.

Read more about it here: Public Radio MAKER’S QUEST 2.0.

Volunteer Mixer v.1

Last week the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF) invited their staff, Board of Directors, Advisory Board, current volunteers and potential volunteers to an evening designed for everyone to get to know one another and to meet and greet new volunteers. BRAF has been very, very busy and has many projects in the pipeline, and the volunteers heard all about the Civic Arts, ScrapEden and other projects that are happening this summer. There was food, laughter and lots of mingling, with more photos to come, so watch this space.

You say you have been wanting to volunteer, well here is your chance, email here:

volunteers@blackrockarts.org

photos: affinity

Duel Nature comes to Reno Nevada

RENO, NV – The corner of Sierra Street and Island Ave. along the Truckee River will be transformed into a temporary interactive art installation, performance venue and community gathering spot.

Previously exhibited at Burning Man in 2006, Duel Nature, by artist Kate Raudenbush, is unique in its materials, (Plasma cut steel, steel tubing, red acrylic mirror) scale (38’ x 38’) and artistic vision. During Artown - Fire dancers and spinners from Controlled Burn will entertain Tuesday evenings 8:00 – 10:00. Hula Hoopers from Velocity Movement and bohohoops present "GET HOOPED" at Hoop Jams on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 - all levels and ages are welcome. Hula hoops provided or bring your own!.

Join us in celebration of Duel Nature at the opening celebration:

May 21, 2010
5 pm
Corner of Sierra St. and Island Ave. Reno, NV
Wine & Appetizers: Sierra Arts Foundation Gallery
and then along the RiverWalk

Hula Hoop Jam from 5-8,
followed by Fire Spining by Controlled Burn
Music by DJSource

“Duel Nature references the spiral of our human DNA. The struggle inherent to the duality of the human condition is expressed by the violence of the raw plasma-cut, bolted steel exterior, in contrast with the vitality of the interior blood-red mirror. As visitors gather inside the vibrant core of the sculpture, their myriad reflections remind us of our shared genetic bond and our shared humanity.” says the artist Kate Raudenbush.

“This is the third Burning Man art installation to come to Reno through the collaboration of the Civic Art Program of the Black Rock Arts Foundation, the non-profit art organization of Burning Man, and The City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission’s grant program. Duel Nature supports the mission of the Reno Arts program to involve its citizens in the community's cultural life and encourage artistic excellence,” said Maria Partridge, Reno project liaison for BRAF and Advisory board member.

“We believe the exhibition of Duel Nature during Artown will serve the community in many ways,” said Crimson Rose, Member Board of Directors, BRAF and Art Director for Burning Man. “By enhancing civic space through the temporary transformation of an empty lot into an inviting art park and creating a creative gathering spot for Reno citizens with weekly performances and workshops that provide entertainment and interactive possibilities that the community can enjoy for free.”

photo: Kate Radenbush

Finley Fryer

Finley Fryer was featured in Enjoy Magazine this month. Finley is an artist, and the Black Rock Arts Foundation, as part of their Civic Arts Program, brought Stan, the Submerging Man to a brand new park in San Francisco in 2006.

Congatulations Finley!

Our 2007 grant recipient, Global Lives Founder, David Harris will be a host lecturer at Harvard University. David will speak on "New Media as Public Sociology: Words, words, words vs. lights, camera, action".

Ecstasy Rocks the Virtual World!

STATUE ECSTASY
Originally uploaded by breakbeatbilly

Ecstasy is everywhere, blogs in Montreal, a photo shoot, a photo blog, local blogs, a tourist blog and even YELP! Check her out!

I Live Here: SF
Yelp
The Outer Sunset
Matt & Nat
Caliber
Next Stop

Figment - Last Chance for the Groundbreaking!

"1000 Pieces" is one our 2010 Grantees


Last chance for FIGMENT Groundbreaking! Groundbreaking information. Join me at the Gershwin Hotel on Wednesday to see all the incredible things that FIGMENT has in store for this summer!

2010 Figment Sculpture Garden

Prior posts: Figment, Call for Art

2010 Bent Festival

One of our 2010 Grantees, the Bent Festival, is about to have their annual art and music festival celebrating DIY electronics, hardware hacking, and circuit bending. Each year the New York nonprofit "The Tank" invites artists from across the country and around the globe to perform music with their home- made or circuitbent instruments, teach workshops to adults and children alike, create beautiful art installations and to generally come together, face to face, and showcase the state of the art in DIY electronics and circuit bending culture. In addition to our support, Bent Festival is made possible in part by support from Two Trees Realty and the New York State Council for the Arts.

The 2010 BENT Festival
April 22nd - 24th, 2010
At DUMBO 81 Front Street
Brooklyn, NY

The Work Office (TWO) is now hiring!

The Work Office, one of our 2009 grant recipients sent us this press release last week!

The Work Office (TWO) is now hiring!

Visit http://www.theworkoffice.com/ to apply. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis through April 30th.

The Work Office (TWO) is a multidisciplinary art project disguised as an employment agency. Informed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the Great Depression in the 1930s, TWO is a gesture to “make work” for visual and performing artists, writers, and others by giving them simple, idea-based assignments that explore, document, and improve daily life in New York City. From a temporary, publicly accessible storefront office, TWO's administrators will hire employees, exhibit work, and distribute Depression-era wages during weekly Payday Parties. You are invited to submit an application online, choosing from one of the following assignments:
Build a bridge,
Document a need for repairs,
Make a regional travel guide for your block or neighborhood,
Record an oral history,
Reinterpret a newspaper photograph,
Design a poster to promote something,
Catalog existing WPA structures in New York,
Make a mixed CD related to…,
Give a concert for your houseplant,
Start an American tradition that you’d like to be preserved.
Assign yourself
A TWO administrator will contact and interview applications of interest. Once hired, you will have a week to complete your assignment, for which you will be paid $23.50, the weekly wage for an artist in the Federal One Project (the arts division of the WPA).

TWO will hold a Payday Party at the office at the end of each work week:
April 23, May 7, and May 21.
Employees will collect their wages and the public will be invited to view the week’s works and learn about the project.

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis through April 30, 2010. Please visit our website http://www.theworkoffice.com/ for details and an application.
Questions? Write us at: apply@theworkoffice.com

The Work Office (TWO) is made possible by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Swing Space program; project space at 156 William Street is donated by Capstone Equities. Additional funds are provided by a grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation and donations from generous individuals.

Speaking at the Palo Alto Public Arts Commission!

Tomas McCabe, Executive Director of the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF), Crimson Rose, Vice President of BRAF & Burning Man founding Director, and artists who have worked with BRAF to install their artwork in San Francisco and other cities, Michael Christian; Karen Cusolito; and Peter Hudson spoke on "Temporary Art: Inspiring Community and Civic Participation" at the City of Palo Alto Public Arts Commission recently.

Tomas and Crimson gave an overview of how BRAF works with different cities to create temporary public art that engages the community and the artists talked about their work and their projects with BRAF.

The Art Commission also gave an overview for artists interested in submitting project proposals to the City of Palo Alto under their new Temporary Art Project Guidelines.

Thanks to the Palo Alto Arts Commission for inviting us, we had a great time!

Anxiety is the Handmaiden of Creativity

Brooke Waterhouse presents:

THE ANXIETY SHOW April 7 – May 1
Curated by Christine Kristen aka LadyBee

Project One, 251 Rhode Island St, San Francisco

“Anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity.” - T.S. Eliot

The economic crisis, global warming, and the wars have generated a free-floating anxiety which is difficult not to internalize. This show is an exploration of the uncertainty of our times, featuring Brian Goggin, Deidre DeFranceaux, Bryan Tedrick, Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg, JennyBird Alcantara, Jonathan Solo, Francis Baker, Tony Speirs and Lee Harvey Roswell...so bring your worries and woes to the opening reception Wednesday, April 7th, 8pm-midnight!

UPDATE: Artists Brian Tedrick, Bryan Goggin, Deirdre DeFranceaux, Francis Baker and Lee Harvey Roswell will speak about their work on...
April 27th, 7-9pm at Project One Gallery

“The Hole and Some of his Parts” by Lee Harvey Roswell

Sculpture Jump!

Sculpture Jump!
Originally uploaded by yokokikuchi

This is one of the most charming photos I have ever seen! Thanks so much girls for jumping with Ecstasy, and thank you yokokikuchi for the great photo!

Ecstasy Parties!!

Ecstasy loved the party and all of us loved her
Artists Dan Das Mann & Karen Cusolito
BRAF Executive Director Tomas McCabe photos: George Post

IGBA MMOH African Drummers photo: affinity
And even the dogs came out to enjoy the party photo: George Post

LadyBee, Chris Bently and Helvetica Hahne enjoying the festivities photo: George Post
Gaucho Gypsy Jazz The Lester's came out to enjoy the sunshine, the community and the art photo: affinity

Crimson Rose posing with Ecstasy photo: George Post

We have been telling you for a few weeks about Ecstasy by Dan Dass Man and Karen Cusolito coming to Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. What a day it was with music and introductions of the artists and the neighborhood out enjoying Ecstasy and the beautiful afternoon. Thanks to all of you for coming out and celebrating with us.

Photos: George Post, craftphoto.com

BRAF Represents at the 2010 Burning Man Regional Summit

IMG_8033
Originally uploaded by ms trouble

Over 100 Burning Man Regional Contacts and Community Leaders converged last weekend in San Francisco to attend the 4th Annual Regional Leadership Summit. A generous donation of space at-cost from the Bently family made it possible for us to hold our event at the beautiful state-of-the art Bently Reserve in Downtown San Francisco. The purpose of the Summit was to bring together leaders from across the world to exchange ideas, learn new skills and to explore the nature of community as it pertains to the evolving Burning Man Regional Network.

The first ever Convectional Caucus took place at the Bently Reserve on Friday afternoon. A total of 37 Burning Man departments, arts groups, theme camps, non-profits, and other community organizations set up convention-style information tables where Summit attendees could learn about their various philosophies, processes, and ambitions. The Caucus was a tremendous success and provided a unique platform for Regional Contacts and other Community Leaders to interact with BM Staff and Bay Area groups in significant ways.

The photo includes Tomas McCabe, Executive Director of BRAF, Affinity your BRAF blogger and Josie Schimke, Program and Development Assistant for BRAF. Tomas, Freddy Hahne and Josie represented BRAF during the Caucus. Affinity was the registrar for the Regional Event.

photo: Tracy Bugni

BRAF in Palo Alto!

Join us for an evening of presentations and conversation entitled "Temporary Art: Inspiring Community and Civic Participation" featuring Tomas McCabe, Executive Director of the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF), Crimson Rose, Vice President of BRAF & Burning Man founding Director and artists who have worked with BRAF to install their artwork in San Francisco and other cities, Michael Christian, Karen Cusolito, and Peter Hudson. Tomas and Crimson will give overviews of how BRAF works with different cities to create temporary public art that engages the community and the artists will talk about their work and their projects with BRAF. There will be time for audience questions and for mingling with the panelists and fellow BRAF supporters.

The evening is sponsored by the City of Palo Alto Public Arts Commission and is the first event of their annual Art Talk Series. The Art Commission will also give an overview for artists interested in submitting project proposals to the City of Palo Alto under their new Temporary Art Project Guidelines.

March 25, 2010
Palo Alto Art Center, Auditorium
1313 Newell Road
Palo Alto, CA

7:30 – 8:30 pm

FREE!

Please RSVP to Darlene Katsanes, darlene.katsanes@cityofpaloalto.org, so the Art Commission can provide enough refreshments for all.

BRAF REPRESENTS AT OPERATION RESTORE DEFENESTRATION - Opening Reception

OPERATION RESTORE DEFENESTRATION - Opening Reception
Originally uploaded by 1AM SF

In this photo: Rae Richman, BRAF VP Board of Directors, Dr. Deb, BRAF Advisory Board, Freddy Hahne, President BRAF Board of Directors and last but not least our own BRAF Executive Directore, Tomas McCabe.

To See more photos from this Event, Click Here

photo: 1AM SF

Hayes Valley Welcomes Ecstasy!

In February, during the installation of Ecstasy, we stopped by to say Hi, sans camera, to Karen Cusolito and her crew who were doing the installation. Feeling foolish, on my job and my joy with no way to take photos who do I run into but a woman on a bike with a gorgeous camera, who of course goes to Burning Man and knows Dan and Karen's work. So I introduced myself and Kristin said she would be happy to get a few shots of the installation, and try to include one of Karen and her crew. So here are the photos, just in time for a final reminder of the "Opening Reception" this Friday:

March 19, 2010
Patricia’s Green
at Octavia and Hayes Streets
San Francisco, CA
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

We will have music, IGBA MMOH African Drummers and Gaucho Gypsy Jazz, and celebrate together!

The neighborhood continues to welcome Ecstasy. Besides all the great photos on flickr, they're blogging about Ecstasy out there! How fun is that? Clearly the neighborhood loves her, and it looks to me like she is loving them back. So if you want to read how San Francisco and especially Hayes Valley is falling in love with Ecstasy, read these!

Happy Rusty Friday

Today’s Walk 6 March 2010

photos: Kristin’s flickr set
Kristin Tieche Selvavision
http://selvavision.com/
Content for Sustainable Living
Vélo Vogue
http://velovogue.blogspot.com/
Where the bike lane meets the runway

Announcing our 2010 Grant Recipients!

The Grant Committee of the Black Rock Arts Foundation is proud to announce the winners of our 2010 Grant Cycle. We received a record number of applications this year, over 300, and awarded more grants than ever before, giving away a total of $50,000 to 12 projects. This year's grant winners are truly worth celebrating.

To read more about our 2010 Grant Recipients

photo: Music Box Collage

This Used to be a Freeway!

Hayes Valley
Originally uploaded by tofuart

Prior posts about Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito

Defenestration - Let's Restore It!

IMG_8940
Originally uploaded by 1AM SF

Operation Restore Defenestration Video

prior posts about Brian Goggin

Video: MstrWa Thanks so much Ben, it is fabulous!