Ecstasy - a sculpture @ Patricia Green

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swampzoid/5070191453/
Originally uploaded by swampzoid

Love this! Thank You!

Community Art Makers

This is one of the scenic backdrops they built that was used at Art Outside. I just love it!

"Community Art Makers" was one of the Black Rock Arts Foundation's 2010 grant recipients. They are Austin, Texas based community leaders offering work and meeting space, guidance and assistance to artists endeavoring to engage their community.

Former notable projects have included recently showcasing the 32 foot tall fire tornado from the BRC 'Fire of Fires' Temple for a public audience of thousands, and the first public burn night on NYE, 2009 of the Resolution Clock in the center of Austin, Texas for 100,000 people.

BRAF's infrastructure investment will allow the Community Art Makers to build upon current resources and offer more structured resources and work space for artists. Their upcoming projects are focused on artist empowerment and community building. Some of these projects for 2010 include partnerships with the City of Austin Library, Parks and Art in Public Places Departments, 'Art Outside' and 'First Night' pieces that showcase interactivity to a public audience and hands on classes and training for trained and aspiring artists.

This is what their most recent blog post had to say:

Thanks to the continued generosity of the Black Rock Arts Foundation , we have nearly completed a 400 SF studio space renovation at our North Austin Compound. This weekend we should be finished renovating our very own glass studio! Our space will be equipped with tools for creating stained glass, fusing and also slumping glass. Need some space to create? Want to learn? Drop us a line and get involved!

Reflections of time

Reflections of time
Originally uploaded by #2 Son/John

Another view of the Raygun Gothic Rocketship we have not seen. What a fabulous shot. Thank you.

Capturing the Raygun Gothic Rocketship

Our very own Josie Schimke, Program Development Associate at the Black Rock Arts Foundation was biking by the Raygun Gothic Rocketship, as she does most days on the way to work, and she came upon an artist painting the Rocketship. She stopped and chatted and took this photo. The Rocketship continues to show up in new and fun ways on the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Prior posts about the Raygun Gothic Rocketship

Detroit Dream Project

IMG_0544
Originally uploaded by quidquid

Some new photos of the Detroit Dream Project, one of our 2007 Civic Arts installations.

Thanks for the great photo and giving us a peek at how the project looks today!

To read more about the temple:
Prior blog posts

Crazy rides rockets

Crazy rides rockets
Originally uploaded by Brandon Doran

I continue to be amazed that the Raygun Gothic Rocketship can be photographed in such a variety of ways. Thanks to Brandon Doran for this one.

Happy New Year!

Burning Man and BRAF Art Grant Workshop and Art Lounge

You must RSVP if you wish to attend. Email to: rsvp-specialevents@burningman.com

Attention Artists:

You've asked, and we've listened! This year we are hosting our first art grants workshop. Come hear from those involved in both BRAF's and Burning Man's grant processes about what is needed to create a successful grant proposal. You'll be given a chance to ask questions about the mandatory grant forms – why we ask certain questions, what information we are looking for and more. If you can't make it to the event, don't worry! Send in your question by Wednesday, January 12th and it will be answered during the workshop. The workshop will be recorded, and a video posted on the Burning Man website shortly after the event.

After the workshop, please join us for the Art Lounge. This event is a social mixer for the artists and volunteers who created work for Burning Man and BRAF last year and/or are planning art projects this coming year. Your creative spirit gives so much to the world. We want to thank you for your inventiveness and resourcefulness. We hope this will be an opportunity to meet one another and spark increased creative cross-pollination and collaboration.

We invite our community's artists to join the BRAF and Burning Man staff, members of the Burning Man Art Department, and ARTery volunteers for a little reception – our yearly, intimate gathering in appreciation of the visionaries among us!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Mission Rock Cafe
817 Terry Francois Blvd San Francisco, CA

Grant Workshop 5:30 to 7 pm
Art Lounge 7 pm to 9 pm

At approximately 7:30pm there will be brief introductions and a short talk about this years Burning Man theme: "Rites of Passage."

To attend, please RSVP to rsvp-specialevents@burningman.com.

It's an intimate space, and we need an exact number to plan for. This is not the place to review specific art grant proposals with Burning Man or BRAF staff, though staff will be on hand who can answer basic questions regarding the process. Remember, the deadline to submit art grant proposals for BRAF is January 15th and for Burning Man this year is February 1st.

Hope to see you there!

Online Grant Applications due January 15th, 2011 at 5:00 pm, PST

Our online application for BRAF's 2011 Grants is now live and will close on Saturday (yes, Saturday!) January 15, 2011, at 5:00 pm, sharp!

About our grants:

We fund highly interactive, community-driven works of art. We fund art that is accessible to the public, civic in scope and prompts the viewer to act. We like art that can be experienced in more ways than visually. We are fans of art that is meant to be touched, heard or experienced, as well as viewed. We prioritize funding art that involves the audience in its creation and presentation. Does this sound like your artwork?

Apply for a grant in 2011!

For more about our criteria, and for our online application, visit: Black Rock Arts Foundation Grants

We look forward to reading about your project!

Leo Villareal at the San Jose Museum of Art

People and Art #129
Originally uploaded by andertho

This is the last weekend of the Leo Villareal show at the San Jose Museum of Art. We will be there, Will You?

BRAF thanks you for another spectacular year!

As the year comes to a close, the Black Rock Arts Foundation was pleased to be included with the Raygun Gothic Rocketship in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Datebook piece on "Positive Changes around San Francisco and it's Environs in 2010".

2010 saw many great achievements for BRAF that you can read about here in our blog and at The Black Rock Arts Foundation. Because of the support of folks like you, we were able to ensure that art and community building continue to serve as tools for civic engagement around the globe. We know that art can build community and bring people together, and we believe that all communities deserve art. More than ever, we are encouraged by our recent successes and invigorated to expand our programs and extend our reach into more communities worldwide.

2011 is already shaping up to be a banner BRAF year. We have been awarded our first-ever grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. An N.E.A. grant of $10,000 kicks off our newest endeavor, a Civic Arts project we’re calling The Bike Bridge. In January of 2011, BRAF begins a yearlong project in Oakland, CA, collaborating with young people, with qualified artists, and with local partner organizations to create a gateway sculpture made of reclaimed bike parts. As a work of art, The Bike Bridge will be the gateway to the City of Oakland’s new Uptown Merritt Art Park, to be located adjacent to the Fox Theater. This new art park was also recently awarded $200,000 by the National Endowment for the Arts, and will feature temporary exhibitions of large-scale works of art.

We are continually grateful for the extraordinary support and investment of our community. You and other supporters share BRAF’s vision of bringing people together and creating positive change through art. The Bike Bridge is testament to the evolution of our programs, and the broadening of our ventures. Because of your support, BRAF continues to pioneer new modalities of public art.

We hope that those of you who were able to participate in the activities of the three BRAF programs in 2010, or even in the festivities of our annual ARTumnal Gathering, will agree that BRAF has made great progress in bringing the Burning Man ethos of art, interaction, and community “to the rest of the world, the other 51 weeks of the year.” But, we need your help to continue to fund, support and enable community-building, civic-minded, interactive arts projects and expand our reach to new regions.

It is your donations that sustain us. Please consider showing your support once again by making an end-of-year contribution, so that we may bring even more innovative, interactive and community-building projects to cities worldwide in 2011.

Sincerely,

Tomas McCabe
Executive Director
Black Rock Arts Foundation

DONATE

the Artumnal

the Artumnal 2
Originally uploaded by john curley

John Curley's fabulous shot of the Artumnal! It was a fabulous evening and isn't this a fabulous photo!

Fly Me to the Moon

Fly Me to the Moon
Originally uploaded by Jill Clardy

Another great photo of the Raygun Gothic Rocketship on the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Visit Ecstasy On Patricia's Green

kinetik korrosion
Originally uploaded by japanesejack

You should stop by and see her in all her magnificence on Patricia's Green in San Francisco.

The Bentley Reserve for the Artumnal Gathering

The Bentley Reserve for the Artumnal Gathering
Originally uploaded by mr. nightshade

The Fabulous Mr. Nightshade shares his Artumnal photos!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carnivillain/sets/72157625448816692/

Artumnal Gathering 2010 v3

Ed Jay got some great shots of the Artumnal performers

Ed Jay Photography

Michael Olsen/Zork Magazine took a lot of fun photos. It looks like his friends were having a great time too.

Thanks to all the volunteers and performers and models and designers and photographers and DJs and the Artumnal team and the huge staff it takes to put this party on. Thank you. And special thanks to the Bentlys for their ongoing generosity.

Artumnal Gathering 2010 v2

Randal Smith aka furtoghrapher spent the evening taking fabulous portraits of many of us. As you can tell my crew from the Mansonian Institute loved having their photo taken together. I hope you had as much fun as we did!

Artumnal Gathering 2010 v1

Gateway of Wishes (built by Flux Foundation) welcomed visitors to the 4th Annual BRAF Artumnal.

Christopher and Amber-Marie Bently graciously donated the Bently Reserve for the evening's festivities, as well as a bunch of auction items. Nice work kids!

The party didn't end until after 3 a.m. I was there 8 hours and it felt like 3. Great time!

After the performances, people could play it themselves, somewhat clumsily and timidly.

One of the Temple fire places that was auctioned off.

Words and Photos: Josh Keppel

Our forth annual Artumnal Gathering was fabulous! We had a great time, we loved seeing all of you there and we appreciate your support of the The Black Rock Arts Foundation

The Artumnal Gathering this Weekend!

This is going to be a truly AMAZING Artumnal Gathering and do NOT miss event. Seriously! New art by the 2010 Temple crew, incredible performances starting right at opening time and going all night. These range from a globally acclaimed whirling dervish to brassy dance beats and electro-swing to laser harpist and ragtime band to seriously rockin' theme camp dance DJs to living statues, custom decor, and wearable art--including a first time unveiling of metal sculpture headpiece masks by artist Orion Fredericks--to THE most surprisingly classy and stunningly beautiful free-swinging pole duet you have ever seen by Cirque Noir. Many surprises you will be thrilled to be there for and sorry if you miss. Get your tickets and help spread the word to make this all-important BRAF annual fundraiser a tremendous and fun success. My tip is get there right away, dress to express and enjoy it all.

The Blackrock Arts Foundation Presents…

The 2010 ARTUMNAL GATHERING

Saturday, November 20, 2010

$45 second level and at door for Main Event from 9:30pm – Late

$250 and up: Dinner Banquet from 6-9pm + rest of night!

At The Bently Reserve

Enter at 400 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

21 and over

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Last year’s event sold out and this year is even better! Don’t wait.

You are invited to the magnificent Bently Reserve for BRAF’s fourth annual Artumnal Gathering, an exquisite evening of tempting libations, bountiful fare, engaging art, and lavish attire. You’ll enjoy three elegant rooms, each overflowing with art and offering a stunning array of featured live performances including soaring aerial artistry, live performances, and music and DJ’s to dance the night away.

Come revel in the abundance of our community’s creative spirit, celebrate Black Rock Arts Foundation’s artists and projects, and support the proliferation of even more community art projects around the world in 2011!

PERFORMANCES by:

Absurge (The Fringe/Janky Barge:) http://www.soundcloud.com/absurge

Bad Unkl Sista – butoh living installations: http://www.badunklsista.com/
Bones of Circus Mecca – aerial artistry: http://www.CircusMecca.org/
Cirque Noir – dance and aerial artistry: http://www.bowandsparrow.org/Site/Cirque_Noir.html

Cyril Noir and Ella Mental of the Black Kat Kabaret – electro-swing: http://www.cyrilnoir.com/
Dan Cantrell: http://www.bellowhead.com/
Dex Stakker (Opel/Opulent Temple): http://www.dexstakker.com/
EO – electronic compositions and horn: http://www.soundsliketree.com/
FireFingers - Flamenco guitar: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=235775
Fou Fou HA! – technicolored buffoonery and dance: http://www.foufouha.com/
Gamelan X – marching gamelan: http://www.gamelanx.com/
Gregangelo of Velocity Circus – whirling dervish: http://www.gregangelo.com/
Hamilton Strings: http://bayentertainers.com/HamiltonStrings.htm
Henry Chang of Soul in the Machine – laser harp: http://www.soulinthemachine.com/
DJ Huggie (Disorient): http://soundcloud.com/alex01
DJ Jive (Heart Deco): http://www.fixsf.com/dj-jive/
Matthew Schoening – electric cello: http://www.soloelectriccello.com/
Miss Rosie – hoop moves: http://www.MovementPlay.com/
Mochipet: http://www.mochipet.com/
Parlor Tricks – industrial ragtime quartet: http://www.blogger.com/www.parlortricksmusic.com
saQi featuring Russ Liquid: http://www.saqimusic.com/
Sasha "Butterfly" Rose – electronic music and live vocals: http://www.myspace.com/sashabutterflyrose
Tamo and ViaJay (Space Cowboys/Angels of bAss): http://djtamo.com/ http://djtamo.com/%20http://www.viajay.com/
Many more!!!

ORIGINAL ART by:
Flux Factory & The Burning Man 2010 Temple Crew www.temple2010.org have created a brand new piece, “The Gateway of Wishes”, for this event (this magnificent sculpture and a fire pit from the Burning Man Temple project is also for sale this evening to benefit BRAF.); Rob Buchholz, Michael Every, Calliope Gazetas, Tamo Designs, Miranda Caroligne, Anastazia Louise, Kristen Berg, Dicky Davies, Suzanne Forbes, Spy Emerson, Lauren Mendez, Caley Johnson, Leslie Frierman Grunditz, Philippe Glade, John Curley, Phoenix Firestarter, Deborah Yoon, Elizabeth Geddes, $teven Ra$pa + work by other artists installed in the gallery and throughout the venue.

WEARABLE ART, FASHIONS, MAKEUP & HAIR by:
Miranda Caroligne: http://www.mirandacaroligne.com/
Miss Caley Johnson of Miss G Designs: http://www.missgdesigns.com/
Orion Fredericks: http://www.orionfredericks.net/
Joe Escobedo: http://www.theglambox.com/

PHOTO PORTRAITURE by:
Julian Cash - http://www.juliancash.com/
Randal Alan Smith - http://www.randalalansmith.com/

LIGHTING & VISUALS BY:
ARTisan Production Group: http://www.blogger.com/www.artisanpg.com
CaroLuna: http://www.caroluna.com/
Celestine Star: http://www.goldenstarproductions.com/
David Colin
Lasers and Lights: http://www.lasersandlights.com/
Rainbow Puddle – http://www.rainbowpuddle.com/
Rayce O’Brien
Sierra Ron Halbert
And more!

DÉCOR by Julz of Hookahdome, Marcia Crosby, $teven Ra$pa, Boy Blondie, and More

Tarot readings by the mysterious and marvelous Madame A!

DINNER AUCTIONEER: Elias Arjan - http://eliasarjan.com/

Join us for our pre-event dinner featuring delightful fare, cocktails, and both live and silent auctions. Last year's event sold out!

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Artumnal Ticket Packages:

The Artumnal Celebration
$35 online presale 1st tier (sold out): $45 thereafter and at the door
9:30 pm - Late
Includes an evening of featured and roaming performances, DJs, dancing, raffle, silent auction, photography sale and surprises.

Feast of Imagination
$250 advance purchase only
6:00 pm - Late
Includes an individual seat for a sumptuous dinner, auction, performances, signature drinks, wine, dessert and entry to the Artumnal Celebration.

Table of Plenty: A Table for 8 at Feast of Imagination
$3000 advance purchase only
6:00 pm - Late
Includes a reserved table for eight guests for the Feast of Imagination dinner.

Table of Abundance: A Table for 8 at Feast of Imagination, with premium placement
$5000 advance purchase only
6:00 pm - Late
Includes a reserved table for eight guests for the Feast of Imagination, with premium seating placement in the banquet hall, premium wine selection with personal sommelier, champagne toast and other treats.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Sponsor an Artist to attend the Artumnal Gathering! Can't attend this year's event? Make this a truly inclusive event, and honor an artist by sponsoring their attendance. Purchase a 'Sponsor an Artist Ticket' and we will donate it to an artist in need of a ticket!

Thanks to our generous supporters and sponsors:
Bently Reserve
inTicketing
JK Sound
San Francisco Bay Guardian

The Raygun Gothic Rocketship

The Raygun Gothic Rocketship
Originally uploaded by davidyuweb

After the rain...

Meet the Grantmakers

We are excited to tell you that our very own Josie Schimke, Program and Development Assistant at the Black Rock Arts Foundation was a panelist last Monday at Meet the Grantmakers: Funding Opportunities for Individual Artists at the Foundation Center.

photo: http://theblight.net/