Filed under: Event, Spokane Arts Community | Tags: Burgleteens Toy Lab, Christmas, Montage Glass Studios
Montage Glass Studios and Burgleteens Toy Lab is holding a Christmas pre-opening party and art market. Come get some handmade art to finish your Christmas shopping or simply come peek at the studios and new gallery before the grand opening. Admission is free.
DJs and guest artists will be dropping by to add to the atmosphere. There’ll be snacks and various beverages on hand.
Glass classes will start in January, so now is a good chance to see the set-up and facilities.
December 11th 4-9pm
December 12th Noon-9pm
December 18th 4-9pm
December 19th Noon-9pm
5318 E. Desmet Ave.
Spokane Valley, WA 99212
(Near the Spokane Fairgrounds, off Broadway)
Spokane Valley, WA 99212
(Near the Spokane Fairgrounds, off Broadway)
Filed under: Event, Photography, Spokane Arts Community, Visual Art | Tags: Photography, Jewelry, Sculpture, Stained Glass, Painting, Mixed Media
Manic Moon Studios is an underground artisan’s gallery located in the basement of Lillian Conn Antiques at 1625 N Monroe. They are inviting everyone to check it out this Thursday, December 10th from 3-8pm for a special holiday showing. Handmade jewelry, stained glass works, photographic art, paintings, sculpture, dolls (or something of the sort), and more mixed media by local artists Joslyn Cain, Melissa Carpenter and more will be on display.
Manic Moon Studios is open by appointment only, so this is a wonderful opportunity to see work by local artists and perhaps get your Christmas shopping done early! (Thanks to Joslyn Cain for the tip.)
Filed under: Commentary, Writing | Tags: Aunties Bookstore, Jess Walter, sherman alexie, Spokane Arts Community
That is the question local author Jess Walter apparently asks himself quite often. Today he shared billing with his good friend Sherman Alexie (the subject of a previous discussion here) at a sold-out event hosted by Auntie’s Bookstore. Walter has lived in Spokane for many years, and his award winning novels are set in Spokane as well. Though the logical choice was to read excerpts from his latest novel, The Financial Lives of Poets, to a loyal audience of Spokanites, Walter decided to read an unpublished poem that was inspired by a question he encounters frequently while on tour: “Do you still live in Spokane?”
According to Walter, the questioner actually means “Why don’t you live in Seattle or Portland?” Walter’s poem was both funny and self-deprecating while describing how he explains Spokane to outsiders, while also hinting at why he chose to stay. Yes, there were times when he wished to leave. But there were times when Spokane seemed like a pretty good place to live too. The rich and poor live side by side in the same neighborhoods. The cost of living is much (much) lower. Cultural diversity is growing. The artistic community is thriving. The Magic Lantern Theatre re-opened at a time when art house theaters are closing everywhere else. And the simple fact of the matter is this: when you have been born and raised in this area, it feels like home. So Walter decided to stay in Spokane, and the audience of loyal Spokanites applauded him for it.
Since the purpose of RiverSpeak is to build community among artists who live and work in Spokane, I thought it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on staying versus leaving. So my question is this: Why do you choose to stay in Spokane?
Andrea Kilgore trained as a concert percussionist, and also loves to read literature. She chose to live in Spokane because it feels like home.
Filed under: Event, Performance, Writing | Tags: empyrean, EWU, poetry slam, Writers in the Community
That’s right folks, we are less than one week away from the December poetry slam of good ol’ Spokane! What does that mean, you ask? Well, shortly and succinctly, I’ll tell you.
It means you get your butt down to Empyrean on Thursday, December 10th somewhere between 7.30 and 8 o clock sharp… ish! EWU’s director of Writers in the Community Brandon Getz is our beloved host, and folks, you should do him a huge service. One allotted job of the host is to find judges, that is, unbiased members of the audience willing to stick around for the duration of the slam and judge everyone! Dun dun duuuuun.
Slams cost $5, and are open to any and everyone. There are two rounds, the top five of the first round will qualify for the second.
Our featured poet of the evening will be Seattle’s Patch Avery.
It’ll blow your MIND.
So please. Do yourself a favor, and destroy some people with your words. Or judge those who are.
Danielle Estelle is an enthusiastic and regular slam poet at the Empyrean.
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, December 15th @ 5:30
Coffee Social (113 W Indiana)
We’ll be hashing out the logistical details of February Launch Party, as well as discussing progress on our new site. All are welcome to attend.
And while you’re putting that one on your calendar, remember to save these Tuesdays for other upcoming RiverSpeak Board meetings (always held at 5:30):
January 19th, 2010
February 16, 2010
March 16, 2010
April 20, 2010
May 18, 2010
Questions? Email us.
Filed under: Commentary, Writing | Tags: artistic ownership, digital media, literary reading, local writers, sherman alexie
Local author Sherman Alexie was on the Colbert Report earlier this week talking about his latest book, War Dances and digital media. Alexie told Stephen Colbert that he will not allow his books to be made available in any digital book format. A few reasons he cited for this decision were the impending demise of independent booksellers, the loss of artistic ownership and the missing human element.
Click here to watch Alexie's interview with Stephen Colbert
Musicians have struggled with the rise of an increasingly digital culture for several years now. And no doubt many visual artists find their images being used without their permission, thanks to tools such as Google’s image search. What do you think this latest digital innovation will mean for writers? Are you concerned? If so, what do you plan to do about it? Will you be buying your books in a digital format?
Perhaps there is a clue in what Alexie said about the writer as performer – a storyteller around the metaphorical fire. Might we see a push for more literary readings as the digital book catches on?
*Don’t forget: Sherman Alexie and Jess Walter will be reading this Saturday at Auntie’s Bookstore. As of this writing, there are still standing-room only tickets available with the purchase of one of the authors’ books.
Crystal Clark is an artistic soul and runs the Spovegan blog, as well as many Spokane Vegan Potlucks, gatherings, and activities.
Filed under: Call to Artists!, Performance, Spokane Arts Community | Tags: Dance
Koreshakti Tribal Fusion is a new belly dance troupe based in Spokane, and they are currently seeking performance artists for a new show called “Alchemy.” According to group member Nicole Richardson, the theme of the show “is roughly based on the situation in the Dark Ages–the challenges they faced then–and how those same lessons apply today.”
The goal is to make this event to be as unique and diverse as possible, so any talent will be considered. (But please, nothing that involves fire. Sorry pyros!) This event will be held at the Intiman Theatre on March 6th and 7th, so you will have plenty of time to practice your particular brand of talent. Contact Nicole if you would like to set up an audition.
And if you would like to see Koreshakti in action, please check out the videos on their RiverSpeak artist profile. Or better yet, see them perform live at First Night on December 31st.
Okay, I admit it. I am totally biased. I love my neighborhood. I love the sense of neighborhoody allegiance that Spokanites embrace. The same neighborhood-love is practiced all around town. I love it! Hillyard, What Up? Big Word to West Central! Lower South, you in the house! Callin’ all my homies in Brownes…
Anyways…Garland is where it’s at today. If you haven’t lately, make it a point of strolling the three blocks of Spokane’s finest north-sideyness. Just today, I bought the most beautiful Fabric at Sew EZ Too! I chatted up Mia at Drop Yer Drawers, unluckily searched that establishment and The American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shoppe for a new used pair of tan courderoy pants; I picked my nose in The Tinman Art Gallery, and now I sit at the Rocket writing this. When I am finished I will cross the street to Ferguson’s Cafe (Mary Stuart Masterson’s old haunt) for an old-timey shake…Then maybe to the theater for a mid-day movie at 3.50 a ticket.
All these good times are good fodder for artistic compost…
Today, write a song, draw a picture, or study a map of your neighborhood. You will be happy you did this next time you are feeling lonely.
BE MINE I LOVE YOU DON’T LEAVE ME
Naaman Cordova-Muenzberg is a Pop/Community artist. His medium varies in accordance with the barometer. He is excited about the nest he is building in your mind and about art-books.
