Lyn Bishop : Sharing Secrets

Shakespeare Santa Cruz is on the verge of permanent shutdown. The 27 year old company is one of the countries best, and provides Santa Cruz and the community with culturally rich artistic performances to attend and enjoy.

The budget cuts inflicted upon the University of California system have required reductions of 1.1 million to the Arts Division, where Shakespeare Santa Cruz resides. This huge amount is in addition to previous cuts already made this year.

An urgent message posted to their website reads: “Our challenge is simply put – raise $300,000 in a week’s time or cease to exist. Talk about “to be or not to be”? The question is, can you help? Yes you can. Click here to donate immediately, or keep reading to get further energized! Do it NOW or forever hold your peace. (more…)

For the last several weeks friends have been sending me all kinds of election year artwork. Barack Obama’s candidacy inspired artists wordwide with his Hope and Change campaign. I’ve posted some favorites below. Visit the Art of Obama site for even more artwork. Leave a comment with URLs to share other election year art.

OBAMA Anatomy of a World Leader, by Alex Grey

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The Sunday evening reception at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery for DigitalEyes 2008-2009: New Esthetic Dimensions in Computer Visualization Technology was a wonderful mix of art lover and computer geek.

Jennifer Gray, guest curator of the show shares with me that this is “the first international digital show at a major civic institution in the city of LA, and that in itself, makes this a historic event.” I get the feeling that she wishes it had happened years ago. (more…)

Back in June, ARTSHIFT San Jose began seeking nominations for their first annual ARTSHIFT AWARDS. In an open process, anyone could nominate a Silicon Valley artist, event, organization, curator, educator or exhibition for special honors and a cash award. Last week the winners were announced at a special party and ceremony held at Orchard Commercial on North First Street. (By the way, kudos to Orchard Commercial for their commitment to our Silicon Valleys art community.)

A large crowd of supports came out to celebrate the arts in Silicon Valley. Erin Goodwin-Guerrero (editor of ARTSHIFT San Jose) provided background information about all the nominees. James Morgan (designer/technical advisor ARTSHIFT), spoke about an online art scene and the Silicon Valley art community in the digital age. JoAnne Northrup (senior curator, San Jose Museum of Art) addressed San Jose and Silicon Valley’s evolving art scene and Kerry Adams (director, Office of Cultural Affairs) presented the two cash awards. (more…)

Naoshima is a small island located in Japan’s Inland Sea. In recent years Naoshima has transformed itself from a traditional fishing community into a contemporary art destination that features work by some of the worlds best know artists.

Benesse House Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum holds a collection of commissioned works that has spilled out from the formal museum into the surrounding village. The Museum is both a place for art and a place for people, offering hotel accommodations, fine dining, and art library. Walking the museum corridors after hours or visiting the library in the silence of night makes for an extraordinary experience, and gives the guests a feeling of living with the art, if only for a day or two.

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