Gulf Coast Observer

3/23/07 - Need Info for Columns
I am working on the next few columns for Gulf Coast Observer.
May will be art having to do with Women's forms or Mother and child,
June will be white, frilly or pairs,
July will be red, white and blue or folk art,
August is all about water.

If you have any art that you think might fit please let me know about it. I am spending a lot of time looking for art to fill the column. I know many of you still need a mention and please don't hesitate to toot your own horn. I would prefer you send me a link to a website for your art than an actual image. My computer is very slow.

After August I hope that you all will take the initiative (especially if you have not been mentioned in this column) and send this format directly to Cheli with the Observer so that she can continue to feature an Arts Column. I have been honored to work on it this first year and get everyone in the habit of sending and promoting their work. I am basically a small business and with only 3 of us, time is an issue. Cheli has always wanted an arts column and I see no reason why she wouldn't still keep it up as long as all of you all are still sending her items to publish. Some of the art organizations might even get together and send one artist from each group each month.

Format
Jpeg of image
title of piece
Medium
5 sentence biography about you
and most importantly...where your work is being sold (including stores, galleries, upcoming shows, contact info, websites, etc....)

This will help other news writers find you when they are wanting to do stories about the arts. Cheli's contact info is Cheli StrumilaE-mail Address(es): cheli@coastnightlifeobserver.comPersonal Information: Phone: 896-2295

You can view past columns at ...

http://www.coastnightlifeobserver.com/Coast_Artists.html

8/8 - Gulf Coast Observer Column
I'm working on some things and I'll let you know what happens. I asked asked Cheli to do a column for all you artists in Gulf Coast Observer and she said she did not have time to do another thing and asked if I wanted to write it. I got to thinking it would be easy enough just to do a lead and then have you guys send in photos of yourself and one of your work and then fill it up that way. I am hoping she will give me the space I requested and color. We'll just have to see. Nothing is definite. Cheli's Mother passed away so she is in Ft. Worth right now. Here is my title and lead.

Eye of Katrina
Ms Gulf Coast As Seen Thru the Eyes of Artists

By Valerie Cushman

Artists bring beauty to our lives; our personal environments are richer for their creativity. Now more than ever our homes, offices and places we live should reflect who we are and what we love! By surrounding ourselves with things that make us smile we are able to heal a little. In healing ourselves, we are in a better position to then give of ourselves. Our artists are what gives the MS Gulf Coast its’ very own style and flavor. They are in essence what is the very best about our community. Because so much of their life is lived inside their own head, they hold a torch so that all of us may follow. They are the visionaries and the truth tellers.

I hope that you will seek out and support those who bring so much beauty into our lives. When planning special things for your new home select a photo that marks a new beginning, a new collection of pottery shaped by those who love the earth, a breathtaking watercolor, a print of your favorite places, a piece of jewelry that makes your eyes dance, a verse that moves you to tears, glass that sparkles like the waters of the gulf in the sunlight, sculptures that beg for a caress, or a collage of objects fixed by purposeful hands that only see the beauty of the everyday.

9/8 Update
I spoke to Cheli at Gulf Coast Observer and she does want to still add an artist section. Right now, she doesn't have the room this month. She has to buy extra pages from the printers to expand her sections and that means she has to go and sell some more advertisers to pay for it. It is cheaper for her to buy 8 extra pages than 2.

So she is shooting for next month. I think she is going to try and give me 2 pages of those 8 so that is ultra nice of her. She has had a death in the family, her mother, last month.

I am trying to theme it each month and I thought scary artworks. Autumn, fall, Halloween - maybe oak trees with leaves stripped bare. Red Sky sunset paintings, Wrought Iron courtyard scenes. Twisted pottery, fragments of glass in orange - anything that creeps or any kind of artwork that is fall.

The lead is still the same for the EYE of Katrina Column. If you have anything that you would like to submit, please let me know. If you have it on a website that would be better and just send me the site's address. Smaller photos are better to send since my computer is slow.

The hope is to do a 2 paragraph lead and then pictures of your artworks with contact info underneath. So if you are selling your art through someone here along the coast we can list that info. If you prefer to be contacted directly, we will need that information. If you have a website, list that. Please list all information for all contacts where and how you sell your artwork.

Val