Carolyn Edlund (Artsy Shark) and Rickie Leiter (The Rickie Report) share a Call to Artists plus Part I of an interview which focuses on increasing your art audience.  The Rickie Report shares both and hopes you will not only apply to the Call for Artists ( DEADLINE  is July 7, 2022  at midnight), but consider how to grow your business.

 

 

 

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Cheryl Magellan, Hannah Billingham, Jane Yuen Corich, Karen Rand Anderson, David Tulbert, Emma Cavell

 

 

 

 

Your artist feature is promoted to our large social media following (80,000+) and emailed to more than 25,000 subscribers, exposing your art to a vast audience.

After your feature publishes, you will receive a PDF copy of your portfolio article in magazine style format to use as marketing collateral that continues to promote you as an artist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The    Interview:

 

 

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Advice for Artists: Secure Opportunities and Promote Your Events

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information :

 

Carolyn Edlund:  410.977.2915

Carolyn@ArtsyShark.com

www.ArtsyShark.com

 

 

 

 

 

Cheryl Phan has over 35 years of experience in sales and marketing, having worked for some “Big Name” corporations.  Going into business for herself helped hone her skills even more. She is now offering “First Things First” and is helping women turn their hobbies into workable businesses in 30 days.  Cheryl’s first hand knowledge and willingness takes “newbies” toward entrepreneurial independence in an empowering and exciting way! Cheryl’s FREE Startup Mini Course begins June 6 -10. She’ll teach you 5 easy steps to getting started in your own business and share step-by-step videos.  The Rickie Report shares the details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

 

 

It’s all happening on:

• June 6-10-2022

• Register to attend the private  “Startup Biz” Facebook group

• No particular time: Come each day when you can

 

 

With over 35 years’ experience in sales and marketing, Cheryl Phan has work with companies such as Clear Channel Radio, CBS Radio, Fox TV, Palm Beach Post, KB Advertising and she is the owner of three self-made businesses.  In 2002 Cheryl took a courageous step, leaving the TV and Radio industry to be her own boss and start her own decorative painting business in Palm Beach County Florida.

 

 

Cheryl has established herself in the business building area implementing sales and marketing campaigns that move product, drive traffic, and increase sales.  Her true gift is coaching other women how to turn their hobby into an online business with real-world knowledge, simple techniques and sprinkled with fun. 

 

 

 

Cheryl lives in West Palm Beach, Florida and is a proud mother of two daughters and four grandchildren. She also serves at The Hand Of Hope special needs ministry. Philanthropy has always been a passion and helping other comes naturally.  Although she wears many hats, art is her real love.

 

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

 

My Story

 

Cheryl shares with The Rickie Report, “I’m going to be very vulnerable right now and tell you what happened to me back in 2008. Remember the recession? It’s hard to forget especially when it hits you hard. I had a decorative painting business and I still do to this day, but back then I didn’t prepare myself for the what if….  The business was going great. I was making a ton of money. I had a crew of people working for me and life was good”. 

 

My wake-up call

 

Cheryl says, “Until the bomb hit, and everyone was losing their homes, including me and to make matters more challenging , I had a hip replacement a few months before it happened. I was in panic mode. I was scared and put my business on hold and took a job making peanuts working 40+ hours a week that barely paid my monthly bills.  The bad news was I was laid off. The good news is it forced me to take along hard look at my life and what I was going to do to generate an income. I swore I would never let that happen again. So, I put on my big girl panties, pulled up my bootstraps and started my decorative painting business back up again, but this time I made some changes. I knew that I couldn’t depend on painting one job at a time. That’s when I took my business online and started building multiple streams of income from my painting business”. 

 

 

Sure, it was a little bit of work…

but I only had two choices:

 

 

 

 #1 I could go work for someone else and live paycheck-to-paycheck with no job security.

 

 

OR…

 #2 I could step out of my comfort zone and learn new and innovative ways to build my business. 

 

 

 

I decided on option #2 the benefits outweighed the reality. 

(Let me say this, if I can do this at 64 years old, so can you!!!)

 

 

 

It’s not rocket science, it a learning curve!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

Fast forward to 2022

 

During my journey on social media, my following started grow, new leads started pouring in and people started asking me for advice on how to start their own business. (BTW, this is the number one reason most women never get started, because they don’t know where to start).  I spent numerous hours responding to DM’s and messages until one day I decided to take my business knowledge, and experience and start sharing it with other women who are in the same boat I was in just a few years ago. 

 

FULL DISCLOSURE

 

When I started my business 20 years ago, I had no clue what I was doing. I made a LOT of mistakes and many of them were costly. I don’t want to see others make the same mistakes. I’m also a true believer in “#paying it forward”. When you are a blessing to others you will also be blessed. So long story short, I am now coaching women how use their God given talent to make money online doing what they love. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the good stuff!

 

 

 

I created a course called “First Things First”, because let’s face it, nobody has years to figure this out, especially when you’re over fifty. 

 

I’m giving away the first 5 modules from my course in a Free Mini course webinar. This is where I will teach you how to set up your business from scratch and get legit. Remember, If you’re not legit, you’re still a hobby. 

 

 

My hope is that you’ll not only feel inspired, but also know I’m here to help in any way I can. If you have a dream of starting a business, it is possible!

 

Get the details and let’s get you started!

Why Not, It’s FREE!

 

 

https://www.subscribepage.com/ftfminicourse

 

 

 

The #1 reason most women don’t start their own business is because they don’t know where to start. 

No more excuses, because I’m handing you the first 5 modules from my course on a silver platter. I’m going to show you exactly what you need to do to GET STARTED! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you struggling to make sales on social media?

Are you tired of watching everyone else make money?

Are you dabbling with your hobby and want to turn it into a real business?

 

If this is you, I want to invite you to my FREE Startup Mini Course. I’m going to teach you 5 easy steps to getting started in your own business without the tech.  I share step-by-step videos teaching you exactly what to do, I’ll give you worksheets to help you peruse through without being overwhelmed and all my resources, so you don’t have to figure it out on your own. 

 

Even if you have already started your business, I would encourage you to attend there may be some golden nuggets that will help you expand your business. Plus, I’ll have some awesome prizes for you to grab while you’re there. 

 

 

It’s all happening on:

• June 6-10-2022

• Register to attend the private “Startup Biz” Facebook group

• No particular time: Come each day when you can

What   exactly   are   you   waiting   for?

 

The time is NOW!

Click on this link and grab your seat. 

Hope to see you there!
Cheryl

 

For more information about Cheryl Phan:

Business Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/coachcherylphan

Website: https://cherylphan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylphan/

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/cherylphan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherylphan1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylphan1/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/c/cherylphan

Artzy Fartzy Creations website: http://artzyfartzycreations.com

 

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

The Rickie Report takes you behind the scenes into the life of a museum docent with Jo-Anne Weingarden.  We thank Caren Hackman for interviewing Jo-Anne and taking some photos at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL.  While her path was not straightforward, we wend our way into a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a group into the vast collection of art and special exhibits.  Enjoy this interview and some peeks.

 

 

 

 

“What started as a journey to learn more about art for her personal purchase became a passion that has never waned”.

 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden at Olafur Eliasson’s Cosmic Gaze at the Norton Museum of Art

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden and her husband wanted to buy some artwork for their home, but they wanted to know exactly what they were buying; not just pieces that might match their sofa. To help with this purchase, the couple decided to take classes to learn more about art.  And so began a life’s journey that led Jo-Anne to a 40-year career as a docent, first at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA), and now for the Norton Museum of Art. What started as a journey to learn more about art for her personal purchase became a passion that has never waned.

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Constantin Brancusi’s Mademoiselle Pogany at the Norton Museum

 

 

 

While taking classes, Jo-Anne was also facing being an empty-nester; as her youngest child headed off to college. That was when someone suggested she investigate becoming a docent. She ended up applying to the DIA, one of the largest art museums in the United States. Taking this chance led to 25 years of a wonderful and interesting volunteer experience. “The museum has an encyclopedic collection and when you walk past all the art history and textbooks, the walls became alive,” she said.

 

 

Becoming a docent isn’t a simple journey – it was two years of intensive study at the DIA. In addition, being a docent obviously required public speaking skills, of which Jo-Anne had a life-long fear. She was so shy that while working as a substitute teacher in previous years, “I would eat in my classroom rather than with the other teachers.”  But, in her evolution from mother and substitute teacher to docent, Jo-Anne conquered her shyness and has become a proficient speaker to art enthusiasts of all ages, from children through adults, to art newbies, to connoisseurs.

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Yinka Shonibare  “Le Meduse” at The Norton Museum

 

 

 

While JoAnn and her husband, Jerry, visited major international art galleries in earlier years, it was during her studies that she gained a true appreciation. “Our first trip to Italy was in 1969. We had been to the Prado and the Uffizi museums, but it’s one thing to walk through and only have your basic knowledge to relate to; it’s another to have a rich educational background when seeing the actual art again. Art is a product of the times and can be appreciated at all levels. It’s sort of like going to Disney World. There are so many levels to experience and enjoy”. 

 

 

“Learning is continuous for docents, especially when the museum hosts special exhibits or assimilates new work into the permanent collection”.

 

 

When the Weingardens moved to Palm Beach County from Detroit, a friend suggested Jo-Anne volunteer as a docent at the Norton Museum of Art. At the Norton, due to her past education and experience from the DIA, Jo-Anne was given permission to skip over some of the basics of art history and begin her new docent education of the Norton collections. Learning is continuous for docents, especially when the museum hosts special exhibits or assimilates new work into the permanent collection. However, even as a new docent, Jo-Anne feels that while the learning is very time consuming, “It is always extremely rewarding. You continue to learn as you attend classes with and guide a new group of docents through the process.” 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Nosadella “Madonna and Child in Glory” at Norton Museum

 

 

JoAnn explained that the Norton’s docent training is ever-evolving and that Glenn Tomlinson, the curator of education, is a strong proponent of the inquiry method, which is based on a program developed by Philip Yenawine, creator of “Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS),” method of arts education.”  “When I started at the DIA, I was trained in the inquiry method, which was not really well-known at the time in the museum world. The inquiry method requires the docent to engage the group, not to lecture to them. You interact on all levels. Jo-Anne has mentored future docents with some of these same methods and techniques that she was previously taught.

 

 

 

“The inquiry method requires the docent to engage the group, not to lecture to them. You interact on all levels. Visiting a museum involves more of a conversation between visitor and artwork”.

 

 

 

Visiting a museum involves more of a conversation between visitor and artwork. Using the VTS method, docents engage visitors. The docent introduction should be brief, then offer a relatable “hook” to help the visitor become more involved in the exhibit. “It’s our job to have the ideas and a list of possible questions to help visitors form their own responses, to interact and make each experience their own.”  Docents ask leading questions to spearhead into another question, such as, “What do you notice? What makes you say that? Who else thinks they see the same thing?”  Followed by, “What does that mean?”, or “Where did that person come from?”, or “Where do you think you could find that information?”  Optimally a docent would like each visitor to have at least three take-away concepts about a work of art.

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Jose Bedia’s “If Only I Could” At the Norton Museum

 

 

 

When a new exhibit is scheduled to be installed at the Norton Museum of Art, docents are offered an “avalanche” of material. They begin preparing for the new exhibit a week to several weeks before it even opens to the public. There’s no examination to pass, however preparation is intense, involving slide shows, written texts, discussions, walk-throughs with the show’s curator, the designer, or someone who is closely involved in the exhibition and knows it well. After reviewing all the documents and materials for the new exhibit, each docent personally creates a tour that maximizes his/her own talents but is not scripted. 

 

 

 

When Jo-Anne begins a tour, she assesses her group. Sometimes she is faced with blank disinterested looks but has always come up with an interesting starter or that “hook”. For example, when kicking off a DIA tour with a group of disinterested teens (arms crossed on their chests), JoAnn would ask, “How many of you have been to an auto show?” Most of the students would raise their hands. The question made them uncross their arms.” Then she would ask, “Did you like going to the auto show? If you do, why?” That would get students talking about the design of the cars, the paint colors, and which cars were more powerful. 

 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Nick Cave’s “Sound Suit” at the Norton Museum

 

 

One very important thing Jo-Anne learned about working with students older than age 11 is to not single out any one student as a “teacher’s pet” after they give a correct answer. “I pose open-ended questions. I will repeat the answer as a confirmation that this person gave the answer, but I may not even look at them. Beyond fifth grade, students don’t want to be teacher’s pets”.

 

 

When JoAnn works in the portrait section of the museum, she asks visitors to imagine that each portrait is a person they are meeting for the very first time. The portrait subject cannot speak directly to the museum visitor, so the visitor must use their power of observation to connect and learn about the picture. JoAnn asks about attributes such as hair, stature, clothing, fit and style and accessories, as well as the individual’s expression and surroundings. All these clues will give information about the portrait sitter.

 

 

Some of the highlights of Jo-Anne’s docent career occurred when she was least expecting them.

The following stand out in her memory: 

 

• “I was on my way to do a tour that I really didn’t want to do. All the way driving there I thought, why am I doing this? They were preschoolers, and I thought this is not what I really had in mind when I became a docent. When I got to the museum, the teacher asked me if I had ever worked with “special children” before.

 

 

To me all children are special. I wasn’t exactly sure what she meant, just that the group would be a little smaller and the teacher instructed me to talk to them a little bit differently.”  As Jo-Anne began the tour, the group of preschoolers, teachers, students, and aids all held hands. Jo-Anne held the hand of a little boy who seemed to be shaking. As the group discussed pieces of artwork, the little boy continued to hold her hand. He remained silent, as the other children became engaged.

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with Joan Miro’s “Woman Bird and Star” at the Norton Museum

 

In highlighting a particular Matisse artwork, Jo-Anne asked the same group to take out magic invisible scissors and see if they could cut out the shapes from the paintings. Her young companion holding her hand just looked and half smiled. When she took the group into the German expressionist gallery, she requested the group “…become that sculpture. See if you can pose just like that.” It was then that the little boy let go of her hand, walked over with the other children, and got into a semi-pose. He smiled, then came back to hold her hand. When the tour was over, the little boy’s teacher told Jo-Anne that the boy had never responded to any command or any direction in the entire time that he had been with the school. That was the first time they saw him actively participate. 

 

 

 

Jo-Anne Weingarden with James Chapin’s “Ruby Green Singing” at The Norton Museum

 

 

• Jo-Anne and her husband enjoy traveling throughout Italy and like to be educated as much as possible before their trips. In Detroit while taking an Italian class, a fellow student, a woman in her 80’s who knew Jo-Anne was a docent at the DIA, invited them to study with her. Eventually the woman mentioned her parents had been patrons of the museum and asked if JoAnn would give her and an out-of-town visitor a personal tour. Jo-Anne was prepared to show her many sections of the museum when the woman surprised Jo-Anne by asking to visit the DIA library. “The DIA library is a fabulous place with sculptural busts all along the aisles between the bookcases and large tables to sit down and study the books and sculptures. As we were walking, the older woman was caressing the sculptures, something not allowed in the museum. I saw the librarian and thought I should let the librarian tell her she can’t touch the sculptures. Imagine my surprise when she introduced me to the bust of her mother!”  

 

Jo-Anne continues to give tours at the Norton. She loves to be asked interesting questions and hear different perspectives about the museum’s art exhibits. 

 

 

 

 

For more information about this interview please contact:

 

For more information about Caren’s artwork:

https://yogapainter.com

https://carenhackman.com

https://www.facebook.com/myyogapainter/

 

 

 

 

 

Artist Jane Tracy left behind hundreds of original paintings.  Her family discovered them in storage shortly after her death and quickly realized the role art could play in raising awareness for those in need.  They donated a significant collection to various organizations to assist in their fundraising efforts. Jane’s husband, Peter, is working to help other families honor their beloved late artists and find closure. He welcomes inquiries from others in a similar situation. The Rickie Report shares a story of gratitude and continued giving.

 

 

 

ORIGINAL      WORKS     by    JANE     TRACY:

 

 

 

RAISING     AWARENESS     THROUGH     ART

 

 

Honoring Late Artist’s Wishes to Support Women & Children

Helping Families with Deceased Artist’s Inventory

 

 

“Around The Playground” by Jane Tracy

 

 

The award winning artist exhibited her paintings, during her lifetime, at a variety of museums and galleries throughout the Northeast and in South Florida. The bold, powerful and vivid abstract art, reflective of the joy that fueled Jane Tracy’s creative process, are now supporting women and children. Led by husband Peter Tracy, The Estate of Artist Jane Tracy strives to honor her memory and her wishes. 

 

“She was a teacher, a prolific artist, and she was passionate about helping women, children and families,” says husband Peter Tracy.  “We couldn’t believe the number of paintings we found in storage.  She left instructions in her will that her work should be donated to help others but it wasn’t easy,” points out Peter.

 

 

“Floating” by Jane Tracy

 

 

He had no precedent and there was no roadmap to guide his mission to fulfill his wife’s wishes. After dozens of phone calls, meetings and hurdles, he identified a few organizations that could benefit from Jane’s paintings and they enthusiastically embraced his offer, ultimately donating more than 400 original abstract paintings.

 

“Jane’s artwork is not just a donation to us, but it’s about making a difference in the children’s lives,” affirms Melissa Vera, Development Manager, Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc.  “We have successfully featured Jane Tracy’s artwork in our fundraising efforts which support our mission and programs that help children.”

 

 

Peter created the video “Van Gogh & Jane” to raise awareness and promote the sale of her paintings.

 

 

The process was an eye opener for Peter, he wasn’t the only one with inventory from a deceased artist. He plans to share his experience so that others can honor their loved ones and find closure. He has already acquired a domain for deceased artists inventory.  “I’m in the process of a creating a website where family members and non-profits could connect and help each other,” explains Peter.  He welcomes inquiries from others in a similar situation.

 

In the meantime, Jane Tracy’s family is encouraged by the successful fundraising efforts of these organizations and is committed to promoting the concept of supporting those in need through art. 

 

 

“On Good Terms” by Jane Tracy

 

“People love to purchase art at fundraisers to be able to give back to nonprofit organizations while being able to get art for themselves,” says Melissa Vera, Development Manager, Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc. “We encourage family members of deceased artists who find themselves with inventory to reach out to non-profits and organizations in their communities, just as Peter Tracy did.”

 

“People can make a difference if they want to,” points out Peter Tracy.  “We hope the public will consider purchasing an original painting to help women and children, which was very important to Jane.”

 

To explore original paintings by Jane Tracy and support women and children through her art please go to www.JaneTracyArt.  Stay tuned for the Deceased Artist’s Inventory site currently under construction.

 

 

“Oh So Taxing” by Jane Tracy

 

 

About Jane Tracy

Award winning artist Jane Tracy was a creative force her entire life.  She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Central Michigan University and went on to teach art in Montpelier, VT.  In 1968 she married Peter Tracy and continued her life’s journey as an artist. Her experiences were diverse. She worked in advertising and as a studio potter Jane created functional stoneware that was sold throughout the eastern United States. In 1972 she became a potter-in-residence at the Guilford Art Center in Guilford, CT.  The dynamic and vibrant artist opened Curious Jane’s Restaurant in 1977 with great success through 1981. She even designed the couple’s home in Branford, CT, which was featured in a variety of publications. She launched her career as a painter in 1985; her passion for color, texture and movement apparent in each of the hundreds of abstract paintings she ultimately created. Jane’s art is powerful and vivid, reflective of the joy that fueled her creative process.

Jane divided her time between her homes in South Florida and Connecticut.  She participated in a variety of juried shows and exhibited her work in numerous art centers, galleries and museums throughout South Florida, including the Armory Art Center in 2015 and 2016.

 

Jane was a signature member of the Artists’ Guild of the Boca Raton Museum of Art and the Guilford Art League; a member of the Broward Art Guild, Creative Arts Workshop, Madison Art League, Palm Beach Watercolor Society,  Florida Watercolor Society; New Haven Paint and Clay Club,  International Society of Experimental Artists, WITVA Women in the Visual Arts, International Society of Acrylic Painters, National Association of Women Artists, Connecticut Women Artists and a founding member of the Blue Moon Group.

 

As a lifelong advocate for women’s rights and children, Jane would be thrilled to know her paintings will benefit charitable organizations that serve those in need.

 

Jane’s Artist Statement

Making art is always a challenge. The sensory involvement and visceral stimulation needed  requires a commitment – a commitment to struggle through the process – enjoying the moments of success and triumphing over the ever-present grind of making compositional selections of color, line, value or shape.

 

Non-representational paintings compel me to surrender to my intuition and to trust my inner-urge to experiment. The process of continually making choices and decisions– what to add, what to keep, what to eliminate, what to repeat and ultimately, when to stop–is both  daunting and exhilarating.

 

The thrill of a uniquely textured surface, the contrasting interplay of warm and cool colors, the surprise of unplanned subtleties are some of the factors in my highly personal, solitary painting experiences that inspire me each time I begin a new painting. The knowledge that there will always be another blank surface for me to paint serves as my ultimate inspiration.

 

 

 

“Lunar Expression” by Jane Tracy

 

 

Supporting Women & Children Through Art:

 

You can support the following organizations with the purchase of an original Jane Tracy painting:

Family Resource Center of South Florida – www.frcflorida.org

Armory Art Center – www.armoryart.org

The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade – www.womensfundmiami.org

Additional Links:

 

www.JaneTracyArt.com

https://www.instagram.com/xxjane30xx/

 

Press:

 

https://www.therickiereport.com/2016/01/27/jane-tracy-is-featured-artist-at-boca-raton-library-friends-gallery/

https://emptyeasel.com/2011/10/12/jane-tracy-gloriously-colorful-abstract-paintings/

 

 

 

Media Notes:

To request an interview with Peter Tracy or high resolution images of Jane’s paintings please contact AnaBelle Ramos at anabelle@anabelleramos.com.

Peter Tracy can be contacted at opusmail@gmail.com.

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

 

 

Kianga Jinaki is a visual storyteller. Her multi-dimensional work reflects her life and African cultural traditions learned through travel and personal study. She creates her own textiles using African cloth by painting, stamping, dying, or sun printing. Over 50% of her work is done by hand.  Kianga will be a vendor at the upcoming Broward Quilt Expo Marketplace on October  23 – 24.  The Rickie Report shares the details and some sneak peeks of Kianga’s creations! Kianga also offers classes and workshops in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

601 City Center Way   Pembroke Pines, FL 33025

954.392.9480

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kianga Jinaki’s multi-dimensional fabric art reflects her life and African cultural traditions she learned through travel and personal study. She tells The Rickie Report, “Textiles come with their own stories. I am adding my own voice. I speak with cloth”.

 

 

 

LIFE   IS   IN   THE   STITCHING

 

Kianga shares, “I enjoy creating my own textiles by painting, stamping, dying or sun printing fabric. More than 50% of  the sewing, embellishing, and appliqué seen in my work is done by hand”.

 

 

 

 

“Because so much of my process is self-taught my work has a ‘folk art’ feel to it. I love adding texture and embellishments to create more dimension. Writing prayers and affirmations on cloth or paper, then binding them with thread or wire to a piece adds an element of spirit. My work draws on the folklore, music, poetry, history, spirituality and essence of African people”.

 

 

A    MOMENT    IN    JAZZ

 

“A Moment in Jazz” by Kianga Jinaki

 

 

 

“Born and raised in Baltimore, MD,  I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s immersed in the cultural and civil rights movement of the time. My  years of  reading the works of Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and other cultural icons, gave me an appreciation for my culture and desire to express it through my art”.

 

 

 

Mini Textile portrait by Kianga Jinaki

 

 

“Quilting is a medium with which I continue to grow and explore as I incorporate new methods of storytelling techniques.  I create art quilts, dolls, and mixed media works that tell the story of my heritage as an African-American. My work includes historic and cultural traditions from both America and Africa. Traditional and contemporary African textiles are used in my work. I see my work as contemporary folk art.

 

 

 

Kianga offers a wide variety of quilts, wearable art, and embellishments

 

 

“My quilts can address many issues, from violence against Black people in this country, to reminiscing about the 70’s, or represent  Mami Wata an African Goddess, that appears in Dogon cosmology as the mother of creation”.

 

 

“Adowa Returns” by Kianga Jinaki

 

 

“As a child I created collages and my greatest influence was Romare Bearden. When I began to create dolls in the early 90’s I saw them as another form of collage/assemblage. A few years after I began to create dolls I was exposed to the work of quilter Faith Ringgold.  It was her work that enabled me to see quilting as a viable medium to tell the stories of my heart”. 

 

 

Cowry Shells for embellishment 

 

 

“I chose this medium because of my love for African textiles. Years prior to my art career I made my own clothing using Africa textiles. I love the versatility of these textiles, most of them made from cotton, which is easily manipulated, dyed, embellished, sewn, and painted upon. I’m very comfortable telling my stories through cloth”.

 

 

 

Recently, Kianga received The Curators Award for my work in the Exhibition Contemporary Fiber of Florida 2019 at FloridaCraft Art Gallery; Honorable Mention for her art quilt category Juried exhibition at the Broward Quilt Expo 2019 in Ft Lauderdale; An six month exhibition of her work in “Soul Utterings: Creative Works by Kianga Jinaki and John Mascoll”, at Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park.

 

 

 

Wearable art by Kianga

 

 

For more information about Kianga’s  fabric creations, classes, or workshops:

 

 

kiangaart.com

https://www.instagram.com/kianga_art/

www.facebook.com/KiangaArt/

Email:  Info@kiangaart.com

(561) 503-9504

 

 

 

 

For more information: 

 

 

 

Preparing an application for a public art project can be a daunting task. The St. Lucie Cultural Alliance offers a Public Art Workshop with Debby Coles-Dobay on Tuesday, August 3. Learn about the basics of Public Art Programs including tips, best practices, and resources. Reservations are required. This seminar is free to St. Lucie Cultural Alliance members and is open to non-members for a small fee. The Rickie Report shares the details here.  Register soon as space is limited!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T U E S D A Y,    A U G U S T  3,  2 0 2 1  

10 – 11 AM

 

 

 

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd   Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

Phone: 772-337-1959     www.pslbg.org

 

 

This workshop will provide step-by-step instructions and explore best practices to assist you in reviewing and developing a quality response to a Call for Artists (Request for Qualifications or Request for Proposals).

 

This 1-hour session will take place at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, on Tuesday, August 3, 10 – 11 AM, and cover the following:

 

 

• Basics of Public Art Programs

• How to prepare a Call-to-artist RFQ

• What are RFQ and RFP?

• Tips to become a public artist

• Public art best practices and resources

 

Intro to Public Art is FREE for Cultural Alliance Members and City of Port St. Lucie residents click here to register: https://bit.ly/3kDbf2c

 

 

 

 and ONLY $25 for all other artists:  https://bit.ly/3xfYwpz

Pattie Tobin  Long Range Planning Administrator for Port St. Lucie

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about anything mentioned in this article, new initiatives you would like to propose, or to make a comment:

 

artstlucie.org

St. Lucie Cultural Alliance 

2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL 34982

 (772) 462-2783

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART     &     THE      BLOCKCHAIN

 

 

 

 

 

How prevalent is blockchain in our society? One-third of small and medium-sized businesses now take cryptocurrency as payment. Bitcoin can be purchased using Paypal. Mastercard, Visa, and American Express are all embracing blockchain technology. It is transforming the banking and “financial industries, and is the “digital DNA” of the internet 3.0.

 

 

 

 

 

How will this problem be overcome? Bitcoin operates on a Proof of Work mechanism which is energy ineficient. The Ethereum blockchain (which powers NFTs) and other platforms are moving to Proof of Stake, which is much less energy consumptive.  Gouran adds, “There are systems like Stellar and Ripple and when released,Facebook’s Diem blockchain, which would use even less energy than Ethereum’s Proof of Stake. A transaction on the Diem blockchain doesn’t cost more than a Visa transaction.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Edlund:  410.977.2915

Carolyn@ArtsyShark.com

www.ArtsyShark.com

 

 

 

 

 

A mega emerging marketplace has opened for artists to sell digital art online.  How does it work? What are NFTs and what does Blockchain have to do with art, music, and collectibles? How does this change artists relationships with brick and mortar galleries?  This is already producing ripples in cross-over industries. The Rickie Report shares an informative article about Crypto Art, written by Carolyn Edlund of Artsyshark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Edlund Graham

 

 

WHAT     IS     CRYPTO     ART?

 

 

 

Crypto Art is a new market for digital artworks traded securely with blockchain technology. It’s often sold through online platforms using cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Artworks are paired in the crypto space with “non-fungible tokens” (NFTs) which authenticate each work as scarce and unique.

 

Blockchain technology is a decentralized, trustless system that provides transparent, verifiable documentation for the artist as creator and for collectors as the owners of the art, and shows provenance over time as a permanent record. It is even being used to authenticate and track physical artwork as a way to reduce fraud and increase consumer confidence. But the application of this technology actually has a vast number of uses, including financial services, security and privacy, legal applications and more.

 

 

“Rebirth of the Yesterbeasts” by Marc-O-Matic, sold for 3.75eth ($3,105) on Makers Place

 

 

 

Where does the Crypto Art market exist?  New online marketplaces such as SuperRare, Rarible, Open Sea and others have cropped up that allow digital artists to display and sell through auction or outright sale. NFTs are not always art; they can take the form of music, collectibles, and even digital real estate. This hot market has recently produced astonishing headlines and gained lots of interest from collectors, investors and others.

 

 

Marc-O-Matic is an artist based in Melbourne, Australia who entered the Crypto Art market during the last year and found it to be tremendously profitable. Marc describes his art as a compilation of illustration, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), designed to provide an immersive technology experience.

 

“Augmented Reality allows you to create an intersection between art and digital,” he says. “I fuse traditional skills with AR to present art in different engaging ways by repurposing illustrative work and augmenting it to become an experiential and engaging way to view art.”

 

 

In the immersive environment (which may be a gallery or other space) artwork is viewed through mobile phones or tablets to access the AR housed in an app he developed. The physical work acts as a QR code that triggers the animation. In the video below, Marc-O-Matic explains his work, while using AR to produce animation that mimics his facial gestures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His work is sold on several online platforms including SuperRare, a platform on the Ethereum blockchain which has a curatorial selection process (and a high volume of artists applying). Artists submit images and a video of their work for approval. Each sale made on SuperRare involves a 15% commission plus a charge to pay the “gas” fee charged when spending Ethereum. The artist will be paid again if and when a secondary sale is made, with 10% of the price going directly to them automatically through the blockchain—with no middle man involved.

 

 

Marc-O-Matic notes that digital art isn’t the only thing you can sell on the blockchain; you can sell physical art as well. “I’ve recently created physical painted prints,” he says. “Each artwork has a wax seal signature, embedded with NFT chips behind that seal that contain information about the art, its origin and more. When scanned, it leads to a website that shows records of the transactions of the physical art and its history of ownership. You can essentially embed NFT chips in your own artwork to authenticate ownership and value.”

 

 

That is part of the appeal of the blockchain, which eliminates the “smoke and mirrors” that can sometimes happen with brick and mortar gallery sales where artists don’t know who has purchased their work. The technology is transparent on ownership, allowing artists to benefit from royalties on their own work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Original Oculus” by Marc-O-Matic, sold for 4.4 eth ($7,103) on SuperRare 

 

 

 

 

When art as an NFT can be freely shared online, how does that affect the rights of creator and owner? Marc-O-Matic explains, “If you make a sale, the collector cannot redistribute or reproduce the work in any way, including physical copies. The artist cannot either. It’s a 1 of 1 edition. Doing so would defeat the purpose anyway, since the reasoning behind NFTs is artificial scarcity. The artist could, however, share 3D animations through social media and online, so long as they do not sell it again. And, as digital artwork that has been sold gets proliferated online and becomes popular, it actually adds value to the work. The more people who see it, the higher the perceived value.”

 

 

Why do people collect NFTs? “Everyone has their own drive when collecting,” says the artist. “Some like to buy art at a lower price, and flip it later, so that it pays off as an investment. Others are genuine collectors who see the value of digital assets. They understand that as we dive deeper into a digital world with immersive tech, having NFTs in place offers them importance as owners.”

 

Commissions are also a huge part of this space, as awareness of the investment value of digital collectibles increases. Companies are having NFTs made specifically for them that support their brand. The NBA recently dropped a series of collectible packs of player trading cards that has exploded in popularity. This opportunity to monetize is crossing industries and will increase in the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

CLICK  HERE   TO  LISTEN:

 

 

 

 

NFTs may have other functions included within them, above and beyond just the art. There are multiple uses, such as unlocking another world inside of a piece of art. Marc-O-Matic poses a potential use, saying “An emerging musician can create tracks with interactive visuals. Imagine purchasing a track of music as an NFT that includes an embedded interview with the artist or something else special. That may be originally purchased for $50.00 but could be worth thousands of dollars when they are famous.”

 

If an artist wanted to get involved in the Crypto Art market, how would they begin? He lays out several steps. “First, do your research in order to understand this new world, how it works, and what the value is. I recommend an article titled The NFT Bible published by Open Sea. It offers a breakdown of the history of tokens, the reasoning behind them, and what makes them so unique and special.”

 

 

The next step is to get set up. “You will need a crypto wallet, which is where you store your currencies, and how you conduct transactions,” he says. “It also is a key to unlock your account on certain platforms. So if I was going to sell a work on SuperRare, I need a wallet to unlock my account. Each wallet has a unique address, and I would use that address to distribute art on that platform. Metamask is one of the more popular wallets to use.”

 

 

Artists who want to sell would also need to acquire cryptocurrency in the form of Ethereum. This allows you to pay gas fees to process and validate transactions, and also to receive payment in the currency, to be held in your cryptocurrency wallet.

 

 

In order to find a platform to list your NFTs, you will need to evaluate those options. Some are curated, requiring a submission process and subsequent approval. Others (such as Rarible and Open Sea) do not. Then, upload your art and start trading!

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Edlund:  410.977.2915

Carolyn@ArtsyShark.com

www.ArtsyShark.com

 

 

 

 

 

The Arts Foundation for Martin County invites you to nominate an ARTIST or STUDENT ARTIST in the visual, performing, or literary arts for a mARTies Award!   The mARTies Awards are a signature event of the Arts Foundation for Martin County honoring outstanding artistic, voluntary, and philanthropic achievement in Martin County which inspire a passion for and participation in the arts in our community.  It takes a mix of artists, philanthropists, volunteers, and leaders weaving together to give the community a more vibrant, rich, and colorful texture.  Over 140 award recipients have been honored since 2003! The Rickie Report shares the details, some sneak peeks from last year and the information you need to make a nomination.  Deadline  for nominations is November 1, 2020.  SAVE THE DATE: mARTies Celebration takes place March 24, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 mARTies Nominated and Named Award Winners

 

 

Nominees are judged for several qualities, by professional artists and knowledgeable community leaders, to include their participation in the arts and artistic excellence; their civic responsibilities; and their leadership in improving the quality of life in Martin County.  Adult nominees must either be a Martin County resident or do the majority of their artistic work in the Martin County area.  Student nominees must be a Martin County resident and have entered their senior year of high school in August 2020.

 

 

 

2019 mARTies Opening Performance at the Lyric Theater

 

 

 

Nominating is easy and only requires contact information and a 150-word paragraph about your nominee!

Nominations are being accepted through November 1, 2020

 

 

https://www.martinarts.org/arts-foundation/news_events/marties-awards/marties-nomination.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adult VisualArts Award recipient Suzanne Connors and Lisa Renee Ludlum

 

 

Student Visual Award Recipient Isabella Gallese and Marney McKee

 

Opportunities to help us celebrate the mARTies are available for sponsors and volunteers. Please contact the Arts Foundation for Martin County if you are interested in being a part of the event.  And save the date for the mARTies Awards to be held on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

 

 

Contact us at (772) 287-6676 or info@martinarts.org today!

 

 

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

 

The Rickie Report shares some helpful hints to make a Zoom experience more productive for you and your fellow ‘Zoomers’.  If you’re not familiar with Zoom as a face-to-face meeting platform in current time, you’ll need to get up to speed (pun intended).  This easy-to-use app allows you to collaborate with others for work as well as celebrate events with others who are far flung.  The Rickie Report shares some blips we’ve experienced as well as technical tips.

 

 

 

 

Using Zoom

To Enhance Communications For

Artists, Arts Organizations, Art Patrons, Anyone

 

Photo Courtesy of Anna Shvets

 

 

 

Think of a Zoom meeting like being face-to-face

Eliminate distractions and focus on the agenda.

 

 

Download the free Zoom app days before your scheduled meeting.

 

If you are a newbie, make sure you familiar/comfortable using the features (mute/unmute, start/stop video, screen share, raise your hand).

 

Join the Zoom session early – up to 5 minutes before the meeting start time.

 

Notifications from messaging applications, ringtones, and applications running on your desktop can be distracting, which can make your attendees feel disrespected and undervalued. Mitigating these distractions helps keep the meeting focused and free from interruption.

 

Zoom amplifies everything!  From smiles to frowns, from inescapable noises to your behavior.

Be aware!

If you are the host, offer an agenda with the Zoom invitation

(Attendees – be prepared)

Make sure to introduce everyone at the beginning.

 

Just like an in-person meeting or social event, you would initiate a conversation between two acquaintances who haven’t met by introducing them. The same principle applies to a virtual meeting. Be sure to introduce all parties you are hosting at the beginning to create a welcoming environment and stimulate engagement toward a common goal.

 

Photo Courtesy of Ivan Samkov

 

 

 

 

Show Up At Your Best (Meeting Etiquette)

 

There are some general rules of courtesy for virtual (and in person) business meetings.

Be ready – just as if this meeting was taking place in person!

Wear appropriate clothing ( PJ’s are not OK unless this is a Zoom PJ Party).

Loud clothing or sparkling accessories will distract from the message you’re sharing during the Zoom session.

No Nudity ( Did I really have to say that ??  From experience, yes…yes, I did!)

Background

 

Photo Courtesy of Harry Page

 

Avoid bright colors which distract from your face

Avoid video beach scenes with waves that actually move, which make some people nauseous.

 

Photo Courtesy of Steve Johnson

 

Photo Courtesy of Pressmaster

 

Video is crucial in building trust and engagement in virtual communications.

Test your video and audio before your meeting at zoom.us/test.

 

 

 Look into the camera when talking instead of looking at yourself.

 

If you’re looking at yourself on the screen while you’re talking, it will seem like you are distracted.  Direct eye contact into the camera while speaking gives attendees the impression that you are looking at them rather than off to the side, which creates an environment where everyone feels engaged and involved in the current conversation.

 

Be sure to position your web camera and monitor at eye level so you can look into the camera and simulate that eye-to-eye connection with other attendees.

 

 

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Julia M Cameron

 

Before you go into the Zoom meeting, notice where your screen is placed.

Especially take note of the angle of your laptop screen if using the built-in camera.

If you place your iPad on the table, with you looking down at it, please note: No one wants to look up into your nostrils.

We also don’t want to see your ceiling!

Even when your screen is in a separate room from other people, remember that if your door is open and the screen is at the proper angle, we should not be able to see anyone leaving the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

Behavior

 

Photo Courtesy of Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas

 

 

 

Stay or Leave

 

 

 

 

The host leaves last

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Matilda Wormwood

As hosts to any meeting or party, we usually stay until everyone else leaves.  Zoom is no different.  Attendees may use this time to socialize or get a few words in before the session ends. For stragglers, you may have to remind them that the session is about to end.

 

 

 

 

For more information about Zoom:   zoom.us

Google articles about Zoom – they abound on the internet

 

 

For coverage of your events, to place an advertisement, or speak to Rickie about appearing in The Rickie Report, contact:

Rickie Leiter, Publisher

Rickie@therickiereport.com   561-537-0291

17019 SW Sapri Way   Port St. Lucie, FL 34986