Artists' Pipeline #22 - January 30, 2001

In his new book of poetry, ONLY BREAD, ONLY LIGHT, Stephen Kuusisto explores blindness and sight, and the processes of memory and discovery. His poems sparkle with a willingness to conceive the world anew, to accept all of its contradictions, haziness and uncertainty. He will read his poetry on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 at the Lexington Branch Library, 1080 University Avenue, Saint Paul. The first 50 people at the reading will receive a free copy of his book, courtesy of Copper Canyon Press. The free reading is sponsored by the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. For more information, call 651-222-3242 or email friends@thefriends.org.

"Beyond The Studio: Art Of The Teacher" is an exhibition of visual, media and performance art by artists who teach in schools and communities. Showing through March 4 at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, it includes bead sculpture, photography, digital sound media, oil pastels and fiber arts. A resource room chronicles residencies by the program's artists and includes related information linking artists with communities and schools. For more information, call 612-871-4444 or go to Intermedia Arts (www.intermediaarts.org).

For a limited time, individuals who are visually impaired & legally blind can get an absolutely FREE copy of the book, "What You Should Know About Low Vision" (Large Print). It covers:

• What is low vision,
• What to do if you have low vision,
• Questions to ask your Eye Care Professional
• Organizations and Foundations helping with low vision
• "Real Life" stories of people overcoming their low vision, and more. "This book will help people with vision loss and their families and friends better understand low vision. It describes how to get help and live more safely and independently."
• National Eye Institute. Only 200 free copies of this Large Print Book are available (shipping is also free). Call 1-800-440-9476 ext. 41.

New Mobility, a national publication for active wheelchair users, is starting its 12th year with four new departments:

• PPS Forum, answering post-polio questions;
• MS Life, examining alternative treatments for multiple sclerosis;
• SCI Life, looking at news from spinal cord injury survivors;
• "Go!", uncovering the best travel tips around the globe for wheelers.

Other regular departments include:

• Love Bites, a Q&A format exploring sexuality and disability;
• Ervin, the humor of equal-opportunity satirist Mike Ervin;
• Uncle Spine, tackling tough questions on cure and restoration of function;
• Wheels, key automotive information;
• My Spin, taking the community pulse on what matters most.

For more information on subscriptions, go to New Mobility Magazine (www.newmobility.com) or call Gina Connell at 888-850-0344, ext. 108.

Students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to submit one-act play scripts for the 2001 Playwright Discovery Award competition, sponsored by VSA arts. The entries must be written by students with or without disabilities, be unproduced and unpublished, no more than 40 pages long, and address the issue of disability. The two top playwrights selected from a national competition will travel to Washington, D.C. with a chaperone to attend a professional production or staged reading of their play at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. They will also receive scholarship awards of $750 and $500 respectively and will participate in a workshop to enhance their playwriting skills. Third and fourth place winners will receive $200 scholarships and will also travel to Washington to attend the top two performances and the workshop. Deadline is May 15. For rules, a poster and an entry form, contact VSA arts Playwright Discovery Award, 1300 Connecticut Ave. NW, # 700, Washington, DC 20036; 1-800-933-8721 (voice); tty 202-737-0645; Fax 202-737-0725; playwright@vsarts.org; web: VSA arts of Minnesota (www.vsarts.org). Or contact VSA arts of Minnesota at 612-332-3888 or 800-801-3883 (voice/tty) or info@vsaartsmn.org.

Postmark Deadline: June 15. Open to all writers, not just New England. 14th annual Robert Penn Warren Poetry Awards, $300, $200, $100. 5th annual Fiction Award, $300. Final Judges: John Ashbery (poetry) and Ernest Hebert (fiction).
Send unpublished work (poetry: 10-30 lines; fiction: 1,000 words); include 3x5 card with name, address and titles of work. Contest fee: 3 poems for $6; 1 fiction for $6 (2 or more entries, unlimited, $5 each). Winning work published. Send entries and fee to: New England Writers Contest, PO Box 483, Windsor, VT 05089. Questions: newvtpoet@aol.com.

GETHSEMANE, the first feature film written and directed by Charles Bowe, is seeking motivated staff for its shoot in March. The film tells the story of a "morally rigid playwright on the brink of distinction." This collaborative effort is an opportunity to work with Twin Cities' filmmakers and stage actors. The production needs help in the following areas: VIDEO ASSISTANTS, AUDIO TECHS, LINE PRODUCERS, AND SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTRESSES OVER THE AGE OF 40. FFI: Contact Charles Bowe at 612-871-0833 or charles@bitstream.net.

The McKnight Foundation is making four fellowships of $25,000 each available to Minnesota theater artists (actors, directors, designers; and theatrical composers and choreographers). Final applications are due Monday, April 9. There will be an informational meeting for potential applicants on Monday, February 12, 6-7 p.m., at the Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave., Minneapolis. Call program director Mary Ellen Childs at 612-340-0155 x21 for more information, to request a copy of the rules, or if you plan to attend the meeting.

Theatre and performance organizations have until Feb. 15 to submit their applications for the Minnesota Fringe Theatre & Performance Festival, taking place in Minneapolis August 3-12. After February 15, applications will be accepted for the wait list. Withdrawal deadline is March 15. Application form is on the web site at Minnesota Fringe Theatre & Performance Festival (www.fringefestival.org), or call 612-872-1212, or e-mail info@fringefestival.org.

Theatre Live! in Minneapolis is seeking volunteers for Kids Nite on Broadway, Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Volunteers will help set up, assist with activities, and help clean up & tear down. If you are interested or have more questions, contact Roberta at 612-373-5644 or Roberta@ORPHEUM.com.

This beginner's clay class is an introduction into the basics of sculpting with American Sign Language (ASL) and the Manual Alphabet using clay as the art medium. Explore clay basics including wedging, slab & coil, greenware, leather & bisque, attaching with slip, while learning basic ASL sculpting techniques. All materials are provided to create at least two clay sculptures, which you will have the opportunity to glaze. An experienced interpreter is provided to make the class a fun opportunity for Deaf & Hearing to socialize. Six-week class begins April 2, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Lake Junior High School: Woodbury, MN. For registration info, e-mail HJordese Starkson: hstarkso@sowashco.k12.mn.us.
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Create Deaf Folk Art With Clay (continued) This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and the River Valley Arts Council through a grant from the McKnight Foundation and an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature.
Read Helene's story in the just-released book "DEAF ESPIRIT" at A Goff Original (AGO) Publications (http://www.agostore.com).

• Intermediate Playwriting by Bill Corbett, Feb. 21 - April 18, Wednesday nights, 7-9 - for writers who have written one or more full-length plays, to become aware of the craft elements you are already using and what it might mean for writing and rewriting. Deadline is Feb. 12.
• Plays Are Not Written, They're Re-Written! by John Fenn, March 31 - May 5, Saturday afternoons, 1-4 - for generating, re-conceiving and re-creating from an initial text, finding new directions through deep changes. Deadline to register is March 23. Cost for each is $150, Playwright members $125. To register, call Sara Bernstein at 612-332-7481, ext. 11, e-mail sarab@pwcenter.org, or write to 2301 Franklin Ave. E., Mpls. 55406; Playwright Center (www.pwcenter.org)
• Play Development series on four Wednesdays at 7 p.m.: March 21 - Fundamentals of play writing April 4 - Criticism & Dramaturgy, April 18 - Reading experience, May 2 - Performance experience.
  Cost: $110 non-members, $99 members. Register by March 10 with Sara Bernstein at 612-332-7481, ext. 11, e-mail sarab@pwcenter.org,or write to 2301 Franklin Ave. E., Mpls. 55406.

The Jerome Foundation seeks a PROGRAM ASSISTANT, a new staff position. The program assistant will support program staff by scheduling and servicing panel meetings, producing the minutes of panel and committee meetings, executing directed research on grant proposals, answering general program correspondence, assisting in general scheduling, and provide support services such as answering telephone inquiries, transcription from audio tape dictation and filing.
Qualifications sought include a BA or its equivalent in the arts and/or arts administration, strong computer skills, excellent writing ability. Full or part-time (30-40 hours per week.)
Resumes and letters of interest should be mailed to: Cynthia A. Gehrig, President, Jerome Foundation, 125 Park Square Court, 400 Sibley Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1928

Multiple ASL interpreters and Audio Describers are needed for morning workshops and afternoon and evening sessions of play performances at the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres State Play Festival (MACT/Fest) at the Paramount Theatre, St. Cloud, MN. March 14-18. Call 612-926-7471 or 651-644-1187; or e-mail mactfactor@aol.com.