For Immediate Release, Wednesday, June 07, 2006 

ST. TAMMANY ARTS COMMISSION:
ARTS & CULTURAL EVENTS -
JUNE 9-15, 2006. UPDATE. 

MESSAGES FROM THE ST. TAMMANY ARTS COMMISSION: 

LOUISIANA DECENTRALIZED ARTS FUNDING GRANTS PROGRAM. APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 9. The deadline to apply for the 2007 Louisiana Decentralized Arts Funding Grants Program is Friday, June 9, 2006. Guidelines and application forms are available for the program in St. Tammany Parish, and may be downloaded at www.stpgov.org/arts. If you have questions about the program contact Dána La Fonta, St. Tammany Parish Arts Coordinator, at 985-898-3011 or email lafonta@stpgov.org  

ST. TAMMANY ARTS COMMISSION ARTS NETWORK NEWSLETTER E-MAIL DELIVERY AVAILABLE. The monthly Arts Network e-newsletter briefs citizens on arts events, special events, fairs, and calls to artists, as well as sources for funding for arts-related projects and post-Katrina arts relief. To subscribe, visit http://www.stpgov.org/ , click “Subscribe to Arts Network Newsletter,” and follow the subscription instructions. If you need assistance contact the St. Tammany Arts Commission at 985-898-5243 or email lafonta@stpgov.org

VISUAL ARTS… 

ARTS & FRAMES GALLERY PRESENTS "VIVID RECOLLECTIONS".  520 N. Columbia St., Downtown Covington. Opening reception Saturday, June 10. 6-9pm. New work by Dána La Fonta. Also showing new work by Katherine Ganucheau and Arts & Frames Gallery Artists. Gallery hours: Wed. – Sat., 10 – 4pm, and by appointment.  Call 985-867-9080.  

FT. ISABEL GALLERY PRESENTS "SCRABBLE".  502 N. Columbia St., Downtown Covington.  Opening reception Saturday, June 10, 6-9pm. New work by Suzanne King and Carol Lapari. Also showing Carol Hallock, Delaina LeBlanc, Wes Koon, Martin Needom, Ginger Pine, Johnny Stout & the giclee prints of Beryl Carbon. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sat. 10am-4pm or by appointment. Free. Call 985-892-1841.              

ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION PRESENTS GAIL HOOD RETROSPECTIVE. 320 N. Columbia St., Downtown Covington. Opening reception Saturday, June 10, 6-9pm. Show runs through July 1. The works of Gail Hood, newly retired Associate Professor of Painting at SLU.  www.sttammanyart.org  

CITY OF SLIDELL PRESENTS 15TH ANNUAL SALAD DAYS. Slidell Art League, 1827 Front Street. Exhibit runs through June 10. This is an amazing juried exhibition of student art by the children of St. Tammany. Gallery Hours: M-F 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm. Free. Call 985-646-4375. www.slidell.la.us       

NORTH SHORE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS: JUNE ARTIST OF THE MONTH.  Carolyn Finnell of Mandeville. Her digitally-manipulated photography will be hanging through June and can be viewed on Sunday, June 11, 11am -1pm. The church is located at 28662 Krentel Rd. in Lacombe. For more information or to see the work by appointment, call 882-7169.

CITY OF MANDEVILLE:  JUNE ARTIST OF THE MONTH. 3101 E. Causeway Approach, Mandeville.  June Artists featuring paintings, prints, and ceramic tiles by local home school students. This exhibit sponsored by Mayor Price and the City Council is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 4:30. City hall is located at 3101 East Causeway Approach. Mandeville. For more information about this exhibit or the Artist of the Month Program contact Nancy Clark 985-626-3144.  

MUSIC… 

PONTCHARTRAIN VINEYARDS PRESENTS JAZZ'N THE VINES. 81250 Hwy. 1082    Bush. Saturday, June 10. The Charmaine Neville Band will perform the best of New Orleans music, from jazz, rhythm & blues, New Orleans roots, and some funk! Community is invited to bring lawn chairs, picnics, umbrellas and flashlights. Pontchartrain Vineyards finest and gourmet sandwiches will be available for purchase. 6:30-9pm-gates open at 5:30pm. Admission $10.00. Call 985-892-9742 or visit www.pontchartrainvineyards.com  

LIBRARY PROJECTS & EVENTS…

ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY PRESENTS SUMMER READING CLUB 2006. "Paws To Read" It's going to be "reading cats and dogs" this summer at the library as we celebrate our best frineds: pets and books.  Kids are invited to get their paws on some books and join in the fun of learning about various types of pets during our 2006 Louisiana Summer Reading Program, "Paws To Read."  Kids from birth to 11 will have a tail-wagging good time.  Each branch will host weekly storytimes as well as special guests.  Guests will include storytellers Dianne de Las Casas, Grayhawk, and Miss Lillie; musicians Papillion, Journey of the Drum and Philip Melancon; demonstrations by police dogs; magic by Tricky Trigg; a visit from Daisy the Pig and comedian for kids Fuzzlebob.  The summer will end with parties and special performances of the "tail" of "Puss In Boots" by the Calliope Puppet Theatre. Call the children's services office at 985-893-6280 ext 112 or visit www.sttammany.lib.la.us/kiddssrc2006.htm       

SPECIAL GUESTS & STORY TIME SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2006 AT THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY. Begins the week of June 5. Story time at the St. Tammany Parish libraries introduces your child to the best in children’s literature. For more information, contact your branch library or the Children’s Services office at 985-893-6280 ext. 112 or visit http://www.sttammany.lib.la.us/kidssrc2006performers.htm   

ASTONISHING AFTERNOONS AT THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY. A series of literature-based programs incorporating storytelling, interesting and fun factual information, and a literature-themed craft. There is no registration required. Free admission. Call 985-893-6280 ext 112.  

COMMUNITY EVENTS & MARKETS… 

NORTHSHORE ART MARKET. Lee Lane in downtown Covington. Saturday, June 10. 10am-4pm. Outdoor market featuring original art work, live music and seasonal special attractions. The bass and percussion duet of Robin D. Rorie and Dennis Shaikowitz will be performing throughout the day, and face-painting will be available for the kids at the information tent.  Don’t forget to mark your calendars in advance for our next regularly scheduled North Shore Art Market on Saturday, August 12th and visit our website www.northshoreartmarket.com  for more information and a complete calendar of events.    

TOWN OF ABITA SPRINGS PRESENTS LOUISIANA BICYCLE FESTIVAL. Saturday, June 17. 10am-4pm. Call 985-892-0711 or visit www.townofabitasprings.com  

MANDEVILLE TRAILHEAD COMMUNITY MARKET.  Mandeville Trailhead, 675 Lafitte St., Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Community market featuring everything hand made or home grown. Call 985-624-3147.  

COVINGTON FARMERS MARKET. Side lawn, Covington City Hall, 609 N. Columbia St., Rain or shine. Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Cooking Demo: Pasta Vendor Leslie Guy, "The Pasta Guy", will prepare Pasta Salad with a Homemade Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette, Mixed with Farmers Market Vegetables, beginning at 10 a.m.  Music: Playing Diverse Covers and Original music, Gene Lipps and Friends, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Call 985-892-1873.  

LOOKING FOR ARTISTS… 

COVINGTON THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES. The final application deadline for this year’s festival is August 1, 2006.  The 2006 Festival will be November 11 & 12. For more information about the festival, for an application or to volunteer for the festival, visit www.threeriversartfestival.com , email info@threeriversartfestival.com , or call Event Coordinator Karen Whiteside at 985-871-4141.  

NORTHSHORE ART MARKET- ARTISTS NEEDED. Artists interested in submitting work for consideration for the North Shore Art Market please visit the website at www.northshoreartmarket.com   Registration forms and information are on the website including maps, parking information, a list of participating artists and sponsorship opportunities. Contact Mo’s Art Supply at (985) 809-6854 or mosartsupply@bellsouth.net  for additional information. Deadline for the August market is Wednesday, July 26. For more information visit  www.northshoreartmarket.com   for a complete calendar of market dates and deadlines for 2006. 

TAMMANY TRACE TRAILHEAD, JAMMIN’ ON THE TRACE.  Teenage bands that would like to participate, call Lisa Pratt 867-9490. Cash prizes for all winners. 1st Event: Thursday, June 29. www.tammanytrace.org     

THE GREATER MANDEVILLE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL 2006 ANNOUNCES THE MANDEVILLE IDOL CONTEST. Applications available by email  jerrycash@charter.net  or call 985-871-8747. Mandeville Idol will be held in the Children’s Corner Air Conditioned Tent during the Seafood Fest.  Friday Night, June 30th. Preliminary Judging – picking 10. Saturday Night, July 1st. Ten perform - 1st 2nd 3rd Place picked. 1st Place  $500 & a performance spot on the Big Stage after the Fireworks show. 2nd place $200. 3rd place $100. Produced by: PoPs Performing Arts. 

FOLK CRAFTS FESTIVAL AT FAIRVIEW STATE PARK.  Calling all Folk Craft Artists.  Your sculptures, paintings, and handmade craft items are needed.  Planning has started for the Spring 2007 Folk Crafts Festival at Fairview State Park.  Become a part of the event by registering now.  Contact Ann Durel for more information at 985-792-4652. 

THE 2nd ANNUAL LACOMBE CRAB COOK-OFF FESTIVAL CALL TO ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN. Looking for artists and craftsmen to participate in the Cultural Village Tent and Artist Walk at John Davis Park on June 24th and 25th, 2006.  There will be a 20' x 60' Cultural Village tent with ten display spaces and  individual 10' x 10' and 10' x 20' tents provided under the oak trees for your display. Cost for space, tent, table, and chair is $25 and 10% of sales. There will be no cost to nonprofits wishing to display information about their organizations. For more information visit www.lacombecrabcookofffestival.com and click on “How To Participate”. 

CALL FOR STAA MEMBERS’ ART. The St. Tammany Art Association is now accepting artwork for the new Members’ Gallery. Any STAA member may submit artwork at any time, as the Members’ Gallery will display member artwork on an ongoing basis. Call 985-892-8650 or visit www.sttammanyart.org   

CLASSES, TRAINING, WEBLINKS, ETC… 

SLIDELL ART LEAGUE ANNOUNCES THEIR MONTHLY MEETING. Slidell Art League, 1827 Front St., Slidell. Monday, June 12. 7pm. Call 985-847-9458.          

ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION PRESENTS MUDBUGS CERAMICS FOR CHILDREN. Ages 5-14  . Classes held July 5-August 10. 320 N. Columbia St., Covington. The popular “Mudbugs” ceramics classes, led by renowned sculptor and instructor Bernard Mattox, exposes students to techniques of wedging and sculptural hand building.  Each class meets four times over two weeks, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the morning or afternoon.  Classes start July 5 and are $75 for members, $85 for non-members, plus $35 for lab/materials. To register your child aged 5-14, call 985-892-8650 or email stassn@bellsouth.net & ADULT POTTERY CLASSES. Bernard Mattox also provides ceramics training to adults aged 15 and up, scheduling class dates as needed.  Potter’s wheel and sculptural hand-building.  Classes scheduled as they are filled.  $80 Members, $95 Non-members + $35 for materials and firing.  To register for adult classes, call Bernard Mattox directly at 893-0215.  

ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION PRESENTS SUMMER THEATER CAMP 2006. July 10-15. Greater Covington Center. For six years, STAA has provided summer theater workshops for children. STAA continues the tradition with a local group of actors conducting Summer Theater Camp 2006. The fully-supervised camp will run for five days at the Greater Covington Center from July 10 to 15 for five hours each day from 9:30am to 2:30 pm.  Enrollment is $125 ($112.50 for members of STAA). Costumes will be provided, with performances on Friday, July 14 at 7pm and Saturday, July 15 at 2pm.  The program will be videotaped for television—a full production in just one week! Enrollment is open to all children K-12, and the production will include both acting and singing for all participants.  Parents will receive a full information packet at the end of June, when the name of the play to be performed will be announced. To enroll your child, download a registration form by clicking http://www.sttammanyart.org/doc1.html  or visiting the Classes section of STAA’s website: www.sttammanyart.org   You can also stop by the St. Tammany Art Association at 320 N. Columbia Street.  

ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION PRESENTS OIL PAINTING WITH ROBERTA REMY. September 17-21. 320 N. Columbia St., Covington. Back by popular demand, Roberta Remy, well known New Mexico artist, returns to the STAA for her second oil painting workshop in the Art House.  STAA will also feature a selection of Remy’s oil paintings.  The workshop was filled early last year, so please call STAA in advance if you wish to participate.  Fee is $450 for the five-day workshop, $100 deposit required to hold registration. Call 985-892-8650.   

SKYFIRE THEATRE PRESENTS SKYFIRE PRODUCTIONS SUMMER DRAMA CAMP. Monday, June 5 – Sunday, June 25.  332 N. New Hampshire St., Covington. Summer camp for young actors ages 8-16.  Camp includes characterization, improvisation, music, dance,state movement ,set design & make-up.  Session ends with a live performance. 1pm-5pm. $200  Call 985-875-7577 or visit www.skyfire.tv   

PLAYMAKERS SUMMER THEATER CAMPS. Levy/Playmakers to stage Alice in Wonderland, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and The Sword in the Stone for kids ages 5-16. Each fully-supervised camp day includes sessions in stage movement, line delivery, improvisation, fundamentals of theater, dance, and the staging of a production. Part of each day will also be dedicated to actual preparation for the end-of-camp show. Camps available: Alice In Wonderland at Playmakers June 5-25. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves at Greater Covington Center July 17-22. 3 DAY Advanced Actors Workshop at Playmakers July 26-28. The Sword in the Stone at Playmakers July 31-August 13. For information on Frank Levy Playmakers Summer Theater Camps, an application form, or reservations call Frank Levy at 893-2090, visit www.storiesinmotion.com  or email frank@storiesinmotion.com   

NOCCA|RIVERFRONT 2800 CHARTRES STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA IS HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE for prospective students, Friday, June 16, from 10am-noon, at the NOCCA campus, free. The open house is for students and parents who are interested in learning more about auditions. Call 504-940-2787 or 800-201-4836 or visit www.nocca.com  for more information. 

SLIDELL CULTURAL CENTER OFFERING “ART IS LIFE” PINS. For a $10 donation (or more) you can have a Support the Arts collectible pin. Proceeds are dedicated to restoring and rebuilding the Slidell Cultural Center and the return of art exhibits and cultural events throughout the year. The pins can be picked up at the Slidell Art League Gallery, on the second floor of the historic Slidell Train Depot, 1827 Front St. Call 985-646-4375 for ore information.  

STONE AND PAPER ART CENTER STUDIO CLASSES. 500 Girod St., Mandeville. Classes are currently being offered in acrylic and oil painting, potter’s wheel, drawing, papermaking and more for teens, children and adults. Catalog available. Call 985-674-9232 or visit www.stoneandpaper.com    

THE LOUISIANA CULTURAL ECONOMY FOUNDATION supports Louisiana’s cultural industries. The Foundation now has relief grants available to fund losses sustained as a result of Hurricanes Katrina & Rita. Guidelines and applications are available at www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets/grants . The Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism’s newly expanded Cultural Assets Rescue website can be seen at www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets      

BRAVO! SLIDELL’S CULTURAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS, AVAILABLE ONLINE.  Find the current edition by visiting the city’s website at www.slidell.la.us  and clicking the “Bravo” button toward the bottom of the left hand column.