SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK 2009 Artist Application Guidelines Now Posted

SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK
2009 APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Artists can apply for one or more of the following exhibition categories:

-SPRING EXHIBITION
-EMERGING ARTIST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
-OPEN SPACE
-FLOAT

THE 2009 ARTIST APPLICATION GUIDELINES ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.SOCRATESSCULPTUREPARK.ORG

DEADLINE: MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009

ABOUT SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK
Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 when a coalition of artists and community members, under the leadership of sculptor Mark di Suvero, transformed it into an open studio and exhibition space for artists and a neighborhood park for local residents.

Located in an industrial neighborhood in Long Island City, Socrates is a waterfront park that overlooks the Manhattan skyline; the site is an affecting and inspiring place for artists to work and a spectacular setting for the presentation of public art. To date, Socrates has hosted over 700 artists and currently attracts more than 73,000 visitors annually.

Socrates Sculpture Park is the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations in an outdoor environment that invites interaction between artists, artworks and the public. Socrates is world renowned as a laboratory where experimentation and innovation expand, reinvent and redefine the tradition of art in public spaces.

ARTIST INFORMATION SESSION
NOVEMBER 2, 2008
1PM - 3PM

Socrates Sculpture Park will be hosting an artist information session in the Park's outdoor studio. We will review the application process, tour the studio facilities, and give an over view of the Park's history and programming, focusing specifically on our annual exhibitions. We will be addressing questions regarding the application process, and exhibiting and working at Socrates. We highly encourage all interested applicants to join us for this event.

Please RSVP by November 1 to: mt@socratessculpturepark.org


APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Artists seeking a Socrates Sculpture Park grant are strongly encouraged to visit the Park before submitting their application. Applicants must take into account the site's rugged, urban outdoor environment and be aware that sculptures installed in the Park must meet safety requirements and be able to withstand the effects of weather and public use. Visiting the site will give applicants a clearer idea of the factors that effect installations at the Park and an overview of the facilities that the Park has to offer, including the tools and equipment available in the studio and the materials and resources available in Long Island City.

Artists can apply for one or more of the following exhibition categories:

·Spring Exhibition
·Emerging Artist Fellowship Program
·Open Space
·FLOAT

If you are applying for more than one exhibition category, you only need to send one application package.

Grants and fellowships are not available to artists who are enrolled in a school, college or university program.
Spring Exhibition
For spring 2009, the Park will present an exhibition entitled State Fair. The show will open on May 3 and remain on view until early August. State Fair will cast the Park as a fairground, creating a platform for artists who are inspired and influenced by themes and subject matter relating to American rural society. The exhibition will include works that examine topics such as animal husbandry, local agriculture, specialized horticulture, traditional craft, and presentation, pageantry and competition within these fields. The exhibition will also address the wide variety of entertainment, rides, amusements and foods traditionally presented at state fairs.

For this exhibition, Socrates will provide artists with funding, administrative and technical assistance, a one to three month residency in the outdoor studio, and access to facilities, materials and equipment to create a new work - or will assist with shipping and rigging to place an already existing work - to be presented in the Park. The amount of financial support available to artists is contingent upon the requirements of their project and the funding that Socrates receives to support this exhibition.

Eligibility:
This program is open to all artists, nationally and internationally, but Socrates cannot provide any housing or transportation. Artists living outside New York will have to make their own living and travel arrangements.

Emerging Artist Fellowship Program
Fellowship artists are selected through an open application process. Proposals are reviewed by an advisory committee composed of past EAF recipients, prominent curators, artists, writers, gallerists, and arts administrators and the Park's Executive Director and Exhibition Program Manager. Following the first round of selections, Socrates staff members meet with the artists individually to discuss their proposal in greater detail and assist them with the development, engineering and fabrication of the project.

Emerging Artist Fellowship recipients are granted financial support in the amount of $5,000, a two to six month residency in the outdoor studio, and access to facilities, materials, equipment and technical assistance to create a work for the annual Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition (opening September 2009). Fellows are also given the administrative assistance to do additional fundraising for their project, procure in-kind support and pursue future commissions, residencies and placement for their work.

Eligibility:
Fellowships are awarded to artists who are not yet well established, are New York State residents and are in need of financial assistance.

Open Space
Socrates grants are also awarded for single artist projects and collaborations that are presented as separate exhibitions throughout the year. Through the Open Space program, Socrates provides artists with funding, administrative and technical assistance, a one to six month residency in the outdoor studio, and access to facilities, materials and equipment to create a new work - or will assist with shipping and rigging to place an already existing work - for exhibition in the Park. Funding for this program varies from year to year and the amount of financial support available to artists is contingent upon the requirements of a given proposal and the grants that Socrates receives to support the Open Space exhibitions.

Eligibility:
This program is open to all artists, nationally and internationally, but Socrates can not provide any housing or transportation. Artists living outside New York will have to make their own living and travel arrangements.

FLOAT
FLOAT is a biennial series of site-specific, temporary, interactive and ephemeral works that are installed, performed and screened throughout the Park. The series was launched in 2003 to address the environment of the Park, enabling participating artists to explore site-specific practice through a variety of media and formats.

Eligibility:
This program is open to all artists, nationally and internationally, but Socrates cannot provide any housing or transportation. Artists living outside New York will have to make their own living and travel arrangements.

Information about Socrates Sculpture Park and application guidelines are now available on the web:
www.socratessculpturepark.org
SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK
32-01 VERNON BOULEVARD (AT BROADWAY)
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11106
TEL: 718-956-1819 FAX: 718-626-1533
WWW.SOCRATESSCULPTUREPARK.ORG
EMAIL: INFO@SOCRATESSCULPTUREPARK.ORG

Craft Fair Preview--Cute Baby Pants & Hats!

Check out the SSCOOP booth at Sunnyside Gardens Park this Saturday, 10/11 from 12-5 for all kinds of draft adorableness. Plus enjoy the Octoberfest & general park fun!

The park is located on 39th Ave at 49th St. 7 train to 46th St or the Q32 or Q60 to 48th. There's also a bus from Astoria that goes to 48th St.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Rain or shine, an army of local breast cancer survivors and volunteers will march in the 15th annual American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at the Queens Borough Hall. Last year, an estimated 6,500 people participated in Making Strides in Queens raising $706,000 locally. Proceeds go to support the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer research, education, advocacy and patient service programs that serve Queens residents.

Thousands are expected to come to support breast cancer research and find the cure. Monies raised go to sustaining vital patient and family support programs in Queens and fighting for public policies that improve access to breast cancer screening so all women can be screened and treated. For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline

Sunday, Oct. 19th, 2008
Registration begins at 9 a.m.
The walk begins at 11 a.m.

Queens Borough Hall
120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens


The walk is on October 19th
Registration starts at 9 AM
Opening ceremony is at 10 AM
The walk starts at 11 AM
Starts at the Queens Borough Hall- 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens

Craft Fair Preview--Dog Bonnets & Felted Cakes

You'll find these adorables at the SSCOOP booth at the Sunnyside Gardens Park Oktoberfest & Craft Fair, Saturday, 10/11 from 12-6.

Also, I'm told that Two Lost Turkeys is traveling all the way from Williamsburg to make their Queens debut! Let's give 'em a warm Queens welcome... interpret how you will.

Celebration of Queens Arts

If you're interested in donating to local causes:

The Queens International Film Festival is proud to present our first annual "Celebration of Queens Arts" on November 7, 2008.

The event is going to be completely FREE of charge to the public and includes:

- A live concert by the Queens Symphony Orchestra Playing the Most Celebrated Film Scores of the 20th Century.

- A silent auction and exposition by the Alliance of Queens Artists.

- A book signing by Tony "Nap" Napoli - Author of the new bestseller "My Father, My Don"

-Plus much more to be added!


In order to put this celebration together, we need to raise $15,000. I would like to ask all of your help in accomplishing this. No matter how big or small you can donate, all donors will be put on the official banner for the event, and will receive a special "Thank You" gift.

I believe in leading by example however, so on behalf of Forest Hills Celebrity & Entertainment Magazine and JML Media Group, LLC, I will be the first to commit $500 towards our goal.


Thank you all so much for your time and consideration and I wish you all my best,

Joseph M. Lara
Senior Vice President
International Marketing, Media, & Sponsorships
Queens International Film Festival
(908) 310-1659

Crafters unite!

The Sunnyside Gardens Community Association's annual Craft Fair and Oktoberfest is happening Saturday, October 11th from 12-6 at Sunnyside Gardens Park on 39th Ave at 49th St. My friend Katie will be on hand to sell you her adorable appliqued baby tees and onesies. I'll have some more promo images up, so keep watching!

Meanwhile, I received this from one of the organizers:

We still have spots available for interested crafters, plus everyone should come check out this year's craft fair! The deadline for the 2nd Annual Sunnyside Gardens Park Craft Fair is coming up soon. This event will be bigger and better than last year as we are teaming up with the park's Oktoberfest, so there will be pumpkins, drinks and plenty of people - we hope you can join us.

Email me (clairedeveron -at- gmail -dot- com) for the vendor contract and contact info.

Your Friends and Neighbors Put on a Show

I received this email from some local readers, Sunnyside residents who are treading the boards.

MINNIE PEARL DOES BROADWAY

Grand Ol’ Opry and Hee Haw legend Minnie Pearl is down from Heaven for one night only to sing all the Broadway songs she never got a chance to perform. From A Chorus Line to The Wiz, Minnie belts out show tunes like only she can. She’ll tell stories and jokes and there will even be a door prize! There is also a question and answer period where Minnie answers questions from the audience. Assisting her onstage is the often talked about but never before seen Uncle Nabob. Cabaret artist Mark Alan Jones stars as Minnie Pearl with Darron Cardosa as Uncle Nabob.

Check out this video clip:



"Jones has captured the wide-eyed, plain-talking, man-hungry spinster handily!" -Cabaret Scenes Magazine
"Back from the dead and sassier than ever! Minnie and Nabob should have performing Broadway standards all along." -Theatreiseasy.com

Don’t Tell Mama
343 W 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth Aves.
212-757-0788
howdyminnie@yahoo.com

Monday October 6, 7:00 PM

Subway: A,C,E to 42nd St-Port Authority
$12 cover + two drink minimum

And Speaking of Crafting

I hear knitters are getting tipsy with alpaca over at the Grind on Thursday nights from 7:30-9:30. If Ruth ever figures out that bedtime means stay asleep, you'll see me over there working on a Knitted Farmyard for her.

Queens County Fair--So Much Fun--One More Day

Wesley, Ruth & I had a fantastic time at the Queens County Fair today. Did you know there's some guy in Woodside churning out prize winning produce? Or that you can carve heads out of golfballs? Or that baby goats are darn cute?

The fair also boasts the Amazing Maize Maze, a beer garden with live music, rides, and a craft showcase where I watched a woman do bobbin lace. I was transfixed and plan to take this on as my next craft right after Marie Walnut teaches me how to smock.

The fair runs one more day, but you will be able to get lost in the maze through October 26. Details are on the Queens Farm Museum site.

Boo, Starbucks

A Starbucks employee approached a group of moms yesterday & told them that a customer had complained about them because some of them were breastfeeding ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This same Starbucks has "child free zone" graffitied on one of the changing tables.

Um, NYS law permits a mother to breastfeed her child in any public or private location.

N.Y. Penal Law § 245.01 et seq. says they can even ttake their tops off.

It's legal. Get over it. The Starbucks employee should not have said that. I mean, they have dealt with this before.

You know that friend you have who looks at your plate and says, "That looks so disgusting, how can you eat that?" That person is a jerk, just like people who can't enjoy their overpriced scorched coffee as long as a baby is eating something the AAP & the WHO recommend until at least a year. The Starbucks employee is just ignorant, but I think a complaint is in order.

If breastfeeding bothers you, DON'T LOOK! And I'll promise not to tell you that I think soy lattes are gross.

There are very few places that you can go & sit in this neighborhood without fear of having a drunk sit in your lap. And there are a lot of moms in this neighborhood who would love a reason to spend their coffee money at The Grind, where the coffee is bad in a different way but it's on the south side so nobody takes shit for doing what they want to do. Like pee on the street or deal drugs in front of a school. Breastfeeding is the least of our social compact issues.

And you know that Nourish has a garden in back? And coffee? Good coffee, BTW. Boost sales so she can get some space heaters for winter so we can say SBUX SUX CYA.

Oh, and while I wrote this post? I was breastfeeding ewwwwwwwww.

Check out the flowers popping up in the neighborhood to the west...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=117858920094816011111.0004451ea3a13ae6bc699

Sunnyside Gardens' Squirrel - Breaking, Entering, and Eating

Just a little warning for fellow Sunnyside Gardens' residents. A hungry, brazen, and resourceful squirrel has broken into at least 2 kitchens by eating/ripping through window screens to get at food sitting on kitchen counters (even sealed food) within the last week. Not quite sure how to put a stop to him seeing as he scaled a brick facade to get through a second floor window, but if you happen to have just baked something tasty you may want to close your kitchen window or risk having a visitor for tea!

Sunnyside Shorts Film Festival

From their site:

Welcome to THE SUNNYSIDE FILM FESTIVAL INC. web site. Teresa Ward and Sherry Gamlin, two long-time Sunnysiders, are continuing the summertime fun in 2008 with brand new and independent films from Sunnysiders and filmmakers from all over the world.
Our sponsor this year is Murphy's Bar! (49th St & Skillman Ave in Sunnyside) A BIG Thanks to Mike Murphy for his generosity and support.

On Saturday, Sept 6th
Location: The Sunnyside Gardens Park, 39th Ave and 49th St. Time: Sunset (around 8pm).
Come at 7pm and listen to traditional Irish music provided by Donie Carroll, Dan Neely and members of The Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra.

Rain Location (same date): The Sunnyside Community Center, 41-31 39th St. between Queens Blvd & 43rd Ave. (see DIRECTION page tab on left).
Time: 8 PM

Restaurant Month--Participating Restaurants

HT to Angus on the Sunnyside NY yahoogroup.

Here's how it works: pick up the Woodside Herald any week in September and look for the Restaurant Month insert. Cut out the coupons and bring them with you for the specials.

. Ariyoshi Japanese Restaurant Special: Cup of Saki or green tea ice cream with dinner
. Bliss Bistro Special: Glass of wine or champagne with dinner
. Bliss Street Station Special: Glass of wine with dinner
. Dazie's Restaurant Special: Glass of wine and dessert with Prix-fixe Luncheon
. Foxy's Diner Special: Glass of wine or dessert with dinner special
. New York Style Eats Special: Dessert with dinner
. P.J. Horgan's Pub Special: glass of wine with dinner
. Pete's Grill Special: Glass of wine and dessert with dinner
. Quaint Restaurant & Bar Special: Glass of wine, beer or soda with dinner
. Sidetracks Restaurant Special: Glass of wine with dinner
. Rose Restaurant Special: dessert and wine, tea or coffee with dinner
. White Castle Special: Cut out our ad and receive a free breakfast sandwich.

Every time you visit one of these restaurants (whether you bring a
coupon or not) you can enter a drawing to win a package of twelve dinners
for two (not including alcohol or tips), one at each participating
restaurant.

Just Trying to Get a Haircut

Today we were blessed by a visit from the grandparents so I was able to kiss baby Ruth goodbye and go get a much-needed haircut. Being that she can't go longer than 43 seconds without needing her BOOBIE!!!!! I decided that a venture to my beloved Will at Whistle in Manhattan was out of the question, so I headed over to Hue. I also decided to throw an eyebrow wax in there so I could feel like a sexpot again.

I've gotten my hair cut at Hue twice before, largely without incident, though the cut I got when I was 8 months pregnant was accompanied by a diatribe on the horrors of birth and the agonies of breastfeeding. Um, if I am turning the pages it's because I am reading a magazine so please stop talking, okay? I will still give you a tip, don't worry.

I showed up right at 12:45 for my eyebrow wax, and then sat there on the couch thumbing through a ratty Glamour for 20 minutes. When they called my name, I said that since it had been 20 minutes I could no longer get an eyebrow wax because I didn't have enough time to wait around. The woman up front was like, "But she can do it in like two minutes! Or you can come back for a free one tomorrow or Sunday." I wasn't sure I was brave enough for a two-minute eyebrow wax, but I reckoned that even spermy brows would be an improvement over the caterpillars that have hitched a ride on my face. Thankfully, two minutes got me natural brows--and no charge. I figure they forgot that I made the appointment.

Up next, the haircut. The woman up front hustled my over to the stylist where they proceeded to argue with each other over what kind of cut I wanted. I said, "Just a trim, clean it up, and I'm growing out my bangs," and when the stylist asked, "How about some face framing layers" the up front woman jumped in and said, "That's not what she wants." They went back and forth for a few minutes and I figure they came to some sort of conclusion that sounded like they weren't going to shave my head or give me a perm so why fight? It's not my nature.

Things started to get dicey in the shampoo seat, but that's really my fault because Wesley and I have joined the "no poo" movement and have been using only baking soda and apple cider vinegar on our hair for the last 3 months. It totally works, I'm so not even kidding about that. So I asked her not to use shampoo, just a little conditioner on the ends and she said, "Is it because you just had scalp surgery?" Why yes I have! Don't pull too hard, it'll come right off!

Once in the chair, she trimmed an inch off the very back across the bottom, then started to blowdry. I asked, "Are you going to trim the layers in the front?" She picked up the front and said, "You want me to cut this, too?" I said, "If you wouldn't mind. It's been 6 months since my last haircut and I would really like for it to look cleaned up while it grows out." She had this look on her face while she did it like I had asked her to shave a Rite-Aid logo into the side of my head.

I will say that I was quite pleased with the resulting cut & blow out. She did a nice job. But as she was finishing up, she goes, "I know what you're worried about. You just had a baby and you think your hair is falling out. Don't worry, it'll stop and come back."

And then she gave me her card and told me to ask for her the next time I come in. Roger that!

We Wanna Eat With Shauna

Seriously.

Lecture Aug. 8: Michael Pollan: Taking the Plant's Point of View

Date: Friday, August 08, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

P.S.1 courtyard
Doors open 7 p.m., $5 suggested donation
Rain or shine

P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, in collaboration with The Horticultural Society of New York, presents a lecture by the revolutionary food journalist Michael Pollan. For the past twenty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where civilization and the natural world intersect. He is one of today's most influential investigators of what we eat and how plants impact our daily lives and culture. A long-standing supporter of The Horticultural Society of New York, the award-winning author will lecture on-site at P.F.1 (Public Farm One), a quarter-acre working farm currently installed in the P.S.1 courtyard. P.F.1 is the vibrant creation of WORK Architecture Company, winners of this year's MoMA/P.S.1 Young Architects Program competition. With this productive urban farm as a backdrop, Pollan will discuss the power of taking the plant's point of view, what that does for us, and why it is important to solving our environmental problems.

THE RED BALLOON & PERSEPOLIS- WED AUGUST 6 at 7pm!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6 FRANCE

PERFORMANCE: The "lush and sinfully beautiful" sounds of Clare and The Reasons.
http://www.myspace.com/claremuldaur


FILMS:
THE RED BALLOON

1956, 34 mins. Directed by Albert Lamorisse. A young boy and a red balloon wander through the streets of Paris in The Red Balloon, one of the most beloved children's films ever made.

PERSEPOLIS

2007, 95 mins. Directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis is a coming-of-age tale about an Iranian girl's struggles with love, religion, and politics, based on Marjane Satrapi's popular graphic novel/memoir.

FOOD: French fusion cuisine by the French Café Bistro, 718 Restaurant in Astoria

In the event of rain, this film will be rescheduled to August 27.

Block Party this Sunday!

Have you heard? Sunnyside's hosting a block party this Sunday!

Join your friends, family, neighbors, and members of Transportation Alternatives, the New York League of Conservation Voters and other local community organizations at our "Sunnyside of the Block Party" this Sunday, August 10 from 10am to 3pm. The block party will be on 46th Street, between Skillman and 43rd Avenues, in Sunnyside.

Learn how to ride a bike*, get active in your community, learn about environmental issues, have your face painted, dance, eat, jump rope, or just relax in the shade with the Sunday paper. Festivities will also include a live jazz performance from 1pm to 3pm, a book swap (leave a book, take a book), giant chess, street art, and board games.

All are welcome - free.

For more information, email SunnysideBlockParty@gmail.com or visit www.blockpartynyc.org/parties/13/read.

See you on the block!

Race & Queens

A guest post by supermarket obsessed Brendan Mckenna:

Over the course of less than two hours this evening (July 31), I witnessed two "charming" Queens moments...first, I went to a local discount store situated at the Stop & Shop shopping center off of 48th Street and Northern Boulevard. While making my purchase, an unusually talkative sales clerk rung me up. I asked where she was from, and she said, "Maspeth." I noted it was a nice neighborhood, and she noted it was beginning to decline. She was not pleased with the new elements moving in, "I'm not prejudiced, but I am not happy with some of the new riffraff." She then proceeded to talk of her father witnessing a mugging set up underneath an overpass in that neighborhood - seemingly equating it with ethnic change. She was not happy one bit about the "new" Maspeth. It is always amazing what strangers are willing to share!

I then headed over to Stop & Shop and picked up some groceries. While in the check-out line, I witnessed another, even more vivid incident. An African-American woman was shouting at an Asian couple and young daughter. She didn't like how they were staring at her, and began to yell, "You really should go back to that trashy country you came from, go eat some rice." She continued with this tirade for the entire time I was in line, even as the management tried to calm her so that she would stop yelling. Meanwhile, the approximately seven-year-old daughter was shouting in defense of her parents (who barely spoke English), telling the lady to shut up. She was protecting her parents and their right to be there (and it seemed like she was accustomed to doing this). It was a truly sad thing to witness. All very disturbing, and I get the sense that Queens may not be handling its diversity particularly well.