Lantana Projects’ Art Community Blog

Looking for a fabulous way to ring in the new year, while supporting local artists? The Rozelle Artists Guild hosts the perfect event for you:

As the new year approaches, we take a moment of obligatory nostalgia for the year that is passing. This has been an extraordinary year for Lantana Projects: we welcomed resident artist Barbara Bickart and presented her haunting interdisplinary When, we braved the snow with our first networking event at Tsunami for artists and other movers and shakers of the art world, we featured six local artists in our Emerging Artist Series #1, we spread lantana through some guerilla gardening, we welcomed Dutch artist Eric Knoote and his outdoor mirror installation, and we concluded our year by recognizing the best local contemporary art of 2007 with the Class of ‘07.

We are proud of our accomplishments, and also know that they would not have been possible without support from the community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, volunteers, members, and patrons, and sincerely hope that 2008 proves to be the best yet for the Memphis art scene. Happy New Year!

Images from Class of ‘07

New technologies are combining to change the way we influence our communities. In her book, Momentum, Allison Fine writes about these new technologies and how they are igniting social change in our connected age. Allison is a senior fellow on the Democracy Team at Demos: A Network for Change and Action in New York, and was the founder and Executive Director of Innovation Network.

Also with us are Deepa Naik and Trenton Oldfield, coordinators of This Is Not A Gateway, a thoroughly modern, self-organizing festival of ideas planned for London next October. Unlike organizers of recent big-name U.S. “think” festivals, Deepa and Trenton are more curious than curatorial. Deepa’s work has focused on cross-cultural contemporary art practice and community activism. She has recently worked as an artist and educator with Public Works and Art for Change. Trenton is coordinator of the Thames Strategy - Kew to Chelsea and he was project manager of Cityside Regeneration.

From the amazing folks at Live From Memphis:

The theme of Li’l Film Fest 8 is RESOLUTIONS, you know, the New Year’s kind. I know, I know, you will cut back on the partying and staying out so late, you will exercise more and loose weight, you will remember to call your mother on her birthday, you will stop watching so much television, you will eat more veggies, and of course you’ll spend more time with the dog. But surely you can manage to squeeze in a few hours to make a film, right…?

Please read aloud:
“I resolve to make a film for Li’l Film Fest 8. I will capitalize on this unique opportunity to hone and improve my filmmaking abilities. I will have fun while contributing to the success of the Memphis filmmaking community. I resolve to make a film for Li’l Film Fest 8.”

Join them on Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 pm at the MeDiA Co-op for the festival! And be sure to congratulate LFM and the L’il Film Fest for making it to year two…

The holidays are a time of generosity and good will, and now it is even easier to support a worthy cause during the season: GoodShop online at stores such as Best Buy, the Gap, Target, Sephora, and eBay and the retailer will donate a percentage of your purchase to the charity of your choice.

Go to GoodSearch.com and select your cause (yes, Lantana Projects is on the list!), then click the GoodShop link. Then shop away!

Carol DeForest: Clay, candles, found objects and Uzbekistani textiles • Martha Hettich: Guatemalan textiles • Suzanne Henley: Fused glass, ancient beads, oriental rugs • Dorothy Northern: Jewelry • Robin Lathroum: Hand-dyed textiles • Brooke Sarden: Watercolor • Colleen Couch-Smith and Kelly Myers: Rock, paper, scissors, handmade paper and concrete • Tatia Johnson/Solstice Studios: Lampwork glass • Ann Jackson Designs: 14k & sterling & gemstone jewelry • Mary Durham: Mary’s Memphis Crunch • Olga King/Amber Road Imports: Amber jewelry • Peter Sohngen: Stoneware pots • Carol Robison: Elvis ornaments • Karen Bottle Capps: Folk art • Tootsie Bell and Laurie Bartholomew: Fine art jewelry • Carol Jordan/Girl Frenz: Zulu beadwork and baskets • Robert Ashely Snyder: Blown glass • Kristine Riis, Nashville: Jewelry • Circe Zugno: Brazilian jewelry • Caroline Hurley: Ladeeda handbags

Hattiloo Theatre is proud to present Forget Me Not Christmas from November 30-December 23. Join them for opening night and enjoy early bird ticket discounts: the first five attendees to arrive get seats for only $5, and the next ten earn theirs for only $10. And complimentary hors d’oeuvres are served for all!

Congratulations to the graduating BFA students! If you haven’t yet seen their exhibition, check out the closing reception on Saturday, December 1 in UM’s Jones Hall from 5:00-8:00 pm.

For those who missed the announcement earlier this month, Memphis has said goodbye to another art organization: Detour Memphis. From their release:

Detour Memphis Online Magazine ceased publication this morning with its October/November issue, it was announced by Nick A. Davis, director of Detour Memphis Productions. The television program on WMC TV 5 has also been ended.

“Thanks to everyone for the many years of support, submissions, and long hours,” Mr. Davis said. “I wish everyone the best - all the artists, filmmakers, and other creative individuals in the Mid-South and beyond.”

Thanks to you, Nick, for all of your efforts with the local art scene, and we wish you luck!

Thanks to all involved for making Class of ‘07 such a successful event! After a tight race, the votes have been counted and we now congratulate the Most Popular members of the class, as selected by you:

Winner: Melissa Farris
Jonathan and Bo
36″x50″, oil on canvas

Runner Up: Carl E. Moore
Gluttony
32″x32″, acrylic on canvas

Second Runner Up: Nancy May
Self-Proclaimed Portrait, Defeated
16″x20″, digital print

There is no doubt that an evening of exemplary contemporary works by nearly 40 local artists, DJs the Defective Agency and Mind at Large, and possibly a few drinks, will leave you energized for a late night on the town. Here are a few options for post-Cl07 on Saturday night:

The Hi Tone hosts a benefit concert for Christopher Reyes of Live From Memphis, with the Subteens, Perfect Fits, The Billy Worley Band & more! Richard James & the Special Riders, Joint Chiefs, and Reeves Gabrels & His Imaginary Friends will be at The Buccaneer. And at the Full Moon Club you’ll find Incode.

Come celebrate the best artwork created in 2007
by artists from or living in the Memphis area!

Saturday, November 17
574 South Main
7:00-10:00 pm
$5 entry

Featured artists:
Lea Alexander * Elizabeth Alley * Susan Best * Sarah Boyce * Dwayne Butcher
Paul Clements * Holly Davis * Hamlett Dobbins * Melissa Dunn * Melinda Eckley
Melissa Farris * Annette Fournet * Michael Force * Brooke Foy * Richard Gamble
Ashley Gerst * Elisha Gold * Pinkney Herbert * Jed Jackson * Niki Johnson
Tim Kinard * Yijun Liao * Nancy May * Erica McCarrens * Carol Harding McTyre
Carl Moore * Sunny Montgomery * Greely Myatt * Elizabeth Owen * Catherine Blackwell Pena
Nick Pena * Joel Rose * Vitus Shell * Rumi Tominaga * Ben Utigard * Ryan VanderLey
Billy Welch * Steven Troy Williams * Tad Lauritzen Wright

Entertainment will be provided by DJs the Defective Agency and Mind at Large.

Complimentary Bar. 

With gratitude and appreciation to our sponsors:

Thank you, Tom Gattas!

While you’re enjoying Memphis art this weekend, be sure to include a stop at montyshane gallery :

From FABA! and Mo’s Edge Coffeehouse:

Nita Black, owner of Mo’s Edge Coffeehouse is buying two tickets for a cruise to the Bahamas, and is having a raffle! Just $1 gets you a raffle ticket and a chance to win a 3 day 2 night cruise. The drawing will be held December 23 during Karaoke Night with Kenny Baker. You do not have to be present to win, but if the winner is present they will recieve $50 cash extra for the trip! Stop in Mo’s Edge Coffeehouse and get a ticket today…The full details on the cruise and tickets are at the coffeebar!

All proceeds will go to FABA (For Artists By Artists)! This money will go toward the March 2008 FABA! Bash/Expo. We are constantly thinking of ways to raise money to help us get this organization off the ground with paperwork, application fees, membership packages, and promotional materials. If you have fund raising ideas or wanna help get FABA! off the ground please contact Monica Summerfield at monicasummerfield@comcast.net