The Spring Art Market returns on Mother’s Day weekend with 40+ artisans and artists filling the Tannery Arts campus. Produced by Arts Council Santa Cruz County the annual market will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 13th.

The free family-friendly event offers a wide range of activities for the shoppers and art admirers alike. Local artisans will be showcasing and selling their work. Throughout the market you will find handmade ceramics, unique jewelry, paintings and prints, candles, self-care products, one-of-a-kind clothing, and much more.

The campus will be brought to life with live music from La Familla De Calle and Aquin, consisting of Genoa Brown and Jase “Monk” Earl with beer and wine from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and Big Basin Vineyards available for purchase. Also on the menu Arts Council has secured Epoch Foods, Taquizas Gabriel, and sweet treats from LaLi for anyone looking for a bite to eat.

Guests can also savor the spring season with local flowers for sale from Happy Patch Flowers, Quaintrelle Farms, and Localife Flowers. “The diversity of artists this year is amazing,” says Bree Karpavage, Spring Art Market Coordinator and founder of the Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Markets.

Youngsters and the young at heart can engage in free art activities, such as a glass blowing demo with Chris Mosley, Public Art Bingo with Linda Cover, and Bird Quest with Suzy Radonsky. Local artist Kirk McNeill will also be spinning the Sharky-Go-Round.

“The Spring Art Market is a beautiful way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend,” says Mercedes Lewis, Tannery Program Manager for Arts Council Santa Cruz County. “Bring the whole family and find the perfect gift for all the special women in your life while supporting our local creative entrepreneurs.”

The Tannery Arts Center Spring Art Market is a must-attend event for those who appreciate fine art, music, and delicious food and drink. With something for everyone, it’s the perfect way to spend Mother’s Day weekend with family and friends.

In the rapidly modernizing ‘Asir Province of southwest Saudi Arabia, the Qhatan tribe preserves an enduring tradition. The men of the group, which is said to descend from Ishmael, son of Abraham, fashion vibrant flower crowns made from marigolds, jasmine, herbs, and other plants, wearing the handcrafted ornaments as symbols of pride and joy. Comprised of dried and fresh materials, the headpieces are donned for celebrations, to ward off sickness, and for their beauty, and the practice spans professions and age.

Omar Reda, a Lebanese photographer currently living and working in Saudi Arabia, traveled to the province in January 2021, where he met some members of the tribe. The country “holds a treasure trove of hidden gems, he says, noting that he’s interested in documenting the vast cultural diversity of the Arab nation. In his photographs of the “flower men,” Reda brings the viewer into direct confrontation with the subjects, documenting their crowns, facial expressions, and garments with close precision. The intimate portraits highlight how the uniqueness of each individual emerges through a shared practice, providing a common point of connection throughout the community.

Reda frequently travels to photograph communities and their cultural practices, and you can find more of his portraiture on Instagram. (via PetaPixel)

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article For the ‘Flower Men’ of Saudi Arabia, A Handcrafted Tradition Heralds Beauty and Health appeared first on Colossal.

The practice of assembling cabinets of curiosities, or Wunderkammers, may date back to the 16th century, but the human impulse to collect, document, study, and learn from our surroundings goes back millennia. Scottish artist Katie Rose Johnston, who works as Manifesto, celebrates the timeless pastime of collecting in her series Curiosity Clouds. Exploring ceramics at the intersection of art and history, she draws inspiration from natural phenomena and blurring the line between form and function.

Johnston was inspired to create the organic forms after a visit to The Hunterian in Glasgow, where she was fascinated by a vitrine tucked away in the rear of the museum. Displaying bird and insect nests from around the world, it included a cross-section of a termite mound featuring an elaborate network of compartments that the insects use for ventilation. “It was a really compelling form that mimicked a set of printer’s drawers in my mother’s home, which were filled with bits and bobs, mudlarked treasures, and our childhood crafts,” she tells Colossal. “The form of the dissected termite mound was really appealing, like a Wunderkammer from an alternate universe.”

The Curiosity Clouds are made using terracotta crank, a type of textured, groggy clay that is often used to make large, durable pots. Johnston forms each piece intuitively rather than relying on sketches, and she enjoys the way the material mimics the earthy, organic, meandering texture of the termite mounds. Always experimenting with different methods, she recently began incorporating materials found in the wild, like a slip coating made from clay gathered from her favorite beach. “It’s unseived to retain the small pebbles and roots which are elemental to the place they were found, and the clay is mica-rich and has a deep, metallic shimmer to the surface,” she says. “It’s rather magical.”

Johnston announces updates to the Manifesto shop every few months, with the next restock scheduled for August. You can find more of her work on her website, and follow updates or learn more about her process on Instagram.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Ceramic ‘Curiosity Clouds’ by Manifesto Celebrate the Natural World in Functional Organic Forms appeared first on Colossal.

As part of the larger county initiative promoting the upcoming Andy Warhol art exhibit at the McAninch Arts Center, the City of West Chicago’s Cultural Arts Commission aims to install up to 50 different artworks created by local artists inspired by the pop art movement and traditional Mexican loteria cards.

Similar to the traditional loteria card game, the public will be invited to seek out the different artworks in order to fill out cards for prizes through a variety of online and traditional scavenger hunts.

Artwork will be approximately 17”x26” and will displayed on the exteriors of facilities using different vinyl graphics. Members of the public will then be tasked with seeking out different artworks to fill out their loteria boards, or to fulfill requirements of scavenger hunts.

The Sandbox, a decentralised gaming virtual world and subsidiary of Animoca Brands, has partnered with major education, art and culture, entertainment institutes for Mega City 3 LAND sale, the third phase of Greater China’s vibrant global hub in The Sandbox that further expands its reach in the fields of education, art and culture, and entertainment in the metaverse.

Following the launch of Mega City 1 and 2 that sold out more than 2,000 LANDs for a total of 3.1 million SAND, and the recent Hong Kong Partner Day that brought together more than 300 partners, creators, and community members, Mega City 3 will feature several partners across Greater China who acquired LANDs to support growing interest and understanding of the metaverse among the next generation.

Mega City 3 partners include Angela Ho, CLP Power Hong Kong, DustyLand, Ho Yu College and Primary School, Hong Kong Design Institute, MacauEC Creative Co., Ltd, Meet48, Meta MCDH, Nouns, Shin Kong MetaLife, Softstar, SZABOTAGE, The Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, The Fringe Club, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The World Creator Club, and Yiu Wing Entertainment Group.

On the other hand, Mega City 3 further broadens The Sandbox’s activities in education, art and culture, and entertainment, allowing it to offer possibilities for creativity, learning, and immersive experiences. Under the initiative, top educational institutions, secondary schools, and the largest power company in Hong Kong will leverage the virtual world and society of The Sandbox to enhance creativity, promote Hong Kong’s creative industry, and provide immersive learning experiences on design, technology, ESG, decarbonisation and more to students and the general public.

The open metaverse also allows established artists and IPs to create unique digital art that can be owned and utilised. In The Sandbox, creators have options such as virtual galleries, exhibitions, and performances to showcase their talents and provide opportunities for audiences to experience their work. 

The Sandbox has reserved a 3×3 LAND in Mega City 3 to facilitate collaboration between over 20 creative studios from Greater China, ranging from metaverse agencies, creative studios, to UGC builders. Three creative studios recently joined The Sandbox’s partnership programme to serve as metaverse agencies. The Sandbox encourages co-creation and is providing this dedicated space to be a central point for creators to come together, share their ideas, and collaborate on exciting new projects.

On 26 April 2023, The Sandbox will launch the Mega City 3 LAND sale, allowing participants to purchase LANDs in the Mega City 3 neighbourhood. Mega City 3 LANDs will be visible on The Sandbox map. Exclusive premium NFTs will also be packaged along with premium LANDs, curated by its partners. Ownership of LAND in The Sandbox enables individuals and organisations to create and host gaming experiences, social hubs, and events in the metaverse.

According to its website, participants will need to have a KYCed account to be eligible to take part in the LAND sale. The company will be running two raffles per wave. One for users that want to purchase a regular LANDs and one for those that want to purchase a premium LAND. The premium raffle will happen first for premium LANDs closer to IPs, and the regular raffle going afterward.

Upon purchase, the LANDs will be distributed randomly among the pool of buyers that won the raffle. Regular raffle winners receive the opportunity to buy a regular LAND and premium winners receive the opportunity to buy a premium LAND.

These partnerships are part of The Sandbox’s continuous commitment to building a diverse and open metaverse. Since November 2022, The Sandbox LAND sales such as Voxel Madness, California Dreamin’, Galleria, and K-verse have sold out within 24 hours. The Sandbox’s Avatar NFT sales such as Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, Madballs, and Rabbids Lunar New Year Collection have also proved extremely popular, selling out in just over two hours.

Related articles:

The Sandbox maps out Greater China strategy for 2023
The Sandbox and Havas Play join hands to create metaverse brand experiences

By Josh Marsh – 26 April 2023

A new Children’s Festival is coming to Chesterfield this Summer, providing families with a free weekend of fun and entertainment.

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will include music, theatre, storytelling, dance, and art workshops. It is being organised by Junction Arts, an award-winning arts charity based in the town.

Taking place in Queen’s Park on the 29th and 30th July, the event is set to celebrate the joy of childhood, imagination and play – promising to bring colour and excitement to Chesterfield during the summer holidays.

The two-day event will focus on arts and culture, with a number of acts and activities taking place over the weekend.  Entertainment announced so far includes a silent disco tour, an interactive game zone, a comedy club, a circus, storytime yoga, tie-dye workshops, face-painting and a brass band that plays everyone’s favourite Disney tunes!

Music and live theatre will take place in and around the town centre during the festival weekend, the full line-up will be announced in June.

Junction Arts will also commission a new artwork on the themes of childhood, play and games to celebrate the launch of the festival. Three local primary schools in Chesterfield and surrounding areas will work with the artist during several engagement sessions in the spring.

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jemma Burton said: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of the Chesterfield Children’s Festival, a weekend that’s all about fun with live performances and lots of opportunities to get creative. We have secured lots of high-quality acts already, but we’ll be announcing more very soon!

“Everyone is welcome, there’s no need to register or buy a ticket, families can simply turn up, get involved in the workshops or just enjoy the entertainment on offer. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Junction Arts hope that this will become a much-loved annual event for the town, inspiring children and young people for generations to come.

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will take place on Saturday 29^th and Sunday 30^th July, from 10am-4pm daily.

For more information visit: www.junctionarts.org or follow @junctionartsuk

Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The Taco Bell Foundation is breaking down barriers to education for young people pursuing their passions, in a record-breaking year for applications and awards.

IRVINE, Calif., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Taco Bell Foundation announced it is awarding more than $10 million in Live Más Scholarships – the most in the nonprofit’s history. The scholarships will be distributed to 980 students, ages 16-26, eager to ignite powerful change within their community and beyond. This year, the Taco Bell Foundation is giving $2.5 million to Taco Bell restaurant team members and $7.6 million to Taco Bell fans nationwide. Award amounts range from $5,000–$25,000 per recipient.

The Live Más Scholarship is a passion-based scholarship that gives students the tools and resources to boldly pursue their educational dreams. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must submit a two-minute video describing their passion, a positive change they want to make in the world, and how their education will help them achieve that goal.

This year, the Taco Bell Foundation received its highest number of scholarship applications – nearly 14,000. Recipients include more than 300 fans of the brand, 150 Taco Bell restaurant team members, and over 500 renewal recipients through the Taco Bell Foundation’s renewal application, allowing applicants to renew their scholarships up to three times.

Scholarships awarded to Taco Bell fans are funded 100% by customers who participate in the Taco Bell Foundation’s Round Up fundraiser by rounding up to the nearest dollar, proving change can change lives. While team member scholarships are funded completely by donations from Taco Bell Corp. and Taco Bell Franchisees.

“The Live Más Scholarship is more than a check. It provides a community for these young scholars where they can learn from one another and grow outside of the classroom,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “The Live Más Scholarship opens a door of connections, opportunities, and programs to help students flourish in their passions.”

Check out the stories of two 2023 Live Más Scholars who will be using their scholarships to create a better world for us all:

• King A.: King is a passionate animator who is currently studying Art and Business Marketing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The son of Togolese immigrants, he hopes to one day open his own animation and art studio that will help first-generation American animators, like himself, succeed in the industry. King is a Taco Bell team member and learned about his scholarship during a surprise party at the Taco Bell where he works and where his dad is the Restaurant General Manager.
• Stacy E.: Born deaf in a Spanish-speaking household, Stacy quickly learned the challenges that come with language barriers. Over time and with the proper resources, Stacy learned American Sign Language and fell in love with Deaf Education. Stacy, now working on her Associate of Arts, is planning to continue her education at Stephen F. Austin State University to pursue a degree in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies. With this education, Stacy hopes to return to the classroom as a resource for deaf and hard of hearing youth in order to make a difference in their lives and educational journeys.

Live Más Scholars will have the opportunity to travel to San Diego, California, and attend the Live Más Scholarship Summer of Connection this July. The in-person conference is designed for attendees to cultivate the necessary skills and connections needed to boldly pursue their careers and make a difference in their community.

About Taco Bell Foundation
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps America’s young people pursue their educational goals and career aspirations. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded $155 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.

Delani Marchigiani – Edelman
[email protected] 

Richard Villagomez– Taco Bell Corp.
[email protected]

SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.

An exhibition in Nashville of Beatrix Potter’s works explores her love of the world of science and the challenges facing women of the Victorian era.