Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser!!

 

 

Saturday, August 10, 2013

 

5:00- 7:00 PM

 

Pine Valley Clubhouse

 

Proceeds from the Spaghetti Dinner will benefit

 

The Children's Drama Program

Writers' Workshop with Dr. Dean Nelson on 1/14/12!

Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council presents

A WORKSHOP ON WRITING

Saturday, January 14, 9 a.m - 4 p.m.

Pine Valley Bible Conference Center

Guest Speaker/Instructor:

Dr. Dean Nelson,

Director of Journalism,

Point Loma Nazarene University,

Director, Writer’s Symposium By The Sea

Dr. Dean Nelson is the founder and director of the journalism program at PLNU. He writes occasionally for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Christianity Today, Sojourners, and several other national publications. He has written or co-written 11 books. Nelson is a frequent speaker at writing workshops and retreats. He has traveled throughout the world covering stories of human interest, including India, where he wrote about the slums of Bombay; Kosovo, where he interviewed and wrote about victims of terrorism; Africa, where he wrote about members of the Black Panther Party who live in exile in Tanzania; Tibet, where he wrote about religious persecution; and Central America, where he wrote about poverty and contaminated water. In addition to directing the PLNU journalism program, Nelson also hosts the annual Writer's Symposium By The Sea, where prominent writers come to discuss the craft of writing. This will be Dr. Nelson’s second workshop for MECAC.

Registration cost: $35 (includes lunch)

Mail the following registration form with check to:

Workshop Registration: c/o Elizabeth Barrett,

P.O. Box 1287 , Pine Valley CA 91962

(Make checks out to MECAC)

Driving directions will be included with our confirmation

Organized and Directed by:

Dianne Holly: holly@theaterdance.ucsb.edu

Judith Dupree: adlib_pv@sbcglobal.net, Ph. 619-473-8683

(Contact for more information and scholarship inquiry)

Saturday, May 8 at 7:00 PM: Concert at Pine Valley Bible Conference Center

Click on image to enlarge

New Family Focus to Arts/Writing Conference!

Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council

invites you to a weekend

to remember . . . and treasure:

“Uncommon Community . . . Uncommon Commitment”

(Check Out Registration/Pricing Above for Reduced Rates, Especially for Families!)

A few months ago, we (MECAC) planned a Workshop for Artists & Writers. A very good idea! I hope you saw the e-flyer. But something has nibbled at my overloaded psyche, and left me with second thoughts about an arts-exclusive focus: Life in the “real world”—the multiple issues that press upon us day by day, and the escalation of national and world problems. Artists and writers, and all sorts of people who simply celebrate art and writing, are deeply concerned about the hard issues that life in today’s world imposes. There is an unending interplay between expressing creativity and handling the ordinary and inevitable hard realities of living.

This leads us to a slight but obvious change of focus. This, in part, is what we want to offer you for a weekend: A way of stepping outside your normal boundaries and busy-ness, to join others who are affected (perhaps unconsciously) or afflicted by the rigors of our national life—Indeed, global life—and want to better understand and withstand and respond to it as creative people.

We often feel torn between our unmet need for creative expression and the rude facts of living in a sometimes “hostile” world. Admittedly, we may feel guilty at times for wanting to run away to a quiet place. (Our artsy self needs tending!) Growing national and universal distress is the elephant in everyone’s living room. Climate change, global unrest, and societal upheaval confront us each morning. Perhaps we would do well to bring our creative natures into a larger discussion of core values, and the problems of today’s very fragile world. How do we live in light of this darkness? How do we respond as writers and artists? How does it invade, inform, shape what we do? Where might it take us creatively? This may be an entry to new life for us.

As people who believe in the value of arts, the practice and enjoyment of them, and their soul-necessity, we can move in small, incremental ways—as people who are not “consumed by consumerism,” or defeated by despair. Consider what some small steps toward inventive living in times of crisis might be. How do we build or join in a supportive community? How do we “tend” each other and care for those beyond us, in a toughening world? We can gather hope from our inner resources, from those around us, and from the wisdom of the past, to create hope for the future. This is Fine Art. Does this sound like a healthy challenge? We believe it is.

Come join the adventure. We will have morning time for art instruction and networking, and evening for fine music. But Saturday afternoon will be a time of reflection and creating our own prerequisites for what it means to us to thrive. Bring your viewpoint and ideas. Listen to what our faculty and your “neighbors” have to say. Something to take home and live well with.

Finally, two new additions: There will be a special track for children/youth, concurrent with the adults! And Mothers’ Day will be honored! All moms (with or without family attending) will be treated to Sunday brunch and a gift to take home. Check our blogsite below for special new registration stats on family options, length of stay and special new pricing to go with it.

For further information, e-mail Susanne at SusanneMBarrett@aol.com

MECAC Spring Fundraising Event on April 10!

(Click on above image to enlarge)

DATE: Saturday, April 10th, 2010 2pm – 5pm
PLACE: Gloriosa Winery and Vineyard in Campo
TICKETS: $25 a couple; $15 single

The event will feature:
--Private stock tasting
--Tour of the vineyard
--Cases of private stock will be available for purchase

Entertainment: “Harpist” Susan Raimond will serenade us
Refreshments: Wines from Gloriosa Vineyard, and hors d’oeuvres catered by Campo Diner

Selected local artists will be on hand displaying their work including:
Sandra Hayden: works in oils and pastels
Rosa Ruiz: unique Southwestern and Fantasy Art from Spanish Village in Balboa Park

Dress “Casual and Comfortable.” This outdoor event will be held at the vineyard and you will be able to walk among the rows of grapes.

This “Spring Vineyard Tour” is the first of two planned for the year.

Spring is the time of year the buds come out and the fruit forms. You will see how they are trained to aid in the harvest.

We will meet again for the “Fall Vineyard Tour” on Saturday, August 14th, to see the fruits of this year’s labor just before harvest time.

The winery is also on site and the tour includes the barrel room where the tasting will occur. An indoor Clubhouse with restrooms and a seating area is available to winery visitors.

Tickets and reservations:
Michael Neff (619) 933-3756
Judith D. Dupree (619) 473-8683
Dianne Holly (619) 473-8760

Directions: From Interstate 8 take the Buckman Springs Rd. and exit to the south. Continue 12 miles to Highway 94 and turn left. Turn right on Sheridan Rd., left on Custer Rd., right on Gloriosa Way. Follow the signs to enter the Winery.

Arts & Writing Conference in May

(click on above image to enlarge)
Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council Presents

"Beauty and the Beast:
Arts In An Age Of Adversity”

A Workshop and Seminar In Literary,

Visual, And Dramatic Arts

Friday, May 7 (5 pm)—Sunday, May 9, 2010 (Noon)
(Optional one-night-only registration is available,
 in deference to Mothers' Day)

Pine Valley Bible Conference Center, Pine Valley, CA

“Art is man defining himself.” Ayn Rand ... (Women too, of course!)

We offer you a time apart to rethink, to respond, to recapture. We will hear from those who live with and for the arts. We will share our own journeys and listen to each other.

We will create time for stretching our souls or dabbling in our own medium. We will also listen, perhaps more fully, for the heartbeat of a struggling world.

Do you write? Draw? Paint? Act or sing—or carry your camera with you for that unexpected “Aha!” shot?

Is it an obsession, a business, a love affair, a dream you’ve tucked between your ears, behind your eyes, to consider now and again?

What underlies your doing (or avoiding!) this demanding, enticing, yin-yang work-play?

Is it something you’re burning to say to the world that can only be said in print or paint?

Or perhaps the search for a “place of purity,” of solace, or a steady joy, brings you to the practice?

In addition, the program will include a thoughtful presentation of and response to the theme, above,

with the intent of giving personal focus to the call of arts in today’s troubled world.

Workshop and Seminar

Moderated By Dr. Dean Nelson: Noted Author
Dean of Journalism, PLNU, San Diego, CA

Director, Writers' Symposium By The Sea

Guest Artists, Speakers, Musicians:

Dr. James Schaap, Professor, English/Literature, Dordt College,

Sioux Center, IA; Novelist, Essayist, Photographer

George Svoboda, Classical & Flamenco Guitar;

Teacher, Mesa College Music Program, San Diego,CA

Including:

Dianne Holly, Freehand Drawing; Norman Daniels, Plein Air Painting;

Susan Raimond, Music Composition (& Harp Concert);

Judith Dupree & Kathryn Belsey, poetry;

Donna Swennes, Fabric Art; Lee Swennes, Wood and Metal Crafting;

Larry McNamer, Front-of-House Engineer, “The Sound of Music”;

Keith Barrett, Stained Glass Art; Mesa College Guitar Ensemble

Tony Neff: Editor, BackCountry Messenger,
will teach a concurrent workshop on packaging, marketing, and publicizing your work.

FOR REGISTRATION, CONTACT:
MECAC, c/o Susanne Barrett, Registrar

P.O. Box 1287, Pine Valley CA 91962

SusanneMBarrett@aol.com

(Registration form available just under blog header on top of blog post)

Evening with the Swenneses Postponed

Because of the snow/weather, tonight's MECAC Evening of Art is postponed to a later date.  More news coming as events unfold....

An Evening of Art with Lee & Donna Swennes

A Journey Through Christmas Canceled

MECAC regrets to announce

that we have been forced to cancel

this December's production of A Journey Through Christmas.

MECAC will be planning something to do with the upcoming holiday season.

We are kicking around ideas and invite anyone and everyone interested to join us at

our next board meeting,

this Thursday, November 5,

starting at 1:00 PM

in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library.

Some ideas we are considering are:

a Holiday Arts Fair

Wine & Cheese Party and Art Exhibition

an Arts Auction

If you're interested, bring along your thinking cap

and the willingness to "make it work"

and we'll see you at the November 5 Board Meeting!

Open Auditions for "A Journey Through Christmas"

Actors? Singers? This is your chance!!!!!

Open Auditions for Acting and Choir Parts for
A Journey Through Christmas

(children and adults needed!)

on Wednesday, October 21 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

at the Pine Valley Community Clubhouse
on Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley

Performance will be Saturday, December 12 at 7:00 PM

For questions, contact Dianne Holly at 473-8760

Rehearsal Schedule for A Journey Through Christmas:
(All rehearsals from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
Monday, October 26
Thursday, October 29
Friday, November 6
Monday, November 9
Thursday, November 12
Monday, November 16
Thursday, November 19
Monday, November 23
Monday, November 30

Technical Rehearsals (times will vary)
Sunday, December 6, 2:00-6:00 PM (putting up sets, lights, sound)
Monday, December 7, 3:00-6:00 PM (putting up sets, lights, sound)
Tuesday, December 8, 2:00-9:00 PM (finish lights and sound; Tech Rehearsal 6:00 PM)
Wednesday, December 9, 6:00-10:00 (Tech Rehearsal)
Thursday, December 10, 6:00-10:00 (Tech Rehearsal)
Friday, December 11, 6:00-10:00 (Tech Rehearsal)
Saturday, December 12, 6:00-11:00 (Performance; strike sets, lights, sound)

An Evening of Art with Moki Martin

Sacred Rocks Reserve

(Photo by Susanne Barrett)

On Thursday, August 6, the MECAC Board of Directors Judith Dupree, Dianne Holly, Tony Nash, Marshall Chapman, and Susanne Barrett held their monthly meeting at Sacred Rocks Reserve in Boulevard. An RV park and campground currently, the owners of Sacred Rocks are planning to shift the reserve to an Artists Colony as the mainstay of their 160-acre property with only 20-some acres developed. Beautiful rock formations, 400-500 year-old oak trees, wildlife, a 100-foot diameter labyrinth, and a salt water pool and hot tub are currently on the property, as well as eight "green" vacation cabins for rental or purchase. Sharon Courmousis, one of the owners, gave us MECAC'ers the "grand tour" of the grounds which are simply incredible, and her vision of an Artists Colony is spectacular and much-needed.

Feel free to contact Sacred Rocks for a day retreat or for a more lengthy stay in gorgeous and inspirational surroundings that will release the artist in YOU!

Keep your eye on the Sacred Rocks blog as well as the website for some exciting artistic opportunities coming up this fall, most of which will be posted to this blog as well.

Third Annual MECAC "A Taste of Art" Summer Program

The Third Annual MECAC Summer Program "A Taste of Art" was a full-on success! Thirty children from ages 6 to 17 enjoyed "tasting" different kinds of artistic expression. Whether the younger kids (ages 6-11) were building, painting, and racing sailboats OR carving and painting plaster OR dribbling paint onto canvases in a tribute to Jackson Pollock OR painting on gessoed Masonite OR creating abstract mobiles, they had a wonderful time.

The older kids (ages 12-17) worked on a mural of Pine Valley, painting smaller canvases that will be assembled into a large piece for the Pine Valley Clubhouse. Arranged and organized by Dianne Holly, the kids painted their assigned canvases according to smaller color-coded cards that will allow the larger mural to be coherent.

Our gratitude is extended to Myrna, Mary, Marshall, Dianne, and all of the amazing and wonderful helpers who pitched in to make MECAC's Third Annual "A Taste of Art" a fun and educational experience for our young people!

MECAC at Pine Valley Day!

MECAC will once again have a booth in the park at Pine Valley Days.

After the parade, come by our booth and check out the results of our Third Annual Taste of Art Summer Kids' Classes from this week.

We'll also be selling items, so come pick up your MECAC T-shirts (designed by Judith Dupree!), plus you won't want to go home without photography, cards, stained glass, jewelry, and other art pieces for sale by Mountain Empire Artists!

You will definitely need a delicious item or two from our Bake Sale and a drink of cold, refreshing fresh-squeezed Limeade!

Bring your kids by to make jewelry with Elizabeth and chat with us about what wonderful plans MECAC has for the future!

We'll have info on and sign-ups for upcoming events with the Pine Valley Players and the MECAC Writers' Workshop, plus some wonderful events this autumn that you won't want to miss!

So come on by and see us at the MECAC booth on Saturday! We're looking forward to seeing you THERE!

MECAC's "A Taste of Art" Kids' Summer Classes!

Don't miss out on MECAC's Third Annual "A Taste of Art"

Summer Art Classes for Kids!

Monday, July 20 through Thursday, July 23

1:00 to 4:00 PM

Pine Valley Clubhouse, Old Highway 80

*****

To register children ages 6-11,

contact Myrna at 473-1037

or Mary at markplus5@yahoo.com

"I Sing America" a Rousing Success!

The June 26 performance of Judith Deem Dupree's I Sing America was breathtaking in more ways than one. Over fifty backcountry residents gathered in the Pine Valley Clubhouse to experience the patriotic extravaganza of theater, art, and music. Eight local readers brought Judith's book alive as they portrayed Amerigo Vespucci (Duane Mason), the Narrator/Protagonist (DeBee Trant) and the Chorus (Christine Siders, Shontel Grivno, Mike Trant, Johnnie Jones, and Robert Rubin). Behind and emphasizing the words they read were musical selections as varied as Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Pete Seeger's "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and Disney's "A Pirate's Life for Me" as images depicting our nation's history flashed on two large screens: Revolutionary War, Lincoln and the Civil War, the Mall of Washington DC, slaves and soldiers, school desegregation, the Mississippi River, Disneyland, poverty-stricken neighborhoods, and, finally, scenes from September 11. The spectators were silent, spellbound by the performances, by the breadth and scope of our nation's history, our nation's people.

Dianne Holly and Judith Deem Dupree

I Sing America was adapted from the book by Judith Deem Dupree by Dianne Holly (pictured above) who also directed the performance and arranged the visuals and musical background to Judith's poetry. In Judith's book, Amerigo Vespucci, for whom our country is named, views aspects of our history and of our present, commenting upon it with wisdom and in truth. As the Narrator attempted to question Vespucci or explain situations to him, we were drawn into seeing our country through a stranger's eyes, eyes that marveled at the beauty of our land but which also deplored the bloodshed, hatred, and violence that has been also been part of our past and our present. The commentary was well-taken by those who experienced the performance, who went away not just entertained but thinking, perhaps the overall goal of both the writer and the director -- a goal in which they succeeded admirably.

We can only hope that I Sing America will be performed for more than the fifty souls who experienced it last Friday evening as it is a beautiful and thought-provoking production that well deserves a larger audience.
*************
MECAC also thanks Douglas Edward Harrison (Sound Design), Allen Harnetaux (Sound Engineering), and Tammy Mason (Slide Technician).

With gratitude we also note: Linda Berardi (Pine Valley Clubhouse Manager), Larry McNamer (CBC Technical), Tony Neff of The Back Country Messenger, The Valley Views, and The Alpine Sun.

We also thank Margo Kreger of Lake Morena for the display of her beautiful art (pictured behind Dianne and Judith in above photo).

"I Sing America" Readers' Theatre Performance This Friday, June 26!

The Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC) presents a Readers' Theatre production of the patriotic work I Sing America.

This multi-media event will be performed at the Pine Valley Clubhouse on Friday Evening, June 26, at 7:00 PM.

From the book by Pine Valley resident and MECAC Director Judith Deem Dupree, adapted and directed by Pine Valley resident Dianne Holly, I Sing America features the vocal and dramatic talents of eight Mountain Empire residents.

Refreshments will be served, and a time of community fellowship will take place after the production.

Bring the whole family to enjoy this pre-Independence Day patriotic celebration!

Artistic Opportunities at The Latent Print

The Latent Print is a website for San Diego artists to submit their work for possible publication. I ran across their site when perusing the San Diego Writers Online website, and The Latent Print looks quite promising. You can view their stunning website here: The Latent Print.

They are currently reviewing submissions in the following categories:

SHORT FICTION

SERIAL FICTION

POETRY

TWITTER POETRY

NONFICTION ESSAYS

STAGE/SCREEN PLAYS

EXPERIMENTAL WRITING

VISUAL ART

GRAPHIC NARRATIVE (COMICS)

PHOTOGRAPHY

VIDEO

Their submissions page will give you all the criteria necessary to publish there. Plus, all submissions remain the intellectual property of the artist, so we may submit the same works for publication elsewhere. It's a great place to start publishing!

Cast List for "I Sing America"

This weekend Dianne Holly and Judith Dupree posted the Cast List for the June 26 readers' theatre production of Judith's Deem Dupree's I Sing America.

(For more information regarding the production, see the post immediately following this one.)

I Sing America Cast

NARRATOR: DeBee Trant

AMERIGO: Duane Mason

Actor #1 Christine Siders

Actor # 2 Teri Carpentier-Annti

Actor # 3 Margaret Bourdette

Actor # 4 Shontel Grivno

Actor # 5 Mike Trant

Actor # 6 Johnnie Jones

If you are cast, please check with Dianne Holly for the rehearsal schedule.

Don't miss this wonderful production at the Pine Valley Clubhouse on June 26 at 7:00 PM!!!!

I SING AMERICA Readers' Theatre Production

Readers' Theatre Production of

Judith Deem Dupree's

I Sing America

Friday, June 26 at 7:00 PM

Pine Valley Clubhouse

Pine Valley Poet (and MECAC Director) Judith Deem Dupree has, with the able assistance of Dianne Holly, former theatre designer at UCSB, SDSU, and the Old Globe Theatres (and MECAC Secretary), prepared her poetry book I Sing America as a readers' theatre production. This week Judith and Dianne have been auditioning backcountry readers for one of the approximately eight parts in the production.

Twice a week throughout the remainder of May and most of the month of June, the readers will be rehearsing under the direction of Dianne and Judith. I Sing America is a patriotic piece; one of the main characters is Amerigo Vespucci, the person for whom the United States of America is named.

I Sing America will be performed on Friday, June 26 at 7:00 PM at the Pine Valley Clubhouse, just before we celebrate our nation's 233rd birthday on July 4. Refreshments will be served and we'll have time to chat with the community. So save the date -- don't forget!