Moab Happenings Archive
Return to home

NON-PROFIT HAPPENINGS October 2010

Pleinair Festival October 1–7

En plein air - a French term meaning ‘in the open air-’ a painting done outside rather than in a studio.
The MARC, Overlook Gallery, and many local artists introduce Moab’s first PleinAir Festival, October 1-9. You may not be an art aficionado, but your interest will be piqued watching a painter interpret an image that stands before him. It might be a red rock arch, a cottonwood beginning to change color, or even a group of people enjoying breakfast at a local café.

Jim FowlerThroughout the 8-day festival, artists set up shop within 50 miles of Moab, showcasing their work, demonstrating and, most importantly, doing what they do best: creating art. One of the most fun aspects of a Plein Air Festival is spying artists amidst creeks, ledges, and downtown locations- wherever they choose to work. Most artists are happy to meet new people and talk about their techniques.

Over an 8-day period, artists paint picturesque scenes throughout the area and select their best works to be judged in the PleinAir Moab competition. At the end of the week, artists take their projects to Moab City Center to be displayed and hopefully sold.

Make sure you catch the true treats of any Plein Air festival- the Quick Draw event, Thursday, Oct. 7th 4-7 pm, and the Auction, Saturday, Oct. 9th, 10am-8 pm. Everything about a Quick Draw is fast. Lots of artists, professionals, amateurs and the simply adventurous compete and have fun. These artists have only downtown and three hours to complete their works. During this short time, all registered Quick Draw participants will set up their supplies and paint or draw in downtown Moab. Together, artists and spectators are immersed in the creative process. See the scenes and how the artists interpret them. Smell the wet paint and get caught up in the excitement of watching a painting come to life before your eyes.

The Auction is your chance to purchase a work of art created on site during the festival. A silent auction continues all day and through Art Walk, October 9th; however, the top prize winners will be auctioned live from 5:30-6:30 Saturday night only. This is your only opportunity to view the entire PleinAir Moab show and take home some original art. Stop by Moab’s City Offices for this auction and rare treat of art-lined hallways. Meet the artists themselves.

Artists must register to be a part of the event. Prizes range from $500-$1350. Watching is always free. See www.pleinairmoab.com for details or call the Overlook Gallery at 435-259-3861.

 

The 2nd Annual Moab River Rendezvous November 11–14, 2010

Moab River RendezvousThe Moab-based non-profit conservation organization, Plateau Restoration is once again hosting their annual Moab River Rendezvous. Participants of last year’s events raved about the quality and scope of presentations and enjoyed a spectacularly beautiful early winter float on the Colorado River. This year’s event, November 11-14, 2010, will be held in the field and in town using both the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (MARC) and historic Star Hall. The event features presentations by expert speakers on conservation, river-running history, geology, and water issues in addition to an opportunity to view a series of wooden boats from Grand Canyon and Oregon that are replicas of those used by historic river runners. The schedule has been expanded from last year to incorporate more activities, presentations and a riparian restoration service project. During the 4-day event there is a balance of indoor presentations along with field trips and abundant opportunity to socialize. This is a celebration of rivers and the community.

Moab River RendezvousPresenters this year include keynote speaker and renowned author, Wayne Ranney, discussing his book, “Carving Grand Canyon”, and well-known river historians and authors from northern Arizona, Brad Dimock, Richard Quartaroli and Tom Martin. Adventurer, Jonathan Waterman will be recounting his 1450-mile journey down the Colorado River, as outlined in his book “Running Dry” and environmental law scholar and University of Utah Law Professor, Robert Adler will also be discussing Colorado River water issues. Roy Webb, media archivist with University of Utah library will be returning with his popular historic films, most of which have never before been shown in Moab. Historic Star Hall is the venue for presentations, whereas author and sponsor tables, information displays and historic replica boats will be available for public viewing at the MARC, where registrants can informally interact with authors and boat-builders over an extended lunch break. Event registrants will also enjoy lunch every day, an exclusive winter float trip on the Colorado River and tour of Arches National Park with naturalist guides Tamsin McCormick, PhD and former Arches Ranger, Michael Smith of Plateau Restoration. Registration is only $120 for the whole event or $40 per day, with discounts for early registration and supporters of our sponsors. Pre-registration is required for some activities.

river lunchThis annual fundraiser helps provide support for conservation projects on the Colorado Plateau that also engage students aiming to become the next generation of recreation and resource managers. Plateau Restorations’ student and adult volunteer programs have contributed more than 60,000 hours of service to public lands in southeast Utah since 1995.

For more information about the speakers and event schedule, to view pictures from last year’s event and for online registration, visit the event website www.moabriverrendezvous.com. For questions or to become a sponsor, please call Plateau Restoration at 435-259-7733 or 1-866-202-1847 toll-free or email info@plateaurestoration.org.

 

Smithsonian Exhibit at Museum of Moab

The Smithsonian is coming to Moab. The Museum of Moab will host “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” September 18th through November 3rd. The New Harmonies exhibit and takes a look back at roots music and how it served as the foundation for many musical genres appreciated worldwide today. Throughout September, October and November the Museum of Moab will be presenting programs, lectures, workshops and performances highlighting both local and national Music history.

“New Harmonies” tells the American musical story through photographs, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles. Although “roots music” is a relatively new term that generally applies to forms of folk music, its influences run deep throughout American culture and can be heard in today’s commercial country, gospel, pop and hip-hop genres.

The exhibition explores the work of well-known folk, gospel, country and blues artists who have inspired generations of musicians, like Ma Rainey, B.B. King, Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, Mahalia Jackson, Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez, and captures the spirit of musical styles that are at the heart of local heritage in the United States—Tejano, zydeco, polka, Cajun, conjunto and klezmer. “New Harmonies” focuses on how roots music gives Americans a soundtrack and a voice for their stories.

“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music” has been made possible in Moab by the Utah Humanities Council. New Harmonies is part of Museum on Main Street, collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.
Admission to the Museum will be free throughout the “New Harmonies” exhibit. For more information about the Museum of Moab and the New Harmonies exhibit please contact the Museum of Moab at 435-259-7985

 

KZMU Celebrates 18 Years of Radio and Solar Power Oct 22–30

Change is in the air. The busy autumn season, you can hear what that sounds like on KZMU, Moab’s own community radio station, now in its 18th year of hometown, grass roots, independent media broadcast. Every day, Moab Community Radio receives word from listeners all over the world via the webstream or the fm dial that the diversity, the constant change of tune is what makes the station unique.

While there are now many sound stations to choose from in Moab and on the web, it would be hard to find a station that offers broadcast training and air time opportunity for all ages and tastes and opinions such as solar powered, all volunteer air crew KZMU.

Our theme this fall is ‘Be the Media”, an idea brought to life on the air and on this season’s limited edition t shirt created by ‘Subvert’ artist, Chad Niehaus.

There are many people to thank for their role in bringing independent media to Moab. If you are one of them, KZMU salutes you. The idea that one person’s voice matters, and needs to be heard, has been reflected on the air since April of 1992. A non-commercial community radio station is a rare find in a town of under 10,000 people. Semiannual fundraisers that garner donations from the community and business ‘underwriting’ account for 50% of the operating budget. The other 50% comes from a grant from CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting). KZMU is having their Fall fundraiser from October 22-30th. Donations are gratefully receive anytime at435- 259-8824 or online at kzmu.org.

The 60 solar panels erected last year to make the building completely solar powered are going strong. KZMU is ever grateful to the support of the late Kent Alcorn for his initiation and work to make the vision of a truly green grass roots solar radio station come true. Since installation, the solar power generated has saved over 13,000 pounds of CO2 from going into the air. The alternative energy from the solar panels mirrors the alternative programming KZMU provides. Check out the program guide in the moab happenings for up to date scheduling information, or you can follow us on facebook too!
KZMU continues to provide air time for students and children of Grand County.

The award winning program founded by artist Bruce Hucko and Sound Partners, the “Voices of Youth” is undergoing change due to the lack of leeway support at the polls this summer, yet KZMU and Grand County High school continue the training partnership. Talented students learn how to produce pieces on topics of their interest. These stories can be personal, historical, cultural, recreational, philosophic, political - whatever they want. KZMU airs those pieces, and provide many opportunities for youth to express their growing voices. ‘Word of The Day’, ‘Shine Time’ ‘Tween Time’ and on Saturday nights from 7-9pm, the ‘Real Teenage Wasteland” are a few shows by kids 4 to 18 years of age.

In a world of TV, print and radio and online media that is overwhelmingly impersonal, over-commercialized, canned, controlled and censored, KZMU is a breath of fresh air. Local. Live. Personal. Diverse, and Free. And it wouldn’t exist without the generosity of the people that donate to KZMU. That’s what makes it ‘your’ radio station. Thanks in advance to everyone who will donate to KZMU in the upcoming fundraiser. October 22-30th. www.kzmu.org or 90.1 and 106.7fm.

Return to Archive Index
return to home
 
Return to home