July 2006 Page 10

> VAA (and yrs trly) now have a local Joplin phone number, and my very own first cell phone.
#417.621.8577

> Arthrobs and VAA appearing on Search engines
In the two weeks or so since Arthrobs has gotten back online, it has already started to appear on the likes of Google, Ask Jeeves and Yahoo Search. If doing a search for "Visual Art Access" you will discover 78,500,000 possible combinations using those three words.

> International Mari Project
For several years I have been on the Circles Art, Inc. Board of Advisors for projects involving the California sculptor OSPREY OREILLE LAKE. Her immense Cheemah Monument is quite well-received at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA as one example, and they are on to the Mari monument piece as well as presenting her pedestal-scale bronzes whenever possible. Osprey is, in my opinion, one of the very few contemporary female sculptors who successfully blends fine casting/patina technique with narrative (vs representational, figurative or abstract) content. I've been following her work in relation to my American Surrealist Initiative research since the late 1980s.
See more about her and their projects/history at:
http://www.cheemahproject.org/

> Webb City "Praying Hands" sculpture
Found out today, from Tom DeCleene of Webb City Digital (they make quality giclee prints for artists), that the sculptor who made the huge Dureresque "Praying Hands" sculpture on the south hill as you head toward/from Carthage through Webb City was JACK DAWSON.

> Rosetta - wildlife sculptor
Former VAA artist Rosetta (Jan Shockner) and her husband Mel (art photographer) have lived and prospered in Loveland, CO for quite some time now. Her large wildlife bronzes have always been remarkable, and do nothing but become more so. While I was with the Saginaw Art Museum we had one of her pieces on extended loan for almost two years, and it was much-loved by all. Mel is one of the finest photographers of 3-D work I have ever met. She's just returned from 2 weeks in Africa.
See her work here:
http://www.rosettasculpture.com

> ArtCentral Gallery - Carthage
Had my first chance to visit the very fine ArtCentral gallery in nearby Carthage last week, for the Josie Ferrantelle reception. ArtCentral is housed in a beautiful arts & crafts era home (Hyde House, 1110 13th Street), on a hill, that was donated to the city not long ago. It's an artist membership organization, Directed now by the ebullient Sally Armstrong. Might be worthwhile considering making an exhibition proposal to them. For sure visit there, if you haven't already.
http://www.ozarkartistscolony.com/art_cent/

> Jeanne ROREX Bridges - Echota Cherokee band artist
Double-dated with Joplin friends Robin and Steve Wampler on an art outing to see this artist new to me wayyyyyyyyyyy over in Oktaha, OK... on a truly magnificent ranch place.
Her subject matter is almost entirely (!) Native-American females (we found exactly two [2] males depicted in any sense) in traditional domestic roles and settings. But, what struck me most about the studio visit was the amazing number of ways Rorex (her nom de pienture) has found to keep the pot boiling with reproductions of her stuff! There must have been not less than 20 varieties, from bookmarkers to tiles and notecards and more... and it was "flying out the door" at good prices. Her pricing on originals was not at all prohibitive or, in most cases, out of line for what it is.
www.rorex-art.com