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Local artist and

art educator,

Joyce Hagarty to judge

ArtsLink juried show.

Local artists have already begun to express interest in the upcoming Adult Juried Art Show sponsored by ArtsLink, the arts council for Wetzel and Tyler counties. The show, which is scheduled to be open between 4:30 and 6:30 on Tuesday, September 21, will be held in conjunction with the ArtsLink Members Annual Tea.

ArtsLink president Barb Thomaselli is especially pleased that Joyce Hagarty, local artist and educator, will act as juror for this year’s competition. Joyce received her Bachelor’s Degree in art education from Fairmont State College and her Master’s Degree in education from Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA. Her enthusiasm for art and art education has spanned 32 years, and her students have been showcased at the community, state, and national levels. For three consecutive years she had students recognized with the Congressional Art Award for West Virginia, and their works were displayed in Washington D.C. for one year. Joyce is a member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society and is active in the artist community. Her own work has been shown throughout West Virginia and surrounding states. The Interactive Artist Magazine has recognized Ms. Hagarty as an Outstanding Art Educator.

Artists who wish to participate in the competition should take their entries—up to three per artist—to the Francis Creative Arts Center in New Martinsville between noon and 4pm on Saturday, September 18. All media, with the exception of jewelry, will be accepted, and a $5 fee per entry will be assessed. Cash prizes will be awarded in several categories. Awards are sponsored by Dean Rohrig, Robert N. Christen II, Rich Thomaselli, and Sistersville Country Club. The gallery will be open for public viewing on Sunday, September 26, from 2-4 pm. Entries should be picked up at the end of that showing.

Financial support for ArtsLink’s activities is provided by West Virginia Northern Community College, WETZ/WYMJ Radio, Chesapeake Energy, and Ohio Valley Online. ArtsLink is committed to providing universal accessibility wherever possible. Persons with special needs may contact Donna Earley at 304-455-2278 to request assistance.

Fran Caldwell illustrates

a stepping stone that will be

similar to the one offered to

the elementary student

stepping stone class.

ArtsLink will be offering a variety of classes for this summer and fall. For information and to sign up for classes please call Donna Earley at 304-455-2278. All classes will take place at the Frances Creative Art Center. Barbara Thomaselli, ArtsLink President, comments, “We’re hoping to attract a large number of students with our very diverse class offerings.”

The season will start off on Saturday, June 12 at 9am with a beginner’s cake decorating class offered by instructor Fran Caldwell. The cost of the class is $15. Quilter Bente Biddle will offer a purse class in June at a cost of $20. Elementary students from 1 ^st -5 ^th grade will be able to make a mosaic stepping stone on Wednesday and Thursday, June 23 and 24, from 10am to12 noon. The cost for this class is $10. In July, learn how to paint an enameled egg from instructor Fran Caldwell. Get ready for cold weather by making a felted hat Sept 23 from 5-9pm. The instructor is Barb Thomaselli and the cost is $25. Betty Tustin will be offering a bead weaving class in the fall. Class members will learn to make a necklace on individual bead looms.

The Francis Creative Arts Center is located at the corner of Maple Avenue and Washington Street in New Martinsville. Financial assistance for ArtsLink projects has been provided by West Virginia Northern Community College, Chesapeake Energy, WETZ/WYMJ Radio, and Ohio Valley Online. ArtsLink’s Francis Creative Arts Center is universally accessible; persons with special needs may contact us to request assistance. For further information, please contact Donna Earley at the ArtsLink office at 304-455-2278.

NEW CASUAL LOGO UNVEILED!

ArtsLink, the arts council for Wetzel and Tyler counties, is delighted to reveal a newly designed casual logo that may now be used in addition to the familiar blue oval logo that residents have become accustomed to. The council is proud to unveil the new design which is colorful and eye-catching.

The ArtsLink logo was designed by New Martinsville native Roch Herrick, son of William and Helen Herrick. Roch was in the 1977 Class at Magnolia High and a 1990 honors graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. His degree is in Computer Graphic Design, specializing in digital graphics, animation and special effects. Roch's credits include producing digital effects for the syndicated series "Super Boy" and "Super Force" and graphics for Century III Teleproductions, located at Universal Studios Florida. Later Roch helmed the graphics and animation department of a leading Midwestern post production facility. In this position, he created dynamic graphics, 3D animations and digital effects for non-broadcast and broadcast clients. He quickly established a reputation for dazzling, sophisticated, and elegant work.

In 1998 Roch set up his own digital graphics and animation and motion graphics studio, Grafx ImpactT. This created an opportunity to focus on a larger variety of work. While working on his own or with local production companies, his clients have included Sprint, Radio Shack and Hallmark. He also contracted with Flagler Productions, a company that specialized in producing Wal-Mart's live event conventions. There he focused on the opening and closing visual segments for the conventions. Roch now lives with his wife Beverley and son Billy in Overland Park, Kansas. To learn more about Roch and see examples of
his work, and even purchase items with his designs and artwork for sale, you can visit his websites atwww.curiousdreams.comorwww.grafximpact.com.

ArtsLink is committed to providing universal accessibility wherever possible. Persons with special needs may contact Donna Earley at 304-455-2ART (304-455-2278) to request assistance. Additional information concerning ArtsLink activities and events is available atartslink@artslinkwv.org .

Incoming ArtsLink board members from left to right:
Linda Siffrin, Horst Siffrin, Barbara Vincent,
Pat Block, and Becky Ferrebee.

ArtsLink, Inc. held its annual meeting on Monday, January 11, 2010. Events and activities of the previous year were reviewed and discussed, and individuals present agreed that the past year had indeed been successful. In addition to the featured concert series, the organization had sponsored “The Big Read”, monthly exhibits featuring area artists, numerous classes, brown bag lunches, Arts in the Park, The August Coffeehouse Concerts, Wayward Players, Missoula Children’s Theatre, a juried art show, and a hugely successful home tour. It was pointed out that the success of the annual concert series would not be possible without the financial support of several local sponsors who add to the grant funds utilized to contract with the performers.

Grantors include The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, WV Commission on the Arts, Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, The Community Fund of Ohio Valley, and the Stealy Fund. Local partners include WVNCC, New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department, Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce, and several local businesses.

The tentative 2010-2011 Concert Series was presented, featuring six concerts to be presented in Wetzel and/or Tyler counties.

Outgoing president Fran Caldwell thanked board members for their contributions in making the organization a “presence in the local communities”, and she pledged to continue to do her part to promote ArtsLink in the future.

New officers were elected, including president Barb Thomaselli, vice-president Tina Neil, secretary Pat Block, and treasurer Eric Vincent. Several new and/or returning board members were welcomed to the group, including returning members Barbara Vincent, Pat Block, and Bruce Ensinger. New members include Becky Ferrebee, retired music educator from Tyler County, Horst Siffrin, Director of Technical Site Services at Bayer, and Linda Siffrin, recently retired Sr. Human Resources Generalist at Bayer, who now works as a Mary Kay consultant.

ArtsLink membership currently approaches 300. Individuals who are interested in joining ($10 per individual membership, $15 per family membership) should call Donna Early, ArtsLink Program Coordinator at 304-455-2278. ArtsLink is committed to providing universal accessibility wherever possible. Additional information concerning programming, etc. is available atwww.artslinkwv.org

TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE TO SPONSORS!

Performances, exhibits and classes offered by ArtsLink, Inc., the arts council for Wetzel and Tyler Counties, are made possible with local financial support. Local donors now have the opportunity to make their gift worth more than twice the actual amount.

ArtsLink has again been awarded state tax credits under the Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) sponsored by the West Virginia Development Office.

“Local support is key to the success of our many programs,” explained Fran Caldwell, ArtsLink president. “Local dollars are matched by state dollars through the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Under this NIP program, the donor receives matching state tax credits and we use that money to gain matching arts funds.”

This year’s award is in the amount of $1,850 in tax credits. Funds raised through the program will be used to support program activities such as the annual concert series, exhibits, classes and theater productions.

Under the program, individuals and businesses that donate at least $500 are eligible to receive up to 50 percent of the contributed amount in the form of state tax credits. Donors may use the credits to reduce liability for the Corporate Net Income Tax, the Business Franchise tax or the Personal Income Tax. While the tax credit can reduce the donor’s tax liability by no more than 50 percent in one year, it can be spread out over five years for maximum advantage.

“This is an especially appealing incentive for donors,” Caldwell said. “A tax credit is an actual dollar amount taken right off the top of the taxes owed. The donor can also claim the entire amount as a tax-deductible donation on their federal income tax, which gives them an additional break.”

Tax credits will be issued on a first come, first served basis, but the amount available may be reduced after March 15, so donors are being urged to act quickly.

NIP tax credits played an important role in completion of the Francis Creative Arts Center renovations. This year’s award broadens the ability of ArtsLink to finance its programming activities and to offer more programs free to the public.

More information about ArtsLink, the fund drive and how to participate is available on the ArtsLink web site, www.artslinkwv.org, or by calling Donna Earley, administrative coordinator, at 304-455-2278.

ArtsLink Website Gets Support

The ArtsLink, Inc., website is now being hosted by a local software management company. Ohio Valley Online, a division of Prosite Business Solutions, LLC, is helping ArtsLink to get its message across to residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley area. The ArtsLink website iswww.artslinkwv.org. Ohio Valley Online is located at 732 Third Street in New Martinsville, next to Sounds Incredible.

"The ArtsLink website is a great place to check for news about the organization, become a member or donor, or check out photos from recent events," said Fran Caldwell, ArtsLink president. "We are extremely grateful to Ohio Valley Online for their help."

The ArtsLink website was originally designed by David McCartney II, son of Dave McCartney, CFO at Wetzel County Hospital and a former ArtsLink board member, as a senior project for his college degree. Ohio Valley Online took over the hosting of the website to make it easier for ArtsLink personnel to receive local technical support.

     "We are now able to quickly update the site and keep our information current",
Caldwell said.  Ohio Valley Online specializes in web design and hosting database enabled website where companies can post images, text, products and events themselves without the ongoing need of a web designer.

Parent company Prosite Business Solutions, LLC was established in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1998 by the husband and wife Information Technology team of Cindy and Jason Warren, specializing in Ecommerce Websites, Quick Books Training, MS Access database development and overall IT solutions. In September 2001, Prosite rolled out Pro Business Tools (SM) installation management tools and scheduling software were rolled out to companies nationwide to help them better manage their service business.

In 2002, Prosite added an east coast location in New Martinsville, Cindy (Willey) Warren's hometown. More information about Prosite is available online at www.probusinesstools.com.

ArtsLink is committed to providing universal accessibility
wherever possible. Persons with special needs may
contact us at 304-455-2278 to request assistance.

Comments and Suggestions can be sent to:
Webmaster -- Mark Carl Fawcett -- artslink@artslinkwv.org