Join + Cast UPDATE!

We cannot believe it has been one year since the Join + Cast Field Guide release! And what a year it has been! 

SO WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

Jennifer has a new publication, a children's book called Yeti Leaves Home!

Read about it here! http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2012/03/local_artists_hoping_to_fund_c.php

AND HERE! http://yetileaveshome.tumblr.com/ 

She was also named one of Arizona's TOP 100 CREATIVES of 2012! http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2012/05/jennifer_campbell_phoenix_artist_100_creatives.php
Buy the Book! It is really lovely!

Catherine has been away in Baltimore working toward her MFA in Curatorial Practice at MICA!
Most recently she was spotted with Join + Cast contributors Gregory Sale and John Spiak in Portland, Oregon for the Open Engagement Conference http://openengagement.info/conference-information in which she received a Research Grant from MICA.
She has been working on several projects since her move to the east coast including uncommonplace at in/flux Gallery, a light box at The Temporary and the upcoming show INVITED in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District http://www.stationnorth.org/


NOW WHAT?
After a great 2 years of work on the Join + Cast Field Guide, Jennifer and Catherine have decided that Phoenix has some great artists who are continuing the education of contemporary art! We are thinking of projects like stART Something http://www.facebook.com/groups/185042848212373/ that uses Facebook to post Call for Artists and the Rise Project by Sentrock http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2012/06/phoenix_artist_sentrock_introd.php
We cannot forget about ArtLink http://artlinkphoenix.com/, A.E. England Gallery and the many volunteers pushing arts in Phoenix!

With that, Jennifer and Catherine have decided to move on from Join + Cast. We have learned so much from this project, which started with a push from Angela Ellsworth and Gregory Sale! We want to thank Linda Essig, Muriel Magenta and p.a.v.e for giving us the opportunity to explore such a venture! M. Jenae Sanchez and Cory Weeks at A.E. England Gallery, the support from family and friends and last but not least...
ALL OF THE ARTISTS THAT MADE JOIN + CAST POSSIBLE!

Group Exhibition + Book Release Party

Surrogates by Bucky Miller

performance by MAN-CAT

Red Rods by Ellie Richards

The inside room: A small private shelter by Angela Cazel Jahn

photo credit Frank Soqui

BOOK RELEASE PARTY AND EXHIBITION

It's coming up quickly! Hope to see you at the opening. July 1st from 6 to 10pm at A.E. England Gallery (424 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85004).

The packaging process begins!

75 copies of the join and cast guide to contemporary art in phoenix have been printed. tonight marks the beginning of the packaging stage. time for some fun crafty goodness.

Man we have been slacking with the blogging!

Just a little update because we have been so buried in getting the book absolutely perfect, Cathy and I appear to have dropped off the face of the planet for a while. We have certainly encountered our fair share of obstacles in the design to get the book to it's final print stage including; bleed disasters, computer viruses and all in all the guide morphing into a monstourous book that neither of us could of ever planned for.

But I have to say.
And maybe this makes me sound like a pretentious a-hole...

That the Join and Cast guide looks amazing.

And it is printing in thanks to the amazing Dale at Complete Print Shop.
We have decided that because the book is something like a whopping 268 pages, and we can only print out around 100 copies, that all money made on the first print will go back into further printing of the book.

Yay! Further updates as they happen!

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SEE WHAT THE FRONT COVER OF THE BOOK LOOKS LIKE!

YEAUUUH!

A Long Awaited Update

I've been thinking a lot about the artist in the midst of an economic downturn, specifically within the Phoenix community.

I've also been reading a lot of kind of "self help" artist articles directed at artists preserving a connection to their arts community and remaining aware of their own creativity. Mostly, the point comes down to, how does the artist who is struggling to make ends meet, stay inspired and stay motivated. The obvious answer is to try all immediate resources out there for artists; student loans, residencies, calls for work or even freelance opportunities.

Phoenix has a diverse collection of wonderfuly talented artists. This is the main reason the Join and Cast guide came about. We felt a need for people to be MORE aware the artistic potential Phoenix and its surrounding metropolitan areas had to offer. We are incredibly thankful for the participation of the many artists in the guide. Being nearly a year involved in the process of making the guide, it seems as though the timing could not be more perfect to get it out there. The guide will be out in December!

It will offer
-a gallery guide featuring maps, gallery info, and contact information for all contemporary art spaces in Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe
-a sampling of work from local artists in every medium possible
-exclusive interviews with curators and exciting art innovators
-d.i.y guides to supplement your own artistic practice
-a connection to important digital artists working with sound and video
(the overall package also includes exclusive goodies generously donated to the project by artists like gregory sale, matthew mosher and mad one.)

I think the process Cathy and I have been through making the guide, has been tough. And it's true we had no idea the massive project we we taking on board. The process has been similar to I'm sure many a artists own struggles. That's why we are getting especially excited to share the guide with you.
It's coming to fruition, get ready!

-Jennifer

Thanks AAI

Thanks to the AAI for submitting their propaganda film to the guide.
Join and Cast are excited to see more from this group!

Mary Shindell

Satellite 1: wildflowers/sand graphite, 22X 30”, 2008.

Thanks Mary for five wonderful illustrations!

Another Interview!

Thanks to Heather Lineberry for her interview.
How do YOU feel artists are playing a part in the Phoenix community?

Follow Tania Katan and Angela Ellsworth

on their Sydney Biennale adventure. Angela Ellsworth is currently in Sydney sharing some amazing performance art and of course her amazing corsage-pin encrusted bonnets!

Tania's blogging about it here -
http://oursydneybiennale.hearsight.com/

Or watch Another Women's Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8-91qJZIZU

We're so happy for you Angela

ART ED.

Angela Cazel Jahn, if you don't know this painter's work, you are missing out. So let me drop a little popular art knowledge on you.

Bam.
just dreaming
housepaint on wood panel, 2010
And Angela is involved with Trustgallery.
Trustgallery happens in various locations at auspicious times in the general area of downtown Phoenix.
"It is not staffed. I hang the paintings, and then I go off and do my thing, and then after awhile I come back and collect any paintings that are still there. If you wish to purchase a painting from trustgallery, you simply take the painting off the wall and carry it home. When you get it home, you can pay for it by computer or snail mail." - Angela

Paintings exhibited in trustgallery are also posted on the trustgallery website:
www.trustgallery.com

K. Griffin

Kelly Griffin, works behind the camera lens to change the perspectives of what we may perceive as everyday objects. Using her subconscious as a guide, Kelly selects her compositions based on the instinct that initially compels her to snap a picture. Pictured above is Untitled, a digital photograph.

Thanks to Brendan Ore!

An artist invested in material, composition and time-based work, Brendan Ore shares some paintings with the J+C guide. Perfect!

DARNELL SCOTT

Darnell Scott is one super-fantastic, traveling photographer. Documenting the habits of the Phoenician, through his five photo submissions, feast your eyes on Vanessa, a digital C-Print.

What a wonderful way to express your love

Did we ever tell you we love Kon Stamadianos? Well we do, and we hope he's okay with that.

LOOK AT THESE PERFECT TEAR AND SHARE VALENTINES.

Sean Deckert's Light Rail Adventures!

Sean explores the expansive social networks of the City of Phoenix with his light rail portraits. And you will explore with him in this collection of nine photographs featured in the guide.

YEAUH.

OH YEAH. JEN URSO.

Once again, Jen Urso makes an amazing contribution to the Phoenix art community with her essay The Space In Between Is Full (thoughts on making artwork in Phoenix). J+C loves the photos that are paired with this essay from Urso'sprojects In Place, 2006; Rebuilding the City, 2007 and Perimeter Walk—Phoenix, 2009. You'll have to wait for this one.

Meanwhile, why don't you start working on your proposal for First Backyard. Come to Jen's backyard once a month to witness innovative, new works—encouraging an alternative voice and providing an addition to the gallery setting. Or be the artist everyone checks out. http://firstbackyard.blogspot.com/

LADY EXTRAORDINAIRE

TITLE: The Return of She

ARTIST NAME: Tiffany Egbert

MEDIUM: 35mm Film

YEAR: 2008

Tiffany Egbert submits three photographs and two digital illustrations to the J+C guide!

Tiffany dapples in many creative explorations, she is a photographer/graphic designer/online vintage boutique owner/ creative lady extraordinaire! You can check out her website, tiffanyegbert.com or if you need some super cool vintage threads to wear to that hip party next Saturday you should probably spend some time drooling over Tiffany's online vintage boutique, kittenpawsvintage.com.