Arts E-News

March 3, 2016
Paul Weagraff, Director
Poetry Out Loud - Congratulations Hannah!
The Delaware Poets Laureate and Hannah Sturgis
From a competitive field of more than eighteen Delaware high school students,  Hannah Sturgis,  a junior from POLYTECH High School, earned the title of 2016 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion at the state finals held in Smyrna, Delaware, on February 23. The first runner-up was Brandon Dawson from Middletown High School, and the second runner-up was Jordan McMillan from Sanford School. For more information, visit our page.
March for the Arts Month
Governor Jack A. Markell has declared March 2016 as "March for the Arts Month." Arts are an essential element of a complete and well-rounded life and Governor Markell has called upon all Delawareans to observe the month by participating in or attending arts-related activities.

The "March for the Arts" bill was originally passed in 2003 and has been an important collaboration between the Delaware Division of the Arts and State Arts Council, Department of Education, and the Delaware Arts Alliance.

To see what's out there for you to experience, visit
DelawareScene.com   for arts and cultural events happening through the First State. 
National Arts Program - Exhibition Now Open

The exhibition is on view now through  March 14, culminating with the award ceremony and reception on Saturday, March 12, 1-3 p.m. at the Art Center/Gallery, Delaware State University in Dover.

Vote for People's Choice!   You can "like" your favorite(s) now  on Facebook. The People's Choice winner will be announced at the closing reception and awards ceremony on March 12. Voting closes on March 7.
On the Mezzanine

"Eluvium," color infrared photography, 12" x 18"
April
The Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of work by Joe del Tufo. Spirit of Eden: Nemours will be on view from April 1-29, with an opening reception on Friday, April 1 from 5-7 p.m.
 
This exhibit will feature new color infrared work including the debut of work done over five years of shooting at the Nemours Garden and Mansion. Del Tufo explains, "I've always found Nemours to be an intersection of natural beauty and man-made art." His color infrared technique captures heat energy, which makes living objects in sunlight turn white, as if under newly-fallen snow, while maintaining the colors of the sky.

"Heliophilous," mixed fiber media,
24" x 8" x 6," 2012
March
Works on paper and small sculptures by Susan Benarcik will be on view from March 4-24, with an opening reception on Friday, March 4 from 5-7 p.m. Watch the  Meet the Artist video with Benarcik.  
 
The Mezzanine Gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

The schedule of upcoming artists through August 2016 is now available  here.
Sign up here to receive Mezzanine Gallery email invitations for upcoming exhibits.
Meet the 2016 Artist Fellows
Each month, we present two fellows and provide their upcoming public events and programs, where you can experience their work.
Photo credit: Scott Nathan
Victor Letonoff
Emerging Professional, Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Lewes

Victor Letonoff is a sergeant in the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, where he has worked since 2002. His first published essay, Suicide By Cop, appeared in the July 2013 issue of Delaware Today and went on to win two awards. Letonoff will read Since I've Been a Cop on April 26 at 7 p.m. at Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats in Rehoboth Beach. Free and open to the public; RSVP is required. 
Kiandra Parks
Established Professional, Media Arts: Video/Film
Wilmington

Kiandra Parks received a BFA in Theatre and an MFA in Film Production from New York University and has taught theatre, film, and photography in Wilmington schools. Her award-winning film, Black Girl in Paris, was recently screened at Theatre N in Wilmington. Parks plans to shoot a web series loosely based on  her experience as a teacher in the public school system this summer. 
Delaware State of the Arts Podcast + Arts Advocacy Day
The Delaware Arts Alliance (DAA) will lead the Delaware delegation to Washington, DC to meet with Delaware's congressional representatives on March 8. This week's Delaware State of the Arts podcast features delegation leader, Guillermina Gonzalez, Executive Director of the DAA.

02-28-2016 09:25:29 AM

An interview with Dr. Guillermina Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Delaware Arts Alliance....To listenĀ»

Opportunities (selected)
For more opportunities including grants, residencies, auditions, calls for artists, and jobs in the arts, visit the Division's  website .
CREATIVZ  is a conversation for artists, friends , and supporters of artists ,
and anyone  interested in how creativity thrives. CREATIVZ features essays by a range of thinkers in the arts field, along with comments, images and ideas curated from contributions through social media using the hashtag #creativz. Please add your voice !
Delaware Playwriting Group:  First meeting on Monday, March 14 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the  Newark Free Library  in Meeting Room 2. Free and open to Delaware playwrights. Contact  Roxanne Stanulis  for more information and to RSVP.
International/National/Regional Grant Deadlines:
Ongoing Division Grant Deadlines:
Calls for Artists:
Professional Development & Networking Opportunities:
Find cultural events and attractions all in one place, 
now, soon, and near you. And don't forget to sign up for  Scene Stealers - our bi-weekly digest of arts and cultural events delivered straight to your inbox.
The What's On app uses your location to show you arts and cultural events all  at your fingertips. Visit apps.delaware.gov to download the app on Android or iOS.
The Delaware Division of the Arts  is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit  artsdel.org  or call 302-577-8278 .