40 North | 88 West Announces MTD ART Winners 

Artists chosen to be featured inside all MTD buses

Champaign County — 40 North | 88 West – Champaign County Arts Council – is pleased to announce the winners of the next rotation of MTD ART. Four artists will be featured starting August 1 – November 31. After evaluating almost 80 outstanding submissions, a panel of local arts professionals selected the following artists:

Stacey Gross – Wabi Sabi series: Imjingak #2, digital photograph

Kuldeepa Vartak-Mehta – Vibrational Frequency, cast iron bowl & wire

Rajat Saksena – In Intimate Conversation…, digital photograph

Kim Kissinger Marino – Handheld, collage, pencil, marker on paper

The selected works can be seen here: http://40north.org/programs/mtd-art

MTD ART Wall at Illinois Terminal

A new installation at Illinois Terminal showcases MTD ART and its featured artists. Located across from the elevators on the first floor, the wall displays the same four artists that are featured inside all MTD buses.

MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood

For as long as MTD has existed, its mission has been to seamlessly transport the rider from point A to point B. With MTD ART: Moving Pictures Through Your Neighborhood, a collaboration between 40 North, MTD, and Dixon Graphics, they are focusing on a different type of transportation: transportation of the mind. Selected artists will have the opportunity to share their talents with a whole new audience and riders will be introduced to the transcendent power of art! Four selected artists will be featured on the interior overhead panels of every MTD bus for a period of approximately 3 months. A new set will be posted each quarter: November 1, February 1, May 1, andAugust 1.

40 North | 88 West

With the mission of cultivating creativity in Champaign County, 40 North | 88 West is dedicated to fueling the growth and well-being of our creative community by nurturing its arts, culture, and education. Through information, advocacy and collaboration, 40 North empowers artists, arts organizations, businesses and the community at large. For more information on 40 North, visit www.40north.org.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Yes, she is coming to town.

The Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company will present Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins this coming Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, August 10.

A musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, Mary Poppins has original music and lyrics by Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman, a book by Julian Fellowes, and new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. This production, co-created with Disney by Cameron Mackintosh, will be directed by LaDonna Wilson.

The show will run July 31-August 3 and again August 7-10. Shows on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays will begin at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. The box office will open one hour before showtime.

The cast includes: Marc Wilson, Janjay Knowlden, Eric Spiegel, Katarina Spungen, Alina Loewenstein, Ana Almeida, Gideon Johnson, Ellison Radek, Cheryl Silver, Phil Meadows, Sarah Robinson, Jim Dieker, Jenny Gleason, Ray Essick, Kari Croop, Jace Jamison, Kyle Ayers, Kat Downs, Mary Elliso, Jim Dobbs, Jacki Loewenstein, Ashley Massey, Katie Apperson, Adrian Rochelle, Chloe Ward, Devin Short, Rachel Watson, Sarah Mohr, Jenna Conway, Zoë Dunn, Anna Summers, Nicole Morgan, Valerie Hall, Ellie Hall, Jeannette Hulick, Elizabeth Hulick, Delaney Scofield, Alec Campbell, Amy Strohman, and Debra Dobbs.

CUTC is the first community theatre in this area to acquire the rights for this newly released musical based on the Mary Poppins book series. The musical originally opened in London in 2004 and is now in its fifth year at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. Unforgettable songs, dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft have made this one of the most popular Disney films of all time.

With new songs and an irresistible story that is closer to the original Travers’s books, Mary Poppins will lead you to a world where anything can happen if you believe.

This midsummer show runs for two weekends at Parkland College Theatre.

If you are a fan of art or if you're an artist looking for inspiration, take a trip to the Champaign County Fairgrounds and check out some of the winning pieces. I am drawn to the photographs but there are also paintings, drawings, and sculptures created by local artists of all ages. There are many different styles (animals, structures, macro, etc.) and also many different skill levels. You are sure to be inspired or at least enjoy yourself. 

Looking for an affordable apartment in an excellent location on campus? Great studio apartments are still available for Fall 2014 at Illini Manor by JSM located at 401 E. Chalmers Street in Champaign. These bright apartments have all-new kitchens with new appliances and granite countertops. Each unit features a bedroom with a single bed, under bed storage and a built-in desk with chair. All units are air-conditioned and come with window treatments. There’s also plenty of storage in the built-in bookshelves and wardrobe! This secure building features an elevator and a roof top sun deck with lounges and a grill! Rent starts at $485/month and includes monthly pest control service and a prompt, courteous maintenance staff. Utility fee is $90/month and covers electricity, heat/AC, water and internet.

Amenities:

• Fully furnished
• Secure building access
• High speed internet connection
• On-site laundry facilities
• Leased parking
• Access to the JSM VIP Program

Hurry! Only a limited number of these great studio apartments are left for this coming school year. For more information, call JSM at 217-359-6108 or visit www.jsmliving.com.

The University YMCA is partnering with the Stephens Family YMCA to provide new, convenient ways for you to donate your furniture and bikes during the University YMCA's 13th Annual Dump & Run, A Community Recycling Event. 

On Saturday, August 9th, the University YMCA will pick up your donated furniture or bikes from your home between the hours of 9am and 4pm. This free service will be offered by appointment only. Please use the link provided to schedule a time for the University YMCA to come and pick up your furniture or bike; or give us a call at 217-337-1500.
 
Additionally, on Saturday August 9th, the Stephens Family YMCA will set up a community recycling site for you to donate your furniture and bikes only. The recycling event will take place during the Stephens Family YMCA's hours of operation on Saturday, August 9th.

August Collection Days will start on Wednesday, August 13th and end on Saturday, August, 16th. The Y will host the Dump & Run Sale on Saturday, August 23rd and Sunday, August 24th. Specific times and locations of the Collections and the Sale are listed below.

Dump & Run, A Community Recycling Event keeps at least 6 semi-trailers of reusable, quality goods out of Champaign-Urbana's dumpsters and landfills each year. Your donations help also people furnish their homes and obtain sustainable transportation at low cost during The Dump & Run Sale in the fall. Proceeds from the Dump & Run Sale benefit the Y's cause for strengthening community.

Interested in volunteering? Sign up today! Volunteer 6+ hours and get first dibs on stuff at the volunteer pre-sale in August! For more information about Dump & Run, visit: universityymca.org/dump_and_run.

Furniture & Bike Pickup: Saturday, August 9th only
By appointment only. Please sign up online
for the University YMCA to come and pick up your donated item(s);
or give us a call at 217-337-1500)

Furniture & Bike Drop-Off: Saturday, August 9th only 
at the Stephens Family YMCA
2501 South Fields Drive | Champaign, IL 61822
 
Drop-off for ALL accepted donations (August 13-16)
at The U of I Stock Pavilion
1402 W. Pennsylvania Avenue | Urbana, IL 61801
Anyone can drop off any items at the U of I Stock Pavilion during August Collection Days, August 13-16. To see the list of items we accept and do not accept plus specific times of collection, please visit the Y's Dump & Run page.

The Dump & Run Sale
(at the U of I Stock Pavilion, 1402 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana)
Saturday, August 23:
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $2 admission
U of I International Students get in free.
Sunday, August 24:
11:00am - 2:00 p.m.: $3 bag sale and 1/2 price furniture
2:30-4:00 p.m.: "Free sale"

From the press release:

Volunteer event organizers from the The I.D.E.A. Store in Champaign once again are talking trash. And art. They’re also making plans to bring both together in fun and innovative ways Februrary 27th-March 14th during the third annual Hatch Creative-Reuse Art Festival.

Applications are now available online for artists seeking entry into Hatch’s juried art exhibition February 28th-March 14th at Indi Go Artist Co-op in downtown Champaign and/or the juried art fair March 14th at the Savoy Recreational Center. The deadline for applying for entry is November 1st, 2014.

Here's what Prairie Fruits Farm will have this afternoon:

We'll have mixed berry cobbler, several jams, and peach, corn & tomato salsa (this is a fresh salsa). Of course, there will be plenty of cheese to accompany those jams including fresh chevre, fresh ricotta, bloomy rind cheeses, Moonglo and Huckleberry Blue. 

Gelato flavors include:

Vanilla
Chocolate
Mint
Chocolate Mint
Peach Sorbetto
Hazelnut
As well as a few other flavors in pints only.  Consider purchasing one of our new insulated tote bags to put those pints into-you won't even need an ice pack.

Stewart's Artisan Breads returns with an assortment of hearty breads, bagels, cookies and granola.

Tomahnous Farm will be here with some berries, and lots of great summer veggies.

Heirloominous Farm will have fresh summer veggies as well.

The open house is 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday through September 3. Find the farm at 4410 N. Lincoln Avenue, Champaign. 

Photo from PFF email. 

2014 Call for Sculpture Entry Form
Submission Deadline: September 5, 2014 5 p.m. CST

The Urbana Public Arts Program is seeking artists to display sculptures in our community. Selected sculptures will be installed in the community metro area and will serve as major visual anchor points, community identity and a statement that creativity and art are of vital importance to our existence in Central Illinois.

Honorarium
The Public Arts Program will offer selected artists an honorarium in an amount not to exceed $2,000.00 for the temporary lease of the artwork, transportation to and from the installation site, food & lodging, and artist fees for on-site availability during installation and de-installation. If multiple pieces are selected from one artist an honorarium will be awarded for each piece. The Public Arts Program will provide logistical and staff support, site design parameters, and incur the costs associated with site preparation and promotional events and materials.

Artist Eligibility
This opportunity is open to all professional visual artists, aged 18 and older, with public art experience.

Artwork Themes
There are no mandated themes for the artwork, however, for this call, interactive sculptures will be given special consideration. An important aspect of locating the artwork in a downtown metro area is to provide an identity for a cultural arts district. We encourage the entry of pieces with an exciting, vibrant, and energetic nature. Submissions must be existing, completed works and available for delivery during the fall of 2014.

Artwork Scale
There is no required size, however, sculptures of two different scales tend to work well: 1) very large (20’+) sculptures—capable of serving as visual showpieces along major highways and entryways into the community; and 2) medium to large (8’-15’) sculptures for placement on city sidewalks.

Artwork Materials
There are no recommended materials but the artists should consider the viability of the work’s structure and appearance and ability to be displayed outdoors for many years. The east-central Illinois climate is hot and humid with intense sunlight, periodic rain, thunderstorms and high sustained winds during the summer, and very cold with frequent sub-zero temperatures during the winter. All artwork must require limited to no maintenance. A statement of recommended maintenance for a 24-month period is required for all submissions.

Artist Responsibilities
Artists selected to exhibit their artwork will be responsible for:

• Transportation of artwork to the exhibition site, and from the exhibition site upon the end of the lease.
• Assistance and supervision of the installation of the artwork.
• Availability for public information, educational interviews and materials.
• Images for press and promotion

Notification
Selected artists will be notified of their selection by e-mail.

Lease Agreement
A signed two (2) year lease agreement will be required after the selection process, before the honorarium is disbursed.

Insurance
Insurance covering the Artworks selected for the Sculpture Exhibition is as follows:

• The City of Urbana will provide local General Liability Insurance.
• No insurance is provided by the City of Urbana for the value of the Artwork, however artists may provide their own policies if desired.

Questions and Additional Information
For questions and additional information, please contact the Lisa Hatchadoorian at Urbana’s Public Art Program at (217) 328-8265 or by e-mail to lhatchadoorian@urbanaillinois.us.

A complete application must contain the following:

• Application form (name, address, phone, email, title of submission, sale and insurance value, dimensions, weight, materials)
• At least 3 images (Front, Back and one side), but no more than 5 images of each entry.
• A written statement about the sculpture, and diagram with measurements outlining installation requirements.
• Maintenance requirements for the entry for the next five years.
• At least two images of previously completed artwork. Digital images in PDF format are preferred. All digital images must correspond with an image list. All images must be labeled as follows: artist's last name_first initial_image#.pdf   (ex. smith_a_01.PDF)
• A current professional resume or curriculum vitae, with an emphasis on public art.

Where to Apply:

Email entries are preferred. Please email lhatchadoorian@urbanaillinois.us.

Hardcopy entries may be mailed to:
City of Urbana
Public Art Program
400 South Vine St.
Urbana, IL 61801

A couple of locals were featured on Stereogum's recent "30 Essential Songs From The Golden Era of Emo" list — and to no surprise, American Football and Braid were featured.

Braid's "A Dozen Roses" and American Football's "Never Meant" made their list of "essentials", even though you could go on and on for this conversation. Pretty neat nonetheless. Cap'n Jazz also made the list. Check out the full list linked above.

45 USD

hiyayakko, grilled tofu, shallots, shaved green beans, pickled shiitakes, sweet corn broth

tamagoyaki, farm eggs, shaved radish, sliced cucumber

summer vegetable tempura, chili dipping sauce

bacaro ramen, triple s pork shoulder, hen of the wood mushrooms, green onion, garlic scape, soft boiled farm egg

bubble tea slush, tapioca pearls, coconut milk, taro, jackfruit