CC Film/Art Fest prize money reduced by nearly $12,000

By Curtis Riggs | January 14, 2009

CAVE CREEK – Despite a reduction in prize money, organizers of the Town of Cave Creek-sponsored Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival are expecting an even bigger event for the 4th annual festival in 2009. There were 346 entries in last year’s festival.

The $30,000, which was paid out in prize money last year, is being reduced to $18,200 for this year’s winners in the film, visual arts, photography, poetry, short stories, original song and choreography divisions. Contest entries must be received at Cave Creek Town Hall by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15.

“Reducing the prize money is a sign of the times,” Cave Creek Mayor Vincent Francia said. “We have to do this within the means of the town. The festival will get bigger anyway. Even though we are reducing it, the prize money is still good money.”

Cave Creek painter Judy Bruce remains president of the festival this year. She said reminders about this year’s festival were sent to schools throughout the state in September.

“We want to get more kids involved,” she said.

“But with the economy the way it is we really want to focus more and more on locals.” The festival can help the local economy. “People need art more than ever in times like this.”
One way she hopes the festival can stimulate the local economy is holding the festival showcases, which highlight the seven separate festival divisions, the same week as the Coyote Awards Ceremony. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each division at the awards ceremony at the Cactus Shadows High School Fine Arts Center on Saturday, July 18.

She wants to make the showcases exciting enough to attract people to town for them this summer. She would like to make it easier for visitors to see more festival events by holding them all during one week.

“We are pulling in the arts in a smart way to stimulate the economy,” she said. “I know we can do it. Its been done by other towns.”

She hopes to encourage Cave Creek restaurant owners to get out information about themselves and offer specials during festival showcase week. “We want to get the restaurants more involved,” she said.

First place winners in the adult divisions will win $1,000. Second place adult winners will receive $500 and adult third place winners will win $250.

In the youth divisions, first place winners will receive $500, second place will pay $250 and third place winners will receive $100.

For festival entry applications and more information visit the website www.CaveCreekFilm andArtsFestival.com.

“Behold the Brilliance” Glass Art Show Opens Jan. 17

January 14, 2009

Cattletrack Gallery in Scottsdale, Ariz.

David Bennett of Carefree and Carole Perry and Jim D’Onofrio of Cave Creek are three of seven acclaimed glass fine artists from throughout Arizona who will exhibit and sell their new work at the inaugural “Behold the Brilliance” Glass Art Show, which runs Saturday, Jan., 17 through Saturday, Feb., 14, 2009 at the non-profit Cattletrack Gallery, 6105 N. Cattletrack Road, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Sponsored by the not-for-profit Arizona Glass Alliance, the invitational show opens Saturday, Jan., 17 with a free reception from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reception also features a lampwork demonstration by Bandhu Scott Dunham at 11 a.m. and a glass paperweight demonstration at 2 p.m. by D’Onofrio. A portion of proceeds from show sales will help fund Arizona Glass Alliance’s educational and scholarship programs.

Fred Schomer, Arizona Glass Alliance president, said the show’s timing was planned to coincide with the Dale Chihuly’s installation of “The Nature of Glass” at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.

“It is time to put Arizona glass artists on the main stage Arizona cultural map,” Schomer said. “We are excited to build upon the momentum generated by the Chihuly installation. You will be amazed to see the professional variety of sculpture made from glass. It will open your eyes to the use of glass as a fine art sculptural medium.”

Perry likens sculpting in glass to swimming in Jello. “The progress is very slow, but it is the most fun you can have while still being legal!” she said. A native of southern Oregon, Perry is best known for her signature tapestry sculpture.

A piece begins with the cane, (glass threads), cut and “woven” on the kiln shelf. At least nine layers deep today, it requires more than 7,000 threads to complete one sculpture. The piece is then heated slowly to near 1,500 degrees.

When the piece has “struck,” the glass is briefly removed from the kiln, and hand manipulated into its final shape. The absence of a mold and the very limited time, 15 seconds or less, to shape ensures each sculpture is unique and impossible to exactly duplicate.

Perry said one of the biggest challenges is the wait time. “Unlike a painting or a carving, you don’t achieve real time feedback. You have to wait until the glass cools, without peeking, to discover the real results,” she said.

“Behold the Brilliance” will also feature Susan Silver Brown of Phoenix; Bandhu Scott Dunham of Prescott; and Debra May and Tom Philabaum of Tucson.
For information, call (480) 361-9151.