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ArtAscent Used by Writer Marian Kaplun Shapiro in an Art Discussion

The Rangeley Tuesday Breakfast Group (which actually meets at the Gingerbread House in the yet smaller town of Oquossic, ten minutes up hill) convened this morning to participate in a conversation about “New Eyes: From Order To Chaos And Back Again (And Again).” This erudite and over-accomplished group usually tackles scientific, philosophical, economic, and political topics; this was the first to address any of the arts. As you can imagine, I felt it to be a daunting task!

I pre-distributed poems by Agee, Kunitz, Yeats, Symborska, and cummings, with the question of how each author had set out to catch the reader’s attention and produce the “new eyes” result. I also included a tiny poem of my own, “Spring Sunlight,” in which a shape-shifted line results in this effect. A great deal of time was spent with the members batting around the Agee poem, “No Doubt Left. Enough Deceiving,” a brilliant hybrid poem from the 1930’s (!) beginning with five lines of bald, shocking prose before returning to rhymed ABAB form. We talked about breaking rules – how one has to know the rules and consciously choose to break them for a reason – after which I read my “Please Submit A Brief Bio,” almost all of which is a massive associative sentence, a violation of academic bios for sure. I distributed some copies of other poems that broke rules, including “Flying Poem,” by Caro Williams in the June issue of ArtAscent, a journal I praised as both beautiful and exciting.

We concluded with an exercise in which each person was to write a one-sentence description of anything – idea, living thing, object – whatever, and then write a question about it. My example was a description of a orange-breasted robin, followed by, “Why do we call him red?” After doing that for about 3 minutes, I asked them to play with their creations – break up the words, or lines, add pictures, drawings, making their writing eye-opening to others. Several were delighted with their results and shared them enthusiastically. In fact they were terrific!

What fun to see these serious-minded scholars get into poetry, see the correlations with music, art, and even creative thinking. I was so glad I had the nerve to do it – and now back to the peace of the canoe and my pad and pen.

By Marian Kaplun Shapiro
ArtAscent Art & Literature “Red” and “Unknown” Issues Distinguished Artist

Jim Baab, ArtAscent Gold Artist of the Hidden call for artists

Artist Jim Baab Identifies Gold Artist Recognition as Timely Affirmation

The publication of my work, artist profile feature, and Gold Artist recognition in ArtAscent volume eight has given me the spiritual support needed as a new artist to remain on a specific path.

Jim Baab, ArtAscent Gold Artist of the Hidden call for artists

Relative to the “human landscape” photography I submitted to the “Hidden” call, the path was both physical and imaginary. After finding small, natural elements to work with in front of my lens on a path to a pond where our workshop’s final day of shooting was held late in the shoot, a virtual path of creativity opened up before me. I was able to envision, explore and execute ideas without obstruction. It felt as if tall boulders in front of me – suddenly – rolled themselves out of the way. Not everyone in a workshop gets to experience this. Experience gained.

But, was my new work worthy of a larger audience?

When I submitted to the call, I was fresh out of the workshop. I had not spent much time realizing the prints. Still, I felt I had a chance to be included in the Distinguished Artists section. And, to my surprise, my work earned me Gold Artist recognition.

Gold Artist Jim Baab Recognizes ArtAscent

This acknowledgement and feedback solidified my decision to attend an additional workshop and continue to photograph compositions that present playful illusions.

As Gold Artist Mike Rand has already conveyed, the struggle to succeed in the art world will be easier because of this publication.

ArtAscent will advance my career as an artist as this path evolves before me!

By Jim Baab
www.jimbaab.com
ArtAscent Art & Literature “Hidden” Issue Gold Artist

Artist Michael Rand includes ArtAscent magazine in his marketing materials

Artist Mike Rand Includes ArtAscent Magazine in His Marketing Package

Artist Michael Rand includes ArtAscent magazine in his marketing materials

Regardless if artists like it or not, marketing not only our works of art but also our personas is must to succeed in the art world. After a long day in the studio creating, it is difficult just to know where to start. In today’s world of evermore digitally accessible information, artists don’t need to worry on relying on the “by chance” or “word of mouth” encounters with the right person to help further their art careers. With combining the use of tools like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumbler an artist can quickly reach large audiences for their art work, though a very spontaneous or less controlled manner. However, a hard or digital copy of a fine arts journal like ArtAscent places an artist in a more professional way to world audiences.

Mike Rand artist

Since my own début in Art Ascent in December 2013, I have used both the digital and traditional hard copies to reach a larger audience for my art. By not only posting links for ArtAscent through online media channels, I also carry a copy of the magazine with my personal art catalog whenever approaching a potential exhibition space. The difficult or sometimes seemly impossible feat of getting a gallery or art center to look at my work thaws when I present a high quality printed catalog to match my website, and a third party form of media showing my work, as in ArtAscent. For example, recently while being an invited artist for a demonstration day at an art center in Colorado I set a copy of ArtAscent along with my catalog next to my work space. The result, magazine garnered more attention than my catalog. In the end, you never know who might ask for your contact details after viewing a spread of your work in a magazine like ArtAscent.

By Michael Rand
www.studiorand.com
ArtAscent Art & Literature “Dark” Issue Gold Artist

Writer S.B. Borgersen’s Success Story and ArtAscent’s Involvement

“It really feels like an ascent. Still climbing, the clouds almost touchable, the view becoming quite extraordinary and still not out of breath. It has been a busy year.” This is how Sue Borgersen begins her story In The Ascent, as posted in her blog.

An emerging writer and artist, Sue has participated in several ArtAscent artist and writer calls. One of her winning stories was inspired by her Mother, who will soon to be celebrating her 90th birthday. Happy Birthday Sue’s Mom! Look for Sue’s stories in ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal at www.artascent.com, and click on Magazine Issues at the top of the page.

Sue mentions that ArtAscent “is a magazine with a classy feel and even classier look. It is a keeper. All contributors get their contact and web details published alongside their art or writing. The editorial staff are superb. It is also timeless in a way; unlike other magazines, previous issues can be purchased.”

To read this story in Sue’s blog, visit www.sueborgersen.com.