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Rebecca'S POSTS

Lobster Bake And Summer Symphony In Redlands

It’s for good reason Redlands California is known as the “Jewel of the Inland Empire.” Established as a hub for the citrus industry in 1888, the area was a wildly popular winter vacation destination for wealthy Easterners well into the early 1900s. Today, much of the stately Victorian architecture remains, but historic homes and civic landmarks aren’t the only celebrated holdovers from an erstwhile era. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Ambassador Live Facebook Chat With Rebecca McQuigg Rigal 2-3 pm EDT Friday Aug. 27th

Infusing the arts into our communities is crucial and there’s no better place to teach our children- the future and heart of all communities- an appreciation for arts and culture than in our schools. Sadly, school arts programs often take the first hit in times of economic strife. Of course, it’s during these very times- when we all need a little boost- that access to arts and culture are needed most. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: A Modern Art Hub in Historic Hudson River Valley Town

They say Troy New York was the Silicon Valley of the 19th century- the birthplace of cutting-edge technology and engineering during America’s industrial revolution. Well, it’s poised to become a hotbed of innovation again, but this time, in the world of contemporary art. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Update: A Packed Theater And A Graceful Bow In Cohoes

Last week I got the red carpet treatment in Cohoes, New York when I attended the closing night CR Productions’ performance of “I Am” at The Cohoes Music Hall. I celebrated the culmination this year’s CR Center Stars programming- of which there will be much more to come- and a burgeoning partnership between CR Productions’ and The Center For Disability Services. The cast, crew and a slew of dedicated volunteers rubbed elbows with civic leaders and local heroes. I was treated to an amazing performance in front of a sold out crowd of local fans and supporters. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: Acting on Dreams in Upstate New York

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When Tony Rivera and his partner, Jim Charles, left the hustle and bustle of New York City’s Broadway scene to open a small theater company in the cozy upstate city of Cohoes, they were unaware of the effect their decision to relocate would have on the region. “When 9-11 happened, we started to think about what we were going to do with our lives, energies and skills,” recalls Rivera about the early impetus to purchase and renovate an old building near Charles’ childhood home. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Win Film Festival Gold On A Shoestring

Affordable technology, low-to-no cost distribution channels like Youtube and a proliferation of film festivals have all lead to the democratization of filmmaking. You don’t need a blockbuster budget to make a good movie, but you’ll still need skill and know-how. We recently turned to Jackson Adams, and Jenna Lyng, two award-winning young filmmakers and recent graduates of Emerson College, for some tips to make a quality movie on a shoestring budget. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

YouTube Stars Praise Refresh Stars (VIDEO)

Some popular web phenoms, including DeStorm and Livelavalive’s Mitchell Davis, have joined the growing constituency of enthusiastic supporters of the Pepsi Refresh Project. Check out these cyber-lebrities showing their support for their favorite Refresh Project Grantees. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: A Music Camp That Gives Back

Summer in Ohio can be unbearably hot and muggy, but for some young musicians, it’s the best time of year to spend time in the Buckeye state. Since 2002, Oberlin College & Conservatory of Music has hosted one of the most intensive pre-professional music programs in the country- the Credo Chamber Music Summer Program. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Be a Real Life Superhero (With or Without the Cape)

So you want to make the world a better place? Maybe start with your block, or your neighborhood. Maybe start with an awesome costume. You don’t need superhuman powers or otherworldly resources to be a Real Life Superhero, just plenty of passion and a taste for the theatrical. We recently spoke with DC’s Guardian, about what it takes to be a costumed crusader for good. He had these six tips for making the world a better place, one neighborhood at a time. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Make Art on Someone Else’s Dime

Are you an artist looking to get away from it all? How about a residency? You know, those opportunities for visual, performing and literary artists to work free from the distractions of everyday life? Before you get your hopes up, you should know what to expect. We spoke to Matthew Drutt, Executive Director at Artpace – a contemporary art center in San Antonio known for its International Artist-in-Residency (IAIR) program about creating art on someone else’s tab. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: The Hudson Valley Is Alive With Music

Think promotional email is irrelevant? Think again. If Sue Lichtenberg hadn’t signed up to receive the occasional branded e-date from Pepsi back in 2003, she’d likely still be seeking the funds needed to “jump start” the Hudson Valley Youth Wind Ensemble (HVYWE), an afterschool music program serving local youth. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: Doors To Stay Open for Main Street Theater

The Rosendale Theater has been a civic and economic hub for the citizens of Ulster County for over half a century. Housed in a historic former fire station on Main Street, the theater has been family owned and operated since it opened in February 1949. In recent years the charge of running the aging independent business had fallen upon two remaining Cacchio family heirs- Uncle Tony and his nephew Michael, who despite their passion for the family vocation, found themselves struggling to maintain it. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Update: One Hundred Mile Club Gets Moving

One of the most fulfilling things about working as an Ambassador for Refresh Everything is the one-on-one access we have to grantees, our ability to facilitate amazing projects and the privilege to see first-hand the effects these inspirational initiatives are having in communities across the country. This past weekend I experienced the culmination of all three (and them some) while running laps with student members of the 100 Mile Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting physical fitness at schools across the country and recent beneficiary of a $25,000 PRP grant. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Spotlight: Bikes for a Hundred Tikes

The ritual of learning how to ride a bike has long been a rite of passage for American youths: an introduction for those who’ve come of age to a new world of freewheeling fun and independence. For most able-bodied youths, there are few obstacles in achieving this milestone, but for children with disabilities, the act of riding a bike is a huge challenge. AMBUCS – a national non-profit organization empowering people with disabilities – has been working for over a decade to give disabled children the chance to pedal with their able-bodied peers. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Health

Grantee Spotlight: A Greener Theater for Gotham

When Maura Farver and Robyn Frank founded Sweeter Theater Productions in 2007, their mission was to provide opportunities for women trying to break into New York’s competitive theater scene. Two years later, with two successful female-friendly productions to their credit, the pair has set their sights on lending a hand to the fiercest female of all: mother earth… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Produce an Event for Good in 10 Steps

The only thing better than a fabulous event is a fabulous event with a worthwhile purpose- whether it’s to raise awareness and support for a cause, commemorate a respected individual, group, or organization or cultivate creativity and community ties. LAartlab is an all volunteer collective that does all this and more- helping teens become more involved in the arts by providing them with opportunities to design, produce and host art events. Mario Davila and the LAartlab production team at Lincoln High School came up with the following tips for producing a super successful event: Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Q&A: Walter Mosley on Writing Tips and The Promise of the iPad

Fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, historical fiction- Walter Mosley (of Easy Rawlins fame) has spanned just about every genre. The master storyteller produces an extraordinary quantity of work, and he didn’t even start writing seriously until his mid-30’s. Mosley, who’s most recent novel Known to Evil hit bookstores in March, was recently honored by the Liberty Hill Foundation for his unwavering vision at their annual Upton Sinclair gala. We caught up with Mosley about his latest projects, race in America and, of course, the iPad… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

LOOK: Towers of Hope Rise on California Beaches

Folks headed to Los Angeles beaches this Memorial Day weekend will find an unusual burst of color in the sand- 158 painted lifeguard towers lining the 31 mile stretch between Malibu and the Palos Verdes peninsula. It’s the latest manifestation of Ed and Bernie Massey’s transient public art program, Portraits of Hope. They’ve previously left their mark on New York City’s taxicabs, airport control towers, even oil rigs… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Paint a Neighborhood Mural

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Whether your goal is to build community ties, beautify Main Street, educate and engage your neighbors, inspire local youth, or all of the above, ’tis the perfect time of year to spearhead a public art project in your neighborhood. With this in mind, we turned to Karen Mack, founder and Executive Director of LA Commons, a Los Angeles based organization that partners with communities to create public art projects that reflect and celebrate local culture. Here’s Mack’s blueprint to painting a mural that an entire community can be proud of… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: And the Band Plays On

Schools of all shapes and sizes are suffering in lean times, and arts funding is often the first budget line on the chopping block. Lewis and Clark High School of Spokane WA, even with its high test scores and engaged parent community, is hurting too, and its music program was on the ropes… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Art Camp on the Cheap

You don’t have to live in a major metropolitan area- with easy access to cultural institutions, galleries and museums- to expose kids to the creative arts. With the last weeks and days of school in sight, now’s the time to scout out summer arts programs- or better yet, start your own… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Q&A: Do Gooder Gaming

How can video game developers help move the world forward? Martin de Ronde, Founding Director of OneBigGame, a non-profit video game publishing collective that develops games for good, knows a few ways. While forward-thinking civic and academic organizations have been leveraging video game technology for educational and training purposes for some time, OBG is the first video game industry driven initiative doing broad-based charitable fundraising… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: Literary Journal for the Sooner State

After working on the editorial staff of several respected literary journals and earning his MFA in poetry from Oklahoma State University, Jeff Simpson looks forward to launching his own cross-disciplinary arts-focused publication. ”I’ve paid my dues in terms of grunt work, developing my critical tastes, and learning how to manage day-to-day operations,” says the recent OSU grad who currently “daylights” as the communication manager for a local food distribution company… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Become a Craft Show Superstar

In an age where consumers have become as comfortable with e-commerce as they have with e-mail, the prospect of maintaining a presence in the physical marketplace can be lost on many a creative entrepreneur. But being physically present at a local craft show, arts & crafts festival, or business forum can be what sets your craft-brand-business apart from the competition. Even employees at Etsy, the premiere creative e-trepreneurship, are encourage to attend craft shows and conferences… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: 9 Steps to an Awesome Refresh Video

As the next Pepsi Refresh Grant submission cycle draws near, we want to provide some creative guidance to the crop of new applicants hoping to get their good ideas in the running. While the downloadable toolkit is an essential resource- providing fundamental Refresh Grant development and submission practices- today’s post will help with some of the bells and whistles… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Q&A: Open Sourced Tools for Wired Museums

Think museums are musty repositories of history? Think again. Major metropolitan museums are becoming petri dishes of innovation. Take the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) which recently launched an internet technology consulting service to help cultural institutions and non-profit organizations leverage technology to solve problems and enhance programs. Building on IMA’s track record for creating effective open-source digital tools, the new division- IMA Lab- is poised to lead a technological revolution in this largely neglected space. We spoke to IMA Lab visionary, Robert Stein, about his commitment to provide much-needed tech support for the arts… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: A Hub for the Hoosier Handmade Community

When arts educator and DIY enthusiast Amanda Mauer Taflinger returned to her hometown of Indianapolis after a decade of soul searching, she was determined to fuel the enthusiasm for the handmade crafting movement that she’d seen while traveling through Austin, Chicago and other cities with thriving creative communities. “When I came back [to Indianapolis] I was impressed by the way the city had grown its art community,” recalls Taflinger. “But the one thing I didn’t see was a craft community… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: 7 Steps to Becoming an Arts Advocate

Today is Arts Advocacy Day- the only national event that brings together America’s leading cultural and civic organizations along with grassroots advocates from across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and increased public funding for the arts. Maybe you’re wondering what that means for you. We have to admit, despite our love of the arts, we weren’t quite sure either, so we turned to Bettina Korek, arts advocate and founder of ForYourArt. Here, Korek has some easy steps to commemorating the spirit of the day through the celebration of art and community… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: Banking on Art in Upstate New York

Lynne Allard and Jesse Matulis purchased an old bank building in Cohoes, New York several years ago with a vision of a live/work studio space and a hub of art production in the community. That fading edifice of commerce became the Foundry for Art Design + Culture. They chose Cohoes, a bedroom community nestled in the capital region of upstate New York, for its flourishing yet fragmented cultural scene, and its spirit of community-improvement around revitalizing defunct commercial spaces… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Grantee Story: The Whole Town’s Swinging

Dancing with the Stars and America’s Next Dance Crew have brought the Lindy Hop and the Foxtrot back into our living rooms, but students at Glenmont Elementary School in upstate New York have been learning the fine art of swing dance for some time now thanks to one of the school’s tenacious teachers. Because of a 25K Pepsi Refresh Grant, the whole town of Bethlehem New York is dancing… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: 6 Steps to Leveraging Pop Culture for Social Good

Wouldn’t it be great if every campaign for social good attracted the level of feverish media buzz typically reserved for celebrity news and “must have” fashion items? What if all of the people who’ve tried out for American Idol were equally motivated to volunteer their time to a cause? Marketing expert Andrei Najjar believes in a near-future where such things are possible. He’s built a significant name for his company, Atelier Collective, by crafting relevant social movements and campaigns that leverage what’s cool to do what’s good. He shared some tips for how to tap into pop culture to drive an effective campaign for social change… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

LOOK: Art In Unlikely Places- A Recession Silver Lining

Creativity and innovation thrive during tough economic times. Unlikely alliances and partnerships can flourish during deepening recessions. Take the current collision of non-profit arts organizations and for-profit commercial entities. Why let storefronts sit empty and billboards vacant when products aren’t flying off the shelves and consumers have dwindling disposable incomes? Some landlords and outdoor media brokers are mitigating their losses by donating empty spaces to arts organizations for public installations.

Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

“Seeing While Seeing” at the Santa Monica Museum of Art

I stopped by the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA)–a sprawling indoor-outdoor gallery and art complex located in and around a historical trolley station– to see a new multi-media exhibition that explores site-specific optical illusions and peruse the carefully edited on-site store. There’s still time to check it out for you folks in LA- exhibit runs through April 17th.

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

LOOK: Is That a Piece of Art in Your Pocket?

When Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan commissioned a handful of their artist friends to create original work for a collection of affordable wallets as part of an exhibition back in 2003, they didn’t know the concept – originally intended to support their local creative community – would become a catalyst for significant change within the larger art industry. “We were throwing art shows in San Francisco for our circle of friends but none of us could afford to buy art and no one was making money from doing their art,” says Angie Myung co-founder of poketo.com (with Vadakan). “So we decided to try something new- showing wallets with accompanying wall art… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Ideas for Interactive Arts

Every week, each of the Refresh Ambassadors brings in a new voice to take stock of the ideas populating their category and to gather up a “playlist” of their favorites. Here, Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) Director of Development, Tracy Mizraki weighs in:

With thousands of worthy, inspiring and innovative projects all in need of funding, you’re probably wondering how to make your idea stand out amongst the competition.

It’s not enough to have good intentions or a good idea “in theory”; if you want to change the world through philanthropy, then you’ve got to start thinking like a business-minded philanthropist. It’s important to ask yourself whether or not a good theoretical plan can truly be put into action; and if so, what the net impact of the action will be. Several of this month’s ideas were clearly conceived with a viable “business plan” in mind. The following submissions caught my attention… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

How To: Use Your Artistic Talents for Good

Got creative talent? Want to use it for the public good? Anyone, anywhere, with a passion for art and design (and some available time) can build up their community while empowering others. As acting director of desigNYC, a New York based design collective that facilitates public projects with non-profit organizations and design professionals, Michelle Mullineaux, has a wealth of knowledge in this area. We asked her to share some advice on how creative types can create a world of difference… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Events: Arts & Culture

With a wealth of innovative art events and exhibitions playing out in cities across the country, it’s a good week/weekend for culture vultures to to be inspired while feasting on so much creativity.

After weeks of anticipation, the MANIFESTEQUALITY gallery opened to the public this week–drawing hundreds of artists, collectors, activists and curious observers with hundreds of original works of art, live music performances, and special guest appearances–to raise awareness around the Equal Rights Movement… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Q&A: Bringing the Artist Studio to the I.C.U.

Divine intervention swayed Jennifer Howell’s path from aspiring filmmaker to admired philanthropist from the moment she set foot in Los Angeles. Not long after moving west, Howell returned to her hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi to celebrate the life of a childhood friend whose bout with Leukemia had exposed him to the isolated experience of a sterile hospital ward. Fresh from film school, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a greater purpose for her creative talents, and she rounded up some of her artist friends to share their time and talents with adolescent in-patients at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

Now, over 12 years later, Howell’s non-profit organization, The Art of Elysium, facilitates artistic workshops for children battling serious medical conditions at more than a dozen hospitals between LA and New York. We spoke with Howell in the weeks leading up to AOE’s annual Pieces of Heaven fundraiser, about her personal inspiration, enduring motivation and advice for aspiring philanthropists… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Spotlight: Art Heals

Art can do amazing things. It can inspire, educate, evoke emotion, and transcend generations, genres, and cultures. Of course, we couldn’t possibly list all of the ways that art transforms the soul but a handful of this month’s Pepsi Grant applicants seek funding for creative programs to release the healing power of the arts and cultural creativity.

The Kardon Institute for Arts in Philadelphia has applied for a $5K grant to support a Dance & Art Therapy program for children with autism and their families; In the $25K category… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

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Q&A: Bringing Theater to the Street

ACCOMPLICE is an unusual theater experience– part game, part mystery theater, part walking tour (through little-known labyrinths specific to each cityscape). In true Clue-like form, the participants and the location are as integral to the outcome of the story as the actors involved. Co-founder Tom Salamon tells us how he turned a great idea into an unusual celebration of place-based art… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

LOOK: 3D STREET ART

It’s one thing for a graffiti artist to tag a highway overpass or out-of-the-way warehouse exterior. Far more interesting, to my mind, are the street-art installations popping up in very public places, encouraging interaction with passersby. At the vanguard of the street-art movement are a number of 3D artists– people like Mark Jenkins, Aakash Nihalani and Bumblebee– whose work is attracting both critical acclaim and the astonishment of the pedestrians… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Events for Kids

With less-than-desirable weekend weather forecasts this time of year, ’tis the perfect season for family friendly cultural exploration, care of indoor activities at arts institutions and organizations across the country. For those in the Los Angeles area, The Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) is hosting a Cause for Creativity workshop on Sunday (2/21) afternoon that will teach participants how to “draw” attention to important issues by putting colored pencil to paper–the day’s activities will be captured on flip cameras and edited into films that will be posted on SMMoA’s website… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

The Rise of the Creative Economy

Despite unprecedented deficits and pending budget cuts, (or, more likely, because of them) state legislatures, local municipalities and government organizations are taking note of the social and financial benefits associated with a community’s strong creative economy. A new study released by the Colorado Council on the Arts points to the importance of Colorado’s creative industries; which, as the state’s 5th largest employment sector, provides more jobs than defense, security, agribusiness, food processing and technology… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Minnesotan Artists get a “Foot in the Door”

Every 10 years, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts provides an opportunity for local artists to get their “Foot in the Door” with a major museum by showcasing their work as part of its largest and most ambitious exhibition. The concept for Foot in the Door, came to fruition in 1980 as an inclusive way to celebrate the diversity of the state’s creative arts community… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Oscar’s Short Film Noms to be Screened Nationally

Kicking off this weekend in New York, the Oscar Short Film series will feature a visual smorgasboad of Academy Award nominated short films for film fans across the country. This year’s picks include both live action and animated productions with unique story lines depicting an elderly fairy, a young Indian dreamer- even the Grim Reaper. Intrigued? The film series will be screened in dozens of cities across the country… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Ground Zero Arts Center Back on Track

Like a Phoenix from the ashes, a Frank Gehry-designed performing arts center will soon rise from what was once the World Trade Center site. Construction of the 1,000 seat theater facility, which had been put on hold due to prolonged negotiations, is scheduled to resume in the coming months… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Spotlight: Art from Spare Parts

Conspicuous consumption has long been ingrained in our culture. We’re often too quick to throw things away–eschewing the careful frugalities of past generations–but a handful of Pepsi Refresh grant applicants in the Arts & Culture category are striving to turn their generation’s trash into another’s treasure.

A mechanical design engineer with a focus in robotics surfing wants to clean up the beaches of San Diego and then use certain cast-away items (like broken surf boards) to create “elegant” wall art… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Historic Hotel Offers Artist-In-Residency Program

The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee Wisconsin has launched a unique program to provide visitors with a crash course in arts education. The 2010 Artist-In-Residency, Wisconsin native, Katie Musolff, will be provided with a studio and gallery space off of the hotel’s historic lobby along with a monthly stipend that will allow her to continue working on her art throughout the year… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Detroit Symphony Director Works for Free

While not everyone can afford to forgo a significant portion of their salary in the name of art, it’s inspiring to hear about the few people who can, and do just that. Leonard Slatkin, music director of Detroit’s Symphony Orchestra recently announced that he will sacrifice a month’s worth of salary for the 2010-2011 concert season…

Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Gaming for Good

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The video game industry is abuzz about an innovative new music-mixing puzzle game that’s selling like hotcakes. The happy twist- most of the proceeds from Chime will be donated to charity and almost everyone involved in the game’s production (including the artists that donated their music to the game) worked pro-bono… Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Spotlight: Refresh Arts & Culture Ideas For Seniors

When thinking about how to allocate resources for arts-related projects, a particular segment of the population is often overlooked. Yes, it’s important for our young people to have access to educational arts programs and of course, creative and fine arts programs and platforms are integral to the fabric of a healthy social culture…

Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

News Roundup: Arts & Culture

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It’s been an interesting week filled with announcements of adaptations and creative collaborations in the world of arts & culture. A Broadway production, based on the life of legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans, is reportedly in the works; if all goes as planned, the “Kid” will take the stage for the 2010-11 season. Also announced this week; a never-before-seen collection of personal letters penned by the late literary great, J.D. Salinger will go on public display…

Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

EVENTS: Arts & Culture

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While some of the bigger, better-known music festivals (i.e. SXSW, the Winter Music Conference, Coachella) are still a ways away, Black History Month is turning out to be a good month for music lovers with all kinds of eclectic tastes. Granted, weather on the east coast may have put a damper on things; Poland’s Unsound Festival brings a celebration of experimental club music to New York City…

Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

The Stephanie Meyers of Cellphone Novels?

cell.2910 Hey, aspiring writers, bloggers, and content creators, looking for inspiration? A fifteen-year-old girl who goes by the (pen) name of “Bunny” has become a literary sensation in her native Japan, due to the b success of a keitai (cellphone) novel series that she created in her free time between school, home life and homework. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

White House Civil Rights Concert Live Webcast Tonight

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No matter what your political views, it’s hard to deny how cool it is that our President has taken to hosting regular cultural events in what would be the equivalent of his living room. As part of the ongoing White House Music series, the Obamas have hosted a Jazz Studio event and a Classical workshop as part of a larger effort to support the arts and underscore the importance of arts education. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Ice House Installation Educates in the Motor City

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While winter storms continue to keep millions of mid Atlantic city dwellers indoors, winter weather has presented Detroit residents (and visitors to the area) with a ripe opportunity to brave the cold air in the name of art + social awareness. Due to this past weekend’s deep freeze, conditions are perfect for viewing Ice House Detroit, a frozen solid art installation in a deteriorating residential area of the Motor City. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

News Roundup: Arts & Culture

Despite the unfortunate announcement, earlier this week, that the Obama administration plans to reduce federal endowments for the arts in 2011, it wasn’t all doom and gloom in the wide world of arts & culture. In fact, the same announcement contained the good news that a number of cultural establishments–including the Smithsonian institute and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting–will receive a bump in funding next year. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Earth Day Art Auction Announced

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Christie’s, the internationally renowned auction, house has announced that it will host a live “Green Auction” at New York’s Rockefeller Center on Earth Day (40th anniversary in 2010) to raise awareness around environmental issues. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Saints’ Drew Brees Scores Big Before Super Bowl

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The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge will receive a $100,000 grant donation for much needed room renovations care of Drew Brees, the official winner of the Pepsi Refresh Project’s NFL challenge. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Looking for Help With Marketing Your Idea?

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Need help marketing an art program or cultural event? Or maybe you could use a hand getting the word out about your Arts & Culture REFRESH grant submission (so that you can rack up enough votes to make your good idea a reality)? The National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP) is a great resource for effective marketing tips and tricks. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Champaign Storefronts Become Pop-Up Galleries

champaign.2310 Champaign, Illinois is following the lead of San Francisco and Chicago by installing the work of local artists in vacant storefronts. Champaign launched its pilot program dubbed Sight Specific, Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Keys to the Koons

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Jeff Koons, the internationally-renowned artist responsible for immortalizing the late Michael Jackson and his pet monkey Bubbles in gold-leaf plated porcelain, has been tapped to design BMW’s 35th edition Art Series car; Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Arts & Culture News Roundup

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It’s no secret that President Obama is an ardent supporter of the arts, perhaps more so than any other president since FDR, and certainly the first to stress the importance of a formal policy for a national arts program prior to taking office. So it came as a bit of an unwelcome surprise when the Obama administration recently revealed plans to reduce federal funding for the arts in 2011 due to ongoing budget cuts. As a bit of a consolation prize though, a handful of national projects, to be facilitated by The Smithsonian Institute, will see a bump in funding. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Submission Tips

We’re sure you’re all very excited about the second round of Pepsi Refresh grant submissions, opening on Monday, February 1st. We’re super-excited to see all of your project ideas! PLEASE be sure to thoroughly review the guidelines before submitting your application to make sure your idea and submission forms are in line with the rules and regulations. It’s also important to refrain from using any music in your videos (other than the creative commons tracks we’ve provided for you here). Also, refrain from using any unauthorized logos in your video or photos as well. Unauthorized use of music or logos will cause your submission to get screened out of the pool.

We can’t wait to to see what you come up with next month. Good Luck!

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Fantasy Museum Football?

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports an unusual wager between the the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, on the outcome of the Super Bowl. Each institution has agreed to lend a rare work of art to the other, for three months time, should their home team lose the game. In other words, if the New Orleans Saints take home the SB victory, a 19th century J.M.W. Turner landscape from the Indianapolis Institution’s collection will find a temporary home in New Orleans, and if the Colts win the big game, the New Orleans Museum will loose a 17th century work by the painter Claude Lorrain to the Indianapolis Institution for several months. I’m on the edge of my seat, how about you?

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Pre- Grammy Music Selections

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In advance of Sunday’s Grammy Awards, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of my favorite recording artists from 2009 (or rather, artists/songs that I discovered over the course of the past year). While I like and respect the work of MGMT, Phoenix, Zac Brown Band and many of the other talented Grammy nominees, you won’t find any of them on this list. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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LOOK: Dumpster Diamonds for Classrooms

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As its name suggests, the arts education organization Trash for Teaching got its start with, well, rubbish. Six years ago, Steve and Kathy Stanton, owners of a manufacturing company in Los Angeles, donated some of the excess materials from their specialty packaging business to their son’s preschool, for art projects. Seeing the imaginative and unlikely ways in which children used the material– die-cut cardboard, ribbons, and tubes otherwise destined for a landfill– the Stantons were inspired to bring more material to other local schools, many of which lacked funding for arts classes. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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The Olympics Rocks!

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At this year’s Olympic Victory Ceremonies, scheduled for February 16th, the game’s medal winners will share a stage with a number of high profile performers including Feist, Devo, Estelle and the Roots. Earlier in the week, Chicago-based Wilco will kick off a leg of their TransCanada tour with a free concert in Vancouver’s David Lam Park and a slew of bands and musicians, including Lou Reed and Iron & Wine will play tribute to Canadian-born Neil Young at the Queen Elizabeth Theater on February 18th and 19th .

Photo: Flickr / stincodiporco

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Events: Arts & Culture

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The first ever Art Los Angeles Contemporary (ALAC) event kicks off tonight with an opening night reception to benefit LA><ART, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), and Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND). Additional festivities, including an international art fair, will take place through the 31st.

Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Join the Davos Debates

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We would be remiss not to mention that the 2010 World Economic Forum is underway in Davos, Switzerland. By now, economists, political leaders, intellectuals, environmentalists and journalists have converged on the town (once a treatment destination for tuberculosis patients) to tackle our world’s most pressing issues. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Twitter’s Local Trends

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Information junkies rejoice! Twitter just rolled out a new feature that identifies trending topics based on location….or rather, the site’s pre-existing “Trending topics” sidebar has been augmented to allow for users to identify what’s relevant—via location-based tweet-meter—on a global and local scale. Right now, the service is limited to segmenting trend lists in a handful of countries and cities around the world but I’m sure the network is expanding as I type. Read about the details here. Follow me on Twitter here.

Photo: Flickr

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Will the iPad Make a Bookworm Out of You?

ipad.12710 After months of speculation, Steve Jobs finally revealed the iPad (i.e. Apple Tablet) at a highly publicized press conference in Cupertino, CA. Nearly every major media outlet provided play-by-play coverage via tweets and blog posts of the unveiling of the “Kindle Killer.” Personally, I love my Kindle and at this point, plan to stay loyal to the first of its kind, but if Apple’s version of the e-book reader can do for the written word, what it’s done for music (i.e. expand people’s minds and taste levels), I—along with every book seller and publisher—will be very pleasantly surprised. Of course, the whole point behind rampant iPad buzz is that, when it’s released for sale in several months time, its capabilities are expected to far exceed those of other e-book readers. I just happen to be more curious about functionality.

Image: via

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

It’s like Motocross on Skis

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Yes, Skicross–the only new sport to be featured at the 2010 Winter Olympics next month–is as dangerous (and exciting!) as it sounds. While it’s allegedly based on the rules of motocross, after close observation, I’d say Skicross is more akin to a downhill Roller Derby match. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s New Deal

Joseph_Gordon-Levitt.12610 The 500 Days of Summer star is encouraging members of the creative community to create, record, and share original content on hitRECord.org, the home base for an ambitious (and somewhat ambiguous) open-source, multi-media project that he launched in 2004. The project seems to have languished in obscurity since then, but Goron-Levitt recently appealed to filmmakers, via a web-address he called “THE NEW DEAL” which provides more comprehensive goals and visions for the project. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Pocket Projector Wows Sundancers

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If you paid any attention to entertainment news over the weekend, you heard about the Sundance Film Festival, including the expected star sightings and hubbub over the week’s first film purchase by a major studio. But you may not have gotten wind of a handful of artsy indie films (the bearded guy here is a still image from one of them) that were projected onto an ice sculpture, a ceiling, and other nontraditional surfaces. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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Sarah McLachlan’s “One Dream” for the Olympics

The Canadian-born songstress shows support for her hometown (and favorite Winter Olympics sport) with the release of a new single “One Dream” which premiered last night during a pre-Olympics figure skating special on NBC. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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News Roundup: Arts & Culture

candles.12110 The two-hour HOPE FOR HAITI marathon spearheaded by George Clooney is currently live on-air. The commercial-free disaster relief fundraiser, hosted by Clooney (from Los Angeles), Wyclef Jean (from New York) and Anderson Cooper (from Haiti), will feature performances from some of the world’s most in-demand acts including Bono, Justin Timberlake, Rhianna, Taylor Swift and Coldplay. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Attendance at Art Events Declining?

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Disconcerting data from a new study released by Americans for the Arts suggests that while the number of established arts organizations has increased over the past decade, attendance at art events has declined. According to The Washington Post, research suggests the weakened economy, consumer financial woes, proliferation of free and easy access to art and entertainment on the internet, and an over-saturated market (of art organizations) have all contributed to this troubling trend. Interestingly, these findings contradict data published back in December ‘09 by The Art Newspaper, indicating museum attendance was on the rise in the midst of our shaken economy.

Photo: Flickr / lifeontheedge

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Sundance For Everyone! (Part Two)

An addendum to my Sundance for Everyone! post earlier this week: YouTube has launched an online movie rental service that offers a handful of Sundance Festival faves from 2009 and 2010 for less than the price of a Triple grande nonfat light-whip caramel latte! It’s unclear whether or not there are immediate plans to add mainstream films to the site’s movie roster but it seems that would be the next logical step. The bigger implication here is that Google (which owns YouTube) has officially entered the realm of ad-free, on-demand content distribution.

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Deitch’s Grand Exit

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The art world was abuzz last week around the announcement that famed NY dealer Jeffrey Deitch, having accepted the director position at Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), would be closing down his notorious Wooster Street Gallery space. And while New York art patrons are understandably disappointed by his departure, the prolific gallerist will not leave them in the lurch without putting on one last bang up show. The world’s most recognized street artist, Shepard Fairey, recently announced that his “spring show of new fine art“, set to debut May 1st, will be the last exhibition to grace the halls of Deitch Projects.

Photo: Flickr / Art Comments

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Angelique Kidjo + John Legend Cover Curtis Mayfield Classic

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Was listening to KCRW, my favorite radio station this morning on my way to work–sitting in horrible LA traffic in the pouring rain, mind you, when this song came on. Angelique Kidjo and John Legend’s take on “Move On Up” immediately brightened up my day! Whether or not it’s raining in your neck of the woods, take a listen and feel your spirits rise! http://www.myspace.com/angeliquekidjo

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

LA Schools Seek Corporate Support For Arts Education

In a situation that we imagine has played out in school districts across the country lately, members of the L.A. Unified School District recently met to discuss, among other things, the impending budget cuts that threaten to further cripple arts education programs in elementary schools. Board members brainstormed with local arts educators, to come up with some actionable scenarios to lessen the blow of proposed reductions. Robin Lithgow, the district’s elementary arts coordinator, stressed the importance of keeping existing arts resources in place, even if it means doubling class size to offset faculty layoffs; another board member proposed that arts and entertainment-focused corporations should be doing more to support arts education, stating, “There needs to be a partnership here. I think we need to ask for responsibility from both ends — from the individual artists and the corporations.”

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

Refresh Topics: "Arts & Culture

Sundance For Everyone!

Later this week, Hollywood heavyweights and hangers on alike will descend on Park City, Utah, for the annual Sundance Film Festival. Established in 1978 as part of an effort to attract more filmmakers to the region, Sundance is now the largest independent film festival in the U.S.—and the one that’s become almost more famous for tabloid-worthy exclusive parties and lavish celebrity gifting suites than for the occasional breakaway film, say, Little Miss Sunshine or career-making performance, say, John Heder in Napoleon Dynamite. The bitter irony of all this being that: for a non-profit organization that’s supposed to give exposure and credence to emerging filmmakers, a B-list celebrity has a better chance of garnering national exposure (for showing up at a branded gifting suite), than an up-and-coming writer/director (for winning a highly coveted festival prize). Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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LOOK: The Next Generation of Filmmakers

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For every Quentin Tarantino or Wes Anderson, there are a thousand young filmmakers laboring in obscurity, hoping just to have their work seen, let alone screened at a film festival. No one knows this better than Jesse Harris, the 24-year-old co-founder and executive director of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), who wrote and directed his first feature-length film, “Living Life,” at the age of 17–and then convinced his parents to finance its production cost with his entire college savings fund. The gamble netted Harris a small distribution deal, but the experience convinced him that young filmmakers were at a distinct disadvantage in the industry. Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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LOOK: Sculpting The City

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From a city planning perspective, St. Louis has done everything right. It has wide, tree-lined boulevards, one of the country’s largest urban parks, a brand-new stadium for a World Series-winning baseball team, and the most famous curve of elliptical steel on the planet. Yet for all the cash St. Louis has poured into its civic core over the years, its downtown never truly became a destination–even for its own residents, who have famously fled its urban limits for the past 50 years. But last July, the city began to ease its metropolitan hemorrhage with the opening of Citygarden, a 2.9-acre sculpture park. “Citygarden has given downtown St. Louis a sense of place that it has lacked for decades,” says Paul Wagman of the Gateway Foundation, the non-profit that helped to fund the space. “Gertrude Stein famously said of her hometown of Oakland, California, ‘There’s no there there.’ Citygarden has provided downtown with a feeling of ‘thereness.’”
Read & Discuss

By: Rebecca McQuigg Rigal of GOOD

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