“Mail Art” includes hand-decorated postcards, cards and/or envelopes that are sent through global postal services. It is not art inside an envelope; it is the envelope or postcard itself.

What does Mail Art look like? As the artist, you decide. Mail Art is essentially art using the postal service as the medium.

Founder of the Art Day holiday, Becky Mate says “Mail Art can be sent to anyone, and is all about opening your mailbox and finding a postcard from an artist. It is friendly, compact, instant joy.” Additionally, she encourages all to send their mail art to AFABW by July 15, 2013.

2013 AFABW Mail Art Participation Details:

0. The Mail Art theme is “Celebrate Beauty!”

1. If you have not already done so, sign up in the AFABW Artists Directory and become part of the community. If your submission is selected for the 2011 AFABW “Call For Mail Art,” your profile will be featured as well as you art.

2. Send your mail art so it arrives by July 15, 2013 (allow time for postal service in your country or state), along with your email and regular address, to:

ARTISTS FOR A BETTER WORLD (AFABW) INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 1872
Ventura, CA 93002
USA

3. The Mail Art will be displayed at the annual Founder’s “Art and Chocolate” Art Day Celebration in Glendale, California, Home of Art Day, by international Art Day Founder, Becky Mate.

4. The criteria for mail art selections includes aesthetics, colors, imagination and the theme of “Celebrate Beauty.”

5. The top Mail Art will be featured on the AFABW website.

6. On August 9, 2013, knowing you’ve participated in a worldwide effort to celebrate artists and their works of beauty, Have a Happy Art Day!

For information on hosting your own Art Day Party in your area, click “ART DAY” and scroll to the bottom to receive an instant reference on “How to Throw an Art Day Party!”

For any Art Day questions, click “CONTACT” and address your email message to Art Day Founder, Becky Mate.

Best,
GA

The theme for the project is based on her story entitled “Mission of the Artist,” first written as a novel and then turned into a musical (co-written by Jean Garbutt).

A trailer of the musical is featured above, and more information is available at MissionOfTheArtist.org

Years ago Barbara came up with the idea for this story after working with lots of artists and seeing the importance of the impact of the arts on the culture. She also learned of the negative effects that they run into, a main one being suppression in their lives that often leads to the use of drugs. She was then inspired to write a story, that although fiction, is filled with much truth.

Story Line: A magical planet of artists was once threatened by forces of evil. Many left their homeland to find themselves on Earth. Here they are plagued by a world filled with drugs, crime and ignorance. Some of these artists seek to expose the truth about those that would dare to destroy creativity and society in general.

The plan is to get students and others to perform the musical at schools, and various venues to get this vital message out, and then to enlighten them on the dangers of drugs, and to channel their energies into creative projects.

Artists can contribute their talents as actors, visual artists, musicians, writers, etc. More ideas for this activity are currently in the making, and anyone who would like to contribute to this project is welcome to click contact at MissionOfTheArtist.org/contact

SOME REVIEWS FROM THE MUSICAL:

* Art is better than drugs; drugs tear you down; art puts back life into the world.

* Very uplifting. It brightened my day and I was personally inspired by this show. It reminded me of the level of aesthetic creation that once existed and contrasted it in a very real way with current planet Earth and the state of art here. It made me want to write that novel I’ve been meaning to.

* I always love live shows. It knocked me out of doldrums. I was very, very tired today and not very happy. But I’m feeling good now.

* Seeing artists perform inspired me to try to allow the artist in me to flourish and prosper and spread the message. Thank you!

* Artists are important and they will help the world to change and inspire others to change despite the challenges that they meet.

August 10, 2012 – Sunland, CA: International Art Day 2012, second Friday in August, was the kick-off for the Art Day Games. Art Day was started in 1998 by writer/painter Becky Mate, member of Artists for a Better World, and was proclaimed by Mayors of Glendale, CA for the past six years. Award-winning designer Eugenia May-Montt, originally from Central America, suggested that there be an Olympics-like events to help celebrate the day dedicated to the arts and artists of all disciplines. The day started with Mate’s traditional Art and Chocolate party featuring potluck items, works of art, a table with art supplies for children and readings of short stories and poems. Jaime Rodriguez, Assistant to LA City Councilman Alarcon, made a guest appearance. Rodriguez recited an in depth, powerful, moving poem about his Dad.

Neenu Vij, an artist residing in arts-friendly Chandigarh, India, organized the beginnings of the Painting event, “Celebrating Creativity,” and said, “People were invited to experience the creative process of fifteen artists from various parts of the country and witness the magic of a blank canvas turning into a beautiful piece of art.” On display on Art Day at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Chandigarh, August 10, 2012 were the finished paintings and items from the history of Art Day, such as Happy Art Day greeting cards, news articles and Art Day coloring books. She also invited underprivileged children to do art in her garden. She heard about Art Day from the AFABW website (artistsforabetterworld.org), and said, “I find it pretty interesting that far off in a place, someone shares my passion.”

The Poetry event of the Art Day Games was organized by Dorothy Skiles, the 2012 Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga. On August 10th, international Art Day, Skiles enlisted the participation of 7 brave poets at an Art & Chocolate Party in Sunland, including the party’s hostess, Becky Mate. After reading two of her own poems, one about art and one about August, Skiles gave the poets three words they needed to incorporate in a poem that they composed on the spot, to prevent them from merely writing a poem they had composed earlier. In the 15-minute deadline, each poet had to use the noun, verb and adjective: “breeze,” “run” and “hungry”. While families made art at the Children’s Art Table, sponsored by Daniel Fraisse Insurance Services, Inc. of La Crescenta, the poets went to work in their notebooks.

The participants were, Kristina Arius (originally from Sweden), Erica Arius-Quazi (of Sunland, originally from Sweden), Claudia Chicas (of Sunland, originally from Central America), John Christopher (of Los Angeles), Alex Tamraz (of Glendale, originally from Armenia), Becky Mate (of Sunland) and Richard Gundy (of Los Feliz). Each poet read their poem aloud, since presentation & audience response was part of the judging criteria, along with quality of writing and theme or idea.

The bronze award, consisting of a medal on a cloth necklace of red, white and blue, favored Sweden and was presented by the Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate to Erica Arius-Quazi for her poem entitled “Frustrations.” The bronze winner said that she would like to see more people at the Poetry event in the future because, “it developed a sense of community, with different people coming together for peace and joy.” Her poetry often stresses the theme, “Life throws new things in our path and how we deal with them, positive or negative, will affect our entire life.” Her love of poetry came about because, as she said, “in my early 20’s I wanted to become a medieval professor.”

Richard Gundy from the United States won the silver medal, which was ingraved, “Int’l Art Day, August 10, 2012, Poetry, 2nd Place,” for his poem entitled “No Resolve.” His poetry roots came from the 70’s when he also did songwriting. He liked the challenge of writing a “last minute poem based on the three words given.” He is a professional writer (rlgwritingservices.com.)

Becky Mate of the United States took the gold medal for her poem that summarized the ambiance of the Art Day party, “Right Neighborly of You.” Mate said, “Poetry gives us a unique look at the world—a viewpoint with some punch. As this Poetry event of the Art Day Games goes more global, I believe it will elevate the stature of the poet in society’s eyes and increase the audience for poetry.” Mate, whose writing encompasses such themes as “peace, virtue and triumph of the human spirit,” can be reached at beckymate@earthlink.net.

Small monetary awards were given the three medalists by New Castle Remodeling, Inc., a company recently relocated to Sunland. All the poets who participated in this historic event were given a paper with the Art Day Games logo, designed by Paul Huth of San Diego, which said, “You have participated in the first year of the Art Day Games. Thank you for being a cultural leader in our civilization. Your art makes a difference.”

Additional events in the Art Day Games of the future will be Storytelling, Fimmaking, Acting, Photography, Music, Dancing, and other live events. The award for the Fashion event will be named in honor of Barbara Glazier, who passed away in June 2012, and who is the mother of Art Day’s Founder.

Skiles said, “It was a lovely event! I really enjoyed meeting folks from the neighborhood and was amazed at how much fun the kids had at the art table! Those who participated in the poetry contest seemed to really have a good time. And, given the limited time to write, they did very well. And I loved the smiles on all the winners faces!” She invited all the poets to the Village Poets of Sunland-Tujunga monthly reading series at the Bolton Hall Museum on Commerce and Valmont in Tujunga (villagepoets.org.)

For more information about international Art Day, visit artistsforabetterworld.org. To volunteer to organize an Art Day Games event for 2013 email artday@earthlink.net. If you have an interest in poetry, contact Dorothy Skiles at dmhskiles@gmail.com.

POETRY GOLD MEDAL WINNER: RIGHT NEIGHBORLY OF YOU

By Becky Mate

What does it take for neighbors to gather?
The whisper of an art party on the breeze?
Our yards and fences and walls
Try to keep us apart,
But we are hungry for each other’s
Company, conversation and smiles.
Put out a table of food and drink.
And provide one thing all cultures
Have in common—the arts.
The neighbors will come running.
In the tough world of today,
It is nice to find friends who want to
Come out and play.

POETRY SILVER MEDAL WINNER: NO RESOLVE

By Richard Gundy

I run down
Beaten paths
Looking for
Vague answers
Searching, hungry
But never finding
The real truth
Feeling a light breeze
As I stop
Looking up
The clouds spell
Out what I do
Believe is
More questions
Yet no resolve
I start to run
Committed in more
Ways than one
To find the truth.

POETRY BRONZE MEDAL WINNER: FRUSTRATIONS

By Erica Arius-Quazi

Where is the breeze of life?
When one runs around all day
To fulfill life’s demands?
There seems to be no endlessness
To hunger for more richness
Never satisfied!
Demands of life keep taking!
What makes life a breeze?
Perhaps it is love?
Love’s happiness is endless!
Love brings the breeze to life.
The richness of life with love there
Makes life’s demands a kiss of hunger satisfied.

2012 Art Day Photos from India

2012 Art Day Photos from USA

Seminars on topics such as songwriting, how to write a story, photography, theory behind art and music and much more, as well as open stage and big party with concert and BBQ. What a fantastic four days it has been! The lecturers were all very appreciated and renowned in their fields and the attendees were blown away!

Many enjoyed a room full of artistic materials where you could paint, draw and sculpture together with an amazing artist from Denmark.

The Art Exhibition out in the tent and in the glass hallway was, just like last year, the crown of the festival.
A separate tent for the teens all throughout the festival where they put together music and then performed at the big concert in the evening.

Some participants arrived from Germany, particularly for the music seminars.

One attendee later said “I should send you flowers every day for what you have given me and helped me with!” And that really summed up the purpose of the festival, to help artist be more powerful, feel more confident, know more about how to do it and succeed.

Founder of AFABW, Barbara Cordova Oliver, opened the event portion of the party with acknowledgements to all those people who have helped the group, and especially those that worked to make their 11th annual arts festival a success.

She then played an original holiday song entitled “Bright Lights.”

Barbara then brought up a variety of entertainers, starting with Dean Givens and Carmelita Pittman, both AFABW Award winners who did an impromptu duet of “Silent Night.”

Gari Geiselman, a young award winner, a couple X-mas Classics, embellishing them with her unique style.

Long term member, Tracy Repchuk, read a couple poems.

New member, Freda Cupa, also read a poem.

Luba Meltzer, Deputy Director of the festival, performed a classic song.

AFABW president George Alger, gave a short talk.

The evening crescendoed with a music jam that included Bob Sullivan & Marty Buttwinick on drums, Steve Spataro & Larry Williams switching off on guitar and Cheri Conner on bass, and a variety of singers, including many in the audience.

Commendations were given to those that helped the group in 2011.

Also contributing to the aesthetic flow of the party was Yvonne Harrington and Dave Repchuk who had art on display.

Those helping put on the event included:
Barbara Cordova – Producer
Jean Nichols – Pot luck
Luba Meltzer – Invitations
Yvonne Harrington – Reception and surveys
Loretta Gardea – Reception and surveys
Petrina Sharp – Decorations
Jane Gall, Marty Buttwinick, John Pison – Breakdowns
George Alger – Videos
Huguette Leduc – Photography

Art Day falls on the 2nd Friday of each August.

Art Day 2013 will be on August 9.

“Mail art” includes all types of unique creations represented on hand-decorated postcards, cards and/or envelopes.

Stay tuned for details in January!

All are welcome and attendees will learn more about opportunities to use their talents in upcoming events and projects.

WHEN: Saturday, December 17th, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
WHERE: Celebrity Centre International – Room 406

5930 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028

Reception: 6:30 – 7:00PM
Event: 7:00 – 8PM
Networking: 8:00 – (around) 9PM

• Pot Luck dinner
• Poetry, Music, Entertainment
• Art Displays
• Networking
• Commendations for those who contributed to AFABW in 2011
• Opportunities to use your talents in upcoming events and projects

The awards event kicked off with a reception featuring Esprit World Jazz. Band members include “Bozz on bass,” Mark Simonian on piano, Brian Johnson on flute, and Bob Sullivan – Leader of The Way to Happiness Band – on drums.

Fine art was prominently displayed, including the work of Los Angeles Visual Artists (LAVA) and other local artists.

Gino Montesinos was the evening’s MC. Gino is a highly regarded actor whose credits include Bruce Almighty, Collateral, Cellular, The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, Dexter, 24, Y&R, NCIS: Los Angeles and many more. Gino has contributed to society by working towards the rehabilitation of criminals, educating youth on the importance of human rights, and in promoting literacy.

Award-winning vocalist and recording artist Gari Geiselman formally opened the event. She was last year’s recipient of the “Outstanding Young Artist Award.”

Founder of Artists for a Better world, Barbara Cordova Oliver, gave a talk on AFABW and the Art Festival. She then performed with the AFABW band for the evening which also included Byron Gore, Bob Sullivan, Steve Spataro and David Brooks. They performed an original song by Barbara, and one by Byron.

The first awardee of the evening was Dean Givens, receiving the Setting a Good Artistic example award. Presenting the award was Denise L. Cook, known as The Oracle, who has a wealth of experience as a published author, motivational speaker, singer & poet. Dean Givens earned his award for creating Icehouse Studios whose purpose is to support young musicians who wanted to record but could not afford to.

He has been organizing showcases here at Celebrity Center International for 10 years. Many of the artists who have appeared in these shows have gone on to remarkable success in the music industry.

Today he is teaching and sharing his skill to hundreds of young aspiring entertainers as he produces entertainment productions throughout Los Angeles.

He has dedicated his life to helping artists prepare for the entertainment industry.

Bayou Bennett, a performance artist and an award winning filmmaker with a Master of Fine Arts, presented a performance encompassing both video art and dance. Bayou has been featured in New York’s “WB11 News” and “So You Think you Can Dance.” She also hosted the Short Film Fest here today at the Art fest. Her unique dance piece was accompanied by guitarist, Jose Abella.

The Celebrity Centre International Host, Salvador Panalba, talked about Celebrity Centre International and its role in helping artists to achieve their career goals. A short video clip was shown from The Way to Happiness DVD – entitled “Flourish and Prosper.”

Taking the stage with an upbeat dance number was a dance company that has been together over 16 years, founded by Shirley Blaxon.

Shirley put together a production company under the name of Miss Shirley Entertainment, A New Beginning – Stir Up Your Gift. This is also the name of her Cable TV show.

Gari Geiselman returned to the stage to present this year’s Outstanding Young Artist Award to a band known as “Impakt.” Ranging from 12 to 16 years of age, they have a passion for music and helping other kids. They were a part of Teen Artist’s Benefit to raise money for the people of Haiti; they’ve been a part of After School All Stars promoting music in schools and were honored to help raise money for First Star Charity helping foster children get the funds for needed legal services in the foster system. Their music is positive, fun and creative, allowing them to reach kids all over the world. The members of their band are: Cory Goldberg, Noellia Goodwin, Dash Kackert, Jake Klorman, Jake Oatey and Oaysis Okubo. The band then performed a couple original songs.

Esperansa Luna was the next awardee and received the Outstanding Contribution as an Artist Award. Ms. Luna is the Founder of Los Angeles Visual Artists (LAVA). The award was presented by Jeff Harman, member and past president of the Renaissance Speakers. Esperansa invited many of the LAVA members on stage to be acknowledged after she received her award.

In 1991 Esperansa founded Los Angeles Visual Artists for the primary purpose of unifying visual, performing, and literary artists, and giving them a platform whereby they could exhibit their work, network, and contribute to their community. LAVA has had numerous group exhibitions in Los Angeles, and has received acknowledgements from The City of Los Angeles; Mayor Tom Bradley; Bienvenidos Children’s Center; The Pre-Grammy Committee of LA; Charlie Awards-Hollywood Arts Council – USAIR; And the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.

Taking the stage next was Gabriela Dance Theatre – a vibrant dance company based in Los Angeles that gives choreographers and dancers the opportunity to debut and perform new works. Infusing ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop, they bring the rich and diverse culture of Los Angeles to audiences throughout the area.

George Alger, President of Artists for a Better World International, gave a brief talk about the group’s purpose of helping others by way of aesthetics.

Denise Cook returned to the stage to perform one of her inspirational songs.

The AFABW Humanitarian Award was given to two members of the Chalk4Peace Group – Founder, John Aaron, and group photographer Jerry Downs.

Presenting the award was Roberta Perry, who currently sits on Toastmasters International’s Board of Directors encompassing 116 countries. She is also the Board Secretary for The Earth Organization.

Jerry accepted the award for Chalk4Peace, a non-profit organization which promotes the arts and advocates for peace by coordinating assemblies of young artists of all ages to draw their vision of peace in public and private spaces with sidewalk chalk as a scheduled worldwide event.

Global Chalk4Peace artists have covered more than 50 miles of sidewalk with their messages of Peace.

Hollis Mahady performed an original song on piano. She is a singer songwriter from New York City who has toured the East coast with her band. She has played at West coast venues such as The Viper Room, The Roxy and The Whiskey A Go Go. Accompanying her on guitar was Steve Spataro. Steve teaches music at the UCLA Lab School and runs the Children’s Musical Theater Program and the Children’s Choral Program in Lennox through a non profit. He is also the vocal coach and arranger for a new LA all girl band called, “Firework.”

The final Award was for Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented to Albert Cleophus Willis by Jeannie Deva. Jeannie is a celebrity voice and performance coach and author, seen on the E! Entertainment and TV Guide Channels and endorsed by engineers and producers of Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, The Rolling Stones and many others.

Albert Cleophus was awarded for over 40 years of accomplishments, including being recognized as a notable innovative influence of artistic design. In the late seventies, he won two Gold Album Awards as a producer with Motown Records, and was responsible for such hits as “You Can´t Turn Me Off In The Middle Of Turning Me On” by High Energy.

Due to Cleophus’ innovations at Artmasters Studio, they became the nation’s leader in the manufacturing of hand paintings and accessories for the home furnishing industry and over the years Cleophus gained national and international recognition as the leading designer in this field.

After 26 years with Artmasters Studio, Cleophus worked as a freelance designer, fine artist, illustrator, and art publisher.

On permanent exhibition is an oil painting commissioned by Ray Charles in 1971 for the album cover design “Message From The People.” Mr. Charles donated the painting to the Kennedy Library, where it remained for several years. They in turn donated the art to The Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital in Los Angeles, CA where it presently remains in the main lobby.

In 1997, Cleophus was pleased to introduce the first of his Shadow Art, “We are the Custodians of our Culture,” a portrait of the legendary film Actor, Writer, and Director, John Huston. The three-dimensional mixed media wall sculpture was prominently featured at the John Huston Award Dinner and donated to the Artist Rights Foundation by the law offices of Michael B. Frankel and Peter Deyell of American Biograph Films and is on permanent exhibition at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard.

The Grand finale of the event was Chicago FootworKINGz group featuring Chicago’s top footworkers. Some of their key credits include: MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, America’s Got Talent, Ellen Degeneres Really Big Show, and Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet World Tour. They have also had press coverage in the Chicago Tribune, NBC 5 News, and Rolling Stone Magazine and more.

Event Volunteers

Each AFABW Awards Event is the result of numerous volunteers whose efforts are the backbone of the event itself, and without whose help, the event could not occur.

Event Producer – Barbara Cordova Oliver
Video Producer/Director– George Alger
Talent Coordinator – Luba Meltzer
Talent Coordinator Assistant – Jose Abella
Event Director/Script Editor – David Bartlett
Awards Design – Allen Harris
Awardees & Presenters Director – George Alger
Awardees & Presenters Assistant – Jeff Harman
Awards Hostess – Petrina Sharp
Event Set Ups/Sound – Celebrity Centre Showcase Productions
Lights – Marty Buttwinick
Back Stage Manager – Joe Scoglio
Back Stage Assistant – Johnny Bracizewski
Front House Stage Manger – Larry Williams
Frames – Sherman Gallery
Photos – Huguette LeDuc
Video Cameras – Mike Rubio, PJ Severtson
Reception/Hosting – Yvonne Harrington, Jane Gall, Anthea Davies
Catering Provisions – Linda & Bob Neilson
Catering Set-ups -Jennifer Gill

Mate describes the of style of Heimbold, “His paintings are friendly and welcoming, with expert use of color, values and light. They have the traditional feel of fine paintings through the ages, but with a charm of someone who sees the life and beauty in those things around him. I saw him paint an old, faded train once; he not only restored its former color and character, but he gave it personality as well. It is amazing to see the artistic work of a man who worked as an aerospace engineer at Lockheed Martin and on the Space Shuttle program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.” The Alex at Night” painting can be viewed on the home page of glendaleartassociation.com, a non-profit organization with Heimbold at its helm, and can be seen in Sacramento at the California State Senate Contemporary Art Collection through September 2012.

At Heimbold’s direction, the contribution of the Glendale Art Association (GAA) to the Mayor’s Proclamation of Art Day this year is to sponsor a “paint-out,” (artists standing at easels outdoors painting) at the community celebration in Glendale, August 12, 4-8pm.

While working as an aerospace engineer, Heimbold started on his dream to become a full-time artist by taking painting classes with the legendary Sergei Bongart at his school in Los Angeles. Heimbold paints cityscapes, beaches, mountains, snow, Chinatown, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Travel Town, Huntington Gardens, and a myriad of things that fascinate him in Southern California. He has even been seen painting in scenes on the TV program NCIS, at the fictional investigative team’s headquarters. As quoted in Southwest Art Magazine, “For me painting is all about the magic of light and color,” says Heimbold. “As I paint, I work consciously to build a vibrant connection to the subject of the painting through intensity of color and light.”

In addition to his appearance at the Community Art and Chocolate Party, Heimbold’s work can be seen through August 27th at the Santa Paula Community Library and will be at the GAA’s art scholarship fundraiser Fall Salon at White’s Art Framing and Restoration Gallery in Montrose, from Oct 4-30, 2011.

For more information, go to glendaleartassociation.com or dickheimbold.com or email dheimbold@aol.com.

Special thanks to Russell Manning, from Texas, for his Mail Art 2011 image featured at the top of this article.

1) As an attendee at the festival, you can participate in any of the workshops, seminars or performance events.

2) As an artist, you can display your work or perform at the festival. However, there are limited slots for art displays: Click Festival Guidelines for Visual Art Exhibit to reserve your space. For performing artist opportunities click “CONTACT” to make your interest known as soon as possible.

3) Finally, if you would like to help create the festival, your volunteer support will be greatly appreciated! Just click “CONTACT” for more information.

Click here for the AFABW 2011 Arts Festival Schedule.