Chuchito

Chuchito is Friday. Treehouse's first art exhibition in years. How many years? I am not sure. I stopped counting. I am happy that we are producing a new one. This exhibit is curated by Christine Humphrey, the Gallery Director at Tamarack: the best of WV, and myself. I am excited. I hope we have a good crowd and people are also excited to art in Beckley. We need more.

Don't get me wrong, there are many artists making art in Beckley. That is not the problem. There are plenty of them showing art in Beckley. But does anybody look at it? Does anybody care? I hope they do about Chuchito. We are artists who want to make more than paintings of flowers, chickens, fruit and mountains. Not that chickens are not a worthy subject. But if I want to see flowers I will walk in my backyard, and if I want to see mountains I will drive down the street. I want to see imagination and vision. Make my own judgements about the meaning. Other than its level of pretty or complacency. We will have plenty of art to ponder, of subjects you will only see at Chuchito.

I'll step off of my high horse soapbox and get back to the subject of this post, Chuchito. I am working on new art for the exhibit, promoting as best my schedule allows and organizing the other artists. I hope that it will be a success. There is a list of the artists on our Facebook page. "Like" it. Love it if you want.

You should come. And bring 50 of your closest friends.

Robby

Fresh off the Press

How to build a treehouse.

Step One: Plant a Seed

In 2004, three young artists planted a seed. Josh Martin-Taylor, Chris McLaughlin and Robert Moore III shared a vision for an arts organization that benefited artists from all disciplines of art. Treehouse Arts, an organization with an interest in theatre, dance, music and visual art, wanted to become a home for the arts. They built a foundation by producing original performing and visual arts, educating young artists and strengthening the arts community. With patience and hard work that tiny seed is thriving, and yielding fruit.

For four years, Treehouse Arts Ensemble has nurtured their sapling organization. Their first year, the group presented a new show each month. The ensemble of artists and loyal volunteers produced three one-act play festivals, a modern dance concert, a visual arts exhibition and an event called the Artistic Blender, a mixture of music, dance and art installations all sharing one venue. The vision for Treehouse Arts Ensemble began to take root.

The following year, The Tamarack Foundation sponsored Treehouse Arts to develop and direct a youth theatre camp. The camp curriculum encompassed the entire theatrical process. Thirty students ages 8 to 17, designed, built and performed in an original production. This ambitious undertaking provided an invaluable experience for its students, and teachers. Three summers later, the theatre camp continues to evolve and prosper. Currently, Treehouse artists are developing new programs for additional camps and workshops focusing on visual art and dance.

The common denominator in all of Treehouse Arts’ successes is the dedication of its ensemble. The ensemble welcomes everyone with an appreciation for the arts, whatever their experience. The group has grown from three artists with a vision, to a network of over sixty artists working together, advocating the arts.

Treehouse Arts Ensemble is now an emerging voice for the arts in southern West Virginia. As for the future, Treehouse Arts Ensemble is seeking its own place to call home. Their design is for a transformable performance/gallery space in Beckley, where thespians, musicians, dancers and fine artists can share inspiration in a studio setting, as well as the spotlight. Until then, the Treehouse will only be a metaphoric home for the arts; with a welcome mat that reads, Home is where the ‘art’ is.

Visit www.treehousewv.com