From Charlotte Severin:

Working mostly in Plein Air (on location outdoors) in watercolor and traveling all over the world, I also enjoy experimenting with different types of paper, such as YUPO or rice paper. But I also use a collage of several varieties of textured paper in some of my paintings.

Painting is for me a celebration of life, an opportunity to express my joy and awareness of the beauty and fascination of life all around us. Nature abounds with color and form. It fills my palette with warm earth tones. It flows on the paper in fields of bright flowers, dark mountains and blue green oceans. When I paint old buildings full of history, I feel a part of that time.

Painting also opens a world of people to me. When I paint the vibrant colors of a native marketplace I share again the excitement of that scene. My paintings are Impressionist Realism in the California Style tradition. They are a reflection of my soul and an embodiment of my feelings about all of life.

Charlotte has been honored with more than 30 single-person watercolor shows and serves as a signature member of the California Watercolor Association.

An inspired teacher, Charlotte has taught classical watercolor, Oriental brush painting and drawing in San Francisco Bay Area schools, both public and private, for over thirty years. Also serving as Artist in Residence in many schools, she has enjoyed lighting the spark of creativity in thousands of children and adults, teaching four weekly classes in watercolor for the City of Pleasanton’s Civic Arts program, creating a new vision for all of life.

Enthusiastic to share her joy of painting, Charlotte speaks for state conventions and conferences, teaching on topics such as “Art Made Easy” and “Art for Relaxation and Stress Management.” She calls her approach to art “Refilling Your Cup” and “A Celebration of Life.”

Charlotte Severin welcomes feedback on her artwork and requests for speaking engagements. You may reach her at 4513 Mirador Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94566 or call 925-846-6382.

San Francisco sketch artist Lisa Demb wishes to share the latest from her new series “Happy Armageddon.” The drawings depict biblical apocalyptic imagery, such as a blood-red moon and vanishing sun, yet present the scenes as interesting, positive, even playful. To Demb, perhaps one can approach impending, even cataclysmic changes with curiosity and optimism.

Demb lives with some health conditions, and the work “Margaritaville” pays tribute to her caregiver Margarita, whom Demb credits with changing her life.

Lisa Demb welcomes comments, questions, requests, and any feedback regarding her artwork. She also produces custom-designed stationery, which you may order directly from her. You may write to Ms. Demb at 140 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 or call 415-776-2115 and ask for her by name.

Making Halloween Less Scary for Small Farmers: Families Celebrating with Fair Trade Chocolate

In conversation with Adrienne Fitch-Frankel of Global Exchange

This Halloween, Synchronized Chaos Magazine encountered an intriguing advertisement for Reverse Trick-Or-Treating, where children gave out free candy along with flyers concerning the values of Global Exchange’s fair-trade chocolate. Here we discuss the ins and outs of the campaign, along with broader economic and ecological and cultural issues, with Global Exchange’s Adrienne Fitch-Frankel.

For our readers – Global Exchange offers free fair-trade Reverse Trick-Or-Treating kits available for kids and families who wish to participate…more information and the signup form available here: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/ Deadline for church/temple/mosque/school etc group signups is the end of September, deadline for individual trick or treaters is October 13^th. So you know, they can and do run out of chocolate!

Synchronized Chaos: Many of us in the Western world hear the phrase ‘fair-trade’ frequently, even at Starbucks and Peet’s. What does that label usually represent, and how does Global Exchange incorporate fair trade practices?

Adrienne Fitch-Frankel (paraphrased): Fair trade involves a commitment to building a business relationship with farmers where those who work the land may earn a decent standard of living. This can happen through practices such as guaranteeing a minimum price every year so one poor harvest does not bankrupt farm workers. Or by facilitating farm cooperatives so farmers may pool their capital and invest in education, healthcare, or sustainable environmental practices such as relatively inexpensive, nontoxic ways to fight fungi and improve crop yields.

Synchronized Chaos: Great humanitarian ideas, and decent business model, too – surely bankrupting one’s suppliers would not be to a company’s economic advantage. But, could ordinary people (in the Western world) still afford coffee or cocoa produced this way?

Continue reading →

Rock Paper Scissors Collective (community based gallery in downtown Oakland) seeks submissions for the upcoming exhibition “Social Structures.” Interesting little gallery space – hosts serious professional talent and also works with and provides educational and social support for emerging artists (including young people and zinesters!)

Background on the show’s concept, and contact information:

A social structure is constructed to enhance the relationship between people through design. Designers of these structures feel they are solving social problems through their projects, which affects communities and individuals on a personal level. Projects are related to addressing some basic needs such as shelter, communication, food security, safety, and intimacy.

Submissions can consist of proposals, prototypes, photo documentation, scale models, or drawings. RPSC accepts electronic submissions only, which can be emailed to gallery@rpscollective.com Submissions are due on October 1st, 2009. For more information visit http://www.rpscollective.com

The producers of the Solo Sundays/Words First series, a critically acclaimed showcase of the San Francisco Bay Area’s best solo spoken word performers, are offering a limited number of free tickets to this Sunday night’s performance at StageWerx Theatre.

Solo Sundays performers blend original humor with poignant, thoughtful commentary on modern life. Topics explored include race and intergenerational relations, coming of age or facing midlife crises in an unsettling economy, and coming to terms with one’s spiritual and/or cultural background.

Each of the solo spoken word actors brings an incredible level of energy and dedication to his or her piece, and develops his/her writing within a supportive professional community geared towards helping emerging artists to perfect their craft. You may find yourself re-thinking your values and attitudes while laughing and having fun. I’ve (Cristina Deptula – your Synchronized Chaos Creative Facilitator) had the privilege of attending several of these multi-layered, complex presentations and remember nodding with recognition and relief at several moments because someone out there actually understood my thoughts and experiences…even while watching the actors play characters from cultural backgrounds very different from my own.  At other times the humane, insightful storytelling provoked me to reconsider and challenge my assumptions about various types of people.

Solo Sundays’ producers invite Synchronized Chaos readers and contributors to experience for free the joy, creativity, passion and wisdom of their productions.

If you are 100% CERTAIN you can attend this Sunday night’s show, please copy and paste these four items into an email to brupach@gmail.com :

1. Solo Sundays  at StageWerx Theatre
2. Sunday, September 27 at 7:00
3. Your FIRST and LAST name
4. Whether you’d like one or two tickets (additional tickets are just $5 each)

We will confirm all reservations. Again, only respond if you are 100% certain you can attend. Thank you very much, and we look forward to welcoming you to the show!

Solo Sundays
Sunday, September 27 at 7:00
StageWerx Theater
533 Sutter (at Powell)
San Francisco

Day of the Dead- Dearly Beloved

Call of Art deadline Sept 30. Submission Fee $65 (includes membership to Sun Gallery).
Up to 6 works, or a space no larger than 5′ wide x 5′ deep.

Reception Nov 7, Saturday, 5-9pm

2 workshops for families Nov 14 and 21 School Field Trips can be scheduled for a fee of $125 up to 30 kids.

10/30/09 — 11/21/09

Curated by Orlando Somozo

Link to their webpage for more information on this opportunity and the gallery in general: http://www.sungallery.org/exhibitions.asp