(SkyNewswire.com) --- Taza Interactive, an interactive marketing and technology company sponsors the 45th Annual Art & Apples festival Sept 10-12th at Rochester Park, Rochester, MI.

"We wanted to help support and participate in this artistic event right here in our local community and provide something new, entertaining and interactive for festival attendees," says Lisa Struebing, New Media Director at Taza Interactive.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- It’s nearly harvest time again at The Corning Museum of Glass. Nestled in the heart of New York’s picturesque Finger Lakes region, the Museum is offering a range of seasonal activities this fall inspired by the surrounding autumn landscape of green fields, vibrant foliage, apple orchards, and pumpkin patches.

In addition to the Museum’s daily offerings (including the world’s largest collection of glass, special exhibitions and live glass demonstrations), fall harvest activities at The Corning Museum of Glass include:

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Austin Art Space Gallery and Studios officially opened submissions for the 6th Annual “12 Buy 12” Holiday Art Show & Sale. The show is one of three juried shows held each year at the gallery that have drawn entries from all over the U.S. and as far away as Europe, South Africa and New Zealand.

What can you create in a 12” x 12” contained format? The gallery has presented an astounding array of imaginative and original art in that size over past five years from hundreds of different artists. The event originated at the gallery’s predecessor -- Artspoken.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- As the inaugural Festival sARTeé (sar-tay) approaches, both Manatee and Sarasota Counties on Florida’s southwest Gulf coast are pleased with growing participation in the collaborative, two-county showcase of the region’s arts and cultural assets. Scheduled for October 8-24, Festival sARTeé runs before, during and after the 2nd Annual Ringling International Arts Festival (Oct. 13-17). To date, a total of 63 theater, music, dance and art events have been scheduled in venues throughout both counties – 45 events in Sarasota County and 18 in Manatee County.

In Manatee County, some of the major events include the International Film Series at the South Florida Museum on Oct. 14; a “World Party” Cultural Celebration, featuring music, performances, activities and delicacies from around the globe, on Oct. 15; and a Village of the Arts ArtWalk, with more than 35 shops participating, on Oct. 15.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Artists, Collectors, Dealers & Galleries can now use the power of the internet to swap, sell, auction, and buy art paintings. Listings and membership are completely free. It is expected to become the venue to list, sell or exchange the likes of De Kooning, Erte, Krasnyansky, Tarkay, Dali, Picasso, Disney, or virtually any artist anywhere.

How does ArtloverExchange.com expect to stay in business? Revenues are generated through a 10% fee on any artwork sold. No money is collected or charged to any member until after a sale is made. The platform allows sellers to use any currency and ArtloverExchange.com makes the conversion. Sellers and buyers can pay with credit cards, paypal, bank transfer - and uniquely, can exchange or trade their art for other art on the site. Sellers give final approval for any exchange transaction before it takes place.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Merchants Overseas, Inc is excited to announce the launch of The Beadelle Collection Annual Holiday Ornaments. The two designer ornaments are the latest additions to the bestselling brand, The Beadelle(R) Collection.

Two styles of ornaments are available - the STELLAR 6-Point Star and the AURORA Snowflake. Each ornament features a Beadelle(R) tag to ensure authenticity, and is packaged in a classic window box for holiday gift giving. Both ornaments also come with an additional colored ribbon for an interchangeable look.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Since 2008, Habitatter.com has been offering the highest quality in home decorating accessories. All Fired Up!, creators of the most popular hand crafted ceramic switch plate in North America and some of Habitatter.com's biggest sellers, has just raised their prices. Habitatter.com is offering All Fired Up! merchandise at 10% off before the new prices take effect September 1st.

Greg Simerlink, owner of Habitatter.com, said, "All Fired Up! never ceases to amaze me with the quality of their designs. We receive more comments from customers regarding the quality of craftsmanship on their switch plates than any other artist we carry. This sale offers our customers a great chance to see the quality of All Fired Up! merchandise firsthand."

(SkyNewswire.com) --- The McCroskie collection contains the General Sheridan Winchester 1876 recognized as the finest Winchester in existence. Rock Island Auction Company is scheduled to sell the best known 1 of 1000 1876 Winchester as well as the 1 of 1000 factory engraved Model 1873 Centennial Winchester. This spectacular Winchester was the display rifle for Winchester at the U.S. Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia 1876. These and other McCroskie Winchesters will join the over 260 Winchesters in a firearms auction containing over 2600 lots.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Western jewelry designer Amy Fortunato of Cowboy’s Sweetheart rounded up top honors in the 2010 Jewelry Design Business Development Grant competition. Her prize package includes $6,000 in start-up cash and jewelry supplies. The annual award is sponsored by jewelry supply wholesaler Halstead Bead, Inc.

The grant is awarded to a new jeweler in the bridge or art jewelry segment each year in recognition of design skill and business acumen. Candidates must submit lengthy applications including portfolios of original jewelry and details of their business plans.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Zinour, one of Canada's top portrait artists, dancer and drum maker, will be busy both inside and out of his studio this summer. Beginning in August, he will lead weekend drumming and personal wellness retreats in both Calgary and British Columbia, while still continuing to work on his latest portrait series, Women of the West. On August 7 and 8, well-known author and keynote speaker, Mabel Katz, will partner with Zinour and his wife Gayle Fathoullin at their Calgary gallery and studio. Katz will teach participants Ho'oponopono, the ancient Hawaiian philosophy of bringing change and re-energization into one’s life. Katz is an authority on this topic and travels the world teaching seminars. More information can be found at hooponoponoway.com. Drumming and drum dancing, using Canadian and Siberian Inuit hand drums, will play a big part in helping participants to reconnect with themselves. The Fathoullins will also share their own story of how they learned to celebrate life despite its ups and downs. Space is limited to 25 people. To register visit mabelkatz.com or contact Gayle at info at legacyartworkbyzinour.com


September's retreats also feature drumming. As a bonus, Zinour will give participants one-on-one instruction on how to make their own Siberian hand drum, all materials provided. He will teach participants how to find their own rhythm and the entire weekend will be a time of reconnecting with oneself and getting pampered. Meditation with Gayle, the Fathoullin's stories of travel and of their time living with the Inuit peoples of the Canadian and Siberian Arctic, a traditional Siberian meal and the beautiful surroundings will make for a very serene weekend.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Hagop Manoyan, founder of an antique rug company in New York city, is now offering antique rug appraisal seminars to help collectors and beginners spot rugs of the highest quality. Over the years, Hagop Manoyan has managed to build up a wealth of knowledge and experience about antique rugs. He certainly knows the difference between a high quality rug and a poor quality one. He is looking to share his knowledge and experience with others through his monthly antique rug seminar. Here are some areas which will be covered:


1) The true value of antique rugs.
Antique rugs have often been compared with paintings because both items are collectibles. However, the prices differ greatly due to several reasons. Hagop Manoyan, through his daily dealing with experienced collectors and dealers understands the buyer psychology behind antique rugs. In his seminars, he will discuss the elements that influence the price of the rugs.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- The 2nd annual SOFA WEST: Santa Fe, SOFA WEST: Santa Fe returns to the Santa Fe Convention Center, Thursday, July 8 - Sunday, July 11, 2010. Like its long-standing art fairs in New York and Chicago, SOFA's Western edition showcases three-dimensional, material-based works of art. SOFA WEST's Opening Night, Wednesday, July 7, is an invitation-only Special Member Preview for the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and SOFA VIPs. 2,000 guests attended SOFA WEST’s inaugural Opening Night last year, with an estimated 10,000 visitors attending the fair during its four day run, exceeding projections by over 50%.


Mark Lyman, President of The Art Fair Company and Director of SOFA fairs says, “The 1st SOFA WEST last year was about eye-opening discovery—a base on which to build awareness of the extraordinary artistry at the Fair. SOFA's domain is the intersection of the fine and applied arts, artworks rooted in rich, artisan traditions, but like contemporary fine art, explore new forms, ideas and materials." And they are affordable. Lyman continues, "Because these artworks have yet to be marked by a heavy preponderance of speculative buying and flipping, they are a solid investment. Strong sales at recent SOFA fairs reflect the continuing stability of this market." View CBS MarketWatch's report on SOFA CHICAGO called "A Sweet Spot in the Market."

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Following the great success at the Grand Palais in November 2009 in Paris, OpenArtCode group will exhibit in July 2010 in London. This time, the OpenArtCode artists will present and promote their art in a gallery on the River Thames in the heart of London, at the Gallery@Oxo. OpenArtCode London will donate a portion of the profits in support of AGBI Artists' General Benevolent Institution, of which HRH The Prince of Wales is the Patron.


A high quality catalogue will document the show and will be sold in selected bookshops of museums and exhibitions, sold online and, of course, at the show. Proceeds from sales of the catalogue will go entirely to AGBI. On Thursday 1st July at 3.00pm there will be a catalogue signing at the Royal Academy of Arts in association with the A.G.B.I. OpenArtCode brings together some of the best international artistic talent in order to exhibit in the art capitals of the world. The artists have very different technical styles ranging from abstract to hyper realistic. They have united in the past to exhibit in Paris at the Grand Palais and in Monaco at the Auditorium Ranieri III.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- Internationally exhibited artist and Morris County resident David Derr will again be featured at ArtWalk Nyack in Nyack, NY during the weekend of June 18-20. Mr. Derr is returning to the street festival that featured posters he created as the primary marketing tools of the event in 2008 and 2009.


Mr. Derr is one of twenty artists who will be located at places of business throughout the town. He will be exhibiting a selection of paintings and assemblages at Grandview which is located at 11 South Broadway. Additional artists will be highlighted at the Edward Hopper House Art Center at 82 North Broadway. ArtWalk Nyack will be held Friday, June 18 from 7-9 PM; June 19 from noon till 5 PM & 6-9 PM; and June 20 from noon till 5 PM. For additional information call David at 973-442-8300 or the Nyack Merchants Committee at 845-348-1767.

(SkyNewswire.com) --- The beauty of Byzantine churches which boast shining gold mosaic domes along with gorgeous art are seen through the entire Mediterranean area, especially in Sicily, with Cathedrals including Monreale and Italy, with St Marks in Venice. The shimmering hues of silk (whose creation was a state secret inside the Empire) along with gold and enamels created explosively colorful murals. The Byzantines seemed to be cognizant of their particular influence on those who visited their churches and seemed to purposely cultivated it, potentially in the process creating the jealousy which in turn brought on the fourth crusade and the Empire's eventual end.


Nowhere can the multi-colored golden inspiration of Byzantine art be viewed more evidently than with the art of famed artist Gustav Klimt, though his work ended up being quite different from the religious art that provided his inspiration. Commonly, Byzantine art work has two dimensional portraiture usually involving mythological together with religious moments, the paintings of Klimt can often be deemed sensual and practically totally consisting of female form. The Byzantine influence is observed in the application of mosaic structures and ornamental flourishes, jeweled hues and gold. Klimt's brother and father were both gold engravers, and that is likely the explanation for the application of gold in a multitude of his art works. Though Klimt would not travel a good deal, he regularly went to both Ravenna and Venice so it would seem probable that this is how he ended up being in contact with Byzantine art.