We know its been a minute! But its time to get down on the dance floor to celebrate inspired art and most importantly, YOU!

Put on your Thursday finest, including some dancin shoes, and meet us at John Collins Bar in Soma (www.johncollins.com) at 8 pm on. See some art, read some poems, talk to real good folks!

need more info? call us at 415 486 1242 or email bsumser@americascores.org

Inspired Art has proven to have a force of its own, and is pushing in the direction of more than a yearly event. As the weeks progress here at SCORES, we are in the process of figuring out what to do and where to go next with the energy and excitment that has come out of pairing youth poets and Bay Area artists.

Have ideas? We are all ears. It seems like we are on to something good here. I would love your feedback!

In the meantime, an after-party celebration is in the works for the next few weeks. The biggest thing we missed at the West Bay Center was a good ole fashioned dance party. So, get your calendars ready! We are convening together to dance and celebrate Inspired Art, Springtime and YOU!

Saturday has come and gone and we are left warm and fuzzy and wondering: what was your favorite moment? When were you most inspired? What stands up and sings out to you a few days later? Was it the tomato blues? one of the many gems devorah major left us with? Back to Earth’s incredible food? Meeting (and hugging) your new best friend?

Let us know!

New York bound poet-athletes perform for an awe-inspired crowd.

poets, artists, and inspiring moments

There are very few words to adequately describe Saturday night. Incredible, beautiful, full, exciting, happy-making are a few. What must be said, over and over, are so many thank yous. The list of people that made the night come together is extensive. It includes poet-athletes, artists, family members, staff and board members, vendors and community folks that gave their resources of all kinds (time, energy, creativity, vision, art, reflections, poetry, voice etc etc).

Let the roll call of thank yous begin:

SCORES board members: thank you for jumping on this train with us and supporting a new direction for our annual event. This started with your “yes”!

SCORES Staff and coaches: you make this program happen! This celebration was a reflection of the work you do in and out. Thank you!

Conor Taniguchi: WE ARE … so grateful. Thank you video king.

Jon Denholtz: you showed up to conference calls! Voter of confidence and ultimate board support.

devorah major: for inspiring us. you brought the importance of youth voice and poetry current and raised so many questions. you invited us to have more imagination and heart. your words, infused with love, transpired over our crowd.

Maureen Halligan: there would have been no show without your incredible installation. you created the room, allowing so much to happen that night.www.mo-knows.blogspot.com

Ray Sumser: iconic artist, heavy lifter extraordinaire, down to do anything, visionary and hand holder. thank you. www.raysumser.com

Colleen Gildea: centerpiece-table setting- solution finding wonder woman. is there anything adequate to say?

Wilson Bethel (Murphy’s Law): it had to be you. A DJ like no other. Scene setter, vibe maker. after-dance party creater. dear friend. The Bay area needs you. i think LA is ready to give you to us. ‘nough said.www.mixtaperiot.com

Robin Weir: You made our look! Graphic design goddess. You vision and creativity fed this project and event in ways we could have never imagined.www.robinfweir.com

Adam Weiss: Photographer of the year. The event looks even more magical in your photos. How is that possible?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amazingsummer/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amazingsummer/sets/72157616024042735/

Thanks to wonder-photographer Adam Weiss for capturing the beauty and spirit of the event!

An Evening of Inspired Art is only two days away!

We are so looking forward to Saturday night. Here are all of the details you may need. If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to call Bridget Sumser at 415 305 8245.

When:  Saturday March 28, 2009, 6-10 pm

Dinner starts promptly at 7 and is sit-down. You don’ t want to miss the beginning of the night: the art auction will be open, Kelly Porter will join us for live art painting, the musical musings of Murphy’s Law, great food from Back to Earth and an open bar with incredible LOCAL beer and wine.

Dress: Inspired Cocktail. Express yourself, more than jeans, less than black tie.

Where: The West Bay Center

1290 Fillmore Street (right across the street from the new Yoshis)

Public Transpo: For more check out www.511.com

22 FILLMORE BUS- Runs north to south in SF covering the width of the city.

31 BALBOA BUS - Runs East to West in San Francisco covering the length of the City (From Near the Ferry Building to the Financial District and Downtown San Francisco on through the Richmond District to the Pacific Ocean/Ocean Beach in West San Francisco).

Parking: Fillmore Center Garage (1345 Fillmore Street) and beneath Yoshi’s Jazz Club (1330 Fillmore Street). There are also options across Geary in Japantown.

Why: There are so many reasons! But, one of them is… this is the kick-off to what is going to be an awesome LOCAL tradition and annual event. Everyone always remembers the first one with a smile and such nostagloa. Come make that happen with us!

The Curl by Regina Hurley, Clay, 6''x6 3/4''

The Beach

by Angelica P

Swish, Swish, Swish

The waves go as they move

Splat, Splat, Splat

The flip flops go in the sand

Splash, Splash, Splash

It goes while I run in the sea

check out more of Regina’s work at www.reginahurley.com

The Playground of Life

Swings of sadness
swings of gladness
Today i am a rusted swing
tomorrow i am a swing that sings
little kids play in the sand
its like they are playing in a band
big kids reach the bars
they also reach for the stars
teams play on the courts
so they can get better at their sports
adults sit and talk
when they should probably take a walk
we need to remind them that they can still play
when kids play they scream
for the adults its like a dream
there is nothing like the playground of life.

Anthony S.
Age 10

http://www.jamesgayles.com/

Emmy Award winning artist James Gayles attended Pratt Institute in New York, where he studied under renowned painters Jacob Lawrence and Audrey Flack He simultaneously pursued careers in both fine and commercial art. As a commercial artist he established himself in New York as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator, becoming Assistant Director
of Graphics at NewsCenter 4, NBC-TV. At NBC he won a television Emmy Award for design and illustration.

Other awards include the Art Direction magazine award for both the NewsCenter 4 logo design, and editorial illustration for the New York Times, and first place award for illustration at the California Newspaper Publishers’ Awards.

In addition to NBC and the New York Times, James has illustrated for McGraw-Hill, Random House, Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, as well as several advertising agencies on both the East and West coasts.

James’ artwork has been represented by galleries throughout the US. Most recently he won a public art commission from the City of Oakland Craft and Cultural Arts Department, in which he transferred his figurative painting technique to ceramic tile murals. In 2003 he was honored at the Art of Living Black by receiving the Jan Hart-Shuyers Award.

He has been selected twice to show at the California Biennial Watercolor exhibit at the Triton Museum in Santa Clara. He was chosen to do a public art project for the City of Oakland, received an Individual Artist Grant from the City of Oakland, and was recently commissioned by the Alameda County Art Commission to create a series of paintings.

Art critic and curator Adam Mikos had this to say about James’ most recent exhibition BluesMasters: “Gayles has focused his talents on fusing sight with sound, cajoling color and line to communicate like guitar strings and piano keys. Gayles clearly has a special touch with watercolors. Each portrait and image in the exhibition shows mastery over different styles of the medium. Dreamy realism, hard-edged contours, and abstraction push and pull on perspective. Gayles’ use of color is stunning. These are not the grainy, black and white images many think of as representing the blues. Bright reds, oranges, and blues catch the eye immediately and allow the lyrical quality of the watercolors to lift off the wall.”

James Gayles has lived in Oakland, CA for over 25 years and currently works as an Illustrator for ANG Newspapers.

L.A.-based DJ Murphy holds down the Left Coast regional office of Mixtape Riot–his living room–where he writes & schemes on grand ideas. He also hosts BOOGALOO! a weekly residency at The Short Stop in Echo Park with colleague and fellow superblogger O-Dub.

To hear what Murphy’s Law is listening to and recommending right now, check him and his collaborators out at www.mixtaperiot.com. He is sure to make for a good show in a few weeks…. dare I say, there might be reason to come for him alone! This man could direct you to some tracks that you would never find otherwise. He could inspire, in you… a whole new type of dance move.