SPECIAL PROJECT: Observatory Park Artline Labyrinth (OPAL)
The RuralMurals© (RM) project, along with the City of Ukiah Community Services Departmenti - Parks and Recreation, Friends of Observatory Park, and volunteers from across Mendocino County, installed a 3000 square foot labyrinth at Observatory Park, a historic landmark in Southwest Ukiah. The advisory body of the RuralMurals© (RM) project is the Asset-Building Coalition (ABC). The ABC is a multi-sector, county-wide partnership whose mission is to promote strength-based youth strategies by creating youth-driven public art across Mendocino County. The Observatory Park Artline Labyrinth (OPAL) engaged youth in a pro-social, community-bonding enterprise which helped to build their internal resiliency.
Additionally, several youth worked with local artist, Elizabeth Raybee, to create ceramic/mosaic medallions for permanent placement in the labyrinth. Elizabeth worked with members of the Ukiah Poet Laureate Committee to incorporate (in the medallions), haiku from the 2004 and 2005 ukiaHaiku Festivals.
Installation of the labyrinth itself was coordinated by Alex Champion. Alex (from Anderson Valley) is the Director of the Artline Project (see below).
". . . six stations, all located near the parallel of 39 degrees 08 minutes, north latitude. . ."
"A report of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for 1891-1899 records an agreement reached by members of the International Geodetic Association to establish six observatories for the purpose of measuring the variations in latitude caused by the earth's wobble on its polar axis."
This program, known as the International Polar Motion Service, was initiated in 1899 with the establishment of six stations, all located near the parallel of 39 degrees 08 minutes north latitude to permit uniform computations. The observatories were: Gaithersburg, Maryland; Carloforte, Italy; Tschardjui, Russia; Mizusawa, Japan; Ukiah, California and Cincinnati, Ohio.
These six observatories worked closely together carrying out a program of star study selected by Dr.Hishashi Kimura, astronomer in charge of the Mizusawa station. Twelve groups of stars, each containing six pairs at small distances not exceeding 24 degrees and two pairs at a greater distance of 60 degrees were selected. Two groups of the stars were observed each night at each station in accordance with a schedule of dates, time, and duration prepared by Dr. Kimura. The irregular daily motion of the earth's axis was believed to be extremely small, but the extent could be determined by precise measurements of the stars."
Art Line
The Art Line is envisioned as a line of walkable, interactive, outdoor artworks stretching across the heart of America on the 39th Latitude. Visit their website for further information.
To all secondary school Art Instructors in Mendocino County schools:
Mendocino Countywide Poster Contest
Click here to see the winners
The current anti-methamphetamine campaign that is being waged in Mendocino County needs all our support. AVArts (Anderson Valley Art Association) is sponsoring a poster contest for junior high and high school students throughout the county to revive the discussion about avoiding drugs and methamphetamine in particular. As the theme of posters, we suggest the motto:
Alcohol? Drugs? – I’d rather ...
This challenges the creativity of students to come up with artistic ideas that complete the sentence in visual ways that express healthy alternatives to drugs and alcohol. For example:
Alcohol? Drugs? - I’d rather go skateboarding
The process of creating these images will promote thought and discussion about the undesired consequences of drug abuse. Posters can be either in English or bilingual.
AVArts encourages art instructors to teach the art of making eye-catching
posters as part of their curriculum and to discuss how form and content complement each other.
We suggest participation in this poster contest be announced to the student body at large, so that all students have a chance to participate.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a scholarship of $1000 and have their
poster printed and distributed to all the schools and health clinics in Mendocino County.
Second and Third place winners will receive scholarships of $750 and $500
respectively.
Honorable Mentions will receive gift certificates for art supplies or books.
All prize winners will also be invited to join a day trip to San Francisco art museums.
Once the winning posters have been selected, an Awards Ceremony will be held at Mendocino College in Ukiah with many of the entries on display. Winning entries will also tour different venues throughout the county.
A team of judges for the posters will be made up of representatives from
AVArts, Mendocino College Art Department, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs
(AODP), and other co-sponsors.
Timeline 2007:
January Project introduction to students.
February Students work on poster designs.
March Finished posters due March 29.
Pick up by AVArts March 30th.
April Judging of posters
May Awards ceremony at Mendocino College.
Scheduled trip to S.F. Museums for winners.
Poster Size: All posters should be 11 x 17 inches and in either
vertical or horizontal format.
Media: Watercolor, water media, (acrylic, gouache, tempera),
computer graphics, colored pencil, photography, collage.
This campaign is supported by:
AVArts; Alcohol and Other Drug Programs (AODP) – Rural Murals Project; Alliance for Rural Community Health (ARCH) – includes AV Health Center, Long Valley Health Center, Mendocino Coast Clinics, Mendocino Community Health Clinics, Potter Valley Community Health Center, Redwood Coast Medical Services; Anderson Valley Community Action Coalition; The Community Foundation of Mendocino County; Consolidated Tribal Health Project; Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office; Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE); Mendocino College; Nuestra Casa; Round Valley Indian Health Center; Savings Bank of Mendocino County; Ukiah Valley Medical Center.