press release samples

**Please note that the date of this event has changed and disregard previous news releases. This event will occur on November 23rd.**

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Local non-profit organization 826michigan will host an all-day board game tournament, called “Skrabbel for Cheaters,” on November 23^rd at Conor O’Neill’s (318 South Main Street), from noon – 6pm. This event will raise funds for the organization’s youth literacy programs. “Skrabbel for Cheaters” is based on the classic word tile game, but players are encouraged to cheat their way to the championship. Teams of two will collect pledges from their friends, families, and co-workers ahead of time, much like a walk-a-thon. The more money each team raises, the more opportunities they will have to cheat during the tournament.

Although teams are encouraged to break the rules, the event has a few of its own. Teams must register for the event ahead of time, by visiting the event’s website, at http://www.gifttool.com/athon/AthonDetails?ID=1574&AID=431Go, or by following the links on 826michigan’s website, www.826michigan.org. Each team must have a team name, each team must dress alike, and arrival time is 12:00 am noon sharp on the day of the tournament. All of the participating teams will receive complimentary event t-shirts and get the chance to compete for fun awards and silly prizes.

The event is meant to spark competition between friends, family members, co-workers, staff from rival Ann Arbor businesses, or anyone who likes word games. According to the event’s “Unofficial Tournament Rules,” which are available on the event’s website, “If you can’t stand the blatant deception, trash talking, and foul play, try Yahtzee.” 826michigan predicts that the winner will “display an uncompromising commitment to unfairness.”

“Skrabbel for Cheaters” is a benefit for 826michgan. 826michigan is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students from the age of 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspired their students to write. According to their mission statement, “Our services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.”

For more information, please contact the event’s director, Amanda Uhle, by phone (734) 761-3463, or email Amanda@826michigan.org. More information about 826michigan is available on the organization’s website, www. http://www.826michigan.org.

Field of Vision: Contemporary Jewelry and Hollowware

October 12 - November 17, 2007

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, October 12 Opening Reception 7 - 9 pm (SoFA Gallery)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery at Indiana University is pleased to announce Field of Vision: Contemporary Jewelry and Hollowware, an exhibition featuring seventeen artists and over seventy examples of jewelry and hollowware. This exhibition will be on display October 12 - November 17. The exhibition is accompanied by a symposium featuring lectures, artist talks and workshops.

All events are free and open to the public.

Field of Vision will feature works created by North American and international artists that explore diverse interpretations of concept, process, material, and form. Artists featured in the exhibition include Robert Baines, Jamie Bennett, Julie Blyfield, Helen Britton, Sharon Church, Marilyn da Silva, Arline Fisch, Mirjam Hiller, Bruce Metcalf, Tom Muir, Joan Parcher, Jacqueline Ryan, Helen Shirk, Vera Siemund, Kiff Slemmons, Christina Smith, Billie Jean Theide. An exhibition catalog will be published in early Fall 2007.

Jewelry and Holloware artist Julie Blyfield has worked for the past 20 years in Gray Street Workshop, a contemporary jewelry collective in Adelaide, South Australia. The jewelry and vessels she creates are inspired by botanical specimens, natural history, and 19^th century Australian gold and silversmithing techniques. Blyfield will give a lecture on Thursday October 11, beginning at 5:30 pm in Fine Arts building, room 015.

The event will also include a Panel Discussion "Is it art? Is I craft? Does it matter?, on Wednesday, October 10, beginning at 6 pm in the SoFA Gallery. This event will feature panelists Timothy Mather, Patrick McNaughton, Heidi Gealt, Robert Baines, and Althea Murphy-Price.

Australian artist Dr. Robert Baines will give a lecture on Friday, October 12, beginning at 5:30 pm in Fine Arts building 102. Baines is head of the Gold and Silversmithing Department at RMIT University in Melbourne. His research involves artist goldsmithing and archaeometallurgy, and utilizes Scanning Electron Microscope technologies in order to analyze ancient adornment.

This exhibition will occur at the same time as Personal objects : Personal spaces, an exhibition of works by IU Metals Department faculty member Nicole Jacquard. Jacquard will give a Gallery Talk about her art, on Friday, November 2, beginning at 12 pm at the SoFA Gallery.

For further information, contact the SoFA Gallery at (812) 855 - 8490 or send email to sofa@indiana.edu. Visit our website at http://www.indiana.edu/~sofa and our myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/sofagallery. The SoFA Gallery is accessible to people with disabilities. The SoFA Gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday, from 12:00 - 4:00 pm. Closed Sunday & Monday.

__________________________________________________________________

Press Release
For Immediate Release

Personal objects : Personal spaces - works by Nicole Jacquard
October 12 - November 17, 2007
_________________________________________________________________________

The School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery at Indiana University is pleased to announce Personal objects: Personal spaces, an exhibition of works created by IU Fine Arts Jewelry and Metalsmithing faculty artist Nicole Jacquard. The artist utilizes a variety of methods, including Computer-Aided Design, Computer-Aided Machining and Rapid Prototyping & Machining. The artist creates utilitarian objects, such as cup forms, to explore ideas about daily ceremony and rituals.

Jacquard claims, "The cup forms relate to the overall idea of ceremony, the atmosphere created from daily rituals when everyday utilitarian objects are used." Commenting on the ritual use of everyday objects, Jacquard states, "I am concerned with the impression or memory associated with these objects when used and reused over time and how we reflect on these objects when used and reused over time and how we reflect on these personal objects or souvenirs."

An Opening Reception for the exhibition will be held at the SoFA Gallery, on Friday, October 12^th, from 7 - 9 pm. Nicole Jacquard will give a Gallery Talk on her art, on Friday, November 2^nd, beginning at 12 pm in the SoFA Gallery. All events are free and open to the public.

For further information, contact the SoFA Gallery at (812) 855 - 8490 or send email to sofa@indiana.edu. Visit our website at http://www.indiana.edu/~sofa and our myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/sofagallery. The SoFA Gallery is accessible to people with disabilities. The SoFA Gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday, from 12:00 - 4:00 pm. Closed Sunday & Monday.