Tatiana Rakhmanina is a Russian milliner born and raised in St.Petersburg, Russia, and has been living in West Virginia, USA since 1990.  She learned the basics of the millinery craft from her grandmother Larissa, who was a hat maker and couturier in Russia in the first half of the 20th century.  Tatiana’s started her own hatmaking business in 1995, “Hats by Tatiana Rakhmanina” .
Tatiana has won numerous awards at various exhibitions and design competitions. Her hats have been featured in museums and runway shows in the US and abroad. Her work has been chosen to be shown at the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show in 2012 and 2013. She has been awarded two Professional Development Grants from the WV Department of Culture and History in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2008 she studied hat making in London, England under Mrs. Rose Cory, formerly a milliner by appointment to Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

Ms. Rakhmanina has been teaching millinery trade for the past six years.

www.trhats.com

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CMP Recommendation Sheet

Artist Paint Tips

(for a pdf version of this announcement click here)

The City of Galax Public Art Committee announces Phase I of the City’s Public Art Project and invites artisans to submit proposals.
The committee is made up of representatives from The City of Galax, Galax City Council, Chestnut Creek School of the Arts, Department of Tourism, The Arts Council of the Twin Counties, The Galax Downtown Association and community advocate and Gallery Owner.

Phase I of Public Art in the City of Galax includes nine (9) six-foot bass fiddles, cast in Fiberglass strategically placed throughout the City of Galax to provide a narrative of the City’s history and culture, heighten visitation and an awareness of all there is to see in Galax. Each fiddle will be artistically designed with acrylic paint, mosaic tiles, or the like. Artists’ design submissions will be selected by citizens of the Twin County community. In their absolute discretion, the Public Art Committee and the City of Galax have the right to reject or exclude any submission.

Call for Art: Artisans are encouraged to submit design entries to communicate the values of the City. Artistic interpretations of the community will be created by the artisans on one of nine bass fiddles strategically placed throughout the City in highly visible public outdoor places. It is the intent that every piece will be fully accessible and accessed. Artists are welcome to submit site-specific entries, for the list below. Site specific entries are not guaranteed for designated site, however. Entries must not exceed 24” x 36”. Entries must include an artist statement as well as a resume. DEADLINE: May 15, 2013. Submission must be postmarked by this date and may be sent to: Chestnut Creek School of the Arts (CCSA), 100 North Main Street, P.O. Box 417, Galax, VA, 24333. Questions may be directed to Chris Pollins-Shackelford, Executive Director (276)236-3500. chris@chestnutcreekarts.org

Digital entries will be accepted, but there are restrictions which are the responsibility of the submitter. Receipt of digital entries must be acknowledged by email within 72 hours of submission. If receipt is not acknowledged within 72 hours, it is the responsibility of the submitter to inquire within the time frame. Digital entries will be printed on 8.5” by 11” ordinary paper and will be displayed un-matted and un-mounted.

The Public Art Committee and the City of Galax have the right to reject or exclude any piece from display at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts.

Submitted entries will be displayed from May 20, 2013 to June 15, 2013 at CCSA and members of the community will be invited to vote on their favorite designs. Final Design winner(s) will be announced on June 21, 2013 based on People’s Choice votes and in keeping with the standards of the City of Galax and the Public Art Committee. The Public Art Committee will determine the winning entries’ locations and communicate the final assignments in the artisan contracts. Winning artists will have six months or by January 3, 2014 to complete their work and deliver it to vendor selected by the Public Art Committee for polyurethane coating. Winning artists will be given $1,000 to include their time and materials.

Pieces will have polyurethane professionally applied in Galax to protect the work. This will be done by the Public Art Committee once designs on the Bass Fiddles are complete and before being permanently installed. Each Fiddle will include a plaque commemorating the artist who has designed it as well as a rubbing as part of a trail map being designed by the department of tourism.

Final site locations will be determined once winners are selected. At present, public sites under
consideration for placement are the following:

1. The Crossroads Rural Entrepreneurial Institute
2. Felts Park
3. Galax-Carroll Regional Library
4. Jeff Matthews Museum
5. Mountainview Park
6. Harold Snead Public Safety Building
7. Galax Municipal Golf Course
8. Galax Farmers Market
9. Oldtown Street at the future site of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts Woodworking Studio

(Click here for a map of locations)

History and description of the City of Galax: Named after the native woodland plant with heart-shaped leaves, the City of Galax was incorporated in 1906 when the Norfolk and Western Railway extended the railroad line to Galax Station. The railroad was a lifeline for furniture and mirror manufacturers, the mining industry, textiles, lumber and farmers. In 2003, textile and furniture plants in southwest Virginia, which had been the bread and butter of the economy, were closing and going overseas. The economy in the region looked bleak. The City of Galax, a community of 7,000 residents, lost more than 1,200 jobs in a short period of time. The reality of growing unemployment in a distressed regional economy stimulated the need for economic diversification. The City of Galax and community leaders decided to reinvent their economy highlighting traditional music and visual arts as a vital component of the renewal. This creative economy is based on the artisans and musicians who have been a part of the community for generations. Their creativity is an economic driving force for the future. The objectives

of the revitalization are to support regional economic development; encourage activities that diversify the economic base; enhance entrepreneurial activities; develop a highly skilled, competitive workforce; and provide training and technical assistance to citizens engaged in economic development.

Galax is designated as the World Capital of Old Time Mountain Music and the home to the Old Fiddlers’ Convention. This year, the second weekend in August will mark the 78th anniversary of the event.

Besides the Fiddlers Convention, Galax has the increasingly popular Houston Fest, a music festival named after young volunteer firefighter and musician Houston Caldwell who died at the age of 18 in 2010. Galax is also home to Smoke on the Mountain, the state barbeque championship, and to the Leaf and String Festival. All these events, along with outdoor recreation and the natural scenic beauty of the New River Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway make Galax a popular destination. The area is rich in Appalachian history and home to innumerable musicians, luthiers and artisans. Bands and musicians from the area are world renowned and travel internationally to teach.

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, downtown Galax is the home of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts, a community art school which offers classes and events year-round. Classes are offered for all ages and skill levels in traditional music, heritage crafts and contemporary arts. Chestnut Creek School of the Arts has two locations downtown and the school is working toward establishment of a fully outfitted wood working studio providing classes for instrument building as well as furniture design and fabrication.

Additional information on the area available from:

• City of Galax, Virginia www.visitgalax.com
• Chestnut Creek School of the Arts www.chestnutcreekarts.org
• New River Trail State Park www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/new.shtml
• Blue Ridge Parkway www.blueridgeparkway.org