Plein Air Artist 'Paint Out' at Riordan Mansion State Park on Oct 3, 2009
(Flagstaff, AZ) - Arizona State Parks and Arizona Plein AirPainters will host a "Plein Air" Artist event at Riordan MansionState Historic Park on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 8am to 12 noon.
Plein Air "paint outs" are an open invitation toall artists, amateur and professional, to paint and capture scenes insideArizona State Parks. These live outdoor painting competitions take place infour-hour blocks. After the painting period, the artists meet to display thefinished piece/pieces and submit them for judging by fellow artists. Artistsshould bring their easels, brushes, drop cloth, canvas, etc. They may alsobring a mat or frame for protection and enhancement of their painting.
The top three paintings from each competition are entered inan annual gallery show. You can view an online gallery at AZStateParks.com.Following the 2009 series, the top three winners of each competition will beshown at an exhibit during January-February 2010.
The "paint outs" began as part of the State Parks'50th anniversary celebrations, 2006-2007. Each year, Arizona State Parks hostsa series of 10 Plein Air "paint outs" at many Arizona State Parks. Agallery show of the top 30 paintings follows each series of 10 "paintouts." This program aims to be asuccessful collaboration between creative art societies and Arizona StateParks.
Plein Air is a French term that means in the open air. AtPlein Air events landscape artists gather at a designated time to have theirblank canvas stamped and then head out with packed easels, paints and brushesand trek into nature looking for inspiration in the wide open spaces with goodlight and fresh air to paint everyday scenery.
For more information about the "paint out" atRiordan Mansion State Historic Park call (928) 779-4395 or visitAZStateParks.com or arizonapleinairpainters.com. The park entrance fee iswaived for participating artists.
The park entrance fee is $6 per person for those aged 14 andup and $2.50 for children aged 7 to 13 (There is no charge for children youngerthan 6). Riordan Mansion State Historic Park is located next to NorthernArizona University in Flagstaff on Riordan Road.
For more information about the 30 State Parks, statewidehiking opportunities, off-highway vehicle trails, and other outdoorrecreational and cultural opportunities in Arizona, call (602) 542-4174(outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visitAZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.
ADOT Construction Program Hearings in Flagstaff on May 15, 2009
Construction Program Hearings Set by Transportation Board
Hearings provide chance to comment on 5-year construction program
PHOENIX - As part of the process to outline the transportation construction program for the next five years, public hearings across the state will provide community members an opportunity to provide formal comment on the draft lineup of projects.
The 2010-2014 Transportation Facilities Construction Program is being developed by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Ultimately, the State Transportation Board will be asked to approve the program, providing a blueprint for highway work over the next five years. Comments from community members, as well as representatives from local towns, cities and regional planning organizations are an important element of the process.
Hearings will be held:
·Phoenix: May 8, 10 a.m. at 206 S. 17th Ave. (ADOT Administration Building Auditorium)
·Flagstaff: May 15, 9 a.m. at 211 W. Aspen Ave. (Flagstaff City Council Chambers)
·Tucson: June 5, 10 a.m. at 130 W. Congress (Pima County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, first floor)
ADOT's fiscally balanced five-year construction program is based on projected transportation revenue. The program outlines planned construction and transportation development expenditures for highway improvements throughout the state.
During the past two years, revenues for the Highway User Revenue Fund and the Regional Area Road Fund in Maricopa County have decreased, in part due to declining collections of fuel, sales, and vehicle-license taxes. The two funds represent major sources to pay for highway improvement projects in Arizona. Due to the combination of declining transportation revenues, the loss of ADOT funds to help balance the state budget, and related impacts, some highway construction projects will be deferred.
Compared to the current construction program, the tentative 2010-2014 program is expected to receive about $600 million less in projected revenue over the five years. The projected revenue loss will result in the deferral of highway projects in Pima County and in the 13 counties of Greater Arizona.
In Maricopa County, the projected revenue loss will be offset by using available bonding capacity in the Regional Transportation Plan Freeway Program to fund projects during the next five years.
The program is tentatively set to be formally considered by the board at its meeting on June 17 in Cottonwood.
About the State Transportation Board
The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties in addition to serving in an advisory capacity to the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Arizona Senate to six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona's highways, airports, and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for the development and oversight of the state's Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. More information about the State Transportation Board is available at www.azdot.gov/Board.
Email Me/Us