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Hoping everyone has had a good April! Here in our community we've suffered some losses in contrast to Spring's growth, eventualities that demonstrate to us the great cycles of life. However, we must grieve, carry on, and seek to continue exploring and growing together, in creativity and love.

May 18th is PIA grant/Alternate ROOTS site visit date. Azule recently sent a proposal for an Alternate ROOTS' Partners in Action grant. We submitted this proposal at the end of January and the next phase is a site visit. Community members are invited to share their thoughts with Azule up to and on May 18th as a prelude to a more extensive Azule - community conversation which would begin to happen sometime in late summer.

Farewells

Dan Gallagher

On April 7th, 2018 Hot Springs and Madison County lost one of their great champions, Daniel FP Gallagher. If you have visited Hot Springs, you have likely met Dan. He and his business partner created Bluff Mountain Outfitters 20 years ago- where he could typically be found rabblerousing indiscriminately while gathering a gaggle of hikers to be shuttled to their next destination.
Dan was a generous soul and worked hard within the county promoting tourism and offering many services through the outfitters store that served hikers, raft guides, locals and the community. He was father, grandfather, pinball wizard, lover of animals and children, rare burgers, travel, a hearty laugh and his wonderful wife, Ruthie. He honorably served his country in the Air Force as a law enforcement specialist and military dog handler. He was a truly a pillar of this community and his boisterous presence and love of this place will be deeply missed.
A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday May 15th at 4:00pm in Hot Springs at 433 Lance Avenue. A potluck feast will follow. All are welcome.
by Wendy Stancil

Dylan Talbot

Dylan Talbot, the son of Carolyn Lewellen, passed on March 8, 2018, from colon cancer. Like his mother, who served as board member of Azule for many years, Dylan was a longtime friend of Camille and the Spring Creek Community. Though he had been living out West for many years, he returned home to Madison to spend time with his family and friends on his last days. He encouraged everyone to get their colonoscopy, and for those with family history, get it before age 50.

As a young guy, he worked at what is now AZULE. Camille remembers he had a real fun sense of humor "He helped in different tasks, among them was digging out the double hole for the outhouse. Recalling this brings a smile to my face. I enjoyed talking to him. He had many ideas and expressed them openly and freely."

Looking Back

Looking Back - Digging. Camille is seen digging the foundations to the future Azule. "Any mundane activity can become meditative. Digging a hole in the garden, planting new roses in the garden - you can do it with such tremendous love and compassion, you can do it with the hands of a buddha."

Rajneesh

Quilt Project

The wedding 'book quilt' has moved forward! Now, after many years of sitting in a box, these quilt blocks meant to commemorate a nuptial of long ago are finally taking their final shape.

This particular quilt has been a collaboration of various local quilters and longtime friends of Azule. Over 20 blocks of different sizes, materials, colors, and subject matters, all revolving around the couple's courtship, marriage, are now being turned into a quilt book.

The quilts, as can be seen, are already near completion. The 'covers' are all that's missing. Camille has hand-sewn 40+ buttonholes and buttons, which will allow the 'book' to remain together, but will also give the couple the choice to pull the 'book' apart and have 3 cool separate quilts themselves.

Top right photo shows Camille working on the backing. The subsequent images are taken from the two 'pages' on the book.

April Residents

Warren Wilson Students - Morgan Santander, who was our artist - in - residence exactly a year ago, brought some of his art history students from Warren Wilson College on a midterms trip to Azule. From an architectural and artistic perspective, Azule provides a great example of some of the concepts and ideas these students have learned under Morgan's tutelage this semester. In particular, hearing Camille's experiences at the famed Beaux-Arts de Paris, where a lot of the artistic streams and historical figures these students learned came to life, was inspiring indeed. The visit included a meal and a tour of the grounds.

DeeAnn Macomson - DeeAnn Macomson is a drum circle facilitator and apprentice in Azul conscious Dance movement who at the end of April returned to Azule after six years. She first came at the end of 2012 to further develop the movement and healing modality which has become her signature since she first came looking for the serenity and energy that Azule provides:

"When I first started drumming I came to this place, Azule, to research drum circles and to plan what I was going to do and as a result at the end of that week we had a drum circle here. So now I've gone and immersed myself in movement and dance and I'm back here again, so it's kind of come full circle in a really nice way."

The AZUL dance modality was created by Amara Pagano, whose background was in the New York-based but now global 5 rhythms dance movement. Amara decided to strike out on her own and combine elements of the 5rhythms dynamic movement practice with other movement and spiritual disciplines and thus AZUL was born. Azul is a path to the heart, a psychodynamic approach to movement which consists of moving stuff out of the body by listening to the body. A practicioner's movement is informed by what body is telling you - no choreography or steps are involved.

Dee Ann came to this discipline when she started as a drumming facilitator in central NC. After moving back to the northeast and participating in the 5rhythms program with friends, she discovered Azul workshops and fell in love with that means of expression.

DeeAnn provided a workshop sharing her knowledge of drumming, dance, and dynamic movement as healing to some of us at Azule last weekend, and we hope to see more of DeeAnn and dynamic movement in the future.

"I really think that movement is the wave of the future in terms of therapeutic modalities and self expression, and for people who think this kind of movement is about how well you dance I an assure you that it's not."

DeeAnn Macomson's drumming circle after the potluck

April Potluck

Azule's April potluck on the 27th brought many of the same friendly faces and some new ones wishing to try out the drumming circle. It provided an opportunity for mind expansion and camaraderie as we all gathered after the meal and let go of frustrations and re-energizing ourselves with the primal beat of the drums and the joys of group communion.

The next day Dee Ann gave her drumming circle and dance workshop, which provided an opportunity for participants, some coming all the way from Asheville, to learn a new creative modality through dance and drumming and movement. The gathering was intimate but powerful and all who participated gained much from the experience.

Artist Opportunities!

From the North Carolina Arts Council, here are a few samples from the following link which provides many interesting and potentially profitable opportunities for artists:

NORTH CAROLINA ARTS COUNCIL UPCOMING DEADLINES

Urban Art, Memphis, Tenn.
The free Artist Registry is for artists, designers, and architects interested in pursuing public art projects.
Deadline: ongoing
For more information: www.urbanartcommission.org/artists/join-the-registry

Durham Arts Council
2018 CenterFest Arts Festival visual artist application is open. Entry fee and cash awards.
Deadline: May 1
For more information: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=6334

The Arts Council of Henderson County, Hendersonville
Accepting artist vendor applications for 59^th annual Art on Main fine art and craft festival. Cash awards and non-cash awards.
Deadline: May 1
For more information: www.acofhc.org

CRAFT

Craft Emergency Relief Fund
CERF+ emergency relief assistance includes grants, no-interest loans, access to resources, waivers and discounts on booth fees, and donations of craft supplies and equipment.
For more information: http://craftemergency.org/artists_services/emergency_relief/
Studio Protector Online- The Artist’s Guides to Emergencies: http://studioprotector.org

FILM

Southern Documentary Fund
Offering fiscal sponsorship for documentary projects made in or about the American South.
Deadlines: January 15, April 15, July 15, October 15
For more information: http://southerndocumentaryfund.org/programs/sponsorship/

LITERARY ARTS

The Writers' Workshop of Asheville
Seeking submissions for the Annual Hard Times Writing Contest. Entry fee, non-cash awards, and publication.
Deadline: May 31
For more information: https://www.twwoa.org/contests.html

Southern Poetry Review
Seeking poetry submissions for the Guy Owen Prize. Entry fee, cash award, and publication.
Deadline: May 31
For more information: http://www.southernpoetryreview.com/

MULTIDISCIPLINARY

North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Accepting nominations for the 2018 North Carolina Award. The NC award recognizes significant contributions in the fields of Fine Arts, Literature, Public Service, and Science.
Deadline: May 31
For more information: https://www.ncdcr.gov/about/special-programs/nc-awards

AZULE Portrait Project

All these years you have been part of the ongoing
AZULE Portrait Project

Hundreds of these portraits are now on canvas and ready for you to sign. The AZULE PORTRAIT PROJECT is for us a way to parallel the continuity that Camille has shown in her building Azule - the place.

Representing you, participants to the Fall event, and asking you to sign and add a memory or thought to your picture is deepening your and our relationship to Azule in Bluff, Hot Springs, Madison County, North Carolina...

TO ALL DONORS:

Thank you so much for helping AZULE board members and volunteers to move AZULE on its necessary journey.

Come, visit and participate. Invite your friends! THANK YOU:

Eve Bower
Valerie Molnar
Maxine Dalton
Sherry Wilson
Gwylene Gallimard
Linda Scott
Arlette Vaccarino
John Malpede
Olivier Rollin
Karen Handsen
Frederike Gravenstein
Lisa Mount
Katharine G Hastie
T Bright Williamson
Gary Allen Davis
Geraldine Barraco
Harold Finley
Barbara and Tom Moloney
Lynda Wheelock
John and Gwen Clemens
Nancy Darrell
John Kraus
Anne McLaughlin
Dennis and Patty Turner

Barbara Quigley
Gary And Vivian Roy
Sue Schroeder
Randy Bell
Elmer Hall
Christopher Jayne
Kevin Duckett
Rebecca Gahagan
Bluff Mountain Nursery
Ashley Minner
Lady Spirit Moon Cerelli
Natalie Hesed
Christopher Jayne
Kate and Fairman Jayne
Barbara Hill
Riverfront Cabin
Cindy and Steve Dubose
Clotilde Crouillebois
Sherry Wilson
Carolyn Stewart
Adam Hesed
Carolyn and Donald Varno
Susan Patrice

You are all invited!

AZULE may bring you the opportunity to meet great artists, attend a SkillsShare or learn about a traditional Appalachian Skill, experience a rejuvenating space for residencies, retreats, staff or wellness meetings. Come and visit, give us a call.

Apply online - www.AZULE.org
For more information, send us an e-mail AZULEart@gmail.com

Supporting AZULE can happen in many ways! CHECK OUT OUR WISH LIST:

Tiles of any sort
Folding Chairs
Electric Heaters
Filing Cabinet
Stools

Clips on Lamps

Folding Tables
Easels
Tools
Musical Instruments
Futons
Mattresses
CASH DONATIONS or
IN-KIND VOLUNTEER WORK

CLICK HERE to make a financial contribution to AZULE

For a visit of AZULE: call Camille at 828-622-3533

For information on AZULE's programs, to make a proposal, to apply for a residency or retreat, to book AZULE or to register for any of our offerings, visit AZULE website www.AZULE.org and e-mail us at AZULEart@gmail.com

(image courtesy of Britney Penouilh, past Azule resident)

190 Rabbit Den Rd
Hot Springs, NC 28743
AZULEart@gmail.com

FOR A VISIT, call CAMILLE 828-622-3533
FOR INFORMATION, on any of our programs call
GWYLENE 843-607-5811
For New Danger RSC Skill Share, call OMARI 803-378-2616

See you on FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Azule-A-Place-for-the-Arts-Community-Hot-Springs-NC/347266938699655

See AZULE IMAGINE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8VIStnESkU

"The transformation that occurred within our group could not have manifested as graciously had we not been in the beautiful and deeply accommodating environment of AZULE. This place has nourished me and allowed for a sweet opening of my mind and heart. Thank you." Liana Johannaber from GO, Green Opportunities, Asheville, NC.