We’re writing with some WONDERFULLY good news!

First, the USA Fund Raising Tour was a resounding success! Not only did we exceed our goal of $20,000, but we added hundreds of members to Gli Amici dell’Art Monastery, and 5 brilliant experts to our fund raising and production teams! Thank you all so much for showing up at the events and helping us to make this dream a reality.

In May in Calvi, Christopher, the Alpha Team, and our first visiting artists participated in the medieval festival of San Pancrazio (patron saint of Calvi) with a Gregorian Chant Vespers for San Pancrazio in the church and “Tra Quercia e Ulivo” a Duncan dance and medieval music performance in the (rainy) piazza, much to the delight of the locals. Relations here have never been better.

On June 17, we moved from the Casa del Popolo to the Bio-Agriturismo Santa Brigida, a luxurious bed&breakfast on a working olive farm. It is a gorgeous place (in fact, it’s listed in the 2007 Michelin Guide) and we hope to take over the management in order to create another income stream for the Art Monastery. We plan to run workshops and seminars here–more info on that will come soon.

Meanwhile, you are all invited to come and visit us in our new digs!

Feeling spontaneous?…

We’re offering members of Gli Amici dell’Art Monastery 50% off market rate** from now until July 15! We will offer double rooms or two-double room suites that normally go for 90 or 125 euros per night (they’re the most luxurious rooms in Calvi) for 45 or 60 euros!

Don’t let high airline ticket prices be an excuse — United Airlines is having a European Summer Fare Sale starting at $385. It’s a great deal, but you have to book by this Friday, June 25. With gasoline at the price it is, heading to the next town is almost more expensive! Now is the time! Have an Italian vacation and support the Art Monastery at the same time!

See you soon…
A presto…

Betsy & The Alpha Team

**To book, please email mia@artmonastery.org

The ART MONASTERY Project

Originally posted on: Twan's List

Art Monastery in Italy Update

Hyjynx has organized a memorial celebration for Kimmy to take place on Sunday June 22. Please come by to lend your love and support. Your kind selflessness will be greatly appreciated. Details below.

Memorial Celebration in Honor of
Kimmy von Hagen

Hello everyone,

The details/info for Kimmy’s celebration are:

Sunday June 22nd
4:30 pm [till very late]

4213 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
[Adam Rosen's backyard, 2 blocks south of Ventura Blvd. and last house on right before the T intersection]

There is a family potluck style reception for after the ceremony, so if you’d like to bring some beverages or anything else it would be greatly appreciated.

Can you please help me get the word out to anyone/everyone you know that may not be on Twan’s List but knew Kimmy and might want to attend?

I hope to see you all on Sunday, thank you for being such a wonderful family to Kimmy & myself.

We will celebrate her amazing spirit in glorious fashion. She touched us all and will never be forgotten.

Blessings,

Tommy Hyjynx
818 749 3296

Originally posted on: Twan's List

Remembering Kimmy Von Hagen

A Thank You from Forever for LiB

It’s been two weeks since LIB and we can still hardly believe what we got to see and experience and learn under those oak trees. We keep hearing the echoes of beats. We keep seeing flashes of so many radiant smiling faces. We keep feeling the ground shake with the magnificent force of daring minds and dancing feet. We are forever grateful.

It is YOU who helped to make LIB08 a truly life-changing experience, and for this we offer our gratitude not just with words, but with images! Check out the faces on the LIB08 Thank You page, and add your own. ~ Pass it on…

The Lightning in a Bottle
Producers and Crew

Much Lightning in a Bottle Photos and Video to See

Visit the LiB website for a non-stop treat of visual snacks… It’ll make you cry for joy… and eager for next year!

Originally posted on: Twan's List

Thank You from Lightning in a Bottle

Venice Beach Carnevale
Saturday, June 7, 2008

The 6th Carnevale! Venice Beach will be held on Saturday, June 7th at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard from noon until 9 PM. Admission is free and costumes are encouraged in the tradition of the famed Carnevale in Venice, Italy which is the inspiration of this colorful neighborhood festival.

6th Annual Carevale Venice Beach!

The Venice Carnevale, produced by the Venice Artists Forum in Association with the Venice Chamber of Commerce and sponsored in party by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will feature an all-day lineup of live entertainment from the local area and will conclude with its traditional fiery finale.

We are very excited to be moving our festival to the Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, located in the old City Hall, right next to the fire station on Venice Boulevard just east of Abbot Kinney, and there could not be a more appropriate historical location. It will be an added treat that the old jail next door which houses SPARC (Social & Public Art Resource Center) also be open for the festival that day.

Esquire Jauchem
Event Producer

“We have some of our usual, fantastic performers” said Miriam More, Co-Producer, “and some fabulous new talent.Featured groups will include the Venice Drum Circle, Street Smarts, Kathy Leonardo, Wadada, Hillel “Mr. Balloonman”, and a variety of other performances ranging from Baraka bellydancing to Italian opera, ending with a pyrotechic bang furnished by DMT and the Phoenix Projeckt fire dancers!“.

Brady Walker, the other Co-Producer, who has been handling relations with the City, had high praise for Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office, “His staff has been extremely helpful in working out the details for use of this city facility. We could not have staged the Carnevale without their help.”

The festival will include a variety of performances on the Main Stage, Arts and Crafts vendors, food service, and the Masquerade Bar and Lounge with DJ Fatfinger from Project Alma and guest DJ’s all day. Parking is available in public lots east of the event behind the Pacific Resident Theater.

Further information is available at www.carnevale.us or via e-mail at celebrate@carnevale.us

Originally posted on: Twan's List

Venice Beach Carnevale 2008

by L.A. Filmmaker Stephan Wassmann

A Mini-history of Twan and Stephan Wassmann

Stephan Wassmann is a good friend of mine. He and I met when we were both working on our very first feature film together when we were in our early 20’s. It was an ultra-low budget piece of crap called “Warlords From Hell”, produced by B-movie mogul Roger Corman, co-starring Robert Patrick in his first movie role (best known as the evil liquid robot man in Director James Cameron’s Terminator 2). Stephan and I have remained friends over the years and have kept tabs on each other’s endeavors. Stephan was one of the director/cameramen for a project that is still on the shelf, waiting for ME (Twan) to get off my ass and make happen: the 1999 Burning Man Voodoo Opera - Le Mystere de Papa Loko. Absolutely amazing footage.

Get a glimpse of our explosive new documentary “SCRAPPER”, which takes you inside a uniquely American outlaw realm… right where you least expect it.

There’s a 3 minute and a 1 minute trailer. We’d love it if you posted a comment if you don’t mind taking the time. We’re trying to generate as much buzz as we can, so feel free to forward the link to friends.

Please check it out

Stephan Wassmann
Director/Filmmaker of “Scrapper”

Or you can simply go to YouTube and type in SCRAPPER DOCUMENTARY.

You can also view the trailer on the “Scrapper” website at:

www.scrapperfilm.com

Originally posted on: Twan's List

“Scrapper” - An Explosive New Documentary

Playa Surfers were on the Esplanade near 5:30 last year. In addition to a fun lounge and wicked tuneage, we provided wheeled surfboards (bike-towed versions and self-powered ones) for the masses in BRC to surf the playa with. Totally fun if we say so ourselves! This year we’re expanding our lounge, adding a lifeguard tower, and putting mo’ and betta’ powered surfboards on the playa for all to enjoy!

Please help us in pursuit of bringing our brand of happiness to you by participating in our fundraising party. Our last party was truly off the hook, so we’re at it again!

Tiki Freaky

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Themed costumes highly encouraged

Cash Tiki Bar : DJs : Visuals : Shadow Box : Art : Spanking Booth
Didgeridoo Chamber + More

• 1040 Princeton Dr.
• Venice, CA 90292
• 9pm - 2am

Originally posted on: Twan's List

Help Playa Surfers Camp Get to Burning Man

LASERIUM SHOWS FOR JUNE

This month, June 2008, Laserium shows will be performed on Saturdays June 7th and 21st.

3D Beatles, Dark Side of the Moon, and Led Zeppelin Laserium Shows

On both days, The Beatles Laserium Show will again be presented in spectacular Lazer 3D–with free Lazer Glasses and special Laserium Beatles posters to go–at 6:00, followed by Dark Side of the Moon at 8:00 and Led Zeppelin at 10:00. And those joining us on the 21st will help us celebrate the Summer Solstice and be first to hear of our exciting plans for the summer and beyond.

Admission is $15 payable online at www.laserium.com, with a dollar discount for groups of 5 or more. Reservations cannot be confirmed without advance payment. Because seating is limited, patrons are advised to reserve early.

The Cyberstudio is located at:

• 6911 Hayvenhurst Ave.
• Van Nuys
• marked by the lighted Laserium sign

Patrons will have fun enjoying the unique, “freespace-interactive” LightDancer, which puts their full body in flawless control of lasers, video and musical accompaniment. And the experience now features an exciting new set of music and multimedia effects.

Our Cyberstudio may be intimate in scale, but the effects are pretty overwhelming, and what people can see and do is unlike anything available anywhere—even previously at the Griffith Observatory!

Ivan Dryer
Creator of Laserium

Multi Color Laser Effects

Also enhancing the Laserium shows will be stunning multi-color laser effects filling the air overhead. Each show experience lasts about 1 1/2 hours and will begin in an adjacent studio with the interactive technologies to be incorporated in the forthcoming Laserium CyberSpace.

Originally posted on: Twan's List

Laserium Schedule for June 2008

Sunday, June 1, 2008, 2pm to 5pm
VIP Reception, 1pm

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, June 1st, from 2-5 pm at Bergamot Station for fabulous food and stunning art. Please see the invitation below for links to our website where you can preview the contributed artwork at this year’s auction.

CLARE Foundation