ArtsLinks
This page was most recently updated Friday, August 08, 2008.
                     Your connection to  arts activities in Central Illinois and beyond.


ARTS LINKS HALL OF FAME
                            
    SPECIAL THANKS TO

Siobhan Pitchford              Ken Sibley           Pam & Jim Miller   
Mark and Cheryl Pence           Katherine Pauley             Delinda Chapman 
Corrine Frisch & Ethan Lewis           Aspasia Sonia Lang


This web site is under major reconstruction following the demise of Central Illinois Visual Artist Galleries (No hard feelings; we have to be what we are, rather than what others wish we would be.), and as a result there will be some blind links for awhile. I am reconnecting things as time and support permit.

   If you would like to be part of a mailing list so that you will be notified whenever
Arts Links is updated, please email your earnest webmaster Job Conger -- writer@eosinc.com




NEW TO ARTSLINKS:


August 8, 2008
   A link to the Springfield Classical Guitar Society's concert lineup for the 2008/2009 concert society and pictures from the 2007/2008 season have been posted here


  If  YOU are an author or songwriter/musician who wants
to have a copy of your book of poetry or short stories or CD reviewed in
Recommended Reading or Easy on the Ears, direct your creation(s) to
Job Conger, 428 W. Vine St., Springfield, IL 62704-2933.

Academy of American Poets   -  www.poets.org
   There are at last count 1.37 gazillion poetry websites. One of the best is this one. It has examples of poetry and bios of many . . . American Poets.
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NEW WEBSITE FOR Marita Brake's - www.maritabrake.net
   She appeared to play and in Springfield, Illinois'  IMO's Pizza in the spring, 2005. She is a tremendously talented songwriter/guitarist and absolutely merits more ears than have heard her so far. Do yourself a favor and visit her site and buy her CDs and excellent book of poetry.
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 Remembering the Coffee Houses
    In 1967, Job Conger was a folksinger who spent every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night of his life for several months at a place called The Something Else Coffee House at Forth at Capitol in lyrical downtown Springfield. This site contains pictures he took one night and the stories of other coffee houses in the days when Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea. Visit the site by clicking here
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Contemporary Art Center  www.peoriacac.org
   Located on the second and third floors of a warehouse built in the 1870s,   in downtown Peoria, Illinois, the Center is the site of internationally acclaimed artist Preston Jackson. Watch our CIVAG's ArtsCalendar for news of exhibits and receptions or visit their own fine web site. The place is well worth a visit. Anyone thinking of doing so who has an empty seat for your humble ArtsLinks webmaster should e me. writer@eosinc.com

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The Poems of Job
    Job Conger -  Poetry & Songs
   here
      This is the page to visit for ordering information for my books, links to stories and selected poems, an unprinted essay about poetry and -- as though all that  weren't enough -- early drafts of recent poems. I will use this page as a sounding board for poems as they leap from my pen and invite your feedback.
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Easy on the Ears - 
     Thanks to Bloomington-Normal folksinger Marita Brake for trading me a copy of my Vachel Lindsay: Strange Gold for her CD Gypsy Moon. (Like, so when will people want to trade me copies of their CDs for my books of my own poetry? Hard to say. I digress, I guess.  Anyway . . .)  In an age where some reviewers score cheap points by praising any chick with a guitar as "the next Cheryl Crow," I'm going to work harder than that because this lady impresses me.Find a review of her first CD Gypsy Moon   here
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Fortunes of Cookies -- Since 1991 I've kept every fortune cookie fortune I've found after eating Chinese takeout or eat-in. At my former address, I taped each fortune to the side of my refrigerator. When I moved to my present abode, I read each fortune aloud into a recorder and transcribed them (all 38) onto a single sheet of paper before removing them and leaving that refrigerator behind. On arrival here, I taped that sheet to the side of my new 'frig' and started adding new fortunes beside it. Now that I have been given a better 'ator and am giving the older one away, I have transcribed all the fortunes into five sheets of paper -- in alphabetical order -- and a file posted into a new page here called Fortunes of Cookies. You may read them here
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"H" is the "name" of a poet, originally from Scotland, who lived in Springfield, Illinois during Abe Lincoln's time in the city.  John Hallwas wrote a fascinating book about the poet which I chronicle in my essay,  A Consideration of The Poems of  H.  The essay was published in PenChant, the newsletter of Poets & Writers Literary Forum of Springfield, and is shared at a new page here
 
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Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein Web Site    
http://www.poetlaureate.il.gov/about.cfm   
An engaging site that focuses on a talented poet and has links to several poetry sites, a featured poet, youth poetry, video poetry and much more. BEWARE: when you bookmark this page, don't look for anything about poetry in the title you see in your bookmark list! All I see is "State of Illinois Ron Blag..."
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Illinois State Poetry Society   http://www.illinoispoets.org/index.htm

            Okay, I don't know a lot about these people, but they seem to have their heads on straght, they have a decent web site, and offer an opportunity for aspiring poets who have convinced their friends but few others of their qualifications to serve on St. Peter's editorial board that their crafted art will serve the ages -- and if not the ages, for the next new months, at least. They are professional with their web correspondence, and until you hear differntly (as friends down Texas way like to say) from me, the site and organization are worth your consideration.

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Illinois Writers Directory
    http://www.litline.org/IWD 
                   Great site to connect with writers in Illinois. The directory is indexed by category of writing and by name of writer. Pictures, email addresses and web sites of most are included.
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Vachel Lindsay Pages  here
                          The is the "portal page" I created as the home page with links to several web pages I've created to tell you and the rest of the world about Springfield, Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay. It shares the story with many pictures, my favorite Lindsay poems with additional comments and information about my reciting his poetry to audiences.        
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Vachel Lindsay: Strange Gold by Job Conger
 
My new biography and appreciation of Springfield poet Vachel Lindsay is sold out, BUT a second edition is coming in 2006. To read all about the first edition, click here
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Vachel Linday Association blog
Larry Stevens is doing a super job moderating this effort. Lots of news regarding contemporary media coverage of the Prairie Troubadour, historic anniversaries, how to join VLA and much more, all intelligently shared. Highly recommended!   http://vachel.blogspot.com

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Literature for Sale --
   To help pay for the cost of his web site, I am selling books I can live without, but hope you can't. To view that page click here
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My Town Miscellany --
       People and places dear to my soul, encountered in the place I like to call Springfield, Illinoise. Visit my clicking
here

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Poets & Writers Literary Forum    http://www.pwlf.com   
                   Based in Springfield, Illinois, the organization publishes a newsletter distributed to members, meets regularly to discuss fiction writing and presents poetry and theatrical readings at various venues.

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Prairie Art Alliance
niLocated at Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street in beautiful downtown Springfield, Illinois, this organization's H.D. Smith Gallery, with its focus on major local area artists and an impressive schedule of   opening receptions,  is just part of its presence in central Illinois. It also offers a great variety of arts instruction for students of all ages, and a great place to be welcomed to "the club" by its many members. Their newly upgraded web site is at www.prairieart.org    lHIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Recommended Reading -
  Thanks to Janet Desaulniers for launching a new Arts Links page by sending over a copy of her new book of short stories What You've Been Missing, a co-winner of the 2004 John Simmons Short Fiction Award. I have read the book, and have posted a review that will serve readers as well as the author.
  Just added -  a review of poet Marita Brake's new book Untamed Hearts.
  Visit Recommended Reading by clicking here

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Springfield Classical Guitar Society
   This organization of enthusiasts of all classical music played on classical guitar, it has no dues, but is maintained by volunteers, ann friends and fans of founder Russell Brazzel, a nationally renowned classical guitarist himself. They bring national and world-famous guitarists to Springfield regularly, and they welcome your attendance and support. To learn more about this terrific organization click here 
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Springfield Theatre Center     
http://www.springfieldtheater.com
This outstanding organization stages plays thoughout the year at Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street in lyrical downtown Springfield. If you want to get involved with theatrical arts, this is the organization for you. 
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Tanka Society of America
-- www.tankasocietyofmamerica-com
I was priviledged to serve as this organization's first secretary, and am happy to see
it continue to grow under the able guidance of founder Michael Dylan Welch. Visit the site and tell them ArtsLinks sent you.
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Honey and Quinine: Job Conger's   Blog    -- www.jobconger.wordpress.com
   You care about reading this much, and if you care to follow the story of my life, visit Honey and Quinine


To Arts Round Table home here