Water activism and purposeful postcards

Phase two: action!
Nani Teves, Butte Environmental Council’s water-outreach coordinator, sent me a press release announcing “phase two of the Code Blue water engagement campaign.” As some readers may recall, BEC’s 2013 Code Blue water-outreach campaign kicked off on Feb. 5 with a free educational forum at Chico State called “Ethical Issues and Water: An Interfaith Dialogue”; the ongoing series of no-cost, water-centric events will run throughout the year.

Phase two—the “action” phase, which will begin Sept. 19—will include gray-water and rainwater-catchment installation workshops, and “actions related to statewide strategies to solving some of the more controversial and political water issues.” Thus, next Thursday (Sept. 19), a free action workshop related to the proposed Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta twin-tunnels project will be held at the Blue Oak Charter School community room (450 W. East Ave.), from 6-7 p.m.

“The evening will consist of BDCP [Bay Delta Conservation Plan] project details, responsible alternatives, lively discussion, strategies for stopping the twin-tunnels project, and specific actions individuals can take,” the press release said. “If the BDCP moves forward as planned, the twin tunnels have the capacity of rerouting 9,000 cfs [cubic feet per second] of the Sacramento River around the Delta to meet the demand from the San Joaquin farms and southern interests.”

Presenters for the evening are Teves (pictured) and Carol Perkins, BEC’s water-policy advocate, who has been “working closely with Citizens Water Watch and the Environmental Water Caucus, studying the twin-tunnels project and developing a responsible alternative.”

Call 891-6424 for more details.

Postcard heaven
I think I died just a tiny bit and went to heaven, or something like that: I just received an email from Maia Illa at 1078 Gallery, announcing the gallery’s upcoming Write Away: Postcards with a Purpose show, which runs Oct. 3-5.

“In following your recent columns regarding postcards, I wanted to get you this information ASAP,” wrote Illa. “We are attempting a postcard show at the gallery for October and we would love a huge amount of personally designed postcards to cover our walls.”

The postcard show is a fundraiser for 1078; the reception (and postcard-art sale) will take place Oct. 5, from 6-8 p.m.

Here’s what you do:

1. Pick up blank postcards at 1078 Gallery (820 Broadway); postcards are $2 each (postage will be affixed to all completed submissions).

2. Create your artwork on the blank side of the postcard (stay within the card’s dimensions).

3. Drop off submissions at the gallery by Oct. 1 during regular gallery hours (Thursday-Saturday, 12:30-5:30 p.m.), or any other time through the gallery’s mail slot.

“At the reception, we will have a silent auction for the works with a commission split for the artist,” Illa said. “Also, anyone who would like to participate but is having trouble getting cards at the gallery during gallery hours can contact me directly at 864-1316.”

There is no submission fee for those under age 18, and no submission fee for anyone who hears about the show via this column (thanks, Maia!).

Multiple submissions encouraged (including postcards in a series).

A work of art is a confession. –Albert Camus