Anybody see this article in the Eagle today?

http://www.kansas.com/2010/08/18/1451619/wichita-outlaws-tools-for-graffiti.html

Leave the spray paint and fat markers at home.

Wichita City Council members passed a new law Tuesday that bans people from carrying spray paint, broad-tipped markers and a variety of other potential graffiti tools on public property or within 100 feet of it. It also bans stores from selling the materials to anyone under the age of 18.

If caught and convicted, violators face a fine of $250 to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.

What’s your opinion on this ordinance? How does this affect the local arts community?

We’re giving away a pair of VIP passes to the Taste of Wichita! This Saturday, August 14th, downtown will come alive with local music, good eats and original art. VIP attendees get special access to the VIP lounge:

The exclusive VIP Lounge will be set up inside the air conditioned Eaton. Inside this little piece of paradise you will find a dessert bar, fabulous food from local restaurants, wine tasting, massage, photos, a silent auction and so much more…

For those music fans headed to the Dave Matthews Band concert, this could be a great way to get your party started a little early.

Here’s how to win a pair of tickets:
1) Login to Facebook
2) “Like” our ROK ICT! page: http://www.facebook.com/ROKICTWichita
3) “Share” the ROK ICT! page on your Facebook wall. (Either scroll to the bottom of the ROK ICT! Facebook page and click “Share” on the left or copy and paste the url into your status bar and post).
4) Come back to the ROK ICT! Facebook page and let us know you “shared us” with your friends and that you want tickets!

That’s it! The winner will be selected tomorrow (8/13/10).

We’re happy to report that the inception of the next version of ROKICT.com is moving along swimmingly! The development team just had a very productive meeting. We talked about sites that we liked, the survey results and identified why people visit ROKICT.com.

Our next step is to sketch out the map and layout of v4.0. For those pros who are interested in volunteering their time and expertise to the cause, join us now:

August 16th, 2010 – 7pm
@ Mead’s Corner

ROK ICT! is developing the next version of its website using 2010 standards. Not only have we teamed up with local creative and digital professionals, but we’ve opened up the site building process to the entire Wichita community. We’re all ears – tell us what you want! For those who would like to get involved with the creative team, learn more on our V4 page.

2010 HOT NEW PICS

$50 entry fee. Submit up to 10 images for $50,
$5 for each additional image.

Selected artists will have their work featured in the exhibition opening October 29, 2010.

$250 Fellowship Award

Looking for all of the hot new pictures from across the country. This exhibition celebrates the range of creative exploration in photography. Enter and compete to become the “Hot New Pic” and receive a $250 fellowship award. Each photograph will be considered based on the merit of the single image.

Submit photographic images in jpeg format on CD: 300 dpi, no larger than 3000 X 3000 pixels. Name each image file with your name and the corresponding image number from the entry form image list. Include the entry form image list, a CD of your entry and a check payable to Center Gallery for your entry fee. Selected artists will be notified via email by October 1, 2010.

Submit Entry to:
Center Gallery
P. O. Box 1655
Wichita, KS
67201

For more about Center Gallery visit:
http://www.centergalleryonline.com

ROK ICT! is developing the next version of its website using 2010 standards. Not only have we teamed up with local creative and digital professionals, but we’ve opened up the site building process to the entire Wichita community. We’re all ears – tell us what you want! For those who would like to get involved with the creative team, learn more on our V4 page.

The survey results are in! Thanks to everybody who took the time out to give us a piece of their mind. All of your feedback has created some clear guidelines as we begin to brainstorm the basic functionality of the website.

The next step for the build team is to bring yours and our ideas together (on a sketchpad, at least). We’ll be thinking about what information Wichita needs and how to get the community more involved with the sharing of local information!

Digital and creative types who want to jump on board, feel free to join us at our analysis and brainstorming meetup:

August 10th, 2010 – 7:30pm
@ Mead’s Corner

(Thanks to Mead’s Corner for kindly offering up the space.)

Everyone else, in the meantime, please leave us your ideas and words of encouragement here. We’ll be busy rolling up our sleeves!

On August 14th, downtown will come alive with the Taste of Wichita, an event showcasing local restaurants, artists and musicians. The proceeds of the event go to benefit the Lord’s Diner and Food 4 Kids.

Taste of Wichita is currently seeking visual artists who would like to participate in the event. For visual artists, they are offering the following:

For more information, or to sign up – contact Stacy Wontorski: stacy@envyeventanddesign.com

Los Angeles—10 years ago, a 15-year-old kid named Donavan Johnson from Wichita, Kansas, decided that he wanted to seriously pursue music as a career. He took on the moniker, “XV”, the roman numerals to 15; due to the young age he made the decision to become a rapper. And on Wednesday, July 22nd, he officially signed his first record deal with Warner Bros. Records.

Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, XV, has been a recognized name in the local Hip-Hop music scene for years. From performing at high school talent shows to opening for big name acts such as Twista, Mike Jones, Ying Yang Twins, and many more, XV has made a name amongst his peers and established a strong following in his hometown. But it wasn’t until XV began using his knowledge of the internet and all of its outlets to his advantage to garner a buzz and fan base nationwide to attract Warner Bros. Records to signing him.

The summer of 2009, XV released his breakthrough mixtape, “Everybody’s Nobody”, online for free download. After getting spun on New York’s Hot 97 radio station, being featured on over 100 music blogs and websites, receiving over 100,000 downloads and touring with Kid CuDi and hip-hop group, The Clipse, XV’s “Everybody’s Nobody” fell into the hands of a young A&R at Warner Bros. Records who played it for Kevin Kusatsu, the man responsible for bringing XV to the label.

After meeting with A&R, Kevin Kusatsu in Los Angeles and Executive Vice President, Todd Moscowitz in New York, XV decided to sign to Warner Bros. Records, being the one of the first Hip-Hop artist from Wichita to sign a major label record deal. Now, with a record deal, a highly anticipated mixtape titled “Vizzy Zone” releasing in August, and another national tour beginning on August 4th, XV is set to make a name for himself and for his hometown. XV will also be performing in Wichita’s Freaknic Jam on Friday, July 30, 2010.

Read on about XV at ICTHipHop.com

“River City Blues From the Heart For the Heart” is a benefit concert for the Heartspring CARE Program featuring Magic Slim and the Teardrops, a six-time W.C. Handy Blues Awards “Blues Band of the Year” nominee, at The Cotillion Ballroom, 11120 West Kellogg, July 29 at 8:00 pm.

Here’s how to win a pair of tickets (and support the good cause of Heartspring):
1) Login to Facebook
2) In the upper right-hand corner of this blog post, click the “Share” button (to share with your Facebook friends).
3) Leave a note for us on the ROK ICT! Facebook fan page wall that you shared the event with your friends! (must click “Like” to post).

Winners will be selected tomorrow (7.26)

The Heartspring CARE Program focuses on meeting the unique needs of families by providing resources and services within a community of collaboration centered on autism spectrum disorders, including social skills groups, a scouting program and a summer camp for children with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism.

For more information about the event, visit www.heartspring.org/blues.

…and for the grand finale of our Midwest Rockfest giveaway, we’re putting up two pairs of VIP passes to Midwest Rockfest. Not only do you get special perks, but you get the opportunity to meet festival artists Twisted Sister and Buckcherry. “Oh, special perks you say…”:

Convinced? Entering is simple – help us spread the word about ROK ICT! Follow these steps (exactly):

1) Login to Facebook
2) Navigate to our Facebook survey event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114003008649313
3) Click “Attending”
4) Click “Share” and tell your friends why you <3 ROK ICT!
5) Post on the event wall to let us know you shared!
6) Bonus: take the survey and leave your name in question #10

Winner will be chosen very soon, so get to it!

Want to learn more about Midwest Rockfest? Check out our interview with CJ-Cross

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We want to know how you like it. In this brief, 10 question survey, we’re getting to know you (our users who we adore) and listening to what you think is awesome, what isn’t the best, and what you want the next version of the site to do. Custom orders don’t upset us – dream big (but not creepy, like Facebook or something):

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RL6XMBL