Grinder: Creative Arts Expo

Tables

2011-04-21T09:47:00.001-07:00

Please note, this Grinder event will only feature the live art portion of the show. We are working on a new table event, should have details on that in a few weeks.

GRINDER will be doing live art April 27th!

2011-04-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Grinder artists will be doing live art on April 27th, 2011 for the grand opening at Americas Coffee House! Here are the details:

Click to Enlarge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Lafayette, LA) – What do you give a coffee house with everything? A grand opening celebration, downtown Lafayette-style.

Americas Coffee House, downtown Lafayette’s only full-service coffee house, is opening its doors for a grand opening celebration on April 27.

The event will feature free appetizers, music and live art by GRINDER, a cup art contest with prizes and other surprises. The evening also features gallery artwork by Cootie Von Ghoul and Floyd Willis.

The free event will officially welcome Americas and its owner, Floyd Willis, to the downtown business scene, and it will give the rest of Acadiana the chance to discover what Americas’ fans already know.

In the short time since opening last year, Americas has quickly become a hub for many in Lafayette’s creative community. Filmmakers, comic book creators, playwrights, photographers, visual artists and poets have all claimed Americas as a place to connect, invent and network.

"Americas is the kind of place creative people enjoy," says comic book creator Kody Chamberlain. "It's not unusual to walk in and find artists, writers and designers hard at work on new, exciting projects. It's a all very inspiring."

Much of that is due to the environment created by owner Floyd Willis, himself an avid photographer whose photos adorn the walls of Americas.

"Floyd has created something unique at Americas Coffee House - that perfect combination of modern cool and old fashioned community," says Aileen Bennett. "He serves coffee, yes, but Americas is also a meeting place, a place where ideas are hatched and a place where we leave parcels and messages for each other. Americas connects us."

"I want Americas to feel like It's your place," says Americas owner Floyd Willis. "Come in, relax, and explore your mind."

As downtown’s only full-service coffee house, Americas not only plays an important role in the lives of Lafayette’s creative class, but it also adds a distinctive and necessary presence to downtown Lafayette’s thriving business community. Americas is constantly growing, and this grand opening event is a great way for Acadiana locals to see what’s been brewing there since the doors first opened.

"In the future we plan on having a poetry & acoustic night," says Willis.

The Americas Coffee House grand opening event kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. on Aril 27. (And don’t worry. Dedicated Festival International fans can check out the grand opening and still make it to Scene International for the festival’s opening ceremonies.) The event is free.

Americas Coffee House serving coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, hot chocolate, teas, shakes, smoothies, lemonade, fresh fruit, and pastries. Americas also offers a selection of flavored shots and soy milk. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Americas is located at 403-B Buchanan Street. For more information about the grand opening event or Americas Coffee House, call (337) 456-4806.

The Ind

2010-02-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

The Ind picked up on the Grinder and ran a few photos from the event. Have a look!

BIG thanks!

2010-01-11T05:17:00.000-08:00

Huge thanks to everyone that wandered out into the cold on Saturday night. We had an amazing show, and this was easily one of the best group of vendors we've ever had. Let us know what you thought about the show and ways we might improve on the next one.

And ff anyone has photos, please reply to this topic with links. Here are a few of mine (Kody Chamberlain)

Kody's GRINDER Flickr set

POSTERS!

2009-12-22T11:49:00.000-08:00

GRINDER posters are done!

(These also make great desktop backgrounds, so grab 'em and pimp 'em)

The January 9th, 2010 promo video is LIVE, spread the word!

2009-12-15T13:04:00.001-08:00

Video production and editing by Samuel White.

UPDATE! Location Change

2009-12-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Attention, all Grindees:
The Grinder venue has been changed to NiteTown.

This is great because now we'll be right on Jefferson Street, and it will be easy for the Art Walk crowd to find and enjoy. Also, this grants us a nice, large space in which to work our magic. Local artists and participants will have a large floor space on which they can set up their wares and merch.

The address is 524 Jefferson Street. The date is still set for January 9th, so keep that date reserved for some live art + live music + local flavor.

Table registration and other additional bits of info to come shortly!

UPDATE! Grinder date is set: January 9th (Saturday ArtWalk)

2009-11-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

The next GRINDER event is at Stan's Downtown on Saturday January 9th. That's the same day as ArtWalk.

The event will run from 2 to 9pm.

Table registration and promo materials are coming soon. In the meantime, spread the word!

About Grinder: Creative Arts Expo

2007-08-22T18:29:00.001-07:00

Grinder: Creative Arts Expo is a highly unique visual arts experience designed to promote and expand the local arts community. It features an expo style marketplace and a live art show on the main stage.

1. COOL STUFF: The Grinder Marketplace features a large variety of creative stuff including comics, jewelry, paintings, fashion, films, poetry, zines, fiction, prints, t-shirts, posters, music, photography, drawings, sculpture, illustration, design, and more!

2. INSPIRATION: Grinder is one of the most unique arts events in Lafayette. Watch our team of artists paint and draw live on stage and place a bid on any piece you like. The live art is fueled by incredible grooves from DJ Rus and two live drummers. You will be inspired.

3. NETWORKING: Meet like-minded creative types and expand your network of friends and colleagues. Pick up a few new tricks or share a few of your own. Grinder is all about coming together to grow and promote the creative community.

4. LIFE IS SHORT: You don't enjoy it as often as you should. As new dates get posted, mark your calendar and tell a few friends. Trust us, you'll be glad you did.

EXHIBIT: Reserve a table and exhibit your creative work. Table registration information is available in the side column.

VOLUNTEER: Grinder is a huge event with a very long list of things that need to get done including promo, set-up, etc. If you'd like to help, please contact us by email: expo@kodychamberlain.com

GOSSIP: Getting the word out on such an unusual event is hard work. If you'd like to help, please consider telling as many people as you can. Our goal is to get bigger and better with every single event, and we'll need your help to get there.

REMEMBER: Please be respectful and avoid spamming and annoying people with this information. Everyone hates spam.

Since our event is typically hosted by local music venues, you must be 18 years or older to attend. Admission is $5 at the door. This is an expensive event to organize, the $5 allows us to hire musicians, buy art supplies and rent tables and other equipment we need for the night. Please don't hate us.

For more information, updates and changes, visit the official Grinder website every couple of weeks at LafayetteGrinder.com.

Grinder is the result of a coffee shop brainstorm session with Kody Chamberlain and Rob Guillory. Contributors and collaborators include Andrew Thibodeaux, Burt Durand, Robyn Patterson, Bryan Jock, Ryan LeFleur, Catherine Fontenot, Mary Hymel, Dave Maraist, Chris Broussard, and Collin Galyean.

Inspirations include the Antigravity Media Expo in New Orleans hosted by Leo McGovern (thanks Leo), live art shows hosted by Dave Crosland and Jim Mahfood, and everyone that's shared ideas and input from the last few Grinder shows.

Please contact us by email with any questions.
expo@kodychamberlain.com

Our official website is:
LafayetteGrinder.com

If you're a member of the creative community, please get involved with LafayetteCreative.com and post your work, upcoming events, and various topics of discussion in the groups and forum.

You can also befriend us on MySpace