After the huge success of last year’s first Balsa Opera, we were overjoyed to receive notice that Fred Rinne is bringing his magic back to Balsa Man 2011! Sunshine was so touched by last year’s opera that she cried.

Balsa Opera by Fred (front)

Balsa Opera by Fred (back)

It is will unreserved glee that we unanimously voted to grant Fred Rinne his full grant request of $5.00 for the Balsa Man Opera Kunstgruppe! Fred Rinne will also be granted a complimentary Balsa Man Sticker and 5 tickets for Balsa Man for his acting troupe.

Last night the Black Pebble Arts Foundation Art Grant Committee met for the first time. And this was the first art grant in out inbox. I mean really…

Big Worms by Billfrog (front)

The description on the back was slightly better. I mean Razor thought the sketch of the worm was rad at least.

Big Worms by Billfrog (back)

Grant committee member Sunshine just wanted to throw it in the trash but we wouldn’t let her. Others wanted to give it a grant for shitz and giggles. If there was anything the committee agreed on it was that ”Gimme lots of $ or I’ll poke you w/ my penis”  was not a proper grant request monetary amount.

Razor suggested we just give a grant based on how many letters were in the proposal, which everyone decided was good enough. We even allowed punctuation to count because we were feeling generous.

Congratulations Billfrog you have been awarded a grant of $2.81 and a complimentary sticker and artist ticket to Balsa Man!

Balsa Man Japan at sunset, photo by cabcab

Once again Balsa Man is being celebrated around the world! Both Balsa Man Japan and Balsa Blighty, the London Balsa Regional are on again after such a resounding joyful success they were last year!

Check out the write up from Balsa Man Japan 2010  and the video from Balsa Blighty 2010!

Whether you live across the Pacific pond or the Atlantic pond highly encourage you to join the tiny fun!

Balsa Man Japan

Date: Aug 21nd, Sunday, 5pm
Location: TBA; contact gro.namaslabnull@napajaslab

Balsa Man Japan Twitter
Balsa Man Japan website
Balsa Man Japan Facebook Event

Balsa Blighty, Balsa Man London

Date: Sep 3rd, 7–10pm
Location: TBA; follow Balsa Blighty on Twitter or Facebook

Balsa Blighty Twitter
Balsa Blighty Facebook
Balsa Blighty Facebook Event

Balsa Betty being built at the 2010 Tiny Art Party

Are your Xactos sharp? Is your glue ready to stick? Got wood?

Actually I don’t care what your answer is come anyway, even if you only have an ounce of an idea and not a scrap of balsa. Supplies will be provided as will the creative spirit! You may walk away inspired or just have fun lending a hand to other tiny artists trying to realize their small dream.

This art party is welcome to Tiny Artists who are attending the main event or the Black Rock Balsa Regional. The Black Rock Regional Lead, Feral will be there if you have any questions about the regional or if just want to congratulate her!

San Francisco Tiny Art Build Party

Thursday Aug 18th
6:30pm to 11pm-ish
Location is near Guerrero and 16th St in the Mission. Email gro.namaslabnull@ofni for exact location.

Note to the allergy prone and the ailurophobic: there are cats.

RSVP on the Facebook event page

Build Party FAQ

• Will there be free food and booze?
  • Maybe but don’t count on it. While it’s not required, anyone who brings potluck food will be greeted with joyful squeals of glee!*
• Will there be art materials & tools for me to use?
  • The BPAF has donated some art materials (wood and glue) and tools (pencils, knifes, and rulers); however is is highly recommended that you bring your own art supplies/tools if you have a specific project in mind.
  • In-kind donations of extra art materials are always welcome!*
• Can I buy tickets, patches and stickers to help support tiny art at the event?
  • but of course! As long as we have received them in time.
• Can I hand deliver my art grant proposal at the event?
  • Yes! A representative from the Black Pebble Arts Foundation will be on present to accept art grant proposals.
• I have fear of leaving the East bay
  • There will be likely be an Easy Bay Tiny Art Party later this month.

*Particularly bountiful (or delicious) in-kind donations of art materials or shared food will be receive a special gift from the Black Pebble Arts Foundation.

We hope to see you and your creativity at the San Francisco Tiny Art Build Party!

The following is written by Abe Shultz…

The New England Black Rock Desert Camper Regional, Firefly, usually has a giant bug as the effigy, and this year somehow ended up with a woolly mammoth. In that spirit of change and growth, and in line with the “Growing Pains” theme of this year’s Balsa Man, participants at the NE Balsa Man regional will burn a 2′ effigy of a glowworm. This insect symbolizes our hopes for illumination and the difficulties of ecydysis yielding to mature awareness (and becoming a full-grown bug).

Abe Shultz is the regional contact for the New England Balsa Man Regional. He has been attending Firefly for the last four years, as a member of SSRI and Totenkitten. His art has not injured the unwary, but there is always next year.

The regional will take place on Saturday September 3rd somewhere sandy in the Boston/Cape Cod area with the exact time and location to be determined. If you would like to get involved or find out more you can contact Abe at gro.namaslabnull@ENaslab.

The Balsa Man Org continues to encourage new regional balsa burns around the country and the world! If you would like to host your own regional burn and are interesting in receiving a tiny art grant please review our Balsa Regionals page.

The following was written by Feral…

Balsa Man was a tiny bit better last year. Don’t go.

I hear the beach can be chilly and there’s sand everywhere and the whole place is overrun with seagulls and screaming children and tourists. Besides, in this economy I can’t afford to spend $2 on MUNI let alone take time off from my job at Costco Soulmate Trading Outlet. Wait! What do you say? You can’t afford to take time off from the DPW/Rangers/Cafe/Lamplighters/Temple/DOOM RAVE/Gate Crew either? And you can’t find a babysitter for your sparklepony OR a ride to San Francisco OR a pair of pants? Well, perfect!

While everyone on Baker Beach is buttoning up their parkas and fumbling with their thermal underwear we’ll throw our own Balsa Man in the Black Rock Desert. Let’s say, 5pm on Friday September 2nd at Costco Soulmate Trading Outlet? It’s a deal. You bring the tiny toothpick art and I’ll bring the flamethrower. See you at Funeral and 8:45!

Feral, 2011 BRC Balsa Man Regional Rep

Yours in minutia,

Feral

Manager of Costco Soulmate Trading Outlet and 2011 Black Rock Balsa Man Regional Rep

You can find Feral on twitter as @IHazRabies

RSVP to the Black Rock Balsa Regional on the Facebook event page!

The Balsa Man Org continues to encourage new regional balsa burns around the country and the world! If you would like to host your own regional burn and are interesting in receiving a tiny art grant please review our Balsa Regionals page.