The Literary Arts Committee of the Mountain Home Arts Council, Foxtail Books, and Blue Spruce Espresso are proud to present Local Author Day! Six local authors will share short readings and sign their books at Foxtail Books / Blue Spruce Espresso September 23, beginning at 10 AM. Come out to support these local authors as they share works, browse local bookshop Foxtail Books, and enjoy drinks and treats from local coffeeshop Blue Spruce Espresso.About the authors:Levi Mecham, who also writes under the pen name L.J. Stubbs, was born and raised in rural Utah and has a strong connection with the outdoors as a result. He attended Utah State University while in high school and received his associate’s degree at the same time as his high-school diploma. In 2004, he left his hometown for two years and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he learned Spanish while doing missionary work for his church. Later, Mecham attended BYU and earned a bachelor’s in Geographic Information Systems and later started a GIS department for an engineering/surveying company that spans the rocky mountain corridor and specializes in oil and gas exploration. Mecham’s love for history and writing has been lifelong as has his fascination with human geography. Relating inspiring stories from the past and future in an entertaining way is a goal that he loves to pursue.Laurice Bentz, author of The Totaled Woman, is a businesswoman, consummate volunteer, adventurer, and co-author of three children’s books. The Totaled Woman takes the reader on a journey through the hills and valleys of the author’s life as she seeks fame and fortune with many starts and detours, most of which are met with humor. Is she the totaled woman?Ted Hoffman, author of This is Still the West: Campfire Tales and Rhymes of an Idaho Rancher, is a native of rural Pennsylvania. After completion of his service in the Army, he worked on ranches until graduation from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University in 1983. He practiced veterinary medicine and raised cattle in Elmore County for almost 30 years. Retired now, he lives on his ranch near Mountain Home. He has written and performed Western music and poetry for many years, derived from his life as a rancher and a veterinarian. This is Still the West is a collection of his poems, enhanced by the illustrative drawings of Bruneau artist John Schutte.A.K. Mariko, author of The Rancher’s Son, was born and raised in southern Washington and currently lives in southern Idaho with her husband, son, and daughter. Writing has been a passion since she learned to form sentences in first grade. Amidst her responsibilities of nursing school, working at the hospital, caring for private clients, and being a mother and wife, A.K. enjoys camping, running, and sleeping. The Rancher’s Son follows Liv, a traveling nurse who has accepted a new assignment in Edwards, Colorado—a much-needed change from the fast-paced environment of the ER at a level one trauma center. Jack Rigby is her one and only client, a retired rancher with cancer on hospice care.Steve and Carol Huffman, authors of Between the Reins: The Evolution of a Horseman, use their experience with horses to teach life lessons. Saddle up and follow them as they travel through the early years of horse training all the way through to the end of the trail. Steve has trained horses in the Treasure Valley of Idaho for over 30 years. He has shown horses, given clinics, ridden in horse exposition shows, and developed his craft each and every day. Carol has loved horses since her grandfather took her on an excursion through the mountains of Montana in hopes of finding that one wild horse she had requested-- “A white one with pink ears.” Although it eluded them that day, horses have become a part of her life since she first met her husband, Steve, at a Colorado dude ranch. Carol, a retired educator, freelance writer, and inspirational speaker, has also recently released a children’s book, Stinky Steve, Home at Last. Mountain Home Arts Council community events and educational outreach programs are supported in part by grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Western States Arts Federation, the Idaho Humanities Council, a state-based partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Whittenberger Foundation, the Mountain Home Air Force Base Officers’ Spouses’ Club, St. Luke’s Foundation, and First Interstate bank, as well as the generous support of the City of Mountain Home, Hampton Inn/Johnson Brothers Hospitality, Idaho Power, Mountain Home News, El-Wyhee Hi-Lites, Winger’s, and other local business and individual patrons.
Mountain Home, ID — The Mountain Home Arts Council is proud to present Molly’s Comedy Cabaret on Thursday, September 28, at the American Legion Post 26. The American Legion will also be offering dinner and drink options for purchase at the show. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the program begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $10.00 for Adults, $8.00 Seniors/Military and $5.00 for Students, available at the door.Molly’s Comedy Cabaret is a musical variety show featuring the powerhouse vocals of actress and singer Molly Wilson. With a splash of comedy, a shot of camp, and a large pour of your favorite songs from Broadway, Pop, Rock, and Motown, the show mixes up a cocktail of deliciously funny entertainment. https://mollyscomedycabaret.com/ The Mountain Home Arts Council and the St. Luke’s Elmore Foundation will also be presenting Molly’s Comedy Cabaret for a free staff, resident, and community appreciation event on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 12 to 1 pm, at the St. Luke’s Elmore Courtyard. Refreshments will be served, and Savory Layne BBQ will be on hand for lunch purchases. Also upcoming for the Mountain Home Arts Council, OPEN MIC NIGHT! HOSTED BY BILLY SPLASH at the Mountain Home Public Library, Friday, Sept. 15, 6 pm; LOCAL AUTHOR’S DAY! at Foxtail Books / Blue Spruce Espresso on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10 am; a WRITING WORKSHOP WITH KYLE BILINSKI at the Mountain Home Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 10 am; and THE FALL COFFEE HOUSE / THE WHISTLE PIG VOL. 15 RELEASE PARTY also at the library, Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 pm. Mountain Home Arts Council community events and educational outreach programs are supported in part by grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Western States Arts Federation, the Idaho Humanities Council, a state-based partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Whittenberger Foundation, the Mountain Home Air Force Base Officers’ Spouses’ Club, St. Luke’s Foundation, and First Interstate bank, as well as the generous support of the City of Mountain Home, Hampton Inn/Johnson Brothers Hospitality, Idaho Power, Mountain Home News, El-Wyhee Hi-Lites, Winger’s, and other local business and individual patrons. -->
OPEN MIC NIGHT!
Beginning January 20, 6 PM
Mountain Home Public Library (790 N 10th E)
Click Here to go to the Facebook event
Mountain Home, ID—The Literary Committee of the Mountain Home Arts Council and the Mountain Home Public Library have announced plans to host an open mic every third Friday of the month, beginning January 20. Local singer/songwriter Billy Splash will emcee the programs at the library, 790 N 10th E. Writers, poets, singer/songwriters, comedians, and other performing artists are invited to share their art. Sign-ups will begin at 5:30 pm—first come, first serve—and the program begins at 6 pm. While this is an open event aimed at showcasing local artists and fostering creative expression, we ask that performers keep in mind that the program is meant to be family friendly. Performance time: 5 to 7 minutes. Refreshments will be served and available for purchase.
Upcoming dates include January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15.
Mountain Home Arts Council community events and educational outreach programs are supported in part by grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Western States Arts Federation, the Idaho Humanities Council, a state-based partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Whittenberger Foundation, the Mountain Home Air Force Base Officers’ Spouses’ Club, St. Luke’s Foundation, and First Interstate Bank, as well as the generous support of the City of Mountain Home, Hampton Inn/Johnson Brothers Hospitality, Idaho Power, Mountain Home News, El-Wyhee Hi-Lites, Winger’s, and other local business and individual patrons.
Local Journal Seeks Original Writing, Visual Art
Visit the Whistle Pig on Facebook
The Whistle Pig, a Southwestern Idaho literary journal published annually by the Mountain Home Arts Council, is now accepting writing and art submissions for its fifteenth volume, which will be published in Fall 2023. The journal seeks original short stories, poems, memoir, personal musings, drama, song lyrics, and other short literary pieces; it also features a variety of visual art such as drawings, paintings, and photography.
SPECIAL THEME: Uncertainty—Will it provoke awe, wonder, fear?
DEADLINE: All entries must be submitted by Monday, May 1, 2023. Those selected for publication will receive one complimentary copy.
Email submissions to mh-arts@qwestoffice.net with subject “The Whistle Pig submission.”
Art work may also be submitted to Brenda Raub at the Mountain Home High School.
*Include a cover sheet with a brief biography (approximately 50 words), name, address, email, and phone number.
*Prose: no more than 5,000 words.*Poetry: Three pages or 1,200 words, appropriate spacing. *Font size: 12 pt., Times New Roman.*Include, in the upper-right-hand corner, a header on each page stating title and page number (please no name; submissions are judged anonymously).*All writing must be original and production ready. The editorial committee reserves the right to make small adjustments in the writing such as spelling, punctuation and usage. *Visual Art should be no more than 8 1/2 by 11 inches or in digital format. The work will be published in black and white except on the cover. The selection committee for these works will be members of the Visual Arts Guild.
For more information contact:
Chris DeVoreEditor, The Whistle Pig, a Southwestern Idaho Literary JournalExecutive Director, Mountain Home Arts Councilliteraryarts@mharts.org(208) 587-3706
Community Canvas of MoHo, a public art campaign of the Mountain Home Arts Council created by Brenda Raub, Amber Cobos, and Eric Tautfest, is an outdoor gallery giving visual artists an opportunity to be seen by the public and the public the opportunity to view and admire the talents of our local community. We currently have 160 beautiful murals, spanning 8 blocks of downtown Mountain Home. We start painting the second week of June and have a reveal on the 4th of July. For more information please visit the Community Canvas of MoHo Facebook page or email communitycanvasmoho@gmail.com
The Visual Arts Guild provides display venues for area
visual artists and assists with their identified needs.
In addition to Community Canvas, these events
feature the work of our local artists!
Meetings: Second Monday , 7:00 pm @ the MH Public Library
Art at the Inn
A social evening at the Hampton Inn. Mingle with local artists.
Art will be exhibited by the Visual Arts Guild and will be
available for purchase. Out of the Box items support the
scholarship program for graduating seniors.
Catered by Smoky Mountain. TBD
Spring Art Show
One of the artists’ favorite shows—The Visual Arts Guild
artists display and sell their art for under $100. This event is
held at the MH Public Library in conjunction with the
Friends of the Library book sale. MAY 5 & 6, 2023
For more information, visit The Guild’s Facebook page: