Count Down Time

We are all so excited about our big event on Sat. February 6th, "V.O.M.A. Dawning." The V.O.M.A Board and it's representatives have all been working double time to get this event up and running. And with some successful results too. We've been covered by WJAC with a really fantastic interview with Adam Mundok http://www.wjactv.com/news/22345681/detail.html,

Do Johnstown has a full write up of V.O.M.A.'s goals and event listings as well as a link to our blog here, http://www.dojohnstown.com/2010/01/venue-of-merging-arts-voma/

Our town featured an article on V.O.M.A.

http://www.ourtownonline.biz/articles/2010/01/27/entertainment/entertainment_news/sample47.txt

And lastly, Sunday Magazine did an interview with T.K. & Adam Mundok which aired on five local radio stations on Sunday Feb. 17th. If you'd like to hear the interview we can e-mail you a copy of the MP3 recording.

So once again, thank you for all your support!

V.O.M.A.

Let it Begin!!

We at VO.M.A. have been wonderfully busy making phone calls, putting together e-mail lists and other like advertising for our upcoming event, "V.O.M.A. Dawning." We also recently lost our fanbook page, and then got it back again bigger and better thanks to a patient friend. So search Venue of Merging Arts (V.O.M.A.) and become a fan!

And thanks so much to Gary, Briant, Karen, Wes, Bri and all those who have volunteered their support in one way or another.

The Busy Weekend!

My apologies to you who are actually following our V.OM.A. Adventures for such a lull in blogs. We got together on Sunday morning for a fabulous Board Meeting where we not only went over the monthly financials and planning but we also really got our to do list together for our Benefit V.O.M.A. Dawning!

We got all our needs lists together and divided up the tasks and to work we go! We have two wonderful friends, Wes and Brianne who have volunteered their time to us and are taking care of a major portion of the advertising. TK is gathering artists for the Silent Auction as well as painting his own pieces for the event. Adam is getting our tickets and fliers printed and Janet and Mary Jo are putting a group of wonderful ladies to call for sponsorship and donations. And of course we wouldn't be able to have this event with out Ace's own Gary Matolyak hosting us at his wonderful venue.

So thank you all for your support and once again here is the event information for you all!

V.O.M.A Dawning

A Fundraiser to Benefit the Venue of Merging Arts (V.O.M.A.)

will be held

Saturday, February 6th at Ace's in Cambria City.

Doors open at 8:00 for drinks and mingling.

Enjoy an evening of Jazz Music with musical guests

"Little Big Band" with Bob Bretz and featured performance by

Don Aliquo's Quartet

Event will include:

* Raffle Baskets from local businesses

* A Silent Auction - your chance to win artwork from both local and regional artists

* Featuring work by Johnstown born artist, T.K. Mundok who's painting "The Stone Bridge"

is being displayed at the Heritage Center in Cambria City

* Hors d'oeuvres provided by Ace's

Tickets are $20 at the door, $10 advance ticket, artist/student discount.

$25 VIP ticket includes an invitation to take a visionary tour of VOMA's space and a complimentary glass of wine

About V.O.M.A: The Venue of Merging Arts or (V.O.M.A) is a non-profit arts organization in Johnstown, Pa. The non-profits building (a church) was originally constructed as St. Mary's Syrian (Lebanese Christian) Orthodox Church in 1911, and in 1971 was taken over by a congregation splitting off from St. Petka's Serbian Orthodox Church in Woodvale. The church was renamed St. George's Serbian Orthodox Church in 1977. No longer home to an active parish, the church building is now VOMA: The Venue of Merging Arts, whose mission "is to rescue a historically significant former church building by transforming it into a unique venue in which various forms of artistic expression can merge together to promote, educate, entertain, and involve the community in the arts."

Thursday's Good Morning!

I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to blog tonight so I'm just sending something real quick now. We are so excited about our event on Feb. 6th and everyone is really getting involved with how they can help. We have two amazing friends, a couple, who have volunteered their time, and their resources/connections. This will lighten the load significantly - Thank you Wes and Brianne! And thank you to those who are following this blog so far! It helps to know there is someone out there checking us out!

"V.O.M.A Dawning" - A Fundraiser

Alright it has happened! We have successfully put together a date, an idea, and some advertising for an event that V.O.M.A. will hold on Feb. 6th. My apologies for not blogging yesterday but the whole day was spent gathering resources and confirmations so that I could blog confidently today. So please take a look at the info down below for what the event will entail.

"V.O.M.A.'s Dawning"

A Fundraiser to Benefit the Venue of Merging Arts (V.O.M.A.) will be held Saturday, February 6th at Ace's Lounge in Cambria City. Doors open at 7 p.m. for drinks and mingling.

Enjoy an evening of Jazz Music!

Opening Act - Bob Brett's "Little Big Band"

Featuring Act - Pittsburgh Jazz Legend - Don Aliquo!

Born and raised in Johnstown, this great saxophone musician can be heard regularly in the Pittsburgh jazz scene.

* Buy raffle tickets to win gift baskets from local businesses!

* Enter our silent auction for your chance to win artwork from both local and regional artists.

* Silent auction will feature Johnstown born artist, T.K. Mundok who's painting "The Stone Bridge" is being displayed at the Heritage Center in Cambria City.

* Hors d'oeuvres provided by Ace's Lounge

Tickets start at $20, $10 advance ticket and artist/student discount. $25 VIP ticket includes an invitation to take a visionary tour of VOMA's space with a complimentary wine tasting.

For ticket information call: 814-410-2245 or

e-mail:voma.arts@yahoo.com

Your contributions and support will enable V.O.M.A. to kick start it's Art & Entertainment Season going on throughout the year! Look for more events coming your way!

About V.O.M.A

The Venue of Merging Arts or (V.O.M.A) is a non-profit arts organization in Johnstown, Pa. The non-profits building (a church) was originally constructed as St. Mary's Syrian (Lebanese Christian) Orthodox Church in 1911, and in 1971 was taken over by a congregation splitting off from St. Petka's Serbian Orthodox Church in Woodvale. The church was renamed St. George's Serbian Orthodox Church in 1977. No longer home to an active parish, the church building is now VOMA: The Venue of Merging Arts, whose mission "is to rescue a historically significant former church building by transforming it into a unique venue in which various forms of artistic expression can merge together to promote, educate, entertain, and involve the community in the arts."

Just a random Monday

In an effort to blog once a day...

So far nothing totally new and exciting. Just attempting to get all the heads together to see if it's plausible to have an event as early as February. Settling on a date for our next Board Meeting, inviting volunteers to lick envelopes, and general list making is happening. So if you're out there following V.O.M.A. Adventures, send your positive energy our way and maybe cross your fingers too :)

Coming Soon...

Okay, so now that I understand this blogging thing a wee bit more here is a List of Things to Come.

Look For:

Johnstown Magazine - Adam & T.K. Mundok are two of the featured "best and brightest young adults in our region" in the article "Up+Comers" - January 2010

http://www.johnstownmag.com/

A V.O.M.A Event in early February - possible date February 6th

Hosted at Ace's in Cambria City with musical acts from around the region.

Currently Available:

Recording Sessions - with Adam Mundok - Executive Director of the V.O.M.A.

Take advantage of the amazing acoustics in what was the former sanctuary.

For more information contact Adam at voma.arts@yahoo.com

Call for Artists - get yourself on the list early! Send your artist statement and a link to your work to voma.arts@yahoo.com - attention T.K. Imagine yourself in Cambria City's first renovated Church into a Contemporary Art Gallery!

Facebook - V.O.M.A. has a fanbook page! Search Venue of Merging Arts to view pictures of events both Past & Present. Become a fan:)

Links to other news related to V.O.M.A.

Ourtown Free Newspaper -

http://www.ourtownonline.biz/articles/2009/09/22/neighbors/local_news/sample299.txt

Tribune - Democrat -

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/archivesearch/local_story_248000808.html

The Beginning

Hello all,

The New Year has begun and as a result the new ideas are flowing. My name is Rebecca and I will be one of many representing the Venue of Merging Arts or (V.O.M.A.) in these posts. I'd like to give a little history and catch you up if I could. The church building that V.O.M.A now works out of was purchased last December by a lovely couple, Denny & Janet Mical in Johnstown. Their goal was to start a non-profit arts organization with their two sons Adam & T.K. Mundok along with his wife Rebecca - me. Plans were set, mission statements finalized, Boards formed and suddenly a year had passed already. So now we are here in 2010 with our heads turned a bit more in the right direction, walking side by side with one another and attempting to launch a huge project in a short amount of time. I volunteered to blog those attempts as honestly as I can. You all get to sit back and read our journey, our adventures and hopefully your positive energy will be felt and we will be successful!

So, first things first - Our Mission is to rescue a historically significant former church building by transforming it into a unique venue in which various forms of artistic expression can merge together to promote, educate, entertain, and involve the community in the arts.

We want to Bring It! We want to Provide It! We want you to Want It!

And "It" is contemporary arts of all forms!

So wish us well and stay tuned for our upcoming events. More tomorrow.