"Sunday Funnies" Shape Up for May 20

     Mark is imparting some of the finer points about broad comedy which he learned in street theater as he directs the "Sunday Funnies" troupe. Song and dance, vaudeville melodrama and farce mix together for a whirlwind worthy of Monty Python.

Come and learn important details about your ears
in the sketch comedies of "Sunday Funnies"

     It is one segment of a larger program showing on May 20th. Other segments of the program include our Film Gallery Cafe and a solo dance which tells the story of the Prodigal Son. 
     Visual artwork will be on display and light refreshments served. The program starts at 6pm in St. Paul's Cathedral, Great Hall, on 5th Ave. and Nutmeg. Suggested donation is $10.

Self-Publishing Featured At Support Group

     The next meeting of the Artist Support Group will summarize the simple steps in becoming a published author.

     Cindy Schuricht will speak from her experience self-publishing in print The Pig and the Dragon through Createspace.com.
     Mark will speak about self-publishing his four ebooks through Smashwords.com.
      Donna will give another installment on the Internet marketing which promotes our art and content.
     Today ebook sales are measured in the billions of dollars and rapidly spiraling up. Reaching the reading public is no longer in the hands of print publishing companies alone. 

Cindy made a quilt for her book cover
 of The Pig and The Dragon

Click here to visit Mark's book site.

     Right now people are searching online for content which our artists and arts supporters can provide. At our meeting we will be summarizing how we can make our content available, reaching people's needs and generating income to help support our art. 
     The meeting will be on Sunday, May 27, 12 noon, in the Guild Room on the 6th Ave. side of St. Paul's Cathedral, San Diego, at Nutmeg between 5th and 6th. Bring a lunch!

Sketch Comedies Start Production

"Sunday Funnies" scripts are adapted from TV spots performed by Mark Turner in the '80's

      A production team of seven actors and four staff have commenced rehearsals of a collection of short comedy sketches called "Sunday Funnies". 

     The sketches are part of a larger program to be offered at St. Paul's Cathedral on Sunday evening, May 20. 

     Mark Turner is directing the show composed of scripts from his past television spots and stage shows. The Sunday Funnies will culminate the larger program featuring our Film Gallery Cafe which will show two films with discussion. 

     Also featured will be the story of "The Prodigal Son" a solo dance by the Rev. Richard Lief, Canon for the Arts at St. Paul's Cathedral. 

     Light refreshments will be served and visual arts will be on display. The program starts at 6pm in the Great Hall on the 5th Ave. side of the Cathedral situated between 6th and 5th at Nutmeg near downtown San Diego. Suggested donation is $10. 

Taking Care of Artists

Donna & Mark Turner, Co-founders

     Some people are so passionate about their visions of "what could be" that they can not be contained by conventional institutions of society. Artists are usually in this group.  

 

     Some learn to navigate the boundaries of their world. Others are tolerated as "pets" or "jesters" of their society. But most are not so fortunate. At a young age they may be spotted and forced to give it up for training more practical in the job market.  

     For those of us who adopt the non-conformist's path, life is always tinged with skeptical looks and closed doors. How to be true to our heavenly vision while pushing the boundaries of society: this is an art which we have been learning over the decades and try to impart to other artists. We have realized that it is not enough to just talk about the beauty beyond the conventional, or to just create our pictures of ideals. We are called to live it in the midst of the conventional world.

    

     We tend to get in the way, or to complicate the flow of systems set up for orderly life. Often such people are eliminated gently, or violently. But, a wise society makes room for such prophets, poets, artists and innovators. Most of them are not tough and self sustaining like Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, or many famous names you could recite. A wise society looks for these and nurtures them from infancy. 

     Do you think your society tends to nurture, or inhibit artists? Ultimately, God calls everyone to live the heavenly kingdom each in our unique way with the goal of all humanity enjoying the ideals which now seem such "wonderful, but crazy dreams". (Please look at the biblical background which sparked these thoughts. Click here: II Corinth. 3:6b, 17-18  .)  

Film Featured at Fragile Earth Event

     Our film "A Prayer for Beauty" is to be featured at the Fragile Earth Symposium called by Bishop James Mathes of the San Diego Episcopal Diocese on April 21st at St. Bartholomew's Church, Poway.
     The film will be shown during the noon meal break. In the afternoon workshop session Mark and Donna Turner will introduce the relevance of the film to creation care and show it again. Afterwards they will moderate discussion of the film and show another film for discussion,"To the Diggers".

    Be sure to get your copy of our new DVD containing all three of our short art films.  More than just a copy of the films, the DVD is like a personal Film Gallery Cafe with bonus features for each film including stills of the art, text of the poetry and discussion frames.

      For the special  price of $25, tax and shipping included, click the subscribe button to the right and get our e-newsletter.  This offer ends after April 30, 2012. 

3 Film Packages, 1 DVD

One DVD offers three film packages each including materials for weeks of group discussions.

     The three prototypes of the short art films used in the Film Gallery Cafe are now available together on one DVD.

       This is not just a DVD with some films on it.  Each film is a complete package useful for both personal contemplation and group discussions which could extend for a series of weeks.  The inspiration and creativity that will result could be monumental.
     Each film plays in widescreen and offers bonus materials unique to each including stills of the art used in the film, the text of the poetry, and conversation frames with which to explore the meaning of the film.  

Special Offer On Our Newsletter 

     The DVD may be purchased on the products page of our web site for $32, shipping included. For a limited time you may purchase it for $25 and free shipping, by joining our e-newsletter.  Put your e-mail address in the box in the right hand column and we will send you the March issue where you can find the PayPal button for the special price.  Besides that, you will then be in touch with all the great developments of Horizon Gate.

     Each film can be purchased individually on the products page of our web site for $15 apiece plus shipping.
     

     Your purchase helps keep us creating more art and films to stimulate significant conversations drawing people to God.

C'mon, Don't Be Mean

Horizon Gate founders Donna & Mark Turner

     We don't know about you, but we're already tired of election year rhetoric, especially the kind that seeks to strike fear in us so we'll do what they say. 

     On places like Facebook and Twitter we get hit by extremely volatile statements from both the right and the left.

     The other day this made a scripture very dramatic to us: ". . . solemnly charge them not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers. . . . avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene." (II Timothy 2:14b, 16-17a)
     Yes, expressing ourselves can bring death, rather than life. It is so tempting to respond, or post something hurtful and insulting in our campaigning passion.  

     But it is not just in our verbiage. Artists, filmmakers, craftspersons, performers, will you commit with us to spread only life in our expressions?   There is death enough for everyone, but what we need is life and light, reconciliation, -- returning love for hate, beauty for ugliness.

  

Like Christ, let's contrast the meanness that is building up in the world.

Call for Community of Variety

Please join us on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, to see our films and talk about the next steps in developing the Film Gallery Cafe.

     True community is made of a variety of people, each possessing capabilities needed by the others, who desire to be part of a phenomenon larger than any one of them.   

     The grand vision of the Film Gallery Cafe is taking another step in forming such a community on St. Patrick's Day, the green color of life day, Saturday, March 17th.  On that day we will tell you exciting developments in the vision, show the prototype films and discuss the next steps.

The Upward Bound Community 

     We are imagining a community where each of us has a personal hold on the common vision and receives fellowship and spiritual growth through creating together. This community will make and exhibit tangible vehicles of art and film which elevate the makers and their audience toward the highest, intangible values of God.

     At our St. Patrick's Day gathering we will be looking for varieties of people who are ready to 

lead (boards of directors and advisors), 

create content (filmmakers, visual artists, writers, musician/composers, performing artists),

exhibit (curators, presenters, crew), 

do business (marketing, bookings, accounting, legal), 

develop (funding campaigns, grant writing),
and

care for the teams (coordinate, recruit, train, celebrate). 

     All who are interested are invited to attend regardless of how involved they can be. If you are unable to travel to San Diego, we will try to connect you with the meeting via Skype.

     Please RSVP so we can let you know time and place. Mark's e-mail markarturner (at) gmail.com.  

Film: "A Prayer for Beauty" Gives First Preview

Donna Turner presents our newest film to the St. Paul's Cathedral Women Together.

     The third film in our Film Gallery collection was previewed for the first time February 2nd at the Women Together program of St. Paul's Cathedral, San Diego.
     Entitled "A Prayer for Beauty", Mark began production in 2005 based on his poem"Beautify Oh". He had produced a limited edition book of digital illustrations which he began animating with motion graphics. 
     This was the first attempt in the genre which combines visual arts, motion graphics, spoken word, music and sound effects. It is the only film, so far, in which he weaves the text of the poem into the visuals. 

Mark Turner modeled his film score after masters such as Maurice Ravel and Bela Bartok.

A Rich and Complex Sound Track

     The sound track also became the most complex of all three films. Mark scored the music based on models of masters Maurice Ravel, Bela Bartok, Samuel Barber and Gustav Holst. Donna joined her voice with his in both choral singing and verse choir. Even a nightingale, a flycatcher and a blue jay sang along with the wind and waterfall. 

Project Resurrected

     In 2005 other projects forced this to the back burner until last September Donna was invited to present our ministry to the Women Together and we needed a third film sooner than one started from scratch.  Production recommenced full time for five months leading up to the first DVD burn the day before the event.

Well Received 

     Audience reception was very enthusiastic as Donna led a full demonstration of the Film Gallery Cafe including the films, tangible art used to make them and table conversations after each film. Participants commented that they could have spent the whole evening discussing just the one new film. One person said full discussion would require a book to be written. The room was buzzing with intense conversations after each film. 

Composition 12 from the film "A Prayer for Beauty"

Next Stage in Development 

     Work is commencing immediately on the DVD of the film complete with menus of the poem text, stills of the artwork, and conversation cards. The next preview of the new film will be at our Artist Support Group meeting, February 19th. Artists and arts supporters are invited to join us.

Six Ways to Be Co-creators

1. Contribute to the Arts - Click "Donate" PayPal button in the right column of this blog to safely send a secure donation supporting our on-going ministry through the arts. (No PayPal account necessary) Pledges of monthly support are greatly needed to overcome the current deficit in our daily operations. Please e-mail info@horizongate.org to inform us of your pledge.
 2. Host an Event - Bring people together to enjoy our dramatic reading of a thoughtful short story, or our short art films. Call Donna 760-445-9470, or e-mail donna@horizongate.org

3. Refer Artists and Filmmakers to Us - We want to encourage the beauty to multiply through collaboration and sharing of experience.  

4. Recommend our Free Newsletter to Other Arts Supporters -  Find the box in the right column to subscribe to our newsletter and forward your copy to others.  

5. Purchase and Give Our Art -

Find our DVD's on the "products" page of our website

http://horizongate.org/products 

Find Mark's eBooks at

http://bit.ly/markrtbooks

6. Change brands to the Turners' personal 

Shaklee business - 

Clean water, green cleaners that save money too, food supplements, skin care and weight management products from the nation's number one all natural company. Also a potential income source for you.

Richard Turner meets with old comrades

Old Lamb's Players meet with Richard Turner and the screenwriter of the biopic about him.  Note Richard practicing his one-handed cut as is his habit during every conversation.  Back Row, l to r: Robert Smyth, Mark Turner, Chris Turner; Front Row, l to r: Kerry Meads, Cary Prescott, Nancy Prescott, Richard, Donna Turner, screenwriter Sandy Marshall.  More under "Turner Personal News" in left column.

     We had a fun stroll down memory lane with some old Lamb's Players in January. Richard Turner's remarkable biography is coming out in print and the screen-play is now in the works.

     Richard brought screenwriter Alexander Sandy Marshall out from New York to meet his old LP family and hear our stories of those days when Richard was a scrawny ex-drug dealer transforming into a world class phenomenon.
     As the world's top card mechanic he was recently featured cheating Brad Pitt at Black Jack in the movie"Tree of Life" and performs around the world.
     He says, "There must be a God, 'cause people pay me to play with 52 pieces of cardboard."
     Google "Richard Turner the cheat" for some fun videos of his unbelievable skills.

Publishing Launched by Performing "Future Seed"

The cover for the new ebook version of a
heartwarming short story.

     With the performance of our two-person reader's theater piece, "Future Seed", we announce the beginning of our e-publishing venture.

     You can now get your own copy of "Future Seed" the short story at http://bit.ly/futureseed . 

     See Mark's profile page

at http://bit.ly/markrtbooks 

where the list of publications is growing.
Adaptation Process Starts

      Now that publishing and world wide distribution costs next to nothing on the Internet, ebook purchases are growing faster than traditional print books.  Mark is systematically adapting his key plays, screenplays, poetry and instructional material to make them available as ebooks. 

Scripts to Books

      Plays and screenplays will be taking the form of short stories and novellas. If there is interest in the script versions, either production arrangements will be made, or they could be made available for e-reading. 

Poetry

     Volumes of poetry could appear under various themes such as aspects of nature, inspirations from scripture, or comments on society. Mark may even include visual arts in a poetry volume. 

Non-Fiction

     How-to ebooks could include texts on our "Word Show" methodology and the plan for the Film Gallery Café. 

Pick Your Favorite

     If you remember a favorite script, story, or seminar we have presented in the past and would like to read it, e-mail your request to bump it up in priority for epublishing. e-mail mark (at) horizongate.org

Next Short Art Film In Production

Frame #1

Frame #2

Frame #3
The sky and flowered landscape around a Minnesota lake peel back in a transition to deep space in the film "A Prayer for Beauty" by Mark Turner.

     The third in our collection of short art films, entitled "A Prayer for Beauty", is in production with a release date at the first of February, 2012.  

5 Year Hibernation

     This film started as an illustrated poem printed in 2006. The photographic illustrations were then used as a slide show in art exhibits and this motivated Mark to begin animating elements of the illustrations. The motion graphics project was set aside and re-activated five years later to provide a third film in our next demonstration of the Film Gallery Café concept.

New Techniques

     Mark sees a growth in his skills and ideas since first working on the film. For instance, he had been stumped as to what kind of sound track would be appropriate, but now has a rich sound design based on knowledge he has gained in music, spoken word and recording technique. New visual techniques are also enhancing the film.

Christmas Is Real

     Many are upset by some calling the Christmas story "myth" or even "fairy tale", but our faith is not based on material possibilities.  

     Truth is not limited to the scientific method. Is it possible that God moves heaven and earth to save humanity? Oh, yes. Does God overcome murderous opposition in the process? Oh, yes. Can we understand all this?

     God has given us wondrous signs in the natural world and our ability to tell about them, to pass on the witness that God is, indeed, saving us. It is taking a long time by our reckoning, but in God's Love it is all accomplished.  

     Praise God for the privilege of walking through the drama with our fellow players, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi, people not so different from us in previous episodes. God is still walking us through even as we celebrate what He did back then; new circumstances, the same incomprehensible Truth.

     It's our turn to hear God in dreams, accept hard missions like bearing children, registering for taxation, or fleeing from genocide; our turn to seek the new king, to give our wealth and allegiance to the kingdom of heaven.

     Future episodes may refer to us too as fairy tales.

Art Capsulizes Truth Like Seeds

     Art is the capsulizing of multileveled Truth like seeds we hope will open in good soil, grow and bear more seeds.   

     In Matthew 13 Jesus talks about seeds: good and bad; of soils: prepared and unprepared. Why does he speak in parables covering up "the facts" with metaphor? Because so many close their eyes and hearts to guard against intrusion, fearing that God (or someone) might enter and do damage rather than heal.

     The artist can not open unwilling eyes and hearts. Even God will not force revelation onto a person. So, we make seeds to be buried and await the conditions when the soil of the heart is conducive to the epiphany compressed within the seed.

     To those whose hearts turn toward God are given the treasures locked inthe mysteries, parables, art and the myriad of other vehicles carrying the revelation of God. When we risk turning to God our eyes are opened, ears unstopped, seeds sprout to multiply further revelation of God in our lives.

     In Psalm 40 the psalmist pictures himself in an impossible pit with walls of miry clay which can not be scaled. There he seeks God Who hears his cry, lifts him out and sets his feet on a firm rock where he can stand and make progress in all his potential. Artists need to believe that God will lift them out of the impossible place. When they experience that they capsulize it in art forms like seeds which will be carried in the soil of their audience's hearts until the time when it helps them to salvation.

Let us bear the fruit and scatter the seed generously.

"Future Seed" Two-Person Show Performing Near You

Donna & Mark Turner perform reader's theater on national tour, 2007.

      Mark and Donna are reviving their performance of "Future Seed" which was part of their national tour in 2007. It has received enthusiastic reception wherever it has been presented and now you can book it for your group.

A STORY FROM OUR ROOTS 

     The Turners tell this story in the vein of Garrison Keillor's "Lake Wobegon Days". It is all about a mid-western farming family transformed by the opportunity to act in risky faith and charity like their pioneer ancestors, by the gift of a trip to the Old World they are given and by the hostility it all generates from their neighbors.  

     Mark wrote the story speculating on characters like his own roots in Nebraska and Europe.

FOR ALL SEASONS

     The storytelling lasts about 40 minutes and sparks conversations which can also be part of the program. As the story deals with both spring planting and harvest it makes an excellent centerpiece for both seasons. There is even a version which brings out Christmas references.

     Available starting the end of November, the first booking is set for the December sixth Christmas dinner of the El Cajon Presbyterian women's group. Contact the Turners by e-mail, mark (at) horizongate.org to inquire about bookings.

Mobile Exhibit Inspires Creativity In Your Group

Illustration of the art, film screen and conversations coming to your group.

     The Film Gallery Cafe is now taking bookings for the mobile exhibit. We bring to your group the art films and art. You provide the place, beverages and cafe atmosphere. 

THE BENEFITS

     Just organizing a time and place to contemplate art and film in a conversational atmosphere with refreshments is reason enough to book the Film Gallery Cafe.
     The conversations sparked by the films and art can take off in any direction your group wants and those who attend will be inspired on their individual spiritual journeys.
     Artists and filmmakers in your group will be inspired in their own art production, or discover a way to collaborate with us. Would it not be wonderful for your own artists and filmmakers to eventually create enough to have their own Film Gallery Cafe? We can show them how.
     These results are indeed worth bringing our exhibition to your venue. 

YOUR OPTIONS MULTIPLY

     Even as we go on the road with our current collection more films are being produced. The third film is in production with a finish date of February and will be a fitting way to start the event as it is "A Prayer for Beauty".
     You can choose to follow that up with the more confrontational film "To the Diggers" and finish with the more contemplative "Comforting Hovers", or vice versa. Any order that you think is best for your group and event is your prerogative.
     As other films become available more combinations are possible for return engagements. 

HELPS TO BROADEN THE EXPERIENCE

     At the tables we provide helps to encourage conversations such as cards with visuals and text from the films. Simple art materials are set out for doodling. Prints of artwork and DVD sales extend the experience beyond the event.

Donna Invited to Provide Program

     After our last demonstration of the Film Gallery Cafe, Donna was approached by a psychotherapist to collaborate on a lecture about self-compassion. The lecture will include references to the Prodigal Son story.

     Donna is growing as a curator by gathering paintings and drawings of our artists for the slide show illustrating the talk. She has also been given the entire program for the meeting of the same group in February for which she will demonstrate the viewing/discussion concept of the Film Gallery Cafe.

Artist Support Group Explores Meaning

     In October the Artist Support group met for a lively discussion of the three stages of art. 
     Our new friend, Dr. Jim Soules, opened by leading our thoughts concerning Inspiration. Mark took up the discussion about the Execution of art. Donna led in thinking about the Exhibition of art. 
     The 13 attendees found our hour-and-a-half session instructive and helpful for the direction of our artistic endeavors.
     The discussion also raised the topic for next time, but it is hard to find an appropriate title for it: "Meaningful" Art, or "Art with a Mission" - What is it? How does it fit in the world? How do we do it?
     Join the discussion. The next meeting will be Dec. 4th, 12:00pm to 1:30 in the Guild Room of St. Paul's Cathedral, 5th & Nutmeg, San Diego (by Balboa Park). Everyone is welcome to these stimulating meetings. 

Get the New DVD!

Get the New DVD! 

 Be among the first to own your copy!

 To Order e-mail mark (at) horizongate.org requesting the DVD you want and we will reply with a PayPal button and instructions for alternative methods of payment. 

"Comforting Hovers" DVD -- $15

"To the Diggers" DVD -- $15

Both films on One DVD with all bonus materials -- $25