Celebrate February’s Black History Month by honoring one of the most influential and passionate African American artists in US history- From Process to Print: Graphic Works by Romare Bearden is a vast exploration of cultural perspectives Bearden experienced throughout his exciting life. On display through April 29 at The Taft Museum, Bearden’s works invoke images of urban and family life, with major themes around jazz and biblical art. Multi- talented Bearden was also a prominent writer, often focusing on social issues that African Americans faced. A humanist, Bearden received many awards throughout his life, including the National Medal of Art in 1987, presented to him by President Ronald Reagan. ...more...
Archives for January 2012
Arts America Blog
Anna Tikhomirova: Exuberance and Light
January 31, 2012 by
Ana Tikhomirova
The daughter of a dancer, Tikhomirova studied at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy where she was later given leading roles in school performances. When she entered the Bolshoi Ballet as a corps member in 2004, she was soon dancing soloist parts and is now a full-fledged soloist in the company.
Watching Tikhomirova dance the first variation of the Grand Pas De Deux in Don Quixote, or in Asaf Messerer’s Spring …more…
Love Before Intimacy: Lola Montes Schnabel’s First U.S. Solo Show
January 31, 2012 by
"Exchange of Youth for Knowledge," 2001, 84 x 120 inches; photo courtesy of The Hole.
Visiting art gallery shows can be a particularly refreshing experience, contrasting in tone from the often retrospective views of museum exhibitions. There is a welcome immediacy in a gallery, the kind that grounds the viewer in the here and now.
Such is the case at Lola Montes Schnabel’s exhibition Love Before Intimacy at The Hole in …more…
Volunteer Opportunities
January 31, 2012 by
How’s that New Year’s resolution to get more involved in Austin’s theater scene going? If you’re already falling behind, take note of these opportunities:
City Theater’s website says there’s always a need for help at the concessions and box office, and with scenery and costume construction, stage crew, and much more. Get in touch with them at (512) 524-2870 or send an email to info AT citytheatreaustin.org.
Zach Theatre has volunteer opportunities …more…
Raw Talent at NOLA’s Homespace Gallery
January 31, 2012 by
In the new exhibit, Raw, at Homespace Gallery, emerging and accomplished artists are one in the same sharing a platform amazing art in its rawest form. Organized by art veterans Luis Cruz Azaceta and Sharon Jacques, it seems every visual sense is put to the test. From sculptures from the less well-known but superbly talented Monica Zeringue, to photo portraits and installations, to imagery by art veteran Peter Saul, the …more…
Vocalese
January 30, 2012 by
I wanted to take a moment today to highlight one of the most under-appreciated sub-genres in jazz (in my incredibly biased vocalist opinion). ...more...
Explore “The Common Object” at MICA
January 30, 2012 by
The Common Object is an exhibition of over 60 still life paintings created by 31 Zeuxis artists and their associates. It is now on display at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Zeuxis (named after a prominent painter in ancient Greece) is a group of painters work to continue to explore still life painting as many contemporary artists disregard it. The Common Object is on tour and the fourth and last stop is here in Baltimore. It originally opened at the Prince Street Gallery in New York City in October 2010. ...more...
Film Screening Tonight at the Contemporary Arts Center: Urbanized by Gary Hustwit
January 30, 2012 by
Looking for something to do tonight that encompasses both your love of fine arts as well as your passion for design and social planning? Tonight, catch the only screening in Cincinnati of Urbanized, a recent documentary on the ups and downs of urban planning.
One third of a design trilogy, Urbanized is a feature length film about growing concerns over urban development. The independent filmmaker from London, Gary Hustwit, looks at …more…
Pittsburgh Dance Council to Host US Premiere of ANATOMICA
January 30, 2012 by
Dance Works Rotterdam from Pgh Cultural Trust website
Coming to a theater near you! Not only an internationally renowned company, but a US premiere. The Pittsburgh Dance Council, a branch of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will host Dance Works Rotterdam‘s ANATOMICA at the Byham Theater at 8pm on February 18th.
The performance, the first and third piece of a triptych by artistic director André Gingras, explores the “danger, beauty, and consequences …more…
Stretch your theater budget with a little couponing
January 30, 2012 by
Pretty much everyone knows about “daily deal” or group coupons sites now. You literally could subscribe to dozens of them, letting your email in box fill up with offers for tanning, restaurants and other offers. But did you know you could get theater coupons as well?
Granted, not every playhouse or live-theater venue is going to show up on these sites. But I’ve noticed a few more here and there. This …more…
Dynamic Duo At Subtext Gallery
January 30, 2012 by
Some of the works by Tocayo and Exist1981 to be featured in Subtext Gallery's 'Dynamic Duo.' Credit: Subtext Gallery
“Dynamic Duo” is the first new show of the year to open at San Diego’s Subtext Gallery. Part art gallery, part bookstore, Subtext Gallery in downtown San Diego has made quite an impact on the local art scene in its young six-year run. Located between historic music venue, The Casbah, and …more…
“The Artist”?…Try Seven Artists!
January 29, 2012 by
Recently, my wife and I went to the movies to see “The Artist”. The film (which is silent) is a love letter to grand old cinema, with references to Welles, Chaplin, Wilder, and many more. The theater was packed with people watching from the stairs in rapt attention without a peep from a soul in the audience.
Why?
There is something fantastic about a work that wittily references the past and exudes …more…
San Francisco Opera Announces New Season (yawn).
January 29, 2012 by
With opera companies booking singers and productions four to five years in advance, season announcements come as something of a pro-forma ritual with little actual news. The SF Opera season announcement came this week with no surprises, so, here it is:
Rigoletto – 12 performances 9/7 – 9/30
I Capuletti e i Montecchi – 6 performances 9/29-10/19
Moby Dick (Heggie) – 8 Performances 10/10 – 11/2
Lohengrin – 7 Performances 10/20 – 11/9
Tosca – …more…
First, Last or All
January 28, 2012 by
Many cities set aside one day a month where art galleries are either open late or have a special event to encourage the public to come see their shows. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of Portland, Oregon’s First Thursday, by now a venerable institution in Downtown and the Northwest Portland Pearl District.
When condominiums replaced dilapidated warehouse and industrial buildings in Northwest Portland, many artists and galleries were priced out …more…
How to Pick a Hit
January 28, 2012 by
“Few experiences are more shattering than to write away for tickets weeks before a new show is scheduled to open, read in the Times one morning that it’s closed out of town and then be spotted that afternoon in the refund line by your smart-aleck next door neighbor who always manages to see the big hits of every season during the first week of their run.”
Thus began one of the …more…
Top attraction this weekend: Alfredo Rodriguez
January 27, 2012 by
Saturday night’s Treasures from the Archives presentation by Mark Cantor of rare, fascinating jazz film clips was, as expected, another memorable occasion. This was no tiny, peripheral jazz society splitting hairs over minutiae and obscure musicians lost to history; Cantor’s presentation was informative, fun, and, above all, well-attended! The screening occurred in Kanbar Hall in The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco with an appreciative audience of probably 300 fans …more…
Diane Schuur @ The Blue Note NYC
January 27, 2012 by
From http://www.dianeschuur.com
I remember seeing Diane Schuur in Portland when I was quite young (the date and location escape me) and I remember being utterly fascinated with her voice.
Today, I can more easily spot the singers she imitates with ease and aplomb, but I suppose that makes it no less impressive.
Tonight, Diane will be at the Blue Note NYC. Tickets are here. I might just wander over there and see …more…
Pacifica Quartet thrills Friends of Music audience
January 27, 2012 by
The Pacifica Quartet, considered one of the finest ensembles in all of classical music today, offered a night of virtuosity on January 25 at Tulane’s Dixon Hall as part of the New Orleans Friends of Music series. The quartet members, who serve as quartet-in-residence and on the faculty of the University of Chicago have an extensive touring schedule in the Americas and Asia and also have been selected as the quartet-in-residence for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. ...more...
Chinese New Year: The Year Of The Dragon
January 26, 2012 by
The Chinese New Year celebrations are cascading across the city. Las Vegas has several annual Chinese New Year celebrations; tour any of the large casinos in late January and early February, and one can expect to see a wealth of traditional symbols such as red lanterns, bamboo shoots, fruit-bearing trees and the animals from the zodiac. This is the Year of the Dragon, representative of those born in the …more…
Arts and the Groupon
January 26, 2012 by
So, this is not an advertisement, although it is likely to sound like one. Rather it is a report about my community orchestra and our experience with Groupon. If I were to choose a word to describe it, it would be “phenomenal”.
If you are not familiar with the Groupon experience, it works this way: Groupon is now established in many cities across the country. Businesses can contract with them to …more…
Denver Chalk Art Festival Looking for Sponsors and Artists
January 26, 2012 by
Artist: Mythica Von Griffyn, Image from Larimerarts.org
It’s that time of year again – the Larimer Arts Association is in the planning stages for this year’s Chalk Art Festival. Each June, over 200 local artists spend two days transforming downtown Larimer Square into a colossal work of art. Not only that, but the event features live music from 11:30 in the morning to 9:30 in the evening, wine tasting, local …more…
‘Book of Mormon’ Crashes Denver Center Website
January 26, 2012 by
On Sunday morning January 22, tickets for the hit-musical “The Book of Mormon” went on sale on the Denver Center website. By 11:00 AM, the site was experiencing server issues with the huge influx of volume, and by 2:00 PM that day, tickets were completely sold out.
“The Book of Mormon,” written by Colorado natives Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park, is a gutsy, provocative musical that …more…
The National Chamber Ensemble Presents a Musical Journey to Russia
January 26, 2012 by
Photo credit: National Chamber Ensemble
The National Chamber Ensemble, one of northern Virginia’s foremost professional music groups, is gearing up for its third concert of the season on February 4.
The Nasher Sculpture Center Presents Elliott Hundley: The Bacchae
January 26, 2012 by
Beginning on January 28th and running through April 22, 2012, the Nasher Sculpture Center will be presenting Los Angeles based artist, Elliott Hundley’s “bulletin board” collages and sculptures. Hundley is known for creating art from an eclectic array of found materials such as goat hooves, pine cones, gold leaf, and much more. In the Nasher’s presentation of Hundley’s work, The Bacchae, the last play by Euripides comes to life in art form …more…
“Moving Right Along” Entertains Baltimore Travelers
January 26, 2012 by
Credit: C. A. Mezensky
As train travelers hurry to their destination this winter, they have an engaging new exhibit to greet them at Baltimore’s Penn Station. “Moving Right Along” is a small show in a vacant store in the station’s lobby. The three pieces included are a sculpture, an animation and an interactive painting.
“Walls of Love” by Artemis Herber is a set of bright red cylindrical cardboard sculptures. They are …more…
