by Bob Martin | Oct 21, 2009 | Art, Artist, Exhibits, Galleries, Lecture, Theater
Artists on Artists: Thursday Oct. 22nd 6:30PM
Free “Arte Gigante Variety Hour”
Stage 2 Theater – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
“A fantabulous cross-disciplinary event combining artist panel, game show, and reality competition. Get to know artists and their works as they compete in a brain busting quiz game, shake their money-makers as they dance with the stars, and finally, spend some quality time chatting with the lovely hosts who just happen to be members of SMoCA’s Artist Advisory Committee.”
by Bob Martin | Oct 12, 2009 | Art, Art Travel, Exhibits, Galleries, Theater
Maya Lin
Earlier this year when the Las Vegas Art Museum closed, you had to figure that the only way art could survive in this city was for it to be housed inside of someones outrageous imagination. For a city already jammed with hotels and casinos, MGM has pushed forward with the completion of City Center, which is a glass city inside a glass city. And they’ve promised that there will be art.
The Fine Art Collection will encompass a multitude of styles and media – ranging from sculptures and paintings and other works of art including large-scale installations – engaging visitors on both a visual and intellectual level. Some will be existing pieces, carefully chosen for their artistic value and cultural significance; others will be site-specific installations for which the artist has been invited to command their vision over the space
This past week Maya Lin supervised the installation of one of her sculptures and the works of Tony Cragg, Isa Genzken , Nancy Rubins and others are also slated to be showcased. My personal hope is that people see the art work before going to the casinos.
[ad#reviewpost-1**]
by Sandy | Oct 3, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Creativity, Film, Movies, music, Theater
The filmed version of the play, “Passing Strange”, is clever, funny, with great music. Spike Lee documented the last 3 days of the musical’s Broadway run (it won the 2008 Tony for Best Book) and it has now come to a theater near you.
I saw the play last year and loved it. The terrific band, whose members, along with the few actors, tell the story of a black young man, “Stew”, trying to look for the “real” by moving from middle class L.A, where he feels he doesn’t fit in and everything is a fraud, to Amsterdam and Germany.
In Europe, he is more “American”, than he was in California. To gain friends and acceptance in the avant garde scene, his new girl friend is only impressed with the oppressed, he “passes” as the stereotype of a ghetto youth and writes songs about the “struggle”. After doing this for a few years, he wonders what if the only thing real is your “art” and “reality” is phoney?
He eventually returns to America to pursue his art and just be himself. He is amazed that the direction of his life was decided by the decisions he made as a teenager.
Serious questions, but told with humor and music. Hard to describe, a different type of musical, but, very entertaining.
“Passing Strange”
Book and lyrics by Stew
Music by Stew and Heidi Roderwald
Directed by Spike Lee
by Sandy | Aug 25, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Film, Theater
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is my favorite!
“Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble…”
I know, if I want to impress, I should say – Hamlet, King Lear, etc.They may be “deeper”, but, they’re not as much fun.
Macbeth has witches- 3. It has ghosts – 8 plus. (Hamlet only has a flickering dad). The play has a “moving” forest and a man with a questionable birth. This is drama!
You are grabbed with the first scene and it won’t let you go until that pesky forest starts to inch forward, (I hope I haven’t given too much away)
I’ve seen Macbeth on stage twice – in one version, the witches were in Japanese white Butoh masks (interesting). I have relied on an occasional reread and film rentals to revisit this story of power and madness. There are several British color versions from the 70’s and 80’s, but, the Orson Welles’ version is my favorite. He starred in and directed a stark, black & white minimalist film (read low budget with paper-mache sets, and cardboard crowns) in 1948.
Welles, as Macbeth, and Jeanette Nolan, as Lady M, bring the play to life. They, and the rest of the spirited cast, proceed to climb the scenery, without there being much to climb. (The sets are pretty bare). All underlying ambition and greed of the passionate duo is uncovered, They eventually totally embrace their baser nature and self destruct. Sound familiar?
Wm. Shakespeare’s flawed characters’ transcend centuries – we can still relate. Love it.
by Bob Martin | Aug 10, 2009 | Art, Dance, Dancers, Theater
Saturday, November 7th, one of our most inventive artists and performers will be delighting audience at the Palace of Fine Art 
The extremely talented Savion Glover will be performing at the SF Jazz Festival, turning the rhythm of his tap shoes into well appreciated music. Glover’s virtuosity is stunning.
by Sandy | Jul 25, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Events, Live Performance, music, Poem, Theater
“for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf” at Southwest Arts Center until August 9.
Long title for a great play – saw it on Broadway in the late 70’s and recently saw a 1982 televised version on DVD. Perhaps not as shocking or controversial as it was when first seen, the collection of Ntozake Shange’s poems woven into a statement on love and relationships is still powerful.
The current “For Colored Girls…” revival has been updated with new music and choreography and is directed by Jasmine Guy. (Remember “Whitley” from the TV show “A Different World”?). Robin Givens and Nicole Ari Parker are featured in the 9 women ensemble that brings the play to life.
Southwest Arts Center – until 8/9/09
915 New Hope Rd SW, Atlanta, GA
