State of the Arts

Add comment July 7th, 2009 10:33am Bridget Fraser

Last week I participated in the Illinois Arts Council’s music panel review process.  Six arts leaders from across Illinois spend weeks studying proposals from most of our Illinois music organizations.  Large music organizations like the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera to the smallest orchestras and choirs in rural areas bring millions of people to their events.  Many have no admission fees.  Fellow panelist Allan Dennis, Executive Director of  Midwest Young Artists in Highland Park did the math.  The total budget for all applicants totaled $43,304,545.50.  If you factor in grass roots organizations with budgets under $50,000, the number is probably closer to $1 billion!!!   As he pointed out, this is direct income to Illinois residents.  These organizations drive jobs, generate government revenue and are the cornerstone of tourism for Illinois.  Think of what we have here in Rockford…  the Mendelssohn Center, Kantorei, Charlotte’s Web, Rockford Symphony, Rockford Area Arts Council,  to name just a few.  Where would Rockford be without these organizations?  They are our cultural identity.  They are what we brag about when we travel.   Sadly, state funding of the arts is steadily decreasing.  It may be years before funding levels return to reasonable levels.  We can’t give up though!  We need these arts organizations to sustain and improve our quality of life. 

Experience of a Lifetime

Add comment June 23rd, 2009 09:56am Bridget Fraser

   Singing is an amazing gift!  We are all born with the ability to sing but for most of us this gift has very little value until is is honed into something trained and beautiful.  When that happens, singing becomes an art.  The singer becomes a choral artist with the extrordinary gift of  inspiring others though song.   Beautiful and polished choral singing is an experience not of this world, spiritual and ethereal.  

Did you know that an estimated 32.5 million people sing in choirs worldwide?   That’s good news because singing in one of the 270,000 choirs in the U.S. is strongly correlated with civic engagement, teamwork and discipline…..qualities needed to live a successful life.   And, it’s fun!

As part of its 125th Anniversary celebration, the Mendelssohn Center will offer a wonderful opportunity to the community.   The world famous vocal ensemble CHANTICLEER will lead a workshop for adults interested in singing.   If you want to hone your choral skills or you just love to hear beautiful singing, please join us for the workshop on September 30 or the concert on October 1st.    It does not get any better than listening to or learning from CHANTICLEER!  

EMPOWERING DANCE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Add comment June 12th, 2009 02:42pm Rebecca Fetter

While researching multi-disciplinary choreography concepts last year, I came across an extremely progressive dance video in YouTube titled Glow. Interactive software creator Frieder Weiss produced a digital landscape specifically for theatre use, which responds to a soloist’s movement on stage. Glow works with this software and an infrared video camera and PC which runs algorithms and creates real-time generated graphics which follow the dancer onstage, making her look like she is-most literally- glowing.

The dancer represents a progressive Australian group called Chunky Move: one of the world’s most contemporary performance collectives founded by Gideon Obarzanek. Since the mid ‘90s, Chunky move has been creating stage pieces, site-specific projects and new media and installation work.

Check them out here.

Rebecca

Broadway Bound presents Masquerade!

1 comment May 14th, 2009 10:13am Bridget Fraser

Broadway Bound is an auditioned, youth vocal ensemble of the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center.  This lively and energetic group of high school singers and dancers receive vocal, staging and choregraphic training under the direction of Denise Laaveg and Jennifer Gerczak.     Each semester they give an incredible performance.  This semester their show is entitled “Masquerade”.  If you want to see these talented kids sing and dance their way thru the best of Broadway and Pop tunes, don’t miss their performance at Maddox Theater, Rockford College on May 30 and 31st at 7pm.  Tickets are only $5.  Last summer, Broadway Bound opened for Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical fame at Rockford’s On the Waterfront Festival.  They were fantastic!  Audition dates for the next season of Broadway Bound will be posted on the Mendelssohn Center website later this summer.

Dueling Pianos

Add comment April 29th, 2009 12:07pm Bridget Fraser

This Friday, May 1, duo pianists and twin brothers, Alan and Alvin Chow will perform the final concert of the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center’s 2008-2009 season.  It is great fun to attend a duo piano recital!   Two 9ft Steinway concert grand pianos, positioned across from each other, make for a visually appealing concert experience.  The performers must communicate with their eyes.  Repertoire is typically very exciting.  When a composer is writing music for two pianos, he or she can distribute responsibility and opportunity for display between the players because each has full use of an entire keyboard.   The Chows Brothers will play classical favorites written by Bach, Mozart, Copland and Bizet.  The grand finale, the overture from the opera Carmen, will be a dazzling display of virtuosity.   Alan and Alvin Chow appear throughout North America and Asia as orchestral soloists and recitalists.  Alan is chair of the piano program at Northwestern University.  Alvin is chair of the piano department at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.  On Saturday morning they will coach area keyboard students learning duo piano repertoire.      

Much to be proud of in our arts community

Add comment April 27th, 2009 03:20pm Anne O'Keefe

Family Festival at Rockford Museum Park yesterday was a tremendous followup to ArtScene the previous weekend.  Yesterday over 1,000 people came to the RMP to see their children’s art work, create with hands-on activities, learn dance, drumming and much more!

There are so many things going on in the arts that I can’t possibly list them all at this time and the second and third weekends in April where just the beginning. Art on the Lawn returns to Rockford College June 14th, Edgebrook has lined up Music on the Mall for Friday nights this summer and is planning the Edgebrook Arts Exhibit June 20th. www.edgebrookshops.com Music in the Park at the Sinnissippi Band Shell is always a summer must and I’ll be keeping you updated right here as summer begins.

The purpose of this entry is to encourage you to explore all Rockford has to offer.  Visit the musuems, ride your bike to the park for music. Support local artists and your community and you will share in our success. You don’t have to drive anywhere, you don’t have to pay tons for parking. Take advantage of all there is right in your own backyard.  We have so much to be proud of in this city and I just needed to do some cheerleading today!

Mendelssohn and Carpenter’s Place

Add comment April 17th, 2009 11:59am Bridget Fraser

Last week I was talking about how important creative and critical thinking was in tough economic times.  Here’s a good example.  This year Mendelssohn Center invited Carpenter’s Place to be the beneficiary of donations given at our new Music On Main concert series.  Wait a minute!  You mean one non profit dependent on charitable giving raised money for another non profit?   Yes.  Through this relationship, Mendelssohn has gained new friends that never before attended a Mendelssohn concert.   We helped each other get the word out about our products and services.  We partnered to help support our fellow human beings in time of great economic need.    We came to  look at ourselves as more than the venerable and historic music organization that we are.    As we prepare to begin our anniversary celebration, Mendelssohn is mindful of the generosity of this community that has supported us for 125 years.   It is important to us that we give back in any way possible.    

Arts Council Proud to Present ArtScene

Add comment April 17th, 2009 09:43am Anne O'Keefe

This weekend the Rockford Area Arts Council is pleased to present the largest Spring ArtScene to date.  There is so much going on and the weather seems to be perfect for jumping for hot spot to hot spot. The arts are everywhere this weekend.  Many of the venues have additional activities. Poetry readings, music, demonstrations, all to enhance to experience of the arts.  I’m really excited about Jim and Shawn Barbagallo throwing pots at the Arts Council, Saturday, 4/18 from 3 - 5 p.m. (that’s the pottery lingo, for creating, they will not be hurling pots at our beloved Shumway Market Building at 713 East State).  The Element has there kick off event at the Irish Rose with Miles Nielsen after their art show tonight at the Brewhouse, 201 Hill Street . That’s the building where Unforgettable Art was two weeks ago. There are so many cool places to check out you need to go to the website and start planning now www.springartscene.com.

View for free, be inspired to buy!

Opportunity Knocks!!

Add comment April 9th, 2009 12:45pm Bridget Fraser

All over the world, leaders of arts organizations are discussing how to manage the severe fallout from the current recession.  I read articles every day from online newspapers throughout the country about cancelled seasons, pay cuts, budget cuts and staff reductions.  Adminstrative leadership, trustees, and musicians are meeting daily to brainstorm ways to keep their organizations afloat.    When things are working well and the money is flowing, we can easily forget the need for critical and creative thinking in the arts.   But when times are tough, these attributes are essential.  At the very least, this economy is forcing us to examine how we do business.  This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to emerge stronger and more relevant to our community.   

Nels Akerlund’s American People Project = Visualized Souls

Add comment March 27th, 2009 02:55pm Anne O'Keefe

Nels Akerlund shared images from his American People Project on March 24th @ RAM.  When completed the project will document the largest collection of American people in history. www.nelsakerlund.comThe photo release became the story behind the people, “what would people be surprised to know about you?” and “what was the most life-changing thing that’s happened to you?” You can imagine the responses with an age range of 16 hours to 114 years old.  The shots are taken from about two feet away so the detail is incredible. I never thought laugh lines and wrinkles could be so engaging. Akerlund explained that the images are also to capture groups that are going extinct, like the munchkins from the Wizard of Oz.  There was a reunion of the cast of Animal House in Chicago and they were photographed, the women cast members are fairing much better than the men, just an fyi.  Five hundred residents were photographed in the northern- most city in Alaska, in just 4 days.  My personal favorite was of Larry Morrissey, (I’m leaving off the title of Mayor on purpose). Larry’s image shows an optimistic visionary in a baseball cap. While there is a smattering of celebrities in the mix the most interesting are those whose names I can’t remember. The project embodies the essence that each human being on the planet, has worth, has served an important role during their existence and is admired for their life history, even strangers who are simply viewing them on a screen in a museum in Rockford.