Arts and Humanities Month Coming in October!

This October not only marks every child's favorite sweet tooth holiday but now also highlights Evanston's new and improved Arts and Humanities Month.

Beginning on October 2nd and running through October 30th, Evanston's Arts and Humanities Month will replace the previous Evanston Arts Week and will showcase a variety of events throughout the city. With a Dance Showcase on October 11th and a free Opening Night Ceremony on October 2nd, this year's Arts and Humanities Month is sure to be a great success.

The City of Evanston website had this to say to "all those involved in the arts":

"The Evanston Arts Council encourages local businesses, civic leaders, media outlets, schools and all interested individuals to join the celebration this October. Through partnership and collaboration, we can grow stronger and better connected to each other, thereby enriching our broader community. Help us make the arts a visible and vital part of everyone’s everyday lives in Evanston."

Other planned events include, Meet the Legislators breakfast from 8:30-10:00AM on October 26th and an Arts Month Halloween event (perhaps a haunted house???) on October 30th at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. Check back for details or call the City of Evanston Cultural Arts Division at 847.448.8260.

Get Excited! The Schedule will be up soon!

-L.A.U.R.E.N.

Dance Showcase: Sunday, October 19

Griodano Dance Center photo

Arts Week will draw to a close this Sunday with its most anticipated event, the Dance Showcase. The Dance Showcase will be held at 3:00pm at the Levy Center (300 Dodge Ave.)

Urban Beat Dance Photo

Evanston Contemporary Ballet Photo

The following Evanston-based dance companies will be performing at the Evanston Dance Showcase this year:

• Evanston School of Ballet
  
• http://www.evanstonschoolofballet.com/


• Evanston Dance Ensemble
  
• homepage.mac.com/dce_ede/EDEHome.htm


• Evanston Contemproary Ballet


• www.elementscontemporaryballet.com/html/performances.html


• Girodano Dance Company: Girodano 3


• www.giordanodancecenter.com/
  
• Girodano Junior Company


• www.giordanodancecenter.com/


• Equilibirium Dance Company


• www.equilibriumdance.org/


• Urban Beat Dance


• http://www.urbanbeatdance.com/


• Kaleidoscope Dance Company


• http://www.kaleidoscopedance.com/


• The Cartier Collective


• http://cartiercollective.com/


• Dance Center Evanston


• http://www.dancecenterevanston.com/
  

Dance Center Evanston Photo

A dazzling array of genres and performers to be sure! Evanston is lucky to have such a strong and vibrant dance community.

Evanston Dance Ensemble Photo

Cultural Fund Grant Workshop TONIGHT

Are you an artist or arts organization residing in Evanston? You are eligible for the Cultural Fund Grant Program, which gives annual grants for special projects or programs that will enhance Evanston's arts community. Learn about the 2009 program and get technical assistance by Angela Allyn, who runs the Cultural Fund. The workshop will be held at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in room 106 at 5:30pm TONIGHT. The workshop is free, of course.

Arts Week Legislative Breakfast Tomorrow

Meet our legislators on Thursday, October 16 from 8:30am to 10:00am at Boocoo. Have coffee and conversation with our Alderman and show them how important the arts are to your community. Boocoo is located at 1823 Church St. in Evanston.

More about the Dolphin Show

From their Executive Producer, Zachary Baer:

The Dolphin Show, America's Largest-Student Produced Musical and a Northwestern tradition, is celebrating its 67th anniversary with a groundbreaking stage adaptation of the timeless classic THE WIZARD OF OZ. This production seeks to tell the story of Dorothy's journey in a new, fresh, exciting way, making it accessible to a new generation while honoring the classic story that all have grown to love. The 67th Annual Dolphin Show: The Wizard of Oz opens January 23, 2009 in Cahn Auditorium at Northwestern University. To find out more about this exciting production, as well as community events leading up to the production, visit www.nudolphinshow.org.

Again, we can't be more excited to have the Dolphin Show involved with Arts Week Opening Night, TONIGHT from 6pm-8pm at Fountain Square!

Noyes Cultural Arts Center Open House, October 11, 2008

Join the Evanston Cultural Arts Division staff as well as all the other organizations and studios at Noyes from 11am to 3pm tomorrow for the Noyes Cultural Arts Center Open House!

Rock Paper Scissors Opening Reception
2pm-4pm, First Floor Noyes Gallery. Gallery open 10am-6pm daily.
Meet the wonderful artists who have contributed to the Rock Paper Scissors exhibit at Noyes. Artists used rocks, paper, or scissors as media or subject matter for their works. Refreshments available! (Exhibit runs through November 11th). FREE

Rock Paper Scissors Puppet Demonstration by Michael Montenegro
11am, Noyes Room 106
See a puppet in action as created by Rock Paper Scissors artist Michael Montenegro. FREE

Rock Paper Scissors-Inspired Arts and Crafts Activities
11am-3pm, Noyes Main Enterance and Room 106
Jill Silverman leads arts and crafts inspiried by the Rock Paper Scissors exhibit. Paint and decorate your own pet rock outside, do oragami and paper cutting crafts inside! FREE

The Figure Through Different Eyes Exhibit
10am-6pm daily, Second Floor Noyes Gallery.
Paintings and drawings of the human figure by Figurative Art League members. The Figurative Art League is located in Noyes Studio 215. Learn more at: http://www.figurativeartleague.net/(Exhibit runs through October 27). FREE

Collage and Silkscreen Demonstration
11am-2pm, Studio 221
See printmaking and coloring on cloth by Maggie Weiss, Textile Artist. FREE

Printmaking Demonstration and Open House
11am-3pm, Noyes Basement Evanston Art Center Studio
Master printer Julian Cox creates etchings, woodcuts, intaglios and more!
Learn more about the Evanston Art Center and all of their locations at: http://www.evanstonartcenter.org/. FREE

What is an Etching? Open Studio
11am-3pm, Noyes Studio 212
An Exhibit of prints and drawings by artist Elizabeth Ockwell. FREE

Kidfrolic Crafting Kit
11am-3pm Noyes Room 106
Create a paper doll kid using the features and characteristics you choose! Recommended for ages 5 and up. Learn more about Kidfrolic at http://www.kidfrolic.com/! FREE

Intermediate Acrobatic Stilts
Noon-1:30pm Actor's Gymnasium
Defy gravity and observe an intermediate acrobatic stilts class. Ages 8+. Visit http://www.actorsgymnasium.com/ for more information on classes for kids and adults! FREE

Secrets of Bronze Casting Open Studio and Sale
1pm-3pm, Noyes Studio 214
Learn about the wax method of making bronze sculptures; studio art sale follows by sculpture and painting artist Valerie Schiff. FREE unless you buy something of course!

Plus more! Don't miss the Noyes Cultural Arts Center Open House and all of the fun and activities for the whole family!

See you there, Laura

Next Theatre 08/09 Season Preview Reception, Friday Oct. 10

After the Arts Week Opening Night event, head back up to the Noyes Cultural Arts Center to check out the upcoming plays from Next Theatre's 08/09 season. Hear from Next's new Managing Director and the rest of the artist staff and enjoy some light refreshments. Starts at 7:00pm, FREE! www.nexttheatre.org/

Arts Week Opening Night Changes

Good news and bad news, folks.

The bad news first: Typhoon Dance Troupe sadly had to cancel their performance at Arts Week Opening Night due to heath concerns of some of their members. We'll miss you at Opening Night, and get well soon!

And now for the good news: Two lead cast members of Northwestern University's Dolphin Show will be singing solos from their 2009 musical, The Wizard of Oz. The Dolphin Show will have two performances:
Over The Rainbow, performed by Jessica McKenna
If I Only Had A Brain, performed by James Daniel

The Dolphin Show is Northwestern's largest theater production and never fails to amaze. We are happy to have two of NU's most talented perform at Arts Week!

More good news! Noyes staff member Stephen Lieto will be playing Sitar throughout the night.

As of now, our schedule is as follows:

6:10 NURD

6:20 Stephen on Sitar

6:30 Michael Montenegro, master of puppets

6:45 Dolphin Show singers

7:00 Stephen on Sitar

7:20 Stephen on Sitar

7:40 Stephen on Sitar

There's a possibility that we'll get another group(s) to sub out for poor Steve! Watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat...?

Any volunteers???

Laura

Typhoon Dance Troupe Storms Evanston's Arts Week

In just a little over one week, Evanston’s Fountain Square will be transformed into a bright stage for the Arts Week Opening Night Party. Newly added to the list of entertainers is Northwestern’s own Typhoon Dance Troupe.

As lively and colorful as fireworks show on the 4th of July, this dance group is going to blow up Evanston with its “classical, ethnic, and contemporary dances of East and Southeast Asia.” Specializing in dances such as Traditional Han, ethnic Dai, Kung-Fu, and Lion Dance, Typhoon has a varied and impressive performance. This group dedicates themselves to “displaying pieces of the regions' rich and diverse cultures and to promoting interest and appreciation in the community,” even implementing a children’s dance program through the Xilin Chinese School. Typhoon practices and performs regularly at several Northwestern-affiliated productions or off-campus events, including Celebrasia. The annual Chinese New Year celebration co-sponsored by CSA and TASC, Celebrasia draws over 500 people annually and is a highlight for many Evanston and Chicago-land residents.

Feel as if you want to join this electric dance troupe? Well, membership is open to all undergraduates of Northwestern University, “regardless of previous experience or skill level.” Interested? Visit their website at http://typhoondance.wetpaint.com/ .

If not, definitely stop by the Arts Week Opening Night Party, this Friday, October 10th from 6:00 to 8:00pm to see the Typhoon Dance Troupe!

And don’t forget to attend the other events going on during Evanston’s Arts Week!

- L.A.U.R.E.N.

Arts Week Schedule!!!

Evanston's Arts Week is just around the corner, and we here at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center couldn't be more excited. Here is a list of all the activities, performances, and just plain fun that will be going on during Arts Week:

Saturday, Oct. 4
Kellogg Global Arts Festival (Fountain Square)

Friday, Oct. 10
Evanston Art Walk (Central Street)
“Faces of Evanston: Award-Winning Photographs” (First Bank & Trust, 820 Church St.)
“Heating Up: Art and Ecology” (Evanston Art Center)
“Magdalena Abakanowicz: Reality of Dreams” (Block Museum of Art)
Arts Week Evanston Opening Night Event (Sherman Plaza)
2008/09 Season Preview Reception (Next Theatre)
The Pirates of Penzance (Chute Auditorium)
And Then There Were None (Northminster Presbyterian Church)

Saturday, Oct. 11
8th Annual Front Yard Art Sale (1931 Colfax St.)
Diane Thodos Open Studio (600 Hartrey Ave.)
Noyes Cultural Center Open House (927 Noyes St.)
~ “The Figure Through Different Eyes” Exhibit (2nd Floor & Studio 215)
~ Collage & Silkscreen Demonstration (Maggie Weiss - Studio 221)
~ Printmaking Demonstration & Open House (Evanston Art Center Print Studio)
~ “What Is an Etching?” Open Studio (Elizabeth Ockwell - Studio 212)
~ Kidfrolic Crafting Kit (Main)
~ Intermediate Acrobatic Stilts Class (Actors Gymnasium)
~ “Secrets of Bronze Casting” Open Studio & Sale (Studio 214)
~ “Rock Paper Scissors” Opening Reception (Gallery I)
Fine Arts Open House (King Lab School)
Come Dance! (Dance Center Evanston)
Musical Theater Showcase (Music Institute of Chicago)Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Reading Series (Evanston Public Library)
St. Mark’s Art Show Opening Reception (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church)
The Pirates of Penzance (See Oct. 10 Listing)
YAMO (Evanston Township High School)
And Then There Were None (See Oct. 10 Listing)

Sunday, Oct. 12
Observe Jewelry Enameling Workshop (Evanston Art Center Jewelry Studio)
Diane Thodos (Open Studio)
Pinhole Camera Family Workshop (Block Museum of Art)
And Then There Were None (See Oct. 10 Listing)
The Pirates of Penzance (See Oct. 10 Listing)
Rembrandt Chamber Players Concert (Music Institute of Chicago)
YAMO (See Oct. 11 Listing)
New Music Concert (The Musical Offering)

Monday, Oct. 13
Drop-in Art Class (Levy Senior Center)
Vacation Day at the Art Center: Holiday Art Fun (Evanston Art Center)
Drop-in Ceramics Class (Levy Senior Center)

Tuesday, Oct. 14
Drop-in Woodcarving Class (Levy Senior Center)
Shower Singers (Levy Senior Center)
“The Reluctant Mr. Darwin” (Evanston Public Library)
Evanston Symphony Orchestra Open Rehearsal (Evanston Township High School Band Room)

Wednesday, Oct. 15
Drop-in Glass Fusion/Craft Class (Levy Senior Center)
Cultural Fund Grant Workshop (Noyes Cultural Arts Center, Rm. 106)
African American Literature Book Discussion (Evanston Public Library)
“A Celebration of Composer Camille Saint-Saëns” (Lutkin Hall)

Thursday, Oct. 16
Meet Our Legislators (Boocoo)
Drop-in Ceramics Class (Levy Senior Center)
Drop-in Square Dancing (Levy Senior Center)
“Art of Flower Arranging” Workshop (Evanston Art Center)
Teen Circus Ensemble Open House (Actors Gymnasium)
“Wonderful Multi-Hued Sapphires: Nature and Art through the Ages” (Eve J. Alfille Gallery)
Evanston Video Festival (Evanston Community Media Center)
Drop-in Woodcarving Class (Levy Senior Center)
Evanston Art Walk Benefit (Taylor Street)


Friday, Oct. 17
Drop-in Sewing Class (Levy Senior Center)
NU Marching Band Homecoming Concert (Cahn Auditorium)
The Pirates of Penzance (See Oct. 10 Listing)
YAMO (See Oct. 11 Listing)
And Then There Were None (See Oct. 10 Listing)
Side by Side by Sondheim (Light Opera Works)


Saturday, Oct. 18
Open Studio Art Show & Talk (Joyce Elias Studio)
“Getting Started in Metal Clay” Jewelry Workshop (Evanston Art Center Jewelry Studio)
Lang Open Studio (Lang Studios)
The Pirates of Penzance (See Oct. 10 Listing)
YAMO (See Oct. 11 Listing)
And Then There Were None (See Oct. 10 Listing)

Sunday, Oct. 19
“Secrets of Bronze Casting” Open Studio & Sale
Haunted Ships Family Workshop (Evanston Art Center)
Steve Justman Concert (Evanston Public Library)
“Magdalena Abakanowicz” Exhibition Tour (Block Museum of Art)
Dance Showcase (Levy Senior Center)
And Then There Were None (See Oct. 10 Listing)
The Pirates of Penzance (See Oct. 10 Listing)

More detailed listing to come!

- L.A.U.R.E.N.

Robbie Fulks: Fountains of Wayne

Fountains of Wayne is the highly anticipated headliner of the Kellogg Global Arts Festival held this Saturday, October 4, at Fountain Square. Why are Fountains of Wayne playing at the Kellogg GLOBAL ARTS Festival, anyway?

It turns out that Fountains of Wayne has captured the imagination of more than just the Kellogg School of Management entertainment booker! (and the Northwestern marching band, as Lauren pointed out last week)

Robbie Fulks, Starlight 08 performer extraordinaire and certainly one of Chicago's cultural heroes--but not in the "apparently-Christie-Hefner-is-a-cultural-hero-and-that-makes-me-very-sad" kind of way--has written a witty little jingle about the catchy if systematic songwriting techniques of Fountains of Wayne. Perhaps it is the now-universal tropes found in "Stacy's Mom" that have made Fountains of Wayne a particularly significant landmark of the Global Arts? Or maybe Fountains of Wayne will incorporate the fountains at Fountain Square into a site-specific musical performance sculpture celebrating the history of water as the fertile beginning of civilization and as a conductor for transportation, trade, communication, and innovation that led to the global society we now inhabit. (Fountains of Wayne, if you're reading this, DO IT!)

More likely I'm just missing the point on what the Kellogg Global Arts Festival really is, as Michael McDermott rounds out the schedule.

You can listen to Robbie Fulk's take on Fountains of Wayne here: http://www.spinner.com/2007/06/07/iflts-fountains-of-wayne-hotline-robbie-fulks/

There is no denying the Fountains of Wayne performance at Fountain Square will be a fantastic highlight of the outdoor performances in Evanston this fall. And that hotline of theirs is a tremendous service to struggling songwriters everywhere.

xo Laura

N.U.R.D. and Michael Montenegro do Arts Week Opening Night

As the specter of Arts Week Evanston nears (October 10th-19th, 2008), the time has come to share some of the detalis about...Arts Week Opening Night, held on October 10th, 2008. Opening Night will be held from 6pm to 8pm at Fountain Square (Davis + Sherman + Orrington). The event will feature several 10-15 minute showcases by some of Evanston's most innovative performers.

Northwestern University Radio Drama (N.U.R.D....amazing!) will perform an original skit especially for Arts Week. N.U.R.D. is a weekly radio show on 89.3 FM WNUR every Sunday afternoon. They produce scripts written by Northwestern students past and present, focusing on current sketch comedy and full-length (30 minute) scripts. The N.U.R.D.s are also the proud winners of the "Best Regularly Scheduled Program" award from Collegiate Broadcasters, Inc. for 2005 and 2006. Check out more here: http://www.wnur.org/nurd/index1.html

Michael Montenegro is a painter, sculptor and puppetmaster. For Arts Week, Michael will create an as-of-yet untitled puppet. The puppet will be a man in a boat and Michael will perform for 10-15 minutes. The puppet piece will also be showcased at Navy Pier.

More information about Michael's creations can be found here: http://www.theatreinchicago.com/news.php?articleID=224

(Image by Liz Lauren via theatreinchicago.com)

...Plus more to come soon.

stay tuned!

xo Laura

Kellogg Brings Fountains of Wayne for Centennial Global Arts Festival

So, it seems that Northwestern University has a little crush on the Grammy Nominated band Fountains of Wayne. Not only does the Marching Band pound out their #1 hit “Stacy’s Mom” at every chance it gets, but Fountains of Wayne will soon be performing at Fountain Square this October 4th for the Kellogg Centennial Global Arts Festival (KCGAF).


A prelude to Evanston’s upcoming Arts Week, the KCGAF will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Founded on October 5, 1908, the former Northwestern School of Commerce has “[created] leaders in a culture of innovation and collaboration.” Renowned throughout the global business community, Kellogg stands as the #4 buisness school in the nation. The university hopes that “these events will represent the school's mission and raise visibility for the Kellogg School both in the United States and abroad.” Well with a main stage act like Fountains of Wayne, Kellogg is sure to make a few eye-brows raise within the next few weeks.

Formed in 1996 by Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, Fountains of Wayne was made famous through their aforementioned hit “Stacy’s Mom.” While that single was eventually certified gold, they’ve never reached the number one spot on the Billboard Charts. It has been reported, however, that Elton John called the group to tell them he thought their 1999 album Utopia Parkway “was great.” Now that’s recognition. Schlesinger is no stranger to this, however. He has won awards for writing songs in movies such as That Thing You Do! and Music and Lyrics and is currently in the studio working with Dashboard Confessional for their new album due out in early 2009.

Along with Fountains of Wayne, Chicago folk rock singer Michael McDermott and local band Down the Line will be performing at KCGAF. The festival will also feature crafts and children's entertainment during the day with a performance by Baby Loves Disco. All Kellogg alumni and their families, students, and the Evanston community are invited to join in on the festivities. Best part? It’s free.

So, with no reason not to go, please join us on October 4th from 11:00-8:00pm at Fountain Square to celebrate and rock out at the Kellogg Centennial Global Arts Festival.
Plus! Don’t forget to go to the many other events in association with Evanston’s Arts Week!

- L.A.U.R.E.N.