Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Calling All Volunteers!

Are you an art lover with time to spare? Then come out and volunteer for the City of Evanston at the 2009 LAKESHORE AND ETHNIC ARTS FESTIVALS!

Both festivals are located at the beautiful Dawes Park (at the intersection of Sheridan Rd. and Church St.) and house some of the best artwork that Evanston and Chicago have to offer. With a myriad of entertainment and food vendors, these events are sure to be fun and exciting!


Volunteer Positions Available are:

Lakeshore Arts Festival – August 1st and 2nd

FAMILY CRAFT TENT - working with children to create original craft pieces
SILENT AUCTION - loading in, setting up, watching bid sheet, and processing transactions
INFORMATION BOOTH - selling merch, folding shirts and answering questions
FLOATERS - walking around helping artists in their booths

Ethnic Arts Festival – July 18th and 19th

FAMILY ARTS ACTIVITY AREA - working with kids and crafts; HOSPITALITY - greeting artists and helping the load-in
INFORMATION BOOTH - selling merch, folding shirts, and answering questions
PARADE OF NATIONS - presenting the nations represented
FLOATERS - walking around to aid artist vendors with booth sitting and questions
PLUS, FOOD VOUCHERS AND A FREE T-SHIRT WILL BE PROVIDED!!!!

If interested please contact Lauren Echevarria by e-mail at lechevarria@cityofevanston.org OR by phone at (847)448-8260.

Thanks!

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

Monday, May 18, 2009

"The Consul" comes to Northwestern


This Thursday, May 21st Menotti’s The Consul opens at Northwestern University in Cahn Auditorium (600 Emerson Street, Evanston, IL 60201).

Directed by Jay Lesenger and conducted by the award-winning Joel Revzen, this operatic thriller tells the tale of Magda Sorel, a woman trapped within an unidentified totalitarian European nation. With a revolutionary for a husband, Sorel finds herself face to face with the secret police. Hoping to save her and her family from her countries dark oppression, she attempts to obtain a visa, all too rarely granted, from the consul of a neighboring country. The Consul tale of her epic journey to escape tyranny has fascinated audiences since its opening on Broadway in 1950. Winning both the Pulitzer Prize for music and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for best musical, this was Gian Carlo Menotti’s first full-length opera. Performed in English, this will be the first time this thought-provoking opera has been seen at Northwestern.

Show Times:
Thursday, May 21st – 7:30PM
Friday, May 22nd – 7:30PM (Cover Cast, No Costumes or Orchestra – Free)
Saturday, May 23rd – 7:30PM

Ticket Prices:
General Public - $18
Senior Citizens and Northwestern Faculty/Staff - $15
Students with valid IDs - $8

For more information please call the Pick-Staiger Concert Office at (847) 491-5441 or visit the Pick-Staiger Web site at http://www.pickstaiger.org/.

Don’t miss out on this great event!

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

Friday, May 15, 2009

JASC Tsukasa Taiko drums the legacy at this summer's Ethnic Arts Festival

I hope you’re as excited as I am to experience culture at its finest at this year’s Ethnic Arts Festival. Aside from over 100 artist vendors, we’ll be providing you with fantastic entertainment throughout the weekend. Something new we’re bringing this year is a unique performance from the JASC Youth Taiko Ensemble, the leading Japanese drumming ensemble in the Midwest.

Taiko, meaning “drum,” is known for its thunderous sound and stunning, stylized choreography. The kumi-daiko style, which JASC Tsukasa Taiko mainly performs, was established in the mid 20th-century and comprises of an ensemble solely of drums. JASC’s ensemble also incorporates unique instruments like the shamisen (three-stringed lute) and the shinobue (transverse bamboo flute) into their performance. These instruments have a strong presence not only in Taiko, but also in Kabuki theater music and matsuri festival music.

With internationally renowned instructors and performing artists, JASC Tsukasa Taiko strives to preserve their cultural traditions by providing the highest quality music instruction to people of all ages, by presenting world-class performances and educational programs, and by being an active presence in their community. We are very fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated group join the entertainment bill for this year’s Ethnic Arts Festival. Stay tuned for what day and time they’ll be performing!

This is Kristina signing out…

Monday, May 11, 2009

Mayfest Battle of the Bands

Hello guys and dolls!

What are you up to this weekend? I know! Northwestern organization Mayfest Productions is hosting their annual Battle of the Bands for two nights at Nevin’s, where ten bands will be competing for a chance to play Dillo Day, “the best day at Northwestern” for most students. It will be featuring a variety of music from R&B to Math Rock to Hip-Hop to traditional rock n’ roll. This will mark Mayfest’s first fundraising event leading up to the big day, and other events to follow include a Sing-a-Long to Aladdin and a Battle of the DJs, where the winner will also win a slot on the Dillo Day artist lineup.

Dillo Day is an all-day festival with non-stop music for ten hours and free goodies, and students take the day to celebrate the end of the school year. The winners of the two battle will have the privilege to perform alongside very famous (and still confidential!) bands, and in front of thousands of students. If you’re interested in hearing what Northwestern’s music scene is like, check out Mayfest’s Battle of the Bands on either Thursday, May 14th or Friday, May 15th. Tickets are only $5 and proceeds to go to making Dillo Day even more awesome than it already is.

The list of bands performing is below (lineup on the day of will be a different order)

Thursday May 14th

The Royal Senders
Looney and the Tunes
The Earth is a Man
The Classics
Band Called Catch

Friday May 15th

Mind at Large
Rotimi and the Rainmakers
Right on Red
Slow, Weird and Melodic (SWAM)
Lolita

Hope to see you there on both nights!

This is Kristina signing out…

The Art Institute's Modern Wing Makes Me Want to Rock Out - Opening This Weekend!


The eyes of the art world will be on Chicago this weekend, Saturday May 16th, as the Art Institute of Chicago opens its new Modern Wing. This $283 million addition will be featuring a modern European collection (including Picasso, Matisse, and Kandinsky), a contemporary collection (including Jackson Pollock, de Kooning, and Eva Hesse), and a new exhibition featuring Cy Twombly's "The Natural World, Selected Works 2001-2007," which is on view from May 16 – September 13, 2009.

In addition, on Saturday the Art Institute plans to shut down Monroe St. to bring in the entire city of Chicago with live music and family activities throughout the galleries. With a dedication at 9:00am with city officials and Renzo Piano, Modern Wing architect, and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00am, the entertainment plans to begin at 11:00am and continue until 5:00. Bands performing include Swing Gitan, Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and more.

Tom Pritzker, chairman of the board of trustees, said that the opening of the Modern Wing was a "historic moment for the Art Institute of Chicago. [It] signals to the world the cultural caliber of the city of Chicago and reaffirms its place as a leading cultural destination." Everyone throughout the city and the suburbs is excited for this event, and the Art Institute knows it. As a thank you to the city for its support and in celebration of the opening, admission to the museum will be free from opening day through Friday, May 22, 2009.

So! Get out to the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave.) starting Saturday, May 16th to see the new Modern Wing! For more information go to http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/exhibitions/modernwing !

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

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Melting Pot of R&B Paul Cebar Comes to Evanston

Evanston welcomes Paul Cebar on Thursday, June 18th at James Park as we kick off the 2009 Starlight Concert Series!

Making his beginning in the coffeehouse folk scene of the mid-'70s in Milwaukee, Cebar graduated from New College in Florida with a thesis focusing on rhythm & blues. After college he looked to explore his musical talents and began collaboration with two groups, the R&B Cadets and The Milwaukeeans. He mostly focused on music from '30s, '40s and '50s jazz and R&B. In 1986, the Cadets came to an end, and The Milwaukeeans became Cebar’s main project. The group began exploring other forms of jazz and R&B from across the world, diving into new sounds of music and culture.

Throughout the next 20 years, Cebar and The Milwaukeeans released nearly 4 albums and spent countless hours touring the country, playing their vibrant and catchy collection of music. After the release of his album “Tommorow Sound Now For Yes Music People," Cebar began touring as Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound. Rick Mason of City Pages in Minneapolis-St. Paul said that Cebar once “again revels [his] delicious synthesis of vintage R&B, soul, New Orleansiana, Cubano Bop, slithery Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and tantalizing esoterica from around the globe” with this album. The Onion AV also had praise for Cebar saying that he helped “reimagine and liven up obscure classics, and the band's originals present new viewpoints on established styles.”



Clearly, Cebar has come a long way, creating a health fan base and long list of admirers. That’s exactly why Evanston is so excited to have him open for the 2009 Starlight Concert Series on Thursday, June 18 at James Park! So come out and support this great artist and the City of Evanston!

To find out more about Paul Cebar go to http://www.paulcebar.com/ ! For more information about the 2009 Starlight Concert Series go to www.cityofevanston.org/starlight !

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

Monday, May 4, 2009

JUST ANNOUNCED! Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival Entertainment 2009


THOSE FUNNY LITTLE PEOPLE – Representing Ireland and Germany!

Costume characters performing interactive, mini-musical presentations. An Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival favorite!


LINDA GORHAM - African-American Folkloric storyteller

Linda energizes her audiences by using movement, humor, and sometimes zaniness as she tells multicultural folktales updated with "attitude." Her stories amuse, stimulate and make you laugh out loud. And, watch out, you just may learn something!


TRICIA SEBASTIAN BAND - Mexican music for “los niños”

Tricia Sebastian children’s music entertainer and recording artist will be performing a bilingual concert for families with children who love to sing and dance. Along with many traditional and original songs, Tricia will feature Spanish and English songs off her bilingual children’s album entitled Canta Conmigo. The audience will be encouraged to participate in spontaneous dancing, singing, and instrument shaking. Come join us for a fun-filled musical family event!


VONORTHAL PUPPETS

For more than 10 years VonOrthal Puppets have been captivating audiences with its creations for over a decade. For the Festival they will present “Tara’s Story: The Birth of the Universe.”


JASC TAIKO YOUTH ENSEMBLE – Japanese drum ensemble

JASC Tsukasa Taiko is the leading taiko (Japanese drumming) ensemble in the Chicago area. Basing its operations out of the Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago (JASC), JASC Tsukasa Taiko's mission is to preserve and pass on the traditional concepts of taiko as a cultural legacy and to utilize these concepts in expanding and evolving the taiko form.


TUM BALALAIKA KLEZMER BAND

"Tum Balalaika" Klezmer Band from Chicago performs Russian, Yiddish, Klezmer, Gypsy, Ukranian, Romanian, and Jewish music and songs. Artistic Director Peter Sadkin. Authentic group of professionally trained musicians with wealth of experience playing in orchestras in Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine. Beautifully arranged tunes played on bayan (Russian button accordion), violin, clarinet, flute, sopilka, koval, tzimbali and others from Russian, Gypsy, Ukrainian and Yiddish heritage. Polkas, waltzes, kadrils, gopaks and other traditional dances.


CURUMIN - (KOO-roo-mean) from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Born in Brazil to Spanish/Japanese parents Curumin began his journey through the world's music, from Jorge Ben to Devo to Bebeto. He’s formed several bands since his pre-teen years and has garnered the attention of such greats as composer Arnaldo Antunes, the samba-punk singer Andrea Marquee, as well as Brazilian hip-hop groups like Lino Crizz & Guetto Jam and SP Funk. It was with these groups that Curumin got his first taste of world touring, blowing away audiences across Latin America and Europe.
His newest creation, “Japan Pop Show” features funk, psychedelic rock, hip-hop, reggae, dub, and more all co-exist, sometimes even within the same track. There’s enough influence from Brazil’s musical past to keep traditionalists listening, but enough forward thinking to take the album into new territory.


TULLY ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE

The Tully School is highly regarded in the Irish Dance community, having produced many champion dancers over the years. Sheila's students have performed at Walt Disney World in Florida, The White House, and at Soldiers Field and the United Center in Chicago. Her school has won first place in their category almost every year at he Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade. Many of Sheila's students have won at the Midwest Irish Dance Championships and have gone on to compete at the World Championships in Ireland.


CFAS ENSEMBLE - Presented by the Chinese Fine Arts Society

This group is a dazzling string and piano ensemble (winners of the MFHC - Music Festival in Honor of Confucius, sponsored by CFAS). The CFAS is a Chicago cultural not for profit with a mission: - To Discover Chinese music and its cultural significance- To Develop interest in performing and studying Chinese music and arts- To foster success in these artistic endeavors through Determination and Discipline


MARILYN PRICE - Presents: “A Wonderful Whirl of Puppets”

Stories from around the world–folktales and parables and stories from her imagination and experience. Many are stories that are familiar and reconstructed to suit the audience–but the drama is kept intact and the message is always clear. Countries of story origin may include: Africa, China, Indonesia, Spain, Mexico, England, North and South America and the Middle East! New stories and countries are always being added.


S.O.U.L. CREATIONS – African drum and dance presentation followed by African drum workshop

S.O.U.L. Creations Inc. is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3), community-based, educational agency. The mission of S.O.U.L. Creations is to blend academic, social and cultural elements to create a unique process of self-discovery that educates, empowers, and validates youth. The aim is to help them reach their highest personal potential. S.O.U.L. uses academic, social, and cultural models to guide youth in their process of self-discovery, self-empowerment, and self-expression. Our vision is that S.O.U.L. Creations will be an independent, interntional, and unconventional educational organization recognized for its ability to strengthen communities through their youth.


EVANSTON ESCOLA DE SAMBA – Brazilian Carnival parade to kick off the day followed by traditional Brazilian music performance

Orquestra de Samba (ODS) is a collaboration of ten Chicago area musicians with classical, jazz, latin, and Brazilian musical backgrounds. This innovative ensemble came together in 2002 to explore the depth and beauty of Brazilian music and has since brought its cultural enrichment program to thousands of people in the greater Chicago area through in-school concerts, community events, workshops, and cultural arts festivals. Today, the exciting sound of Orquestra de Samba brings audiences to their feet with percussive Batucada, powerful brass choruses, poignant melodies, and unique arrangements of works by Brazilian composers such as Pixinguinha, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Heitor Villa-Lobos.


THE MAHAUL TRIO – Classical Indian music


Don’t miss out on this great array of entertainment and come enjoy yourself at the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival July 18th and 19th!

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

2009 Starlight Concert Series Line-Up

I couldn't be more excited for the 2009 Starlight Concert Series. Below is our line-up--there is something for everyone! We have brought back some old favorites as well as some adventurous new picks. For more information, check out www.cityofevanston.org/starlight.

Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
Thursday, June 18 at James Park

South Boulevard
Tuesday, June 23 at Harbert Park

? and the Mysterians
Thursday, June 25 at James Park

Milt Trenier
Tuesday, June 30 at Twiggs Park

Allá
Thursday, July 9 at James Park

Lucy Smith
Tuesday, July 14 at Harbert Park

Waco Brothers
Thursday, July 16 at James Park

Bob Stroger
Tuesday, July 21 at Dawes Park

The Eternals
Thursday, July 23 at James Park

Melanie Safka
Tuesday, July 28 at Dawes Park

Bird Names
Thursday, July 30 at James Park

Entourage
Tuesday, August 4 at Dawes Park

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons
Thursday, August 6 at Twiggs Park

Fred Anderson Trio
Tuesday, August 11 at Dawes Park

JT and the Clouds
Tuesday, August 18 at Dawes Park

Silent Film Night with David Drazin
Tuesday, August 25 at Dawes Park