Volume I No. 45 |October 29, 2019
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ARTS NEWS
& PROFILES
FROM
FLORIDA'S
TREASURE COAST & BEYOND
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Sharing our wealth of arts and culture.
We're having an ARTS BLAST!
Supporting arts and cultural councils everywhere.
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Musician Lindsay Garritson
Artist Minakshi De
Storyteller Janie Gould
First Friday and Poets on a Porch
A Creek Walk in Stuart!
New - Riverside Theatre & Vero Beach Museum of Art
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Given a choice, I'd pick a hurricane over a fire any day. While we're coming to the end of hurricane season here in Florida, thousands of Californians are being chased by a devastating fire. Again. One of the sites in its path is
The Getty
, "
Art, architecture, and gardens"
at two Los Angeles locations. This is the update from the website this morning, Oct. 29:
Getty Center and Getty Villa are SAFE from a brush fire burning to the north and west of the Center. Both sites are closed on Monday and Tuesday, October 28 and 29, 2019.
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Another Something New for Arts Blast
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Volunteers are some of the most important elements
in the success of so many things we enjoy here. Their ranks swell around this time every year as seasonal residents flock to their winter homes and locals are filling in their winter calendars.
An addition to Arts Blast will be a section for volunteer opportunities. If your arts or environmental group is looking for volunteers, send me the information, basically following the guidelines at the end of this Arts Blast for submitting calendar listings.
As updates come in and when I discover something I had intended for the current issue of Arts Blast, I'll post on Facebook:
Willi Miller's Arts Blast
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Scroll down for guidelines for submitting calendar items and feature suggestions to ARTS BLAST.
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Like Willi Miller's Arts Blast Facebook page for updates and Willi Miller's Arts Blast Just For Fun for interesting, inspiring, and fun shared posts, then go to willimiller.com to catch up on every issue of
Arts Blast, and see the latest ON THE CALENDAR listings.
Share this to help Arts Blast reach more readers and spread the word.
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To opt out of receiving Arts Blast, "unsubscribe" at the end of the page.
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Art Talk
Join VBMA docents for an in-depth focus on select artworks from the exhibition
L-Affichomania: The Passion for French Posters
Nov. 20 at noon.
Trained docents will pick up participants at the Information Desk, then head to the galleries for 45-60 minutes of careful looking and discussion.
Pre-registration is encouraged, by calling 772-231-0707 ext. 136.
FREE with paid Museum Admission (Adults: $12 / Seniors: $10)
Members, Children (17 years and under), and Active Military with ID receive free admission.
L-Affichomania: The Passion for French Posters
is in the Holmes Gallery through Jan. 12, 2020.
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If you’re fortunate enough to be in the audience for the Oct. 29 Jureit Musicale at the Juriet-Beamish home in Sewall’s Point, you’ll hear a sneak preview of a “Musical Sparks and Fireworks” concert that will then head north for its next performance on November 11.
In a few days, part-time Stuart resident and internationally acclaimed pianist Lindsay Garritson will be on her way to New York City for her Carnegie Hall debut. On the bill will be a world premiere, a piece written for Garritson by composer Carl Vine. Down the road she’ll be performing it down under, in the composer’s native Australia.
The pianist grew up in a musical family
—
possibly a bit of an understatement. “My family used to give concerts together for many years! It was a great motivation for me to have three older siblings playing instruments as well as both parents being professional musicians.” Garritson remembers family concerts from when she was only four years old. In recent years, she and her sisters started playing together as a piano trio — piano, violin, and cello. “I happen to play violin in addition to piano, and one of my sisters also plays piano and violin. Therefore, we've had a lot of fun switching the violin and piano parts in the piano trios!” Sounds a little like Who’s on First!
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The family members currently in the equation are her sisters, Laura (piano and violin) and Ashley (cello) and mother, Marie Juriet-Beamish. “My mom is a wonderful pianist and flutist, and we also have performed quite often over the years in violin-piano combinations and well as flute-piano combinations. All-in-all, I would say I get to perform with members of my family at least a few times a year. It's a treat!”
Reaching professional status is a tough road and getting there isn’t the end of the journey. Garritson said, “Being a professional musician is one of the longest and hardest professions to train for, in the sense that we have to start at a very young age and put in many thousands of hours in order to become even ‘decent’ at our instruments. It requires an unbelievable amount of discipline, focus, and sacrifice, not unlike sports.” And as with superstars in any field, until you reach that dream level, a musician is likely going to have a “day job” as a teacher, a musician in an orchestra, or a freelancer.
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For Garritson, one goal is teaching at a university level, something that will be possible after she earns her doctorate in music from the University of Miami. Her wild travel agenda involves a triangle with points in Miami, Stuart, and the unknown. With a passion for performing, the musician keeps her passport handy to always be ready to pursue that third unknown point.
It isn’t all work for Garritson. Her love for Argentine tango music led her to a new passion, dancing the tango. Reading tops the list of down-time interests, she said. “I absolutely love history, and I'm always happy with a good biography.”
For information about Jureit Musicales:
772-781-2046; mjureit@comcast.net
Photos: Courtesy of Lindsay Garritson. Bottom: Ashley Garritson, Marie Jureit-Beamish, Lindsay Garritson
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It’s been a long road from Minakshi De’s early years in India leading to what has become a 40-year career in art. Some of that journey will be visible in the work on display at the opening of her solo exhibition, Illusion of Freedom, at Raw Space in Vero Beach this weekend.
Working in acrylics and mixed media, Minakshi begins with an imagined image. That becomes the first layer on her canvas. Then, “I put color (on) layer after layer. I have no idea were is the end. My brush guides me and I take the decision spontaneously for the next steps.” There’s always a message, no matter where the brush goes. “My current series is MIGRATION and CAPTIVE. Migration talks of my own journey to different countries. In (the) Captive series I talk of the veiled women, the invisible or the visible screens that deter them from expression. My background might be Indian, my story lines might be taken from the pages of my own life, but I speak for the women of the world.”
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The artist was introduced to the art of her country by folk artists who came to the family home. “From my childhood, I loved to paint,” she said, “but no one (in my family) was an artist.” On her own, she submitted her art to children’s newspapers and “when I was accepted, I felt that I can draw now.” Her parents were not encouraging, but Minakshi was determined to begin a career in the arts, eventually earning a B.F.A with honors from University of Chittagong and a post Graduate diploma from Fashion & Art Institute, Dallas, Texas.
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She has had 25 solo shows, and more than a hundred group exhibitions in India , Bangladesh, China, Italy, Spain and the United States.
There will be a preview of Illusion of Freedom during First Friday Gallery Stroll and then the official opening and reception Nov. 2, 2-8 p.m. The show will be up through November. Raw Space is at 1795 Old Dixie Hwy., Vero Beach. More information is on the artist’s website,
www.minakshide.in
, and on
Facebook
.
Photos courtesy of Minakshi De: Middle - Captive 1; Bottom - Migration
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Storyteller Janie Gould Tells Her Story
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I started writing about friend and colleague Janie Gould for this issue to let readers know about her Florida Humanities Council connection and a date coming up. Then it occurred to me that a storyteller would tell a better story about her storytelling than I could tell, and Janie was happy to step in. So, Janie Gould in her own words:
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Some of you might remember the Floridays shows I did for WQCS, the NPR radio station for our region. For nine years, I sought out folks with stories about living in Florida and produced the most memorable ones for broadcast and for two books and a cookbook. I retired from radio six years ago, but still get asked to talk about these stories to audiences all over Florida.
On Nov. 2, at 12:30 p.m., I’ll talk about hard times in Florida as the keynote speaker at the CCC Festival at Highlands Hammock State Park near Sebring. The park was built during the Great Depression by workers with the Civilian Conservation Corps. A few of those “CCC boys,” now in their 90s, are expected to attend the day-long event. My talk is being underwritten by funding from the Friends of Highlands Hammock State Park.
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Subsistence living became a common thread in many of my interviews. I talked to people who remembered hunting manatees when food was scarce, who collected Spanish moss as a cash crop for mattress stuffing, who hunted raccoons and sold the carcasses, head and all, so that buyers at a meat market would know “they were buying a ‘coon and not a dog,” and a man who remembered hungry people nearly wiping out the sand hill crane population in Florida during the Depression.
A second talk that I’m often requested to give concerns global events and how they affected Floridians, from the Depression through the Cold War. One of the most memorable of those stories, in my opinion, was told by a former German POW who was shipped to the U.S. from Italy and held at Camp Blanding near Jacksonville. Another was from a former Army officer, sent to South Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis, who talks about what he saw in Fort Lauderdale that made him believe an invasion was likely.
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People who I called for an interview would often ask me what I was looking for, and I would tell them, truthfully, that I didn’t know. So we would just talk, and often, an amazing story would crop up after 30 minutes of interviewing, with me asking a few questions but mostly listening. One thing I learned is that nearly everyone has a story, if you’ll be patient, ask the right questions, and listen.
Sometimes I illustrate my talks with a PowerPoint show, but often I don’t, and occasionally I play samples of broadcasts, but not this time either. The stage at Highlands Hammock doesn’t have electricity, so I’ll be going at it without a mic, too! I like for audience members to jump right in with questions and comments, which makes for lively conversations. I’m hoping to chat with some “CCC boys,” and hoping also that some readers here will make the drive to Sebring for this event.
I’m a member of the Florida Humanities Council Speakers Bureau. To learn about grants to underwrite my talks, go to
info@flhum.org
, or contact me at Janiegould@aol.
Photos courtesy of Janie Gould: Top - Gould with the late Indian River County pioneer descendant Richard Milton Jones; center - Gould with Lanie Gobron Frame.
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Something new and exciting is happening in Stuart. From the
Facebook page:
Come explore
THE CREEK
- a colorful, eclectic, diverse, fun and interesting part of downtown Stuart! This is your Arts & Entertainment District! We are in the beginning stages of defining and developing this neighborhood, filled with service, professional and retail businesses of all kinds! The District runs along Colorado Ave and side streets to the east, such as Kindred, MLK, and 6th St - including Kiwanis Park, and is bordered by Johnson Ave., the location of 901 Hub, a cool space for think tanks, meetings, workspace, and events.
The First Friday Creek Walk
will be a monthly event, with Nov. 1st being our first "soft launch" walk. Various businesses and retailers will be open from 5 to 8 PM (with some open until 11 PM) - for you to visit on your stroll. Each stop will have light refreshments and will host either a visual or performing artist for you to meet and enjoy. THIS EVENT IS FREE to attend, but THANK YOU for tipping performers and remembering/patronizing these businesses - either during the event or in the future.
Simply come to NOTES MUSIC ROOM on Colorado Ave. near US1 (872 S. Colorado Ave.) or 901 HUB at 901 Johnson Ave. and receive your list of stops on the WALK. Start time is 5 PM. Please do not bring outside beverages into participating retailers/ stops. Thank you! Enjoy the walk and be safe - use posted crosswalks on Colorado Ave. PARKING: On Kindred St., side streets off of MLK and 6th St., the Kiwanis Parking Lot, and at 901 Hub/Johnson Ave. Or take the TRAM from downtown to the 555 building and walk from there.
Please note - also on On Nov. 1st, Stuart is holding a special "parking space" event at the 555 building along Colorado Ave. Our events complement one another, and you can easily attend both!
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Something new for this First Friday is the Front Porch Poets
at the Laura Riding Jackson Writing Center, 1914 14th Ave. in Vero from 5:30 until 7. Visitors are invited to share a poem they have written or just listen to the poetry of local writers. Wine and snacks will be provided.
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Coming Soon to a Lagoon Near You!
(Actually, Vero Beach High School's Performing Arts Center.)
Ballet Vero Beach's Centennial edition of Nutcracker on the Indian River is in the works. Dates are Dec. 30&31.
Single tickets go on sale Nov. 29. Subscribers can get theirs now.
Tickets and Information:
www.balletverobeach.org
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From the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra:
Families will love the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s Musicians are Superheroes, a FREE concert featuring musical depictions of favorite movie heroes. The program will feature an exciting original screenplay by national best-selling author, Michele Wallace Campanelli that will come to life in stunning animations by Twelve Atlas Pictures. Musicians are Superheroes tells the story of Conductor and his band of musical heroes, as they bring the incredible power of music to the world.
Nov. 2, 2 and 4:30 p.m. at Scott Center for Performing Arts, Melbourne.
Nov.3, 3 p.m. at Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center.
The concert will feature music from Superman, The Incredibles, Spiderman, Batman, How to Train Your Dragon, The Avengers, Pirates of the Caribbean, Madagascar and more. Be sure to come early and in costume, for pre-concert activities for the youngsters, including musical crafts and games, an instrument petting zoo and our superhero costume contest—prizes to be awarded during the concert!
With thanks to Indian River IMPACT 100.
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From the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation:
Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing with Lift Off! an event featuring a private movie screening and Q & A with Apollo engineers!
EVENT INCLUDES:
Half a century after landing man on the moon, the Apollo program remains the single greatest initiative in peacetime the world has ever known.
• A live panel discussion and Q&A with engineers who worked on Apollo
The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation is a non profit 501 (c) 3 tax exempt organization.
Wednesday, November 13th, 4-6:30pm
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Thank You
Arts Blast Sponsors
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FriendshipWorks Gallery Opening
Nov. 2, 1-4 p.m.
Friendship House, 3404 Aviation Blvd., Vero Beach
Free admission
The premier exhibit of FriendshipWorks Gallery will feature works from local artists, including cancer survivors, with proceeds benefitting Friends After Diagnosis. World-renowned flutist Judi Lambert will perform from 2:15 to 3:15.
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Arts Blast
Friends and Supporters
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Vero Beach Art Club's Art in the Park is in Humiston Park on Ocean Dr., Vero Beach.
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
November 10,17
December 8, 15
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Paintings by Barry Shapiro are on exhibit at Community Church of Vero Beach. He'll be talking about them and his career as an artist from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20. All are welcome.
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The Jureit Musicales are back for another season in Martin County.
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now through January 12, 2020 in the Holmes Gallery.
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Coming Soon! The Garden Club of Indian River County's 28th holiday ornament is on its way to Vero Beach and will be available for purchase early in November.
The design is by Arun Wijetilleke and the accompanying brochure was written by Nat Jackson, as usual. Locations for purchase will be listed on the Garden Club's website.
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The final chance to join the Treasure Coast Community Singers for this season is Nov. 4 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Savannah Road, Jensen Beach.
Register
online.
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It's the final week for TATOO at Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta.
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Vero Beach Opera
Rossini's Opera "The Barber of Seville"
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 3 pm
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A Facebook post from Marshall adams, Backus Museum and Gallery last week:
We've received word that O.C. "Pete" Peterson, age 100, passed away. Pete and his late wife Olive Dame Peterson (author of "A.E. Backus: Florida Artist," 1984 and "A.E. Backus," 2003) were fast friends of Bean's. Pete gifted the Museum with an important trove of Backus history including art, documents, photographs, and clippings about the artist that help showcase important details of his story for our visitors and the public. Our thoughts are with his family today. We trust only the kindest stars will continue to guide him.
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Welcome and Thanks to Our Newest Arts Blast Sponsor
The first concert in Christ by the Sea's 2019-2020 series is
Nov. 17 at 3 p.m.
, featuring pianist Marcos Flores, and classical guitarist Miguel Bonachea. Baroque to tango, Bach to Piazzolla.
3755 Hwy A1A Vero Beach, FL (772) 231-1661
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For Artist Members of the Cultural Council of Indian River County:
CALL FOR ARTISTS – Art in Public Places
Application deadline: November 1
Delivery day: Nov 11 Exhibit dates: Nov 13, 2019 to Feb 28, 2020
Vero Beach Regional Airport Secure Passenger Area, 3400 Cherokee Drive
“Historical Vero” Theme (Citrus, Dodgers, Cattle, the Beach, Downtown, etc.)
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Supporting Arts Councils Everywhere
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All are updated online as needed.
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LIBRARIES
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IF YOU GO (ONLINE)
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Ft. Pierce Jazz & Blues Society
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Center for Spiritual Care
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Galleries of Historic Downtown Vero Beach Arts District
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Vero Beach Choral Society
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Treasure Coast Community Singers
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Treasure Coast Jazz Society
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Information is to
be received in an email at least one week before publication.
Use this format:
Who (organization)
What (Event)
When (dates, time)
Where (Name of venue, address)
Why (a brief description of the purpose)
Web address
Contact for public (for tickets, questions, etc.)
Then add a short, descriptive release if available.
Send only one photo, with caption, until more are requested.
Media contact with email for my followup (not for publication)
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Here's a suggestion for uploading information to calendars that allow you to input your own events.
In the
body
of the listing, sometimes called
Description
, make sure to include all dates in each upload. For example: Performances are on March 12-31; or the exhibit is open March 12, 14, 15, and 17. That information should be in all dates you post individually.
If you are a member of the
Cultural Council of Indian River County
, you need this information:
The deadline is MONDAY - 10 days prior to the Wednesday publication.
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Copyright
©2019 Willi Miller's ARTS BLAST!, all rights reserved.
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