Volume I No. 46 |November 5, 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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Riverside's Big November - Festival of Trees
House of Art Culture & Design
Sebastian River Art Club Brings Books to Life
New Mural for Okeechobee
Take Stock in a Youth Strings Orchestra
Pelican Island Audubon Society Has Free Trees
Seashells in Braille
Bailey-Matthews National Seashell Museum
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A Big Week Ahead — Well, A Big Day
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If I'm lucky, most of the week will be the same old, same old — right up to Thursday, Nov. 7.
Arts Blast readers within lunching distance of Indian River County — those who happily eat soup for a cause, can't resist adding to their collection of unique, handmade bowls, and who want to buy raffle tickets to win one of a passel of gorgeous soup tureens — will be slurping homemade soups for the annual Soup Bowl project to support the Samaritan Center in Vero Beach.
I'll be at my usual lunchtime post at First United Methodist Church on SR 60 West around 17th Avenue, wrapping — not rapping, unless pressed — and coveting every bowl on the tables. And buying only one. Maybe two.
At 6:00, same day, I hope you'll join me at the Vero Beach Book Center. I get to moderate a conversation with Nelson and Alex DeMille, the father-son writing team of a hot-off-the-presses thriller, The Deserter. In case you've become weary of worrying about the Middle East, read this book and your eyes and fears most likely will turn south and focus on Venezuela. Some of the senior DeMille's books are among the few that have stayed on my bookshelf after I've finished reading them. I've interviewed him for other outlets and will be as happy as (
you fill in the blank
) to talk with him again and to meet Alex.
See you Thursday, when Soup's on and good conversation is at hand.
Photos: Soup tureen by Nancy Blair and Ginny Piech Street; Indian River Clay's soup bowls; the DeMille writing team.
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Have Moved from Tuesday Arts Blast to Their Own Pages at
WilliMiller.com
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All are updated online as needed.
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned to recognize
when I’ve felt it, it’s a really good time. I think a show that still has me working on my Tina Turner moves a week after I saw it definitely qualifies. Beehive, the musical at Riverside Theatre until November 17, is a nonstop roll through memories if you happened to be coming of age in the 1960s, or, if you’re a latecomer to rock and roll, a musical education in what helped shape your parents’ or grandparents’ lives.
The six ladies who put it all out there in Beehive certainly weren’t around back then but they really did zero in on what made performers like the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, the Shirelles, Lesley Gore, and others grab our hearts. (Okay, who just started singing It’s My Party or You Don’t Own Me?) And then their Tina Turner and JOPLIN! Yes!
Beehive hit exactly the right notes for this former teenager. And throwing out my back while practicing my Tina routine gave me just the excuse I needed to spend more quality time with my recliner, writing Arts Blast.
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Scroll down for guidelines for submitting calendar items and feature suggestions to ARTS BLAST.
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You know it’s winter in Vero Beach, not when the leaves start to fall (that’s usually in December or January) or when you can see your breath in the cold morning air (that’s pretty much never), but when the bells in the elves’ workshop at Riverside Children’s Theatre begin their jingle jangle as they prepare for Festival of Trees. And they've been ringing those bells for months, quietly at first, but now that we're little more than two weeks away, they're letting you know tickets for the lineup of events are going fast. In fact, if you had planned on hearing the Broadway Tenors in concert again this year, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. The show, starring has been sold out for a while.
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From Riverside Theatre:
It all begins Friday, Nov. 22 with a glittering gala and
A Motown and More Christmas
show and continues with the regular showcase on November 23 & 24.
Featuring a “Winter Wonderful” theme, the entire Riverside Theatre campus will feature a sparkling world of Christmas trees, holiday displays, a Santa’s village, community choirs, and a fun night of surprises for the whole family on Saturday from 4 to 8pm.
Gala attendees on November 22
nd
will welcome the holidays with a progressive evening full of entertainment. The Gala begins at Riverside Children’s Theatre with the opening the Festival Forest and Silent Auction with passed hors d’oeuvres provided by Orchid Gourmet Catering, then move to the Riverside Loop with food stations under the twinkling lights by Elizabeth Kennedy & Co. Attendees will enter the Stark Stage for a very special
A Motown and More Christmas
featuring the music of some of Motown’s greatest artists – Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and more. The evening concludes with champagne and dessert supplied by Wild Thyme Catering.
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There will be four distinct areas on the Riverside campus for people to enjoy: The Festival Forest, Santa’s Village, the Festival Market and the Grand Festival Hall & Christmas Shoppe.
Santa’s Village - This outdoor area will feature music, performances, family activities, a synthetic skating rink for kids, and Santa himself. Santa’s Village will also be the main location for
Family Night
where kids can enjoy crafts, games, and the twinkling decorations.
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The Festival Forest - Riverside Children’s Theatre is transformed into a magical forest with over 50 beautifully decorated trees and 20 holiday wreaths. Designers from all over the area volunteer their time, talent and treasure to create these unique, holiday masterpieces. The gingerbread village, a magical mix of large and small creations, is always a focal point in the display area and completes any home, holiday décor.
The ever popular
Dine with Santa
returns with a visit by Ole St. Nick, musical performances, and a delectable breakfast or brunch buffet. There will be a 9am Breakfast and a 12noon Brunch on Sunday, November 24. (These tickets go very fast.)
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Grand Festival Hall & Christmas Shoppe - Riverside Theatre’s main building will be a hub of activity with the Community Stage on the Waxlax Stage showcasing performances by local choirs and musicians, and the festive Christmas Shoppe.
Festival Market - Take a stroll through the Festival Market. Visit our vendors and peruse their sweet treats and festive fashions! The kids can try their skills at Maximum Velocity Gymnastics' Obstacle Course, and parents can enjoy a relaxing chair massage provided by Serenity Solutions.
The
22
nd
Annual
Festival of Trees
takes place November 22-24, 2019. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Box Office at 772-231-6990 or go one line to
www.riversidetheatre.com
.
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- Friday, November 22 – 6pm to 10pm (Gala Party &Motown Christmas Show)
- Saturday, November 23 – 10am to 8pm (Regular Showcase & Family Night)
- Sunday, November 24 – 10am to 4pm (Regular Showcase)
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From the Cultural Council Council of Indian River County:
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Designers, creative professionals, and the Cultural Council of Indian River County have worked together to transform an Orchid Isles Estates residence into an exhibition that captures the unique presence of this hidden gem on the Treasure Coast of Florida. The property provides elegant riverfront living, with breathtaking views on over one acre. Visitors can watch dolphin feed and enjoy wildlife and see stunning sunsets from dock, pool and the home, European designed with a long dramatic drive and private gate.
The 2019 House of Art Culture & Design, celebrating the Vero Beach lifestyle, will be the center of four days of exciting events, all held under the pavilion at the Environmental Learning Center. The fun begins begin with a Big Band Gala Nov. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. After a buffet dinner, music for dancing will be provided by Jordan Thomas Odyssey. Cocktail attire is appropriate. The 4 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony is included with a Big Band Gala ticket.
On Friday, An Evening at the Cabaret begins at 6 p.m. It’s a perfect date night with cocktails, food, and a cabaret performance. Guests can preview the Designer Showhouse & Garden Exhibition before the evening begins. Trolleys will offer transport between the Environmental Learning Center and the Showhouse.
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Then activities move to the daytime, with a Let’s Get Glamorous Saturday, a runway show and luncheon, and a Mimosas & Mahjong brunch Sunday, both beginning at noon.
A dozen creative designers and their colleagues have made the beauty happen and are introduced
online
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All attendees will park for the event at the Environmental Learning Center and trolleys will be provided to and from the property if attending the Designer Showhouse.
No parking is allowed on the Designer Showhouse premises.
The Design Showhouse second floor is not handicap accessible.
A percentage of the Designer Showhouse & Garden Exhibition proceeds will be donated to the Gifford Youth Achievement Center programs for literacy and the arts.
Co-chairs for the event are Caesar V. Mistretta - J.M. Stringer Gallery, and Diane Langevin - Interior Design Consultant
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The trip to South Africa by the First Presbyterian Youth Strings Orchestra is happening in two weeks and there’s still some assistance they could use. Leading up to the trip, the orchestra did a summer concert series with all the literature they’ll be taking to South Africa, Jacob Craig, director of music arts at the church, said. To close out the fundraising for the students, Craig and the orchestra have started an inter-active program. “One interesting fundraising component we are doing is ‘Take Stock In Youth,’ where we will have certificates available for people to purchase ‘shares’ in these students, and the return or dividend will be that they get several emails while we are over there with pictures and updates, etc. The Take Stock In Youth is happening on the church campus, and so if someone is interested they can call the church office and ask for Jacob Strang at extension 121, 772-562-9088.”
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Craig explained why he’s taking the orchestra to South Africa. “As part of the Presbyterian mission, we do a local, regional, and international mission outreach. Our local is typically Habitat for Humanity, regional is a sister church in Cuba, and the international is the Potchefstroom Children’s Home in South Africa. We have had a relationship with them for almost a decade, and the church has led several trips there in the past. It was suggested that this time around we tie in with their Festival of Lights they put on every year, which is a novelty in South Africa, and that we take the youth orchestra to perform during that festival.”
There was almost a glitch in the plans, but Atlantic Strings in Melbourne came to the rescue just in time. Craig explained, “We have to rent instruments from Cape Town, and they let us know that the instruments are not very good, and so Atlantic Strings is sending high quality strings for all of the musicians to be able to put on the rented instruments to sound as good as we can while there, for which we are enormously grateful.” The students will be gone over the Thanksgiving school break.
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Books Come Alive in the Sebastian River Art Club's North County Library Holiday Exhibit
For the past 18 years,
Sebastian River Art Club
members Thelma Koopman, Kathleen Richter, Peni Baker and others have created beautiful Holiday murals at the North County Library.
This, the 19
th
year of the Art Club’s Holiday Presentation, is entitled “Everyone’s Once Upon A Time” and has taken a new and unexpected approach. Members Sheila Lougheed and Susan Lavender, the conceivers and primary creators of the display, make books living things in a fun and fascinating show---no matter what your age or interests may be, but especially appealing to children.
In this year’s Holiday exhibit, books actually “come alive”. Their pages are full of appropriate miniature pop-ups created by Sheila and Susan along with small pieces: trees, houses, toys, photographs, and drawings by Art Club members.
Members have prepared age-appropriate questions relating to the books found in the mural. For children, it will be especially exciting, because they can pick a character and write a poem from the character’s perspective.
This has been a collaborative effort from Art Club members, who revisited their own innocence, joy and discovery through children’s books while constructing the village. It will be donated to the library in its entirety when the show ends January 1
st
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From the Okeechobee News:
Downtown Okeechobee will soon be home to a new mural painted by Kathy Scott, who has painted some of the other downtown murals. The mural will be located at 601 Southwest Park Street on the east wall.
The theme is based on the historical Markham Brothers Cannery. Included within the mural are men and women on the assembly line preparing the produce. There will be some Markham can labels, large green beans and tomatoes for color and balance. Also included will be images of a train in front of a loading dock, representing shipping of the canned goods to market. The area has been designated a photo op area as well, so they will encourage people to have their pictures taken in front of it. The leadership group also wanted to include a representation of Okeechobee Bottling Works which used to bottle Coca Cola and an image of an old historical Okeechobee Coca Cola bottle will be on the mural in the loading dock area.
Photo: Artist's concept of the new mural for Okeechobee
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Shell collectors, whether casual or serious, almost certainly know about Sanibel's legendary shelling beaches. When they decide to take that interest to the next level, they often want to make their way to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum.
Well, don't.
Not now. That's the word from the museum and they aren't pulling any punches. Read on.
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We love you—
Please
DON’T visit!
As our friends return, we know that you’re curious about all the changes at the Museum. Nevertheless, we are a busy construction site, and it’s not safe for you to drive around our parking lot, walk our property, or come into the building right now.
Every day, our parking spaces are nearly full with construction workers' trucks. There are building materials everywhere, and there is work going on all around—overhead as well as underfoot. We want you to be safe! Please wait until we partially reopen in mid-December.
If you need to drop something off to us (we’re still taking shell donations for our crafting programs that will start up in December) please call, and one of our staff will meet you at a convenient place. Thank you for your understanding!
PS: Yes—this means you too!
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Tucker Abbott's "Seashells" in Braille!
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Thank you to Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum's Science Director & Curator, José H. Leal, for sharing this museum blog post with Arts Blast.
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Last September 28 marked the 100th birthday of the Museum’s Founding Director, Robert Tucker Abbott. Tucker Abbott was certainly the most prolific author of shell and mollusk-related books that ever lived, having published more than 30 books on the subject. Some of his most popular works such as
Seashells of the World
(1962) and
Kingdom of Seashells
(1972) have been in print since their original publication and were translated into many languages. Tucker Abbott’s daughter Cynthia Sullivan recently donated a small collection of some of his less common works and rare translations to the Museum library. The gift included a Braille rendition of
Seashells
, a 48-page, 4x5” volume published in by the Golden Press as part of the Junior Golden Guide series. I was captivated when I first saw that unique book. The Braille copy was produced at some point in the 1960s by the Twin Vision Publishing Division of the American Brotherhood for the Blind (now called the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults), in Tarzana, California.
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The Twin Vision program was established in 1962 by Jean Dyon Norris to provide, via selected libraries and at no cost, Braille versions of popular books to blind adults and children. In my search for more facts about the Braille rendition, I found this illuminating
passage by Gary Wunder
in the website of the National Federation of the Blind: “[Jean] Norris okayed transcribing
Sea Shells
[sic], by R. Tucker Abbott, an authority on shells. Someone saw the book and notified the author, who wrote to Norris. He was very upset and wanted to know for how much they sold their version of his book. She responded, explaining that the book was loaned free of charge and that it was being used to teach blind children about sea shells. She received a second letter in which the author displayed a much different attitude: "How wonderful! How many copies of the book do you want? Could I please have one for my library?" After she sent him a copy he wrote again, praising the Twin Vision version.” Thanks to Cynthia Sullivan’s generosity, that very special copy is now in the Museum library!
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Catching Up With the
Arts Council of Martin County
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If you'd like to keep up with what's going on in the arts in Martin County, you'll want to discover the
MartinArts Magazine
.
I've known Nancy Turrell, executive director of the
Arts Council of Martin County
, for many years and have always seen her as a calm, focused woman, not visibly excitable. I guess I was wrong when glass comes into the picture. Art glass, that is. This is from the latest issue of MartinArts magazine.
"I have a huge love for glass. Since I started working with the Council, I've wanted to do a glass exhibition. ... I am so happy to announce that the time has arrived for a contemporary art glass show. We are partnering with DMG Glass Studios, St. Petersburg, FL, to curate a show in our gallery in January." And there's more. Think traveling Hot Shop from the Cornell Museum of Glass at ArtsFest! "I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it!" - Nancy Turrell
Read all about it and keep up with what's going on in the arts in Martin County, when you discover
MartinArts Magazine
. In the new issue, Neil Capozzi, chairman of the Arts Foundation for Martin County, writes about the newly designated arts and entertainment district in Stuart, "The Creek," and the many ways residents can help.
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Plant a Tree - It's Free!
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From Main Street Fort Pierce:
"Collaboration" is the theme of the Reflections of the Future Art Show at the Platts/Backus House.
It features the works of Anita Prentice, Debi Crouse, Mike Cully, Saskia Fuller, Skip Fuller, Marie Claudia Rivadeneira, Jack Shelton, John Shelton, Maria Sparsis, Leslie Stokes, Ginny Piech Street, Vladimyr Thelisma, Stacy Varn & the Treasure Coast Community Theater.
An artists reception is Nov. 7, 5-7:30 p.m. at the Platts/Backus House, 122 A.E. Backus Ave. in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce, free to the public. If you can't make the Thursday reception, there's a 3-Hour Last Chance Sale on Nov. 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information call Main Street Fort Pierce (772) 466-3880.
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Vero Beach Opera
All performances are at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center. T
ickets are on sale now.
Rossini's Opera "The Barber of Seville"
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 3 pm
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Thank You
Arts Blast Sponsors
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Thank you to The Galleries of Historic Downtown Vero Beach for supporting Arts Blast:
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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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Arts Blast
Friends and Supporters
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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 in Vero Beach.
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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I'm not pushing tickets but hearing about shows that are selling out early, I thought Arts Blast readers should know about an email I got from
Kravis Center Monday. Single tickets for
Hamilton go on sale Nov. 23, at 9 a.m. The show runs Jan. 28-Feb. 16.
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Always a Bridesmaid is Upstairs@The Henegar in Melbourne Nov. 1-10. At the Melbourne Civic Theatre, see I Hate Hamlet through Nov. 10.
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The Cummings Library in Palm City is the location of three lectures in the IRSC Living History Series in November: Make Uncle Sam Great Again - Nov. 7; The Saudi & Iranian Struggle for Mid-East Hegemony - Nov. 14; and The Partisan Press in the Early Republic: 1785-1825.
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NOTE:
The Cultural Council of Indian River County's Art of Networking Dec. 8 is at Haiti Partners, 1531 U.S. Hwy 1, in the KMart shopping plaza, next to ACT Computers. The address has been incorrectly given as South US 1.
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Story Time in a Bag
is now available!
The latest service provided by the
IRC Library System
is for families of
pre-schoolers or any others who would benefit in taking the story time experience home. Each bag contains 4 picture books, felt play pieces, math manipulatives, a list of action rhymes and songs, coloring sheets and an imaginative play item. The check out period is 28 days and limited to one bag per card and per household, please. Story Time in a Bags are located at the IRC Main Library, Brackett Library and North IRC Library, but may be put on reserve via our online catalog and picked up at any branch. Patrons are responsible for items/kits not returned and/or damaged. For more information, contact Patti Fuchs at 772 770 5060 ext 4132 or email pfuchs@irclibrary.org
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Shopping For a Nutcracker?
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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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All are updated online as needed.
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Supporting Arts Councils Everywhere
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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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