The Arts Issue, September 2013

/// Special Feature

The

Arts Issue

A complete arts season preview for 2013–2014

While many may be in summer mourning, at least there is one great thing about fall we can all agree on: the diverse entertainment options local arts groups give us. With ArtPrize in its fifth year, the UICA and Kendall College for Arts and Design merging and Miller Auditorium and Broadway Grand Rapids continuing to bring in touring Broadway hits, there is no doubt that our arts scene is growing by the year. See what West Michigan arts groups have in store for the 2013-2014 season. Read on for more. Â

by REVUE Staff and Minions

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De Pree Art Center & Gallery

275 Columbia Ave., Holland hope.edu, (616) 395-7500

The new annual art series “Breaking Artistic Barriers” brings a diverse amount of artists and discussions to the gallery this season. The series focuses on applying the 16th-century Italian concept of “disengo,” or the exploration of the artist’s creative mind, to modern art mediums and theory. Exhibits include photography and art from established artists, not to mention the many works of up-and-coming Hope College student artists.

Charles Spencer Anderson/Laurie DeMartino/French Paper: Aug. 30-Oct. 6 Art History Lecture, Dr. Evelyn Lincoln, Brown University: Sept. 20 Juried Student Show: Nov. 1-Dec. 8 Sarah Lindley: Jan. 10-Feb. 7 Steven Milanowski: Feb. 21-March 21 Graduating Senior Show: April 11-May 9

Shattered: Contemporary Sculpture in Glass: Frederik

Meijer Gardens, Sept. 18–Jan. 5

visual art (106) Gallery and Studio (Calvin College)

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

106 S. Division, Grand Rapids calvin.edu/centerartgallery/studio, (616) 526-6271

The (106) Gallery is part of a reclaimed building housing more than a dozen live/ work artist units. This facility is operated by the Calvin College Department of Art and Art History and houses faculty studios and a gallery. Exhibitions embrace faculty, student and community artwork.

Black Arts and Cultural Center

359 S. Kalamazoo Mall 201, Kalamazoo blackartskalamazoo.org, (269) 349-1035 The Black Arts and Cultural Center is well known for the artists, writers, theater and community involvement that make up its events. This fall, there will be local art that includes even high school artists and the featured play is Stick Fly, a story of the affluent LeVay family and the events that occur at a

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family reunion that bring up tensions involving race and privilege.

Grand Rapids gaspardgallery.com, (616) 401-7533

Art Hop: James C. Palmore: Sept. 6 Art Hop: High School Area Exhibition: Oct. 4 Art Hop: Alphabet Medley Exhibition: Oct. 4 Stick Fly: Oct. 18-27

Artist-owned and operated, located on the Avenue for the Arts. Gaspard Gallery is a contemporary art gallery featuring work from local and regional artists.

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Con Artist Crew Gallery

As the summer concert series winds down with the Indigo Girls, Meijer Gardens hosts both annual events and new exhibits.

Chrysanthemums and More! as well as Art Prize return, while Shattered is a new exhibit looking at glass as a medium of sculpture.

Founded in 2011 with a mission of changing the perception of art in Grand Rapids, Con Artist Crew gallery has grown into a place that hosts artistic creation and educates visitors on artistic theories and explorations. It hosts a variety of shows, including local, national and international work, and often partners with other area organizations and individuals on projects, showcasing the impact art can have in the community. Located in a warehouse district on the southwest side of town long known for its artists’ studios, CAC gallery carries on the tradition of experimentation and art as a vehicle for change. Shows are posted monthly on the gallery’s Facebook page.

1000 E. Beltline NE, Grand Rapids meijergardens.org, (616) 957-1580

Indigo Girls: Sept. 5 Chrysanthemums and More!: Sept.

20-Oct. 27 Shattered: Contemporary Sculpture in Glass: Sept. 18- Jan. 5 Art Prize: Sept. 18- Oct. 6

Gaspard Gallery 235 S. Division Ave. Apt. 111,

1111 Godfrey #N198, Grand Rapids conartistcrew.com

Grand Rapids Art Museum

101 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids artmuseumgr.org, (616) 831-1000 In the wake of the Christian and biblically inspired Jansma Print Collection, GRAM combines art and nature in its ArtPrize 2013 Reimagining the Landscape and the Future of Nature. The exhibition offers a unique fusion of natural science, the supernatural and the world around us, featuring multiple artists and discussions about art, science and nature. Take a step back in time to experience past artists’ relationships with nature, as well, in Masterpieces of American Landscape Painting.

The Jansma Print Collection at the Grand Rapids Art Museum: Five Centuries of Masterpieces: Ends Sept. 1 ArtPrize 2013 at GRAM: Reimagining the Landscape and the Future of Nature: Sept. 12-Oct. 6 ArtPrize 2013: Sept. 18-Oct. 6 Masterpieces of American Landscape Painting 1820-1950: Oct. 20-Jan. 12 Legacy: The Emily Fisher Landau Collection: Jan. 31-April 14

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo kiarts.org, (269) 349-7775

This season at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, there are inspirations from all around the world. Artists will be exploring media such as bamboo and glass to create inspira-

Compiled and Written by Liz Badovinac and Avery Johnson tional and thought-provoking pieces. Expect throwbacks to some of America’s earliest art exhibits beside scenes of horror and mystery this season.

galleries feature works from artists all over the world, in addition to up-and-coming talent from the college’s own students.

Modern Twist: Contemporary Japanese Bamboo Art: June 22-Sept. 15 A Precious Artistic Moment: Paintings by Catherine Hinkle: June 22-Sept. 15 For and Against Modern Art: The Armory Show +100: June 29-Sept. 29 Copley to Kentridge: What’s New in the Collection?: Sept. 14-Dec. 1 Mountains and Waters: Landscape Paintings from China: Sept. 21-Feb. 2 2013 Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review: Sept. 28-Dec. 8 BOO! Images of the Macabre: Oct. 5-Jan. 26 Impressions: Selections from Stewart & Stewart: Dec. 21-Feb. 23 Environmental Impact: Feb. 22-May 4 Young Artists of Kalamazoo County: March 8-30 High School Area School: April 12-May 18 West Michigan Area Show: May 17-Aug. 16 Tiffany Glass: Painting with Color and Light: May 31-Aug. 23

Muskegon Museum of Art

Kendall College Galleries 17 Pearl St., Grand Rapids kcad.edu/galleries, (616) 451-2787

Kendall’s galleries are free and open to the public. And if that’s not good enough, these

296 W. Webster Ave, Muskegon muskegonartmuseum.org, (231) 720-2570 There will be various media, time periods, and world regions on display at the Muskegon Museum of Art. In addition, sculptures and postcards, modern and 19th-century art, as well as works from here in America as well as Asia are on display, each offering something unique and diverse.

Andrea Kowch: Dream Fields: Aug. 15-Oct. 27 The French Connection: 19th Century French Art from the Tabler Collection and 19th Century American Art from the Baker/Pisano Collection: Sept.

5-Nov. 10 Mark Beltchenko: Narratives in Steel and Stone: Sept. 12-Nov. 3 Promises of Freedom: Selections from the Arthur Primas Collection: Sept.

12-Nov. 7 Jason Quigno: Harmony in the Stone: Oct. 31-Jan. 19 Festival of Trees: Nov. 21-Dec. 1 Pauline Palmer, Impressionist: Chicago’s Painter Lady: Nov. 21-Feb. 23

Q&A: Alexander Paschka UICA exhibitions curator

What are your goals as the UICA’s first full-time exhibitions curator?

My goal as curator is to honor what Charles Eames called ‘The Guest/Host Relationship’ and make sure the community is invited into the new space, feels comfortable, feels welcome, and wants to return. I plan to increase the quantity of exhibitions so we can synchronize with the pulse of the community to stay relevant and in step. UICA needs to be reintroduced to the artists and designers of the region as a resource, while at the same time, raising the national and international awareness of the institution.

You’ve had previous experience managing and developing apps. How has technology affected the contemporary art world?

I have always been involved with technology on some level and have really noticed it reaching a maturity with a finessed ability to communicate the human condition. Just as photography struggled to be recognized as fine art historically, technology is experiencing that struggle in the current day. Interactivity, collaboration and distribution have all been affected by new mediums. The rise of experience designs that use technology in new ways can find some of their roots in the art happenings of the mid-20th century.

BOO! Images of the Macabre:

Interview conducted and condensed by Alexandra Fluegel. Edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Oct. 5–Jan. 6. Pictured: Federico Castellon, Poseidon’s Friend, 1963, lithograph. Collection of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Recently, celebrities have made headlines for their dabbles in performance art (Tilda Swinton and most recently, Jay-Z), what the hell is this about?

I think the recent disruption of traditional distribution systems enables artists to be more empowered in their ability to self-publish. This empowerment leads to a creative exploration of media. Combine that with a reduced quantity of pop stars that large corporations can promote, one finds celebrities in a really interesting position where they are the vehicles for designers and artists to integrate their works into. When Jay-Z says, “I’m not a businessman/I’m a business, man,” it reminds us of Andy Warhol espousing. “Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.”

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Masterpieces of American Landscape Painting: Grand Rapids Art

Museum, Oct. 20-Jan. 12. Pictured: Winslow Homer, Driftwood, 1909. Oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Michael L. Keil, D.O., FAOCO 2500 E. Beltline SE, Suite C Grand Rapids, MI info@keillasik.com (616) 365-5775

The Woodcarving of Lamidi Fakeye: Dec. 12-Feb. 9 Papercuts: The Art of Contemporary Paper Cutting: Jan. 9-March 16 Postcard Salon: Jan. 30-Feb. 13 The Sculpture of Stephen de Staebler: Elegies in Clay: Feb. 20-April 27 Children of the Court, Ancient China, and Japan: Sculpture by Vivian Wang: Feb. 20-April 27 Take Me Out...Ballgames and other Diversions: March 6-May 25 Expressions 2014: 32nd Annual Muskegon County Student Art Exhibition: March 25-April 27 86th Regional Exhibition: May 22-Aug. 20

Richard App Gallery

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

910 Cherry St., Grand Rapids therichardappgallery.tumblr.com, (616) 458-4226

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Serving the West Michigan community for more than 20 years, specializing in fine art from local and national artists. Known for strong, lively pop-up shows and a tradition of working with the community on projects large and small.

identifiable work in the city – Roberts’ work often contains fun phrases and witticisms, their pieces are prominent fixtures in many neighborhoods and area businesses, giving art the power to aid in urban revitalization.

Gallery Hours: Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m.

UICA

2 Fulton West, Grand Rapids uica.org, (616) 454-7000 UICA gets playful during this year’s ArtPrize with its 2013 exhibition PLAY. Experience art first-hand, as many pieces are interactive and hands-on. On Sept. 14, the UICA mixes sophistication with oddity with its annual Odd Ball. Tickets are $89 for members, $129 for non-members and this year’s theme is DARKDANGEROUSDARING. Odd Ball: Sept. 14 PLAY: Sept. 17-Oct. 6 Pulso/Pulso: Oct. 30–Dec. 4 Tom Duimstra: Zero +: Nov. 15–Feb. 16 Mary Ann Aitken: Black Abstract: Nov. 15–Feb. 16 Holiday Artists’ Market: Dec. 6–7

Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sanctuary Folk Art 140 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids sanctuaryfolkart.com, (616) 454-0401

Located on South Division since 1999, Sanctuary Folk Art showcases the work of husband-wife owners Reb Roberts and Carmella Loftis. Easily some of the most

Odd Ball: UICA, Sept. 14

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The Wizard of Oz:

Broadway Grand Rapids, April 22–27

performing arts Actors’ Theatre

143 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids actorstheatregrandrapids.org, (616) 234-3817

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

This season, renowned Actors’ Theatre brings Love! Valor! Compassion!, a story of love and death to stage for the first time, as well as the new musicals Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, a re-imagining of history, and Grey Gardens, based on a classic documentary.

Love! Valor! Compassion!: Sept. 19-28 Venus in Fur: Dec. 12-21 Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: Feb. 6-22 God of Carnage: April 17-26 Grey Gardens: June 5-14

Angels in America: Sept. 25-29 Tempest HS Residency: Oct. 16-20 University Wits: Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 6-10 Cangue League: Nov. 13-17 Southside: Musical: Nov. 27-Dec. 8

Holidaze and Mamma Mia! will be two special events Broadway Grand Rapids hosts.

Jersey Boys: Oct. 1-6 West Side Story: Nov. 12-17 Cirque Dreams Holidaze: Dec. 26-29 Sister Act: Feb 4-9 Wizard of Oz: April 22-27 Mamma Mia!: March 18-20

Fancy Pants Theater

246 N. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo fancypantstheater.webs.com, (269) 599-7390

Calvin Theatre Company

3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids calvin.edu, (616) 526-6282

Venus in Fur: Actors’ Theatre, Dec. 12–21

Broadway Grand Rapids

Calvin College’s theatre company presents the Victorian classic An Ideal Husband to kick off its season, followed by the magical Into the Woods. To follow up the main portion of the season, they will be showing a psychedelic take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Last of all, they will have 10 Minute Plays.

Broadway Grand Rapids will have some big names this coming season. Hits like Jersey Boys and Sister Act will be in Grand Rapids for the first time, in addition to hot shows like West Side Story and Wizard of Oz. In addition to the regular season, Cirque Dreams

An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde: Nov. 7-9, 14-16 Into the Woods Act 1: Feb. 6-8 13-15 A Midsummer Night’s Dream: April 10-12, 24-26, 29-30 10-Minute Plays for Stage and Screen: (TBD)

From better known plays such as Troilus and Cressida to lesser known works such as Southside: Musical, Dog Story Theater keeps things diverse by bringing in various talent throughout the area.

122 Lyon St. NW, Grand Rapids broadwaygrandrapids.com, (616) 235-6285

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Dog Story Theater 1115 Taylor NW, Grand Rapids dogstorytheater.com, (616) 894-1252

Circle Mirror Transformation: Through Sept. 1

This Kalamazoo-based theater has a wide variety of shows this season. The audience is not quite sure what to expect when the annual holiday show gets put into the hands of its actors, as they put a new take on an old fairytale.

Also on the bill this season, there is Takeoff, the story of a father and daughter regaining a relationship, and Kiss of the Spider Woman, which features two prisoners and the fantasy that they create.

Takeoff: Sept. 13-22 Kiss of the Spider Woman: Oct. 25-Nov. 3 Rumplestiltskin: The True Hero: Dec. 6-22 The Triple ExMuss Holiday Show: Dec. 19-22

Farmers Alley Theatre

221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo farmersalleytheatre.com, (269) 343-2727 The humor and drama at Farmers Alley Theatre proves to be thought provoking with award-winning plays, Broadway hits and theoccasional cabaret setting. Opening the season is Ring of Fire, based on the music of Johnny Cash. Along the way, Farmers Alley features the saucy Caberet and closes with the award-winning, one-act [title of show].

Ring of Fire: September-October Collected Stories: November I Love a Piano: December Clybourne Park: February Old Wicked Songs: April-May Cabaret: June [title of show]: July-August

Gilmore Theatre/ WMU Theatre

1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo wmich.edu/theatre, (269) 387-6222

The greedy salesmen of Glengarry Glenn Ross, 19th century ladies and gentlemen of Pride & Prejudice and shape-shifting men and animals of The King Stag all hit the WMU stage this season. Performances of American favorites Ragtime and 9 to 5 The Musical are featured alongside cultural treasures in Seven, while Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo also dot the schedule, making for an immersive, promising experience.

Glengarry Glenn Ross: Sept. 26-28, Oct. 3-6 Noises Off: Oct. 10-12, 17-20 Pride & Prejudice: Oct. 24-27, Nov. 1-3 Ragtime: Nov. 14-16, Nov. 21-24 Late Night Broadway: Dec. 5-7 Seven: Jan. 23-25, 30-31, Feb. 1-2 Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo: Feb. 6-8, 12-13, 15-16 9 to 5 The Musical: March 13-15, 20-23 The King Stag: April 3-5, 10-13

Grand Rapids Ballet Company

341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids grballet.com, (616) 454-4771 Dracula comes to reclaim his legacy this fall — through dance. Watch the frightening, strangely sensual tale unfold as the secret world of a tortured demon collides with the relatively normal life of a young woman. If you find this evil vs. good interaction intriguing, follow it up with the Junior Company performance of Beauty & the Beast, or simply witness history being made with Olivier Wevers’s World Premiere of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Season Kickoff Party: Sept. 28 Junior Company Performance: Oct. 11-13 Dracula: Oct. 25-27, Oct. 31-Nov. 2 The Nutcracker: Dec. 13-15, 20-22 Clara’s Nutcracker Party: Dec. 15 Rubies: Feb. 14-16, 21-23 Spring Gala: March 15 MOVEMEDIA Program I: March 28-30 Spring Break for Kids!: April 8-10 MOVEMEDIA Program II: April 25-27 Beauty and the Beast: May 2-4 Midsummer Night’s Dream: May 9-11, 16-18

Q&A: Rachael Riley

dancer at Grand Rapids Ballet Company In addition to performing with the Grand Rapids Ballet, you’ve also choreographed a number of works. What is it like having your colleagues perform your creations?

Working with colleagues is always a wonderful experience. As a choreographer going into the studio, I already have an idea of the dancers’ strengths and their style, since I work alongside them every day.

Choreographing a ballet doesn’t typically start in a studio, it starts with either finding a piece of music that inspires the choreographer or an idea/story that the choreographer wants to express to the audience. A choreographer can also simply be inspired by a particular dancer’s talent or style.

Dancers’ tootsies take a lot of punishment, is there anything you do to maintain “happy feet?”

Every dancer is different when it comes to her shoes. We all have our own special rituals and need slightly different things out of the shoe depending on the dancer’s feet and/or what role the dancer is dancing. It is true that dancers’ feet take a lot of punishment, but in reality, it is the entire body, not just the feet, that is sore at the end of the day. It’s how we take care of ourselves every day that allows us to do what we do. Company class may start at 9:30 a.m., but dancers are in the studio preparing, stretching and warming up long before that.

Some dancers do cross training such as yoga and pilates to help strengthen their body and prevent injuries. Massage and acupuncture are two of my personal favorites. And of course ice baths, ice massages and epsom salt baths are a ballet dancer’s best friend at the end of a long day.

Do you and the other dancers ever hit the town and show off your skills on the dance floor?

Ballet dancers are not just dancers by profession; we dance because that is what we are passionate about. Most dancers I know (including myself) hear music and without even realizing it, are moving along with the beat.

Interview conducted and condensed by Alexandra Fluegel. Edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson.

Grand Rapids Ballet Company REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

What’s your dream role?

I don’t know if I would say I have a “dream role.” However, I would love to someday dance the pas de deux After the Rain choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. It’s a beautiful and captivating piece that moves my soul when I watch it.

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My Year in Vietnam: Vietnam Veterans Share Their Stories: Sept. 25-April 9 Much Ado About Nothing: Sept. 27-29, Oct. 3-6 West Michigan Academic Consortium Conference: Oct. 15 Beyond Therapy: Oct. 25-27 Kindertransport: Nov. 15-17, Nov. 21-23 Amahl and the Night Visitors: Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1 Urinetown, The Musical: Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 7-8 Sex and the Supernatural: March 28-30, April 3-6

Holland Civic Theatre

50 W 9th St., Holland hollandcivictheatre.org, (616) 396-2021 Holland Civic will have an array of different shows this season. There are a couple comedies, such as Come Blow Your Horn and Charlie’s Aunt, as well as plays based around special events, such as Tulip Time. There will also be some kid-friendly plays, including the classic Charlotte’s Web. Welcome to Mitford: Oct. 3-19 The Only Christmas Pageant in Town: Nov. 29-Dec. 14 Trap for a Lonely Man: Jan. 30-Feb. 15 Come Blow Your Horn: March 27-April 12 Tulip Time Show: May 3-10 Charlotte’s Web: July 10-19 Charlie’s Aunt: Aug. 8-17

Puppet Up Uncensored!: Miller Auditorium, March 15

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids grct.org, (616) 222-6650 “The game is afoot!” at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. Kicking the season off with the witty Sherlock Holmes, followed by the dystopian environment in The Giver and the zany Junie B. Jones, Civic Theatre breathes life into classic settings and brings back many old favorites. The shows accommodate a large variety of ages, from the adult-oriented Clybourne Park to kid-favorite Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical, making for a diverse experience.

Sherlock Holmes Final Adventure: Sept.

6-21 The Giver: Oct. 18-27 The Sound of Music: Nov. 15-Dec. 15 Clybourne Park: Jan. 17-Feb. 2 Les Misérables: Feb. 28-March 23 Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells and Batman Smells: April 18-27

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9 to 5: The Musical: May 30-June 15 Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical: July 25-Aug. 3 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: July 25-Aug. 3

GVSU Fall Arts

121 Lake Superior Hall, Allendale gvsu.edu/theatre, (616) 331-2300 Much ado about something is definitely happening at GVSU, as Shakespeare makes a return with a classic comedy. Experience enough laughs and melt-your-heart moments to last a lifetime in this play, and then head to Kindertransport to take a walk through some much more serious, but no less riveting, history. Have even more fun by participating in the 2013 Fall Arts Celebration, an ongoing series that features speakers, dance, music and theatre, all taking place at or around GVSU’s beautiful campus and facilities.

Fall Arts Celebration 2013: Sept. 11-Dec. 9 James W. Carey Memorial Lecture: Sept. 24

Hope College Great Performance Series 141 E 12th St., Holland hope.edu/gps, (616) 395-7860

Hope College’s Great Performance Series will cover an array of different art forms, including ballet, theater and many music genres. Those looking for Celtic music will find something in Cherish the Ladies, and those looking for classical will enjoy Trio Solisti. Even the theater includes distinct works such as Twelfth Night and Fahrenheit 451.

Ballet X: Sept. 19-20 CALJE: Oct. 24 Trio Solisti: Nov. 22 eighth blackbird: Jan. 31 Aquila Theatre: Feb. 18-19 Cherish the Ladies: March 27

Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids

2727 Michigan NE, Grand Rapids jtgr.org/default.htm, (616) 234-3595

The Jewish Theatre presents “A Season of Survivors,” its 21st performance season. First, dive into the post-Confederate South in The Whipping Man, a play that follows the journey of a young Jewish Confederate soldier coming home to two former slaves. Fast-forward to The Milliner, a part of Holocaust literature that tracks a hatmaker’s attempts to resist the Nazi invasion of his home. The season finishes with Driving Miss Daisy, which takes place in a pre-civil rights movement America.

The Whipping Man: Oct. 17, 19, 20, 24, 26-27 The Milliner: Jan. 8-9, 11-12, 15, 18-19 Driving Miss Daisy: March 20, 22-23, 27, 29-30

Kalamazoo Civic Theatre 329 S. Park St., Kalamazoo kazoocivic.com, (269) 343-1313

Kalamazoo Civic Theatre celebrates its 85th anniversary this year by pulling together a great lineup of shows. Many have won awards and have been performed on Broadway. Each of them comes with its own character, whether you are looking for something funny, family friendly or uplifting.

Les Miserables: Sept. 27-Oct. 13 Nancy Drew: Girl Detective: Oct. 18-26 Songs from the Silver Screen: Nov. 8-16 Peter Pan: Nov. 29-Dec. 15 Arsenic and Old Lace: Jan. 10-25 Into the Woods: Jan. 24-Feb. 8 The Miracle Worker: Feb. 14-March 1 Good People: Feb. 28-March 15 Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat: March 14-21 Boeing, Boeing: April 4-19 Irena’s Vow: April 25-27 Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun: May 2-18 The Magical Adventures of Merlin: May 9-17

Master Arts Theatre

75 77th St. SW, Grand Rapids masterarts.org, (616) 455-1001 In its 18th full season, Master Arts Theatre is planning on breaking out of the underground.

During 2013, it will be showing Oliver, the musical based on Dickens’ novel, and It’s a Wonderful Life during the winter. After the New Year, Master Arts presents the uplifting Stand and Deliver, and the family friendly comedy Leaving Iowa.

Oliver: Sept. 12- Oct. 5 It’s a Wonderful Life: Nov. 21- Dec. 14 Stand and Deliver: Feb. 13-March 1 Leaving Iowa: April 24- May 17

Q&A: Shelagh Brown singer at Farmer’s Alley Theatre

You received your degree in Musical Theatre from Western Michigan Universtiy and you’re also an up-and-coming country singer. What gave you your start?

I started in the basement of our house in Portage.

My dad passed away about five years ago, but he had his own studio when I was a kid, so I grew up with music all around me. My parents were worship leaders at church and in country bands, and when I was little I used to hang out with them while they were practicing. I’d sing all my mom’s parts.

Now you’re doing your own duets, most notably with country star Josh Gracin – are you guys best buds or what?

[Laughs]. Well, I won a contest to perform a song with him, and since then, I have gotten to know him a bit more. I’ve been able to build friendships with him and his band, and the song we recorded is featured on his album, Redemption. I’ve also gotten the chance to perform with him when he comes back to Michigan.

Miller Auditorium 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo millerauditorium.com, (269) 387-2309

Whether you are looking for family fun, something to laugh at, or an old classic, Miller Auditorium has everything to offer. With comedy from Whose Line is it Anyway? alum to the family friendly Disney Live!, there are performances for every personality type. Even a good Fifty Shades of Grey parody (Spank!) is in the mix.

Muskegon Civic Theatre

425 W. Western Ave #401, Muskegon muskegoncivictheatre.org, (231) 722-3852 Though this may seem to be a comedy-heavy season at Muskegon Civic, there is some drama to add a contrast. Here you will find mystery, the power of friendship, love, and, of course, a good trailer park comedy.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical: Sept. 20-19 Oct.3-5 The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays: Nov. 22-30 Dec. 1-8

Speaking of letting loose, what would you have done if you were T. Swift when Kanye West didn’t let her finish at the 2009 MTV VMA’s?

Honestly, I probably would have tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, I’m not done yet” and given him the silent stare.

Or affectionately known as the “stank eye.”

Yes, haha! Make him feel a little awkward.

Kanye West doesn’t feel awkward. Ever.

Touché.

Interview conducted and condensed by Alexandra Fluegel. Edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson.

Time Stands Still: Jan. 17-25 The Dixie Swim Club: Feb. 21-28 March 1-8 Legally Blonde the Musical: May 1-4

Stark Turn Players See Dog Story Theater

The Stark Turn Players, which perform at Dog Story Theatre, will be following tradition this year by presenting its annual horror parody, and continuing the new tradition by reviving its playwriting contest. All of the shows this season will include the input of local writers.

Children of the Corny: Oct. 24-27 2nd Annual 10-Minute Playwriting Contest: Feb. 14-16 Playwriting Contest Winners on Tap for New Shows: May 1-4

Van Singel Fine Arts Center 8500 Burlingame SW, Byron Center vsfac.com, (616) 878-6800

Van Singel is the place to be to celebrate the music of Johnny Cash, The Moxie Strings, The Hitmen, Broadway and more this season with performances ranging from concerts to musicals. The Church Basement Ladies are also back, here to fill your ears with song in the comic, all-new musical, A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement. Other theatrical works include the comedy The Wonder Bread Years: A Fresh and Funny Slice of Americana.

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash: Sept. 19 Broadway Rox: The Best of Broadway Rocked by Broadway’s Best!: Oct. 17 The Wonder Bread Years: A Fresh and Funny Slice of Americana: Nov. 21 The Hitmen: Jan. 24 The Moxie Strings: Jan. 31 Church Basement Ladies: A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement: March 20-21 Glenn Bulthuis & The Tonedeafs: The Music of the Beatles: April 24 Cool Jazz: May 2

Wharton Center

750 E. Shaw Ln., East Lansing whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain: Oct. 5 Sinbad: Oct. 11 The Price is Right Live: Oct. 15 Fancy Nancy the Musical: Oct. 19 The Addams Family: Oct. 22-23 The One and Only Tommy Dorsey Orchestra: Nov. 3 Jim Belushi and the Chicago Board of Comedy: Nov. 8 Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody: Nov. 16 Jim Brickman The Magic of Christmas: Dec. 1 Mamma Mia!: Dec. 10-11 Dave Koz and Friends Christmas: Dec. 12 Hello, Dolly!: Jan. 8 Moscow Festival Ballet: Cinderella: Jan. 12

Rock of Ages: Jan. 23 Memphis: Feb. 11-12 Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: The Two Man Group: Feb. 15 Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival: Feb. 22 Pink Martini: March 11 The Fantasticks: March 14 Puppet Up Uncensored!: March 15 Million Dollar Quartet: March 18-19 One Night of Queen: March 28 Pilobolus: April 15

You perform a lot around the state, do the nerves get to you more in front of audiences where there are people you know?

Actually, for me it’s the opposite. I tend to let loose a little more, and I’m not as nervous. I take a little more note with how people are reacting to my music when there aren’t familiar faces.

35

The Book of Mormon: Wharton Center, June 10–15

2013.2014 SEASON Join Fontana as we embark on a new season of the most amazing music in the world!

Edgar Meyer, double bass Saturday, September 28, 2013 · 8 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

Nicholas Phan, tenor

Saturday, October 19, 2013 · 8 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

Fretwork

Saturday, November 9, 2013 · 8 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

Meredith Arwady, contralto Saturday, December 7, 2013 · 8 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

Photo: Joan Marcus

Becca Stevens Band

Friday, February 7, 2014 · 8 pm Bell’s Eccentric Café

St. Lawrence String Quartet jaCOB aND NaOMi StUCki MEMORial CONCERt

Saturday, March 1, 2014 · 8 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

Dublin Guitar Quartet Friday, March 28, 2014 · 8 pm Wellspring theater, Epic Center

Imani Winds

Saturday, april 12, 2014 · 8 pm Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

a COllaBORatiON WitH tHE gilMORE kEyBOaRD FEStival

Sunday, april 27, 2014 · 4 pm & 7 pm Williams theatre, gilmore theatre Complex, WMU

SUBSCRIPTIONS & SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW fontanachamberarts.org 269 382 7774 359 S Kalamazoo Mall

36 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

|

Kalamazoo

The Wharton Center has an event nearly every day during its upcoming season. Not just that, events include an exhaustive list music, theater, ballet, comedy and more, and more ... and more. Performers at Wharton come from around town and around the world to hold these numerous concerts and performances.

Chonda Pierce: Girl Talk: Sept. 14 Widows: Sept. 17-21 Diana Krall: Glad Rag Doll World Tour: Sept. 28 Arlo Guthrie: Oct. 3 Flashdance the Musical: Oct. 8-13 William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead: Oct. 11-20 Johnny Mathis: Oct. 17 Bale Folclorico Da Bahia: Oct. 27 Steven Pinker: Oct. 28 Alton Brown: Edible Inevitable Tour: Nov. 1 Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: Masters of the Fiddle: Nov. 7 Estonian National Symohony Orchestra: Nov. 8 Off With Her Head: Nov. 8-10 The Shape of a Girl: Nov. 15 Mamma Mia!: Nov. 15-17 Xanadu: Nov. 15-24 Yo Yo Ma and Kathryn Scott: Nov. 18 Rachel York: A Cabaret Performance: Nov. 24 Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna: Dec. 3 Ghost the Musical: Dec. 10-15 Pops Series: Holiday Pops: Dec.22 Moscow Festival Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty: Jan. 9 Tales from the Arabian Nights: Jan.12 Peter and the Starcatcher: Jan. 22-26

Stuart Pimsler: Dance & Theater: Jan. 23 Repertory Dance Concert: Brought into Being: Jan. 30-Feb. 2 Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly: Feb. 9 Tony Kushner: Feb. 10 Eisenhower Dance: Red, Hot and Blue: Feb. 12 Pops Series: Lights, Camera...The Oscars!: Feb. 14 Cyrano de Bergerac: Feb. 14-23 The Acting Company: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Feb. 15 The Acting Company: Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead: Feb. 15 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Feb. 18-23 St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra: Feb. 24 The Teacher from the Black Lagoon & Other Stories: March 9 Tao: Phoenix Rising: March 16 The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess: March 18-23 The Serpent Lady: March 18-23 Leana Wen, MD: March 24 Newport Jazz Festival: Now 60!: March 27 The Frog Bride: March 30 Pilobolus: April 8 Peter Pan: April 11-20 Pops Series: Satisfaction: Rolling Stones Tribute: April 12 Cyrille Aimee & Friends: April 24 The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf: April 27 The Book of Mormon: June 10-15

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

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Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute:

Dec. 16 at Forest Hills Fine Art Center

music Fontana Chamber Arts

Forest Hills Fine Arts Center

Fontana is the kind of place where you can see Bach and bluegrass fused together, such as with season opener, Edgar Meyer. Fontana is also matching up its artists with casual, fun environments, such as its show at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe with the Becca Stevens Band.

This season at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, there will be shows from top performers, as well as new twists on familiar concepts. The season will start with two acoustic shows with award-winning artists, continue with the familiar Addams family and a Beatles tribute band, and go on to an R&B group that uses only their voices for instruments.

The season will end with Air Supply and a show that displays the local talent.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo fontanachamberarts.org, (269) 382-7774

Edgar Meyer: Sept. 28 Nicholas Phan, tenor: Oct. 19 Fretwork: Nov. 9 Meredith Arwady: Dec. 7 Becca Stevens Band: Feb. 7 St. Lawrence String Quartet: March 1 Dublin Guitar Quartet: March 28 Imani Winds: April 12 Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party: April 27

38 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, Grand Rapids fhfineartscenter.com, (616) 493-8966

An Acoustic Evening with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin: Oct. 10 An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt: Oct. 30 Fab 4: The Ultimate Tribute: Dec. 16 The Addams Family Musical: Jan. 26 Naturally 7: Feb. 4 Air Supply: March 1 10th Anniversary Celebration: April 19

Grand Rapids Symphony

300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100, Grand Rapids grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9451 To say that Grand Rapids Symphony has a packed season filled with diverse performances from around the globe would be an understatement. This season features classics from Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven, and contemporary soundtrack renditions from Pixar films and the Legend of Zelda video game. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the frequent, free “Upbeat” talks that commonly occur an hour before the concert to provide insight into the performed music and its artists.

The Rite of Spring at 100: Sept. 20-21 Boston Pops Series Tribute: Sept. 27-29 Musical Visions: Oct. 5 Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto: Oct. 11-12 Percussion Explosion: Oct. 13 Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses: Oct. 19 Mozart and Schubert: Oct. 25-26 Pixar in Concert: Nov. 8-10 Classical Coffee Concert: Nov. 15 The Classical Concert: Nov. 15 Mozart’s Requiem: Nov. 22-23 Nestle Gerber Holiday Pops: Dec. 5-8 Cirque de Noel with Cirque de la Symphonie: Dec. 17-19 Brahms’ First Symphony: Jan. 10-11

‘60s Hits with The Midtown Men: Jan. 17-19 Peter and the Wolf: Jan. 25 Russian Masters: Jan. 31-Feb. 1 Music, Art, Dance: Feb. 8 Baroque Coffee Concert: Feb. 14 The Baroque Concert: Feb. 14 The Music of The Rolling Stones: Feb. 15 Hadelich Plays Brahms: Feb. 21-22

Caroline Goulding: Guest performer with Grand Rapids Symphony, Oct. 11-12

Symphony With Soul: March 1 Symphonic Dances: March 14-15 Symphony Idol with Matt Giraud, Lakisha Jones, Haley Scarnato: March 21-23 The Snowman: March 22 Bach’s St. Matthew Passion: March 28-29 Orchestra From Planet X with Magic Circle Mime Company: March 30 Musical Connections: April 5 Romantic Coffee Concert – Gilmore Festival Concert: April 25 The Romantic Concert – Gilmore Festival Concert: April 25 Brilliant Beethoven – Gilmore Festival Concert: May 2-3 Glenn Miller Orchestra: May 16-18

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

359 S. Kalamazoo Mall 100, Kalamazoo kalamazoosymphony.com, (269) 349-7759 The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will perform mainly classical music this season, with some exceptions. The season is split into a Symphonic Series, POPS Series, a Special Event, World of & Classics Uncorked Series, and the Family Discovery Series. Within each of these, there are musical events that are spread out over the course of the season.

Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2: Sept. 21 The World of Britten: Oct. 6 Brahms and Mozart: Oct. 12 The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Friends: Oct. 26

Scheherazade: Nov. 15 Classics Uncorked I: Nov. 22 Family Nutcracker: Dec. 7-8 Sounds of the Season: Dec. 21 The World of Schubert: Jan. 5 Midori: Feb. 1 The Remarkable Farkle McBride: Feb. 9 Chris Botti: Feb. 14 Fleisher Performs Ravel: Feb. 28 Classics Uncorked II: March 14 The Music of Led Zeppelin: March 22 Otello: April 4

Opera Grand Rapids

161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids operagr.com, (616) 451-2741 This season’s shows at Opera Grand Rapids offer a variety of different backgrounds from various countries. The first of the season is a popular show in English, while the second is one of Mozart’s masterpieces in German.

The last is an Italian show. All include English titles, so even those who are not versed in German and Italian can enjoy them.

A Streetcar Named Desire: Nov. 1-2 The Abduction from the Seraglio: March 7-8 Madama Butterfly: May 9-10

Saugatuck Center for the Arts 400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399

Since its beginning in 2003, Saugatuck Center for the Arts has been devoted to bringing the arts to the Saugatuck community. Those who started SCA had the goal to make it the hub for community events and economic growth. Expect that to continue through this season with special, intimate concerts in SCA’s unique space.

St. Cecilia Music Center 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids scmc-online.org, (616) 459-2224

The Abduction from the Seraglio: Opera Grand Rapids, March 7-8

Jazz duo David Sanborn and Bob James emerge once again to take the stage and wow the crowds with music, kicking off SCMC’s 2013-14 season. Followed by new names like Gregory Porter, the Jazz Series

president and CEO of West Michigan Symphony It’s been said that classical music is a fading genre, so what does the West Michigan Symphony do to encourage new generations of listeners and concert attendees?

We’re doing The Block.

Like The Block is Hot? Are you saying you’re doing a symphonic rendition of the 1999 debut studio album by the rapper Lil’ Wayne aka Weezy aka Weezy F. Baby?

No. The Block is the West Michigan Symphony’s new 120-seat performance and education space. It’s a simple, accessible, inspirational space where honest music can happen … not to you, but with you. The performances will be diverse and highly entertaining, and our own Symphony musicians will be bringing something new and we’ll be bringing musical artists from around the country to continue to expand on what The Block intends to be.

So, no Weezy?

No, not likely. The Block will include an intriguing, cross-pollinated mix of music that can be intimate or explosive. From timpanists who perform on cardboard boxes to klezmer-meets-Bollywood with a splash of bluegrass, from jazz to Broadway-influenced cabaret performances.

OK, so who are The Blockheads?

The Blockheads! We are looking for a street team to get the word out on the streets of West Michigan with posters and flyers. We also want volunteers to help us on concert weeks to set up and teardown, take tickets, usher and welcome guests. There will be perks!

Interview conducted and condensed by Alexandra Fluegel. Edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson.

this year certainly shows its customary promise. Not to be out-shined, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center features the return of Wu Han, while the Fresh Folk Series hosts many local artists in an intimate setting.

Great Artist Gala David Sanborn and Bob James: Oct. 24 Rachael and Dominic Davis and Troll for Trout: Nov. 7 Wu Han and Escher String Quartet: Nov. 21 “Round Robin”: Jan. 9 Homecoming with the Davis and Brewer Family: Jan. 23 Gregory Porter: Feb. 20 David Finckel and 4 CMS musicians: March 6 Regina Carter: March 20

Potato Moon and The Northern Skies: April 10 David Shifrin and CMS musicians: May 8

University Musical Society

881 North University Ave., Ann Arbor ums.org, (734) 764-2538 The University Musical Society at University of Michigan has a huge selection of performers this year. In all, expect 68 performances over the course of the season. These include choral performances, chamber music, theater, dance, jazz, world music and more.

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Ann Hampton Callaway in Concert: Sept. 12 Tiempo Libre in Concert: Oct. 5 Cowboy Junkies in Concert: Oct. 25 Paul Byrom, Irish Tenor; March 1

Q&A: Carla Hill

39

Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party: Sept. 6 at University Musical Society; April 27, 2014, at Fontana Chamber Arts

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party: Sept. 6 Audra McDonald: Sept. 15 Complicite and Setagaya Public Theatre: Sept. 18-21 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Sept.

27-28 Chanticleer: Oct. 10 Buika: Oct. 11 Takacs Quartet: Oct. 12 Chris Thile: Oct 18 Andras Schiff: Oct. 25 The Manganiyar Seduction: Oct. 27 Blind Summit: Oct. 29- Nov. 3 Ballet Prelijocaj: Nov. 1-2 Apollo’s Fire: Nov. 3 Steve Lehmen Octet: Nov. 9 James Blake: Nov. 11 Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: Nov. 12 Hagen Quartet: Nov. 13 San Fransico Symphony: Nov. 16 Brooklyn Rider: Nov. 24 Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and UMS Choral Union: Dec. 7-8

40 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

Rob Drummond: Jan. 7-12 Colin Stetson: Jan. 15-16 Kronos Quartet: Jan. 17-18 Denis Matsuev: Jan. 26 Fred Hersch Trio: Jan. 30 Ariel Quartet: Feb. 5 Kremerata Baltica: Feb. 6 Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba: Feb. 7 St. Lawrence String Quartet: Feb. 14 Compagnie Kafig: Feb. 14-15 Joshua Bell: Feb. 16 Theatre les Bouffes du Nord: Feb. 19-22 St. Petersburg Philharmonic: Feb. 22 Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez: March 14 Alfredo Rodriguez Trio and Pedrito Martinez Group: March 14 Zubin Mehta: March 15 Elias String Quartet: March 18 Tara Erraught: March 20 Asif Ali Khan: March 21 Wendy Whelan: March 25 Tenebrae: March 27 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: March 30 UMS Choral Union: April 4 Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: April 10 Academie fur Alte Musik Berlin: April 13

West Michigan Symphony

425 W Western Ave #409, Muskegon wsso.org, (231) 726-3231

Cowboy Junkies: Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Oct. 25

Hungarian melodies, Scottish Airs, Russian masterpieces and spicy pop-country songs fill the halls of West Michigan Symphony this season, guaranteeing, to say the least, an exotic flavor of music. Enjoy the incredible selection of lineups with big names like Carrie Underwood, Gabriela Martinez and Broadway’s Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler.

Cirque de la Symphonie: Sept. 27-28 Gypsy Fire: Nov. 1-2 Swingin’ Holiday Celebration: Dec. 13-14 Surprise and Classical Symphonies: Feb. 7 Beethoven and Blue Jeans: March 7-8 Simple Songs: April 18-19 Russian Rhapsody: May 16-17 Music City Hitmakers: June 6-7

WGVU

301 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids wgvu.org, (616) 331-6630 WGVU will actively engage communities and families during its 40th anniversary this year. There will be musical performances by names we all know and love, theater, as well as activities for the kiddos. Even if you cannot attend some of the performances, many of them will be aired on WGVU HD. Cool Teacher Contest: Sept. 2 WGVU Engage Veterans Salute: Sept. 21 Great Performances at 40: Oct. 18 Food, Wine, & All That Jazz: Oct. 25 Moby Dick from San Francisco Opera: Nov. 1 WGVU’s 40th Anniversary Celebration: Nov. 5-12 Stephen Sondheim’s Company with the New York Philharmonic: Nov. 8 Rogers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!: Nov. 15 Nashville 2.0: Nov. 22 Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn: Nov. 29 Great Wine and Food Symposium: Feb. 28 Real Oldies Car Show: May 31 Real Oldies Concert at the Ballpark: May 31

GreatSeason! great artist gala

OCTOBER 24, 2013 Saxophonist David Sanborn & pianist Bob James together again in their first combined effort since multi-platinum album, Double Vision, for SCMC’s annual fundraiser.

chamber music

NOVEMBER 21, 2013 Virtuoso pianist Wu Han & Escher String Quartet MARCH 6, 2014 World-renowned cellist David Finckel & CMS musicians MAY 8, 2014 Avery Fisher Prize-winning clarinetist David Shifrin & CMS musicians

The Chamber Music Society

of Lincoln Center

NYC 2GR

jazz

JANUARY 23, 2014 Homecoming - The Davis & Brewer Family Reunion FEBRUARY 20, 2014 Gregory Porter - Grammy-nominated vocalist, composer MARCH 20, 2014 Regina Carter - Exquisite violinist, stirring and joyful

Showcasing the world’s most

Amazing Artists

JA ZZ

fresh folk

NOVEMBER 7, 2013 Rachael and Dominic Davis & Troll for Trout JANUARY 9, 2014 Drew Nelson, Jen Sygit, Jimmie Stagger, Josh Rose, Mark Sala & May Erlewine APRIL 10, 2014 Potato Moon & The Northern Skies

nyc2gr.com 616.459.2224

Contemporary & Acoustic

Fresh Folk Series

F LK

St. Cecilia Music Center REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

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“Dinosaurs Unearthed”: Opening

Oct. 26 at Grand Rapids Public Museum

’RE ING WE ODEL

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

REM

COMING THIS FALL RevueWM.com will get a new look. Our new site will better help readers stay on top of all the latest entertainment news from around West Michigan.

We’ll see ya there!

42 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

museums & history Gerald R Ford Museum

303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids fordlibrarymuseum.gov, (616) 254-0400 This year the Gerald R. Ford Museum will be participating in ArtPrize, hosting 25 artists including some alumni. There will also be lectures and special events, such as the lecture by Ike Bluff on his book. The main focus of upcoming events is the holiday season, so feel free to bring the family.

Growing Up Grand: Through May ArtPrize: Sept. 18-Oct. 6 Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World: Oct. 10 Annual Outdoor Tree Lighting: Nov. 20 Holiday Open House: Dec. 8

Grand Rapids Public Museum

272 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids grmuseum.org, (616) 456-3977 Grandmother Power is a display of photography that the museum collected. It shows the ways in which grandmothers all over the

world have worked to make a better future for the coming generations. There are also plans to highlight local grandmothers and take the exhibit on tour nationally and internationally. Dinosaurs Unearthed looks at the new discoveries made that may shake our long-held beliefs about dinosaurs. Here you will see life-sized recreations of the prehistoric creatures.

Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon: Sept. 6-Feb. 2 Dinosaurs Unearthed: Oct. 26-April 27

Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N Rose St., Kalamazoo kvm.kvcc.edu, (269) 373-7990

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will be rocking this fall. There will be some Americana to start Art Hop, some blues and swing, eclectic bohemian dance, blues, classical, and of course, a little bit of rock. These performances will be a great addition to the exhibits and other sights at the museum.

They will also be continuing their Sunday lecture series, which will be hosting many engaging speakers.

Decades of Dazzling Dresses: Through Jan. 19 Search for Freedom: The History and Archaeology of Ramptown and the Michigan Underground Railroad: Sept.

1-Oct. 31 Working Together to Achieve Justice Through the Underground Railroad in Southwest Michigan: Sept. 15 Where do the Children Play?: Sept. 29 Art Hop: Stuart Shaw and the Valley Runners: Oct. 4 Wild Music, Sounds & Songs of Life: Oct. 5-Jan. 5 Speaking of Unmentionables: The Rise and Fall of Ladies Underwear: Oct. 6 Chuck Whiting and his Rowdy Friends: Oct. 11 Alamo Township: Oct. 13 Boheme Tribal Belly Dance and Wissal: Oct. 18 Black History Tour: Oct. 20 Bring out your Dead! The History of Cemeteries in 19th Century Kalamazoo County: Oct. 27 Duffield/Caron Project: Nov. 8 Brady Township: Nov. 10 Comet ISON Emerges from Behind the Sun: Nov. 17 Charleston Township: Nov. 24 Art Hop: Kalamazoo Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra: Dec. 6 Charles B. Hays: Home Builder: Dec. 8 Beyond Sight: Dec. 13 The Townships of Kalamazoo CountyClimax Township: Dec. 22 Speed Demons and Other Scofflaws: Jan. 12 The Townships of Kalamazoo County: Comstock Township: Jan. 26 n

SEP OCT NOV JAN DEC FEB MAR APR

SCAN QR CO D E TO WATC H T H E SEASON V I D EO

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Why the Daac Matters:

A Vibrant Cultural Core Includes Emerging Artists

By Dana Friis-Hansen

In July, we found out all-ages, D.I.T. (do it together) venue the Division Avenue Arts Collective would close its doors at 115 S. Division Ave. on Aug. 1. The news came from a letter posted on the DAAC’s homepage titled “Sad News.” In it, readers found out the space where the DAAC resided for nearly 10 years had been sold. Recently, a town hall meeting was held in order to determine the next step for the venue.

Concert goers at the DAAC, circa 2005.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

T

here ’ s been a lot of ink spilled lately about the closing of the longtime home of the Division Avenue Arts Collective, and this is sad news indeed. Just short of its tenth year, this key anchor on the Avenue for the Arts played a vital role as an open platform for experimentation and cross-fertilization, especially for young and emerging artists. Although I’m a relative newcomer to Grand Rapids, the editor of REVUE thought I might have some insight. Recruited from Austin to be the director of the Grand Rapids Art Museum in July 2011, I’ve worked with contemporary art in New York, Houston, Boston and Tokyo.

Considering GR, I researched the community’s civic engagement, innovation and openness to creativity — essential for a forward-focused art museum.

From what I found online — and even more through experiences since I moved here — I know that the creative community of Grand Rapids is strong, deep, diverse and rich with potential. I have faith that wherever DAAC lands next, it will ignite fires of artistic and community innovation, but a downtown DAAC will help build a better cultural core. Let’s step back from DAAC and give their leaders time to reimagine their future. When DAAC rises again, I hope it can

44 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

Photo: Steven de Polo

play an active role in shaping a more sustainable creative ecosystem for our city, and be part of the upcoming civic dialogue focused on the future of downtown, including creative zones where the rules of the real estate marketplace work differently.

We need to plan for platforms like DAAC. Richard Florida, the sociologist who popularized the term “Creative Class,” wrote that to thrive in the future, a city needs a convergence of a concentration of talented and creative people, a high velocity of ideas, and a high metabolism. With artists, entrepreneurs and medical researchers living and working within blocks of museums, high schools, art schools and universities, local restaurants and farmers markets, active urban parks and a beautiful river, the possibilities to catalyze a livable, sustainable and more creative city are multiplied exponentially.

As we in GR look forward, I am hopeful that our leaders will reach out to connect our arts ecosystem, our creative community, and local businesses to seek a path toward high-density, richly diverse, energizing urban environment that attracts, supports and retains artists and innovators of all types, generations, and cultural backgrounds. A vibrant cultural core requires opportunity for emerging artists. n Dana Friis-Hansen is Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, taking the helm in July of 2011. Prior to joining GRAM, he most recently served as Executive Director of the Austin Museum of Art. FriisHansen is an accomplished curator, writer, and editor with dozens of exhibitions, catalogues, books, articles, and published papers to his credit.

In their own words We asked a handful of people involved in the local arts community for their memories and musings on the DAAC. Here’s what they have to say: “An old boyfriend of mine took me on our first date there to see Kimya Dawson, and it was the most intimate, personal, unforgettable show I’d ever seen ... I loved that at the DAAC the performances felt like little gatherings – even when the place was packed wall-to-wall and stiflingly humid, with people standing almost on top of each other.

I loved that you could get right up to the edge of the stage and stand inches from the artists who sing your favorite break-up/crying songs, and afterwards have a beer with them.” —Sarah Jean Anderson, artist and comedienne “I think it’s looking pretty grim as far as the music scene goes. It was $80 to rent the room at the DAAC, then you make 10 percent of the ticket sales, whereas at The Intersection, you pay $400 for the room alone and only get back 20 percent of the tickets you have to sell.” —Derek McAllister, vocalist/guitarist for Grand Rapids pop-punk band Small Town Victory

“Via the DAAC’s Sunday Soup program, artists proved they would be there for each other as this mini-arts grant program awarded monies to creative projects in our community pitched to the audience/funders ... and always over a bowl of homemade soup. It was so rewarding to everyone even if you were not the winner that month.”

—Tommy Allen, artist and lifestyle editor for Rapid Growth Media “The DAAC matters because it is a rare space that supports citizens in making and presenting new culture. It has produced shows, but also has produced meaningful organizational culture and many gifted cultural thinkers, workers, and leaders ... What is remarkable is the DAAC’s consistent organizational inventiveness. Despite all of the great shows and projects, the persistence and imaginative tactics used to sustain the organization stand out as quite rare and unique.” —Paul Wittenbraker, artist and Grand Valley State University professor

Photo: Ryan Pavlovich

“The issue with not having an experimental, cost effective venue for artists and bands to show and perform in is that they are forced ‘underground’ into basements and spaces that aren’t always safe and certainly aren’t open to the public. While those shows can be fun, it means there isn’t a middle space for creatives to move from the basement into venues that are bars, restaurants or galleries. My concern is that challenging non-commercial works are going to get substantially less recognition.”

—Jenn Schaub, former DAAC board member

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

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Midwestpiration Q&A with Andrea Kowch, artist

I

n 2012, SCOPE NYC named you one of the world’s top 100 artists.

How did you feel when you found out about the honor?

I was ecstatic when I got the news, because it was an international call for entry. I felt very honored to be featured ... It was a great feeling.

How did it affect your career?

It basically continued on as normal ... but all the exposure has been great.

You’re originally from Michigan. Which area?

I was born in Detroit and I’ve been residing in the metro Detroit area ever since.

Clearly, the experience growing up in the Midwest has affected you artistically.

As a child, memories of going out to the farms in the autumns and summers, they come back to me now as I paint. Just the landscape of Michigan has been a constant source of inspiration ... No matter where I’m at, it’s always home for me. The fields, the expanse, the wide-open skies. All of those elements that are so Michigan and where we’re from – it’s just who I am and where I come from. It just finds its way into my work constantly and it’s a jumping point as far as using a backdrop and creating this world that I create with my own emotions and stories that are interwoven.

You’re based in Sterling Heights, but your gallery (Richard J. Demato Gallery) is in New York. I assume you do a lot of traveling.

I do [travel] quite a bit for shows and business and work and everything. I was recently over there for the ArtHamptons International Fine Arts Fair to promote my work, and that was a really great experience.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Last year, you made ArtPrize’s top 25. How was your overall experience?

ArtPrize was an excellent experience. I actually entered the first year, in 2009, and then I got involved with my gallery and had been working full time with that.

I was talking with my gallery and they suggested I enter my painting (“Sojourn”) in ArtPrize. I really didn’t have that much expectation going into it. I did try, in the sense of getting involved in a great venue, which was the GRAM, and I felt very fortunate to be included in their exhibition. And I just sort of let it go to see how the people would respond.

Did you expect to win?

Victory is always a great thing ... but at the end of the day, I felt so honored to be featured in the 25 and now the painting is featured permanently in the GRAM’s collection. And that’s the hugest victory for me.

How did “Sojourn” gain a permanent position at the GRAM? I guess what they told me was they were seeing how people connected so much with the work and the response was so great toward it. They spoke with my gallery and I ... and everything worked out and they purchased it, and there it is. To this day, it’s surreal and wonderful to imagine it’s there because it’s my first placement in a museum and what better place to start here at home in Michigan.

Andrea Kowch

46 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

Currently, you’re showing at Muskegon Museum of Art. How did that get set up and what’s that been like so far?

Left: An early work

by Kowch, “No Turning back,” 24x48, acrylic-on-canvas.

Below: “An Invitation,” 60x48,

acrylic-on-canvas.

That sort of happened along the journey right before ArtPrize. I don’t really know the details of how it all came about, but [a collector] spoke with the Muskegon Museum and they looked at my work and contacted my gallery and we started talking and having meetings and everything snowballed from there.

You also released a book to accompany the exhibition at MMA. In itself was an amazing, amazing experience to be present one-on-one with the museum and the designer. I actually went to press checks to see the book being made. It’s wonderful. I’m very happy with the way things turned out.

You’ve been compared to director Alfred Hitchcock and realist painter Andrew Wyeth. Do you agree with that?

Sometimes it’s nice to hear what people are gathering from the work, and you keep it in the back of your mind as kind of a guide of what genre you’re fitting into.

But it’s not really a matter of that for me. But of course, all of those comparisons are a great honor for me. I love Hitchcock, I love Wyeth. All of those things that have that mysterious aspect to them are parts of me and the work that I do.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a series of portraits of my characters.

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Your characters show up throughout your paintings. Do you create personalities and backstories for them?

I would say I do in many ways. I work with actual models who are my friends.

These characters just kind of came into being on their own as I painted. All of them in one way or another are different parts of me, acting out different feelings.

Is there one particular piece of yours that you hold close to you?

All of them have certain things about them that I love. I would say to this day, one of my earliest paintings – “No Turning Back,” it’s a girl with flames – that painting for me, as an early work, was a very personal piece and it actually was a piece that created this whole journey that I’m on. My gallery found me by seeing that piece and I feel led to everything that’s happening now [through that piece].

It sounds like you appreciate how it set everything in motion.

Definitely. n Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Lindsay Patton-Carson.

Photo: Alexandra Agapiou

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

47

ArtPrize :: Best Bets

by Alexandra Fluegel

Stephen Hendee’s 2013 ArtPrize entry at Site:Lab

Events “Can Art Save Cities?”

Grand Prize Jury Panel Discussion

Ladies Literary Club, Grand Rapids, Sept. 26, 7 p.m.

Free!

During the past four years of ArtPrize, two related questions continue to surface: One, how is the audience for contemporary art formed, and what role should that audience have in the interpretation and valuation of art? And two, what role does contemporary art have in the revitalization of post-industrial cities? For the first time this year, the threeperson committee that selects the Juried Grand Prize will participate in a panel discussion and feature each of the jurors presenting insights from their practice as artists, curators, administrators and activists. A moderated conversation will investigate the popular notion that struggling cities can be revived by simply injecting contemporary art.

Charlie Schmidt’s youtube sensation “keyboard cat”

Venues Site:Lab at 54 Jefferson — Last year, Site:Lab at 54 Jefferson won the award for Best Venue for its transformation of the former Public Museum, and three site-specific installations also received juried awards, including the inaugural $100,000 Juried Grand Prize. This year, Site:Lab hosted 54Jeff: An Ideas Competition, an open, one-stage competition that sought ideas for the repurposing of 54 Jefferson that define a vision for the building as a public space. Winners will be selected by a separate jury, including Executive Director of the Cranbrook Academy and former editor-in-chief of Architecture magazine Reed Kroloff, and awarded prize money. A selection of submissions, including all prize winners, will be on display during ArtPrize.

Kendall College of Art and Design at Old Federal Building — This year’s exhibition, titled “Designed to Win,” features nine, high-quality entries in a variety of media. Be prepared to look in the air and on the walls, as the exhibition is host to a handful of 3-D entries that use found objects, viewers’ bodies, and space in creative ways. Not only is this show ‘designed to win,’ it is also designed to make you think, as some entries have strong themes that encourage self-reflection and inquiry.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Gillett Bridge — The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis staged an open call for Minnesota-based artists to consider what they would do with the popular pedestrian bridge and a $5,000 grant. A panel reviewed applicants and selected five to present their ideas to an audience and panel of judges, who selected Daniel Feinberg and Alexander Hanson’s “Temporary Pursuit of Performance” installation as the winner. The installation will consist of an aging SUV parked on the bridge with a wooden bridge built over it, which may not sound that cool, but hey, it’s what Minnesota’s serving up.

ArtPrize 2013 Sept. 18–Oct. 6 169 venues, 1,524 artists representing 47 countries and 45 states artprize.org Free!

Key Dates

Sept. 18:

Sept. 28:

Sept. 29: Oct. 3: Oct. 4:

Venues Open/Round One Begins at noon Round One Ends Top Ten Announcement at 1 p.m./Round Two Begins at 2 p.m.

Round Two Ends at 11 p.m.

Winners Announced at ArtPrize Awards at 8 p.m.

48 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

Walker Art Center’s The Internet Cat Video Festival Rosa Parks Circle, Sept. 27, 8 p.m.

Free!

CAT VIDEOS WILL BE PLAYED IN PUBLIC AND ON A VERY LARGE SCREEEN.

WE SHOULD NOT NEED TO SAY ANY MORE.

Also, now there’s an official ArtPrize beer. Seriously.

Founders is the official brewery of ArtPrize, and is releasing a new brew to commemorate this year’s competition. The Inspired Artist Black IPA comes in at 7.5% ABV, has 88 IBUs and is “a powerhouse IPA, brewed using malted midnight wheat and a unique variety of hops with tropical characteristics.” It will be available at the brewery beginning Aug. 19.

Meet the Jurors This year’s $100,000 Juried Grand Prize will be decided by a threeperson committee, and winners will also be selected in five juried categories: 2-D work, 3-D work, Time-Based work, Best Use of Urban Space, and Best Venue.

Grand Prize Jury

Anne Pasternak — President and Artistic Director of Creative Time // Creative Time is an organization that stages public art projects in New York City and around the world. Under Pasternak’s leadership, the organization has unveiled a variety of high-profile projects, including the “Tribute in Light,” the twin beacons of light that illuminated the World Trade Center site six months after 9/11.

Manon Slome, PhD — President and Chief Curator of No Longer Empty // Prior to her work with No Longer Empty, a non-profit that stages exhibitions in unused urban spaces, Dr. Slome was the chief curator of the Chelsea Art Museum in New York. During that time, she curated and oversaw a program of some 40 exhibitions, symposia and museum publications, as well as monographs and scholarly essays.

Mel Chin, artist // Mel Chin’s work combines alchemy, botany and ecology. He insinuates art into unlikely places, including destroyed homes, toxic landfills and even popular television, investigating how art can provoke greater social awareness and responsibility.

Unconventional and politically engaged, his projects also challenge the idea of the artist as the exclusive creative force behind an artwork.

Category Award Jurors

2-D Work: John Yau, New York-based poet and critic; Editor of Hyperallergic Weekend; Teaches art criticism at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University.

3-D Work: Hesse McGraw, curator, writer and artist; founding director and curator of contemporary art gallery, Paragraph.

Time-Based Work: Rashida Bumbray, New York-based independent curator, consultant for Creative Time.

Best Use of Urban Space: Eva Franch I Gilabert, director of storefront for Art and Architecture.

Best Venue: Alice Gray Stites, chief curator and director of art programming for 21cMuseum; independent curator. n

Sept. 20 & 21 The BluesVille Revue: Big LLou Johnson, Mike Wheeler Band, Russ Green and Nellie “Tiger” Travis Sugar Ray & the Bluetones / Rob Blaine / Maurice Davis Jimmy G the Capitols / Mike Daniels / Kevin Nichols & Blue Tuesday Fat Boy & Jive Turkey / Buzz ‘n Buster / Sweet Willie Tea / Matchette & Frog & more!

3 Stages / Expansive Beverage Tent / Music Clinics KidzBeat area / Ethnic Food Vendors & More!

OldTownBluesFest.com Old Town, Lansing 517-371-4600

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts & Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs. Programs subject to change.

49

: Issue ts e ArIZE Th tPR Ar

Adonna Khare receiving last year’s top prize from Rick Devos

So You’ve Won ArtPrize, Now What?

2

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

013 marks the fifth year

of ArtPrize, the “radically open, independently organized international art competition” that presents the winner with the largest prize in the history of art prizes.

Each of the four first prize winners have walked away with racks on racks on racks — $200,000 to be exact — and the satisfaction of knowing their work struck a chord with Joe the Art Critic.

But then what? Does a fate akin to the “Curse of the Lottery” befall them and their families? Do they become fixtures in Chelsea galleries dancing with Jay-Z and Marina Abramovic? Or maybe they’ve been confined to the basement tunnels of the Amway Grand Plaza, contracted to produce miniature replicas of their works in preparation for Rob Bliss’s next urban experiment — or not.

All four of the previous winners seemed to have gone back to business as usual, though in the case of Adonna Khare, her studio’s a bit bigger.

“I finally have a studio that is not my garage,” said the former school teacher, whose 288-square-foot, penciled mural “Elephants” took home the 2012 grand prize.

She said having the new space makes her process of creating her towering pieces much easier.

“I can step back, instead of always thinking about what it’s going to look like.”

Khare is based in California and now creates artwork full-time.

Chris LaPorte, who won in 2010 with his larger-thanlife pencil drawing “Cavalry,” has remained in his teaching position at his alma mater Aquinas College in addition to creating new work, including 2012 ArtPrize tenth-place winner “City Band.”

LaPorte admits he’s never been a “starving artist,” his first lucrative art dealings came to him while drawing caricatures at Cedar Point.

“I made the kind of funds that paid for my next year of college in just one summer,” he said. “It gave me the

50 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

By Alexandra Fluegel

brain tumor and said she has spent most of her time since in recovery.

“Going through something like that really makes you take stock of everything,” said the Iron Mountain, Mich. native.

“My recovery has been phenomenal, I’m getting back up to speed — I’m almost there.”

Tavonatti started the Svelata Foundation, an organization that aims to expose the creative processes of as many artists as possible by sponsoring artists and projects that “inspire and transform.”

She said right now she is “swamped” working on the latest installment of the “Power of Words Project,” which Chris LaPorte in front of “Cavalry” allows communities to vote on one word that best describes the place’s collective future and then assists artists, students confidence to know that, no matter what, I can make a living and community members in creating a mural to represent it. drawing, somehow.”

Tavonatti will return to her hometown this month to “Cavalry” is now a part of the ArtPrize permanent colbegin work on the piece that will aim to express the word lection and is housed in the Grace Hauenstein Library on the community selected: believe. the campus of Aquinas College. LaPorte has said that the As for Brooklyn-based artist Ran Ortner, the inaugural work was largely inspired by his father’s unexpected death in 2009 and that the tragedy continues to push him to create. ArtPrize champion, who transfixed the masses with his “Do I want to make something or do I want to put it off “Open Water #24,” drawing acclaim for how his painting looked “soooo real,” — he could not be reached for comsome more? I try to push myself to take advantage of the ment. According to his website, he is still exploring the time I have.”

Earth’s most bountiful and beautiful resource in a studio in 2011 winner Mia Tavonatti also knows the power of pain Brooklyn, though now he has many more assistants. n as a motivator. This past May, she was diagnosed with a

“Open Water” painting by Ran Ortner

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

51

Honor By August

Seth Glier

Shut Up & Listen!

By Lindsay Patton-Carson

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

W

hen it comes to seeing live music,

a little dose of shut-the-hell-up-andpay-attention is a good thing.

In the past year, instances of artists fighting back when it comes to giving their fans the best music experience are more frequent. In April, a sign that rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs posted outside its show at Webster Hall in New York asked concertgoers not to watch the show through a camera or telephone screen and to “PUT THAT S*** AWAY” as a courtesy to the band and other audience members.

Pop star Beyonce followed suit by calling out a fan at a concert in Atlanta to “put that damn camera down,” and on the local level, venues and artists are asking the same of their audiences.

In July, Tony Lucca, a Michigan native, “The Voice” contestant and former “Mickey Mouse Club” member, recently performed two sold-out shows at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up (SSU), a 110-seat listening room that hosts Pin Drop Concerts, with the focus on the music only.

“In 2002 I toured with NSYNC, well before people had cell phones with social media capabilities, and they were unabashedly there enjoying the concert,” Lucca said.

“Now, everyone is trying to watch the show through a twoinch screen.”

Owned by husband-and-wife team of Gary and Michelle Hanks, SSU hosts an average of five shows per month. And if there are audience members not listening?

They literally get yellow carded. Gary and Michelle pass out yellow cards, which quietly boot out second-offender motormouths.

“I’m not even sure where they are anymore. It hasn’t been an issue in a long time,” said Hanks, who added that in more than two years, they’ve only given out two yellow cards.

52 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

Callaghan

Red Tail Ring

Above: Performances at Seven Steps Up.

Photos: Kevin Reedy

To keep audiences quiet, Michelle introduces the acts “The artists reach out and make friends with the along with a speech that explains the venue’s no-talking audience and the audience does it back,” Hill said of policy. And, of course, the audience knows why they’re performances at The Block. “It’s a wonderful give-and-take at the venue: the music. between the audience and the performers.”

“When the audience gives you their full attention, it St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) is another example makes you dig deeper. If you’re going into a listening of a venue taking advantage of giving audiences that lisroom environment, they care on a whole different level,” tening room experience. During ArtPrize last year, SCMC Lucca said. “It’s no mystery as to why you sell more mer- started its Fresh Folk Series (formerly Local Spins Series) in chandise in those environments.” collaboration with John Sinkevics of Local Carla Hill, president and CEO of Spins and Michael Crittenden of Mackinaw West Michigan Symphony (WMS), en- “I think people Harvest Music Studio. more and more joyed her experience at SSU so much “The new folk series that we started last that she wanted to create the same kind year was specifically to give that genre of are focused in on of experience for WMS’ new venue, The musicians in Michigan a chance to play in the music and Block, in downtown Muskegon. The that kind of a setting — a concert room or this gives them venue, which seats approximately 148, listening room kind of setting,” said Cathy the opportunity to Holbrook, executive director for SCMC. opened June 2 with a performance by really hear them classical pianist Alessio Bax. Built specifically for chamber music, the “Seven Steps Up probably has the and give the musi- 130-year-old concert hall gives musicians closest configuration to ours,” Hill a chance to perform in a different kind of cians a chance to said. “The performers and artists are environment. shine so they’re experiencing the music like they’re in “There are a lot of times where you’ll go not just the back- in a [bar] and you can’t even understand a living room.” ground music.”

But Hill’s not trying to take away the singer,” Holbrook said. “And people from SSU with The Block. In fact, the are yelling over the music, and it just turns two venues support each other, with into noise. ... You’re kind of going for the SSU recommending The Block to musician Neil Jacobs. social experience of the bar.”

“There’s a nice give-and-take with what’s going on at Instead, the Fresh Folk Series takes artists that Seven Steps Up and what we’re doing,” Hill said. frequently perform in noisier venues and gives them a With The Block, Hill wants to explore the classical chance to present their music in a quieter, more intimate genre and present artists in a different setting than audi- setting. ences would see in larger venues. In fact, many of the “I think people more and more are focused in on the performers that play the Frauenthal Center for the Arts, music and I think this gives them the opportunity to really which hosts many of WMS’ shows, perform additional hear them and give the musicians a chance to shine so shows at The Block for a completely new experience. they’re not just the background music,” Holbrook said. n

COMING OCTOBER 2013

Check out REVUE’s annual guide to the local microbrew scene, including new breweries, interviews with craft brewers and educational and inspirational articles for beer enthusiasts across West Michigan!

SALES INQUIRIES Molly Rizor (616) 780-4527 molly@revuewm.com

Sept. 2 Sept. 16 Sept. 20

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

Editorial Deadline Space Reservation Camera Ready Ads Deadline

EDITORIAL PITCHES Lindsay Patton-Carson (616) 608-6170 lindsaypatton@revuewm.com

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

53

S p ecial A dver t ising S ec t ion

Experience Four Seasons at Broadway Grand Rapids

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elebrating 26 years, Broadway Grand Rapids is bringing their performances to new heights, especially since announcing a partnership with Michigan State University’s Wharton Center for the Performing Arts.

One of the shows that Broadway Grand Rapids is especially excited to put on this season is Jersey Boys, the hit musical that shows the rise and fall of the band The Four Seasons. Like the band’s moniker, it is divided into seasons and each of them is shown from the point of view of a different band member.

“Jersey Boys is not just about the hit songs, but the story behind the music,” said Meghan Distel, director of marketing and public relations. “The show digs into the nitty-gritty backstory of friendships formed and broken, the power struggles, and tragedy that occurred all while the group fought for success.”

This show is one of the many great performances Broadway Grand Rapids presents this season.

“Jersey Boys kicks off a great season that also includes an updated, more urban and gritty version of West Side Story, [as well as] Sister Act, and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Wizard of Oz,” Distel said.

For more information, visit broadwaygrandrapids.com.

Jersey Boys

St. Cecilia Music Center Celebrates Anniversary with Jazz Icons

o say that St. Cecilia Music Center is starting its season off with an iconic boom would sound slightly cliché and extremely inaccurate. With legendary jazz artists David Sanborn and Bob James coming to seduce SCMC’s crowds with the perfect fusion of piano and saxophone, the season is sure to begin with a feeling of pure, smooth ecstasy.

Twenty-seven years after their phenomenal release of Double Vision, Sanborn and James are at it again with a tour following their newest record, Quartette Humaine.

“SCMC is thrilled to kick off an important anniversary season with these stellar and world-renowned artists,” said Executive Director Cathy Holbrook, referring to the exciting 130th anniversary celebration this season brings to the SCMC. This newest performance offers unique jazz and presents an occasion to see the evolution the jazz duo has undergone throughout the years, not to mention a great way to support SCMC. “This is an amazing opportunity to see these two artists ... and have the chance to meet them after the show,” Holbrook said.

The performance takes place in the Royce Auditorium on Oct. 24.

For more information, David Sanborn and Bob James visit scmc-online.org.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

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54 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

Grand Rapids Art Museum Spotlights American Beauty�

W

ith images of buffalo roaming the land, the gorgeous greens surrounding Lake George in New York and the subtle-yet-majestic pastels of the Bathing Pool in Appledore, Grand Rapids Art Museum takes the patriotic phrase “from sea to shining sea” literally this season.

The exhibit, Masterpieces of American Landscape Painting, 19201950 (Oct. 20-Jan. 12), features images inspired by American landThe Buffalo Trail Photo: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston scapes, painted by renowned artists like Thomas Cole, Arthur Dove, Georgia O’Keeffe and others. Viewers learn about the history of landscape painting in the United States, while at the same time exploring some of the country’s most naturally beauteous glories.

“A lot of these artists were seeing the American landscape for the first time,” said Natalie Thomas, communications coordinator at GRAM. “[They] were so inspired, they chose to share the experience through painting.”

The exhibition itself originates outside of Michigan, being drawn from a collection at The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and has been on display overseas as well. “[This] is only the second time this exhibition has traveled. Previously, the exhibition was on view in Japan,” Thomas said.

GRAM also hosts programs for viewers of all ages, including an acrylic painting workshop, a community landscape project and other hands-on studio activities.

For more information, check out artmuseumgr.org.

University Musical Society Celebrates 135 Years with Shun-kin

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n its 135th season, the University Shun-Kin Musical Society boasts performers from all around the globe. In the past, the UMS has sought to bring uncommon and global experiences to audiences, and this season seems to be following suit.

Shun-kin is a story filled with devotion, music, and self-sacrifice. Traditional Japanese elements of theater such as Kabuki and bunraku will be used to help tell the story of Shun-kin and her student.

UMS is also the only Midwestern stop on the play’s tour and there will not be an opportunity to see it again until it is at UCLA in September.

The theater group that is bringing this story to life, Complicite, will be collaborating with Setagaya Public Theater.

“We last presented the theater company Complicite in 2008 and it is a theater company whose experimentation and commitment to collaboration is of huge interest to UMS and to our audiences,” said UMS’ Press and Marketing Manager Truly Render. “Told with unmatched elegance, stunning visuals, and surprising, seamless theatricality, Shun-kin lays bare the astonishing acts we commit in the heat of passion and in the chill of devotion.”

For more information, visit ums.org.

S p ecial A dver t ising S ec t ion

Saugatuck Center for the Arts Brings in Three-Time Grammy Nominees, Tiempo Libre

S

ince its beginning in 2003, the Saugatuck Center for the Arts has been devoted to bringing the arts to the Saugatuck community. Those who started SCA had the goal to make it the hub for community events and economic growth, and they continue that goal into today.

Tiempo Libre One of the musical groups that adds to the vision at SCA is Tiempo Libre, a Miami-based group that specializes in the Cuban timba music. “[Timba is a] high-energy blend of salsa, R&B, and traditional Cuban music creating a blend of high voltage jazz and seductive rhythms,” said SCA’s Marketing & PR Manager Sarah Abel.

And these guys know what they are doing. They are three-time Grammy nominees who have been featured on “The Tonight Show,” “Live from the Lincoln Center” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

Just in case you need another reason to see Tiempo Libre, the community outreach may be just that more convincing.

“Not only will [Tiempo Libre] perform, but because they are coming to the SCA as part of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, they will also host a low-cost community outreach program on the following day: An Introduction to Cuban Music at the SCA,” Abel said.

For more information, visit sc4a.org.

Grand Valley Begins Season with Fall Arts Celebration

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harton Center, which is affiliated with Michigan State University, is the largest performing arts venue in the state, so it takes advantage of its size by bringing in some of the biggest and best performances in the state.

Two of the many shows that the Wharton Center is proud to host are singer-songwriter Diana Krall and the musical Flashdance. The award-winning Krall will be at the center on Sept. 28.

“She is known for her intonation, musicality, and voice,” said Diane Wilcox, director of marketing. “She crosses over from jazz to popular music.”

When it comes to Krall’s talent, her time spent at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums and her Grammy speak for themselves.

Another great performance coming to the center is Flashdance, a musical based on the popular ‘80s movie. The show is on its pre-Broadway tour, so West Michigan gets the chance to see it before it gets to New York. It will be at the Wharton Center on Oct. 1.

“If you like dancing, this is t�he show for you,” Wilcox said.

For more information, visit whartoncenter.com.

Flashdance

The Addams Family Ups the Ante at Miller Auditorium

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iller Auditorium, ranked one of the top 10 venues in the country, has a history that dates back to the early 20th century, but did not become a reality until 1968. Since its opening, those who have been involved have sought to keep the purpose of enriching the lives of those in comThe Addams Family munity alive and not just present the arts for their own sake. This comes out in the shows that are chosen and the attitudes of those involved.

The Addams Family, a dark comedy, is not just an entertaining musical, but a story brought to life by a Drama Desk-winning composer, Olivier Award-winning costume and set designers, and a four-time Tony Award winning director.

“This show is a perfect choice for Miller Auditorium, as it exemplifies a show that is both classic and beloved, but also cutting edge and exciting because it is a relatively new tour with lots of catchy new songs for the audience to enjoy,” said Marketing Assistant Morgan Butts.

The Addams Family will be at Miller Auditorium on Oct. 22 and 23.

For more information, visit millerauditorium.com.

REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule

utch artist Cyril Lixenberg helps Grand Valley State University breathe new life into West Michigan’s arts and humanities this season during its Fall Arts Celebration. Set to run from early September to early November, the Celebration promises diverse artistic experiences, from music and poetry to dance and lectures.

“Cyril Lixenberg: An Artist’s Journey,” kicks the season off with an art exhibition that features sculptures, screen prints, drawings, paintings and other archival works from Lixenberg, not to mention a personal appearance of the artist himself during the opening reception.

Heavily involved in the Grand Rapids community, Lixenberg has continuously and personally influenced GVSU’s artistic society, rendering it the location of the largest collection of his work anywhere in the world and even inspiring the creation of new archival techniques and venues.

“This initial donation by Cyril triggered the creation of Grand Valley’s Print & Drawing Cabinet,” said Henry Matthews, director of galleries and collections at GVSU, as well as a longtime friend to the artist.

Lixenberg has donated more than 300 of his own paper works in the past 40 years. The exhibition itself will feature nearly 140 works.

For more information on this exhibit and the other five signature events for this year’s Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.

Bigger is Better at Wharton Center

55

S p ecial A dver t ising S ec t ion

West Michigan Symphony’s The Block Promises New Sounds

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est Michigan Symphony focuses on charm and flexibility this season with the revealing of its newest venue. The Block, which seats nearly 150 guests, treats audiences to a charming, intimate concert atmosphere without sacrificing the quality and power of performance sound. “[WMS has] an image of a Block performance,” said Carla Hill, WMS president and CEO. “We program things that are going to be diverse and interesting, and sometimes totally unexpected — different Kathy Supove from what people might imagine a place like WMS would present.”

Sept. 14 marks the start of four unique performances at The Block, as contemporary classics from composers like Kevin Puts and Jay Kernis are performed by WMS’s own Jennifer Walvoord and her husband, Andrew Le. � Helix Collective makes a stop on the stage on Oct. 12.

The group, a collection of artists known for their dedication to a fusion of classical and world music, creates the ultimate classical dance party.

Two special classical artists perform for the remainder of October. Kathleen Supove brings her “exploding piano” talent to the stage Oct. 18, playing both the inside and outside of the piano in conjunction with electronic sounds, while Neil Jacobs and his 12-string guitar explore a variety of musical genres on Oct. 26.

For more information, visit westmichigansymphony.org.

Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene

Johnny Cash comes to Van Singel

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an Singel Fine Arts Center presents Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show to kick off this season’s hot theatre performances. The musical features 34 of Johnny Cash’s most iconic and memorable songs, including “Country Boy,” Five Feet High and Rising,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” “I’ve Been Everywhere” and more.

The cast, made up of 16 performers, tells the story of love and the meaning of happiness in the heartland, chronicling stories of living the American Dream, growing up, returning home and dealing with the trials and blessings of home and family.

With the familiar tunes of Cash driving the musical forward, the stage is filled with cowboy hats, guitars and one heck of a lot of dancing — but nothing stops the viewer from remembering Johnny Cash in all his glory and grasping the deep message embedded in the show.

Because the musical features so many of Cash’s songs, it is often perceived as a tribute to Johnny Cash that runs much like a concert. The creators of the original Broadway production, however, have protested otherwise, saying that while the songs do indeed make up the show, the overall performance evokes a deeper feeling, a connection to the characters in the story.

For more information about Van Singel, visit vsfac.com.

56 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2013

A Streetcar Named Desire Marks Change at Opera Grand Rapids

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his season is bringing changes to Opera Grand Rapids. The company, which started as a branch of St. Cecilia Music Society, began as a group that performed at various venues in the Grand Rapids area. It began with small opera productions until its first major play at Calvin College. Today the company’s permanent base is the Betty Van Andel Opera Center, but this season there will be new stages. Two of their operas will be performed at DeVos Performance Hall, and the third will be at East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center.

One of the shows at DeVos this season is A Streetcar Named Desire, an opera based on the film and the Tennessee Williams play.

“For those not familiar with opera as an art form, A Streetcar Named Desire is a powerful way to experience opera within the context of a story audiences know and are comfortable with,” said Opera GR Communications Manager Sarah Mieras. The dramatic story is one that �marks one of the many exciting changes for Opera Grand Rapids.

For more information, visit operagr.com.

SEP TEM BER 27, 28, 29

NEW SALEM CORN MAZE &

Proudly Present The Fourth Annual

WURST FESTIVAL A Tribute To Bratwurst & Live Music!

A family friendly event featuring a variety of food vendors, beer tent (sponsored by Warhorse Riders) serving beer and wine, car show, record swap & art fair, hot air balloon show, petting zoo, haunted woods ride, corn maze & pumpkin patch! Don’t forget to enjoy some German cuisine on Sunday.

PERFORMING LIVE ON THE

Friday

Saturday

(Gates open at 5 pm)

(Gates open at 11 am)

6:00 PM

12:30 PM

IN THE RED

STONE THROWN

(High Energy Rock Show)

8:00 PM

DECADES

(The Best Of The 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s & Today)

10:00 PM

ONE

5:00 PM

10:00 PM

THE JIMMY STAGGER BAND

(Incredible Journey Tribute Band Live & In Costume)

(G.R. Icon & Rockin Blues!)

6:30 PM

(The Blues Rock Sounds of the 60’s & 70’s)

UNION GUNS

2:00 PM

(Kick A*# Country & Rock)

XPLICIT CITIZEN

8:15 PM

(Northern Michigan’s Classic & Modern Rock Connection)

3:30 PM

(The Official Metallica Endorsed Tribute Band)

STAGE

THE OUTER VIBE

THE AMERICAN HEARTBREAKERS

(“The Tribute” to the Music of Tom Petty)

ROCKSHOW Sunday

(Gates open at Noon)

FEATURING

THE GERRY KAMINSKI POLKA NETWORK

(Polka Band Hall Of Fame Renown)

(Ultra Animated, Audience Involving, Rock & Roll)

4516 24th Street, Dorr, MI (131 to exit 68/Dorr. Then West approximately 5.5 Miles to 24th. St. Then North 1.5 miles to farm)

WITCHESOFNEWSALEM.COM REVUEWM.COM | September 2013 |

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