West Michigan’s Entertainment Guide for 27 years » September 2015
Music / Culture / Dining / Beer / Free!
The Arts Issue
A complete arts season preview for 2015–2016
Grand rapids Artist keemo
Basquiat meets Klee
© 2014 Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Comstock, MI
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COMING OCTOBER 2015
Check out REVUE’s annual guide to the local beer scene, including a Michigan brewery guide, new breweries, brewery road trips and more! DEADLINES Editorial - Sept. 2 Ad Space Reservation - Sept. 15 Print-ready Ads - Sept. 17
Advertising (616) 608-6170 sales@revuewm.com
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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2015–16 Season LINEUP Welcomed by
The Second City: Friday, Sept. 25 @ 8 p.m. The Texas Tenors: Friday, Oct. 16 @ 8 p.m. Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk: Sunday, Nov. 1 @ 3 p.m. p.m. ay, Oct. 7 & 8 @ 7:30 Wednesday & Thursd
Chris Young: Saturday, Nov. 14 @ 7:30 p.m. All Hands on Deck! The Musical: Sunday, Nov. 15 @ 3 p.m. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical: Wednesday, Nov. 25 @ 7:30 p.m. The Piano Guys: Saturday, Dec. 5 @ 8 p.m. Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus LIVE!: Saturday, Jan. 16 @ 8 p.m. Momix: Tuesday, Jan. 19 @ 7:30 p.m. Ira Glass: Sunday, Jan. 24 @ 3 p.m.
THE STOR Y OF FRAN KIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASO NS
Gold Company: Anything You Can Sing, We Can Swing Better!: Greg Jasperse, Director: Saturday, Feb. 13 @ 2 & 8 p.m.
Tuesday–Sunday, Oct. 20–25 | Times vary
Golden Dragon Acrobats present Cirque Zíva: Saturday, Feb. 20 @ 8 p.m. Ailey II: Thursday, March 10 @ 7:30 p.m.
Monday & Tuesday, Jan. 25 & 26
@ 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Jeff Busby Original Australian Company.
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Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!: Sunday, March 13 @ 3 p.m. Dancing in the Streets Motown Revue: Saturday, March 19 @ 8 p.m. Riverdance: The 20th Anniversary World Tour: Tuesday, March 29 @ 7:30 p.m. Garrison Keillor: Wednesday, April 27 @ 7:30 p.m.
Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 29 & March 1 @ 7:30 p.m.
millerauditorium.com (269) 387-2300 • (800) 228-9858 Sept. Revue Full Page Season Ad.indd 8 |MA-7078 REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION AT SHAW THEATRE IN THE GILMORE THEATRE COMPLEX Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man: Friday & Saturday April 22 & 23 | Times vary 8/18/15 1:49 PM
What’s Inside
September 2015 | Volume 27, Issue 9
SCENE:
13 Random Notes 14 Eclectic 16 All Ages
SOUNDS:
19 SuperDre 20 In The Valley Below 22 Lord Huron 24 Triumph Music Academy 26 Michigan Record Stores 27 Michigan Record Labels 28 Michigan Rock Comp Reviews 29 WYCE Playlist
SPECIAL SECTION:
The Arts Issue
31 78
31 The Arts Issue 32 Arts Season Preview 48 Artist Profile: Salvador Jimenez Flores 50 Cover Story: Keemo 52 ArtPrize’s Christian Gaines 53 ArtPrize OnScreen – Waterfront Film Festival 54 Avenue for the Arts: Jenn Schaub 56 Artist Profile: Alynn Guerra 58 Artist Feature: Sarah Jean Anderson 58 Best Bet: KIA Common Ground Exhibit 60 Artist Feature: Bonus Saves 62 Artist Profile: Anthony Shechtman 64 Artist Profile: Ryan Brady 66 Artist Feature: Jason Quigno 68 Artist Feature: Jerry Vile 69 Artist Profile: Art Martin 70 Artist Profile: Joseph DeCommer 70 Artist Profile: Bunny Terwee & Margaret Farrell
SIGHTS:
76 Lit Life: Orbit Magazine Anthology 78 Style Notes: Fall Boots 80 Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire 82 Indie Film: Feminist Film Festival, Paul Schrader
DINING & DRINKING:
48
92
85 Restaurant Listings 86 Best Bet: Lansing’s Beerfest in the Ballpark 88 Dining News 90 Beer & Booze News 92 Beer: Label Art 98 Last Call: San Chez
Letter from the Editor
P
erhaps it was Keemo’s bodacious art on the cover that made you pick up this issue of Revue, if so, you’re in luck because there’s more where that came from. Revue’s annual Arts Issue is always our thickest issue, because there are so many local artists, museums and galleries that deserve recognition. It’s hard to edit down when
West Michigan is flooding with painters, sculptures, printmakers, illustrators and more — not to mention the area’s stock of performing arts centers, theatres and music venues. Oh, and the arty elephant in the room, the mighty ArtPrize. The colossal international art competition runs Sept. 23–Oct. 11.
We’re lucky to have all of these events, venues and creative minds in our backyard, but sometimes there are so many that some brilliant work is lost in the sea of talent. That said, Revue is always looking for new tips on local artists doing exciting, edgy work. Bizarre is OK. If you are an artist, or would like to recommend one to Revue, feel free to give us a call or shoot us an e-mail. Write: rich@revueholding.com or call 616-608-6170. Later,
W es t M ichigan ’ s E n t ertainmen t G uide
Editorial Publisher Brian Edwards / brian@revuewm.com Associate Publisher Molly Rizor / molly@revuewm.com Editor Joe Boomgaard / joe@revuewm.com Managing Editor Rich Tupica / rich@revueholding.com Associate Editor Jayson Bussa / jbussa@mibiz.com Design Creative Director Kim Kibby / kim@revuewm.com Ad Design Rachel Harper Contributing Writers Missy Black Brian Bowe Steven G. de Polo Mark Deming Amanda Denomme Abigail Emerson Tamara Fox Tayler Keefer Nolan Krebs Audria Larsen Dwayne Hoover
Ben Mepham Steve Miller Eric Mitts Mayra Monroy Allan I. Ross Chris Protas Nicole Rico Josh Spanninga Josh Veal Sarah Winterbottom
Contributing Photographers Katy Batdorff, Nicole Rico Revue Minions Tayler Keefer and Kimberly Peloquin
Rich Tupica, Managing Editor
Sales / 616.608.6170 /sales@revuewm.com Kelli Belanger / kbelanger@revuewm.com Digital Editor Jayson Bussa / jayson@revuewm.com
Advertising index Actors’ Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Barfly Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Bartertown Diner. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Beerfest at the Ball Park/ I’m a Beer Hound. . . . . . . . . . 71 Bell’s Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 23 BMW Motorcycles. . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Boba Bliss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Brewery Vivant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Broadway GR. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 63 Calvin College SAO . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Cascade Optical . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Celebration! Cinema. . . . . . . . . . 83 City Flats Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 City of Ludington. . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Cult Pizza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Ganders/Doubletree Hilton . . . . . 97 Downtown Zeeland . . . . . . . . . 100 Erb Thai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Founders Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Founders Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Frederik Meijer Gardens. . . . . . . . 57 Grand Rapids Public Library. . . . 17 GR Symphony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 GVSU Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59, 65 Gravel Bottom Brewery . . . . . . . . 87 Great Lakes Book Bash. . . . . . . . 24 Holiday Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Hope College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Interlochen Center for the Arts . . 16 Kzoo State Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Kzoo Valley Comm. College. . . . . 17 Keil Lasik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Kendall College of Art & Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 61 Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille. . . . 81 Orbit Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Long Road Distillers . . . . . . . . . . 93
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Firekeepers Casino . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lansing Blues Fest . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Michigan Irish Music Festival . . . 29 CC Taphouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 The Union. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Miller Auditorium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Muskegon Museum of Art . . . . . . 53 Neighborhood Ventures. . . . . . . . 55 New Horizons Computer Learning Center. . . . . . . . . . . 81 Old Dog Tavern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 One Trick Pony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Opera Grand Rapids. . . . . . . . . . 44 Palazzolo’s Gelato . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Pearl Street Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Right Brain Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . 91 River City Saloon. . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Ruth’s Chris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 San Chez Bistro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Saugatuck Brewing Co . . . . . . . . 91 Schuler Books & Music. . . . . . . . 94 Seven Steps Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. . . 3 St. Cecilia Music Center . . . . . . . 30 Grand Woods Lounge. . . . . . . . . . 99 Terra GR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 B.O.B.’s Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Dr. Grin’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 The Intersection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Pyramid Scheme. . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Score. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill . . . . . . 96 UICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 University Musical Society. . . . . . 67 Van Singel Fine Arts. . . . . . . . . . . 40 Wharton Center. . . . . . . . . . 34, 41 Woody’s Press Box. . . . . . . . . . . . 25 WYCE - 88.1 FM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Find us online! Website: revuewm.com Twitter: twitter.com/revuewm Facebook: facebook.com/revuewm Revue is published monthly by Revue Holding Company. 65 Monroe Center, Ste. 5, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Office: 616.608.6170 / Fax: 616.608.6182 ©2015, Revue Holding Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of the publisher in accordance with our legal statement, fools.
On the cover: The art of Grand Rapids artist Keemo. Read the interview on page 50.
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Random Notes MUSIC ///
For all the Britpop-loving anglophiles out there, The Libertines return with a new album, Anthems for Doomed Youth, Sept. 11. After taking little more than a decade off, this will only be the third album for the influential London-based band. On Sept. 4 FIDLAR releases its sophomore LP, Too, featuring the lead single “40 oz On Repeat.” You may remember their single “Cocaine,” a video featuring a belligerently drunk Nick Offerman (aka Ron Swanson). That same day also sees the release of the new Iron Maiden album, Book of Souls. This is the iconic metal band’s 16th fulllength disc. Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards drops his long-awaited third album Crosseyed Heart on Sept. 18. The LP finds him harmonizing with crooners Norah Jones and Aaron Neville, among others. The album is Keef’s first solo album in 23 years. Le Butcherettes also release its new LP on Sept. 18. The album, A Raw Youth, is centered on the conflict between minorities and society. Guest contributors include guitarist John Frusciante and punk-rock troubadour Iggy Pop. Also on board as the producer is Mars Volta’s Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. Later in the month, on the 25th, Chvrches unveils its new synth-pop album, Every Open Eye. Following up 2013’s The Bones of What You Believe, lead singer Lauren Mayberry has stated that the album is about the good and bad times within a relationship – not exactly reinventing the lyrical wheel, that’s for sure.
Chvrches
MOVIES ///
Do you prefer your post-apocalypse to be saturated with color and action-packed? Then look no further, Mad Max: Fury Road hits DVD Sept. 1. And in case you want to go a little more in-depth into your Mad Max obsession, a box set of all four films and a documentary, Madness of Max, is available the same day.
The Brian Wilson biopic Love and Mercy hits store shelves Sept. 15th. For those of you who missed seeing it at the theater, the movie chronicles two periods of the genius songwriter’s life: The making of his masterpiece, Pet Sounds, and his troubled time existing under the abusive control of then-psychotherapist Eugene Landy. This is a must-watch for fans of The Beach Boys and anyone who enjoyed Walk The Line, The Doors or Ray.
Jonathan Franzen’s highly anticipated novel Purity hits stores Sept. 1. The book addresses issues of identity and idealism as Pip Tyler struggles to find information about her parents and find her own self along the way. This book marks a stylistic departure for Franzen from his other novels, Freedom and The Corrections. From 6:30-7 p.m. on Sept. 14, 21 and 28, the Grand Rapids Public Library is having Pajama Time. Bring your stuffed animals, blankets and wear your coziest pajamas for a half hour of lullabies and bedtime stories. This is recommended for children 18 months to 3-years old. For those who like a little sci-fi with their YA books, it would be worth checking out Robert L. Anderson’s Dreamland, out Sept. 22. The book centers on Odea Donahue, a girl who travels through other people’s dreams. But when she meets mysterious new boy, Connor, the line between reality and dreams begins to fade.
TV ///
Season three of Comedy Central’s Drunk History debuts Sept. 1 at 10:30 p.m. Love history but books are a little too dry for you? Then hearing accounts of The Bone
Wars or the Big Bang as told by drunken narrators might be your thing. Guest stars include Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, Johnny Knoxville, Kat Dennings and Chelsea Peretti, among many others. Sept. 8 sees the return of Stephen Colbert to television as he begins his run as host of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Fans of the Colbert Report or his bizarre public-access interviews with Eminem will want to tune in. It’s true, Jon Stewart has abandoned us, but the show must g o o n . T h e Da i l y Show returns Sept. 28 with new host Trevor Noah. Inspired by Richard Pryor and Trevor Noah Eddie Murphy, Noah was the first South African comedian to perform on both The Tonight Show and the Late Show with David Letterman. He began his career at The Daily Show as a recurring contributor in 2014 before being named Jon Stewart’s successor. n Random Notes is compiled by Nicole Rico.
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
For those still holding out hope that filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan will finally write another decent script, perhaps he’ll deliver with his latest: The Visit. Out Sept. 11, Shyamalan wrote, directed and produced the movie with help from producer Jason Blum of Insidious fame. The movie is about a brother and sisters’ trip to their grandparents’ house that goes horribly wrong. But it’s rated PG-13, so it likely won’t be too horrific.
BOOKS ///
13
/// Eclectic
the people have spoken
It’s Hip to be Square (Dancing) September offers a mélange of cultural events in West Michigan, from swingin’ hoedowns to artistic histories depicted through fine art and the controversy of cartoons. By Audria Larsen
45th Dance-A-Rama
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel 187 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids Sept. 4-6, $8 dar2015.ssdusa.org, (616) 365-0538
dinner is back, starting sept 9th
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
YOU SPOKE. WE LISTENED. BARTERTOWN WILL BE OPEN FOR DINNER AGAIN AFTER LABOR DAY, STARTING ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. We’ll be serving up some of your old favorites and introducing new seasonal dishes featuring the finest local ingredients. We make everything from scratch, using produce from local farmers and we carry a variety of locally made beverages including direct trade coffee, kombucha and soda.
616-233-3219 BREAKFAST/LUNCH HOURS Wednesday - Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. DINNER HOURS Wednesday - Saturday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. DELIVERY HOURS Wednesday - Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
bartertowngr.com 6 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Visit our Facebook page for daily specials.
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Be there and be square! The 45th National Singles Dance-A-Rama takes over the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel this month bringing in square-dance enthusiasts from around the country. “Some people come coupled up, it’s not only for singles,” said Carol Bauer, event co-chair. “Anybody can come. Some people come by themselves and you dance with whomever.” Although you must be versed in the fine art of square dancing to participate, spectators are welcome. Because the dance events run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. over the course of several days, the organization offers a variety of tours that allow dancers to explore some of the local Grand Rapids attractions like Meijer Gardens and relax. If you want to learn the art of square dancing prior to the big event you can check out local groups the Flutterbys and the Grand River Squares for lessons.
Obsolete Technology Then & Now Exhibit
Tri-Cities Historical Museum 200 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven Through Sept. 30 Free! tri-citiesmuseum.org, (616) 842-0700
Explore 100 years of bygone technology and current innovations at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum. Culled from the museum’s private collection, objects on display feature once-cutting edge gadgets along with toys that are outdated but still very much in our collective conscious, like Game Boys and Walkmans. Remember early television “remote” controls that were corded? And instead of buttons there was a slider doohickey? No? Ask your grandma. Or go to this exhibit, which, according to the museum showcases the: “Evolution of communication and entertainment from the time of Alexander Graham Bell to the heyday of Steve Jobs.”
An illustration from Holland Museum’s Immigration and Caricature exhibit
Immigration and Caricature: Ethnic Images from the Appel Collection Holland Museum 31 W 10th St, Holland Through September 6, $4 - $7, Members FREE hollandmuseum.org, (616) 842-0700
Between the Civil War and World War I, literally boatloads of immigrants arrived to the United States. The exhibit, Immigration and Caricature: Ethnic Images from the Appel Collection, explores how American values and attitudes were shaped through visual imagery created as a response to the multicultural shift during that period. Over 4,000 items of mostly print media like cartoons, postcards and lithographs on display reflect an important part of our cultural history. Compared to our current era of political correctness, many of these works can be shocking, as well as humorous. n
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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/// All Ages
Arts & Crafty Experience Interlochen
Now is the perfect time to turn the little ones into future cinema and art snobs — but also teach them valuable life skills, like helping locals in need. Here’s where to start on some new life goals. By Steven G. de Polo
Meanwhile Film Series
1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids Tuesdays at Wealthy Theatre (8 p.m.) meanwhilebar.com, (616) 233-1679 Sept. 1: Conan The Barbarian Sept. 8: Terminator Sept. 15: Road Warrior Sept. 22: Full Metal Jacket
See A Performance Tickets On Sale Now Presentations by students, faculty and world-renowned guest artists
For a complete list and to purchase tickets visit:
tickets.interlochen.org 800.681.5920
Take A Class
2015 Fall Adult Arts Weekend Programs
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Music • Creative Writing • Visual Arts Media • Professional Development
For a complete list of classes and to register visit:
college.interlochen.org
16 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
Now celebrating its seventh year curating cult films, the Meanwhile Film Series at the Wealthy Theatre often features nostalgic favorites popular with kids of yesteryear. This month, the movie series continues Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. with the 1982 adventure-fantasy epic Conan the Barbarian. Blow your offspring’s mind when you tell them that the former Governor of California once played the fur-girdled Cimmerian. Conan is a longtime favorite of Meanwhile Film Series founder Jeff VandenBerg, who describes it as “Game of Thrones before Game of Thrones was Game of Thrones.” A well-known painter, graphic designer and muralist, VandenBerg recently introduced original art to the series with monthly limited-edition screenprinted posters designed by local and regional artists. The Posters for Blade Runner (VandenBerg), Shaun of the Dead and The Big Lebowski (Ryan Brinkerhoff) are currently available for $25 each
Drop-In Family Workshops at the GRAM at the Meanwhile Bar. Upcoming posters include Jurassic Park (Brinkerhoff), The NeverEnding Story (Craig Horky) and Conan the Barbarian (VandenBerg). Buy a couple to decorate the kid’s bedroom. And one for your man/woman cave.
S.H.O.E.S.
1823 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids Sept. 1-3, 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sept. 4, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free! intheimage.org, (616) 456-6150
Teach your children the art of giving back by volunteering to help with Shoes Help Our Elementary Students (S.H.O.E.S.) at the always-free charity In the Image. S.H.O.E.S. has been the signature event of the amazing charity for 18 years, serving 36 area elementary schools in the Godfrey-Lee, Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming school districts. In the Image is looking for volunteers to help fit donated shoes to thousands of children entering school. Meet and greet the future scholars and their families, measure their feet, then run and grab a couple pairs that will help the kids run faster, jump higher and play harder for the new school year. Nobody wants to wear busted up kicks on the first day of school, right?
Photo: Steven G. De Polo
Drop-In Family Workshops
Grand Rapids Art Museum 101 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Free! with admission and for GRAM members artmuseumgr.org, (616) 831-2927
Fondly called the snow fortress, downtown darling the Grand Rapids Art Museum continues to inspire families with not only its art, but also its fun-filled, all-ages workshops. On Saturdays, grab the kids and head down to the street-level GRAMStudio — far from the hustle and bustle of the kunsthalle. The GRAMStudio is staffed by talented and energetic art educators and artists who can make everyone excited to make art, even the ESPN-loving dads. The studio’s theme for September will be “Abstract Assortments,” sort of like the bottom of mom’s purse. Set on heavy-duty craft tables will be stacks of colorful tissue paper. Now is not the time to be neat and tidy: Rip, tear, paste and layer the tissue paper to create abstract nature designs. You can even mix colors through layering and explore how treating materials alters the effect of your composition. See who makes the best composition — winner has to buy hotdogs at the Dog Pit across the street. n
FRIDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
COMING THIS FALL
TO THE LIBRARY
SEPTEMBER 11
The Go Rounds
(high-energy twang rock) and Limitless, digital and papercraft art by Hanna Spangler. FREE
OCTOBER 2
Dave Menzo and Friends (fusion) and Surrounded by Beauty, photography by Ken Campbell. FREE
NOVEMBER 6
Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys (Rockabilly) and Megan Dooley (blues rock); also, Fragments: Jewish Life in Central and Eastern Europe 1981- 2007, photography by Yale Strom. FREE
DECEMBER 4
Kalamazoo Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
(holiday classics) and Spirit, Relation, and Story: Contemporary Potawatomi Art by Jason Wesaw. FREE Laser Light Shows in the Planetarium: U2 is back! Art Hop Fridays at 8 p.m. All shows are $3 per person.
Kate Rudd Tanya Eby
Voices Behind the Books
Amy McFadden
Wednesday, September 30 7:00 pm Main Library Come hear all about audiobooks! Three audiobook narrators will read selections from their works and talk about the process of making an audiobook. Together, these three audiobook superstars have narrated over 800 books covering all genres imaginable. Kate Rudd narrated the Odyssey and Audie-award winning The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Tanya Eby is the voice of the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. Amy McFadden in known for her comedic timing and was nominated for an Audie for Amy Falls Down.
Reading the Great Lakes
Thursday, September 3 7:00 pm Main Library This month’s book selection is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Community Resource & Senior Volunteer Fair
Friday, September 11 10:00 am–12:00 pm Main Library
When to Keep Secrets and When to Tell Truths: The Nuances of Writing About Your Family and Their History
kalamazoomuseum.org 269.373.7990 The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees
EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 111 LIBRARY ST NE 616.988.5400 WWW.GRPL.ORG REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Thursday, September 24 7:00 pm Main Library Author Barbara Stark-Nemon will discuss her book, Even in Darkness, and the process of writing it, focusing on how to handle family secrets.
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DO GOOD, HAVE FUN! CONCERTS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY SEPTEMBER 16 - $25 LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE & SUZZY ROCHE
LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE + SUZZY ROCHE
SEPTEMBER 18 - $22
SEABIRD
SEPTEMBER 20 - $30
SEABIRD
JEFFREY GAINES + FREEDY JOHNSTON
SEPTEMBER 21 - $18
CHARLIE KING SEPTEMBER 25 - $22
DAVID BERKELY CHARLIE KING
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
COURTYARD AT 116 S. JACKSON ST. SPRING LAKE MICHIGAN
FOR A FULL SCHEDULE, VISIT DAVID BERKELY
18 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
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Client
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/// local music
by Brian J. Bowe
Catching Up With SuperDre
Dre talks about her forthcoming LP and throwback Detroit techno
O
In that respect, Dre’s music hearkens back to the early days of Detroit techno. “When you listen to the old stuff, it actually has a lot more soul than it does now,” she said. “What used to be called techno ... it’s more like an electronic form of jazz than what people now call techno.” Dre originally moved to Grand Rapids to attend Grand Valley State University where she graduated in 2004 with a dual major in music and business and a minor in advertising and public relations. She has been a fixture on the local music scene for years, but in 2013 she headed to Los Angeles to take a job working on TV and film music for Universal. In that gig she racked up a series of credits on TV shows, films, commercials and other kinds of projects. She said she’s enjoyed learning to take creative direction in the process. Continued on page 20 8
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
v e r t h e pa st c o u p l e o f years, e le ctro n i c m u s i c produce r SuperDre has been on a trajectory that has taken her from Grand Rapids to Los Angeles and back to Detroit. These days she balances film and television work with her own recording projects and international gigs at huge festivals. Even though she’s part of a generation of up-andcoming musicians who are expanding techno’s palette in exciting new directions, Dre continues to do her best to bring quality electronica to West Michigan. That’s a tall order given that Grand Rapids has never been a particularly hospitable home for the genre. Every Monday for the past five years, Dre has curated BassBin, a weekly event at Billy’s Lounge (1437 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids). The free event showcases area talent and offers a sorely needed beacon of beats for the dance floor deprived. But she didn’t have high expectations when she launched it. “Good timing, a good venue and good people all happened to converge at one time,” she said. Part of electronic music’s problems in Grand Rapids stems from the rave culture explosion of the 1990s, which resulted in mammoth busts of druggy illegal parties. After that authorities looked askance at all things electronic. “I didn’t know anything about any of “When you listen to the that stuff because I was too young,” Dre said. old stuff, it actually has “But coming along after that we have to deal with the aftermath of bans on stuff in Grand a lot more soul than it Rapids because of drugs.” does now. What used to While she may be too young to remember those legal troubles, Dre does have early be called techno ... it’s mother. In the fourth grade she memories of electronic music. As a child more like an electronic took up saxophone, followed by growing up in South Haven she was first violin in junior high. Outside of exposed to techno on family trips to visit form of jazz than what school she played electric guitar in her grandparents in Detroit. people now call techno.” alternative and funk bands. “It was just part of normal radio, it “Pretty much every musical wasn’t like this indie thing,” she said. “It was thing that was available, I was in. just what was there in Detroit all the time.” I was that band geek,” she said. At the time she didn’t realize she was hearing the music Thanks to her grounding in classical composition and jazz in the land of its birth. Techno’s innovators — the Belleville theory there is a great deal of musicality in Dre’s work, sometriumvirate of Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson thing that’s often lacking in electronic music. It’s a world filled — are hailed as visionaries across the globe even though they are with a perplexing variety of subgenres, from melodic discolargely unheralded in swaths of their native Michigan. tinged house and the aggressive wobble-wobble of American “Techno was legitimately a new thing that three guys were dubstep to the metallic minimalism of drum and bass. When making in their basement, they had no idea it was going to end pressed, Dre calls her music somewhere between minimal up like this,” Dre said. techno and deep house. Music has been a huge part of Dre’s life for as long as she “I need something funky in there or I get lost,” she said. can remember. As a child she took piano lessons from her
19
/// On tour
From Twin Peaks to Capitol Records The Story of In the Valley Below’s Muskegon Roots
“For the most part music for me has always been: I do what I want to do, I create what I want to create,” she said. “(The film work is) different, but not in a bad way. It’s forced me to be focused a little bit more.” She was in L.A. for about a year and then an opportunity with Universal cropped up in Detroit and she jumped
| by Eric Mitts
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
B
efore breaking out of L.A. as one half of the enigmatic indie-pop duo In The Valley Below, Muskegon native Angela Gail Mattson began her long, strange trip to stardom with a single, burning step. “I used to work at Blockbuster Video in Muskegon and I got a copy of ‘Fire Walk With Me,’ which was the Twin Peaks movie, and that was one of the first experiences that I had with something that wasn’t completely mainstream or commercial and it just completely blew my mind,” she said. “I watched it over and over. That was a moment that changed me creatively.” Until that run in with the bizarre David Lynch flick, her experience growing up in West Michigan was pretty typical. She performed with various theatre groups and, like most teenagers in small towns, used music as a means of escape. she played bass with other bands while getting When that wasn’t enough, she and her ex acquainted with the scene. By 2011 that D.I.Y ventured off to the West Indies, leaving the path lead her to a kindred sonic spirit: Jeffery cold weather and economic Jacob Mendel. hardship of Michig an With a shared love behind for open water and for the surrealist films and brighter skies. “Fire Walk With Me… the eerier elements of Phil “We got a little boat, Collins and Peter Gabriel was one of the first sold everything we owned records — the two forged experiences that I had a songwriting partnership and decided to just go sailing for as long as we could,” that neither thought would with something that Mattson said. “We fished, go much further than their wasn’t completely and I actually brought a home studio. guitar that a friend gave But thanks to digital mainstream or me so I had time to really music outlets like Spotify, commercial and learn how to play and start the pair’s unique approach writing songs.” to electro-pop, decorated it just completely After discovering she by Mattson’s Americana blew my mind.” wanted to pursue music for harmonies and Mendel’s a living, she set a course for Memphis-bred blues guitar, Los Angeles. found an audience and the “When I moved there I had never been band started booking gigs. to California, so in my mind it was kind of a The hard work paid off — the duo is Disneyland fantasy,” she said. “I thought I’d now signed to Capitol Records. Their single just go out there and I’d get a record deal and “Peaches” is charting in several countries and it was going to be great.” receiving remixes from the likes of Passion Pit The harsh reality of the music industry and Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke — not bad for quickly set in after reaching the West Coast. something started as a studio project. Beyond While struggling to get her solo music out, its synth-fueled sound, In The Valley Below
20 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
PHOTO: Eddie Chacon
has become known for its transfixing chemistry and their beguiling, gothic-bohemian fashion. “Before the band I had an online vintage shop,” Mattson said. “I’ve just always loved wearing vintage dresses and we decided that we wanted to have a ceremonial type of uniform when we go onstage, just to help people get into the zone and feel comfortable in the space that we’ve created. It helps us get in that mood.” This month they will start their first-ever headlining tour here in Grand Rapids where they’ve spent a surprising amount of time already learning more about their other creative passion: homebrewing. “We’re fans of darker beers, like the porters and the stouts, so we’re always searching for the best ones,” Mattson said. “But there’s so many [here] it was a little overwhelming when we first came back to Michigan. Where do you start?” n
In The Valley Below
SuperDre, from page 19
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids Sept. 25, 7 p.m. $14, $12 advance, all ages pyramidschemebar.com, (616) 272-3758
at the chance to come back to Michigan. She still keeps a place in Grand Rapids and splits her time between the two cities. “It worked out miraculously,” she said. “I couldn’t have planned it better. I’m happy to be in Detroit but it’s nice to still be able to come back here when I want to.” Dre recently finished her follow-up to 2011’s Follow the Fro, an October release is expected. The still-untitled album is the product of three years of intense work. “It’s been one of those things where it would be done and some time would go by and I’d learn how to do something else. I wouldn’t like it anymore so I would scrap the whole thing and start over,” she said. “I’ve finally gotten to a point where I’m like, ‘You need to stop.’” Along with label shopping she’s working on some videos for the new album and gearing up for some fall shows — including a swing of dates in Croatia. But, through it all, she intends to make it back to Billy’s when she can. n Listen to SuperDre on Soundclound: soundcloud.com/superdre.
October 10
September 25
JONNY LANG September 2 - 5-8pm
Ft: DJ Mel V & Hired Hands Band
September 12 - 8:30pm
October 24 - 7:30pm
Wilco wsg William Tyler
October 25 - 8pm
The Lalas Burlesque Show
October 27 - 7:30pm
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Jonny Lang wsg The Record Company
GRACE POTTER
WSG RAYLAND BAXTER
Mersey Beatles wsg Author Julia Baird (John Lennon’s Sister)
Beanie Sigel ft. Freeway
September 16 - 7:30pm
October 25
October 16 - 8pm
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Highway to Hell The Ultimate AC/DC Tribute Show
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Swan Lake
Grace Potter wsg Rayland Baxter Jesse Cook
November 14 - 8:30pm
Australia’s Thunder From Down Under A Girl’s Night Outback
November 22 - 7pm
Girls Night: The Musical
Jeff Daniels wsg The Ben Daniels Band
Buddy Guy wsg Danielle Nicole
Greensky Bluegrass
October 10 - 8pm
October 13 - 7:30pm Melissa Etheridge This is M.E. Solo Tour
November 27 and 28 - 8pm December 4 - 8pm Brian Regan Live Comedy Tour
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
21
/// On tour
Made In Michigan
Lord Huron Returns for Calvin College Show Monday
1/2 off all MI craft drafts, 8pm-1am
Tuesday
Tall Boy Tuesday $3.5 domestic tall boys
Wednesday
Karaoke and 1/2 off bottles of wine 9pm-1am
Thursday
$2 domestic bottles 9pm-midnight
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sunday
NFL Ticket Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar $4 burger basket $6 PBR pitcher
$4 appeTizers
Sun-Thurs, 9pm-1am
The WesTbar on The besTside 801 5th St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (616) 456-9058 theholidaybargr.com Like us on Facebook!
22 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
PHOTO: Josh Sanseri
| by Eric Mitts
E
ven as the legend of his band Lord Huron continues to grow, Okemos-native Ben Schneider will never forget the natural beauty of the state that first inspired him to write
music. “That part of the world will always have this sort of mystical mystery for me,” Schneider said. “I think it will be a well that I can hopefully draw from for many years to come.” Now based in Los Angeles, Schneider first wrote the songs that would become Lord Huron on the shores of Lake Huron in 2010. Burnt out on his corporate advertising gig, and the impervious L.A. art scene, he returned to the place where he spent so many childhood summers. From there, he felt freshly inspired to create a world entirely his own. Soon after, he self-released an EP and had to scramble when fans of his carefully crafted indie-folk demanded a widespread tour. Returning to his Michigan roots once again, he called up the only musicians he actually knew: His childhood friends and fellow Mid-Michigan-natives Mark Barry (drums), Tom Renaud (guitar) and Miguel Briseno (bass).
“I’ve known some of these guys since I was about 12 and we just always kept in touch when we went our separate ways in the world,” Schneider said of turning Lord Huron into a full-fledged band. “Luckily, I was able to convince them to come out west and we’ve just been touring ever since.” Lord Huron’s 2012 full-length LP, Lonesome Dreams, wrapped listeners in Schneider’s world even more, delving them into a completely fictional realm — inspired by an even more fictional Western novelist — while expanding the scale and scope of the band’s artistic vision. “Music these days is very single-oriented and that just has to do with how people consume music and that’s fine,” Schneider said of the forgotten art of the album-making. “But I’ve always been one for wider form, broader scope projects and the album is such a beautiful way to express that.” After touring with the likes of alt-J, and playing major music festivals like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Coachella, Schneider widened his lens even more and approached Lord Huron’s follow-up like a film maker. “Initially I had this idea because I had this string of short stories and whether they were going to be a movie, or actual prose, or what I didn’t know,” Schneider said of the genesis of
Lord Huron’s latest LP, Strange Trails. “It seemed like a deep back story, maybe even excessive, but it really helped us understand the songs and flesh out the vibe.” Having recently directed the video for Strange Trails’ swinging lead single, “Fool For Love,” Schneider said he’d love to direct a movie one day, but for now his focus is definitely on music as Lord Huron has tour dates lined up for the rest of this year. The band plays Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium on Sept. 16. “(If you’re) coming to a show, expect to hear something different just because there’s all this life being injected it,” Schneider said of his band’s live show. “Hopefully it’s something of a communal experience where we’re all sort of there together. Kind of like the records, we want you to lose yourself in it a little bit and come along on a journey with us.” n
Lord Huron
Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium, Grand Rapids Sept. 16, 8 p.m. $23 public, $10 w/ Calvin ID, all ages Calvin.edu, (616) 526-6282
upcoming Wed. September 9
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REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
23
/// in the studio
Triumph Music Academy unveils hip-hop and recording/engineering programs | by Jayson Bussa
instrument, writing songs, playing in a band or even producing an actual album. Triumph offers curriculums in everything from early childhood music all the way to DJ and EDM lessons. The hip-hop program is the latest in Triumph’s offering and, while the lessons are mostly student-directed, Chyme said that there will be essential lessons that include free writing exercises to help students connect with their thoughts, freestyle rap exercises, history of the genre, mic performance, breath control and more. “[Triumph] didn’t seem like the typical music school,” Chyme said of what attracted him to collaborate with the Academy. “That’s not to say that any other music school is doing it wrong, but it seemed like [Triumph] was preparing the students for what it really is to be a working musician.” The program’s first student is an aspiring 11-year-old who was tasked with creating a motivational song about soccer as a part of his program. “In the end, how many will become professionals? I don’t know,” Chyme said. “I just know that I learned a lot from sports and applied it directly to music. These are experiences you can draw parallels to later in life.”
J
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
ames Forrest Hughes, director and owner of Triumph Music Academy on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids, said he wants his music school to be a destination where aspiring musicians of all ages and walks of life can come to learn how to play, produce and master “real music.” He took another step towards this effort with his most recent announcement: Triumph Music Academy’s new hip-hop program — the first of its kind in the area — is off and running, a curriculum that Hughes said was important in order to provide a diverse and relevant music learning experience. “We didn’t really have people necessarily calling us up requesting this but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need,” Hughes said. “We have a duty to provide opportunities in all kinds of music, especially this genre. It has proven itself as highly influential and it deserves educational proliferation.” The program offers one-on-one instruction for students in either one of two paths: Lyricism will be offered at the school’s location at 949 Wealthy Street SE, while the other is focused on beat production. Classes for the latter will be held at an offsite studio. Probably just as exciting as the announcement was the news of two very familiar faces that are spearheading the new program; the enigmatic Grand Rapids rapper and artist Rick Chyme will teach the lyricism side of the program while Chyme’s long-time, accomplished producer Jason Burke (aka “Nixon”) will lend his knowledge and private studio to teach students production. “Triumph’s hip-hop program will really be a first for the West Michigan region,” said Nixon, who has seen plenty in his 17 years in the industry. “Students will learn step-by-step how to set up recording sessions, master sound, microphone techniques and acquire beat making skills.”
24 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
Rick Chyme The new program follows the general ethos of Triumph’s unique model and approach, where students dictate what sort of lessons they learn. Hughes said that the idea behind Triumph is to help a student accomplish their musical aspirations from ‘A’ to ‘Z,’ whether that involves learning an
COLLABORATION WITH RIVER CITY STUDIOS At the time this story was written, Triumph was poised to make another exciting announcement involving a partnership with local recording studio River City Studios. Through the studio, Triumph would offer students oneon-one recording and engineering lessons, where they would be paired up with real professional engineers. This is normally an element that is missing in most institutional curriculums available through some colleges and universities. Hughes said the details are still being hashed out, but that he was excited to team up with what he considered to be one of the premier recording studios in the state. For more information on Triumph’s programs, visit triumphmusicacademy.com. n
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REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
25
/// vinyl
Corner Record Shop
FBC
Vinyl shop voyage
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
A breakdown of some of Michigan’s best
“Y
our Turntable’s Not Dead” is a slogan Detroit-born Jack White came up with for his Third Man Records label — but it could also be assigned to the entire state of Michigan. The mitten is littered with brick-and-mortar shops, stocked with those rarities even Amazon.com can’t offer. Here are just a few worth digging into.
UHF
Having opened in Royal Oak just five years ago, UHF hosts an unusually extensive collection of punk, garage rock, metal and rare collectibles alongside racks of the record store standards. The store also stocks quality stereo equipment. Stop in frequently to browse it’s carefully crafted, and always growing, used vinyl selection. Those who prefer sealed fresh vinyl should stop in as well. 512 S Washington Ave., Royal Oak. (248) 545-5955
26 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
FBC
Flat, Black and Circular has served up some serious music expertise to the East Lansing area since 1977, earning a place in the record store hall of fame. Vinyl, CDs, cassettes, great people, endless knowledge and wisdom — this shop has it all, smack dab in the heart of East Lansing. Aside from the wax, there’s a massive selection of used DVDs and an area dedicated to used turntables and stereo equipment, too. 541 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. flatblackandcircular.com, (517) 351-0838
The Record Lounge
One of the only record stores owned and operated by a woman, The Record Lounge uses its status as the sole vinyl-exclusive shop around to focus on doing one thing exceptionally well. Without all those newfangled CDs and cassettes taking up shelf space, room is cleared out for the largest local music and merch collection in the area. Stop in and dig for old gems and new sealed pressings. 111 E. Division St., East Lansing. Facebook.com/therecordlounge
record shops | by Josh Veal
Satellite Records
A lot of record stores have some shows, but very few host a lot of shows. Satellite Records falls under the latter. In addition to the live music and an ever-expanding selection of new and used music in every format, their painstakingly organized web store makes it easy to snag any album off the shelf from home. Buy, sell, trade — stay for the noisy rock band. 808 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. satelliterecordskzoo. com, (269) 986-1963
Vertigo Music
The most well-known record store in West Michigan since its debut in 2000, Vertigo draws hundreds of customers every week to the heart of Grand Rapids in search of new and used LPs and 45s. Its manager, Herm Baker, is a living music encyclopedia and he champions the local scene. Baker’s history with running vinyl shops actually dates back to 1986 when he opened the now defunct Vinyl Solution. The store’s vibe is DIY, which makes sense given its motto: “Your antisuperstore for music that matters to you.”
129 South Division Ave., Grand Rapids. vertigomusiconline.com, (616) 742-5106
Encore
Encore Records went through an ownership change recently, but one thing hasn’t changed: the store’s dedication to the classics and local nuggets. With a specialty in used records, Encore is able to provide rare and out-of-print albums that might not be available anywhere else in the state, assuming you can pick them out of the sprawling vinyl sea. Walking into Encore is like entering a vinyl labyrinth. Be prepared to dig. 417 East Liberty St., Ann Arbor. encorerecordsa2.com, (734) 662-6776
Dearborn Music
Open since 1956, Dearborn Music is one of the oldest establishments in Michigan. With that time comes experience, wisdom and an absolutely massive record collection, boasting over 50,000 titles in one store. The selection only continues to grow as they bring in more new and used music every
Michigan Record Labels | by Nolan Krebs
Our state is known for its iconic list of record labels founded on our turf — i.e. Motown, Touch & Go and Third Man Records. But Michigan is also stocked with quality, small-run indie labels. Here are just a few cranking out slabs of wax today:
Vertigo Music
day. Along with the standards like rock and R&B, Dearborn Music boasts a wide range of gospel, jazz, bluegrass and more. 22501 Michigan Ave., Dearborn. dearbornmusic. net, (313) 561-1000
Corner Record Shop
Aside from an excellent new and used vinyl library, the Corner Record Shop has recently put a good deal of effort into creating a quality concert venue for the Grandville area. Vinyl aside, the store stocks an unusually impressive array of high-end audio equipment for the true audiophiles — and will even repair your stereo. For those who can’t get over the ’70s and ’80s, Corner Record Shop also sells VHS tapes, 8-tracks, cassettes and other assorted vintage-media goodies. 3562 Chicago Dr. SW, Grandville. cornerrecordshop.com, (616) 531-6578
Round Midnight
Underground Sounds
Aptly named, Underground Sounds steers clear of anything your middle-aged aunt might have ever heard of, or ever will
Melodies & Memories
M&M has been a musical hub for metro Detroit since 1988, putting the classics first, from rock to jazz to orchestral and everything in-between. After all these years, the staff still has a passion for searching through the haystack to find deep cuts and hidden gems as requested by customers. Split up into various rooms, every inch of the store is stocked with music. Stop in and find that old Bob Seger & the Last Heard 45 — that one he cut in 1966 when he still kicked ass. 23013 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe. (586) 774-8480
Green Light Music
Originally a CD warehouse, Green Light has been easing into records since 2008, at the dawn of the vinyl renaissance. CDs still dominate the store’s space but quality new metal, classic rock and so much more walks through the door every day. While you’re there, cruise the Blu-rays, posters and stereo equipment. 4717 W. KL Ave., Kalamazoo. greenlightmusickalamazoo. com, (269) 372-8560 n
Ghostly International
(Grand Rapids) — Coming up on its one-year anniversary, dizzybird records is the brainchild of Nicole LaRae and Brian Hoekstra. LaRae and Hoekstra have made a lot of headway in dizzybird’s short lifespan, with a focus on fuzzy, dreamy garage rock. The label has released music from Grand Rapids’ own Heaters and Dear Tracks, Gringo Starr (Atlanta) and Las Rosas (Brooklyn), as well as a full plate of records scheduled for 2016.
(Ann Arbor) — Ghostly International began as an art and music collective in 1999 in Ann Arbor under the tutelage of founder Samuel Valenti IV. As a University of Michigan student with a love for electronica, particularly Detroit’s underground scene, Valenti started the label with a release from fellow U of M student Matthew Dear. Since then, Ghostly International has grown into a global label with releases from some next-level electronic artists, including Tycho, Dabrye, Gold Panda, Matthew Dear, Matrixxman and Com Truise.
Double Phelix Collective (Kalamazoo) — Double Phelix is an asskicking collective of musicians and artists based in Kalamazoo. The group does it all: Write, produce and record albums for various groups in K-Zoo. Its ranks include over a dozen ensembles, songwriters, performers and engineers, including members from The Go Rounds, Maraj, Lasso, The Double Phelix Orchestra and more.
Earthwork Music
Hot Capicola Records (Grand Rapids) — Another new label out of Grand Rapids, Hot Capicola Records is run by Luke Schmidt and JP Pinckney. In addition to releasing music for its artists, including Lady Ace Boogie, DJ Dean Martian, Convotronics and AOK, Hot Capicola also assists with booking and management. Thus far, Hot Capicola has focused on hip-hop, but has made it clear they’re open to exploring any genre.
(Lake City) — Earthwork Music has grown to become kind of a folk-rock institution at this point. Operated out of Lake City, Earthwork’s roster of nearly 40 artists includes some of the state’s most well-known roots rockers, including Joshua Davis, Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, Steppin’ In It and The Appleseed Collective. The label also holds the annual Earthwork Harvest Gathering on the Bernard family farm each year with over 90 acts and a series of workshops from all sorts of creators.
(Lansing) — Lower Peninsula Records is a small, independent label out of Lansing that focuses on vinyl releases. Run by musician and engineer John Krohn, LPR has worked with some of Michigan’s most ambitious bands, including Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers, as well as Frontier Ruckus, Jake Simmons & the Little Ghosts, Husband & Wife and The Sights.
Emetic Records
Salinas Records
(Flint) — Emetic Records is an imprint specializing in death metal, doom, hardcore and the like. Among Emetic’s signed artists are Noothgrush, Cold As Life, Bongripper, Celophys, Crowbar and Speedball. The label releases a new BelzebonG record this fall, so if you’re into stoner metal — keep your eyes on this imprint.
(Detroit) — Founded in 2003 in Detroit, Salinas Records drops stellar records from both Michigan and out-ofstate acts. Some artists on their roster include Radiator Hospital, Swearin’, PS Eliot and The Ambulars. This month, Salinas releases Kicking Every Day — the debut LP from Columbus/Philadelphia four-piece All Dogs. n
Lower Peninsula Records
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Since 1986, ‘Round Midnight has been filling the closets of Owosso locals and passers-through with concert T-shirts, hippie jewelry and band posters. Walking into the shop is like a time warp filled with ample used vinyl and CDs. This is a surprising hidden gem, tucked away in the cultureless bowels of Shiawassee County — it’s worth the trip. And, yes, the store’s name pays homage to the Rolling Stones tune. 822 W. Main St., Owosso. (989) 723-6448
hear. There are no Top 40 or MTV-featured artists to distract from the local, indie and other completely obscure music lining the shelves. Located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, Underground Sounds is the place to discover something new, like a French garage-punk band or a sizzling Crypt Records compilation of raw ‘n’ rare R&B cuts from the ’50s. The store sticks far left of the dial. 255 E. Liberty St. Suite 249, Ann Arbor. Facebook.com/undergroundsoundsmi, (734) 327-9239
dizzybird records
27
/// album reviews
Michigan Rock Albums
SEP
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LORD HURON
with Son Little | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $23
NEW RELEASE:
Dan Mulholland
Eclectic Warrior – A 30 Year Retrospective (Mulholland, 2015)
T SEP
23 EAGLE ROCK GOSPEL SINGERS Covenant Fine Arts Center Recital Hall | 8pm | $10
SEP
25
SYLVAN ESSO
with special guest | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $23
he track listing cites a heaping helping of Michigan-based bands, including the Shanks, Kentucky Chrome, the Navarones, the Boomerangs, the Stomp Rockets, Lord Rockingham’s Astral Rangers and many more, but the 43 songs on the Eclectic Warrior two-CD set all have one thing in common: lead singer, instrumentalist and inspired lunatic Dan Mulholland. Mulholland is one of the unsung heroes of the Michigan rock ‘n’ roll underground. He’s a talented singer who brings a welcome dose of energy to any group he signs on with, as well as a live-wire personality with an ear for great tunes. His taste runs from rockabilly and first-generation rock to revved-up garage rock and freaked-out noise collages. Even with 43 songs stretched over two CDs, Eclectic Warrior hardly scratches the surface of Mulholland’s body of work. His first band, The Raven, was kicking out jams in 1965 and Mulholland still gigs
regularly in the Ann Arbor area. The singer says a second two-disc collection is also in the works. Eclectic Warrior unfortunately lacks any material from the Urbations, one of Mulholland’s best and best known bands, but as a wild and wooly tribute to one of the most determined lifers in Michigan rock, it’s big fun and a double shot of bar-band history. To buy a copy, try ordering online from Ann Arbor’s Underground Sounds or call Mulholland himself at (734) 730-8215. —Mark Deming
BACK CATALOG:
Various Artists OCT
7
COLONY HOUSE & COIN
Schedule | Dining | Sights | Sounds | Scene
with Flor | Covenant Fine Arts Center | 8pm | $15
NOV
12
NATE RUESS of fun.
Campus Consciousness Tour | Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex | 8pm | $30
Oct 17 | Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors Oct 28 | Filharmonic Oct 31 | Milk Carton Kids
www.calvin.edu/boxoffice
28 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
616.526.6282
Friday at the Hideout – Boss Detroit Garage 1964-67 (Norton, 2001)
A
fter the Beatles hit America in 1964, seemingly every teenager across the United States was ready to grow out their hair, pick up a guitar and show that they could create some screaming teenage hysteria of their own. Michigan was no exception and Dave Leone was one of the key figures on the mid-’60s rock scene in Detroit. Leone ran a chain of teen nightclubs (no booze, but plenty of music and dancing) called the Hideout and in time he started a record label to help spread the word about local talent appearing on his stages. Friday at the Hideout, released via Norton Records, features a fistful of rare gems from the Hideout Records archives. Sadly, licensing restrictions mean none of Bob Seger’s six tunes for Hideout make the cut, but you do get some goodies from a young Suzi Quatro with her band the Pleasure Seekers (including the garage-rock classic “What A Way to Die”). And years before Seger’s young protégé Glen Frey earned Jeff Lebowski’s wrath by joining the Eagles, he cut some cool sides for Hideout with his bands the Four of Us and the Mushrooms. If Hideout artists the Henchmen, the Fugitives, the Underdogs, and Doug Brown & the Omens didn’t produce any future rock stars, they
sure made some fine records and Friday at the Hideout is a great collection of pre-psychedelic teenage action. Those interested in more ’60s garage sounds from Michigan should also investigate A Square (Of Course): The Story of Michigan’s Legendary A-Square Records (Big Beat Records UK), which includes superb early recordings from the MC5, the Scott Richard Case (later known as SRC), and the Frost. There is also an outstanding bootleg Michigan Brand Nuggets (Belvedere), which boasts some killer early Bob Seger singles as well as more top notch obscurities than you can shake a Vernors at. Released as a limited edition LP in the early ’80s, original vinyl pressings of Michigan Brand Nuggets are rare as hen’s teeth these days but bootleg CD-Rs pop up with regularity at record collectors shows. Happy hunting! —Mark Deming
/// playlist
Songs We Like Vol. 2
SEPT 17-20 Michigan
Compiled by Pete Bruinsma, WYCE Music Director
Irish
Here’s another super-sonic installment of the WYCE/REVUE/AMI Entertainment playlist. To listen on your mobile device, grab the AMI BarLink app and fire up their trusty jukebox. Our stellar Songs We Like stream is also available at RevueWM.com and WYCE.org.
Music
Wilco
Fe s t i v a l
“Magnetized” A new one from Chicago’s pop-rock royalty who hasn’t released one bad album over a 20-year career.
www.michiganirish.org
The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers
“Little Light” This song is a bright spot for WYCE. The band was formed in Los Angeles by a few bored friends who happened to be fans of traditional music and it turned quickly into a full-time gig. Inspired by the Staple Singers, spring-boarded by Woody Guthrie, they will tote this enjoyable collaboration to the Calvin Fine Arts Center on Sept. 23.
Heritage Landing, Downtown Muskegon
High Kings We Banjo 3
FEATURING LIVE MUSIC BY
Sharon Shannon Kennedy’s
Blitzen Trapper
Kitchen
rn BlackthMooxie Strings
andeamus Kennedy RUNA
JigJam
S
Barleyjuice
Tupelo
over 20 bands
“All Across This Land” Some solid bucolic sub-rock.
Jacco Gardner
“Hypnophobia” The Dutch Baroque-pop artist released this equally global, psychedelic and danceable masterpiece into our world of music this year. Title track “Hypnophobia” warns the listener of the wily pleasures of this addictive stew.
Built to Spill
Beach House “PPP” Hazy mist-pop from these veteran Baltimore post-rockers.
Beach House
Mac DeMarco “Without Me” British Columbian Mac DeMarco plays self-described “jizz jazz,” which could have easily been inspired by the eerie sounds of ‘80s classics heard from an old portable cassette deck — or the therapeutic process of walking in a pool. This stuff is surprisingly catchy.
The Suffers “Gwan” Gulf-Coast Soul.
Public Enemy
Widespread Panic
“Lost in Space” As usual, PE delivers some mature, political hip-hop of the highest quality.
“Steven’s Cat” Jam/trad via the veteran band’s 12th studio album, Street Dogs.
Tunde Olaniran
“Nick” Great desert blues is some of the most beautiful music in the world. When Jihadists took over northern Mali, they banned all music. The historic circumstances inspired the 2015 film They Will Have to Kill Us First and Songhoy Blues’ album, Music In Exile. SXSW, NPR and WYCE are a few outlets that are giving early recognition to this mind-altering music and story. n
“Transgressor” Michigan alternative R&B/electronic artist Tunde is simply a must-see performer. This is the title track off his first widely-distributed album. He can be seen next on Oct. 30 at The Pyramid Scheme.
Toro Y Moi “The Flight” Some A+ chillwave.
Songhoy Blues
Slide
Buy online EARLY and SAVE www.michiganirish.org
to view website
Get In FREE Early Friday, 5 - 6 pm only
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
“So” After 23 years, this rock band still has it. This is the band’s eighth masterpiece.
The Go Rounds “Lay With Love” These Kalamazoo troubadours and Earthwork Music collaborators explore soul music, baroque folk, country and classic rock ‘n’ roll.
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ArtPrize Music Hub
September 23 thru October 11
ArtPrize MUSIC Oct. 4
All tickets on sale now!
A Benefit for St. Cecilia Music Center
Subscribe to save up to 20% on concerts and 60% on pre-concert receptions! Single tickets range from $20 – $48 each.
Joshua Davis
Troll for Trout & Fauxgrass Quartet
SPECTACULAR JAZZ SERIES Anat Cohen
Cyrille Amiée
Jack DeJohnette
December 10, 2015
March 10, 2016
April 21, 2016
Brazilian Jazz
Jazz Drumming Legend
French Gypsy Jazz
THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER SERIES Co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han assemble some of the world’s best chamber musicians for this intimate series designed for Royce Auditorium
ACOUSTIC CAFÉ FOLK SERIES
November 12, 2015 January 21, 2016 March 17, 2016
The Steel Wheels
Shawn Colvin
Leo Kottke
Alejandro Escovedo
November 22, 2015
February 18, 2016
April 14, 2016
May 5, 2016
Americana Masters
Female Folk Icon
Guitar Legend
Godfather of Alt Country
SCMC-ONLINE.ORG (616) 459-2224
30 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
The
/// Special Feature
Arts Issue S
eptember in West Michigan means one thing: ArtPrize. From Sept. 23-Oct. 11, the 7th annual international art competition showcases more than 1,500 works of art, spread across 160 venues in Grand Rapids. When all is said and done, two fortunate artists will each take home $200,000 in grand prizes. Overall, more than $500,000 is distributed to creative minds. With all of the commotion caused by the prominent 19-day contest, and the constant flow of other arts-related events in the area, it’s impossible to tell every story. The scene is never ending and forever growing. Nonetheless, Revue’s Arts Issue, at the very least, offers a sample of what our side of the state has to offer. Through a series of Q&As and profiles, this special issue offers a glimpse into the minds of local artists — both established and emerging. This section also details what West Michigan arts groups have in store for the 2015-2016 season, so be sure to hang on to this issue for the entire year — and support the arts.
Triad by Anthony Schechtman: More about the artist on page 62.
31
The Arts Issue | Season Preview
Fred & Dorothy Fichter: Butterflies Are Blooming, March 1-April 30
Fire Barn Gallery 18 N. 5th St., Grand Haven firebarngallery.com
Bernar Venet
at Frederik Meijer Gardens
10 Paintings, Sept. 2-5 Common Magic, Sept. 23-Oct. 11 Grand Haven ArtWalk, Sept. 23-Oct 11 DIA Inside/Out, through Nov. 26
visual art
Glitter Milk Gallery 901 Alpine Ave NW, Grand Rapids glittermilkgallery.com
Compiled by Nicole Rico
(106) Gallery and Studio (Calvin College)
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
106 S. Division, Grand Rapids calvin.edu/centerartgallery/studio, (616) 526-6271 Operated by the Calvin College Department of Art and Art History, the (106) Gallery is part of the downtown Grand Rapids project Avenue for the Arts. Exhibitions include work by faculty, students and the community. Starting Sept. 8 in Gallery 1, Calvin College Department of Art and Art History celebrates its 50th anniversary. In celebration there’s an exhibit of works by 50 Alumni from the past 50 years titled 50/50 – 50 Alumni in 50 Years. Featured artists include Rick Beerhorst, Taylor Greenfield, David Lubbers, Anna Greidanus, Kevin Buist and Miriam Wassenaar. Running concurrently in Gallery 2 is Light: An Eternal Presence, which examines the different qualities of light as well as the ability of light to imprint darkness, reveal text and reference history. Artists include Gerhard Richter, Hendrik Kerstens, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Sandra Bowden, Arne Svenson, Josh Garber, Carol Bomer and Thierry Cohen. Light is accompanied by a poetry reading called Say What You See in the Dark by Lew Klaat on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.
32 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
And finally, for those interested in the art of printmaking, drop by the Center Art Gallery and check out The Creative Process: Drawings, Plates, Prints and Watercolors by Reynold Weidenaar. This exhibit showcases over 70 drawings, plates, prints and watercolors by Reynold Weidenaar, confirming his role as an important local artist and a printmaking revivalist. 50/50 – 50 Alumni in 50 Years, Sept. 8-Oct. 10 Light: An Eternal Presence, Sept. 8-Oct. 10 ArtPrize 2015, Sept. 9-Oct. 11 The Creative Process: Drawings, Plates, Prints and Watercolors by Reynold Weidenaar, Oct. 22-Jan. 16. Plein Air – Land Conservancy of West Michigan, Oct. 28-Nov. 20 The Art of Printmaking with Chris Stoffel Overvoorde, Nov. 5 BA Art Education Exhibition, Dec. 4-Jan. 15
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids meijergardens.org, (888) 957-1580 If you haven’t had a chance to check out Bernar Venet’s contemporary sculptures at the garden, now is the time to do it. Venet’s
September 2-5 will see Fire Barn Gallery Director Chris Protas’ first show in five years being exhibited. 10 Paintings shows four years of work and is a preview of an upcoming, larger 2016 show. Following that is Common Magic by David Heino. This is a collaborative exhibit showing the work of local artists like Michael Peoples and Kerri VanderHoff, as well as works by Fire Barn Gallery alumni. It runs from September 23-October 11, which is the exact same time as the Grand Haven ArtWalk. Then, through November 26, the Fire Barn Gallery presents DIA Inside/Out, which displays 15 reproductions of art from the DIA collection. This marks the first time the DIA has gone outside of the Detroit Metro area for this exhibit.
works can be seen around the world and are included in several private and public collections. His steel sculptures range from eight to 13 feet tall and were inspired by Venet’s interest in logic and mathematics. The sculptures will remain on display until October 31. After you see the sculptures, head to the Seasonal Display Greenhouse for several chrysanthemum displays as part of the Chrysanthemums and More event. Also included are Halloweenthemed activities for the whole family. Tradition and Innovation, starting in September, displays the work of Japanese ceramic artists and shows what happens when tradition and avant-garde collide. Co-curated by the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in the Shiga Prefecture, Japan, 20 selected works will be displayed at Frederik Meijer Gardens before the pieces travel to Japanese venues in 2016. And in the Spring the annual Butterflies Are Blooming event lets you witness butterflies from around the world hatch from their cocoons and flutter around the Tropical Conservatory. Bernar Venet at Meijer Gardens, through Oct. 31 Chrysanthemums and More!, Sept. 18-Nov. 1 Tradition & Innovation: Japanese Ceramics Now, Sept. 18-Jan. 3, 2016 Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World, Nov. 24-Jan. 3
Showcasing both emerging contemporary artists and seasoned professionals, Glitter Milk Gallery’s exhibits range from pop surrealism and graphic design, to sculptures and illustrations. On September 26 the focus is on wearable button art with their Mini exhibit. On October 24 you can witness their witch-themed Samhain show, just in time for Halloween. Rounding out the year is Candy Art, a show devoted to indie video games featuring handmade arcade cabinets. All shows are one-day only but you can schedule a walkthrough by e-mail. Mini, Opens Sept. 26 Samhain, Opens Oct. 24 Candy Art, TBD
Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids artmuseumgr.org, (616) 831-1000 This fall, GRAM explores the questions of identity, environment, DNA and every-day life through their Nature/Nuture exhibit. Featuring artists from all over the world, artists showcase the different ways they address nature and nuture through their art and what both of those elements mean in our lives.
curated by GRAM from ArtPrize 2015. For those looking for a bit of childhood nostalgia, in April one of the most important children’s book artists, Maurice Sendak, is featured at the museum. Well-known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak has an exhibit at GRAM from April 9-May 22. It features many of his illustrations, prints and drawings. Also included are comments and photos from celebrities and authors he’s inspired. ArtPrize Seven at GRAM: Nature/Nurture, Sept. 17-Oct. 11 Reynold Weidenaar: A Retrospective, Oct. 25-Jan.17 Shared Sensibilities: Weidenaar among his Contemporaries and Predecessors, Oct. 25-Jan. 17 GRAM Selects ArtPrize Seven: Encore, Nov. 27-Aug. 14 Women, Art, and Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise, Jan. 31-April 17 Maurice Sendak, April 9-May 22
The Public Life of Richard Hunt - 21st Century Projects, Muskegon Museum of Art
In October, two exhibits run concurrently, Reynold Weidenaar: A Retrospective and Shared Sensibilities: Weidenaar among his Contemporaries and Predecessors. Born in Grand Rapids 100 years ago, the exhibit showcases 120 of the cultural icon’s works while Shared Sensibilities displays works by his contemporaries and those he drew inspiration from. Following that is GRAM Selects ArtPrize Seven: Encore, which displays pieces specially
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 South Park St., Kalamazoo kiarts.org, (269) 349-7775 Kalamazoo Institute of Arts has three main events this fall. Kicking it off is Common Ground: African American Art from the Flint Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Muskegon Museum of Art. The exhibit is now open and runs through November 15. It showcases five different eras of work by African American artists. Then check out Flowers in Chinese Art, running now
through Dec. 9, and explore the meanings of different flowers and their colors in Chinese culture. Another attraction is Manierre Dawson: Engineering Abstraction, which runs through December 13. Dawson made major contributions to the field of abstract painting and his life in Michigan. And last but not least is the Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review, open from Sept. 19-Nov. 29. Every other year the Kirk Newman Art School exhibits works from 45 of their more than 250 art classes showing the range of talents that can be learned at the school. Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review, Sept. 19-Nov. 29 Common Ground, through Nov. 15 Flowers in Chinese Art, through Dec. 9 Manierre Dawson: Engineering Abstraction, through Dec. 13
LaFontsee Galleries 833 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids 410 W Center St., Douglas lafontsee.us
Starting off as the Underground Studio in 1987, seven years later they expanded to become the LaFontsee Galleries. Having been in the West Michigan art scene for the past 25 years, they now have two locations (Grand Rapids and Douglas) and are currently carrying over 50 artists. LaFontsee Galleries has three main exhibitions this fall, the first being Toast. Taking place at the new Douglas location, the exhibit runs through October 11 and is the Art Opening Reception for the Douglas 2015 season. On Oct. 16 the Land Conservancy Show starts, as part of a collaboration with the local Nature Conservancy. Rounding out the year is Let’s Get Started, which runs through the Holiday Season. Toast, Sept. 6-Oct. 11, Douglas location Land Conservancy Show, Oct. 16-25, Douglas location Let’s Get Started, Oct. 29 through 2015 Holiday Season, Grand Rapids location
149 South Hudson St., Lowell lowellartsmi.org , (616) 897-8545 LowellArts! begins fall with an exhibit by West Michigan artist Geary Jones and Coloradan collaborator David Johnson. Fiberx2 features large, three-dimensional tapestry installations and Geary Jones’ woven paintings as well as tapestries from David Johnson’s Echo Series. Then you can satisfy all of your Halloween needs by going to see Art of Darkness, an exhibit that will explore darkness, terror and mystery “in a thoughtful (not too gruesome) way.”
Fiberx2: Tapestry Collaborations by David Johnson and Geary Jones, Aug. 21-Sept. 26 Fallasburg Fall Festival for the Arts, Sept. 19-20 Art of Darkness, Oct. 1-31 LowellArts! Players presents Play Bytes by Playwrights, Oct. 16-31 LowellArts! Holiday Market, Nov. 13-Dec. 23
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon muskegonartmuseum.org, (231) 720-2570 Known for its well-known collection of paintings, sculpture, glass and prints, the Muskegon Museum of Art boasts a remarkable variety. This season is also impressive, starting with Challenging Tradition. It showcases what happens when functional craft-based objects overlap with other disciplines like drawing, painting, sculpting and electronic media. These works of fine art are products of the Modernism movement in the middle 20th century when interest began to be shown in the object itself, rather than what function it might have served. Up next is Extreme Fibers: Textile Icons and the New Edge. It shows the diversity of fine art textiles and the fiber movement. Viewers can find both abstracted shapes and functional pieces at the exhibit in the form of quilts, weavings, sculptures, basketry and tapestries. In November, The Public Life of Richard Hunt explores the work of this nationally known sculptor through scale models, drawings, photographs and a documentary film. Locals may know his piece Muskegon Together Rising, commissioned in 2008, which stands in downtown Muskegon. Challenging Tradition: Fine Craft from the Permanent Collection, through Oct. 25 Doorways: A Passage through the Permanent Collection, through Oct. 11 Freestyle: The Art of the Snowboard, Oct. 29-Jan. 10 Extreme Fibers: Textile Icons and the New Edge, through Nov. 1 The Public Life of Richard Hunt: 21st Century Projects, Nov. 5-Jan. 24 Festival of Trees, Nov. 19-29
Maurice Sendak, Grand Rapids Art Museum REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
LowellArts!
Need a break from that darkness? Check out the 47th Annual Fallasburg Fall Festival for the Arts. Located in Fallasburg Park, the event features over 100 fine art and fine crafts booths. There’s also food booths, music, craft demonstrations and a children’s craft area. If you’re looking for unique gifts for your loved ones, you can find handmade pieces by over 40 area artists, including paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, glasswork, metalwork and textiles, among others at the LowellArts! Holiday Market, which opens Nov. 13.
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The Arts Issue | Season Preview
Saugatuck Center for the Arts 400 Culver St., Saugatuck sc4a.org, (269) 857-2399
Photos (Broadway cast): Joan Marcus and Chris Callis
i l l a V e i k n a r f f o y r o T The s & The foUr seasons
Starting out September is A Wise Perspective: A Celebratory Collection of Works by Saugatuck High School Creatives. This in-depth exhibition features work by Saugatuck High School alumni nurtured by recently retired Art Educator Christa Wise. There is work from several fields including fashion, film, circus performance, comedy and choreography. The featured artists include: Marlee Alexander, Christian Birky, Barrett Randolph, Emma Schoenfelner, Brenton Wehrmeyer and Zoey Werme. Then from Sept. 17-Nov. 1 check out the Native Spirits exhibit, which features art forms like pottery, fiber art and wood carving by members of the Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi. Also included are portraits taken during the 2015 Sweet Grass Moon Pow wow by photographer James Cook. In February you can check out Do you mind if I put that there?, a collaborative work by Lisa Walcott and Meridith Ridl. The drawings are created from marks, stumbles, glitches and piles and run the gamut of emotions, from funny to self-deprecating. A Wise Perspective, through September 4 Native Spirits, Sept. 17-Nov. 1 Art ‘a Loan, Nov. 11-Jan. 2 Silk Road, Jan. 8-Feb. 20 Do you mind if I put that there?, Feb. 28-April 16
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
2 Fulton W, Grand Rapids uica.org, (616) 454-7000
Starting off this fall at UICA is SENSE, an exhibit taking place over six responsive locations within the space and evokes the viewer to use their five senses to respond to the work. Following SENSE is Coming Home, which spotlights Michigan artists (those born in, living in, or who have spent considerable time in Michigan), highlighting the diverse talent and inspiration that can be found in this state. If you’re looking to take in a good film, but Hollywood Blockbusters are not quite your thing, then head to UICA for all your foreign, independent and documentary needs. All year round, Tuesday through Sunday, check out festival award winners and critical favorites in UICA’s downtown Grand Rapids theater. Tickets are $4 for UICA members, $8 for nonmembers. Also at UICA, presented by Grand Rapids Brewing Company, is the ongoing series Brunch, Brews, and a Movie. The event includes brunch, a drink, a film lecture, a film screening and admission to UICA galleries. Tickets are $20, but tickets for just the film, without the tasty perks, are $8. Exhibits: SENSE: ArtPrize 2015, Sept. 12-Oct. 18 Coming Home, Oct. 28-Feb 7 Films: Affliction, Sept. 3 Tribe, through Sept. 3 People, Places, Things, through Sept. 10 The Look of Silence, Sept. 4-17 Listen to Me Marlon, Sept. 11-24 The Hunting Ground, Sept. 15 Queen of Earth, Sept. 18-Oct. 1 Brunch, Brews, and a Movie: A Clockwork Orange, Sept. 13 The 400 Blows with Toni Perrine, Oct. 4 A Face in the Crowd with Christian Gaines, Nov. 8 2001: A Space Odyssey with Chris Randall, Dec. 13
October 13-18
1-800 WHARTON • WHARTONCENTER.COM
October 20-25
millerauditorium.com • (269) 387-2300 • (800) 228-9858
34 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
A Clockwork Orange, UICA’s Brunch, Brews and a Movie
SEP 13 — OCT 18, 2015
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts ArtPrize 2015: SENSE UICA has selected six site-responsive art installations to showcase within our exhibition spaces. The art included in SENSE engages that which is at the root of all experience, the things that make us who we are, and that allow us to experience and learn from the world around us: Sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch, and perception beyond the five senses, intuition. The works may activate any number of the senses, and guests are encouraged to consider their own sensory experience when responding.
Tamara Kostianovsky – Relic Sara Dittrich & Benjamin Buchanan – Symphony of Gestures #61298 Charles Jevremovic – Technician 3 #62142 Heather Brammeier – This Mortal Coil #61433 Michael Peoples – The Great Race #62248 Jihyun Hong – (extra)ordinary #61230 #61863
UICA ArtPrize Hours: Mon: 5pm – 8pm Tues – Sat: 12 noon – 9pm Sun: 12 noon – 6pm UICA Member Benefits During ArtPrize. Beat the crowds during UICA Member Hours on Friday & Saturday from 10am – 12 noon. Members may bring up to two guests with you to Member Hours. Please have your Member card and photo ID ready upon entry. Become a Member. Becoming a member today will support UICA’s exhibitions, programs, and events year-round. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a UICA Member at uica.org/memberships, by email at membership@uica.org, or call 616 454 7000.
uica.org/sense
2 Fulton W Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616 454 7000 REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
35
The Arts Issue | Season Preview
The Book of Mormon, Broadway Grand Rapids
performing arts
Compiled by Amanda Denomme
Actors’ Theatre
143 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids actorstheatregrandrapids.com, (616) 234-3817
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Photo: Joan Marcus
Actors’ Theatre presents five shows for the 2015-2016 season, kicking it off is Heathers: The Musical. The classic dark comedy follows Veronica, a teenage girl trying to make her way to the top of the high school food chain by attaining acceptance in the ruthless clique at Westerberg High: The Heathers. However, Veronica is forced to choose between love and keeping her social status. Another rousing production for the season is Grace, a complex drama about a cynical atheist science professor who becomes outraged when she learns her son wants to become a priest. Other shows for the season include Dogfight, Rapture, Blister, Burn, and Vanya and Sonia and Marsha and Spike. Heathers: The Musical, Oct. 8-10, Oct. 15-17, and Oct. 22-24 Dogfight, Dec. 3-5, Dec. 10-12, Dec. 17-19 Grace, Jan. 28-30, Feb. 4-6 Rapture, Blister, Burn, Mar. 17-19, Mar. 24-26 Vanya and Sonia and Marsha and Spike, May 12-14, May 19-21
36 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
Black Arts & Cultural Center
Epic Center 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 202, Kalamazoo blackartskalamazoo.org, (269) 349-1035
The Black Arts & Cultural Center begins its season with Chain. A one-woman show about the struggles of drug addiction, Chain follows Rosa Atkins, a 16 year old girl chained to the radiator in her parent’s apartment as a means to keep her from doing drugs. During the course of the play she reflects on her life as she tries to decide whether to live with or without drugs. Chain runs from Oct. 22-26. In January, the center presents The Mountaintop, directed by D. Terry Williams. Taking place on April 3, 1968, this play depicts Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King as he questions the sentiments of his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. The Mountaintop humanizes King and shows how important the fight for justice is, even in times of weakness. Chain, Oct. 22-26 The Mountaintop, Jan. 15-24
Broadway Grand Rapids 122 Lyon St. NW, Grand Rapids broadwaygrandrapids.com, (616) 235-6285
Broadway Grand Rapids consistently brings New York City to West Michigan, this season is no different. In September Disney’s smash hit, Newsies, will take over the stage and get everyone singing. Mannheim Steamroller then ushers in the holiday season with a one-night only performance. In June things heat up with The Book of Mormon. The nine-time Tony-Award winner, created by South Park masterminds Trey Parker and Matt Stone, follows a pair of Mormon boys on a mission across the map — far from their home base of Salt Lake City. The New York Times dubbed the edgy production as “the best musical of this century.” Entertainment Weekly hailed it as “the funniest musical of all time.” Other massive Broadway hits headed to GR include Phantom of the Opera and the 20th anniversary of Riverdance. Newsies, Sept. 22-27 Pippin, Nov. 3-8 Mannheim Streamroller, Nov. 30 Riverdance, Apr. 12-17 Phantom of the Opera, May 18-29 The Book of Mormon, Jun. 21-26
Calvin Theatre Company
3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids calvin.edu/academic/cas/ctc, (616) 526-6282
The Calvin Theatre Company presents two Shakespearean productions, King Lear and Love’s Labour’s Lost. King Lear is disclosed as the triumph of all of Shakespeare’s tragedies. The production begins with an old king, set in his ways, who divides his kingdom among his three daughters and vows to give the largest portion to the one who loves him most. You Make a Difference is about Sticks, Backwad, and Diamond. The show centers around three friends who are ruthlessly bullied at their school. Together the friends start a “You Make a Difference” campaign and an entire community is led to a greater sense of wellbeing and hope. The final show for the season is Love’s Labour’s Lost, where The King of Navarre and his three companions swear a very public oath to renounce all distractions, particularly women, and spend three years pursuing manly work and scholarly studies in solitude and retreat. King Lear, Nov. 12-14, Nov. 19-21 You Make a Difference, Jan. 27-29 Love’s Labour’s Lost, Apr. 21-23, Apr. 28-30
Circle Theatre
1607 Robinson Rd. SE, Grand Rapids circletheatre.org, (616) 632-1980 The Circle Theatre had six productions scheduled for the season with Catch Me If You Can and Jungle Book remaining on their schedule. The season will end in 2016 with Jungle Book, an action-packed adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic adventure story. In the production, the precocious Mowgli is raised by caring wolves, befriended by Bagheera, the panther, and Baloo, the bear, and threatened by Shere Khan, the evil tiger. Once Mowgli learns he is actually a human, he must decide whether to remain with the pack, or return to the human world from which he was born. What will he choose? Catch Me If You Can, Sept. 3-5, 9-12, 16-19 The Jungle Book, June 24-28
Farmers Alley Theatre Kalamazoo farmersalleytheatre.com, (269) 343-2727
The Farmers Alley Theatre has seven shows for its eighth season, the theatre’s most ambitious schedule to date. Running from September to October, it begins with an oddball classic, the hysterical Little Shop of Horrors. The season continues with an energetic one-man comedy, Fully Committed. The theatre also announced the return of its cabaret series with the original Forever Plaid. Other shows for the season include Other Desert Cities, Murder for Two, A Man of No Importance, and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
in the big city of New York. Season passes are on sale now.
pathy. The season closes with the full-length classic of Cinderella.
Our Town, Sept. 25-26, Oct. 1-11 Ameriville, Oct. 9-10, 15-18 The Country Wife, Oct. 23-25, 30-31, Nov. 1 The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Nov. 13-15, 19-22 A Behanding In Spokane, Nov. 6-8, 12-15, 20-21 Next Stop, Broadway, Dec. 10-12 A Soldier’s Play, Feb. 5-7, 11-14 Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Feb. 12-14, 18-21, 25-28 Big Love, Mar. 18-20, 24-26 Thoroughly Modern Millie, Apr. 8-10, 14-17
Pacifica Oct. 16-18 The Nutcracker, Dec. 11-13, 18-20 Dangerous Liaisons, February 12-14, 19-21 The Best of MOVEMEDIA, Mar. 18-20 Cinderella, May 6-8, 13-15
Grand Rapids Ballet Company
341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids grballet.com, (616) 454-4771 The Grand Rapids Ballet’s 2015-16 season explores the world of dance with premieres, classics and GRB favorites. Chris Van Allsburg’s Nutcracker production returns, as it remains a West Michigan’s holiday tradition. The show is perfect for the entire family as the beautiful choreography and enchanting set brings sugar plum fairies, fighting mice and toy soldiers to life. In February, the GRB hosts the U.S. premiere of Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa’s Dangerous Liaisons, a show that perceives a world where etiquette and status overpower the value of love and em-
Little Shop of Horrors, Sept. & Oct. 2015 Fully Committed, Nov. 2015 Forever Plaid, Dec. 2015 Other Desert Cities, Feb. 2016 Murder for Two, Apr. & May 2016 A Man of No Importance, June 2016 Monty Python’s Spamalot, Jul. & Aug. 2016
30 N Division Ave., Grand Rapids grct.org, (616) 222-6650
The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre begins its 90th season off with glamour and flamboyancy in The Great Gatsby. The stage adaption captures F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel with self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby and the elusive Daisy Buchanan. Together the two battle obsession, greed and some danger along the way. Sister Act also hits the theatre in February. The feel-good musical comedy initially made famous by the original Whoopi Goldberg films. Other shows for the season include A Christmas Story, Sleepy Hollow, Into the Woods by the Teen Theatre Program, and many more! The Great Gatsby, Sept. 11-27 Sleepy Hollow, Oct. 23 — Nov. 1 A Christmas Story, Nov. 20 — Dec. 20 Barefoot in the Park, Jan. 15 — 31 Sister Act, February 26 — Mar. 20 Freckle Face Strawberry, Apr. 22 — May 1 Caroline or Change, June 3 — 19 Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Youth Play), Jul. 29 — Aug. 7 Into The Woods (Youth Musical), Jul.29 — Aug. 7
GVSU Fall Arts
gvsu.edu/fallarts, (616) 331-2185
1903 W Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo wmich.edu/theatre, (269) 387-3227
Arrival from Sweden featuring the music of ABBA, Van Singel Fine Arts Center
Dusk to Dusk: Unsettled, Unraveled, Unreal, Sept. 10 Faculty Artistry Gems, Sept. 21 An Evening of Poetry and Conversation, Oct. 15 Meditations in Motion, Nov. 2 Discovery and Collaboration, Nov. 16 Stille Nacht, Dec. 7
290 Lake Superior Hall gvsu.edu/theatre, (616) 331-2300 The GVSU Theatre will continue their tradition of kicking off the season with a Shakespearean performance in honor of the GVSU Shakespearean Festival. This year they will present All’s Well That Ends Well, a play about a young orphan named Helena who is the ward to the Countess of Rousillon and is hopelessly in love with her son. Also, Godspell will be presented at the GVSU Opera Theatre in early February. Other shows this season include a Performance Studio Series, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, and Six Characters in Search of an Author. Shakespearean Festival, Oct. 2 All’s Well That Ends Well, Oct. 2-11 Performance Studio Series, Oct. 24-26 Twilight, Los Angeles, 1992, Nov. 13-22 GVSU Opera Theatre presents Godspell, Feb. 5-14 Six Characters in Search of an Author, Apr. 1-10
Holland Civic Theatre 50 W. 9th St., Holland hollandcivictheatre.org, (616) 396-2021
The Holland Civic Theatre launches its 2015-2016 season in October with Death of a Salesman, the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning story about a man experiencing regret in his life due to his unsuccessful career in sales. Following that is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a classic comedy about a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant while dealing with some of the most awful kids in history. Meanwhile, Move Over, Mrs. Markham takes place in an elegant top floor London flat where complications between couples and bed-hopping occur. The season wraps with Twelve Angry Jurors — where jurors decide the fate of a 19-year-old boy who fatally stabbed his father. Death of a Salesman, Oct. 1-3, 9-11, 15-17 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Nov. 27-29, Dec. 4-5. 10-12 Move Over, Mrs. Markham, 4-6, 12-14, 18-20 Leaving Iowa, Apr. 14-16, 22-24, 29-30 Tulip Time Shows May 7-8, 10-14 Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr., Jul. 14-17, 21-24 Twelve Angry Jurors, Aug 11-13, 18-20
Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids 2727 Michigan NE, Grand Rapids jtgr.org, (616) 234-3595
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
GVSU celebrates its 13th annual Fall Arts Celebration with poetry, art, music, dance, lecture and a holiday celebration. Join the Dusk to Dusk: Unsettled, Unraveled, Unreal art exhibition to view a set of artistic taste and collaborative structures. Also, don’t miss the Kun-Yan Lin dancers’ present Meditations in Motion. Other performances and celebrations include a Stille Nacht, An Evening of Poetry with Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Kwame Dawes, and Discovery and Collaboration with Kip Throne.
Gilmore Theatre/WMU Theatre This season Gilmore/WMU Theatre features a variety of shows with something for everyone. Shows include Pulitzer Prize winners such as, Our Town, a show exploring the beautiful complexities of small town life, and A Soldier’s Play, an intriguing murder mystery set at a Louisiana army camp during World War II. Also playing in the spring is Thoroughly Modern Mille, a toe-tapping, six time Tony-Award-winning musical that follows Millie, a small town girl finding her way
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
GVSU Theatre
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The Arts Issue | Season Preview
The Jewish Theatre of Grand Rapids’ season presents intriguing performances taking on Jewish themes and ideals. The roster kick offs with Becoming Dr. Ruth, a show about the well-known Dr. Ruth Westheimer and her career as a sex therapist. However, many are unaware of her difficult past that includes fleeing a Nazi camp. For This Moment Alone showcases a Jewish family trying to recover from the horrors of the war in Europe. Lastly, Two Jews Walk into a War is about Ishaq and Zeblyan, the last remaining Jews in Afghanistan who just buried their friend. Becoming Dr. Ruth, Sept. 9-10, 12-13, 16-17, 19 — 20 For This Moment Alone, Apr. 7, 9-10, 14, 16-17 Two Jews Walk into a War, June 16, 18-19, 23, 25-26
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
329 S. Park St., Kalamazoo kazoocivic.com, (269) 343-1313 The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre celebrates its 87th season with 13 prominent productions. Some of the highly anticipated shows include Evita, Mary Poppins, Of Mice and Men, Hairspray and Stuart Little. Also for the sea-
son, the theatre will put on Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Crown Jewel, a fun and mystery-filled musical. The twists and turns keep audiences intrigued as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson unravel a mystery that leads them from the back alleys of the great city to the Tower of London. Closing out the season in May is Still Life with Iris. Evita, Sept. 25 - Oct. 10 Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Crown Jewel, Oct. 16 — 24 The Great American Songbook, Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 Mary Poppins, Nov. 20 - Dec. 6 Over the River and Through the Woods, Jan 15 — 30 Hands on a Hardbody, Jan. 29 - Feb 13 Steel Magnolias, Feb. 19 - Mar. 5 Of Mice and Men, Mar. 4 — 19 Stuart Little, Mar. 18 — 25 4000 Miles, Apr. 8 — 23 And Then There Were None, Apr. 15 — 24 Hairspray, May 6 — 22 Still Life with Iris, May 20 - 28
Miller Auditorium
1903 W Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo millerauditorium.com, (269) 387-2309 Kalamazoo’s Miller Auditorium recently released its stacked 2015-2016 season.
Productions presented during the PNC Broadway in West Michigan Series include The Illusionists, Jersey Boys, Once and Chicago. And the Lake Michigan Mailers Spotlight Series includes The Second City, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Riverdance and more. Season subscription packages are now available from the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office. More events are being added to the 2015-16 season and will be announced soon. 2015-16 PNC BROADWAY IN WEST MICHIGAN SERIES: The Illusionists, Oct. 7-8 Jersey Boys, Oct. 20-25 Once, Jan. 25-26 Chicago, Feb. 29, Mar.1 2015-16 LAKE MICHIGAN MAILERS SPOTLIGHT SERIES: The Second City, Sept. 25 The Texas Tenors, Oct. 16 Cirque Mechanics, Nov. 1 All Hands On Deck! The Musical, Nov. 15 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, Nov. 25 Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, Jan. 16 Momix, Jan. 19 Ira Glass, Jan. 24 Golden Dragon Acrobats Present Cirque Zíva, Feb. 20
Motown the Musical, The Wharton Center
Dancing in the Streets Motown Revue, Mar. 19 Riverdance, Mar. 29 Garrison Keillor, Apr. 27 Special presentation at the Shaw Theatre in the Gilmore Theatre Complex: Sex Tips For Straight Women From a Gay Man, Apr. 22-23
Muskegon Civic Theatre
425 W Western Ave. #401, Muskegon muskegoncivictheatre.org, (231) 722-3852 The season is looking bright for the Muskegon Civic Theatre, as it will be presenting beloved classics, a murder/romance production and many more exhilarating shows. Rupert Holmes’ Accomplice is about a sex-obsessed wife and her lover’s plan to murder her stuffy husband. Also set for this season is the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. Moonlight and Magnolias, where three men work five days on a diet of peanuts and bananas to create a screenplay that will become the blueprint for one of the most successful and beloved films of all time. Beardsley Theatre: Moonlight and Magnolias, Sept. 18-20, 24-27, Oct. 1-3 Beardsley Theatre: Accomplice, Nov. 20-22, 27-29, Dec. 3-6 Blackbox Theatre setting on the Frauenthal Stage: The Fantasticks, Jan. 22-24, 28-30 Beardsley Theatre: To Kill A Mockingbird, Feb. 19-21, 25-28, Mar. 3-5 Frauenthal Theater: Into the Woods, May 5-8
Opera Grand Rapids
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids operagr.com, (616) 451-2741
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Opera Grand Rapids, the longest-running professional opera company in Michigan, has nine productions set for its 2015-2016 run, including Requiem, Orpheus and Eurydice, the classic Romeo and Juliet and The Student Prince. The season is also host to a Collegiate Vocal Competition where vocal students compete in concert style with a variety of opera gems. Recitals for the season include Winterreise, Shakespeare Songs, String Quartet #1 and Westside Story. DeVos Performance Hall, Requiem, Oct. 30 Betty Van Andel Opera Center, Collegiate Vocal Competition, Nov. 22 DeVos Center of Arts and Worship, Orpheus and Eurydice, Apr. 8-9 DeVos Performance Hall, Romeo and Juliet, Apr. 29-30 St. Cecilia Music Center, The Student Prince, June 9-10, 12
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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The Arts Issue | Season Preview
Recitals at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center: Winterreise, Jan. 14 Shakespeare Songs, Mar. 3 String Quartet #1, Apr. 14 Westside Story, May 20 & 22
Van Singel Fine Arts Center 8500 Burlingame SW, Byron Center vsfac.com, (616) 878-6800
America’s favorite musical family, The Willis Clan, kicks off the new season in October at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center. Fans will be able to see the clan present their Irish roots by combining music and dance on stage. Other shows for the season include Driving Miss Daisy and Cool Jazz with the Byron Center Jazz Ensembles. Arrival from Sweden features music from ABBA, known for ‘70s pop hits like “Dancing Queen.” The Willis Clan, Oct. 18 Driving Miss Daisy, Mar. 31 Cool Jazz with the Byron Center Jazz Ensembles, Apr. 29 Arrival from Sweden featuring the music of ABBA, Apr. 3
Wharton Center for Performing Arts
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
750 E. Shaw Ln., East Lansing whartoncenter.com, (517) 353-1982
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East Lansing’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts’ 2015-2016 season has nine Broadway blockbusters, a handful of superstars premiering at the venue and a few brand-new titles — making it totally worth a road trip to the campus of Michigan State University. This September, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Tony Award winner Cinderella will take the stage. The production is a contemporary approach on the classic tale and will surely delight all ages. Crowd favorites are also back as Jersey Boys and Book of Mormon return to the Wharton Center. The season also includes great hits and classics like Dirty Dancing, Sound of Music, Motown the Musical and a night with Kristin Chenoweth. Eugene Jarecki, Sept. 16 Cinderella, Sept. 22-27 Lang Lang, Sept. 28 Baltimore, Oct. 2-11 Bill Maher, Oct. 10 Jersey Boys, Oct.13-18 The National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China, Oct. 22 For Tonight, Oct. 23-24 The Stinky Cheese Man, Oct. 25 An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth, Oct. 25 Dr. Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., Nov. 2
Dirty Dancing, Wharton Center Twyla Tharp Dance, Nov. 3 Dirty Dancing, Nov. 10-15 Stage Door, Nov. 13 Hugh Masakela & Larry Willis, Dec. 1 Freshman Showcase: The Money King, Dec. 3-6 Morgan James, Dec. 6 Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Dec. 17-19 Moscow Festival Ballet presents Romeo and Juliet & the Sleeping Beauty, Jan. 8 Valentijn Dhaenens- Big Mouth, Jan. 15 Complexions Contemporary Dance, Jan. 19 Chic Gamine, Jan. 21 And Away We Go, Jan. 22-31 Vocalosity, Jan. 26 Broadway’s Next H!T Musical, Jan. 29 Band of Royal Marines with the Pipes, Drums of the Scots Guard, Jan. 30 The Monster Who Ate My Peas, Jan. 31 Bobby McFerrin, Feb. 6 Sound of Music, Feb. 9-14 The Hollywood Concert Orchestra presents A Night at the Oscars, Feb. 17 An Evening with Savion Glover & Jack Dejohnette, Feb. 19 Pride and Prejudice, Feb. 19-28 Re Entry, Feb. 26-27 Peter Rabbit Tales, Feb. 27 Elisabeth L. Rosenthal, Feb. 29 The Chieftains, Mar. 3 Skippy Jon Jones- Snow What, Mar. 12 Motown the Musical, Mar. 15-20 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Mar. 21 Mack Avenue Superband, Mar. 29 Riverdance, Apr. 1-3 Naomi Klein, Apr. 4 Zakir Hussain, Apr. 5 Metropolitan Opera Rising Stars Concert, Apr. 13 Grease, Apr. 15-24 Matilda the Musical, Apr. 19-24 Bria Skonberg, Apr. 27 The Bridges of Madison County, May 19-22 The Book of Mormon, June 14-19
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The Arts Issue | Season Preview
music Compiled by Tayler Keefer
Fontana Chamber Arts
The Gilmore
The Fontana Chamber Arts strives to connect with community by offering a wide range of musical performances with special deals for students and those ages 25 and under. This season line-up features string quartets, a variety of jazz musicians and mandolinist Chris Thile. The Taylor Eigsti Trio will also perform at Bell’s Café, with the namesake of the trio backed by Dave Brubeck.
The Gilmore’s main jam is featuring talented young pianists from around the globe in their Rising Stars Series. In the 16th year of the series, artists hail from China, France, Switzerland, USA, Russia and Germany. It’s likely some of these artists will soon be well known forces in the classical music scene so there is no better chance than to see them now in our own backyard.
Cécile McLorin Salvant, Sept. 11 Jerusalem Quartet, Oct. 10 Chris Thile, Oct. 30 Emmanuel Pahud & Christian Rivet, Nov. 21 Time for Three, Feb. 26 Julliard String Quartet, March 18 Miró Quartet with Colin Currie, April 16 Taylor Eigsti Trio, May 12 Crybaby Concerts, Multiple Dates
Fei-Fei Dong, Sept. 27 David Kadouch, Nov. 1 Franceso Piemontesi, Nov. 15 Andrew Hsu, Dec. 6 Igor Levit, February 7
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 200, Kalamazoo fontanachamberarts.org, (269) 382-7774
42 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
359 S Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 101, Kalamazoo thegilmore.org, (269) 342-1166
Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa Ave NW Ste. 100, Grand Rapids grsymphony.org, (616) 454-9541
Dianne Reeves, St. Cecilia Music Center
The Grand Rapids Symphony has been a treasured fixture in the community the past 86 years and continues to bring stellar performances to West Michigan. Classic orchestral and choral performances will feature Mahler’s Titan, Brahms’ German Requiem, Debussy’s La Mer and the music of John Williams. The popular music of the newest Star Trek series, Pokémon themes and Disney’s Fantasia will also have its time to shine. A tribute to Louis Armstrong is highly anticipated, and of course we always look forward to all of the holiday programming, including The Nutcracker at Devos Performance Hall. Romeo & Juliet, Sept. 18-19 Love, Lust & Rock ‘N Roll, Oct. 2-4 Ravel’s Piano Concerto, Oct. 9-10 Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus Fall Concert, Oct. 18 Star Trek: Live in Concert, Oct. 17 Mahler’s Titan, Oct. 23-24 Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra: Fall Concert, Nov. 1 The Romantic Coffee Concert, Nov. 6 Fantasia Live in Concert, Nov. 13-15 Brahms’ German Requiem, Nov. 20-21 The Snowman, Nov. 21 Holiday Pops, Dec. 3-6 Michael W. Smith: The Spirit of Christmas, Dec. 8 Grand Rapids Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker, Dec. 11-13, 18-20 Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus Holiday Concert, Dec. 20
Taylor Eigsti Trio,
Fontana Chamber Arts
Fifth Third Cirque De Noël, Dec. 22-23 Beethoven’s Pastoral, Jan. 8-9 The Classical Concert, Jan. 14-15 Hansel & Gretel — School Performance, Jan. 20-23 What a Wonderful World: A Louis Armstrong Tribute, Jan. 22-24 Dvořàk’s Seventh, Jan. 29-30 Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions, Feb. 5 Debussy’s La Mer, Feb. 19-20
Symphony with Soul, Feb. 27 The Baroque Coffee Concert, March 4 Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra Concert, March 6 Ferdinand the Bull — School Performance, March 9-10 & 19 Celtic Kids, March 11 The Celtic Concert, March 11-13 Beethoven’s Emperor, March 18 Pines of Rome, April 22-23 Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra Concert, May 1 Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus Spring Concert, May 1 The Music of John Williams, May 6-8 Carmina Burana, May 13-14
Hope College Great Performance Series 141 E 12th St, Holland hope.edu/gps, (616) 395-7860
This performance series features an eclectic group of shows and kicking the dynamic season off is Thodos Dance Chicago, a world renowned dance troupe. The series also features Barbara Furtuna with Constantinople, a middle eastern-barbershop quartet type collaboration. Another performer is guitar prodigy Julian Lange and his band, followed by Julian Sands in An Evening with Harold Pinter — a one-man show originally directed by John Malkovitch celebrating the poetry of Harold Pinter. Rounding out the season is Bang on a Can All Stars, an ensemble oozing with artistic freedom in genre, and Imani Winds, North America’s premier wind quintet.
twice during the season. You can sip and soak in great music in a relaxed atmosphere. Brahms and Tchaikovsky: Lana Trotovšek on Violin, Sept. 18 The World of Stravinsky, Sept. 27 Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Oct. 4 Mozart & Haydn: James Austin Smith on Oboe, Oct. 17 Who’s Bad: Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band, Nov. 7 Saint-Saens & Shostakovich: Pascal Rogé on Piano, Nov. 20 Nutcracker: Ballet Arts Ensemble, Dec. 5-6 Sounds of the Season, Dec. 19 The World of Vivaldi, Jan. 10 Classics Uncorked: Winter Evening, Jan. 22 Classics on Tap: Winter Evening, Jan. 23 Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery, Jan. 31 Beethoven & Nielson: Yukie Ota on Flute, Feb. 19 Al Jarreau in Symphony, Feb. 27 Brahms & Fauré: Leon Williams on Baritone, March 19 KSO @ The Movies: Disney’s Alice in Wonderland LIVE, April 2 Classics Uncorked: Spring Evening, April 15 Classics on Tap: Spring Evening, April 16 Elgar & Stravinsky: Hai-Ye Ni on Cello, April 23 Gilmore Festival Finale: Rafal Blechaca, 2014 Gilmore Artist on Piano, May 14
Kalamazoo State Theatre
404 S Burdick St, Kalamazoo kazoostate.com, (269) 345-6500
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra has a roster of fresh programming this season. The World Of series introduces various stages of different composers’ lives and works, while the Symphonic series features contemporary talent playing the greats’ classic compositions. Younger audiences can enjoy the Family Discovery and Pops series, which weaves more visual aspects into the shows. And for the beer and wine lovers (of which we are many), the Classics on Tap and Classics Uncorked brings music to Bell’s Eccentric Café and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Beanie Sigel w/ Freeway, Sept. 12 Wilco w/ William Tyler, Sept. 16 The La Las, Sept. 18 Jonny Lang, Sept. 25 Highway to Hell AC/DC Tribute Show, Oct. 3 Buddy Guy, Oct. 10 Melissa Etheridge, Oct. 13 The Mersey Beatles, Oct. 16 Rock My Soul w/ The Fairfield Four & The McCrary Sisters, Oct. 18 Grace Potter, Oct. 25 Russian Grand Ballet Presents: Swan Lake, Oct. 24 Jesse Cook, Oct. 27
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 100, Kalamazoo kalamazoosymphony.com, (269) 349-7759
St. Cecilia Music Center 24 Ransom Ave NE, Grand Rapids scmc-online.org, (616) 459-2224
Music can reach the ethereal levels it should in venues as beautiful and timeless as St. Cecilia’s Music Center. They have been bringing in great musical acts for years and this season The Chamber Music Society will be visiting a whopping three times. Other featured jazz acts include Anat Cohen, Clarinetist of the Year for the past eight years as voted by the Jazz Journalists Association. Another performer is Jack DeJohnette, a drum legend who got his start playing in Miles Davis’ group in the 1960s. Dianne Reeves — Great Artist Gala, Oct. 29 The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Nov. 12 The Steel Wheels — The Acoustic Café Folk Series, Nov. 22 Anat Cohen — Brazilian Jazz, Dec. 10 The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Jan. 21 Shawn Colvin — The Acoustic Café Folk Series, Feb. 18 Cyrille Aimee — French Gypsy Jazz, March 10 The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, March 17 The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, March 19 Jack DeJohnette — Jazz Drumming Legend, April 21
University Musical Society
Burton Memorial Tower 881 N University Ave, Ann Arbor ums.org, (734) 764-2538 Located in Ann Arbor’s cultural hub, many performances will grace the University Musical Society stage this year. Several of Shakespeare’s works will be performed as well as the New York Philharmonic in October, playing in real time along to a screening of Elia Kazen’s On the Waterfront. My Brightest Diamond with the Detroit Party Marching Band, Sept. 11 NT Live: George Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman, Sept. 16 Audra McDonald, Sept. 12 Sphinx Virtuosi w/ the Catalyst Quartet and Gabriela Lena Frank on Piano, Sept. 27 L-E-V, Oct. 3 The Gloaming, Oct. 7 New York Philharmonic, Oct. 9-11 Antigone by Sophocles, Oct. 14-17 RSC Live in HD: Shakespeare’s Othello, Oct. 18 Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya, Oct. 21 Sankai Juku: UMUSUNA: Memories Before History, Oct. 23-24 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Works of William Forsythe, Oct. 27 Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 29 Tenebrae, Oct. 30 Danish String Quartet, Nov. 6 Chucho Valdé: Irakere 40, Nov. 8 Youssou N’Dour and Super Étoile de Dakar, Nov. 14 NT Live: Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nov. 15 Leif Ove Andsnes: Piano, Nov. 20 Takács Quartet, Dec. 2 Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 5-6 RSC Live in HD: Shakespeare’s Henry V, Dec. 13 National Theater of Scotland: A Christmas Carol, Dec. 17-20, 22-24, 26-31, and Jan. 1-3 What’s in a Song? A Song Recital Evening with Martin Katz and & Friends, Jan. 8 Jamie Barton: Mezzo-Soprano, Jan. 10 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jan. 11
Scene Sounds | Sights | Dining | Schedule
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
The State Theatre in Kalamazoo has been a staple of the KZoo music scene for decades, avoiding destruction in 1985 when Roger Hinman of The Hinman Co. decided to purchase the theatre and give it a new start. Luckily that happened, because it’s brought many music legends to West Michigan over the years. This season features Grammy Award-winning, alternative rock band Wilco. The band is supporting its latest album, Star Wars. Other acts include rapper Beanie Sigel, tribute bands, guitarists such as Buddy Guy and Jeff Daniels, comedian Brian Regan, and Australia’s Thunder from Down Under.
Thodos Dance Chicago, Sept. 17-18 Barbara Furtuna with Constantinople, Oct. 29 Julian Lange Trio, Nov. 20 Julian Sands in “An Evening with Harold Pinter,” Jan. 29 Bang on a Can All Stars, Feb. 27 Imani Winds, April 8
Australia’s Thunder From Down Under, Nov. 14 Jeff Daniels, Nov. 22 Greensky Bluegrass, Nov. 27-28 Brian Regan, Dec. 4 Christmas with John Berry, Dec. 13 Jim Brickman, Dec. 20
Wilco, Kalamazoo State Theatre REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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The Arts Issue | Season Preview
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: Trumpet, Jan. 20 Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company: Untitled Feminist Show, Jan. 21-23 Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company: Straight White Men, Jan. 22-23 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Jan. 22 Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Barton, Jan. 27 Tanya Tagaq with Nanook of the North, Feb. 2 Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of American Popular Music: 1960s-80s, Feb. 5 Igor Levit: Piano, Feb. 6 UMS Choral Union: Love is Strong as Death, Feb. 14 Sir András Schiff: Piano The Last Sonatas, Feb. 16-20 The Triplets of Belleville Cine-Concert, Feb. 19 The Chieftains, March 5 Nufonia Must Fall, March 11-12 Apollo’s Fire and Apollo’s Singers: Bach’s St. John Passion, March 15 Montreal Symphony Orchestra, March 19 Gill Shaham: Violin Bach Six Solos, March 26 American Ballet Theater: The Sleeping Beauty, March 31 — April 3 Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, April 1 Jerusalem Quartet, April 8
Mnozil Brass, April 14 Zafir: Musical Winds from North Africa to Andalucí, April 15 Bavarian Radio Orchestra, April 16 The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman, April 23
West Michigan Symphony
425 W Western Ave Ste. 409, Muskegon wsso.org, (231) 726-3231 x 22 Scott Speck, the music director of the West Michigan Symphony, has worked to bring forward classical music in a way that communicates with a modern audience. See it in action with the American Music concert on Nov. 6, or attend when Broadway stars Nathaniel Stampley, Sean MacLaughlin and Edward Watts bring showtunes to Speck’s stage on April 15. In November, American Music: Old and New blends jazz and symphonic strains in the score to Leonard Bernstein’s greatest musical. Looking ahead to wintry times, the Holiday Pops concert features a delightful evening of holiday classics. The symphony welcomes back soprano Diane Penning and the WMS Children’s Choir — along with new addition Paul Langford (pianist/vocalist). Together
Igudesmn and Joo — And Now Mozart, West Michigan Symphony
the crew provides a “heartwarming mix of classical and modern holiday favorites.” East Meets West, Oct. 2 Igudesmn and Joo: And Now Mozart, Oct. 16 American Music: Old and New, Nov. 6
Holiday Pops, Dec. 11 Luck of the Irish, Jan. 15 Viva Italia!, Feb. 5 Beethoven and Blue Jeans, March 4 Broadway Gentleman, April 15 A Study of Contrasts, May 20
DRAMATIC. MONUMENTAL. THRILLING.
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
REQUIEM
Steven Mercurio Conductor
by Giuseppe Verdi | October 30, 2015 | DeVos Performance Hall | 7:30 PM
Elizabeth Caballero soprano
Margaret Lattimore mezzo-soprano
John Pickle tenor
Andrew Gangestad bass
Dr. Patrick Coyle Chorus Master | Opera Grand Rapids Chorus | Grand Rapids Symphony Tickets start at $12 | Student tickets $5 | 616.451.2741 or Ticketmaster | Learn more at operagr.org Program and dates—subject to change.
44 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
Richard and Helen DeVos CLASSICAL
Concert Sponsor:
September 18/19
Tickets start at
Students
$18 $5
DeVos Performance Hall
ROMEO&JULIET
L OV E r s that LOVEd not LOVE with me, For I am you know yourself, down on g o o d man’s LOVE ” “Men have died eaten them, but not for LOVE” “LOVE hath wrath of LOVE, and they will go together. TRUE LOVE never did run smooth” “The sight “Let’s go HAND in HAND, not one before SUN TRUTH LOVE LOVE LOVE, for at your age the heyday L O V E ” TIME, And
LOVE
as ditties highly penn’d, With ravishing division, d not at first sight?“
LOVE
good mouth-filling oath.” you’ directly to say ‘I for thy , and and therefore to be wooed; She is ’s lap” “I my heaven in a
LOVE LOVE HAND LADY
October 9/10
October 17
$18 $5
DAY 616.454.9451 x 4 | EVE 616.885.1241
in the blood is tame “ is begun by
LOVE TIME
qualifies the fire of it” “Let us be Diana’s gentlemen of the shade, ” “Falstaff: And of the hostess of the tavern a most Prince: As the honey of Hybla, my ! I castle.” “Away, you trifler!
MOON
LOVE
I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world and to tilt with lips: We must have bloody crowns.” “Thy tongue Makes Welsh as sweet g by a fair queen in a summer’s bower, d that to her lute.” “Who ever
SUN
“Swear me, Kate, like a
LOVE LADY as thou art, A LOVE, but LOVE “She’s BEAUTIFUL,
“I know no ways to mince it in “You have witchcraft in your lips” “
in
this
CONCERT
Series Sponsor:
$18 $5
but never doubt I so belong, That “You cannot call it
LIVE IN
CONCERTO
Series Sponsor:
liar
STAR TREK
PIANO Students
a
DeVos Performance Hall
RAVEL’S
Tickets start at
be
goes by haps; Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps” “See where she comes apparelled like the spring.” “Was ever woman in this
October 2-4
Students
LOVE
for HAND I give.” woman, and therefore to be won” “I’ll make LOVE you more than words can wield the matter, Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty” “A heart to LOVE, and in that heart, courage, to make LOVE known” “A breath thou art, Servile to all the skyey influences.” “What ‘s mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.” “When you depart from me sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave.” “LOVE is blind, and LOVErs cannot see, The pretty follies that themselves commit” “LOVErs ever run before the clock” “So long as I can breathe or I can see so long lives your LOVE which gives life to me” “Speak low if you speak LOVE “ “LOVE
Nestlé Gerber SYMPHONICBOOM
Tickets start at
LOVE
STAR
minions is not my sweet wench? old lad of the thee not, To play with mammets noses and cracked
Richard and Helen DeVos CLASSICAL
ROCK ’N’ ROLL
LOVE
“ “When I saw you I fell in , s are fire, Doubt the the
spark and foresters,
Fox Motors POPS
LOVE, LUST &
TIME
of rs feedeth those in ” another.” “The pleasing punishment
and you smiled because you knew. “ “Doubt thou doth move, Doubt to .” “Such is my , to thee thy for thy right myself will bear all wrong.”
humour wooed? Was ever woman
DeVos Performance Hall
TIME
that women bear.” “Men’s vows are women’s traitors
This program, inspired by Shakespeare, revels in music both comic and serious, starting with Berlioz’s ode to the witty Beatrice and Benedict. A cello concerto’s headlong energy evokes the great soliloquies, and Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” vividly tells the story of the doomed star-crossed lovers.
DeVos Performance Hall
MUSIC be the LOVE LOVE TRUE LOVE LOVE LOVE
“If
food of , play on” “The hind that would be mated by the lion .” “A young man Must die for married is a man that ‘s marred.” “In thy a r, As ever youth wast as sighed upon a midnight pillow” “The sight of feedeth those in ” “Who ever d at first sight? “ “I pray you, do not fall in falser than vows made in wine” “Mistress, your knees, And thank heaven, fasting, for a from to , and worms have made thee a tame snake” “They are in the very Clubs cannot part them” “The course of
Tickets start at
$32
GRSymphony.org REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
45
The Arts Issue | Season preview The Fed Galleries @ KCAD Woodbridge N. Ferris Building 17 Pearl St. NW
HERE HERE ALL ALL YEAR YEAR Featuring year-round programming Featuring year-round programming and an ever-changing lineup of and an ever-changing lineup of dynamic contemporary artists from dynamic contemporary artists from around the world, The Fed Galleries around the world, The Fed Galleries @ KCAD strives to provoke thought, @ KCAD invite a deeper awareness provide educationcreation. and insight, and of contemporary lead viewers to deeply meaningful engagement with art.
Free and and Open Open to to the the Public Public Free Check Check the the website website for for upcoming exhibitions exhibitions and and events: events: kcad.edu/galleries kcad.edu/galleries
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University
museums & culture Compiled by Kimberly Peloquin
Gerald R. Ford Museum 303 Pearl St. NW, Grand Rapids fordlibrarymuseum.gov, (616) 254-0400
This September, the Gerald R. Ford Museum brings Drawdown Vietnam, April-May 1975 to the Gerald Ford Presidential Library. Walk through time and relive the events that took place after America’s lengthy involvement in the war in Vietnam and Indochina including two rescue missions: Operation Babylift and the rescue of the S.S Mayaguez. View two lobby displays featuring artifacts, photographs, documents, and personal stories of those involved. Drawdown Vietnam, April–May 1975, through Sept.
kcad.edu/galleries
Grand Rapids Public Museum
15146 EX Revue ad FINAL.indd 1
8/25/15 11:39 272 AM Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids
KEIL LASIK VISION CENTER
Schedule | Dining | sights | Sounds Scene
Say goodbye to your reading glasses.
grmuseum.org, (616) 456-3977 Travel back in time at the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s The Discovery of King Tut exhibit. Admire the tomb, and all of the treasures within it, that King Tut was discovered in. There are also over one thousand replicas of artifacts discoveries that aid in bringing the Egyptian culture to life. Also, make sure to check out the new exhibit, American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition – it opens this month. Acquire knowledge about the prohibition and learn why it started, how it affected America and more. The Discovery of King Tut, through Jan. 2016 American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, Opens Sept. 26
Holland Museum
31 West 10th St., Holland hollandmuseum.org, (616) 392-9084
Call to schedule a FREE exam today!
Keil Lasik Vision Center 2500 E. Beltline Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546
46 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
info@keillasik.com 616.365.5775 www.keillasik.com/kamra-inlay
This fall Holland Museum is featuring two exciting exhibits. Immigration and Caricature, which can be viewed in the Wichers Gallery, contains an assortment of immigrant caricatures dating from the Civil War to World War I. This exhibit analyzes the impact caricatures had in forming American values regarding diversity and cultural development of the United States. Documented, which can be
The Discovery of King Tut at Grand Rapids Public Museum viewed in the Focus Gallery, is back for the second year in a row and will explore the large migrant Hispanic community and how it affected Holland throughout time. Immigration and Caricature, through Sept. 6 Documented, through Oct. 17
Kalamazoo Valley Museum 230 N Rose St., Kalamazoo kvm.kvcc.edu, (269) 373-7990
Traveling on water during the night can be a frightening experience. At the Treasures of the Great Lakes exhibit, learn how navigators used bright stars and lighthouses to guide them on their journeys on the Great Lakes. Also at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, unleash your creative side at the educational and hands on Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination exhibit. Play with giant Tinkertoy building pieces while also learning about renewable energy and clean water technology. Treasures of the Great Lakes, through Sept. 17 Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination, through Sept. 20 n
Stay and dine in the heart of downtown GR at CityFlatsHotel and CitySen Lounge. 83 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616 / 608 / 1720 cityflatshotel.com
GR’s newest Blow Dry Bar is now open in the heart of downtown! The Parlour specializes in event hairstyling, professional makeup application, manicures, cuts, colors, and more. 616.608.1731 / CityFlatsHotel.com / 77 Monroe Center St NW, GR 49503
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
47
The Arts Issue | profile
Between Two Worlds The Art of Salvador Jiménez-Flores by Nicole Rico
S
alvador Jiménez-Flores says
his work is inspired by his mul-
ticulturalism and the need to communicate — two pivotal
aspects of the artist’s life. Since
moving to the United States in
2000 from Jalisco, Mexico he has created several socially-conscious installations as
well as studio-based and public art. His work can be seen at the National Museum
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
of Mexican Art in Chicago, Casa De La
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Cultura in Texas, Koehnline Museum of Art in Illinois, and locally at the Grand Rapids
Art Museum and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art. He received his
Masters of Fine Arts from Kendall College
of Art and Design and starts a year-long artist-in-residence position at Harvard University this month.
“Unfortunately, there is a lack of diversity and inclusion [in Grand Rapids]. If you don’t look like the dominant culture, most likely you will frequently be questioned, ‘Where are you from?’” What began your process of becoming an artist? I migrated to the United States when I was 15 years old. I didn’t know any English and I started high school soon after my arrival. Those first years were difficult as I was trying to adapt to a new culture with a language I didn’t know. I took a photography class my second summer and it was then that art making became my coping mechanism during my adaptation to the U.S. You work within many mediums — drawings, installations, paintings, print-making, found objects — is there one you find yourself gravitating towards more often? I’m an interdisciplinary artist and I like to take risks with my art so I’m constantly trying to learn a new skill or technique—add them to my tool box. I like them all. However, drawing is always present in my work and clay is a material that I recently started working with and I find it fascinating. The way I approach clay is the same way I approach drawing—I let my hands roam free allowing intuition and spontaneity to happen.
What’s your artistic process? My creation process is a combination of head, heart and hands. Everything I do is integrated into who I am: What I like and dislike, the books I chose to read, the music I listen to, the memories I keep, the historical events that shape me, my surroundings and my relationships. In what ways do the past and historic events inspire your work? I believe it is very important to understand where we come from and embrace our histories and ancestors. All of those events and people had to come before us to make our time on earth possible. This is the reason why a lot of my work deals with the self. Identity is an ongoing process of self-discovery and transformation that is complex, contradictory and challenging. Naturally, one’s identity evolves as the context changes. I don’t want to be stigmatized and put in a category. I want to continue exploring who I am, but in an environment that goes beyond flags, languages, cultures and society’s ideals. What are the best and worst aspects of being an artist in the Grand Rapids area? Best: The city is an affordable place to live in and it has lots of natural areas to explore. The city is small, clean and easy to navigate. Chicago and Detroit are our neighbors and the creative community continues to grow. Worst: Unfortunately, there is a lack of diversity and inclusion, organizations and people like to play things safe and avoid taking risks. If you don’t look like the dominant culture, most likely you will frequently be questioned, “Where are you from?” And sometimes they won’t believe you and will ask you again, “No, but what country?” n
Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule
Your artist statement says that because you are bilingual and bicultural you live in two different worlds. How does this affect your art? The feeling of being in two places is a feeling shared with anyone who has migrated to a different city or country. I live concurrently in two worlds. Neither my adaptation to a foreign land nor the return to my motherland will ever be complete. Anywhere, I’m a foreigner. These experiences have encouraged me to research and understand the connection between the two worlds that I live in: México and U.S.A.
identity, culture, injustice, language, and religion. I have observed inequality, discrimination and oppression in México, as well as in the United States. As an artist I feel I have the responsibility to address the issues that affect my community and to create awareness and propose actions through my art. I’m an artist and an activist that believes in the power of art. Art and activism go well together and they need each other. I personally make art that challenges comfort and makes the audience think and question their stand on certain issues.
For more information, visit salvadorjimenezflores.com.
You describe yourself as an activist, do you believe art can inspire activism and vice versa? The content of my work is sociopolitical and is driven by my powerful life experiences. It deals with immigration,
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
49
The Arts Issue | profile
Keemo By Tamara Fox
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
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friend on social media recently indicated that dating in Grand Rapids is an unhappy prospect because there’s a pretty good chance you’ll run into an ex. Indeed, everyone seems to know everyone, which is why I was surprised that I hadn’t met Keemo. Soon after my first encounter with Keemo’s art I purchased one of his mixed-media works, a stylized portrait in his signature red, turquoise, lime and cadmium yellow — with an enigmatic morsel of text framed within the face. Keemo’s art looks like Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings if he wasn’t using drugs — or Paul Klee’s if he was. There’s cleverness and vitality akin to Basquiat, with the whimsy and humor of Klee, reigned-in with the disciplined sensibility of a graphic artist. His love of text and letterforms hints at his past life as a graphic designer. The piece I purchased featured type from a bonafide typewriter. Many of his collages involve painting on found images like vintage yearbook or magazine pages. And while he’s quick to impose upon the images, there’s some reluctance to muddle too much with the existing text and layout. His most recent works resemble targets for a psychedelicshooting range. This series consists of wood panels with vibrant cubist-inspired interjections upon the faces and torsos of silhouetted figures and animals. I contacted Richard App to inquire if he thought the enigmatic Keemo would be receptive to an interview. Maybe the artist preferred to keep a low profile like Banksy, or perhaps he was a fugitive of the law, or a recluse like J.D. Salinger, or maybe he was Finnish or Samoan and Keemo was his real name. App soon responded that Mr. Keemo would be happy to oblige. Keemo aka Curt Ankin is represented by App, but also sells work to an international coterie of collectors through keemogallery. com. Ankin indicated he has a good relationship with App, who didn’t require an exclusive commitment to the gallery. This kind of “open relationship” is exceptional since a gallery often wants to retain control of the sales of their artists’ work. As for rookie artists looking to get recognition, Ankin said it’s all about elbow grease. “Try to create something every day, even something simple,” he said. “Just to keep it flowing … or clean-up, organize — do whatever, every day. Paintings don’t make themselves. Relationships don’t build themselves.”
Ankin and I sat in the shade while he discussed the trajectory of his career, the evolution of his work and the origins of his nom de plume — which he assures me is more amusing when embellished with a few drinks. He also stated how “art is the only thing with rules that are self-imposed” — noting the liberty artists have to write their own history and carve their own artistic paths. But as for his artist moniker, that bit of early-days Keemo history was prompted by a “grooming malfunction” (aka bad haircut) which unfortunately transpired on the eve of an important presentation. With no way to conceal the damage to his hairdo, he decided to shave his head — bald. The next morning his clean-shaven dome prompted relentless mockery by the client. Yes, apparently some people think chemotherapy is hilarious. Years later Ankin decided to reclaim the epithet as an ironic way of confirming his resolve to be a full-time artist. Keemo’s name is just one example of his ability to transform adversity. Most artists encounter challenges, but not all of them have the tenacity to push through. In the early 1990s there were few options to sell work outside of galleries or crafts shows. Ankin duly schlepped his portfolio to prospective galleries without success, but his aesthetic sensibility served him well as a professional graphic artist and website designer. Web design was the segue to fully supporting himself as a fine artist. His slick website is regularly updated with new works and posts. He tends to his social media and diligently maintains an e-mail list to keep collectors informed. In short, his work is not limited to the production of paintings. When I asked if there was anything he’d do differently he said, “I wish I hadn’t lived with so much self-doubt and insecurity when I was younger — like taking rejection of my work to be an indication of my worth as an artist or a person.” n
‘Keemo’s art looks like Jean-Michel Basquiat’s paintings if he wasn’t using drugs — or Paul Klee’s if he was.’
Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
51
The Arts Issue | profile
The Genesis and Future of ArtPrize
A Chat With ArtPrize Executive Director Christian Gaines By Josh Veal
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
ArtPrize rapidly became the cornerstone of West Michigan culture, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to Grand Rapids every year. In 2014, The Art Newspaper listed it as the most heavily attended art event on the planet. As the 19-day competition enters its seventh year, ArtPrize Executive Director Christian Gaines said he is working with his team to keep things fresh and exciting. REVUE sat down with him to talk about the past, present and future of the ever-growing phenomenon. How and why did you personally become involved with ArtPrize? My background is in independent film, specifically putting on film festivals. At the end of its fourth year, ArtPrize was looking for an executive director. I’ve had a lifetime of providing a hopefully great platform for artists to do their best work. … I was impressed with ArtPrize and the radical disruptive nature of its existence and wanted to help see where it could go. How did ArtPrize begin? It was the brainchild of Rick Devos, a wellknown local web entrepreneur. He had this idea that appreciating contemporary art was still part of a top-down curated system, where curators are very much in control of the experience. He wanted to develop an
52 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
experiment around a crowdsourcing of art and also create a spectacular prize to attract attention, to see what happened if the general public was allowed to vote on art that was sourced by anyone in the world. We’ve tinkered with that basic formula to draw attention. What it’s really evolved into is still very much publicly voted but also there’s an equal expert jury award. In this way you can kind of compare and contrast to what the public thinks because it’s that tension that exists between the populace and the professional where all the interesting conversations happen. Is there anything new or exciting happening this year? We’ve really started to double down on the idea of grants. So in addition to the
$500,000 worth of prizes, we also award $220,000 worth of grants to a variety of constituents to help catalyze their ArtPrize experience. That’s everything from artist and venue grants to curatorial fellowships to school buses – that’s one of the things a lot of people don’t know as much about. The other thing I’m excited about is how we’ve sort of formalized the film, music and performing arts through something called ArtPrize Tonight. There are three subsets to ArtPrize Tonight - one is our critical discourse programming, televised nightly panels that dive into emerging themes and trends in contemporary art as well as the results of the competition. Then we have ArtPrize On Screen and ArtPrize On Stage. How would you say that ArtPrize has benefitted West Michigan? Hopefully what we’re helping to do is mint the next generation of art lovers, which is fun and pretty valuable. Hopefully we’re strengthening the cultural fabric to make West Michigan a great place to live, work and play. Obviously there’s a strong economic impact. In 2013 there was over $22,000,000 in net new economic impact on the city. In general … it’s a catalyst. What we do is only part of the whole energy. It’s sort of as if ArtPrize was a big night-and-day holiday and how someone
chooses to celebrate it is up to them. What part are they going to play in this ArtPrize thing? Do you have a typical day of work? We’re fundraising intensely. That takes up a good deal of my time – anywhere from private-sector corporate sponsorship and grants to earned income from things like merchandising. We’re focused very closely on developing a sustained budget. We’re also busy developing a culture that stands for education, whether it’s social equity and inclusion, developing a Spanish language program, environmental sustainability or artist development programs. The big prize, $500,000, that’s a spectacular thing, but we really want artists to feel like there’s a lot of good reasons to be a part of ArtPrize. What’s the future of ArtPrize? I want to make sure ArtPrize is as authentically welcoming to everyone as possible. I want to continue to surprise and delight the general public. I want to continue to make sure that artists from all over the world feel welcome … that it continues on its trajectory of being an international platform for emerging artists. I want to keep it fresh and interesting every year. n
Keeping it Reel The Launch of ‘ArtPrize OnScreen: Presented by Waterfront Film Festival / by Josh Spanninga
L
ocal cinephiles were likely bummed about the cancelation of this past summer’s Waterfront Film Festival. Since 1999 the acclaimed South Haven event has unequivocally celebrated independent filmmakers while showcasing hundreds of Midwestern and world premieres, from Man on a Wire to Napoleon Dynamite. The good news: It looks like the starstudded event will be back in action soon. Here’s the deal: ArtPrize has teamed up with the Waterfront organizers to bring the festival to Grand Rapids — well, sort of. The collaboration, ArtPrize OnScreen: Presented by Waterfront Film Festival, features more than 20 films in downtown Grand Rapids during the widespread arts competition. The main hub for Waterfront will be located in the Ladies Literary Club in downtown Grand Rapids — conveniently stationed next to the ArtPrize hub. “It will be different,” explained Waterfront Film Festival co-founder Hopwood Depree.
“This is a brand new twist on what Waterfront has done in the past.” The film competition features a variety of free and ticketed events and awards will be given for Best Feature, Best Documentary and Best Short. On top of that, each film is eligible for public and juried votes in the main ArtPrize competition. “We’re doing this to work with Artprize and to compliment everything that they’re doing, so the competition of film makes sense,” Depree said. While Artprize has featured a small number of film and audio/visual pieces in the past, Hopwood hopes ArtPrize OnScreen brings more local attention to film as an art form. “Since Artprize has done a great job of bringing the arts to Grand Rapids for that period it made a lot of sense to introduce the cinematic arts into the mix as well,” Depree said. Depree also plans on bringing other aspects of the Waterfront Film Festival expe-
Waterfront Film Festival founders Dana Depree, Hopwood DePree, Kori Eldean Rentz, and Dori DePree rience to Grand Rapids. The festival, which is world-renowned for its film selection, has also gained a reputation for throwing a good party. It’s this type of fun and entertainment that Depree hopes to translate into Artprize OnScreen. “People can still expect the same types of great films, guests, parties and events that go along with what Waterfront has done in the past,” Depree said.
In the future Waterfront hopes to expand throughout West Michigan and feature more events, including educational workshops, film screenings and hopefully the return of their summer festival. Of course, Depree said they’re also planning to “grow in the coming years working with ArtPrize.” n For more information, visit waterfrontfilm.org.
Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
53
The Arts Issue | profile
Voices From The Avenue for the Arts by Ben Mepham
Avenue for the Arts is home to a creative community actively transforming a blighted stretch along South Division Ave. into a destination with profitable businesses, attractions and imaginative events. Curators from three Avenue galleries shed light on what their galleries do for artists and the community.
Jenn Schaub, Avenue for the Arts [Gallery] Space 307 S. Division Ave, Grand Rapids avenueforthearts.com
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
Jenn Schaub serves as event coordinator with Avenue, has a hand in group-curating exhibitions and is a Neighborhood Revitalization Specialist with Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids. What makes Avenue for the Arts a destination point? I love the variety of spaces. There are live/work apartments acting as incubators for artists, exhibition spaces for experimental work, shops incorporating artwork, nonprofits, restaurants, social services and businesses. We regularly host pop-up shops which might only exist a weekend or month. During First Fridays all that activity is tied together with openings, extended business hours. There are also special events like the outdoor Market in the parking lot at 106 South Division, it features vendors and live music. How is the [Gallery] unique from other spaces along the Avenue? As Avenue headquarters, as well as a gallery, it exists to serve multiple functions. During office hours we coordinate events and host meetings.
54 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
At other times the space is used exclusively as a gallery showcasing work of local artists. What advice do you have for someone wanting to open their own shop along the Avenue? Talk to other shop owners, get to know the area, create a business plan that identifies your audience and think about what will make your space unique. Check out Avenue for the Arts classes and great small business resources in GR like GROW (growbusiness.org) and SBDC (sbdcmichigan.org).
Steven Vinson, Spiral Gallery
44 S. Division Ave, Grand Rapids facebook.com/SpiralGalleryGR, (616) 881-2511 spiralgallerygr@gmail.com
This means that as the operator of my space I could show work that is more risqué if I so choose. How do you approach curating a show at Spiral Gallery? Many curators will have a particular aesthetic or type of work they like to show. I approach this challenge a bit differently in that I let the artists decide what they show while I act more as the voice of reason, there to help them make their idea look as good as possible within my space. What can we expect from Spiral Gallery in the coming year and beyond? Within the next year at Spiral there will be artwork from a collective of artists based in Indianapolis — that’s in August. Then I will have two artists for ArtPrize. After ArtPrize I will be looking for artists to exhibit at Spiral. Anyone interested, contact me.
Steven Vinson is a practicing artist and instructor at KCAD and GVSU. He founded Spiral Gallery in 2013 and curates exhibitions focused on work by local students and graduates.
Amanda Carmer, Craft House Gallery
What can happen in a gallery space along the Avenue for the Arts that might not happen in another area of Grand Rapids? With live/work spaces the residents can choose to have any and all types of work in their space.
Founded by photographer Amanda Carmer in 2012, Craft House offers a range of options for artists including studio/exhibition spaces, a
40 S. Division Ave, Grand Rapids crafthousegr.com, (616) 259-0278
commercial gallery and opportunities akin to artist residencies for extended projects. What does Craft House do for artists? When a young artist curates and/or installs their own show there is a huge learning curve. We’re here to walk artists through the process, to explain standard practices of framing and hanging work, the aesthetics of curating in a “white cube,” among other things. That’s the real value of Craft House: It’s a space for learning. What do you want viewers to walk away with from your gallery? I hope viewers recognize the care and craft involved in exhibiting original artwork. I hope they get close to a handcrafted wood frame and are blown away with the high quality of the seams. I also want them to be able to see work that makes them rethink their preconceptions of what art can be. What can we expect from Craft House in the coming year and beyond? We’ve got a kick-ass ArtPrize exhibition lined up — the large-scale paintings of Britt Spencer out of Savannah, GA. After that, we’ll be partnering with Live/Work 42, the venue next door to us to do some larger exhibitions as well as some thematic shows around the holidays — and not what you’d think, by the way. n
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55
The Arts Issue | profile
More Subtle, Organic and Less Angry The Evolution of Printmaker Alynn Guerra by Nicole Rico
Originally a graphic design major, Grand Rapids-based artist Alynn Guerra, 40, has studied everything from painting and sculpture to silversmithing, though her career is now dedicated to printmaking. Her bold and organic work features lively prints of skeletons, plants and other living creatures. According to Guerra, her work “always carries a concrete message, but it is also very likely that you may be able to insert your own story.” Here’s the story she told Revue.
How did you get into printmaking? I do mostly printmaking because I enjoy both the process and the final product. I love printmaking and the affordability of the work, the aggressiveness of the carved lines transferred on the paper, its inherent quality of being reproduced and still being able to be called an original piece of work. Have any particular life moments helped mold your artistic style? Moving into an intentional community and, as a result, becoming politicized, learning about other movements, meeting activists, gardening, sharing and learning tolerance. I wouldn’t be the artist I am now had it not been for that.
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Do environmental issues inspire your art? I’ve always been worried about the way we abuse the earth. As I grow older I witness more complex ways of abuse: biotechnology, fracking, oil spills, nuclear spills, to only name a few. It isn’t getting any better and we are all dying from cancer, stress. Making prints about the future of our environment is a way to get it out of my system and not go crazy. You’re also a mother, has that affected your work at all? Being pregnant had me in a constant state of anxiety, freaking out about how our world was going to end during my daughter’s lifetime. I turned off all the news sources and still I would wake up from vivid post-apocalypse nightmares. So I started embracing them and that turned out to be a great source of inspiration. How has your work evolved over the years? My work has become more subtle, organic and less angry. My first prints were very confrontational and bold — the message was depressive or hopeless. Not that the world has become a better place, but I’ve become less angry and more hopeful. Also, if you really want to get your message across, being nice is a better strategy. What’s some advice you’d offer to newbie artists? You have to be fearless about exposing your soul and heart for everyone to see. The moment you start worrying about what others may think, you start questioning your ideas and the creative process is ruined. I’ve learned to forgive myself if I create mediocre art, I call them exercises. Also you have to be able to make the most of your time and money and keep your soul and sanity in the process. n
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Visit Alynn Guerra’s Etsy store, Red Hydrant Press, at etsy.com/shop/redhydrant. Upcoming events: Fallasburg Art Festival: Sept. 19-20 Tanglefoot Building Artists Studio Sale: Nov. 20 and 22 Forest Hills Fine Arts Center: All of March 2016
SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
TRADITION AND INNOVATION: JAPANESE CERAMICS NOW SEPTEMBER 18, 2015— JANUARY 3, 2016 Ceramics in Japan represent one of the world’s most revered artistic traditions. From the functional to the sculptural, 25 carefully selected works by contemporary masters will be on display in the sculpture galleries. Based on a national search across Japan and co-curated by the famed Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park in the Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park; this exhibition is the first presentation of its kind in the United States.
TRADITION AND INNOVATION: JAPANESE CERAMICS NOW IS ARTPRIZE AT MEIJER GARDENS: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23—SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015 Tradition & Innovation: Japanese Ceramics Now is made possible by
The Meijer Foundation Kyoko TOKUMARU. Age of Good Fortune Island: KoiNoboru Island, (detail), 2014. Porcelain.
15-10259_RevueArtsAd_T&I_JCN_vs2.indd 1
Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
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More, Bigger and Forever
Best Bet:
Common Ground: African American Art at KIA
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O
n Aug. 21 the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts unveiled its new exhibit, Common Ground: African American Art from the Flint Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and the Muskegon Museum of Art. The exhibit, which runs until Nov. 15, surveys the history of African American art through 60 works in various mediums and showcases prominent African American artists from the 19th century to present day, including: Senghor Reid, James Marcellus Watkins, Hughie Lee-Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, Vincent Smith, Chakaia Booker and Henry Ossawa Tanner, among others. According to KIA Executive Director Belinda Tate, the exhibit “traces a journey through 150 years of cultural history, from the talent and determination of the earliest artists who overcame daunting social challenges, to internationally acclaimed work by leading contemporary artists.” The exhibition is divided into five themes/eras: Gaining Access, New SelfAwareness, Political and Social Expressions, Examining Identities and Towards Abstraction. —Reported by Nicole Rico Kalamazoo Institute of Arts 314 S. Park, Kalamazoo Through Nov. 15 kiarts.org, (269) 349-7775
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Sarah Jean Anderson’s Road to Full-Time Artistry
S
by Rich Tupica
arah Jean Anderson, 31, has been at it for a decade — but nailing what “it” is can be a tad difficult. Beyond her life as a Grand Rapids-based painter, she hosts drag shows, comedy events and other artistically festive shindigs. “When I’m not working on art I’m writing comedy or hosting a comedy show,” Anderson said. “I have a character named Rita I’ve been doing since I was 16. I’ve seen recently on YouTube one of my videos was translated into Italian. “It’s remarkable to me that this character I’ve been performing — doing monologues, improv — has reached all the way to Italy and its inspiring people to make their own weird performance art dance videos,” she added. But it’s not just her jokes that are crossing oceans. Thanks to the Internet and her large stock of vibrant original works, her paintings and pop illustrations have shipped all over the globe. “Etsy is wonderful,” Anderson said. “What I don’t like is recently they’ve started to censor artists, but I found that I can deal with that. Etsy has been extremely helpful selling my work worldwide — Italy, Canada and England.” As for her paintings, Anderson often works with acrylic — she likes its ability to mix and layer. She also works with Sharpies, Prismacolor, paint pens, ink, glue, recycled materials, fabrics and spray paint, to only name a few. Visit Sarah Jean “Something I particularly like to do is buy paint nobody else is Anderson at etsy.com/ buying,” she said. “I go to the shop/BSidezGallery. clearance section and get the colors that don’t match or make Sarah Jean Anderson sense together. I try to use them art show at in a harmonious way. I like to Flashlight Alley: limit my materials so I have to 1507 Wealthy St. SE, use my imagination more.” Grand Rapids A recent series of Anderson Sept. 24, 7–10 p.m. originals takes on street harassers and body shaming, it’s the focus of her current show. “I recently did one that says: ‘Oh my f*****g God, I don’t give a flying f*** what you think about my f*****g body, motherf****r.’ It got a good response on the Internet and it sold that same day,” she added. “I was really happy with that because I wasn’t thinking about it as being marketable.” As always, when she’s not cranking out paintings, Anderson’s calendar is stacked with other creative endeavors. “I host Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, which is a live-drawing event we’ve done for six years,” she said. “It’s at Reservoir Lounge on Plainfield. We bring in a variety of live art models — circus performers, jugglers, male and female bodybuilders — all of these different people with elaborate costumes. We draw them with challenges we create. We may draw them as
Sarah Jean Anderson. Photo: Seth Thompson
animals. It’s a wonderful place to find inspiration and meet other artists.” And Anderson will be the first to admit Grand Rapids has been good to her. “There are still new opportunities,” she said. “I’m going to stay here until there’s nothing else to do. But there’s always something to do, so I’ll probably never leave. I don’t believe you have to leave. You can be the artist, comedian or actor you want to be in Grand Rapids.” As for what’s next for Anderson, that too is a tad difficult to nail down. “Next, I’m publishing some zines with poetry and stories, she said. “Next I’m going to do more, bigger and forever.” n
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The Arts Issue | profile
Patrick Hershberger, aka Bonus Saves Photo: Melissa Al-Azzwai
Takin’ It to the Streets The Story of Graffiti Artist Bonus Saves
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By Dwayne Hoover
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A skull bunny mural by Bonus Saves.
Photo: josh mitoska
A
lmost a decade ago, Patrick Hershberger packed up and left West Michigan for the Windy City — this was the genesis of his tag name: Bonus Saves. “I moved from Kalamazoo to Chicago back in 2006 and discovered street art and graffiti,” Hershberger said. “I have a photography background, so I did what came naturally and photographed everything. I had stopped making art other than photography, but seeing all these new art forms on the streets pulled me back in.” Hershberger was fortunate to meet and work with a number of talented artists in Chicago who showed him the ropes. Soon he had moved back to Kalamazoo and began broadening the scope of his work, doing more with outdoor surfaces including a large outdoor installation for ArtPrize and six murals for Comstock Northeast Middle School, made possible by a grant through the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. And while he still enjoys some smaller projects and the use of acrylic paints, Hershberger admits he prefers a large wall and cans of spray paint. “I enjoy painting canvas work, but there’s something special and peaceful about painting a wall,” Hershberger said. “I lose track of time and it really fulfills me.” A recurring character in a lot of Hershberger’s work is the skull bunny. The idea came to him over a period of reflection on how he viewed life itself, and particularly, the mortality of every living thing. Animals act as a muse for Hershberger and offer the reminder that the beauty of life is not possible without the inevitability of death. “They represent the vivid wonderfulness of life, yet the reality that anything alive will die,” he explained. “They are my thoughts on the natural order of things. They’ve taken many different looks in my art: Animal riders, little Aztec warriors, historical figures.” As for how he creates the critters, Hershberger said he uses a different technique for the animals he creates. Instead of solid colors and line work, he uses layered and patterned short lines to invoke a feeling of motion in the fur or feathers. “I love combining science and art — working environmental themes into the animals I produce,” Hershberger said. “The heron I created for ArtPrize in 2013 was centered on the Enbridge Pipeline disaster in the Kalamazoo River and how it impacted both man and nature along its banks.” Over the years, he’s worked both solo and collaboratively, from Chicago to Detroit, but he’s remains driven and optimistic about his future. Recently he’s worked on walls in Kalamazoo for the Vine Neighborhood Association. He’s also preparing for this year’s ArtPrize and hopes to travel down to Miami Beach for Art Basel. Last month he did a live show dubbed Enter the Vortex at One Well Brewing in Kalamazoo. While some painters feel intimidated creating in front of an audience, he said he loves the opportunity to perform for people. “I mentioned the fact that I lose track of time when painting a wall,” he said. “Live demos seem to put me way into that zone. I love painting for people. Some people are really hesitant and feel pressured painting for an audience. I thrive on it. Put some music on and a spray can in my hand and it’s like Christmas presents loaded under the tree.” n
The Fed Galleries @ KCAD
Woodbridge N. Ferris Building 17 Pearl St. NW
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Conveniently located in the Center City neighborhood, KCAD’s 2015 ArtPrize exhibition will showcase captivating works by critically-acclaimed contemporary artists from around the world. Join us for ArtPrize Seven, Sept. 23 - October 11.
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The Arts Issue | profile
Strange Tales
The Peculiar Stimuli of Anthony Shechtman by Nicole Rico
Artist Anthony Shechtman was born and raised in Grand Rapids and currently spends much of his time at home creating mysterious and beautiful narrative images. A milestone for the painter was when he received his BFA in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design — another was his debut exhibition in 2006 at the Division Avenue Arts Cooperative. Since then he’s kept busy with fine arts, illustrations and a series of exhibitions. Here’s what he had to say.
What themes do you pursue and why? The bottom of the lake at night. A lantern in the woods. The power, frailty and beauty of the human form. Spectacular secrets.
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Where has your work been exhibited? All over West Michigan as well as being selected to show at the Historic Vogue Theatre of Manistee, where my piece Declaration won the 2012 juried Mascot Award. I recently participated in a wonderful ‘80s movie-themed exhibition at the amazing Glitter Milk Gallery on the West Side. Other than art, what inspires you? Strange tales. People. Music. Nature. Do you have a process you like to follow with your oil paintings? Although I appreciate and enjoy the power and flexibility of working digitally, I typically work in oil. The traditional materials provide a full sensory working experience and many wondrous “happy accidents.” Aside from painting, what are you up to? I sometimes teach courses at Kendall. I read and write a lot. I also play mandolin
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in the Kent County String Band, a traditional old-time string band. What are the best and worst aspects of being an artist in the Grand Rapids area? The arts community is wonderfully supportive. There are people doing amazing and inspiring things, like Miranda and Josh at Glitter Milk Gallery. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be as many buyers of unique art here in Grand Rapids compared to many metropolitan areas. How have your paintings changed over time? When I first learned to paint realistically there was an allure to creating tightly rendered representations of visual reality. I’ve been working much looser lately, incorporating gesture and atmosphere to create much more subtle, satisfying and personal work. Lastly, what’s vital for a developing artist to have? A voice. n For more information, visit anthonyshechtman.com.
Top: David. Above: 1937.
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The Arts Issue | profile
Comic Chameleon
Ryan Brady Draws Illustrations, Paints Fine Art By Nicole Rico
Ryan Brady is an artistic chameleon, capable of creating both comic book-style illustrations and fine-art oil paintings. Born and raised in Portage, Brady moved to Grand Rapids to get his Bachelor’s Degree in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design. Since then he’s displayed work at venues across West Michigan, including at Glitter Milk Gallery, Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts, UICA and the Meanwhile Bar, among others. With an upcoming show in November at Have Company (136 S. Division Ave, Grand Rapids), Brady, 28, chatted with Revue about what it takes to be a diverse artist and why the unknown inspires him.
Why do you choose to work in such a variety of styles? I switch up between painting, drawing and inking to add variety to my work and to keep myself from getting burnt out on one medium. What people should know about my work is that there is a divide. My personal fine-art work has little to do with my illustrations. Fine art is the study of what inspires oneself and you create a body of work involving a certain concept. Illustration is work for hire. A lot of your fine-art work involves the occult, what drew you to that topic? I’ve always been interested in the occult, mythology, natural decay and destruction. This sort of curiosity of those themes creates endless material to reference and ideas or concepts start to flow. The occult and mythology have opened my eyes to a world where a lot is unknown or uncertain. Since a young age I’ve been drawn to the unknown. What drives me to use them as themes is the alternative lifestyle or teachings they preach and connectedness with nature.
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What has been a seminal experience in your career and why? I’d say working on an organic farm for three years. You witness a lot of life and death, the changes in the environment. To be able to see the moon and stars at night in the country is worth all the hard labor during the day. I learned a lot about myself and it has inspired my work immensely.
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What are the best and worst aspects of being an artist in the Grand Rapids area? The best part of being an artist in Grand Rapids is all the opportunities to show your work. There are so many shops and small galleries on Division that are always looking for artwork to hang up. There is so much support for artists here, and it’s all very well organized. Organizations like Avenue for the Arts work hard to make this city a little more interesting. First Fridays Gallery Hop, Art.Downtown and The Market are all great outlets for anyone trying to get involved with the local arts. Like many other cities, making a living as an artist in Grand Rapids is difficult. Most of my friends, including myself, work full or part time jobs to support themselves and do artwork on the side. How was it growing up as a budding artist? I have a very supportive family who has always encouraged me to pursue what I love. My grandmother was a great pastel artist and her work hangs at my parent’s house. I was always surrounded by her work which was inspiring. My uncle Scott started taking me to different
art museums and artist lectures in downtown Kalamazoo at a young and impressionable age. I remember looking through magazines and books and seeing these drawings and paintings used to tell a story or sell a product and it blew my mind that you can get paid to do this stuff. What’s integral to the work of an artist? Staying motivated and having self-discipline. It’s easy to not work on something as there are so many distractions in life. A supportive community helps, too. I’m thankful to live somewhere where so many artists are working hard and doing things that push the city forward. n For more on Ryan Brady visit ryanbradyillustration. tumblr.com or follow him on Instagram at: TidesOfRuin.
G R A N D VA L L E Y S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y P R E S E N T S T H E 1 3 t h A N N U A L
Grand Valley’s Fall Arts Celebration features distinguished writers, poets, musicians, artists, and scholars of our time. Please join us this fall for inspiring entertainment that is the hallmark of our signature events. Fall Arts Celebration events are free and open to the public.
aRt “Dusk to Dusk: Unsettled, Unraveled, Unreal” EXHIBITION RECEPTION thuRSdaY, SePteMBeR 10, 5–7 P.M. ART GALLERY, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ALLENDALE CAMPUS AUGUST 28–OCTOBER 31 EXHIBITION DATES
MuSic “Faculty Artistry Gems! Recognizing GVSU Music Faculty Performances in the Community” MOndaY, SePteMBeR 21, 7:30 P.M. LOUIS ARMSTRONG THEATRE, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ALLENDALE CAMPUS
POetRY “An Evening of Poetry and Conversation with Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Kwame Dawes” thuRSdaY, OctOBeR 15, 7 P.M. L.V. EBERHARD CENTER, 2ND FLOOR ROBERT C. PEW GRAND RAPIDS CAMPUS
Enriching the Arts and Humanities in West Michigan
dance Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers present “Meditations in Motion: Virtuosity and Imagination in Dance — Innovation and Modernity in Music” MOndaY, nOVeMBeR 2, 7:30 P.M. LOUIS ARMSTRONG THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ALLENDALE CAMPUS
lectuRe Kip Thorne “Discovery and Collaboration” MOndaY, nOVeMBeR 16, 7 P.M. L.V. EBERHARD CENTER, 2ND FLOOR ROBERT C. PEW GRAND RAPIDS CAMPUS
hOlidaY celeBRatiOn “Stille Nacht: A Celebration of Holiday Music from Europe” MOndaY, deceMBeR 7, 7:30 P.M. FOUNTAIN STREET CHURCH 24 FOUNTAIN STREET NE GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Media Sponsor:
For event details, a complete list of sponsors, or to receive email alerts about upcoming events, visit www.gvsu.edu/fallarts or call (616) 331-2185.
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The Arts Issue | profile
Sculpting Stones Jason Quigno’s Mission to Preserve His Anishinaabe Heritage by Sarah Winterbottom
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J
ason Quigno, who specializes in large and small scale nature, his carvings are so meticulous and simple they could stone sculptures, prefers a lasting approach to art. be straight from the earth itself. “One time I saw a little stone “Part of my mission as an Anishinaabe artist is to through a crack in my porch,” he recalled. “In that glance I saw tell the stories of my people through stone – to keep an owl landing on another stone with its wings out. I was so them alive, so several thousands of years from now the inspired by the vision that I carved it all out, working 30 hours stories of the Anishinaabe people will still be here in stone,” straight.” said Quigno, a Grand Rapids-based artist. Although the simplicity and elegance depict an effortless His sculptural work ranges from granite, marble and process, his work entails a substantial amount of detailed outlinlimestone basalt to alabaster and soapstone. Quigno’s body ing in the preliminary stages before his hands get dirty. “There of work is largely based on the preservation of Anishinaabe is a lot of planning and thinking before I even touch the stone. culture and its seven grandfather teachings: love, respect, Sometimes the stone itself dictates what it’s going to be.” honesty, bravery, truth, humility and Sometimes unforeseen mishaps wisdom. “These teachings are ancient dictate the direction of a sculpture. “I and are still relevant today within the was working on a big sculpture and Anishinaabe communities,” he said. had spent many hours on it,” Quigno His vision tells the stories of the recalled. “As I was finishing I laid it down Anishinaabe people in a modern conand it broke right in half. At first I was text, with abstracted works, contrasting discouraged, but then I saw a whole difto the traditional Anishinaabe depictions ferent avenue to take my work. It turned of animals and people. Quigno said out to be a good thing.” each of his scrupulous pieces start with All of Quigno’s hard work paid off a simple sketch. “My creative process two years ago, when he scored a prestistarts with a thought or idea, then a gious solo show. “One of my proudest drawing, and then I go find the right achievements to date was back in —from Jason Quigno’s artist statement stone that can fit with that idea.” 2014,” he said. “I had a one-man exhibit Along with his culture, run-of-theat the Muskegon Museum of Art.” For mill experiences also provide stimulus those who missed it, the museum curfor his stone sculptures. “Things I see in my daily life give me rently has his work in their permanent collection. ideas,” he said. “Whether it’s a pattern I see in nature or even Currently, he’s showing at the LaFontsee Galleries in Grand music I hear. But mostly it’s just the work itself, the action of Rapids and Douglas, finishing multiple monumental works untaking a raw block of unyielding stone and carving it into someder commission. His limestone piece, “People of the 3 Fires,” thing beautiful, beautiful in my eyes anyway.” is his 2015 ArtPrize entry. The connection with nature is evident in his work. With And while he’s an Alma, Mich. native and member of the the earthy stone mediums and forms that echo the rhythms of Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in Mt. Pleasant, Quigno is
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“I love the process of taking a raw, dense block of stone and transforming it into a balanced and h a r m o n i o u s o bj e c t. ”
happily submerged in the West Michigan art scene. “I enjoy the art community in the area,” he said. “The best part is my studio, which is an old boiler room. It’s inspiring being there. The building where my studio is in has a thriving art community and the energy there is good for the creativity.” n
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The Arts Issue | profile
Vile Unveils ‘Tomb of the Unarmed Suspect’ Notorious Detroit-Underground Legend Heads to GR By Brian J. Bowe
The new book Re-Entry: The Orbit Magazine Anthology begins with a quote from magazine founder and publisher Jerry Vile: “I really, really enjoy making people upset. I think that is my art.” By that benchmark, Vile’s entry in this year’s edition of ArtPrize may well be his masterpiece.
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Titled “The Tomb of the Unarmed Suspect,” the piece will feature an ancient Grecian-style tomb, with an added performance component that involves the construction of a gallows to serve as “a historical bridge to link the present with the past.” “It’s always been a form of entertainment, watching them build the gallows before they hang somebody,” Vile said. “Although it’s a crowd of people that seek art, I think they also deserve to be entertained — and what’s more entertaining than hanging somebody on the town square?” Vile expects his piece will be erected in the closest thing Grand Rapids has to a town square — Calder Plaza. That is, “unless the shit really hits the fan,” he said. One might be tempted to imagine the work as his attempt to inject some dark humor
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into the ripped-from-today’s-headlines issue of state violence, but Vile said it’s all humor. “The idea of people sitting around watching somebody build a gallows is hilarious to me,” he said. “The idea of people watching somebody getting hung is hilarious, but I have a really twisted moral compass.” In a career that has spanned four decades and disciplines that include visual art, magazine publishing and music, Vile has made a life out of following that twisted moral compass to provoke and offend. But over the four years author Rob St. Mary spent immersed in Peterson’s work writing the Orbit book, he said he came to realize that Jerry is “one of the most important underground figures in Detroit culture in the past 30-35 years.” “Here’s a guy who started in the Detroit punk rock scene,” St. Mary said. “He had a band called the Boners, he was in that scene
with Destroy All Monsters, with the remnants of the MC5 and the Stooges, all these other great bands that didn’t get the attention they deserved.” Capturing that punk energy in his work, Vile founded a succession of magazines, culminating in Orbit’s decade-long run. He also launched the annual Dirty Show of erotic art that has been the highlight of the ribald aesthete’s cultural calendar for the past 16 years. One of his bestknown recent works, “Crisco Fist (Vessel of Hope)” was unveiled when Detroit declared bankruptcy. It featured a giant can of Crisco beneath the Joe Louis fist sculpture in downtown Detroit. The real artistic strength of the work came in Peterson’s ability to confuse some of the more gullible members of the local media, who missed the some of the piece’s fetishistic connotations. “The Crisco fist is subtle. If you’re a grandmother or a little kid, you don’t know what that means. In fact, if you don’t have a perverted bone in your body, it might not mean something to you,” Vile said. “It meant a lot of things to a lot of different people. To my young daughter, I was able to explain
that politicians are slippery and greasy, just like Crisco.” Of course, he added, “some people interpreted it as fistf******, of all things. That one never dawned on me.” This won’t be Vile’s first appearance at ArtPrize. His entry last year featured a McMansion made out of cardboard boxes, “like a really fancy Hooverville,” Vile said. “It was like living in refrigerator and stove boxes, but really, really wasting a lot of space with a great room and a master bedroom and a master —Jerry Vile bath and an open-air kitchen,” he said. Vile said he loves ArtPrize, and that it brings him “that joy that there’s only a German word for.” “I would rather look at a really crappy piece of art than a mediocre piece of art. Of course, I always like to look at a really nice piece of art, but it’s just fun to see any art,” Vile said. Which brings us back to this year’s piece. How does Vile think his it will be received? “I don’t know if the piece will be used to lynch me,” he said. “It could go over horribly.” n
“The idea of people watching somebody getting hung is hilarious, but I have a really twisted moral compass.”
Jerry Vile’s 2014 ArtPrize entry, “The Tarps,” featured a couch made of Franzia boxes
Muskegon Museum of Art Curator Offers Insight
In Conversation: Art Martin Interview by Chris Protas
Art Martin is not only a painter, he’s also associate curator/collections manager at the Muskegon Museum of Art. Martin chatted with REVUE about West Michigan’s art scene and offered some advice and insight for emerging artists. West Michigan is having a cultural renaissance. Without taking away from the positive side of this, where is there room for improvement? I think ArtPrize has greatly contributed to the idea that the arts can produce a sense of vitality and community and cities around the area are picking up on that. Spectacle is always appealing, but is also expensive, hard to maintain and requires constant reinvention. The best opportunity for diversity of art and thought is going to come from more modest shows and events. At the most basic level, if a community wants to have a vital arts scene, artists need the financial support that comes from the sale of art.
Can you give me your thoughts on the state of art criticism in the area? What role do you think it plays? Art criticism in our area is limited. When I look back in our archives, I can find professional critical reviews of Muskegon area art shows, plays, musicals, concerts and symphonies. There is nothing like that now. Art criticism is important to growing quality and support. For curators and programming directors, it is professional, objective feedback we need to strengthen what we do. For the public, it is another tool for building understanding of the arts and to both challenge and encourage their own criticism.
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Besides making art, what responsibility do artists have in developing excitement for the arts among the public? Artists need to be open to opportunities. Not everyone is at a level where they are going to be invited for solo shows at our museums. There are going to be chances at smaller sites and artists shouldn’t pass on these for want of something grander. Artists also need to attend events not featuring their own work, building a community of support for their fellow artists. In my own role at a museum, it is disheartening to only see artists at our exhibitions when their own work is on the wall.
What responsibility do curators have? Curators need to be educators. It is important to make sure that what we develop is accessible at all levels. Even if someone doesn’t ultimately like what a curator presents, you want them to walk away with some new knowledge or understanding. Like artists, curators also need to be visible and involved in the arts community outside their own doors, building relations with peers, artists, audiences and supporters.
Chris Protas is the curator at The Fire Barn Gallery, a Grand Haven-based non-profit operated by three painters.
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The Arts Issue | emerging artist profiles
ArtParticipators Bunny Terwee & Margaret Farrell Talk Inspiration & ArtPrize
West Michigan-based artists Bunny Terwee and Margaret Farrell are both set for this year’s ArtPrize. Terwee’s “ALL ABOUT THE LINES” and Farrell’s “Jeison” will be featured at One Trick Pony (136 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids) during the competition. Can you walk us through your entry for ArtPrize this year? Bunny: The watercolor painting was inspired by the form and reflection of lines in nature’s design. My mainstay is larger-than-life flowers. Margaret: My entry is a photo realism rendering using graphite. It’s titled “Jeison,” after the name of the boy in the drawing. My sister, Laura Farrell, went on a service trip three years ago to the Dominican Republic to help work at an orphanage. While she was there, she took amazing photos. I was deeply inspired by this particular photo due to the captivated look on Jeison’s face. What inspired you to go into art? Bunny: My love of drawing and the need to capture so many different images is what inspires my love of art.
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Margaret: After high school I attended Muskegon Community College
and that is where I found [the] window to make art my career — my professors there really inspired me …. (then) I was introduced to Kendall College of Art and Design. What does art mean to you? Bunny: Art to me is losing myself in a subject that I am drawing and painting. Time stands still while drawing and I lose track of where I am. Reality no longer exists during the process. Margaret: Art to me is all about self expression. I create art because that is my way of communication and [self expression]. I am able to get my thoughts, feelings and ideas down on paper and create something beautiful. Everything is open ended. There is art I love and there is art that I do not love, but I am able to appreciate it and try to understand it. In the end, art is never wrong. —Mayra Monroy
The Resilient Artist
Joseph DeCommer Turns Anguish into Artwork In a Midtown studio apartment adorned with paintings on every inch of its walls, Joseph DeCommer, 35, figuratively lives and breathes art. He sleeps in the same room he creates, merging pop culture and realism with critically-endangered species and apocalyptic scenarios. He’s been at it for five years and has been steadily exhibiting his work throughout Michigan and beyond — even as far out as New York City. When did you decide you wanted to be a painter? I was in a worthless relationship for six years and decided to end it before it was too late. Having been with someone for so long, and then suddenly having them not around, causes a person to look for something to do. In 2010, instead of killing myself, or booze and drugs, I chose painting. I poured myself into it and have never stopped. Are there any re-occurring themes in your paintings? The theme I would like people to most consider is love. I have lost a lot in my life. I have no family that I speak to and have lost what I thought was real love in relationships a few times. For instance, if you see my skeletons with hearts paintings called Resilient; those are about my idea of the heart’s ability to withstand great punishment. The skeletons are 10,000 years old but their heart is still there.
Bunny Terwee painting
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Margaret Farrell drawing
You will have your self-portrait at ArtPrize this year — what’s the story behind it? It’s called “Self with Skull/Remember Me.” The skull is a representation of my dead self and people who have been important to me
over the years who are no longer in my life: My mother, father, romantic relationships, sibling and friends. I’m including a notebook for people to share their similar stories of lost love and family. Where has your work been exhibited? My mainstay is ArtPrize. I have done it every year except the first because I wasn’t painting yet. It’s fun and it leads to pretty good exposure. I never go in it thinking about winning, it is purely for fun. Other than that, I have a gallery show coming up Sept. 11 at Lansing Art Gallery as a part of their Time|Space exhibition. Also, I try to do as many art festivals as I can. What are you up to when you’re not painting? I’m thinking about painting. I wish I were joking but I’m not. It really is all I think about. Well, art in general. To some it makes me dull but to others there is a fascination. To be honest, if I didn’t have this I would probably want to die. I think the world is amazing and sometimes too powerful to take — and also really sad. —Nicole Rico For more information, visit decommer.com.
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pureludington.com/beer REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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FEATURING THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND
Fest
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Nathan Coley, You Imagine What You Desire, 2014. Illuminated text on scaffolding. Installation, St Nicholasí Church, Brighton, 2015. Courtesy of the artist and Parafin Gallery, London
Kendall College of Art and Design Featured Event: Sightlines – ArtPrize 2015 exhibition
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ightlines, KCAD’s ArtPrize 2015 exhibition, converges eight contemporary artists from around the world in a bold and timely examination of the often murky distinction between perception and reality. Each of these artists grapples in their own way with the fact that definitive understanding is largely elusive. Our sense of our own experiences and of the broader human experience is always changing, shifting, growing, and evolving as we embark down new paths, encounter new ideas, and undergo rapid technological advancement. Beneath the surface of what we choose to call “fact” and “truth,” there exists an underlying current of prejudice, assumption, motive, and misunderstanding that shapes both the way we come to see ourselves and our world and the way in which we communicate our perceptions to others. All of the featured artists are participating in ArtPrize for the first time. Inside The Fed Galleries @ KCAD, the art in Sightlines is given plenty of room to breathe, allowing ArtPrize viewers the time and space to engage each piece on their own terms. Visit: kcad.edu/galleries
St. Cecilia Music Center Featured Event: ArtPrize MUSIC: Joshua Davis – Oct. 4
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nown as the music hub for ArtPrize, St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) hosts a benefit concert featuring Joshua Davis on Oct. 4. Davis, a Michigan-based singer/songwriter, composes songs that meld American music with rock ‘n’ roll, the result being “some of the liveliest and most rocking roots music around,” according to Performing Songwriter Magazine. Davis, who is also the guitarist/vocalist for Steppin’ In It, is also known for his appearance on the national TV show The Voice, in which Davis placed third. Also taking the stage are local-folk rock veterans Troll for Trout and area bluegrass band Fauxgrass. Opening acts start at 6 p.m. in the historic Royce Auditorium and there is a cash bar open until Joshua Davis starts at 8 p.m. Stick around after the concert for an artist reception open to all ticket holders. Tickets range from $25-$30 and proceeds go towards supporting SCMC as the ArtPrize music hub. Every year SCMC raises and awards its own prize money to musical entries, including the new Critic’s Choice Award. Visit: scmc-online.org
Joshua Davis
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University Musical Society (UMS) Featured Event: Sleeping Beauty – March 31-April 3
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t’s a classic story everyone is familiar with, thanks to Disney. But those who were left wanting after the animated classic and the live-action Maleficient can see a grandiose and opulent production of Sleeping Beauty by American Ballet Theatre at the Detroit Opera House from March 31-April 3. The event features music by Tchaikovsky, performed live by the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, as well as choreography by Marius Petipa and staging by Alexei Ratmansky. The new production, presented by UMS and Michigan Opera Theatre, breathes life into the story of Aurora, a beautiful princess cursed to sleep for 100 years until she is awakened by a prince. For those who want to delve deeper in the minds of the artists, there will be a pre-performance conversation with the crew behind Sleeping Beauty, starting an hour before the performance. Also available is a luxury coach service on select dates. The coach will leave from Ann Arbor and travel to Detroit, getting there in time for that pre-performance Q&A. Call (734) 764-2538 or visit ums.org to reserve your tickets. Visit: ums.org
S p ec i a l A d ver t i s i n g S ec t i o n Darkly
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) Featured Event: OddBall: White Walls Presented by Meijer – Sept. 12
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his year, OddBall: White Walls provides a unique experience for the senses. Come out to OddBall for an exclusive sneak peek of UICA’s ArtPrize Seven exhibition, SENSE. The showcase features six responsive projects throughout UICA’s exhibition space, encouraging guests to experience the works through: sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. There will also be musical guests, including Darkly and E. ∆ndrei. Darkly provides an ambient mix of murky synths and bewitching vocal melodies, as well as unique visual experiences. OddBall also features Cheeky Strut, the energetic and cutting edge hair salon. Both hair and make-up artists will be choosing people at random throughout the event to undergo a high fashion makeover, creating living works of art within the audience. Known for their eclectic mix of dance performances, the event also features the Kendall College of Art and Design and Calvin College dance collective Our Daily Dance. Tickets are $125.03 or $98.89 for UICA members and include self-parking in the Gallery ramp, a drink, a strolling buffet, and entertainment. Visit uica.org.
Donald Sinta Quartet
GVSU Fall Arts Celebration Featured Event: Faculty Artist Gems – Sept. 21
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his year puts the spotlight on Grand Valley faculty members, with Faculty Artistry Gems! Recognizing GVSU Music Faculty Performances in the Community. As part of the Fall Arts Celebration, the GVSU faculty will present various compositions at the Louis Armstrong Theatre on the Allendale Campus. Beginning the night is the Lighthouse Brass Quintet, which performs musical representations of Great Lakes lighthouses. The quintet features Professor of Trumpet, Richard Stoelzel. Following that is a performance of Bill Ryan’s “Simple Lines” by Pablo Manhave-Veglia, associate professor of cello. Bill Ryan is the director of Grand Valley’s New Music Ensemble. Ending the evening is the Donald Sinta Quartet, featuring Assistant Professor of Saxophone, Dan Graser. Preceding all these performances is the carillon concert at 7 p.m. which showcases university carillonneur Julianne Vanden Wyngaard. You can hear all this musical mastery on Sept. 21. Visit: gvsu.edu/fallarts
Opera Grand Rapids Featured Event: requiem – Oct. 30
Grand Rapids Symphony Featured Event: Love, Lust & Rock’n’Roll – Oct. 2-4
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ailed by several critics as Giuseppe Verdi’s finest opera, Requiem is a tour de force. It’s filled with forceful rhythms and dramatic contrasts that are powerfully expressed. This performance of Requiem will be conducted by Steven Mercurio, who is internationally acclaimed, and can be seen at DeVos Performance Hall on Oct. 30. Come here the terrifying Dies irae, which is instantly recognizable from several movie trailers. Following that is the Rex tremendae, which is meant to invoke a feeling of unworthiness before God. And finally, the Sanctus asks for forgiveness and redemption, with the soprano belting out “Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death … when you will come to judge the world by fire.” This performance is also part of Opera Grand Rapids’ Night With The Opera, which includes Creole cuisine, cocktails, live entertainment and an afterglow party with the stars of Requiem. Tickets go on sale Sept. 8. To purchase tickets, call 616.451.2741 or visit eventbrite.com. Tickets are 20-percent off with a subscription to the Opera Grand Rapids 2015-16 season. Student “Passport to the Opera” is $5 for any performance. Visit: operagr.org
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or people who like “all kinds of music,” stop by the DeVos Performance Hall from Oct. 2-4 for the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Love, Lust & Rock’n’Roll. The event features music from the Grand Rapids Pops Orchestra and vocals by Storm Large, from the TV show Rock Star: Supernova. Love, Lust & Rock’n’Roll showcases songs ranging from the 1930s to the ‘90s from artists like Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Queen and Led Zeppelin. They’re playing all the hits, including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Somebody to Love” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and many more. Other than Rock Star, Storm Large is also known for being the co-lead singer for Pink Martini, a Portland, Ore.-based “little orchestra” group. Although she got her start as a rock singer, she’s been branching into the worlds of theater and cabaret. Visit: grsymphony.org
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Broadway Grand Rapids Featured Event: Newsies – Sept. 22-27
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Newsies
he 2012 Tony Award winner Newsies heads to DeVos Performance Hall this fall with several showings from Sept. 22-27. Inspired by the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City, Newsies tells the story of Jack Kelly, as well as several other homeless children, who sell newspapers to support themselves. One day the publisher of the paper raises the cost of the papers to the boys, aka the “newsies” and it causes the crew to strike. Based on the 1992 Disney movie of the same name, Newsies features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman. It has won awards for both best score and best choreography and was heralded by the New York Times as “a musical worth singing about!” It’s also family friendly, making it a perfect introduction to Broadway for the children. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through ticketmaster.com, the DeVos Place convention center, Van Andel Arena box offices or by calling 1-800-982-2787. Visit: broadwaygrandrapids.com
Actors’ Theatre Featured Event: Heathers – Oct. 8-9 & Oct. 15-17
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hat happens when you combine puberty, popularity and a sociopath named J.D.? Find out Oct. 8-9 and 15-17 when the Actors’ Theatre hosts the rock musical adaptation of the 1988 cult film Heathers. The musical follows a semester in the life of Veronica Sawyer as she deals with the trials and tribulations of teenage-dom and being in the popular clique, “the Heathers.” Everything is going along swimmingly until Veronica meets J.D. and starts to question whether popularity is really all that important. As they begin their relationship J.D., ever the opportunist, sees this as a way to off a few popular kids and send a message to society at large. What results from this is the erroneous popularity of suicide in the late ‘80s. The story takes place in 1989 and is filled with throwback commentary as well as plenty of dark humor. Fans of Donnie Darko, Mean Girls or campy ‘80s humor in general should check this out. Visit: actorstheatregrandrapids.org
Wharton Center for Performing Arts Featured Event: Lang Lang – Sept. 28
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amed “the hottest artist on the classical music planet” by The New York Times, Lang Lang brings his rock-star swagger to East Lansing on Sept. 28 for a show at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. Lang Lang made his debut at the age of 13 at Beijing Concert Hall. Since then he’s stunned audiences with skill and passion in every major city across the world. In April 2009 Time magazine included him in its 100 Most Influential People in the World list. The Today show reported that over 40 million Chinese children have learned to play classical piano because of him – a phenomenon Today referred to as “the Lang Lang effect.” Over the years he’s performed with a roster of A-list performers, including: Katharine McPhee, Mike Oldfield, Andrea Bocelli, Metallica, Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer, the Vienna Philharmonic and many more. At one time considered controversial because of his youthful and exuberant performing style, Lang Lang will perform works by Bach, Chopin and Tchaikovsky at his Wharton Center debut. Visit: whartoncenter.com
Lang Lang
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Jersey Boys
Miller Auditorium Featured Event: Jersey Boys – Oct. 20-25
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he Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys comes to Miller Auditorium this October. Jersey Boys follows the formation through the break-up of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons. The group sold 175 million records worldwide before they even turned 30 with hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” A jukebox musical, featuring music by composer Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe, Jersey Boys tells the story of four blue-collar kids (Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi) through the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Each season is narrated by a different member of the band and represents different eras of their career. The New York Times says “the crowd goes wild!” for this musical directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff. This October, come see the sonic story of one of the greatest pop-music successes. Visit: millerauditorium.com
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I S R A E L I E T H I O P I A N JA Z Z A N D R & B A RT I S T “What’s the likelihood that an Ethiopian-born Israeli singer would have internalized old-school American soul, funk and jazz? Ester Rada is exactly that.” — New York Music Daily “She is amazing!” — Alicia Keys
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REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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December: holiday gift guide
ESTER R A DA
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/// feature
Entering Orbit Edgy Defunct Michigan Magazine Finally Gets Its Due By Brian J. Bowe
Aside from several decades of tired Murder City clichés, if Detroit has a reputation for anything, it’s for being on the cultural vanguard. From proto-punk to techno, Detroit is the place where cool things happen a decade before anybody else thinks of them. That reputation transcends the musical realm. Long before The Onion – or even Grand Rapids’ own Recoil – took a biting and satirical look
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at arts and culture, there was a monthly Detroit magazine called Orbit.
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he legacy of Orbit — and its two predecessors, Fun and White Noise — are at the center of a heavily illustrated, colorful new book by former WOOD Radio news director Rob St. Mary. Re-Entry: The Orbit Magazine Anthology is out this month via Wayne State University Press. The book celebrates the independent spirit at the heart of these publications, all of which were founded by Detroit artist-provocateur Jerry Vile (né Peterson). “You have this sensibility that comes out of punk rock,” St. Mary said. “It comes out of DIY. It comes out of this attitude that we don’t wait for the gatekeepers – we go do it ourselves, because if we waited around for people to give us the OK, we never would have done anything,”
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“When I was in high school, Orbit was the one thing you could get every month … that really connected you to arts and culture and humor, both nationally and locally in Detroit.” Between 1978-80, Vile published White Noise, which St. Mary described as “the Detroit equivalent of Punk out of New York or Slash out of L.A.” That magazine chronicled the emergence of punk rock, including extensive coverage of Michigan legends Sonic’s Rendezvous Band and Destroy All Monsters. Vile said: “It was like, ‘Oh, you can just do this stuff. You can hop on this punk rock fad and start your own band, or your own magazine.’” After White Noise came Fun, which St. Mary said was the first free humor magazine in the
U.S., predating The Onion by two years. Fun published a feature on techno inventor Derrick May in 1987 — only a year after his first record came out. Proto-garage trio The Gories were covered at a time when it would have been impossible to predict their future influence. By 1990, Fun had mutated into Orbit, continuing Vile and company’s uncanny knack for detecting the pulse of the culture and for recognizing the value in emerging artists. The White Stripes were featured in a 1998 Orbit scene report when they had only been a band for six months. Quentin Tarantino was so ap-
preciative of the magazine’s early support of his career that he sported an Orbit t-shirt in the “don’t tell me how good my coffee is” scene in Pulp Fiction. “I think the reason Orbit was good was because we encouraged honesty,” Vile said. “This movie really sucks, or this band blows, or this band’s great and just surrounding yourself with cool people who are mostly my friends, either before or after.” One of the biggest beneficiaries of early Orbit attention was Kid Rock, who was first featured in 1990 as a 19-year-old rapper with Kid ’n’ Play hair. He appeared some 25 times in the publication, which closed right around the time his breakthrough LP Devil Without a Cause was released. In fact, Orbit played such an important part in Kid Rock’s career that he contributed $20,000
Rob St. Mary to the book’s crowdfunding campaign. For his contribution, Rock received an original painting by the artist Niagara titled “Hot Box,” which features a pair of lips puffing on a cigarette. That image festoons the cover of his current album, First Kiss. “This was a painting I had bought several years before, and it was on my bedroom wall for a couple years,” St. Mary said. “It has a real attitude to it, so I can see why Bob [Kid Rock] really liked it.” Orbit had a huge influence on St. Mary, who was exposed to it as a teenager in the Macomb County suburbs of Detroit. “When I was in high school, Orbit was the one thing you could get every month … that really connected you to arts and culture and humor, both nationally and locally in Detroit,” St. Mary said. “It had an attitude and an edge to it.” In fact, the magazine inspired him to start an underground newspaper in high school called Ink Spots, which ran for five issues as “an up-yours to the administration,” St. Mary said.
After nearly a decade of provocation, Orbit ceased publication in 1999, just as the Internet was disrupting the publishing industry. “I felt like it was a big loss to culture where I was living,” St. Mary said. A few years after it went out of business, St. Mary said he started thinking somebody should write a book about Orbit, because it’s something he wanted to read. Eventually, St. Mary realized if he wanted to see this book, he would have to write it himself. He got in touch with Vile through a mutual friend, and he agreed, with two stipulations: First, he didn’t want to write it himself. Second: St. Mary had to tell the truth, even if it wasn’t nice. “He is a very polarizing figure,” St. Mary said. “There are a lot of people that have had interactions with him over the years who didn’t necessarily like him, or he rubbed them the wrong way, in everything from business dealings to his personal life. “For years I didn’t like the guy,” St. Mary added. Vile said he appreciates the renewed interest in his work, although it comes too late for his taste. “For me, it’s like going, ‘Wow, that wasn’t a big waste of 10 years of your life,’” Vile said. “People obviously cared — people that I didn’t know.” For more information, visit: orbitbookdetroit.com. n
Book-Signing Events: Sept 23: Join author Rob St. Mary, author Steve Miller and punk legend Tesco Vee for a discussion on Re-Entry: The Orbit Magazine Anthology at Schuler Books & Music in Eastwood Town Center, 2820 Towne Centre Blvd., Lansing. 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Rob St. Mary signs copies of the book at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids. 7 p.m.
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Quentin Tarantino sports an Orbit T-shirt in his 1994 classic, Pulp Fiction. REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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Style Notes
by Missy Black
These Boots are Made for Walkin’ Suit up with fall’s newest styles and cool weather classics.
Get a leg up in these gorgeous fashion boots that can be slouched for a more bare-leg, casual look. This perforated leather boot hits just below the knee and is specially washed for a worn, vintage look with lace up detailing in the back. $295, jb and me in Holland and Grand Rapids.
Boots available at For the Love of Shoes in Saugatuck
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f you like the worn-and-weathered look, check the Bed Stu brand’s Glaye riding boot from its cobbler series. Tall on style, it’s perfect paired with leggings or skinny jeans and can toughen up a frilly dress. Handmade in Mexico, and distressed to perfection, these boots feature a Goodyear welt sole, “Which means it can be re-soled and enjoyed for many years to come,” said Kerri Shannon, Store Manager with For the Love of Shoes. Shannon’s favorite design feature is the signature red sole. “To me, they just add that little bit of something extra that’s unexpected, especially in this type of look.” $295, available in store at For the Love of Shoes in Saugatuck or online at fortheloveofshoesllc.com
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The Morgan style from Massini is an insanely versatile lace-up wedge bootie in a neutral hue that’s ready to rock denim, leggings and tights with slouchy socks. $40. Available at Meijer stores.
Think ahead to cold, snowy days and think practical with the breathable comfort and reliable protection of the Classic Winter Blooms Tall from Bogs®. $120, Foot Outfitters in Grand Rapids
A little bit biker chic, a little bit refined rocker, these slim booties are constructed of super-soft leather and feature exposed side zippers and a stacked heel. It’s a crime to not wear these with some ripped and ragged boyfriend jeans. $160. Evereve in Grand Rapids.
6740 CASCADE ROAD 6 1 6 . 9 4 2 . 9 8 8 6 www.cascade-optical.com
HyperOptik 1134 Wealthy Street 6 1 6 . 3 0 1 . 1 9 1 1 www.hyper-optik.com PHOTO: ROB CONENS FRAME: L.A. EYEWORKS JUMPSEAT MODEL: HANNAH VAN DYKE
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/// maker faire
Make It Happen
Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire Turns Two | by Steven Depolo
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omputer technology and the Internet gives creative minds the confidence and knowledge to affordably build, break, smash, tinker and tailor the world around us. We’re able to create something new, then post the tutorial to inspire others. Make it and they will come – and the Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire is the perfect meeting spot for go-getting, DIY originators. Inspired by Make Magazine, which hosts massive Maker Faires in California and New York among other global locations, the two-day Grand Rapids event continues the theme of bringing together those engaged in the “maker culture.” The range of crafty attendees is vast: tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers to hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists and students to celebrate invention, creativity and resourcefulness. You won’t sit through a fussy drawing/ art class – you’ll make your own crayons and
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paper and then 3D print a robot that refuses to draw inside the lines. The Maker Faire combines the traditional science fair ethos with the excitement of innovation and respect for engineering to create something entirely new. The eclectic, family-friendly celebration features rockets and robots, DIY science and technology, urban farming and sustainability, alternative energy, bicycles, unique hand-made crafts, local food and educational installations. “All of the makers come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned,” said Kate Moore, vice president of marketing and PR at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The Maker Faire is once again based at the Public Museum, but it’s grown. This year will see the addition of the museum’s high-tech neighbors at Kennedy Hall of Engineering and Keller Engineering Labs on Grand Valley’s Grand Rapids Campus, transforming Front Avenue into “Maker Mile” for the event. “This collaboration now allows us to expand the square footage of the faire, allowing for more makers to demonstrate and for more exciting things for our guests to see
and do when they visit this September,” said Dale Robertson, president and CEO for the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Grand Valley is a natural partner for the Maker Faire. “The engineering programs at GVSU integrate a great deal of hands on laboratory experience, product and process design, as well as the building of these new designs,” said Dean Paul D. Plotkowski of the university’s Padnos College of Engineering & Computing. “Involvement with the maker movement and the Maker Faire are a natural fit for us.” The Geek Group, a Grand Rapidsbased non-profit organization dedicated to scientific and technological research and education, will have a major presence at the Maker Faire. “We are happy to participate in the event once more,” said Geek Group ED Lis Bokt. “It is a great event that celebrates the innovation and creativity that is occurring in West Michigan.” Several Geek Group members will exhibit their products, including Fathom, an underwater drone and the Patternspace online 3D design marketplace. The group’s Wisemaker Creative Reuse Art Studio will also host a Sustainability
Parade using repurposed materials. The studio hosts high-voltage demonstrations throughout the day on Saturday. Other major participants include heavy hitters like GRMakers, Grand Rapids Community College and IC3D Printing, which is providing free spools of filaments to the first 15 makers using 3D printers for demonstrations. Look for the “Pony Ride,” a fully-active mechanical horse by Theo Jansen, which was featured in ArtPrize. Kentwood’s first robotics team, Code Red Robotics, will be on hand – as will Hypnocube. Another participator is ReTech, a maker of fine art using discarded machinery. n
Grand Rapids Mini Maker Faire
Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Sept. 5-6 Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday: Noon-5 p.m. One-day Pass: adults $8, children $3, seniors $7 Two-Day Pass: adults $14, children $5, seniors $12 makerfairegr.com, (616) 929-1700
Introducing Brann’s Very Own Craft Beer
Aptly named after our Founder John Maxmillian Brann and his wife Liz, born March 17. John, always a dapper dresser, donned wing tip shoes for over 50 years. Our American Amber Ale features locally harvested Michigan wildflower honey from Schoolhouse Honey Farms in Scotts, MI and Willamette and Nugget hops. It’s malty, sweet and well-rounded for a full yet mild flavor. 5.0% ABV.
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Is IT the Right Career Choice? What area of IT has the most opportunity? What area of IT is right for me? How much does each job earn? Which certifications should I pursue? How do I learn the fundamentals?
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Scene | Sounds | Sights Diing | Schedule
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indie film
by Josh Spanninga
Grand Rapids Feminist Film Festival Returns to Wealthy Theatre
W
hen Lydia VanHoven and her colleagues at the Bandit Zine set out to create Grand Rapids’ first-ever feminist film festival last year they weren’t exactly sure what kind of response they would get. As it turns out, roughly 400 people showed up for the event, far exceeding expectations. “We were initially going to just do Grand Rapids Feminist Film Festival as a one-time event,” VanHoven
said. “But since the response was so positive we wanted to make it an annual thing,” VanHoven and her colleagues quickly set out not only to bring the festival back for a second year but to improve on its previous iteration. “This year’s film fest is an evolution of last year,” VanHoven said. “Because of the incredibly positive response we were able to get more sponsorship funding to make a full day of films as opposed to just four hours.” The festival will return to the Wealthy Theatre on Sept. 13 for a day filled with free films, panels, workshops and local feminist groups and vendors. From noon until 8 p.m. films made by and for feminists will screen in the main theatre. The films are less than 20 minutes and focus on topics such as feminism, sexuality, gender and social justice. While last year the festival screened 30 films from a pool of 150 submissions, this year the festival will be curated from over 1,000 submissions from all over the world. “It means a lot of people have heard about our little film fest,” VanHoven said. “And a lot of people want to see marginalized people on screen.” While these films are being shown, workshops and panels will take place in the smaller Koning Theatre, featuring such diverse topics as how to talk about sex in
cinema, forming feminist spaces in geek culture, navigating male-dominated careers and more. “We are super excited about the panels because we really feel they will enrich the film-viewing experience, giving viewers a look behind the scenes of what it takes to make a feminist film and what marginalized groups need to fight against when being featured by the media,” she said. VanHoven is enthusiastic about GRFFF’s growth and evolution as a unique feminist-centered event and hopes to continue bringing such events to Grand Rapids. She’s also encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response of the surrounding community. “It solidifies the fact that people in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas have a passion for film and a want for more feminist events,” she said. n
Grand Rapids Feminist Film Festival
Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids Sept. 13, Noon to 8 p.m. grfff.org
The UICA Kicks off Visiting Film Artists Series with Paul Schrader
Schedule | Dining | Sights Sounds | Scene
T
he West Michigan Film and Video Alliance teamed up with the UICA for its new project, the Visiting Film Artists Series. The series focuses on bringing film-industry professionals to Grand Rapids to host workshops and presentations about the art of film. From directors and writers to actors and costume designers, the idea is to have working experts in the biz. “We feel that bringing in prominent film artists from all over the world to present their work and to interact with local film students, film professionals and film aficionados is an important way the UICA can build the creative community here,” said Kristen Taylor, development officer for the UICA. The first visiting film artist will be none other than Paul Schrader, a writer
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and director who has worked with the likes of Martin Scorsese and Nicolas Cage and has directed numerous films including American Gigolo, Hardcore and Affliction. “His films are contemporary classics and he’s one of the best in the business,” Taylor said. “But not only that, he’s from Grand Rapids.” Schrader will be revisiting his hometown for two days of events. First, on Thursday, Sept. 3, he will present his film Affliction followed by an audience Q&A session as well as a reception in the theatre lobby featuring a cash bar. Tickets to the film are $10 for UICA members, $15 for the public. Then, on Sept. 4, Schrader hosts a filmmaking workshop from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch until 1 p.m.
“Over the years at various universities, including Columbia and UCLA, I have taught a screenwriting course,” Schrader said. “I will do a sort of shortened, three-hour version of that course.” In this workshop Schrader said he plans to cover a variety of topics and draw from his experience not only as a director and screenwriter, but as a producer, financer and critic. Tickets for the workshop are $85, lunch is included. n
Visiting Film Artist Series: Paul Schrader UICA, 2 Fulton West, Grand Rapids Sept. 3, 7 p.m. Sept 4, 1 p.m. uica.org
Paul Schrader
At The B.O.B. Grand Rapids, MI 616.356.2000 www.thebob.com
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REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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ONG6 R T S M IKE AR 24-2
a film series
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Restaurant listings arranged by region
Grand Rapids Angel’s Thai Café 136 Monroe Center NW. 616-454-9801 THAI. This downtown restaurant makes your order fresh, fast, and hot. You can order your entree with your choice of meat and spice level, or create your own. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Thai Steak and Yum Talay. Bar Divani 15 Ionia Ave. SW. 616-774-WINE. ECLECTIC. Bar Divani offers a sophisticated environment, with the chefs use local ingredients in their creations. Taste the homegrown flavor in the Prosciutto Flatbread, the Linguine Alfredo or the Plum Salmon. By pairing with Dancing Goats Creamery, Otto’s Chicken, S&S Lamb, Ingraberg Farms, Mrs. Dog’s and Madcap, Bar Divani serves extraordinary tastes. But, what would a night out be without a few drinks? The bar serves more than 300 types of liquor, 300 wines and 50 beers to compliment each handcrafted meal. » SERVING: Dinner after 4 p.m. OPEN ON: Everyday but Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Local Cuisine. Big O Café 80 Ottawa NW. 616-451-1887 ITALIAN. The downtown (and downstairs) restaurant has a reliable menu featuring pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that are Italian and Cuban influenced. A great spot for lunch or a quick glass of wine and plate of pasta before a downtown event. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dead Head Vegetarian Pizza, Cuban dinners on Friday nights.
Bistro Bella Vita 44 Grandville Ave. SW. 616-222-4600 ITALIAN. One of Grand Rapids’ best dining experiences, featuring Mediterraneaninspired country cuisine, a swanky yet comfortable downtown atmopshere and personable service. BBV’s culinary team creates authentic, housemade recipes made with locally grown produce, fresh seafood and rotisserie roasted meats. Specialty gluten-free menu, and can prepare custom dishes for lactose intolerant, vegetarian, and vegan diets. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mediterranean Country Cuisine and Martinis.
The B.O.B. 20 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 356-2000 ECLECTIC. If you’re not sure what kind of dining you want, you can just head into The B.O.B., where you can choose from one of its several venues. Go into Gilly’s, where you can dine on seafood or B.O.B.’s Brewery, the restaurant’s in-house brewery. You can dress down for some pizza at Bobarino’s or dress it up for a steak at Judson’s Steakhouse. For after dinner, take in a show at Dr. Grins or enjoy live music at H.O.M.E. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and numerous dining options. Bombay Cuisine 1420 Lake Dr. SE 616-456-7055 INDIAN. Offering savory and subtly spiced dishes from northern India, Bombay Cuisine is a hot spot for those who like to add a little flavor to their lives. With a lunch buffet served every weekday, this restaurant provides its eaters with an array of traditional Indian cuisine. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Naan, Butter Chicken. Brewery Vivant 925 Cherry St. SE. 616-719-1604 BREWPUB. Housed in a former funeral chapel, Brewery Vivant crafts Belgian-style ales with a focus on barrel aging. The brewpub also brings Belgian tradition when it comes to food, featuring French and Belgian-style meals to pair perfectly with the beer. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Burger Chapbook Café 2660 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids. 616-942-0595. CAFE. Take a break from browsing the shelves at Schuler Books with a homemade selection of soups, sandwiches and quiches. Soups are prepared in-house daily and served with fresh baked bread to accompany a small-but-elegant sandwich menu. Try a quiche or traditional Italian Panini grilled on fresh ciabatta bread, or for a quick bite, grab a bagel or scone from the dessert case. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Homemade soups and sandwiches
CitySen Lounge 83 Monroe Center St. NW. 616-608-1720 AMERICAN. CitySen Lounge, located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, is a bar with a big-city feel, offering exciting options for lunch, dinner and breakfast on the weekends. The focus is on fresh ingredients and a full bar with local brews, wine and creative cocktails. » SERVING: Weekend Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Daily happy hour The Corner Bar 31 N. Main St., Rockford 616-866-9866 AMERICAN. The downtown Rockford tavern serves a solid menu of burgers, burritos, salads and sandwiches, but it is best known for hot dogs — serving almost 1,000 per day. Its hot-dog-eating challenge has been conquered by more than a few, but it raises the question: Why would you want to consume Corner Bar dogs in a hurry rather than savor each bite? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Hot dogs. The Cottage Bar 18 Lagrave Ave. SE. 616-454-9088 AMERICAN. The Cottage Bar is the oldest operating restaurant and bar in downtown Grand Rapids. Come in for the Cottage Burger, smothered with green olives, bacon, lettuce, tomato, hickory mayonnaise and Swiss and American cheeses. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays GO THERE FOR: The Cottage Burger. Cygnus 27 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-776-6425 ECLECTIC. Enjoy the skyline atop the Glass Tower. Indulge in a variety of globally infused dishes at this AAA Four-Diamond restaurant. Casual attire; no jacket required. Private dining also available. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Seasonal Sunday Brunch. Erb Thai 950 Wealthy St. SE #1A. (616) 356-2573. Additional locations at 4160 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Suite B, and 820 Michigan St. NE. THAI. Food rooted in traditional Thai cuisine, but also made to accommodate health conscious and special diets. Not too strong, not too weak, like harmony and melody. Marketing representative Molly Rizor was a Thai virgin when she went and is now glad Erb Thai was her first experience. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Peanut Curry Noodles. Founders Brewing Company 235 Grandville SW. 616-776-1195 BREWPUB. A beer-lover’s paradise with a national reputation for flavorful, award-winning
beers. Likewise, the brewpub’s menu consists mainly of flavorful handcrafted deli sandwiches that can stand up and complement the beers (or vice versa). » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Award-winning beer, handcrafted sandwiches. Ganders 4747 28th St SE. 616-957-0100. AMERICAN. Ganders by Hilton Doubletree presents modern American menu options dedicated to locally grown ingredients representing the best farms, markets and food artisans of West Michigan. The restaurant also features a number of local craft beers on tap and by the bottle. The restaurant works directly with local breweries to create multi-course beer tasting menus featuring beer incorporated into every course. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh, locally grown ingredients and Michigan-made beer. Garden Court Lounge 187 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-774-2000 LOUNGE. An excellent choice for a quick drink with friends or when you desire relaxing with your favorite drink. The Garden Court Lounge offers a fine array of beer, wine, cocktails and liqueurs. » SERVING: Drinks OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails.
GP Sports 187 Monroe Ave. NW 616-776-6495 SPORTS BAR. Catch the big game on one of 30 televisions, including a big screen for optimal game viewing. This colorful and casual restaurant not only caters to sports fans, but also features top-notch burgers, pizzas and specialty drinks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Score Big Burgers. Graydon’s Crossing 1223 Plainfield NE. 616-726-8260 TAVERN. An authentic take on the English Pub, with a huge selection of beers on tap and a menu that includes classic English dishes like Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew, as well as Indian specialties like Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala. A great casual atmosphere for drinking and dining. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer and authentic pub food. G.R.P.D. (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery) 340 State St. SE. 616-454-9204 ITALIAN. The current location opened in 2004 as the first established pizzeria in Heritage Hill A common meeting spot for local folks, business professionals and college students, a place where one could gather for a quick meal or a reflective lunch. It offers both hand-tossed pizza and Chicago-style stuffed pizza, as well as pasta, sandwiches,
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
Scene | Sounds | Sights Dining Schedule
The Bistro 11 Monroe Avenue NW (at Courtyard Marriott). 616-2426000 AMERICAN. Serving American food bistro-style, whether it’s grab-and-go or guests dining in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Bistro offers fresh seasonal options, serves Starbucks beverages and has a full-service bar. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Sandwiches.
Blue Water Grill 5180 Northland Dr. 616-363-5900 SEAFOOD. One of Grand Rapids’ most inspired restaurants in terms of overall ambiance, with Frank Lloyd Wright-style architecture, a massive fireplace, and some of the best water views in West Michigan. The food is similarly inspired, drawing from Italian, Mediterranean and classic American influences. All the traditional favorites are accounted for with a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, seafood, steaks, chops, salads, and sandwiches. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Grass Fed Beef.
REVUE’s dining listings are compiled by staff and minions. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of restaurants in the region. For an expanded list, be on the lookout for new and improved dining changes on our website, revuewm.com. The listings are not intended to be reviews of West Michigan restaurants, although we will inject some opinions into the listings based on staff experiences and personal preferences. To submit or to correct information in a dining listing, e-mail editor@ revuewm.com.
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salads, and wings. Online ordering, too. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza. Grand Rapids Brewing Company 1 Ionia Ave SW. 616-458-7000 BREWPUB. Good for the environment and your palate, GRBC is Michigan’s first certified organic brewery and features a menu stocked with locally grown ingredients. With a diverse selection of beers on tap inspired by historical Grand Rapids figures and a hearty array of burgers, melts and hand-cranked sausages, this place represents the best of the brewery’s 120-year legacy. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Organic beer and locally sourced food. Grand Woods Lounge 77 Grandville Ave SW. 616-451-4300 AMERICAN. The restaurant’s interior exudes a warm, casual ambiance reminiscent of the great eateries of the Pacific Northwest; the outdoor porch features two outdoor bars and a fireplace. Menu stocked with affordable appetizers great for sharing, plus salads, sandwiches, and entrées. Lots of domestics and microbrews, plus an array of martinis including the “Woodstini,” a tasty mix of Stoli Orange Vodka, mandarin oranges and raspberries. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cocktails. The Holiday Bar 801 5th St. NW. (616) 456-9058 AMERICAN. Tucked smack dab in the “Heart of the Westside, The Holiday Bar boasts a classic 40-foot Horseshoe bar, along with cheap eats and drinks, both served until 2 a.m., with specials happening daily. The Holiday Bar has a full menu that features pub fare like chicken strips, pierogis, battered homestyle mushrooms and more. It’s a great place to watch the game, listen to music or just hang out with friends. » SERVING Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Cheap eats and drinks.
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Harmony Brewing Company 1551 Lake Dr. SE (616) 233-0063 BREWPUB. Harmony features 12 craft-brewed beers in addition to signature root beer for the kiddos. Named one of the top-five brewpub menus in West Michigan by yours truly, Harmony’s ultimate deal is a take-out combo that features one of its 10” gourmet wood-fired pizzas and a growler of beer for $20, as well as a $5 cheese and $6 pepperoni pizza deal every Tuesday. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza and brews. HopCat 25 Ionia SW. 616-451-4677 TAVERN. Rated the 3rd best beer bar on the planet by Beer Advcoate, HopCat’s spin on its food is thus: “It’s the food your Mom would feed you, if your Mom loved beer.” That’s specifically true for HopCat’s beerbar cheese, cheese ale soup and porter braised beef, but mom would also love the Hippie wrap (it’s vegetarian), the crack fries (not real crack), and Killer Mac and Cheese. Because what mom doesn’t like mac and cheese? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Widest variety of beers, crack fries.
Lumber Baron Bar 187 Monroe Ave. NW. (616) 774-2000 LOUNGE. Settle into the warmth and charm of this historic bar — complete with a fireplace, leather club chairs and a large selection of premium drinks and appetizers. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays and Mondays GO THERE FOR: Scotch or Brandy after a Symphony concert.
Marie Catrib’s 1001 Lake Dr. 616-454-4020 ECLECTIC. The East Hills eatery makes everything from scratch with local ingredients, and
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there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Get there early for lunch, as there is almost always a wait. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Salads, soups and sandwiches. Mixology 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 LOUNGE. Casual, upscale service and atmosphere allows guests to relax and enjoy the city views. This type of service allows guests to complete business tasks while still enjoying the accessibility to great food and libations. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails. O’Toole’s 448 Bridge St. 616-742-6095 PUB. This West side pub offers delicious and outrageously topped burgers, as well as an extensive beer selection, and arguably, the best happy hour specials in town. If food is not your passion, this is a prime place to kick off your Sunday Funday with its $3 Absolut Bloody Mary bar. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Gourmet burgers, Absolut Bloody Mary bar. Olive’s Restaurant 2162 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-8611 ECLECTIC. Gaslight Village mainstay for Easties looking to have a cocktail and casual dinner. The menu is surprisingly broad, with innovative starters (e.g., Napoli fritters, Paella cakes) and diverse entrées like Southern meatloaf, braised short ribs and mobu tofu. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: A broad selection. One Trick Pony 136 E. Fulton. 616-235-7669 AMERICAN. One Trick Pony unveiled a new menu in April with the tagline “Fresh, Local Fare with a Beat.” The restaurant is a part of FarmLink and supports local growers and remains focused on sustainability. Connected to the Cottage Bar, the menu spans pizza, salads, homemade soups, smoked prime rib and more. Pair the food with live music, which OTP features weekly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Eclectic pizzas. Pearl Street Grill 310 Pearl St NW. 616-235-1342 AMERICAN. Dine in a relaxing environment where kids eat free and the chef uses local vendors and suppliers. Conveniently located in downtown Grand Rapids, Pearl Street Grill offers nightly happy hour specials that include signature cocktails and Michigan beer, as well as a $10 burger and beer special, $5 pizzas and more. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Late night specials. The Pita House 1450 Wealthy SE, 3730 28th Street, 4533 Ivanrest SW (Grandville). 616-454-1171 MEDITERRANEAN. Gyros so big you can club someone with them, the smoothest hummus in town and other Mediterranean fare, including kibbe, kafta and falafel. Additional locations on 28th Street and Kalamazoo SE. Sandwiches are made to order with fresh vegetables and ingredients. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh pita wraps. Reds on the River 8 E Bridge St #100, Rockford. 616-863-8181 AMERICAN. Relaxed ambiance, great food and a view of the river equate to an enjoyable time out. With quality food and fresh ingredients you’re sure to find a meal that tickles your fancy. Staff is trained to help you should you encounter unfamiliar territory.
Best Bet: Beer Fest
I
f you’re a craft beer lover and have been looking for a reason to make the road trip to Lansing, here’s the perfect excuse. Held at Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts, Beerfest at the Ballpark draws a big crowd — the spring event pulled in over 3,000 beer drinkers. The fall festival happens Saturday, Sept. 19 and will be held on Jackson Field. The growing event is co-hosted by the Lansing Lugnuts and I’m a Beer Hound, a Lansing-based beer-news website, app and craft beer event promoter. Attendees can sample from a selection of more than 200 beers and ciders from over 50 Michigan Breweries — all while taking in the atmosphere of the ballpark. Aside from Michigan brews, this fall event also includes 50 different German and Belgian beers. Beerfest at the Special VIP Tickets are $40 in advance and include Ballpark early entry to the festival at 4 p.m, a logoed tasting Cooley Law School Stadium, glass and 15 tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets Lansing will be available for purchase on the day of the Sept. 19 event. Of course, this is a 21+ event … it’s all about 5-10 p.m., 4 p.m. VIP entry the beer! Also, having a safe road trip is a must, so $35, $30 adv., $40 VIP bring a designated driver or look into Lansing-area beerfestattheballpark.net hotel accommodations at lansing.org.
» SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days GO THERE FOR: Red’s Steak Burger Reserve Wine & Food 201 Monroe Ave. NW (616) 855-9463 ECLECTIC. With 102 wines available by the glass and more than 300 by the bottle, paired with an ever-changing food menu influenced by West Michigan grown foods, Reserve promises diners a unique experience. Cocktails and craft beers add depth to the primarily wine-centered menu. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: Closed on Sunday GO THERE FOR: Wine and food pairings, charcuterie, happy hour.
River City Saloon 1152 Leonard St. NW. 616-451-0044 AMERICAN. Combine your tastes of live music and filling food at River City Saloon. The restaurant and bar has Mexican options, burgers, salads and more. On the weekends, indulge in any of these menu items or a couple drinks while listening to some local music by bands like Hey Marco, OTC, Litt Up, Drop 35 and more. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: Wednesday olive burger special Rockwell-Republic 45 S. Division Ave. 616-551-3563 ECLECTIC. Menu offerings range from sushi to burgers and everything in between. The cocktail menu runs the gamut from classics like the
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Dining News
LO C A L LY S O U R C E D I N G R E D I E N T S B O R N F R O M T H E E A RT H
• Wood fired pizzas • Handcrafted cocktails • Sustainable seafood • Pasture raised meats • Michigan craft beer 616.301.0998 • terragr.com Insta: TerraGRrestaurant • facebook.com/terragr 1429 Lake Drive Southeast • Grand Rapids
Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner: 7 days a week
Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
Note Worthy Dining.
Downtown Grand Rapids
10% OFF Inside Holiday Inn 310 Pearl St. NW (616) 235-1342 www.pearlstreetgrillgr.com
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with this coupon
Excludes alcohol. Cannot be used on holidays. Expires 12/31/15. Revue Magazine.
Jamie and Jeremy Paquin in the dining room of Mia & Grace
Recent Restaurant Openings, Closings & More
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t’s a sad day, West Michigan d i n e rs. Muskegon’s quirky and comforting Mia & Grace has closed. The downtown Skeetown bistro, which featured sensational items like the Duck PB&J sandwich and beef tongue schnitzel, shut its doors in late August so owners Jamie and Jeremy Paquin can take a day off occasionally and focus on new endeavors, including their wood-fired pizza restaurant, whistle punk. Oh, what we’d give for one more helping of the pimento cheese.
OPENINGS: The tiny house craze swept the country this year. No doubt, the next thing will be tiny bars like the renowned Smallest Bar in Key West, Fla., which measures 72 square feet, or Slim’s Elbow Room, a famous four-seater in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Now, Grand Rapids has its own tiny bar: Sidebar, a 400-squarefoot cocktail lounge located next to Big O’s on Ottawa… The team behind Fennville’s Salt of the Earth is venturing to downtown Kalamazoo with the new Principle Food & Drink. Look for high-quality, high-value comfort foods and handmade craft cocktails… Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s new culinary concepts, The Kitchen and The Kitchen Counter, are scheduled to debut at the Amway
Grand Plaza in the next month (or so)... Grand Haven’s Electric Hero opened a sandwich shop in the former Jude’s Barbershop location at 125 Ottawa Ave. in downtown GR… The owner of the popular Tacos el Cunado in Grand Rapids Downtown Market is transforming the former Ritz Koney space on Ionia SW into a full-service restaurant called Luna Taqueria y Cocina. EXPANSION: The owners of Bartertown Diner and Cult Pizza opened a new outdoor patio and have plans for a juice-smoothie-coffee-kombucha bar called The Townhall. Also in their plans: a liquor license... East Hills taqueria Donkey plans to install a 1950s-style food delivery truck outside the restaurant to serve as a spot for customers to order to-go food. CLOSINGS: Fresh Coast Kitchen closed its downtown GR sandwich shop on Ionia south of Fulton Street, though its 28th Street and Alpine locations remain open. n Compiled by REVUE staff. Know a new spot? Gone to dine somewhere to find the doors locked? Let us know: editor@revuewm.com.
S:9.25”
make it a girls night out with S:10”
juicy gossip over a
filet .
Grand Rapids | 616.776.6426 | Inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel | ruthschris.com
REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
200 Varick St. New York, NY 10014 : Phone 212-805-7500
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Manhattan to more modern variations and the beer and wine menus are nothing to sneeze at either. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Specialty cocktails, broad menu, lively atmosphere. Ruth’s Chris Steak House 187 Monroe Avenue NW. 616-776-6426 STEAKHOUSE. Serving only the best steaks, Ruth’s Chris hand-selects its steaks from the top 2% of the country’s beef, which is then broiled to perfection at 1800 degrees. Enjoy the freshest seafood, classic sides and homemade desserts that satisfy any craving. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sundays. GO THERE FOR: Steak. San Chez Bistro 38 West Fulton St. 616-774-8272 ECLECTIC. Using local products, San Chez is both a café and a Tapas Bistro, and is now both housed in the same room. This is a social setting where people can remember the one rule of kindergarten: sharing. Featuring small, delicious dishes, San Chez can satiate your desire for variety. It’s also a hidden secret for breakfast in downtown Grand Rapids, offering a great start to any day. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days. GO THERE FOR: Tapas, Breakfast, Sandwiches The Score 5301 Northland Dr. NE. 616-301-0600 SPORTS BAR. The perfect combination for beer and sports lovers. More than 70 TVs carry major sports packages and there are 128 beers on tap. During summer, enjoy live entertainment every day, outdoor dining (with real palm trees) and volleyball tournaments. The menu ranges from burgers to pizzas and wings tossed in one of The Score’s 16 sauces. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner .OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lots of beer options. Six.One.Six. 235 Louis St. NW. 616-242-1448 ECLECTIC. Marketinspired menus, sweeping views and progressive rhythms combine to create a memorable dining experience. The dishes tempt taste buds and is the perfect spot for foodies. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 Days GO THERE FOR: Variety and being seen.
Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
Speak EZ Lounge 600 Monroe Ave. NW. 616-458-3125 ECLECTIC. While this lounge may be modeled after the year 1933, its food is not. There’s a variety of food for all to enjoy whether you’re omnivore, vegan or gluten free. Come in for a bite of Rustic Sage Risotto that goes perfectly with one of the lounges signature drinks. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: The diverse menu Stella’s Lounge 53 Commerce Ave. 616-356-2700 TAVERN. The Chicago-style whiskey bar has more than 200 varieties of distilled spirits, old-school video games, a superexcellent jukebox stocked with rock and punk classics, and a menu filled with vegetarian and vegan bar food — and stuffed burgers. Did we mention you can sip cans of PBR and other classic beers out of a mason jar? » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Vegetarian and vegan bar food. Terra GR 1429 Lake Dr. 616-301-0998 AMERICAN. Terra boasts fresh, healthy ingredients in every dish. The restaurant doesn’t feature one menu, either. It offers a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, as well as menus for lunch, dinner, dessert, beverages, wine, happy hour and kids. The food is inspired by the seasons and
90 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
Beer and Booze News ■■ The list of microbreweries in West Michigan continues to grow as at least three new operations have opened in recent weeks. They include Trail Point Brewing at 6035 Lake Michigan Dr. in Allendale, Grand Armory Brewing at 17 South Second St. in Grand Haven, and Barn Brewers Brewery at 114 North Main St. in Lawton. Additionally, Grand Rapids-based Arktos Meadery celebrated the grand opening of its tasting room at 1251 Century Ave. SW. The company is located in Suite 200. ■■ Brewery Vivant is bringing back its WoodAged Beer Festival for the fifth year on Sept. 19, but the planners have added a twist. The WABF will now feature two tasting sessions from 1-4 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m. so that more people can sample the more than 20 rare beers from the French and Belgian inspired brewery. Tickets cost $35 and include 10 tokens and a collector’s tasting glass. ■■ Bell’s Brewery Inc. turns 30 this year. To celebrate, the company is throwing a huge Funvitational beer festival on Sept. 12. While the event is sold out, don’t fret: Bell’s also plans to release a special 30th Anniversary Ale, an 11 percent ABV imperial stout that will be available in bottles (six packs) and on tap this month. Additionally, with an ex-
panded kitchen and dining space, the Eccentric Cafè in Kalamazoo now offers full table service, as well as a completely revamped menu. And, as if that wasn’t enough from Bell’s, the brewery has now started offering its flagship Two Hearted Ale in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, a format it debuted with Oberon earlier this year. ■■ Just two months after it opened, Grand Rapids-based Long Road Distillers already announced plans to grow. The company at 537 Leonard St. NW received city approvals to double its production space, expand its kitchen to offer a larger menu and add a rooftop deck over the adjacent building. Adding the production space will help Long Road ramp up its output as it begins distributing its craft spirits in the next couple of months. ■■ The owners of Cellar Brewing in Sparta, a microbrewery, distillery and small winery, want to move the business from the edge of town to 133 East Division St. in the heart of the village’s downtown. With the new location, Cellar plans to offer a full kitchen with a menu based on “Irish and American comfort food,” said owner Chuck Brown. — Compiled by Revue from local reports. Have beer or booze news? Let us know at editor@revuewm.com.
Tasting Notes:
Octorock from Starcut Ciders Bellaire, Mich. / 6.3% ABV
T
he masterminds at Short’s Brewing Co. in Northern Michigan looked around one day and thought, “Huh, we grow a lot of fruit up here. Wonder what we could do to make an alcoholic beverage out of it?” Or something like that. What resulted was the creation of a new brand, Starcut Ciders, which features its own portfolio of ciders running the gamut in sweetness and flavors. All the rad labels and packaging are designed by renowned skateboard graphic artist Don Pendleton. Octorock, a mainstay cider, is a semisweet variety. An aggressive pour produces a slight amount of carbonation. The initial
aromas are of sweet, light fruits, particularly pears. At first taste, there’s a familiar cider-like sweetness — by no means a sugar bomb — that then gives way to a pleasant apple tartness and a finish that’s not too dry. Octorock seems to be a bit of a goldilocks cider: not too sweet, not too dry, but just right. It’s a great option for the non-beer drinkers or those looking for a change of pace. A solid effort from Starcut right out of the gate.
Score: 90/100
—Joe Boomgaard, Revue Beer Czar
Get Ready for wet hops
WELCOME BACK
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IPA DAY
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Saturday, October 17th
Enjoy more than ten IPAs on tap, including our wet hop series.
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225 E. 16th St. Traverse City Michigan
225 E. 16th St. Traverse City Michigan
rightbrainbrewery.com
4160 LAKE MICHIGAN DR NW SUITE B GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49534 616-724-4102
950 WEALTHY ST SE SUITE 1A GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506 616-356-2573
ErbThaiGR
rightbrainbrewery.com
great food
live music THURSDAY
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Erbthai.com
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september shows 9/3 & 9/5 TBD 9/10 Molly Bouwsma Schultz and Scott Schultz 9/12 Organissimo
NEW MENU!
9/17 The Honeytones
NOT YOUR AVERAGE BAR FOOD.
9/19 Cottage Bar Chili Cook-Off featuring The Concussions, Hannah Rose Graves and The Hank Mowery Blues Band beginning at noon.
T U E - W E D 1 1 AM- 1 0 PM T H U R - F R I 1 1 AM- 1 1 PM S A T 5 PM- 1 1 PM & S U N 1 1 AM- 4 PM
136 East Fulton, Grand rapids | 616.235.7669 | onetrick.BIZ REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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MUSIC EVERY
ErbThaiGR
820 MICHIGAN ST NE GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 616-454-0444
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/// Beer
by Joe Boomgaard, Revue Beer Czar
Pencil sketch for Old Fecker Brewery
Liquid Arts Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
Craft breweries connect beer with art (and music) on their product labels
F
or many consumers, their connection to a particular craft beer starts not with the liquid itself, but with the artwork on the can or bottle as it sits on the store shelf. As a first impression, the label serves an important function: It helps draw people to the product and gets them to pick it up and consider buying it. The label art and descriptions work as the first line of communication about the beer from the brewery. That’s an interaction the local craft brewers take very seriously as it could help ensure the success or failure of their product. “If it’s going on a shelf somewhere, if someone has never tried or seen Short’s before in their life, they should know right away what it’s about — that’s how we approach it,” said Jesse Den Herder, the art director at Bellaire-based Short’s Brewing Co. “We can’t design a label with someone who knows us in mind. It’s all
92 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
about that first experience with the brand and the packaging is on the forefront of that branding experience.” For its labels Short’s styling focuses on gritty and raw artwork often featuring one of the microbrewery’s employees, as is the case with Hopstache and Space Rock, which both include the likeness of founder Joe Short. The company stayed in the family, so to speak, in working frequently with Charlevoix-based artist Tanya Whitley, the aunt of one of the brewers. A school bus driver by day, Whitley has created the label artwork for about 150 different beers in the Short’s portfolio, Den Herder said. “Our core as a company is that we’re making new beers constantly so that keeps us on the edge of being creative,” he said. When Short’s launched its new brand lineup of Starcut Ciders, it provided the company with an opportunity to branch out from its typical artistic direction. Starcut managed to land renowned skateboard graphic artist Don Pendleton to design its labels and packaging. Pendleton’s portfolio includes numerous
skateboard graphics as well as work for Mountain Dew, Oakley, DC Shoes and Burton Snowboards. “With Don’s background in skateboarding, (some buyers) don’t care what the product is, they’ll want it because it’s him,” Den Herder said. “Cider is a gateway drug to craft beer, so we wanted to inject a bit of culture and design into that.” Pendleton also won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package for his work on Pearl Jam’s Lightning Bolt album. Coincidently, a recording package served as brewer Nathan Hukill’s first exposure to Keith Neltner, who came up with the brand illustrations for Chelsea-based Bitter Old Fecker Rustic Ales LLC. Hukill tailored the concept for his brewery to the artwork Neltner did for Hank Williams III and other musicians, never thinking he’d actually be able to connect with the artist, let alone get him to do branding for his small startup company. “I had it in my mind early on that these beers would be a manifestation of Keith’s work,” Hukill said. After Hukill “mustered the courage” to track down Neltner, the two started working together to develop the look and imag-
ery for Bitter Old Fecker, which is named after Hukill’s mother’s family. The concept hinged around Neltner’s illustrations of various badass farm animal characters based on the farm of Hukill’s grandfather, Cecil Fecker. Their first collaboration created Strutter, which depicts and tells the story of a nasty rooster for which the brewery’s imperial IPA was named. “The response to Keith’s work on the labels has been outstanding,” Hukill said “As a brewer I get to talk about art and not just beer and that’s a great experience for me. I get to share in the experience of someone’s art with the people who are interested in the product.” At Hukill’s insistence, Strutter needed to prominently feature Neltner’s three-color illustration on the label. “The interesting thing is that Strutter was the first beer and the first developed storyline and then we had to figure out how we do three more of these in the same spirit — the way it’s written, the storyline and the bottlecaps,” Neltner said. “It’s supposed to make you laugh.” That element of humor is also prominent on many beer labels from Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids. The brewery is no stranger to “tonguein-cheek puns,” said Kate Avery, the company’s director of sales and marketing. After all, “we do have a beer called Big Red Coq,” she said. Often times the brewers sit down with the marketing team and test the product to see if the experience sparks an idea in coming up with a name and branding for it, Avery said.
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references or puns, it too turns to musical allusions for inspiration. That was the case with Brewery Vivant’s Wizard Burial Ground, a 10.4-percent ABV quadruple ale that was aged in bourbon barrels for six or seven months. The brewers were big fans of jam band Umphrey’s McGee, which has a song by the same name.
Brewery Vivant worked with local creative firm Full Circle Marketing & Design to finalize the trippy art concept for the label. “It looks awesome and the graphics really sum up that beer,” Avery said. “Enveloped in the beer and the label is a story we’re able to tell. And also the image — it’s iconic.” n
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REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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Trinken ein Bier
“The biggest thing with the creativity for a small brewery like us is we’re small, agile and do a 20-barrel batch here and there,” she said. “We want to put it in a can to take with you on your adventures.” When the French and Belgian-inspired brewery isn’t naming its products after traditional
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Dining ingredients come straight from one of Michigan’s many farms. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh foods with ingredients from regional growers. Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill 760 Butterworth St. SW. 616-272-3910 AMERICANA. You might walk into Tip Top for the cheap happy hour specials or one of the many rockabilly acts. But get comfortable with one of the venue’s signature menu items. Get classic with a sandwich or burger, but we recommend immersing yourself fully in GR’s west side and ordering Tip Top’s Polish Plate. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Dinner, drinks and a show.
The Winchester 648 Wealthy St. SE. 616-451-4969 ECLECTIC. Upscale Wealthy Street bar and restaurant feels like it was plucked from Chicago’s Bucktown or Logan Square neighborhoods. A comfortable spot to drink or dine, with an always evolving menu featuring shared plates, salads and inventive sandwiches. The Cuban Reuben, originally created as something of a joke, remains a (very tasty) staple item. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: DIY Bloody Mary Bar Special, Yucca Fries. Wolfgang’s Restaurant 1530 Wealthy St. SE. 616-454-5776 BREAKFAST. The bustling Eastown breakfast spot is home to some of the heartiest break-
fast dishes and funniest menu descriptions. Courteous staff never fails to offer a cup of coffee to go after we’ve finished breakfast. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Breakfast all day.
of pub classics and new, American beer-inspired dishes. Happy hour includes half-off appetizers and $1 off drafts. » SERVING: Lunch, Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: 28 taps of craft beer.
Lakeshore
Bil-Mar Restaurant 1223 S. Harbor St., Holland. 616-842-5920 AMERICAN. A destination restaurant for more than 60 years. Dazzling sunsets and an all-American menu featuring fresh seafood and handcut steaks. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Lake perch, lobster strudel, prime rib.
8th Street Grille 20 W. 8th St., Holland. 616-392-5888 AMERICAN. This eclectic grille offers a mix of draft and bottled craft beers and a variety
SchulerBooks&Music 32 years as your local, independent bookstore!
September 2015 Events
15
6-8pm
EDIBLE TALES FROM THE FIELDS AND FORESTS WITH LISA ROSE & A GRAP FOOD SWAP!
*7-8PM: JOIN US FOR A TRULY DELICIOUS EVENT FEATURING AUTHOR LISA M. ROSE AS SHE DISCUSSES HER NEW BOOK, MIDWEST FORAGING. *6-7PM: PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST GR FOOD SWAP OF 2015. FOR DETAILS AND PRE-REGISTRATION (REQUIRED) VISIT: HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/GRFOODSWAP
17
7pm
TALK & SIGNING WITH NYT-BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHARLES BELFOURE
CHARLES BELFOURE’S 2013 DEBUT, THE PARIS ARCHITECT, WAS A NATIONAL BESTSELLER, AN INDIENEXT PICK AND A NATIONAL READING GROUP MONTH SELECTION. NOW CHARLES FOLLOWS HIS ACCLAIMED DEBUT WITH HIS NEW RELEASE, HOUSE OF THIEVES.
22
7pm
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT: MICHIGAN NOTABLE AUTHOR MARDI LINK PRESENTS THE DRUMMOND GIRLS
JOIN US IN A CELEBRATION OF FEMALE FRIENDSHIP AND MICHIGAN SUMMERS WITH POPULAR MICHIGAN AUTHOR MARDI LINK! LINK IS NOW TOURING HER NEW NONFICTION BOOK THE DRUMMOND GIRLS.
24
7pm
NOTABLE AUTHOR & WRITE MICHIGAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER ADAM SCHUITEMA PRESENTS HAYMAKER HAYMAKER, RELEASED IN APRIL, HAS EARNED ACCOLADES FOR ITS THOUGHTFUL PROSE AND PLOTTING. HAYMAKER IS A STORY ABOUT INTENTIONS AND THE PERSONAL FREEDOM TO DO GOOD OR HARM.
Visit www.SchulerBooks.com for a complete list of events. All events are subject to change.
2660 28th Street SE • (616) 942-2561 94 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
CityVu Bistro 61 E 7th Street, Holland. 616-796-2114 AMERICAN. A distinctive rooftop dining experience in downtown Holland with fresh gourmet flatbreads and an array of seasonal entrees. The contemporary-yet-casual atmosphere, full bar and unique menus make it the ideal spot for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days GO THERE FOR: flatbreads Everyday People Cafe 11 Center St., Douglas. 269-857-4240 AMERICAN. REVUE Publisher Brian Edwards calls Everyday People Café his favorite restaurant along the lakeshore. The atmosphere is casual and upbeat, the staff knows its stuff about wine and food, and the seasonal menu is filled with meticulously prepared, eclectic comfort food like Butternut Squash Risotto, Braised Lamb Shank and Ahi Tuna. A great wine list and tremendous desserts. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Gorgonzola Pork Chop, Greek Salad with Grandma Gigi’s Dressing (Edwards). Fricano’s Pizza Tavern 1400 Fulton Ave., Grand Haven. 616-842-8640 ITALIAN. Claims to be the first pizzeria in Michigan, but customers care less about its longevity than the amazingly crispy thin crust and simple ingredients atop its much-lauded pies. Four other locations around West MI, including Comstock Park, Muskegon, Holland and Kalamazoo. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Pizza. New Holland Brewing Company 66 E. 8th St., Holland. 616-355-6422 BREWPUB. One of West MI’s premier microbreweries serves up better than average pub grub, including the Tarheel barbecue Pulled Pork, Grilled Portobello and The Treehugger, which is billed as “a vegetarian sandwich utopia.” » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Mad Hatter IPA, Dragon’s Milk. Phil’s Bar & Grille 215 Butler St., Saugatuck. 269-857-1555 AMERICAN. This cozy (some would say “small”) bar and grille in downtown Saugatuck is one of those unassuming spots you might easily overlook, though locals in Saugatuck will tell you about their love affair with Phil’s. Eclectic menu is all over the place, but in a good way, and the staff is super-friendly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Mushroom Fries. Piper Restaurant 2225 South Shore Drive, Holland. 616-335-5866 AMERICAN. Upscale-but-casual spot located on Lake Macatawa, offering great views from virtually every table. Menu includes tastefully prepared items like Almond Crusted Walleye and Grilled Pork Loin, as well as wood-fired pizzas. Reservations are welcomed. » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Almond Crusted Walleye.
attention students Would you like pizza that is: a) Delicious b) Fast c) Healthy d) Cheap e) All of the Above If you answered E, bring your student ID to Cult Pizza this month for a 20% discount on all regularly priced dine-in or carr yout slices, pies, breadsticks and drinks. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
D E L I V E R Y H O U R S / R E S TA U R A N T H O U R S Wednesday to Friday: 12 noon to 10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
cultpizzagr.com
616.490.4911
10 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI Visit our FB page for daily specials
f
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Dining
Salt of the Earth 114 East Main St., Fennville. 269-561-7258 AMERICAN. Salt of the Earth is a farm-to-table-inspired restaurant, bar, and bakery located in the heart of SW Michigan farm country in Fennville. Focuses on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients whenever possible. Also serves up live music on weekends. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: House made rustic cuisine. Saugatuck Brewing Company 2948 Blue Star Highway. 269-857-7222 BREWPUB. Enjoy a traditional Irish-style pub that features quality beer, wine, food and service. Try one of 12 unique brews that are served in the pub and bottled and distributed throughout the Midwest. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer in a family friendly pub environment.
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Arcadia Brewing Co. 103 Michigan Ave., Battle Creek. 269-963-9520 BREWPUB. You’ll find some of the usual suspects on the Battle Creek brewpub’s menu, including wood-fired pizzas and some of the best barbecue in the region. But you’ll also find some delightful surprises — Osso Bucco in a brewpub?! — on the menu, courtesy of award-winning Chef Sean Kelly. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Handcrafted ales and barbecue.
SPECIALS & EVENTS SUNDAYS Stay Jooky Sunday Hosted by DJ Dean Martian MONDAYS $1 Chili Dogs and $1 Beers TUESDAYS Comedy Tuesday WEDNESDAYS Open Mic Night Hosted by Sam Kenny 9/2 9/3 9/4 9/9 9/11
Open Hours
Schedule Dining Sights | Sounds | Scene
MON-SAT 3PM-2AM KITCHEN 4:30PM-11PM SUN OPEN AT 7PM
Happy Hour
MON-FRI 3-7PM $2 DOMESTICS, $2 WELLS,$3 CALLS, $1.50 RETROS
760 BUTTERWORTH SW GRAND RAPIDS, MI 616.272.3910
96 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
9/12 9/13 9/14 9/15 9/17 9/18 9/19 9/20 9/21 9/23 9/24 9/25 9/26 9/30 10/1
Smoking Flowers, Andrew Martin, Emma Loo and Sam Daniel Romano and The Trilliums wsg Dylan Earl Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish Album Release Party with Hannah Rose Coco Montoya wsg Greg Nagy The Twistin’ Tarantulas wsg Murder Party and Desoto British Racing Green wsg The Water Clocks Candy Laprie, Samuel Reeed, Matthew “Sligh” West and More! Desmond Jones FREE SHOW Davina and the Vagabonds Jennifer Knapp wsg Rebekah Rhys Funniest Loser in Grand Rapids Finals! Kim Lenz, The Ruiners and The Truckstop Cobras Low Cut Connie Desmond Jones FREE SHOW Country Hammer wsg The Law FREE SHOW Dirty Bourbon River Show Ryan Dillaha and the Miracle Men wsg The Blueflowers Tip Top Presents: Wanda Jackson wsg Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys at The Wealthy Theatre Mark Olson wsg Miller/Merchant Marshall Crenshaw
50%
OFF
ANY BURGER OR SANDWICH at regular price with purchase of a beverage.
Monday through Saturday 4pm–7pm | Dine in Only. Valid until 10/1/2015
Bell’s Eccentric Cafe 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave. 269-382-2332 BREWPUB. The Eccentric Café features eclectic fare sourced from sustainable local ingredients, inspired by and designed to complement Bell’s award-winning beers. On tap, you’ll find 30-40 different beers, many exclusive to the Café and brewed right next door at the original brewery. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Beer Bravo! 5402 Portage Rd., Kalamazoo 269-344-7700 ITALIAN. Muchlauded restaurant has earned its stripes over 23 years as one of the region’s best dining experiences, including a 3-star rating in the 2010 Forbes Travel Guide. The Tuscan-inspired cuisine is spectacular, the atmosphere comfortable and intimate, and the service first-rate. Also brews its own beer in small batches for pairings with menu offerings. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. (Closed Sat. lunch) GO THERE FOR: A great dining experience. Central City Taphouse 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall. (269) 492-0100 TAPHOUSE. If Central City doesn’t have the kind of beer you want on tap, you’ll probably find it with the 75+ bottles. OH, you say you’re not a beer drinker? Well, Central City offers 20 wine ‘taps’ and a full bar. If you’re not the drinking type, that’s cool too. There are a number of food options to pick from, including a raw menu, a pizza menu and the all-day menu, which features burgers, soups and entrees. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Diverse beverage selection. Fieldstone Grille 3970 W. Centre St., Portage. 269-321-8480 AMERICAN. Lodge-retreat atmosphere overlooking the Moors Golf Club natural wetlands. The “field-to-plate” menu features burgers, pizzas, steaks and some eclectic items like quail. Try the FSG chips, a combination of potato, beet and sweet
potato chips. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Blue Burger, Almond Crusted Walleye, FSG Chips. Food Dance 401 E. Michigan Ave. 269-382-1888 AMERICAN. Food Dance is committed to building a thriving and sustainable local food system, supporting artisans who practice craft food processes. It’s about the connection with people and places the food comes from. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, private dining space, catering and delivery, while an on-site market offers humanely raised meats, artisan cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. » SERVING: Breakfast Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Fresh Local Foods. Old Burdicks Bar & Grill 100 W. Michigan Ave. (269) 226-3192 AMERICAN. Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill features tasty sandwiches, burgers, salads and entrees, as well as a great selection of cocktails, wines and beers. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner. OPEN: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The Old Burdick Burger. Old Dog Tavern 402 East Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo. 269-381-5677 AMERICAN. The food at Old Dog Tavern is just about as eclectic as the entertainment offered. The menu has so much on it that it might even bring some harmony between picky and adventurous eaters. » SERVING: Brunch Lunch Dinner. OPEN ON: Open 7 days. GO THERE FOR: The eclectic menu options. Olde Peninsula 200 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo 269-343-2739 BREWPUB. Downtown brewpub serves up the expected (e.g., steaks, ribs), the authentic (e.g., London Broil) and some pleasant surprises (e.g., extensive vegetarian offerings, Italian food). Offers a range of beers brewed on the premises and served on tap, plus a full bar. Check out the seasonal porters on tap right now, including the Vanilla Porter (5.5% ABV) and Stout Chocula (5.25% ABV). » SERVING: Dinner OPEN ON: 7 days. GO THERE FOR: Beer-B-Que Ribs, London Broil. Martell’s 3501 Greenleaf Blvd., Kalamazoo. 269-375-2105 AMERICAN. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood that overlooks Willow Lake, Martell’s offers casual ambiance and an expansive menu with steaks, prime rib and other comfort food entrées like Italian style meatloaf and pork shank. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Open 7 days (Sundays-dinner only) GO THERE FOR: Quiet casual ambiance. Union Cabaret & Grille 125 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. 269-384-6756 AMERICAN. A partnership with Western Michigan University, Union features eclectic food and cocktails, plus live jazz music performed by WMU faculty and students. » SERVING: Lunch Dinner OPEN ON: Closed Sunday. GO THERE FOR: Portabella Fries, Bloody Maries with infused vodkas. n
To submit or to correct information in a dining listing, e-mail editor@ revuewm.com.
A new look, a new menu, a new restaurant
SE� YOU NEXT
For GranD rapiDS
2016
950 WEALTHY ST SE SUITE 1B GRAND RAPIDS MI 49506 PHONE: 616.454.1156
BobaBliss
Located inside the DoubleTree Hotel 616.957.1111 • 4747 28th Street SE REVUEWM.COM | September 2015 |
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SPRING
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Last Call by Abigail Emerson / photo by Katy Batdorff
The Limonana
San Chez Bistro, Downtown Grand Rapids
The Limonana is like a tapa in a martini glass. The new seasonal cocktail from San Chez Bistro, which pioneered the small-plate dining trend in West Michigan 23 years ago, couples the bright flavors of lemongrass, honeydew melon and orange liqueur with savory Serrano ham to create an invigorating cocktail with a saltysweet finish. The drink gets its martini-style kick from lemongrass-infused gin that’s made in house, with each batch requiring a two-day infusion process. The dry-cured Spanish ham, sliced thin and paired with a grape, offers a small bite that’s an earthy offset to the ripe honeydew juice and the bitter-and-sweet Cointreau, an orange liqueur. In Spain, the serving of tapas is intended to encourage conversation because people aren’t so intent on eating their meal. Likewise, the Limonana is sure to be a conversation-starter that can be paired with a variety of tapas or sipped on its own.
Ingredients:
1¼ oz. lemongrass-infused gin 1¼ oz. fresh honeydew melon juice ¾ oz. Cointreau
98 | REVUEWM.COM | September 2015
How to make it:
1. Infusing gin is trickier than other spirits because it’s already a mix of herbs and botanicals that’s been distilled with a neutral grain alcohol. Plus, the range of botanicals varies from gin to gin, so mixologists recommend experimentation. You’ll probably need 2–3 stalks of lemongrass for a 750-ml bottle of gin. Peel the dry outer leaves, chop off the ends, cut them into 1" strips and add them to the infusion jar. Some infusers like to add lemon peel to the mix. Set it aside for 48 hours to two weeks, then pour it through a strainer back into the bottle. 2. Honeydew is a fickle fruit. When it’s ripe, it’s wonderful and sweet like honey (ergo the name). When it’s not, honeydew is flat and flavorless, which is one reason that cantaloupe outsells honeydew by a 5-to-1 ratio. A ripe melon is heavy, firm and should smell fresh, clean and only faintly sweet. Cut the melon in half and remove the seeds and rinds. Blend or juice the fruit. Chill. 3. Once the infusion and honeydew juice are done, add all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously to chill. Strain the mixture into a martini glass. Garnish with a rolled piece of Serrano ham on a skewer that’s anchored with a grape. Sip and conversate.
For a video on San Chez Bistro’s Limonana, visit revuewm.com/food-drink.
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