JAN – MAY 2009 Newsletter
sun valley center for the arts po box 656, sun valley, id 83353
non-profit org. u.s. postage paid boise id permit no. 679
Serving the Valley in Both Ketchum & hailey
Printed on paper containing 30% post-consumer and 50% total recycled fiber.
www.sunvalleycenter.org • 208.726.9491 m–f, 9–5 • Sats in Feb & Mar 11–5 • 191 fifth street east, Ketchum W–F, NOON–5 • 314 S. Second Ave, Hailey sign up online For our e-newsletter • don’t miss another hot date!
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INTERIM Director’s letter
Caroline Woodham
As I write this we are all holding our breath hoping that the snow
John Gaeddert
Cover images:
arrives soon. The nation too seems to be holding its breath to see how long and how deep the recession is. While we also monitor our financial health and carefully consider the months ahead, we look forward with great anticipation to the programs that we have planned for the winter and spring. While everyone’s belts may need some tightening, it is The Center’s intention to continue to provide the Valley with interesting, provocative arts programming that entertains as well as educates. As I look back on my last few months at the helm of the organization, I am amazed at all that is accomplished here and the number of lives The Center touches on a daily basis. In the last week alone, we presented Perla Batalla to a nearly sold out audience at the Big Wood Church. Perla also spent time in the schools, reaching over 700 students at Woodside Elementary, the WRHS and the WRMS. Her charm and ease won the trust of the students and, as she spoke of her passion for music and her Mexican identity, she won their hearts. She even got the high school students singing! Two days later, we continued our very popular lecture series with Michael Chabon who addressed 230. For the past month, nearly every day the gallery has been filled with students (481 kids in 3 weeks!) from valley schools touring the Superheroes exhibition. Listening to them laugh, talk and eagerly answer questions, I consider all that The Center does that is under the radar of the general public. I am here to assure you that The Center is a vibrant place with a staff that is committed to turning others on to art and ideas. As we look to the winter and spring, we anticipate more programs in area schools where our children will have the opportunity to meet and learn from professional artists and musicians. We will continue to offer free after school classes for area students, free family days and a number of free lectures and films. While high profile events like Gloria Steinem’s lecture and the Shanghai Quartet’s performance will be enjoyed by lots of you, know that there is much more going on behind the scenes. I invite you to come in and wander in the gallery. If you are lucky, you will be here to witness school kids or see one of the exhibiting artists at work. There is much work ahead for our community and our nation, but if we remember to celebrate our blessings we may be able to breathe a little easier. I wish you happy skiing and much creativity for the year ahead. John Gaeddert, Interim Executive Director
King Corn: Ian Cheney (left) and Curt Ellis taste their harvest in Greene, Iowa. Photo by Sam Cullman Emma and Scott Desserault creating art at family day. Photo by Dev Khalsa
Lectures Lecture Series At Home with Gloria Steinem as part of the multidisciplinary project Domestic Life
Gloria Steinem
Preferred seating available to members at the Benefactor and above levels.
Wed, Jan 14, 7pm Church of the Big Wood, Ketchum $20 members / $25 non-members A devoted activist and writer, Gloria Steinem is undeniably one of the most important voices of the modern feminist movement. She is the founder and original publisher of Ms. magazine and the influential co-convener of the National Women’s Political Caucus. Lecture sponsors: Jeri Waxenberg and Jack & Gail Thornton
Panel Discussion on Media and the Election Mon, Feb. 9, 7pm NexStage Theatre, Ketchum $15 members/ $20 non-members The Center will present a discussion among journalists from different national media outlets, including The Nation’s Net Movement Correspondent, Ari Melber, on how the media covered the 2008 election and in what ways that coverage affected people’s decisions. Moderated by former CBS and Fox News president Van Gordon Sauter.
Whirling Dervishes
Coleman Barks Reads the Poetry of Rumi Mon, Feb 23, 6:30–8:30pm Church of the Big Wood, Ketchum $10 ages 16 and under / $20 adults Barks is the most highly recognized translator of Rumi's poetry. His reading will be accompanied by music from world-famous cellist David Darling and sacred dance by Hafizullah Chisti, a Whirling Dervish from the Sufi order established by Rumi's followers in the 13th century. This performance is a collaboration between A Winter Feast for the Soul and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.
The Center’s Lecture Series Continues! Thanks to Lecture Series sponsors Teresa Heinz, and Richard and Judith Smooke.
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Brubeck Brothers
Shanghai Quartet
Performing Arts Brubeck Brothers Quartet
Shanghai Quartet
Fri, Jan 9, 7:30pm Sun Valley Opera House $25 / $30 non-members
Sat, Feb 7, 7:30pm Church of the Big Wood, Ketchum $25 / $30 non-members
If there’s such a thing as “born musicians,” then the accomplished sons of famed jazz pianist Dave Brubeck definitely qualify. The Brubeck brothers have been playing together all their lives, and yet they produce innovative jazz that sounds brand new. The talented brothers—Dan on drums, Chris on trombone and bass—are joined by Mike DeMicco on guitar and Chuck Lamb on piano. Together they have brought audiences to their feet all over the world with their dynamic music.
“The whole performance was superb,” said the New York Times. Originally formed in Shanghai, this versatile ensemble is known for its passionate musicality, virtuosic technique and multicultural innovations. To celebrate its 25th anniversary (2008–2009), the Quartet will premiere commissions from composers Chen Yi, Krzysztof Penderecki, and jazz pianist Dick Hyman.
Favorites at jazz festivals all over the country including Monterey, Detroit, Sedona, Ravinia and Las Vegas, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet also conducts workshops and clinics at universities nationwide.
The Quartet regularly tours the great music centers of North and South America, Asia, and Europe. They have appeared frequently at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and their travels have taken them from London, Vienna and Prague to Australia’s Sydney Opera House.
Purchase tickets online at sunvalleycenter.org. Season ticket holders and members at the Patron level and above receive priority seating. (Unclaimed preferred seats will be released 5 minutes prior to each performance.)
Hot 8
Jake Shimabukuro Fri, Apr 3, 7:30pm Liberty Theatre, Hailey $20 / $25 non-members Though many still have trouble pronouncing his last name and the instrument he plays, Jake Shimabukuro has become known as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.” Jimmy Buffet was so impressed that he engaged Jake to open his worldwide concert tour. His virtuosity defies label or category. Playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco and rock, Jake’s mission is to show everyone that the ukulele is capable of so much more than only the traditional Hawaiian music many associate it with.
Jake Shimabukuro
New Orleans Hot Eight Brass Band Sat, May 9, 7:30pm Sun Valley Opera House $25 / $30 non-members / $10 kids 12 & under New Orleans’ Own Hot 8 Brass Band has epitomized New Orleans street music for over a decade. The band plays the traditional “second line” parades, hosted each Sunday afternoon by the social aid and pleasure clubs infusing its performances with the funk and energy that makes New Orleans music loved around the world. Born and raised in New Orleans, the members of the Hot 8 Brass Band began playing together in high school. What makes the Hot 8 so special are the sounds they coax from their wellloved, well-worn horns. An evening with the Hot 8 is like no other!
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*The musicians of Hot 8 will perform at local schools for free as a part of their visit. Check the website for tons of photos from recent concerts, classes, school visits and more. You might see yourself there…
Adult CLASS Details Teaching Assistants and Scholarships Scholarships are available for all Center classes and are based on financial need. Applications are available on our website. Students may also inquire about becoming teaching assistants in exchange for a discount on tuition.
Dev Khalsa
Registration, Refund and Credit Policy For all classes a 90% refund is given upon withdrawal prior to the registration deadline. No credits or refunds will be given after the registration deadline. If a class is canceled, students are issued a full refund.
Artist Leslie Patricelli teaching a teen workshop
FREE FAMILY DAYS NOW ON SATURDAYS! Family days are designed to allow parents and kids to do art projects together. Projects are inspired by The Center’s current exhibition. All ages are welcome, and many activities require parents to be hands-on assistants to their children. Family days are free drop-in activities on selected Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5 pm—no registration necessary.
Domestic Life Sat, Jan 24, 3–5pm The Center, Ketchum Visit The Center in Ketchum and explore how our idea of home has changed through the past 50 years. Using boxes, paper, fabric and other items provided, children will be able to create their own living-space diorama.
Farming in the 21st Century Sat, May 2, 3–5pm The Center, Hailey Families will have an opportunity to tour The Center’s Hailey exhibition, talk about the artwork and create a garden of their own.
TEEN WORKSHOPS
KIDS CLASSES
Teen workshops are co-sponsored by Yak! and are designed to be fun, creative, artistic activities just for teens. Please call 726.9491 in advance to guarantee your spot.
Give Me a Break with Matt Connor
Introduction to Interior Design with Abbey Christensen Sat, Feb 14, 10–4pm The Center, Hailey $10 fee, pre-registration required Become an interior designer for a day. You will learn the entire process of an interior design project, from space planning to final drawings and material selection. Learn how to think of a space in three dimensions and create rooms that meet a client’s specific needs. Students will have the opportunity to plan their own interior space and create a design mock-up.
Mon–Fri, Mar 16–20, 9am–noon $50 / $65 non-members Registration deadline: Mon, Mar 2 The Center, Hailey Join us for a week of art fun this Spring Break! Young artists will have the opportunity to work with a variety of artmaking techniques including drawing, painting, textiles and collage. Each student will learn the fundamentals of art and art history while creating their own personal artwork to take home.
Materials Please note that is the responsibility of the students to know their own sensitivities to the materials that may be used in any of the classes. All adult classes require students to bring their own supplies. Students can obtain a supply list at the time of registration or through our website. Some supply fees may apply. College Credit College credit is available for most classes through the College of Southern Idaho. Inquire about college credit when registering. An additional fee is charged for college credit and is payable directly to the College of Southern Idaho.
Digital Photography with Dev Khalsa Sat, April 18, 10–4pm The Center, Hailey $10 fee, pre-registration required As part of the multidisciplinary project Farming in the 21st Century, photographer Dev Khalsa will introduce students to local farms in the Wood River Valley. Students will be able to capture the lives of the valley’s local food growers through the lenses of their cameras. Students will become comfortable with the digital camera and digital terminology. This workshop is for teens who are new to photography, as well as for those with more experience looking to strengthen their skills.
Children's Arts Festival Sat, Mar 7, 9:30am–3:30pm Community Campus, Hailey Free Presented by the Wood River Arts Alliance, the Children's Arts Festival is a day of free arts classes taught by WRAA member organizations, including The Center. All elementary school children are invited to participate. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration begins at 9 am, classes begin at 10 am. Parents must register with their children.
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Susan Perin in a watercolor class
Please visit our website www.sunvalleycenter.org for extended class descriptions, information on instructors, and class supply lists. To register for a class, stop by or call The Center in Ketchum, 208.726.9491 ex 10. On the website, see photos of recent classes, workshops and school visits!
Classes for Everyone Adult Classes
ONE NIGHT WORKSHOPS
Moving Beyond the Beginning in Watercolor with Susan Perin
Introduction to Italic Calligraphy with Wendy Diedrick
Mon, Wed, Fri, Jan 12, 14 & 16, 2–6pm The Center, Hailey $145 / $195 non-members Supply fee: $30 Registration deadline: Fri, Jan 2 Moving Beyond the Beginning will focus on taking the next step in watercolor with an emphasis on composition. Students will work with photos and still life and concentrate on focus, design and texture.
Mon–Fri, Feb 23–27, 2–5pm The Center, Hailey $180 / $230 non-members Registration deadline: Mon, Feb 9 This class will introduce students to the world of beautiful writing. A brief historic overview of italic calligraphy will be discussed. The class will begin with linear practice and letterform structure. Students will then advance to stroke sequence and explore the thick and thin characteristic style of italic writing. Each participant will complete this class with an appreciation and respect for the complexities and appeal of this art form.
Beginning/Intermediate Oil Painting with Jennifer Bellinger Wednesdays, Jan 21–Feb 11, 2–6pm The Center, Hailey $190 / $240 non-members Registration deadline: Wed, Jan 7 The focus of this class will be learning to “see” color and mix it. Explore color theory by making a color wheel, a value scale and intensity scale. You will learn how to set up and light a still life and paint simple studies. Intermediate students will be given individual guidance to help them reach the next level in their own painting process.
Photoshop 101 for Photographers with Stacie Brew
Sat, Feb 28, 10am–4pm The Center, Hailey $75 / $125 non-members Supply fee: $10 Registration deadline: Fri, Feb 13 Learn the fundamentals of the art of making books. Students will learn to create both a folded concertina and accordion book by using a simple manuscript book structure. Learn about paper grain, folding, tearing, cutting and sewing bindings.
Beyond the Garden: Cooking Locally with Rasberry’s Catering Sat, May 2, 10am–4pm Community Campus, Hailey $75 / $125 non-members Additional cost of food will be added Registration deadline: Fri, Apr 17 Visit a local farm and explore the wonders of local food cultivation. You will then join the experts at Rasberry’s Catering as they teach you how to prepare delicious but uncomplicated recipes that highlight local, seasonal and mostly organic ingredients.
Domestic Life One Night Workshop Series
Potluck Slideshow for Local Artists
$30 / $35 non-members Subscriber package— $55 / $65 non-members
Thu, Jan 15, 6:30–9pm The Center, Hailey Registration deadline: Fri, Jan 9 Calling all local artists! The Center is organizing its first potluck slideshow—an opportunity for local artists to share images of their artwork with fellow artists in an informal setting. The slideshow is limited to the first 10 participants who register. Please bring a CD with no more than 10 images on it and limit your presentation (including questions) to 10 minutes. 10 participants, 10 images, 10 minutes each!
(Be it) Ever Evolving, There is No Place Like Home with Alex Taylor Tue, Jan 27, 5:30–7:30pm The Center, Hailey Do you ever wonder why certain rooms of your home provide comfort while others are best left with the door shut? Explore the relationship you have with your home and understand how the decorating choices you make are reflected in your personal life and the lives of other household members. Spend an evening with Alex Taylor, Feng Shui practitioner and Life Style Coach, and go home with a few simple tools to help you naturally enhance your home and your life. We will discuss our homes with one another while gaining wisdom into the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui.
Creating a Home for Conscious Living with Dale & Peggy Bates Tue, Feb 10, 5:30–7:30pm The Center, Ketchum Two longtime leaders in the field of healthy architecture will discuss how you can improve the health of your home, from your choice of finishes to energy efficiency.
Dev Khalsa
Sat, Feb 21, 10am–4pm The Center, Hailey $70 / $120 non-members Registration deadline: Fri, Feb 6 Learn the basics of improving your photos using Adobe Photoshop. The class will cover the essential Photoshop tools, which allow you to resize your images, add text, clone, and manipulate the color and lighting. Students are encouraged to bring in a few of their own digital photos to work on.
Simple Handmade Books with Wendy Diedrick
Come to these one evening classes to stretch your creative wings and integrate more art into your life! These classes are designed as introductions and all are welcome. Call in advance to guarantee a space or just show up.
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Not among the first 10 to register? Please join us anyway to meet other artists and learn about their work. Bring a dish to share. Beer, wine and water provided.
What a Relief! —Printmaking with Britt Udesen Tuesdays, Apr 7 & 14, 5:30– 7:30pm $50 / $65 non-members (both evenings) The Center, Hailey Have you always wanted to dive into block printing? This is a perfect opportunity for beginners (or those who might be a little rusty) to learn the basics in three short classes. We will discuss planning, carving and printing blocks on an etching press as well as by hand.
Megan Wilson, Night Bloom (detail of installation), 2006, courtesy of the artist and Traywick Contemporary, Berkeley
mul.ti.dis.ci.pli.nar.y \mùltee díssipli nèrree\ adj. 1: an in depth exploration of an idea or theme through a variety of artistic disciplines 2: a hallmark of the Sun Valley Center’s programs that allows our audience to consider an idea or theme from multiple perspectives including film, dance, —music, painting, sculpture, video, literature, lectures, and hands-on classes and activities 3: a way to enhance learning, to stimulate the imagination, to encourage dialogue.
Domestic Life
a multidisciplinary project
Exhibition at The Center, Ketchum
Lectures
Domestic Life
At Home with Gloria Steinem
Fri, Jan 16 – Sat, Mar 21, 2009
This project is made possible in part, through the generosity of Gail and Jack Thornton.
Julie Blackmon, Birds at Home, 2007, courtesy of the artist, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle & Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL
The 1990s and early years of the 21st century saw an explosion of interest in the American home. Innumerable magazines, television programs and an ever-growing specialty retail industry sprang up to feed our desire to “nest”—to surround ourselves with beauty and comfort within the intimate yet isolated environment of our homes. The home became not only a refuge, but also a showplace of carefully crafted spaces designed to impress. What is it about contemporary life that has driven this obsession with our domestic spaces? What is behind the desire to have kitchens equipped like restaurants and bathrooms outfitted like hotel suites? Is it an extension of rampant consumerism, fed by visions of the ideal portrayed in catalogs? Or an indicator of a deeper anxiety that leads us to seek comforts at home rather than venture out into a risky world? Perhaps this obsession stems from nostalgia for a time when life centered on the home instead of the pressing demands of jobs, school and extracurricular activities. How have the changing roles of women affected the home? As the financial boom of the 1990s gives way to today’s increasingly bleak economy, so-called shelter magazines and retailers are closing their doors in surprising numbers. Has the home décor era come to a close? Or will the idea of homemaking shift to one that emphasizes sustainability, handicraft and interiors that are homemade in the most literal sense? A visual arts exhibition explores these ideas through artwork that dates from the 1960s to the present.
Featured Artists: Julie Blackmon María A. López Jim Richard Martha Rosler Lisa Solomon Megan Wilson
It’s the First Place to Be! Fri, Feb 13 and Fri, Mar 6, 5:30–6:30pm Join us for wine and hors d’oeuvres Open for Gallery Walk until 8pm
Exhibition Tours Every Tue at 2pm or by arrangement
Special Evening Exhibition Tour Thu, Jan 29, 5:30pm
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Wed, Jan 14, 7pm Church of the Big Wood, Ketchum $20 / $25 non-members A devoted activist and writer, Gloria Steinem is undeniably one of the most important voices of the modern feminist movement. She will address how feminism has changed the role of women in the home. Lecture sponsors: Jeri Waxenberg and Jack & Gail Thornton
Move Beyond “Green” in Your Home with Peggy & Dale Bates Thu, Jan 22, 7pm The Center, Ketchum Free The surge of the green building movement warrants taking a closer look at what “green” really means. Peggy and Dale Bates will show examples of eco-conscious architecture from around the world and outline the differences between green trends and deep changes.
Exploring Contemporary Feminism with Amy Richards Wed, Feb 18, 7pm The Center, Ketchum Free Amy Richards is the author of Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself, co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation, and the person behind “Ask Amy,” an online activist column located at www. feminist.org.
Getting Green Done with Auden Schendler Thu, Feb 19, 6pm Community Library, Ketchum Free In his book, coming out February 23, Auden Schendler states, “We need fewer visionaries, and more grunts. It's time to make stuff happen.” Schendler, a sustainability foot soldier with 15 years in the trenches (and currently the Executive Director of Sustainability for Aspen Skiing Company), shows the way in this witty, human and contrarian presentation. Presented in coordination with The Community Library
Pamela DeTuncq, June (view of installation process), 2008, courtesy of the artist
About us Membership Did you know that at our intimate venues, revenues from ticket sales alone cannot cover the expense of presenting live music, author readings or museum quality exhibitions? Membership makes a difference. To join, simply contact us online at www.sunvalleycenter.org or call 208.726.9491 and we’ll sign you up!
VOLUNTEER Spend quality time with a fun group of people! Let us help you find a good fit for your skills. Over 500 people strong, Center volunteers provide the backbone of our operations. Your help is valuable to us, to volunteer call Sarah Kolash at 208.726.9491 ex 10.
Mission The mission of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts is to stimulate and provoke the imagination while opening hearts and minds through diverse arts programs.
The Center, Hailey
Classes
June, An Installation by Pamela DeTuncq
One Night Workshop Series for Domestic Life
Jan 23–Mar 27, 2009 Wood River Valley artist Pamela DeTuncq created June as a witty meditation on domesticity, gender roles and the degree to which expectations of woman have (and have not) changed since the 1950s. The installation consists of thousands of crushed and dyed eggshells carefully arranged on the floor to create a larger-than-life portrait of television icon June Cleaver of Leave it to Beaver fame. Resembling a plush carpet, June evokes the phrase “walking on eggshells” and the precarious situation many women face as they balance personal and professional lives in the 21st century.
Opening Celebration
Sun Valley Center programs are supported by the Engl Trust, the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, private foundations, proceeds from the Sun Valley Center for the Arts Wine Auction, grants, donations, and your membership dues.
Jan 27 & Feb 10
Family Day for Domestic Life is Jan 24 See Class pages for descriptions.
Fri, Jan 23, 5:30–7pm The Center, Hailey Join us for drinks and appetizers. Pamela DeTuncq will speak about her project at 6pm. María A. López, Philadelphian House, 2004, courtesy of the artist
BOARD Trina Peters, President Rufus M Brown Mark Caraluzzi Susan M. Cohen Kingsley Croul Bonni L. Curran Marybeth Flower Tod Hamachek Lawrence B. Helzel Kathy Jones Karl Krekow Jeanne Meyers Dana Monson Sara J. Nelson Adrian Norris Linda Packer Linda A. Potter Ann Puchner Robin Reiners Jennifer Roberts Carol Scheifele-Holmes Gail Thornton Jack W. Thornton Jill Vogel Stacey Winston Levitan ADVISORY BOARD Chris Boskin John S. Chapman Roger DeBard Michael Engl Drew Gibson Edyth Goodman Wally Huffman Philip Isles Glenn C. Janss Dr. Jim Lewis Michael L. Quinn Van Gordon Sauter Peter B. Smith Jeri Waxenberg Patricia W. Wilson Benjamin Wood STAFF John Gaeddert, Interim Executive Director Sally Boettger Kristine Bretall Matt Connor Kathleen Fergus Courtney Gilbert Christl Holzl Sarah Kolash Dave Koleno Kathryn McNeal Kristin Poole Britt Udesen
The Center Galleries are always free and open to the public! Docent Tours of the exhibitions are held every Tuesday at 2pm in Ketchum. Center Gallery Hours: M–F 9am–5pm Hailey Gallery Hours: W–F noon–5pm
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For reminders and updates on all our events—don’t forget to sign up for our eNewsletter on the website!
Farming
a multidisciplinary project Lectures Panel on Farming in the 21st Century Thu, Apr 16, 7pm Community Library, Free A group of Idaho farmers will discuss current trends in farming that affect both producers and consumers. Join this group of experts to learn more about what is happening in our state and continue the discussion begun by Michael Pollan when he spoke here last fall.
Call for Entries! Canning Competition
Geoff Krueger, Day Work, 1996, courtesy of the artist
The Center, Ketchum
Farming in the 21st Century
Michael Gregory, Ephrata #1, 2001,
Mar 27–May 23, 2009
March 6: deadline for submissions May 23: awards during gallery walk / tasting party The Center honors local cooks and local food with a canning competition. Enter with your garden’s best! Submissions will be included as a part of The Center’s exhibition Farming in the 21st Century. Entrants will be judged on flavor, texture and overall presentation. Categories include Canned Fruits, Canned Vegetables, Relishes, Pickles, Herbal Vinegars and Vinaigrettes and Soft Spreads (jellies, jams, marmalades, butters). Submissions may be delivered to The Center any time before March 6.
Classes
courtesy of Carrie and Russ Pillar
Family Day for Farming
Over the last decade many American farmers have changed their major crop production in response to the demand for corn, the basis of ethanol fuel. Simultaneously, there is a worldwide shortage of rice and corn—basic foods that are the centerpiece of much of the world’s diet. In the West, bestselling books have been written about the importance of living and eating sustainably. All over the country organic growers, farmers’ markets, subscription and small acreage farms are seeing a huge upsurge in participation as families look for ways to eat food grown and shipped locally. As the world becomes sensitive to the carbon footprint of each citizen, the nature of agriculture is shifting. Today there is a movement away from corporate agriculture to tables laden with seasonal goods planted, produced and harvested by regional purveyors. This multidisciplinary will focus on the changing nature of Farming in the 21st century.
May 2
Teen Workshop: Photography April 18 See Class pages for descriptions
Visual Art Exhibition As the organic food and slow food movements gain currency, the nation resurrects myths about the romantic, independent nature of farming and working the land. A number of contemporary artists exploit this ongoing romance with the heartland by making pictures of farmscapes—some of them complimentary, some nostalgic and some critical. The large-scale images from the Monsanto Series by Julie Moos are quintessential portraits of the state of U.S. farming in the late 20th century. Moos photographed pairs of farm owners in Missouri and Illinois. All of the farmers are linked by their allegiance to the Monsanto Corporation, the world’s leading producer of bio-engineered seeds. The pastoral paintings of the heartland by Michael Gregory are not bucolic pictures of grazing livestock but haunting images of man-made structures that hold within them all the contradictions inherent in farming—stability and loneliness, possibility and abandon, reverence and emptiness. Geoff Krueger grew up in Southern California surrounded by verdant fruit and vegetable fields that today have given way to strip malls and tract houses. Krueger’s paintings come from a longing to record his early memories.
Exhibition Tours
Performing Arts
Every Tue at 2pm or by arrangement
King Corn
Special Evening Exhibition Tour Thu, Apr 16, 5:30pm
Closing Celebration for Farming in the 21st Century Sat, May 23, 5:30–6:30pm Open for Gallery Walk until 8pm Join us for drinks and appetizers as we celebrate the end of Farming in the 21st Century and award prizes to our canning competition entrants!
Thursday, March 26, 2009 Location, TBD Free Join producer and actor Curt Ellis to view and talk about his award winning documentary King Corn. King Corn is a documentary film about Ellis and his college buddy Ian Cheney who move to the heartland to better understand where the food they eat comes from. With help from farmers, genetically modified seeds and fertilizers, they grow a bumper crop. But following their harvest into the food system reveals troubling questions about how we farm and how we feed one another.
Chris Binion, Red Barns, 2007, courtesy of the artist and J Crist Gallery, Boise
The Center, Hailey
Everything Forgotten: Paintings by Chris Binion Apr 3–May 29, 2009 Boise-based painter Chris Binion has spent much of his career painting still lifes, but a trip to Fairfield inspired a new body of work. The exhibition will feature a series of watercolor paintings that depict the architecture of farming: barns, grain silos and the other structures that dot the agricultural landscape. Binion places these buildings against white backgrounds, eliminating their surroundings. He writes, though, that “the familiarity of these totem-like objects carries the memory of the landscape.”
Opening Celebration Fri, Apr 3, 5:30–7pm The Center, Hailey Join us for drinks and appetizers. Chris Binion will speak about his paintings at 6pm.
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