PAC Performance (Skywatch Friday)

It's been a long, hot summer, and we are finally getting off-and-on showers from a tropical system, the second time around! So, I believe Selmians have cooled off enough to enjoy tonight and Saturday's production of the Trojan War! Well, it's The Hysterical History of the Trojan War, so come prepared to laugh and have a good time. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center downtown. The play is sponsored by Arts Revive.

See more Skywatch pictures at www.skyley.blogspot.com.

Riverfront Painting

Arts Revive member Karen Weir paints a Southern scene at Saturday's Riverfront Market Day. The arts and crafts festival carried on despite light rain.

Photograph by Jacque Johnson

Future Home of Arts Revive

An old auto service building at the foot of Water Avenue is undergoing a transformation into an art center.

Perched on the bank of the Alabama River, the building will some day serve as a place for workshops and galleries with outdoor areas for inspirational views.

See the exterior plan HERE.

A Home for Arts Revive

Cleanup began last week on the former Carneal Auto Service property, which is soon to become the home of Arts Revive.

Located at the foot of Water Avenue by the Alabama River, the renovation will provide space for offices, art workshops, shows and other events.

Check out the plans at the Arts Revive website.

Working with Acrylics

Paint-splattered jeans, a western hat and flip flops make the artist!

Fairhope artist and instructor Bill Harrison finished a three-day whirlwind workshop at Selma's Performing Arts Centre Thursday.

"...Just have the courage to jump right in and slam it down!" he told participants.

They completed four acrylic paintings and learned numerous techniques. Now don't you just love the rooster? It reminds me of Country French decor, although it could be Lower Alabama Rurality!

Anyway, Harrison is known for painting colorful landscapes depicting life on the Gulf Coast and rich still lifes. He told his Selma students that "I can give you tools; I can't give you heart. Only courage can give you heart."

The workshop was sponsored by Arts Revive.
View more workshop photographs HERE.

Art, Chocolate and Ballet

A chocolate and champagne reception, along with an art show and auction of paintings by local artist Jim Pritchard, preceded the performance by the Montgomery Ballet Friday night.

Those who braved the heavy rain, lightning and tornado warnings weren't disappointed! The Repertoire Performance featured a variety of music and dance including Verdi Pas de Six, Carmen Pas De Deux and Esmeralda Pase de Deux. Perhaps the highlight was the final presentation of Masa, which was a modern arrangement with Armenian music.

The Ballet's artistic director, Elie Lazar, is known for his versatility and inventiveness as a choreographer, and we were delighted to talk with him after the finale. The Israel native enjoys bringing new ideas to the art of ballet and has designed demonstrations to teach school children about dance. He presents summer workshops that include performances, lectures with demonstrations and intensive classes.


The Montgomery Ballet was headed to Andalusia in south Alabama today and will be performing A Midsummer Night's Dream in Wetumpka. He told us that the quality of the Ballet includes his aggressive recruitment of the best-trained dancers across the country.

Calling Alabama Artists

Here are a few pieces of art shown at last year's Arts Revive juried exhibition. Now, the call is out for Alabama artists to participate in the seventh annual show.

The show begins March 13 and ends March 22, coinciding with Spring Pilgrimage the second weekend. To enter, artists, sculptors and photographers have until February 18. Selections for the show will be made by a committee from photo and CD entries. The judge, Jessica Ingram, teaches at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

For more information, call 334-872-4672.

The Ballet Comes to Selma

The ballet is just a little more than two weeks away.

The Montgomery Ballet will perform classical and contemporary selections Friday, February 27 at Selma's Performing Arts Center, and attendees will be in for a delightful evening.

The Ballet's artistic director, Elie Lazar, is known for his versatility and inventiveness as a choreographer. So, expect something different, especially with the contemporary performances.

Lazar founded the Joffrey Ensemble Dancers and the LazarBallet NYC, and he previously has created ballets for the New Jersey Ballet Company, Atlanta's Georgia Youth Ballet, Japan's Kumamota Ballet and others.

The ballet begins at 7:30, preceded by a champagne and chocolate reception (included in the ticket price). Tickets are available at the Centre for Commerce and Truax & Co. The performance is a presentation of Arts Revive and The Montgomery Ballet.

(Photo courtesy The Montgomery Ballet)

Mystery at the Museum

Ahhhhh...there'll be a Mystery at the Museum the night of Friday, January 30!

The antebellum Sturdivant Hall Museum over in Old Town will be the scene of a Mardi Gras Revelry, and Encore Little Theater actors will interact with guests for a "Who Done It?" at the costume party. Guests must obtain clues to solve the mystery, and the first person to solve it gets a prize and the title of Selma's Top Amateur Sleuth!

According to publicity, "Rhett Beauregard Butler and his lovely wife Hortensia Hufflemeyer Butler" will host the revelry. Their "actor" guests include Gethan and Merrygold Rutgers, Cliff and Maybell Snodgrass, Archibald and Vesta Willingham, all long time friends of Hortensia, and a mysterious guest. Before the evening is over, one of these people "meets an unfortunate end."

So, buy a ticket, don a costume and bring along your best detective skills.
Mystery Night is sponsored by Arts Revive, and proceeds go toward restoration of the Carneal building on Water Avenue that will become an art gallery and workshop.

The Nutcracker Ballet

These posters are all over town, because a Christmas ballet classic, The Nutcracker, is coming to Selma. Not only that, some of Selma's young dance students will perform in it.

The story of Clara and her Nutcracker prince opens at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 on the stage at Pickard Auditorium. This production by the Montgomery Ballet is presented by Arts Revive.

Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce and Truax & Company.

Through My Eyes...Selma's Historic Architecture

All you photographers out there...get your cameras ready or sift through that portfolio. There's a contest coming up to show off your creative skills and Selma's architecture!

Arts Revive is again sponsoring a photography contest to coincide with Riverfront Market Day. The theme is "Through My Eyes...Selma's Historic Architecture," and my goodness, Selma does have some unique architecture! Just choose a corner, and take your pick!

Here's the rules:
1. Follow the theme.
2. The photos must be a view of all or some part of one of Selma's historic buildings.
3. The photos must include architecture but may also include anything in the surrounding landscape such as gardens, trees, river, wildlife.
4. All entries must be at least 8x10 and must be matted and clear wrapped or framed.
5. No digitally enhanced photos are eligible.
6. Photos should focus on the local beauty of our area.
7. Unusual shots are encouraged.
8. Photos may be either color or black and white.
9. All photos will become the property of Arts Revive and will not be returned.
10. Prizes will be awarded in both the adult and student divisions. ($100 first place, $50 second place, Riverfront Market Day T-Shirt, third place and People's Choice Award.
11. Deadline for submission is October 1, 2008.
12. Submit entries to the Real Estate Gallery at 706 Broad St. between 9 AM and 4:30 PM. Its phone number is 334-874-8182.
13. All entries must be labeled on the back with the a) Title of Photo b) Photographer's Name c) Phone Number d) Category (Adult or Student) e) School - if applicable

Sanctuary

"Sanctuary" is an intriguing sculpture by Ted Whisenhunt, associate professor of art at Judson College in Marion, and it earned a blue ribbon at the March 2008 Arts Revive show in Selma.

Any idea about the background for the theme?
The "little house" has a pole inside that is topped with an upside-down, blue bottle. Why are the outside poles painted white on the bottom?

I really don't know what the artist was thinking when he designed this, but being a native of Alabama, I might have an idea!

Oh yes! Whisenhunt not only teaches art. He is lead singer and a musician with the Kudzu String Band.

"Holding the Energy"

What can you do with rusty old shovels and chains and grill racks and...?

Charlie Lucas (The Tin Man) made a work of folk art called "Holding the Energy." Here it's on display at a recent Arts Revive show downtown. The Tin Man's work as a "scrap metal recycler" has gained him international fame. His art has been exhibited in France, New York City and New Orleans. He's taught art classes at Yale, and his story and works have appeared in more than 40 books.

Selma's "Papa Joe"

This portrait of one of Selma's best-loved pastors won rave reviews at Friday's Arts Revive juried art show during Pilgrimage weekend. "Papa Joe" is the Rev. Joe Knight, associate pastor of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The artist is Vicki Stoudenmire. She didn't win an award for this, but it has my vote for People's Choice.

Riverfront Photo Winner

This is a picture of a picture, but here is the winning photo in the adult division of the riverfront photo contest sponsored by Arts Revive. The photographs were displayed on Riverfront Market Day. This view of the Alabama River is taken on a foggy morning from Songs of Selma Park. The Edmund Pettus Bridge can be seen in the background.

The River...from Your Eyes Contest

Here's the Alabama River in "my eyes" catching a train crossing the trestle just east of downtown Selma. A local photography contest is giving generous cash prizes for the best photograph of this river or the Cahaba River in YOUR eyes, but time is wasting! Deadline is October 1. The contest is sponsored by Arts Revive, and photos will be displayed at Selma's Riverfront Market Day on October 13. The Real Estate Gallery on Broad Street has the details and is collecting the entries. (Check out the contest link above.) If you can't get to Selma to take a picture of the river, come on down for Market Day and Tale-Tellin. Both events are the same weekend, and I am looking forward to all these new photo possibilities!

Arts Revive

The Arts Revive board of directors is extra busy these days planning projects for autumn and beyond. I was over at Dallas Academy's Ceramics Arts Center one day last week when they were meeting, and they graciously posed for a photo.

First up is a Jewelry Making Workshop Sept. 15, and next is Riverfront Market Day Oct. 13. This group will have 10 booths (yep...10!) booths at Market Day. There will be art of course, and of special interest is a photography contest titled "Through My Eyes...The Riverfront."
Contestants will submit photos that include either the Alabama or Cahaba River in Selma or Dallas County, and they will be displayed at Market Day. There's cash awarded for the best photos, and you had better hurry! Deadline is Oct. 1.

This group is the same one that has sponsored the spring art show at the Harmony Club, and next year will participate even more with Spring Pilgrimage via live art and music at the venues.

Board members in the photo are: (L to R sitting.....Karen Weir, Fran Pearce, Ann Thomas, Molly Gamble; L to back...Charles Moss, Gale Bedgood, Cindy Stoudenmire)