Arts Updates, Interviews, Calendar, Calls for Artists and Volunteers, Auditions --- It's All Here in Arts Blast, Arts Blast on the Air, and on Facebook.

Supporting The Arts & Arts Councils Everywhere

Volume 4 No.9 | March 11, 2022

Notes from the Editor:

While waiting for the predicted questionable weather, I'm looking out on another beautiful day in the bird garden that is my front yard. Fingers are crossed for the weather to be perfect for Under the Oaks, the three-day, don't-miss event in Riverside Park in Vero Beach. I reached back into the Arts Blast archives and pulled out this look at Under the Oaks 2021. Check in over the weekend for UTO 2022 updates.

NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: The Laura Riding Jackson Foundation's Writers Workshop with author Janisse Ray will be at the Writing Center on 14th Avenue in Vero Beach. Predicted bad weather prompted the move from the pole barn at the IRSC Vero campus.

I've borrowed from Ron Charles' Book Club column in The Washington Post in the past and the column that arrived today belongs in Arts Blast, too. Scroll down for excerpts.

Click to Subscribe to Arts Blast

Can't read this email? Click here to View as Webpage

Arts Blast on the Air with Willi Miller

This week on Arts Blast on the Air, hear Aaron Collins tell us how SCSO Rocks at the Emerson Center and Art Martin talks about the vast community music scene in Brevard County. Listen to or download the podcast now or listen on the radio — 101.7FM ON THE TREASURE COAST —Sunday evening at 7.

Bookmark On the Calendar at WilliMiller.com for frequent updates. Calls for Artists, Auditions, & Volunteers are now online.Catch up with events at Willi Miller's Arts Blast on Facebook and pick up some laughs and interesting info on the Willi Miller's Arts Blast Extras page. And now there's a Facebook Arts Blast on the Air!

In This Issue

FEATURES

Just in from Riverside Theatre

Under the Oaks

Chamber Concert at First Pres

Sistine Chapel in West Palm

Treasure Coast Chorale

Let the Spirit Move You at Backus

Memoir Writing with LRJF

100% Pure Florida Ribbons

Ballet Vero Beach From Studio to Stage

Allen Balogh - Pirate!

Auditions for Riverside Kids

Books for Ukraine's Children

Performance Academy for Riverside Kids

TIDBITS - Scroll All the Way Down

US Coast Guard Band

Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra

Brad Meltzer

Frost Wind Ensemble

Artist Susan Martin

Zonta Fundraiser

Vero Beach Choral Society

Delray Beach Historical Society

ACT Studio Theatre

At the Norton

Watch for an Under the Oaks 2022 Update Over the Weekend

NOTE: The Vero Beach Art Club Annex on 14th Avenue is closed during Under the Oaks. All hands on deck!

Internationally-renowned Duo Beaux Arts will present a concert on Sunday, March 13, at 4:00 p.m. as part of the 2022 Chamber Music Concert Series at First Presbyterian Church. The concert will take place in the sanctuary at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested.

Hot off the press from Riverside Theatre!

The Comedy Zone and Live and Loop return to Riverside Theatre with performances Friday and Saturday evenings most weekends for the remainder of the year.

Starting on April 8 & 9, The Comedy Zone will continue to bring the funniest professional comedians to the Waxlax Stage for uproarious evenings of fun. Shows are every Friday and Saturday evening with performances at 7pm and 9pm each day.

April 8 & 9 - James Yon & Miguel Colon, Jr.

April 15 & 16 - Ron Feingold & John Charles

April 22 & 23 - Chad Zumock & Trish Keating

April 29 & 30 - Gains Kelly & Eric Grady

Comedy Zone dates for the rest of 2022 are:

May 6 & 7, 13 & 14, 20 & 21, 27 & 28

June 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 24 & 25

July 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29 & 30

August 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 26 & 27

September 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, 30

October 1, 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29

November 4 & 5, 11 & 12

December 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17

Tickets are $23

A musical variety of the best local musicians will perform on our expanded Outdoor Loop Stage with different groups scheduled for every night. Bands play from 5:30pm-9pm each evening.

A new tented area with tables and special benefits will be available for $5 each night. These tables will be reserved by the purchaser for the entire evening. No tickets will be required for general seating or lawn chair spaces.

Friday, April 8 - RYZ-N-SOULZ

Saturday, April 9 - BITTERSWEET

Friday, April 15 - STONE CLONES

Saturday, April 16 - THE LIONHEART BAND

Friday, April 22 - ST. JOHN’S WOOD

Saturday, April 23 - DAVE AND THE WAVE

Friday, April 29 - SOULJAM

Saturday, April 30 - THE JACKS BAND

Live in the Loop coincides with the Comedy Zone dates for the rest of 2022.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, call the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 772-231-6990 or online at www.riversidetheatre.com

From Adam Schnell, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Vero Beach, on the season finale:

Ballet Vero Beach's 2021-2022 Season concludes with a program that promises to illicit some of our favorite responses: contented sighs and hearty guffaws! Take a journey with the company from hilarious toiling in the studio to the thrilling heights of technical accomplishment. The supremely classical and ambitious Bournonville Divertissement returns to showcase Danish style at its best, and Peter Anastos brings his comedic skewering of ballet schools everywhere to the Ballet Vero Beach stage in the iconic Ecole de Ballet.

Watch-at-Home tickets are now available for Symphonic Dances. The video will be online through March.

Ballet Vero Beach Fellowships for Graduating Seniors and Recent High School Graduates

Ballet Vero Beach has unveiled a brand-new fellowship program for dancers. This initiative will be free for all applicants with Florida residency. Earn your Associate Degree from IRSC - Indian River State College, perform with Ballet Vero Beach, and receive ancillary training from The Learning Alliance. Visit www.balletverobeach.org (under the Community Engagement tab) to learn more. Priority application deadline is March 15. Hear Adam Schnell, BVB CEO, talking about it on this week's Arts Blast on the Air.

This appeared on my Facebook newsfeed today. Many Treasure Coasters know Allen and his work. Congratulations, Allen!

From the International Pirate Hall of Fame

Allen Balogh is a retired educator who taught World and U.S. History for more than 20 years. He is also an award-winning author. In 1985, he began exploring the locations of the southernmost ship of the 1715 Armada Fleet off the coast of Florida near Hutchinson Island in Stuart. Over the years, Allen had been fascinated with the 1715 Fleet and the Golden Age of Piracy. He had boxes of articles, documents, and court records. In addition, his research at Castillo de la Fuerza in Havana, Cuba, provided insight and primary documents to intertwine into his novels.

His first book, Black Sails 1715, is a 78,000-word historical fiction novel based on fact. He took the literary pleasure of creating dialogue for the characters to come alive for the reader to become educated, as well as entertained.

His next book, Goat with the Glass Eye, was co-written with Joanne Wetzl. The book was awarded Bronze Historical Fiction by the Florida Writers Association, a membership made up of 1,300 authors. This book is based on factual people and recorded events from the Age of Piracy and the 18th century Triangular Trade Route.

Allen’s third book was an Early Reader for children between the ages of four and six. He and his son, Christopher, wanted to leave a family legacy. The book, Mimi’s Mermaids, tells the story about the secret to life, understanding, and love.

A Perilous Journey from Cuba, his fourth novel, was released in January of this year, and is a continuation of his research of archival documents while he was in Havana, Cuba.

Allen is a popular lecturer and historian and does book signings and offers presentations to various groups on the Golden Age of Piracy and the 1715 Fleet. In addition to being a guest on various radio stations, he has also appeared at the Saint Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, Mel Fisher Museum, Sunrise Theater, Treasure Coast Historical Society, and numerous pirate festivals to name but a few. Allen also wrote two articles for the premier publication, Indian River Magazine; “When Pirates Scoured the Treasure Coast” and a tribute to Dr. Eugene Lyon, the foremost expert in Spanish Colonial history. The article was penned “Researcher for the Ages.”

Allen Balogh is a member of the National Historic Preservation Society, Florida Historic Society, 1715 Fleet Society, and Palm Beach Writers Group.

The Performance Academy at Riverside Theatre Auditions

From Riverside Theatre:

This summer we are excited to offer three separate in-person camps for a wide range of ages. We are continuing our successful Performance Academy format as begun last summer! Split into our Senior Academy for our oldest students in June, a new Kids Academy in the end of June for our youngest performers, and our Junior Academy in July for our pre-teen performers, these in-person camps divide the day between technique instruction in singing, acting, and dance with rehearsals for a show. Each Academy culminates in a final performance of a different show at the end of each camp! The details of each camp and how to audition are below. All academies meet in person, following current CDC recommendations. Our health policies are updated regualrly on our website.

There are tuition discounts available for qualifying families. Visit our website for the new application for the 2022-2023 season (please remember everyone must reapply for the new season, even if you currently have one). Tuition discount applications are due by the due May 7 for the summer programs.

Senior Performance Academy:

Into the Woods

June 6-25

Ages 13 – 19 (must be 13-19 years old by the first day of camp) TUITION: $450

Admission by online audition.

Show Dates: June 24 and June 25

Kids Performance Academy:

Rascals Revue

June 27-July 1

Ages 6-8 (must be 5-8 years old by the first day of camp) TUITION: $150

Admission by online audition.

Performance date – Friday July 1 at 12pm

Junior Performance Academy:

Into the Woods JR

July 11-23

Ages 8-12 (must be 8-12 by the first day of camp) TUITION: $300

Admission by online audition.

Show Dates: July 22 and July

Sistine Chapel at Armory Art Center

I couldn't make it to the media preview this week, but the good news is Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition will be at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach through April 24. The other good news: Artist riend Janeen Mason — artist, illustrator, author, curator at Lighthouse ArtCenter (and remember the Solidarity Fish project?) — was more than happy to take my place and send Arts Blast a report.

"I just came from the Sistine Chapel show at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, FL. I'm going to be thinking about this show for a long time to come. Michelangelo was such a master. His brushstrokes and his use of color are evidence of supreme confidence. The depth of knowledge and symbolism necessary for him to complete the Sistine Chapel just never occurred to me. Get here if you can, but be prepared to spend time reading the didactics and luxuriating in the splendor of this magnificent exhibition.

@armoryartcenter #sistinewpb

"It's in a large well lit room. The pieces are larger than life. The color, scale, and intensity are stunning. For your people visiting from Vero, I'd suggest they schedule enough time to enjoy the didactics and revel in each piece and have lunch before or after at Cafe Centro in Northwood, just a mile or so to the north."

From Armory Art Center:

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition showcases the awe and wonder of arguably one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements, while allowing its visitors to experience this art from an Up-Close, Life-Sized, and Never-Before-Seen perspective.

With special expertise and care, the ceiling paintings from the Sistine Chapel have been reproduced in a truly unique way using licensed high definition photos. Brought to life using a special printing technique that emulates the look and feel of the original paintings, visitors are given a chance to engage with the artwork in ways that were never before possible: seeing every detail, every brushstroke, and every color of the artist’s 34 frescoes. Each image is accompanied by informative signage, and audio guides are available to rent for an even more in-depth experience.

This globally successful exhibition is an innovative and unique interpretation of Michelangelo’s timeless masterpiece. Whether visitors have already been to the Sistine Chapel or not, everyone can admire the artwork up close, at their own pace, and with the ability to capture photographic memories of this iconic work.

Enter the golden age of the renaissance with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition. Experience one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements up-close, life-sized, and from a never-before-seen perspective.

The exhibit runs through April 24.

Photos courtesy of Janeen Mason and Armory Art Center

100% Pure Florida Ribbons Presented

Winners have been announced in the annual 100% Pure Florida juried exhibition at Fifth Avenue Gallery in the Eau Gallie Arts District in Melbourne.

A solo show at the gallery plus a cash prize went to blue ribbon-winner Eliza Pineau Casler. Ellen E.Fischer, a Vero Beach aritst, won second, and Frank Spino took third. The show was judged by Lila Blakeslee, one of the artist/owners at Gallery 14 in Vero Beach.

The complete list of winners will be posted on the gallery's website.

Photo: Raynelle Standing With Tattoo - Ellen Fischer

Let the Spirit Move You at A.E. Backus Museum

From Backus Museum and Gallery:

The A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery will present Tuned to the Spirit: Photographs from the Sacred Steel Community March 11 - May 8, 2022. The Museum is honored to be debuting the traveling exhibition that will highlight more than twenty years of "Sacred Steel" photography, which has a notable Fort Pierce connection.

In the late 1930s, two related African American Holiness-Pentecostal churches began incorporating a novel, modern instrument into worship services – the electric steel guitar. The expressive and energetic music rendered on the instrument soon became essential to the spirited worship services. Today, with more than fifty congregations throughout the state, Florida is a stronghold for the House of God and Church of the Living God, where musicians have passed down the unique musical tradition known as “sacred steel” for generations. Two of these churches (House of God No. 1 and House of God No. 2) are located in the City of Fort Pierce.

In three decades of work, photographer and folklorist Robert L. Stone has documented this music and church culture through images (photography, video) and audio recording. Tuned to the Spirit presents a selection of more than thirty soulful images, augmented by music performances accessed in the exhibition through QR Codes on visitors’ mobile devices. Stone’s 2003 documentary film “Sacred Steel: The Steel Guitar Tradition of the House of God Churches” will also be available to see historic footage of these important musicians.

The exhibition’s opening reception will be held Friday, March 18 from 6:00-8:00 pm, with Remarks at 6:30 pm. Special musical guests will be Elder Elton Noble, pastor of House of God No. 2 in Fort Pierce, and family musicians presenting the joyful sounds of this rich tradition. Members are admitted free; $20 for Not-Yet Members (or join at the door).

On Saturday, March 19 at 4:00 pm, the Backus Museum will convene a panel discussion, “When the Spirit Moves: Appreciating a Unique American Steel Guitar Tradition” with guests Dr. Eric Lewis Williams, Curator of Religion, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; Elder Elton Noble, steel guitarist and pastor of Fort Pierce House of God No. 2; and Robert L. Stone, folklorist and photographer. The program will illuminate this dynamic cultural tradition, with live music demonstration. Tickets are $5 with Limited Seating and available at www.BackusMuseum.org. Attendees are asked to please observe all public health guidance.

Tuned to the Spirit: Photographs from the Sacred Steel Community is drawn from The Robert Stone Sacred Steel Archive, part of the Arhoolie Foundation Collection. The exhibition is supported by the Arhoolie Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and celebration of regional roots music and its makers. Learn more at www.Arhoolie.org.

Photos courtesy of photographer Robert L. Stone (b.1944) and Backus Museum and Gallery. Top left: Worship Service (Dancers2), House of God No.2, FP. Bottom right: Willie Easton

Memoir Writing, A Reading, and Poetry

Janisse Ray arrived in Vero Beach this week with a full plate: a Lenten Poetry and Organ Concert at Community Church of Vero Beach; a reading from her book Here's to the Wildness We Love at the Environmental Learning Center; and a Write Your Own Story writing workshop for the Laura Riding Jackson Foundation. The Memoir Writing workshop had to be moved from the pole barn at the Laura Riding Jackson house to the Writing Center on 14th Avenue, Vero Beach. Her ELC reading is March 11, 5-7 p.m.

Ray stole a minute away from her schedule to give Arts Blast a comment on what she likes here: "I'm struck by the exceptional arts community in Vero Beach and am so happy to get to spend a few days immersed in it."

Treasure Coast Chorale

From the Treasure Coast Chorale:

The singers of the Treasure Coast Chorale have returned and are ready to perform a special program that reminds us of the importance of human contact and companionship with a performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone: Hope and Inspiration in Times of Trouble” on Sunday, April 3 at 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Vero Beach.

A few of the tunes selected for the program with a message of friendship and togetherness are “Lean on Me”, “You’ve Got A Friend”, “Stand By Me”, “Thank You For Being A Friend“, “You Raise Me Up”, “”O God Our Help”, “I’ll Be There”, “You Will Be Found” (from Dear Evan Hansen), “That’s What Friends Are For” and “We Are Family”.

This encouraging performance by the 40-voice Treasure Coast Chorale (TCC) will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at the First Baptist Church, 2206 16th Avenue, Vero Beach. As always, the performance will be free and a donation will be requested from the audience to assist this community chorus in offering exciting concerts during the year to our Treasure Coast audiences including the upcoming Memorial Day weekend concert May 29.

The TCC is under the direction of Dr. Michael Carter. Special guest musicians invited to share their talent for this musical performance include guitarists Dave Mundy and Patrick Gordon, drummer Richie Mola, the Festival Brass Quartet, and the Dolls, Vero’s popular oldies trio. Piano accompaniment will be provided by Judy Carter.

Doors at the church will open for early seating at 3 p.m. for the matinee performance. More information is available by calling 772-231-3498 or on the chorale’s website www.treasurecoastchorale.org.

From Ron Charles' Book Club column in The Washington Post March 11.

The plight of hundreds of thousands of children displaced by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is beyond comprehension. It’s tempting to feel paralyzed with despair about the escalating humanitarian crisis, but giving money to experienced aid organizations really does help (start here).

In such horrific conditions, periods of imaginative escape are essential for children — and books are the perfect vehicle. With lightning speed, a group of Polish publishers called the Universal Reading Foundation has sprung into action to buy and distribute Ukrainian children’s books for the youngest refugees taking shelter in Poland.

Maria Deskur, CEO of the Universal Reading Foundation, says her group has reached out to about 40 Ukrainian publishers. Given the deadly circumstances, only about a dozen have been able to respond. “Some have fled,” Deskur tells me. “Some are fighting.”

But the Universal Reading Foundation managed to find a warehouse in Lviv, Ukraine, that could help. In the next few days, children’s publishers in the besieged country will send the first batch of about 25,000 books. The journey to Poland is not long, but with pained understatement Deskur acknowledges, “We might have issues.”

If and when the books arrive, they will be distributed to orphanages, social care institutions, kindergartens, schools and libraries. “We will do as many rounds as needed and possible,” she says. “This is to help Ukrainian children and Ukrainian publishers at the same time. The survival of the book industry is crucial for the future.”

TIDBITS

The United States Coast Guard Band will be pleased to present a FREE concert at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, FL on Wednesday, April 6 at 7 PM. This event is part of the “Southern Connections” concert tour, a two-week mission traveling through Coast Guard Sectors Charleston, Jacksonville, Miami, and St. Petersburg

The Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra concert at the Vero Beach HS PAC March 13 at 2 p.m. will feature pianist John Korcynski. Admission free, donations accepted.

Author Brad Meltzer brings his latest, The Lightning Rod, to Vero Beach Book Center March 12, 1 p.m.

Mason Bates performs with the Frost Wind Ensemble at UM Gusman Concert Hall and on YouTube March 11, 7:30 p.m.

Congratulations to Brevard Artist Susan Martin!

Galaxy

Acrylic - 48x60 in

Best of Show

Florida Artists Group Annual Exhibition, February 2022

Juror Holly Koons, director of the Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center at Christopher Newport University.

Can be seen at the Appleton Museum in Ocala through April 24.

The Orlando Gay Chorus will be at Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach April 2, 8 p.m.

The Vero Beach Choral Society will premiere a concert entitled A Little Night Music on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach. Admission is free; the suggested donation is $10.

Delray Beach Historical Society's fundraiser, Twilight in the Garden, is scheduled for April 22, 6 p.m.

'Til Death Do Us Part, written and performed by Peter Fogel, has a one-weekend run, March 24-27, at ACT Studio Theatre, Cedar Pointe Plaza, Stuart.

At the Norton:

A Remarkable Gathering: The Fisher Family Collection opens to the public March 13, runs through Sept. 11.

Also opening for the same run is Dürer, Rembrandt, and Piasso: Three Masters of the Print.

March 11, 5-10 p.m. Art After Dark at the Norton

Bookmark On the Calendar at WilliMiller.com for frequent updates. Calls for Artists, Auditions, & Volunteers are now online.

Catch up with events at Willi Miller's Arts Blast on Facebook and pick up some laughs and interesting info on the Willi Miller's Arts Blast Extras page. And now there's a Facebook Arts Blast on the Air!

‌

Click to Subscribe to Arts Blast

Can't read this email? Click here to View as Webpage

To opt out of receiving Arts Blast, "unsubscribe" at the end of the page.

If you have an arts-related event coming up, scroll down for information on submitting it for a free basic listing. Limited advertising is available. PLEASE use that format!

Arts Blast wants information about arts-related scholarships for the Scholarships page on our website. Send me what you have, making sure to include a deadline for applying and a link to detailed information.

Event schedules can change, often at almost the last minute. Verify, double check, and then do it again before you head out the door. And when you do go out, take a mask. Without one, you risk being turned away.

To Submit Calendar Information for ARTS BLAST!

Information is to be received in an email at least one week before publication.

Use this format for Calendar entries:

Who (organization)

What (Event)

When (dates, time)

Where (Name of venue, address)

Why (a brief description of the purpose)

Web/Facebook address

Contact for public use (for tickets, questions, etc.)

Then add a short, descriptive release if available.

Send only one photo, with caption, unless more are requested.

Media contact with email for Arts Blast followup (not for publication)