Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Celebration exhibit

This year marks the 100th birthday of Woody Guthrie. An article in The New York Times a few weeks back offers an interesting perspective on the celebrations surrounding the 100th birthday of Woody Guthrie.

Do you know much about Woody? I have to admit that I knew his name, that he was a singer and he wrote "This Land Is Your Land," and that was about the depth of my Woody Guthrie knowledge.

Guthrie is best known for being a singer/songwriter who chronicled the hardships of the American people, his people. Married at a young age, and with three small children to support, Woody Guthrie made the trek across the United States from Texas to California looking for work after the Dust Bowl made it nearly impossible for him to find a job. Leaving his family behind, and enduring a grueling journey looking for work, only added fuel to Guthrie's musical career.

Did you know he was also an artist? He began drawing cartoons and caricatures, and then moved on to painting, drawing, sculpting and more. His passion for visual arts continued on throughout his life, and even provided an income for him at times. Guthrie often made a living as an advertising designer, portrait artist, sign painter and other visual arts marketing trying to provide for his family throughout his journey.

Walton Arts Center is proud to host a new archival exhibit titled Woody at One Hundred: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Celebration 1912-2012 . The exhibition was unveiled Friday, August 24 in partnership with the Fayetteville Roots Festival and Woody Guthrie Archives, and will remain in the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery through September 20. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.

This exhibit consists of a collection of Woody Guthrie's lyrics, diaries, notebooks, correspondence, photographs, artworks, and includes reproduction items, featuring Woody's original handwritten lyric "This Land Is Your Land", providing a broad overview of Woody's creative legacy dated from 1932-1955.

We hope you'll stop by our gallery, and discover a side of Woody Guthrie you may or may not have known about!

 

Choosing Walton Arts Center performances for your family

Our new season has begun, and we want to make sure you get the most out of your visit to Walton Arts Center this year! With school back in session, we thought it would be a perfect time to focus on kids, and help navigate the path to choosing performances for the young ones in your life. We do put content warnings on a lot of our shows when it's available to us, but every parent (and child) is different, and what may be comfortable to one family may not be to another.

Photo by Bill FritschWe asked our friends over at NWA Motherlode to help us out, and let us know what shows they're excited about bringing their children to see this season at Walton Arts Center. Well, wouldn't you know those fabulous ladies went above & beyond and asked some of their readers that same question too so you all could have more information!

Gwen Rockwood of NWA Motherlode:

How old are your children? What shows are you excited to see with them this season?

My kids are 10, 8 and 5 – two boys and a girl. We are all really excited about seeing STOMP. And my two boys can’t wait to see Shrek on stage. My oldest son also wants to see WarHorse, and both boys want to check out Potted Potter because they are both fans of the Harry Potter series. My 5-year-old daughter is most looking forward to the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater and Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild LIVE.

How do you choose which shows to attend at Walton Arts Center?

We ask ourselves this question: “Have we ever seen anything like this before?” And if the answer is no, we try to get tickets to the show. For example, we knew that Blue Man Group is a one-of-a-kind experience that the kids would remember for a long time, so we made sure to leave room in the family budget to buy those tickets. We also base it on what experiences we most want to share with them. For example, I wanted to take my daughter on a special “Mom and daughter” outing after she recovered from getting her tonsils removed. We chose to go see Beauty and the Beast at Walton Arts Center one year. She had just seen the Disney film and it was the perfect event for us to attend together. We both loved it and have special pictures from that day in our family photo album.

With so many options, how do you decide that a show is a good fit for a particular age or personality?

I read, read, read! I’m a big believer in the fact that other parents will tell you what you need to know. So I go online to read reviews of the show written by other parents. If they mention that there are some scary parts, then I know it’s not a good fit for my 8-year-old and 5-year-old who are prone to having bad dreams. I also go on YouTube to try to find promotional clips of the actual performance so I can get a glimpse of what the show might be like. It’s also really helpful when the theater gives an age range as a guideline for parents to use when choosing shows for the whole family.

Shrek the Musical production photoNWA Motherlode reader Sarah White:

My daughter is about to be three and I haven't taken her to any shows yet; she actually only saw her first movie a couple of weeks ago, which was a good test of her attention span! This will probably be the first year I take her to see something, which should be a lot of fun.

I would LOVE to take her to Stomp, because she loves drums and her dad was a drummer in high school. But it might be a little loud for tiny ears. I'm sure Guess How Much I Love You would be a better starter show. Or the Dinosaur Petting Zoo, if I didn't think it would scare her.

So that offers some insight into how I would decide what shows to take her to: what age it might be appropriate for, her attention span, the noise level or potential scariness of large, loud objects and just what I think she would find fun. I'm not sure she's ready for something that isn't interactive and requires sitting down; she loves to dance and participate.

Guess How Much I Love YouNWA Motherlode reader Rosemary Rincon:

My children are 4 and 2. I am excited to take them to see Guess How Much I Love You, Dance Brazil, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and The Velveteen Rabbit.

In the past I have always chosen every show to take them to regardless of the appropriate age they list on the show because I know every WAC show is awesome. Sometimes we have been lucky with shows, even if it said it was for middle school age and other times it was just too way over their head. This year because I am bringing a 2 year old with me, I decided to be more age specific and only go to the shows listed for lower elementary age. The price is fantastic and the shows always are also, we love going!

The Velveteen Rabbit presented by ODC/DanceWe hope this helps you and your family as you plan your visits to Walton Arts Center this season. Many thanks to the ladies at NWA Motherlode, and their readers, for helping us bring this information to our patrons!

An AWE-some week with local educators!

Walton Arts Center just wrapped up another amazing year with the AWE Institute! We had such a great time meeting new participants, and welcoming old friends. We're already looking forward to next year!

Arts With Education (AWE) Institute is a week-long professional development for educators. It prepares teachers to use the arts to make teaching across the curriculum more engaging and effective (recent focus: literacy, social studies, and math). AWE involves teachers in hands-on, interactive workshops presented by John F. Kennedy Center experts, with support from local Teaching Artists.

This year marked the 21st annual AWE Institute!  For one week in July we welcomed 45 teachers, 20 visiting administrators and staff from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 23 children from Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club and 5 Teaching Artists from our local region and from The John F. Kennedy Center into an incredible week of learning. This year we also spent one full day at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art learning new art forms to integrate into core curriculum teaching.  

Over the years, Walton Arts Center’s AWE Institute has trained over 400 teachers. For every year these teachers include arts integration instruction in their curriculum, more than 1200 students benefit from the engaging and effective teaching techniques learned at AWE.

Visual essay by an AWE teacher depicting population

Putting their new strategies to work with children from the Boys & Girls Club in Fayetteville

AWE Institute funding is provided in part by Crayola® with additional funding from Arkansas Arts Council and Walton Arts Center supporters and benefactors.

For more information on AWE Institute, call Dr. Patricia Relph at 479-571-2773.

**This blog post brought to you by Katharine Williams in our Learning & Engagement department. Thank you Katie!**

 

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo - Venue change


TICKETHOLDERS: The Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo concert scheduled for Sunday, August 19 has been relocated from the Arkansas Music Pavilion to Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall (View Map).

The start time for this performance has been moved from 7:30pm to 7pm. Gates will open at 6:30pm.

The Walton Arts Center Box Office is currently in the process of calling ticket purchasers to let them know of their new seats. 

If you have any questions, give us a call at 479.443.5600. 

If you have any special needs, please inform the Ticket Representative when you are contacted or email the Box Office at boxoffice@waltonartscenter.org.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at Walton Arts Center for this night of great music!

Follow us on Twitter @AMP_Concerts !


Amp 2012 lineup:

Taste of Country Festival featuring Miranda Lambert
August 17

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
August 19 at Walton Arts Center 

Alan Jackson
September 14

An Evening with
The Avett Brothers
October 16

 

Artosphere Festival Orchestra stuns audiences of all ages!

On Sunday, the Artosphere Festival Orchestra was in Siloam Springs to kick off the first of their three performances as a part of the Artosphere Festival. Monday, the orchestra performed for an audience in Fayetteville as a part of the 10x10 series and mixed and mingled with those in attendance as part of a post-show party. 

Artosphere Festival Orchestra. Photo by Ironside Photography

Under the direction of Maestro Corrado Rovaris, the orchestra wowed audiences with performances they won’t soon be able to forget.  Don’t take our word for it, see below what the audiences had to say about the performances:

“I feel so lucky to live in such a lively arts community. The Artosphere Orchestra was just fabulous!”

“My ears went to heaven!!”

“I want to thank the underwriters from the bottom of my heart, for making it possible for my family to experience a performance of this magnitude. It was breathtaking! We would not ordinarily be so privileged to hear such talented musicians. God has blessed you all with incredible talent, and you have blessed us this evening.”

“Running through the forest. Romantic. Like I’m being chased. One accord, one instrument. Tip toeing. Falling into a pit. Renewed happiness.”

“I loved how shiny the tuba was! Great job!”

“Amazing! Definitely want to learn to play more instruments and continue my musical career.”

“Some of the best orchestral music I have experienced, and I am 80 years old, play cello, and my mother was a concert pianist. Roberto Diaz- excellent violist. Cannot say enough for him. Wish I could hear more. The last piece by Elgar was so beautiful with Rovaris, conductor, bringing out the best in the musicians. Thanks!”

“To Band: Good music! I like the drum. I like the music! Even the lights! The tuba rocks! Love, Lily Pierce! P.S. I am a kid!”

If you missed out on the first two performances, there’s still one more opportunity left to see the Artosphere Festival Orchestra during the Artosphere Festival Finale right here in Fayetteville this Friday, June 22 at 7pm when they help close out Artosphere 2012 with a bang!

Sound the trumpets - We have a Grand Prize Winner!

Becky Foster is the Grand Prize Winner for our Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge! Becky submitted this photo the first week for our theme "Water."

photo by Becky Foster

Becky has won the following:

  • 2 tickets to our "greenest" show next season - Shrek The Musical
  • Giftcard to a local restaurant
  • Inclusion in the 2013 Artosphere book
  • Inclusion in an article to a local monthly publication
  • A feature in our WAC Weekly email that reaches over 18,000 patrons

Thank you to everyone that participated in our first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge. You all had some amazing photos, and you truly made the photo challenge FUN! We are already looking forward to seeing your submissions next year!

Artosphere Festival Orchestra rehearsal reported by an untrained ear

Hey everyone, Amanda Smith here! I just had the pleasure of sitting on stage while the Artosphere Festival Orchestra rehearsed, and all I can say is WHOA. I was in band (played the clarinet), and even played some concerts on the Walton Arts Center stage, but this was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra rehearsal. It's hard to be sneaky on stage!

First off, I love all the unspoken cues. As soon as Maestro Rovaris walks on stage, the musicians immediately sit up straight and give their undivided focus to him. I would have waited for him to say something like “Everyone, it’s time to begin” or, “Quit practicing and look at me!”, but that’s not the way it works when you’re a professional. And with the nod of a head, or the flick of a wrist, the orchestra knows exactly what Maestro Rovaris wants.

Maestro Rovaris during rehearsal

For me, sitting in with the orchestra while they practice was almost like going to a wine tasting. If you like to drink wine occasionally, like I do, you may not be able to pick up the different flavors and notes that distinguish a cabernet sauvignon from a pinot noir or a merlot. However; when you taste them all side by side, you can tell.

I’ve attended a few symphony performances over the years, and to be honest I couldn’t tell a great difference between them aside from the fact that they played different pieces. But sitting amongst the musicians as they rehearse, and seeing the tweaks that Maestro Rovaris gives them as they play the same piece over and over, I could actually pick up on the variances between the oboe and the violin playing the same notes, but not playing them the same, ending a note too soon, or a section not being “on the same page.”

While I know not everyone can come and sit on the stage while the orchestra practices, I suggest taking in more than one of the Artosphere Festival Orchestra performances over the next week and a half. You may surprise yourself by noticing something you never did before.

You can find the schedule, and purchase tickets, for the Artosphere Festival Orchestra here.

Artosphere Photo-a-Week - Weekly winner #4

We have reached the end of our first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge, and we have to admit we're a little sad. It has been such a fun time seeing all of the submissions, and we are really looking forward to doing this again next year!

Our final winner is Pat Cortez! Her beautiful "Music" photo really captured our attention. Thank you Pat for sharing this!

Photo by Pat Cortez             We'll be announcing our Grand Prize winner soon, so stay tuned! 

Alley 38 - An interactive theatre experience

Have you heard about Alley 38 yet? It's described as "a theatrical walking expedition through uncharted places," but we didn't fully grasp the idea until we actually went on the walk. Whoa, you guys. This is such a fun performance!

Conceived and produced by Artist's Laboratory Theatre (ALT), Alley 38 is part of the Artosphere Festival. ALT received an Artosphere Partner Grant to help bring the idea to life.

Patrons meet at the corner of Block and Spring street in Fayetteville (free parking at the meters after 5pm), and without giving too much away, are divided into two groups. There is a guide in each group, and you remain with them throughout the evening. Winding through the alleys of downtown Fayetteville, a story develops along the way and you find yourself anxious to find out "What is happening next??"

Here's a map of the area covered in Alley 38. While there is a lot of walking, there is plenty of stopping to rest along the way (sometimes you even get a chair!). There is also a brief (about 10min.) intercession where free drinks and snacks are offered.

Alley 38 runs through Sunday, May 27, and all performances begin at 7:30pm. At only $12/person, this is a perfect way to spend a spring evening discovering art, theatre and Fayetteville!

Alley 38 starting point

Artosphere Photo-a-Week - Weekly winner #3

The first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge is almost over. We are down to our final week, and the theme for this week is "Music." We are really enjoying all the photos you all have been submitting!

This week's winner, Kelly Leong, submitted this beautiful photo of her interpretation of last week's theme "Sticks."

photo by Kelly Leong

Congratulations Kelly! Once again, it was difficult to pick just one. They were all beautiful!

Get your "Music" photos in this week, it's your last chance to enter the Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge!

Sticks, stones, sweat and heART

We are right in the middle of our Artosphere Festival, and while we do have Polyglot Theatre's We Built This City happening in our hall this Saturday, May 19, there is also a lot going on outside our theater!

As part of Artosphere's visual arts component this year, we commissioned two artists to build site-specific installations; Karst artist Massey Burke, and Stickworks artist Patrick Dougherty. Both artists began their residency last week, and what progress they've made these past few days! Of course, they have had help from local volunteers that have dedicated their time (and sweat) to helping both of these artists complete their pieces.

Dougherty and volunteers

Patrick Dougherty installation on Walton Arts Center's Tyson PlazaLocal apprentices learning sustainable building techniques while assisting BurkeWalton Arts Center will host an End-of-Construction Celebration for Massey Burke and her Karst project on Saturday, May 19 from 3pm-5pm at the installation on the Nadine Baum Studios lawn. Patrick Dougherty's piece will be finished by the following week, May 28.

If you're interested in learning about artists who work with nature, join us this Saturday, May 19 from 2pm-3pm at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for a lecture with Patrick Dougherty and Robert Tannen. While the event is free, reservations are required due to limited seating, and can be made by clicking here.

BIG thank you to all the volunteers who are helping bring both of these projects to life on the Walton Arts Center campus. We truly appreciate your help, and could not have done this without your support. Northwest Arkansas truly is a wonderful community!

We need your help building a city!

Imagine...thousands of cardboard boxes, building assistants and the energy and creativeness of a child. The sky's the limit!

This Saturday, May 19, Polyglot Theatre is bringing their interactive program "We Built This City" to the Walton Arts Center stage for two shows; 11am-1pm & 3pm-5pm. Participants are welcome to come and go during the times that they purchase tickets. Tickets are $5 for kids & adults are FREE!

Children are encouraged to participate and help build cities on the Walton Arts Center stage. Polyglot Theatre provides building assistants to help guide the children through the construction process. They create an infrastructure, tunnels, alleys and more during the building activity. Then (we think this might be the most fun part) the kids get to knock it all down and do it AGAIN!

Just take a look at these photos, and you can see how much fun previous participants have had during "We Built This City."

photo by Ludovic des Cognets

photo by Ludovic des Cognets

Walton Arts Center has been gathering recycled boxes from our facilities as well as others to use for "We Built This City," which is a part of the Arts & Nature Festival, Artosphere.

Artosphere Photo-a-Week - Weekly winner #2

Who knew we had such amazing photographers in our community? You guys are really bringing your a-game to the Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge! Once again, it was a tough decision this week, but we had to pick one. Drum roll please...Daniel Stadler is our winner for Week 2's theme "Trail."

Photo by Daniel Stadler

Week 3 has begun, and the theme is "Sticks." It's only Monday, but we've already received some beautiful photos for this week! Friday is the deadline for submissions, and you can send them to us through any of these channels:

Looking forward to another great week!

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 3

Today we're finishing up our Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater. We have had so much fun getting to know more about this group of fascinating dancers, and we hope you have as well!

Diavolo will be performing two times this weekend; Friday, May 11 at 8pm and Saturday, May 12 at 8pm. As part of our 10x10 Arts Series, tickets to these performances start at only $10! We hope to see you here this weekend!

Photo by Kristi Khans

CaSon MacBride - dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

When referencing Diavolo... I tell them i'm apart of an acrobatic dance company. Similar to cirque du soleil but with a more contemporary dance feel. And then I usually pull out my iPhone and show them our demo video.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Nothing like watching really great classical ballet and smooth and groovin' first nations powwow dancing.  

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Bill Irwin 

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

Jumping from Column to Column.... looks difficult. Though getting into the piece is also difficult ;-)

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

If I absolutely couldn't perform... I'd direct or teach. Lead and grow performers. 

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

No breaks but my third day with Diavolo I received 7 stitches just below my knee because of a mishap on Traj (the boat piece). And once while rehearsing a site specific piece with another choreographer I dislocated my ankle.  

7. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

A teepee. I think it would compliment Diavolo's Dreamcatcher and also bring a cultural element to already great work. There are alot of pieces to a Teepee which would make for great props to make choreography.

The poles, the ropes, the canvas... and then there's the structure itself. The idea of living, dancing, playing on something that is created before your eyes I think would be amazing. Not a structure built before the show off stage behind the curtain; but a structure that the dancers have to discover piece by piece and manifest with an audience. 

8. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

My background is in American Indian Dance... I think in order to believe in the supernatural and the magic within everything you have to live in a surreal reality. Sherman Alexie... if you could consider his work surreal would be one. 

9. How does nature impact your artistic process?

Nature is inspiration, calm, home... you can't exclude yourself from nature. 

And nature is simple, unforgiving, fearless. You can distill anything that happens on stage, the life of a performance, to the simplicity of what is found in nature. When you remember that you can look for inspiration to play any role through how "nature survives".  

10. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

An aluminum water bottle that I refill as often as is convenient. Turn lights off when I leave (and TV's). Trying to not take advantage of food, resources, and energy while traveling just because someone else is buying. And I use the low flow flush on toilets when I go number 1. 

11. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Pizza & Yogurt... eaten separately.  

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 2

Yesterday we got to meet Jennifer Huffman, a dancer with Diavolo Dance Theater, and we learned that she thinks ice cream sandwiches are a healthy snack. Wait, you don't think they are? Shhh...don't tell Jennifer!

Today we're going back in to learn more about Shauna Martinez, Rehearsal Director, and Brandon Grimm, another dancer with the company.

Shauna Martinez - Rehearsal Director

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

Acrobatic dance company, flying and flipping off of very large structures similar to Cirque

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Contemporary/ modern

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Sabrina Vasquez

4. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Ultrasound technician or something with exercise science/ massage therapy

5. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Not broken, sprained yes.

6. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

hmmm... the challenge of performing on a revolving field would be interesting.

7. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

Jacques is pretty surreal at times... my spectrum of influence is very large.

8. How does nature impact your artistic process?

Weather influences the style or dynamic of my movement. 

9. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

Working with purpose, and finding moments and places of relaxation and rejuvenation. Lots of laughing and great friends!

10. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Love orange juice! Roasted pepper hummus with pita bread

Photo by Kristi Khans

Brandon Grimm - Dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

We are an acrobatic dance company that uses really large set pieces and structures. We play a lot with shapes within a space and movement patters in, on, and around the structures and stage. We are mostly closely compared to Cirque du Soliel, but on a much smaller scale.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Anything highly synchronized with pattern and formation changes. Cedar Lake's "Violet Kid" does an amazing job at this. I highly recommend it! 

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Coming from a Fashion design background, I'm really inspired by art deco designers such as Erté, as well as works from Alfonse Mucha and the Art Nouvear era.

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

The entire thing... After being given a video to study my track, of an almost 30 minute piece, it was really confusing to map my character. It became easier once we were in rehearsals, physically on the structure.

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Funny enough, I actually resigned from a high profile fashion design position to pursue my life as a professional dancer. I made it 51 weeks (1 week shy of a year) in that corporate job and realized I wasn't happy sitting in front of a desk wasting 15 years of training and performing as a dancer. So I quit...

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Never while Performing, no... But I did step on a screw (used to secure taps to tap shoes) in the middle of a piece. Luckily those screws are short and the sole in my jazz shoe was thick. No toes were injured...

7. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

I'd have to say... Paint... But I'd like to do it on large ramp, similar to a photographer's seamless paper, but something we could run up and splash around in. 

8. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

Surrealist artists, not so much. But currently I have an obsession with sculptor Richard McDonald. His workmanship in itself is surreal in the nature that, it's unfathomable how much life, detail, and character he puts into each work. His main focus is on the human form: physical artists and athletes in dance, gymnastics, and circus Arts. And as a dancer and performer, I am always inspired by the human form.

9. How does nature impact your artistic process?

I love nature! My favorite getaway is Alaska. Pristine, untouched terrain, covered in trees, glaciers, waterfall, and animals has always inspired me artistically. Architect, Frank Lloyd Wright is always taking inspiration from surrounding terrain and blending his architecture beautifully. Whether its allowing a natural creek to flow undisturbed though the middle of a house, or building a home directly over a waterfall I aspire to work as seamlessly with nature as Wright. I prefer not to disturb nature; but embrace is beauty and strength for inspiration.

10. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

Sadly, I don't live as sustainably as I would like as it's extremely expensive. I would love to have a fully solar home that relies not on an electric company, but soley on the power of the sun. In the mean time though, I have a reusable plastic Starbucks cup that I get refilled everyday. :-)

11. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Fresh cut mango... 

Thanks Shauna and Brandon! Check back in with us tomorrow as we finish up our Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater just in time for their first show on Friday, May 11! They'll be performing on Saturday, May 12 as well. Tickets to both shows are only $10, and from the looks of these photos it's going to be quite a show!

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 1

This week we have the brilliant Diavolo Dance Theater in our hall. Diavolo means "the day I learned to fly." Isn't that just the most wonderfully magic name you've ever heard? This 10-member dance company is made up of dancers, gymnasts and actors who deliver large-scale interdisciplinary performances that examine the funny and frightening ways individuals behave within their environment.

They will be in-residency for the week traveling to local schools to work with students, performing as part of our Colgate Classroom Series, and even instructing a Masterclass for people ages 14 and up. They will reach over 2,000 individuals in classroom and community settings this week. We are so lucky to have them in Northwest Arkansas!

Photo by Rose Eichenbaum

Diavolo is also part of our 10x10 Arts Series, and you know we love to grill them about the work they're doing so we can share it with you! Read below to find out a little bit more about the members of this interesting group that are spending the week in our community. Today we're talking with Jennifer Huffman, but come back tomorrow for more with some of the other company members!

Jennifer Huffman - Dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

I scare them. They aren't expecting what they get sometimes, so in a good way I believe it scares them.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Raw, athletic dancing

3.Who is your artistic icon?

I've never had one. There are many people I look up to for guidance; those that have taught me & continue to teach me.

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

The first complete run-through we did, I was soooo exhausted at the end of the first half that I thought there was no way I could do an entire second half. But, I did... :)

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Veterinarian

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Possibly...

7. If you could incorporate an object or structure into a performance, what would it be and why?

I have always enjoyed climbing and playing on anything. I have never been afraid of heights, and love to fly through the air, so anything I can jump off of, do a handstand on, climb, slide, crawl or bounce on would be fun for me!

8. Diavolo is performing during our Artosphere Festival, which focuses on arts, nature & sustainability. How does nature impact your artistic process?

The different seasons put me in different moods, and therefore effect how I work that day, or what I decide to create when I do.

9. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

I do what I want to do. Dance to the beat of my own drum, and find something that makes me laugh everyday!

10. What is your favorite healthy snack?

A tie between avocados and ice cream sandwiches. :)

 

Artosphere Photo-a-Week - Weekly winner #1

We had a great response to the first week of our first ever Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge! You guys have some amazing camera skills, and we were definitely WOW-ed by all your submissions. It was a tough decision trying to pick just one!

Our first winner is Becky Foster for her lovely submission below. Week 1's theme was "Water."

Photo by Becky Foster

Congratulations Becky!

We still have three weeks to go, and our second week just kicked off today with the theme "Trail." You can submit your photos to photos@waltonartscenter.org, upload them to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/waltonartscenter), or tweet them to us @walton_arts #AFphoto.

We're looking forward to seeing what this week brings! For complete rules on the Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge click here.

Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge

The 3rd annual Artosphere Festival starts next Thursday, May 3 with a kick-off event featuring music by 3 Penny Acre & April Verch, a farmers market on our plaza, a gallery opening of the exhibition Structuring Nature and a conversation with New York Times bestselling author Michael Pollan.

Artosphere has grown tremendously over the past few years, and it's all thanks to the wonderful community we live in. As it grows, we look for ways to really engage our community and enrich their experience even more. This year we decided to do an Artosphere Photo-a-Week Challenge, because it really is all about each individual's experience and interpretation of the world around them. 

There are four themes over the course of four weeks. Send us your interpretation of each theme (see below) by Friday of each week to be entered into the contest. The contest will begin Monday, April 30 and run through Friday, June 1. 

  •   Week 1 - Water (April 30 - May 4)
  •   Week 2 - Trail (May 5 - May 11)
  •   Week 3 - Sticks (May 12 - May 18)
  •   Week 4 - Music (May 19 - May 25)

Photos may be submitted through the following channels:

A weekly winner will be chosen, and featured on our blog, blasted out via Twitter and on our Facebook page as the cover photo. Each weekly winner will also receive an Artosphere tote bag. At the end of the four weeks, a grand prize winner will be chosen, and receive:

  •   2 tickets to our "greenest" show next season - Shrek The Musical
  •   Gift card to a partnering restaurant
  •   Inclusion in the 2013 Artosphere book
  •   Inclusion in an article to a local monthly publication
  •   A feature in the WAC Weekly; our weekly email that reaches over 18,000 people

This is going to be such a fun project, and we can't wait to see all of your submissions. So grab your camera, iPhone or tablet & get started!

Follow-up: Ted Nugent at the AMP

We sincerely appreciate those who have left us comments about the upcoming Ted Nugent concert.  

Walton Arts Center does not condone violence or violent speech, but we also recognize that some such speech may be protected by the First Amendment.   We have followed carefully the Secret Service’s reaction to Mr. Nugent’s comments and understand they have closed the matter and do not see the need for further action. While we do not condone his comments, we are confident in the Secret Service’s thorough review.

We do not have a policy for cancellation of performances due to an artist’s political speech or opinions.  However, we are listening intently to all of the comments we are receiving.  We are also evaluating the many factors that come into play when considering the option to cancel a performance.  Such a decision is not something we take lightly.

We appreciate all who have contributed to the dialogue.

Ted Nugent at the AMP

We would like to thank everyone who has expressed an opinion regarding the upcoming performance by Ted Nugent at the Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP).

We are aware of Mr. Nugent's recent comments, and comments he's made in the past. Here is a link to the most recent news about these comments.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PEOPLE_TED_NUGENT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

As an entertainment presenter, and owner of the AMP, we take into account our wide and diverse audiences when booking shows. However, there is a lot of discussion going on internally about this concert, and we want to assure everyone that we are listening to your feedback and comments and taking them into account.

Many of you have asked us if we intend to cancel Mr. Nugent's performance. Cancellation, though rare, may happen because of weather issues, sales or scheduling conflicts, and we work closely with our performers' management to make such decisions. Walton Arts Center does not have a policy of cancelling shows based on a performer's political statements or opinion; we evaluate each show on a case-by-case basis.

As an arts and entertainment presenter, we are grateful for the opportunity to engage in dialogue with our community about issues such as this, and we welcome your comments and feedback.