Caravanserai - what does it mean??

Our next 10x10 Arts Series show is just around the corner; Caravanserai: Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble with Brahim Fribgane. If you're anything like me, you're looking at that first word wondering how to even pronounce it, let alone figure out what it means. Let me break it down for you phonetically: Kara-van-sir-eye. There, see? It's not that hard. :)

Majid Bekkas Gnawa EnsembleNow, let's talk about what it means. From their website: Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet creates new pathways for Americans to experience the diversity of contemporary Muslim artistic expressions by introducing U.S. audiences to exciting and dynamic artists from the Muslim world. Sounds pretty interesting, right?

We're very much looking forward to hosting this performance next Thursday, October 18 at Walton Arts Center. They are only traveling to four places in the United States this year (Tennessee, North Dakota, Minnesota and Arkansas)!

Brahim FribganeAs per usual, we like to find out more about these artists before they arrive. There were so many things we wanted to ask, but alas, we had to temper ourselves to make sure we don't overwhelm them. :) Read on to find out more about the artists behind Caravanserai: Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble with Brahim Fribgane.

1. What are you most looking forward to on this US Tour?

Majid  - The chance to share my culture and my community with American people and to let them discover our music and way of life - the things they cannot learn in books or through movies or television.

Brahim - Looking forward to sharing  the art and music that I learned back home. And to connect with American audiences in terms of seeing us differently than how the media portrays us. I want to share with happiness because whatever you feel in music we all feel it together. We are the same inside.

2. What size of audiences and whom do you typically perform for in Morocco?

Majid – Mostly festivals with many young people - some have thousands of peope like the Essaouria Gnawa World Music Festival which can have as many as 50,000 in the audience. Sometimes I do concerts in theatres and special places for people that know about music like teachers and students at universities in Morocco that are much more intimate. I alos perform in jazz clubs in Europe.

Brahim – I performed with Hassan Hakmoun and Peter Gabriel at Woodstock in 1994 and some big festivals in Europe. I also do a lot of jazz clubs and more intimate setting with with my jazz group Club d’Elf and Medeski, Martin and Wood and a band called Moving Picture with Adam Rudoloph.

3. Explain the tradition of twirling the hat?   Why do only men do it - is it a religious act or just something fun to do?

It is not a religious act like a dervish. It is not about connecting with the divine or achieving a trance or anything. It is just fun. It is to make people smile and add color to the performance. One legend goes that the first slave emancipated by Mohammed named Bilal was asked to be the first mushin (the person who calls people to prayer). Mohammed’s cousin Ali was having trouble with his wife and Bilal created the quarqabs (the castanet we play)and the twirly hat to sing and dance and make them happy to bring Ali and his wife back together.

4. What is your most favorite Moroccan dish/meal to prepare?

Majid - My specialty is fish tagine cooked with tomatoes, garlic and olive oil spiced with cumin, pepper, paprika, lemons and parsley.

Brahim – sfinge it is a fried bread like a donut that makes me think of home. Mint tea with sugar too.

Other members of the ensemble: Sidi Abellfattah El Houssaini likes ice cream vanilla, Fath Allah Chaouki likes shell fish, Abdelhafid Oummane likes couscous with chicken and vegetables, Mesbah Chaouki likes bouzroug (mussels), and Abdessadek Bounhar likes everything…he is an “every-terian.” (<--ha! We love this!)

5. How did you learn how to play your instrument? When?

Majid - I learned to play guembri in Sale where I was born with a master named Bahaman. I started playing guenbri and banjo when I was fourteen in the early seventies.  There was a band called Nass Ghiwane known as “The Beatles of Morocco” that inspired me.

Brahim -  I was thirteen or fourteen. I was born in Casablanca and I was influenced also by Nass Ghiwane. The first instrument I learned was harmonica because of Bollywood movies I saw often at the cinema when I was a kid.

6. What are 3 goals of your performances? What do you want audiences to walk away with?

Majid – First to have the audience accept and enjoy it, the second is if we can have people sing and participate with us like clap or whatnot we feel like we are sharing, and third to bring the message of love and peace in this world. Musicians are the best ambassadors.

Brahim – First to tell people that Muslims are not only what they see on tv and read in the papers - burning flags and being violent. We are people of peace like them. Also that people will learn about my amazing culture and my language and my tribe from the Souss or South part of Morocco, and third that we are making peace with music and music with peace. 

7. What makes you unique from other performers?

Brahim - Every musician plays with his own hands, and his own life influences. That is what makes me unique. Your roots and experiences make you “you” and this makes the sound you play or the song you sing unique.

Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble in Morocco. Photo by Hassan Abdellaoui.

8. Do you have any superstitions or backstage rituals, before you go on stage?

Everything that we do we say “bismillah” before we eat, before we put on our clothes in the morning, before we do anything. It is a blessing and a prayer and it means “in the name of God.”

9. Is there something you enjoy collecting?

Abdelfattah {ensemble member} collects percussion instruments and noisemakers. We all like to fish, and play soccer.

10. Was there some great advice you received as you began your artistic journey?

Brahim- The great musician Ali Farka Toure told me “whenever you play your instrument, be yourself, do not try to be anyone else. “

Majid – When I released my album African Gnoua Blues I received a call from from famous American jazz legend Archie Shepp and he told me “You are in the right direction. Now I understand how near gnawa is to the blues and jazz.” Then he invited me to play with him in Paris!

11. What profession other than yours would you most like to attempt?

Abdelfattah - ice cream maker

Brahim - When I was young I wanted to be a merchant marine so I could sail and see the world.

Abdelhafid – carpenter

Mesbah – electrician

Abdessadek – sales…business

Fath Allah -  only gnawa nothing else

Majid – teacher…but I want to me a musician all my life.

Turns out we're not too different from our friends across the globe. I mean, who doesn't like ice cream? Come join us for their performance on October 18, and don't forget to come early for the pre-show conversation at 6pm!

If you'd like to find out more about Caravanserai, please visit their website.

Celebrating "20 Years" in Northwest Arkansas

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary here in Northwest Arkansas, and the old saying "time flies when you're having fun" seems to ring true to us during this time. It hardly seems that its been 20 years since we opened our doors to the community, let alone that some of our employees have been here for just as many years (be sure to tell them how youthful they look. :) )!

To commemorate and preserve our history, Walton Arts Center commissioned local artist, Kathy Thompson to create an original project.

Kathy Thompson's work in progress for WAC. Taken at Thompson's studio in Fayetteville.Kathy Thompson has become known for her H Boxes, mixed-media boxes that arrange treasured artifacts into dynamic and resonant compositions. These richly textured and inventive works explore the intersection of objects, history, memory, and the formal language of assemblage.

Without much direction from Walton Arts Center, Ms. Thompson undertook the task of rummaging through our archived materials, as well as conducting interviews with staff, patrons and others in the local arts community.

"Broadway" photo by Ironside PhotographyWhat came out of Thompson's hours and hours of research were 20 beautiful boxes that encompass not on Walton Arts Center's history, but also some history (and nods to the future) of Northwest Arkansas.

Our staff and Ms. Thompson are hard at work installing this exhibition, titled "20 Years," in our gallery for an event we're hosting this Thursday, October 4; "Treasures & History: A Gallery Open House" from 5:30pm - 8pm. Please join us as we unveil this project that has been "20 Years" in the making!

Moving day! Kathy's boxes getting prepped for installation

Our vision for the Fayetteville theater expansion

We recently unveiled new concepts that would add 30,000 square feet of space to the Walton Arts Center Fayetteville campus at an estimated cost of $20 million. The vision includes an expanded lobby and plaza plus additional seating and a dedicated entrance for Starr Theater. This creates a vibrant streetscape, allows for more performances and special events and attracts more people to the entertainment district. Please keep in mind that these are just renderings of the project to show you the size and scope. Design elements will come later.

We couldn't be more excited about getting started on this project, and you may be wondering exactly what our timeline is for this expansion. We will have to see how things play out with fundraising and design, but we are ready to move! Our preliminary timeline looks like this:

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's talk about what will be included in the Fayetteville expansion:

Nearly 30,000 additional gross square feet of space including:

New main lobby that connects the Center to Dickson Street

  • Larger lobby to accommodate crowds for major events
  • Expanded concessions and lobby amenities
  • Additional restrooms
  • Outdoor covered plaza that creates synergy with Dickson Street
  • New special event spaces

Expansion and renovation of Starr Theater

  • New separate entrance plaza and dedicated lobby
  • Additional theater seating – Increase seating capacity from 165 to 250
  • Window to new plaza allows natural light into the room
  • Creates divisible room for more flexible event and performance space

Additional backstage support spaces to meet current and future needs of artists

  • New dressing rooms and stage storage
  • New production offices for visiting and local crew
  • Catering kitchen
  • Storage for instruments, pianos and electrics
  • Maintenance shop
  • New lighting system in Baum Walker Hall

Reconfiguration of Rosen Memorial Rose Garden/Bradberry Amphitheater

  • New access to garden from main lobby
  • New event space for indoor/outdoor events in garden
  • Option to cover garden

Expansion of WAC’s main administrative offices

  • Additional space to house WAC’s expanding staff
  • Conference room and office support space

Are you still with us? It's a lot to take in, but we are dedicated to ensuring our facilities further our mission to bring great performing artists and entertainers to Northwest Arkansas, and to being an active and dynamic part of the Dickson Street entertainment district. We know what this expansion means to us, but let's talk about what impact it will have on our community:

More shows and events on Dickson Street at all times of the day

  • A renovated Walton Arts Center with an expanded lobby, more special event space, and additional backstage support facilities, means more shows and events and more people coming to Dickson Street
  • Starr theater’s larger capacity allows it to be used for more types of performances
  • Separate lobby for Starr Theater means performances can seamlessly take place in both theaters at the same time
  • New event space throughout the complex meets NWA’s growing need for meeting, conference and special event space, bringing people to Dickson Street at varying times of the day

A new streetscape on Dickson Street that further invigorates downtown

  • New main lobby and plaza become an active part of the streetscape
  • The Expansion compliments new and exciting developments in the downtown, including the remodeled Town Center and the Chancellor Hotel, cementing Downtown Fayetteville as an event and entertainment destination
  • More people coming to performances and events bring increased economic development to Fayetteville
  • WAC’s expanded main offices contribute to the downtown daytime economy

Better facilities for touring artists

  • More storage and production space to accommodate touring companies’ larger casts, crews and sets
  • New lighting system to keep up with changing technology

Increased opportunities for local arts groups

  • More performance opportunities for local groups in the facility
  • Better space and equipment

After reviewing our preliminary expansion timeline, what the project will include and how it will impact our community, we have a bird's eye view of what our campus would look like. As most of you probably know, the City of Fayetteville is also planning to build a parking deck on or around the Walton Arts Center campus. The architecture firm that we're working with made a rendering of what our campus would look like both with the parking deck on our lot, and with the deck on an adjacent lot.

As we mentioned above, we are thrilled about this project and what it means for our community. We hope that you are as well. You can find more information about our vision for Walton Arts Center on our website.

We would love to hear what you think - leave your comments below!

Plena Libre - we're still recovering!

You guys! It's taken us nearly a week to get over all the fun we had at our first show of the 10x10 Arts Series this season, Plena Libre.

There was a great turnout to the 6pm creative conversation with Gary Nunez, Founder, Director and Bass player of Plena Libre. Then we turned it up a few notches, and got the {dance} party started at 7pm. Can we just say that you guys really know how to shake it? We absolutely loved seeing everyone on the dance floor!

The music was great, the dance floor was fun, but you guys really brought the house down. Thanks to everyone that joined us last week for Plena Libre!

Here are a few comments we received from you after the show:

Looking forward to see you all at the next 10x10 Arts Series show in October - Caravanserai: Majid Bekkas Gnawa Ensemble with Brahim Fribgane!

Get your dancing shoes on - Plena Libre's bringing the beat!

Plena Libre is the first show on our 10x10 Arts Series this year, and we couldn't be more excited to kick-off the series with this fun, engaging group! Plena Libre will be at Walton Arts Center on Thursday, September 20 at 7pm. We guarantee their music will have you wanting to jump out of your seat and dance along. Guess what? We anticipated that, and we've added a dance floor in our hall during the performance!

The sound of Plena Libre is the modern, forward-looking sound of Puerto Rico, yet at the same time it is firmly rooted in Puerto Rico’s musical traditions. The plena and bomba are at the core of the compositional structure of the songs and the instrumental lineup, which includes the panderos – the hand-held drums used in the traditional plena; it is also at the core of the singing style of Plena Libre’s soneros, who have been brought up on Afro-Rican sung traditions.

PanderoIf you've been following our blog, you know that we like to pick the brains of our 10x10 artists, and this year is no different! We caught up with Gary Nuñez, Founder, Director and Bass player of Plena Libre to ask him a few questions.

1. What is the difference between plena, bomba and salsa music?

They are completely different music. They have different rhythmic patterns that sustain the melodies and arrangement and singing approach. Salsa roots are Cuban. Plena and Bomba come from Puerto Rico. Bomba is actually one name under which around 20 different rhythms exist. Nevertheless, they do share a common African root as many of the music in this hemisphere like in U.S., Colombia, Mexico, Panama, etc.

2. How is plena music received in other Latin American countries?

Plena Libre’s performances and recordings, have been very well received by the public and received great reviews by the critics everywhere we've performed including, U.S., Europe, Morocco and Malaysia (check our web page for quotes).

3. What’s the one thing you want all audiences to remember about Plena Libre after the concert?

A moment of sharing, happiness and joy!

4. What’s your favorite style of Latino dance? Why? Where did you learn it?

PLENA! ! Many times over. Basic steps are simple, you can do it on your own, with your partner, or just in a choreography with a bunch of people! While doing it with your partner you can then go into more complicated steps that look great!!

5. If you had to describe your music in 3 words what would they be? Why?

New, energetic, and joyful. My approach as a composer and arranger has been and is, to keep the basic traditional rhythms, but renew them with the influences of contemporary music from the world,  thus creating a "new plena". Our music, and our shows, are full of lots of energy that starts from the stage and gets to the audience, creating a beautiful circle of energy, that in turn creates emotions of sharing and joy.

6. What is the oddest thing someone has given you during/after a performance?

Oh I'd rather not say!

7. Was there some great advice you received as you began your artistic journey?

Always follow your intuition, as source of knowledge fill with experience and not that contaminated with the rational thinking process, which should be applied later, to achieve your goals. As for music, practice, practice, and listen, listen, listen!

8. Is there a dish you love to cook when you are home?

I'm an expert on scramble eggs!!!! with cheese, ham, and a touch of ketchup ( they do that in the city of Ponce, south of Puerto Rico)

9. What profession other than yours would you most like to attempt?

I've been lucky to work in radio, press, social work, etc. during my forming years. As for another profession I really do like Law, because there’s so much good you could do for others.

10. Where’s your favorite place to travel?

Besides Puerto Rico (to know my country and its people) I do enjoy everywhere we go. It is just the experience of learning that there are so many different ways to live and see life.

11. Did you watch the Olympics? What was your favorite sport?

I did, some of the sports. Track and field (I'm a runner) because there was a Puerto Rican, that is the current world champion of the diamond league of track and field (400 meters with obstacles), Javier Culson. He was hurt when he ran, but nevertheless, got a Bronze medal.   Basketball and swimming (amazing!). 

Plena Libre - that's Gary Nunez in the white pantsI don't know about you guys, but I'm dying to know the answer to #6! Come to the show on September 20, and maybe you can find Gary during the post-show activities and see if he'll clue you in on this little secret. Hope to see you all there!

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!