Seldovia Arts Council has been actively supporting folk music in the West. Not only has it been a supporting member of the National Folk Alliance and it's regional arm FARWest Folk Alliance, but it has participated in the event by creating Alaska's own showcase. This mini- showcase room has presented some of Alaska's
best perfomers and highlighted those traveling artists who have come to Seldovia as part of our own Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival It has participated in the exhibit hall several years in a row, promoting the charms of the Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival and other great venues such as Talkeetna's Whole Wheat Radio and Eagle River Out North Theater.
Boardmember of FARWest, Susan Mumma and Tom Begich have partnered in this event. Seldovians Suzie and Jerry Stranik have also attended the event, helping to host the room and creating a delightful array of treats for hungry artists to munch while they come to know Alaska talent. Thanks Jerry for the great pictures of the event!!
Seldovia Arts Council’s report from Local Arts Agencies Today: Creativity, Community Connections by Susan Mumma
October 16, 17 and 18th Seldovia Arts Council Chairperson, Susan Mumma participated in statewide conference taking place in Juneau, Alaska This event was hosted by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and sponsored by the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Rasmuson Foundation. The intent of the conference, Local Arts Agencies Today: Creativity, Community, Connections, was to allow networking between the various community arts councils and boards and to refresh the group’s enthusiasm toward effective arts leadership. The group explored the history of arts organizations nation-wide and new paradigms for local arts agencies today. They were asked to consider the true mission of the arts in each of their communities. Facilitators of the event were Maryo Ewell, author of “The Arts in the Small Community” and Barbara Schaeffer-Bacon, co-director of Animating Democracy. Among the attendees were Directors of the Alaska State Council, Charlotte Fox, Saunders McNeill, and Andea Noble, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Alaska State Council on the Arts, Ben Brown,Victoria Lord of the Rasmuson Foundation, volunteer board members and paid staff who serve in leadership capacity in local community arts organizations state-wide.
The emphasis the conference was to help build new paradigms in arts management and to encourage each Alaskan group to continue to expand its mission into the roots of the community, through its, arts programs, schools, libraries, local cultural organizations, services and social clubs, communications and media. Huge ideas were presented in which arts play a dynamic roll in shaping Democracy and changing the creative face of America, then practical methods to achieve these goals in even the smallest community were explored. The groups shared ideas and methods and cheered each others successes.
Barbara Schaeffer-Bacon emphasized the goals of each arts agency through the lens of Americans for the Arts, a leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With a 40-year record of service, it is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. The thrust of the talk was is best summarized by the mission statement of Animating Democracy:
Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts Institute for Community Development and the Arts, fosters arts and cultural activity that encourages and enhances civic engagement and dialogue. It is based on the premise that democracy is animated when an informed public is engaged in the issues affecting people’s daily lives. The arts and humanities can contribute unique programs, settings, and creative approaches that reach new and diverse participants, stimulate public dialogue about civic issues, and inspire action to make change.
The state of the arts represents the health of the community. It represents creative excellence. It represents the best of our city spaces and public buildings. It links the arts to the economy through creative design in product development and business plans. In a nutshell, a healthy, thriving economy is partnered by a healthy sense of its arts.
The class will meet for an Artist's Talk on Thursday evening 7 PMl Sept. 19 at the City Mulitipurpose Room. The community will be invited, for coffee, cookies and discussion of the artist's life and work. Classes will begin Friday and go through Sunday. Hours TBA after the first class.
Recommended Material List:
- Brushes: 3/4-1" sabeline or blend one-stroke flat; #8 pointed round; 2" flat wash; 1/2" stiff bristle or scrubbing set; #4 or #6 or small rigger for details.
- 2-3 full sheets of 140# or 300# cold-press watercolor paper cut 11"x14" or larger, block, or pad (Arches, Fabriano or Canson)
- “ Yarka “ Watercolor Professional 24 color Set ( dickblick.com) more economical or more expensive artists' tube colors: French Ultramarine; Winsor or Phthalo Blue (Green Shade or Red Shade); Cerulean; Cobalt Blue; Aureolin; New Gamboge or Indian Yellow; Winsor or Cadmium Lemon (Do NOT use nickel titanate lemon yellow.); Alizarin Crimson; Winsor Red, Cadmium Red, Grumbacher Red or Holbein Permanent Red; Cadmium Scarlet or Scarlet Lake; Rose Madder Genuine (Winsor & Newton ONLY); Quinacridone Magenta; Winsor Violet or Dioxazine Violet; Raw Sienna or Quinacridone Gold; Burnt Sienna; Brown Madder; Indian Red; Indigo; and/or your personal favorites
- white watercolor palette-- 12" or larger with or without cover (Speedball ColorWheel is nice if you need a new palette); Double water containers; tissues or paper towels, pocket knife, HB drawing pencil, white plastic eraser, sketch pad, small natural sponge, spray bottle, artist or masking tape.
This was one heck of a concert!!!! Thanks to all who made it happen!!!!!!!
Doug Cox is a roots music renaissance man. From his home on Vancouver Island the composer, multi-instrumentalist and music programmer has carved-out a diverse career as a recording artist and session and touring musician. He has played festivals, clubs, camps and concert halls across Canada, the United States and around the world from Seldovia, Alaska, to the Baseball Hall of Fame (with Chuck Brodsky) in Cooperstown, New York, to the Sore Fingers Camp in England. Cox was the first Canadian Dobro player to be invited to perform at 'Dobrofest' in Slovakia and was the first Dobro player to be a featured player at the Montreal Jazz Festival (with Todd Butler).
He has worked as a sideman and frontman with Canadian Bluesman Ken Hamm, in duos with Todd Butler and Sam Hurrie, with American songwriter Chuck Brodsky, the late British Blues Icon Long John Baldry and guitar string-bender Amos Garrett among many others.
Doug is currently signed to the Northern Blues Label. His latest release, 'Slide To Freedom,' is a collaboration with India's Salil Bhatt, Ramkumar Mishra and very special guest, Grammy Winner, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
Chris Proctor "Intrumental Americana " on the 12 -string guitar Critics call his guitar playing "breathtaking," "haunting," and "rich." They describe his compositions as "spectacular," "elegant," and "exquisite." They trace the roots of his style to folk, jazz, pop, and classical music, and, when all else fails, they try and categorize his playing as "baroque folk," or "Instrumental Americana." The guitar press compares him to Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges. Another reviewer ventures this analysis: "In his taut, faceted compositions, Chris gives the guitar sole responsibility for a piece's rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic components, and in the process creates full-voiced 'guitar songs.' His playing illuminates the instrument's deepest voices and most sonorous qualities, rendering a pop-folk equivalent of the classical guitar sonata."
Ten CDs on Flying Fish, Windham Hill, Rounder and Sugarhouse Records, and his books, DVD's, videos, magazine articles, and endorsements all testify to Chris's standing as one of the elite fingerstyle composers, arrangers, and performers of the day.
Everybody get ready... October 30
Throat Singing: Sounds rather new age hunh? Actually it is ancient. It is one art form that has its roots in the time before the trans-ice age migration of Northern peoples. It survives to this day in several cultures although it is somewhat different in form these days. If you look into it thoroughly as the Smithsonian did, you will note that the sounds made in throat singing may have been developed by ancient herdsmen to imitate the sounds in nature, such as the mountains, the streams and the harsh winds of the steppes and to see how far they could make their voices travel across the valleys where they lived. Today Mongolian herdsmen such as Huun Huur Tu practice this art and it is mostly identified with Central Asia but Inuit women in the upper regions of Canada have practiced this form since ancient days. Religious institutions and gender taboos had curtailed throat singing until recently in Canada and Alaska, but today it is re surging in Canada through the efforts of such women as Evie Marks of Quebec. It is demonstrated in the Arctic Winter Games and there are various CD's celebrating the Music of the Inuit. There are also versions of throat singing in South African Xosa tribes and by Northern Japanese people, the Ainu.
The tradition is laced with superstition but is simply the careful usage of 'overtones'. It is a method of making sounds that reverberate in the chambers of the throat and takes a good deal of practice. Huun Huur Tu has reached celebrity status in thier own Tuva regions for thier mastery of the art form and for their skillful instrumentation.
If you want to have some fun, follow these links for more detailed information about these this interesting form.
Khoomei - How To's And Why's
Smithsonian article on Throat singing
Inuit Singing article by Bruno Deschênes other articles on musicology website
Wikkipedia Article on Huun Huur Tu is really good!!!
We have been pleased to sponsor Yoga this summer through the efforts of Kate Springer and Betsy Scott. It was a great addition to our community and we would love to continue the practice through the winter months.
I received the following update on the yoga and t'ai chi classes that have gone on all summer under Arts Council sponsorship:
With the summer's Seldovia Arts Council yoga and t'ai chi classes winding down, instructors Kate Springer and Betsy Scott have been preparing materials to help us through the winter with our practice.
Kate has provided written workout notes for her yoga students on poses they've worked on during the summer and made up a list of suggested references. Betsy has chosen a book and video that the t'ai chi group will be working from next summer as well as recommending a DVD on Qigong. I have indicated with an asterisk several items the classes have donated to the Seldovia Public Library. Copies of Kate's workout notes and reference list will also be available for printout at the library or from seldovia.library@gmail.com.
Betsy's classes will end this week; Kate's will go on for a few weeks longer. The t'ai chi group has made plans to meet together to practice their forms on Monday mornings at 10 am; contact me or Sachiko Scott for location details. A yoga practice group may continue to meet during the winter as well; contact Ila Dillon or Amy Gilson for details on that.
All of the class members have already sent a card of thanks to you as program director of the Arts Council, expressing our gratitude for the Arts Council's sponsorship of these classes. We'd also like to thank our instructors, Betsy Scott and Kate Springer, for their time, energy, enthusiasm, and expertise, and to express our hopes that they'll be back next year to teach us again.
Savannah Lewis
Yoga class references – Kate Springer
*Om Yoga : A guide to Daily Practice
by Cyndi Lee
Publisher: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, ©2002
ISBN: 0811835138 9780811835138
Yoga the Iyengar Way
by Silva, Mira & Shyam Mehta, forward by BKS Iyengar
Publisher: Brookvale, N.S.W. : Simon & Schuster, 1990.
ISBN: 0731800737 : 9780731800735
The Sivananda companion to yoga : a complete guide to the physical postures, breathing exercises, diet, relaxation, and meditation techniques of yoga
by Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center (New York, N.Y.)
Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2000.
ISBN: 0684870002 9780684870007
The complete yoga book : yoga of breathing, yoga of posture, and yoga of meditation
by James Hewitt
Publisher: New York : Schocken Books, 1978, ©1977.
ISBN: 0805236872 : 9780805236873 0805205926 : 9780805205923
DVD/Videos:
Elise Miller: Intermediate Yoga in Fiji (netflix)
Shiva Rea: Creative Core Abs (netflix)
(Anything Shiva Rea will be great!)
Power Yoga Total Body with Rodney Yee (advanced) (netflix)
Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss (netflix)
T'ai chi and Qigong references - Betsy Scott
*Qigong beginning practice with Francesco & Daisy Lee-Garripoli (dvd)
*The complete idiot's guide to t'ai chi and qigong
by Bill Douglas
Publisher: Indianapolis : Alpha Books, ©2002
ISBN: 0028642643 9780028642642
The BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Concert held August 14 was outstanding!!
A crowd of over a hundred people from Seldovia and beyond (even 25 elderhostel folks from Fairbanks) gathered on an unusual Tuesday evening in our "school commons-gone cajun" for rousing music, dancing and carrying on. Maybe this was the biggest crowd we've had since the festival!!! Big kids and little kids danced their feet sore and shook their "bayous" in the one small corner left in the crowded, "standing room-only, there's no room to be lonely" venue.
It was all fun with such great Lousianna Cajun music played by: Michael Doucet on fiddle and vocals,David Doucet, guitar and vocals, Jimmy Breaux, accordian, Billy Ware,percussion,(and that includes the francois!)
Tommy Alisi, drums and Mitch Reed ,base fiddle and banjo, and Bill Bennett sound engineer.
Special thanks goes out to Jerry and Suzie Stranik, who flew and drove and cooked and orchestrated much of the event, to our housing sponsors, Dancing Eagles, Bridge Keeper's Bed and Breakfast, the Seldovia Rowing Club Bed and Breakfast, to our set up crew: Susan Mumma, Suzie Stranik, Jerry Stranik, Mary and Mike Webber, Andy Christolo, Jim Standifer, Walt Sonin, Sachiko Scott and take down crew, including many of the same and including Bob Moser and of course, Renee Pupura and the SBE school. Thanks to our publicity team,Mary Webber, Mary Glover, Susan Zerwick and Carole Myers( Tree Tops Lodge) and to Darlene Crawford for taking the gate. Thanks for all the strong coffee Sarah Nichols, and John Fenski. Thanks to Carl Stoltz at Bay Excursions for bringing the band into Seldovia so late in the day...and Smokey Bay Air and Mike Hayes and the Alaskan Airman's Association for your help as well. You are all great!!!!!!
Photo gallery here. Please contact the photographer for prior written permission before
using these copyrighted photos anyplace else.
Do you have photos to add? Send them to Seldovia Arts Council.
Just to get ready for our upcoming concert by Beau Soleil, want to hear some great old timey Cajun music?
Interesting things about Cajun music:
Well, since this is my blog , I just wanted to say a few words about how I feel about the Seldovia Arts Council's purpose:
1. I think that the arts are tremendous forum for us to explore ideas.
2..I think that our definition of the arts might need to encompass more and broaden.
3
It does not need to be a forum where people air their political views,
but it should not be a place where they are prohibited because they
might disturb someone or disagree with the majority point of view.
4. SAC is not particularly ABOUT making money, but should be supported financially by all who want it to exist.
5. SAC needs to be alive, not bland.. as our world is alive and dynamic and sometimes deeply confusing.
6.
I do not agree with all that people express in the arts, but I think
like every good American, I must defend their right to express
themselves , as long as they are not hurting others. There are
appropriate forums for expression however, and it is SAC's duty to
determine which is most appropriate.
7. The arts have suffered
the slings and arrows of those who want to preserve the status quo for
eons, but the arts have pushed us forward and should not be stifled
or limited to only a few forms.
8. Education is not a bad thing. SAC
should strive to be a cultural leader, exhibiting the finest quality of
performance, visual and literary works and encouraging each person to
go beyond his or her limits in the realm.
9. Truth is relative to
the observer. History is relative to the observer and his or her
particular background..I applaud differences in point of view. They
are what make us human and interesting. Sometimes, the arts stir us up
and help us to see from another person's vantage point..Is that all
bad?
SO.... please add to these comments... I would like to know how you feel about this too... When you have time, add a comment.... Susan
- Project Grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts (helping to support our whole program) $3994.00
- WESTAF Grant for Hunn Hurr Tu : Mongolian Throat Singers Oct. 31 $1500 half of the $3000 artist's fee
- WESTAF Grant for Bearfoot Bluegrass $1500 which is half of the $3000 artist's fee.
This
will be the sum total of all grants we receive this year...so we'd
better get some fund raisers started...or find more places for grants.
