Northampton Arts Council : press releases

�Be Here Now�: A Juried Exhibition

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:27:37 -0700

“BE HERE NOW”: A JURIED EXHIBITION

Click here to submit your work

Deadline for Submissions: August 1, 2013, 11:59 pm

Hosted by the Northampton Arts Council

“It's all real and it's all illusory: that's Awareness!” -Ram Dass

"What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit." -John Updike

THEME: “Be Here Now”

The Northampton Arts Council enthusiastically invites submissions for their 2013 Biennial.

This year’s theme, “Be Here Now” can be interpreted freely by 2D, 3D, video, and performance artists. We encourage submissions of large 3-dimensional and performative weather-tolerant art for our expanded outdoor exhibition space on the Forbes Library lawn.

EXHIBITION DATES: Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013 through Thursday, October 31st.

EXHIBITION LOCATION: Hosmer Gallery, Forbes Library, 20 West Street, Northampton, MA

ELIGIBILITY: We invite all artists residing in Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and Berkshire Counties to submit.

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 1, 2013, 11:59 PM

TYPES OF ARTWORK ACCEPTED: All two and three dimensional media in any style (abstract, conceptual, representational, etc) as well as video and performing arts will be considered.

A brief explanation (75 words or less) of how the work relates to the theme will be requested with accepted work.

Please submit only work that has been completed in the last three years.

GUEST JURORS: (Submissions will be juried anonymously)

Gordon Thorne is a visual artist. He is the Director of A.P.E. which he founded in 1977 and the Open Field Foundation, created in 1996.
“I was born in 1941 and ended a totally undistinguished academic career in 1966 with an MFA from the Yale School of Art & Architecture. Since then I have been studying the various ways that things, myself included, evolve. These studies fall into several “categories”: Liz/the box, The Burning Woman, The Burning Suit/man, The Burning Boat, The Burning House, The Portfolios, The Library. These “categories” often overlap, and have resulted in my ‘making’ a fair amount of stuff in the last 50 years, some of it art. All the stuff, including the art, tends to have a story either embedded in it or hiding near by. Stories help me understand the trajectory of my life.”

UMASS MFA Student - T.B.D.

Mara Williams is the Chief Curator of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Her curatorial area of expertise is modern and contemporary art. As an independent curator her exhibits have been seen by audiences at Tufts University Art Gallery, Florence Griswold Museum, Carving Studio and Sculpture Center, as well as a number of galleries in New York City. As a partner in Arts Bridge LLC, Ms. Williams leads exhibition teams for institutions developing large-scale new museum projects. Arts Bridge is dedicated to the principle that the arts and humanities are not only intrinsically valuable but are potent forces for strengthening civil society. Arts Bridge brings an interdisciplinary approach to creating audience-centered shows, from concept development through final design. Prior to forming Arts Bridge, Ms. Williams spent a decade as the director of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in Vermont. BMAC is a progressive, audience-friendly, non-collecting institution with the mission of “exploring the art of our time.” Ms. Williams holds an A.B. in theatre from Boston College; an MFA in museology from Syracuse University; and has completed her doctoral course work and exams in comparative arts at New York University. She has served as chair of the Vermont Arts Council board and as a board member of the New England Museum Association.

Conditions: The Northampton Arts Council reserves the right to use any accepted image for promotional purposes. The Northampton Arts Council reserves the right to reject an accepted artwork if it is misrepresented by the submitted digital image.

Hanging in the Hosmer Gallery: 2 Dimensional work is hung from molding hooks and heavy weight monofilament. If framing, place hanging hardware near the top of the sides. The walls do not support nails. Pedestals and glass display cases are available for sculpture and small works.

Using these guidelines, please frame and prepare your work to be hung in a professional manner.

Art displayed in the Hosmer Gallery is not insured.

Artists may offer their work for sale. If a piece is sold, a donation of 15% of the proceeds goes directly to Forbes Library.

How to submit:

Click here to submit your work

Please read instructions for uploading images before beginning your submission.

Artists may include up to 3 images. On this page and the next pages, follow the instructions. Complete and accurate information about your artwork will help in the jury process.

You have now completed Steps 1 and 2 and may continue on to Step 3.

Step 3--UPLOAD Digital Files:

Format: JPG

Resolution: 72 dpi, approximately 1920 in largest dimension

Size: No more than 2.0 MB for each image

Up to three digital images may be submitted per artist.

Submit only one digital image for diptychs, triptychs, etc.

Do not hit the submit button until you have uploaded and reviewed in the next step all of your images.

The maximum file size is 400mb, the minimum file size is 150mb, and the minimum image width is 700 pixels.

Step 4 REVIEW: After uploading all your digital files, you may view your entry files by clicking on the link 'see jury view'. You may also print out a copy of your entry by clicking on 'print entry.'

Step 5 SUBMIT: If satisfied with your images, go on to Step 5 and submit your entry. Do not hit the 'submit this entry' button until you are satisfied with the way your images look. You will not be able to change your entry files after hitting the submit button.

Mission: The Northampton Arts Council, a non-profit arts organization and a department of the City, supports and nurtures arts activities in the community, allocates grants to artists, stimulates public awareness and support for the arts, and works to maintain the diverse cultural heritage of Northampton.

Questions?

Email: Ellen Augarten ellenaugarten@gmail.com

Email: Brian Foote arts@northamptonma.gov

Brian Foote at 413-587-1069.

http://www.northamptonartscouncil.org

IMPORTANT DATES

Submission Deadline: August 1, 2013, 11:59pm

Notification of work accepted: August 15, 2013

Delivery of accepted work: Monday, September 30, 4:00-8:00pm

(Please be in touch with us directly to arrange an alternative time for drop-off if the specified time does not work.)

Reception: In conjunction with Arts Night Out, Friday, October 11th, 5:00 – 8:00pm

Exhibition closes: Thursday, October 31, 5:00pm.

Pick-up: Friday, November 1, 9:00am - 12:00pm

(Please be in touch with us directly to arrange an alternative time for pick-up if the specified time does not work.)

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 1, 2013, 11:59 PM

This exhibition is proudly hosted by the Northampton Arts Council, in cooperation with the Hosmer Gallery at Forbes Library.

ArtsEZ 2013 Application & Guidelines are Available

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 08:51:22 -0700

Available now for download are the ArtsEZ 2013 Grant Application and Guidelines. Visit out grant information page for more details.

Grant Information Page

The Really Big Show

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 06:46:26 -0800

THE REALLY BIG SHOW

Tickets are available at the door for $10.

Here is what we have in store for you:

Monte Belmonte as Ed Sullivan

Mira Bartók -NEPR commentator and author of The Memory Palace
Kayden Behan –ten-year-old award-winning classical guitarist
Michelle Brooks - of NBC’s “The Voice” fame
The Bunwinkies – Fabulous Folk Rock
The Catalyst Dancers – PVPA’s amazing dance troupe
Chaos Theory - wackiness on the mats.
Sophie Crafts - The best of street performace
Daniel Dietz – Yo Yo Champ
Jake and Jim: The Dog Pals – Man and Dog Tricks
Screaming with Pleasure – Juggling from the old school
Sharone Digitale - Seductive guitar loops
The Sun Parade – Local rock legends

Annual Arts Awards: Feeding Tube Records and Zea Mays Printmaking

Really Big Show Orchestra

More info: Click Here

Sponsored by: State Street Fruit Store

KIDSBESTFEST 2013

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:49:01 -0800

KIDSBESTFEST 2013 PRESENTED BY THE NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL
February 18-22, 2013 All Screenings Start at 2:00 PM

For more information visit our website: www.northamptonartscouncil.org

Mon. Feb. 18 – Charlie Chaplin’s Circus (USA); Wallace & Grommit in The Wrong Trousers (UK)
Tues. Feb. 19 – Tales of the Night (FRANCE)
Weds. Feb 20 – The Great Bear (DENMARK)
Thurs. Feb. 21 – Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods (GERMANY)
Fri. Feb. 22 – The Thief of Bagdad (ENGLAND)

All shows start at 2:00 PM, Academy of Music Theatre, $3 at Door Only

KidsBestFest is the antidote to boredom during school vacation week. It is dedicated to films for children and teens that you are unlikely to find on TV or at the movies, including great foreign films. This year, the lineup includes well-loved classics from past and present. Charlie Chaplin as the Little Tramp goes on a wild circus adventure; Wallace and Grommit, the cheese-loving duo, return in a hilarious, action-packed adventure that won the Oscar for Best Animated Short. The festival continues with a selection of films that open doors to far-off worlds. The animated film “Tales of the Night” weaves together six exotic fables in a magical kaleidoscope of colors, transporting the audience from Tibet to medieval Europe to the Land of the Dead. In “The Great Bear,” eleven-year-old Jonathan sets off on a magical adventure to free his sister from the clutches of a giant, 1,000-year-old-bear. Follow the young Viking Wickie and his band of warriors on their whirlwind adventure in his pursuit of the legendary treasure of the Gods, and fall under the spell of Abu, the clever and good-natured young thief of Baghdad, who escapes from prison and embarks on a thrilling adventure to help the King save the Princess. Before each movie we will be showing animated shorts from Croatia. This year we will be cross promoting with Amherst Cinema, which will show a Bugs Bunny film every day during the same week.

Sponsored by Baystate Health, Florence Savings Bank
Media Sponsors Valley Advocate, WGBY
Co-presented by The Academy of Music Theatre
Co-promoted by Amherst Cinema
Amherst Cinema Program Sponsor GoBerry

PS22 Chorus and the SciTech Band Meets Young@Heart has moved to John M. Greene Hall!!

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:01:12 -0800

Due to maintenance work that needs to be done on the fire escapes at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton this Sundays show has been moved to the John M. Greene Hall on the Smith College campus.

February 17 - 2 PM, John M. Greene Hall

$10 Adults Advance/$12 Adult Door; $5 Kids Advance/$7 Kids Door

Tickets at State Street Fruit Store, Cooper's Corner, and Food for Thought Books

TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR STARTING AT 1:00 PM.

Y@H performs an intergenerational mash-up with the coolest group of 5th graders on this planet, the PS22 Chorus. Added to the mix is the fabulous SciTech Band from Springfield. The internationally acclaimed PS22 Chorus of Staten Island, consisting of 65 fifth graders directed by the brilliant Gregg Breinberg, has become one of the most renowned children's choirs worldwide, with their YouTube videos garnering over 50,000,000 views. The group features ordinary children achieving extraordinary accomplishments -- musically and otherwise, interpreting contemporary music in unique ways. The PS22 Chorus has performed at the Academy Awards, on Piers Morgan and with a host of celebrated artists, ranging from Katy Perry and Passion Pit to Carrie Underwood and Queen Latifah. Add into the mix the SciTech Band, the Pride of Springfield, under the direction of Gary Bernice. The Band won the New England Public Radio Arts and Humanities Award last year with Young@Heart, and the two groups have decided they have to meet on stage.

Sponsored by Smith College & Webs America’s Yarn Store.

Series Sponsors: Gravity Switch, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Lathrop Communities, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The River/WHMP, Clarion Hotel, Smith College, WGBY, Massachusetts Cultural Council and the City of Northampton

MARDIVAL IS ON!

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:46:39 -0800

The show must go on! We are getting prepped and ready to give Northampton a taste of Mardi Gras and Carnival! All of our acts are here: Jaimoe, Duke, Samirah, Paul, Samba SA....this is going to be a fantastic. We will have some more tickets available at the door. See you there!

For more info visit our Four Sundays Event Page by clicking here

KidsBestFest 2013 Lineup announced

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:02:00 -0800

Monday-Friday, February 18 - 22, 2013

KIDSBESTFEST

Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton, MA

KidsBestFest is the antidote to boredom during school vacation week. It is dedicated to films that you are unlikely to find on TV, including great foreign films. This year we will be cross promoting with the Amherst Cinema who will be showing a Bugs Bunny film everyday during the week.

Tickets $3 at the door only

KIDSBESTFEST/YOUTHFILM IS SPONSORED BY FLORENCE SAVINGS BANK & BAYSTATE HEALTH

Co-promoted by Amherst Cinema

Co-Presented by the Academy of Music Theatre

MONDAY February 18th at 2:00 PM

Charlie Chaplan's The Circus

Director Chaplin casts star Chaplin in his traditional "Little Tramp" role, who when first we see him is on the lam from the law. He takes refuge under the tent of a failing circus. Unintentionally, Charlie disrupts the show's big clown act, and the crowd roars. The ringmaster decides to hire Charlie as a clown, building the whole circus around him. Charlie has many an adventure and close shave while performing under the Big Top. The Circus won Chaplin a special Oscar in 1928, then lay unseen for forty-two years; it was reissued in 1970, with a new musical score by Chaplin himself (who can be heard singing the theme song in the opening scenes). All ages.

Wallace & Grommit in the Wrong Trousers

The second short film to feature the claymation antics of eccentric inventor Wallace and his dog Gromit, The Wrong Trousers sees the duo become unwitting accomplices to a jewel theft. This Oscar-winner for "Best Animated Short" works both as a hilarious parody of film noir and as an exciting, action-packed adventure in its own right, combining skillful visual design and superb animation with inventive, witty storytelling. All ages.

TUESDAY February 19th 2:00 PM

Tales of the Night

Tales of the Night is renowned animation auteur Michel Ocelot's first foray into 3D animation. A hit at the Berlin Film Festival, the film extends the earlier shadow puppet style of Ocelot's Princes and Princesses, with black silhouetted characters set off against exquisitely detailed Day-Glo backgrounds bursting with color and kaleidoscopic patterns - the subtle use of 3D creating a diorama-like effect. The film weaves together six exotic fables each unfolding in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, an Aztec kingdom, the African plains, and even the Land of the Dead. In Ocelot's storytelling, history blends with fairytale as viewers are whisked off to enchanted lands full of dragons, werewolves, captive princesses, sorcerers, and enormous talking bees - and each fable ends with its own ironic twist. Ages 5 & up.

WEDNESDAY February 20th 2:00 PM

The Great Bear

Jonathan, 11, usually spends his vacations alone with his grandfather who lives on the edge of a vast forest populated by mythical animals. This year his kid sister Sophie joins him. But it's not cool to be stuck with a little sister, so he does what he can to avoid her. He succeeds entirely too well: Sophie is kidnapped by a giant, 1000-year-old bear. Now, Jonathan has to venture into the heart of the forest to confront the strange beings that dwell there and rescue his sister. "The Great Bear" is Esben Toft Jacobsen's feature film debut. Ages 7 & Up.

THURSDAY February 21st 2:00 PM

Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods

When will little WICKIE finally become a real Viking? This question is giving his father HALVAR sleepless nights. But when Sven the Terrible kidnaps the chief of Flake, Wickie unexpectedly gets his big chance. As deputy chief, he leads the Mighty Vikings as they set sail for the Cape of Fear and, after a whirlwind of adventures, reach Sven’s castle where Halvar is incarcerated. However, the greatest task still awaits the Viking troupe. They set off over raging oceans, tropical beaches and dangerous icy wastelands in pursuit of the legendary treasure of the Gods, pitting themselves against an equally determined Sven the Terrible – but Wickie wouldn’t be Wickie if he hadn’t a few tricks up his sleeve to prevent Sven getting there first. Ages 9 & Up.

FRIDAY February 22nd 2:00 PM

Thief of Bagdad

In ancient Bagdad, Abu, a good-natured young thief (Sabu), befriends the deposed king Ahmad (John Justin) as both are imprisoned in the palace dungeon, awaiting execution under orders from the evil vizier Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), who has seized the throne. But they escape and make their way to Basra, where Ahmad, now living as a beggar, meets and falls in love with the Princess (June Duprez), who has been betrothed by her father the Sultan (Miles Malleson, who also wrote the screenplay) to Jaffar. Their fight for the love of the Princess triggers a series of adventures for the young Abu. Along the way, we encounter a wide array of characters, some of them charming, such as the gentle Old King (Morton Selten), and some sinister, such as the devious Halima (Mary Morris), plus a range of color and lushly designed sets and set pieces (and special effects) that still dazzle the eye seven decades later, even in the wake of various remakes (which include Disney Studios' Aladdin). And it all leads to an amazing and suspenseful ride on a magic carpet, and a race against time to save the king and his beloved. Ages 12 & Up.

Shorts that play before every film: SAF Cakovec Croatian films made by children

Within a big family of amateur children's filmmaking in Croatia, one of the oldest members is SKOLA ANIMIRANOG FILMA (ANIMATED FILM WORKSHOP) from Cakovec (SAF). With its specific organizational form (operating outside of the school structure), its working forms, its methods, and its unconventional communication between workshop leader and children, ŠAF anticipates a possible new modality of school education. At the beginning of their work in SAF, children aged 8 to 12 years, in free creative play, make short animated films - older members sometimes even make more developed 'amateur' films. The purpose of the children's activity in ŠAF is definitely not the education of future professional animators, but the development of serial cognition, imagination, perseverance, and values of cooperation and pride in one's work.

Some basic information about ŠAF:

- SAF was founded February 28th 1975, and from the beginning, Edo Lukman has been its head.

- from 1998 Jasminka Bijelic Ljubic started to work in studio as another instructor

- Over 160 short animated films (more than 4 hours in duration) have been created since 1975.

- More than 600 children have worked at least one year in the studio.

- SAF organized a number of animated film workshops in the schools and for the leaders of children's cinema clubs.

- 18 International animated film workshops have been organized.

- Since 1982 SAF has continuously cooperated with the Zagreb Animated Film Festival and has participated in a number of different international projects led by ASIFA.

- SAF has participated at a lot of international workshops (Odense, Annecy), and its leader, Edo Lukman, led over 140 workshop projects in Croatia and USA, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland...

- SAF members and their films were successfully presented at many important festivals of animated films throughout the world and many have received awards and recognition as a result of continuous and significant work.

Really Big Show 2013 Tickets Available

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:08:31 -0800

Sunday, February 24, 2013, 2pm

The 22nd Annual Really Big Show with Monte Belmonte

Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton, MA

This year Monte Belmonte from the River becomes our Ed Sullivan in the annual Vaunted Valley Variety Show. Monte will introduce some of the best talent in the Valley in Sullivanesque style. If you have never seen Monte live on stage you are in for a treat. Past talent includes contortionists, poets, jugglers, opera stars, comedians, child prodigies, animal acts and many other forms of entertainment.

General Admission Tickets: $8 in Advance / $10 at the door

ONLINE TIX CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW:

OR CALL 1-800-838-3006

Tickets available in person at State Street Fruit Store in Northampton, Cooper's Corner in Florence, and Food For Thought Books in Amherst

Sponsored by State Street Fruit Store

PS22 Chorus and the Sci Tech Band meets Young@Heart

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:49:01 -0800

PS22 Chorus and the Sci Tech Band meets Young@Heart

Sunday February 17th

Academy of Music Theatre at 2:00 PM

PS22, simply put is the coolest chorus of 5th graders anywhere. They hail from Staten Island and are directed by the brilliant Gregg Breinberg. Their chorus videos on Youtube have been watched over 50 million times, they are similar to Young@Heart in the unique ways in which they interpret contemporary music. The PS22 Chorus has performed at the Academy Awards, on Piers Morgan and so many other interesting gigs. This unique pairing with Young@Heart will create quite a buzz. Add into the mix Sci Tech Band, the Pride of Springfield, under the direction of Gary Bernice. The Band were winners of NEPR community arts awards along with the Y@H and the two groups have decided they have to meet on stage.

Mardival

nacads@comcast.net (Brian Foote) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:59:12 -0800

Sunday, February 10, 2 PM

Academy of Music Theatre

$15 Advance; $18 Door

Mardi Gras and Carnival rolled into one amazing show. Two days before the people of New Orleans and Rio De Janeiro take to the streets to celebrate Fat Tuesday, the people of the Valley will get a musical preview. Jaimoe, the fabled drummer from The Allman Brothers Band brings his Jaimoe Jasssz Band with special guests Duke Robillard and Samirah Evans. Plus Paul Lieberman’s stunning new Brazilian Band, Samba SA. Also expect some wildness from The Expandable Brass Band

OR CALL 1-800-838-3006

Sponsored by the Daily Hampshire Gazette