Posted by tracey on: Tue 19th Oct, 2010

Thursday night at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is the next Atelier event.  I'm excited about this one as it riffs off the current exhibitions Stranger Than Fiction and An American Century.

Somehow our Education staff has wrangled Santa Barbara Indy Arts Editor Charles Donelan into helping guests compose a 6 word autobiography into a special cocktail mixed by the masters from the newly reopened Savoy.

I'm also going to check out the Portrait Studio by Stranger Than Fiction artist Frohawk Two Feathers.  He came to the opening and instantly charmed the staff and guests.  For this event he'll create the Imperial Portrait Studio in the galleries. You can pose with all sorts of props, the artist will take your portrait, and you may find yourself in a future artwork.  Plus you'll get a Polaroid to take home. Dress up and a gift - who can resist that?

Last, but not least, Santa Barbara favorite Jim Connolly will improvise scores for a silent film by Paul Strand and Charles Sheeler.

Tickets are available here: www.sbma.net/atelier

PS Forgot to mention that there will be a magician too!

Categories:

Tags: sblifestyle, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Frohawk Two Feathers, Patrick Melroy, Charles Donelan, Savoy, Atelier

Posted by tracey on: Wed 13th Oct, 2010

Remembering James Buchanan today.  Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance, he left us all too soon.

SBDA is establishing the James Buchanan Memorial Scholarship Fund, to contribute or for more information, please contact Sheila Caldwell at 805-966-6950  http://sbdancealliance.org

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Tags: sbnews, James Buchanan, Santa Barbara Dance Alliance, Dance, Theater

Posted by tracey on: Fri 8th Oct, 2010

Last night, as 1st Thursday wound down, I headed over to Elsie's to catch a set by my friend and neighbor Sean Kennedy.  He played mostly original works on the viola de gamba - which you might hear some afternoons wafting down De la Guerra St.  Then, after a short break, brought out the guitar, the second set included covers of "Love Hurts" and, one of my favorites, Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Sitting there, listening, surrounded by friends and neighbors it was a perfect end to the evening.

One of the friends and neighbors there was Russ Spencer who directed and produced Hana Surf Girls. Sean contributed a great deal of the music for the film and overall it was a great soundtrack. (Should be available soon...) The film is about two young women from the small town of Hana on the island of Maui.  One of the things that struck me right away was the way the community worked together to put on the local surf contest, From the start there's a clear sense of community that flows through.  Support for the young people of the area through the surf contest, a touching graduation ceremony that involves the whole town, and support for the challenge of rebuilding a life after a fall from grace.

It's this kind of community that can and sometimes does exist elsewhere, even here in Santa Barbara. Film makers, musicians, artists, supporting one another and creating a space in time and place that allows for everyday magic. Experience it when you can.

For more on Hana Surf Girls check out: www.hanasurfgirls.com

Other films from Bison Films: www.bisonfilms.com

Categories:

Tags: Hana Surf Girls, sblifestyle, Bison Films, Russ Spencer, Sean Kennedy, Elsie's, 1st Thursday, music, art, santa barbara

Posted by tracey on: Fri 8th Oct, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Thu 7th Oct, 2010

Posted by tracey on: Fri 1st Oct, 2010