Missoula Cultural Council — Some news and upcoming events for the week of January 31, 2004

In Missoula…

The 33rd Missoula Art Museum Annual Benefit Art Auction and Dinner is Saturday, February 5 at 5:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. Tickets are $75, or table of 10 for $700. Call 728-0447 for reservations or visit http://www.missoulaartmuseum.org to bid online.

The University of Montana Department of Music presents two Faculty Recital Series Events this week: Nancy Cooper, organ, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1 at the Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 130 S. 6th St. East; Anne Basinski, soprano, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 4 in the Music Recital Hall. Tickets are $6.00 general admission and $4.00 for students and seniors. Call 243-6882.

The University Center MultiCultural Alliance presents the Margaret Mead Traveling Film Festival Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the University Center Theater (3rd Floor). Program 1 on February 2 is Afghanistan Unveiled, 52 minutes, filmed in Afghanistan; and Madanm Ti Zo (Mrs. Littlebones), 60 minutes, filmed in Haiti. For more information, call 243-5754 or e-mail [email protected]

The World Affairs Council of Montana and the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana present Religious and Political Freedoms in China: Tibet, Falun Gong, and the Internet with Dr. Deborah Schneider, Acting Director, Office of International Religious Freedoms, U.S. State Department, on Thursday, February 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Urey Underground Lecture Hall. Call 728-3328 for more information.

The University Center Art Exhibits is accepting applications for 2-D and 3-D artwork for display throughout the University Center during the spring of 2005. The application deadline is Friday, February 4. Applications are available at the Source (first floor by West entrance of the UC), the Art Office (Fine Arts Building #305), or call or email Anya Vasquez for an application: 243-4991 or [email protected] .

Several hundred clay tiles created during First Night Missoula between 1999 and 2002 will be unveiled during First Friday Gallery Walk on February 4 at 4:00 p.m., and will be on permanent display at the newly renovated Uptown Apartments, on the corner of Pine and Woody Streets. The Missoula Housing Authority has just completed renovating the former Uptown Motel into permanent apartments for homeless persons using funds from the State of Montana HOME Program, HUD and its own Development Fund. Part of the construction includes seven, large concrete planters in front of the building that will hold flowering Pear, Hornbeam, and Nannyberry trees to shade the building and to add blooming foliage to the Downtown. For more information call 549-4113.

The Missoula Folklore Society is sponsoring a contra dance on Saturday, February 5 at 8:00 p.m. in the Union Hall – Upstairs. Beginner’s Workshop begins at 7:30. The Grass Valley String Band will be on stage, with Bev Young as the caller. For more information, call 243-5153.

The Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Chorale are partnering with community and regional organizations to present their first concert of 2005, Ode to Joy, on Saturday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 13 at 3 p.m. at the University Theatre. Highlights of the concert include:

* More than 150 singers from the Missoula Symphony Chorale and Kalispell’s Glacier Chorale will join the Missoula Symphony Orchestra during the performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Four award-winning soloists will also be featured: Mary Logan Hastings, soprano; Lynn Helding, alto; Karl Dent, tenor; and Mark Davis, bass.
* The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre will perform during the Missoula Symphony Chorale’s performance of the Liebeslieder Waltzes (Love Song Waltzes) by Brahms.

· A Pre-Concert Lecture by renowned Viennese historian Cynthia Prossinger on Gustav Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze, inspired by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, will also be held. All ticket holders are invited to come early for the lecture, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (an hour before concert start time). Ms. Prossinger’s appearance is in conjunction with the President’s Lecture Series, which she will speak at Friday, February 11 at 8 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall at the University of Montana.

Tickets are available at the Missoula Symphony office, located at 225 West Front Street or by calling 721-3194. Tickets will also be available at the door. Prices range from $8 to $30.

The Missoula Folklore Society presents Solas in concert on Tuesday, February 15th, 8:00 p.m. at the University Theater at the University of Montana. Solas has been hailed as “the best Irish band in the world” by the Boston Herald and “a five member Irish American band of startling instrumental and vocal firepower.” Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door, available at Rockin Rudy’s, 406-542-0077. There is a $2 discount for MFS members as well as members of the Montana Gaelic Society and UM students. For more information go to montanafolk.org or call 406-721-9161.

Elsewhere in Montana and the Region…

MAGDA (Montana Art Gallery Directors Association) is sponsoring these events in Montana

* Great Falls – Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, December 1-March 1. Bamako to Tombouctou: A Photographic Essay Across West Africa by Andrew Geiger.
* Dillon – The University of Montana-Western Art Gallery/Museum, January 11-February 18: Eyewitness Colombia; The University of Montana-Western Art Gallery/Museum; February 15-April 1: Mark Abrahamson: Montana Legacy
* Missoula – UM Gallery of Visual Arts, February 1-March 1: Mary Ann Kelly: Drawings; Montana Museum of Art and Culture, February 4-March 26: Leisure in Art – Works from the Fra Dana Collection, with Opening reception on February 4, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
* Kalispell – Hockaday Museum of Art;, January 20-April 26: David Shaner–Retrospective and Susan Arthur: Roots of Rhythm II
* Bozeman – The Emerson at Beall Park Art Center; January 14-March 10: Objects of Motion: Works by Harold Schlotzhauer

For more information, please visit: http://www.art.state.mt.us/soa/pr.asp?ID=279

Some events and performances around the region this week:

* Billings – Alberta Bair Theatre, February 4, 8:00 p.m., Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Call 256-6052. Billings Studio Theatre, February 4-6, 10-13, 17-19. Twelve Angry Men. Call 248-1141.
* Bozeman – Emerson Center, February 3, 6:30 p.m. Tsunami Victims Benefit Concert, featuring six bands. Call 587-9787. Montana State University, Mainstage Theatre, February 4, 7:30 p.m. Steel Magnolias presented by the Montana Repertory Theatre. Call 994-3901. Willson Auditorium, February 5 & 6. Bozeman Symphony – Sweet and Saxy. Call 585-9774. Montana State University Reynolds Recital Hall, February 9, 7:30 p.m. Gallatin Woodwind Quintet. Call 994-4641.

* Butte – Mother Lode Theatre, February 3, 8:00 p.m. Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Call 723-3602.
* Colstrip – Café SHAC, February 3, 7:30 p.m. Café Schoolhouse History and Art Center. Call 748-4822.
* Dixon – Wild Plum, February 4. Chris Sullivan’s 50th Birthday party and Buffalo Feast. 20 Celtic musicians! That’s "twenty." $10 for walk ins. For more information, e-mail [email protected]
* Great Falls – Heritage Inn, February 4, 6:00 p.m.-midnight. Mardi Gras Celebration. Call 761-1330. Civic Center, February 5, 9:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Performing Arts Showcase. Call 585-9551.
* Hamilton – Hamilton Performing Arts Center, Hamilton High School, February 4, 8:00 p.m. Big Sky Mudflaps. Call 375-6060, ext. 6294.
* Helena – Campus Center, Carroll College, February 1, 8:00 p.m. Clumsy Lovers. Call 447-5415. Myrna Loy Center, February 2, 7:30 p.m. Steel Magnolias, presented by the Montana Repertory Theatre. Call 443-0287. The Wilbur Rehmann Quartet and the Helena Capital High School Jazz Combo will perform on February 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Myrna Loy for the annual Jazz and Just Desserts concert for Montana Shares. Tickets available at the Myrna box office. Contact [email protected] for more information.
* Hot Springs – Symes Hotel, February 4, 8:00-10:00 p.m. Richie Reinholdt and Ian Fleming. February 5, 8:00-10:00 p.m. Odyssey. For both shows call 741-2433.
* Plains – Steel Magnolias by the Montana Repertory Theatre in the Plains High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 1 at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets are $8. The performance is sponsored by the Sanders County Arts Council. [email protected]
* Stevensville – Downtown, February 4, 6:00-9:00 p.m. First Friday. Call 777-3773
* Spokane – Northwest Bach Festival, January 29-February 6, at several locations. Visit http://www.nwbachfest.com . Spokane International Film Festival, February 3-10 at AMC River Park Square. Call 509-624-2615.

The feature documentary, Libby, Montana, by High Plains Films, will have several public screenings in Montana and around the world beginning with the Bozeman Film Festival at the Museum of the Rockies this past weekend. Here are more upcoming screenings:

· February 3, 6:00 p.m. – Peace and Justice Film Series, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana (FREE SCREENING)

· February 18-20 – Siskiyou Environmental Film Festival, Ashland, Oregon (includes High Plains Films retrospective)

· March 4-6 – Webster University Film Series, St. Louis, Missouri (includes High Plains Films retrospective)

· March 5, 3:00 p.m. – Available Light Film Festival, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada

· March 4-19 – National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, Bradford Film Festival, England

· April 1, 7:00 p.m. Goshen Millrace Farmers Market, Goshen, Indiana

· Spring 2005, Okomedia Touring Film Festival, Germany (multiple dates/venues)

For more information, visit http://www.highplainsfilms.org/fp_libby.html.

Bills put teaching Indian culture on educational menu
Great Falls Tribune, 1/23/2005
Montana lawmakers are currently debating funding for "a Supreme Court mandate requiring schools to teach Native American culture and heritage. Proposals range from $1 million a year to $22 million over the next two years, with continued funding thereafter."
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050123/NEWS05/501230302&SearchID=73197137710105

Art Mobile of Montana comes right to the door of your school or your group site. The Director of the Art Mobile then sets up an exhibit of original, contemporary visual art on portable exhibit walls in an appropriate room. The artists are mainly Montanan and Native American artists. After the presentation of the art, the Director teaches a follow-up art lesson. Lessons meet and can be integrated into the Montana Standard school curricula for art. The cost for a visit: When scheduling a visit, the group or school states what they can afford, the Art Mobile then pays the difference from a grant they have received. Thus, “no child is left behind.” To schedule visits, please call 683-2999 or e-mail [email protected] , or visit http://www.geocities.com/colburnsara .

The Bitterroot Birding and Nature Trail link has been added to the Montana Birding and Nature Trail web site. Visit http://www.montanabirdingtrail.org/ to view this new addition.

Nationally…

Three stories about Cultural Tourism…

Los Angeles, the second largest US city and home to Hollywood, will work to attract more cultural tourists, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission said Tuesday.

http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=314551

Two Berkshire, Massachusetts lawmakers serving in key positions on Beacon Hill could be reassigned under a proposed sweeping leadership restructuring announced by top state lawmakers yesterday. http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~7514~2674322,00.html

In Bullhead City, Arizona, the River Valley Artists Guild swore in its 2005 Board of Directors, Friday, Jan. 14, pledging to uphold the Guild’s mission to encourage individual efforts and community interest in the creative arts. http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2005/01/25/news/news5.txt

From the National Business Committee for the Arts…

A new demographic study, conducted by the League of American Theaters and Producers, shows that 6 out of 10 Broadway audience members come from outside the city and its suburbs, and that the single most important factor in ticket buying is “personal recommendation.” The study found that during the 2003-04 season, only 16.7 percent of the Broadway audience came from inside the New York City limits (with Manhattan residents the largest group), with an additional 22.9 percent coming from suburban areas in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. About half of the 2003-04 crowd came from the rest of the United States, while a little more than 10 percent consisted of international tourists. For information, http://www.broadway.org.

AT&T and Theatre Communications Group, both of New York, announced AT&T: OnStage® Awards for the production of six new plays in 2005. The grant recipients were Arena Stage, Washington, DC – Imitations for Saxophone by Sophie Treadwell, adapted by Michael Kinghorn (January 21-February 27); The Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, MN – Brooklyn Bridge by Melissa James Gibson (January 18-February 19); The Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL – Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías (January 29-February 27); Lincoln Center Theater, New York, NY – Dessa Rose, books and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty (February 17-May 29); Magic Theatre, San Francisco, CA – The Rules of Creativity by John Belluso (April 23-June 19); and The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA – Raw Boys by Dael Orlandersmith (March 2-April 10). For information, http://www.tcg.org.

To learn more about the National Business Committee for the Arts, visit http://www.bcainc.org

From the Center for Arts and Culture….

Two Million Virtual Tourists A Day on the Internet
Center for Media Research Brief, 1/19/2005
"A new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds that 45% of online American adults have taken advantage of virtual tours of another location online. That represents 54 million adults who have used the internet to venture somewhere else. On a typical day, more than two million people are using the internet to take a virtual tour, says the report."
http://www.centerformediaresearch.com/cfmr_brief.cfm?fnl=050119

Performers finally getting paid for their hits
Chicago Sun-Times, 1/20/2005
"The growing popularity of satellite and Internet radio is creating a new source of royalties for performing artists. They’re pennies from heaven. But most artists are unaware of their new riches."
http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-royal20.html

Yes, it is About the Artists: The Tacoma Story
Next American City, January 2005
"Tacoma’s lengthy quest for revitalization finally has started to take hold. An economic development strategy that focuses not just on the arts, but also on the artists, has yielded $1 billion in public and private investment downtown in the last five years."
http://www.americancity.org/article.php?id_article=107

To learn more about the Center of Arts and Culture, visit http://www.culturalpolicy.org

Internationally…

Going off the rails
La Scena Musicale, 1/20/2005
An outbreak of crime on the London Underground has "prompted the authorities to take remedial action, and the weapon they have chosen is classical music. The approaches to three stations on the eastern edge of the District Line were subjected for six months to bursts of Mozart, Vivaldi, Handel and Mussorgsky. The result was a one-third reduction in the number of robberies and a general diminution of other anti-social incidents."
http://www.scena.org/columns/lebrecht/050120-NL-thugs.html

Finally… From the Manchester Guardian…

Rock iconoclast Elvis Costello has been commissioned to write an opera – about Hans Christian Anderson. To be performed by the Royal Danish Opera, it will premier in Copenhagen in the fall. For the full story, visit http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1399361,00.html?=rss

Visit http://www.missoulacultural.org and e-mail [email protected] with submissions for this newsletter.

Thanks for your comments & corrections

Tom at MCC