April, 2010
Arts consortium, Blue Guitar magazine hold 2nd annual Blue Guitar Festival of the Arts; event a smash hit with attendees
On
April 18th, the Arizona Consortium for the Arts held its 2nd Annual
Festival of music, arts, cultures, and the celebration of the inaugural
The Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and the Spring 2010 edition of The Blue
Guitar magazine at the ASU West campus in Glendale. The
all-volunteer event was free and was attended by many people from the
community throughout the day. They were welcomed by Rebecca Dyer, the
Editor in Chief of the magazine, Elena Thornton, president of The
Arizona Consortium for the Arts, and the sponsor of the event, Nuha
Sarraj, president of the ASU Kurdish Youth Club. The community was
treated to a robust sampling of music, opera, ballet and readings by
writers in The Blue Guitar magazine and The Blue Guitar Jr. magazine.
It was truly a history-making day, made possible through the planning
and organizing of the consortium’s cadre of hardworking volunteers.
The
event began with musical performances by the Consortium’s talented
Arizona Classical Kids under the tutelage of Maestro Zhanna Tevan. They
played a variety of music from Russian to Italian to classical. The
Arizona School of Classical Ballet students under the direction of the
school’s director, Nadya Zubkov, shined as Nika Kocharov performed a
variation from The Nightingale; Sasha Zapalova performed a Russian
dance from Swan Lake and Danielle Williams performed Havanola.
Some of the pieces are from their upcoming performances at the
Herberger Theatre on May 15 and May 16. The flyer is attached and all
information is at www.herbergertheater.org. The audience enjoyed
Jonathan Gabriel’s music and songs of the '60s and '70s. Opera singer
Maria Restivo filled the room with her exquisite and powerful soprano
and entranced the audience, performing a few selections from Madame
Butterfly. The community enjoyed a Filipino martial arts presentation
by two sisters, Nikki, 10, and Grace Tordil, 9. Both are sixth-graders
at Luke Elementary School. Their father, Leo Tordil, played the drum.
Maureen Thorpe, wearing a beautiful, traditional, gold-trimmed sari
introduced her mom, singer Edna Elizabeth Abeyasundra, who was wearing
a colorful sari. Edna is from Malaysia and sang traditional as well as
American songs. She was accompanied by local musician-songwriter John
Calvert. Folk singer, acoustic guitarist and harmonica player Neil
Dicks entertained the audience with his wonderful repertoire of folk
songs and music. The audience also enjoyed the hard-rock sounds of
Vincent Alexander Chavez and his group.
Arizona writers and poets
who are published in the Spring 2010 Issue of The Blue Guitar magazine
also read their work. Rebecca Dyer, the magazine's Editor in Chief, led
the introductions of the readers. They read from their poetry,
nonfiction essays and short stories. Those writers and poets who read,
many of them currently in or alumni of the ASU MFA creative writing
program, included: E.A. "Ed" Cervino, Cathy Capozzoli, Eman Hassan,
Sean Medlin, Joshua Hunter Hensley and Richard Fenton Sederstrom.
Rebecca
Dyer and her husband Richard H. Dyer Jr. worked tirelessly and
diligently to bring to the community The Blue Guitar magazine, a
brilliant work of art. The pages are filled with carefully chosen
themes that colorfully and perfectly flow from page to page. The front
cover and back cover were created by longtime local artist, painter and
teacher Marjory Boyer; her colorful works are also inside the magazine.
The featured artist is our third-place cover contest winner Holly
Wagner. The community is grateful to the Dyers for this exquisite gem
of a magazine, a gift they have created for our enjoyment, and we are
already looking forward to the summer edition. The magazine is
published online at www.theblueguitarmagazine.org. Also, to submit for
the summer edition, please visit the Web site, where a call for
submissions will be posted beginning June 1.
The audience also
was treated to SMUDD, a local rock and roll band; their repertoire
included tunes from the '60s, '70s, '80s and even a current top 10
song. We look forward to many future events by our local performers,
artists and writers.
The Arizona Consortium for the Arts is a
nonprofit, 501c3 tax-exempt organization. The Consortium's vision is to
establish a multicultural arts center, including offering programs to
help nurture and support underserved and underprivileged populations
through the promotion of the arts. To learn more about The Arizona
Consortium for the Arts, how you can join, help and to support future
programs, please visit www.artizona.org or call 602-263-5373.
April, 2010
ARIZONA CONSORTIUM FOR THE ARTS LAUNCHES ITS 2nd ANNUAL BLUE GUITAR FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Valley
residents will get to experience a robust sampling of the arts –
ranging from music, dance, and culture, to performance art and literary
works – at Arizona Consortium for the Arts 2nd Annual Blue Guitar
Festival of the Arts on Sunday, April 18th at ASU West Campus in
Glendale. The event is in collaboration with the ASU Kurdish Youth Club.
The
festival will include performances by the “Arizona Classical Kids”
Musicians, Arizona School of Classical Ballet Students, a presentation
of the Filipino Martial Arts by two sisters, Nikki and Grace Tordil,
both are sixth-graders at Luke Elementary School. Singer and Acoustic
Guitarist Neil Dicks, Opera Singer Maria Restivo, Singer and Acoustic
Guitarist Jonathan Gabriel , Singer Edna Elizabeth Abeyasundra,
Musician Vincent Alexander Chavez, “SMUDD”, local Rock and Roll
Band that will have you rockin’ and rollin’ to your all time favorites,
readings from the “Blue Guitar” Magazine and many other artists. There
will also be dignitaries and local personalities from the community
speaking about the importance of promoting arts and culture in our
communities.
The festival runs from 12:00pm-5:00pm and will be
held at Arizona State University at the West Campus, La Sala, 4701 W
Thunderbird Rd, Glendale, AZ 85306. YOU ARE INVITED! The event is Free
to attend.
December, 2009
Arizona
Consortium for the Arts celebrated A Day of Culture for the Holiday
Season on Saturday, December 12th at the Peoria Home & Garden Expo
Center. There was a wonderful presentation of the Filipino
Martial Arts performed by two sisters, Nikki, 10 and Grace Tordil, 9.
Both are sixth-graders at Luke Elementary School. Their father, Leo
Tordil, played the drum. Their instructor, Guro Toki of Gerald Toki
School of Kali, explained the Villabrille-Lagrusa Kali System.
Everyone enjoyed readings from the fall issue of The Blue Guitar art
and literary magazine. Mel Flores and Trish Dolasinski read their
nonfiction essays, Jerry Cole read his short story, and Richard Fenton
Sederstrom read selections from his poetry. The readings also included
a dedication of the magazine's fall issue in loving memory of
Scottsdale resident and World War II veteran Richard Colosimo. Rebecca
Dyer read his nonfiction essay that he sent from hospice about his
World War II experiences liberating a concentration camp, "My
Experience at Ohrdruf." Many thanks to all the participants!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
November, 2009
It is with great excitement and honor
Arizona Consortium for the
Arts announces The Blue Guitar Magazine Fall 2009 edition. It is now on
the Web site www.theblueguitarmagazine.org. Rebecca Dyer, Editor in
Chief, and Rick Dyer, Production Editor. Sharon McCarthy, is the
featured artist. The Blue Guitar Magazine is the project of the Arizona
Consortium for the Arts.
The issue is filled with great
literary works in many genres by Arizona writers, one-of-kind artworks,
photos from our April 26, 2009, annual celebration at ASU, and a
Q&A with Dog-Eared Pages Used Books owner Melanie Tighe, who is
also a writer and a great supporter of the arts.
By the
numbers, the Fall Issue at 76 pages has 22 more pages than the
inaugural Spring 2009 Issue, and has 34 contributors. All are Arizona
residents. The Fall 2009 Issue of The Blue Guitar features the works of:
Paige
Blatnik o Jodi Cisman o Lysa Cohen o W. Jerald Cole o Richard Colosimo
o Lauren Dixon o Trish Dolasinski o Keely Ernst o Andrea Ervin o Tony
Fabiano o Robin K. Ferguson o Mel Flores o Devin Fuller o James Gaitis
o Allison Gatlin o Brittany Gonzales o Flora Grateron o John Mikal
Haaheim o Andrea Hernandez Holm o Natasha Karaczan o Lindsey Kupfer o
Luis Carlos Lopez o Josh Louchheim o B Love o Melissa Matyas o Sharon
McCarthy o Charlsy Panzino o Andrew Pentis o Dan Ramirez o Jeannine
Savard o Richard Fenton Sederstrom o Amanda Soto o Lilvia Soto o
Melanie Tighe
We hope the Fall Issue will be an inspiration to
everyone!. The call for submissions for our Spring 2010 Issue will go
out in mid-January!
This Fall Issue is dedicated to the
memory of Scottsdale resident, writer and World War II veteran Richard
Colosimo. His moving nonfiction essay “My Experience At Ohrdruf” about
one of his World War II experiences during the liberation of the
Ohrdruf, a labor camp, was sent to us from hospice and is included in
this issue. On Saturday, December 12th there will be readings
from the fall issue of The Blue Guitar, including a dedication of the
issue in memory of Richard Colosimo. The event will be at the Peoria
Home and Garden Expo Center located at 8606 W. Ludlow Drive, off the
Loop 101 at Thunderbird Road. The public is invited to this event. The
free event for the whole family will start at Noon.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
October, 2009
The Arizona Consortium for the Arts
held a Day of Culture for the whole family on October 17th. Everyone
enjoyed listening to the very talented Arizona Classical Kids under the
tutelage of Maestro Zhanna Tevan. They presented pieces ranging from
classical to modern with an international flair and impressed the
audience with their superb talents. Each time period was announced with
an explanation by one of the kids. Neil Dicks and Jonathan Gabriel were
equally exquisite in their performances representing folk music from
the '60s and '70s. They really brought some of us back to those
nostalgic times. Ramona Richards did fun Face Analysis. Many thanks to the Peoria Home &
Garden Expo Center for hosting us. They invited us back to hold a
holiday performance on December 12th.
A huge thank you to the Event’s Chair, Colleen Sugden, all the
committee members for their hard work on organizing the event and helping
at the event.
____________________________________________________________________________
September, 2009
On September 17th we participated at
the monthly Third Thursdays/Sunset on the Plaza in the Old Town
Scottsdale area. We displayed our brochures and our inaugural issue of
The Blue Guitar magazine. We had a great time meeting artists and made
some new friends. Everyone enjoyed wonderful music by singer/musician Joe
Draper.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press Release
Arizona State University Downtown Campus
Calendar Listing
Media
Contact: Chris Kyselka phone
602-496-1383 email kyselka@asu.edu
ASU Galleria
Exhibit
July – August 2009
Creations
‘09
A fine group
exhibit showcasing fine art, photography, quilting and multimedia from
talented artists in the Arizona Consortium for the Arts. Works feature
Diane Brand, Lupe Cavanaugh, Erika Schafer, Judith Brandstadter, Jane
Cooper, Barbara Love Newport, Marjory Boyer, Joan McConnell, Howard
Scherer, Angelika Ahlbrandt, Mark Faraday, Elena Thornton, Meenakshi
Matai, Michelle S. Hawkins, Rachel Greenfeld, Mary Guy, Elena Eros,
Annette Simpson and Nancy Troupe.
Where:
The ASU Galleria located on the second floor at the ASU Mercado 502 E.
Monroe St., Phoenix 85004 General Hours Monday through Friday 8am -6pm
*** the public is invited to the Meet the Artist Reception to be held
Friday, August 7, 6-9pm Cost Free and open to the public Information
Phone (602) 496-1383 ASUGalleria@asu.edu
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press
Release
Dedicated Artists Of The Arizona
Consortium Present “Creations -
09”
by F4R4D4Y aka Mark Faraday www.artslant.com
Phoenix, AZ - (6/07/09): Gifted artists and members of The Arizona
Consortium for the Arts will be displaying their work at the Mercado
Galleria in downtown Phoenix for all to observe throughout July and
August. The ASU Mercado Galleria will host the group presentation,
offering a taste of what the valley's growing assembly of devoted
artists has to offer. "Creations - 09" showcases creative minds like,
Nancy Troupe, Mark Faraday, Diane Brand, Elena Eros, Mary Guy and
Marjory Boyer, as well as other locals committed to the future of
Arizona art. Gallery hours are 8am-6pm Mon-Friday. Call for extended
weekend hours - (602) 496 - 1500 .
Meet the Artists - If you've ever wondered where an artist's ideas come
from, you can mingle with the painters, photographers, quilters and
more while browsing their work on Friday August 7th.
The Arizona Consortium for the Arts
The Consortium's troop of creative visionaries understands the
necessity for nurturing artistic minds, especially in one of America's
fastest growing and diverse areas. The Non-Profit Organization's agenda
is raising a multicultural arts center, where writers, musicians,
dancers, artists and actors of all ages can become inspired to hone
their skills, and belong to a supportive community. www.artizona.org
ASU Mercado Galleria
502 E. Monroe St.
(inside Mercado Building C, 2nd floor)
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-496-1500
Click here
to read interviews: Diane Brand, Marjory Boyer, Nancy
Troupe, Mary Guy: http://www.artslant.com/global/articles/list?allcities=1&listtype=interviews
By Mark Faraday www.artslant.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 2009
Nancy Troupe is currently illustrating books
for 2 authors.
One is in South Carolina and has finished a lengthy novel
about a modern day family drama, with a touch of Native American
spirituality. Nancy is illustraing some of the chapters with a painting
to introduce the chapter. Each painting is full of symbolism which
represents important elements of that chapter.
The other author is in California and authors a line of children's
books. They are light-hearted and whimsical with fun and colorful
drawings to go along with each verse which is written in rhyme.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
June/09
Book Reviews by Melanie Tighe
Be
sure to check out the City Sun Times for book reviews of our local
authors. Melanie Tighe, owner of Dog-Eared Pages Used Books writes a
column highlighting new Arizona authors.
http://www.citysuntimes.com/downloadfolder/CST0709.pdf
Melanie
Tighe, Dog-Eared Pages Used Books 16428 N 32nd Street, Suite 111
Phoenix, AZ 85032 (602) 283-5423 www.DogEaredPagesUsedBooks.com
"Bringing affordable reading to our neighborhood" Follow us on Twitter
@dog_earedpages
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
May/2009
One of Meenakshi Matai's warli paintings is
published in the May 2009 issue of FlyLite, the in-flight magazine of
Jet Airways.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
April/2009
Arts consortium, Blue Guitar
magazine launch annual arts festival; event a smash hit with attendees
On April 26th, the Arizona Consortium for the Arts held its 1st Annual
Festival of music, arts, cultures, and the celebration of the inaugural
spring issue of The Blue Guitar magazine at the ASU West campus in
Glendale. The all-volunteer event was free and was attended by many
people from the community. They were welcomed by ASU West student body
President Andrew Clark and by the sponsor of the event, Nuha Sarraj,
president of the ASU Kurdish Youth Club. The community was treated to a
robust sampling of music, dance, a Kurdish Fashion Show and readings by
writers in The Blue Guitar magazine. It was truly a history-making day,
made possible through the planning and organizing of consortium
Co-Founder Elena Thornton and a cadre of other hardworking volunteers.
The sound equipment was skillfully operated and generously donated for
the day by local singer, songwriter and musician Brian Willia.
The event began with musical
performances by the Consortium’s talented Arizona Classical Kids under
the tutelage of Maestro Zhanna Tevan. They played a variety of music
from Russian to Italian to classical to "America the Beautiful."
The Consortium’s Artists in Motion
children’s dance group led by instructor Diana Matatova, an ASU
student, performed traditional Bucharian dances in colorful costumes,
then quickly changed and entertained the audience with a hip hop dance.
The dances were followed by an equally
colorful Kurdish Fashion show by ASU students and their friends, as
well as readings by the Arizona writers and poets who are published in
The Blue Guitar magazine. Rebecca Dyer, the magazine's Editor in Chief,
led the introductions of the readers. They read from their poetry,
nonfiction essays and short stories. Those writers and poets who read,
many of them currently in or alumni of the ASU MFA creative writing
program, included: Nadine Lockhart - poetry, Fernando Perez - poetry,
Melanie McCuin - poetry, John Haaheim - fiction and poetry, Cathy
Capozzoli - poetry, Chris Emery - poetry, Ryan Holden - poetry,
Stephanie Austin - fiction, Lilvia Soto - poetry, Meg Files - poetry,
Bill Warren - nonfiction and John Ledford - fiction.
Also, ASU Professor Guillermo Reyes’
one-act play “Dudes of Orpheus” was performed by ASU students Stephanie
Martinez, Matthew Konecni, Kevin Sahakian and Monica Ekabutr, and was
followed by a talk and lively discussion between Professor Reyes, the
actors and the audience.
Rebecca Dyer and her husband Richard
H. Dyer Jr. worked tirelessly and diligently to bring to the community
The Blue Guitar magazine, a brilliant work of art. The pages are filled
with carefully chosen themes that colorfully and perfectly flow from
page to page. The front cover and back cover were created by longtime
local artist, painter and teacher Marjory Boyer, whose vibrant and
colorful works can be found at www.phoenixartspace.com/mboyer. The
community is grateful to the Dyers for this exquisite gem of a
magazine, a gift they have created for our enjoyment, and we are
already looking forward to future editions. The magazine is published
online at www.theblueguitarmagazine.org . Also, to submit for the fall
edition, please visit the Web site.
Folk singer, acoustic guitarist and
harmonica player Neil Dicks entertained the audience with his wonderful
repertoire of songs and music. The audience also was treated to Inis, a
local Irish Band, who can regularly be seen at the Lis Doon Varna Irish
Pub in Peoria.
Local rock band the Hunger Artists were the last performers of the day
with a combo of singers, three guitars, drums, trumpet and xylophone.
We look forward to many future events by our local performers, artists
and writers.
To learn more about The Arizona Consortium for the Arts, how you can
join us, and to support future programs, please visit www.artizona.org
or call 602-263-5373.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
ARIZONA
CONSORTIUM FOR THE ARTS LAUNCHES ITS 1ST ANNUAL
ART FESTIVAL
PHOENIX,
AZ – March 27, 2009: Valley residents will get to experience a robust
sampling of the arts – ranging from music, dance, and culture, to
performance art and literary works – at Arizona Consortium for the
Art’s 1st Annual Art Festival on Sunday, April 26th
at ASU West in Glendale.
The festival will include
performances by the Consortium’s “Arizona Classical Kids” musicians,
the “Artists in Motion” dancers, Singer and Songwriter Brian Willia,
Classical Guitarist Bonnie Lou Coleman, Singer and Acoustic Guitarist
Neil Dicks, a Kurdish Fashion Show, readings from the “Blue Guitar”
Magazine and many other artists. There will also be dignitaries and
local personalities from the community speaking about the importance of
promoting arts and culture in our communities.
The event is free. The festival runs from 12:00pm-5:00pm and will be
held at Arizona State University West, La Sala, 4701 W Thunderbird Rd,
Glendale, AZ 85306.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
December/08
Paradise Valley Artists League
joins First Friday
by Sadie Jo Smokey - The Arizona Republic
For
the members of the Paradise Valley Artists League, art is a way of
life. Older than many other first-time artists exhibiting at First
Friday hot spots, 20 members of the group will show their work this
month in downtown Phoenix. They'll be at reception as part of the First
Friday festivities.
The group, which meets monthly at the Paradise Valley Community Center
in northeast Phoenix, is a talented bunch, said league president Elena
Thornton. Thornton said she suggested the show to the gallery when she
realized some members, such as 96-year-old Miriam Wechsler, wouldn't
have an opportunity to show their work on their own. Members were
delighted to contribute a painting or photograph to a collective
exhibit to promote their work, and the league.
"I wanted to feature as many artists as I could," said Thornton. "I'm
just so proud of them."
to
read more click on link below -
http://www.azcentral.com/community/nephoenix/articles/2008/12/02/20081202Phx-Friday1203asf.html
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
December
15,2008 – Mon – 6:30 pm to 9 pm – Russia's Music: The Continuum
Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) Center for the Performing Arts
(CPS) Main Stage, 18401 N. 32nd St. Phoenix — Russian Music Festival
begins with the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra from Tucson, Arizona. Five
musicians and two dancers will perform traditional folk music and
dance. Following a brief intermission, Russian-born singer, songwriter,
and piano player, Marina V. from California will take the stage to
perform her beautifully and soulfully modern songs in both Russian and
English. — Organized by PVCC Russian language instructor and artist
Elena Thornton, originally from Bendery, Moldova in the former USSR.—
Admission is FREE
