Matisyahu talks inspiration

Posted on August 1, 2011 by dylan

Matisyahu’s genre-blending music has garnered a steady following since he began touring in 2004. His unique sound defies categorization, combining Jewish-themed reggae, rap, punk rock, and hip-hop. He performs locally at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on August 23, 2011 at 7:30 pm, accompanied by the band, Dub Trio, whose style also crosses musical boundaries by mixing dub effects with rock, punk, heavy metal, and electronic. Recently, Matisyahu took time out from a busy touring schedule to talk about what inspires him…

The Lure of the Logo: Local Designers Weigh in on Using This Simple But Effective Marketing Tool

Posted on January 11, 2011 by dylan

January 11, 2011

Last September, Players by the Sea Community Theatre launched a new logo that executive director Joe Schwarz says brought energy, life and professionalism to the organization’s marketing efforts. The apostrophe-like icon, which also calls to mind classic drama masks, now appears on the theater’s advertisements, playbills, posters- even its building’s façade. It provides a consistent message reflecting the inventive, cutting-edge performances that continue to entertain and educate theatergoers on the First Coast.

Logos, though often quite simple in design, play a significant role in delivering an organization’s unique message. They are a prominent part of the modern landscape, found on everything from clothing to billboards, computers to buildings. According to local art directors and designers, logos are a crucial element to a successful marketing plan and deserve careful consideration.

Barrels of Hope: Building Shelter for Haiti

Posted on October 10, 2010 by dylan

During the September 1, 2010 Green Drinks meeting in Gainesville, Mike Amish of Indigo Green Building Solutions, the U.S. Green Building Council and Jacob Cravey of Earthbuilders described their project—Barrels of Hope —and offered community members an opportunity to help them build shelters for earthquake victims in Haiti using inexpensive earthbag construction.

The Barrels of Hope initiative started last March, after Amish and several colleagues heard a presentation about earthbag building by Jeff Bousquet, who has been certified through the Cal Earth Institute.

The group traveled to Kenscoff, Haiti, last July and constructed their first earthbag house. Included among them were members of Indigo, The Sustainable Design Group, and The United States Green Building Chapter’s local chapter, Heart of Florida.

Amish hopes the structures he builds will last 50 years or more and become part of the local culture. The 100 square foot houses are expected to fill both a temporary need for shelter and provide a permanent housing solution. “We would hope that they would use it to build on to,” he said.

Unfettered: New Work by Artist and Gallery Owner Eileen Corse

Posted on October 1, 2010 by dylan

Cover: Art & Healing Issue

Oct/November 2010

Eileen Corse, artist and owner of Corse Gallery & Atelier, unveiled a collection of her new paintings in September. The show, titled Unfettered, comes just months after Corse celebrated her business’s second anniversary in March, 2010. Corse says that for the past two and a half years she has put her painting career on hold in order to promote other artists and her gallery, because she thought it was a great thing for Jacksonville.

But now she is ready to promote her own work. She is calling her show Unfettered, she says, “because I feel free to paint again.”

Why Art Matters

Posted on July 8, 2010 by dylan

With so much taxpayer money now being allocated to the arts in Jacksonville, the Cummer Art Museum recently announced a timely program scheduled for July 13th, “Why Art Matters: An Arts Roundtable.” During the event local educators, business executives and civic leaders will gather to discuss the importance of art and culture in Jacksonville.

Read more: http://www.eujacksonville.com/story2.php?storyid=1734

Revealing a moment in America: UMASS theater creates a community to capture one

Posted on January 21, 2010 by dylan

January 21, 2010

Under bright lights in the Curtain Theater at the University of Massachusetts, actor Jonathan Fielding trails Sarah Wiggin across the stage, holding up his hands as if filming her with a movie camera. He speaks to her in German-accented English.

“You are home. And you are very tired,” he says.

Wiggin, who looks exasperated, pulls up the collar of her brown, corduroy sport coat.

Fielding stops suddenly and turns to director Gina Kaufmann, who sits offstage. Kaufmann had encouraged the pair to experiment with adding new dialogue to a scene from the play “1905,” set to open Friday at UMass. Fielding now questions whether the new dialogue is working. A thoughtful discussion between actors and the director ensues.

Members of the cast and crew of “1905″ say that this kind of open collaboration has been the primary feature of the play’s construction.

Read more: http://www.gazettenet.com/2010/01/21/revealing-moment-america#

World of Blessings

Posted on November 26, 2009 by dylan

November 26, 2009

For some today, a traditional prayer will express thankfulness. Others will pick up poems, or enact meaningful family rituals.

However families choose to commence their Thanksgiving Day meals, this remains a special kind of holiday.

Spiritual leaders and thinkers from across the Valley offered ideas this week on ways to make the most of the day’s enduring theme – gratitude.

Dylan Klempner

writer, teacher, arts journalist

Category Archives: Art