Volume 2 No. 49 |December 4, 2020 |
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ARTS NEWS
& PROFILES
FROM
FLORIDA'S
TREASURE COAST & BEYOND
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Sharing our wealth of arts and culture. We're having an ARTS BLAST!
Promoting The Arts & Arts Councils Everywhere
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In This Issue
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Calendar for Living Artist Arun Wijetilleke
Non-profit Gift Shop - Environmental Learning Center
Reflections of the Future w/Anita Prentice
Young Musicians Andrew Miller and Alena Yancy
Sunset Concert in Martin County
Vero Beach Opera Update
Short & Sweet - Oneliners from the Calendar
List of Boat Parades
History Behind the Garden Club's 2020 Ornament
Change of Plans for Pineapple Playhouse
*If you don't scroll all the way to the end, you're missing a lot of good stuff!
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NOTE: Calls for Artists, Auditions, Volunteers is now online.
Get Daily Updates on Willi Miller's Arts Blast Facebook Page
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Shared Information and Fun Links on Willi Miller's Arts Blast Extras
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I'm a masker, one of the few ways I feel I can contribute to the fight against this virus. If you aren't one already, please consider joining me. |
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Sunday on Cultural Connection on the Air - Renae Senn talks about the Garden Club of IRC's new ornament; Ben Earman - Cultural Council of IRC's new executive director. |
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Listen to Cultural Connection on the Air at a new time and place, Sundays at 8 a.m. on WQOL, 103.7 fm and on iHeartRadio.com. |
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If you thought summer and fall have flown by, just wait until you feel the wind in your hair as the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest. There are only three weekends for us to stuff everything in. Good luck, stay safe, and remember to shop local and small, and support the arts.
Petra arrived Monday and is still settling in. She probably won't begin taking on her Arts Blast responsibilities until next week. She did come out of her hiding place and let me pet her last night! Progress! That girl is one lean, mean purring machine!
So many people have had to learn to handle huge disappointments this year, but let's reflect a moment on Ludwig van Beethoven's disappointing year. 2020 was to be an all-year, world-wide celebration of his 250th birthday, but you-know-what knocked many long-planned events for a loop.
Do an internet search and you'll find a few celebratory events still on the calendar, but here's an Arts Blast idea. Once a day for the rest of the month, play something he composed. If you're a musician, pick up your instrument and play. If, like me, you're an armchair musician, salute him with a recorded performance. There are at least thousands of options, maybe millions. And it couldn't hurt to bake him a cake.
NOTE: We don't know his exact birth date, but he was baptized Dec. 17, 1770, in Bonn, Germany.
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Short & Sweet - Only a teaser of what you'll find on the Arts Blast's calendar web page. Don't forget to keep checking in!
Dec. 4, 5-8 p.m. - First Friday Gallery Stroll in Vero Beach Historic Arts District
Dec. 4, 5-8 p.m. - Opening reception - Gallery 14's December show, Fabulous Foursome.
Dec. 4, 5-8 p.m. - Opening - VB Art Club's Holiday Showcase at the Annex, 1903 14th Ave
Dec. 4 - Gus miller exhibit opens at Center for Spiritual Care
Dec. 4, 5-8 p.m. - Holiday Tree Lighting, music, festivities in Eau Gallie Square, Melbourne
Dec. 4, 5:30-9:15 p.m. - Collins and Company at Live in the Loop, Riverside Theatre.
Dec. 4-5, 12-6 p.m. - Martin Artisans Guild Dec. Exhibit at the Palm Room, Harbour Bay Plaza,
Dec. 4-5, 7 & 9 p.m. - Frankie Paul and Ken Miller at The Comedy Zone at Riverside Theatre
Dec. 4-5 - Ballet Arts Dance Company - GALA Viva La Danza, A Tribute to Marie Hale - Kravis
Dec. 4-13 weekends - Death of a Salesman at Vero Beach Theatre Guild
Dec. 4-6 - Little Women The Musical at The Henegar
Dec. 5, 2 p.m. - Festival of Lights at MidFlorida Center, PSL
Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. - Fort Pierce Art Club’s Magnificent Miniature Masterpieces at Cool Beans
Dec. 5, 10-12, 17-19, 6-9 p.m. - Wintergreen Night Lights at Environmental Learning Center
Dec. 5, 10 a.m. - Online silent auction for Ballet Vero Beach’s Tea Up for the Nutcracker begins
Dec. 5, 5:30-9:15 p.m. - The Jacks Band at Live in the Loop, Riverside Theatre
Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Indian River Clay's Holiday Open House and Pot Sale, 1239 16th St.
Dec. 5, 12-4 p.m. - Stuart Community Concert Band concert, 12 Days of Christmas, at the Elliott
Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - REHAB outdoor Vintage Market, 1442 N. Harbor City Blvd., NLB
Dec. 5, 2 p.m. - School of Ballet Arts presents Winter Concert - Kravis
Dec. 5 - Exhibition on Screen - Raphael Revealed at The Society of the Four Arts
Dec. 5, 4 p.m. - Outdoor holiday concert- Central Florida Winds Suntree United Methodist Church
Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. - Ring in the Holidays concert at Bok Tower Gardens. Ticketed.
Dec. 5-6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. - Bromeliad sale at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
Dec. 6 - Sunrise Theatre's virtual Sunrise Sunday, Catapult.
Dec. 6, 3 p.m. - The Symphonia presents Music at the Marriott.
Dec. 6 - Woman’s Club of Stuart’s 12th annual Holiday Home Tour - Virtual - Ticketed
Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Pick up Holidays at the Museum Art Kits at VBMA
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Arun Wijetilleke - Helping People Succeed's Art for Living Calendar Artist |
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I’ve always associated Arun Wijetilleke with the Garden Club of Indian River County. She has been a member for several decades, is a nationally and internationally accredited master judge of flower shows, and has been designing the club’s annual Christmas ornament since day one.
All of those are forms of art but I didn’t remember that she’s also a painter until I received the list of artists in the Helping People Succeed Art for Living 2020 calendar. That sent me looking back through years of notes to find an interview we did for another publication long ago.
One story Wijetilleke told me was about her artist father’s discovery of the talent in his three-year-old daughter. “When I was in preschool, I brought home this painting of bunny rabbit walking in the rain with colored raindrops. He said, ‘who did this? If I give you another piece of paper would you do it again for me?’ I did it, and he said, ‘Okay, I’ll be back soon,’ and came back with a huge gift for me — a desk, chair, art things. My mother said it was unbelievable.”
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Still, art was not the direction her father had in mind for her. The Sri Lanka native studied law, instead, with a side of English literature. After years of working in fields unrelated to art, Wijetilleke ended up with her husband in the United States, where her degree was not recognized. Faced with an option of going back to school, “I said no, then went back to painting again.” Acrylics and pastels are her favorites at the moment.
Her studio is at home, but Wijetilleke’s favorite place to paint is outdoors, “as close to Nature as possible. My favorite subjects are related to the beauty of Mother Nature, such as flowers, landscapes, seascapes, and animals.”
Wijetilleke’s painting for the Art for Living calendar is “The Bridge at McKee Gardens.” The competition was open to artists on the Treasure Coast. Her award-winning work can be seen in local art shows, at the Citrus Museum and McKee Botanical Garden, and the mural at Christ By the Sea United Methodist Church in Vero Beach.
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Young Musician Andrew Miller |
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These are tough times for students. Graduating seniors have been working for years on a plan for continuing education or beginning a career, a plan that didn’t include the monkey wrench that is Covid-19.
One not discouraged by the challenge, pianist Andrew Miller is a Vero Beach High School senior with applications in at two Florida colleges with noteworthy music programs. Classical piano performance is his choice for a major, wherever he ends up in the fall.
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Piano isn’t Miller’s only instrument, however. “I first started piano in 1st grade about 11 years ago. I picked viola, flute, and percussion up all at the same time in 6th grade of middle school.” He added voice to that list when he joined the choir at First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach this year.
Having a talented older brother and sister made Miller’s first choice of instruments an easy decision. As a youngster, he “heard them play and always repeatedly tried to replicate their playing (very poorly) by banging on the keys until, eventually, my parents decided to sign me up for piano lessons as well in order to get me to stop. Ever since, piano has become my passion and I love nothing more than being able to sit down and create music.”
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Miller won a scholarship for piano instruction with Marcos Flores in 6th grade and began studying with him in earnest five years ago. Flores, director of worship arts at Christ by the Sea Methodist Church, has provided the student with opportunities to hone his performance skills in his Christmas and Easter Cantatas. “At the last Christmas cantata, I performed my Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra playing as my accompaniment.” Church venues have been important for Miller’s group and solo performing experience. He plays in the Youth Orchestra at First Presbyterian Church and has played several piano solos.
Classical music is Miller’s genre of choice but he has “a great joy for music from the 70s through the 90s. … Billy Joel, Elton John, or the Beatles to name a few … . It’s always a treat to hear these older tunes over the radio.” On the classical side, he’s a fan of Chopin, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, and others, but names Shostakovich as his all-time favorite. “My favorite compositions to play would be any of the Beethoven sonatas. … It just feels so satisfying and invigorating to play them.”
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Growing up in a family with multiple talents in the arts gave Miller inspiration. His interests include acting, ballroom dancing, traditional and digital art, computer programming, chess and backgammon, math and physics, and now singing. Music performance will be his career, he said. “Piano is my passion.” |
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Shop a Non-Profit for the Holidays |
Environmental Learning Center's Nature Nook |
Gift shop manager Sonya Louise said face covering and social distancing are required. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Gift wrapping is not available. Ask about shipping. |
1. MANG® performance tees are perfect for swimming, surfing, fishing, hiking, and anything else you can get into outdoors. All shirts feature UPF 50 sun protection, are super breathable, lightweight, and built to last. Sized for men, women and children. $45 A mangrove tree is planted with each purchase!
2. Nature Near You kits are filled with activities to get kids outside and learning in nature. Designed for ages 6-11, choose from a variety of themes for hands-on activities that come with detailed instructions and online resources. $15
3. “Balanced and Barefoot” - How unrestricted outdoor play makes for strong, confident, and capable children. Written for parents and grandparents of young children by a pediatric occupational therapist. $16.95 Among a carefully curated selection of books suitable for readers of all ages.
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It's Holiday Lights and Rockin' Live Music at Riverside Theatre this month, with Collins and Company providing the music Dec. 4 and The Jacks Band Dec. 5 for Live in the Loop. Frankie Paul and Ken Miller bring the laughs inside at the Comedy Zone |
Vero Beach Opera Season Update
Because of Covid-19 restrictions, Vero Beach Opera had had to revise its 2021 season.
From CEO Joan Ortega-Cowan:
Our LA BOHEME and Broadway Meets Opera Concert will be moved to our 2022 Opera Season.
We will, however, bring our Rising Stars Opera Festival Vocal Competition to the VBHS Performing Arts Center in March 2021.
Semi-Finals: Thursday, March 25, 2-5 p.m.
Finals: Friday, March 26, 2-5 p.m.
Rising Stars Concert: Saturday, March 27, 7 p.m.
Tickets already purchased for 2020 Rising Stars Opera Festival will be re-issued with new dates and mailed to patrons. If you have any questions, please contact VBO at (772)569-6993 or by email president@verobeachopera.org.
During 2020-2021 VBO will present four PARLOR CONCERTS at a private residence with limited seating for VBO members:
"Holiday" Concert- Sunday, December 13, 2020
"Opera Showcase" Concert- Sunday, January 17, 2021
"Love" Concert- Sunday, February 14, 2021
"Broadway Meets Opera" Concert- Sunday, March 14, 2021
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Martin County - December 5, 6 p.m.
St. Lucie County - Dec. 5, 6 p.m.
Indian River County - Dec. 12, 6 p.m.
Cocoa Beach - Dec. 12, 6 p.m.
Merritt Island - Dec. 19, 6 p.m.
Satellite Beach - Dec. 19, 6 p.m.
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Not on the Water -
Vero Beach "Reverse" Christmas Parade - Dec.5, 6 p.m. at Vero Beach Airport. https://www.vbchristmasparade.com
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Sunset Concert will be streamed live on YouTube and Facebook from the Gallery of the Arts Council of Martin County Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
"Singing with the voice of an angel, once again Lorrianna will inspire us with many of the most beloved songs to ring in the holidays."
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The History Behind the Garden Club of IRC's 2020 Ornament
The Garden Club of Indian River County’s annual limited edition Christmas ornament, designed by Arun Wijetilleke, is here, available at a long list of area shops and offices in the area. Last week, the photo and a short piece appeared in Arts Blast, but since then I’ve read the story behind the design, one of those “only in Florida” stories, and have to share.
There’s history there, not anything I’d heard of in the many years I’ve been in Vero Beach. I’ll give you a few highlights here and suggest reading the entire story on the website. Thanks to Nat Jackson, assisted this year by Charmaine Gaynor, for collecting so much information to be included in each ornament’s gift box. For those unfamiliar with the very collectible series, there’s also a slideshow showing every ornament on the site.
A.B. Michael Bridge at Orchid Island - The 2020 Ornament
Long time Indian River County residents may remember when the Department of Transportation decided to replace and old swing bridge in Wabasso with a new high rise structure that opened in 1970. But what most don't know is the Board of County Commissioners requested the Florida Legislature name the new structure the A.B. Michael Bridge, to honor the famed Orchid Island citrus pioneer, who made Indian River Citrus famous.
When the new bridge opened six years later, the State Road 510 Bridge No. 51 was designated by the Florida Department of Transportation as the A.B. Mitchell Bridge instead. …
In 1970 Disney's Magic Kingdom was under construction, including a small gauge railroad whose tracks encircled the theme park. This little train would become known as the Main Street Railroad. Disney's engineers heard about an old swing bridge near Vero Beach which was going to be scrapped. They decided to take a look at the bridge to see if it could used instead of designing and building a new one with a modern high rise concrete model.
Read the history and see the list of places with the 2020 ornament for purchase on the website. One caveat: The ornaments usually sell out.
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Pineapple Playhouse in Fort Pierce had had to cancel its annual Home for the Holidays program this month but is planning a Christmas in July Celebration. Fundraising events have been planned, beginning with a Dec. 12 Cornhole tournament, with a Big $$$ 50/50.
"We are collecting new, unwrapped toys for homeless children, whose families need a hand up in these very difficult times. We are also collecting new or clean, gently used camping, household, and clothing items for veterans and other adults as well."
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Alena Yancy, Young Musician |
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At the young age of 10, Alena Yancy already has been playing piano for six years. This fifth grade student at Imagine South Vero can’t really remember what attracted her to the piano but thinks it was “the sound of music that the piano can make. Today I can say that I love to play piano, because of the beautiful music written from so many amazing composers.”
Yancy is a recipient of a Vero Beach Opera scholarship and has studied with Marcos Flores since she was six, appreciating many aspects of his teaching. “He has so much knowledge and patience. I love his calmness which makes me calm, too. I think all students need teachers like him to motivate them, to inspire them and to make them confident before their performances.”
In addition to classical music, Yancy likes jazz and modern music and when she isn’t sitting at the piano, she likes to play tennis. “I love dancing and singing. My dream is to have recording studio to record my music.”
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Through her studies with Flores, she has gained an understanding of music beyond performance. “Some of the pieces are hundreds of years old, but sound so up to date, some of them just take you back in different times and different places.” The young student said she likes a lot of composers, “but my latest favorite is Chopin. I’m sure I will have more favorites in the future.”
Yancy has performed at school in a talent show, in church, and in recitals, as well as in Annie at Riverside Children’s Theatre. “Dr. Flores and I had plans for more performances, but the coronavirus interfered with all of that. Now I play piano on Skype.”
Looking forward, Yancy said, “There’s so much beautiful classical music that should be presented to the world and somebody has to do that. I want to do that. I want to make people happy with the music I play. I hope I will be able to teach music one day like Mr. Flores does.”
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Reflections of the Future with Anita Prentice and Friends
Dec. 10 marks the 12th annual return to the Platts/Backus House for Fort Pierce mosaic artist Anita Prentice. She and members of the Blue Hand Studio — Perlie Petrillo, Valerie Johnson, Kim Laffont, Diane Mesgno, and Ginny Piech Street — will be in attendance for Reflections of the Future.
The artist reception is set for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, with a Second Peek Dec. 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This limited time event is free and open to the public at 122 A.E. Backus Ave., Fort Pierce. Main Street Fort Pierce has all the details. 772-466-3880.
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And the Miami Book Fair Keeps on Going
Free & Streaming Live:
Miami Book Fair is hosting a FREE series of online book clubs for young people, providing a unique opportunity to engage with top YA authors and facilitate a dialogue between NYC and Miami-area students around this year’s National Book Award honorees. The final two livestream sessions – featuring New York Times bestselling authors Traci Chee and Gavriel Savit – are happening this Saturday and next, so don’t miss out! You don’t need to read the book to attend. Everyone is welcome!
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Vero Beach Art Club & Oceanside Bus. Assoc. & Vero Outlets
❤️ Riverside Theatre
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The Vero Beach Art Club's new Jeanette Beach Gallery, in the former Tiger Lily Gallery space at 14th Avenue, will be the site of the club's first Holiday Showcase, a joint fundraiser for the club and Riverside Theatre. Riverside's annual entry into the holiday season, Festival of Trees, was a Covid victim this year, but local organizations stepped up with workarounds, like this event, which opens during Gallery Stroll Dec. 4. There will also be a mini-Festival of Trees auction (auction ends at 3 p.m. December 8). The Showcase will also prominently display Artist-members’ original artwork and gift items for sale. The opening reception for the Show and Fundraiser will be from 5 to 8 p.m. December 4 and the show will then be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday - Saturday through January 15 (closed December 24, 25, 31).
The Oceanside Business Association and Festival of Trees designers created a Festival of Wreaths in many shop windows on Ocean Drive. Proceeds from wreath sales will benefit the programs at Riverside. See the list of shops in the flyer above.
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The Vero Beach Outlets offered several windows for Riverside to showcase the children's theatre and Ballet Vero Beach. From Adam Schnell, Ballet Vero Beach CEO:
"How great do our window and our Grand Pas De Deux film look at night?! Thanks for the photos Kelly Ward, and thanks also the team at Riverside Theatre for making this extra bit of cheer available all season long! Please support our friends at @vboutlets when you are shopping!"
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DOES KEEPING FINANCIAL RECORDS MAKE YOU NERVOUS?
Even smaIl operations need to keep their financial house in order. Image First can record deposits, write checks, pay taxes, and provide reports in Quickbooks. Artists, spend more time in your studio and less on paperwork. Let’s talk, free consultation. Image First, 772-538-4148.
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Cultural Council of Indian River County's hot-off-the-presses Arts & Culture Guide is not only in hard copy, but now has a digital version at www.Cultural-Council.org. It's in flipbook format and can be downloaded as a PDF file. A companion piece to the Guide is an online calendar at www.culturalcalendar.org that is updated daily." Print copies are available at the cultural Council office on 14th Avenue and quite a few spots around the county. Learn more on the website.
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To add an event to the online calendar published by the Cultural Council of Indian River County, you'll now have to be a DIYer. Here’s the page link:
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30th Annual All Florida Juried Arts Show
Featuring all Florida Artists in All Media
Juror: Lisa Rockford, Rockford Projects
Exhibition Dates: Through December 12
*Preregistration required.
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For updates on gallery openings and classes in Melbourne and surrounding Brevard County, check the Brevard Cultural Alliance website and individual gallery social media.
Calls for artists and gallery openings are listed.
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Updates from the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance!
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From the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County: |
In addition to following state guidelines, Palm Beach County has a local ordinance requiring facial coverings in public places – indoors or outdoors – wherever social distancing cannot be maintained. Additionally, local venues also have specific guidelines in place, so be sure to visit each organization's website for complete details, hours, and possible updates before you go.
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Dr. Marcos Daniel Flores is a piano performance graduate from The Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico B.M., The Eastman School of Music M. M., and Arizona State University where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Flores is an active performer as well as an experienced and inspirational piano teacher.
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Each stream becomes available at 7:30PM ET and remains accessible for on-demand viewing until 6:30PM ET the following day.
Friday, December 4
Saturday, December 5
Sunday, December 6
Monday, December 7
Tuesday, December 8
Wednesday, December 9
Thursday, December 10
Friday, December 11
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Event schedules can change, often at almost the last minute. Verify, double check, and then do it again before you head out the door. And when you do go out, take a mask. Without one, you risk being turned away. |
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Scroll down for guidelines for submitting calendar items and feature suggestions to ARTS BLAST.
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To opt out of receiving Arts Blast, "unsubscribe" at the end of the page. |
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Like Willi Miller's Arts Blast Facebook page for updates and Willi Miller's Arts Blast Extras for interesting, inspiring, and fun shared posts, then go to willimiller.com to catch up on every issue of Arts Blast, and see the latest ON THE CALENDAR listings.
Please share this to help Arts Blast reach more readers and spread the word.
As always, For Helen Miller
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Information is to be received in an email at least one week before publication.
Use this format for Calendar entries:
Who (organization)
What (Event)
When (dates, time)
Where (Name of venue, address)
Why (a brief description of the purpose)
Web/Facebook address
Contact for public use (for tickets, questions, etc.)
Then add a short, descriptive release if available.
Send only one photo, with caption, unless more are requested.
Media contact with email for Arts Blast followup (not for publication)
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Here's a suggestion for uploading information to calendars that allow you to input your own events.
In the body of the listing, sometimes called Description, make sure to include all dates in each upload. For example: Performances are on March 12-31; or the exhibit is open March 12, 14, 15, and 17. That information should be in all dates you post individually.
If you are a member of the Cultural Council of Indian River County, you need this information:
The deadline is MONDAY - 10 days prior to the Wednesday publication.
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Copyright ©2019-2020 Willi Miller's ARTS BLAST!, all rights reserved.
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