Volume 2 No. 15 |March 31, 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!
Supporting arts and cultural councils everywhere.
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In This Issue
Suzanne Connors & the Trickle-Down Effect
Classified Ads - Streaming Instruction
A Poem for the Times from Sean Sexton
Michael Tougias on U-Boats in the Gulf
Ballet Vero Beach Video Finale and a Tribute
Ginger the Bagpiper On the Bright Side
(Send in Your Favorites)
Scroll Down for a Lot More
and
Like Willi Miller's Arts Blast on Facebook for Updates
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There are many small arts-related businesses and individuals without the tech savvy to create web content but still want or need to reach their audience. If you have the skills to help them get online with video classes and performances, get your own skills out there through Arts Blast advertising.
Email for rates.
They're small-business friendly, from this small business to yours.
Arts Blast now includes paid listings for arts-related classes, workshops, lessons, and gallery updates. A basic listing is $5 per issue, paid through PayPal. A half banner-size ad with a photo or graphic will be $25 per issue. Email for details: willi@willimiller.com.
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Classical Guitar Instruction
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Online from Vero Beach, Florida. Live via Skype or archived as Unlisted on a YouTube channel.
Student requirements:
Classical guitar (nylon strings), music stand, foot stool or substitute gear, basic knowledge of music reading and theory, access to high speed internet, good lighting in his/her studio room, access to a printer.
Forms of payment:
Apple pay, Skype pay, Zelle app, account transfer, and others.
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Live from the Treasure Coast
Student requirements
: Computer with webcam and microphone or Smartphone with Skype or Zoom installed.
Form of payment:
Paypal
For scheduling and fee information
:
Call or text: (772) 532-2083 or email
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Are you streaming arts-related lessons, classes, or workshops? List your offerings here - $5 per week for a limited time. Email for details.
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Lessons Via Skype during virus crisis.
Student requirements:
Not beginners. Must have some background in piano lessons. Classical Music preferred, but other genres could be considered.
Forms of payment
: Check
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Location: Live from Yardley, PA
Student requirements: Acoustic or digital piano - full size with weighted keys.
Form of payment: PayPal
For more information and to register:
https://www.facebook.com/soliviapiano/
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Suzanne Connors Explains the Trickle-Down Effect in the Time of COVID-19
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Suzanne Connors' Aya Fiber Studio
has been a presence in the Martin County arts community since 2015, when she opened her studio in Port Salerno's Fish House Art Center. Her Facebook post this morning breaks down the widespread reach into the international community this crisis is having on just one artist's business.
Suzanne:
I was sitting here today thinking what an impact my own Art Studio closure has been to our
Port Salerno Waterfront District
Business Community. There are many who say that the Arts do not make an economic impact, but this is just NOT TRUE!
I had to reschedule 11 Fiber Workshops through the end of April that affected 7 Instructors and 92 students. 69 of these students were traveling to my studio from places all across the world. That means 75% were traveling.The other 25% coming from our local community or other cities within the State and driving.
My students are "mostly" all between the ages of 55- 80, so as soon as the Government started telling people over the age of 60 to limit travel and group interactions; my business was over!
The
Aya Fiber Studio
is basically an October - May business. Pretty seasonal. March & April are typically my best months of the year. It's what we call High season in Florida. It is during these months I need to make enough revenue to get through "slow" summer season and then past the uncertainty of Hurricane Season.
But it's NOT just my business that suffers from this crisis.
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The 7 teachers contracted have also lost their income.Even if I reschedule them for another time, they cannot make this time up. the new date would be new income. The 69 traveling students all had purchased airfares, had paid for Port Salerno hotel rooms or local Air BB's and all 92 would have ate at least 1 meal a day in our local Port Salerno restaurants. My 2 wonderful shuttle drivers who would have picked them all up from PBI or MIA airports have also lost their incomes.
I had also pre-purchased student/ class materials for these workshops. And some of these supplies are very class specific. Water Deliveries have been now been discontinued and we won't be ordering any fabrics or dyes for awhile,the Fed-Ex driver or UPS won't be coming for awhile,
One closure affects many other businesses. My personal loss for 1-1/2 month is pretty substantial, but I estimate the loss of income to my fellow Port Salerno Business' from just MY studio alone to be over $200,000 for the period March 13- April 30th. Image this over the course of a year?????
I've been on every online funding site from Unemployment, Filed a claim for Business Interruption on my Insurance and applied with the SBA for both PPP and Economic-Disaster - I've heard nothing from anyone and my bills are due. I've posted all of next years classes on my website, but even web traffic is down 60% right now. At least next year I will be super organized!!
I Hope everyone is staying safe! Please support your local businesses when this is over!
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Museum Extras online
Anke’s Art Minute every Monday
VBMA Tuesdays Flick Pick
To educate and entertain, Film Studies coordinator Diane Thelen recommends a new film each Tuesday on an artist or time period related to the VBMA’s permanent collections.
Museum Stories
To keep active young minds engaged, we present a creative lesson plan with suggestions of books, music, and art-making for babies and toddlers.
Art Tutorials
A short weekly art-making tutorial with Museum Art School faculty.
Museum Fun
A fun collection of Museum-related photos, moments, social media, etc.
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Thank you to Sean Sexton and the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation for sharing.
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Voices.
(by Sean Sexton, IRC Poet Laureate and Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation Board of Director)
Another sleepless night passes as I sit
writing in the cool air of the porch,
exiled again to unsettling thoughts
of disease, family and money, disruptions
to our lives as the dream of Spring is held
fast in a grip of unbroken drought, depleted
pastures and no promise of weather for weeks.
This should be May instead of March.
Somehow a lone frog voice issues softly
from the quiet, into the dark and as if waiting
for the cantor, a unison of congregants in trees,
amid leaf and bracken beside the dry pond answer
in creaking antiphony. The sound rises, spreads
its solace upon the land apprehending the gloom
and in that moment it is easy once again
to believe in things to come.
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The Brevard Cultural Alliance
shares stay-at-home opportunities
here
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Some museums are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars per week.
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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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Miguel Bonachea is an experienced guitarist and instructor. He served as a professor at prestigious Universities in Cuba and Colombia for 20 years. Several of his students are recognized figures in the international classical guitar arena today. Philosopher and music critic Dr. Marc-Jean Bernard: "His musical technique and culture of the instrument is based on a deep understanding of aesthetical dimensions of Music. He is simultaneously a great guitarist and a great educator."
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From Colorado, Ginger Lagemann sends a story for On The Bright Side:
If you open your windows at sunset and listen very carefully, you may hear a sound that you haven’t heard in a while. In a movement called “Sunset Solidarity”, bagpipers and drummers all across the nation have been stepping outside and play at sunset each evening. The bagpipes have a centuries-old tradition to inspire courage and resolve in times of distress, and the current global situation is no exception. The hope is that all who listen will fight just a little harder. As a bagpiper, this new “normal” is far from ideal. We thrive on performing in large groups, being as loud as we can, hanging around lots of kilt-clad lovers of all things Celtic, and we love every moment.
On the bright side, it’s nice to be able to go outside each evening and grace my neighbors with the song of my people as we join together in solidarity. I’ve even taken walks around my neighborhood in a solitary parade. Folks come out of their houses, hang out on their porches, and applaud when I’m done (despite the fact that I’m a newbie and have *no* idea what I’m doing!)
As a former longtime resident of Vero Beach, I was inspired to learn the pipes by Jacob Craig, a grade 1 bagpiper with the Vero Beach Pipes and Drums. Jacob invited me to join the band way back when and I was convinced to play a much-needed snare drum.
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I fell in love with the pipes and vowed I would one day put down the drumsticks and switch instruments.
Not one to give up a dream, I started learning bagpipes a few months after I moved away from Vero Beach a year ago. I’m now a member of Ciorcal Cairde Irish Pipes and Drums in Centennial, Colorado. Like many musical groups, we haven’t had a chance to play together since before St. Patrick’s Day.
Since the start of the pandemic, we- like many other groups- have “rehearsed” via Zoom meetings and keep having our lessons with Skype video calls. Several Scottish festivals and competitions have already been canceled and postponed, but we will endure. Historically, those who play the pipes do not give up easily. We will continue to fight, to inspire, and show courage and resolve when the world around us seems to crumble. And, lucky for all of you… bagpipes are super loud at a sustained 95 decibels, so you can feel free to maintain that 6-foot distance. (Maybe more like 30 feet?) Trust me, you’ll hear us.
So, tonight at sunset, open your windows and hopefully you will hear the sound of bagpipes to remind you that we are all together in this… and that we shall overcome. Hang in there, guys. We’ve got this.
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Photo courtesy of Ronald Kotinsky:
Black&White Warbler migrating through my backyard - April 4th 2020 - Valrico - Florida
Check out the insect that he is eating. These birds are tiny, about the size of two thumbs.
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Photo: Edward Perry IV Snail kite losing a meal
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The Music of Our Youth - Rest in Peace, Bill Withers and Jon Prine.
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Citizen Science Update
From Dr. Edie Widder at Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA):
Our scheduled citizen science training sessions have been postponed, but we will be sure to let you know when these resume. To date, 158 community members have attended our Citizen Science presentations and training workshops, and collectively have invested over 75 hours of laboratory time, dissected 56 fish for our One Health Fish Monitoring project, and have adopted three pollution mapping sites. Way to go Team ORCA!
We are actively recruiting citizen scientists for all five of our programs. We are also seeking sponsors to ensure the sustainability of ORCA’s citizen science work. For information contact our Director of Citizen Science and Education, Missy Weiss, at
Mweiss@teamorca.org
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ORCA’s citizen scientists have already provided data that we are using to help reduce nutrients from entering the Indian River Lagoon. There is MUCH more work to be done.
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NOW VIRTUAL!! Florida Humanities Speaker Series - U Boats So Close to Home by Michael Tougias
Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 6 PM
U-Boats So Close to Home: An American Family’s World War II Story of Survival and the U-boat that attacked them The attack, the survivors, and the rescue of the first U-boat to enter the Gulf of Mexico, in May 1942, as it stalked its prey 30 miles off New Orleans.
Author Michael Tougias has written a shelf’s worth of books about maritimes disasters and misadventures but always with a very human story, and often a Florida angle. The Finest Hours, his tale of a daring rescue at sea, put Tougias in touch with a crew member and Melbourne resident, Bernie Webber. Above & Beyond, “about the Cuban missile crisis is largely set in Florida, where the U-2 spy plane pilots were based.”
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Tougias splits his time between Hobe Sound and Mendon, Mass., but when he realized three of his prepared presentations had a Florida connection, he approached Florida Humanities about becoming part of its speakers program. He will be streaming live for the Lake Wales History Museum April 9 at 6 p.m. with “U-Boats So Close to Home,” based on a book he co-authored with Alison O’Leary four years ago.
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“I became interested in the story when I learned that 8-year-old Sonny Downs was on the freighter attacked by the first U-boat in the Gulf, and that Sonny is now 86 and alive and well.” Researching incidents that happened so many years ago can be a challenge but Tougias said the Internet makes it a bit easier, giving him access to experts on his subjects. “For U-boats, I found Jerry Mason, one of the worlds leading experts, and he was of great help. The National Archives is also a rich treasure trove of first-hand accounts. It was there that the co-author and I found the war diary of the U-boat commander who sank Sonny's ship.” It was that diary that allowed them to tell the story from two points of view. An interview with Downs is on Tougias’
website
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Tougias' approach comes from a fascination with “how certain people rise up and survive where few others could have endured what they did.” He finds many interesting stories but is drawn to “the most remarkable ones that have twist, turns and many surprises.”
For this Lake Wales History Museum presentation, Tougias will be streaming live from his Massachusetts home on Zoom.
Click here
to register. “The museum has been wonderful to work with. I think the slides I'll be showing from the incident I wrote about in So Close To Home will have people on the edge of their seats!”
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Presented by The National WWII Museum - New Orleans
Through iconic photographs, the exhibit illustrates the attack on Pearl Harbor and examines the moments that led the United States into World War II. It was a day of tragedy, sacrifice and heroism that united a nation;
it was a day that lives in Infamy.
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"U Boats So Close to Home" with Michael Tougias
Join us for a virtual talk from the comfort and safety of your own home. This virtual talk is about the American family who survived WWII and the U-Boat that attacked them in the Gulf of Mexico in May of 1942. All you need is a computer! Register on the Museum website and you will receive an email about how to join this virtual presentation on April 9 at 6 PM.
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From the Cultural Council of Indian River County:
Become a member!
Re: Artist and Author Registry
We have a new logo and redesigned website! Your membership includes listing on our
Cultural-Council.org
Registry - artists may submit up to 4 images of their work, and authors up to 4 images of book covers OR a photo of themselves.
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Vero Beach Theatre Guild
Jon Putzke has sent an update to Guild fans and supporters. An excerpt follows. Read the entire letter on the
website
.
We had hoped to reopen next month; however it appears we are going to be experiencing the worst of the coronavirus during these next two weeks. Re-opening in May seems unrealistic to all of us now. However, we are optimistic that we will be able to remount JCS in July at the latest and we all look forward to seeing you back in our theatre for this tremendous production. Our staff has continued coming in to work, in shifts throughout the day so that not more than one person has been allowed in the building at one time and our various teams and committees have continued to meet using our electronic devices with the new technology of Zoom. Our Board of Directors will continue hammering out every possible scenario over Zoom so that we are ready to be up and running the moment the word has been given that the coast is clear and those twenty-one extremely talented local artists will once again be on board bringing you the legendary musical that will send your spirits soaring.
During this time that we have been shuttered, like all non-profit arts organizations, we can use your help! Please continue to support us by purchasing your 2020-21 Season Subscriptions now ... and please consider becoming a member of the Theatre Guild family for our 2020-21 Season!
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Join us on Facebook Live for a virtual field trip to visit the 100,000 honeybees at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg's rooftop apiary. We’ll give you a tour and provide some fun facts about urban beekeeping and how the bees are pollinating the gardens and city parks of downtown St. Petersburg. The hives are not accessible to the public, so tune in for this special behind-the-scenes look that's fun - and educational - for any age!
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See inside the dollhouse-sized museum here.
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From Adam Schnell at
Ballet Vero Beach:
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It is with deepest sadness
that we announce the passing of our dear friend and long time costume designer, Travis Halsey. Words are simply inadequate in expressing what an untimely and devastating loss this is for the world of dance as a whole. Travis brought class, style, grace, whimsy, elegance, and above all, fun to his designs, our lives, and to the stages where his designs were seen. Our hearts are with his family and friends all over the world in this difficult time. He is gone too soon, is irreplaceable, and will be profoundly missed.
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Ballet Vero Beach
presents "Clarity of Vision: The Film". In lieu of the company's season finale Ballet Vero Beach is offering an inside view of the program that might have been. The film will feature Adam Schnell's "Ballade" and the world premiere of "Rust" by Ariel Grossman. Purchase a ticket or tickets as normal and on April 18 at 7:30 a link to the film will be emailed to you. The film will remain viewable online through April 25. Tickets start at $10. Get them at
https://balletverobeach.org/clarity.php
or call 7729052651.
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Did you know Florida Humanities has over 30 community walking tours from Pensacola to the Florida Keys that you can access for free?
Follow in the footsteps of Cuban poet José Martí on the
Ybor City: José Martí Trail
tour where Martí once rallied support for Tampa's Cigar workers. Join the demonstrators that marched for Civil Rights from St. Paul's AME Church in May 1964 on the
St. Augustine: Lincolnville
tour. Did you know Florida once had two Capitols, Pensacola and St. Augustine? It wasn't until 1822 that Governor William Pope ordered the selection of a more central location after a legislator became lost at sea while traveling to Pensacola. All this and more on the
Florida Stories: Walk Tallahassee
tour. Experience the rich history of Florida’s unique cities by downloading "Florida Stories" on iOS and Android devices.
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Check out the
Cultural Council of Indian River County's new website. Yes, the calendar's as full as ever, but most entries begin with POSTPONED or CANCELED. Get information on how to upload your events when this crisis has finally passed.
In Palm Beach County,
follow the social media channels of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.
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The
St. Lucie Cultural Alliance has a new project for artists. Read about the plans for a fully digital indoor-only art campaign on the website.
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery & School of Art buildings remain temporarily closed. However, the 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit is committed to offering new ways to get people inspired, creating, and connecting through art. From the comfort of home, all ages can enjoy a variety of virtual exhibitions and live virtual classes. The virtual exhibitions are free to the public. The live virtual classes vary in price with proceeds used to pay instructors and continue the organization’s mission of connecting community through a vibrant school of art, unique exhibitions, and diverse special events. For more information, visit
www.lighthousearts.org
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Efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 have all of us staying indoors more than we might like—and for birders, that means possibly missing out on spring migration. So, Audubon hatched a plan to lift your spirits and keep our community connected through this unusual time.
How many times have friends or family started a conversation with you by saying, “I saw a bird...” Too many to count? Yeah, us too. This show is all about celebrating the birds we love and how they inspire us to connect with others, which is more important now than ever.
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Arts Garage in Delray Beach
is launching
From Our HeARTS to Your Homes over the next month. It
will include live musical performances, arts education classes, poetry and comedy, featuring some amazing young performers, such as
Matt Brown, Brandii Edwards, Indigo Dreams,
and
Valerie White
. Viewers will also have access to exclusive interviews, blogs, and more.
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From National Endowment for the Arts - Excerpts:
Resources
. The Arts Endowment continues to add new information as it arises to the
COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
page on our website. It includes links to organizations with frequently updated news and resources, as well as a contact list for state and regional arts agencies that may provide you with a more direct line of assistance in your community. As you may know, 40% of the Endowment’s funding each year is distributed directly to state and regional arts agencies; this will apply to relief funds, as well.
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From Martin County Library System
:
If you're a library card holder in Martin County,
Try Ancestry.com
(Library Edition) from the comfort of your home — completely free!
- Select Ancestry Library Edition from list of search results.
You will be prompted to enter your library card number & PIN. Contact library staff at
772-288-5702
for assistance!
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A Message from Vero Beach Art Club:
The Art Club office/administration has gone remote and is no longer physically located in the Museum on a temporary basis during this time so that we ensure we always have the ability to operate our administration and limit everyone’s exposure.
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Around the Internet:
April 5, 1918. The first mention of a new influenza outbreak in Kansas appears in a public health report. Th
at strain, later called the Spanish Flu, would go on to kill at least 50 million people worldwide. In a time before widespread global travel, how did this disease spread so far, so fast? And what does it teach us about fighting pandemics today?
Special thanks to Dr. Jeremy Brown, author of Influenza: The 100-Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History.
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From Artnet.com
The
Anonymous Was a Woman
awards have supported women artists over 40 since 1996, distributing more than $6 million in grants to a population that has historically and systematically been overlooked when it comes to major accolades and support. Now, for the first time ever, the organization is doubling its annual offering with an additional $250,000 of emergency relief grants in response to the ongoing health crisis that has shuttered museums, galleries, and other businesses around the world.
(Read more online)
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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 Just For Fun 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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LIBRARIES
-
IF YOU GO (ONLINE)
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Information is to
be received in an email at least one week before publication.
Use this format:
Who (organization)
What (Event)
When (dates, time)
Where (Name of venue, address)
Why (a brief description of the purpose)
Web address
Contact for public (for tickets, questions, etc.)
Then add a short, descriptive release if available.
Send only one photo, with caption, until more are requested.
Media contact with email for my 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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