Volume I No. 49 |November 26, 2019
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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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Shop Small - Museum Store Day
Star of Wonder at Hallstrom Planetarium
Sing a Song of the Season
Some Holiday Fun
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Put on Your Skates and Let the Holidays Begin!
We are now fully into what some call the Good News/Bad News Season. The Good News, of course, is the overwhelming abundance of holiday events surrounding us. The Bad News is our almost certain inability, as spectators and participants, to choose all of them. I'm doing my best to update
ON THE CALENDAR/WHAT A WEEKEND! online at willimiller.com every day.
If you see 🔔 or 🌲 or ❄️ on the Calendar:
I'm attempting to list holiday events as they come in as well as complete season schedules. To try to keep readers on holiday track, I'm calling on my Mac's emoji keyboard. When you see one of these — 🔔🌲❄️ — in front of an entry, you'll know it appears to have a holiday connection. Which of these three I use is completely arbitrary, with no significance other than that's what I felt like typing at that moment. I hope it's helpful.
If I'm missing something, please email the information to me — in the Arts Blast format, of course — at willi@willimiller.com.
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It's coming up on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and you know the drill. Before, after, and in between them
Shop small, Shop local, Support the arts.
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Scroll down for guidelines for submitting calendar items and feature suggestions to ARTS BLAST.
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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.
Share this to help Arts Blast reach more readers and spread the word.
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To opt out of receiving Arts Blast, "unsubscribe" at the end of the page.
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On
Sunday, December 1,
for the third consecutive year, more than 1,200 museum stores representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 15 countries, and four continents will offer inspired shopping inside museums and cultural institutions during
Museum Store Sunday
.
“We are delighted to be participating in this year’s Museum Store Sunday and be able to interact with our patrons and community,” said Barbara Dunn, Vero Beach Museum of Art Museum Store manager. “This year, we are excited to showcase our broad assortments of unique, mission-related gifts and invite everyone to “Be A Patron” with every purchase from our Museum Store directly supporting the educational mission of the Vero Beach Museum of Art.”
During this day, as part of the VBMA participation in
Museum Store Sunday,
shoppers will be offered a special 20% off* all holiday merchandise on this one day. Each purchase supports the missions and programs of the museum, and museum admission is not required to shop the store.
Museum Store Sunday
has quickly become
the
global annual day to
Be a Patron
– and shop conscientiously and support museum stores and their missions worldwide. While there is only one
Museum Store Sunday
each year, everyone is encouraged to
Be a Patron
of museums and museum stores all year round.
For more information about the Vero Beach Museum of Art, please check the website
www.vbmuseum.org
. The VBMA Museum Store is open Monday – Sunday 10 am – 4:30 pm.
*
Not to be combined with other discounts including membership discount. Buyer to receive a maximum reduction of 20% off ticketed price.
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❄️Star of Wonder - An IRSC Tradition❄️
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It’s fair to say that a “Star” that has become a staple of holiday family outings since it was created 27 years ago is a solid tradition. Star of Wonder is an event that, according to Jon Bell’s calculations, has entertained and inspired 17,000 people over the years. Bell is the director at Hallstrom Planetarium on the Fort Pierce campus of Indian River State College.
He’s also the man who developed the show. “I wrote, directed, and produced this show, but I was given permission by Dr. Kenneth Franklin, Head Astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, to model it on the classic show he wrote for the Hayden Planetarium many years ago,” Bell said. There have been some changes since 1993. With only a few modifications, the soundtrack is the same but technology has had an effect on the visuals.
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“The first two decades of shows used 35mm slides, special effects projectors, panoramas and of course the planetarium star-field,” Bell said. The real changes began in 2012, when digital images were introduced using the planetarium’s all-sky projection system. “For example, one of our recent IRSC graduates, Collette Godfrey, has added flickering flames to the Menorah scene, and she has also replaced some of the generic images of Nativity scenes with full-dome art and stained glass effects.”
Bell compares creating a planetarium show to making a movie. “It involves doing research, writing a good script, finding narrators and recording them, using appropriate music and sound effects to add life to the narration and visuals, making a storyboard and then finding the right images to project, and of course programming the show and then letting everybody know when those shows will be presented!”
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Star of Wonder, Bell says, is for many a holiday tradition much like seeing The Nutcracker, making a favorite cookie recipe, or getting out familiar decorations to dress up the house.
Star of Wonder has a limited run every year, Bell says, because December is the end of an IRSC semester. “We get two weekends of performances and they usually are sold out or pretty full houses (75 seats in the theater). Eight public shows plus we usually do two or three special group presentations, so call it 10 shows each December.” Carry that over and you’ll come up with the 17,000 estimated total. The Hallstrom Planetarium is the only operating planetarium in the area, with the closest other one in West Palm Beach.
Planetarium shows are recommended for adults and children over the age of 10. The air temperature is maintained at 72 degrees. Guests may wish to bring a sweater or light jacket.
Most planetarium shows are just $5 and tickets can be purchased online at
www.irsc.edu
or at the box office located in the McAlpin Fine Arts Center lobby on the IRSC Main Campus at 3209 Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by phone. Call the McAlpin Fine Arts Center Box Office at 1-800-220-9915 to reserve seats.
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Sing a Song of the Season
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If your Christmas season has to have music in the air, you're in luck. Chorales, choruses, bands, ensembles, and orchestras abound in Arts Blast land. Here are a few examples but keep checking
On the Calendar/What a Weekend at willimiller.com for concert listings added as they come in.
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The
Brevard Chorale
is one of two community choruses sponsored by the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at Eastern Florida State College. Under the direction of James Boyles, the 60-voice Chorale is a mixed-voice group of choral singers ranging in age from 16 to senior adults.
BrevardChorale.org
Sing We Now of Christmas is at Great Outdoors Community Church, Titusville Dec. 4, 7 p.m., f
ree admission, an offering will be accepted
; Simpkins Auditorium at EFSC, Cocoa Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. - ticketed.
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Treasure Coast Community Singers
The annual Holiday Memories concert times two!
Sat., Dec. 7, at Palm City Presbyterian Church - Featuring the Cantate Singers.
Sun, Dec. 8, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in St. Lucie West. - Featuring the TCCS Youth Chorus.
Both concerts are at 4 p.m. The Spotlight shines on Southeast Florida Honor Flight.
Enjoy some of your Christmas & Holiday favorites – and of course we will give you a chance to sing along on a few of them!
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First Baptist Church of Vero Beach - 50 years of Handel's Messiah
To commemorate 50 years of the Messiah at First Baptist Church, a 70-voice choir, a professional orchestra, and world-class soloists come together under the direction of Michael Carter, who "weaves together the pieces of this Christmas story heralding the coming of the Messiah ... ."
Dec. 14 and 15, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. 2206 16th Ave., Vero Beach. 772-567-4341
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Join organist Andrew Galuska and nationally-recognized poets to hear organ literature and the spoken word illuminating the many moods of Advent.
December 5, 2019 - Sean Sexton, Vero Beach, FL
December 12, 2019 - Carol Frost, Mt. Dora, FL
December 19, 2019 - Brian Turner, Orlando, FL ~ Poetry by Ilyse Kusnetz
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On Wednesday evenings, it's
Singing and Storytelling at Christ by the Sea. "No stuffy sermons and a free dinner afterwards!" Dec. 4, 11, 18 at 5:30 p.m. for a heartwarming service followed by "a warm bowl of soup or chili" in Ratcliff Hall. No need to RSVP and no charge for the food.
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A Home for Christmas
at
First Presbyterian Church
of Vero Beach is an arranged worship service featuring small groups, solos, duets, full choir, youth string orchestra, and much more, to make you feel right at home for Christmas. Guest musicians include Annora Daige (trumpet), Brandon Putzke (percussion), Judi Lampert (flute), Churchill Cooke (mandolin), and Youth Director Jacob Strang (guitar).
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Lake Wales Chorale has a new director and a Christmas concert Dec. 6 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 644 S. 9th St., Lake Wales. Featured guests include Kristin Patterson (Berlin Philharmonic & Oslo Opera), and the Lake Wales Brass Choir playing entrance and intermission music. The concert is at 7 p.m..
Tickets are available online.
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Puttin' on the Ritz at VBTG
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If you like a little Broadway with your Christmas, this is the show for you. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” concert is a glitzy, New York City flavored event featuring the Theatre Guild’s celebrated traveling troupe, Guild on the Go. They will perform classics by Gershwin and Irving Berlin, numerous Broadway showstoppers, “New York New York”, holiday favorites and more. Soloists are Scott Freshley, Lily Jaramillo, Shara Kyles, Dennis Love, Alex Martinez and Guild on the Go director, Larry Strauss.
“Puttin’ on the Ritz” tickets are $15, and $5 for students.They're available at the Theatre Guild box office at 562-8300, online at
verobeachtheatreguild.com, and at the door
. Seating is general admission. Shows are Friday, Dec 6 at 7:30; Saturday & Sunday, Dec 7 & 8, at 2:00 at Vero Beach Theatre Guild, 2020 San Juan Ave., Vero Beach.
Photo: (l to r) Lily Jaramillo, Shara Kyles, Dennis Love, Larry Strauss, Alex Martinez, Scott Freshley
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Stuart - November 29, 4-7 p.m.
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Vero Beach - November 29, 6-9 p.m.
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Downtown Melbourne Nov. 30, 5 p.m.
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Tree Lighting at Flagler Museum - Dec. 1, 3 p.m.
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Fort Pierce -
Sights & Sounds on Second Festival and Parade Dec. 8, 1 p.m.
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Cocoa Beach Main Street Winterfest! - Dec. 7, 12-8 p.m.
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Happy Days at Vero Beach High School
From Dee Rose, VBHS Theatre teacher for 33 years:
Vero Beach High Drama hosted District 15 Thespians One Act and Individual events festivals Nov 21,22,23.
While hosting, we also participated in both categories and won the following;
One Act competition- Straight superiors ratings , and selected to go to State Festival.
Individual events- 14 superior rated events
Lisa Moscoso won Critics choice in Costume Design category
Ricky Rivera won one of the scholarships towards attending college as a music theatre / technical theatre student
Troupe 2047 represents Vero Beach High School yearly at their District and at tehri state festivals with superior rated performances.
Next production at VBHS is THE MUSIC MAN Feb. 14,15,16
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Thank You
Arts Blast Sponsors
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Arts Blast
Friends and Supporters
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Sebastian River Art Club's Holiday Bazaar continues Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays through November and December, 11 a.m.-3 p.m..
It will feature
Mini Masterpieces from local artists, proceeds benefiting the Ecumenical Council Food Bank.
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The Love Docs will be broadcasting their radio show live from Waldo's in Vero Beach
Friday, Dec. 6 from 2-7 p.m.
, collecting new Teddy bears, blankets, and bananas to donate to Save the Chimps, the world’s largest chimp sanctuary, located in Ft. Pierce, Florida. More than 250 retired chimpanzees now live in large family groups on 12 separate three-acre islands, where they receive three fresh meals daily, first-rate medical care, and a variety of activities in an enriched environment.
“The chimps, much like children, love to snuggle bears and blankies. And eat bananas. Anyone who brings in a new item will be entered to win some cool prizes,” Waldo's manager Lee Olsen said.
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NOTE: Some photos used in Arts Blast are borrowed from Facebook pages and websites.
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Supporting Arts Councils Everywhere
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LIBRARIES
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IF YOU GO (ONLINE)
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Ft. Pierce Jazz & Blues Society
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Center for Spiritual Care
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Galleries of Historic Downtown Vero Beach Arts District
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Vero Beach Choral Society
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Treasure Coast Community Singers
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Treasure Coast Jazz Society
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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 Willi Miller's ARTS BLAST!, all rights reserved.
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