Volume I No. 51 |December 10, 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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Making Memories in South Africa
Clyde Butcher at Environmental Learning Center
50 years of Messiah at First Baptist
Volunteers Needed
In Her Image at Elliott
Duke Ellington's Nutcracker - SCSO
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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
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Riverside Theatre's Festive Weekend
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From South Africa, with Love
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You might remember reading a story some months ago about the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach Youth String Orchestra’s impending trip to South Africa. Well, they’ve been there and back, bringing wonderful memories home and leaving their hosts with their own memories that will last a lifetime.
Founder and director of the orchestra Jacob Craig explained that part of the Presbyterian mission is local, regional, and international mission outreach. Craig, director of music and arts at the church, said, “Our local is typically Habitat for Humanity, regional is a sister church in Cuba, and the international is the Potchefstroom Children’s Home in South Africa. We have had a relationship with them for almost a decade, and the church has led several trips there in the past.”
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This time, he said, it was suggested that the trip coincide with the celebration of Festival of Lights in South Africa. Local media coverage is typically before the fact, including my own conversations with Craig for the Cultural Council of Indian River County’s Cultural Connection radio show.
Not quite so typical, however, is hearing the reaction from the recipients of an international outreach program. With a little research, I was able to connect with Catharien Saayman, former principal of Abraham Kriel in Potchefstroom and now Provincial manager of Child and Youth Care facilities. She said, “What an amazing experience it was for all of us!! So much love, care and musical talent in one group of young people - and of course - Jacob Craig! What a blessing!!”
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Saayman continued, “The Christmas holiday period can be lonely time of the year for our kids because only some of them get to go home to their families. But their lives were soon brightened up by a group of visiting Americans who entered their worlds, if only for a few days, and the effect they had instantly warmed hearts and brought joy to those witnessing the magic. The Americans, young and old and always armed with plenty of hugs and smiles, played rugby with our boys, cooled down with them in the pool to try and get relief from the brutal African sun, played games and relished truly South African meals with the kids. The Vero Beach Youth Orchestra also performed for the children who proved to be a very appreciative crowd - little capitvated faces gazing at their newfound friends.”
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The Americans were given a tour of the area but, Saayman said, “They’d always ask, ‘When will we be able to interact with the kids again?’” The trip made memories from the students at the school, Saayman said. She emailed some comments the students and staff sent for this story:
"First Presbyterian Church Vero Beach spent quality time with our children and showed true interest in them.”
"Our children enjoyed teaching our guests how to play South African games like rotten egg and wheelbarrow run.”
"Special bonds formed during this week that FPC Vero Beach spent time in South Africa. We truly believe that our relationship will continue to bloom in the future.”
"The students reached out to our kids, teaching them about instruments, telling stories about America... This was a week that we will cherish forever."
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"The students reached out to our kids, teaching them about instruments, telling stories about America... This was a week that we will cherish forever."
Saayman said, “Their visit was brief but the impact the Americans had on the kids will last a lifetime and we can only hope they soon return.”
Photos courtesy of Catharien Saayman
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Clyde Butcher's Living Waters at Environmental Learning Center
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From the Environmental Learning Center:
Clyde Butcher developed a collection of photographs of Florida’s Aquatic Preserves and loaned them to the DEP to be displayed at public facilities (State Parks, local galleries, museums, etc) to help grow awareness and appreciation of these awesome natural areas.
For many years the photos made several rounds around the state until the collection was boxed up and stored for, at the time, an unknown future use – that is, until the
Aquatic Preserve Society
formed, a non-profit citizen support organization of the DEP Florida Office of Resiliency and Coastal Protection, with a mission to protect, conserve and restore these unique natural resources through public awareness, stewardship, and support.
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As part of their mission, the Aquatic Preserve Society was interested in acquiring the Clyde Butcher collection to bring it back into rotation. The Clyde Butcher gallery, in their extreme generosity and love of the Aquatic Preserve system, donated the collection to them.
The collection has since began traveling around the state, at Aquatic Preserve anniversaries, fundraisers, and celebrations - once again displaying this awesome collection of the best Florida has to offer for all to enjoy.
Photos: From the collection, supplied by ELC.
ELC Dec 15-Feb 28 Free with admission
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50 years of Messiah at First Baptist
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First Baptist Church of Vero Beach is proud to offer their 50th Anniversary presentation of Handel’s magnificent oratorio, “Messiah”, as their gift to the community. Many have remarked “It just wouldn’t be Christmas without “Messiah” at First Baptist Church.”
The participants of this moving body of music include a 70-voice choir, professional orchestra and world-class soloists.
Dr. Michael Carter skillfully weaves together the pieces of this Christmas story heralding the coming of the Messiah – Jesus Christ – and the hope he brings to all world. Under Dr. Carter’s direction, the ensemble blends a glorious sound, lifting the spirit, and bringing into focus the reason for the Christmas season.
To mark this significant anniversary, we are publishing a commemorative program booklet.
Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 7:00 PM and Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 7:00 PM. Doors will open at 6:00 PM.
First Baptist Church of Vero Beach * 2206 16th Avenue * Vero Beach, FL 32960
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Duke Ellington's Nutcracker
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Jazz up your holidays with a dazzling reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn! In 1960, Duke Ellington’s recording company asked him what he wanted to record next. Ellington’s colleague Billy Strayhorn, suggested he do a jazz arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite." Soon after, “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” became the swinging “Sugar Rum Cherry," while “The Dance of the Reed Pipes” transformed into the sassy “Toot Toot Tootie Toot,” and the beloved “Waltz of the Flowers” was made over into a glitzy Vegas showstopper, “Dance of the Floreadores.” Frank Wosar and the Space Coast Symphony Jazz Orchestra add holiday favorites with a New Orleans twist, for the season's jazziest greetings.
Dec. 14, 2 p.m. - The Scott Center, Melbourne; Dec. 15, 3 p.m. - St. Edward's School, Vero Beach.
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Thank You
Arts Blast Sponsors
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Arts Blast
Friends and Supporters
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In Her Image 2020 at Elliott
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Cathy Heeter's entry in “In Her Image 2020” at the Elliott Museum December 12 - March 15 is a collage titled “In Her Own Words”
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Home for the Holidays at Pineapple
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Pineapple Playhouse will present "Home for the Holidays" - a special musical show at 7pm Saturday, December 14, and 2pm Sunday, December 15. This Christmas show will feature local singers bringing both traditional and contemporary holiday music in a benefit for the charity Angels of Hope. Patrons are encouraged to donate items to help the area homeless the charity serves, as well as new gifts for homeless children.
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Vero Beach Theatre Guild Needs Volunteers
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The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is looking for a few volunteers to join the Casting Team.
Requirements:
Have a smile and a warm welcome
Be willing to help a new actor/volunteer through the audition process
Be a team player
If you have a few hours every other month to volunteer your time, please reply to this email and let us know.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
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Dec. 15, 1 p.m. - Holiday Jazz Tribute Honoring Veterans: inaugural Jazz in the Garden series concert at
Ann Norton Sculpture Garden
, WPB
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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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