The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

The Legacy of Merce Cunningham (1919 - 2009)

"You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive." - Merce Cunningham (1919 - 2009), U.S. choreographer and dancer, as quoted in The New York Times, July 27, 2009

The NYT site is also sharing this lovely slideshow in memory of Cunningham - a dancer/choreographer credited with helping to making modern dance a major art form in America - is examined.

View slideshow.

It's Art-O-Mat Monday! Sculptures you can hold in the palm of your hand.

 

It's Art-O-Mat Monday! Today we're featuring Clyde Oishi's wire and paper sculptures. Clyde hails from Honolulu, HI and his miniature sculptures mimic forms found in nature, as seen in the "tidal wave" piece above. Samples of Clyde's full-scale sculptures can be seen on his website: http://www.ckoishi.com.

Clyde's "wave" just one of the many original artworks available for $5 each through the Art-O-Mat vending machine located between the box office and the bar in the main lobby of The Kentucky Center.

Proceeds from the Art-O-Mat help support the statewide work of our Education department as well as provide a nominal fee for administration of the national Art-O-Mat program. New inventory is received on a quarterly basis.

Arts Institute photo gallery: Kentucky Center trains Lincoln Elementary staff

The Courier-Journal’s website is featuring a photo gallery of the Lincoln Elementary staff participating in arts education training during the Kentucky Center's Institute for Arts Education. Lincoln Elementary is the new Jefferson County performing arts magnet school, the school system's first elementary school to carry this designation.

We've been told that the C-J  will run a full story next Wednesday in their Neighborhoods section, with a cover photo on the Central and West Louisville editions. Stay tuned for more stories and great photos.

Madeline Abramson named as Chair of Kentucky Center Board of Directors

Governor Steve Beshear has named Madeline Abramson as the Chair of The Kentucky Center's Board of Directors.

Mrs. Abramson is also a Board Member of The Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence, The Clifton Cultural Center, the National Council of Jewish Women - Louisville Section, and Chair of the Board of Maryhurst.

In addition, she recently completed a two-year term as Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross, Louisville Area Chapter and continues to serve on its board. She is also advisory director of the American Heart Association.

Kentucky Center Arts in Healing initiative receives new grant

 

Photo above: Squallis Puppeteers at the Waterfront Great Lawn.

The Kentucky Center's Arts in Healing initiative has received a Performing Arts on Tour grant from the Kentucky Arts Council.

This grant will help fund visits to two healthcare facilities by the Squallis Puppeteers and harpist/dulcimer player Lorinda Jones.

The Kentucky Center's Arts in Healing initiative exists to bring performing artists into healthcare environments in order to create an entertaining, relaxing, uplifting and educational experience for patients, healthcare providers, family members, caregivers and site visitors.

Pollstar ranks Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall in top 25 venues worldwide

 

Photo: Whitney Hall as seen from the stage, looking back to the Grand Tier and balcony.

Pollstar, the trade journal for touring artists, booking agents and performance venues, has ranked The Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall as the 15th most popular site (per attendance) in their early 2009 list of the top 100 venues.

This puts Whitney Hall in the company of major venues in New York and Las Vegas, and ahead of regional venues like the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Whitney Hall seats approximately 2200 patrons. Performances on the Whitney stage from 2008 - early 2009 included:

PNC Broadway Across America presentations of touring productions including The Color Purple and WICKED

Kentucky Center Presents performances by artists including Liza Minelli, Lyle Lovett, Blondie and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; rock tribute concerts such as The Experience Hendrix Tour and the Pink Floyd Experience; and family entertainment such as The Backyardigans Live! and Dora the Explorer Live! 

Louisville Ballet's annual Brown-Forman Nutcracker

Louisville Orchestra concerts with contemporary artists including Brandi Carlile and Ben Folds

Just added! TIN CAN BUDDHA Blues concert & CD Release Party August 21

 

If you are a fan of jam-based blues fueled by harmonica (a la Blues Traveller), mark your calendars and join us August 21 as Tin Can Buddha celebrates the release of their 2nd live CD - Congress of Wonders.

Regarding the venue, the East Room is a flexible space located behind The Kentucky Center bar, to the right of the box office as you stand in our main lobby. We're experimenting with the set-up in the East Room and hope it will be conducive to smaller shows and singer/songwriter events.

The Kentucky Center presents
TIN CAN BUDDHA
Concert & CD Release Party
Friday, August 21, 8 p.m.
The Kentucky Center, East Room

http://www.myspace.com/tincanbuddha

Tickets for this event go on sale to the public July 27.

Standard ticket price: $6.00, general admission seating, fees apply.

Description: Tin Can Buddha is more than a "band", they're an art collective. TCB brings the best of Jazz improvisation to their brand of the Blues. They're recent performances at Louisville's legendary Quilt Box have spawned a cult-like following.

At the core of the collective are artists/musicians Rodney Hatfield (vocals, harmonica), Lee Carroll (keyboards) and "Big" Mitch Ivanoff (vocals, guitars).

Hatfield, a Kentucky native, is a celebrated artist formerly with The Hatfield Clan and The Metropolitan Blues All-Stars.

TCB music embraces a lifetime of influences: Chicago and Mississippi Blues, 60s Soul, Appalachian folk songs, Jazz, New Orleans R&B, Country, Black Gospel and Funk. Their spontaneous, honest music is a joy to experience.

Access Services: Accessible seating and hearing amplification are available. Please reserve your Access Services during your ticketing transaction with our box office.

It's Art-O-Mat Monday! Sink your teeth into "Brenda Bites".

 

It's Art-O-Mat Monday! And today we're looking at "Brenda Bites" - original photography framed by plastic teeth. Created by photographer and gallery owner Brenda C. Wright (Suffolk, VA), "Brenda Bites" are just one of the original artworks available for $5 each through the Art-O-Mat vending machine located between the box office and the bar in the main lobby of The Kentucky Center.

Proceeds from the Art-O-Mat help support the statewide work of our Education department as well as provide a nominal fee for administration of the national Art-O-Mat program. New inventory is received on a quarterly basis.

Ed Glasscock, Center Board Chairman for Ten Years, Steps Down

On Wednesday, June 10, The Kentucky Center officially announced that, after ten years of exemplary leadership, C. Edward Glasscock has decided to step down as Chair of the Center's Board of Directors. Glasscock will continue to serve as a member of the board and as Chairman Emeritus.

In addition to guiding the Center in its recent success at procuring $8.9 million from the General Assembly for deferred maintenance, Glasscock has been instrumental in a host of successes throughout his tenure, including:

- the Center's $4.1 million renovation in 2001 the $8 million in improvements to the Brown Theatre, which is operated by The Kentucky Center 

- the search for a new President for The Kentucky Center in 2003 and again in 2005

- the celebrations of the Center's 20th and 25th anniversaries

-the nationwide exposure surrounding a Town Hall meeting in 2005 with President George W. Bush

- the Grand Opening of the Muhammad Ali Center in 2005

- the Southern Legislative Leadership Conference in 2006  

- the opening of the new KentuckyShow! in 2008

- the Ryder Cup Gala in 2008

- the adoption of The Kentucky Center as the home of the IdeaFestival in 2009

Everyone at The Kentucky Center thanks Ed for all he has done, and is thrilled he will continue his good work as a board member!

WFPL features Kentucky Center Arts Institute (teacher training)

Jefferson County Public Schools has a new performing arts magnet school to unveil this fall - Lincoln Elementary in downtown Louisville.

Although Lincoln Elementary has been serving students for years, the school will open with a new mission and a new curriculum this fall.

From the JCPS website:

• Lincoln Elementary will become the first JCPS elementary performing arts concept school of its kind.

• Lincoln will emphasize a strong academic program in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.

• Each of the core academic areas will be integrated with drama, music, and dance.

• The curriculum will ensure that students experience the entire performing arts process, from designing a stage set to performing a student-written piece of music or dance.

• Community partnerships with leading arts groups will provide experiences and instruction that children can’t get anywhere else.

• The result will be a rich, engaging, and powerful instructional program that provides a teaching and learning environment unlike any other.

The Kentucky Center's Education department is currently training 27 teachers from Lincoln Elementary to incorporate the performing arts - through a variety of techniques - into their classrooms.

Jeff Jamner, school programs director for The Kentucky Center, was recently interviewed by WFPL publi radio. Follow this link to read Jeff's remarks regarding working with these educators.