Delaware Art Museum & City of Wilmington's District 8 Mural Partnership

The content of this post comes from a press release from the Delaware Art Museum...

The Delaware Art Museum has partnered with Wilmington City Councilperson Nathan Field on a mural project, “Nature’s Palette,” with images and words inspired by nature. The works will be on view throughout City Council District 8 beginning in this month through the remainder of 2023.

They will be installed throughout the built environment of District 8 in the following locations:

• Gilpin Liquors
• Luther Towers
• BrewHaHa Trolley Square
• The intersection of Delaware Avenue and Dupont Street
• Lincoln Towers
• Southeast Kitchen
• Joseph E. Johnson Jr. School
• The intersection of Pennsylvania and Greenhill Avenues outside the Marian Coffin Garden

The Museum is situated in the center of District 8, which begins at the western border of Wilmington that wraps around Rockford Park, and ends just east of Cool Spring Park, with its northern and southern borders defined by Brandywine Park and Wawaset Park, so the murals are all in the general Museum vicinity.

District 8 Councilperson Nathan Field says, “I'm incredibly excited to work with the Art Museum team to grow the City of Wilmington as an Artistic and Cultural destination not just in the First State of Delaware but throughout the extended Tri-State region. Walking around the neighborhood and seeing scenes from nature that are so culturally meaningful to Delawareans integrated into the streetscape is so thrilling."

“Nature’s Palette” features enlarged intricate and vibrant details of paintings and drawings from DelArt’s Pre-Raphaelite collection, combined with quotations inspired by nature and poetry penned by Victorian-era writers.

Sophie Lynford, Annette Woolard-Provine Curator of the Bancroft Collection, says, “Pre-Raphaelite artists lamented that nineteenth-century industrialization was destroying both natural and historic landmarks. These concerns remain urgent today.”

The murals include Pre-Raphaelite works by artists Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, Walter Crane, Henry Farrer, George James Howard, John Everett Millais, and William Henry Millais. Paired with these are quotations from authors Emily Brontë, George Eliot, Felicia Hemans, Christina Rossetti, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and John Ruskin.

Margaret Winslow, Chief Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art, says, “The Pre-Raphaelite collection is a much-loved core of the Delaware Art Museum. These works of art have inspired generations of artists and art lovers throughout the greater Wilmington community and across the United States.”

See DelArt.org.

Delaware Art Museum Launches Initiative to Preserve Public Art

Part of this post comes from a blog posting/release from Delaware Art Museum...

Creative Vision Factory Members in front of the Kalmar Nyckel Mural.
Photo courtesy of Michael Kalmbach.

Contrary to popular belief, not all galleries are indoors. Some don’t have four walls, security guards, or
a sign reading “please do not touch the art.” Some galleries are right outside your door. Wilmington’s outdoor gallery boasts artworks ranging from the 19th Century to the present. From memorials and sculptures to mosaics and murals, our environments are beautified by artists. Their creations enliven the cityscape, acting as tangible expressions of their city’s cultural heritage, and becoming beacons for civic engagement, public pride, and even attracting business investments. [READ THE FULL DELART BLOG ENTRY HERE>>>]

A new pilot program called Public Art Stewards — developed by the Delaware Art Museum and supported by the Delaware Division of the Arts and City of Wilmington American Rescue Plan Act funds — aims to train Wilmington residents to clean, conserve, and document 30 public artworks in downtown Wilmington and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Public Art Stewards program was officially launched with a press conference on Thursday, November 17, in front of one of the most visible displays of Wilmington's public art — the mosaic behind Christina Cultural Art Center at the corner of 7th and Shipley.

This highly anticipated workforce training and city beautification program is headed by Benét Burton, Registrar Assistant/Curatorial Project Manager at the Delaware Art Museum.

Benét Burton said of the program: "I’ve been able to speak with some artists of the pieces on our list and engage with residents who live near them. Everyone I have met while working on this project has shared their enthusiasm for it, and I’m excited to support the community and its artists in caring for the work they hold so dear."

We asked Burton more about the project and why it is so important for our City of Wilmington...

*What made the art museum want to take up the mantle for this city project?
The Delaware Art Museum is committed to our role as a regional anchor and aims to support identified needs in our community. By aligning our knowledge of public art with the city’s outdoor gallery, we’ve created an innovative project that will provide our participants with creative skills and support their workforce readiness.

*What will the project entail? What work will your team do on the public pieces?
The Public Art Stewards Training Program is a six-month “earn while you learn” program that employs six to eight Wilmington residents who will be taught transferable skills in conservation under the tutelage of Margalit Schindler of Pearl Preservation, our program conservator. Additionally, our Public Art Stewards will participate in workforce-readiness workshops such as interview practice, digital literacy, financial coaching, and resume building.

Every piece on our list is unique and will have different needs. The transferable skills in conservation our participants will learn while working on the public pieces include assessment and condition reporting; photographic and written documentation; cleaning; and essential maintenance of sculptures and murals.

*What are your goals for the first year of this project? Where is your first area of work based?
Some of our goals for the first year are:

• to have our participants graduating feeling confident in the skills they’ve learned in conservation;
• to have 30 works from Wilmington’s outdoor gallery properly maintained and documented so that we can create a living archive of our city’s public art;
• to connect our participants with local services and help provide them with continued support after graduating.

We are still working on our curriculum. However, I anticipate that the first area we’ll be working is the DelArt campus where One Way, 2008 by Chakaia Booker and Monumental Holistic No. VII, 1980 by Betty Gold live in our sculpture garden.

*Do you have a "favorite" piece of public art in the city? What is the name of the work and where can we see it?
I have many favorite pieces, to be honest, but I will limit myself to one mural and one sculpture.

A mural I’m currently obsessed with is The Divine Mind, 2016 by Terrance Vann on 7th and Windsor Streets. It’s so large and in charge, and the vibrant purple hue is almost like a beacon when you're a block away from it. Although I really love the crown, my favorite part is the way he styled the hair to be a cityscape. I sometimes add a few minutes onto my commute home from work just to drive by it.

My favorite sculpture right now is Shipyard Gateway, 1998 by Roldan West on 4th and Church Streets. It hangs on the overpass in the middle of the street so it’s hard to get a good look at it if you’re not on foot. I’ve always loved metalwork because the technique is so fascinating, and this piece is eye-catching. I really wish it was closer to the ground so that I could sit with it and take in each form.

*Who are some of your favorite Delaware artists?
I love Edward Loper, Jr. When I look at his work, it feels like I’m reminiscing on a dream. The bright colors in his paintings and how he layers them are the first to grab my attention and pull me in. Then I notice the interesting perspective, and I feel I could stare at them for hours and just fall in.

I also really like Geraldo Gonzalez (a.k.a. The King of Transit). I met him at the Creative Vision Factory when I was in undergrad at the University of Delaware. A lot of his work focuses on public transportation. I follow him on Instagram (@thekingoftransit), and I always find myself scrolling through his page and getting lost in all the vivid hues he uses on his pieces. I would love to see his work wrapped on some buses in Wilmington!

*What would you like people to take away from this project? Can other community members get involved?
From this project, I hope that people come to understand how integral public art is to our community and how important it is that we support our local artists and their creations. Wilmington is not just a city, but a canvas for many, and the public art that artists put their time, effort, and care into creating are a celebration of the city’s cultural heritage. Through the Public Art Stewards Program, the Delaware Art Museum aims to leverage its position as a cultural fixture and use its influence and connection to support Wilmington in upkeeping its outdoor gallery. We love these pieces, and we are committed to fighting for and finding resources that will help us and Wilmington residents maintain and archive them so that we can share them with generations after us.

If anyone is interested in getting involved in the project, they can contact me at bburton@delart.org or 302.351.8507.

Program Conservator Margalit Schindler adds: "I am grateful to be able to share my preservation knowledge with my Wilmington neighbors and to collaborate to care for our city. While the program focuses on supporting Wilmington artwork, I am equally excited to support the personal and professional goals of the Wilmington locals who participate in the program."

Congratulations to The 2021 Clifford Brown Jazz Award Winners

The content of this post comes from a press release from the City of Wilmington...

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz congratulated the winners of the 2021 Clifford Brown Jazz Awards presented at Cityfest, Inc.’s inaugural Clifford Brown International Jazz Day Concert on Friday, April 30, 2021. 

This year’s awardee for the Clifford Brown Top Jazz Presenter Award is the True Blue Jazz Festival; of the Clifford Brown Advocacy, Volunteerism, & Philanthropy in Jazz Award is Hortense Priest (bestowed posthumously); for the Clifford Brown Young & Swingin’ Award is Maya Belardo; and for the Clifford Brown Legacy Award is Tony “Big Cat” Smith. 

The Clifford Brown Festival Band, led by Gerald Chavis.
Photo by Moonloop Photography.

The awards ceremony and concert, held virtually and in person at the Delaware Theater Company, featured performances by trumpeter Terell Stafford and the Clifford Brown Festival Band led by Gerald Chavis as part of the City of Wilmington’s International Jazz Day Festivities.

“We believe that music and the arts are extremely important contributors to recovering from the personal, artistic, and economic pandemic-related stressors of this past year,” said Betz. “With that and the continuing loosening of COVID restrictions in mind, we are planning to return to Rodney Square on August 4-8, 2021 for the 34th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. It is important to note that the dates are subject to change or the Festival cancelled in response to changing State public health mandates.”

Clifford Brown Year Round is presented by Cityfest, Inc. and the City of Wilmington with generous support from The Delaware Theatre Company, The Delaware Division of the Arts, WRTI 90.1 FM, The Kenny Family Foundation, Delmarva Power, An Excelon Company, Gerald Chavis Music, Flux Creative Consulting, The Christina Cultural Arts Center, and The Delaware Contemporary.

Proceeds from the Clifford Brown Year Round series support programs like the Urban Artist Exchange, the Arts Work Summer Youth Apprenticeship Program, and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.

Wilmington’s Cultural Street Art Program Opens with Art Installation at Peter Spencer Plaza

The content of this post comes from a City of Wilmington press release...

The City of Wilmington, which supports Black lives and the ongoing effort to promote racial justice reforms locally and nationally, today (Monday, August 24, 2020) opened a community designed and executed cultural street art program. Organized by community activist and artist Vanity Constance and managed by City Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz, the first of a series of cultural street art installations is underway beginning this morning at the King Street entrance to Peter Spencer Plaza.

“This new art program is a community expression that comes from people’s feelings about the current state of racial justice and racial relations,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki. “This effort has the wholehearted endorsement of City government because it is also about supporting better things to come for all of us who live in, work in, and visit Wilmington. Council President Hanifa Shabazz and I, respectively representing the Executive and Legislative Branches of government, embrace the colors, images, themes, and individual artistic efforts of this program and thank Vanity and all of the participating artists for helping us appreciate art while we learn and heal.”

Monday’s opening cultural street art installation was organized by the Local Street Art Group, a non-profit founded by Vanity Constance. The lead designer and artist facilitator on Monday’s project is local artist JaQuanne Leroy who created the image to be painted entitled “Freedom and Justice.” The work, pictured at the beginning of this news release, features African tribal patterns and symbols. It is expected that this initial artwork will be completed by Tuesday.

The section of sidewalk that is being decorated crosses the western entrance to Spencer Plaza, named for Peter Spencer (1782-1843), who founded the Mother AUMP Church (African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church) on the site of the plaza in 1813. The church was the first independent Black denomination in the country. The plaza was also the site of the first Big Quarterly (or August Quarterly), which was started by Spencer in 1814. The plaza statue, "Father and Son," was erected in 1973 and depicts a Black male figure cradling a sleeping child in his arms. Larger-than-life and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, the man is not a direct representation of the religious leader but rather a symbol of the hope for the future that he inspired. The remains of Peter Spencer, his wife Annes, and ten of his followers are interred in a vault beneath the statue. After Spencer’s death in 1843, there was a split in the church. The African Union Methodist Episcopal Church (AUMP) and the Union American Methodist Episcopal (UAME) both trace their history to the original church at 819 French Street.

Vanity Constance and Tina Betz said the first art installation site that was originally selected — crosswalks at 4th and Market Streets — could not proceed because of a series of technical problems such as needing to prep the asphalt for a few days before paint could be applied. Instead, it was decided that the Spencer Plaza sidewalk artwork would be an appropriate way to start the program.

Betz and Constance said other art installation sites will be announced soon, which will include a new mural in Freedom Plaza, the courtyard and public meeting space in between the Louis L. Redding City/County Government Building and the Elbert C. Carvel State Government Building on French Street. The mural will replace a sky and cloud patterned mural that graces a side wall of the Redding Building and serves as the backdrop for a stage that is used for music performances and other community-related events.

On August 13, a community-led ceremony was held in Spencer Plaza to unveil the permanent home of the Pan African RGB Flag. The date of the flag-raising — August 13 — is significant because it marked the 100th anniversary of the signing in 1920 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Negro People of the World by the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) chaired by Marcus Garvey. This document is one of the earliest and most comprehensive human rights declarations in U. S. history.

Light Action to Build World Class Music, TV & Film Facility on 7th Street Peninsula

Content of this post comes from a City of Wilmington press release...

Out and About broke the story this morning about the facility and all it can mean for Wilmington

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki today congratulated and thanked Scott Humphrey, President of Light Action Productions based in New Castle, for his decision to build a new multi-million dollar sound stage on Wilmington’s 7th Street Peninsula. The Mayor said he had encouraged Humphrey to move forward with his unique idea for some time and is very pleased that this project is finally moving forward. The Mayor and Humphrey said a groundbreaking will be held within the next month.

Rendering of Light Action Productions' future sound stage,
The Pine Box. Photo courtesy of Light Action.

Light Action will build 150,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres of land 
along the 7th Street Peninsula. Photo courtesy of Light Action. 

In an exclusive interview with Out & About, Humphrey said his company is building a 150,000-square-foot facility on 10 acres of land along the 7th Street Peninsula. The $8 million project will feature a 25,000-square-foot, 95-foot-tall sound stage called the Pine Box, which Humphrey says will be lit up and visible from Interstate 495.

“This sound stage will be for crews and companies that are either doing pre-production on a Broadway musical, or for a touring band that’s about to go out on the road, or for film or TV crews,” said Humphrey. “We’ve looked at moving to the city for a while, and I think this space will bring a sort of organic energy and lots of opportunity to the area.”

Mayor Purzycki said the City of Wilmington has been eager to facilitate the sale of the 20 acres of land that Humphrey’s company purchased on the peninsula. The Mayor said the location and availability of the 7th Street Peninsula property, while somewhat neglected, makes perfect sense for Light Action.

“There aren’t that many places in the city where you can find a piece of property that large, especially for a company of Scott’s size, with the need for external parking, all his big rigs, storage, and equipment,” says Purzycki. “We wanted to do everything we could to make the site attractive, but there was no particular assistance from us other than the commitment that we will improve road access at the site.”

The Out & About article quotes Humphrey as saying that once the facility is built, Light Action Productions’ warehouse – which will be filled with live entertainment production elements – will occupy 90,000 square feet, along with 30,000 square feet of space designated to design, video and lighting studios and conference rooms. Another 5,000 square feet will be reserved for office space, and the final 25,000 square feet for the Pine Box.

Humphrey says he’s already spoken to industrial and manufacturing neighbors in the 7th Street vicinity about future plans for the area such as a restaurant, bar or possible hotel accommodations, although no plans have been confirmed. Humphrey said a grand opening celebration is tentatively scheduled for late 2019.

Renowned Local Artist Honored With Ceremonial Street Renaming

The content of this post comes from a City Of Wilmington press release...

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki was joined Tuesday, October 9, by City Council Members Samuel Guy, Zanthia Oliver and Rysheema Dixon, as well as family and community members to ceremonially rename a street in honor of the late Wilmington-born artist Edward L. Loper, Sr. On hand for the street sub-naming ceremony, held in the 1200 block of North Heald Street where Loper was raised, were Loper’s son, Edward L. Loper Jr., and two grandchildren – Jamie Loper and Steve Washington. Mayor Purzycki signed an Executive Order renaming the block on Wilmington’s East Side as “Edward Loper Way.” 

Jamie Loper, Council Member Samuel Guy, Edward L. Loper Jr., Steve Washington,
Mayor Purzycki, Council Member Zanthia Oliver and Council Member Rysheema Dixon. 

Restating his words as expressed in the Executive Order, Mayor Purzycki said today that Edward Loper, who gained national acclaim and received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life, gave back to the community by teaching for over sixty years, helping countless aspiring artists to “see color.”

“Wilmington is pleased to honor individuals such as Edward Loper who have significantly and positively affected our City’s history and culture through their exemplary accomplishments,” said the Mayor. “Mr. Loper, a self-taught artist who went on to become a nationally recognized painter and teacher, deserves this honor for his many contributions to the quality of life of our community.”

Born in 1916 in Wilmington, Edward L. Loper, Sr. grew up on North Heald Street on the city’s East Side. Inspired by fellow Delaware artists Andrew Wyeth and Howard Pyle, Mr. Loper taught himself to paint. In 1937, he became the first African-American to enter the Annual Delaware Exhibition at the Wilmington Society of Fine Arts, where he won an honorable mention award and, a year later, won the first prize.

In 1945, Mr. Loper gained national acclaim when his works were included in the historic exhibition “The Negro Artist Comes of Age” at the Albany Institute of History and Art. Mr. Loper became a nationally recognized artist whose paintings are displayed in numerous distinguished museums and are celebrated for their vibrant use of color. He also received many accolades and awards throughout his life, including an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters, and the Governor’s Award for the Arts.

Seven Nights of Free Family Fun at Parks Across Wilmington

This post content originates from a press release from the City of Wilmington...

The sixth annual Summer in the Parks program, in partnership with The Grand Opera House, is in full swing with evening concerts planned starting July 11.

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and The Grand Executive Director Mark Fields today invited citizens to enjoy the 2018 season of Summer in the Parks, a series of interactive, cultural experiences provided free in neighborhood parks around the city. The program, now in its sixth year, is a collaboration between the City and The Grand with additional support from The Wilmington Parking Authority. Programs run through August 1.

Each week, Summer in the Parks features free interactive arts activities such as storytelling, African music, folk art and illustrating, as well as dance and movement, sock puppets and Shakespeare in parks and public spaces. Participating spaces include Tilton, Haynes, Holloway, Woodlawn, Prices Run, Barbara Hicks, Judy Johnson, Stapler, Union Park Gardens, the Helen Chambers Playground and the Rodney Street Tot-Lot.

Christina Cultural Arts Center's "Village in Concert"
happens on July 17 in Haynes Park. 

Beginning Wednesday, July 11 and continuing through Wednesday, August 1, free music concerts will be presented in City parks from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Free water ice will also be provided. A complete schedule of concerts is included below.

“Wilmington is pleased to present yet another summer of free fun, entertainment and interactive opportunities in partnership with our friends at The Grand,” said Mayor Purzycki. “The City and The Grand continue to produce unique, first-rate artistic and cultural programs for children and their families. More than 18,000 City residents have benefited from hundreds of events since this summer program began in 2013.”

Pamelyn Manocchio, The Grand’s Director of Community Engagement, is the producing coordinator for Summer in the Parks series. “I am thrilled to be working with so many talented artists again this year. We’re particularly excited to try out new programming, such as ‘Salsa in the Street,’ where all ages will be encouraged to learn Latin dancing and ‘Empowered Voices,’ which will feature inspirational spoken word artists and open the mic to audience participation. It’s all about getting the community involved, and we’re happy to create a unique way for youth and families to participate in the arts.”

“We are pleased to be continuing this innovative arts program in partnership with the City for the sixth consecutive summer,” said Fields. “Making interactive arts experiences available to neighborhood children is a wonderful way to introduce culture and personal expression, while fulfilling our community service mission. It’s even better that Summer in the Parks offers The Grand an opportunity to also promote the impressive work of colleague Wilmington artists and arts organizations. We are grateful for the vision of the City leadership in supporting this program.”

The Music School of Delaware's MM & Friends perform
on Kids' Night Out July 22 in Union Park Gardens.

While The Grand serves as producer for the innovative program, it draws on a wide variety of artistic talent from Wilmington and the region. This year’s daytime artists include ASCAB Capoeira Delaware, Dance4Life, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Shakespeare, First State Ballet Theatre, Flyogi, Griots Wa Umoja, LaFate Gallery, Maya Belardo Music, Pieces of a Dream, TAHIRA Productions, The Delaware Contemporary and Wilmington Drama League.

A full schedule of activities can be found on The Grand’s website and calendar updates are posted to the Summer in the Parks Facebook page.  All programs and schedules are contingent upon weather and subject to change.

Evening Music Events for Families

• Wednesday, 7/11: Helen Chambers Playground (600 N. Madison Street)
  Summer Jam, featuring live performances by Richard Raw, Mz Yola, Kae Hock, Aziza Nailah, and Beyond Those Bars Students plus music by DJ MikeNite. Live painting with Terrance Vann
• Tuesday, 7/17: Haynes Park (N. Franklin and W. 30th & 32nd Streets)
  Village in Concert with Christina Cultural Arts Center Village together with Creative Vision Factory and special guest Olivia Rubini
• Wednesday, 7/18: Rodney Street Tot-Lot (4th & Rodney Streets)
  Salsa in the Street, with DJ Bis; salsa instruction from Sara Jastrebski and Sarah Savery as well as art-making project with JaQuanne LeRoy
• Sunday, 7/22: Union Park Gardens (S. Bancroft Parkway & S. Sycamore Street)
  Kids Night Out, featuring The Music School of Delaware’s M&M and Friends, plus “Become a Hero” capes with Vanity Constance and Mike Mixson
• Wednesday, 7/25: Stapler Park (W. 16th & N. Union Streets)
  Rhythms at Play, featuring the Elbert-Palmer Drum Line with Peter Antony & Friends and “I See Seashells” art project with Stephanie Przybylek
• Monday, 7/30: Tilton Park (N. Franklin and W. 7th & 8th Streets)
  Empowered Voices, with Kim “Metaphor” Graham hosting poetry/spoken word with Kaamilah Diabate, plus beaded rings with Gilda Jennings.
• Wednesday, 8/1: Holloway/Compton Park (7th & Lombard Streets)
  Grand Finale with Fuzaholics and painting with Terrance Vann

Call for Applications: Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency

Content of this post comes courtesy of a press release from the City of Wilmington...

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki is pleased to share the following news release from the Light Up The Queen Foundation, which is looking for young composers and performers to become part of a local jazz residency program named after jazz great Boysie Lowery. Wilmington’s Acting Cultural Affairs Director, Tina Betz, is heading up the search for talented young people who would like to participate in this year’s residency program based in Wilmington.

The Light Up The Queen Foundation today announced the official open call for applications from composers/performers, ages 17 to 25, who would like to be participants in the 2018 Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Program. This year’s program will be held in Wilmington, Delaware, June 10-24, 2018. The Residency is fully subsidized, including meals and housing. Johnathan Whitney serves as the Program Director.

Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on March 31, 2018. Applicants may submit their information or learn more about the program by visiting www.boysieloweryjazzresidency.com.

Between 12 and 15 young people will be selected for a two-week residency in performing, composing, arranging and improvisation. The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency is designed to give participants an intense learning experience that will help them begin to find their sound, mature as a player, mature as a musician, and make lasting connections with like-minded peers. Participants will be introduced to a variety of harmonic, melodic, sonic, and textural possibilities, and then be asked to apply them to new compositions.

The residency program will include numerous semi-public performance opportunities, culminating with a final concert to be performed on June 24 at the historic Queen Theater in downtown Wilmington. The 2018 residency is being presented in collaboration with the City of Wilmington’s 30th Anniversary DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.

About Robert “Boysie” LoweryThe Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency is named after and inspired by the late Robert “Boysie” Lowery. After moving to Wilmington, Delaware in the 1940’s, Lowery began his extraordinary career as a jazz educator. For over 50 years, he taught hundreds of aspiring musicians. His most noted pupil was the late Clifford Brown, considered by many to be the finest trumpeter of the time. Clifford began his study with Lowery at the age of 12 while a student in Wilmington’s public schools. Lowery’s list of pupils also includes some of the finest jazz musicians to come out of the Delaware Valley, including Lem Winchester, Ernie Watts, Abdu-Rashid Yahya, Marcus Belgrave, and Gerald Chavis. In addition, Lowery had been sought out by musicians as far away as Russia (Valery Ponomarev) and Africa (Hugh Masekela). Prior to his death in 1996, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation awarded Lowery with its 1995 Living Legacy Award.

About the Light Up The Queen FoundationThe Light Up The Queen Foundation, a Delaware 501c3 non-profit corporation, is dedicated to the revival of the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, and to assuring that The Queen becomes a catalyst for building community through music, the arts and community engagement programs.

Wilmington's Summer in the Parks Turns 5

This post comes from a release courtesy of The City of Wilmington...

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and The Grand Executive Director Mark Fields today announced details about the fifth season of Summer in the Parks, a series of interactive cultural experiences provided free in Wilmington’s neighborhood parks. The program, a collaboration between the City and The Grand, will feature more than 60 events in 13 parks and public spaces across the city.

Each week, Summer in the Parks will feature cultural programs on a fixed schedule in eight city parks, including Haynes, Tilton, Holloway, Woodlawn, Prices Run, Barbara Hicks, Judy Johnson, and the Helen Chambers Playground. In addition, each week will feature a more traditional concert during the early evening. While The Grand serves as producer for the innovative program, it draws on a wide variety of artistic talent from Wilmington and the region.

“The partnership between the City and The Grand has produced unique and outstanding programs which children and families have enjoyed for the past few years,” said Mayor Purzycki. “We are pleased to present another summer of fun, entertainment and interactive opportunities in our City parks.”

All of the Summer in the Parks activities are designed to be more than presentations or performances by including some component of audience participation or interactivity, such as storytelling, theater, art, music, dance, and crafts. Summer in the Parks will showcase a total of 191 individual artists this summer representing 32 cultural organizations and groups. A full schedule of daytime and evening activities can be found on The Grand’s website.

Pamelyn Manocchio, The Grand’s Director of Community Engagement, is the producing coordinator for Summer in the Parks. “These seven weeks represent some of the most creative, engaged people from the arts community. All of them are dedicated to the idea of taking art out of our theaters and studios and right into the heart of these neighborhoods. We’re not asking the people to come to the art. We’re bringing the art directly to the city residents.”

“We’re extremely proud of this program,” said Fields, “for what it does for the city’s youth and families, but also what it demonstrates about the highly collaborative arts community we have created through the years. Summer in the Parks is a testament to the dynamic contribution the arts makes to the city all year long.”

Summer in the Parks 2017 Schedule: June 26-August 10 (no programs July 4)

Weekday Mornings 9:30-10:30am 

• MONDAY: Haynes Park (N. Franklin – W. 30th & 32nd Streets) 
• TUESDAY: Woodlawn Park (4th & Ferris Streets) 
• WEDNESDAY: Tilton Park (N. Franklin – W. 7th & 8th Streets) 
• THURSDAY: Helen Chambers Playground (N. Madison & W. 6th Streets) 

Weekday Afternoons 12:00-1:00pm

• MONDAY: Barbara Hicks Park (Bradford & B Streets) 
• TUESDAY: Holloway Park (N. Lombard & E. 7th Streets) 
• WEDNESDAY: Prices Run (BBW Park at N. Locust & E. 23rd Streets) 
• THURSDAY: Judy Johnson Park (N. Dupont & W. 3rd Streets) Evening Events for Families 6:00-7:30pm

Evening Events for Families 6:00-7:30pm

• WEDNESDAY 6/28: Union Park Gardens (S. Bancroft Parkway & S. Sycamore Street) Elbert-Palmer Drum Line & Diamond State Concert Band 
• THURSDAY, 7/6: DCH Urban Farm (E. 12th & Brandywine Streets) Antony & Friends 
• THURSDAY, 7/13: Haynes Park (N. Franklin – W. 30th & 32nd Streets) Christina Cultural Arts Center 
• THURSDAY, 7/20: Tilton Park (N. Franklin – W. 7th & 8th Streets) Dance4Life 
• THURSDAY, 7/27: Judy Johnson Park (N. Dupont & W. 3rd Streets) Pristine Raeign 
• THURSDAY, 8/3: Kosciuszko Park (Sycamore & S. Broom Streets) Richard Raw Productions 
• FRIDAY, 8/4: Stapler Park (W. 16th & N. Union Streets) Wilmington Ballet 
• THURSDAY, 8/10: Elbert Park (S. Buttonwood & D Streets) Atiba Music & Carib 

Featured artists include: Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, ASCAB Capoeira Delaware, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Contemporary, Delaware Shakespeare, First State Ballet Theatre, FLYOGI, Found Art Fun, GCJ Uniques, Griots Wa Umoja, Illstyle & Peace, Janina Williams World Music, LaFate Gallery, Maya Belardo Music, Minas, Music School of Delaware, Philly Vibes, Pieces of a Dream, TAHIRA, Walt the Street Dog, Warm Hugs Good Hearts, Wilmington Drama League, Yoco Knit Shop.

Unleash the Artist WithIN You -- A City-Wide Photo Contest

Info in this post courtesy of original release from the City of Wilmington and inWilmingtonDE.com...

inWilmington Marketing Group, in partnership with the City of Wilmington, announces the #UnleashWithIN Photo Challenge, a 12-week Instagram-based contest which runs from Monday, May 15 through Sunday, August 6 and culminates with a public art exhibition at The Delaware Contemporary on Friday, September 8.

Participants are given one prompt: “What does Wilmington unleash within you?” The contest is open to all ages and skill levels and participants are welcome to submit entries in any style of photography. Giveaways will also be awarded to randomly selected participants throughout the duration of the contest (restaurant gift certificates, concert tickets, spa services, entertainment packages, etc.).

To enter, individuals simply need to share a photo taken in Wilmington on Instagram using the #UnleashWithIN tag. The public is encouraged to follow #UnleashWithIN for updates and to vote for their favorites photos by showing them some “love”. The three most popular images each week will receive extra entries into the giveaway drawings.

Twenty-four images from the #UnleashWithIN Photo Challenge will be displayed during the exhibition, determined by Joe del Tufo of Moonloop Photography. On the evening of September 8th, an expanded panel of judges, including local artists and city officials, will review the images from finalists and help determine, along with a public vote, the ultimate winner of the Unleash WithIN Photo Challenge. The GRAND PRIZE winner receives their own future Art on the Town (Art Loop) exhibition, plus an entertainment & shopping package from restaurants, retailers and performing arts organizations throughout the City of Wilmington.

“As someone who lives, works and plays downtown, I know how truly inspiring Wilmington is to its residents, workers and visitors,” says campaign manager Brianna Hansen. “With this contest we hope to encourage the public to unleash their photographer within and help us tell our community’s beautiful story. From wonderful access to the arts and delicious culinary delights, to a thriving tech scene and encouraging entrepreneurial community—Wilmington has something for everyone.”

“We encourage everyone to participate in this contest and exhibition, because it is another way for all of us who care about our City’s future to reinforce with the world that Wilmington is a city where people enjoy life and appreciate all of the amenities that the city has to offer,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “In Wilmington, you are in the middle of it all where people come to live, work and have fun.”

For the latest updates visit: inWilmingtonDE.com or follow @INWilmDE and #UnleashWithIN on Instagram (and Facebook).

Summer in the Parks Returns to Wilmington

Blog content courtesy of a press release from The Grand Opera House...
The Grand Opera House is pleased to announce the start of Wilmington’s Summer in the Parks 2016! This week launched the first of the 9-week season featuring FREE arts activities in 10 different park sites throughout the City of Wilmington.

The programs run Monday, June 20 through Friday, August 19, with 86 daytime events of FREE music, dance, arts & crafts, theatre and storytelling for kids of all ages. Activities will take place Monday through Friday (except July 4 and August 12) at 9:30-10:30am and 12:00-1:00pm, in combination with the City’s Summer Food Service, which distributes breakfast and lunch for neighborhood children.

Please note that the West Side Neighborhood site has moved to Madison Street Tot-Lot, just across from the entrance to William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center, and we look forward to returning to One Love Park after they completed a beautiful upgrade last summer. Come out and join us!

Weekly ScheduleEvery Weekday Morning @ 9:30-10:30am

• MONDAY | Prices Run (BBW Park at N. Locust & E. 23rd Streets) 
• TUESDAY | Woodlawn Park (4th & Ferris Streets) 
• WEDNESDAY | Tilton Park (N. Franklin – W. 7th & 8th Streets) 
• THURSDAY | Madison Street Tot-Lot (504-506 N. Madison Street) 
• FRIDAY | Holloway/Compton Park (N. Lombard & E. 7th Streets) 

Every Weekday Afternoon, @ 12:00-1:00pm

• MONDAY | One Love Park (N. Tatnall & W. 24th Streets) 
• TUESDAY | Barbara Hicks Park (Bradford & B Streets) 
• WEDNESDAY | Kosciuszko Park (Sycamore & S. Broom Streets) 
• THURSDAY | Judy Johnson Park (N. Dupont & W. 3rd Streets) 
• FRIDAY | Haynes Park (N. Franklin – W. 30th & 32nd Streets) 

So many wonderful artists – many returning and several new this year – provide a safe and creative outlet for neighborhood youth. Artists include: Alfie Moss, Alia Moss-Koonce, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Dave Fry, Delaware Art Museum, The Delaware Contemporary, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, Elbert-Palmer Percussion Ensemble, First State Ballet Theatre, Fly Motivation, Gabrielle Kanter, GCJ Uniques, Griots Wa Umoja, Illstyle & Peace, Jill Perry Carpenter – Walt the Street Dog, LaFate Gallery, Leslie Carey Band, Minas, The Music School of Delaware – M&M and Friends, Nature Jams, New Wilmington Art Association with Barrel of Makers, Pegasus Trio, Philly Vibes, Pieces of a Dream, Street Xpressions, TAHIRA, Terrance Vann, Vanity Constance and Wilmington Drama League.

Weekly evening concerts will be hosted at selected park sites for all ages to enjoy – including the premiere performance at The Sugar Bowl Pavilion in Brandywine Park!

• June 29, 6:00-7:30pm, One Love Park | Alfie Moss/Dexter Koonce Project 
• July 6, 6:00-7:30pm, Haynes Park | Suzzette Ortiz Latin Jazz Ensemble 
• July 14, 6:00-7:30pm, Tilton Park | Richard Raw 
• July 21, 6:00-7:30pm, Union Park Gardens | Diamond State Chorus & Simple Gifts 
• July 27, 6:30-7:30pm, Stapler Park | Diamond State Concert Band 
• August 4, 6:00-7:30pm, Judy Johnson Park | Pristine Raeign 
• August 5, 6:00-7:00pm, Stapler Park | Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance 
• August 10, 6:00-8:00pm, Sugar Bowl Pavilion | The Souldaires with Elbert-Palmer Percussion Ensemble 

Keep up to date with the Facebook page and website, which will be updated with news, photos and individual park schedules.

The Grand would like to thank the City of Wilmington for its generous support to make this important program possible. A special thanks also to Wilmington Parking Authority, Wilmington State Parks, the Friends of Wilmington Parks, and to ALL of you for your ongoing support and participation. We’ll see you this SUMMER in the PARKS!

For information, visit TheGrandWilmington.org/Parks or call 302.658.7897 x3105.