Artist Terrance Vann & City Theater Company's Collaboration Lives On in Wilmo's Creative District

Photo courtesy of Terrance Vann.

City Theater Company (CTC) is proud to partner with Wilmington's Creative District to unveil the permanent "home" of artist Terrance Vann’s Hair mural on Friday, May 6, kicking off the district's monthly INSPIRE Lot Series with the official installation of the original mural. The piece was commissioned by CTC for its April production of Hair and presented as a vibrant backdrop during the show’s run. Its new home will be on West 7th Street in downtown Wilmington. 

The mural project is partially underwritten by the generosity of Wilmington City Councilwoman Dr. Hanifa G. N. Shabazz.

Wilmington artist Terrance Vann.

“It is inspiring to have collaborated with CTC for Hair and to have my piece live on in the City” says Vann, an up-and-coming Delaware artist whose work has been garnering notice all over the East Coast. “It was an awesome opportunity to be able to work with a group as passionate and talented as CTC,” he continues. “I love the creative energy they bring to their process, which makes my job much easier when coming up with ideas visually. And to have this project reach even more people with this permanent installation downtown is humbling and exciting.”

The INSPIRE Lot Series is held monthly as part of First Friday Art Loop through October from 5:30 to 8 P.M. The evening features food trucks, live music courtesy of GableMusic Ventures, and hands-on art activities.

The May 6 event also showcases original musicians Nalani and Sarina, two sisters whose distinctive blend of traditional soul-rock and modern pop was recently called “...some of the best music being made in 2016” by Sirius radio host and critic Dave Marsh.

CTC Board President Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, who worked with The Creative District to install the artwork, is thrilled to dedicate the mural at this kick-off event. “It’s a wonderful moment for the arts in town,” she says. “We have theater, visual art and music joining forces for the greater good. City Theater Company is lucky to partner so many wonderful people in order to create art. This is something that everyone should celebrate.”

DETAILS: Free admission. The INSPIRE Lot is located at 215-219 W. 7th Street between Orange and Tatnall Streets in Wilmington, Delaware. The May 6, 2016 event is the inaugural kick-off for the series. Terrance Vann and City Theater Company members will introduce the mural at 5:30 P.M. and be on hand to speak with attendees throughout the evening.

See www.creativedistrictwilm.com.
See www.city-theater.org.

Go-Go the Analog Way with Dogfish Head this Fall!

Details in this post taken from Dogfish Head Brewery press release...

A celebration of all-things indie craft and now in its sixth year, Analog-A-Go-Go will be moving to Bellevue State Park near Wilmington to accommodate a lineup that’s bigger and better than ever before! The 2016 event will feature six live bands, a cask beer festival and distillery garden, an artisan marketplace, and tons of great local and food trucks from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. It’s going down September 17 from 1:00-10:00pm.

Just what can you expect?

MUSIC
An off-centered lineup that will entertain music fans from all genres:

• Built To Spill: Indie rock powerhouse Built To Spill is known for heavy, catchy guitar hooks and epic live performances. 
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Originally formed in the early 60s, this traditional New Orleans-style jazz band features a rotating cast of amazing musicians who are anything but traditional. 
• Talib Kweli: Brooklyn native, activist, and hip hop great will Talib Kewli will take the stage accompanied by a live band. 
• Ra Ra Riot: With a new album out earlier the year, indie rock darlings Ra Ra Riot will have fans dancing with uplifting synths and catchy lyrics. 
• Beach Slang: Philly punk mainstay Beach Slang. 
• Fiance: These Newark, DE natives will kick off the day with their glossy, experimental pop sound. 

BEST FIRKIN FRIENDS BEER FESTIVAL Hosted by Bellevue State Park

Happening in the Craft Beer Barn, guests will indulge in 10 cask samplings from some of our best friends in the business.

Limited edition beers will be pouring from:

• Dogfish Head 
• Funky Buddha 
• Beavertown Brewing 
• Sierra Nevada 
• Allagash 
• Stoudts 
• Samuel Adams 
• Iron Hill 
• Burley Oak 
• Shorts 

DISTILLERY GARDEN Hosted by Bellevue State Park 

Hosted on the Bellevue Mansion Lawn, guests will be treated to six scratch-made cocktails from Dogfish Distilling Co. Dogfish’s spirits employ a grain-to-glass production method, meaning each batch it crafted from scratch to deliver incredible flavor.

RECORD & ARTISAN MARKET
The Artisan and Record Market will feature over 25 artists and vendors from more than 10 states. Vinyl vendors will offer crates upon crates of new and rare LPs, while an off-centered bazaar will showcase art, crafts, apparel, jewelry, vintage goods, barware, music accessories, and more!

CULINARY TRAILER PARK
10+ food trucks creating a unique Culinary Trailer Park, featuring a potpourri of delicious options for hungry festival-goers. Including…

So…are you ready to go-go?
Tickets are on sale now!

Music & Visual Arts Combine in an Evening of Jazz Vespers

By Guest Blogger Sharon Bryant 

Jonathan Whitney's ensemble performs at SsAM Jazz Vespers.

Sharon has lived and worked in Wilmington all her life. She is a member of The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew and currently the Chairperson of their Downtown Arts Ministry. She enjoys being a part of the City of Wilmington and although she loves the arts, she truly loves the musical side of it all.

The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew & Matthew (better known as SsAM) – which has long been known for a variety of fabulous musical programs – held a Jazz Vespers on Sunday, April 17. Named in memory of the late Rev. Rod Welles (former associate minister at SsAM and a major jazz lover), the evening had the traditional Vespers elements wrapped around wonderful music and interactive art.  Musician Jonathan Whitney, percussionist and Artist-in-Residence at SsAM, used folk artist Eunice LaFate's paintings to inspire his music. A number of youth artists – both from SsAM's congregation and from the larger community – in turn used his music to inspire their live painting.

I truly enjoyed the Jazz Vespers. It was such a soothing type of evening but at the same time very energizing. We listened intently to the music and then watched those blank canvases come to life through the artistry of the children under the direction of Eunice LaFate.

Even the audience got involved, as we were encouraged by Jonathan Whitney to walk around and watch the children at work while enjoying the music in the background. No real talking going on with us – just moving around, taking photos, quietly smiling, as we were simply in awe of it all.

Eunice LaFate poses with the young artists of Jazz Vespers. 

Amazing that Rev. Welles spirit was in the room as he would have just loved it! Oh yes, he was truly there – his God-loving spirit was in the room for real, and that was especially meaningful when we learned that the day was also his birthday!

It was an evening of truly amazing music and the first time something so interactive has happened at the Jazz Vespers! But, hey, we know SsAM is known for being first at so many great things in this community. I suspect this will not be the last time that something like this happens.

See www.ssam.org.