Calls for Musicians & Visual Artists: Ladybug Festival & The Delaware Contemporary

Info compiled from Ladybug Festival & The Delaware Contemporary notices...

The Ladybug Festival Call for Artists
The annual summertime celebration of female arts and artists (this year expanded to a two-day festival) presented by Gable Music Ventures, has opened its call for artist submissions. The 2017 Ladybug Festival will take place in downtown Wilmington, Delaware on July 20 and 21. Artists interested in being considered for a performance spot should visit the Ladybug Festival website and submit an application!

The Delaware Contemporary Open Call for Artists
Submit your application online by February 22, 2017 to exhibit work in The Delaware Contemporary's 2017 Contemporary Gala Art Auction! The Contemporary Gala is an exciting and elegant evening of music, auctions and unconventional entertainment. Proceeds from the event support our exhibitions and education programs. Artists will have their work featured in our Constance S. & Robert J. Hennessy Project Space gallery for an audience of art enthusiasts and collectors. Contributing artists can opt to receive 50% of the sale price or donate the entire amount to The Delaware Contemporary.

Celebrating "Men Behaving Badly" at OperaDelaware

(L-R): Grant Youngblood, Jeffrey Miller, Ben Wager,
Martin Hargrove, Alok Kumar. Photo courtesy of OperaDelaware.

The hubby and I spent Friday night out with a bunch of truly bad men...and loved every moment!

We attended OperaDelaware's quasi-new programming (it's a few seasons in, although some may not realize) Inside the Opera Studio. The program brings audiences up close and personal to well-known and (perhaps) lesser known — but equally captivating — works from productions both international and U.S. born, under a collective theme. This time, it was "Devils, Drunks and Dastardly Dudes."

OperaDelaware's second-floor rehearsal hall was set with large candlelit tables and rear platform seating facing a small stage under chandeliers, giving the entire night a personal, intimate feel.

Our four featured dastardly dudes were OperaDelaware stars Alok Kumar, Ben Wager, Martin Hargrove and Grant Youngblood in a showcase OperaDelaware General Director Brendan Cooke described as "...men behaving badly."

OperaDelaware Music Director Jeffrey Miller, who was accompanist and creator of the program, also served us well as the entertaining "Master of Ceremonies," introducing each piece with brevity and humor, providing background about the opera and its characters. I enjoyed his discussion, as it helped to set the mood of the performances and give us interesting notes about each piece.

The evening began with tenor Kumar in a selection from Verdi's Rigoletto, in which Miller noted, "The Duke is probably a drunk...but definitely a dastardly dude." I know little about opera, but will say that Kumar's voice was incredible and delivered the perfect power-packed start to the evening.

I will also note that bass Ben Wager has his 'devils' down pat — in works from Faust and Mefistofele, his voice not only conveys the proper dose of darkness, but his spot-on laugh and expression are so entertainingly chilling. "Ben seems to specialize in devils..." laughed Miller after one of Wager's performances. 

Wager and Hargrove also performed the provocative Ella giammai m'amo from Act 3, Scene 1 of Verdi's Don Carlo — what Miller called, "...no exaggeration; the greatest confrontation scene in opera."

Rigoletto gave me another favorite piece, this time from Youngblood and Hargrove — as Rigoletto and Sparafucile, respectively — in the duet Pari siamo!

Artfans who may not know much about opera or who think they may not like opera — these programs are right up your alley. They're the perfect informal (and enjoyably educational) introduction to many different styles, composers and stories.

Bravi, OperaDelaware! Next up for Inside the Opera Studio is the Ladies' Night program running March 3 through 5. Tickets available but seating is limited. 

See www.operade.org. 

A New Space for Creativity in North Wilmington

Jester Park Farmhouse, which will soon become Jester Artspace.

This article is re-posted from an original report by Delaware Public Media, published January 18, 2017...

A group of local artists is stepping up, with support from the New Castle County administration, to create a new space for teaching, creating and enjoying art in North Wilmington.

Local artists and arts advocates Alan Baseden, Susan Benarcik, Kirsten Olson — collectively known as Jester Artspace — have signed a 20-year lease to transform the historic Jester Park Farmhouse into a collaborative artspace.

It's a thrilling new development that will bring workshops, a creative space and public art events to all arts lovers in and around North Wilmington. I, for one, cannot wait to experience it myself!

For the full story, CLICK HERE>>>

Market Street Music Creates a Resource for the Choral Community

Market Street Music's Mastersingers of Wilmington.

With support from the Laffey-McHugh Foundation, Market Street Music is launching a new service to benefit its northern Delaware community and church choirs.

Area choirs will have free access to the almost 1,000 titles in MSM’s choral music library. Titles include sacred anthems, secular choral music and large works (sacred and secular) with orchestra parts, including expensive and hard-to-find items — from unison music to multi-part scores.

Interested groups can email MSM Music Director David Schelat to arrange for borrowing. All scores will be available in the office of First & Central Church.

Lost or severely damaged copies will be charged as: $3.00/octavo copy; $15.00/large work copy. This fine is payable within 30 days. Late return fine is $.25/day.

Check out the Music Lending list for complete details and send an email about what you want to borrow!

P.S. Mastersingers of Wilmington is holding auditions for new community-based amateur singers to join this outstanding ensemble. Information about these auditions may be found at http://marketstreetmusicde.org/choirs/. The audition consists of prepared music (found at our website), vocalizing and sight singing. Audition dates are on the website as well.

DDOA Announces 2017 Awardees

This post taken from a Delaware Division of the Arts press release...

Eighteen Delaware artists are being recognized by the Delaware Division of the Arts for the high quality of their artwork. Work samples from 126 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, folk and visual artists were reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals, considering demonstrated creativity and skill in their art form. The 18 selected fellows reside throughout Delaware including Arden, Dover, Hockessin, Milton, Newark, Rehoboth Beach and Wilmington.

Awards are given in three categories – $10,000 for the Masters Award, $6,000 for the Established Professional Award, and $3,000 for the Emerging Professional Award – and Fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the upcoming year, providing an opportunity for the public to experience their work. The work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XVII, at the Biggs Museum this summer. “Individual Artist Fellowship grants provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work,” said Paul Weagraff, director of Delaware Division of the Arts. “The financial award allows them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs to advance their careers.”

The Masters Fellowship is open to differing artistic disciplines each year. In Fiscal Year 2017, Masters Fellowship applications were accepted in Folk Arts or Visual Arts from artists who had previously received an Established Professional Fellowship. In addition to exemplifying high artistic quality, Masters Fellowship applicants must demonstrate their involvement and commitment to the arts in Delaware. Listed below are the Delaware Division of the Arts 2017 Individual Artist Fellows and four Honorable Mentions.

Yolanda Chetwynd has been awarded this year’s Masters Fellowship in Visual Arts: Painting. Chetwynd is a practicing artist who has been living in Newark, Delaware since 1987. She holds an advanced painting degree from The Slade School of Fine Art, University College London as well as a Masters in Professional Studies in Art Therapy from The Pratt Institute. An award-winning painter, Chetwynd has been invited to participate in exhibitions locally, nationally, and internationally. She is also devoted to reinforcing the role of art in education. Chetwynd has worked with the Delaware Institute for Arts in Education since 1992 and has collaborated with teachers on over 100 art projects in Delaware classrooms. She was selected as one of eight regional teaching artists from the National Association of Aesthetic Education Institutes to implement a series of national training workshops and served on the team to write the Visual Arts standards for the state of Delaware. Chetwynd has previously served on the boards of directors of Delcaps and the Newark Arts Alliance.

2017 Individual Artist Fellows

Masters Award ($10,000)

• Yolanda Chetwynd (Newark), Visual Arts: Painting

Established Professional Award ($6,000)

• Phillip Bannowsky (Newark), Literature: Poetry
• Arden Bardol (Dover), Visual Arts: Crafts
• Mahasveta (Gitu) Barua (Newark), Literature: Fiction
• Kathryn Canavan (Wilmington), Literature: Creative Nonfiction
• A.T. Moffett (Wilmington), Dance: Choreography
• Hugh Phibbs (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Works on Paper
• Troy Richards (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Painting
• Chad States (Rehoboth Beach), Visual Arts: Sculpture
• Beth Trepper (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Photography

Emerging Professional Award ($3,000)

• Jennifer Borders (Arden), Visual Arts: Sculpture
• Daniel Carunchio (Wilmington), Music: Solo Recital
• Larry Kelts (Newark), Literature: Poetry
• Kathy Maas (Hockessin), Literature: Creative Nonfiction
• Ray Magnani (Newark), Visual Arts: Photography
• Terrance Vann (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Painting
• Aaron Wright (Newark), Literature: Playwriting
• David Yurkovich (Milton), Literature: Fiction

Honorable Mention

• Dennis Beach, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Sculpture
• Luigi Ciuffetelli, Hockessin, Visual Arts: Photography
• Liz Dolan, Rehoboth Beach, Literature: Fiction
• Linda Harris Reynolds, Wilmington, Visual Arts: Work on Paper

To contact an individual artist, please email or call Roxanne Stanulis, Program Officer, Artist Programs and Services,Roxanne.Stanulis@state.de.us or 302-577-8283.  The next deadline for Individual Artist Fellowship applications will be Tuesday, August 1, 2017 by 4:30pm.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.

Need a Lift This Season? Get into Kinky Boots!

The touring cast of Kinky Boots. Photo provided.

By Guest Blogger Scott Frelick
Scott is a native of Wilmington and has been involved with Wilmington Drama League, The Brandywiners and OperaDelaware. Currently, he is a member of of City Theater Company's Board of Directors. He is also an interior designer, visual artist and Realtor.

There is much uncertainty and craziness in the world today. On top of that, the pressure of holiday shopping – how do we keep our sanity? Go see KINKY BOOTS! If you need to escape into an evening of pure fun, energy and great music, this is your prescription. Kinky Boots – created by Harvey Fierstein and music icon Cyndi Lauper – is showing at The Playhouse on Rodney Square through December 18, 2016.

Kinky Boots has won every major Best Musical Award and is represented around the world with the Tony Award-winning Broadway Company now in its fourth year. Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots explores the relationship between sons seeking acceptance from their fathers. It also delivers a great lesson on accepting all people for just who they are.

Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family shoe company, Price & Son. The company in Northampton, England is on the brink of collapse unless Charlie can figure a way to save the business. In an unlikely turn of events, his life’s path is crossed with the ever-glamorous and dramatic Lola. With the factory’s future hanging in limbo, Charlie and Lola take a huge gamble on fashion boots made for female impersonators. These sturdy new stilettos are a fabulous success and save the day.

The Kinky Boots touring cast features Wilmington's very own Collin Jeffery playing Young Charlie. The two main characters – Charlie played by Adam Kaplan and Lola played by J. Harrison Ghee – do a wonderful job, but Mr. Ghee is the clear star of this show and steals every scene in the most glorious way. Another true standout in the cast is Lauren, played by Tiffany Engen. Not only is her singing voice superior, she also brings a special touch of comedy to the show with every appearance. Her timing in something as simple as a hand gesture brings laughter to the audience.

This is definitely the kind of show one leaves feeling happy, lighthearted and okay with the world. The best show I have seen at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in a while. A must see!

See http://duponttheatre.com/ (The Playhouse on Rodney Square)