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>>>