JPAS Youth Choirs Auditions August 25 & 27

Jefferson Performing Arts Society will hold auditions for its Children’s Chorus and Youth Chorale August 25 and 27 from 5pm- 6:30pm at the JPAS Office, 1118 Clearview Parkway in Metairie. Auditions are by appointment. Please call Lynne at 504.885.2000 ext. 211 or email lynne@jpas.org to schedule an audition time.

Auditioners should be prepared to sing Happy Birthday or a song of their choice. The audition will also include a vocal range check and pitch match/memory check to determine choir placement. A parent or legal guardian should accompany the singer to fill out all application materials. Past year Chorus and Chorale members do not need to audition again; however, they must stop by the JPAS office to fill out the necessary paperwork.

JPAS Children’s Chorus welcomes children in Grades 3 through 7 for academic school year 2008-2009. However, the director will consider allowing mature, motivated second grade students to join. Rehearsals will be held on Mondays 5:45pm-7pm beginning in September.

JPAS Youth Chorale welcomes students in Grades 8 through 12 for academic school year 2008-2009. Rehearsals will be held on Mondays 7pm-8:15pm beginning in September.

Rehearsals for both choirs are held at First Christian Church, 8121 Airline Drive in Metairie. Tuition for the 2008-2009 academic school year is $400. Financial need scholarships are available and an application may be completed upon audition.

Request for Proposals

Phase 4
New Populations: Immigrant and Refugee Communities in Louisiana

The Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) Folklife Program seeks proposals to document and report on the folk traditions of immigrant and refugee communities within Louisiana. Each New Populations fieldwork project documents ways in which a cultural group maintains their traditions here in Louisiana. The project goal is to assist these communities to create an inventory of cultural assets and, ultimately, a plan for cultural and/or economic development.

Successful proposals will focus on one cultural event or custom that is important to a community and its folk traditions (crafts, music, dance, foods, etc). Research should emphasize the group's customs and traditional art forms, identify who maintains the featured traditions, and explain what part they play in family or community life. For example, explain how holiday crafts and/or music or traditional occupations or skills are important to the cultural group and how they are maintained in Louisiana. Proposals may also focus on one tradition, such as a traditional occupation, craft, or music, and include interviewing people who maintain the tradition and describing how and when it is made or performed.

For more information on the New Populations Project, see www.louisianafolklife.org/newpopulations/.

Cultural Inventory/Documentation
We anticipate awarding 4-7 contracts of varying amounts totaling approximately $25,000. Specific contract terms will be negotiated for each proposal selected. Considering the limited funds available, proposals that attempt to be broad ethnographic studies will not be competitive. Contractors may draw upon prior research and/or propose fieldwork based on their own interests, contacts, and prior knowledge. Documentation of a specific cultural tradition shall consist of recorded interviews, a field report, an essay, and photographs. The essay and photographs will be presented to the public by means of an online essay. While the field report will not be posted online, it will be available upon request. All materials will be placed in an archive. For communities that have already been documented with a field report, contractors may not be required to submit another field report.

Proposals should focus on substantial communities that include foreign-born members. Proposals should not focus on communities that are primarily foreign students at universities, but rather long-term residents of Louisiana. Proposals will be considered from any immigrant or refugee community. The largest ones include communities from Vietnam, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba, India, China, Taiwan, Palestine and the Middle East, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Korea, El Salvador, Japan, Columbia, Pakistan, Laos, and Thailand. Trans-national cultural groups, such as the Garifuna or Middle Eastern Muslims, will also be considered.

See the website for information about communities already documented. We encourage community members to submit proposals.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT CONTRACTED DELIVERABLES: All contracted deliverables must be submitted by Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS:
* A proposal that addresses all issues in the Proposal Worksheet (available upon request).
* A resume indicating any prior fieldwork experience and how it relates to the cultural group to be documented. Prior fieldwork experience in not required, but desirable.

Anyone considering submitting a proposal must contact Maida Owens to discuss proposal options before the deadline and to obtain additional RFP details and the proposal worksheet.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Proposals should be submitted as an email attachment by Friday, September 5, 2008 to: Maida Owens, Louisiana Division of the Arts Folklife Program, PO Box 44247, Baton Rouge, LA 70804, 225/342-8178, <mailto:mowens@crt.state.la.us>.

2008 Governor's Arts Awards Request for Nominations

Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu and the Louisiana Division of the Arts, in the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, are now accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor's Arts Awards.  The annual Arts Awards recognizes Louisiana's artists, arts educators, businesses, and arts organizations.  Winners are chosen on the basis of the significance and magnitude of their contributions, the benefits of those contributions to Louisiana's citizens, and innovation and commitment to the arts in Louisiana.

Nominations will be accepted in seven categories: Arts Education; Arts Organization; Folk Artist; Lifetime Achievement; Patron; Professional Artist; and Leadership in the Arts.  Three Special Recognition Awards will also be presented.  The Cultural Economy Development Award will recognize individuals and businesses for work towards the development of the arts and cultural sectors in Louisiana's economy; the Historic Preservation Partnership Award will acknowledge the restoration projects or efforts that have successfully utilized or partnered with arts organizations or artists in fulfilling their mission; and the Cultural Tourism Award will recognize progressive partnerships between art and tourism.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday, August 18, 2008.  To obtain a nomination form or to view past winner information, please visit the Louisiana Division of the Arts website at http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts. 

Winners will be selected by the Louisiana State Arts Council, a governor-appointed advisory council to the Division of the Arts, and by members of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Office of the Lt. Governor. 

For additional information, contact the Louisiana Division of the Arts, P.O. Box 44247, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4247, (225) 342-8180, or by e-mail at arts@crt.state.la.us.

The Louisiana Division of the Arts, an agency in the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, was created in 1977 to support established and emerging non-profit arts institutions, to assist individual artists and to stimulate public participation in the arts in Louisiana. The Division is advised in its efforts by the Louisiana State Arts Council, a volunteer body appointed by the governor. The Division receives funding from the Louisiana Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.  The Division can be reached at (225) 342-8180 or on the Internet at http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts.

NOMA Names 10 Artists to be Honored at Love in the Garden

The New Orleans Museum of Art will honor 10 New Orleans-based artists at this year's fourth annual Love in the Garden celebration on Friday, September 26 in NOMA's Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

 

The 10 artists selected to be honored at this year's Love in the Garden are:

 

Wayne Amedee, whose interest in African art can be seen in his painting, sculpture and mixed media work.

 

Nicole Charbonnet, a painter who recently began experimenting with paintings that depict cowboys, gangsters, and the open roads of the American West.

 

Jeffrey Cook, known primarily for his mixed media assemblages crafted from found objects, such as bottle caps, nails and driftwood.

 

Garland Robinette, a painter notable for his portraits, and host of "The Think Tank" on The Big 870 WWL-am.

 

Elaine Gleason, creator of unique lighting fixtures for New Orleans homes and businesses, inspired by her native New Orleans.

 

Joann Greenberg, a ceramic artist whose one-of-a-kind plaques, carved with fish or cavorting neo-classic nudes, grace many New Orleans garden walls.

 

Beth Lambert, abstract painter and ardent supporter of New Orleans art and artists

 

Auseklis Ozols, painter, fine arts educator, and founder of the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, where he is the Director and an instructor. 

 

Richard Thomas, known for his depictions of musicians, and especially his towering mural of New Orleans jazz legends at the Louis Armstrong International Airport.

 

Martin Welch, impressionist painter who works with bright colors on a large scale to stimulate the viewer with scenes of his experiences, focusing largely on his passion for the city of New Orleans and costal living.

 

Now in its fourth year, Love in the Garden has become one of the Museum's most popular annual events, with delectable dining from the city's finest restaurants, an open bar, live music, and dancing under the stars and the oaks in the city's most romantic setting, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

 

Tickets for Love in the Garden start at $50 for NOMA members and $60 for non-members. To order tickets or reserve tables, contact NOMA's Kristen Jochem at (504) 658-4121.

 

This year's music will be provided by The Boogie Men and the John Rankin Trio.

 

Participating food and beverage contributors include Andrea's Restaurant & Catering, Antoine's Restaurant, Acme Oyster House, Bayona Restaurant, Café Degas, Carreta's Grill, Chad's Bistro, Chops Bistro & Martini Bar, Corky's Ribs & BBQ, The Court of Two Sisters, Crescent City Brewhouse, Del Porto Restaurant, Feelings Café, Galatoire's Restaurant, Gordon Biersch, Hard Rock Café, Hostel Restaurant & Lounge, Landry's Seafood House, Lago Restaurant, Mandina's Restaurant, Martin Wine Cellar, Maximo's Italian Grill, Melting Pot, Michael Joyner Catering, Muriel's Jackson Square, Nick's Snoballs & Gelato, Palate New Orleans, Pigeon Caterers/Carnival Brands, P.F. Changs China Bistro, Peristyle, Ralph's on the Park, Rouse's Markets, Ruth's Chris Steak House, 7 on Fulton, Southern Candymakers, Sweet Leslie's, Tomatillo's and Zea Rotisserie & Grill.

 

Album Review: 

JOHNNY SIMPLE

“You Welcome” Vol.1

Jus-Five Productions

Rating: 

On Thursday July 17, 2008 a New Orleans based hip hop artist had an all digital release of his album. The artist, Johnny Simple, released his debut commercial album titled “You Welcome” via the World Wide Web. This is a new phenomenon but not all that uncommon these days. Johnny’s all digital release will soon be followed by a re-release of physical hard copies but for the time being the digital release seems to be working. The major outlets that Johnny Simple’s album is available on include iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, CDbaby, etc. And as for the album, iTunes has rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, not too shabby for a debut album. “You Welcome” Vol.1 has a different sound than you would expect out of a southern hip hop artist, this particular album is well rounded with a variety of club bangers, true hip hop joints, and radio tracks. The production includes DJ 5Grand, CrackTracks, Smitty, etc. The album also has some features from other artist but is not overdone with features as typically seen on some rap records, which was a pleasant surprise. All together the album is one that should be in any cd collection, ipod, or playlist today. For more information on the artist you can visit his webpage at:   HYPERLINK "http://www.johnnysimple.com" www.johnnysimple.com . 

Free French Quarter Fest Poster

In celebration of Satchmo SummerFest, the All Amzie All The Time Gallery is offering free, signed and numbered French Quarter Fest posters.  Visit the gallery at 832 Royal Street to pick up your poster today.

Deadline extended for applications to M.A. Museum Studies

The deadline for applications to the Master of Arts in Museum Studies Program at Southern University at New Orleans has been extended to the end of July for the Fall Semester.  Application materials are available in Building 38A on SUNO's Lake Campus at 6801 Press Drive.  Details about the program are available in the 2006 - 2008 SUNO Catalog which can be viewed on the Southern University at New Orleans website at www.suno.edu.  Look on page 255 of the online catalog.  For more information, call Dr. Sara Hollis, Director, M.A. Museum Studies Program or call her at 504-284-5511 or (Cell) 740-417-0171.  Email:  shollis@suno.edu