ORANGE ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL’S entry in the University of Massachussetts Photo Contest has already been selected for inclusion in the 6th edition of “Fundamentals of Arts Management.”{{more}} Now, it seems our photograph taken of Judy Condon signing her book at the Case Memorial Library is in the running for the composite back cover of the soon to be published book. The top six vote getting photos will be utilized. Anyone can vote! (Shades of American Idol!) To cast your vote for OACC go to aes@acad.umass.edu. Support the OACC in this endeavor— it doesn’t cost anything -just a little bit of your time. They have already received hundreds of votes, and we encourage our contingent to add significantly to this number.
THE GALLERY AT TOWN HALL (617 Orange Center Road, Orange) features the work of local artist and teacher Audrey Galer for the months of July and August. She comes from an artistic family—her mother was an accomplished painter as well. Audrey is largely self taught, but she has also studied with the well- known and highly regarded Tony Couch; with Nancy Mahon; with John Falato at Paier Institute of Art; and with Graziella Solodow at CAW, among others. The Gallery at Town Hall is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. and is located on the first floor outside the First Selectman’s Office.
ART IN THE LIBRARY (176 Tyler City Road, Orange) exhibits the work of John Ulatowski and Millie Farrell for the month of July. John is a photographer and poet who has had published three books illustrating his work. John is also a regular contributor to The Orange Times writing a column Poet’s Corner. Millie works in water color and has exhibited throughout the area. The work may be viewed in the Meeting Room Gallery on the second floor of the library during library hours.
ANDREA AND ROB KENNEDY, the award-winning directing team that brought “Rent,” “Les Miserables,” “Chicago,” “Legally Blonde” and “Sweeney Todd” to the Amity High School Brady Center for the Performing Arts, are not taking the summer off. Their summer project “On Broadway”— a summer theater camp at Amity High School is well underway. The program is designed to teach students voice, dance, and acting skills; to give them performance experience; to ignite their creative spirit, to build a sense of accomplishment and community; and to encourage them to have fun. Students from elementary, middle and high school of all skill levels are welcomed. The camp session’s culminating performance, “On Broadway,” an original revue featuring numbers from many current shows including “Matilda,” “Newsies,” “Wicked” etc., will be on Friday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at the High School (25 Newton Road, Woodbridge) The tickets are free. Come early to get a good seat!
TWILIGHT TUESDAYS AT NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SCHOOL (100 Audubon Street, New Haven) are alfresco dinner/concerts to benefit NMS. The two remaining concerts are Tuesday, July 23 – “Goodnight Blue Moon”—moon songs from American blue Grass-based traditional folk music to orchestrated pop; and July 30 –“Songs of Sinatra”, with Ron Sunshine and Friends. The concerts take place in the park in back of NMS. Dinner can be purchased from Abel caterers on location at each concert. (kosher options will be available). Dinner is at 6:30 p.m.. concert following at 7:30 p.m. There is limited table seating; it is advised to reserve in advance at 203-624-5189 X19. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for children 12 years and under.
THE NEW HAVEN ORATORIO CHOIR is looking for new members for all sections.The ensemble performs two to four concerts each season and most of the concerts are acappella or include simple piano or organ accompaniment. Membership is by audition. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, 8 to 10 p.m. Please contact nhctchoir@gmail.com to schedule an audition. To hear the choir in performance and/or get more information, go to nhoratorio.org.
THE PHOTO ARTS COLLECTIVE is a Greater New Haven Arts Council program that aims to cultivate and support a community of individuals who share an interest in photography through workshops, lectures, portfolio reviews, groupcritiques and special events. The Photo Arts Collective meets the first Thursday of each month at the Kehler-Liddell Gallery (877 Whalley Avenue, New Haven) at 7 p.m. To learn more, go to photoartscollective@gmail.com.
THE POETRY INSTITUTE OF NEW HAVEN hosts Poetry Open Mics each third Thursday of the month at Young Men’s Institute Library (847 Chapel Street, New Haven). The poetry and the voices are eclectic. It is a free event and all are welcome.
THE GUILFORD ART CENTER’S ANNUAL CRAFTS EXPO 13 celebrates its 56th year, returning to the Guilford Green on July 18, (noon to 9 p.m.) July 19 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and July 21 (noon to 5 p.m.). There will be 180 American craft artists, a silent auction, food, music and more! Admission: adults $7, seniors $5, members, children under 12, and active military free.
DUELING DIVAS with the New Haven Symphony comes to the New Haven Green on July 20. Opera divas Jamilyn Manning-White and Toby Newman display vocal virtuosity as they sing selections from The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Carmen. The concert opens with music from the Mariachi Academy of Connecticut, directed by Evangeline Mendoza Bourgeois at 6:00 p.m. Bring the family and a picnic basket for a musical evening under the stars! Free admission.
BRANFORD JAZZ ON THE GREEN returns for the sixth year through August on the Branford Town Green. Ed Fast and the Congo Bop Band take the stage on Thursday, July 25, Brian Torff plays on Aug. 1, Reunion plays Aug. 8 and the Coast Guard Band appears on Aug. 15. The free jazz shows take place on Thursdays at 6:30. For more information, call 203-488-8304 0r go to branfordjazz.com .
HAMDEN ARTS COUNCIL sponsors free concerts as well at the Town Center Park at Meadowbrook (2761 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden). Next one coming up is the classic chart-topper Eddie Money, who will rock the park on Friday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.
WINDOWS INTO HEAVEN is the current exhibit, through Sept. 30, at the Knights of Columbus Museum (1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven). More than 225 examples of Russian Orthodox iconography, along with other liturgical items are on display. Many of the items are more than 100 years old, predating the Bolshevik
Revolution of 1917. Traditionally, icons were painted in egg tempera on wood and often accented with gold leaf or covered in ornately gilt metal covers. Rich in symbolism, they are still used extensively in Russian churches and are also displayed in many Russian homes. The free exhibit may be viewed daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is free parking at the museum.
GO FLY A KITE with the ConnecticutKITERS, a regional kite flying club that counts 100 active flyers in its membership. The organization was founded in the spring of 1989 by Vic and Bernie Walton of Ansonia. Eventually becoming affiliated with the American Kite Flyers Association, ConnecticutKITERS remains true to its motto, “Just for the fun of it”, through organizing monthly non-competitive family-oriented meet-ups across the state. ConnecticutKITERS Night Fly is held Monday, July 20 at Savin Rock in West Haven, and again on Saturday, Aug. 17. There are other events scheduled in the region. For more information, go to ConnecticutKITERS.blogspot.com.
YALE SUMMER CABARET (217 Park Street, New Haven) intends this year to embrace the spirit of the 1974 founders, when 17 plays were performed in one summer season. Each summer for the past 40 years, theater students have been given the opportunity to produce, direct and act in plays of their own choice. The 2013 Yale Cabaret’s Summer of Giants offers an ambitious variety of theatrical offerings written by some of the greatest playwrights of our time. All shows are performed, designed, staffed and produced by the summer ensemble. The current play is Tennesee Williams’ In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel, running from July 25 to Aug. 3. Heart’s Desire and Drunk Enough to Say I Love You run from Aug 8 to 18, closing the season. Tickets can be purchased at summercabaret.org or by calling the box office at 203-432-1567. Single tickets start at $25 for the public and $14 for students.
TANGLEWOOD ON PARADE takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 6. From 3 to 7 p.m. there will be free tours of Tanglewood for Boston Symphony ticket holders.
At 8:30 p.m. in the Tanglewood Shed, a concert with music by Borodin (Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor), Gershwin (An American in Paris), Bernstein (music from On the Waterfront), and Tchaikovsky (1812 Overture) will be heard. The music will be performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra with conductors Stephane Deneve, Charles Dutoit, Keith Lockhart, and John Williams. Fireworks follow the concert. It has been suggested that the OACC plan a bus trip to this event or other Tanglewood concerts next summer. Sounds like a plan! For tickets , call 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200 or visit tanglewood.org
YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY (1111 Chapel Street, New Haven) has an interesting exhibition –Conversations with Wood: Selections from the Waterbury Collection. Over 70 objects illustrating the changing approach to the medium over the years are presented form the collection of Ruth and David Waterbury. They run the gamut, from simply turned pieces to sculpted and constructed objects. Prominent artists in the field, including Michelle Holzapfel, Robyn Horn, Todd Hayer, William Hunter, Ron Kent, Michael Mode, Hayley Smith, Alan Stirt, and Bob Stocksdale are represented. The exhibition runs through Aug. 18. The Gallery is open weekdays (with the exception of Monday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Thursday until 8 p.m.) and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Free admission.
YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART (1080 Chapel Street, New Haven) features Art in Focus: Ives Abstraction through September 30th. The exhibiton explores how the Cornish town of St. Ives inspired the artists who visited there or who made their homes there. The vibrant artistic community and striking coastal landscape made an ideal environment for creating art. The artists represented include Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, John Wells, Roger Hilton and Patrick Heron. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to. 5 p.m.
GOODSPEED OPERA HOUSE (6 Main Street, East Haddam) presents the classic musical comedy, Hello, Dolly through September 8th. The venerable Dolly Levi is the main character who meddles (or fixes) other people’s lives while still keeping an out for a felicitous liason for herself. Jerry Herman’s music includes “When the Parade Passes By,” “Hello, Dolly,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” and “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” among others. Visit this candy box theater on the banks of the Connecticut River for a trip back in time! For tickets call 860-873-8668 or go to goodspeed.org.
CREATING READERS SATURDAYS AT 2 PROGRAM at the Connecticut Children’s Museum (22 Wall Street, New Haven) is an interactive program that is fun and engages young readers by bringing books to life through the arts –theater, dance and music. Each family attending receives a copy of the book that has been presented to take home. Saturdays at 2 p.m. For information, call 203-562-5437 or go to childrensbuilding.org.
PUBLIC ART AT YALE AND NEW HAVEN is alive and well. At Yale, start at the Old Campus (College Street, New Haven). Many examples of public art are visible around the campus, including the statue of Revolutionary War Hero Nathan Hale and The Women’s Table by Maya Lin. Information about a self guided tour is available at 203-432-2300 or at yale.edu/publicart. The City of New Haven Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism showcases its collection of public art in a new national public art database called The Public Art Archive.Com. Information and photos of the city of New Haven’s public art collection is now available on the website.
BUILD A BETTER BIRD HOUSE RETURNS TO THE FAIR Sept. 21 and 22. Bird houses — simple to complicated — large or small – are to be displayed at the OACC tent for the fourth consecutive year. A crowd pleaser, for sure! All ages are urged to build or decorate an original bird house –conventional or non conventional. Entrants receive free entrance to the Fair. This year, jewelry maker Lucia Bloom will be setting up a crafty jewelry making activity for the kids. OACC members will staff the booth and will be happy to share the goals and mission of the council. We encourage everyone to join to support the arts in our town! Have an event, an idea or anything related to the arts? Send to patmiller605@sbcglobal.net.