Art & Around

AA Eliane Elias.jpg: Fontana Chamber Arts will host Grammy-nominated jazz artist Eliane Elias for a two-day residency and public concert Oct. 8 and 9. Photo courtesy of FCA.

$27,000 grant boosts Fontana Chamber ArtsÕ outreach programs

KALAMAZOO – Fontana Chamber Arts has received a $27,000 grant for outreach and educational programming in its 2003-2004 Chamber and Jazz Music Season from the Arcus Gay and Lesbian Fund. The grant will support concerts and outreach performances October 8-9 by jazz vocalist/pianist/composer Eliane Elias and a residency by the famed percussion group NEXUS November 5-6.
The grant will focus on the growing importance of jazz and nontraditional musical presentations in the area through school and community visits, master classes, and the Concerts for Young Audience series Fontana Chamber Arts established at Kalamazoo College one year ago. The programs are open to all local schools on a first-come, first-served basis, and are free of charge.
FCA will host a two-day residency and concert on October 8-9 by the internationally acclaimed jazz artist Eliane Elias. The Grammy-nominated Elias will conduct master classes at WMU, concluding her residency with a performance on the Concerts for Young Audience series along with her Trio, comprised of bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Satoshi Takeishi. The public concert is on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. at Kalamazoo CollegeÕs Dalton Theater.
NEXUS, the Toronto-based group of five master percussionists, is celebrating over 25 years of solo and symphony performances throughout the world. NEXUS performs music derived from West African, East Asian, Latin American, European and North American cultures. The residency and concert, in cooperation with the WMU School of Music, will take place in the Dalton Recital Hall Nov. 5 – 6 and includes a percussion workshop open to percussionists from all area schools, as well as a performance on the Concerts for Young Audience series.
The Arcus Foundation of Kalamazoo, Mich. seeks to contribute to a pluralistic society that celebrates diversity and dignity, invests in youth and justice and promotes tolerance and compassion. The Foundation awarded the Fontana Chamber Arts grant from its Arcus Gay and Lesbian Fund, which supports efforts to improve the quality of life in Southwest Michigan in the areas of social justice, youth, arts and culture and the environment. The fund also serves to highlight and celebrate the contributions of the gay and lesbian community in Southwest Michigan.
For more information, or to be involved in Fontana Chamber Arts outreach programs, please contact Betsy Bogner Wong, Administrative Director at 269-382-7774.

Kerrytown Concert House hosts cutting-edge music festival, Edgefest

ANN ARBOR – Kerrytown Concert House (KCH) presents the seventh annual Edgefest on Thursday, October 2, through Saturday, October 4, 2003. As in previous years, the festival will feature world-class creative musicians from the United States, Canada and abroad, including previous Edgefest favorites making return appearances – as well as newcomers performing in Ann Arbor for the first time. And while we welcome back some familiar faces – bassist Reggie Workman, saxophonists Trevor Watts and Phillip Johnston, and violinist/violist Mat Maneri to name a few – it should be noted that even those making repeat Edgefest visits will appear in entirely new contexts, acquainting Ann Arbor audiences with different facets of their artistic personas. It all adds up to the finest three days of creative music to be heard anywhere in the Midwest.
Edgefest will take place at KCH and Workbench Furniture in the Kerrytown Market District and the Firefly Club in the Main Street area. Concerts are scheduled such that festival goers can experience all the shows at all three venues (within easy walking distance). Reservations may be made for individual concerts and a festival-wide “Edgepass” may also be purchased providing admis-sion to all shows with preferred seating at a substantial discount ($80).
For program itinerary, individual concert reservations or to purchase Edgepasses, call 734-769-2999 or e-mail Kerrytown Concert House at [email protected] Edgefest does not accept credit cards.

Folk Culturefest 2003 raises money for needy causes

GRAND RAPIDS – The groups Fiddle Fire and Kinsfolk ignite the atmosphere at the Ladies Literary Club on Friday, October 3, 2003 in a musical event sponsored by the Grand River Folk Art Society to benefit UCOM (United Church Outreach Ministry), an 18-year-old education and anti-poverty agency serving southwest Kent County.
The event, Folk CultureFest 2003, includes not only a full-length concert by the two versatile family bands, but also displays international handicrafts that will be available for sale to profit community and international relief ministries.
Tickets are available at $12, with discounts available for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more. Doors to the historic ladies Literary Club at 61 Sheldon SE in downtown Grand Rapids will open at 7 p.m., with the performance starting at 8 p.m.
Additional information about the musical event, the two ensembles and the ministry is available by calling UCOM at 616-241-4006 or online at www.ucomgr.org.

Exceptional bargains at fund-raising rummage sale

GROSSE POINTE PARK – The Grosse Point Artists Association will hold a fund-raising rummage sale on October 4 and 4 at the GPAA Art Center located at 1005 Maryland in Grosse Pointe Park. The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A wine and hors dÕoeuvres preview party will be held on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Art center for a donation of $10.
Items for sale include baked goods, linens, jewelry, furniture, collectibles, art books and magazines, art supplies, picture frames, tools and much, much more.
For additional information, please call GPAA at 313-821-1848.