Park City, Utah, January 19th- 29th. Considered one of the premier platforms for independent film, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival is a popular draw for Oregon film lovers and winter sports enthusiasts.
The nonprofit Sundance Institute has introduced audiences to some of the most original stories of the last three decades including Reservoir Dogs, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, American Splendor, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Cove.
Portlanders Peter Johnson and Heather Mahoney took in the sights. Heather Mahoney is with Razorfish, the creative firm at the Bing Bar.
Portlanders Peter Johnson and Heather Mahoney celebrated success. Each year the Sundance Film Festival selects about 200 films for exhibition from thousands of submissions and more than 50,000 people attend screenings in various nearby locations. Many years Oregon filmmakers have been represented including last year when Peter Richardson’s How to Die in Oregon won the prestigious Documentary Feature competition. This year, there were few Oregon films in the running.
The only Oregon-related feature film at Sundance 2012 was “The Perception of Moving Targets” by Portland director Weston Currie. It has a soundtrack by Portland musician Liz Harris.
The Big Bar at Sundance is an invitation only three-story hub for VIP entertainment
Rapper Lil John at the Bing Bar
Bing Bar is a multi-faceted event space/bar hosting celebrity interviews, guest speakers, VIP parties, film premiere pre and after-parties and musical performances.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa entertains the crowd at the Bing Bar, photo from Bing
The Sundance 2013 Film Festival begins Thursday, January 17, 2013, and ends Sunday, January 27, 2013.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the Broadway musical, is coming to Portland’s Keller Auditorium February 14-19th. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, this production has won over 35 million people worldwide, especially children. It’s a musical love story filled with lavish sets, costumes and grand production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the popular title song. (Photos by Joan Marcus)
Dane Agostinis as Beast and Emily Behny as Belle.
Broadway Across America’s Beauty and the Beast, is the next production in the Portland Opera’s Broadway Series. Other upcoming shows include: Wicked – March 14th – 8th, Million Dollar Quartet – May 22nd – 27th, and Jersey Boys July 18th – August 12th.
Emily Behny as Belle and the Cast of Beauty and the beast
Northern Oregon Coast. The 4th Street Studio and Gallery in Manzanita is a venue many Portlanders check out when looking for coastal themed art. It has featured the work of talented local and regional artists for over fifteen years. Tom McCallum’s eye-catching fish are popular with collectors; the fish are made of cut glass and copper foil. There are over 50 galleries drawing art lovers to coastal areas. It’s great place to live and work explains owner and weaver, Kathleen Kanas. She showcases her natural fiber basketry alongside paintings, stained glass, ceramics, semi-precious stone beaded jewelry, and mixed-media designs.
Self-taught Kathleen Kanas weaves, coils and twines a large variety of styles.
Baskets are made from materials gathered in the coastal environment
People who venture in find original oil paintings interpreting views of local towns and beaches. Acrylic and watercolor paintings depict gardens, regional wildlife and landscapes.
The gallery has colorful original jewelry as well
A variety of art with coastal imagery is on display
Glass artist, Tom McCallum makes spider webs, beach scenes and other items in addition to his fish
A listing at the website, 101 Mile by Mile has other listings of art galleries along the Oregon Coast.
Manzanita, January 1st. “If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.” 180 hardy souls honored that Dr. Seuss quote on New Year’s Day and braved the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean to welcome 2012. It was the annual Manzanita Polar Plunge. With another hundred-plus onlookers, who stayed in their warm clothes, the event on Neahkahnie Beach was the most successful to date. The temperature outside was unseasonably warm, nearly 60-degrees, but the Ocean temperature was closer to 49!
Before the plunge, hardy souls warmed themselves by the fire and took photographs. The first year, 2004, only 6 people took the polar plunge.
Fun-loving Janice Gaines, in the pink bathing suit, started the tradition.
In 2004, Janice Gaines, the owner of the Spa Manzanita, decided a leap into the Ocean was a great way to cool off after a long hike. Since then, her Polar Plunge has gained momentum. It’s a free family event and Gaines has resisted requests to make it a fundraiser. She explains, “The event is growing because, it’s just simple and fun. People are looking for something fun to do on New Year’s Day and this doesn’t cost anything. It’s easy to do because people are already here, and some people even drive down for the plunge.” Participants pose for their photos by the fire and then it’s a race off to the water!
The water temperature was a chilly 49-degrees.
Participants say when they plunge into the cold water, it takes their breath away.
Below are two links to two fun YouTube videos of the big 2012 Manzanita Polar Plunge!
Portland Opera, in association with Broadway Across America, continues to provide our region with nationally touring Broadway productions. January 3rd-8th the touring company of West Side Story will perform at the Keller Auditorium.
The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).
The Bernstein and Sondheim score to West Side Story is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.” Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents’s Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway.
WEST SIDE STORY features scenic designs by James Youmans
Currently in its 47th season, Portland Opera has established itself as a vibrant and vital part of the region’s cultural activity and identity. With its commitment to producing operas that invigorate the future of the art form and are dramatically and vocally compelling, Portland Opera has earned a devoted public following throughout the state of Oregon and southwestern Washington.
Portland Opera is releasing some advanced photos of it’s production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. The opera opens the new season on November 4th at the Keller Auditorium. (Photo credit, David Bachman, courtesy of Portland Opera)
Here’s the story, courtesy of Portland Opera: The infamous barber of Seville has finally found himself a bride! There’s just one little problem. Seems the Count has his eyes on her as well. And so Figaro vows that if the Count wants to “dance,” it will be he—Figaro—who plays the tune. And what a tune it is! Mozart takes us on a whirlwind ride—a madcap frenzy of disguises, mistaken identities and general mayhem—catapulting us to one of the most touching conclusions ever, a joyous finale that celebrates our amazing capacity for tenderness, trust and forgiveness.
Sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Performances are held at the Keller Auditorium.
Of all Mozart’s operas, The Marriage of Figaro stands as one of the most beloved for modern audiences.
Ron and Jillian Cain, Amber Hinsvark and Henry Hillman
Portland, September 1st. The Elizabeth Leach Gallery is marking 30th years with an Anniversary Exhibition. Gwendolyn Gruetter and Elizabeth Leach in front of a Lee Kelly Sculpture. Ron and Jillian Cain, Amber Hinsvark and Henry Hillman were on hand for the Gallery’s First Thursday event.
Launched in 1981, the gallery has focused on presenting prominent Northwest and internationally established artists working in a wide variety of contemporary media. Leach, “Works to bolster a dynamic dialogue between the local community and the global art world.”
Dorothy Goode, Richard Speer, and Marcia Bizon at First Thursday
Visitors took in Lee Kelly’s sculpture and a host of other works.
Museum Director Brian Ferriso, Guest Curator Ken Gross, Jay Leno, and Board Chair Gordon Sondland enjoying the cocktail reception at the Westin Hotel on August 13th. Automobile lover and Tonight Show host, Jay Leno, took in a “hoods up” viewing of the Allure of the Automobile exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. The event on August 13th was one of the highlights of the stylish exhibit.
Jay Leno and Museum Director Brian Ferriso look at the cars in the Allure of the Automobile. Photographer: Randy Boverman
Jay Leno and Guest Curator Ken Gross look at the cars in the Allure of the Automobile.
Leno’s love of cars is legendary. He owns one of the largest private collections of automobiles in the country.
Jay Leno and Guest Curator Ken Gross discuss automobile collecting and Leno's collection. Photographer: Randy Boverman
According to Brian Ferriso, “This exhibition is especially meaningful for our city, which has a significant number of graphic and industrial design students, practitioners, and businesses. I am confident that the extraordinary automobile designs in the exhibition will be an inspiration for many.”
With a membership of more than 22,000 households and serving more than 350,000 visitors annually, the Portland Art Museum is a premier venue for education in the visual arts. For information on exhibitions and programs, call 503-226-2811 or visit portlandartmuseum.org.
The Allure of the Automobile exhibit will continue through mid-September.
Ponies wait for the Tacoma Polo Club Independence Cup
Tacoma Polo Club’s popular summer tournaments are a traditional favorite. The Club is located approximately two hours north of Portland. Tacoma Polo Club is known for its family atmosphere where fans tailgate or watch polo matches from the clubhouse deck. The game of polo has 7.5 minute periods called chukkas. Players ride a different horse in each chukka. (Photos by Andrew Towell)
Warming up before the game. Polo horses get exercised in groups. They walk trot and canter around a track to keep them in shape and build stamina.
Tacoma Polo Club Independence Cup. Blue reaches for the ball with Gray in hot pursuit. Polo is played four players on each side.
After intense play the ponies are cooled down. Polo ponies work hard in a seemingly short 7.5 minutes chukka.
Umpire Rene Skaggs holds a pick up stick and sets up a fouled shot. There are two mounted umpires and a referee on the sidelines in every chukka.
The Tacoma Polo Club has a regulation sized field, practice field and club house with deck seating for spectators. It’s located at 202 288th Avenue East, Roy, Washington, 98580.
Artist, Mary Chomenko Hinckley and her dog Mini, Nancy Frisch, and Marilyn Brett.
Featured artist JD Perkins
JD Perkin was the featured artist at the First Thursday event on July 7th. His work on display at The Laura Russo gallery is figurative ceramic and mixed media sculpture, inspired by human and animal forms. A Portland native, J.D. Perkin has exhibited his work since 1982.
Kammie James and Cicely Sullivan
Artist Henk Pander
First Thursday attention to detail
Bridget Wieghart, Richard Brandman, and gallery owner, Martha Lee
Colleen Frederick, Anne Thompson, Dana Coffee
The Laura Russo Gallery on Northwest 21st has featured high quality art since 1986
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