Published by

A GUIDE TO THE AREA’S ARTS AND CULTURE JULY / AUGUST 2012

of the Red River Valley

• I N S I D E A R T S P U L S E •

W A T E R C O L O R W O R K S H O P C O M M U N I T Y S U P P O R T E D A R T I S L A N D P A R K S H O W T H E W O R L D O F F I B E R A R T S

BY LIBBY WALKUP

“I t is a rare and beautiful thing to have the number of young artists who embrace creation and choose to engage in it with a passion. This happens each summer at Gooseberry Park Players, Theater B (BEAT), West Fargo High

School, ACT UP Theater and Trollwood Performing Arts School,” said Rebecca Meyer-Larson of ACT UP in reference to Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo’s growing young adult theatre community.

During the last few years, educators and artists in the area have developed new summer theatre programs with very different goals and interests in order to support the area’s growing population and interest in the arts and theatre.

Adam Pankow of West Fargo’s Summer Arts Intensive said, “The talent pool in this community is unbelievably deep and through the creation of each new performance group comes increased opportunity for individuals to get involved. Frankly, it’s incredibly inspiring how our community supports the many artistic endeavors in the area.”

Fargo-Moorhead is becoming more dedicated to developing “in young artists the capacities of compassion, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking,” said Carrie Wintersteen of the objectives of the Theatre B Emerging Artist Training Program (BEAT).

BEAT will rehearse at the 8th Street Studio Cooperative and hold its production of Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman in the intimate 72 seats at Theatre B this month.

“We want the next generation to love theatre as much as we do, and we want high school students to experience all aspects of the theatrical process,” Wintersteen said.

BEAT is interested in engaging teens in producing contemporary dramatic literature and does not shy away from the provocative. Children and young adults are all too often encouraged to regurgitate ideas and information rather than think critically on their own. BEAT’s goal is to encourage just the opposite by introducing students and parents to tough subjects. This experience is designed to allow those students to continue to have open discussions with adults in the future.

Wintersteen said, “A show like Metamorphoses might not be as familiar to the audience, but there are some incredible human themes, and we think the students will be excited to convey real emotion, true relationships, and valuable lessons...”

In its second year, the Summer Arts Intensive will be performing the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A

Clockwise from top left: BEAT students discuss what excites them most after a round-table reading of Metamorphoses, Angel and Collins sing Without You from Rent, Live Support from Rent is performed, (from left to right) Sonja Swanson, Alex Bertsch, Caleb Rossow, Ellen Rossow, Nathan Jahnke, Sam Solberg (as Pippin), Michaela Pytlik, Charli Hesteness (as the Leading Player), Nate Gilbraith, Morgan Senger, Danea Ho! art, Brianna Anderson, and Izzy Dahl., students form living sculpture with parents and sta! of BEAT, and I’m Angel is sung during Rent.

Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo summer theatre has aPhoto by Robby Njos

Photo by Robby Njos

Photo submitted by Theatre B

Photo by Jessica Ge! re Pankow

Photo submitted by Theatre B Photo by Robby Njos

Chorus Line in early August. The mission of this West Fargo High School program “is to further develop the personal and artistic talents of emerging young artists as they gain a comprehensive understanding of theatre production and performance as led by local arts educators and professionals committed to quality, individualized training in a positive and supportive educational environment,” Pankow said. The program is an extension of West Fargo School’s yearly theatre program, however the summer program isn’t dedicated to a district.

This summer’s production consists of 40 cast, crew and orchestra members who come from all public and private school districts in the area. The program is open to students ages 15 to 20. Rehearsal runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday from July 9 to Aug. 5. This production schedule is short and intense, but it “mimics more of a real-world production experience where actors, technicians and orchestra members often fi nd themselves on this more concentrated schedule,” Pankow said. This develops students’ understanding of what working in theatre might be like post high school or college.

ACT UP will be performing the production Spring Awakening, which deals with sexual oppression, late

More SUM MER THEATRE on page 6

JULY/AUGUST 20122 Cultur ePulse.or g

NEWSbriefsBeginning watercolor workshop will be held July 23-27

BY ELLEN JEAN DIEDERICH STAFF

Have you always wanted to try your hand at watercolor painting? Now is the time

to do it! Renowned painter and teacher Ellen Jean Diederich, TWSA RRWS, will guide you through the fi rst steps to your new passion. There will be fi ve days of instruction in the workshop held at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. Send an email to ellen@givinity.com or call 701-235-4241 to receive the course syllabus and supply list. Space is limited in this workshop.

TAP holds our annual meeting and celebration BY TAP STAFF

The Arts Partnership held its annual meeting of the Primary Partners and the Arts Advocate Award and Re-granting Ceremony on June 18th at Lindenwood’s Main Shelter in Fargo,

Straw Hat

Summer Theatre

Buy Tickets now! Purchase online or call the MSUM Box O!ce at ("#$) %&&-""&# M-F from noon to % p.m.

mnstate.edu/strawhat

MSU Moorhead Straw Hat Players Summer Theatre

June !" – !#, $:%& p.m.Hansen Theatre/Musical/PGDon’t miss this zany, o'beat murder mystery farce about Harry Witherspoon, an unassuming English shoe salesman forced to take the corpse of his recently murdered Atlantic City uncle on a week-long vacation to Monte Carlo. If Harry succeeds, he inherits six million dollars. If he doesn’t, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. With a tuneful score and a well-oiled plot, plus the ultimate happy ending, Lucky Sti' guarantees hilarity for one and all.

Lucky $tif f

June '# – !!, $:%& p.m.Gaede Stage/Comedy/PG-'% for languageReturn to the golden age of television, circa 1953, behind the scenes of “The Max Prince Show,” the hottest program on the air. Hilarity reigns as the harried writers frantically scramble to top each other with gags while competing for the attention of star madman Max Prince. Filled with nostalgia, classic Catskills humor, and colorful characters, Laughter on the 23rd Floor is bound to have you...well…laughing.

July '& – '%, $:%& p.m.Gaede Stage/Comedy/PGOlder men take caution! Spinster sisters Abby and Martha Brewster are devoted to charity and family. But they have taken on another project as well – befriending lonely older gentlemen and then poisoning them with arsenic-laced elderberry wine. This comic farce is one of the most popular plays in the history of American theater. You’ll die laughing!

Arsenic & Old Lace

June ( – ) & '! – '(, $:%& p.m.Gaede Stage/Musical/PGThis exuberant “musical magazine” brings back the beautiful birds and smashing sounds that made England swing in the ‘60s. Follow the dawning liberation of women with the music of Dusty Spring(eld, Petula Clark, Cilla Black, and Lulu. While these female icons enjoyed independence and major careers, ordinary English and American women were rede(ning themselves in the face of changing attitudes about gender.

July '# – !& & !* – !$, $:%& p.m.Hansen Theatre/Musical/PG Based on Shaw’s play and Pascal’s movie Pygmalion, this is the musical by which all others are measured. Hear some of the greatest songs ever written: “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?,” “With a Little Bit of Luck,” “The Rain in Spain,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “Get Me to the Church on Time” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.” A great story and songs by Loerner and Loewe – it’s no wonder everyone (not just ‘enry ‘iggins!) falls in love with Eliza Doolittle.

Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Observe/Observarby Ernesto Atkinson

Reception 6:30-9PMArtist’s Talk at 8PM

Saturday, July 7

July 5-31, 2012

!e Great Blue Elephant, 40”x40” Mix Media on Canvas

Fiesta, Watercolor on paper by Ellen Jean Diederich

ND. With over 80 people celebrating together during the potluck on a beautiful summer evening, it was a fun gathering of arts organization leaders, artists and arts enthusiasts.

Dawn Morgan of the Spirit Room and local bagpiper and teacher Dan Aird were given Arts Advocate awards made by artist Brad Bachmeier. Aird’s piping group Heather and Thistle Pipes and Drums entertained the crowd.

TAP awarded $66,000 in City Arts Partnership grants to Angels of the Muse, Fargo Park District, Fargo Theatre, FM Area Youth Symphonies, Chamber Chorale, FM Community Theatre, FM Drum & Bugle Corps., FM Opera, FM Symphony Orchestra, FM Visual Artists, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Lake Agassiz Concert Band, Lake Agassiz Girls Choir, Master Chorale, Moorhead Parks and Recreation, MSUM Performing Arts, Plains Art Museum, Prairie Public, Red River Boy Choir, Red River Watercolor Society, Spirit Room, The Learning Bank, The Rourke, Theatre B, Tin Roof Theatre, Trollwood Performing Arts School. These grants are funded by the Cities of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo.

TAP also collaborated with Sanford Health to award $3,000 to area arts organizations through the Sanford Arts Partnership grant.

Finally, for the fi rst time, TAP awarded four Individual Artist Arts Partnership Grants to Matthew Gasper of Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts, Scandinavian folk artist Jill Johnson, calligrapher Anne Kaese, and fi lmmaker Raymond Rea. Thank you to all the funders of these grants. This is such an important part of the work TAP does, and we appreciate our relationship with you!

Andrew & Miriam MaraBernie’s Wines & SpiritsBeth FortierBonnie BowmanBrian SlatorBurton & Patricia BelknapCarol L. StoudtCarol ZielinskiCaroll & Jo EngelhardtCatalyst Medical CenterCharles and Helen GrommeshCity of Fargo

City of MoorheadCity of West FargoDavis Anthony ScottDayna Del Val & Andrew MarryEric & Anna RunestadErin and Monte Koffl erFM Convention & Visitors BureauGene OkerlundGreen Market CateringInsight to Action, LLCDr. & Mrs. James McCulleyKate Preisler

Lisa TateMark and Betsy VinzMartha Keeler-Olsen MicrosoftNDSU Women’s ClubNem SchlechtOtter Tail CorporationRandi MartinRoger MinchSam & Coralie WaiSanford HealthSusan SpinglerVirginia DambachWest Acres Development, LLPWest Acres Merchant AssociationWilliam and Anna Jane

Schlossman Fund

TAP’s Advocate Partners 2012

Grant funding provided by:

JULY/AUGUST 2012 3Cultur ePulse.or g

Dayna Del Val

Executive Director, The Arts Partnership

PublisherThe Arts Par tnership

Executive Director and Managing EditorDayna Del Val

Co-managing EditorKris Kerzman

Publications CommitteeEric DaeuberLisa FarnhamPam GibbKris KerzmanErin Koffl erSue Spingler

Design and LayoutShawn Olson

Co-FoundersJohn GouldSteve Revland

Contact us1 1 0 4 2nd Ave. S., Suite 3 1 5Fargo, N .D. 5 8 1 0 37 0 1 -2 3 7 -6 1 3 3artspulse@theartspartnership.net

This publication was made possible by the cities of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo through their allocations for ar ts & culture and members of The Arts Par tnership.

A r tsPulse is published six times a year by The Arts Partnership. All rights reserved by A r tsPulse. Reproductions of any kind without written permission are prohibited. The publisher and editor assume no responsibility for unsolicited material, manuscripts or photographs. All materials are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but published without responsibility for errors or omissions.

A r t s Pulse accepts advertisements from organizations believed to be of good reputation, but cannot guarantee the authenticity or quality of objects, events, or services advertised. Opinions and / or ideas expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Letters to the editor should include the author’s name, address and phone number. All let ters are subject to editing. Letters can be submit ted to ar tspulse@ theartspartnership.net

Foundation and Institutional Support• Cities of Fargo, Moorhead

and West Fargo• North Dakota Council on the Ar ts• Carol L. Stoudt Donor Advised

Fund (II) of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation

For calendar listings visit culturepulse.org and for The Arts Par tnership information visit theartsparnership.net.

A guide to Fargo-Moorhead area arts and culture

I love summer — not much of a revelation since most of us do. I love to bike to work, walk late in the evening with my husband

and dog, and enjoy all the outdoor artistic and cultural events that take place around the community and beyond.

From Corks & Canvas downtown to Trollwood to an artistically arranged plate of food on the rooftop of the HoDo, there’s a lot to do and see outside to stimulate our senses and delight our artistic spirits.

I heard someone say recently, “You know, not EVERYONE has a lake place; some of us are here every single weekend of the summer!” That’s true for my family and many of our friends. What do you do in the summer to feed your artistic self? Do you anticipate going to the craft and art fairs that pop up throughout the region? Do you have season tickets to the Straw Hat Players? Do you plan a downtown shopping day where you wander in and out of all the independent shops and galleries? What sets summer apart for you artistically?

The art of summer

VIEWpoint

My summer is, in some ways, just a warmer extension of the rest of the year. I work on similar kinds of activities and programs, I drink lots of iced tea during meetings for a variety of things with a variety of people, and I attend a lot of arts events. But even with the sameness of my work life, there’s a dramatic difference to the pace at which I enjoy it all.

In the winter, I might park downtown to go to a meeting and stop in quickly at ecce to see the latest exhibit; in the summer, I intentionally go downtown to linger, take in the art and experi-ence the calm. During the rest of the year, I get to the theatre right before the show opens; in the summer, I bask in the early evening light and breathe in the fresh, warm air before heading inside to watch the play, and when I leave, I stop to breathe in that same warm air in the beauty of nightfall.

I could go on and on. Summer is a time of refl ection, fun, slow-ing down and enjoyment. I hope you will take these months to really appreciate all the art and culture we have in our community, year round. Read on to fi nd out about some of it and watch for our newest addition to The Arts Partnership. We are delighted to wel-come Kris Kerzman to our organization. Kris is going to be our full-time “man about town” covering the arts and culture in every media way you can dream up and then some. Don’t know what to do? Head to our website and read about what Kris is up to. You’ll learn about fun and artistic events and people, know what’s going on, and have an opportunity to be part of the dialogue around what our community is and is going to be. We can’t wait!

Happy summer — stay cool, wear your sunscreen and get out and see or do some art!

The new ARTSpulse blog: now we’re clickingBY KRIS KERZMAN

A t this year’s White House correspondent’s dinner, President Obama congratulated Arianna Huffi ngton and her blogging

network, The Huffi ngton Post, for winning a Pulitzer Prize. Then, in true “nerd prom” fashion, he turned it into a sharp jab at the business of blogging.

“You deserved it, Arianna,” Obama said, “there’s no one else out there linking to the kinds of hard-hitting journalism that HuffPo is linking to every single day.”

Served! Oh, snap!Well, no. Not really.It used to be easy to kid around with the phenomenon of

blogging, an activity that we used to envision unfolding in dark basement apartments among fans of British science fi ction shows, C++, or Japanese cartoons. But Obama’s ribbing also illustrates a fundamental tenet of comedy: you only get made fun of like that when you’re big enough to deserve it, and to have POTUS single out HuffPo during the “nerd prom” illustrates the daunting new heights that online media has risen to. Blogs, blogzines, online magazines — whatever you want to call them — are now central to the way we get our information.

We here at The Arts Partnership are thrilled to be plunging into those exciting waters. In July, we’ll be launching the ARTSpulse blog as a digital home for our area’s arts, culture and life. We’ll be continuing the editorial mission of these crinkly pages and expanding it, offering more photography, more audio, more video, and more coverage of our Partner activities. We’ll be up-to-date

to the point of being up-to-the-minute. We’ll be amplifying the voices of our Partners, corralling their online activities into one home and giving our audiences here and elsewhere a better sense of what Fargo-Moorhead has to offer.

Further, we’ll bring you the most thought-provoking and invigorating arts and culture content from across the far reaches of the Internet. And, of course, we’ll use email and the major social media networks to look for conversation, reaction, dis-cussion, debate and participation. In short, ARTSpulse will be an online nexus for arts, culture, and life for the Fargo-Moor-head area, one that will tell our community’s story in a way no one else can.

What can you expect? How about behind-the-scenes photos from the latest Theatre B production? How about audio inter-views with our artists and performers? How about interviews with the latest band to hit town? How about Instagram projects that document our city in a fun, new way? How about weekly emails plugging you into the best events going on in Fargo-Moorhead? How about overviews of nightlife, dining and new businesses? How about stories about your friends and neighbors, the ones who make this community come to life?

That’s what we’re shooting for with the ARTSpulse blog, a richer and more expansive illustration of this vibrant community. Keep an eye on theartspartnership.net for our launch in mid-July, and be sure to fi nd us and follow us via email, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Tumblr.

We can’t wait to get clicking, and we hope you can’t either.

THE ARTS PARTNERSHIP’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brad Bachmeier, board chair

Andrew Mara, vice chairNicole Crutchfi eld,

treasurer

Erin Koffl er, secretaryCarol Schlossman, past

chairAlyson Bjornstad

Roxane Case

Beth FortierMichael OlsenEllen Shafer

Michael StrandMark Weiler

JULY/AUGUST 20124 Cultur ePulse.or g

First CommunitySupported Art event a big successBY DAYNA DEL VAL

The Arts Partnership held the fi rst of three Community Supported Art shareholder parties in May at the Rourke Gallery and Museum in Moorhead. Nearly 100 people looked at

the Jonathan Twingley exhibit on the walls, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres from Green Market and wine tastings from Bernie’s Wines and Liquors, watched a mini performance by Theatre B and waited in anticipation for their fi rst round of art.

TAP took the model of the CSA from Springboard for the Arts and adapted it to fi t our needs and talents. TAP board member Shelly Hurt-Geist volunteered to make 50 original bags to hold the art; they exceeded what we had been contemplating using for packaging. They were so incredible they became a 10th piece of art for the shareholders.

Mark and Amy Taggart admire their new monkey, Brigitta Eldred, as they learn her name and history.Inset: Jill Johnson of Nordic Culture Clubs made individual monkeys from Minnesota beeswax. They each received one Scandinavian name and one area Scandinavian town name.

Photos by Natalie Carlson

Top: Shelly Hurt-Geist made 50 packaging bags from scraps of material and included the CSA logo on the back. Left: Emily Williams-Wheeler created individually colored cabbage prints.

There was surprise and delight at the pieces by artists Emily Williams-Wheeler, Jill Johnson of Nordic Culture Clubs, and Theatre B as people opened their bags. I

received an e-mail from a shareholder later in the week, and it best sums up the purpose of the CSA: “We loved our CSA!! I’ve got ‘Ragnar,’ my beeswax monkey, hanging in my offi ce. He makes me laugh every day. The cool print from Emily is in our family room and looks great there. The funky bag is full of all my [work] stuff. And, [my husband] and I are already looking forward to our ‘date’ for the CSA party nights and at Theatre B. Thank you. We’re so happy we bought into the CSA!”

This will be an annual event from The Arts Partnership, and we hope if you didn’t get an opportunity to purchase a share this year, you will consider buying one next year. You can fi nd more information about this program at theartspartnership.net.

Photos by Natalie Carlson

JULY/AUGUST 2012 5Cultur ePulse.or g

Friday, Saturday, and SundaySeptember 21, 22, & 23, 2012

NEW VENUE!Fargo Civic Center

207 4th Street North, Fargo ND

Registration begins July 1, 2012Schedule and entry forms at

ndquilts.comISQSC/QGND • PO Box 2662 • Fargo, ND 58108

Call for Quilt Show EntriesCash and merchandise awards

Forms due Saturday, August 18

Register for classes and lectures.More Vendors! More Quilts! More Activities!!"!"!"

"!"!"!

Trollwood alum helps prep performers for 2012 musicalRegional premiere of Legally Blonde The Musical presented by Trollwood Performing Arts School

BECKY GULSVIGBecky Gulsvig is a

Moorhead, Minn., na-tive and a graduate of Moorhead High School. She is an alumna of Trollwood Performing Arts School, where

she played leads as Peggy in 42nd Street, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and fi nally Lola in Damn Yankees in 2000.

As a performing professional, Gulsvig played Wendy in the national tour of Peter Pan, Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray on Broadway, and originated the role of Leilani for the Broadway production of Legally Blonde The Musical, as well as understud-ied the roles of Elle Woods, Selena and Mar-got. Gulsvig performed the LB song So Much Better live at the 2009 Tony Awards. This fall, Gulsvig will play the role of Stella Purdy in the new musical The Nutty Professor.

She currently lives in New Jersey, near New York City, with her husband and one-year-old daughter.

KALYN SCHNABEL—Trollwood’s “Elle Woods”

High school senior Kalyn Schnabel will bring the larger-than-life role of sorority “star” Elle Woods to the Bluestem stage

beginning July 12, when Trollwood Per-forming Arts School presents the regional premiere of the Broadway and movie sensation, Legally Blonde The Musical.

Schnabel will be a senior at Fargo North High School in the fall, where she is involved in their drama and choir programs. She has been participating in Trollwood classes and productions for seven years. Audiences may remember her in the lead-ing role of Marian the Librarian from last summer’s Trollwood musical, Meredith Willson’s Broadway classic, The Music Man.

• Trollwood Performing Arts School presents the regional premiere of Legally Blonde The Musical at 8:30 p.m., July 12-14, 18-21, 24-28 at Imagine Amphitheater, Bluestem Center of the Arts, Moorhead.

• Tickets available after June 11 at www.trollwood.org or Hornbacher’s Food Stores, or by calling the TPAS Box Offi ce at 218-477-6502. (Parent guidance suggested due to language and adult themes.)

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BY TPAS STAFF

“ This much fun shouldn’t be legal!” Sorority star Elle Woods doesn’t take “NO!” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets

out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

When this contemporary Broadway musical and movie sensation lands on the stage at Imagine Amphithe-atre, located at Bluestem Center of the Arts, home of Trollwood Performing Arts School (TPAS), audiences can expect an evening of high-energy fun. They’ll see dazzling sets and staging, glitzy (and, of course, pink!) costumes, and fast-paced choreography.

What audiences might not “see” are the weeks of rehearsals and behind-the-scenes study by Trollwood’s high school-aged performers and technicians that precede opening night. More than 50 cast, 20 orchestra, and count-less student crew members have the added preparation of working with Becky Gulsvig — Broadway performer, TPAS alumna and “Elle” herself!

Gulsvig, who performed as a Legally Blonde cast ensemble member and Elle’s understudy for the show’s run on Broadway, also portrayed Elle for the national tour of Legally Blonde The Musical. When asked what she hopes to give the Trollwood students, Gulsvig said, “I wouldn’t be where I am without my experiences at Troll-wood, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned since then with this next generation of artists.”

While teaching during June as part of TPAS’s new Conservatory program, Gulsvig joined stage director Mi-chael Walling and the artistic team to work with Trollwood’s Legally Blonde cast. She is providing students with the added experience of training with a Broadway-caliber arts professional, and someone who helped establish the persona and national phenomenon of Legally Blonde’s Elle.

Gulsvig shares her breadth of experience with this specifi c show to help the students to bump their character study and understanding of the show’s dynamics up to another level. In an interview done while on tour for Legally Blonde The Musical, Gulsvig shared this about the show’s message, “Elle starts out as not the deepest person, but she grows through the whole show. You can really get onboard with this show and root for [Elle]. She realizes she has a mind and can use it. It’s exciting to see a character come full circle and reach her goals.”

What a great lesson for each of us to implement in our own lives. Come see Elle’s funny, often-times surprising, and heartfelt journey of self-discovery during Trollwood’s production of Legally Blonde The Musical.

JULY/AUGUST 20126 Cultur ePulse.or g

One Dream, A Viking Ship, Many Stories

H e m k m o s t S a g a s :

July 21 - D ec. 30

Historical & Cultural Society of Clay CountyHjemkomst Center202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MNwww.hcscconline.org

The Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants Program has been made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.

T h e H j e m k o m s t S a g a s :

Stimulate your senses at the

Sunfl ower sculptures made by Alex Zaves are displayed.Photo by Fargo Park District Sta!

BY MEGAN OLSON

I t’s that time of year again — when we

celebrate the talents of artisans and craftsmen at the 36th annual Island Park Show, a festival of original crafts and fi ne arts. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That is true of the Island Park Show in many ways.

The event is held at Island Park which is located in Fargo’s most historic and beautiful park. The site provides a festival setting with fl ower beds, large

playground and magnifi cent trees that shade the entire park. The two-day event will be held Aug. 25-26 and will have more than 160 vendors from 10 states to show off their talents.

Each artist has a unique story to tell about their products and their business. They specialize in products such as handmade clothing, woodwork, jewelry, furniture, painting, photography, pottery and more.

Returning artist Josh Boock of Squeaky Wheel Pottery exhibits hand-thrown stoneware pottery. These free-formed pots include upcycled and recycled materials that undergo the Cone 10 Reduction process to create the most interesting glaze effects on functional pottery, face jugs and mixed media pendants.

Thomas Huus Face Painting goes a step further than the regular smiley face on the cheek. His face and body art methods transform human faces to those of lions, butterfl ies and Spiderman. Alex Zaves displays hand-worked copper and brass garden sculptures that incorporate natural patinas in ornamental and kinetic designs that are hand cut, welded and painted sunfl owers and water fountains. Kathleen Wither, Kaity Clothes, includes hand-dyed children’s clothing with original designs done by her daughter in grade school.

Along with the hand-crafted items for sale, there are melodies fl oating from a stage featuring live entertainment throughout the day. Tucker’d Out entertains with its acoustic blue grass sounds. Eldon Johnson plays guitar and sings toe-tapping country tunes. Families dance with costumed pals to original music with Penny & Pals. Moody River Band provides lively classic rock to keep the party going.

The culinary arts are also represented by vendors with some of your favorite fair foods. There are hand-cut French fries, grill-fi red hamburgers, homemade salsa, cheese curds and ice cream shakes. It offers a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.

These treasures are a treat for all the senses and bring a unique experience to Island Park that you won’t want to miss. Samantha Larson-Frobig, program coordinator at the Fargo Park District, said, “Island Park Show offers something for everyone. Original arts and crafts, delicious food, stage shows or just enjoying the people watching in the park. It is a great way for families to spend time together and have options that will make everyone happy.”

Island Park is located at 302 7 St. S., Fargo. The event is hosted by the Fargo Park District and sponsored in part by Pepsi, Zerr Berg Architects, Bremer Bank and Amvets Post #7. For more information and the schedule of events, go to fargoparks.com.

ISLAND PARK SHOW

this month and early August at The Stage at Island Park. Then, the group will head to Edinburgh, Scotland, to perform it at the International Fringe Festival.

Meyer-Larson said, “ACT UP immerses young artists in the creative process while using the arts for advocacy and social change.” ACT UP’s goal is to put on socially conscious productions to “inspire, nurture, challenge, amaze, educate and empower artists and audiences, in order to nurture a more conscious and compassionate community,” she said.

They’ve produced Rent and Jason Robert Brown’s 13 to adhere to this goal. Meyer-Larson said, “Through the production of contemporary, issues-based musical theater, we will train and support the next generation of theatre artists and celebrate the essential power of musical theatre to illuminate our common humanity.”

The company partners with social service agencies to help educate the students and audience about the issues that arise in their productions. “The willingness of so many groups to use arts to advocate for social change fuels our work and gives weight and honesty to our productions,” Meyer-Larson said.

With the growing population of the Fargo-Moorhead community, local educators and performers are excited to build individual programs to support the community’s youth theatre.

Meyer-Larson believes the FM area is a great place to raise a young artist. “Fargo-Moorhead is a well-educated community, and well-educated communities support the arts,” she said.

Young folks of Fargo-Moorhead are offered the opportunity to apply to and learn aspects of theatre and literature in a variety of settings. Pankow said these programs are “100% about young artists seeking a creative opportunity to build their confi dence and talents.”

The growing summer theatre programs in the Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo area support students to make their way into the theatre world and other life goals, both locally and around the world, with confi dence and knowledge.

SUM MER THEATRE: Cont inued from page 1

JULY/AUGUST 2012 7Cultur ePulse.or g

JULY/AUGUST 20128 Cultur ePulse.or g

Acappella Xpress, Inc.Andrea BaumgardnerAngels of the MuseArbor PhotographicArt ConnectionBachmeier PotteryBluestem Center for the Arts*Camria Ballet Academy*Carmen Bruhn*Carrie Lee Wendt* Concordia CollegeDensity Over Duration ProductionsDowntown Community Partnershipecce art + yogaEric A. JohnsonErika Lorentzsen*Fargo Park District

Fargo TheatreFine Arts ClubF-M Area Music ClubF-M Area Youth SymphoniesF-M BalletF-M Chamber ChoraleF-M Drum & Bugle Corps.F-M Master Chorale, Inc.F-M OperaF-M Symphony OrchestraF-M Visual ArtistsFM Golden Notes New Horizons BandFriends of the Fargo Public LibraryGallery 4, Ltd.Givinity PressGooseberry Park PlayersGreen Purse Group

Harwood Prairie PlayhouseHistorical & Cultural Society

of Clay CountyHotel DonaldsonJenna Holt Rheault*Kathryn LutherMinnesota Public RadioLake Agassiz Concert BandLake Agassiz Girls ChoirLearning BankLepire Academy of

Theatre ExplorationMichael J. StrandMoorhead Area Public SchoolsMoorhead Parks & RecreationMSUM College of Arts & HumanitiesMusic Theatre F-M

New Rivers PressNordic Arts AllianceNordic Culture ClubsNorth Dakota State UniversityNorthern Plains Botanic Garden SocietyPenny & Pals/Kid CorePlains Art MuseumPrairie Public BroadcastingQuilters’ Guild of NDRed Raven Espresso Parlor*Red River Boy ChoirRed River Dance &

Performing CompanyRed River Watercolor SocietyRourke Art Gallery & MuseumShanley High School*Sherbanoo Aziz

SoMA Fargo*Spirit RoomStudio eSusie Ekberg RisherTangerine LifeThe Listening RoomThe Stage at Island ParkTheatre BTin Roof Theatre CompanyTrollwood Performing Arts SchoolWest Fargo Park District*West Fargo Public SchoolsWilli Nilli*Denotes new Partner since January 1,

2012

TAP’s Primary Partners 2012

The Arts Partnership directly supports the organizations and programming that you have been reading about in this issue of ARTSpulse through re-granting. You can help support all the arts in the metro area by becoming an Arts Advocate Partner at any level. Join us today!

Name_______________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

Telephone _______________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________

! $10 ! $25 ! $50 ! Other $______________

Please mail to: The Arts Partnership

1104 2nd Ave. S., Suite 315, Fargo, ND 58103701.237.6133

or go online to donate at TheArtsPartnership.netadmin@theartspartnership.net

cultivating the arts in our community

BY DAWN MORGAN

A rtist Ernesto Atkinson will open an exhibit at the Spirit Room titled Observe/Observar. The exhibit

runs from July 5-31 with a reception on Saturday, July 7 from 6:30-9 p.m. Atkinson will give a gallery talk at 8 p.m. The public is invited.

Observe/Observar is mixed media; oil and acrylic. Atkinson likes of the idea of “mixed” because he ap-preciates the mixing of people in societies. He asks that we not dismiss people by labeling them by skin color or clothing but instead “observe” and learn about them in a more open and accepting way. Atkinson asks us to observe shared similarities and put differences and confl icts aside.

The exhibit is a going away party for Atkinson who has been accepted by the Chi-cago Art Institute as a graduate student in painting. Kim Bromley, his painting teacher at NDSU, describes Atkinson as always joyful, articulate and willing to try new things. Atkinson worked on several series of paintings such as watercolors of street scenes from Guatemala and a playful series on Africa following a trip there with his father Patrick. Bromley described Atkinson’s admittance to the Chicago Art Institute as “outstanding and

wonderful” and predicted “success in whatever direction that he takes.”Atkinson graduated in 2007 from the Art Department at NDSU after which he returned

to work in Guatemala doing social work for his father’s organization. He is the adopted son of Patrick Atkinson who formed the God’s Child project to work with exploited chil-dren made homeless by the civil war.

Atkinson left a violent home in the fourth grade living on the streets and in parks. He joined a gang and was thrown out. He had been told by his mother to stay away from Patrick Atkinson because the gringo made Guatemalan children into soap, but Ernesto took the leap. He found that if the children stayed a month with Patrick, they were given new shoes and schooling. Patrick has raised more than 25,000 children in academically focused environments and adopted eight girls and nine boys.

Ernesto and Patrick published a book last year titled A Message for my Child for which Patrick wrote the text and Ernesto created illustrations. The book was featured on Fox News on May 15. It sold 2,000 copies in the fi rst month of its publication. Copies of the book will be available at the Spirit Room throughout the month of July with a book sign-ing at the reception on July 7.

Ernesto Atkinson expects his experiences at the Chicago Art Institute will lead him to a new career in which he can help others as an art therapist and social activist. He would like to create his own nonprofi t organization to help people see one another in a gentle way, fi nding commonalities and ways to work together to create a peaceful world.

Exhibit Observe / Observar opens July 5 at the Spirit Room

Ernesto Atkinson is a 2007 graduate of NDSU.

Photo by Will Buchanan

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August 2, 3 & 4 @ 7:30pm August 5 @ 2:30pmTickets available July 23rd at 701-499-1834 or www.WestFargoTheatre.com

Performed at West Fargo High School | 801 9th Street East

Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael BennettBook by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante | Music by Marvin Hamlisch

SUMMER ARTS INTENSIVE 2012 A WEST FARGO SCHOOLS PRODUCTIONA WEST FAFF RGO SCHOOLS RODUC PR TION

Rated PG-13 for Mature Themes and Language

BY TAMMY FOGLE

One thing about the fi ber arts: there are many different techniques used, but all are hands-on. “I think that’s a large part of the appeal,” noted Kim Baird, artistic director

of Fargo’s Fiber Arts Festival. “The younger generation spends so much time in virtual reality land on their high-tech devices. Presented with the opportunity to create something physical, they are fascinated.”

The festival certainly provides such opportunities. The Fiber Arts Festival will be held at Rheault Farm, 2902 25th St. S., Fargo on Aug. 11-12. The hours are Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Visitors to this free event will be invited to try braiding, felting, knitting, weaving, dyeing and stitching, among other methods of making or decorating fabric.

Those who prefer to simply look will have plenty to see. Sheep will be shorn, yarn will be spun, rugs will be hooked. At the People’s Choice Exhibit, visitors can vote for their favorite entry. New this year, North Dakota’s Make it with Wool contest will take place at the festival on Saturday, with a runway fashion show of garments modeled by their makers.

Vendors from several states will be on hand to supply the raw materials, tools and books needed for creating your own fi ber art. Some artists will sell their work, such as Teresa Perleberg of Bear Creek Ranch near Ft. Ransom. She raises Romney sheep and creates needle-felted sculptures from their wool. Caryl Tamte, Britt, Minn., will demonstrate wheat weaving and sell the fi nished products. She will teach a three-hour beginning wheat weaving class, grain supplied.

Authors of any fi ber-related books, fi ction or non-fi ction, are invited to have a table at the book signing afternoon, at no charge. A Fiber Frenzy rummage sale on Sunday is designed to help veteran crafters clear out the “trash” they no longer need, which could become just the “treasure” you’ve been looking for. Concessions will be available.

This event is sponsored in part by the Fargo Park District, Pepsi, Sunmart and the Quilters’ Guild of North Dakota. For more information on the festival, how to register for a class or enter an exhibit contact the Fargo Park District at 701-499-7788 or go to fi berartsfest.com.

Explore

Top: A horse by Teresa Perleberg is displayed at the 2010 Fiber Arts Festival. Bottom: A heritage lacemaker makes bobbin lace.

Photo by Russ Hanson

Photo by John Baird

fi ber artsthe world of

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Trollwood launches new intensive study program for summerBY TPAS STAFF

What do you “cook up” when you’ve got time-starved students looking for upper-level arts training? The recipe for success uses ingredients like a shortened time

frame, excellent and experienced instructors with a passion, and a curriculum jam-packed with learning. In the memorable words of chef Emeril Legasse — “BAM!” Trollwood

Conservatory is on the menu for June 2012 summer programs at Trollwood Performing Arts School, located at Bluestem Center for the Arts in Moorhead.

This new TPAS program is led by working arts professionals, some of whom are TPAS alumni, alongside post-secondary educators, in a format designed for advanced level stu-dents, ages 16–20. For 2012, three study track intensives were offered during June.

Karin RuddKarin Rudd led the Conservatory Dance Intensive track. Rudd is an international dancer

and the executive and artistic director of Red River Dance & Performing Company, a local nonprofi t dance organization. This TPAS alumna paired up with dancer, choreographer and assistant professor of Dance at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Michael Estan-ich, who is also the Dance Department Chair for Trollwood.

They were joined by Elizabeth Lenz, dancer, choreographer and dance theatre producer and assistant professor of Dance at University of Southern Mississippi. The team taught dance style technique, compositional approaches, improvisation techniques, and repertory rehearsal.

Rudd recently shared some of her Trollwood history, “I was a student in the 1980s and a teacher in the ’90s at Trollwood’s former location [in north Fargo]. I am excited to help bring some of that Trollwood magic to the new location.”

When asked what she learned while at Trollwood, she said, “Trollwood faculty opened my eyes to the next step in dance. Trollwood guided me to what I needed to do to not only dance professionally, but to what other options were out there as a dancer. Being at Trollwood as a student and past teacher helped me grow as a performer and gave me the tools to stay in dance beyond performing. I saw the many aspects of an arts organization that helps me now as a director of a nonprofi t dance studio.”

Becky GulsvigBroadway actress and TPAS alumna Becky Gulsvig teamed up with regional singer and

actress Dr. Katherine Noone, music theatre specialist with North Dakota State University to present audition techniques, song interpretation, scene study, performance lab, and more as part of the Conservatory’s Musical Theatre Intensive track.

Gulsvig said, “I wouldn’t be where I am without my experiences at Trollwood, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned since then with the next generation of artists.”

Thomas Vincent KellyLos Angeles-based television and stage actor Thomas Vincent Kelly explored acting styles

for theatre, television and fi lm with Conservatory students during the last half of June. Kelly’s television acting credits include guest appearances and recurring roles on Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Law & Order–LA, Saving Grace, The Closer, 24, and Without a Trace.

Kelly was joined by Dr. Jennifer Thomas, assistant professor and stage director with the Department of Communication Studies and Theatre Arts at Concordia College, Moorhead. Together they tackled scene work and improvisation techniques with Trollwood’s upper level acting students.

Trollwood is cookin’ up something good with this newly launched advanced study program. Look for more tracks to be offered in the roster of Trollwood Performing Arts School programs for the 2013 season.

Karin Rudd Becky Gulsvig Thomas Vincent Kelly

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“This much fun shouldn’t be legal!”

Music and Lyrics by Book by LAURENCE O’KEEFE and NELL BENJAMIN HEATHER HACHBased on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture

Directed by MICHAEL WALLING

Proudly presented by

JULY 12-14, 18-21, 24-288:30 PM JULY 20

IMAGINE AMPHITHEATER Bluestem Center for the Arts, Moorhead

TICKETS www.trollwood.org

RESERVATIONS and GROUP SALES 218.477.6502

GENERAL ADMISSION and at the gate

A program of Fargo Public Schools

TICKETS

Parental guidance suggested.