Culture

Fejl: Facebook Syndication (Ohio University Art Galleries's Facebook Wall)

Sat, 25 May 2013 03:30:06 +0200

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Renowned Pianist To Perform At ARTS/West (WOUB Music)

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:31:22 +0200

Athens, Ohio

Chelsea Peterson

Photo Credit:

Jane Feldman Photography

Mark Kelso

Marietta, Ohio, native Mark Kelso will offer a concert of uplifting piano music and songs on Wednesday, May 29 at Arts/West in Athens.

Kelso is founder and CEO of Muddy Angel Music, a music education and production company and recording studio specializing in transformational music.

His music catalog of over 20 CDs is played throughout the world in hospitals, hospices and healing services.

Kelso's concerts often feature songs that are composed on the spot for members of the audience, which he records and emails to those individuals if they so choose.

He has performed in many North American venues, including Madison Square Garden, Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch and the Detroit Symphony Hall, while his music has been praised by actor Ben Kingsley, pianists Dave Brubeck and George Winston, and physicians Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Patch Adams.

Kelso has also appeared with Christopher Reeve, Deepak Chopra, Michael Jackson and a host of other presenters.

After serving as the music director at the Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, Mass., in the '80s and '90s, he became the music director at Richmond Congregational Church in Richmond, Mass., where he lives with his wife, Arti, and their two sons.

Kelso’s CD's will be on sale at the concert. Admission is by donation/free will offering.

07 Raghupati Raghava 1.mp3

Dairy Barn Opens Quilt National '13 (WOUB Arts)

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:46:17 +0200

Athens, Ohio

Sara Brumfield - Athens Messenger staff reporter

Photo Credit:

Dairy Barn Arts Center

John Lefelhocz, "Mona in the Era of Social Butterflies"

Quilt National, the biennial juried exhibition of contemporary quilts, returns to the Dairy Barn Arts Center for the 18th time beginning this weekend.

The exhibition — featuring never before seen works from fiber artist representing 27 states and seven foreign countries — opens to the public on Saturday and will run through Sept. 2.

Jurors Linda Colsh of Everberg, Belgium; Judith Content of Palo Alto, Calif.; and Penny McMorris of Bowling Green studied images of over 850 works by artists around the world and narrowed down the selections to 85 artists.

Jane Forrest Redfern said the furthest submission is from Australia. An opening reception for the show will be held Friday evening in which 69 of the artists will be present. Forrest Redfern said the winners of the competitive exhibition will be announced during the opening.

“We’re really excited about all the quilters being here,” she said.

Forrest Redfern said that more than 6,000 visitors are expected from all over the world to see Quilt National ’13.

The Dairy Barn Arts Center was originally a barn used by the Athens Lunatic Asylum. The barn was slated for demolition in 1978, but a group of locals convinced the state to save the structure and it was repurposed as an art gallery. Quilt National was the very first exhibit showcased at the arts center.

The concept for Quilt National came from Nancy Crow. While living in Athens in the mid 1970s, Crow said she began doing contemporary quilting. She said she was approached by Harriet Anderson — one of the people who saved the Dairy Barn from demolition — about teaching a contemporary quilting class.

Crow said she told Anderson that what contemporary quilters really needed was a venue to showcase their work, and so the exhibition was born. Although the show is called Quilt National, Crow said the exhibit has always featured works from international artists.

According to Crow, contemporary quilt making emerged in the 1970s as women with fine arts degrees taught themselves the art form.

“This wasn’t something that was passed down through generations,” she said.

Crow said the group had no money for the first Quilt National, but was able to find just enough funding to create a poster to put a call out for submissions. She recalled that the quilts at the first exhibit were hung above milking stands in the barn and there were flies everywhere.

Crow still teaches contemporary quilting plus many other forms of art at her 100-acre farm north of Lancaster. For information about Crow’s work, visit www.nancycrow.com.

Quilt National ’13 can be seen at the Dairy Barn Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12-5 p.m. General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Forrest Redfern said that the Dairy Barn will also be offering free admission to the exhibit during Community Thursdays, which begin June 20. Tours of the exhibit will be scheduled throughout the summer.

The Dairy Barn will also be open on Memorial Day from 12-5 p.m.

For information about the exhibit, visit www.dairybarn.org, www.facebook.com/dairybarnartscenter or call 592-4981. The Dairy Barn Arts Center is located at 8000 Dairy Lane in Athens.

ARTSWest: Look! We have a new brochure rack! Thanks Chiki! http://t.co/5NTlyupsUK (ARTSWest tweets)

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:28:39 +0200

ARTSWest: Look! We have a new brochure rack! Thanks Chiki! http://t.co/5NTlyupsUK

At Least That's What He Said: A Talk With Wilco's Jeff Tweedy (WOUB Music)

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:46:22 +0200

Chicago, Ill.

Emily Votaw

Photo Credit:

provided

Jeff Tweedy

Jeff Tweedy is a busy man.

Besides being an in-demand record producer and a music festival organizer, the indefatigable 45 year-old is hitting the road this summer with his critically acclaimed band Wilco, playing a number of outdoor fests, including the Nelsonville Music Festival on June 1.

WOUB's Emily Votaw had the opportunity to ask Tweedy about his summer plans, his recent studio work and how fans can request a song to be played at an upcoming show.

WOUB: I'd like to start by asking you about the Nelsonville Music Festival, since Wilco is playing there next week. How are you preparing?

Jeff Tweedy: (laughs) Aw, the same way we always do. Actually, we really don’t prepare a lot. Ever. We’ve just played together enough that it usually comes together pretty quick. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a new festival for us and I’ve never been there before. It’s certainly a great lineup.

WOUB: I see you’re playing right after Mavis Staples, who you've worked with in the past.

JT: It’s great, I look forward to seeing her again. Hopefully there will be some interaction, maybe we’ll get up and play together.

WOUB: Since Wilco's last album, you've kept yourself busy by producing other acts' albums, including Mavis Staples. Who else have you been working with?

JT: Well, I produced Mavis' newest record, which is coming out next month, and I produced a record for the band Low that came out last month. I’ve also been working with Sarah Lee Guthrie and her husband, Johnny Irion. They have an album that they recorded at our studio. So, yeah, it’s something I really enjoy doing.

WOUB: I know Wilco plays a lot of requests, and there is even a "request a song feature" on your website. How do you work those into your live performances?

JT: We’ve been doing that for a pretty long time. It’s just a matter of getting to the place we are playing, taking a look at the list of suggestions from the requests list and try and weigh it against it whatever we played the last time we were in the area. We try to make it a different show, as much as possible. But, yeah, anybody who wants to hear anything specific should go to our website and let us know.

WOUB: After the Nelsonville Music Festival, you'll be playing other fests this summer, including Bonnaroo in June and your own Solid Sound Festival in July. What's it like, setting up an entire arts and music festival?

JT: Oh, it’s a lot of work. Solid Sound is always an "all hands on deck" sort of thing. You know, doing lots of work, getting the different installations together, and it’s a lot of work for our management. It’s all nuts-and-bolts sort of things, like getting hotel rooms for everybody. It’s a full-on operation, you know. But it’s worth it. It’s such a great time.

WOUB: Any performances you are looking forward to seeing in particular at Solid Sound?

JT: Well, that’s one of the fun parts of setting up your own festival--there isn’t anybody on the bill I don’t want to see. The other two times we’ve done the festival, I’ve been able to check out a little bit of every act. So that’s really what I'm looking forward to again.

WOUB: What can you tell me about the upcoming "Americanarama" tour, which starts next month and continues through August?

JT: Americanarama? Well it’s a crazy tour with Bob Dylan and My Morning Jacket and--I’m not sure--but Richard Thompson is playing some dates, and so is Bob Weir. I think Beck is on one date, and it’s something we’re really exicted about. It’s just going to be...well, I’m not even sure what it’s going to be yet. We’ll definitely play a set, and hopefully there will some interaction will happen between acts...some bonus music.

WOUB: Has the band been doing any recording?

JT: I’ve been getting material together and doing demos and slowly, but surely, making plans for future records, but nothing concrete. Nothing much to report, other than thinking about making a new record.

WOUB: I think of each one of Wilco’s albums as being pretty distinct. How, in your mind, has the band's sound changed over the course of your career?

JT: Oh, that’s pretty big question. I don’t think we’ve looked at it too much, I don’t think we’ve ever tried to do anything but keep our heads down and make records that we like. I guess over the years that has meant exploring different territories and incorporating different things into the band to stay interested, and that’s what I foresee us continuing to do. But I don’t know how it’s changed, really. To me, the process isn’t that different than in the beginning. It’s just like we use the process we use and the ideas that we use get different results. You know, different records out of those ideas.

WOUB: Wilco has been recording and touring since the mid-'90s. Do you feel like your audience at the live shows has changed at over the years?

JT: It’s really hard to generalize an audience from my perspective. We certainly have some older fans who have grown with the band over the years and it seems like it’s actually pretty diverse age-wise at this point. I don’t really spend much time dwelling on what the demographics are, I’m just happy there are people out there listening.

Wilco will perform at the 2013 Nelsonville Music Festival on Saturday, June 1 at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.nelsonvillefest.org.

ARTS/West Presents: Mark Kelso! (ARTS/West)

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:12:00 +0200

Wednesday, the 29th of May at ARTS/West, 5pm-8pm: ARTS/West is welcoming you all to come for a night of amazing piano music both planned and improvised with pianist Mark Kelso. Mark's music has drawn praise from Sir Ben Kingsley, Dave Brubeck, George Winston, and many more. His albums have been used extensively in healing centers around the world.

Admission is FREE, but there is a suggested donation of $15 for the performance.

Here's a look at some of Mark's amazing skills at Scorpion Bowl III.

For a look at some more of Mark's music, try his Discography.

Hope to see you there next week!

There's Music In Them Thar Hills: Duck Creek Log Jam Returns This Weekend (WOUB Music)

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:31:04 +0200

Logan, Ohio

Sarah Craig

Photo Credit:

facebook.com/DuckCreekLogJam

This weekend marks the second year for The Duck Creek Log Jam, two days and nights of music and camping near Lake Logan State Park.

According to festival creator Kyle Wilson, The Duck Creek Log Jam satisfies the need for a low-key event where people can camp and relax in a family-friendly environment.

"We simply could not find a small music festival in a natural setting that didn't include the shady side of the festival scene, or late night djs and a bunch of electronic music," explained Wilson. "We just wanted a simple festival, without all the overproduction, where people can camp out and relax."

Twenty bands will perform this year, including The Spikedrivers, Sol Driven Train, Lewis Brothers, The Tillers, Hocking River String Band, Spirit Family Reunion and The Shivering Timbers.

Mainly geared toward the bluegrass, folk and country audience, Wilson said he looked for music that was made to be played in a setting like the Hocking Hills, but will listen to anyone who wants to play at future festivals.

"We seek out bands that fit our style, but musicians are welcome to email us at any time at duckcreekoutdoors@gmail.com. And we do take the time to check them out."

Located directly adjacent to Lake Logan State Park, Duck Creek is nearly 100 acres of beautiful landscape in the Hocking Hills. The surroundings have a secluded feel, and although Wilson is eager for people to check out the fest, he plans to keep things intimate.

"Last year was our first year, but we still had about 400 people in attendance," he said. "We hope to grow a little this year, but this is a small-by-design event so we don't want to grow too much."

Tickets and information are available at www.duckcreeklogjam.com.

ARTSWest: A week from today, Wednesday, May 29th, ARTS/West presents: Mark Kelso! Come for an evening of great piano music! http://t.co/9F1D8HKzbq (ARTSWest tweets)

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:36 +0200

ARTSWest: A week from today, Wednesday, May 29th, ARTS/West presents: Mark Kelso! Come for an evening of great piano music! http://t.co/9F1D8HKzbq

Dark Star Jubilee To Take Over Legend Valley This Weekend (WOUB Music)

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:46:23 +0200

Thornville, Ohio

Sara Brumfield - Athens Messenger staff reporter

The second annual Dark Star Jubilee will have Grateful Dead fans reveling in the three-day music festival filled with three performances by Dark Star Orchestra and bands featuring original members of the Grateful Dead.

Not a Dead fan? Well, there’s plenty of variety of musical talent on the bill for this weekend’s gathering at Legend Valley in Thornville.

The Jubilee will kick off on Friday and the event is a "sister" festival to the much larger All Good Music Festival held at Legend Valley in July.

According to Dave Weissman, spokesman for the two festivals, Dark Star Jubilee held its inaugural event during Labor Day weekend last year. He said the event’s organizers decided to move this year’s festival to the beginning of the summer music festival season.

This year’s lineup includes three performances by Dark Star Orchestra. The band has performed over 2,200 shows of recreated historic Grateful Dead sets, as well as original set lists of Dead songs.

Also on the bill is the Mickey Hart Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, The Wailers, The New Orleans Suspects (featuring Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat), Melvin Seals & JGB, The Werks, Greensky Bluegrass, Donna Jean Godchaux Band featuring Jeff Mattson, The Pimps of Joytime, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and many more.

"It’s a pretty dynamic lineup," Weissman said.

According to Weissman, tickets for Dark Star Jubilee will be available for purchase at the gate.

Legend Valley is located in Thornville in Perry County. For information about Dark Star Jubilee, visit www.darkstarjubilee.com.

Acclaimed pianist to play show in Athens (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

Marietta native Mark Kelso will offer a concert of uplifting piano music and songs 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at ARTS/West in Athens.

Kent folk-rock band has lofty ambitions (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

In Jewish/Christian tradition, the word Bethesda refers to a pool of healing that served as the desired destination for people of the Holy Land traveling for weeks or months with their crippled loved ones in tow in hopes of experiencing the pool's healing powers.

Pay $5 to be chased by hell on wheels (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

The Appalachian Hell Betties roller-derby team will be serving up some wallops for those brave enough to run from the ladies on wheels this Saturday for their first ever "Rolling of the Bulls."

Big quilt show returns! (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

The Dairy Barn Arts Center this weekend is opening Quilt National '13, the 18^th biennial juried exhibition of innovative art quilts. During its public run May 25 through Sept. 2, visitors will see an eclectic collection of never-before-exhibited works from talented fiber artists representing 27 states and seven foreign countries.

Nelsonville Fest Show Times Announced (WOUB Music)

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:22:38 +0200

Nelsonville, Ohio

Bryan Gibson

Attendees of this year's Nelsonville Music Festival can start planning ahead: The full schedule, including show times, has been announced, although it is subject to change in the next week.

Here's the current rundown of performers, dates, times and stages (with links):

MAIN STAGE

Thursday, May 30

6 p.m. Old Light

7:30 p.m. Los Hacheros

9 p.m. Wild Belle

10:30 p.m. Gogol Bordello

Friday, May 31

12:45 p.m. J.D. Hutchison

2 p.m. Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer

3:15 p.m. Nick Tolford & Company

4:30 p.m. Los Hacheros

6 p.m. He's My Brother, She's My Sister

7:30 p.m. Lee Fields & The Expressions

9 p.m. Cat Power

11 p.m. The Coup

Saturday, June 1

12:15 p.m. The Honeycutters

1:30 p.m. Flying Clouds of South Carolina

2:45 p.m. Lucius

4 p.m. Jonathan Richman

5:30 p.m. Sharon Van Etten

7 p.m. Calexico

8:30 p.m. Mavis Staples

10 p.m. Wilco

Sunday, June 2

12 p.m. Catherine MacLellan

1:30 p.m. Flying Clouds of South Carolina

3 p.m. David Wax Museum

4:30 p.m. Tift Merritt

6 p.m. John Prine

PORCH STAGE

Thursday, May 30

6:45 p.m. Unmonumental

8:15 p.m. Hex Net

9:45 p.m. The D-Rays

11:15 p.m. The Makebelieves

Friday, May 31

9 a.m. yoga

10:45 a.m. Catherine MacLellan

12 p.m. Michael Hurley

1:15 p.m. The Hiders

2:30 p.m. Old Light

3:45 p.m. William Tyler

5:15 p.m. Wooden Indian Burial Ground

6:45 p.m. Endless Boogie

8:15 p.m. Screaming Females

10:30 p.m. Reigning Sound

Saturday, June 1

9 a.m. yoga

10:30 a.m. Olentangy John

11:30 a.m. Michael Hurley

12:45 p.m. You Black Kettle

2 p.m. Joe Pug

3:15 p.m. Wheels on Fire

4:45 p.m. Cotton Jones

6:15 p.m. The Sundresses

7:45 p.m. County Pharaohs

9:15 p.m. Wussy

11:30 p.m. Shilpa Ray

Sunday, June 2

9 a.m. yoga

11:15 a.m. Supernobody

12:45 p.m. Bright at Night

2:15 p.m. Jerry David DiCicca

3:45 p.m. Field Report

5:15 p.m. Brown Bird

NO-FI CABIN

Thursday, May 30

6:15 p.m. JJ Reed

7:45 p.m. Chris Biester

9:15 p.m. Weedghost

Friday, May 31

11:30 a.m. Leah Nairn

12:45 p.m. JJ Reed

2 p.m. Eve Searls

3:15 p.m. Todd Burge (kids' set)

4:45 p.m. Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer

6:15 p.m. Adam Remnant

7:45 p.m. Cotton Jones

Saturday, June 1

10:45 a.m. Emily Prince (kids' set)

12 p.m. Chris Biester (kids' set)

1:30 p.m. Todd Burge (kids' harmonica workshop)

2:45 p.m. Catherine MacLellan

4:15 p.m. The Honeycutters

5:45 p.m. Lucius

7:15 p.m. Jerry David DiCicca

8:30 p.m. Olentangy John

Sunday, June 2

10:45 a.m. Rattletrap Stringband

12:15 p.m. David Wax Museum

1:45 p.m. Brown Bird

3:15 p.m. Michael Hurley

WOUB Public Media will be at the Nelsonville Music Festival through the weekend. Follow us on woub.org/arts, Twitter and Facebook for photos, videos and more.

Movie Review: "The Great Gatsby" (WOUB Arts)

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:24 +0200

Chicago, Ill.

Scott Pfeiffer

Director Baz Luhrman’s new film tells the story of a rich man who grew up dirt poor, a dreamer called Gatsby, in the Roaring Twenties. These were the "crazy years," the years of jazz, flappers, dancing, youth rebellion and Art Deco.

The movie's good entertainment, but it pretty much skates along that shiny surface. It is framed by a device which has Nick Caraway compose what some consider the Great American Novel from a sanitarium, where he’s been committed for "morbid alcoholism."

As a way of illustrating that Caraway was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s stand-in, this isn’t bad; still, it feels unnecessary. Caraway is played by Tobey McGuire, whose vacancy is starting to register less as sweetness than as absence.

Luhrman is a showman and a visionary, and either you go with his vision or you do not. He wrote the Gatsby screenplay with Craig Pearce, his co-writer on manic projects like Moulin Rouge and his very rock 'n' roll version of Romeo + Juliet. Like those movies, The Great Gatsby is full of playful time-travel, especially musical.

This is creative in the way it grapples with the key idea of presenting the past as a modern world. Yet, not unlike Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, it's not as brash and bold in this as we’d perhaps hoped.

We do get a burst of Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A)" when Gatsby’s gleaming yellow Duesenberg pulls up alongside a carful of African American revelers as they careen across the Queensboro Bridge. Here Luhrman is saying that rap is the modern equivalent of jazz in the '20s: An African American music that electrified the larger culture. Mostly, though, Jay-Z’s score is tastefully blended in, perhaps rather too tastefully.

We do get a gorgeous panorama of New York when Caraway exclaims, "The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world." Problem is, all the New York scenes are CGI. My objections are the usual ones: CGI imagery is untethered, weightless, there’s no physicality. It looks like a comic book.

Even the ballyhooed orgy scene is not as debauched as one might hope, though I did dig the jazz man on the balcony blowing his axe, the camera swooping. We feel the wild, feverish heat and energy of the big city at night, back when the city was the very heart of the Jazz Age.

How about the 3D? At times it brings you into Gatsby’s opulent world. You’re among the crush of bodies shuffling down the grand entrance hall of his mansion, spilling out onto a tableaux of glitter and action and light. And it was fun to enter a secret speakeasy chockfull of misbehaving senators, where Gatsby confers with the man who threw the 1919 World Series, Meyer Wolfsheim (the renowned Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan).

What of the green light? It still hovers out over the glistening waters, sometimes flaring before our eyes. When Gatsby reaches for it, the 3D enhances the physical and spiritual distance.

From their billboard, Dr. Eckleburg's famous glasses still survey the Ashes, that desolate area in between Long Island and the city, where sultry, doomed Myrtle (Isla Fisher) still languishes in her room above the garage.

My favorite moment, though, was the introduction of Nick’s cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan). In a conversation on the way to the theater, I was reminded that, in the book, Daisy is always in white. At the Versailles-like grounds of the East Egg mansion of Daisy's husband, cruel Tom (Joel Edgerton, reminding me of a young Harvey Keitel), we are ushered into a geometric, pavilion-like chamber. Billowing all around us are curtains of flowing white. Over the top of a chaise-longue, Daisy’s bejeweled hand lolls. We go over the top and there she is. It's a vision in white.

There we also meet Jordan, charismatically played by Elizabeth Debecki. She's something of a love interest for Caraway, not that the rather sexless Maguire seems very interested in her.

The basic problem with 3D, though, is insurmountable. It works by tricking the brain, and the result is a headache.

He's still a fascinating character, Gatsby. Nobody really knows where he got the money to buy his great mansion across the bay from Daisy, hoping to lure her with the bright lights. He was a soldier in the world war (and an assassin for Kaiser Wilhelm, is the whispered rumor).

Gatsby is a man who invented his identity himself. He may be a fake, a bootlegger, but there’s something innocent about him. His love is pure. He’s a dreamer, which is to say, an American.

As Gatsby, Leonardo DiCaprio is okay. His performance slightly evokes Orson Welles, which mostly made me muse on what a great Gatsby Welles would have made.

That said, you can almost see Gatsby dreaming when DiCaprio delivers the line, preserved in the script, that sums up what the book is all about:

"You can’t repeat the past," said Caraway to Gatsby.

"Can’t repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!"

Whether you can or you can’t, it seems we try. First as farce, then as tragedy, Marx might have said. This movie isn't quite either, unfortunately, but it's good entertainment.

Born in Athens, Ohio, Scott Pfeiffer has lived in Chicago since 1993. He did a minor in film at Ohio University back in the day. These days, he knocks about Chi-town, taking in film, music and theater. Read his other reviews at The Moving World.

ARTSWest: Thanks to everyone who came out to Global Dialogue event! (ARTSWest tweets)

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:56:48 +0200

ARTSWest: Thanks to everyone who came out to Global Dialogue event!

Crossing Boundaries Extra: Hadden Sayers Band (WOUB Music)

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:14:19 +0200

Athens, Ohio

Mark Hellenberg

Ten years ago, Houston-based bluesman Hadden Sayers had built for himself a successful career in music. He recorded five albums and toured constantly.

Unfortunately, because of some disingenuous record deals and personal tragedies, Sayers became disillusioned with the business end of the music business, decided to hang up his Fender Stratrocaster and relocated to Columbus, Ohio, so his wife could pursue her career in cancer research.

Eventually, after a long hiatus, Sayers recharged, regrouped and returned to the music scene when the great singer/songwriter and fellow-Texan Ruthie Foster enlisted Sayers as the guitarist in her band.

In 2011, Sayers released Hard Dollar, which included a Sayers/Foster cowrite and a duet, "Back to the Blues," that garnered a nomination for Song of the Year at the 33rd Annual Blues Awards.

With Rolling Soul, his seventh album, Sayers continues along the blues path but with a generous infusion of R&B, roots-rock and Memphis soul, à la Al Green. He penned all the tracks on the disc, which again features Ruthie Foster on a guest duet.

Back on the road with his Ohio and West Virginia-based band, Sayers paid a visit to the WOUB studios for a short set of new tunes and a conversation with Crossing Boundaries host Mark Hellenberg.

For more information about Hadden Sayers, visit www.haddensayers.com

ARTSWest: "If you close your eyes to facts, you will learn through accidents."- African Proverb, @globaldialogues @ARTSWest http://t.co/DgCmy6cgUR (ARTSWest tweets)

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:25:59 +0200

ARTSWest: "If you close your eyes to facts, you will learn through accidents."- African Proverb, @globaldialogues @ARTSWest http://t.co/DgCmy6cgUR

Lancaster Event Celebrates Celtic Heritage (WOUB Arts)

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:09:38 +0200

Lancaster, Ohio

Tammy Drobina

Photo Credit:

facebook.com/boysofthehock

Athens County's Boys of the Hock' will perform at A Celtic Gathering on May 18

It will be an invasion of kilts and clans when A Celtic Gathering returns to the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on May 18.

"This event is for everyone," explained Cindy McLaughlin Smith, co-president of the Lancaster Celtic Committee, about the celebration of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh heritage. "If anyone wants to know more about their heraldry we will help, and we’ll have family crests and family trees. We can help people get on the right track to learn about their family history and genealogy."

Set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the AAA Building at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster, highlights include opening ceremonies at 10 a.m., the clan parade at 11 a.m. and the Grand School of Irish Dance at 11:30am.

There will be also a Celtic marketplace, travel information, and competitive Highland athletics.

"Of course we’ll have Clans represented at booths, traditional food, plus ice cream and other types of food," Smith added.

Music will be an important part of the day and include performances by the headline band Boys of the Hock from 1-3 p.m., who perform instrumental Celtic numbers.

The Highlanders bagpipe group will be there, along with harpists, drummers and fiddlers. Storytelling for all ages will be presented and many cultural demonstrations will be presented, such as Welsh cooking by members of the Welsh Society.

"The Vikings will be back, they have been very popular in the past and now with the television series, there may be even more interest," Smith said.

Vendors, many returning, will have wares like handmade Celtic soap and flags of all the Celtic nations available for purchase.

The tentative schedule has the Scottish Highland Dancers performing at 3 p.m. and the band Second Wind at 4 p.m.

The athletic events, to be held at the west-end infield of the track, will run all day. The games include kapur, weight for height, and weight for distance. Children’s Highland Games will also be offered.

The last Celtic Gathering was held in 2011 at the Moose Lodge, with the previous two events held at the fairgrounds. The committee is hoping to grow the volunteer group and encourage anyone interested in joining to visit the celebration or contact them at 740-654-4149.

Admission to A Celtic Gathering is $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and students six-17, and free for children five and under. Parking is free and the event will be held rain or shine.

A Celtic Gathering is a family-oriented event to celebrate Scottish, Welsh, and Irish heritage through cultural education, entertainment, music, food, sports, arts and historical exhibits.

"We’d like for people attending to spend as much time as they can checking out the Highland Athletics completion and the entertainment inside the AAA Building," said Smith. "It will be a fun, relaxing day."

For more information visit www.lancastercelticgathering.com.

Article republished with permission from The Fairfield Towne Crier.

Vox Populi: A Look Back At NMF 2012 (VIDEO) (WOUB Music)

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:11:34 +0200

Nelsonville, Ohio

Bryan Gibson

Photo Credit:

Joan Butcher

Alicia Cordell talks with Dave Baer

With the 2013 Nelsonville Music Festival just days away, we thought it would be fun to look back at last year's fest.

Last May, WOUB's Alicia Cordell talked with several attendees who gave their $0.02 on the music, Stuart's Opera House and what is rapidly becoming a nationally renowned festival.

For more information on the 2013 Nelsonville Music Festival, visit www.nelsonvillefest.org.

Video produced by Samuel Hemler and Joan Butcher

Eat To The Beat: Former Bagel Buggy Owner Talks About "Athens Hometown Album" (WOUB Music)

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:30:03 +0200

San Diego, Calif.

Bryan Gibson

These days, anyone can make an album. With a laptop, a few good microphones and a bit of know-how, today's musician can record an album in his or her home, then upload it to online stores, such as iTunes, Amazon or Bandcamp.

In the late 1970s, it was a different story. Recording gear, which included reel-to-reel tape decks and analog mixing desks, was expensive. No online tutorials, no ProTools software, no "plug-ins" to speed things along--just your own wits and a large supply of splicing tape.

In 1979, Louie Stevens, aka "Louie the Bagel Man," (more on that later) decided to take the plunge and set up LRS Recording Studio, Athens, Ohio's first professional recording studio, located in his garage at 107 Elmwood Place.

After six months, Stevens recruited a number of local musicians to contribute songs to the Athens Hometown Album. Although the LP has been out of print for decades, Stevens--now located in San Diego--has recently made the songs available online.

WOUB's Bryan Gibson caught up with Stevens to discuss his former studio, life in Athens during the 1970s, and the late, great Bagel Buggy.

BG: Tell me a bit about your connection with Athens. How and when did you end up here?

LS: I grew up in Euclid, Ohio, a city about 15 miles east of Cleveland. I was working towards being a music major at OU, with a focus on applied piano and music theory and composition. Part of the application process is to audition, and my audition was scheduled for Friday, May 4, 1970--the very day of the Kent State shootings. I had never been to Athens, and boy, what a shock when I arrived for my audition to see National Guardsmen with loaded rifles stationed at every parking meter! But I auditioned, was accepted and moved to Athens in September of 1970. I stayed there year 'round until June of 1984.

BG: Thousands of OU alumni know you as "Louie the Bagel Man" from your time at The Bagel Buggy. Actually, there are still a lot of folks here in Athens who remember you and miss those bagels. How did you get involved with the buggy business?

LS: I was a pizza driver at Little Caesars in the winter of 1973. I met Ross London, who was the morning prep cook. He, being from New York, started telling me about vendors in New York City and how he thought Athens would be a great place to start a vending unit, perhaps selling bagels. Ross had worked at an Athens bakery before Little Caesars and thought they would be able to make bagels. I liked him and liked the idea, so we teamed up and created The Bagel Buggy.

^{Louie Stevens at The Bagel Buggy, Halloween 1976}

We designed the buggy together and I built it, having previous carpentry and construction experience. We rolled it out to the corner of Court and Union sometime in March 1973, and it was an instant hit...lines around the corner, 10 hours a day. Ross was only in Athens for one year. He moved there to be with his girlfriend for her last year of school, then went back to Rutgers to finish his law degree. I continued on with The Bagel Buggy for seven more years until I sold it in 1980 and started my first professional recording studio, LRS Recording Studio. Side note: Ross went on to be a very successful lawyer, and then a judge. He's retired now, and we recently reconnected after 35 years!

BG: Small-town recording studios were pretty rare back then. Did you have a background in recording before you started LRS?

LS: I had been recording myself a lot since the late 1950s. Around 1978 or so, I purchased a TEAC four-track 1/2" recorder and a mixer, primarily for recording myself. Still owning and operating The Bagel Buggy at this time, I was casually talking about this new equipment with bagel customers, and this one fellow stood out during those conversations: Daryl Kunesh. He kept coming back to the Buggy and we talked a lot about my new recording equipment. Daryl was a music major and I found him to be a great guy to talk with about audio recording and related topics. Turned out he played drums in a local Athens band and needed to record a three-song demo to get more gigs. He asked me if I would record them and I agreed. He even paid me!

Daryl loved the way the tracks turned out, and I loved recording someone other than myself, so in 1979, I built Athens' first professional recording studio, called LRS Recording Studio. I purchased a lot of new equipment, including a new eight-track multitrack recorder, a mixer and some very expensive mics. Daryl became my studio drummer. In fact, all the drums and percussion on the Athens Hometown Album is him, and he played all the drums and percussion on all the 80-plus jingles I wrote and produced. Daryl and I became great friends and I was honored to be his best man at his wedding.

BG: How did the Athens Hometown Album come about?

LS: About six months after opening the studio, J.D. Jewell, along with his musician partner, Terry McCauley, began recording all his songs with me. Terry and I became good friends, and I then decided to produce the album. I chose a cross-section of Athens bands and solo talent to best-represent the music heard there at that time.

BG: I'm guessing this was a "DIY" affair from beginning to end. How did you manufacture the LPs and sell them?

LS: I pressed the album in Nashville, and if I remember correctly, both Terry and I drove there to get the LPs when they were ready. I think there were about 1200 pressed. A lot of the stores around Athens put up displays to sell the album and it sold out pretty quickly. There was a lot of press in all the papers and radio about its release. I really didn't profit much from the album, but it did accomplish my goal of getting my studio's name out there. Also, one of J.D. Jewell's three songs, "Athens County, My Home Close to Heaven," became the official Athens County theme song, and deservedly so. I loved recording all the groups and solo artists--they all were generous in allowing me to produce their music and play piano on some of their tracks.

BG: Let's skip ahead to the present day. You're making these songs available digitally--what went into that and where can people pick up the album?

LS: Around 1995 or so I transferred the two-track tape master to a DAT (digital) copy to preserve its quality. Then around 2002, I imported the tracks into the ProTools audio editing software, cleaned them up a bit and made them into a CD. A couple of years ago I put the songs on iTunes and Amazon.com for mp3 download. Some did sell, but not enough to warrant paying the yearly fee to keep them downloadable, so earlier this year I discontinued the downloads. The CD itself can now be ordered directly on my website.

BG: The album is a nice time capsule of the early '80s local music scene. Looking back, what are your fondest memories of Athens?

LS: I loved the small-town atmosphere, everyone knowing everyone. Being known as The Bagel Man for seven of my 14 years in Athens was an experience! I raced motorcross and enduro almost every Sunday for a few years staring in 1976...made great friends, cost a lot of money, had a lot of fun. Not too good at racing, but not too bad, either. I started long-distance running while there. I also met my first wife in Athens in 1978, an Athens gal! We were married for about three years.

I loved being part of the music department at OU. I became close friends with Richard Syracuse, an amazing pianist and instructor. Appreciated all I learned about music while there, and carried that onto all the compositions I created later: over 80 jingles and four youth-at-risk musicals, now seen by more than 10 million schoolchildren. I've written, produced, directed, edited and mixed sound for more than 100 videos in the past 10 years. All this started in Athens.

Songs featured in the Athens Hometown Album sampler (audio above):

1. J.D. Jewell - "Athens County, My Home Close to Heaven"
2. The Expanding Band - "Hobo Joe"
3. A Touch of Grass - "It's Just No Good Anymore"
4. J.D. Jewell - "Darling of the Hippies"

Athens Hometown Album sampler.mp3

Artist's Studio: Jeff Risner (WOUB Arts)

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:19:49 +0200

Athens, Ohio

Sara Brumfield - Athens Messenger staff reporter

Photo Credit:

provided

Athens artist Jeff Risner paints a landscape in Tuscany, Italy

In our feature "Artist’s Studio," we highlight individuals who are active in the artistic community. This month, we’re featuring oil painter Jeff Risner of Athens.

What kind of art do you create?

“I create oil paintings of subjects that I am interested in: landscapes, still life, and human figure. I enjoy painting outdoors with my easel and paints in the ‘plein air’ style. Plein air forces me to work quickly since the sun is moving and the scene changes dramatically in just a couple of hours. I see and paint and when the canvas is filled it’s done. Athens and Athens County have many scenes that need to be painted before they are gone: old barns, bridges, pastures and farms. Already I feel like I am a historian since many of the motifs I have painted are gone. I want my art to have emotion and to move the viewer.”

How did you get interested in this medium?

“I like the richness of oil paints, the buttery feel of the oils on the brush and canvas. Oils have a smell of walnut or linseed oil. They dry slow so they can be reworked, scraped off, redone, or left alone. Oils are the medium of the old masters and the Impressionists and it is a long tradition that I want to be a part of.”

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

“I take inspiration from the geography of Athens. I walk in the fields and forests, the towns, streets and along the Hocking River. There is more to paint than can be done in a lifetime. I am inspired by other artists both alive and dead. I may never equal them but I get ideas from them. I travel to Italy and paint the landscape of Tuscany where many of the Impressionists of the 19th century painted. I visit the works of other local arts and learn from them.”

Have you had success making art in Athens County?

“Yes, I have. I have sold many of my works here and have had shows at the Dairy Barn (the exhibition is now being displayed in Alabama), the Athens Public Library, Holzer Clinic, Little Professor's Book Store, and the Columbus Museum of Art. I have hosted other artists to come to Athens to paint in competitions and I am a past president of the Ohio Plein Air Society, a nonprofit art education corporation.”

How can people find out more about your art?

“You can find out more about my art at my website www.risnerart.com and www.ohiopleinairsociety.com or contact me at jeff.risner@gmail.com.”

ARTSWest: REMINDER!: Art Gallery by Geoff Schenkel tonight at 5pm at ARTS/West! (ARTSWest tweets)

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:01:16 +0200

ARTSWest: REMINDER!: Art Gallery by Geoff Schenkel tonight at 5pm at ARTS/West!

ARTSWest: Wednesday, May 29th, 7pm, ARTS/West presents: Mark Kelso on piano, for a musical evening that is simply not to be... http://t.co/o7Lb1s8Rv7 (ARTSWest tweets)

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:34:10 +0200

ARTSWest: Wednesday, May 29th, 7pm, ARTS/West presents: Mark Kelso on piano, for a musical evening that is simply not to be... http://t.co/o7Lb1s8Rv7

ARTSWest: An Athens pilot project of Global Dialogues will be announcing the local winners of their annual worldwide... http://t.co/qeBVWvgU2e (ARTSWest tweets)

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:41:02 +0200

ARTSWest: An Athens pilot project of Global Dialogues will be announcing the local winners of their annual worldwide... http://t.co/qeBVWvgU2e

Hitch-Hikers Reunion Show To Raise Funds For Food Pantry (WOUB Music)

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:11:39 +0200

Nelsonville, Ohio

Sara Brumfield - Athens Messenger staff reporter

Photo Credit:

provided

The Hitch-Hikers will hold a reunion concert at Stuart’s Opera House on May 24 to raise money for the Nelsonville Food Cupboard. From left: Zach Daugherty, Mike Guess, Phil Fawcett, Dusty Johnson, Terry Daugherty and Johnny Flowers.

A group of Nelsonville natives will be banding together this month to raise money for the Nelsonville Food Cupboard.

The Hitch-Hikers, a classic rock band that was formed by a group of friends at Nelsonville High School in the 1960s, will perform at Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville on May 24 at 8 p.m. in hopes of raising funds and gathering food donations for the emergency food pantry.

According to the band’s lead singer, Johnny Flowers, the band was formed while the members were still in high school.

After graduating in 1966, the bandmates went their separate ways, but still got together sporadically to practice. The Hitch-Hikers also reunited for the 45th reunion of their class.

Since 2011, The Hitch-Hikers have been playing annual benefit shows at Stuart’s. Flowers said the first reunion concert in 2011 was organized to raise money for original band member Chuck Mohney, who had multiple sclerosis.

However, two weeks before the show, Mohney died. The band ended up raising more than $7,000 for Mohney’s family to help cover his medical bills.

Last year, the band opted to support the Nelsonville Food Cupboard — raising more than $6,000 for the food pantry. The band is hoping to raise even more money for the cause this year, Flowers said.

According to Flowers, the band receives donations from the community in order to pay the rental cost of Stuart’s Opera House. The money received for concert tickets and T-shirt sales goes directly to the Nelsonville Food Cupboard. Flowers said the event is made possible by the generosity of the Nelsonville community.

Tickets are $10 each in advance or $13 at the door, and shirts are available for a donation of $12.95. Flowers said attendees are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the food pantry.

Flowers said The Hitch-Hikers only perform once a year. As the members have gotten older, the band has taken on a few younger members. The current Hitch-Hikers lineup includes Flowers, Mike Guess, Phil Fawcett, Terry Daugherty, Zach Daugherty and Dusty Johnson. The band performs covers ranging from rock from the late 1950s to the Rolling Stones.

On Monday, Flowers said more than 100 tickets for the show had already been sold. He said the annual shows have packed Stuart’s Opera House over the past two years. The opera house seats about 350 people, Flowers said. He added that some people are flying in from other parts of the country to attend the show.

"It’s pretty phenomenal," he said.

To purchase advance tickets, visit www.stuartsoperahouse.org or call 740-753-1924.

‘Healing Vision’ exhibit to end up at local hospital (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

Photography has given a voice to the artists involved in the Athens Photographic Project, and their hard work is on display this Friday evening in an exhibition titled "Healing Vision."

Acclaimed Marietta Artist Featured At ARTS/West (WOUB Arts)

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:54:40 +0200

Athens, Ohio

Bryan Gibson

Photo Credit:

geoffschenkel.com

"Cleanup," Geoff Schenkel

On Wednesday, May 15, ARTS/West will present a public art exhibit by Marietta artist Geoff Schenkel.

Schenkel, who was honored with the ARTSBRIDGE "Reflections" People’s Choice Award and won Best of Show for Mixed Media in the Southern Hills Art Show, was recently featured at the Dairy Barn's FLOW exhibition in April.

After graduating with honors from Marietta College in 1994, Schenkel took an apprenticeship in San Francisco with Precita Eyes Community Muralist Susan Cervantes.

Through Cervantes' mentoring, Schenkel began working with individuals who may not be inclined to visit a gallery or an art museum, but who are, nonetheless, curious about art and/or creative efforts.

For his efforts to collaborate with others, Schenkel has been recognized for inclusion in the National Society of Arts and Letters. As an ARTSBRIDGE Visionary Artist, he has received the Liquitex National Excellence in Art Award, WTAP TV "One Who Makes A Difference" honors, the Ohio School Volunteer of the Year Award, the Marietta City Schools Volunteer of the Year Award and the Marietta College Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year Award.

Wednesday's art opening will take place at 5 p.m. at ARTS/West, located at 132 West State Street, Athens. Free refreshments will be available.

ARTSWest: Global Dialogues films are available for viewing/download in 27 languages at the Global Dialogues YouTube channel: http://t.co/5TFxNt9iFQ (ARTSWest tweets)

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:15:38 +0200

ARTSWest: Global Dialogues films are available for viewing/download in 27 languages at the Global Dialogues YouTube channel: http://t.co/5TFxNt9iFQ

ARTSWest: Global Dialogues will be announcing the local winners of their annual worldwide narrative contest at ARTS/West at 3pm on Sunday, May 19! (ARTSWest tweets)

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:14:59 +0200

ARTSWest: Global Dialogues will be announcing the local winners of their annual worldwide narrative contest at ARTS/West at 3pm on Sunday, May 19!

May 14th, Upcoming Events Update: Geoff Schenkel Art Gallery & Global Dialogues (ARTS/West)

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:54:00 +0200

Tomorrow May, 15th at ARTS/West, 5pm-8pm: ARTS/West is proud to present an open to the public art gallery created by artist Geoff Schenkel. Geoff was honored with the Artsbridge “Reflections” People’s Choice Award, won the Best of Show for Mixed Media in the Southern Hills Art Show, and most recently anchored at the Dairy Barn's FLOW Exhibition in our fair Athens.

Geoff's Personal Website, where you can view more of his amazing art!: http://geoffschenkel.com/
Also, like the group of artists that Geoff collaborates with at: https://www.facebook.com/resolvestudios

Free admission and free refreshments! We're very excited for this event so please come on out for it!

Next, An Athens pilot project of Global Dialogues will be announcing the local winners of their annual worldwide narrative contest during a presentation at ARTS/West at 3pm on Sunday, May 19. The event will be preceded at 1pm by a panel discussion focusing on the ideas generated by youths in their contest submissions. The awards presentation will feature a brief introductory film and performances by the Athens Irish Dancers. Ohio University graduate music student, Isaac Zika, will perform on piano.

A diverse group of Athens County youths submitted entries in this year’s Global Dialogues contest. Entries came from students at Hocking College, Ohio University, an Athens-based women’s recovery organization, and from youth in the general public. This year's contest topics included violence and HIV/AIDS & sexuality. A jury has chosen twenty entries as local winners. These twenty will now go on to a jury at the international level. Winners of the international contest have the opportunity to be made into films by some of the world's top cinema talent. Global Dialogues films are available for viewing or download in 27 languages at the Global Dialogues YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/globaldialogues

ARTSWest: Seriously, check this guy's art out! It's amazing! See more tomorrow at 5 or his personal site http://t.co/xYgyya7SQy http://t.co/Eqx6DU983B (ARTSWest tweets)

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:00:45 +0200

ARTSWest: Seriously, check this guy's art out! It's amazing! See more tomorrow at 5 or his personal site http://t.co/xYgyya7SQy http://t.co/Eqx6DU983B

ARTSWest: Reminder! Amazing Art Gallery featuring the art of Geoff Schenkel tomorrow, 5pm-8pm at Arts West! (ARTSWest tweets)

Tue, 14 May 2013 20:55:47 +0200

ARTSWest: Reminder! Amazing Art Gallery featuring the art of Geoff Schenkel tomorrow, 5pm-8pm at Arts West!

Ratha Con Doubles Attendance In Its Second Year (WOUB Arts)

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:36:32 +0200

Athens, Ohio

Arian Smedley - Athens Messenger staff reporter

Photo Credit:

Arian Smedley

Terence Hanley, 49, of Athens, poses with some of his latest work, including a cut-out of his rendition of the Flatwoods Monster

Ratha Con, a comic, sci-fi/fantasy convention in Athens, is growing in popularity.

Attendance to the second annual convention, held on Saturday at the Athens Community Center, doubled. Last year, roughly 300 people attended, according to event organizer Kelly Lawrence.

The convention included a full day of artist and collection displays, gaming, panel discussions, a dance party and costume contests, including a "Build Your Own Superhero" contest.

The convention also featured a special guest, Joanne Padgett, the self-published author of the Vampires of Camelot series. Padgett, of Nashville, Tenn., wrote the series from the perspective of Merlin, the famous wizard and mentor to King Arthur. Padgett signed books and also spoke during a panel discussion on self-publishing.

Desmoria, one of the characters in the Vampires of Camelot and Merlin’s niece, even made an appearance at Ratha Con. She was portrayed by Nashville-based actress Jennifer Richmond.

For Terence Hanley, 49, of Athens, conventions like these give him the chance to showcase his new material.

Hanley, an independent forester by day, has been publishing his art work since 2009, but he’s been drawing ever since he could pick up a pen. He specializes in monsters, aliens and the paranormal.

He was inspired to publish his first book after attending the Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, W.Va.

"At the festival, they had folks with booths and tables just like at this convention," he said. "I saw what they had and what they didn’t have. And I thought I could offer something."

Hanley said there wasn’t much geared toward children. In response, he published Mothman Aliens and Flying Saucers as a coloring book in 2009, an endeavor that took him three months to complete. Since then, his goal has been to create something new every year.

"Most of the stuff I write and draw are based on supposed real events," he said, "so I do a lot of research and make the stories as authentic as I can."

His works have included other creatures like the Flatwoods Monster and Vegetable Man. He’s also created a trading card collection of UFOlogists and cryptozoologists. One of those cards features Mary Hyre, a former reporter and columnist with The Athens Messenger, who investigated sightings of Mothman and flying saucers in the Point Pleasant area.

A new project that breaks from his trend of covering monsters is his series called Lucky Girl, a character based on his niece. Lucky Girl has no superpowers, she is just extremely lucky, he explains. She solves mysteries and investigates crimes.

"Not a lot of comic books appeal to kids, especially girls," Hanley said. "When kids come by my table, their eyes just gravitate to Lucky Girl."

Most of Hanley’s work is done the old-fashion way — by hand, he said. He draws using a paint brush and India ink, a dense black ink. He then colors in by hand. For some projects, he has colored in using a computer.

For now, the endeavor for Hanley is a labor of love, but he said he hopes to one day turn a profit.

"Even if I never make a penny off of it, I would still do it," Hanley said. "It’s something I’ve always liked."

For future Ratha Con conventions, the organizers have said they hope to have celebrities attend, like actors from famous sci-fi favorite like the Star Wars and Star Trek films.

Rock, Jazz, Bluegrass On Tap For "Celebrate New Concord" (WOUB Music)

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:39:03 +0200

New Concord, Ohio

Photo Credit:

provided

Northwest Territory, one of the headliners featured in Celebrate New Concord's 2013 season, will appear on July 23

Celebrate New Concord (CNC), the summer entertainment series now in its 13th year, has announced its 2013 schedule of performances.

National service club Ruritan will provide food at the shows in Village Park, and proceeds will benefit the New Concord Food Pantry.

"Ruritan has been with us for five years now, and we're very happy to have them at the shows," said CNC Chairman Rod Lang. "It adds a nice touch to the evening, and they're helping the New Concord Food Pantry, which gives something back to the community."

The CNC committee is made up of Lang as chairman, New Concord Mayor Greg Adams, Janice Hutchison, Robert Owen Jones and Jeff Harman. This summer, the group decided to switch things up a bit.

"We get so many requests to have these performers back, the CNC committee thought it would be a great idea to have a 'best of' season, and this lineup features some of the most popular groups we've ever hosted," said Lang. "It should be a great time for everyone."

The 2013 schedule is as follows. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 4: The University of Akron Steel Drum Band Alumni Quartet

The quartet is CNC's all-time most popular attraction, having entertained more than 1,000 audience members since their first appearance in 2007. The group plays a broad range of music, from pop songs to classical, on steel drums, bass and drums.

Tuesday, June 18: Dan Heidt

Dan Heidt will make a return appearance after his CNC premiere in 2011. Heidt is a vocalist and guitar player offering a wide range of pop music favorites and original music.

Friday, July 12: HB7

For more than two decades, HB7 has thrilled audiences with their tremendous talent and proven ability to entertain. Melding the essence of rock 'n roll and pop favorites in the styles of Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, The Eagles, Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Rolling Stones and other great bands, HB7 combines the best of rock and pop with keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and horns.

Tuesday, July 23: Northwest Territory

Northwest Territory returns to CNC with new music and new band members. The band has performed since 1989, covering bluegrass, country, folk, gospel and their own original material. Northwest Territory has performed at venues across the United States and in Canada, including bluegrass festivals, summer concert series, fairs and art centers. The band includes its founding member, Mike Gorrell, guitar, mandolin and vocals; Randall Boring, banjo and vocals; and Mary Kettering, an accomplished violin and fiddle player.

Tuesday, Aug. 6: Seven

Seven will present an evening of classic jazz instrumental and vocal selections. The group made its first CNC appearance as the Muskingum Jazz Group.

Tuesday, Aug. 20: The Jerry Weaver Good Time Jazz Band

The Jerry Weaver Good Time Jazz Band returns to CNC after a two-year absence. The Weaver group has been a part of CNC's lineup since 2003, offering Dixieland and Ragtime music that is ideal for the entire family.

All concerts are free and open to the public. Except for the Friday, July 12 show at the New Concord Fireman's Festival, performances will be held on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Village Park in downtown New Concord.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. Performances are held rain or shine. In the event of bad weather, performances will be moved into the firehouse at Village Park.

Celebrate New Concord is sponsored by the Village of New Concord and the New Concord Board of Trade and is made possible through the support of the individual and business members of the Celebrate New Concord Patronage program. For more information, call 740-826-6392 or visit the CNC's Facebook page.

Ratha Con suspends local space-time continuum (but all in good fun...) (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Sun, 12 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

The gymnasium of the Athens Community Center buzzed with talk of all things sci-fi Saturday. At Ratha Con, the second annual such comic book/sci-fi/fantasy convention held in Athens, vendors from in and out of Athens sold merchandise from popular movies such as "Star Wars" and even ongoing TV shows (AMC's "The Walking Dead") while others shared advice about everything from artwork to weapons to storylines.

ARTSWest: Costume contest winners! http://t.co/xMdQUK1eqa (ARTSWest tweets)

Sat, 11 May 2013 23:44:17 +0200

ARTSWest: Costume contest winners! http://t.co/xMdQUK1eqa

ARTSWest: Costume Contest at Ratha Con! You missed Batman, the Blues Brothers and many other cool costumes! http://t.co/jTMrLGRilX (ARTSWest tweets)

Sat, 11 May 2013 23:39:03 +0200

ARTSWest: Costume Contest at Ratha Con! You missed Batman, the Blues Brothers and many other cool costumes! http://t.co/jTMrLGRilX

ARTSWest: Bucket Brigade press Conference, check out the blogspot for more information! http://t.co/s8ksoAd2BA (ARTSWest tweets)

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:36:54 +0200

ARTSWest: Bucket Brigade press Conference, check out the blogspot for more information! http://t.co/s8ksoAd2BA

Movie Review: "The Company You Keep" (WOUB Arts)

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:03:21 +0200

Chicago, Ill.

Scott Pfeiffer

"These are things I am not proud of, and I find it hard to speak publicly about them and to tease out what was right from what was wrong. I think that part of the Weatherman phenomenon that was right was our understanding of what the position of the United States is in the world. It was this knowledge that we just couldn't handle; it was too big. We didn't know what to do. In a way I still don't know what to do with this knowledge. I don't know what needs to be done now, and it's still eating away at me just as it did 30 years ago." -- Mark Rudd in The Weather Underground (2002)

As someone interested in the history of revolutionary movements in the United States, I find the case of the Weathermen (or Weather Underground) an abiding fascination. My college buddy from Denmark, Ole, wrote his thesis about them: Bring the War Home, he called it.

Now, I wasn’t born until 1971, but from what I've heard his title sums up what they were about. They wanted to make it impossible for people to knock about as if the murderous Vietnam War wasn’t going on. Throwing bombs, they decided, was the only way to do it.

They could be brave: They were willing to get their heads cracked. They claim to have been very careful not to hurt human beings. Still, people got hurt. They managed to blow up two of their own when one of their bombs went off in a Greenwich Village townhouse.

It seems so obvious today: Hey, don't go around throwing bombs! It seems that it was obvious at the time as well, to many who otherwise shared the Weathermen's analysis on Vietnam and U.S. imperialism.

I guess what fascinates me is how it came to seem like a good idea to some young people of conscience. The Company You Keep is a thriller, but at heart it asks the same kinds of questions the Weathermen have been asking themselves ever since.

In the world of this move, the Weathermen staged a bank robbery in which one of their ski-masked members murdered a guard (this is probably based on the real-life Brinks truck robbery of 1981, perpetrated by a handful of leftover Weathermen).

Jump to 30 years later. Living as a fugitive, Sharon (Susan Sarandon) has invented an identity as a suburban soccer mom. She has decided she must turn herself in. In one of my favorite scenes of the year, she explains her reasons for coming out of the closet. Sarandon’s wise performance touches on so many things here—sorrow, empathy, but also flashes of anger and defiance.

Her interviewer, Ben, is played by Shia LaBeouf, who is pretty good as a callow, doe-eyed young local journalist striving for the big scoop. While he stands for nothing in particular, she sees something in him, some kind of spark of integrity.

When we meet Jim (Robert Redford), he is a happily practicing local lawyer with an 11-year-old daughter (Jackie Evancho). When Ben discovers his secret identity as one of the Weathermen from the robbery, Jim goes underground. First he must shepherd his daughter to his brother (Chris Cooper), with whom he hasn’t spoken in decades, all the time staying one step ahead of a FBI man (Terrence Howard).

We believe Jim as a lawyer. Once he's on the run, we see weary regret in the crags of his face, but also the palimpsest of the charismatic young radical. There's a poignancy to the golden boy in autumn.

Jim runs to clear his name, showing up in the lives of a network of people from his past who can point him in the direction of Mimi, the woman who still haunts his dreams. Donal (Nick Nolte) rings true as a good-humored, raspy-voiced old wreck of a working-class radical.

Jed (Richard Jenkins) is memorable as a popular professor who is not at all happy to see his old friend. We first see him lecturing about social change, considering a number of theories, Marx included. You can almost hear him arguing with his younger self.

The script, quite good, is by Lem Dobbs, from the novel by Neil Gordon. Thanks to incisive writing, in just a few moments we understand their relationship: Comrades who disagreed even at the time. "We were a peace movement, for Christ’s sake," exclaims the professor. Still, he’s there for him when the chips are down, just like he always was.

In Big Sur we find Mimi (Julie Christie, still striking), an unreconstructed revolutionary and major grass dealer, living with Sam Elliot in an open redwood house high above the sea. When she learns Redford is on the run, she takes off as well. Almost instinctively, they know where they will meet: At the deserted lakeside cabin deep in the woods where they’d hidden out 30 years ago (it might have been more effective had Mimi not been revealed until the end). Over a fire they rekindle the past, and he asks her to come forward to clear his name.

Meanwhile, Ben (LaBouef) investigates a mystery involving the police officer who investigated the bank robbery (Brendan Gleeson), who has a beautiful adopted daughter (Brit Marling), about 30 years of age. Hmmm.

Anna Kendrick plays a young FBI officer who is offended by Sharon's justifications for the bombings. She’s too young to understand what a horror Vietnam was.

After listening to Sarandon in the scene I mentioned, her only response is, well, terrorists justify terrorism. At first, her words annoyed me. Then I realized she had a point. Maybe the worst of the Weathermen did embody that bottomless nihilism that Philip Roth so memorably tried to understand in American Pastoral.

I think, though, that for most of those kids, human life mattered profoundly. That’s why they got into it in the first place.

The weakness of The Company You Keep is the way it ties everything up with a neat bow. It's a movie, true, but the ending seemed like a sidestep after what had been an honest look at people--sometimes heroic, sometimes tragic--for whom redemption is elusive. If you have a conscience, how do you live with something that you can't swallow and you can't spit up?

(ARTS/West)

Thu, 09 May 2013 19:12:00 +0200

This Saturday is the last Front & Center of the season!

Athens, Ohio

Taylor Evans

Photo Credit:

Sandy Plunkett

It’s time for Athens to geek out.

This Saturday, Ratha Con, Athens' very own comic and sci-fi/fantasy convention, will return for a full day of artist/collection displays, gaming, panel discussions, costume contests and more.

Now in its second year, the event has added a few new attractions, such as the "Build Your Own Superhero" contest, in which teams of three to five people are given supplies to turn one of their members into a superhero.

The day will end with a dance party hosted by DJ Barticus and a performance by local band The Geek Girls. The convention will also feature special guest Joanne Padgett, author of the Vampires of Camelot series.

Padgett, who hails from Nashville, Tenn., has self-published five books in the series, written from the perspective of Merlin, the famous wizard and mentor to King Arthur. At her panel, she will give advice on how to promote a self-published book.

"I tell people about how to build a fan base, how to be visible, how to talk to the media," Padgett said. "You can’t depend on just social media to be visible. It’s a great tool, but you have to use traditional media as well. I tell them what they need."

Ohio University School of Theater Props Technology Specialist Tom Fiocchi will talk about costume design, OU Assistant Professors Michael Gillespie and Akil Houston will discuss graphic novels and several comic book artists will share stories about their profession.

Last year, roughly 300 people attended Ratha Con, according to event organizer Kelly Lawrence. Athough these types of conventions are popular across the country, Lawrence thinks Ratha Con is uniquely suited to Southeast Ohio.

"We were definitely excited with how well [Ratha Con] went last year and how well it was received by the community," she said. "Athens is its own little world of wonderful people...I think it’s a good fit."

In the future, Lawrence would like to have celebrities attend Ratha Con, including actors from famous sci-fi institutions like the Star Wars and Star Trek films.

Ratha Con will be held Saturday, May 11 at the Athens Community Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 and free for children 10 years and younger.

The costumed dance party takes place 6-10 p.m. and is free with a Ratha Con hand stamp or $2 at the door. For more information, visit Ratha Con's Facebook page or visit www.rathacon.blogspot.com.

Above image: "Rusty's Band" by Stephen Richter

ABC Players Set Stage For Laughs With "First Things First" (WOUB Arts)

Wed, 08 May 2013 20:28:22 +0200

Nelsonville, Ohio

Photo Credit:

Morristowne Photography

Chris MacNeal and Ken Bowald star in the ABC Players' production of "First Things First," opening May 9 at Stuart's Opera House

On this edition of Conversations from Studio B, Joe Balding, Cecilia Rinaldi, Leslie Heskitt, Heidi Wilhelm and Celeste Parsons discuss the ABC Players' production of First Things First, a raucous comedy of misunderstandings and timing.

The play, led by Joe Balding in his directorial debut, is the story of old friends Pete (Chris MacNeal) and George (Ken Bowald). They are such good friends that George has been Pete’s best man at both of his weddings.

Pete, now happily married to Sarah (Heidi Wilhelm), is stunned when George arrives with the news that his first wife Jessica (Cecilia Rinaldi) was not killed in a climbing accident as they had thought, but is alive and well and keen to resume her life with Pete.

This unexpected revelation leads to a series of humorous situations as Pete and George try to find a way out of this desperate plight without upsetting either of Pete’s wives or his second wife’s powerful mother, Margot (Celeste Parsons).

The cast is rounded out by Leslie Heskitt as Alan. The world of Pete’s challenges is created by Chris Coleman’s set design, Carol Ault’s light design, Patty Witmer’s costumes, and Ardelle Donahue’s props. Suzanne Ragg is stage manager.

"I am so pleased with my wonderful cast," said Balding. "They bring this story to vivid life and to such comedic heights. I know the theater will be filled with laughter every night."

While audiences will come for laughs, they will also cheer for two community members--Sandra E. Russell and Elizabeth Bogoniewski--who will receive the Steve Haskins Memorial Scholarship on opening night. This year’s scholarships are co-sponsored by Nelsonville Buckeye Wash and J&M Commercial Painting.

Each season, the ABC Players award one or two small cash scholarships to students who have participated in ABC Players productions and are currently enrolled in college programs.

First Things First opens Thursday, May 9 at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio, with additional evening performances on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 at 8 p.m. A Sunday matinee show will be held May 12 at 2 p.m.

For tickets, visit www.stuartsoperahouse.org. For more information, visit www.abcplayers.org or find the ABC Players on Facebook.

abcplayersmay2013.mp3

OU-C Theater Program Presents Farcical Comedy (WOUB Arts)

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:43:59 +0200

Chillicothe, Ohio

Jack Jeffery

Photo Credit:

Ohio University Chillicothe

The cast of OU-C Theater's "Hocus Pocus." From left on couch: Meka Yaakovson, Tyler Stewart, Keigan Detty, Connor Boyle. In back, from left: Ben Roark III, Lauren Scharfetter, Tommy Culver

The Ohio University-Chillicothe Theater Program will present the light-hearted comedy Hocus Pocus at 8 p.m. on May 10 and May 11 in the Bennett Hall Auditorium.

The play, written by Jack Popplewell, is a British farce set in the 1960s and concerns identical twins, one an Anglican minister and the other a financier, who, for financial reasons, must switch roles.

The love interests of both young men, along with an attorney and a housekeeper, keep things rolling along.

"It's fun to explore two persons," said actor Connor Boyle, who plays the roles of twin brothers Simon and Peter Ross. "One brother is very naïve and sweet, while the other is a sleazy stockbroker. It's fun to play a role where you have to be in each other’s world."

"The play uses a split stage," Director Ken Breidenbaugh explained. "On one side, we are in a little vicarage office attached to a church in Sussex and, on the other side, we are in a posh hotel suite in the Mayfair district of London. If you liked The Butter and Egg Man (the most recent OU-C production), here's a play that's for you."

Keigan Detty plays the role of Janet Jones. "I can relate to her. She is very quiet and reserved, and yet she wants to get out there and be herself," she Detty. "Janet wants to be naughty yet nice."

Tommy Culver plays the role of Alderman Knebworth, who is on the board of trustees.

"He's very serious and no one likes him, but he gets things done," said Culver.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and free for OU-C students. Group rates of $8 per ticket are also available.

Comic, sci-fi confab invades Athens (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

ARTS/West in Athens this Saturday is presenting the second Annual Ratha Con, Athens' own Comic and Sci-Fi/Fantasy Convention, with special guest presenters, artists and sellers.

Play looks at what happens when your dead wife’s not dead after all (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

Ever been surprised to see an old friend out of the blue? Of course. Well, how about having your wife you thought was dead reappear? The ABC Players bring a farce showcasing that bizarre scenario to Stuart's Opera House this Thursday through Sunday.

Glass Harp ruled NE Ohio once upon a time (Athens News :: Entertainment)

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:00:00 +0200

This Saturday I'll be revisiting my misspent rock 'n roll youth at the Fur Peace Ranch in Meigs County. An old friend (we'll call him "Tom" since that's his name) and I will be attending the sold-out Glass Harp show.

(ARTS/West)

Tue, 07 May 2013 20:06:00 +0200

Here is what you can enjoy at the 2nd Annual Ratha Con - this Saturday, May 11, 10 am - 6 pm for the main convention then 6 - 10 pm for the costume dance party

There will be 4 panel discussions -
Comic Artists @ 10 am
Tom Fiocchi - costume design @ 12 noon
Joanne Padgett author of "Vampires of Camelot" @
2 pm
OU Professors discussing using graphic novels and
comics in academia @ 4 pm
During the whole day there will be..........
Artist Alley
Gaming (PRG, Board, & Card) - sign up at door
Collections Displays
Artisan Vendors
Vendors/Sellers
Kid's activities
Food from Not Guilty Food Cart
Raffles
and much more...........

"Build a Superhero" contest @ 1:30 - sign up at door
Raffle Drawing @ 5 pm
Costume Contest @ 5:30 pm - sign up at door

Costume Dance Party with DJ Barticus and The Geek Girls
goes from 6 pm - 10 pm (the band plays @ 7 pm).

The main con costs $5 for everyone 11 years and up and is FREE to kids under 11. The Dance Party is FREE for those with a Ratha Con hand stamp and $2 for others.

Acclaimed fantasy author to speak at Ratha Con 2013 - The Athens Messenger: News (ARTS/West)

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:59:00 +0200

Acclaimed fantasy author to speak at Ratha Con 2013 - The Athens Messenger: News

ARTSWest: Joanne will be at the con on Saturday - talking about self publishing and her newest book. !0 am - 6 pm at the... http://t.co/LnBSxYh0Zn (ARTSWest tweets)

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:44:41 +0200

ARTSWest: Joanne will be at the con on Saturday - talking about self publishing and her newest book. !0 am - 6 pm at the... http://t.co/LnBSxYh0Zn