McLarty’s work to be exhibited
It’s a huge deal to win a “Bessie” award, the highest honor presented by the New York dance world. The great news for Dayton is that the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company was named a co-winner at the recent award ceremony on July 13.
A committee of 40 artists, presenters, producers and writers chooses the nominees and winners. DCDC was selected in the category of “Outstanding Revival” in recognition of the company’s March performances of “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. The Dayton dance company shared the nomination in that division with “Rainbow” creator Donald McKayle and Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance of NYC. As Paul Taylor’s guest artist, DCDC performed McKayle’s piece three times to multiple ovations and curtain calls.
Here’s how the citation read: “For giving a classic modern dance powerful new life, transforming the mid-century portrayal of an African American prison chain gang into a searingly resonant cry for our current times, performed with humanity, craft, and beauty by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.”
The “Bessie” recognition — established in 1983 in honor of highly revered New York dance teacher Bessie Shoenberg — salutes outstanding and creative works in choreography, performance, music composition and visual design by independent NYC dance artists. The last Bessie recipient with Dayton connections was Oakwood’s Nicole Mannarino, who won her Bessie in 2012 for “Outstanding Performer” in Sarah Michelson’s “Devotion Study #1The American Dancer.” The piece was performed at the Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC. DCDC dancer Sheri “Sparkle” Williams received a Bessie in the Dance and Performance category in 2002.
The Neon will be rocking!
Although The Neon movie theater at 130 E. 5th Street reupholstered its seats 15 years ago when the theater closed for extensive remodeling, manager Jonathan McNeal says the mechanics of each chair are from 1986 and beginning to fail.
The theater is looking for “Neon Lumbar Supporters” to underwrite the cost of new seats slated to be installed in September. The entire project will cost $50,000 and involves purchasing new rockers, removing the old seats, repairing and repainting the floor and installing the comfortable new chairs. The project will also make the theater more accessible to all patrons.
For each donation of $250 — the cost of one chair — patrons will be recognized in the lobby when the project is completed and get a free small popcorn each month for 12 months. Those who go up to the“Sitting Pretty” level ($350 or more) can own two of the current seats when they are removed. Note that these kinds of seats must be mounted to the ground or a weighted surface in order to be used.
McNeal says donations of any size will be appreciated and reminds donors that The Neon is a for-profit small business so donations are not tax deductible. You can stop by the theater to see samples of the new seats and donate there or visit GoFundMe to click and make a donation on the web site: https:// www.gofundme.com/NeonMovies
“The Playground” to hold fundraiser today
The new theater group known as “The Playground” will hold its first fund-raising event from 4-8 p.m. today, Sunday, July 24, at The Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton. The event will also serve as the company’s season kickoff party.
There’s no charge for the party that will feature live performances by local bands and performers including Scott Houchens from The Pullouts, Brett Hill and Salvadore Ross. “Dare to Defy Productions” will perform songs from its upcoming season and “The Playground” will unveil its season posters and the trailer for “This is Our Youth,” its first production. In addition to the bar, the Smokinbeebeeq food truck will be on hand. For more info: theplaygroundtheatre.org.
Public artists will be at library’s Northwest Branch
We’ve written about The Jafagirls — Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon — who are best known for their public yarn creations. Learn their “yarn bombing” techniques and other craft projects from Aug. 1 through Sept.10, when the pair will be artists-inresidence at the Northwest Branch of the Dayton Metro Library, 2410 Philadelphia Drive.
During community dropin hours, the two will offer a chance to participate in ongoing collaborative projects for all ages.
The Jafagirls and their projects have been featured in several books, including “Craft Activism: People, Ideas and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In.” The programs are free and open to the public. For the schedule of their workshops, check out the online Events Calendar at DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call (937) 463-BOOK.
Tour a radio station, use fitness center free
Here’s a great opportunity for the whole family to tour a radio studio and experience a live broadcast. WYSO Public Radio and The Wellness Center at Antioch College are partnering for an afternoon of free family fun in Yellow Springs. The events are being held from noon to 5 p.m. today, Sunday, July 24th.
Visitors to WYSO will have the opportunity to tour the studios, experience a live broadcast hosted by Niki Dakota that includes live music by local bands and record a greeting in the station’s production studios. There will also be outside activities in the station’s backyard including fire truck rides from the Yellow Springs Fire Department and a musical instrument petting zoo hosted by Encore Instrument Repair.
The Wellness Center at Antioch College will be open for the community to use for free from noon-5 p.m. Visitors can tour the facility, swim in the pool and learn about the center’s class offerings. Classes will be offered throughout the afternoon.
Christopher’s showcases Watson art
The artwork of Tom Watson III, who says his passion for art saved him from a massive brain stem stroke, is being showcased this month at Christopher’s Restaurant, 2318 E. Dorothy Lane in Kettering. A closing reception and live painting session is slated for 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.
Watson was awarded the first annual individual RAISE Award from the National Stroke Association in October 2011, in recognition of his accomplishments of raising stroke awareness through his art. He received the award from Henry “The Fonz” Winkler of “Happy Days” fame.
While his mind learned to reconnect broken synapses, Watson deconstructed and then reassembled materials salvaged from earlier silkscreen projects to create a new body of art with a cohesive design. “I have used this as a chance to refocus and revive myself after battling discouragement, suppression, and other physical and psychological hindrances both during my recovery and afterward,” he said.
The Christopher’s reception celebrates Watson’s return to exhibiting following a year hiatus for cancer treatment. His screenprint/mixed media “Stem/ ReAssemblage” art series has been featured at Christopher’s this month and he is also the featured artist at Studio Blue Salon on Brown Street near University of Dayton’s campus.
In addition to his fine art, Watson also creates hand-printed, silkscreened T-shirts, showcasing the Stem image inspired by his stroke experience and recovery, and more recently, the “Left Hemisphere” design. These shirts are available from the artist.
Dayton Playhouse announces auditions for Camelot
The Dayton Playhouse will hold open auditions for the musical “Camelot” at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 26. The show will be directed by Ranger Puterbaugh, a Language Arts teacher and director of the Drama Club at Northmont High School. Production dates for Camelot are September 16 – October 2 (Fridays through Sundays).
The Dayton Playhouse is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton. For additional information about the audition requirements, visit www.daytonplayhouse.com.
Studio 14 Gallery & Fine Arts Center, 115 W. Main St. in Tipp City, is currently exhibiting Doug McLarty’s photographic series, “Lit Up – Midnight Tour of a Magical Garden. ” The show will be up through Aug. 27.
An Artists Reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4th. For more information: (937) 506-8153 or on the web at www.studio14gallery.com
Lady Painters of Dayton share work
The Lady Painters of Dayton are hosting a free inaugural exhibition through July 30 at the 48 High Street Gallery. The Victorian-era gallery, now Dayton Society of Artists, was formerly known as the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors.
The group includes Bridgette Bogle, Michele BonDurant, Jennifer Bristol, Tina Eisenhart, Connie Hanselman, Mychaelyn Michalec, Sabrina Pryor and Rebecca Sargent. The ladies meet monthly to analyze works in progress, discuss art making and share opportunities. Although the Lady Painters have been meeting since the fall of 2014 this will be their first exhibition together. It is entitled “Art Force.” Gallery hours are 2-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.