Fritz Peters—On the Value the Arts Brings to Students

Holly Bornemeier (Marketing Manager)

July 26, 2021
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SVMoA Voices
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Fritz Peters—SVMoA Voices

"In such times of rapid change, global crisis and pitched battles in extremist public discourse, it is the arts that help us see the positive and meaningful side of human existence and communication. Artwork can communicate injustice on a broader level than all the talking heads on the news and in social media. Schools especially must retain the arts in every discipline as possible to help our younger generation gain greater literacy through our social-emotional contexts."

"The work your educational liaisons have done in our classes for decades has been vital for our students to gain a more meaningful understanding of a specific content area. From using recycled plastic to display a watershed in Science, to building geometric shapes in Math using specific formulas, and to enriching our lives through international music groups, SVMoA has been a guardian of the arts in our public schools. Our partnership with SVMoA has been very beneficial to our staff and students."

"There are so many highlights from our partnerships that I recall, but here are a couple that standout. With our District-wide focus on Music and World languages, two acts were game-changers for me and many students: The Latin American musicians Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez provided exceptional entertainment and messaging to our Dual Immersion students at the Argyros Theatre and the memorable Black Violin Concert at WRMS provided the greatest outpouring of student excitement I have ever witnessed. I thought the bleachers were going to collapse. The key with so many of your artists you bring to us, is that they always talk about their lives when they were in school. The message of focus and not giving up is so important. I hope our partnership can continue for decades to come as your work is critical in these uncertain times."

—Fritz Peters, Principal WRMS and BCSD Acting Superintendent
Fritz Peters & Las Cafeteras Performing Arts Residency

Trina Peters—In Appreciation of SVMoA

Holly Bornemeier (Marketing Manager)

July 12, 2021
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SVMoA Voices
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Trina Peters, Art patron/program participant/past Board president

"To be able to recreate in the mountains AND easily partake in a cultural life of the highest caliber—well, wow. What a surprise that was, coming from big city life with vibrant arts communities."

"I’ll never forget my first visit to the Museum, and the Andy Goldsworthy installation that took my breath away. I quickly learned of the quality and access to the arts here, which allowed deeper engagement than I had ever really experienced."

—Trina Peters, Art patron/program participant/past Board president
Art patron/program participant/past Board president

Pat Boas—On the Power of the Arts

Holly Bornemeier (Marketing Manager)

June 28, 2021
Category
SVMoA Voices
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Pat Boas, Commissioned Artist, Deeds not Words: Women Working for Change

"Regional exhibitions are as important for artists as they are for audiences. They allow us to see our work in new contexts, to hear different voices and gauge new responses. Sometimes they allow us to try things we’ve never done before. It takes a vision, conviction, intelligence and plain hard work to mount the caliber of exhibitions the museum presents, year after year.  I am honored to join the many artists in the SVMoA exhibition roster and grateful to be associated with this extraordinary institution."

—Pat Boas, Commissioned Artist, Deeds not Words: Women Working for Change
Pat Boas, Commissioned Artist, Deeds not Words: Women Working for Change
Pat Boas, Commissioned Artist, Deeds not Words: Women Working for Change

Bob Dix—On the Value the Arts Bring to Students

Holly Bornemeier (Marketing Manager)

June 16, 2021
Category
SVMoA Voices
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Bob Dix SVMoA Voices

“As the art teacher at Hailey Elementary, SVMoA played a vital role in my curriculum. To have such a diverse and vibrant art scene readily available supported my teaching and enriched my student’s love and appreciation for art. The Museum’s frequent visits to our school exposed them to all forms of art, through visiting artists, musical and theatrical performances and workshops. Field trips to the museum became a much anticipated and favorite event. Even simple things like how to look at art in a museum was an important part of their art education. Transformed, countless have gone on to win SVMoA scholarships furthering their love and appreciation for the arts.”

—Bob Dix, Educator, Artist/Retired Educator/Class Instructor

 

Bin Danh—On the Power of the Arts

Holly Bornemeier (Marketing Manager)

June 14, 2021
Category
SVMoA Voices
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Binh Danh

“I remember being a kid and learning how to draw a flower petal using watercolor during a summer school art activity. I could press half of the paintbrush tip on one color and the bottom half on another. Then I pressed the paintbrush down onto a sheet of white paper to make a petal of color. I repeated the motion in a circular direction to form a flower. I remember my eyes lit up with excitement when the flower formed. I kept going until I had a field of flowers. At that time, I had no idea I was making art. Now in my early 40s, I'm still making art. Creating art is the core of being human. It's the way we have been communicating for thousands of years, from early cave drawings to the walls of our art museums. Art lets people in the future know that ‘we were here,’ and if they want to know more, look for the art we left.”

 —Binh Danh, One of the Artist-in-Residence for SVMoA’s 2016 BIG IDEA project Craters of the Moon
binh danh Bomb

Chris Henderson: Stand Up for Human Rights

FOOLISH RECOMMENDATIONS

June 23, 2020

Chris Henderson (Production Assistant, Company of Fools)

Dave Chappelle:

From Dave: "Normally I wouldn't show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand." This is not a Special but rather an impromptu purging of feelings and thoughts delivered by Dave during his show in Ohio on June 6, 2020. 

Watch Here

Dave is not interested in monetizing any content related to George Floyd’s death. Instead, he encourages you to join him in support of the Equal Justice Initiative and the protection of human rights.

For more information on the EJI or to make a donation please go to: https://support.eji.org/chappelle

 

Ali Siddiq

Two decades after serving his prison sentence, Ali Siddiq performs stand-up for currently incarcerated folks at Bell County Jail and talks about everything from tricking cops to how doing time can mess with your mind. (Contains strong language.)

Watch Here

Comedy Central is donating to The Bail Project, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Equal Justice Initiative. We hope you'll join us in supporting their work to end racism, discrimination and systemic violence: cc.com/donate 

 

Richard Pryor

The late Richard Pryor influenced a generation of comedians of all races, and his scathing brand of satire is offered in full bloom in a live concert performance taped in Southern California in the 1970s. Utilizing exaggerated facial expressions, numerous obscenities and keen observation, as well as his acting experience and razor-sharp comic timing, Pryor delivers monologues on race, sex, family and any number of other topics. This documentary also includes music by Patti LaBelle.

Go to Netflix to watch him Live in Concert

K.O. Ogilvie: Runtastic Gardening Birdsperience

FOOLISH RECOMMENDATIONS

June 17, 2020

KO Ogilvie (Production Manager, Company Manager)

I’m not a very good gardener, but I keep trying! My thumb is pale green-ish, but I always have trouble. In the state of Idaho, gardening can be especially tricky with such a short season. Thank goodness for some local farms with community supported agriculture. 
 

  • Squash Blossom Farms in the Wood River Valley has the best tomato starts specifically suited to this area. These starts are only available in the spring, but they do sell weekly shares of delish locally grown produce. 

  • Kraay’s Market and Garden supports local producers at their market and online. Online ordering with delivery is like having the farmers market come right to your door. 

 Out of state: 

  • Soul Fire Farm located in Petersburg, NY is a BIPOC* centered community farm committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system.  “We raise and distribute life-giving food as a means to end food apartheid. With deep reverence for the land and wisdom of our ancestors, we work to reclaim our collective right to belong to the earth and to have agency in the food system. We bring diverse communities together on this healing land to share skills on sustainable agriculture, natural building, spiritual activism, health, and environmental justice. We are training the next generation of activist-farmers and strengthening the movements for food sovereignty and community self-determination.” A terrific program and the website is full of information about how to donate to other BIPOC farms and BIPOC agricultural organizations. And there’s some really good recipes to be found there too.  

 

Running… I love to run. No I don’t. Yes, I do. Okay, I have a love/hate relationship with running. The half marathons I signed up for this season have been canceled or postponed, so I’ve been looking into the world of virtual running events. No, you don’t sit at home and imagine yourself running, although sometimes that sounds appealing. Instead, you participate at the location of your choice, at the distance of your choice – 5K, 10K, half or full marathon. Complete with finisher medals! You run for the bling, right?  Here’s a few current favorites: 

 

  • Whiskey Run 5K Supports The Nickolas Ritschel Foundation, helping young adults 18-24 fight cancer with joy, with a “make-a-wish” approach. 

  • Beer Run 5k I’m sensing a trend here…this event is open through June 30 and supports the American Red Cross. 

  • Conqueror Runs Virtual runs from 21 to 2280 miles, complete the mileage at your own pace! Themes include the Grand Canyon, Hadrian’s Wall and Camino de Santiago. 

  • Homeboy Industries 5K “What began in 1988 as a way of improving the lives of former gang members in East Los Angeles has evolved into the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program in the world. Each year we welcome thousands of people through our doors seeking to transform their lives. Whether joining our 18-month employment and re-entry program or seeking discrete services such as tattoo removal or substance abuse resources, our clients are embraced by a community of kinship and offered a variety of free wraparound services to facilitate healing and growth. In addition to serving over 7,000 members of the immediate Los Angeles community in 2018, our flagship 18-month employment and re-entry program was offered to over 400 men and women.” I encourage you to check out Homeboy Industries website and discover the amazing work they do. They sponsor a 5K, held each year in L.A, but now has a virtual option. Sign up for their newsletter to get all the details!  

 

Bird Watching! Bird watching is not just for being stuck at home, you can do it anywhere! My backyard has become not just a bird refuge but also a brain refuge for me this spring. Indigo buntings, goldfinches, western tanagers, just to mention a few, have all visited my yard. There are so many organizations dedicated to birds and birdwatching. And if you’d like to create a better habitat for birds, these sites can help too. 

 

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology Check out the bird cams! And the have two fab apps for your phone – one to help identify by your photos, and one by your recordings of birds call. The bird’s calls, not you imitations of.  

  • Audubon North American Guide If nothing else, the photographs on this site will make you want to become a birder. 

  • The Great Backyard Bird Count Just what is sounds like. The next biirrd count is in February of next year 

 

  Happy Birding, Running and Gardening! 

 *BIPOC – Black, Indigenous & People of Color 

Chris Carwithen: The Art of Gaming

FOOLISH RECOMMENDATIONS

June 10, 2020

Chris Carwithen (Administrative & Theatre Assistant, Company of Fools)

Anyone who knows me knows I have a passion for theatre and for acting. What you might not know about me is my pure and unbridled passion for video games. 

Games, games, games. A bit of a misnomer these days if you ask me. “Video game” is a name the medium has grown beyond, as they are so much more in terms of the messages and stories they can deliver, as well as the feelings they can evoke. And yet they are still often viewed as a frivolous, unimportant sort of secondary entertainment. A child’s play thing. 

And while some can indeed be childish and frivolous (and still infinitely enjoyable), many of these “games” contain no fewer artistic qualities than many of the plays you’ve seen or read. In fact, I’d argue that the Aristotelian elements of plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle apply here as much as in any play or film. 

Whether you’re a life-long gamer like myself, or you don’t know your Mario’s from your Luigi’s, I’ve included a list of games I applaud for their success in proving that video games are truly works of art.

Shadow of the Colossus (2005, PS4) 

Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games that you know is going to be special from the first frame. A seemingly simple story about being tasked with roaming the lands and destroying 16 colossi to save the girl you love, from it’s solemn tone, to it’s perfectly pitched orchestral melodies, to it’s epic, beautiful, minimalist world, Shadow’s presentation is unlike nearly any other game.  

At the center of what makes this tale so unique is it’s feeling of loneliness. With very few interactions throughout the game, the themes of loneliness, self-reliance, and determination color the story. While certainly an adventure game through and through, each exciting moment is often beautifully tempered with melancholy, and even the successful act of destroying the colossal beasts roaming the land brings with it an overwhelming sense of bittersweet remorse. 

Journey (2012, PS4)

Much like Shadow of the Colossus, Journey is the story of wandering alone amidst a great vastness; the player’s simple, unspoken goal being to reach a mountain in the distance.

Unlike Shadow of the Colossus however, Journey’s emotional core is based in the potential friendships forged through chance meetings with other players in the real world. Along this journey through an abandoned civilization, the player is often presented with chance encounters with other people committed to the same goal of reaching the mountain. These encounters can be brief, but more often than not these meetings are lasting bonds which provide players with all manner of support through the game.

I can still recall my final moments playing through this game. Alone and on the brink of death I came across a traveler much like myself, struggling against frostbite to mount the final summit of the mountain. Unable to speak to each other, we quickly found that if we stayed with one another for warmth we could survive our journey together. I was likely sitting hundreds if not thousands of miles apart from this stranger, my journeying companion. And yet in these moments we cared for each other. I cared about them, and they cared about me, and we learned how to silently communicate how best to survive this journey together. I formed a strong, emotional connection with another real human through my TV screen. If this ability to bring people together and change them for the better isn’t what art is all about, then I don’t know what is.

BioShock Infinite (2015, Xbox One, Switch, PS4)

BioShock Infinite does what any great piece of art does: holds a mirror up to our society to show us who we are, and occasionally provides insight on how we can change. Unlike it’s two strictly Horror-centric predecessors, BioShock infinite is a First Person Shooter spectacle about a man recruited to save woman from racist elitists aboard a floating city reminiscent of The World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago. Yeah, you’ll just have to play it.

The entire game is essentially designed as a funhouse reflection of our world and our history, taking on themes of racial inequality, social disparity, nationalism, and religious fanaticism. Pair that with fast paced action and some riveting revelations about parallel universes and you’ve got a brain-melter of story worthy of being experienced firsthand through the power of gaming.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017, Xbox One, Switch, PS4)

A mashup of a few different genres, Hellblade could be billed as a psychological horror adventure. Yep. Psychological horror adventure. Sounds weird, I know. And IT IS. But it’s also absolutely beautiful and haunting in it’s depiction of human psychosis.

Inspired by Norse culture and mythology, the story follows a young female warrior, plagued with the death of her lover. Her journey to rescue her love from death itself is a nightmare of sadness and rage, and the pain she endures is slowly and ultimately revealed to be a metaphor for the psychological torment inflicted through the horror of loss. The development team at Ninja Theory met exhaustively with neuroscientists and patients of psychosis to properly represent the condition, and the results are truly mind-blowing.

Terrifying, disorienting, confusing, and even beautiful, the developers manage to harness the power of gaming to immerse you in the mind of someone with a terrible affliction in an incredibly unique and very real way, helping you to contemplate a small piece of the nature of mental illness.

Final Fantasy (1985 – 2020, PS4, Switch, Xbox One)

To date there are 15 mainline Final Fantasy games. Some better than others. But pick one. Close your eyes and randomly pick any one of them and you’ll find elaborate, engaging, and infinitely creative plots designed to provoke thoughts on how we see the nature of good and evil.

Set in the style of turn-based role playing games, Final Fantasy is brimming with colorful and often over-the-top characters and dialogue, and always set against the backdrop of oncoming war. The best entries in the series revolve around themes of love, appreciation and conservation of the natural world, as well as topics revolving around rebellion in the face of tyrannical government. 

From a theatre standpoint, I love that Final Fantasy (in most cases) gives it’s cast of characters real personalities (even if they are sometimes a bit one-note) and they actually allow them to grow throughout their stories, allowing us the potential to change along with them if we allow ourselves to be swept away. If you’re looking for great plot and fun characters, look no further.

The Legend of Zelda (1985 to 2020, Nintendo consoles)

There was no way I was gonna leave my favorite game series out of all this. If you’ve even heard of video games, you’ve heard of The Legend of Zelda. Much like Final Fantasy, there are a zillion of them, and almost all of them are top notch.

To be honest I’m finding it incredibly difficult to articulate exactly what it is about these games I find so artistic, because I find nearly EVERYTHING in them to be artistic. I suppose there’s something to be said for it’s ability to simply capture the imagination of a child and hold on until he’s a man in his mid thirties. There’s some kind of potent, unnamable power in that.

What I will mention is one of my favorite design aspects of the game. Designers have made the artistic choice to allow the game’s protagonist, Link, to remain absolutely silent throughout every game, allowing the player to essentially project themselves onto the character. This lovely, subtle vehicle for immersion allows the player to experience the world more fully, not as an audience member, passively taking note, but instead living every moment in the life of a pointy eared elf wielding a powerful sword and striking down oktoroks and bokoblins in search of a magical princess. Let’s see you do that, books.

If you’re looking for your art fix in video games I promise that any of these on this short list will scratch that itch. But I could name more. Oh boy could I. So, so, so, so many more. But I’ll spare you. For now.

Gaming has the power to alter the way we view stories across all mediums, proving that emotions, discovery, friendship, and change can be achieved with something as simple as the press of a button.

Scott Palmer: Film Adaptations of Classic Plays

FOOLISH RECOMMENDATIONS

May 27, 2020

Scott Palmer (Producing Artistic Director, Company of Fools)

As the weeks continue to fly by, I am finding myself more and more DESPERATE for theatre! Yes, watching Zoom performances is fine, and so are the streaming options from places like the National Theatre, but over the past few weeks I’ve turned my attention to the greatest BIG SCREEN treatments of some of my favorite plays. Here are a few recommendations of ways you can watch great drama, adapted for film!

Glengarry Glen Ross: this 1992 film was adapted by playwright David Mamet from his 1984 Pulitzer Prize winning play. It is the story of two days in the lives of four real estate salesman and how desperate they become when the corporate office sends in a new trainer to give them some motivation. The film features stunning performances by Jack Lemmon and Al Pacino, and a star turn by Alec Baldwin, as well. It has some very, very, very strong language, so not a great choice for “family film night,” but the story and performances are gripping. A great watch!

Available on Amazon Prime Video.

A Streetcar Named Desire: Based on the play by Tennessee Williams, this renowned drama follows troubled former schoolteacher Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh) as she leaves small-town Mississippi and moves in with her sister, Stella Kowalski (Kim Hunter), and her husband, Stanley (Marlon Brando), in New Orleans. I mean, who DOESN’T need to see Brando’s performance as Stanley? It is truly iconic and was a performance that shattered expectations for film treatments of great plays.

Available on Amazon Prime.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? No doubt about it, this is my favorite film adaptation of a play ever. I cannot say enough about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in this movie: they bring an electricity, and passion, that is absolutely thrilling and very disturbing. This is a hard play, and an even harder film to watch, but it is an all-time classic of American cinema, and based on one of the best plays ever written. A must see, for sure.

You can see the movie on YouTube and also on Amazon Prime.

Amadeus: this 1984 film is based on Peter Shaffer’s hugely successful stage play from 1979. A wonderful, celebratory, and lush period piece filled with gorgeous locations, fabulous costumes, and wonderful performances, Amadeus isn’t just great cinema, it is also educational! F. Murray Abraham’s performance as Salieri is delightfully sinister!

The Director’s Cut is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Arsenic and Old Lace: I mean, come on - Cary Grant is in this one, and it is utterly charming, hilarious, and so, so much fun! One of the greatest comedic plays in American History, AAOL’s film version was directed by Frank Capra and includes star turns from Peter Lorre, Josephine Hull, and Jean Adair. I could literally watch this movie on repeat it is such a great treatment of a classic play.

Available on Amazon Prime Video!

K.O. Ogilvie: Recommendations for Isolation Fun

FOOLISH RECOMMENDATIONS

May 13, 2020

KO Ogilvie (Production Manager, Company Manager)

I’m a bit of an eclectic person, so having one category of recommendations will be impossible. I created a few categories of stuff.

Armchair Travel – (since very few of us will actually be going anywhere) I love to travel. I love to find the unique little nooks, tucked away places that only the locals may know about. My “go-to” source is Atlas Obscura. http://www.atlasobscura.com/

I’ve been a fan since its inception in 2009. Packed full of trips, experiences, oddities, and local folks and their stories, the curious, the weird, the fabulous. Other terrific armchair travel sites:

Props- Among the many things I do for a living, I also design and build props. Eric Hart’s Prop Agenda is a wonderful resource. Filled with “how-tos”, product links, tips, and prop theater history. http://www.props.eric-hart.com/ It’s prop person’s rabbit hole of a website. More great resources for prop makers and makers in general:

Vintage Anything and Everything- “Ever get the feeling you’re living in the wrong time?” How To Be A Retronaut https://www.howtobearetronaut.com/ Just go there. Retronaut, https://retronaut.com/ a sub site, is filled with vintage images and information behind them.

Vintage Online architectural slavage. Yum:

OR visit a salvage yard near you!

Vintage World:

  • The Smithsonian Open Access Site - https://www.si.edu/openaccess download any one of the Smithsonian’s available images and freely share! Without asking!

Vintage packaging Jason Liebig collects packaging and labels. He has over 8600 pages on his flickr account. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonliebigstuff/

Vintage cooking – PIES https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73869/8-forgotten-pie-recipes-we-sh… Because PIE! I love pie. Out of this list, Buttermilk Chess Pie is something

I’ve made 100 times. It’s killer. But please- learn to make your own pie crust. It’s sooo much better. And even I can do it!

Entertainments:

Movies I can watch over and over:

  • The Thin Man, (1934) and all of the sequels. Myrna Loy and William Powell. Lots of sleuthing and alcoholic beverages. And Myrna Loy!!
  • All About Eve (1950) Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm. Winner for Best Picture. Backstage drama and backstabbing!
  • The Artist (2011) And lovely homage to the silent era of films. And the French guy is adorable.
  • About Time (2013) I may have cried a little.
  •  Gilda (1946) Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford. Great American film noir. You could make it a drinking game with the number of times Gilda says, “Johnny”… not that we have…but you could. Narrated by a dead guy.
  • The African Queen (1952) Hepburn, Bogart, gin, big river, blowing up Nazis… need I say more?
  • Sunset Blvd (1950) Gloria Swanson. I mean, come on!
  • And pretty much this list: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/all-eve-hollywoods-100-favorite-818428

Music I can listen to over and over:

  • Talk about eclectic. This list became ridiculously long. So, I omitted it.

TV shows I can watch over and over:

  • The Carol Burnett Show. The best variety show ever and will never be duplicated.
  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show. “You’ve got spunk. I hate spunk!”
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show.
  • The Bob Newhart Show I’m sensing a trend….
  • Mom. Alison Janney, right? Not just funny, but sometimes it left you a little melancholy. There often was a stabbing point that got you right in the heart.
  • Friends
  • The Twilight Zone (The universe where we currently reside)
  • The West Wing (I wish we resided in that universe)

Good Books that became less than good movies:

  • Where’d You Go, Bernadette? Really fun, engaging book. The movie? Not so much.
  • Cloud Atlas Great book….TERRIBLE MOVIE. The attempt should have never been made.
  • The Help I will get pushback on this one, but really, the book is much better.
  • The Girl on The Train Ugh.
  • Doubt – Okay it was a play, not a book. But the movie was terrible.
  • The Goldfinch. Full disclosure, this is my wife, Jana’s addition. To quote her, “Even if I hadn’t read the beautiful book, it was a horrible movie. Broke my heart.” She’salmost always right. But don’t tell her I said that.

Art - You Can Too!

Curiosities and Uncategorized:

Thanks for playing!

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