THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 1996 TAG: 9606040106
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 111 lines
THEY DON'T CALL it the Boardwalk Art Show anymore.
These days it's the Boardwalk International Arts Festival.
You can still stroll the Boardwalk viewing - and buying - thousands of pieces of art.
But you can do a lot more, too.
Starting Friday and continuing through June 16, the 10-day multifaceted, multicultural feast of sights, sounds and activities offers (in addition to the art show itself) 45 concerts, theater and dance performances at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts and on the Boardwalk, a film festival tracing the history of rock 'n' roll and its influence on art, an exhibition of contemporary art inspired by rock 'n' roll, a series of animated films from around the world and an all-day children's international arts fest.
There's an emphasis on kids this year - with planning aimed at the grade school set.
Art Center Education Director Betsy Di Julio created the children's programs as a way of expanding the festival to reach parents and children who weren't drawn to the event when it was just the Boardwalk Art Show. ``The Children's International Arts Fest is a festival within a festival, offering artistic experiences in an self-contained environment especially designed to be appealing to our youngest audience members,'' she said.
Art Center President Helen Snow said for several years community leaders had seen the potential for expanding the Boardwalk Art Show into a multidisciplinary event. The concept was introduced last year and expanded this year.
The kiddie festivities kick off at 10 a.m. June 15 at the 17th street stage, where Middle Eastern dance specialists Caravan East will perform a repertoire of dances from Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and neighboring countries.
A new program will begin every 30 to 45 minutes.
For those with even shorter attention spans, eight tents will be set up in the area to allow young artists to create their own international ``make and take'' works of art such as Central American worry dolls and Egyptian cartouche figures.
Back from last year is a communal weaving-in-progress where children can add their own woven creations with brightly colored yarns.
``That was one of the most popular things we had last year,'' said Josey Mooney, director of public relations for the art center, of the large loom which attracted children of all ages.
On view also will be paintings from elementary schools across Norfolk and Virginia Beach, selected by art teachers to fit the festival's international and musical flavor.
Local artists will expand the scope of the festival by demonstrating their techniques to young would-be artists. The demonstrations, all free, will include ceramics, basket weaving, drawing and painting in oil and pastels.
A goal is to help children see new dimensions and diversity in art, said Di Julio.
At 11 a.m. University of Virginia faculty member and percussionist Robert Jospe will perform with his band, Inner Rhythm. A veteran of the New York City jazz scene, Jospe and his band play music rooted in jazz with Afro-Cuban influences. The performance will be followed by a 30-minute demonstration titled World Beat Workshop, exploring contemporary drumming styles, African log drumming and a variety of Latin percussion instruments and their influence on contemporary music. The group performs again at 1:30.
Dance takes center stage when Menagerie Dance Company performs at 12:30 and again at 3:15. Among the programs the husband and wife team of Mark and Ella Magruder will perform is ``Stars and Constellations,'' described as an imaginative creation that uses a dazzling variety of props to weave together an appreciation of natural science and the mythology of other cultures, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Navajo.
African rhythms and culture will again be reflected in the performances of the Elegba Folklore Society. The society takes its name from the divine messenger Eshu-Elegba, from the Yoruba, West African tradition, who creates understanding through magic. A multitalented troupe of all ages, Elegba combines music, dance and storytelling to share some of the culture of West Africa and the Caribbean. The group performs in traditional native costumes using the traditional instruments. At times the young audiences will be allowed to share the stage with the group in a ``Feel the Beat'' workshop, learning movements, chants, and drumming from members of the troupe. Elegba performs at 2:30, 4:15, and 5:45 p.m.
Just before Elegba's last performance of the day, the audience will be treated to a special rendition by storyteller Lynn Ruehlmann, of Young Audiences of Virginia at 5:15 p.m. Ruehlmann's program, titled ``Too Much for Words Alone,'' is a humorous look at the varieties of language. Ruehlmann performs sign language for much of the performance and uses visual language to describe the ways in which people, and even animals, communicate. Her look at various cultures' efforts at communication is intended to amuse and inform children and adults.
Something on June 15 and 16 for children and adults alike is the Animations Around the World, an animated film fest at the Center for the Arts, 2200 Parks Ave. For a $3 suggested donation, you can watch animated films from Holland, Germany, Israel, Russia, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italy, Canada, France, Belgium and Yugoslavia from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 15 and 1 to 4:30 p.m. June 16. To help you get there, a trolley will run from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. June 15 from the 17th and 24th street stages to the art center parking lot for $1 per person. The animated collection is on loan from Regent University.
Also indoors is the free piano concert presented by Lee Jordan-Anders at 4 p.m. Jordan-Anders is the Virginia Wesleyan College Artist-in-Residence. The concert will be held at the art center as part of the ``Classical Splash'' series. The concert is designed for children and families and will be narrated by WHRO-TV's Dwight Davis. Selections include Beethoven's ``Rage over a Lost Penney,'' and Poulenc's ``Story of Babar,'' accompanied by a slide show of the famous French elephant character. MEMO: Additional information about the festival may be obtained by
calling 425-0000. ILLUSTRATION: Morrisette file photo
You can still stroll the Boardwalk viewing - and buying - thousands
of pieces of art. But starting Friday, the former Boardwalk Art Show
also will feature 45 concerts, theater and dance performances and a
film festival. by CNB