NEWS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2004

 

ARTWalk Alive! to Showcase Dozens of Performers, Motorcycle Mambo and Reveal New Sculpture

 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. ---

The fourth annual "ARTWalk Alive!" is set to take place on Sunday, Sept 19, from 12-4 pm along the 700 block of University Avenue.

 

"People really enjoy this free performing arts festival", says Executive Director Douglas Rice, "because the focus is on just that.... watching, and participating in, the arts."

 

Twenty-six artists were selected by jury to perform. Performers include a wide range of music, dance, spoken word and visual arts. The artists performing were selected from a pool of applicants for each category. The performers are diverse and accomplished. Each performer will receive an honorarium thanks to a "Culture Builds Communities" grant from the Arts and Cultural Council.

 

At 2 pm, Mayor Johnson and other dignitaries will lead the "revealing" of the next jury-selected sculpture to be commissioned for placement along ARTWalk, the "ABSC sculpture". The theme of this sculpture intends to recognize the many contributions of Rochester's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community in the arts, social services and business endeavors.

Funding for this project has been a grassroots level collaboration between ABSC and ARTWalk.

 

"We see the ABSC as a wonderful model of partnership between ARTWalk and other groups to fund a wide variety of future art along ARTWalk" according to Mr. Rice. The groups' funds were matched by $7000 from the Mayors' "Sector Targeted Funding Initiative" and will be dedicated May 1, 2005.

 

Additionally there will be a wide variety of activities for all ages provided by many of the areas' arts organizations and businesses. Returning this year will be fire trucks with activities for children. Writers & Books is holding a "Small Press Fair", the George Eastman House will be overseeing "Sun Prints", and the Rochester Area Federation of Round & Square Dance Clubs will offer dancing lessons. There will be plenty of other activities for the whole family.

 

Refreshments will be available from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Abbott's Frozen Custard, as well as Avenue favorites Starry Nites Cafe, Edibles Restaurant, The Corner Store, and Craft Company No. 6.

 

The Grand Finale this year is "Motorcycle Mambo", a "dance" performed by the Rochester Motorcycle Coalition and dancers choreographed by Thomas Warfield. This is a must see! ARTWalk ALIVE! is a fun-filled afternoon for all to enjoy in one of Rochester's great neighborhoods.

 

T-shirts and posters bearing the jury selected design by Howard Koft of Rochester will be for sale before during and after the event. Parking is available at the Gleason Works parking lot on Atlantic Avenue and Anderson Ave, at Village Gate Square, Fabrics and Findings, or of course walk... or dance.... over!

 

For detailed information on the performances, or to volunteer, visit www.rochesterARTWalk.org or call 585-234-6670.

 

 

Images and detailed list of performers follow:

 

The selected performing Artists for "ARTWalk Alive! fall into 4 categories: (1) Dances on the Avenue, (2) Word on the Street (Spoken word), (3) Music on the Block, and (4) Artists at Work. The twenty-five performing artists/groups are as follows:

 

1. Dances on the Avenue: six (6) dancers or dance groups will perform a variety of artistic, cultural, and musical performances. The selected submissions are:

 

Bush Mango & Drum of Rochester An 18 member multi-generational, multi-racial and interactive group of musicians and dancers perform traditional live music and dance from West Africa.

Henrietta Senior Stompers & Henrietta After School Students dance to a combination of "On Broadway" and "Ease on Down the Road."

School of the Arts Senior Dance Ensemble of Rochester will perform a celebratory piece set to jazz that includes children who want to dance and rehearse with the performers early in the afternoon.

Pywakkit of Rochester combines classical ballet, modern dance & jazz in "Redeux", a pas de deux set to Aaron Copland's Four Piano Blues. Created by Darryl Clark, Pywakkit has presented in a variety of venues.

The Motoniks of Rochester Veteran ARTWalk dance artists who, when called into action, swiftly rearrange their work schedules to create mind-expanding, site-specific works that explore University Avenue's landscape. "Framed", a window piece will permanently alter your experience of facade architecture.

Sahara Shimmer Belly Dancers A Rochester-based dance company dedicated to the performance of Middle Eastern dance, honors the Romani people as they dance their "Tribute to the Gypsy Spirit."

 

2. Word on the Street - comprised of individual poets, storytellers, monologists, and other spoken word artists. This year's 5 performers are:

 

Reenah L. Golden(Rochester) Slam-style spoken word

Fran Calisi-Paxson (Rochester) Erie Canal stories in character,

Urknee & Bjurton Russell Rick Petrie (Rochester) and Michael J. Rae (Penfield) Avant Garde poetic soundscapes, for voice and instruments

Erin Thompson (aka Leffield of Rochester) Freestyle Rhyme

The Golden Teen Slam Team (Greater Rochester Area) Slam-style spoken word Annette Ramos (Rochester) Hispanic storytelling and monologues

 

3. Music on the Block - range from Appalachian to blues, jazz, and Celtic music. Musicians will perform at different locations along ARTWalk Alive! This year's six performers are:

 

NRG!(Tina Beaton & Sherry Finzer, flute duo plays Classical to Modern Music) -Greece

Squeaky Chair Quartet (swing, jazz standards, and blues) - Rochester

The Hayseeds (Foot-stomping good time Country) - Swillburg;

Lisa Dotolo (folk-country- pop music singer & guitarist) - Rochester

Bonnie Abrams and Allen Hopkins (Eastern European traditional & contemporary folk music, & original "Yinglish" compositions) - Rochester

The Celtic Music Society (Traditional Irish combined with contemporary influences) - East Rochester High School.

 

4. Artists at Work will show their creative process. The eight selected artists are:

 

ARTPeace Inc.of Rochester - free art

Marilynne Lipshutz of Rochester - glass beads

Julie L. Seegler of Rochester - artist books

Jeremy Sniatecki of Rochester - sidewalk drawings

Cheryl & Don Olney of Rochester - sculpture

Nick Agnello of Rochester painting

Martine Lepore of Rochester- painting with acrylic

Patrick Doyle of Rochester- create artistic geometric spheres

 

The twenty-six selected performing artists will receive a $100 honorarium thanks to Culture Builds Communities grants.

 

Culture Builds Communities Awards are designed to support community projects that involve artists and/or cultural organizations and that result in the creation of a lasting work of art that celebrates the neighborhood. Culture Builds Communities grants are awarded by the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester with funding through Citibank and the City of Rochester.