FestivALL 2009

 Monday, May 4

 “Coal Miners, Coal Camps, and Molasses Making” - New Deal Photo Exhibition
Date/Time: May 4 - June 30, Mon-Fri 8 am-5pm

Features work by New Deal photographers Ben Shahn and Marion Post Wolcott, who visited West Virginia under the auspices of the U.S. Farm Security Administration to document life in the Depression-era.  (304) 347-3086

Sponsors: WV Humanities Council
Cost: Free
Venue: Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse, 300 Virginia St. E,

Wednesday, May 27

“Awareness” sponsored by OVEC
Date/Time: May 30-June 30 6, 9am - 6pm,  Opening June 24, 6-8 pm

From traditional fine art mediums to taxidermy, an exhibition of 5 visual artists raising awareness of environmental issues surrounding everyday life.

Sponsor: Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

Cost: Free
Links: www.paulcorbitbrown.com, www.erikaosborne.com, http://webpages.marshall.edu/~white198/links.html, www.sethdavidson.com

Venue: Habitat for Humanity Restore, 815 Young Street

Wednesday, June 10

Celebrate, العربيه, Celebrar, Celebrare: A Language Installation Art Exhibit by Amy Williams and Chris Dutch
Date/Time: Installation date June 10

Servicemen and servicewomen in the Middle East see them. Italian immigrants used to struggle with them in the same way Mexican immigrants do today. What are they? Signs in a language you don’t know. Following on the exhibit at last year’s FestivAll, “Press 2 for Spanish,” artists Amy Williams and Chris Dutch expand the classroom to the street by adding Arabic and Italian signs to downtown Charleston. The Capitol Street corridor will become an international zone. 20 new signs will be added – 10 in Arabic and 10 in Italian.

Since Middle East issues are increasingly relevant in our world today, Arabic was chosen as one language to include. Our soldiers in the Middle East see things labeled in Arabic daily. This is a way for local citizens to share in that experience. Because Charleston has many residents of Italian descent, Italian was chosen as another new language to feature. Historically, Italian immigrants experienced many of the same problems that Spanish-speaking immigrants face today. Because the exhibit is meant to be in a street-art style, it will continue to use spray painted stencils on two-color signs. Each language will be featured in a different color. Spanish signs will be in red, Arabic signs will be in blue and Italian signs will be in green.

As world issues continue to affect us in our own town, the exhibit provides a vibrant, visual connection related to the importance of communication and understanding one another better. Because of the large and varied response to last year’s exhibit, the artists will provide a free-standing board that will be available during FestivAll for people to respond to the exhibit or to write words in other languages.

Cost: Free
Links: www.artofamywilliams.shutterfly.com, www.amyvangogh.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=708647805&ref=profile
Venue: Capitol Street

Saturday, June 13

East End House Garden Tour
Date/Time: House Tour anytime, Garden Tour June 13 – June 28

Self guided historic house tour and house garden showcases. A special yard sign with the Garden Showcase logo will be placed in each Garden Showcase participant’s yard for the duration of the event, and due to the success of last year’s Showcase, we will be bringing back "Meet the Gardener’s Day" on June 20. On that day, gardeners are encouraged to stick around their house and field questions from tourists about their plants, techniques and successful gardens. Printed brochures of the houses featured will be available at various venues around town, at the Charleston Business Alliance offices, 1116 Smith Street, and at FestivALL information tables. They will also be available on line at the link below. For more information call Ric Cavender at (304) 340-4253.

Sponsor: The Masters Law Firm, LC

Link: www.charlestonareaalliance.org/events/
Venue: East End

Monday, June 15

Art Gawk
Date/Time: June 15 – July 31

Local artists work displayed in storefront windows downtown.

Cost: Free
Venue: Downtown Charleston

Thursday, June 18

Vintage 3 – A Vintage Art Auction to benefit the YWCA $2 Million Challenge
Time: 5:30- 7:30 PM

Art lovers will find both vintage and new original artwork from accomplished area artists at this exciting silent art auction. Oils, watercolors, pastels, photography, sculptures, pottery and more will be included.

Join us for wine and hors d’oeuvres as you find great pieces to add to your collection. All proceeds benefit the YWCA’s social service programs through the YWCA $2 Million Challenge. Previous Vintage 1 and Vintage 2 events featured wonderful works by Kemp McElwee, Susan Poffenbarger, Helen Chilton, Barrie Kaufman, Caryl Toth, Britt McJunkin, Steve Payne, Roger Lucas, Paula Clendenin, Ellie Schaul and more than 100 other artists and artisans.

Have any original artwork that no longer fits your present taste or vision? Please consider donating your quality framed and ready to hang artwork to this worthy cause. Call (304) 414-3113 for more information, or bring your artwork to the YWCA by June 4 and receive a donation receipt for your tax records.

Cost: $25
Links: www.ywcacharleston.org
Venue: YWCA of Charleston, 1114 Quarrier Street

Africa University Choir
Time: 7:30pm

The 16-student choir, based at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe is composed of students from eight African nations.

Cost: Free
Venue: Maier Foundation Performance Hall, Clay Center, One Clay Center

Event Dates TBA

Rob Ashford Panels and Workshops
Time: TBA

Rob Ashford is a Tony Award-winning American choreographer and director. He is a four-time Tony Award nominee, five-time Olivier Award nominee, Drama Desk winner and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.

Raised in Beckley, West Virginia, Rob was discovered to have potential dance talent by WV choreographer, Toneta Akers-Toler, during summer presentations at Theatre West Virginia. She directed him towards a scholarship and study at Pittsburgh’s Point Park College. As a dancer, he made his Broadway debut in the 1987 Lincoln Center revival of "Anything Goes" starring Patti Lu Pone.

He began working as a choreographer when Rob Marshall sent him to re-stage "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in Buenos Aires. He next served as Associate Choreographer to Kathleen Marshall on the revival of "Kiss Me, Kate". His first Broadway show as choreographer was "Thoroughly Modern Millie", for which he won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Choreography.

His Broadway choreography includes "Cry Baby", "Curtains" and "The Wedding Singer". He also has choreographed 4 productions for New York City Center’s Encores! Choreographic credits in London include" Thoroughly Modern Millie", "Guys and Dolls", "Evita", "Parade, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Once in a Lifetime" and "Candide".

Rob made his directorial debut with Parade and received Olivier Nominations both for Direction and Choreography. Film credits include staging the musical numbers for the Bobby Darin biopic "Beyond the Sea" starring Kevin Spacey. For television, Ashford has choreographed tributes to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Barbara Streisand for the Kennedy Center Honors. He collaborated with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann on a production number featuring Hugh Jackman and Beyonce Knowles for the 81st Annual Academy Awards.
 

Upcoming projects include directing "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Donmar Warehouse (London) starring Academy Award Winner Rachel Weisz, and directing and choreographing "Parade" for the Mark Taper Forum (LA). Future Broadway productions include: "Promises, Promises"," Finding Neverland" and "Leap of Faith", all of which he will direct and choreograph.

Venues: TBA
Cost : Free