Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

Birthdays are a time for reflection, and having celebrated a birthday last week, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting.  Life is a journey, and the past few months have been a non-stop stretch of speed bumps and potholes. But the wreckage seems to have cleared, and I’m hoping the smooth roads I’ve experienced during November continue.  What the past few months has taught me is that things can change in an instant, no matter how careful you are, and life is too short to stay stuck in a rut.  That’s why I’ve dubbed this my Year of Living Differently.  The plan is to do things which are out of my norm, out of my comfort zone.  That doesn’t mean I’ll be strapping a parachute to my back and jumping out of a plane anytime soon —or ever, for that matter—but it does mean that I’m going to set aside pre-conceived notions and make sure to say yes to things I would have said no to before.  It’s time to shake things up, to get out there and experience different things and meet different people.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky  Photo: Henry Perez

From Russia with Love
One of my first acts during my year of living differently was to attend the Dmitri Hvorostovsky concert Friday, November 16 at the Knight Concert Hall at Carnival Center. Now, the first big concert I ever attended was when I was 12 and went to see Barry Manilow with a friend’s family in Lakeland.  Over the years I’ve seen many of the greats—Elton John, Billy Joel, The Who, Springsteen, McCartney, Bob Seger, Chicago, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Queen, The Police, Harry Connick Jr., Liza Minnelli, Meatloaf—an eclectic group to be sure, but the closest I’d ever come to classical was the Flamingo Freedom Band’s holiday concert.  While I appreciate classical music and opera from a technical standpoint, I never thought I’d enjoy a whole concert.  I generally prefer music I can sing along to, and I don’t know Russian.  But Hvorostovski, backed by the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Constantine Orbelian changed all that.  The man possesses the voice of an angel, albeit a passionate, hunky angel.  He was mesmerizing—every note dripped with charisma.  I loved that the program contained the English translation of his arias, so I knew that practically every song was about unrequited love, which added to the enjoyment of the show.   I’m now officially a fan.

Highlights of the Past Weeks
I participated in one of my favorite South Florida traditions on November 11, attending the last day of the Miami International Book Fair.  It was great walking the aisles and browsing the books.  Despite the crowds it was a relaxing day.  When my book-loving companion and I needed a rest we sat in on a panel, in this case a raucous discussion by past and present New Times writers, who seemed to cover everything but the topic, which was the future of journalism.  We also popped into the cozy Write Out Loud lounge to hear local writers read their work.  When I got home I spread the books I bought on the bed like a kid on Christmas morning, and tried to decide which one to play with first.  I settled on The Lives of the Muses by Francine Prose, a fascinating book about nine women and their profound effect on the male artists in their lives.  A few days later, I was off to West Palm Beach for a chic cocktail party and fundraiser for Palm Beach Dramaworks, the excellent theatre nestled in downtown on Banyan Street. Held in the garden of the Eaton Fine Arts Gallery, the theatre’s co-founders, William Hays, Nanique Gheridian and Sue Ellen Beryl were honored for their commitment to creating quality theatre.  The weather cooperated, the food was to die for, and the entire evening was a masterpiece of casual elegance.  Through December 2 at Palm Beach Dramaworks: an excellent production of The Subject Was Roses by Frank D. Gilroy, the story of a son who returns from World War II and sees his parents’ fractured marriage through adult eyes.    palmbeachdramaworks.org.

MiamiARTzine.com at the Lurie Gallery
While you’re out doing the Art Basel thing, be sure to join MiamiARTzine.com Friday, December 7, 6-8 p.m., for a special event at the Lurie Gallery in the Miami Design District.  Exhibiting artists include John LaHuis, Javier de Aubeyson, Luciana Abait, Jorge Santos, Oriano Galloni, and James Tyler, whose sculpture Brickhead will replace the current piece in front of the gallery.  The Lurie Gallery is located at 3900 NE 1 Ave., Miami.  luriegalleries.com

Annette Miller in Martha Mitchell Calling

Theatre Openings
The New Vista Theatre Company opens the musical Funny Girl at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the Nova campus in Davie.  The story of the life of vaudeville star Fanny Brice, it’s the piece that made Barbra Streisand a household name.  Funny Girl runs through December 2 at the Miniaci, then moves to the West Boca Performing Arts Theatre December 13-30.  newvistatheatre.com.  Ground Up & Rising presents a reprise of their production of Jesus Hopped the A Train November 23-25 at the GableStage Theatre in Coral Gables.  The weekend of performances benefit Ground Up & Rising.  For more info and tickets, call 305-445-1119 or visit gablestge.org. The Mosaic Theatre in Plantation presents the east coast premiere of Guest Artist, by actor and playwright Jeff Daniels, an autobiographical comedy about a burned out playwright who visits a small town that’s producing what may be his last play.  Guest Artist runs November 29 through December 23.  mosaictheatre.com.  Actor’s Playhouse in Coral Gables presents Martha Mitchell Calling, a one-woman show written by Jodi Rothe and starring Annette Miller as the real-life wife of Richard Nixon’s attorney general who was swept up in the drama of Watergate in the early 1970s.  Martha Mitchell Calling runs November 28 through December 23.  actorsplayhouse.org. The Alliance Theatre Lab in Miami Lakes is doing Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley, about a New York couple who come together for a night, emotional baggage and all.  Danny and the Deep Blue Sea runs November 29 through December 16.  thealliancetheatrelab.com.  Edge Theatre presents Sylvia by A.R. Gurney, about a husband who brings home a stray dog, played on stage by a young woman, much to his wife's consternation. Edge is located in the Miami Design District, and Sylvia runs November 30 through January 20.  For more info and to reserve tickets, call 786-355-0976.  The Maltz Jupiter Theatre presents The Boy Friend, December 4-23, a spoof of 1920's musical comedies.  www.jupitertheatre.org.

World’s fastest tap dancer James Devine

Devine Dancing
James Devine is dancing as fast as he can.  His tap dancing has been recorded at an astounding 38 taps per second, and he holds the title of “fastest dancer in the world,” according to Guinness World Book of Records. You can see for yourself when Devine brings his Tapeire-Driven by Rhythm to the Studio Theatre at Carnival Center for the Performing Arts November 29 through December 2.  Devine’s breakneck tap dancing, combined on stage with hip-hop, jazz and punk interpretations of traditional Celtic music, tribal rhythms, vocals, percussion and video projections, create “one rhythmic spectacle after another.” (Dance Expression, UK). For his Miami debut, Devine is joined on stage by the multi-platinum selling artist Ashley MacIsaac, the most celebrated Cape Breton fiddler in the world; award-winning composer and electric harpist Phamie Gow; and percussionist Paul Jennings.  Tapeire-Driven by Rhythm has enjoyed huge success and great critical acclaim throughout the world, including a sold-out run at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Devine has performed at the Oscars and toured the world starring in Lord of the Dance and GaelForce. I recently saw James Devine perform on a talk show and was blown away by the speed and perfection of his tapping.  I can’t think of better accompaniment than fiddler-extraordinaire Ashley MacIsaac, whose brisk music frequently accompanies me as I’m maneuvering through South Florida traffic.  Tickets are $25.  Call 305-949-6722 or visit carnivalcenter.org.

Ralphie tells Santa he longs for a BB gun in A Christmas Story

Relax with a Classic Holiday Movie at the Can Film Fest
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival continues their holiday tradition of giving with the 7^th Annual Can Film Festival at Cinema Paradiso, November 30 through December 2. All of the holiday-themed films in the festival are free with the donation of two cans of food or one new unwrapped toy per person.   Canned goods will be donated to the Broward Partnership for the Homeless and the toys will be provided to ChildNet.   Films include the original 1947 classic Miracle on 34^th Street, A Christmas Story, Love Actually, Bad Santa, The Santa Clause, Elf, Polar Express, The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, and Home Alone. In addition to the Cinema Paradiso screenings, there will be a special outdoor screening of Polar Express on December 1 at Weston Town Centre.  All films and events are free with the donation of two cans of food or one new unwrapped toy per person.  The fun begins Friday, November 30 at 6 p.m. with festival kick-off party, complete with short Christmas films for kids, eggnog, hot apple cider, Hors d’oeuvres and cookies, horse drawn hay rides, and the film Trapped in Paradise with Nicholas Cage, Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey, as three crooks stuck in a small town obsessed with spreading good will.  Now, I know you can rent any of these movies and watch them at home—heck, you probably even own some of them.  But I’ve been to this wonderful festival in the past, and there’s something really relaxing about watching these films on a big screen in Cinema Paradiso’s comfy blue seats—and you’ll be helping people out with food and toys during the holidays when they need it most.  For more info and a complete schedule, visit fliff.com.

Poetry in Motion
Florida International University and Gulfstream Magazine will present a workshop on visual poetry with Nick Carbó on Friday, November 30, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus, AC1 226.  Carbó is a writer of Filipino and Spanish heritage and the author of three poetry collections and the editor of three anthologies of Philippine literature. Carbo’s sculptural piece “Credit Score” is collected in the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami and his piece “Medicine Cabinet” is in the collection of the Ruth & Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry.  Cost of the workshop is $25 for FIU students and faculty, $35 for non-FIU participants.  All proceeds will benefit Gulfsteam Magazine, the literary publication of FIU.  For more information and to reserve your seat, email gulfstreamfiu@yahoo.com.

Carnival Center  Photo: Robert Figueroa

Go Behind the Magic
Carnival Center launches its free biweekly Behind-the-Scenes Tours Monday, December 3 at noon.  If you’ve never toured Carnival Center, this is a great opportunity to get to know the largest American performing arts center built in three decades from top to bottom, inside and out. If you have toured before, come back and see it like you’ve never seen it before—as Miami’s newest public tourist attraction. Either way, we hope you can join us. Highlights of the tour include:  Insider information about the Center’s iconic architecture, history and the many stars who have already graced its stages; a walk through all the theaters, from lobbies to stage, including glimpses into star dressing rooms and private meeting rooms and lounges not normally open to the public; dramatic views of Government Cut and the Miami skyline from the Center’s upper tiers and Biscayne Boulevard pedestrian bridge; the Art in Public Places site-specific installations created by five renowned artists; depending on schedule, the loading in or out of a production.  Following the December 3 launch, free guided tours will be available to the public every Monday and Saturday at noon. Tours are free and no reservations are needed.  Cameras are welcome on the tour.  For more info, visit carnivalcenter.org.

Women’s Theatre Project Presents Holiday Shopping Fundraiser
The Women’s Theatre Project is inviting the public to a special fundraising event of holiday shopping on Friday, December 7, 6-9 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Gallery, 3556 North Ocean Drive, Fort Lauderdale.  Guests will enjoy wine and complimentary hors d’oeuvres and meet the Women’s Theatre Project Board of Directors, actors and supporters.  There will also be  raffles and enjoy the distinctive selection of museum quality artwork featuring the paintings of Richard Sklar, nautical themed pieces and an eclectic assortment of art glass and gift items for all occasions.  A percentage of all sales from the evening will go to the Women’s Theatre Project to support their 2008 season.  A $10 cover charge includes a drink ticket (season subscription holders will receive $2 off entry to the gala and subscriptions can be purchased on the night of the event).  Payment for the event is cash or check only and made payable to The Women’s Theatre Project.  RSVPs are required by December 4 to twtp@bellsouth.net or 954-462-2334.

New World Musicians Perform Carmina Burana
From the secular and mystical to the worldly and ephemeral, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a selection from the original manuscript collection of 13^th century songs and poems, will resound through Miami’s landmark Gusman Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, November 29, at 7:30 p.m. as New World School of the Arts presents its first major classical program of the season.  More than 180 musicians comprised of the NWSA Symphony Orchestra, the NWSA Opera Theater Ensemble, the NWSA High School Choir, and special guest Southwood Middle School Choir, will join together to interpret the composition. Sung in Latin, the performance will highlight the talent of three exceptional NWSA soloists – college student Cathy Spitzer, soprano; faculty member Rodney Miller, baritone and Nick Perna, tenor, also a faculty member at NWSA. 

New World School of the Arts symphony

Taken from an original manuscript collection of more than 1,000 poems and songs, Orff’s 1935-1936 Carmina Burana musical interpretation, arranged for orchestra and chorus, features 24 of the sacred and secular poems set to new music and covers a wide range of topics as relevant to the 21^st century as it was in 1200s—the volatility of fortune and wealth, the ephemeral nature of life and the pleasures and perils of drinking, gluttony, gambling and lust. Gusman Center for the Performing Arts is located at 174 East Flagler Street.  Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.  For tickets and information, visit nwsa.mdc.edu, or contact the Music Hotline at 305-237-7855.

ArtCenter Workshops Offer Holiday Help
Just in time for the holidays, ArtCenter/South Florida (ACSF) will hold two workshops in which participants will learn how to create personalized, handmade gifts and wrapping paper.  Chandelier-earring making will be taught December 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at ACSF, 800 Lincoln Road, Room 109. Leslie LaCombe will teach participants how to create their own chandelier earrings.  Supplies, Starbuck’s coffee, and holiday snacks are included.  Attendees leave with a pair of earrings and new skills to use on future projects. Tuition is $95 per person; space is limited.  Wrapping paper design and printing workshops will be held December 2 and 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ACSF, 924 Lincoln Road, Room 103. This workshop, taking place in the Print Lab at ACSF, will teach adults and children how to use techniques such as printing, stamping, cutting, and pasting to make their own holiday wrapping paper and gift tags. All supplies are included; holiday refreshments will be served. Tuition is $15 for members, $25 for non-members; children welcome (first child is free, each additional is $5).  For more information, call (305) 674-8278, Extension 10 or 15.

Ray Sullivan, Merle Weiss and Andrew Sargent at “Abundance” the November 8 celebration for Miami Contemporary Dance Company Photo: Rodrigo Romero

Miami Contemporary Dance Honored
Karu Restaurant & Y, was the place to be on November 8 for “Abundance,” a cocktail reception and dinner in honor of international dance star Ray Sullivan, artistic director of Miami Contemporary Dance Company.  Guests, including Simon Cruz, Merle Weiss, David Leddick, Elliot Monter, Cesar Sotomayor and the Honorary Chair of the event, Eva Chutjian of he Chutjian Foundation, enjoyed an exclusive cocktail reception in the zen-like Tottem Gardens followed by a lavish, multimedia dinner served amidst plasma televisions projecting images of Miami Contemporary Dance Company’s repertory.  The evening included tango and dancing.  “We are so grateful to our many friends and supporters,” said Sullivan. “They are the secret behind the success of Miami Contemporary Dance Company. ‘Abundance’ was the perfect name for the evening.”  Next up: the Miami Contemporary Dance Company and Il Balletto dell’Espiria presents Miami-Italia, a celebration of two countries coming together in one evening of dance.  Performances take place November 30 through December 1, 8 p.m., at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach.  And you can meet the dancers at a special event upstairs at Van Dyke’s Café, just a few blocks east of the Colony on Lincoln Road, on Thursday, November 29 at 8:30 p.m.  Space is limited.  For more info, visit  miamicontemporarydance.net.

Arts Ballet Theatre Presents The Nutcracker
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida is proud to present The Nutcracker under the artistic direction of Russian ballet master, Vladimir Issaev.  This young company will feature principal dancer Yoshie Oshima as the Sugarplum Fairy and Andrey Konkin as her Cavalier.  This traditional ballet is performed every year by Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. Not only is The Nutcracker the most popular ballet enjoyed by all audiences around the world during this time of the year, but it also serves as an introduction to ballet to the very young audiences.  Issaev’s choreography preserves the Russian tradition with his version as an alternative to those who already have seen Balanchine’s version.  Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida will present The Nutcracker at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, December 8 and 9 and at the  North Miami Beach Performing Arts Theater, Saturday, December 15 and 16.  For tickets and information, call 305-935- 3232 or visit artsballettheatre.org.

Have a Field Day with Art
Camposition and The Field/Miami celebrates the end of its Fall 2007 Field/Work session with its culminating Field/Day on Saturday, December 1, at 801 Projects and Camposition Studio.    Fieldwork is multi-week workshop designed to help artists gather information about their artwork before being shown to the public.  Fieldwork workshops serve artists on a completely non-curated basis; group participants come from diverse disciplines, aesthetic viewpoints and levels of development. The informal showing will include works by artists Shane Linehan, Ana Miranda, Alexandra Nunez, Afua Hall, Lauren Sing, Kristie Stephenson, veterans Bill Spring, Ralphie Love and facilitators Becky Flowers and Charmille Walters.  As The Field invites artists of all disciplines to participate, works presented on December 1 will encompass everything from movement and dance to visual art to monologue and comedy.  Some artists will strive to provide experiences in exploration through thought-provoking performance and visuals, while others will present a lighter side of life.   A conversation with the artists will immediately follow the performance. Doors open at 8:01 p.m. for gallery viewing and reception, followed by performances of the participating A suggested donation of $8.01 will be accepted for the continuation of The Field/Miami workshops.  For more info, e-mail flowersbecky@hotmail.com.

Millenium Girl by Laurence Gartel

Absolute Erotic
Digital media artist, Laurence Gartel, whose work has been internationally applauded for its vision and clarity of purpose, will debut his provocative new exhibit, “Gartel: Exotic/Erotic/Electronic,” December 3-January 15 at World Erotic Art Museum. Known as a pioneer in his medium, Gartel came to prominence nearly 32 years ago when his first original system electronic photograph was published in 1976 and shown at New York’s Experimental Television Center. Working during the ‘70s long before the personal computer came into general use, Gartel’s graphics, his techniques, and his forward thinking in terms of new technologies, launched a career which was to evolve into his current status as one of the art world’s most original and visionary artists.  Sponsored by Absolut for the past 17 years, Gartel’s Absolut Gartel images have been published in millions of magazines throughout the world.  For his show at the World Erotic Art Museum, Gartel is stepping into a new arena, having persuaded owner Naomi Wilzig to allow him to re-sample and re-interpret original art objects, paintings and memorabilia as source material for new works, the challenge being “to see how far the artist can extract and metamorphosize imagery,” the result being new media imagery classically Gartel.  Included in the show will be a look back in which Gartel will showcase a retrospective body of work on the subject of eroticism, examine his “Early Nudes” of the ‘70s as seen in “GARTEL: Arte e Tecnologia” published by Edizioni Mazzotta; his “Art of Fetish” series published in a new book by Schiffer, digital works on paper, and multi-media works on screen. Gartel is currently working on a project scanning his entire career for a library company that provides the “History of Art” to universities, colleges and museums.  The World Erotic Art Museum is located at 1205 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.  For more info, call 305-532-9336 or visit weam.com.

Artist Purvis Young Photo: Harvey J. Burstein

Purvis Young “Angels” Exhibition Opens at Grace Gallery
Miami native Purvis Young will present “Angels,” at the Grace Gallery in Dania Beach.  “Angels” is Young’s first major retrospective since his kidney transplant in January.  The exhibition includes more than 100 paintings, drawings and mixed media works on wood, paper and other materials from 1988 to the present day.  The angel theme has been one of Young’s hallmarks from his earliest work where one sees angels on earth with halos, small angels with wings from heaven and the saintly, stoic angels each signifying help and guidance or posing a question about the state of the world.  “Angels” will open to the public on Thursday, December 1 through February 1.  Young has also created a series of holiday cards which are currently on sale at Grace Gallery.  A box of 25 is priced at $25.  Grace Gallery & Studios is located at 49 North Federal Highway, Dania Beach.  For more info, call 954-921-1231.

New Award for Local Performing Artists
A group of leading Miami arts organizations have created the annual Justin Macdonnell Award to support locally based performing artists and the creation of new performance works. The award is named for Justin Macdonnell, the departing artistic director of the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. During the Center’s first year, Macdonnell sought out diverse and challenging programming and collaborated with many Miami artists and cultural organizations. Mcdonnell’s support of and enthusiasm for local artists received praise from many in the arts community.  The first Award will be announced in 2008 and will include cash from Tigertail Productions, Miami Light Project and City Theater and in-kind services from the interdisciplinary Sound Arts Workshop of the South Florida Composer’s Alliance.  For more information on the Justin Macdonnell Award please contact Tigertail Productions at 305-324 4337.

Nominations Needed for Moretti Award
The Cultural Foundation of Broward is requesting nominations for the annual Moretti Award, which recognizes outstanding artistic achievement by an individual or group in any creative discipline of the arts. The deadline for the nomination submission is March 1, 2008.   The criteria for the award nominations are as follows: members of the artistic community that demonstrate extraordinary talent and dedication to a specific artistic discipline; and the artistic discipline must be presented or produced in Broward County.  Created in the early 1980s the coveted, gold-plated, bronze award was designed by abstract sculptor Henry E. Moretti. Born and raised in France, Moretti studied architecture and city planning at the University of Paris. After working in New York City as a design consultant for 10 years, he made Fort Lauderdale his home. Past recipients include concert impresario Judy Drucker, Gold Coast Jazz Founder Frederick Ruffner, conductor James Judd, visual artist Tin Ly and arts organizations such as the Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale and Miami City Ballet. If you’d like to nominate someone, visit broward.org/arts/foundation/moretti.htm to find complete guidelines and nomination form.  For more information, call 954-357-7457.