Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

Even though I’ve been attending the summer shorts for the past eight or nine years, I’ve never managed to get to the Shorts 4 Kids program. That changed this past weekend when the hubby and I took in the entire Summer Shorts festival, all three programs, totaling 23 plays. (See the reviews of Signature Shorts and Undershorts in this issue.) People have been telling me for a few years that the kids plays has some of the smartest writing in the festival, and they weren’t kidding. While there are a few plays geared more toward really young children, the majority of the plays have something for adults as well. The energy of the six member cast is extraordinary; they're always finding ways to engage the kids. Afterward, in the lobby, the young audience members were given souvenir pages to get the cast’s autographs, making the whole experience more of an event. The kids were great during the performance, very well behaved and enthralled by the action. It was terrific to see them enjoying the arts so much.

Pink Rose by Jennifer Maria Cordoba, part of the United & Proud exhibition

ArtsUnited Presents United & Proud Art Exhibit
ArtsUnited will present its annual member art exhibition, United & Proud, from through June 18 in Gallery Six at the Main Library in downtown Fort Lauderdale, in celebration of Gay Pride Month. A reception will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. to meet the artists. More than 50 member artists will exhibit their work in both 2D and 3D form. Prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, Best of Class, and People's Choice. The exhibition is presented in conjunction with Stonewall Library & Archives' historical exhibition, “Stonewall: The End of the Beginning,” celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which is widely viewed to have sparked the gay rights movement.
For more information call 954-530-2723 or visit www.artsunitedonline.org.

Living Here by Aimee Ortiz

From Trash to Treasure
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will present Divine Debris & Glorious Trash Art Exhibit, June 8-14. The exhibit presents 15 artists with works fabricated from found, discarded and recycled objects. Celebrating the reinvention of castoffs, the artworks range from sculpture and assemblage, to painting, photography, jewelry and more. Featured artists include Aimee Ortiz, Deborah O'Dwyer, Dina Knapp, Dinorah de Jesús Rodríguez, Eva Ruiz, Daniel Fila (Krave), Laura Cerwinske, Rianne, Steve Forero-Paz, Stewart Stewart, Thomas Banks, Uta, and Vanessa Garcia, plus co-curators Carol Hoffman-Guzman, Arts at St. Johns and Paula Turk, There will also be an opening reception Tuesday, June 9, 7-9 p.m. www.mbgarden.org.

Sonido Batido

Sonido Batido
Sonido Batido, the Miami-based jazz trio, is known for its swirling mixture of jazz, Latin, and funk with flavors of salsa, reggae, bossa nova, samba, son, and guaranco. The group has just released their first CD, Journey of the Refugee, a collection of seven original pieces inspired by personal travels and experiences. Sonido Batido consists of Emilio Subdiaz (drums, percussion), Rubén Olvera (bass), and A.J. Khaw (piano, keyboard). The three musicians met at Churchill’s and formed their group in 2004. Since then, they developed an enthusiastic following, wowing audiences on the Miami club circuit in venues that include Tobacco Road, Kitchen 305, Wallflower Gallery, Luna Star Cafe, Gil's Cafe, Toscana, Mosaico, The Food Gang, Literary Cafe, Archie's, Harvey's on the Bay, Sheba, and Books and Books. They have been featured in various Arts at St. John's concerts and they were invited to play at Miami's first Fete de la Musique and first Sleepless Night celebration. Last November they completed a tour through Mexico. Catch their unique fusion Thursday, June 18, at Tobacco Road, 626 S. Miami Ave. in Miami during The Rock: Best Original Music at 10 p.m.. Sonido Batido will play upstairs on the cabaret stage. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door. For more information, call 305-374-1198. For more information about Soniso Batido, visit www.sonidobatido.com.

Photograph by Greg Pitts, part of the Meow Woof exhibition at Art Expressions

A Purr-fect Exhibition
As a cat lover, I have a real fondness for the guys at Art Expressions gallery in Wilton Manors. See, they love animals too, so much so that they let their gallery cat, Paloma, host her own art exhibition. This time she is featuring cats and her canine friends as well in. “Meow! Woof!” an art exhibition featuring cats and dogs in different medium—painting, photography, sketches, sculptures, etc.—by a diverse group of local artists. The exhibition is also a fundraiser for local organization Grateful Paws Dog & Cat Rescue, and a percentage of the proceeds of sales from the show will be donated to that charity. The exhibition runs June 6-20, with an opening night reception 7-9:30 p.m., which will feature a silent auction and raffle items. Raffle tickets will be available for sale during the reception. The public is invited and refreshments will be available. Admission is free. For more information visit www.artexpressions.tk.

Bill Evans and his sax will perform in Davie, part of Nuttree Quartet

Go Nuts for Nuttree
South Florida Jazz presents Nuttree Quartet at the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the Nova Southeastern University campus in Davie on Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m. The Nuttree Quartet is comprised of four luminaries of modern jazz: guitar icon John Abercrombie, saxophonist Bill Evans, Hammond B3 organist Gary Versace, and drummer-leader Adam Nussbaum. Perhaps best known of the players is guitarist John Abercrombie, whose style is infused with the traditions of Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt, retaining his fondness for jazz standards, while incorporating the evolving technology. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Bill Evans was introduced worldwide in a three-year stint with Miles Davis in the early 1980s. A dynamic player, Evans is equally equally comfortable in straight-ahead jazz to fusion, funk and beyond. His current efforts include the Soulbop band he co-leads with Randy Brecker. Gary Versace got his masters degree from Eastman School of Music, moved to New York City in 2002 and rapidly became one of the busiest and most versatile musicians on the scene as a pianist, organist, and also an accordionist. His style is distinctly contemporary and pianistic, with clear articulation and a deft touch to his provocative harmonic texturing.
Nuttree leader Adam Nussbaum has enjoyed a cutting-edge a drumming career and has long been associated with Abercrombie. Tickets are $35. Call 954-462-0222 or visit www,browardcenter.org. For more information on the concert, visit www.southfloridajazz.org.

Avi Hoffman is performing his one-man show Still Jewish After All These Years: A Life in the Theatre at two theatres this summer

Summer of Avi
Avi Hoffman is a busy man this summer. In addition to directing two plays in Summer Shorts at City Theatre, Hoffman is performing in his one-man show Still Jewish After All These Years: A Life in the Theatre at the Tamarac Theatre of the Performing Arts through June 28, and then further north July 10 through August 2 at the Little Theatre at Santaluces in Lantana. Hoffman performed the show for a three-week run in Boca Raton lat February to good reviews and full houses. In the show, Hoffman entertains audience through songs and anecdotes about a lifetime spent in the theatre. I saw this show during its world premiere, and found Hoffman particularly engaging as he reflected on being a child performer, working with Richard Harris in the only film Harris ever directed, his many tours and the stars he worked with in Yiddish theatre. For more information, visit www.newvistatheatre.org.

Go Totally Rad at the Caldwell
Do you long to revisit your inner Molly Ringwald? Do you indentify with vintage Madonna—you know, the Desperately Seeking Susan Madonna? Did you once harbor a secret dream to be an extra in a Michael Jackson video? Dig out the neo spandex and leg warmers, pile on the mousse and make plans to go to the Best of the 80's benefit at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton. The fundraiser will be held Friday, June 5, there’ll be free punch, and an ‘80s dance party with totally 80's prizes for the best dancers. There will also be a play reading of High Life, about four morphine addicts who plan a bank heist. Michael McKeever, Gregg Weiner and Paul Tei will be part of the cast. Guests are encouraged to dress in ‘80s attire, so dig out the parachute pants. Admission is $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the event. For more information, visit www.caldwelltheatre.com.

A Taste of Brazil
Brazilian Film Festival begins Friday, June 5 and runs through Saturday June 13 at various venues throughout South Florida. The festival will showcase more than 40 acclaimed Brazilian films and will present many international guests, including directors, producers, actors and film distributors. The festival kicks off under the stars on Hollywood Beach with a screening of My Name Ain’t Johnny. Highlights of the Brazilian Film Festival include a tribute to director Bruno Barreto complete with screenings of some of his films at Miami Beach Cinemat heque, including Bossa Nova, Saturday, June 6; Romeo and Juliette Get Married, Sunday, June 7; Dona Flor and her Two Husbands, Monday, June 8; Four Days in September, Tuesday, June 9; Money on the Side, Wednesday, June 10; and Carried Away, Thursday, June 11. In addition to the screeings, there will be an after party every night of the festival. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.brazilianfilmfestival.com.





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