October 4 & 5, 2008 – The 69th edition of The Cotton Pickin’ Fair – Gay, GA – Three hundred skilled artisans feature Art, Antiques & Crafts in a 1910 era farm venue. A unique shopping and entertainment experience for the entire family. Delicious southern foods are baked, fried, boiled, and barbequed on site and music, folk dancing, story telling, and puppetry arts delight both young and old throughout the each day.
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday; Admission: $5 Adults, $3 Children (4-12). Contact: www.cpfair.org for directions and a preview of our festival or call (706) 538-6814. Sponsored by The 1911 Society, Ltd., a Georgia Non-profit Corporation supporting Sustainable Rural Development Agri-Tourism.
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Monday, August 11, 2008
National Endowment for the Arts Announces Domestic Indemnity Program
$5 billion in insurance coverage supports American museums
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) today announced the addition of a domestic component to the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program that will provide significant assistance to American museums while increasing opportunities for audiences to view great works of art. For the first time, exhibitions drawn from U.S. collections are eligible for indemnity coverage while on view in American museums. With the program's history of unqualified success in covering international exhibitions, it is expected that the domestic component will have an equally profound impact on American museums and the publics they serve.
Since 1975, the NEA has administered the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program on behalf of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities to reduce the costs of insurance for American museums exhibiting collections from abroad or loaning their objects for exhibitions in other countries. The indemnity agreements are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury in the event of loss or damage. Because of this program, exhibition organizers, mostly non-profit museums, have been spared nearly $250 million in insurance premiums.
In December 2007, President Bush signed legislation amending the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act, to establish the domestic indemnity program. The statute authorizes a total amount of coverage available for all exhibitions taking placing at one time of $5 billion, with a maximum indemnity of $750 million for a single exhibition. The total value of an exhibition must be at least $75 million to be eligible for coverage. A sliding scale deductible, which applies per exhibition, is based on the dollar value of the coverage.
NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said, "It is difficult to overstate the importance of this $5 billion of domestic indemnity. It will save American museums millions of dollars in insurance and bring more great exhibitions to more communities than ever before."
The domestic program will operate parallel to the international program, with two application deadlines per year and review by an advisory panel of museum professionals, with final decisions made by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Guidelines and applications for domestic indemnity are available at www.arts.gov/grants/apply/Indemnity/indemnityDomestic.html. The first deadline is September 8, 2008 for coverage beginning as early as December 1, 2008.
Over the last 33 years, the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program has helped make possible more than 900 exhibitions of treasures from collections worldwide while on view in this country. Since the program's inception, there have been virtually no claims. In fact, earlier this year, a recovered painting was sold at auction, netting the Treasury a payout of more than five times the original claim reimbursement.
Examples of indemnified exhibitions are Treasures of Tutankhamun at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY), Dali's Optical Illusions at the Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford, CT), Louvre Atlanta at the High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA), Treasures from the First Emperor of China at the Birmingham Museum of Art (AL), Tamayo: A Modern Icon Reinterpreted at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (CA).
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The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) today announced the addition of a domestic component to the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program that will provide significant assistance to American museums while increasing opportunities for audiences to view great works of art. For the first time, exhibitions drawn from U.S. collections are eligible for indemnity coverage while on view in American museums. With the program's history of unqualified success in covering international exhibitions, it is expected that the domestic component will have an equally profound impact on American museums and the publics they serve.
Since 1975, the NEA has administered the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program on behalf of the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities to reduce the costs of insurance for American museums exhibiting collections from abroad or loaning their objects for exhibitions in other countries. The indemnity agreements are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury in the event of loss or damage. Because of this program, exhibition organizers, mostly non-profit museums, have been spared nearly $250 million in insurance premiums.
In December 2007, President Bush signed legislation amending the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act, to establish the domestic indemnity program. The statute authorizes a total amount of coverage available for all exhibitions taking placing at one time of $5 billion, with a maximum indemnity of $750 million for a single exhibition. The total value of an exhibition must be at least $75 million to be eligible for coverage. A sliding scale deductible, which applies per exhibition, is based on the dollar value of the coverage.
NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said, "It is difficult to overstate the importance of this $5 billion of domestic indemnity. It will save American museums millions of dollars in insurance and bring more great exhibitions to more communities than ever before."
The domestic program will operate parallel to the international program, with two application deadlines per year and review by an advisory panel of museum professionals, with final decisions made by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Guidelines and applications for domestic indemnity are available at www.arts.gov/grants/apply/Indemnity/indemnityDomestic.html. The first deadline is September 8, 2008 for coverage beginning as early as December 1, 2008.
Over the last 33 years, the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program has helped make possible more than 900 exhibitions of treasures from collections worldwide while on view in this country. Since the program's inception, there have been virtually no claims. In fact, earlier this year, a recovered painting was sold at auction, netting the Treasury a payout of more than five times the original claim reimbursement.
Examples of indemnified exhibitions are Treasures of Tutankhamun at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY), Dali's Optical Illusions at the Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford, CT), Louvre Atlanta at the High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA), Treasures from the First Emperor of China at the Birmingham Museum of Art (AL), Tamayo: A Modern Icon Reinterpreted at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (CA).
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Stone Mountain Park Celebrates Forty Years of The Yellow Daisy Festival
Stone Mountain Park celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Yellow Daisy Festival Sept. 4-7. Thousands of shoppers, young and young at heart, are invited to experience 500 crafters from all over the United States and their works of art. The Yellow Daisy Festival is a former winner of the “Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events” and was named “The Nation’s #1 Arts & Crafts Show” five years in a row by Sunshine Artist Magazine. The four-day festival is free with $10 vehicle entry into the park.
The Yellow Daisy Festival hosts a number of unique artists including eighteen year-old Dylan Scott Pierce, a watercolorist from Douglasville, Ga. and the youngest artist participating in the festival. Other artists include Hurricane Katrina survivors Jeanine Nahra, a scratch artist from Gretna, La. and Dan Fineman, a woodworker from Diberville, Miss.
“Over the past forty years, the Yellow Daisy Festival has featured an extraordinary collection of artists from all types of backgrounds, “ said Jeanine Battle, special events manager for Stone Mountain Park. “These artists have influenced the hearts and minds of an estimated eight million shoppers which includes multiple generations of grandmothers, mothers and daughters.”
Additionally, the festival offers entertainment, an assortment of festival foods, a Men’s Den and a Children’s Corner. New this year, the festival is promoting environmental awareness by providing free reusable shopping bags made of biodegradable materials. Plus, recycling bins will be strategically placed through-out the festival grounds.
Shoppers can stop by the Burt’s Bee’s tent, a festival sponsor, to learn about their organic products and receive free massages and samples. Other sponsor displays include 104.7 The FISH, GMC, National Pork Council, Kroger and Comcast.
Tips for the Inexperienced (and Professional)
Yellow Daisy Shopper
The many shopping, food and entertainment options can be overwhelming to any shopper, whether a long time attendee or brand new to the festival. To minimize anxiety, tips on the best way to delight in the Yellow Daisy Festival are provided.
1. Gather your shopping posse. Whether it is your mother, grandmother, daughter or best friends you will want to make sure you experience the Yellow Daisy Festival with your best pals.
2. Prepare for your Yellow Daisy Festival shopping weekend by checking the weather forecast, and then choosing appropriate clothing. Clothing that is light and comfortable along with walking shoes will suffice.
3. Prepare a bag with essentials that you will need through-out the weekend. This bag should include: cash, credit card, check-book, sunscreen, lip gloss, compact and cell phone. Shoppers are welcome to bring their own shopping bags for purchases, or they can pick up a free biodegradable one at the Yellow Daisy Festival merchandise shop.
4. Plan your shopping route. With an estimated 200,000 shoppers over the four day festival, it is easy to miss artist booths. Blackberry Lane is the suggested beginning; a map can be found at stonemountainpark.com.
5. Arrive thirty minutes before the festival gates open. Hours are 10a.m.- 6p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday and 10a.m.- 7:30p.m.on Saturday.
6. Visit the featured artist, Vikki Mancil Weigel, at booth A35. Vikki is a self-taught artist and is recognized for her brilliant color palette and childlike spirit.
7. Send your husband, brother or father to the Men’s Den where they can relax in recliners while watching fall football games on a big screen TV.
8. Send your kids to the Children’s Corner where they can participate in crafts, rock walls, face painting and crazy hair.
9. Take a break from shopping and indulge in the fried candy bars, roasted corn and fresh cut fruit located at the many vendors. While on your break, enjoy the live bands providing entertainment at the Yellow Daisy Main stage.
10. End your weekend by taking inventory of all your purchases and plan next year’s Yellow Daisy Festival trip.
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The Yellow Daisy Festival hosts a number of unique artists including eighteen year-old Dylan Scott Pierce, a watercolorist from Douglasville, Ga. and the youngest artist participating in the festival. Other artists include Hurricane Katrina survivors Jeanine Nahra, a scratch artist from Gretna, La. and Dan Fineman, a woodworker from Diberville, Miss.
“Over the past forty years, the Yellow Daisy Festival has featured an extraordinary collection of artists from all types of backgrounds, “ said Jeanine Battle, special events manager for Stone Mountain Park. “These artists have influenced the hearts and minds of an estimated eight million shoppers which includes multiple generations of grandmothers, mothers and daughters.”
Additionally, the festival offers entertainment, an assortment of festival foods, a Men’s Den and a Children’s Corner. New this year, the festival is promoting environmental awareness by providing free reusable shopping bags made of biodegradable materials. Plus, recycling bins will be strategically placed through-out the festival grounds.
Shoppers can stop by the Burt’s Bee’s tent, a festival sponsor, to learn about their organic products and receive free massages and samples. Other sponsor displays include 104.7 The FISH, GMC, National Pork Council, Kroger and Comcast.
Tips for the Inexperienced (and Professional)
Yellow Daisy Shopper
The many shopping, food and entertainment options can be overwhelming to any shopper, whether a long time attendee or brand new to the festival. To minimize anxiety, tips on the best way to delight in the Yellow Daisy Festival are provided.
1. Gather your shopping posse. Whether it is your mother, grandmother, daughter or best friends you will want to make sure you experience the Yellow Daisy Festival with your best pals.
2. Prepare for your Yellow Daisy Festival shopping weekend by checking the weather forecast, and then choosing appropriate clothing. Clothing that is light and comfortable along with walking shoes will suffice.
3. Prepare a bag with essentials that you will need through-out the weekend. This bag should include: cash, credit card, check-book, sunscreen, lip gloss, compact and cell phone. Shoppers are welcome to bring their own shopping bags for purchases, or they can pick up a free biodegradable one at the Yellow Daisy Festival merchandise shop.
4. Plan your shopping route. With an estimated 200,000 shoppers over the four day festival, it is easy to miss artist booths. Blackberry Lane is the suggested beginning; a map can be found at stonemountainpark.com.
5. Arrive thirty minutes before the festival gates open. Hours are 10a.m.- 6p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday and 10a.m.- 7:30p.m.on Saturday.
6. Visit the featured artist, Vikki Mancil Weigel, at booth A35. Vikki is a self-taught artist and is recognized for her brilliant color palette and childlike spirit.
7. Send your husband, brother or father to the Men’s Den where they can relax in recliners while watching fall football games on a big screen TV.
8. Send your kids to the Children’s Corner where they can participate in crafts, rock walls, face painting and crazy hair.
9. Take a break from shopping and indulge in the fried candy bars, roasted corn and fresh cut fruit located at the many vendors. While on your break, enjoy the live bands providing entertainment at the Yellow Daisy Main stage.
10. End your weekend by taking inventory of all your purchases and plan next year’s Yellow Daisy Festival trip.
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Saturday, August 9, 2008
Georgia State Students’ Film to Premiere at Olympics
For most, going to the Olympics as a spectator is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For three Georgia State graduate students — Phoebe Brown, Shanna Gildersleeve and Micah Stansell — and their faculty adviser, Niklas Vollmer, attending this summer’s games in Beijing will offer another unique experience: the world premiere of their documentary film.
The Coca-Cola Co. commissioned Vollmer and his students to film a segment on Doug Stoup, an environmentalist and expeditionist who has led teams to the North and South poles and was selected as a torchbearer for this year’s Olympics. Teams of students from Australia, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tanzania and Turkey also filmed their own segments. After seeing the work from Georgia State, Coca-Cola asked Vollmer, Brown, Gildersleeve and Stansell to edit each five-minute segment into one film.
“Hopefully at some point, we’ll at least make some kind of personal contact with the other students,” Brown says. “We’ve spent a lot more time with their work. As you keep watching, you start feeling like you get a sense of what the people who made it would be like.”
The film blends the different filmmakers’ unique storytelling styles to illustrate the need for global awareness of environmental issues ranging from water pollution to melting glaciers to wildlife conservation. Each segment follows an environmentalist who was selected as an Olympic torchbearer and highlights his or her cause.
“Hopefully, it will effect some sort of change,” Stansell says.
Vollmer says it’s been rewarding to guide his students through the process of putting together the film, calling it a bridge between Georgia State and other universities.
“These three have been great at adapting to something that all of us, when we first agreed to it, had no idea what it really would turn out to be,” he says. “I wanted a sharp crew, and they’re sharp.”
The film will premiere Aug. 13 at the Coca-Cola Shuang Experience Center, a hospitality venue on the Olympic Green.
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The Coca-Cola Co. commissioned Vollmer and his students to film a segment on Doug Stoup, an environmentalist and expeditionist who has led teams to the North and South poles and was selected as a torchbearer for this year’s Olympics. Teams of students from Australia, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tanzania and Turkey also filmed their own segments. After seeing the work from Georgia State, Coca-Cola asked Vollmer, Brown, Gildersleeve and Stansell to edit each five-minute segment into one film.
“Hopefully at some point, we’ll at least make some kind of personal contact with the other students,” Brown says. “We’ve spent a lot more time with their work. As you keep watching, you start feeling like you get a sense of what the people who made it would be like.”
The film blends the different filmmakers’ unique storytelling styles to illustrate the need for global awareness of environmental issues ranging from water pollution to melting glaciers to wildlife conservation. Each segment follows an environmentalist who was selected as an Olympic torchbearer and highlights his or her cause.
“Hopefully, it will effect some sort of change,” Stansell says.
Vollmer says it’s been rewarding to guide his students through the process of putting together the film, calling it a bridge between Georgia State and other universities.
“These three have been great at adapting to something that all of us, when we first agreed to it, had no idea what it really would turn out to be,” he says. “I wanted a sharp crew, and they’re sharp.”
The film will premiere Aug. 13 at the Coca-Cola Shuang Experience Center, a hospitality venue on the Olympic Green.
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Visual and Performing Arts Seminar Scheduled
AAG Note: This looks to be a great event for anyone in the field of the arts! Impressive and I'm excited that we have this opportunity to hear from so many who have "been there, done that --- and succeeded!".
A first of its kind seminar bringing together experts in the fields of event planning, advertising, marketing and increasing ticket sales for all arts organizations is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro.
According to event organizer, Andre De Lorenzo, “This is a great learning opportunity for every arts organization in the Southern Crescent. In our area Arts organizations, regardless of their size, face the same challenges as organizations in Atlanta. Perhaps even on a greater scale because of a lack of knowledge about today’s marketing trends, professional management techniques, availability of funding, lack of suitable venues and limited exposure. To address these issues and provide a vehicle for the exchange of expertise and ideas in these vital areas, we’ve established this seminar.”
Attendance at this one day seminar will be open to every arts organization in Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, South Fulton, Spalding and Troup counties. “We have invited subject matter experts in areas of management, advertising, promotion, marketing, scheduling, sponsorship and financing to speak on their field of expertise.”
A partial list of presenters includes Flora Maria Garcia, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition, Stephanie Lee, Interim Director of the Ferst Center for the Arts, Dr. Anita Lloyd, Coordinator for the Clayton Performing Arts Center, Paul R. Pierce, Producing Artistic Director of the Springer Opera House, the State Theatre of Georgia, Lisa Cremin, Director, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and Kim Patrick Bitz, Executive Director of the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts.
“The list of presenters grows every day and we expect additional participation from individuals representing State and National arts organizations. They are excited about this opportunity to share their expertise with our Southern Crescent organizations.” stated De Lorenzo. “Topics that will be covered include everything from how to best plan for an effective season, the business of the arts, effective advertising and marketing techniques, how to apply for and win grants and where assistance is available. There are a number of State and National organizations that can provide planning and training that has proved to be effective for the arts from the smallest community groups to the largest of county managed venues. The techniques discussed at this seminar are equally important and useful to both visual and performing arts organizations.”
Advance registration for the all day seminar, which includes breaks and lunch is $35 per person. Day of event registration will be $50. “Thanks to the cooperation of the presenters who are volunteering their time without compensation, we are able to keep this important seminar affordable to every individual associated with an arts organization.”
Information and a registration form are available by e-mail from southsideartsagenda@comcast.net or by calling 404-822-9057.
A first of its kind seminar bringing together experts in the fields of event planning, advertising, marketing and increasing ticket sales for all arts organizations is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro.
According to event organizer, Andre De Lorenzo, “This is a great learning opportunity for every arts organization in the Southern Crescent. In our area Arts organizations, regardless of their size, face the same challenges as organizations in Atlanta. Perhaps even on a greater scale because of a lack of knowledge about today’s marketing trends, professional management techniques, availability of funding, lack of suitable venues and limited exposure. To address these issues and provide a vehicle for the exchange of expertise and ideas in these vital areas, we’ve established this seminar.”
Attendance at this one day seminar will be open to every arts organization in Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, South Fulton, Spalding and Troup counties. “We have invited subject matter experts in areas of management, advertising, promotion, marketing, scheduling, sponsorship and financing to speak on their field of expertise.”
A partial list of presenters includes Flora Maria Garcia, President and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition, Stephanie Lee, Interim Director of the Ferst Center for the Arts, Dr. Anita Lloyd, Coordinator for the Clayton Performing Arts Center, Paul R. Pierce, Producing Artistic Director of the Springer Opera House, the State Theatre of Georgia, Lisa Cremin, Director, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and Kim Patrick Bitz, Executive Director of the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts.
“The list of presenters grows every day and we expect additional participation from individuals representing State and National arts organizations. They are excited about this opportunity to share their expertise with our Southern Crescent organizations.” stated De Lorenzo. “Topics that will be covered include everything from how to best plan for an effective season, the business of the arts, effective advertising and marketing techniques, how to apply for and win grants and where assistance is available. There are a number of State and National organizations that can provide planning and training that has proved to be effective for the arts from the smallest community groups to the largest of county managed venues. The techniques discussed at this seminar are equally important and useful to both visual and performing arts organizations.”
Advance registration for the all day seminar, which includes breaks and lunch is $35 per person. Day of event registration will be $50. “Thanks to the cooperation of the presenters who are volunteering their time without compensation, we are able to keep this important seminar affordable to every individual associated with an arts organization.”
Information and a registration form are available by e-mail from southsideartsagenda@comcast.net or by calling 404-822-9057.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Curtain Rises on New Atlanta Broadway Series
The lights of Broadway are preparing to shine on Atlanta’s newest performance venue! A brand NEW series of blockbuster Broadway programming is set to debut at the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, a state-of-the-art venue that opened to popular and critical acclaim in September 2007.
The first season of the Atlanta Broadway Series will premiere this fall with a spectacular line-up of Broadway’s biggest hits and most exciting offerings, including WICKED, CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy, HAIRSPRAY and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT. Audiences can also enjoy a special performance from Natalie Cole.
“We are proud to kick off the new Atlanta Broadway Series with such high-caliber content,” comments Stephanie Parker, vice president of the series. “Bringing these beloved Broadway hits to metro-Atlanta audiences is a natural progression now that the Atlanta region features such a spectacular new performing arts facility.”
“The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is thrilled to announce its third resident company, the Atlanta Broadway Series, in a venue designed to accommodate Broadway," said Michael Taormina CFE, managing director of the Centre. "Booking a Broadway series has always been a priority for the Cobb Energy Centre. Being able to announce —particularly during our first year of operation—this exciting new addition to the Centre's program offerings is especially gratifying.”
The 2008-2009 season of the Atlanta Broadway Series includes:
WICKED
October 28 - November 2, 2008
This show is playing at The Fox Theatre, but subscribers to the Atlanta Broadway Series will get the chance to see the musical phenomenon as part of their 2008-2009 package.
Back by “Popular” Demand. The New York Times calls WICKED “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster,” and when it first played Atlanta in May, 2006, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 20 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony Awards®, WICKED is sure to create more box office magic when it flies back to Atlanta. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for “the most completely satisfying new musical in a long time” (USA Today).
CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY
December 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009
USA Today calls CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, “Dazzling…A fantastical tale of an enchanted jungle.” Direct from Broadway, CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY is an exotic encounter inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations that are brought to life by an international cast of 28 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians. The astounding feats performed in this action packed Cirque Dream are enhanced with over 150 spectacular costumes and set in a fantastical jungle ignited by striking visual effects. From the breathtaking aerial ballet of butterflies to the balancing giraffes, gigantic flowers and trees, this world-class explosion of athleticism, theatre and imagination will exhilarate the entire family. In the ongoing tradition of extravagant touring shows, Neil Goldberg and Cirque Productions continue to blend European artistry with circus and Broadway theatrics in a dramatic fashion that transcends imagination and leaves its narration to the eyes of the beholder making CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY a Broadway first.
HAIRSPRAY
January 13 - 18, 2009
It's 1962, and pleasantly plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire - to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star, but she must use her newfound power to vanquish the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a TV network - all without denting her 'do! Don't miss HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, “If life were everything it should be, it would be more like HAIRSPRAY. It’s irresistible!”
Monty Python’s SPAMALOT
March 17 - 22, 2009
Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot.
SEASON SPECIAL:
As one of the Season Ticket Holder benefits, Atlanta Broadway Series Season Ticket Holders will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to a NATALIE COLE CONCERT PERFORMANCE at the Cobb Energy Centre on October 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Singer Natalie Cole has achieved unprecedented global success as an interpreter of standards and soulful R&B vocalist. She was the first black singer to win a Grammy in the “Best New Artist” category and received a “Record of the Year” Grammy for “Unforgettable,” the groundbreaking duet with her late father’s voice. She releases a new collection of standards this fall called Still Unforgettable.
The 2008-2009 Atlanta Broadway Series season packages are on sale now with prices ranging from $116 – $354. Season ticket prices will vary depending on the number of shows chosen, the number of performances, show time, day of the week and seating location. New subscriptions may be ordered over the phone by calling 1-877-451-7469 Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm; by fax at 1-800-535-2929; or online at http://www.cobbenergycentre.com/.
Tickets to individual shows in the 2008-2009 season are not available for purchase at this time. Single-show tickets typically go on sale to the general public six to eight weeks prior to Opening Night. However, Season Ticket Holders have the unique opportunity to purchase additional tickets before they go on sale to the public. For more information on the 2008-2009 Season, or to order online, please visit http://www.cobbenergycentre.com/. Reservations for groups of 20 or more for individual shows can be made at this time by calling 404-881-2000.
Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (All times are subject to change). An audio described performance for the visually impaired and an American Sign Language-interpreted performance for the deaf are available for each pre-determined Saturday matinee of each presentation.
The Atlanta Broadway Series was created in partnership with WH Management.
The first season of the Atlanta Broadway Series will premiere this fall with a spectacular line-up of Broadway’s biggest hits and most exciting offerings, including WICKED, CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy, HAIRSPRAY and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT. Audiences can also enjoy a special performance from Natalie Cole.
“We are proud to kick off the new Atlanta Broadway Series with such high-caliber content,” comments Stephanie Parker, vice president of the series. “Bringing these beloved Broadway hits to metro-Atlanta audiences is a natural progression now that the Atlanta region features such a spectacular new performing arts facility.”
“The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is thrilled to announce its third resident company, the Atlanta Broadway Series, in a venue designed to accommodate Broadway," said Michael Taormina CFE, managing director of the Centre. "Booking a Broadway series has always been a priority for the Cobb Energy Centre. Being able to announce —particularly during our first year of operation—this exciting new addition to the Centre's program offerings is especially gratifying.”
The 2008-2009 season of the Atlanta Broadway Series includes:
WICKED
October 28 - November 2, 2008
This show is playing at The Fox Theatre, but subscribers to the Atlanta Broadway Series will get the chance to see the musical phenomenon as part of their 2008-2009 package.
Back by “Popular” Demand. The New York Times calls WICKED “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster,” and when it first played Atlanta in May, 2006, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 20 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony Awards®, WICKED is sure to create more box office magic when it flies back to Atlanta. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for “the most completely satisfying new musical in a long time” (USA Today).
CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY
December 30, 2008 – January 4, 2009
USA Today calls CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, “Dazzling…A fantastical tale of an enchanted jungle.” Direct from Broadway, CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY is an exotic encounter inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations that are brought to life by an international cast of 28 soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians. The astounding feats performed in this action packed Cirque Dream are enhanced with over 150 spectacular costumes and set in a fantastical jungle ignited by striking visual effects. From the breathtaking aerial ballet of butterflies to the balancing giraffes, gigantic flowers and trees, this world-class explosion of athleticism, theatre and imagination will exhilarate the entire family. In the ongoing tradition of extravagant touring shows, Neil Goldberg and Cirque Productions continue to blend European artistry with circus and Broadway theatrics in a dramatic fashion that transcends imagination and leaves its narration to the eyes of the beholder making CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY a Broadway first.
HAIRSPRAY
January 13 - 18, 2009
It's 1962, and pleasantly plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire - to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star, but she must use her newfound power to vanquish the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a TV network - all without denting her 'do! Don't miss HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, “If life were everything it should be, it would be more like HAIRSPRAY. It’s irresistible!”
Monty Python’s SPAMALOT
March 17 - 22, 2009
Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot.
SEASON SPECIAL:
As one of the Season Ticket Holder benefits, Atlanta Broadway Series Season Ticket Holders will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to a NATALIE COLE CONCERT PERFORMANCE at the Cobb Energy Centre on October 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Singer Natalie Cole has achieved unprecedented global success as an interpreter of standards and soulful R&B vocalist. She was the first black singer to win a Grammy in the “Best New Artist” category and received a “Record of the Year” Grammy for “Unforgettable,” the groundbreaking duet with her late father’s voice. She releases a new collection of standards this fall called Still Unforgettable.
The 2008-2009 Atlanta Broadway Series season packages are on sale now with prices ranging from $116 – $354. Season ticket prices will vary depending on the number of shows chosen, the number of performances, show time, day of the week and seating location. New subscriptions may be ordered over the phone by calling 1-877-451-7469 Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm; by fax at 1-800-535-2929; or online at http://www.cobbenergycentre.com/.
Tickets to individual shows in the 2008-2009 season are not available for purchase at this time. Single-show tickets typically go on sale to the general public six to eight weeks prior to Opening Night. However, Season Ticket Holders have the unique opportunity to purchase additional tickets before they go on sale to the public. For more information on the 2008-2009 Season, or to order online, please visit http://www.cobbenergycentre.com/. Reservations for groups of 20 or more for individual shows can be made at this time by calling 404-881-2000.
Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (All times are subject to change). An audio described performance for the visually impaired and an American Sign Language-interpreted performance for the deaf are available for each pre-determined Saturday matinee of each presentation.
The Atlanta Broadway Series was created in partnership with WH Management.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Get Away to Great Past Times During Labor Day Weekend at Powers' Crossroads Festival in Newnan, Ga., Aug. 30 - Sept. 1
PRNewswire/ -- The Powers' Crossroads Country Fair and Art Festival opens for its 38th consecutive year on Labor Day Weekend with new entertainment as it continues to celebrate its proud tradition as host to innovative art exhibitions in this West Georgia community.
"It's a great opportunity for festival visitors to dial back the hands of time and experience a real country fair set in the rolling woodlands of this west Georgia community," said Carol Chancy, the festival's executive director.
Held every year on the 100 acres of historic Powers Plantation in Newnan, Ga., near Franklin, Ga., the Powers' Crossroads Festival will open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, and will wrap up at 5 p.m. Labor Day afternoon, Sept. 1, after a 2 p.m. Miss Coweta County Pageant, a preliminary event for the Miss West Georgia competition in January 2009.
Festival hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and military personnel, $3 for children ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under. Parking is free and complimentary shuttle service is available from the parking areas.
Visit www.newnan.com/powers for additional information and driving directions.
With a proud heritage as one of the best events in the Southeast, Powers brings back again this year its local Rising Star talent competition on the Festival's opening day.
Beginning at 10 a.m. 30 contestants will vie for the title of the 2008 Powers' Crossroads Rising Star. Contestants will compete in one of three age categories: 15-18 years old; 19-34; and, 35 plus.
This year's three celebrity judges for the rising star competition are "Mid-Days" radio personality J. D. from Midwest Georgia's music station, Magic 98.1, WMGP-FM in Newnan; Jessica Scott, Miss West Georgia 2008; and Linda Walker, owner of the talent agency Speer Entertainment and Really Big Productions, Inc., an entertainment production company.
They will select a winner from each age group, and from that group of three, the judges -- with some audience participation -- will select the 2008 Powers' Crossroads Rising Star.
Each age group winner will receive cash prizes and will perform an Encore Show Monday, Sept. 1 prior to the Miss Coweta County competition.
Visitors to this year's festival can also find perennial favorites in shopping for unique arts and crafts. Each of the more than 200 artisans showcasing their work for sale is selected by judges during the course of the year.
Judges for this year's art competition are Amanda Dumas-Hernandez, a Newnan native who is currently an instructor at the Savannah College of Art & Design's Atlanta campus, and Claudia McDavid, the Art Partners Program Officer for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
This year, visitors may also see a limited viewing of art purchased by the Festival between 1971-2007.
Each year the Festival art judges select several pieces to purchase as exemplary of that particular year's offerings at the Festival. Known as the Purchase Awards, there are currently more than 100 works of art in this collection.
The Powers' Crossroads Country Fair and Art Festival is organized and produced by five local non-profit organizations as their annual major fundraiser with net proceeds divided among the organizations. They are: Newnan Coweta Chamber of Commerce, Newnan Coweta Arts Association, Coweta 4H, Newnan Coweta Jaycees and The Pilot Club of Newnan
Presenting sponsors include Buffalo Rock Beverages and Food Services, Newnan, Ga., West Georgia Technical College, LaGrange, Ga., Toyota of Newnan.
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Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
'Dish' Garden is Functional, Recycled Art
On their own, container gardens or recycling are not new concepts. But Tony Johnson combined the two and made a unique, eye-catching, floral conversation piece.
The 8-foot diameter satellite dish once helped a homeowner tune into the latest movies and broadcasts. But today, it receives curious looks and smiles as a “dish garden” at the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden in Griffin, Ga.
As horticulturist for the garden, Johnson is known for his creativity and ingenuity. “I have a limited budget and very limited manpower, so I rely heavily on volunteers and donations,” he said. “So, when one of our Master Gardener volunteers asked me if I wanted his old satellite dish, I said, ‘Sure.’”
No matter what size or form, containers are perfect for planting under tree canopies, he said. Johnson places his first dish garden under a Chinese Evergreen Oak tree. The almost complete shade was perfect for growing hostas. But the dish could’ve been filled with any number of annual or perennial plants.
The satellite dish Johnson used is made of metal mesh. Excess water drains through the soil and waters the tree roots beneath.
“When you plant in the ground under trees, you risk destroying the tree’s root system,” Johnson said. “The satellite dish is perfect because it’s large, but the base is very small so it leaves a small footprint and doesn’t interfere with the tree’s roots.”
Johnson is now searching for more dish donations to plant around the 65-acre UGA garden.
“I know you can donate old dishes to a scrap metal recycler, but I view my idea as recycling, too,” he said.
Don't be too quick to toss away your old items. They could make for quirky outdoor garden features, too.
Heirloom gardens are typically full of plants reminiscent of gardens from the Old South. What better, more creative way to label your selections than with china plate name markers?
Other yard art ideas include using an old wheelbarrow or wooden chest as a planter. A brass headboard from an old bed may seem useless, but in a flower garden it becomes an attractive minifence.
At the UGA garden in Griffin, Johnson’s other recycled creations include an antique iron bed he turned into a flower “bed” and old scrap metal welded into garden art that resembles cat tails, birds and butterflies.
Atlanta Artists and Arts Organizations Invited To Apply For Funding Through Contracts for Arts Services
The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce that the 2008/2009 Contracts for Arts Services program is currently accepting applications. For over 30 years, the Office of Cultural Affairs’ Contracts for Arts Services program has contributed over $13 million to support Atlanta’s thriving artistic community. The Contracts for Arts Services program awards contracts related to the production, creation, presentation, exhibition and managerial support of artistic and cultural services in the City of Atlanta. “We realize that the presence of artists and arts organizations is essential to Atlanta’s cultural vitality”, states Camille Russell Love, Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs. “Our goal is to provide support for the existence and excellence of artist’s and arts organizations in Atlanta.”
WHAT: 2008/2009 Contracts for Arts Services program awards grants to individual artists, art organizations, and community organizations.
Applications will be accepted in the following five categories from arts and cultural organizations and practicing, professional artists for projects in the City of Atlanta:
Major Arts Organizations
Arts Organizations
Community Cultural Development
Artist Projects
Emerging Artist Award for Theater
WHEN: Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on
Friday, September 5, 2008
Applications are available at www.ocaatlanta.com.
To qualify for funding, artists must be residents of the City of Atlanta, and organizations must be headquartered within Atlanta city limits and have 501 (C) (3) IRS tax-exempt status. Detailed information and guidelines are available on the website to explain the categories, criteria, and instructions for application submission. For more information or assistance please call 404-817-6849 or email to mdprothro@atlantaga.gov.
WHAT: 2008/2009 Contracts for Arts Services program awards grants to individual artists, art organizations, and community organizations.
Applications will be accepted in the following five categories from arts and cultural organizations and practicing, professional artists for projects in the City of Atlanta:
Major Arts Organizations
Arts Organizations
Community Cultural Development
Artist Projects
Emerging Artist Award for Theater
WHEN: Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on
Friday, September 5, 2008
Applications are available at www.ocaatlanta.com.
To qualify for funding, artists must be residents of the City of Atlanta, and organizations must be headquartered within Atlanta city limits and have 501 (C) (3) IRS tax-exempt status. Detailed information and guidelines are available on the website to explain the categories, criteria, and instructions for application submission. For more information or assistance please call 404-817-6849 or email to mdprothro@atlantaga.gov.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
September Films at the High
SEPTEMBER FILMS BRING BEST OF IRANIAN AND TURKISH CINEMA TO THE HIGH
September 5–26: 11TH Annual Iranian Film Today
September 20–October 4: Discovering Turkish Cinema
Two film series at the High in September present the finest films from Iran and Turkey. The 11th annual Iranian Film Today returns to the High beginning Friday, September 5, and runs through Friday, September 26. The six-film series offers an exceptional sampling of Iranian filmmaking, from quiet drama and dark comedy to interwoven stories and farcical tales. Discovering Turkish Cinema brings three award-winning films to the screen, exploring the dramatically complex themes and visually stunning scenes of modern Turkey.
“The films in the Iranian and Turkish series this year explore themes of modernity and tradition in patriarchal culture, the lasting impact of the Iran/Iraq war and the search for meaning and connection shared by all people,” said Linda Dubler, the High’s curator of media arts. “These films powerfully explore the complexities of relationships, the weight of history and the strong visual style represented in modern Iranian and Turkish filmmaking.”
Iranian Film Today begins on Friday, September 5, with Amir Shahab Razavian’s “Colors of Memory,” a moving drama that follows Dr. Parsa, a divorced surgeon who returns to a vastly changed Iran after many years abroad. He rediscovers the country through the eyes of a young driver and through his friendship with an elderly musician on a trip to his earthquake-ravaged hometown. His encounters help him come to terms with his past and find a path toward the future.
On September 6, “Persian Carpet” is a compilation of short films from 15 leading Iranian directors. Each director weaves their story around the theme of carpets, which have served as iconic expressions of Persian art and culture since ancient times. Ranging from purely visual celebrations to potent short dramas, the contributions to this ambitious omnibus film include episodes by Abbas Kiarostami (“The Wind Will Carry Us”) and Dariush Mehrjui (“Santouri”).
Showing September 12, Saman Salour’s “A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral” is a dark comedy about male friendship, following two men who tend a gas station on a little-used desert highway. The Edinburgh Film Festival program praised it as “ . . . a gentle, at times laugh-out-loud funny and also surprisingly wise meditation on the vicissitudes of modern life, the Iranian landscape . . . and most of all, people’s seemingly infinite capacity to drive each other crazy.”
Pourya Azarbayjani’s “Unfinished Stories,” screening on September 13, is a trio of interwoven tales exploring the obstacles facing women in contemporary Iran. A lovelorn high-school student, a middle-class woman who’s been thrown out by her husband and the mother of a newborn find themselves alone on the freezing streets of Tehran.
This strong debut from director Pourya Azarbayjani features fine performances and a beautifully observed script.
On September 19 is “Night Bus,” Kiumars Purahmad’s suspenseful anti-war film set during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War. Strong performances and striking black-and-white cinematography serve the gripping story of two Iranian soldiers and a bus driver who transport 38 blindfolded, bound Iraqi POWs through the minefield-laced desert to their base camp. In “Variety,” Deborah Young praised the film’s “pleasing spareness” and “powerfully authentic” lead performance.
Closing the festival on September 26, Kamal Tabrizi’s “Look for the Woman,” considers the eternal misunderstandings between men and women in this farcical tale of a couple on the brink of divorce. Based on a series of short stories by Seyyed Mohammad Shoja-ee, the film centers on the relationship between Omid and Maryam, a young couple who have lost touch with the things they love about each other. Tabrizi explores how men assume their own superiority and how women actually run the show. Actor Reza Kianian will be present to introduce the film.
Discovering Turkish Cinema begins on September 20 with “Bliss,” a visually stunning film from Abdullah Oguz, exploring themes of modernity and tradition, love and duty, and the persistence of patriarchal values in a changing society. A young woman is raped, and then becomes the target of an honor killing because she is deemed “tainted.” Her fate is in the hands of a distant cousin transporting her to Istanbul, where he is to abandon her body. When he’s unable to complete his mission, they end up on the run, finding employment with a disenchanted professor who has himself fled his past to explore the exquisite landscape of the Aegean coast.
September 27 brings “The Edge of Heaven,” 2007 Cannes Film Festival winner for best screenplay. Familial and erotic love, children lost, parents never found and widening generational and geographic distances permeate Fatih Akin’s interwoven tale centering on two mothers, two daughters, and a father and son. In his “New York Times” review A. O. Scott observed that “As the lives of the characters cross and entwine, there is a sense of human connections becoming stronger and thicker. . . . And even as the movie bristles with violence . . . its tone is curiously gentle.” This film is not appropriate for children.
The series closes on October 4 with Reha Erdem’s “Times and Winds,” the poetic and visually ravishing winner of the Best Turkish Film Award at the 2006 Istanbul Film Festival. Structured around the five Islamic daily calls to prayer, it explores rural life through the eyes of two boys, Omer and Yakup, and their female friend Yildiz. All are on the cusp of adolescence, with families who curb their dreams as surely as the mountain and sea confine their isolated village.
Film Series Schedule
All films are screened in the Richard H. Rich Theatre, located in the Memorial Arts Building, adjacent to the High at Peachtree and 15th Streets in midtown Atlanta. All films are screened at 8 p.m. in the Rich Theatre unless otherwise noted. All films are in their original language with English subtitles.
Iranian Film Today
“Colors of Memory”
Friday, September 5(Iran/Germany/Canada, 2007, 100 minutes)
“Persian Carpet”
Saturday, September 6(Iran, 2007, 109 minutes)
“A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral”
Friday, September 12(Iran, 2006, 85 minutes)
“Unfinished Stories”
Saturday, September 13(Iran, 2007, 76 minutes)
“Night Bus”
Friday, September 19(Iran, 2007, 90 minutes)
“Look for the Woman”
Friday, September 26
(Iran, 2008, 105 minutes)
Discovering Turkish Cinema
“Bliss”
Saturday, September 20
(Turkey/Greece, 2007, 127 minutes)
“The Edge of Heaven”
Saturday, September 27
(Turkey/Germany/Italy, 2007, 122 minutes)
This film is not appropriate for children.
“Times and Winds”
Saturday, October 4
(Turkey, 2006, 111 minutes)
Organization and Support
Iranian Film Today is co-organized by Linda Dubler, curator of media arts at the High Museum of Art, and Iranian cinema specialist Reza Sohrabi, who generously donated his time and expertise to this program. Discovering Turkish Cinema is organized by Linda Dubler and co-sponsored by the Atlanta Turkish Arts Council and the Turkish American Cultural Association of Georgia. 35mm projection facilities in the Rich Auditorium were provided by a gift from George Lefont.
September 5–26: 11TH Annual Iranian Film Today
September 20–October 4: Discovering Turkish Cinema
Two film series at the High in September present the finest films from Iran and Turkey. The 11th annual Iranian Film Today returns to the High beginning Friday, September 5, and runs through Friday, September 26. The six-film series offers an exceptional sampling of Iranian filmmaking, from quiet drama and dark comedy to interwoven stories and farcical tales. Discovering Turkish Cinema brings three award-winning films to the screen, exploring the dramatically complex themes and visually stunning scenes of modern Turkey.
“The films in the Iranian and Turkish series this year explore themes of modernity and tradition in patriarchal culture, the lasting impact of the Iran/Iraq war and the search for meaning and connection shared by all people,” said Linda Dubler, the High’s curator of media arts. “These films powerfully explore the complexities of relationships, the weight of history and the strong visual style represented in modern Iranian and Turkish filmmaking.”
Iranian Film Today begins on Friday, September 5, with Amir Shahab Razavian’s “Colors of Memory,” a moving drama that follows Dr. Parsa, a divorced surgeon who returns to a vastly changed Iran after many years abroad. He rediscovers the country through the eyes of a young driver and through his friendship with an elderly musician on a trip to his earthquake-ravaged hometown. His encounters help him come to terms with his past and find a path toward the future.
On September 6, “Persian Carpet” is a compilation of short films from 15 leading Iranian directors. Each director weaves their story around the theme of carpets, which have served as iconic expressions of Persian art and culture since ancient times. Ranging from purely visual celebrations to potent short dramas, the contributions to this ambitious omnibus film include episodes by Abbas Kiarostami (“The Wind Will Carry Us”) and Dariush Mehrjui (“Santouri”).
Showing September 12, Saman Salour’s “A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral” is a dark comedy about male friendship, following two men who tend a gas station on a little-used desert highway. The Edinburgh Film Festival program praised it as “ . . . a gentle, at times laugh-out-loud funny and also surprisingly wise meditation on the vicissitudes of modern life, the Iranian landscape . . . and most of all, people’s seemingly infinite capacity to drive each other crazy.”
Pourya Azarbayjani’s “Unfinished Stories,” screening on September 13, is a trio of interwoven tales exploring the obstacles facing women in contemporary Iran. A lovelorn high-school student, a middle-class woman who’s been thrown out by her husband and the mother of a newborn find themselves alone on the freezing streets of Tehran.
This strong debut from director Pourya Azarbayjani features fine performances and a beautifully observed script.
On September 19 is “Night Bus,” Kiumars Purahmad’s suspenseful anti-war film set during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War. Strong performances and striking black-and-white cinematography serve the gripping story of two Iranian soldiers and a bus driver who transport 38 blindfolded, bound Iraqi POWs through the minefield-laced desert to their base camp. In “Variety,” Deborah Young praised the film’s “pleasing spareness” and “powerfully authentic” lead performance.
Closing the festival on September 26, Kamal Tabrizi’s “Look for the Woman,” considers the eternal misunderstandings between men and women in this farcical tale of a couple on the brink of divorce. Based on a series of short stories by Seyyed Mohammad Shoja-ee, the film centers on the relationship between Omid and Maryam, a young couple who have lost touch with the things they love about each other. Tabrizi explores how men assume their own superiority and how women actually run the show. Actor Reza Kianian will be present to introduce the film.
Discovering Turkish Cinema begins on September 20 with “Bliss,” a visually stunning film from Abdullah Oguz, exploring themes of modernity and tradition, love and duty, and the persistence of patriarchal values in a changing society. A young woman is raped, and then becomes the target of an honor killing because she is deemed “tainted.” Her fate is in the hands of a distant cousin transporting her to Istanbul, where he is to abandon her body. When he’s unable to complete his mission, they end up on the run, finding employment with a disenchanted professor who has himself fled his past to explore the exquisite landscape of the Aegean coast.
September 27 brings “The Edge of Heaven,” 2007 Cannes Film Festival winner for best screenplay. Familial and erotic love, children lost, parents never found and widening generational and geographic distances permeate Fatih Akin’s interwoven tale centering on two mothers, two daughters, and a father and son. In his “New York Times” review A. O. Scott observed that “As the lives of the characters cross and entwine, there is a sense of human connections becoming stronger and thicker. . . . And even as the movie bristles with violence . . . its tone is curiously gentle.” This film is not appropriate for children.
The series closes on October 4 with Reha Erdem’s “Times and Winds,” the poetic and visually ravishing winner of the Best Turkish Film Award at the 2006 Istanbul Film Festival. Structured around the five Islamic daily calls to prayer, it explores rural life through the eyes of two boys, Omer and Yakup, and their female friend Yildiz. All are on the cusp of adolescence, with families who curb their dreams as surely as the mountain and sea confine their isolated village.
Film Series Schedule
All films are screened in the Richard H. Rich Theatre, located in the Memorial Arts Building, adjacent to the High at Peachtree and 15th Streets in midtown Atlanta. All films are screened at 8 p.m. in the Rich Theatre unless otherwise noted. All films are in their original language with English subtitles.
Iranian Film Today
“Colors of Memory”
Friday, September 5(Iran/Germany/Canada, 2007, 100 minutes)
“Persian Carpet”
Saturday, September 6(Iran, 2007, 109 minutes)
“A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral”
Friday, September 12(Iran, 2006, 85 minutes)
“Unfinished Stories”
Saturday, September 13(Iran, 2007, 76 minutes)
“Night Bus”
Friday, September 19(Iran, 2007, 90 minutes)
“Look for the Woman”
Friday, September 26
(Iran, 2008, 105 minutes)
Discovering Turkish Cinema
“Bliss”
Saturday, September 20
(Turkey/Greece, 2007, 127 minutes)
“The Edge of Heaven”
Saturday, September 27
(Turkey/Germany/Italy, 2007, 122 minutes)
This film is not appropriate for children.
“Times and Winds”
Saturday, October 4
(Turkey, 2006, 111 minutes)
Organization and Support
Iranian Film Today is co-organized by Linda Dubler, curator of media arts at the High Museum of Art, and Iranian cinema specialist Reza Sohrabi, who generously donated his time and expertise to this program. Discovering Turkish Cinema is organized by Linda Dubler and co-sponsored by the Atlanta Turkish Arts Council and the Turkish American Cultural Association of Georgia. 35mm projection facilities in the Rich Auditorium were provided by a gift from George Lefont.
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