A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 32,040 square foot, $10.7 million, Mentry Hall Expansion Project. The expansion project has being funded by Measure “M,” a general obligation bond passed by local voters in November 2006.

The expansion project added two computer labs, a large lecture room, eleven classrooms, a 2-D drawing classroom, a life/drawing classroom, two conference rooms and twelve offices. It increased the size of Mentry Hall to 76,339 sq. ft. The expanded Mentry Hall opened for classes on August 23, at the start of the Fall 2010 semester.

Klassen Construction Management was both architect and contractor for the project.

Mentry Hall houses the following College of the Canyons programs and activities:

• Media Entertainment Arts (Formerly RTVF)
• Animation
• Architectural Drafting and Technology
• Interior Design
• Visual Art and Art History
• Photography
• Graphic and Multimedia Design
• Art Gallery

Speaking at the event will be Mr. Scott Wilk, President of the college’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook, Chancellor of College of the Canyons, and Dr. Floyd Moos, Division Dean, Fine and Performing Arts.

Get all the details after the break.

Subject:   Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Time:     2 p.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Place:  College of the Canyons Art Gallery (Mentry Hall)
Contact:   John McElwain, (661) 362-5604; Eric Harnish (661) 362-3400

This Labor Day weekend, the 2010 Last Days of Summer Art Expo will be hosted at William S. Hart Hall at the historic William S. Hart Ranch in Newhall, California. The show will be open September 4th through 6th, each day 10:00am to 6:00pm.

The 2010 Last Days of Summer Art Expo is a mixed media show featuring the best in regional photography, painting, lithography and three dimensional art. The featured artwork includes the nationally renowned collodion wet plate work of Will Dunniway and the traditional and alternative photographic work of the staff of Freestyle Photo of Hollywood, California.

Dunniway will present several of his works featuring that Crow Agency Native American of Little Big Horn executed in period collodion wet plate photography (Civil War era). These awaited works have never before been on display. Dunniway, as a teacher and artist, is a major force in the preservation of American Civil War era photographic methodology.

The work of the Freestyle Photo staff includes stunning metallic prints, lithography and chromoskedasic printing, as well as works in traditional gelatin silver. Freestyle Photo is the nation’s hub for the preservation of film photography and the advancement of new and refined alternative photographic and printing methods.

Additionally, the suburban art rebellion of show co-producers, Proxart Magazine, will be on display. This highly talented group of young people will soon celebrate the release of their third edition of Proxart Magazine. Proxart and its artists are gaining serious “art-traction” as was recently featured in extended coverage by the Los Angeles Daily News.

Other featured talents include photographer and writer, David Green; the award winning photography of Rick Russell; photographer and CalArts graduate, Christopher Velasco; the portrait photography of Keri Kilgo; and, the traditional photography of show co-producer, Tony Zinnanti. The best of the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association and Chatsworth Fine Arts Council will also be presenting. A total of 36 artists will present over 120 works.

Admission and parking are free. William S. Hart Park features sprawling grounds, a souvenir kiosk and plenty of activities for children.

William S. Hart Hall and Park is off the 14 Freeway north, via the San Fernando Road/Newhall Avenue exit. Head northwest on San Fernando Road/Newhall Avenue for approximately two miles to the park entrance.

This production was made possible by the generous support of the City of Santa Clarita Arts & Events Office and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Contact: Tony Zinnanti; (661) 313-2223 or tony@zinnanti.net

Mark your calendars! On Monday, November 20, 2010, the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association, award-winning watercolorist, Fealing Lin of San Marino, will make a watercolor demonstration. Her demonstration piece will be raffled off at the end of the evening.

Born in Taiwan, Lin began her journey as a protégé of renowned professor Ching-Jung Chen in Taiwan, and in the United States studied with watercolorist and senior art historian professor Verna Wells.  Originally following her family tradition of medicine and dentistry, Fealing ultimately abandoned her tray of instruments and high-speed drills in favor of her pallet and brushes.  Now she is a teacher, demonstrator, judge, and active exhibitor.

Professor William Blackshaw, President of the Royal Watercolor Society in England said, “Fealing Lin paints poems that vibrate with light and color… long may she continue to delight the eye and move the spirit.” With a fluidity of colors, Lin combines impressionistic strokes and semi-abstract techniques to elicit life and movement in her portrait and landscape watercolors.

“My passion for watercolor,” says Ms. Lin, “comes from the opportunity it gives me to be totally spontaneous in the pursuit of traditional watercolor transparency which is the “glow” from the white paper that emerges through the paint once a fusion occurs from the application of wet onto wet. Her paintings adorn the paper with both harmony and emotion.

Fealing is an annual guest instructor at Yosemite National Park, an instructor at Brand Art Studios at Brand Library in Glendale, and San Gabriel Recreation center in San Gabriel.  She was featured at Descanso Gardens Gallery for 10 consecutive years. She has taught watercolor workshops throughout California and the US.

In addition, Fealing is a signature member of National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, and the Missouri Watercolor Society.  She won numerous awards and was juried in many national exhibitions including NWS, WW, TWSA (Transparent Watercolor Society of America), Brand National, Audubon Artist, San Diego Watercolor International and many others. See more work by Fealing after the break.

The SCAA monthly meetings are held at the Westfield Town Center Community Room (located between JC Penny and the Food Court; 24201 West Valencia Blvd, Valencia CA 91355). Non-members are welcomed and may attend their first meeting for free. For additional information, please visit the SCAA webpage at: www.santaclaritaartists.org. Refreshments will be served as always.

While towns like Ventura are labeling themselves as The New Art Town and others, The Best Art Town, I think that the idea of celebrating our collective creativity is an exciting concept.

Everyone is creative in Santa Clarita.  That’s right!  Everyone

Everywhere you look, people are doing creative things (using their minds and imaginations to create and accomplish things, work out issues, etc.).  Gardening is creative, as is cooking a great meal, or running a business.  Our universities are filled with creativity.  All of those people out there playing sports are creative (some more so than others).

I know this may sound REALLY OUT THERE, but it seems to me that no other town celebrates its creativity (as a whole).  Why is an artists’ creativity worth any more praise or acknowledgment then someone that has created a really great garden, or someone that can cook an awesome meal?  Everyone is creative.

I challenge Santa Clarita to think about defining creativity in a new way.  If more people identified their work, career, job, or hobby as creative (just like an artist), I wonder what would happen?

Your new motto is “Santa Clarita: The Creative City”

Spread the word.  Identify yourself as creative.  Let’s see what happens.

- Six

On Saturday, July 17, the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) at College of the Canyons will begin selling single event tickets for performances included in the 2010-2011 PAC season “COC Presents Series.”

Headlining acts for the 2010-11 PAC season include Grammy Award-winning vocalist Michael Bolton, War, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Pilobolus, Peking Acrobats, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Vicki Lawrence, One Night of Queen, the San Francisco Opera Grand Opera Cinema series and many more.

Individual ticket sales will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 17, and resume during regular PAC Box Office hours (Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.).

Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, through mail by using the tear out order form included in the PAC season schedule, or in person by visiting the PAC Box Office located at the venue on the COC Valencia campus.

“We have already received a tremendous response for the 2010-11 PAC season and series subscription options, but great single event tickets are still available for all shows,” said Adam Philipson, PAC managing director. “We anticipate several of our shows to sell out this weekend, so be sure to purchase your tickets early.”

Ticket orders will be mailed to patrons approximately two to three weeks prior to the show date. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.

For more information about the 2010-11 PAC season schedule or to view a listing of all scheduled performances please visitwww.CanyonsPAC.com. To contact the PAC Box Office please call (661) 362-5304.

This Saturday, at 7:00 pm, starts the first in the series of Concerts in the Park. Grab a few beach chairs, a picnic basket, and head to Central Park to watch the infectious world fusion Latin guitar group, www.incendioband.com#mce_temp_url#.

Penned by two of Broadway’s newest voices in Georgia Stitt and David Kirshenbaum, “Sing Me a Happy Song” is a contemporary musical revue about finding your heart in material times. With songs about modern-day relationships, searching for yourself on the Internet, striving to have everything but never having enough, love, family and your gay best friend, this five-character show is at once comic and poignant, smart and silly, emotional and timely.

The workshop production of “Sing Me a Happy Song” is being presented by the PAC and the COC theatre department, with student actors cast from the college’s course Theatre 193: Summer Theatre Workshop.

Performances will take place 8 p.m., Friday, July 9, and 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Saturday, July 10, in the PAC Black Box Theatre. General admission tickets are $15.

“Providing our students with the opportunity to participate in performing arts-based events like the Festival of New American Musicals is definitely one of our missions at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center,” said Adam Philipson, PAC managing director. “Working with Georgia and David to help shape their piece and debut it in our community is a great honor for us all.”

Running throughout the spring and summer months, the Festival of New American Musicals celebrates the return of the American musical by showcasing full productions, staged readings, concerts, master classes and other performance-based events in conjunction with performance arts organizations in cities across Southern California.

“With a cast of 28 talented singers and actors, the show will have a full and vibrant sound and promises to be one of the most exciting productions to be seen at COC,” said Andrea Slominski, COC adjunct theatre instructor and director of the production. “I encourage anyone who loves musical theatre to buy tickets now, as this show will sell out quickly.”

The PAC/COC theatre department workshop production of “Sing Me a Happy Song” is part of the college’s ongoing 40th Anniversary celebration.

To purchase tickets to “Sing Me a Happy Song” please call the PAC box office at (661) 362-5304 or visit www.canyonsPAC.com.

To learn more about the Festival of New American Musicals visit www.lafestival.org.

The College of the Canyons Student Orchestras consists of the college’s three main student instrumental performing groups: Prelude Strings, the Santa Clarita Youth Orchestra and the Symphony of the Canyons.

During the roughly 90-minute concert, each group will perform a series of musical selections designed to showcase the students’ talent and musical prowess, while entertaining audiences of all ages.

The evening will also serve as an opportunity to honor the orchestra’s five graduating seniors and congratulate them on their musical and academic accomplishments.

“This concert will provide audiences with a chance to see and hear what can happen when young people dedicate time to an instrument,” said Julissa Bozman, student orchestra associate conductor. “Performances like this are the students’ way of contributing to the Santa Clarita Valley’s unique culture of fine and performing arts, and I am proud to be a part of that.”

The College of the Canyons Student Orchestras’ End of Season Spectacular spring concert will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, May 28, on the PAC main stage. General admission is $10 or $5 for COC students and seniors.

This event is part of the college’s ongoing 40th Anniversary celebration.

To purchase tickets to the College of the Canyons Student Orchestras End of Season Spectacular spring concert please call the PAC box office at (661) 362-5304 or visit www.canyonsPAC.com.

With more than 53 million albums sold, and numerous Grammy Awards for Best Male Vocalist, Bolton has touched the hearts of legions of fans. Now his 2010 “One World One Love” tour will take the PAC stage by storm Opening Night, Sunday, August 22, as part of the Chancellor’s Choice series.

“To land an artist as talented and world renowned as Michael Bolton for our Opening Night performance is a tremendous coup for the PAC, College of the Canyons and all of Santa Clarita,” said Adam Philipson, PAC managing director, “This is a testament to the growth and maturation of the PAC, as well as the tremendous support our patrons have shown for the performing arts.”

Other acts and artists featured in the 2010-11 PAC season include: War, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Vicki Lawrence, San Francisco Opera Grand Opera Cinema, Pilobolus, One Night of Queen, Gloriana, Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, “All Shook Up,” “Seussical” and the Peking Acrobats.

The 2010-11 PAC schedule will offer shows spread across six series selections: Chancellor’s Choice, Great Performances, In Motion, Cabaret on Stage, Almost Free Family Series and the all new Broadway at COC series.

The PAC will also host a number of College of the Canyons theatre department and community theatre productions.

Series subscription sales will begin 11:30 a.m., Thursday, June 10, while individual tickets for Michael Bolton and all other performances will go on sale 9 a.m., Saturday, July 17.

Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone, or in person at the PAC box office.

However, it’s recommended that you plan to purchase your tickets early for Michael Bolton, as this once-in-a lifetime performance will sell out fast.

For more information about the PAC 2010-11 season or to purchase tickets please visit www.canyonsPAC.com or call the PAC box office at (661) 362-5304.

Enjoy!

Gallery Exhibitions
May 10-14 2010
CalArts
D300 Gallery: Graphic Design Program End of Year Exhibition
D301 Gallery: Graphic Design Program End of Year Exhibition
Main Gallery: Patrick Woody BFA
L-Shape Gallery: Alexandra Valle BFA
A402 Gallery: Experimental Animation Exhibition
Lime Gallery: Something From Nothing Class Exhibition
Mint Gallery: Something From Nothing Class Exhibition
Stevenson Blanche Gallery: Benjamin Tong BFA

Mississippi Damned: Film Screening
May 10 2010 7:15 pm
CalArts, Bijou Theater
FILM/VIDEO / THEATER: The Schools of Theater and Film/Video will be hosting a screening of the award-winning movie Mississippi Damned. The screening will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Fran Bennett, voice faculty, with writer/director Tina Mabry and actress Simbi Khali Williams, acting alum.
Read more: http://calarts.edu/events/10may-2010/mississippidamnedfilmscreening
Reserve tickets

AIGA T-Shirt Show
May 10 2010 7:30 pm
CalArts, Cafe Dining Area

Guitars@CalArts
May 10 2010 8 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: Acoustic and electric guitars playing traditional and original pieces and improvisations from classical to blues to jazz to rock and beyond.

Starting to Go Bad: Recent Narratives by Pat O’Neill @ REDCAT
May 10 2010 8:30 pm
REDCAT: Pat O’Neill, one of Los Angeles’ most eminent independent filmmakers, makes his REDCAT debut with three new videos, I Open the Window (2009, 18 min.), I Put Out My Hands (2009, 10 min.) and Starting to Go Bad (2009, 30 min.), as well as a striking 35mm film entitled Horizontal Boundaries (2008, 23 min.). Best known for his densely layered, virtuosic abstract films that create magical, evocatively incongruous visual landscapes, O’Neill now carries these and other concerns into the terrain of digital video.
See: http://www.redcat.org/event/pat-oneill ($)

Structuring Strategies: Julie Murray – Experimental Films and Videos
May 11 2010 7 pm
CalArts, Bijou Theater
FILM/VIDEO:
YSBRYD (spirit) (2008), DV, 8 mins
Micromoth, 16mm, color, sound, 6 minutes, 2000
I Began to Wish………….,16mm, silent, 5 minutes, 2003
Deliquium (2004) 16mm, sound, 15 mins
Orchard, 16mm, 8 mins, sound, 2004
ELEMENTs, (2008) 16mm, sound, 7.5 mins
Distance (2010), 16mm, sound, 12 mins
Read more: http://calarts.edu/events/11may-2010/structuringstrategiesjuliemurrayexperimentalfilmsandvideos

Baroque Music & Bach Arias
May 11 2010 8 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: A concert of Baroque chamber and Bach arias, featuring works by Telemann, Handel, C.P.E. Bach, Albinoni, Zelenza, and J.S. Bach.

Sustainability Speakers Series: Edward Rossel De Jongh
May 12 2010 12 noon
CalArts, Ex-Box (Main Gallery Conference Room)
THEATER: Artist Edward Rossel De Jongh talks to students about issues of sustainability in the arts via video.

Music & Image Concert
May 12 2010 8 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: A concert of audio-visual improvisations created by Experimental Sound Practices students.

The Bewitched Child
May 12 & 13 2010 8 pm
CalArts, The Wild Beast
MUSIC: A semi-stage performance of The Bewitched Child (L’enfant et les Sortileges) by Maurice Ravel.

School of Film/Video Showcase 2010: Character Animation Producer’s Show
May 13 2010
FILM/VIDEO: Limited seating. Email characteranimation@calarts.edu or call 661.253.7818.

Potluck and Reading by the Tiny Press Practices MFA Poetics Class
May 13 2010
Doors 5:00 p.m. Reading begins promptly at 5:30 p.m.
CalArts, The Cube, Butler Building
This reading will feature MFA Writing students Diana Arterian, Howard
Chiang, Hilary Darling, Henry Hoke, Nicholas Katzban, Emily Kiernan, Zhen
Li, Katie Manderfield, Dama Montalvo, Amanda Montei, Kirsty Singer and
Jennifer Styperk. The reading will take place around MFA Art student Ari
Kletzky’s A Table Experiment.

HAPPY MEDIUM
May 13 2010 7 pm
CalArts, Gallery D300
ART:CalArts MFA Graphic Design
In One Form or Another
Opening Reception May 13, 7pm
Read more: http://calarts.edu/events/13may-2010/happymedium

Graphic Design End of the Year Gallery Reception
May 13 2010 8 pm
CalArts, D301 & D300 Galleries
ART: The Graphic Design program will be hosting a reception for their end of year exhibiton on May 13th at 8pm by the D301 and D300 Galleries.

Illusions / Delusions: CalArts 2010 Graphic Design End of Year Show
May 13 2010 7 pm – Opening Reception
May 13 2010 10 pm – Undergraduate & Graduate Motion Show
—
May 13-22 2010
Monday-Friday 11 am – 5 pm
CalArts, Gallery D301
—
ART: The California Institute of the Arts 2010 graphic design end of year show,  ILLUSIONS / DELUSIONS, features work from the 54 students of the undergraduate graphic design program.
Read more: http://calarts.edu/events/13may-2010/illusionsdelusionscalarts2010graphicdesignendyearshow

Poetry Reading Event
May 13 2010 5 pm
CalArts, Butler Building #4
CRITICAL STUDIES: End of the year poetry event.

Machine Orchestra
May 13 2010 8:30 pm
CalArts, Walt Disney Modular Theater
MUSIC: Live electronic orchestra with seven robotic kinetik sculptures. For more information please call 661.222.2778.

CalArts Jazz 2010 – CD Release Event
May 14 2010 1 pm
CalArts, Main Gallery
MUSIC: 21st annual CD recorded at Capitol Records.

William Rossel de Jongh: MFA Graduation Recital featuring North Indian Music
May 14 2010 8 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: An evening of tabla featuring traditional Indian classical music and original compositions.

School of Film/Video Showcase 2010: Experimental Animation Program
May 14 2010 8 pm
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Leonard H. Goldenson Theater
5220 Lankershim Blvd., No. Hollywood
FILM/VIDEO: For more information call the School of Film/Video at 661.253.7825 or check the calendar online at: www.film.calarts.edu.

Andrew Tholl: complete works for solo violin
May 14 2010 8 pm
CalArts, The Wild Beast
MUSIC: Andrew Tholl will perform the complete collection of solo violin works by Andrew Tholl, including the epic i’ll never be younger than i am today (for andrew tholl).

The Next Dance Company @ REDCAT
May 14-15 2010 8:30 pm
REDCAT: The resident ensemble of The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at CalArts returns to REDCAT with two programs of innovative new dance. Directed by acclaimed choreographer Stephan Koplowitz, The Next Dance Company draws together the school’s most accomplished performers and choreographers–all members of the 2010 graduating class. The program includes work choreographed by Koplowitz and Reggie Wilson, both recipients of the Alpert Award in the Arts.
See: http://www.redcat.org/event/next-dance-company-0 ($)

Sleep Piece #3
May 14-15 2010 11 pm – 10 am
CalArts, The S. Mark Taper Foundation Courtyard
MUSIC: An overnight concert of music for the conscious and unconscious mind.

CAP Teen Animation, Photography, Puppetry and Video Screening @ REDCAT
May 15 2010 2 pm
REDCAT: This screening showcases new projects by teenage filmmakers, animators, puppet artists and photographers from across Los Angeles County. All work was produced in CAP programs with Central Los Angeles High School #9 (the city’s new arts high school), Inner-City Arts, Los Angeles Center for Photographic Studies, Plaza de la Raza, the Santa Clarita Valley Boys and Girls Club, and Self-Help Graphics.
See: http://www.redcat.org/event/cap-teen-animation

Kimberly Everett: BFA Graduation Oboe Recital
May 15 2010 2 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: A BFA graduation oboe recital featuring the music of Strauss, Villa-Lobos and Vivaldi.

Passing Melodies: A BFA Graduation Recital by Chelsea Janice Avram
May 15 2010 8 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: An evening of soprano-ishness, featuring the works of J.S. Bach, Mozart, Barber, Villa-Lobos, Schwantner, Del Tredici and Corigliano. Tali Tadmor, accompanying, with guests Ryan Bancroft and Nat Swanson.

Masatoshi Sato: BFA Graduation Jazz Bass Recital
May 16 2010 2 pm
CalArts, Roy O. Disney Music Hall
MUSIC: Graduation recital with trios.

Gamelan Zamurai MUSASHI – The Samurai Legend of a Two Sword Master
May 16 2010 5 pm
CalArts, The Wild Beast
MUSIC: A Balinese dance drama using a full set of Balinese gamelan and performances by several dancers.

Black Clock Launches New Blog @ the wulf
May 16 2010 5 pm
the wulf
1026 S. Santa Fe Avenue #203
Los Angeles 90021
(entrance on Sacramento St.)
CRITICAL STUDIES: Join Black Clock for a night of new media to celebrate the launch of the Black Clock blog. Listen to innovative readings by fresh voices: an imaginary interview with Herman Melville, a meditation on the reality/fiction of Orpheus, a postmodern poetry experiment, and a predictive timeline of literature in the next ten years.

Ring Festival LA: Considering Wagner, Featuring Villa Aurora Composers-in-Residence @ REDCAT
May 16 2010 7 pm
REDCAT: As part of Ring Festival LA, this night of contemporary music and film unfolds in four acts that touch on different aspects of the Richard Wagner’s life, work and place in history: his musical and theatrical innovations, his über-expressionist concept of art, his preoccupation with Norse-Germanic mythology, his outsize personality, specific passages in his operas, and–not least–some of the ways in which creative practice has developed since his time.
See: http://www.redcat.org/event/considering-wagner ($)

Never Very Far Apart @ REDCAT
Continuing through Jun 27 2010
Tue-Sun noon-6 pm or intermission
Closed Mondays
REDCAT: The group exhibition Never Very Far Apart brings together six projects that cross the poetic and political ground between the individual and the group; the local and the global; this moment in time and that place in history. Through performance, moving image, painting and printed matter, these artists explore distance as both border and bridge—considering how a finite position may parallel or intersect with seemingly disparate places or distant times.
See: http://www.redcat.org/exhibition/never-very-far-apart