art making, sound making

What might a painting sound like? What might sounds look like?

The exhibition i hear what you’re seeing, curated by Laura Hales, highlights seven paintings and drawings by Arizona artists, imaginatively narrated in sound by students from Arizona State University’s School of Music and ASU’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering.

Featured Visual Artists:
Laura Spalding Best, Bill Dambrova, Cam DeCaussin, Lara Plecas, Ellen Wagner and Monica Aissa Martinez.

Featured Sound Artists:
Devin Arne, Shomit Barua, Laura Brackney, Andrew Robinson, Jacob Miller Smith and Gina Xu.

Here are some detail shots. You’ll have to show up to experience the rest of it.
#art #sound #words #mixedmedia

Laura Best, Refracted Oasis

Bill Dambrova, She asked me my name and I gave her my social security number; that’s how they got my spleen

Cam DeCaussin, Or so I’m told but how would you fake it

Lara Plecas, Petite Alliance

Ellen Wagener, Cloud Bank

Monica Aissa Martinez, Lymphatics (front view)*

*my work will also include a poem titled Signal by Kelly Nelson

 

Who:     Center Space
What:    i hear what you’re seeing
Where:  Inside of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, 85251 View Map
When:   Opening: Friday, January 17, 6:00–8:00 pm.
runs to April 26, 2020

Join us for the opening! Free and open to the public.

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Center Space is a newly imagined community space for visitors to learn about the arts by doing. Each fall and spring exhibition will feature hands-on activities or interactive displays. It is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and during evening performances.

a house concert and sean rowe

It’s just after the New Year and Carolyn and I are driving to California for an art opening. She pulls out a Sean Rowe CD and says I think you’ll like this guy. She talks about his music, his voice, and casually adds he travels the country and gives house concerts. She’d contacted his people to let them know she’d be interested in hosting one. But, she goes on, she never got a response. I’m impressed that she could be so bold to consider hosting a musician. I’d be intimidated, I tell her. While on the road we listen to his music. I do enjoy the deep, rich voice.

Who could know within a few weeks Carolyn will receive word Rowe is performing in Arizona. And within another month Brian and Carolyn (thank you!) will be hosting a Sean Rowe concert in their living room.

Carolyn’s invite  begins … I have been listening to his music for years and really love his deep, rich voice and melodic songs. Sean has opened shows for Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams and Alabama Shakes. He is also a naturalist, and teaches plant foraging and wilderness skills in upstate NY. And she ends with … expect a great time at our house, with food and beverages, and an 1 1/2 hour intimate show with Sean in our living room. We are planning on 40 guests.

Needless to say there are over 50 people and the evening holds magic for all of us.

I find it interesting how artists of all sorts manage to make and share their work. A house concert is a powerful way to connect to an audience. Not only do I have Rowe’s music to continue to enjoy, I also have an enduring memory.

And because I think too much, I have to wonder if visual artists can create such experience. I don’t know, it’s all probably (and rightly) different. A voice, music, and sound are visceral experiences. The whole thing goes into the body and I do believe it stays there-resonating for a long time.

Here is one of my favorites off the Madman CD title Spiritual Leather.

 

Fast forward to mid May – Sean Rowe announces he is going rogue.
He writes : New Story, New Song, and a New Album, with your help. I’ll be independently releasing my next album, guys. Check out the whole story, listen to the new song, and see how you can be a part of it, here: → Sean-rowe-is-going-rogue

Ahh creativity! So worth supporting. Take a few minute to listen to what he has to say about what he does. And then listen to more of his music.

the fearless beth lederman

I used to be a fire lookout on O’Leary Peak. I was a Forest Service employee for four years, musician Beth Lederman shares with me. My mom was the Woody Mountain Lookout for over ten years and my sister was the lookout on Mt. Ord.

You ‘looked’ for fires?

The fire lookout conversation leads to an interesting revelation …. I like to practice fearlessness, Beth comments.

I think of hand-stands. How do you ‘practice’ fearlessness? I ask.

…you know… walking in the dark.

I’d looked forward to meeting Beth Lederman for some time. And last Saturday I spent the afternoon photographing her.

My loves are Latin jazz, Brazilian jazz, straight ahead jazz, salsa and Latin music, swing, and anything else that grooves.  Among the various musicians she collaborates with, she also has a group she co-founded.  Novo Mundo was my band for a long time. We have a gig in April coming up, April 27th …Wine, WoMen and Jazz at the Az Culinary Institute. 

Beth plays keyboards and in fact can truly be called eclectic.

… back to fearlessness …

I practice being brave in front of audiences, in trying new things when I am improvising, in taking risks,  in playing with all kinds of bands – sometimes with people I have never met!. I try to just get up there on stage and help share the feeling of being strong, and confident, and tapped in to this bigger flow which is music/spirit/life.

I also practice doing things even though I am afraid…like taking on the job of being a Spanish teacher 3 years ago, or making mistakes when I speak in my non-native tongue, or sitting in at jam sessions.  …. you know … walking in “dark” places.

The afternoon goes smoothly. We get lots of great photos.  I’ve said this before, the performer is a natural in front of the camera.  She adds… experience has allot to do with it.

My hope with these shots, is that you get a glimpse of both Beth’s fluid nature, and  her grounded quality. It’s one great combination for a piano player/educator/woman.

For more about Beth Lederman, who’s been making music for over 20 years, visit → her website.

Note the → calendar because next weekend she’ll be performing at both the Mesa Arts Center (on Saturday March 10th) and at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts (March 11th).

Catch Beth live and while you’re at it pay attention to how she practices fearlessness.

pianist and vocalist

I met Pamela Morita during the Yoga, Music, and Art weekend, Meg, Mary and I hosted last December. She was part of the live trio that played that Sunday afternoon. Mary Petrich (on Sax), John Chapman (on Bass) and Pam on keyboard. Her vocals were sweet and rich with emotion. She closed the afternoon meditation with a beautiful rendition of I Can See Clearly Now.

Last week Pam contacted me, and asked if I would photograph her.  She’s having a new web site designed and wanted images.  I was happy to oblige.  I designed and created Mary’s site, which included photographing Mary with her sax. Pam liked the work I did, and wanted me to shoot her as well.

She came over to the studio on a Tuesday afternoon, and we got right to work.  She mentioned being nervous or uncomfortable with being photographed, though she appeared to be a natural to me. It must be the performer element in her, I told her afterwards, the one that visual artists for the most part, don’t have (unless they’re performers).

A little about Pam and her music…

Pam holds a master’s from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. A professional pianist/singer since 1980, she started in Chicago and played at the Drake Hotel, Park Hyatt Hotel, the Fairmont, the Palmer House, well-known jazz clubs as Andy’s and the Green Mill. In 1985 she traveled to Sweden where she played/sang in clubs around the country and onboard the Silja Line Cruise Boat, which sailed between Helsinki and Stockholm. In 1994,  moving to Norway she met  Swedish jazz artists Ronnie Gardiner and Johan Setterlind who recorded her first CD, Strings that, with her. She also met Doris Spears, a jazz singer from New Jersey, who collaborated with Pam to record her CD, The Duchess. They toured together traveling throughout Scandinavia.

In 2000, Pam moved to Phoenix. While in the valley, she’s played in the C.C. Jones Orchestra, performed with musicians Dennis Rowlands, Sherry Roberson, Felix Sainz, Dave Grale, Dennis Sexton, Paul-Eirik Melhus, Richard Palalay, Andy Gross, and Paul Anderson.

Pam, Mary Petrich, and John Chapman have formed an acoustic, jazz trio which caters to intimate venues like private parties, home concerts, and weddings…and events like our Yoga, Music, and Art Afternoon.  Their repertoire consists of jazz standards, originals, and classical music.

Pam really is  a natural…in front of the camera, and in front of an audience. Catch a live performance and hear it for yourself.

Pam will be performing tonight and next Friday night:

Who: Pam Morita piano/vocals

Where: Electric Eel Restaurant
30815 N. Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek, AZ
(N of Tatum, SE corner of Cave Creek and Desert Willow Parkway)

When: Saturday, Nov.13th and
Friday, Nov. 19th
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Call: 480-595-9000 for more info.

Pam also teaches.
To hire Pam for concert and/or teaching contact her at: (602) 478-1676 or e-mail: Pam