PVCC Study Abroad: the student experience in Havana, Cuba

This June, Professor of Art David L. Bradley, along with Professor of Art History, Tomi Johnston led a group of students on a fantastic experience to Havana, Cuba to study art history. Ready on to explore their experience in their own words and images:

The trip to Cuba reinforced my belief that people are the same around the world despite the differences in their governments. I was extremely impressed with the Cuban people's ability to improvise around their lack of resources and money. An example was the Cuban dancers who turned sticks and chairs into musical instruments and how they carved their own drums. -John Storslee

The creative repurposing of space. Houses were turned into restaurants and their walls turned into memorabilia. PC: John Storslee. 

Building walls, streets and power posts turned into pieces of art. PC: John Storslee.

From atop the stock exchange building in old Havana over the port. PC: Kimberly Harris

The architecture and color combinations in Havana. PC: Kimberly Harris

Using color to define individual space. PC: Kimberly Harris

Artwork of Havana, Cuba by PVCC Study Abroad Student Kimberly Harris. 

Tradition, innovation, amazing food, laughter, dancing, lovely people and cobblestones. CUBA, mi enamored! -Wendy Raisanen

Arriving In Style - Photo Series by Michelle Marion

No Experience Necessary Series: Free Workshops During the Month of June @ PVCC

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

The music department at Paradise Valley Community College is pleased to present a new series of hands-on musical opportunities for students, staff and members of the community.

All events in this series are FREE and only require an interest to learn something new and have fun.

Tuesday Evenings: Brazilian Drum and Dance Workshops
6:30pm-8:30pm, KSC 1000A • June 7, 14, 21, and 28

Learn to play and dance to the exciting rhythms from Brazil.
All Drums provided. Joe Goglia and Samuel Peña instructors.

Wednesday Evenings: Music Technology Workshops
6:30pm-8:30pm, CPA 120 • June 8, 15, 22, and 29

Learn techniques in Studio Recording, Electronic Music and more!
Brett Reed, JCK Music / John Keenan, and Tsone (Tony Obr), instructors.

Thursday Evenings: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
6:30pm-8:30pm, CPA Lobby/Gallery • June 9, 16, 23, and 30

All styles of music, spoken word and poetry are encouraged.
Performers will need to sign up at 6:00pm to perform.

This Summer at PVCC: Summer Musical, Free Concerts & Music Workshops

Join us this summer for free concerts, music workshops & our summer musical!

 

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION CONCERT

Thursday, May 26th at 7:00pm, Free Admission
Center for the Performing Arts, Mainstage Theater

Featuring a presentation by PVCC graduate Jonathan Lucas (US Army 2004-2012), and musical performances by the Salt River Brass Quintet, PVCC music student Rachel Brown, and vocal soloists.
 
Donations will be accepted for the PVCC Veteran's Student Scholarship Fund.

LIVE AT BLACK MOUNTAIN: THE PVCC FACULTY JAZZ ENSEMBLE

hursday, June 2nd at 7:00pm, Free Admission
Aquila Hall Outdoor Stage, Black Mountain Campus
34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85266

Featuring performances of small jazz ensemble music ranging from classic jazz standards to modern jazz.
Audience members are invited to bring a folding chair or blanket for seating.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY: FREE MUSIC WORKSHOP

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Evenings, 6:30pm-8:30pm
June 7th - 30th, Free Admission, Family Friendly

Tuesday Nights

Drum and Dance Workshops featuring Brazilian Music
KSC 1000A (located in the center of campus)

Wednesday Nights

Music Technology Workshops focusing on techniques in Studio Recording, Audio Mixing, Electronic Music and more!
Center for the Performing Arts Computer Lab (CPA 120)

Thursday Nights

Singer/Songwriter Open Mic
Center for the Performing Arts Lobby/Art Gallery
All styles of music, spoken word and poetry are encouraged.
Performers will need to sign up at 6:00pm to perform.

SUMMER MUSICAL: DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

irty Rotten Scoundrels by Jeffery Lane and David Yazbek directed by Andrea Robertson. Based on the popular 1988 MGM film, our summer musical takes us to the French Riviera for high jinx and hilarity. Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson swindles women by waking their compassion about his grandmother's failing health. After meeting on a train, they attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them! Show Dates: June 17, 18, 24, 25 at 7:30pm and 19, 26 at 2:00pm.
$15 adults; $12 seniors/staff; $10 students/military; $8 children
*4 additional ticket fee at the door 1hour prior to performance.
 
Click HERE to purchase tickets online

Center for the Performing Arts
Paradise Valley Community College

18401 N. 32nd Street • Phoenix, AZ 85032 Phone: (602) 787‐7738
www.paradisevalley.edu/cpa

Artist Talk + Reception: Wednesday May 11th, 2016

CONTEMPORARY FORUM LECTURE SERIES

SPONSORED BY FENNEMORE CRAIG, P.C.

PRESENTS
 
PVCC art faculty Saskia Jordá
A presentation from the 2015 Arlene and Morton Scult
Contemporary Forum Artist Award Recipient
 
& Contemporary Forum
Awards Presentation & Art Exhibition
 
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
6:30pm
 
Phoenix Art Museum, Whiteman Hall
Open to the Public, Admission is Free
A Private Reception for CF Members and Award Recipients
to follow in the Great Hall
 
Saskia Jordá is an interdisciplinary artist whose work encompasses site-specific installation, soft sculpture, and drawing. Using iconic images that repeat as multiples, Saskia explores the idea of skin as a multi-layered artifact. Saskia Jordá: A Geography of Line uses the vocabulary of mapping and geography to further explore themes of mobility, home, and connection to place, often reflected through fictional landscapes and alternate terrains.
 
Saskia’s presentation will be followed with the announcements of the 2016 Contemporary Forum Artists Grants Recipients and the Arlene and Morton Scult Contemporary Forum Artist Award Recipient. Afterwards, walk through the Harnett Gallery and view the remarkable contemporary works created by the 2015 award recipients.
2015 Artist Award Recipient
Saskia Jordá
 
2015 Artists Grants Recipients
Anna Garner, Nathaniel Lewis, Abbey Messmer, Rembrandt Quiballo,
Kazuma Sambe, Rossitza Todorova, Claire A. Warden
 
Phoenix Art Museum is now accepting online reservations for lectures in Whiteman Hall.
To make your online reservation, visit https://tickets.phxart.org/public/show.asp and scroll down to the event (all events are listed by date).  Your reservation secures a general seat in Whiteman Hall.  (It does not secure an assigned seat.)  Early arrival recommended for best seating selections.  Walk-ins will be accepted the night of the lecture if seats are still available.  
 
EVENT SPONSORED BY CONTEMPORARY FORUM at PHOENIX ART MUSEUM

3D Sustainability Installation in KSC

All the art objects were laid out prior to the installation. The class made over 200 flowers and bugs for the project.Pictured left to right: Nicole Nielsen, Michael McCarthy, Daniel Reed (Amber Ries Manning behind) - all 3D students

All the art objects were laid out prior to the installation. The class made over 200 flowers and bugs for the project.
Pictured left to right: Nicole Nielsen, Michael McCarthy, Daniel Reed (Amber Ries Manning behind) - all 3D students

The PVCC Sustainability Club and the Art Department’s 3D Design class have teamed up to create an art installation in KSC Building in the bright green recycle bin area. The display is all about educating students and visitors about the do’s and don’t’s of material recycling. Often, students will deposit recyclable items in the trash, and visa versa, trash items in the recycle bins. Initiated by the PVCC Sustainability Club, this installation is a fun and visually exciting way to educate everyone.

Approached by the club, students in the ART 115 3D Design class surveyed the location and brainstormed to create a textural, dimensional display of flowers and bugs, all made from the recyclable materials that will be listed as part of this display. Against the backdrop of the recycle bin area, this amazing collection of objects calls attention to the Sustainability Club’s message while providing a whimsical and surprisingly beautiful art installation.

Installation was a group effort between the 3D Design Class and members of the Sustainability Club. The club also collected much of the materials used for the art objects.Pictured: foreground - Amber Ries Manning, 3D student, and Amber Bingham, Sust…

Installation was a group effort between the 3D Design Class and members of the Sustainability Club. The club also collected much of the materials used for the art objects.
Pictured: foreground - Amber Ries Manning, 3D student, and Amber Bingham, Sustainability Club member

As the installation progressed, the swirling patterns began to emerge and take shape.Pictured: foreground - Michael McCarthy, Nicole Nielsen, 3D students - above lt to rt - Brigette Pina Sustainability Club member, Noa Paden 3D student, and Amber Bi…

As the installation progressed, the swirling patterns began to emerge and take shape.
Pictured: foreground - Michael McCarthy, Nicole Nielsen, 3D students - above lt to rt - Brigette Pina Sustainability Club member, Noa Paden 3D student, and Amber Bingham, Sustainability Club member

Materials included plastic bottles and lids, aluminum cans, cardboard, newspaper, junk mail catalogs, office waste paper, and printed food boxes. The variety of designs and methods for making the art objects was unlimited. Each item is individually …

Materials included plastic bottles and lids, aluminum cans, cardboard, newspaper, junk mail catalogs, office waste paper, and printed food boxes. The variety of designs and methods for making the art objects was unlimited. Each item is individually attached to the wall with magnets.

The overall final installation includes information about what materials belong in the recycled bin and what do not, providing information for on-campus best practices, but also messages about at-home recycling as well.

The overall final installation includes information about what materials belong in the recycled bin and what do not, providing information for on-campus best practices, but also messages about at-home recycling as well.

Here is the happy group of informed students, artists, and activists - lt to rt: Bridgette Pina and Amber Bingham, Sustainability Club members; Daniel Reed, Nicole Nielsen, Hannah Alcocer, Noa Paden, Amber Ries Manning, and Michael McCarthy, 3D Desi…

Here is the happy group of informed students, artists, and activists - lt to rt: Bridgette Pina and Amber Bingham, Sustainability Club members; Daniel Reed, Nicole Nielsen, Hannah Alcocer, Noa Paden, Amber Ries Manning, and Michael McCarthy, 3D Design students.

Summer Theatre Intensive

Summer Theatre Intensive - Monday June 6, 2016 @ 9AM
(June 6-23, Mon thru Thurs, 9:00am – 3:00pm)
Paradise Valley Community College Phoenix, AZ

Summer Theatre Intensive - Enjoy classes in the morning and rehearsal in the afternoon. Rotating topics may include: character development, improvisation, play-writing, prop making, stage combat, and many others. The rehearsal process will include: auditioning, blocking, learning lines, creating characters, and working/running the entire show. Each student is guaranteed a role in the production. Camp is open to students entering 6th through 9th grade in the Fall of 2016. The Studio Theatre is located in Building M-East.

Register here!

2016 Artists of Promise

Monday, January 25, 2016

Artists of Promise is a gala performance and exhibition honoring the 2016 Chancellor Award Winners of Maricopa Community Colleges' student visual art, choreography, creative writing, theatre, and music competitions. Diverse students from across the valley will take center stage, showcasing their finest artistic work.


It will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at the Herberger Theatre in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

Some of the finest emerging artists in the valley in choreography, theatre, music, and visual mediums such as photography, sculpture and painting will be presented to the public during this exciting annual event, which features multi-disciplinary displays and presentations. "Passages," the publication of creative writing winners will also be available.


As the event is open to the public and seating is not assigned, please plan on arriving early for desired seating.


Art Exhibit and Reception from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.  Performances begin at 6:30 pm.


Location
Herberger Theater
222 E Monroe St
Phoenix, AZ

Contact
Don Jensen-Bobadilla, M.Ed.
don.jensen-bobadilla@domail.maricopa.edu
480-731-8296

PVCC hosts Ken Waldman, Alaska's Fiddling Poet | Free Event

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 @ 7:30pm, Free Admission

The Center for Performing Arts Main Stage

PVCC's Creative Writing Program Presents:

Ken Waldman, Alaska's Fiddling Poet

Ken Waldman primarily plays old-time music, which predates bluegrass. Historically, this is a string-band music linked to Appalachia, though, really, there are variants most everywhere in North America. Some of the tunes he plays are more than two centuries old, though he also has recorded over a hundred he's composed in the style.


Though solo fiddling has its own long-standing tradition—and Ken will still occasionally play solo, especially in conjunction with literary or storytelling events—there's also a long tradition of fiddle and banjo, and of four-piece string-bands with fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass. The permutations are endless: some groups will add a second fiddle, or a mandolin, or will specialize in singing. Some will feature a percussive dancer.

While the music is more widely recognized as square dance music, it's also music of a community, and made among friends. Where bluegrass invariably features hot virtuosic solos, old-time music is an ensemble affair, which relies on a shared background of listening to the music, and playing it. 

What distinguishes Ken is that he uses this music in performance as backdrop as he shares original poems—poetry often about this music—and tells stories, most often about the music, or about Alaska. And while bluegrass may he considered flashier, old-time music may be considered more soulful, which doesn't preclude a high level of musicianship, or satisfaction in the listening. Ken started playing fiddle in 1981, long enough that he knows, and has as friends, hundreds of musicians who are among the very best in this genre. When Ken performs, he can bring “local” accompanists who are highest level musicians themselves, artists who headline their own regional, national, international shows. 

Over the years, as Ken's performances have evolved, he enjoys assembling these all-star bands, and featuring the all-star musicians during the course of the evening. The resulting roots music variety shows, which also include December holiday shows, have proven to be one of Ken's most popular offerings. Ken tailors the evening to a particular community, so shows will incorporate big groups with multiple fiddlers and dancers as well as soloists, duos, and trios, which Ken introduces with a brief poem or story.


Theatre Department Attends Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii

Attending faculty: Andrea Robertson and Karla Frederick. Attending students:  Rachelle Dart, Delfinia Valdenegro, Megan Sutton, Gustavo Flores, Nick Claudio, Micah Thomas, Elizabeth Hogsed, Emile Trudeau and Courtney Kenyon.

Attending faculty: Andrea Robertson and Karla Frederick. Attending students:  Rachelle Dart, Delfinia Valdenegro, Megan Sutton, Gustavo Flores, Nick Claudio, Micah Thomas, Elizabeth Hogsed, Emile Trudeau and Courtney Kenyon.

In February 2016 PVCC Theatre Faculty Andrea Robertson and adjunct Karla Frederick took nine PVCC students to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.  This was the first year the PVCC theatre department participated in this Festival. The Festival for our Region was held at the University of Honolulu, Hawaii.  The acting students worked with their partners for about two months before we left on preparing two scenes and a monologue while our stage management student made sure her prompt book was incredibly detailed and full of everything on the production for which she was nominated.


Once in Hawaii we all kept busy with workshops, meetings, acting competition rounds, interviews, watching shows and rehearsals. Two of our students, Nick Claudio and Courtney Kenyon, were selected to participate in the ten minute play festival while we were there. The students also made new friends from around our region including Southern California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii and Guam. Rachelle Dart, one of our Irene Ryan acting nominees and her partner Megan Sutton made it to finals of the Acting competition. Out of about 300 pairs they were one of sixteen to show their scene in finals. Our stage manager Courtney Kenyon was alternate to nationals out of about forty forty five managers.  

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival or KCACTF is a celebration of the creative process and a shared experience of a community of theater artists. KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, stage management, dramatic criticism, directing, and design.

In January and February of each year, regional festivals showcase the finest of each region's entered productions and offer a wide range of activities, including workshops, symposia, and regional-level scholarship and award programs. At this year's Festival PVCC students were nominated to compete at the Regional level through the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions and Stage Management after being selected via a response to our shows here at PVCC by a KCACTF Respondent who witnessed the student’s work.  Students competing at the regional festival have the opportunity to appear at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in April of 2016.