Save the date for Saturday, October 29th at 6:00pm for an exciting Raku Firing/Ceramics Fundraising Event.
Raku Nights is a fundraising event AND a hands-on ceramics workshop rolled into one!
$35 per ticket includes:
*Your selected piece of hand-thrown pottery to design, glaze and take home.
• Dramatic Raku Kiln firing of each piece
• Pottery throwing demonstration
• Appetizers and dessert
• Live music performed by the PVCC Faculty Jazz Ensemble
Tickets will go on sale on October 3rd. Purchase tickets in advance as seating is limited.
Proceeds benefit the PVCC Ceramics Program Support Fund.
Saturday Concert Series: Grupo Liberdade
October 15th will be an exciting day at PVCC!
PVCC Fine & Performing Arts Open House from 1:00p-4:00pm
Saturday Concert Series with Grupo Liberdade and Queso Good food truck at 6:00pm.
Grupo Liberdade is a performance group dedicated to freedom of expression through Culture, Movement & Sound. We promote COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY & EMPOWERMENT drawing upon the traditional & contemporary rhythms of Brazil and beyond while bringing an original sound & energy to our desert metropolis. Specializing in Batucada including the Afro-Brazilian styles of Samba, Samba Reggae, Côcos and Maracatu, Grupo Liberdade strives to share the infectious sounds of Brasil with Arizona to further enrich, move & inspire.
Since 2004, the group has performed throughout Arizona under the direction of Brazilian native, Poranguí from leading the Annual Phoenix Parade of the Arts through downtown Phoenix, to drumming & dancing in the new year for thousands of party-goers at the historical Hotel Congress in Tucson. Founded in 2008 by Angelique Starks, the SambAZ Dancers have quickly become one of the liveliest and most notable Samba acts in the country. Dedicated to creating music to move the body & soul, this project brings together diversity on all levels with an incredible show of talented musicians & dancers that must not be watched, but experienced!
Jazz, Film + Art at PVCC: Three Free Events, One Night
On Wednesday, October 19th, the Center for the Performing Arts will host three FREE events for the campus and community.
5:30pm – CPA Lobby/Art Gallery: Closing reception for the art exhibit A STRIKING MARK
6:30pm – CPA Mainstage Theater: TELL NO ONE, the first film of the 2016-2017 Film Festival, whose theme is international mystery and suspense films.
7:00pm – CPA Outdoor Stage: JAZZ UNDER THE STARS featuring music performed by PVCC Jazz Ensembles
Fall 2016 Fine Arts Open House
Saturday, October 15th | 1:00 PM - 4:00 pm
On Saturday, October 15th Paradise Valley Community College’s Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) will host the Fine Arts Open House. This free event features demos, performances, tours, workshops, and hands-on activities. Music, dance, theatre, costume design, creative writing, film, and studio recording are among the fine and performing arts programs that will be showcased. Information about classes, programs, events, scholarships and performance opportunities will be available, and those in attendance will be treated to a variety of special performances and workshops throughout the afternoon.
Student Spotlight: Megan Cary, Photographer
PVCC student Megan Cary placed 2nd in the League of Innovation in the Community Colleges’ national student art competition for the 2015-2016 school year. Her photograph "Don't Shoot" was also a juror's choice winner. We caught up with Megan to ask her about the photo, talk about her creative process, see more of her work and hear about her experience as an art student at PVCC.
Black Lives matter protest, Downtown Phoenix. First Friday, 2015.
Your photo “Don’t Shoot” depicts a man with his hands up in front of a row of armed police. Take us to the scene of the photo - where was it taken? What was the mood? Was there a confrontation? Do you know the subject?
This photo was taken in Downtown Phoenix during the First Friday Festival. I was taking photos for Overthrow Clothing that night and then a big crowd started to form right behind me and they all started walking up and down the streets shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot”. Being there it wasn’t scary and I didn’t feel like I was in danger. It wasn’t violent at all either. The local news stations were there and one man reporting live was reporting how dangerous it was and to avoid the area but in reality it was a peaceful protest. The protestors and the police were respecting one another. And I managed to capture this man with a calm expression on his face with officers in gear with the same expression.
Your photo was a juror’s choice winner in addition to taking second place. The image depicts themes that are deeply personal to those affected by the interplay between police and civilians. What is your personal experience with these themes? Why did you decide to photograph the event that night?
Personally I can’t say how it affects me because it’s never happened to me. I decided to photograph what was going on because it was happening right in front of me. I was walking past all these reporters saying how the police were interfering or how protestors were destroying the streets but none of that was happening at all. So my photo just shows how the protestor is respecting the officers and the officers are respecting the protestor. No violence just respect.
Lavish Crowe, guitar player for Carly Rae Jepsen at Fender.
Describe your body of work as a whole. What is your creative process? What are your typical aims - meaning, when are you satisfied with the work you create?
I’m kind of weird when it comes to my photography, I don’t have a main focal area that I work in. I just take pictures of everything when my camera is on me. I just shoot and then go through the images later and select the ones that make me take a double take. I don’t really have a special way just whatever stands out to me. I really like having a Black and Whiteeffect on my photos. But my photography ranges from concert, product, landscape photography and on the certain occasion photojournalism.
Is most of your work political? Do you intend to go into photojournalism or documentary photography?
I actually am really into politics but politics can be evil. I don’t like my work to reflect off of that because everyone has different opinions on what is right and what is wrong. I don’t think I’ll ever really get into documentary photography I think because of that.
PC: Megan Cary
What has your experience been as a photography student at PVCC? Were you encouraged by faculty to enter the contest?
I’m actually not taking any photography classes at PVCC, I like to do my own thing with it and teach myself. My art teacher (Adria Pecora-Drawing) actually kept bothering me to enter into the competitions and I never was really interested in competing but finally I entered and I went all the way to nationals. But she really encouraged me to be more artistic and not be afraid of failure.
How did you feel when the photo was selected for national recognition?
I was actually shocked I didn’t even think I would place so I kind of forgot about it until everyone told me! It’s a pretty good feeling though won’t forget it.
PC: Megan Cary
What do you hope viewers think or feel upon seeing “Don’t Shoot”?
I hope people see this and don’t automatically take sides but see how everyone is human and no one is perfect. There are good cops and bad cops. Bad people and good people. That everything the media reports is not 100% true. I want this photo to have an emotional deep impact but not a negative one.
About the Artist
Megan Cary is a second-year PVCC art student. She has been involved with the art community on campus via enrollment in art classes. Although photography began as a hobby, it has blown up into a career. She is a photographer and videographer for Fender Musical Instruments and other brands. View her portfolio here.
MUP181: Monday Night Jazz Combo
REGISTER AT CLASSES.SIS.MARICOPA.EDU
MUP181: Union Jazz Institute Combo
MUP163: Composer/Improviser Big Band
Composer/Improviser Big Band
Monday's 7-950pm
MUP 163 #25590
First meeting: August 29th in CPA 115
Directed by Dr. Keith Kelly,
Coordinator of Music Humanities and Performance
MUP181: Multimedia Ensemble
MULTIMEDIA ENSEMBLE (MUP181-25587)
Mondays, 4:30p-6:15p, CPA 115
Tony Obr, Instructor
The Multimedia Ensemble is a performance ensemble that blurs the lines between artistic disciplines, along with incorporating disciplines outside of the fine arts such as engineering, math, and science. Topics of interest in the ensemble might include: linking live video and music, controlling live video with music and vice versa, handmade electronic music (building low power electronic music devices), circuit bending, translating movement and gesture into media generation, and much more!
REGISTER AT CLASSES.SIS.MARICOPA.EDU
MUP190: Brazilian Percussion Ensemble
BRAZILIAN PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE (MUP190-42141)
Tuesdays, 7:00P-8:50pm, CPA 115
Samuel Peña, instructor
The Brazilian Percussion Ensemble will explore Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban folkloric styles such as Samba, Capoeira, Maculele, Ijexa, Rumba, ect. Open to all levels of musical experience. Come explore a rich tradition of rhythm and song. Singers are encouraged to participate as well.