Art Beat - Wucf

When Central Floridians hear the word "Fringe" most think of performance art but The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is also home to Visual Fringe - a gallery exhibit featuring photography, paintings, sculptures, and more. Visual Fringe has been a part of Fringe since the festival's inception 18 years ago, though patrons have seen noted growth and more creative diversity since UCF graduate Anna McCambridge became the Visual Fringe Producer seven years ago. In this edition of Art Beat Anna offers guest producer Katie Ball a sneak preview to this uncensored art extravaganza. The Festival Dates: May 14 - May 25 - don't forget about our ticket giveaway - see details on 5/11/09 show.

**Podcast is an extended version, not heard on-air!The Orlando Fringe Festival opens Thursday, May 14 and runs through Monday, May 25 with over 70 shows plus Kids Fringe and Visual Fringe. One show was an award-winner from Washington D.C.'s Fringe - 7x1 Samurai with David Gaines - a 1-man telling of the Japanese movie Seven Samurai. David gives us a preview...PLUS he's offering tickets to WUCF listeners. Be one of the first 5 people to email ArtBeat and you'll receive a pair of tickets to the opener on Thursday, May 14 at 8:40pm at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Gaines is also offering a $2.00 discount to all WUCF members - available only at the box office - just ask for the public radio discount. >>>Note - all ticket winners must also purchase a Fringe button for $8 - see the Fringe website for details.

A Gift for Music, funded by the Walt Disney World Co., teaches violin to 3rd, 4th & 5th graders in at-risk Orange County schools. The program's 10th Annual Concert is Thursday, May 14 at Calvary Assembly Church in Winter Park.  If you're interested in becoming an instructor, assistant or volunteer, contact Program Manager, Sally Carter.

Last December, the Expressions of China photo exhibit was on display at the UCF Main Campus.  Now, after a trip to the University of Oregon, the photographs can be seen at the UCF Cocoa Campus Library, through June 1st. The images were taken by students in the ChinaVine.org project while they were in China making documentary films on ancient folk arts. Click Here for directions to the Cocoa library.

UCF's Digital Media Department will hold a Premiere Gala Tuesday night, May 5, starting at 5:30. The event features the premiere of Atlas' Revenge, an animiated film produced by seniors in the department's Visual Language track, housed at the downtown Center for Emerging Media (500 W. Livingston St). There will also be tours of production studios and presentations by juniors working on next year's film and a graduate student symposium. Screenings are at 6:30 and 7:30; tours at 7pm and 8pm. Call 407-823-6100.

You're invited to the Opening Reception Saturday, May 2 from 4-6pm for an exhibit by seniors in UCF's Bachelor of Science program in Photography. The program is based in Daytona Beach and is an extension of the Associates Degree offered by Daytona State College. The students are exhibiting their work at the main campus Art Gallery through May 9th. The Gallery is in the Visual Arts Building; enter the campus from Centaurus Blvd (1 traffic light north of University Blvd); stay straight on Centaurus and the Visual Arts Building will be on your left. For information call 407-823-2975.

Orlando Ballet will close its 35th anniversary season with Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Alun Jones. Performances are Friday and Saturday, May 1-2 at 8pm and Sunday, May 3 at 2pm at the Bob Carr.

The Polasek Museum will host the first ever Winter Park Paint Out. Starting Tuesday, April 28, 24 plein air painters will set up around the city, so you can watch them work. The event culminates Saturday, April 25 with a Celebration from 6-9pm. There are also free demonstrations and lectures and an Open House Sunday from 1-4pm. The museum is open free this week with extended hours - 10am-6pm.

UCF Music Department presents the 2009 Jazz Trumpet Fest, Saturday from 10am-5pm. Clinics and a concert with leading jazz soloists are open to the entire community. Also, a profile of french horn player Juan Berrios; the UCF junior won a full scholarship to the Aspen Music Festival.

Sculpted Bodies - An Evening of Dance is Thursday-Sunday at Orlando Repertory Theatre, presented by UCF Theatre. Brian Vernon runs the department's dance program. Performances are at 8pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 2pm on Sunday; the opening on Thursday includes the presentation of the Central Florida Dance Award. Other UCF Events: Exhibit by BFA students at the UCF Art Gallery - closes 4/24 UCF Guitar Night & Wind Ensemble Film Department's Home Movie Day and a Reading by students in the MFA Creative Writing Program on Thursday, 4/23 at 6pm at the UCF Campus Bookstore

Jim Henson's Fantastic World will close in 2 weeks at the History Center. The Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit features archival material and his beloved muppets. Special events include a Brown-bag lunch with Heather Henson, Thursday, April 30 at Noon and a Family Funshop on Saturday May 2 at 10am.Companion exhibits: The Dark Crystal Redux and Puppetry in Central Florida continue through May 10.

The Orlando Philharmonic presents Rags to Riches - The Birth of Jazz and Jazz-Inspired Classics. There are two concerts - a free one Saturday, 4/18 at 7pm at St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Oviedo, and Monday, 4/20 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center.

Cuban-American actor and playwright Chaz Mena has written a 1-man play about Cuban philosopher and hero, Jose Marti. Bill Dudley of the Florida Humanties Council has this special report on the play, which you can see at the UCF Library on Thursday, April 16 at 3:00 pm.  Campus Map

Jazz singer Sophie Milman is only 26, but has already become a leading recording artist with a busy touring schedule and a Juno Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year.  Looking forward to her 3rd CD coming out in June, Central Florida audiences have a chance to enjoy Sophie in person at the Daytona Beach International Festival. She's at the Bank & Blues Club at 10pm, on April 17 & 18. Listen to an extended version of our conversation, which starts with Sophie talking about the band members who will join her in Daytona.

Orlando Shakespeare Theatre is running two shows on alternating nights - Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice, controversial because of its treatment of the character Shylock. A talk-back will be held after the performance on Thursday, April 16. Listen to Jim Helsinger talk about the 2009-2010 season.

The Daytona Beach International Festival offers 17 days of leading international music artists, from jazz and bluegrass to Latin, world and classical music, including the only American residency by the London Symphony Orchestra. The jazz series opens the festival on April 16 with trumpeter Chris Botti; also on the series is Chuck Mangione, Chuchito Valdes and The Yellowjackets.  Tthe new Late-Night Series brings jazz singer Sophie Milman to town. She will be the guest on Monday's ArtBeat. 

Melody Moore is a rising opera star who can be seen Tuesday night in Orlando Opera's production of Suor Angelica. It starts at 7:30 at the Bob Carr PAC. See a video of Moore from this production.Also, a visit with Etta Jean Juge; her photography exhibit, Near and Far, is at the UCF Library through April 30th. Also at the library is an exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Events include the film, Lejos de la Isla, on Thursday, April 9 at 6pm, with the director and writer in attendance.

Students in Professor Theo Lotz's BFA Seminar class have a special assignment this semester...the soon-to-be-graduating seniors are completely in charge of putting on an off-campus art show. From finding a venue (the old Mini-Cooper showroom at Orange Avenue and Jefferson Street) to building display walls and promotion, the 20 students will showcase their work tonight at tomorrow at a show called Driven. It's free and open from 7-10pm April 3 & 4. Other UCF art events - Knights for the Arts features work by Rosen College students, Friday, April 3 from 7-10pm at the Engineering Center; and a Reception for Etta Jean Juge at the UCF Library, Friday, April 3 from 5-7pm. Her photography exhibit runs this month at the library - free parking is in Lot B-3. Find community art events at Red Chair Project.com

Award-winning photographer Claudia Smigrod will exhibit her series, Day of Judgement, at the UCF Women's Research Center from March 3-April 24. She teaches at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. An Opening Reception is Tuesday March 3 from 3:30-6pm with a Gallery Talk at 5pm. For a map, see the Exhibit Flyer (scroll to 2nd page)

This is Research Week at UCF - there are workshops for students presented by the Office of Undergraduate Research.  On Thursday, projects by 250 students will be featured in the Research Showcase and the public is invited to see the poster presentations. It's April 2 from 1:30-5pm in the Pegasus Ballroom of the UCF Student Union. We also hear an archive story on research with Ball State theatre professor Jennifer Blackmer. Ticket giveaway - win a pair of tickets to Saturday's concert by the National Philharmonic of Russia, presented by the Festival of Orchestras. A pair of tickets is still available....email now to win! Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.