MAC tracks arts, crafts
An intriguing new exhibit opens at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture on Saturday: “The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest.”
This traveling exhibit, fresh from the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, should have special interest in Spokane.
The Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century left an especially strong imprint here through architects such as Kirtland Cutter and many decorative artists.
You can see the movement’s influence at the Davenport Hotel, the Campbell House and in Craftsman-style neighborhoods throughout the city.
Check it out at the MAC through June 26. Watch for a complete preview in Friday’s Today section.
RubberBand springs back
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand, which had a country chart hit a few years back with “Dream Big,” is arriving for two local shows next weekend: Friday at 7 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave.; and Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Road in Coeur d’Alene.
They’re a bluegrass/country/rock/rap outfit which MTV compared to the Dave Matthews Band and others have likened to various progressive bluegrass bands.
They describe their own music, tongue in cheek, as “post-Hee-Haw-funkadelic- hip-hop-new-grass.”
And one of their members is from Spokane. Drummer/fiddler Bart Olson grew up as part of the Olson Family Fiddlers.
Tickets are available through their Web site, www.shupe.net.
‘Behanding’ review
The first review trickled in Friday for Martin McDonagh’s Broadway dark-comedy, “A Behanding in Spokane.”
Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press was especially taken with Christopher Walken as a man whose hand was cut off four decades earlier in, yes, Spokane.
Kuchwara was less taken with the play itself, which he called “slender.”
“His (Walken’s) performance will haunt you even if the play does not,” he said.
We’ll let you know the critical consensus next week.
Arts administrator awards
The Spokane Symphony handed out its Outstanding Arts Advocate Administrator Awards last Sunday.
The symphony launched these awards to recognize an important truth: Arts education is under increasing pressure in schools and supportive administrators are more vital than ever.
The winners: Chuck Demarest, principal of Hutton Elementary in Spokane, and Mark St. Clair, principal of Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls.
Hampton jazz awards
Many awards were given out at the 2010 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho – far more than I can detail here.
Yet I thought I’d mention that the major college awards went to the University of Idaho’s Combo IV; Washington State University’s VOJAZZ vocal ensemble; Patrick Sheng of WSU (for creative instrumental composition); and Whitworth University’s Jazz Ensemble.
All four received the Adjudicator’s Special Commendation.
Musicfest Northwest deadline
Speaking of music competitions, Wednesday is the entry deadline for the Inland Northwest’s premier music competition, Musicfest Northwest.
You can enter in nine divisions: ballet, brass, flute, guitar, organ, piano, reeds, strings and voice. To enter go to www.musicfestnorthwest.org.
The festival will run May 9-14.
Walkin’ Jim Stoltz
He’s like a musical John Muir.
Walkin’ Jim Stoltz, who spends his life roaming the backcountry and performing music/poetry/ multimedia shows about his experiences, will walk into Gonzaga University’s Wolfe Auditorium at the Jepson Center tonight at 7.
He’ll perform his own music and show his slides of the places he has trekked.
The show is free, sponsored in part by the Sierra Club.
The Curnow alert
Here’s a reminder for fans of big band music: The Bob Curnow Big Band is packing ’em in at regular gigs at the Ichiban Sushi Lounge, 202 W. Third Ave.
This has turned out to be a popular venue for live big band jazz one or two Mondays a month.
The next show is March 15, beginning at 6:45 p.m. with opening acts by the Cheney High School Middle School and High School Jazz Ensembles.
These are all-ages shows with no cover charge. Upcoming Curnow dates are April 5 and 19, and May 10 and 17.
The ‘Art’ cast
The cast for the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Art,” opening Thursday at Interplayers Professional Theatre, consists of three well-known names in the local theater world.
They are Jack Bannon, who gained fame on TV’s “Lou Grant”; Patrick Treadway, one of Spokane’s favorite and most versatile performers; and Roger Welch, the artistic director of the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.
The comedy by Yasmina Reza asks the question: How would you react if your friend paid good money for a completely white painting?
Call (509) 455-PLAY or TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
A radio app
Spokane’s Clear Channel stations are now available through the free iheartradio application for smart phones and iPhones.
Kosta Panidis, vice president and general manager of Clear Channel Spokane, said this free download allows people to listen to the stations live, whether or not they are in range of the broadcast signal.
The local Clear Channel FM stations are KKZX-FM, KISC-FM, KCDA-FM and KIXZ-FM.
He’ll be at Carnegie Hall
Spokane violinist Ryan Jacobsen, a student at St. George’s School, auditioned for the 2010 American High School Honors Performance Series – and just got word that he was accepted.
That means he’ll go to New York in June, attend a seminar at the Juilliard Institute, appear on CBS’ “Early Show” and perform in the Honors Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
Jacobsen is a member of the Spokane Youth Orchestra and has won various performing awards – but surely this is the topper.