Spotlight: Davenport Arts District ends with a $17,000 bang

The Davenport Arts District has ended its 25-year legacy in Spokane with one final generous act: It has donated $17,000 to the Spokane Arts Fund, the nonprofit organization of the Spokane Arts Commission.

The district was formed to promote revitalization of the area surrounding the Davenport Hotel, with a focus on the arts. With the subsequent restoration of the hotel and the Fox Theater – and a full calendar of events at the Bing Crosby Theater and the Knitting Factory Concert House – the area has indeed become a lively center for the arts.

So now “it’s time to move forward,” said Susie Matteson, the most recent Davenport Arts District president. She said the donation of the remaining money in the district’s funds “will provide a stepping stone forward.”

Spokane city arts director Karen Mobley called it “a very cool and generous donation.”

The money is donor-restricted, meaning that it must be used for arts activities within a mile-and-a-half of the Davenport Hotel. It will also be used to maintain the “Metal to Magic” benches, which were installed in the area in 2004.

While it’s good news, it’s certainly no panacea for the Arts Commission. Mobley said the money will not become part of the city arts budget; it will be given to various nonprofit arts organizations for their own projects.

She said it will probably amount to grants totaling about $3,000 per year, spread out over several years.

Paisley to the Arena

Country superstar Brad Paisley, along with rising stars The Band Perry and “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, is coming to the Spokane Arena on Feb. 9.

The Band Perry was the big winner at Wednesday’s Country Music Association awards, taking single of the year, song of the year and best new artist honors.

Tickets are $25 to $59.75, on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest .com). You’ll find presale information at Paisley’s website.

The ‘Nutcracker’ kids

The young dancers have been chosen and are busy rehearsing for the “The Nutcracker Ballet,” with the Spokane Symphony and the State Street Ballet.

This Santa Barbara, Calif., troupe has recruited 124 dancers from dance studios throughout the region to supplement the 20 professional dancers.

This year’s “Nutcracker” runs for five performances at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, Dec. 2-4. Tickets range from $22 to $44 for adults and $16 for children, through TicketsWest.

Kenny Werner at SFCC

The Kenny Werner Quintet, featuring Randy Brecker and David Sanchez, has been booked into Spokane Falls Community College’s Music Building 15 – Auditorium, Fort George Wright Drive, for a show on Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

Werner is one of the nation’s top jazz pianists and composers. Brecker is a top jazz trumpeter.

Tickets are $15 ($10 for students and seniors), through TicketsWest.

‘Hearing Impressionism’

Do you want to find out how the Impressionist movement in art influenced music?

Donivan Johnson, a music educator and performer, will demonstrate examples of musical impressionism in a lecture at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture titled “Hearing Impressionism.”

This lecture runs from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Eric A. Johnston Auditorium at the museum, 2316 W. First Ave. It will be preceded by a wine/beer reception in the Helen South Alexander Gallery at 2:15 p.m.

This lecture is in conjunction with the MAC’s current exhibit, “Seeing Impressionism: Europe, America and the Northwest,” which features works by Renoir and Degas.

No tickets are required for the lecture, but an $8 per person donation is suggested and there will be a charge for the beer and wine.

The RiverSpeak collective

Here’s a heads-up about an ambitious art show coming up: “RiverSpeak at the Chase!” from Jan. 4 to Feb. 24.

RiverSpeak is an art-performance collective that is planning an art, image, poetry and performance exhibition at the Chase Gallery at Spokane City Hall.

This juried exhibition will be punctuated by two Friday night events that can be best described as “variety shows,” meaning they might include poetry, video, dance and scripted works, as well as visual art.

RiverSpeak’s mission is to “nourish and sustain participation in the arts while fostering dialogue and building community.”