Spotlight: Local writer Spatz tops Spokane Arts Awards
The City of Spokane Arts Awards will be presented at the City Council meeting Monday, and here’s the list of winners:
• Individual Artist Award: Gregory Spatz – Spatz is a creative force as both an author – he has written several novels and short-story collections – and a musician. He’s a fiddle player in the band John Reischman and the Jaybirds and a bouzouki player in the world music band Mighty Squirrel. He has also been an inspiration to many young writers, as a professor of creative writing at Eastern Washington University.
• Arts Organization Award: The Arts in Healing Program at Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital – An innovative and inspiring program that integrates the creative arts into healing and end-of-life care.
• Individual Benefactor: Betty Kiemle – Kiemle has been an important benefactor of the arts for many years, supporting the Spokane Symphony, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and many other classical music and cultural organizations, with both time and money.
• Business Benefactor: Spokane International Airport Board – The board partnered with the Spokane Arts Commission in a multi-year project to create significant new public art for the revamped airport.
• Arts in Education: Spokane Youth Music Consortium – An organization which brings music organizations together to help support music education.
• Arts Community Leadership: Janice Abramson – She’s been a key creative and organizational force at the Spokane Civic Theatre for 35 years, as a volunteer producer, stage manager and performer. She has also volunteered with many other local theater organizations, charities and nonprofits.
• Bold Strokes Award: 50 Hour Slam – This was the exhilarating short film competition held in Spokane this year that drew 250 filmmakers. The organizers included Purple Crayon Pictures, Corp-X Web Development, F.A.V.E.S., Community Minded Television and the Magic Lantern Theatre.
The ‘Super 8’ connection
Did you know that the Joel Courtney, the 15-year-old star of the summer hit film “Super 8,” is a Moscow, Idaho resident?
Joel went down to Los Angeles in summer 2010 to visit his older brother Caleb. He thought he might take a few acting classes and audition for a commercial.
Instead he landed the main role in one of the biggest films of 2011, the sci-fi thriller from the mind of J.J. Abrams.
According to his website, the most difficult scene to film was one in which he had to yell at Kyle Chandler, who played his father, Deputy Jackson Lamb.
“In my family, we don’t raise our voices at each other, especially to an adult,” he says.
Joel still attends middle school in Moscow (“that’s where all my friends are,” he told one interviewer), but he has recently been out filming two more movies: “Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn” (as Tom Sawyer) and “The Healer.”
Limerick Pub
The Spokane Arena’s latest food-drink option has a bit of a brogue: The Limerick Pub.
In the concourse on the south side, it will feature Irish refreshments – Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp and Jameson – along with traditional pub fare.
The name is a reference to Limerick, Ireland, one of Spokane’s sister cities.
Celtic Spokane Club
Speaking of Ireland, the Spokane Club is opening its newly restored Georgian Showroom for public concerts, beginning with “Celtic Harp & Story” featuring Patrick Ball, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
Ball, an acknowledged master of the genre, will tell Celtic stories and play tunes. Tickets are $15 for Spokane Club members and $20 for nonmembers, available in advance only by calling (509) 838-8511.
A hospital symphony
Patients at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center will be able to watch and listen to today’s Spokane Symphony concert without leaving their beds.
Today’s concert will be streamed live to television screens throughout the hospital. This is the first full test of a new program which uses the built-in technology at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox to transmit concerts live.
Symphony Music Director Eckart Preu said in a press release that music has been used as a therapeutic force throughout history.
“ We don’t understand what music actually does – we just know it does miracles,” he said.
The symphony hopes to expand the program to other hospitals.
David Saling retrospective
Eastern Washington University is getting ready to launch “David Saling: a retrospective,” an exhibit of paintings and drawings by the late Spokane artist.
Saling once said his work came in an “eclectic mix of styles, pulling elements from dada, abstract expressionism, pop art, neo-dada and neo-expressionism.”
He received a bachelor’s degree in fine art from EWU in 2002 and an MFA from the University of Arizona in 2006. He also taught at Spokane Falls Community College. Saling died in July at age 51.
A reception celebrating his life and work will be Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m. at the EWU Gallery of Art.
Classical guitar in Wallace
Edgar Cruz, a classical guitar virtuoso from Oklahoma, will perform at Wallace Junior-Senior High School on Oct. 9 at 3 p.m.
Cruz is a spectacular guitarist who can play such classics as “Malaguena” with precision, but also popular tunes like “Tequila” and “In the Mood.”
His version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” has earned 13 million hits on YouTube.
This is the first concert of the Shoshone County Community Concert Series. To attend you must get season tickets for the entire three-concert series for $40 (with student and family discounts). Season tickets will be sold at the door.
Cathedral organ
Richard Elliott, the principal organist at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, will play an organ concert at St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave., on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT or www.ticketswest.com).
Jam for Bread
Jam for Bread, the annual benefit for Crosswalk, the Volunteers of America youth shelter program, is scheduled for Oct. 9, 3 p.m. at Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ, 411 S. Washington St.
A number of top local acts will perform : Mon Cheri, Kosher Red Hots, Ashe West African Drumming and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus.
Tickets at the door will be $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $25 for families.
Bank Left and the MAC
The Bank Left Gallery and Bistro, 100 S. Bridge, Palouse, Wash., will have a pair of special events on Saturday.
From 1 to 5 p.m., it will hold an opening reception for its 21-piece exhibit featuring two Spokane artists, photographer Jennifer Scott and sculptor Ildiko Kalapacs.
Then, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., the bistro will host a fundraiser dinner for the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) featuring an international menu. The cost is $65; reservations can be made at (509) 878-1800.