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Arts & Entertainment

Dayton Jewish International Film Festival Returns

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dayjewishfilmfestOpening on Tues, April 13th, the Jewish Film Festival celebrates it’s 10th anniversary by sharing 12 films, live discussion and receptions at five locations over the next two weeks.

Selections range from documentaries like Refusenik– on the campaign to free Soviet Jews to animated shorts like God & Co, starring Comedy Central’s Jonathan Katz.   Many of the films are foreign and will feature subtitles. Tickets are $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for students and full festival passes are available for $65.Tickets may be purchased online or contact Karen at 853-0372 for more information.

JumpstART is new Culture Works Initiative for YPs

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There are associate boards all over this fair region of ours – providing ways for young people to get out, meet people, make connections, and do some good on behalf of nonprofits they care about.  Off the top of my head, I’m thinking there’s the Red Cross Associate Board, Dayton Ballet Associate Board, and The Foodbank Associate Board (among others).  Culture Works has jumped into the mix with an Associate Board for the arts-minded young professional up-and-comers.  And turning leadership to action, the CW Associate Board created Jumpstart – the activity arm for YPs in the area to have fun while exploring the arts scene.  Being a member of the CWAB and an organizer or our arts “jumps,” I’m here to tell you a little more about us (and ask for your feedback).

First things first – know your audience.  A few months ago, we conducted a survey to gauge interest in the arts for our demographic.  We learned that although young people (20s and 30s) acknowledge that Dayton has a great arts community, they felt disconnected to the events either because they were presumed to be too costly or because they didn’t consider the arts to be accessible enough.  We also learned that sometimes our generation just didn’t feel as if they were informed about arts events.   So – we’re working on fixing all that.  Our goals are about providing YPs the information they need, the discounts they like, and the opportunities they want to include regional arts as a viable entertainment option.  The Facebook page is collecting fans now, and we’re starting to pilot some events to encourage participation.

Event-wise, we’re hosting “jumps.” These are opportunities to hang out with other young people in formats that are easily accessible (parking/location/cost) and with the performance bookended by fun events that aren’t tied to stuffy notions of the arts (eat, drink, music, dance).  We’re excited for this.

I hope you might join us or follow us on Facebook if you’re willing to learn about something new.  Currently on the new Facebook page, we’ve started writing reviews of shows we’ve seen.  You can read the official critic reviews in the papers, but this is a first-person account of what it’s like to go out and explore the arts as a 20- or 30-something.  We highlight what we liked (and didn’t like) about the shows, but we also provide tips on parking, dinner, after-show drinks, and other experiences that shed some light on what a night out at the theatre (or philharmonic, or opera or gallery or ballet…) can be like.

Feedback is welcome – we are a very small group with small expectations, but we’re excited about the possibility of sharing Dayton’s culture.  We’re slowly spreading the word about our group (we’ll be a featured resource at the updayton Young Creatives Summit this April!)  If you are in your 20s or 30s and have a cool idea to get more people out to arts events- we’re open to feedback.  Right now we’re working on pizza partys before shows, desserts and drinks after the performances (sometimes featuring the performers!), pub crawls highlighting our local arts venues, and some general fun ways to let people hang out together while appreciating the Dayton arts scene.  What would get YOU out to explore the arts with us?

Jumpstart - Connecting you to the Dayton Arts Scene

Jumpstart - Connecting you to the Dayton Arts Scene

Short Films By, For and About Women

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lunafestLUNAFEST is a traveling film festival celebrating women filmmakers while also raising awareness for women’s issues and supporting nonprofits that benefit women in the US and Canada.  This years festival will be on Sun, March 28th from 3-5:30pm at The Neon, 130 E. Fifth Street, Downtown Dayton.  Ranging in style from Animation to Documentary, in origin from Brazil to Bulgaria,in subject from Beauty to Bicycling, tickets are just a $5 or $10 donation or $3 with a student ID.  As a special edition to the fest, Dayton Native, Alicia Conway will screen her short, RITE, followed by a Q & A with the filmmaker.  Rite portrays the day of a young girl’s coronation and entry to adulthood in a family with some grisly traditions.

For more information on the 10 shorts featured, click here.

Sponsors for this years local LUNAFEST include Dayton Women’s Rights Alliance, American Association of University Women and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region.

Established in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, LUNAFEST is completely funded by LUNA and run by a small, dedicated group of LUNA employees. 100 percent of all proceeds are donated to charity – 15 percent to the Breast Cancer Fund and the remaining 85 percent of proceeds go directly back to hosting community organizations.

images-92Over the years, as LUNAFEST has grown from a single annual event to more than 140 festivals each season, LUNA’s commitment to this worthwhile program has grown as well. To date, LUNAFEST has raised over $470,000 for worthwhile women’s organizations, while raising hope and awareness for the stories of women everywhere.

c{space: Dayton’s Community Arts Venue Moves Forward

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photograph courtesy of Andy Snow.

photograph courtesy of Andy Snow.

Emerging from the DaytonCreate initiative inspired by the principles of urbanist Richard Florida, a committee of community stakeholders transformed a vacant 5,000 sq ft , former downtown bank building into a community creative space.  This initial cadre of catalysts  set out to cultivate an environment that would support an already existing, but often unseen street-level arts culture in the city.

Anne Rasmussen, c{space general manager, was one of those catalysts. Rasmussen was a part of a committee that conducted research for the feasibility of a community arts space.  She said her group discovered that Dayton had a high concentration of artisans and “creative types”, but lacked a proper venue to showcase their work. Rasmussen believes c{space can fill that void and become a center for a burgeoning homegrown arts community in Dayton.

ladyfestartist

LadyFest artisan

“Some communities do a much better job of celebrating their emerging art scenes and helping them grow,” she says. “What everyone we talked to said was that they needed a place. A place that had the kind feel the culture we needed. Traditional venues such as The Victoria Theatre, although they do great shows there, is a formal environment.  We’re trying to develop a more interactive venue.”

Rasmussen said the group wanted a central location – one that was easily accessible for the entire Dayton region and its surrounding suburban areas.

“We wanted to showcase downtown’s built assets and this space was empty for quite some time,” she says, referring to the gutted-out, yet architecturally appealing, structure at 20 N. Jefferson Street.

In Sept of 2008, c{space hosted its first event : LadyFest Dayton, an art and music festival of female performers featuring local talent.  The event was very successful, Rasmussen says, but it highlighted the need for dialogue with city officials regarding building use and city code requirements.

“[LadyFest] brought the attention of who we were and what we were trying to do to the City [of Dayton],”  Rasmussen recalls.  “As a committee, we didn’t know all the ropes.  So, that’s what started the whole rigorous process of talking to the City of Dayton about our mission…seeing if they were willing to give us the kind of permitting that we needed to use the space for assembly purposes.”

After weeks of dialoguing with the City’s building permit officials, and the building inspections were conducted, Rasmussen said the committee was able to secure a long-term, temporary assembly use permitting.  The group has just renewed the permit for the next six months and has recently signed their first long-term lease with building owner, Brian West.

c{space @ 20 N. Jefferson St

c{space @ 20 N. Jefferson St

“We were going month-to-month initially,” she said. “For a long time, we were just paying $1 a month. We’ve been given some financial support recently that is allowing us to pay a more realistic rent.

Brian’s been very patient and supportive of our efforts. Without his willingness to work with us, c{space would not exist.”

c{space has hosted a diverse mix of community activities from photography shows, hosted by local photographer Kidtee Hello, to spoken word & poetry performances hosted by the Dayton Poetry Slam. The space has been used regularly as a public meeting place;  The Downtown Plan Public Forum was held there last February, and the updayton candidates forum took place in October.

Armed with an extended assembly permit and the new leasing arrangement, Rasmussen said c[space is ready to enter “phase two” of development.

“We’re wide open to new events,” she said. “However, because c{space is an entirely volunteer driven project, we have to move slowly. Every step of the way is a learning experience, so ‘slow and steady’ is kind of my motto.”

Some upcoming events for c{space include a three-day performance of  Rent in June by local musical troupe  Encore Theater Company, spoken word performances from The Dayton Poetry Slam, an all high school musical and art show tagged “Play for Peace” on Urban Nights, a local two day music festival slated for June, and more.

workshop participants at c{space

workshop participants at c{space

A huge step forward for the organization is the planning of bi-monthly workshops held on Sundays at c{space.  Local artisan Ali Marshall, who is coordinating the workshops, said she hopes to attract people who are looking to learn new talents.

“We’ve had workshops on everything from painting to urban backpacking, from hip hop dancing to fiber art to yoga,” Marshall says. “I believe in a sharing of our inner passions, a collective education that is passed from one to another, in person.”

Marshall says the fees vary, depending on the workshop.  She adds, however, that c{space realizes the “economic crunch” that many local residents face and the fees will reflect that.  Past workshop fees have been as low as $5.

Mary Burnside, c{space event coordinator, schedules and coordinates many of the activities for the fledgling organization, including last December’s Handmade Holiday, an eclectic craft bazaar featuring authentic handmade items.  Although she is optimistic about the future of c{space, she acknowledges that there is more work to be done.  Interior structural improvements to the building are required.  Firewall construction, broken ceiling tile replacement and electrical upgrades are just a few of those facility improvements.

wholespacepainted2

c{space, the community art space

c{space representatives said a website has just been launched and they are looking to improve the sound system for the building.

Despite the challenges, c{space management said enthusiastic residents have stepped forward with a willingness to help the venue reach its potential.  Rasmussen hopes more residents and businesses will embrace c{space and their vision for the community.

“We’re really excited to see what’s going to happen in the next six months,” Rasmussen said. “We want to see if we can create enough activity in here to say, ‘Hey, this place should be permanent.'”

m_f1d37003aafd41498fe81fbe31c5fbac20 N. Jefferson Street

Dayton, Ohio 45402

c{space monthly workshops facebook site can be found here.

For information concerning the workshops, Ali Marshal can be contacted at [email protected].

Event planner Mary Burnside can be reached at [email protected].

Check out the new website at cspacedayton.org

UD Celebrates the Arts with Free Schuster Center Performance

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COA_smallThis article was written by guest columnist Julie Roth. Julie is a singer, songwriter, and graduate student at the University of Dayton.

Originally established to showcase the academic successes at the University of Dayton, the Stander Symposium celebrates the unique talents and abilities of all students. Unsurprisingly, many of these academic successes incorporate the arts in the form of dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Taught both inside and outside the classroom, the arts at UD contribute to a rich and unique culture in the community of Dayton.

On Tuesday, March 16th at 8pm, the Schuster Center, located at 1 West Second Street in downtown Dayton, will be hosting a  “Celebration of the Arts”  performance to open the Stander Symposium events. Designed to succinctly showcase achievements that UD students have made in the arts, this event provides an evening to experience several genres of the arts in one sitting.

While some students use the arts to fulfill their coursework and pursue an arts degree, others participate in the arts more informally. Majors and non-majors alike use the Celebration of the Arts to showcase their love for artistic expression and demonstrate their participation in the artistic opportunities at UD.

Whether you have significantly experienced the arts at the University of Dayton or are new to performances and exhibits, the Celebration of the Arts provides a fast-paced and diverse showcase of student work, including singing, instrumental music, dancing, videos, and drama.

The performance will include the University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, a  selection from the modern stage adaptation of the Moliere comedy Scapin, the First Flight saxophone quartet, the University of Dayton Chorale; a new world music choir, a lively percussion ensemble, and the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble. The evening will conclude with a performance by the Dayton Jazz Ensemble and the Ebony Heritage Singers; they will perform two pieces arranged by saxophonist and 2002 UD music graduate Bobby Streng.

EVENT AT-A-GLANCE:

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Contact the UD Box Office at 937-229-2545 or reserve online at http://stander.udayton.edu. Tickets will also be available at the Schuster Center on Tuesday evening.

Performance begins at 8 pm at the Schuster Center; a pre-show in the Wintergarden will feature visual arts displays by students of the Department of Visual Arts, as well as music performances by students of local artist Michael Bashaw.

The University of Dayton’s annual Stander Symposium will continue with a series of events in April, including a visual arts reception and open studios, and keynote speaker Blake Mycoskie of Tom’s Shoes. Visit http://stander.udayton.edu for more information.

Photo by Lauren Tomasella

Dayton Theatre Guild presents ‘Kimberly Akimbo’

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the cast of Kimberly AkimboLooking for something to do this weekend? Then check out Dayton Theatre Guild’s latest production, Kimberly Akimbo. The play, directed by Saul Caplan, runs now through March 14th at the Dayton Theatre Guild’s new location in the Oregon District (430 Wayne Avenue). Showtimes are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m.

This dark comedy follows the story of Kimberly (played by Ellen Finch), a teenager with a rare condition that causes her body to age four times faster than it should.  Finch is joined by Troy Lindsey and Teresa Connair as Kimberly’s dysfunctional parents, Megan Cooper as her scam artist aunt, and Jeff McCracken as her gawky classmate. Due to strong language, this play is most appropriate for adult audiences only. Tickets are $17 for adults, $10 for students; visit http://daytontheatreguild.org or call 937-278-5993.

Need even more of a reason to escape cabin fever and spend a night in the Oregon District? Then check out the great deal being offered by JumpstART, a new group from Culture Works dedicated to connecting young professionals to great arts events across the region. Their first event will be held on Friday, March 12. The evening starts at Coco’s Bistro, followed by Kimberly Akimbo, and concludes at the Trolley Stop for some post-show fun. As part of the deal, Coco’s (515 Wayne Avenue) is offering $10 off two entrees; make a reservation by calling 228-COCO and mention the JumpstART deal. After the show, join the cast and crew at the Trolley Stop (530 E. Fifth Street); bring your ticket stub and skip the cover charge! For more information about this event, call Culture Works at (937) 222-2787. (Please note: participants are responsible for their own dinner reservations and tickets to the show.)

Photo from http://www.daytontheatreguild.org

The Utterance Project: February’s lineup

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Local slam mistress Miss Purity follows up last month’s sizzling poetry/spoken word show by serving up a hot bowl of word stew on Feb. 26, at North River Coffee House.

This month’s “Utterance Project” features two accomplished poets: Ill Poetic and Huntor Prey.

8834_176063114713_77024969713_3637655_3385602_nDayton native Ill Poetic is a poet and an underground hip hop artist and producer, blending rock, soul and jazz with an introspective lyrical style.  His musical influences are diverse – ranging from rhythm and blues singer Curtis Mayfield to multi-platinum rapper Jay-Z.

“I never really thought of my music as thoughtful,” he says on his myspace page. “I think what I produce or write is usually an extension of me. I usually just try and let my personality bleed into a song, because that’s what instantly separates it from anyone else’s music.”

Along with his own solo releases, Ill Poetic boasts an impressive array of collaborative efforts, producing and/or providing remixes for artists including Slum Village, Lyricist Lounge emcee Wordsworth and a host of others.

Having toured nationally and internationally, with acts like Pharoah Monche, Talib Kweli, Chuck D and GZA, Ill Poetic is poised to be a major player in the music scene in 2010.

Joining Poetic is Toledo native Huntor Prey.  This internationally-known poet infuses his lyrics with a funky spiritualism intended to motivate and stimulate his audiences.

n310700629349_2354“The Utterance Project” is a monthly series of showcases featuring local and regional poets, spoken word artists and musicians. The event is held every fourth Friday from 5 to 8 pm.

Admission  for this all ages event is free.  Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Replace those winter blues with a hot night of rhythm and blues.  And as always, tell ’em Dayton Most Metro sent ya!

Thanks to Lefty, the Gems Play Today.

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The Dayton Gems pt. 2

The Dayton Gems were originally established in 1964 by local business man Edgar “Lefty” McFadden. Discussing the team of that day may sound an awful lot like describing them today, for many similarities exist between that team and the one that now plays for Dayton. The Gems played then where they play now, at Hara Arena, which also opened its doors for the first time in 1964. The original team also played in the International Hockey League.  The IHL similarly folded (though much later), but has been re-established as a new entity carrying on the same name. Though eventually growing to immense size, the IHL was considered a bus league for mostly Midwestern teams who could easily ride a couple hours to each game, which is again true today. The IHL in its current incarnation was once the Colonial Hockey League, a smaller league that adopted the IHL name in 2007.

Blade warms up the crowd before the game.

Blade warms up the crowd before the game.

It’s a wonder all the similarities that exist between the two, but if it has any bearing on the future of the new franchise, it may bode well for the Gems. In the 1968-69 and 1969-70 seasons, they won back to back championships, and again in 1976. They produced several NHL players in that period as well, and frequently filled Hara to capacity for games, with local fans dazzled. The Gems did eventually fall on hard times, as we all know, and folded in 1980, but exactly thirty years later they play for Dayton again.

In their first year they have proved themselves to be competitive in the league. Struggles are expected as the team learns to play together, but they stand only one spot out of playoff contention, with plenty of games left in the season. With John Marks coaching the team, hopefully for years to come, it seems a very likely possibility. Coach Marks left the ECHL as the winningest coach in the League, with 523 wins, and 3 championships to his name since 1993*. Prior to his time there, he coached in the former IHL, with another 240 wins. Most of coach Marks’ professional hockey career was with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he started as a defenseman but eventually changed over to the left wing position, where he scored 129 goals.

During last Saturday’s tribute to Lefty McFadden, Coach Marks spoke in front of a crowd about his own experiences in the NHL and how he coaches his team. He thanked the loyal supporters in Dayton and those who work so tirelessly for the team before discussing how they are fairing so far. He acknowledged they still have some work to do, and discussed in quite a bit of depth how he likes to train his team, giving those present a crash course in basic hockey strategy. Teamwork, he said, was the key to any team’s success. Discussing some of the Gem’s heartbreaking losses this year, which have frequently been only by a difference of one goal, he explained how a team playing together and playing their role can come out victorious. Later on in the evening he recalled that when he was playing in college, a friend of his, who played basketball, discussed the similarities of the games with him. He said the principles of protecting the net were the same; a good defense will make the opposing team shoot from the perimeter. Likewise a good offense can dissect that defense, get in close and make the shot; but only, he stressed, when working together.

The Gems played good defense in last Saturday's 4-2 win against Port Huron

The Gems played good defense in last Saturday's 4-2 win against Port Huron

The night continued on the ice with a pre-game ceremony that honored Lefty McFadden with a banner that will now hang in Hara Arena, as well as distribution of a plaque and flowers to his family members who were in attendance at the game.  After the Star Spangled Banner, the Gems came out fast against Port Huron in the first period.  They struggled for the first five minutes to keep the Icehawks away from their own net, but Dayton then flashed down the rink and scored two goals in less than one minute.  John Ornelas, with an assist from Preston Briggs and Pierce Norton, fired the first shot past the Port Huron goal tender, and only 19 seconds later, Joe Van Culin slipped another one by with the help of Corey Courturier and Matt Auffrey.  Keeping the aggressive pace going, Mike Olynyk scored yet again, with assists from Preston Briggs and Justin McCutcheon.

Following a late first period goal by Port Huron’s Adam Maccarone, the Gems went into the second period up 3-1.  An increase in penalties as well as no score on either side, showed it was heating up between these teams, and it could be felt in the crowd whose cheers, despite their lack of numbers, echoed loudly throughout the entire arena.  It wasn’t until the third period that things really got interesting though, as Port Huron scored again to bring the game within one goal.  A fight broke out between Matt Auffrey of the Gems and Daniel Tetrault of the Icehawks in the middle of the period, and 28 minutes of penalties were wracked up between both teams in the 3rd as well.

Justin McCutcheon sealed the game however with a late goal that brought the final score to 4-2.  Coming from the Johnstown Chiefs in Pennsylvania, McChutcheon has only been with the team for about a month. He has proven himself a valuable player already, scoring 3 times in the 9 games he’s played with the Gems, including 2 in the difficult loss to the Quad City Mallards last Wednesday. Having a quick word with him, I asked how well he was adjusting to Dayton.  He smiled and laughed a bit, saying he was enjoying it so far but hasn’t had a lot of down time since he’s been here, as their schedule has kept the whole team rather busy.

I embarassingly stutter through some questions with Wingman Justin McCutcheon

I embarassingly stutter through some questions with Wingman Justin McCutcheon

This weekend the Gems will take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks Friday at 7:30pm and also also play the Quad City Mallards again on Sunday at 5:00pm.  The Lumberjacks are first in the league right now, having only lost 10 games all season, but the Gems are responsible for 3 of those losses earlier in the year.  Don’t forget $10.00 adult tickets and $7.00 tickets for children 12 and under, makes for a cheaper night of entertainment than going to the movies, and on Friday nights, beers are only $2.00 a piece.

* information taken from hockeydb.com

**All photographs courtesy of Andrea Ivey.

Gem City Ballet presents The Sleeping Beauty

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daytonballetGood versus Evil, a beautiful Princess, a fearless Prince, fairies, roses and incredible dancing… What more could you ask for?

Gem City Ballet (GCB), Dayton’s premiere pre-professional ballet company, will bring all this and more to the Victoria Theater on March 6th and 7th in The Sleeping Beauty, a full length classical ballet.

With gorgeous costumes, an imaginative set designed and built by GCB Production Stage Manager David Shough and painted by Master Scenic Designer Chris Harmon, and, of course, brilliant dancing by the talented young members of Gem City Ballet, this promises to be a fantastic weekend of dance. Topping it off are Kristi Capps, principal ballerina of the Cincinnati Ballet, and her real life fiancé Dmitri Trubchanov of Colorado Ballet, performing the leading roles of Princess Aurora and Prince Desiree.

The beloved fairy tale opens with the christening of the baby Aurora. Six fairies offer the gifts of beauty, energy, grace, song, precision and wisdom. Then the evil fairy Carabosse, angry at not being invited to the celebration, offers a curse: on her sixteenth birthday, Aurora will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy, the most powerful fairy in the world, offers hope, promising that Aurora will not die, but will sleep until awakened by the kiss of a handsome prince.

Aurora’s sixteenth birthday arrives, and the Princess tests the devotion of four suitors in the virtuosic and famous “Rose Adagio.” Then tragedy strikes as Carabosse tricks Aurora into pricking her finger, and she collapses. The Lilac Fairy is true to her word, though, and Aurora only sleeps, as the castle is engulfed in vines to protect her until her Prince appears.

One hundred years later, Prince Desiree comes to the forest and the Lilac Fairy shows him a vision of the beautiful Aurora. Determined to find her, Desiree battles the evil Carabosse, discovers the hidden castle, ascends the staircase and, with a kiss, brings Aurora back to life.

Aurora’s wedding is attended by many of the fairy tale characters from long ago, Puss ‘n Boots and the White Cat, Princess Florine and the Blue Bird, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, and Cinderella and her Prince. Capps and Trubchanov end the evening with a stately and loving pas de deux, a special dance for the wedding couple.

There will be two chances for you to see The Sleeping Beauty. On Saturday night, March 6, the evening gala performance at 8 p.m. will be an especially festive night as GCB premieres this fantastic ballet. The Sunday, March 7, afternoon matinee at 2 p.m. will be family-friendly with reduced children’s tickets and a chance to meet the Act Three wedding characters in the lobby of the Victoria following the performance. Bring the entire family; it will be a magical weekend! Tickets are available at Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or ticketcenterstage.com and from Gem City Ballet at (937) 222-6880.

Also, be sure not to miss the Sleeping Beauty Birthday Bash, a family fundraising party, on February 27th at the Dayton Women’s Club.  AND if parents call the studio to order tickets by February 18th, they will pay $30 per child and only $20 per adult (for Birthday Bash).  Call Gem City Ballet for more details.

First Season for Dayton Gems Punctuated by Community Outreach.

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The Gems Face off agains the Bloomington Prairie Thunder (Photo by Andrea Ivey)

The Gems Face off agains the Bloomington Prairie Thunder (Photo by Andrea Ivey)

The Dayton Gems Pt. 1

After the Dayton Bombers decided not to play this season, it looked like the city would be without a professional hockey team for the first time since 1991. The Bombers had varying degrees of success throughout their eighteen seasons, making it to the Kelly Cup Finals several times and to the playoffs thirteen of those eighteen years. Yet they always failed to draw a crowd large enough to fill The Nutter Center. Money woes associated with the inability to fill such a large venue eventually led to the owners turning control of the team back to the ECHL last June with no further plans to either play in Dayton, or relocate elsewhere at this time.

The Gems celebrate after a goal by Preston Briggs (Photo by Andrea Ivey)

The Gems celebrate after a goal by Preston Briggs (Photo by Andrea Ivey)

The winter in Dayton seemed like it was going to be a little colder this year; less jovial, less to do, less to help chase away the doldrums, and just one more reason to stay at home while the thermometer dipped below ten degrees again. That was of course, until a dedicated group of investors decided that they could not bear to see their city once again without a hockey team. They endeavored to bring back the once famous Dayton Gems, and after several months of planning, securing rights, and finding players, coaches, and staff for the team, it was announced they would be returning to their old stomping grounds at Hara Arena.

This first season for The Gems has not necessarily been an easy one. Money issues again appeared to threaten the team’s legitimacy, and they nearly folded after less than two months of play in the IHL. The league took control of the team in early December, and realizing the value of having Dayton in their line-up, quickly found an energetic group to take control of the team.

The community as a whole seems weary to embrace this new hockey team. Tired with high ticket prices and uninspiring crowds, Daytonians increasingly stopped going to Bombers games, and it seems that level of caution has carried over to The Gems. With the lowest average attendance in the league thus far, locals seem almost unaware of the team, and most seem willing to go with a “wait and see” attitude, unconvinced their tenure will last.

The Gems, on the other hand, have had little difficulty supporting their community. In the first four months of their operation, the Gems have spent more time collecting donations for charity groups, offering up their time for others, and making appearances at local events, than just about anyone reading this has done in the last year, myself included. This is not to say that they are more worthy of praise than others in Dayton who spend tireless hours trying to help out in their community. Yet thus far they have shown more support to us than we have to them. I do them no justice by simply listing what they have been apart of, but allow me to highlight their accomplishments thus far:

  • Blade (the mascot) participated in a 5k walk for St. Jude’s research hospital.
  • The team helped serve food at this year’s Feast for Giving at the convention center.
  • Several team members participated in Literacy Night in Fairborn on Dec 17th.
  • Collected donations for Toys for Tots.
  • Collected over 400 teddy bears for sick children at Children’s Medical Center and Ronald McDonald house, and subsequently delivered them personally.

    John Snowden wearing the special Air Foce Camo Jersey from January 29th (Photo by Andrea Ivey)

    John Snowden wearing the special Air Foce Camo Jersey from January 29th (Photo by Andrea Ivey)

  • Collected and donated over 2 tons of food for Foodbank, and delivered it.
  • Collected $5000.00 in donations for the Red Cross Haiti relief fund.
  • Regularly sponsor local school fundraisers.
  • Participate in an educational outreach program by speaking with students and discussing goals, ambitions and being a part of the team.

They also make appearances in the community to help Dayton get to know their team better:

  • They frequent Brixx Ice Co. for lunch to talk with fans.
  • Appear as guest judges at The Fox and the Hound’s “Dayton Icon” contest every Monday at 9pm.
  • Participated in the Bridal Fashion Show at Hara Arena as models.

Most recently, the team honored members of the United States Air Force during Wright-Patterson Night last weekend. The Gems wore commemorative Air Force camouflage jerseys that were auctioned to fans after the game, and donated the proceeds to The Air Force Aid Society.

This is a dedication to Dayton, a want to be a part of this community, and a desire to get all of us to know them better, to know our team, The Dayton Gems.

Still not convinced? Well, join us next week, we’ll talk about hockey in Dayton, the history of the Gems, how they are doing so far this year, Lefty McFadden, and plenty of other reasons to get up and go see a game. ($2.00 beers every Friday is a good reason, including this Friday!)

This Friday the Gems start at 7:30PM and take on the Flint Generals, and Saturday they take on the Port Huron Ice Hawks at 7:30PM, in a tribute game to Lefty McFadden.

NYFA to Offer Free Presentations for Artists

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Miami Valley native Rory Golden, Program Officer for External Affairs, Fiscal Sponsor Programs at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), will be returning to Dayton to present on the extensive professional development programs available to artists nationwide through NYFA.

The presentation, geared to individual artists across disciplines and small/emerging arts organizations, will focus on NYFA’s extensive fundraising and support programs available to artists nationwide. Visual, performing, literary artists and filmmakers are all encouraged to attend.

Golden will present at the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet on Friday February 12th from 3:30 – 5:30PM. ArtStreet is located at the intersection of Lawnview Avenue and Kiefaber Street on the University of Dayton campus. For directions or parking information, call 937-229-5101 or visit http://artstreet.udayton.edu.

On Saturday, February 13th from 1 – 3PM Golden will present at Dayton Visual Arts Center. Contact Patrick Mauk, DVAC Gallery Manager,  for more information: 937-224-3822.

Both presentations are free and open to the public. The talk will allow additional time for Q&A and follow up with participants.

ABOUT THE EVENT

Golden’s presentation will include information on two of NYFA’s main fundraising and support programs:

NYFA Source is the most extensive national online directory of awards, services, and programs for artists. Listings include over 4,200 arts organizations, 2900 award programs, 4,200 service programs, and 900 publications for individual artists across the country.

Fiscal Sponsorship is a critical way for individual artists, artists’ collaborative projects, and emerging arts organizations in all disciplines to apply for funding usually available only to organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.NYFA_Logo

ABOUT NYFA

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) was founded in 1971 with the mission to empower artists at critical stages in their creative lives. Each year NYFA awards close to $1 million to individual artists and small organizations.   NYFA Learning programs serve thousands of artists through workshops, panel discussions, and individual mentoring on topics ranging from grant writing and budgeting to creating an artist portfolio and audience development.  The NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship program is one of the largest and most established in the country and helps artists and organizations raise and manage over $3 million annually.  The NYFA website, NYFA.org, received over 4.4 million unique visits last year and contains in-depth information about more that 8,000 opportunities and resources for artists in all disciplines.

For more information about the New York Foundation for the Arts, visit http://www.nyfa.org.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Miami Valley native Rory Golden brings strong experience in supporting artists and an active artist’s professional practice to his position at NYFA. As Executive Director at the Center for Book Arts (2000 – 2004) in New York, Rory established various new programs to support artists. These include a new exhibition series, a letterpress broadsides poetry reading series, a workspace artist-in-residence program for emerging artists, and a tuition-free class for emerging writers. He left the position in 2004 to pursue his own challenging creative projects.

Rory has exhibited his artwork widely in both solo and group shows at venues such as the Spruill Gallery in Atlanta, the Denver International Airport and both the San Francisco and New York Public Libraries. His work has been recognized with fellowships from Yaddo, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the Blue Mountain Center and the National Academy of Fine Arts. Recent grants include an Idea Capital Grant, a Puffin Foundation Grant and a recent research grant from Duke University Libraries Special Collections.  A 1984 graduate of Tecumseh High School, Golden holds an MFA from the University of Alabama, a Master of Humanities from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University.

Golf Club Hosts Local Visual Arts Showcase

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art@thetraceThe Fifth Annual Art at the Trace, sponsored by the Centerville Arts Commission will be held on February 13 at The Golf Club at Yankee Trace. “Art at the Trace is a well known and respected event in our community,” said Jim Teske, Centerville Arts Commissioner. “We are bringing back some favorites but have also made it a point to showcase some talent that may not have been seen before. When you mix food, talented artists, great music and Valentine’s weekend all in a warm and cheerful community you can expect something great,” he said.

The event will feature hundreds of works of fine art in a variety of mediums from paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry, and mixed media on display for viewing and purchase.  Local artist, Nancy Fisher, is the Art at the Trace featured artist who has donated an original piece of artwork to be raffled off at the event. All ticket holders will be entered in the drawing and must be present to win.

Guests will enjoy live music provided by the James Murrell Trio and Rob Turner, along with an assortment of delicious, gourmet appetizers and desserts. A cash bar will be available offering fine wines, beers, and cocktails. The Golf Club at Yankee Trace will also be providing a cash tapas bar paired with wine selections for a nominal fee. Attend and you’ll learn how to choose wine that actually enhances the food’s taste while you stroll the gallery of fine art.

Tickets for Art at the Trace are $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Cash or check is accepted in advance and cash, check, or credit card will be accepted at the door. The event runs from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, February 13, 2010, at the Golf Club at Yankee Trace, 10000 Yankee Street in Centerville.

Advance tickets may be purchased in Centerville at the following locations:

· Municipal Building, 100 W. Spring Valley Road
· Pro Shop at The Golf Club at Yankee Trace, 10000 Yankee Street
· Centerville Framing and Gifts, 270 North Main Street

The Last Truck: An Interview with Filmmakers Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert

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The Last Truck PosterThe workers of the General Motors SUV assembly plant in Moraine, Ohio, must have woken up on Christmas morning of 2008 with the feeling that they just got a lump of coal in their stockings. Two days prior, on December 23rd, the GM plant shut its doors for good, leaving its 2,500 workers and 200 management staff members without jobs.

With so many people affected by the foreclosure, two filmmakers wanted to tell the story of the final months of the GM plant through the eyes of the workers. Steve Bognar and Julia Reichert are the writers, directors, editors, and producers of a 40-minute documentary called The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant, which will be screened at UD on February 2nd.

As both Yellow Springs residents and independent filmmakers, Steve and Julia bring a unique perspective and philosophy on life that is reflected in their career.

Julia’s attraction to photography first spawned her interest in communicating social issues with a large group of people. Her first documentary, Growing Up Female, was released in 1971 and considered the first film to come out of the modern women’s movement.

“It wasn’t until later that I realized the power of film as an art form and not just a medium of communication,” Reichert said.

Steve’s journey into the world of independent film similarly started when he was introduced to the photography book The Americans by Robert Frank.

“It opened my eyes to the power, the poetry, and the meaningfulness of documentaries,” Steve said.

Their first directorial film project together was a documentary called A Lion in the House, which followed five families each with a child diagnosed with cancer. After six years of filming and 525 hours of footage, Steve and Julia were able to shape the story into a four hour long movie that premiered on PBS over two nights.

“It was the toughest film we’ve made by far, but as both humans and filmmakers, it was also the most profound thing we’ve been through,” said Bognar.

A Lion in the House had its world premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and is considered the longest film to be presented in the documentary category. To Steve and Julia’s delight, many of the families and doctors featured in the movie came out to see the film.

While at the festival, however, Julia felt ill with what she thought was emotional and physical exhaustion as a result of her tireless efforts to complete the documentary. But in a stroke of cruel irony, Julia was diagnosed with cancer and had to leave the Utah screening early to undergo treatment.

With the help of the many people who came out to support the film, A Lion in the House finished its run at Sundance and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Steve and Julia even won a prestigious Primetime Emmy for their documentary in 2007; an award that has since been overshadowed by Julia being cancer-free for three and a half years now.

On June 3, 2008, Steve, Julia and the Dayton community were shocked to hear about GM’s decision to close the local assembly plant.

“We both had seen the plant and knew it was a huge part of the Dayton community,” Steve said, “so it was devastating news to hear that the plant was going to close. Dayton is in a tough situation. Our city has been hit hard with job loss and I think we all have to do what we can to help each other out.”

Together Steve and Julia set out to help the thousands of people who considered themselves more family than GM co-workers by telling their story.

“Your job as a documentarian is to find and feel the story, open your heart to people, and throw away your own preconceptions,” Bognar said.

For six intense months, Steve and Julia shot 100 hours of footage and interviewed many workers who would prove the factory worker stereotype to be completely inaccurate. The Last Truck uses these revealing interviews to portray the emotional toll of not only losing a job, but a sense of self as well.

Since its HBO premiere on September 7, 2009, Baltimore Sun film critic David Zurawik named the documentary as one of the top ten television programs of 2009. In October, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences listed The Last Truck as a possible contender for the Documentary Short Subject Oscar at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. And now this powerful documentary will be featured at the University of Dayton.

Presented by ArtStreet, Film Dayton, and the University of Dayton Initiative on Sustainability, Energy and the Environment (SEE), The Last Truck will be screened on Tuesday, February 2nd at 7 p.m. in the Science Center Auditorium on the University of Dayton campus. This event is free and open to the public.

Be sure to stick around following the film as Steve Bognar, Julia Reichert, and one or more workers portrayed in the film will be having an open discussion about the documentary for all in attendance.

“My life has been enriched so much to be a part of such a creative medium,” Julia said. “Just going out into reality is such an adventure.”

“I feel so lucky to work, grow as a documentarian, and try to tell meaningful stories,” Steve said. “Bearing witness to the human experience is the best thing we can do with our skills.”

For more information about the February 2nd screening, please call (937) 229-5101. For a campus map, click here. A parking permit is required and can be obtained at the main visitor center on the University circle or parking booth at Lot C on Evanston Avenue.

Dayton Theatre Guild presents “Precious Heart”

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image1Dayton Theatre Guild presents “Precious Heart“, a one-woman play about Fleeta Mae Bryte, a 60-something country southerner living in a small town in southwest Texas.

This simple, yet engaging, performance has a bit of a twist: In the tradition of Tyler Perry’s Madea character, the role of Bryte will be played by a man.

Guild veteran Greg Smith portrays the lovable, funny and endearing Fleeta Mae Bryte to life for this wonderful play, a part of the guild’s “Very Special Performance” Series.

Tickets for the Feb. 5 through Feb. 7 performances are on sale now, priced at $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students with valid identification.

For additional information, please call (937) 278-5993.

Dayton Dirt Collective – The Real Story

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Shelly “GladGirl” Hulce, Directing Member of Dayton Dirt Collective posted this statement on the Dirt’s Facebook page and we’re reprinting it with her permission:

20770_1310034424511_1040119339_977216_5667810_nAs of Sunday night Jan. 17th, Dayton Dirt Collective is history. This is sad news for the community of current DDC members as well as friends, fans, local and national bands and performance artists.  We had a blast, made new friends and left the place a better one having been there.

We had a good run, almost two years. And, as the locals say, “Two years is equal to about 10 in Dayton when it comes to anything creative.”  This little social experiment was a complete success, which is quite a feat in an ever changing economy, community and social landscape.

We thank you all for being there helping it grow. Special thanks to the founding father of DDC, “Punk Rock Nick” Anderson, a true LEADER who went through all the labor pains and delivery and the 2:00am feedings getting this thing to live. Thanks also to the first generation DDC members who put blood, sweat & tears into it. DDC was born out of a culture of underground house shows that outgrew the many living rooms and basements. We have now outgrown our house at 144 E. 3rd. Street. We never set out to replace the house show culture and those continue even today!

Now it’s time to put the baby in the basket and sail it down the river to find it’s bigger purpose in life.

As sad as we are, we are equally excited about pursuing our individual dreams and passions.
We will exhibit the same energy we had collectively. We do not see this as a failure by any means, this is just a seasonal change with new and exciting seasons ahead!

People want to know “why?” and “why now?”
First and foremost we had a big financial decision to make that was very time sensitive.
Coming up with the funds to meet this approaching expense was not an issue.  Thankfully we had a lot of good people offer to come along side us and contribute. The love was very evident during this last week of conversations with members of the community.

Looking past the immediate expense of renewing our liability insurance policy, we considered the costs vs. benefits of staying in the space at 144 E. 3rd. Street for another year.  After much deliberation we concluded it would be irresponsible to sign on for another year of insurance to cover that particular space. We have been working closely with the City of Dayton Fire Dept. since May to ensure that we met all the requirements to be compliant with the city ordinances and fire codes.  In doing so DFD would increase the max. occupancy they issued us in May of ’09. We exhausted all those efforts and sadly our goals were not met.  We thank the DFD for being so supportive and cooperative with us.

Integrity has always been a priority for us as an organization.  We felt that staying would compromise our integrity.  Our relationships with one another and with the community are still healthy.  We have met all the obligations we made to one another, the community and initial donors.  Equally important, we left no unpaid bills.  That says a lot in a day when this city and has been the victim of corporate carelessness.

We love this city. We are committed to this city.  We are proud that we have been recognized by tenants of the St. Clair Lofts. They made special trips to come see us and to say thanks for being present and cleaning up that corner. They told us that when we were there doing a show, the drug traffic on that corner stopped.

We invited in the homeless that wondered past the space, gave them a place to just come in, have some human contact, hear poetry, music or some comedy. (Some of them even joined in.) We gave them bottled water, cookies, snacks… whatever we had. They were excited about us. They didn’t know who we were, they just knew we treated them well. We had a food barrel there for everyone. There was a sign on that barrel; “If you need some, take some. If you have some extra, leave some.” We took care of each other as best we could.  We extended that same spirit to our guests.
If a touring band didn’t make much money that night, we made sure they left with a warm meal in their belly’s and some food for the road. The local bands playing with the touring bands always
without being asked, would offer up their share of the door to the touring band as a gesture of support. THAT was the DDC / Dayton, Ohio experience the touring bands took away with them and talked about on the road.

It was clear that the room itself presented some challenges sound wise, some local bands even refusing to play there because of it. They were the exception rather than the rule. Rarely did bands and fans complain about the sound, or the PA, or the way the room or stage was laid out. Mostly touring bands made comments about loving the feel of the room and how it was one of the best places they had played on their tour. That was achieved by having a room full of good spirit, not about the mechanics of the sound system. You can have the best PA in town and still have a bad experience. Emphasis here is on people, not things.

People forget a lot of what you say, but they never forget what you do.
We were always trying to lead by example and that does not stop now just because a building closed.  We were frugal and very much of the DIY “Do It Yourself” culture. This is the very spirit Dayton was built on. This is what brings great minds to Dayton, our innovators and inventors.
Without any advertising we were bringing touring bands to our door, some of them re-routing their entire tours to get a show at DDC. People across the nation “got it” when they heard about us.
With that, they were spreading the word across the US by leaving with a good experience, a positive attitude, some Dayton music to share, and in some cases even taking Dayton bands with them to complete their tours!

The passion and commitment of the members of Dayton Dirt Collective remain for the fringe arts and independent lifestyle of musicians in our own back yard as well as universally.
We are passionate about arts being accessible to everyone no matter what age, status, race, belief, gender…

New bonds were formed during a time of coming together in a city portrayed as one of the fastest dying cities in the United States. We saw arts and music thriving in spite of the economy.
We needed this venue more than ever in the last two years. Everything we took in went back out so we could keep that spirit alive.  Money is a very cheap commodity right now. We became wealthy in our creativity and new relationships. Being free to be creative is very liberating even in dire circumstances.

Healthy things grow.  We took a space that had about as much promise as a chunk of dirt and grew something amazing there!  The seeds were planted, the crops provided well for us and now it is time to rotate the crops.

We leave you with this one very important challenge to carry out the spirit of Dayton Dirt Collective:  Set one another up to succeed!!!

It is a new day in the life of another “Dayton Patented Original! ”

Thank you all. It was an honor to be here.

Shelly GladGirl Hulce