Art, Music, Nature, and History

Art and history at Montalvo Arts Center. montalvoarts.org

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Boston University Dear Abbeys cover Rusted Roots “Send Me On My Way” a cappella.

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Here is the Digital Photography summer camp on Montalvo grounds. It aims at helping kids to produce unique photography artworks:

"With a focus is on fun and creativity, students will learn about camera functionality and photographic technique. Then, they'll transfer their images onto unusual surfaces like wood and fabric to create unique works of art."

One tip learned from the day: GET DOWN & DIRTY. With natural insight for unique angles, our kids are getting down on their knees or even laying on the ground to get the beautiful pictures in their minds. Look forward to the great results they will get from the plants and artworks on Montalvo grounds.

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Art and nature on the Montalvo grounds. 

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Montalvo camps are in full swing, with kids learning the scientific method, building kinetic sculptures, and writing poetry—complete with creating their new "poet names." Please note: Marion Tulip Marions, or: the artist formerly known as Marion Frosting Marions. 

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"They're the best. There's no one like them, no one in their league." — Larry King, CNN

While our politicians are good at making fools of themselves on their own, there is a group of former Congressional staffers who help them along. The Capitol Steps, whose 30-odd year history has spanned administrations, filibusters, government shutdowns, and scandals, will come to the Montalvo Arts Center to perform at the Carriage House Theatre this fall. These multitalented comedians perform in song, dance and skit, and have delighted a wide breadth audiences—from constituents to presidents, and everyone on the political spectrum. They pride themselves on being equal opportunity satirists; neither side of the aisle is safe from lampooning. Leave your sense of outrage at the door, please.

The Capitol Steps Carriage House Theatre at Montalvo Arts Center Saturday, November 15 at 3:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased here for $55 Premier | $50 Reserved.

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"Sometimes they play with the intense seriousness of orchestral soloists; at others they fiddle as if at a hoedown" — The New York Times

Classically-trained violinist and violist Wil B and Kev Marcus have gone from high school orchestra practices in Miami to playing for troops abroad in Iraq to performing at the President's Inaugural Ball, Black Violin has brilliantly fused soaring classical strings with contemporary hip hop beats, making for one of the most unique and interesting musical experiences of the decade. Come to Montalvo Arts Center's Carriage House Theatre and welcome the modern music scene in strings style.

Black Violin Carriage House Theatre at Montalvo Arts Center Saturday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased here for $37 Premier | $27 Reserved.

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"One of the most prolific and gifted jazz pianists of the 21st century" — Quincy Jones

Come see jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez at Montalvo Arts Center's beautiful Carriage House Theatre. 29 years old and brimming with talent, as he offers a diverse blend of music and memory through his most recent release, The Invasion Parade. Having emigrated to the United States from Cuba in 2009, his work explores the heartwarming and heartbreaking recollections of his homeland in a moving masterpiece that is not to be missed.

Alfredo Rodriguez Friday, March 13 at 8:00 p.m. Carriage House Theatre at Montalvo Arts Center

Tickets can be purchased here for $45 Premier | $35 Reserved.

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Argentine dancer Ana Gallardo will be hosting danzón (Cuban dance) workshops and classes at Montalvo Arts Center from Friday, June 27 until Thursday, July 3, as a part of her performance art series A Place to Live When We Are Old (Un lugar para vivir cuando seamons viejos). 

She previously took the show on the road, including to London, where she worked with London's Parasol Unit of professional dancers. Come participate in the free classes, for all ages, as a part of the 2014 Art on the Grounds exhibitions on Fun & Games, focusing on mental wellbeing, play and healthy living. 

Photos courtesy of Ana Gallardo, Mario Gomez Casas, Ramiro Gallardo and London's Parasol Unit, retrieved via the Huffington Post in this article.

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"Intoxicating...powerful rhythmic currents" — Los Angeles Times

Come see Rusted Root perform at Montalvo Arts Center's Carriage House Theatre on Thursday, November 6 at 7:30! Rusted Root's unique blend of African, Native American and Latin-inspired percussion, soaring vocals and multi-instrumental backing have made the band's song, "Send Me on My Way" one of the most beloved and uplifting songs of the 1990s. Despite its world music flavor, the band's down to earth style has made a lasting impression over its 20 year history.

Rusted Root Carriage House Theatre at Montalvo Arts Center Thursday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased here and are $48 Premier | $43 Reserved

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Looking for something fascinating, fun, and free to do on a Friday night? On June 27, Montalvo Arts Center is having the opening celebration for its 2014 Art on the Grounds exhibition. This exhibition's theme is "Fun & Games," so there will be plenty to do for attendees both young and young at heart. There will be a live DJ, food trucks, an art-themed obstacle course, a giant toy box, and acoustic sculptures, as well as danzón (Cuban dance) workshops led by Argentine dancer Ana Gallardo and her Mexican dancer collaborators. 

No matter the age, everyone can use a little more playtime in their lives, so make it a playdate—for free—at Montalvo for an evening of summer fun, games, and art. 

June 27, 6:00-9:30 p.m. at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA. RSVP required. 

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Pikaboom — Kenny Scharf

Photo: Nathan Zanon

This piece is installed at Montalvo Arts Center as a part of the Art on the Grounds 2014 exhibition, open daily and for free to the public from June 27 to October 31. The 2014 exhibitions center around the theme of "Fun & Games" and the exploration of play, mental health and wellbeing through art. 

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Untitled — Miguel Arzabe

Photo: Rachelle Reichert 

This piece is installed at Montalvo Arts Center as a part of the Art on the Grounds 2014 exhibition, open daily and for free to the public from June 27 to October 31. The 2014 exhibitions center around the theme of "Fun & Games" and the exploration of play, mental health and wellbeing through art. 

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This Side Up, Handle With Care — Terry Berlier

Photo: Katie Cooney

This piece is installed at Montalvo Arts Center as a part of the Art on the Grounds 2014 exhibition, open daily and for free to the public from June 27 to October 31. The 2014 exhibitions center around the theme of "Fun & Games" and the exploration of play, mental health and wellbeing through art. 

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Images of the community I am able to support through the work Bells Of Mindfulness artwork. I have commissioned the ancient tradition of melodic, forged-metal bells, 1000 of them in fact. The bell-making craft of Kutch originated in Sindh, over a thousand years ago, Today, the highly-polished and finely-tuned bells hang in entranceways and many local hang bells at their doors to ward off negativity or evil spirits. While the quality of a bell’s tone is a reflection of the artisan’s mastery.  These beautiful objects, along with the cranes will create a participatory installation in the trees  in June at the Montalvo Arts Centre.

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As a part of Bells Of Mindfulness installation, I am making 1000 origami cranes. There are connections to the Fly Me Up To Where You Are project, as  the cranes are left, exposed to the elements they slowly dissolve and become tattered as the wish is released. In this way they are related to the prayer flags of India and Tibet. Bells of Mindfulness is an ongoing process based work that will become participatory to the local Californian community in July for Art In The Grounds 2013.

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We were excited to hear today that Oakland-based visual artist/graphic designer Renetta Sitoy has been working for the past few years on a documentary about a former LAP Artist-in-Residence, Laetitia Sonami.

Sitoy has launched a Kickstarter campaign to try to raise sufficient funds to complete the project, and has set an ambitious goal: she needs to raise $10,000 by March 17! Click on the video above to watch the documentary trailer. Then, if you're moved to do so, click through to Sitoy's Kickstarter page and back the film.

Says Sitoy:

"I hope that this film will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of women working at the intersection of technology and art. This documentary offers an intimate look at one of the most extraordinary, yet under-appreciated electronic sound artists of today, and is structured around an intricate combination of performance and in-studio demonstration."

Laetitia Sonami, who was in residence at Montalvo for the month of October 2005, is a French-born composer and sound artist whose performances, live-film collaborations, and installations explore ideas of presence and participation. Her work combines text, music and "found sound" from the world, in compositions which have been described as "performance novels."

Sonami develops her own instruments, aiming to create an intimate, spontaneous art form which transcends technology. One of her most remarkable pieces--her signature instrument--is her lady's glove,  which allows her to control sounds, mechanical devices, and lights in real-time.

Sonami writes:

"The intention in building such a glove was to allow movement without spatial reference, and most importantly to allow for multiple, simultaneous controls. The sounds are now "embodied", the controls intuitive, and the performance fluid. It has become a fine instrument."

Above: Two views of The Lady's Glove, images via the artist's website. 

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Above: Butch Morris at the NYC Winter Jazzfest in 2011, via The New York Times.

We join with other members of the musical community to mourn the death of a legendary composer and musical innovator, Butch Morris. Morris passed away on Tuesday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65 years old. 

Morris, whose work has been described as standing at the "confluence of jazz, new music, improvisation and contemporary classical music," made a truly profound contribution to the development of 21st century musical composition and performance with a technique he dubbed (and trademarked) "Conduction ®."

A method of "conducted improvisation," Morris described Conduction as "a vocabulary of ideographic signs and gestures activated to modify or construct a real-time musical arrangement or composition.” Making use of a broad spectrum of movement and signals, the conductor could unite and guide the orchestra as it improvised, weaving together a collaboratively-created original performance. The video below demonstrates what this could look and sound like:

At Montalvo, we fondly recall the three months Butch Morris spent as an Artist-in-Residence at the LAP. His project during his tenure was to develop a written description of Conduction. During his time here, his charisma and passion were an inspiration to all he came in contact with, including the Montalvo staff and Trustees. He formed a number of creative collaborations with the other Fellows in residence that fall, including composer Matthew McBane, writer Andrew Saito, and culinary fellow Michelle Fuerst. Morris also generously gave of his time and energy during his fellowship, leading Master Classes at local schools, introducing a new generation of musical talent to the possibilities of innovation and improvisation.

For those who wish to learn more about his remarkable life and accomplishments, please

Read his New York Times obituary

Read this entry about him on the New Yorker blog Culture Desk

Read his Chicago Reader obituary

Read a tribute to him on WNYC.org

Listen to journalist Howard Mandel give appreciation for Morris on "All Things Considered."