Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "deborah pittman"

Rockwell special events at the Crocker

2013-01-09T17:31:27Z

The Norman Rockwell exhibit opened at the Crocker Nov. 10 and will close in less than one month. During its run, several special events have taken place. Perhaps you met Rockwell’s models, enjoyed some concerts, watched the film, “Stagecoach,” or participated in several studio art classes.

The final special events take place this month and begin this weekend with the world premiere of “Big Dreams, Small Shoulders,” a multi-media performance piece based on Rockwell’s painting, “The Problem We All Live With.” Deborah Pittman composed the music and collaborated with other artists to create this piece.

Pittman, a musician and professor of clarinet at California State University, Sacramento who specializes in American musical theatre, was one of the panel members who spoke on Nov. 29 about the creative process and the challenges she and her collaborators faced as they worked to create a piece that combined music, dance, puppetry, narration and projected imagery.

Laura Cook, a local poet, is one of the performers in “Big Dreams, Small Shoulders,” which will be presented on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. Space is limited for this special performance, so arrive early. Admission runs between $6 and $12.

Also this weekend, the Crocker hosts “The Art of Parenting: Tell Me a Story” where participants will learn the art of storytelling beginning with classic folktales. Mary McGrath taught storytelling at Sacramento City College and currently hosts a local monthly storytelling series. She will teach how to tell stories that are meaningful to children, stories based on visual images or on your own life. This event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. Space is limited and the cost is $10 to $15.

If you are interested in creating visual art and learning more about Rockwell’s ability to capture the commonplaces of America, then you might want to consider “The Power of Place: Capturing the Commonplaces of America.” This two-day workshop will examine the Rockwell exhibit, teach sketching and painting techniques and give participants studio time to create their visions of commonplace America. This two-day workshop is taught by Kristine Bybee and Jill Pease and costs between $85 and $100.

Check the Crocker website to discover other Rockwell-related events and to confirm dates, times and costs.

Editor’s note: Every Thursday we deliver a local event guide straight to your inbox, right on time to make your weekend plans. Sign me up.

Deborah Pittman to speak about 'Big Dreams, Small Shoulders'

2012-11-29T03:50:36Z

On Thursday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 pm.Crocker artist-in-resident and musician Deborarh Pittman will discuss the original performance piece, "Big Dreams, Small Shoulders," based on Norman Rockwell's "The Problem We All Live With." Pittman composed and collaborated with other artists on this project that will have its world premiere at the Crocker Art Museum on January 13, 2013.

Thursday's discussion will be an interactive panel discussion where Pittman and the other artists will discuss their creative process and challenges. They will also present scenes from "Big Dreams, Small Shoulders," and they will answer audience questions.

Space for this Thursday's 'til 9 event is limited, so arrive early.

Pittman is Professor of Clarinet, specializing in American Musical Theatre, at Sacramento State. She has spent the past year as an artist-in-residence to create "Big Dreams, Small Shoulders," which includes music, dance, puppetry, narration and projected imagery.

This is one of several events connected to the special exhibit, "American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell," which opened Nov. 10 and closes Feb. 3, 2013.

Rockwell chronicles America at the Crocker

2012-11-13T18:21:18Z

The long-awaited exhibit, “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell,” has opened for a nearly three-month run at the Crocker Art Museum. Four years of planning have resulted in a fabulous exhibit, organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachuset, that includes many familiar pieces, such as “Girl at Mirror” and “Problem We All Live With,” and also many pieces that show Rockwell beyond the familiar role of illustrator.

“Murder in Mississippi” is one of those pieces. At the preview event, this writer noticed several moist eyes from attendees who were moved by the painting that depicts three men in a barren, sepia-colored landscape littered with rocks. To the right, shadows stretch into the painting, and the standing man looks toward those shadowy figures. The red on the dying man’s clothing draws attention to the figure and draws the eye into the painting.

Rockwell created this painting in response to the 1964 disappearance of Michael Schwermer, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney. Rockwell spent considerable time on this piece, as he did with his illustrations, and his typed and handwritten notes that accompany this painting speak about the accuracy he desired to achieve in his portrayal of what might have happened to these three young men. Also accompanying this part of the exhibit are preliminary sketches, drawings and letters reacting to the publication of the image.

Throughout the exhibit, people will find many pieces that they will connect with. Family gatherings, Boy Scouts rescuing little girls, family trees, young girls considering womanhood and the WWII war bond posters reflecting the four freedoms: freedom of speech, of religion, from want and from fear. In these paintings, Rockwell illustrated abstract concepts and told visual stories.

Many paintings in this exhibit are from Rockwell's personal collection and chronicle both America and the artist's life and art. Spanning fifty-six years, the paintings begin with the 1914 Daniel Boone interpretation and end with the 1970 Christmas Eve in Bethlehem portrayal witnessed by American tourists and armed Israeli soldiers.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the accompanying family guide that includes a short biograpjhy, some ways of looking at art, activities to encourage you to try your hand at illustrating difficult concepts and more.

The exhibit officially opened on Saturday, Nov. 10, but Crocker Art Museum members were invited to a special preview on Friday, Nov. 9. During that preview, members received special guided tours of the exhibit, which includes 321 of Rockwell’s original "Saturday Evening Post" magazine covers. Some heard Laurie Norton Moffatt, the director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum, and noted Rockwell expert, speak about several of the exhibition pieces and provided attendees with a Rockwell many might not have been familiar with. Additionally, those in the museum in the afternoon were able to hear members of the Straight Out Storytellers participate in an ekphrastic storytelling event.

Several events are scheduled to accompany this exhibit that closes on Rockwell’s birthday, Feb. 3, 2013, including concerts, discussions, films (Did you know that Rockwell appeared in the film “Stagecoach” and painted 20 oil portraits of the starring actors and the movie poster?) and the world premiere of “Big Dreams, Small Shoulders” by musician and Sacramento State professor Deborah Pittman, a Crocker artist-in-residence. There are events for all ages scheduled, and this exhibit is one not to be missed.

Visit the exhibit and see Rockwell’s work for the first time, consider the stories he told, revisit his work, ask how far we’ve come and see if you can locate his art influences and mentors. As both illustrator and fine artist, Rockwell’s works will surely bring a smile or a tear and they'll always present topics for discussion.

Upcoming related events:

Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. - concert with Joe Gilman

Thursday, Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. - panel discussion on "Big Dreams, Small Shoulders"

Sunday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. - backstory: meet Rockwell's models

The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, visit crockerartmuseum.org.

VITA Symphony Orchestra to play Dvorak, more

2012-05-22T06:36:33Z

Pete Nowlen, whose VITA Symphony Orchestra will perform Saturday at CSUS, has two audiences to serve. First there is the classical-music audience that comes to hear and enjoy this group of emerging professional musicians. Then there is the group of artists themselves. VITA stands for Vocal and Instrumental Teaching Artists -- and Nowlen helps to guide the musicians into a successful, satisfying career.

Saturday's program "all flows from (Antonin Dvorak's) New World Symphony," Nowlen said. "One of the reasons that I wanted it to flow from that piece was Dvorak's intent when he composed it. It really pointed the way for American music to come." Other pieces on the program, all from the 20th century, "reflect folk music from various countries but filtered through the American experience," Nowlen said. Harry T. Burleigh, who as Dvorak's assistant introduced the composer to African American music, will be represented on the program by his "Southland Sketches," a set of violin and piano pieces. Also on the program will be Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," James De Mars' "Far From the Water" for American Indian flute and orchestra. and Chen Yi's "We Are America" from Angel Island Impressions, composed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Angel Island Immigration Station.

The program was assembled to illustrate the thesis that "The world of music comes together here. in America" To make the lesson even more palatable, the concert will include special events, a drawing and ice cream at intermission.

But Nowlen's intent on more than entertaining an audience, He is, after all, an educator, and Saturday's performance will cap VITA's academic term. CSUS musician Charles Spruill IV will perform the violin solo in "Southland Sketches" and Deborah Pittman will be featured on the cedar flute in "Far From the Water. Ryan Murphy will conduct Dvorak's New World Symphony. "I wanted to give Ryan an opportunity to conduct a full-scale symphony as sort of a capstone experience for him," Nowlen said. "He really is what the organization is about. He started with us as a sophomore but a really talented sophomore. As a junior, he conducted a full-length Mass and an oratorio. He works with opera programs in San Francisco. He understands the principles, and knows how to talk to people. He's a musician and has led a choral performance, but he hasn't conducted a major work without vocalists."

VITA Academy is two years old, but it grew out of an existing organization, the Academy of All Hallows, which was inspired by Nowlen's experience in the classical music world.

"When i went to school, my goal was to get a job with a fulltime orchestra, which I did," Nowlen said in a recent telephone interview. "Then I got a bit bored with it and then that orchestra went away. I lost my job but not my passion for the music."

.Changing his own ideas about how to make money making music, Nowlen redirected his attention to "changing how young people view what a career in music can be. The general idea is that one is not going to spend one's time associating with one organization that will take care of you for all your career."

First with All Hallows and now with VITA, Nowlen.is teaching artists about expaning their opportunities. "Most every performer teaches, whether instrumental or vocal, via individual tutoring," he said, "but there are other educational opportunities," including going into the classroom as a cultural resource person.

VITA takes a three-prong approach, Nowlen said. It trains and gives practice to young musicians; it provides community engagement opportunities, primarily in elementary schools; and it provides performance opportunities. At All Hallows, the emphasis was mostly on performance, he said. At VITA, the emphasis is on the complete experience. VITA academics don't just play the program, they plan it, from script writing, program structuring, scheduling -- and finally performance.

"Voices of the New World," featuring the VITA Symphony Orchestra with the Women of the Slavic Chorale and guest soloists and conductors, takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Music Recital hall at Sacramento State University. Tickets are $20 general, $10 for students with ID and $8 for ages 6 to 16. For more information, call (916) 486-8538. or go to www.vitaacademy.org.

Editor's note: The phone number in this article was edited after publication.