The tent will soon rise next to the University Amphitheatre at Fresno State and the banners are appearing on poles all around the campus —sure signs that the CSU Summer Arts Program is about to return to the Central Valley with its world class talent.
About 250 students, 15% of whom are from the Central Valley, will arrive on Sunday, June 27 for the first session, and another 250 will arrive Sunday, July 11 for the second session.
Also arriving throughout July are 170 guest artists, who will teach during the day and perform for the public in 35 diverse events from June 27-July 23.
Students and guest artists will participate in eighteen workshops in subjects ranging from jazz to world percussion, from animation to dance to photography.
A 19th workshop, “Drawing and Painting in Florence,” takes place June 12 — 26.
Workshop participants will work 18-hour days, and on July 9 and 23 they will present their work in free public performances called culminations. If past experience is a guide, most students will report that it was the best experience of their artistic lives so far.
To support this ambitious program, a headquarters has been set up in the Kremen Education Building, Room 186, where a team of nine year-round and 35 seasonal employees, under the direction of Jim Spalding, arrange meals and accommodations; design ads, catalogues, and playbills; plan productions and ticket sales; and order supplies like 200 pounds of clay, a steamroller and 30 gallons of ink, and books with titles such as, “Cootie Shots: Theatrical Inoculations Against Bigotry.”
Since its inception in 1985, Summer Arts has held increasing numbers of classes that blend high technology with artistic expression. Some students will learn about the art of sound recording from five-time Grammy Award winner Bruce Swedien, and others will learn about experimental narrative from writers such as Mark Amerika, whose web
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Accomplished animators Anthony LaMolinara, Mike Wellins, and Andrew Gordon will teach their workshop participants how to create and animate digital actors, and a veteran of 60 Minutes will be an instructor in the workshop, Producing the Documentary for Broadcast Television.
Highlights of CSU Summer Arts 2004 include: jazz concerts by the Kenny Garrett Quartet and Carmen Bradford; four guitar concerts by world-renowned solo guitarists, including the Amadeus Guitar Duo, Nicholas Boluses, and Pierre Ben Susan; three dance performances, and two exciting world percussion concerts.
There will also be lectures and presentations by Broadway choreographer Jerry Mitchell, photographer Jo Whaley, several children’s authors, and book artist Tim Ely and Daniel Kelp.
In addition to the performances listed in the Events Calendar, CSU Summer Arts will co-host with the Arne Nixon Center two special programs:
1) On Saturday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Smittcamp Alumni House, we will have a workshop called “Path to Publishing” where participants will be able to hear from a children’s writer, a children’s publisher, and an agent. Lunch is included and the cost is $30. For reservations, call 241-6090.
2) On Monday, July 19, at 7 p.m. at the Fig Garden Swim and Racquet Club on Maria, young adult authors Chris Crutched and Terry Davis will have a reading and discussion, followed by an ice cream social. It is free, but reservations should be made by calling 241-6090.
For more information about Summer Arts, see www.calstate.edu/summerarts or call the box office after June 19 at 278-5109 Monday through Friday, noon — 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. (closed on July 4).
Before June 19, call 241-6090.
