February 11, 2014
Contact Laura McKeithen, Realize Bradenton
941-840-0013 §[email protected]
Realize Bradenton Presents
ArtSlam 2014
March 8 § Noon-10 p.m.
Celebrate creative diversity! This fourth annual event in downtown Bradenton features dozens of artists, musicians and performers, site-specific art installations, and interactive art experiences.
(Bradenton, FL)Organizers at Realize Bradenton announce the fourth annual ArtSlam, a celebration of the arts featuring dozens of artists, musicians, performers, installation art, and interactive art experiences, Saturday, March 8, noon-10 p.m., on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton (between 3rd Ave. West and 6th Ave. West). Throughout the morning, the event will coexist with the downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market and then transition into a full-on sensory explosion featuring more than 20 artistic teams and 10 musical performances. The event is sponsored, in part, by the Bradenton Downtown Association, BMO Harris Bank, Sarasota Magazine, the Woman’s Exchange Inc., Tropical Cadillac and Siesta Key Trolley. For more information, call Laura McKeithen 941-840-0013.
According to Realize Bradenton’s executive director, Johnette Isham, this family-friendly festival features multiple teams of artists offering interactive creative projects, a variety of local bands, random acts of art, video art, and even an eco-friendly labyrinth. Isham says the festival is largely interactive with plenty of opportunities for audiences to become part of the creative process.
Isham explains that ArtSlam installations will be created “live” along Old Main Street. “Because there is no set theme, collaborative teams will creatively use existing streetscape sites while engaging the general public in brief contemporary art experiences,” she says.
According to Isham, BMO Harris Bank is stepping up as presenting sponsor for ArtSlam 2014. “BMO has been the presenting sponsor of the Bradenton Blues Festival for its two years of existence,” says Isham. “We’re thrilled they’re also backing this event.”
Dave Maraman, regional president at BMO Harris Bank, states, “We’re honored to support Realize Bradenton and its mission to transform downtown Bradenton into a vibrant destination. It’s a part of our mission at BMO Harris Bank to encourage and support cultural efforts and initiatives. ArtSlam not only enhances the lives of those of us who live and work here—but it also showcases one of the area’s most important economic multipliers—the regional arts and cultural industry.”
Joining BMO Harris in sponsoring ArtSlam, is the Woman’s Exchange Inc., a non-profit consignment shop supporting the arts of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Isham says that, thanks to these additional sponsorships, ArtSlam will extend past Old Main Street to include the Manatee Performing Arts Center, ArtCenter Manatee, Village of the Arts, the Da Vinci Machines exhibit, and South Florida Museum. She explains that free trolleys and Pedi-cabs will circulate between these cultural organizations and Old Main Street with downtown ambassador tour guides creating “an informative and fun mobile experience.”
Art Slam 2014 is produced by Realize Bradenton, a non-profit organization that builds community and promotes economic development through collaborative events, partnerships, and interactive strategies. For more information about Realize Bradenton, visit www.realizebradenton.com.
Musical Highlights: ArtSlam 2014:
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: Kristopher James: Acoustic Americana
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Kristopher James creates meaningful, original music with a folk/indie vibe and an acoustic sound that has been called reminiscent of Jeff Buckley,
Amos Lee and Leonard Cohen.
1-2 p.m.: Michael Miller: Folk Americana: Singer/songwriter and front man for The Heart Machine, Michael Miller has been playing and performing his music for more than 20 years and brings
a breath of fresh air to the original and local music scene in southwest Florida.
3:15-4:00 p.m.: Del Couch Education Foundation: Piano and violin act.
4-5 p.m.: Becca and Dan Duo: Area husband-and-wife Americana duo, blending bluegrass-inspired guitar, fiddle and vocal harmonies with a modern punk edge.
5-6:45 p.m.: A Sunset Drum Circle led by Scott Blum
5:15-6:15 p.m.: Jun Bustamante: Conscious Indie Folk: Jun Bustamante is a composer, producer, and singer/songwriter whose music has been described as conscious indie folk with influences of jazz, hip-hop, and electronica. Her ability to convey a broad range of vocal expressions, eclectic instrumentations, and skillful use of lyrics, is empowering.
6:30-7:30 p.m.: The Northwest: Alternative Indie Rock: The Northwest is an alternative indie rock band from Florida. Its sound is composed of shearing/melodic guitar, driving bass lines, enveloping synth sounds, danceable drum beats, and baritone vocals.
7:45-8:45 p.m.: Seven Years Past: Florida Rock: The band members are passionate songwriters and serious about their craft. The musical influences of the band span many genres and, as a result, their sound contains many nuances of different styles, yet they remain identifiable as, Seven Years Past.
9-10 p.m.: The Wallies: American Rock: With their fusion of ‘60s surf rock and post-punk revival, The Wallies are quickly turning heads. Their live shows have been described as raw, honest and energetic with the kind of no-frills performances that leave the audiences wanting more.
Art and Interactive Highlights of ArtSlam 2014
- Plastics Unwrapped: Jessica Schubick and other staff members and volunteers from the South Florida Museum will install a three-dimensional vignette on the museum’s west lawn, using up-cycled materials to create a Floridian ecosystem—complete with foliage, wildlife and an “underwater” scene.
- Dramature: Producing artistic director Rick Kerby and his team at the Manatee Players will hold improv sessions led by members of their senior acting troupe, Dramature.
- American Watercolor Society’s 146th Traveling Exhibition: A juried exhibition of watercolors from artists throughout the world at ArtCenter Manatee.
- The Human Canvas: Students from Southeast High School will create three full-body paintings modeled after renowned works of art. Children can custom order face paintings of objects or scenes from their favorite artworks.
- Spin Art: This interactive public art piece uses centripetal force and paint to create unique take-home works of art. Participants of all ages are encouraged to drip and pour various colors onto paper using a spinning apparatus in order to create innumerable effects.
- Riverwalk Collage: Bayshore High School teacher students will prepare two large canvases to be filled with images inspired by Bradenton’s Riverwalk by participants.
- Edible Mosaic Mural: A mosaic mural of painted food tiles pieced together to create a 100% edible work of art. It will be as delightful to the palate as it will be to the eyes.
- Introspection: Ringling College students will work collaboratively to create a transparent container that will present altered live image content in a dimensional holographic treatment. Viewers will see themselves replicated as if in front of a mirror but with extensive alterations to the background and to their own image.
- Green Earth: Students raising “green” awareness through interactive sculptures using upcycled materials.
- SCF Student Portraiture: A live exhibition of portraiture by State College of Florida students.
- An Outdoor Gallery Event presented by TheVillageMagazine.net: Artists from across the region come together showcasing the force of young creatives to create a traditional gallery in a non-traditional space.
- 3D Chalk Art with Manatee School the Arts: A 3-dimensional work of chalk art will be on display and available for interactive pictures.
- Experimental Video Projections: Ringling College of Art and Design students will create a series of vibrantly colored, abstract videos to project after dark. Participants will learn about cutting-edge video that transforms space visually rather than physically.
- Creative Caddy Canvas: Watch local artists use a green electric Cadillac as a canvas. Children will be able to join in the creative process and paint the car.
- Get Your Hands Dirty: Sarasota Chalk Festival organizers use chalk as a medium and the pavement surface as the canvas for this creative project open to participants of all ages.
- All Points to Art: Staff members of the Manatee Art Education Administration will encourage festival goers to help create a large-scale mural using the pointillism technique, in which distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. Tables will be set up for participants to paint the 32 pieces of the mural.
- Design Your Own Skateboard: Attendees are encouraged to hand paint their own cardboard cutout skateboard deck. Prizes donated by The shop, Skateshop, will be given out each hour.
- “Before I Die” with Diana Shoemaker and Cindy Shore: A global art project that invites participants of all ages to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in a public space. The community is invited to share their dreams in a unique way by completing the sentence “Before I Die…” in chalk on a large wall designed specifically for ArtSlam.
- Spaghetti the Clown will entertain people of all ages.
- Fuzion Dance Artists will be performing contemporary dance and providing educational information while collaborating with artists and the community to further enrich the ArtSlam experience.
- Made Here: Join the creativity by contributing to an installation made of recycled dictionary paper. All ages are invited to fold and form the dictionary pages and add to the installation throughout the day. Children will also be able to make and take home a craft they have “made here” with the support of Bradenton-area crafts artists.
- Puppet Power Project at Village of the Arts: Artists from the Village of the Arts and the Bradenton community will create oversized puppets of various sizes and mediums. These will be showcased in a “Puppet Procession” through the Village of the Arts at 2 p.m. There will be interactive puppet-making stations at galleries throughout the Village of the Arts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at least two puppet stages with puppet shows.
- The Labyrinth of the Unbroken Path: A 30’x30′ temporary labyrinth structure, out of low-ecological footprint materials, and allowing participants to journey into their own creative minds, as they move within the labyrinth.
For a complete line-up of teams and locations, visit www.RealizeBradenton.com.
About Realize Bradenton
Realize Bradenton is a nonprofit organization that brings people together to create a vibrant and prosperous downtown Bradenton. For more information, visit: www.RealizeBradenton.com.
