Bringing Communities Together through Art

Selected works from the 7th annual FOCUS 2012 Photography Competition can be seen in our Jean Bulicek Galleria through the month of May.

FOCUS is part of an exciting collaboration between several communities, but the host galleries, Solon Center for the Arts and Beck Center gallery give the photography a place to shine. Over 200 amateur photographers (adults and students) submitted work for this juried competition, with 75 entries chosen by three distinguished judges.

FOCUS is supported by the generosity of KeyBank, which has selected six KeyBank Community Choice Awards, two of which will be on display at the KeyBank locations in Lakewood and Westlake.

You're invited to join us for the Awards Presentation from 6-7:30 pm on May 31 at Beck Center for the Arts.

Beck Center for the Arts welcomes the public to their fourth annual Community Celebration of the Arts, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2012. This annual arts celebration is Beck Center’s way of expressing their appreciation to the community for its continued support. This free event, open to families of all ages, will be held on the Beck Center campus at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Free onsite parking is available.

Entertainment throughout the event will be provided by students and faculty from the Beck Center’s arts education programs. Attendees can also enjoy an afternoon of hands-on art activities, musical and theatrical experiences including:

• Theater and backstage tours at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• “Try on an Instrument” by playing various band and orchestral instruments
• Pottery demonstrations in the main lobby
• Art sale featuring the works of local artisans
• Create a new public art sculpture
• Experience the art of dance with Beck’s talented students in the dance studio
• Dress up in theater costumes and take your picture on stage in the Studio Theater
• Learn drumming and music making with the early childhood music staff
• Show off your sidewalk-chalk skills in Beck’s front courtyard
• Create “spinner art” and a clay pinch pot

At 12:15 p.m. students from Beck Center’s adult improv class will join members of the “Something Dada” improv troupe to perform family-friendly comedy sketches in the Studio Theater. Visitors may then enjoy a programming spotlight at 1 p.m. in the Mackey Main Stage theater with highlights of the upcoming 2012/2013 Professional Theater season and featuring a special performance by Suzuki violinists. The afternoon will also include giveaways, prize drawings, and complimentary refreshments.

Additionally, guests can view two art exhibits now on display at the Beck Center: FOCUS 2012 Photography Exhibition presented by the Beck Center for the Arts in collaboration with the Solon Center for the Arts, and Unchallenged Workmanship: the Artists out of Cowan Pottery presented by the Cleveland Artists Foundation.

Sponsored by:

In partnership with The Cleveland Orchestra, the Beck Center for the Arts proudly presents Percussion Partners, the second concert in its series of PNC Musical Rainbow concerts specifically designed for preschool children, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012, on the Mackey Main Stage. Percussion Partners features percussionist Mell Csicsila who will share the wonderful world of percussion with preschoolers.

Children ages 3 to 6 years and their families will enjoy this fun, interactive way to learn about the instruments of an orchestra. Young listeners have the chance to sing, clap, and move to the music as they have fun learning all about a featured orchestral instrument. Actress and singer Maryann Nagel hosts the 30-minute programs for young children, which includes narration, demonstration, short solo selections, and audience participation.

Concert tickets are $5 per person. Purchase tickets online or call Beck Center Customer Service at 216.521.2540, ext. 10.

The Cleveland Orchestra's PNC Musical Rainbow concerts are sponsored by PNC and the PNC Musical Rainbow Series is endowed by the Pysht Fund.

Rotary Club Music, Speech, and Visual Arts Contest showcases area's most talented high school students

In collaboration with the Lakewood/Rocky River Rotary Club, the Beck Center for the Arts hosted the Rotary Club’s 67^th annual Music, Speech and Visual Arts Contest. This longstanding contest welcomes talented area high school students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of music, speech and the visual arts. Participants are students from the five Lakewood and Rocky River high schools including Lakewood High School, Lutheran High School West, Magnificat High School, Rocky River High School, and St. Edward High School.

For the visual arts competition, a jury of artists selected outstanding works of art meeting the contest requirements. From this gallery of art judges chose winners and prizes were awarded for the most outstanding works of art in the contest including a 1^st Prize $500, 2^nd Prize $300, 3^rd Prize $100, and three Honorable Mention Prizes of $50 each. Contest winners in all categories were recognized at an awards ceremony and reception on Tuesday, March 27 at the Beck Center.

2012 AWARD RECIPIENTS

MUSIC

1^st Place: Jiale Peng (violin), Lakewood High School, Violin Concerto by Sibelius

2^nd Place: Abby Boland (soprano), Lakewood High School, Se tu m’ami, se sospri by Pergolesi

3^rd Place: Jacob Short (trumpet), Lakewood High School, Hummel Trumpet Concerto, Movement 1 by J. Hummel

SPEECH

1^st Place: Connor Hooper, Rocky River High School

2^nd Place: Steve Saed, Lakewood High School

3^rd Place: Alaina Valkoff, Rocky River High School

VISUAL ARTS

1^st Place: Bram Myers, Lakewood High School, Forest in Charcoal (charcoal)

2^nd Place: Montague Cockrell, Lakewood High School, Cleveland Born (acrylics)

3^rd Place: Mike Benesh, St. Edward High School, State Champ (clay/colored pencil)

Honorable Mentions:

Michael Todaro, Lakewood High School, Stun E. Cuffs (ink)

Hannah Frimel, Lakewood High School, Under the Sea (batik)

Blakes Trumbel, St. Edward High School, Croc (clay)

Selected entries from the visual arts contest will be on display in the Rotary Student Art Show in the Jean Bulicek Galleria now through April 29. This exhibit is free and open to the public during regular gallery hours. Call Beck Center Customer Service at 216.521.2540, ext. 10.

The artwork below is representative of selected entries from the five participating high schools.

For more information about the Lakewood/Rocky River Rotary, visit www.lakewoodrockyriverrotary.org.

It's springtime! Celebrate the season by experiencing something new and creative. Discover your inner artist at the Beck Center. The second session of visual arts classes begin the week of April 2. Choose from a variety of offerings including Botanical Painting, Cartooning, Cut Paper Illustration, Drawing Fundamentals, Family Clay Time, Pottery, Watercolors, and so much more!

We offer classes for students of all ages and abilities on different days and times of the week to accommodate your busy schedule. Don't miss out on the fun learning. Bring your family to Beck Center and spend some quality time developing a talent, learning a new skill and making new friends.

New this Spring!

Register for our newest VA class, ArtSmart Artist for ages 8 to 14 on Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This 4-week class begins April 19. Instructor Hallie Spooner Coughlin teaches this art history-based class with each session concentrating on a specific artist such as Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Students learn about the chosen artist’s life and the techniques used to create his/her art, with students utilizing similar techniques to create their own fabulous art.

Our complete winter/spring 2012 catalog is available online or click here to register today.

See you this spring at the Beck Center.

Beck Dance Education and MegLouise Dance present the Spring 2012 Dance Intensive, for students ages 13 to adult, March 30 through April 1, 2012 at the Beck Center.

Classes are open to teens and adults of all skill levels who are interested in strengthening their bodies. Dancers will move with confidence as they increase their stamina, dynamic range and artistic potential.

Experienced professionals instruct students in the following classes:

• Ballet Technique
• Bartenieff Fundamentals
• Contemporary/Ballet
• Improv Toolbox
• Jazz
• Modern Technique
• Partner Work

For more information, see the complete brochure including tuition, class dates and times. A special discounted rate is available for unlimited classes and early registration. Sign up today!

Looking for something fun to do this summer and be creative too? Beck Center for the Arts offers half- and full-day camps and classes for students ages 6 to 19 in dance, music, theater, and visual arts. We even offer an Arts Sampler for campers who want to experience a variety of arts activities.

NEW this summer! Artists, ages 13 to 15, can develop their talents at our Visual Arts Camp for Teens in July. Beck Center is also pleased to collaborate with Lakewood High School to offer four exciting summer camps for high school credit through the Credit Flex program.

Registration is now open for all summer camps and classes.

Camps fill up quickly. Don't delay, sign up today! In addition to camps, we have classes, lessons and programs in dance, music, theater, and visual arts.

Check out the complete summer catalog online and register today.

YEAR-ROUND OPEN ENROLLMENT
for Creative Arts Therapies & Music sessions

Although the winter/spring semester has begun, our Music and Creative Arts Therapies (CAT) programs offer open enrollment throughout the year.

Through the use of music and art as a therapeutic tool, Creative Arts Therapies provide private sessions for individuals of all ages with special needs. Participants are encouraged to maximize their potential through successful and accessible experiences designed to meet their specific goals and objectives. An assessment is required prior to registration. For further information or to schedule an assessment, contact Brittany Lesch, MT-BC at 216.521.2540 x34.

Private music lessons are offered to anyone who wishes to learn an instrument or to improve their ability on an instrument they are studying already. Our music staff is an accomplished group of instructors who have years of experience helping musicians of all ages discover their true potential on a wide variety of music instruments and in singing. For more information or to schedule private lessons, contact the Music Office at 216.521.2540 x37.

Beck Center for the Arts presents Material Matters, an exhibit of unique contemporary fiber art in the Jean Bulicek Galleria February 17 through March 19. This exhibit features the work of six Northern Ohio artists who each use different types of materials and processes in their distinctly personal work.

Material Matters includes the art of Liz Burgess, Si-Yun Chang, Linda Grashoff, Sue Copeland Jones, Ruta Marino, and Kathleen Van Meter. These women who reside across Northern Ohio, from Beachwood to Wakeman, have been meeting monthly for several years to provide each other with artistic criticism and support. While clearly divergent in their choice of materials, processes and expression, they all share a common passion and commitment to the creative process.

Meet these amazing artists at an Opening Reception on Friday, February 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. and be the first to see this inspiring exhibition.

For more information about the artists and a calendar of other upcoming art exhibits at the Beck Center for the Arts, visit beckcenter.org.

Art Discovery Studio
This is a hands-on artistic experience that welcomes creativity and discovery with a variety of multimedia arts experiences. From clay and drawing to painting and more. . . students will be immersed in the art making process.

Participants will work with instructor Darrelle Centuori who will guide the class and its activities while creating, learning, growing and expanding their knowledge and experience in the arts.