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Topic: Arts

DAC artists showcased in annual exhibit

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 6, 2007 |

The annual DAC Membership Art Show opens tonight with a gallery reception from 5-7 p.m., featuring music by Red River Breeze. The exhibit showcases the work of sixteen artists.

In addition, downtown shops will remain open through 8 p.m.,  and will showcase the work of an additional six artists.

Participating businesses include Posh,  HodgePodge, Front Page Deli, Rogate’s Boutique, and Yesterday’s Antiques (both shops).

The Roxy Theater will host a wine tasting, with a virtual walk through of the proposed Center for the Arts, followed by a performance of The Chimes.

The DAC Membership Show will run through December.

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The Chimes: The Roxy’s gift to Clarksville

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 5, 2007 |

Chimes, often referred to as Charles Dicken’s “other Christmas Carol,” is an elaborate and intricately staged holiday production told through a mix of narrative and dialogue. The play runs through December 22 at the Roxy Regional Theatre in downtown Clarksville.

This adaptation, written and directed by the Roxy’s own John McDonald, also features McDonald in a supporting role as Browley, Lord and ostentacious husband to Lady Browley (Nikki Ferry who has a dual role in this show), both representing a piece of the aristocracy. They are only equaled in this theatrical rendition of the upper crust by the Alderman (Luke Eddy), whose disdainful arrogance for the poor and “unworthy” make one want to jump up from the audience.

Fern and Veck admire Baby Lillian

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Halloween and “Fight or Flight” response

By Debbie Boen | November 6, 2007 |

Trick-or-treating at my friend Heidi’s house featured tall husband Lonnie dressed as the grim reaper, standing by the grave display in their yard. He stood perfectly still until someone approached and then with a slowly sweeping hand he pointed the way to the candy bowl. People down the block were eyeing him, and worried about him, long before they got to the house.

“Is it real?” “I don’t think so.”

Some trick-or-treaters just plain avoided the house. One boy decided to hit the grim reaper, and hit and hit and hit him. The mother was ashamed, but as Heidi remarked to me, it is interesting to see what reactions kids have to being scared.

Fight or flight: that’s how we react. Some run, some hit. Freezing, playing possum is a form of flight.

This fight-or-flight response, also called hyperarousal or acute stress response, was first described by Walter Cannon in 1915. His theory states that animals react to threats “with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing.” [Wikipedia, Fight or Flight]

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Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

Frolic on Franklin draws crowds downtown for a day of arts

By Debbie Boen | September 22, 2007 |

White tents lined Franklin Street as artists gathered to exhibit their individual crafts in the annual “Frolic on Franklin,” held Saturday in downtown Clarksville, sponsored by Downtown Clarksville Association, F&M and Planter’s Banks.

It was an open air gallery, with work by jewelry designers, visual and graphic artists, wood carvings, pottery, and plenty of food and entertainment, a day of festivities and a celebration of local artists and craftspeople. Children’s activities included the perennial favorite, face painting.

Exhibitors included Mitzi Cross (art, above left), with a striking geometric study in black and white, and Brandi Taylor (photo, below), with this vibrant floral study.

Despite the steamy weather and high humidity, and a downtown temperature reading of 99 degrees, people turned out for this event, walking the length of Franklin Street and back, browsing the booths, buying and investing in these arts. «Read the rest of this article»

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Olen Bryant: A Retrospective showcased at Custom House Museum

By Debbie Boen | September 12, 2007 |

“…He has a magic touch that wakes up the wood he’s carving or pours life into the ceramics that he’s molding…”

Olen Bryant: A Retrospective opens at the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center on North Second Street on Saturday, September 15, featuring the best of Bryant’s work. The exhibit will run through December 31, with an opening reception scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.

Bryant received the Distinguished Artist Award from Governor Phil Bredesen during a special ceremony celebrating the Governor’s Awards in the Arts at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville in March, 2007. He is a well-known sculptor and educator and has received national recognition for his work. «Read the rest of this article»

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Artists showcased at Smith-Trahern

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 8, 2007 |

Clarksville Online presents a small sampling of the art exhibited at the Smith-Trahern Mansion as part of the weekend RiverFest celebration.

Photographer and artist Debbie Boen toured the exhibit and took these photos, commenting “It took my breath away. Everyone is a winner in my book.” Our small photos do not justice to the works shown here; for that, a trip to Smith-Trahern is required.

Heidi Hopkins: Tentative Friendship (digital photography)

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Franklin Street ‘Frolic’ to showcase artists and entertainment

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 3, 2007 |

Franklin Street will come alive on September 22 as area artists, musicians and dancers converge on the 100 block in historic downtown in a Celebration of the Arts in Clarksville.

The 2nd annual Frolic on Franklin features over 40 local artists and craftspeople marketing hand-made and often one-of-a-kind jewelry, ceramics, wood and fiber art products in indoor sales and outdoor booths. The days’ events include demonstrations of pottery-making, woodworking, letterpress and painting.

Frolic is the brainchild of the Downtown merchants Association (DCA) and is designed to merge two events into one celebratory festival of the arts that will start in the Morning and run through the evening performance at the Roxy. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Business, Events | 1 Comment »

Riverfest revs up for music, fireworks and family entertainment

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 25, 2007 |

The countdown to Riverfest is on.

Clarksville residents can look forward to free admission for this 20th anniversary of Riverfest, a music festival, art show and family-oriented celebration of the city and its waterfront. The event will rev up September 7 and 8, with the festival running from 5-11 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Pictured at right,the winning poster for the 2007 Riverfest, a design by Elizabeth Hadden, celebrates the music and the community of Riverfest.

Two stages offer tough choices in music. The Miller Lite stage will be the setting for performances beginning with Nashville songbird Charlotte Medley, the Confederate Rail Road, Kentucky Head Hunters and more, with a playlist of rhythm and blues, rock, reggae, country, and more. This stage also hosts children’’s programming on Saturday morning, including Mountain Marionettes and for the family, Dance Academy Performances. Fireworks over the Cumberland will cap the event at 9:15 on both nights.

Promoters are hoping that the weather will cool down from the unrelenting August highs of 90s and 100s, and settle into more seasonable temps, which with the addition of cooling river breezes, will make Riverfest festivities a perfect end-of-summer event. «Read the rest of this article»

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