52nd Annual SHSU Art Faculty Exhibit

Event: 52nd Annual SHSU Art Faculty Exhibit
Dates: February 1, 2012 -February 16, 2012
Location: Gaddis Geeslin Gallery (Art Building F)

The artwork of the SHSU art faculty members is currently on display in the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery. There will be two artist talks featured during this exhibit. An artist talk with Edward Morin is going to be held this evening, February 2nd,  from 5:00pm -6:00pm. The reception will begin at 6:00pm.

Another artist talk, featuring Valerie Powell, will be held on February 9th from 5:00pm -6:00pm with the reception beginning at  6:00pm.

For more information, contact Debbie Harper at (936) 294-1317 or email ddavenport@shsu.edu

Aftermath: Phoenix Commotion Tour

This past weekend, we had the chance to tag along on the monthly Phoenix Commotion house tour. The Phoenix Commotion is a local building initiative headed by Dan Phillips. If you've seen "The Bone House" or "The Budweiser House," you've seen a Phoenix Commotion house. [Side note: Phoenix Commotion also built the offices of T.J. Burdett & Sons. You can see the building from I-45 if you're coming into town from the north.]

The tour starts off at The Bone House (2017 Avenue N). The group is allowed to view the entire house, inside and out. Dan then gives a brief (or not so brief, depending on the crowd) lecture and answers questions. 

Dan Phillips

After everyone's questions have been answered, the group caravans to the other locations on the tour. A colorful, hand-drawn map of these locations can be found here. 

The second stop of the tour is "The Tree House." This is currently the home of Huntsville's favorite new bakery - Sugar Skull Sweets. If you're lucky, they'll be open during the tour and you can purchase a cupcake, cookie, or scone. (They're good - promise!)

The Tree House

A few of the houses are just passed by without stopping, but you can go back on your own with your map and take photos if you want. The tour makes a brief stop at Charleston House and Story Book House:

Charleston House

Story Book House

The tour ends at the building site of more Phoenix Commotion homes, and Dan is available to answer any additional questions. 

We would like to thank Dan, Edie, and Bob for having us on the tour. Dan has a wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humor and we can all learn a thing or two from him. Edie and Bob currently live in The Bone House and allow strangers into their home for these tours. Be sure to be respectful of their home. 

The tour costs $10 per person and can be paid for online. For more information and to really get a feel or what the Commotion is all about (Sorry; Couldn't help it!), check out the Phoenix Commotion website here: www.phoenixcommotion.com. The next public tour is scheduled for February 25 at 2:30p. 

Dixie Swim Club (Community Theatre Production)

The Huntsville Community Theatre Presents: Dixie Swim Club

Location: Old Town Theatre (1023 12th St.)

The Huntsville Community Theatre is working hard to prepare for their first production in 2012. The first play of the season is Dixie Swim Club. Dixie Swim Club is a play about five southern women who became friends through their college swim team. These five women vacation together every August as a way to break free from their everyday lives and revitalize their friendships. The play spans over thirty years in the lives of these women.  Sam Weeks is directing this play. This is his second time directing for the Huntsville Community Theatre.

Production Schedule:

February 10, 2012: 7:30pm

February 11, 2012: 7:30pm

February 12, 2012: 2:00pm

February 17, 2012: 7:30pm

February 18, 2012: 7:30pm

February 19, 2012: 2:00pm

Reserve your tickets by clicking HERE.

Can't Help Lovin': The Music of Jerome Kern (SHSU Production)

Event: Can't Help Lovin': The Music of Jerome Kern
Location: SHSU Showcase Theatre
Dates: February 15-17, 2012 at 8:00pm, February 18, 2012 at 2:00pm
Price: $12.00 for General Admission/ $10.00 for Senior Citizens and Students

From February 15th through February 18th, the Theatre Department will be performing Can't Help Lovin': A Music Review, which features the music of Jerome Kern. Kern is one of the most important American composers of the 20th century and wrote a vast number of songs that have been used in over a hundred stage productions. The most famous musical that features Kern's work is Showboat, but his songs are also featured in several other musicals that were hits during their time. Some of the more popular songs he composed include the following: "The Way You Look Tonight," "Long Ago (and Far Away)," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Ol' Man River," and "A fine Romance."

Can't Help Lovin': A Music Review is directed by Laura Avery. This sounds like a perfectly romantic show to go to during the week of Valentine's Day!

For more information or to reserve tickets, call the box office at 936-294-1339.

Art Mural Contest (Deadline: Fri., Feb. 10)

Hey, Huntsville artists! The City of Huntsville is holding a contest that will determine who paints the mural at the new basketball court at Kate Barr Ross Park. Three winners will be chosen to receive a cash prize. The prize for 3rd place is $150; 2nd place is $250. The grand prize winner will win $500 + paint supplies and will paint their submission at center court.

All submissions must be related to basketball. The deadline for submissions is 5p on Fri., Feb. 10. The grand prize winner must be able to start painting their mural no later than Feb. 20 and be finished no later than March 10. 

If you are interested in participating in the contest, you must hand deliver your entry to The Office of Community Development (1212 Avenue M). Your submission can be no larger than 20" x 36" and must be accompanied by a submission form. You can pick one of those up at The Office of Community Development (City Hall), The Wynne Home, or online at the City's website. 

The contest is open to all residents of Walker County. 

Good luck!

January Phoenix Commotion Tour (Sat., Jan. 28)

If you have lived in Huntsville for a while, you have probably heard of Dan Phillips or Phoenix Commotion.  Dan and his team build homes from recycled materials. Because most materials used are found or donated, no two homes are alike. If you have never seen one of these in person, perhaps you should. They are works of art that are both fun and functional. 

The January tour of the Phoenix Commotion houses will start at 2:30p on Saturday, January 28. The cost is $10 per person. You can view the 2012 schedule and sign up for the tour by clicking here. The tour starts at The Bone House and participants caravan to the other locations. 

The Bone House - Photo courtesy of www.phoenixcommotion.com

If you can't make it to a tour, you can view the homes online by going to www.phoenixcommotion.com and hovering over the "Projects" link at the top of the page.

Student Art Walk (Nov. 6th -Nov. 12th)

Student Art Walk

Sunday, November 6, 2011 –Saturday, November 12, 2011

Shops around Avenue L

Take a stroll Downtown Huntsville sometime this week. You will find an artistic treat!

This first ever Student Art Walk will consist of art from the following SHSU students: Daniel Bertalot, Summer Brewster, Nic Cambell, Catherine Cartwright, Meredith Cawley, Jay Cronin, Beth Hargrove, Katy Kana, Stephen Lee, Virginia Purswell, Julia Six, Jared Taylor and Josh Yates.

The artwork is on display inside and outside of Avenue L and in front of other stores on Sam Houston Avenue. On display are paintings, ceramics, a mural, and a minimalist performance art piece by Josh Yates. Josh Yates will be living in a store front without *gasp* a cell phone for the entire week. The only time he will be leaving the storefront will be when he goes to class. I hope he uses that time to take a bathroom break and get a bite to eat.

Avenue L will also host a reception on Friday starting at 7:00pm. You will be able to meet the artists involved in this event.

For more information, contact Christine Wieghat at (936) 294-4311.