The Butler Institute of American Art's 73rd Annual National Painting Exhibition

June 28th through August 23, 2009 is the Butler Institute of American Art's 73rd Annual National Painting Exhibition, Midyear Show. 72 Works were selected for this years show by juror George Adams, New York gallery owner and art historian.


If you have not visited the Butler Institute of American Art you are missing one of the greatest gifts the Mahoning Valley has to offer. The Butler collection includes works from four centuries, and is assembled in Butler galleries in chronological order according to the history of America. The Butler is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and on Wednesday from 11:00AM until 8:00 PM, Sunday from noon until 4:00 PM. It is located at 524 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, OH and Admission is free. If you need to contact them they may be reached at (330) 743-1107.







This year at the Midyear show, Youngstown's own James Pernotto will premier the painting SALT; Germs and Steel. The painting is acrylic on photo on wood and it is 60" x 135".










About his work he states:

This artwork is a depiction of dissipative structures. Most structures exist in a state of equilibrium (a chair), they are dead. Dissipative structures (a flame, a tornado, a human) exist in a state of change; they are processes and they are alive. When dissipative structures reach a point of equilibrium they cease to exist, they are dead. To look closely at SALT is to become aware of these organic processes. Steel is dead, steel making is a process that is as alive as the people who created it. The image that overlays SALT is the Van Allen belt, the envelope that protects the earth from the damaging bombardment of particles from the sun. It is also a process.

Let Y-town Entertain You -

There is so much to do and I want to do it all! It is only Monday and my calendar for the next seven days or so is chock full of entertaining things to do.

For starters, get up early next Saturday morning and check out the rebroadcast of Homeplate with Casey Malone and Kelly Pavlik. The show is being aired Saturday at 7:00 AM on WYTV and for those who can't begin to imagine getting up that early on a Saturday try Sunday at 11:30 on MyYTV. The episode gives us a glimpse of another side to Kelly Pavlik; he's at home with his kids, making spaghetti and meatballs. Supposedly he is a great cook. Mark Peyko, Editor of Metro Monthly and Remembering Youngstown: Tales from the Mahoning Valley,is the co-producer of the program.

Homeplate with Casey Malone airs weekly. It is an independent, locally owned and produced television program that features local cooks, locally owned restaurants, food manufacturers and ethnic groups.


Oh, and I must not forget Robert Dennick Joki's one man show, I'm Not That Girl at the Oakland Center for the Arts Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th. Show starts at 8:00. Reservations can be made by calling (330) 746-0404.



Then later on Saturday the show of the summer will be at Cedars on North Hazel Street in Youngstown. Come check out the Real-Time Digimob; The Triggers; and the Zou. Show starts at 11:00. I'm eagerly anticipating the release of the Zou's new video. I'm told it will be any day now. I can hardly wait to see it as Chris Rutushin shot it at some awesome locations in Youngstown.(you'll see).

BREAKING NEWS!!BREAKING NEWS!BREAKING NEWS!BREAKING NEWS!
The Zou will premier its new video release for When the Ink Dries at the Cedars show on Saturday night. Don't miss it!

For a glimpse of a night with the Zou at Cedars check out this video.


For a glimpse of a night with the Real Time Digimob check out this video:


And then on Monday June 29th at 7:00 at the Universal Cafe, Dr.Lars Brondum will be performing with Elsa Higby and Mark Hanley. The Universal Cafe is located at 1105 Elm Street in Youngstown.















Dr. Brondum is a composer, theorist and guitarist. Dr. Brondum holds a Ph.D from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters in Music in composition and music theory and a Bachelors degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. Dr. Brondum currently teaches music theory, composition and arranging at Stockholm Music Conservatory in Stockholm Sweden.


Also on June 29th, free movies will be back on the screen in front of the Covelli Centre. This year the city of Youngstown will show ten movies beginning at sundown each night and Touch the Moon Candy will sell old-fashioned candy and popcorn at each movie, with all proceeds benefiting adults with disabilities. So bring a blanket and/or lounge chair. June 29th the movie is Iron Man. See the trailer below.

FUEL

There will be a free public screening of the Internationally acclaimed documentary FUEL at 4:00 pm Sunday June 21, 2009 in the Schwebel Auditorium in Moser Hall on the campus of Youngstown State University. Free parking is available in the F1 parking lot on campus at the corner of Wick Avenue and University Plaza.

The film is an insightful portrait of America's addiction to oil and a testament to the immediacy of new energy solutions. FUEL takes viewers on a tour of the petrochemical industry, covering everything from Rockefeller's efforts to derail Ford's first ethanol cars to legislation designed to benefit the petrochemical industry.

Throughout the film, Tickell reveals a gamut of available solutions to "repower America", from vertical farms that occupy skyscrapers to algae facilities that turn waste water into fuel. Tickell and an array of environmentalists, policymakers and entertainment notables, including Sheryl Crow, Julia Roberts, and Willie Nelson, shed light on America's complicated relationship with energy.

The film won the Award for Best Documentary at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. After the film, Josh Tickell, the film's director, will answer audience questions.

The screening precedes the "Sustainable Energy Forum" hosted on Monday June 22 and Tuesday June 23, 2009 which will bring target government, industry, and academia to focus on technologies of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

For more information on the forum please click here. Please note that the cut off date for on-line registration for the forum is June 17, 2009, so if you're interested in attending this amazing forum register now.

June 5, 2009 Youngstown kicked off its first Gay Pride Festival with a reception to honor some of those in the area who have been supportive of the LGBT community. The reception and the festival held on June 6th were a huge success thanks to the wonderful people who spent many hours organizing it, Marita Emmert, Kim Aikens, Carlos Rodriquez, and Anita Davis as well as other members of the Pride Center and the generous assistance of the Black Knights Association Click here for an article in the Vindy about the event. (If I have forgotten anyone who should be named please let me know and I will include them)

Gay pride or LGBT pride, is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. It is the belief that diversity is a gift, and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. The word pride is used in this case as an antonym for shame which has been used to control and oppress LGBT persons throughout history. Pride in this sense is an affirmation of ones self and the community as a whole.

Some time ago, a group of dedicated activists on the Human Relations Committee in Youngstown worked to get an ordinance passed to protect the LGBT community from discrimination. Included on the Commission were Glorianne Leck, Steve Beall,and James Ray. Toni Schildcrout of P-Flag also played an important role in advocating for the ordinance. The group were successful and the ordinance passed unanimously by City Council. Since that time however the ordinance has never been challenged and some have expressed concern that it does not provide adequate protection. Regardless, the ordinance has had a positive impact on the community and has helped to make the GLBT community feel safer. The ordinance may be found in the last sentence of Section 547.02(t) of the Youngstown City Ordinances. To read more about this go here. In light of the huge success of the Gay Pride Festival in Youngstown this past weekend, perhaps it is time for activists to work to get more teeth in the current ordinance. The time to do so is now.

Those honored at the reception included Robert Hagan, John Vivo, and Marita Emmert. Robert Hagan offered a moving acceptance speech:



Please note that the beautiful flowers and fountain were provided by Petitti Garden Centers.

In photo: David Betras, Carlos Rodriguez, Anita Davis

Downtown Youngstown - Summer is upon us and it is time to party and play!

Can you guess what is missing from this video?



The answer is YOU! and there is no excuse this coming weekend, as there is so much going on downtown that I know I'm going to be exhausted from my weekend come next Monday morning. In fact, I may have to take a day off to recuperate from my weekend. For happenings check it out:

"Artists of the Rust Belt Festival"














Saturday, June 6, 2009 from Noon until 2:00 AM,and Sunday June 7th from Noon until 6:00 PM at the B & O Station 530 Mahoning Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44502, the Artists of the Rustbelt are having a festival. Over 30 artists will be selling their fine art and fine crafts. Live music will begin at 3:00 PM and will feature more than 20 bands and musicians from the Rust Belt Region. Hometown brew by the Rust Belt Brewing Company will be on tap. Local food vendors will also be on hand to feed your appetites. Admission is free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit YSU's SMARTS -Students Motivated by the Arts.

Simultaneously...

Youngstown's First Gay Pride Celebration








ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE FUN AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE LOCAL LGBT COMMUNITY
Celebration starts at noon on Saturday on Phelps Street between Commerce and West Federal, with a DJ mixx of gay iconic songs and introductory remarks. Entertainment begins at 12:30 with musical numbers and Drag Queens sure to spice things up. The street fair portion of Gay Pride Youngstown is over at 8:00 pm and is immediately followed by the Oakand Benefit Drag Show at the Oakland Center for the Arts. In addition several local bars will be open at noon to serve festival goers.

Oh and I must not forget that my good friend over at Shout Youngstown has posed a question. He is looking for a place downtown to play Four Square. I'm ready to play! Check out the video he has posted here. I opt for Phelps street on Saturday afternoon.

And then there is the Jones Fest II:
My favorite women from EOS will be on the program.



















Oh and here is yet another addition that Janko was kind enough to remind me about:













The Mahoning Valley Historical Society Wick Park Walking Tour. The walking tour will begin at the First Unitarian Universalist church at 1105 Elm Street, Youngstown, OH at 4:30 PM. It is anticipated that the tour will be over at 7:30 PM. The approximate one mile walk will include stories about some of the affluent families in Youngstown during the era of industrialization and there will also be a viewing of the final design plans for Wick Park Revitalization. The tour is free. If you have questions call (330) 743-2589.