GO Arts - Last comments http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts?disp=comments en-US hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 In response to: "Rabbitual" takes over Two Vaults http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/08/26/rabbitual_takes_over_two_vaults#c177706 2009-09-10T00:17:59Z Larkinart Thank you very much for mentioning my art work in this article, I appreciate it! I just want to clear up one thing, though...The piece isn't really intended to be terribly sinister- the Gorgon figure holding the rabbit is its protector and champion and not its captor. It's subject to interpretation of course, as is all art. I just thought I'd share my own intention behind the piece. Special thanks also to Two Vaults Gallery for putting on a great show! I just want to clear up one thing, though...The piece isn't really intended to be terribly sinister- the Gorgon figure holding the rabbit is its protector and champion and not its captor.
It's subject to interpretation of course, as is all art. I just thought I'd share my own intention behind the piece.
Special thanks also to Two Vaults Gallery for putting on a great show!]]> In response to: Valkyries and warriors storm McCaw Hall http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/08/11/valkyries_and_warriors_storm_mccaw_hall#c177365 2009-08-29T20:07:37Z Taveler After nearly five decades of travelling to numerous opera houses all over the world I finally made it to the “Seattle Ring” and attended the first cycle in 2009. The sets and costumes follow the verdict a rock is a rock, a tree is a tree and a sword is a sword; so what. The staging and directing is not really worth mentioning. The cast is mainly unimpressive, although the north-western audience heavily applauds their local “celebrities”; on top of their list an average and superficial interpretation of Wotan by Grimsley. Margaret Jane Wray’s Sieglinde is screechy, short on top (if she makes the high notes at all!). She is obviously at the end of her career. The best performances come from the “guests”: Andersens Siegfried (gave his two performances in the way I know and like from him, notwithstanding some weak high notes due to his illness), Skeltons Siegmund (one of those now popular more lyrical tenors approaching the role) and Bairds Brunnhilde (simply the best wagnerian soprano in at least two decades). The major annoyance nevertheless comes from the pit. An in itself unbalanced orchestra works its way with insensitivity through the score (especially harsh were the woodwinds and brass) not paying attention to the stage, led by a conductor who doesn’t seem to care. This “green” ring in Seattle is provincial and altogether a huge disappointment. The sets and costumes follow the verdict a rock is a rock, a tree is a tree and a sword is a sword; so what. The staging and directing is not really worth mentioning. The cast is mainly unimpressive, although the north-western audience heavily applauds their local “celebrities”; on top of their list an average and superficial interpretation of Wotan by Grimsley. Margaret Jane Wray’s Sieglinde is screechy, short on top (if she makes the high notes at all!). She is obviously at the end of her career.
The best performances come from the “guests”: Andersens Siegfried (gave his two performances in the way I know and like from him, notwithstanding some weak high notes due to his illness), Skeltons Siegmund (one of those now popular more lyrical tenors approaching the role) and Bairds Brunnhilde (simply the best wagnerian soprano in at least two decades).
The major annoyance nevertheless comes from the pit. An in itself unbalanced orchestra works its way with insensitivity through the score (especially harsh were the woodwinds and brass) not paying attention to the stage, led by a conductor who doesn’t seem to care.
This “green” ring in Seattle is provincial and altogether a huge disappointment.
]]> In response to: Valkyries and warriors storm McCaw Hall http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/08/11/valkyries_and_warriors_storm_mccaw_hall#c176448 2009-08-15T03:24:34Z ThinkerDem Stephanie Blythe sets an extremely high standard for her colleagues, no matter what the opers, but I do not understand how Ms. Ponnekante could fail to mention the fine singing and deeply insightful artistry of characterization of Greer Grimsley's Wotan. Stuart Skelton has a robust and ringing heldentenor voice that easily surmounts the Wagnerian orchestra, but commenting only on his "astounding breath control" is like saying a chef wields a "mean knife" while ignoring the flavor of the main dish. Margaret Jane Wray was not to blame for Sieglinde's "wimpiness", As an unwilling bride, and oppressed wife trained to stand beside the dinner table until invited by her master to sit, and later ordered to "prepare my evening drink and await me in bed", she "knew her place"--she'd better! Her "Du Bist der Lenz" was exquisitely powerful. Janice Baird's Brunnhilde is testimony to the scarcity of Wagnerian sopranos. She seemed to be saving both dramatic and vocal capital for the final father-daughter scene with such stinginess that her "Ho, Jo, To, Ho," was "Ho,Jo HO,HUM". Ms. Baird is svelte and presentable, but lacks the vocal "heft" and presence to convince as the Valkyries' leader and Wotan's favorite warrior daughter. The orchestra was magnificent, and Stephen Wadsworth's direction evoked humanity from both the mortals and and gods whose faults and foibles gave them dimension. I do wish Wadsworth would "lose" the severed body parts of heroes brought home to Valhalla and displayed by the Valkyries, causing titters from some of my neighbors, and that dead heroe slung over the shoulder of one flying goddess was clearly a dummy--unless we're meant to believe dead heroes were spared the "rigor" of "mortis". In response to: Critic's Picks This Week http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/07/31/critic_s_picks_this_week_51#c175440 2009-08-01T06:52:38Z samwatkinson Don't forget the Beyond Borders art festival in Longbranch! http://www.twowaters.org/TWAA/events/beyondtheborders.shtml
http://www.twowaters.org/TWAA/events/beyondtheborders.shtml
]]> In response to: Critic's Picks This Week http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/07/31/critic_s_picks_this_week_51#c175398 2009-07-31T23:38:51Z Raindancer10 It's great to see LIVE MUSIC events in Tacoma. I'm sick of everywhere you go because the owners are too cheap to hire Real LIVE MUSIC so they go and hire DJ's and one has too listen to wanna be singers all night. Also, catering to kiddie hip hop is old. We as baby boomers want our REAL LIVE music back! I hope this doesn't step badly on toes but then again we love to rock n roll still. Actually the cost isn't that much more and changing out to LIVE MUSIC probably would draw more people. In response to: Joel Show IV a mix of the good, the bad and the sheer embarrassing http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/07/26/joel_show_iv_a_mix_of_the_good_the_bad_a_1#c175047 2009-07-30T04:19:28Z Rosemary Ponnekanti Thanks for commenting, Lynn. I'm always the first to tell people that a review is an opinion, however informed and constructive, and everyone has their own (opinion, that is.) I would love it if more people put their opinion on the blog to balance mine! In response to: Joel Show IV a mix of the good, the bad and the sheer embarrassing http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/07/26/joel_show_iv_a_mix_of_the_good_the_bad_a_1#c174966 2009-07-29T19:55:32Z lynndin A friend and I saw the Sunday afternoon performance (and perhaps an afternoon show will always feel more informal) and we really enjoyed it. We marveled at the clean dancing moves of Joel, who've I 've had the pleasure to see dance with Specturm. We guessed that his goal was to present a varied entertainment featuring both seasoned and beginning dancers as a service to the community. Although Daniel's performance seemed casual, we felt it fit well in the program. I really enjoyed seeing this side of his work (he's such a talented artist) and we both completely enjoyed his unique blend of singing, moving with Joel, and playing of the guitar. We guessed that his goal was to present a varied entertainment featuring both seasoned and beginning dancers as a service to the community. Although Daniel's performance seemed casual, we felt it fit well in the program. I really enjoyed seeing this side of his work (he's such a talented artist) and we both completely enjoyed his unique blend of singing, moving with Joel, and playing of the guitar.]]> In response to: Grand to expand; Impromptu to move http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/07/16/grand_to_expand_impromptu_to_move#c173746 2009-07-16T23:02:23Z Ebjornson Great news for the Grand. Let's hope The Grand Impromptu Gallery can find another good space downtown. In response to: The "Angry Housewives" come back, 26 years on, to Lakewood Playhouse http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/07/15/the_angry_housewives_come_back_26_years_#c173728 2009-07-16T20:44:19Z Kathleen Merryman Hurrah! Eat your freakin' cornflakes! Eat your freakin' cornflakes!]]> In response to: Tacoma Art Museum narrows down list of plaza designers http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/29/tacoma_art_museum_narrows_down_list_of_p#c172104 2009-06-30T22:45:32Z nonstopjoe So, who's ever going to see the proposed re-design? Why would more people be in the area in the future than in the past? In response to: Tacoma Art Museum narrows down list of plaza designers http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/29/tacoma_art_museum_narrows_down_list_of_p#c172036 2009-06-30T07:10:32Z possum1 AND, where is this money coming from ? Julie (Andeson), and the Ladenburg Crime Family ?
Julie (Andeson), and the Ladenburg Crime Family ?

]]> In response to: "Water Forest" returns to Tacoma http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/03/water_forest_returns_to_tacoma#c171192 2009-06-21T05:04:59Z MartinVirtualTours See my image at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinvirtualtours/3644244799/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinvirtualtours/3644244799/]]> In response to: Small art, fun space - the Telephone Room http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/10/small_art_fun_space_the_telephone_room#c170356 2009-06-15T03:38:49Z Rosemary Ponnekanti Thanks for the clarification, Heide. But to further clarify: since you prefer not to publish your address (which I totally understand!) readers do, in fact, have to RSVP to all events to find out the address, at least initially. In response to: Small art, fun space - the Telephone Room http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/10/small_art_fun_space_the_telephone_room#c170349 2009-06-14T22:17:58Z heide_fll On behalf of the Telephone Room Gallery, I would like to clarify: There is an opening on Wednesday, June 17 for Jeremy Mangan's show "The Badman." No RSVP is required for this event. The rumored beer mug ice-carving event in conjunction with Jeremy Mangan's show is scheduled for July 24, and it does require an RSVP (and a confirmation from us) to thetelephoneroom@gmail.com. Thanks. Hope to see you soon! There is an opening on Wednesday, June 17 for Jeremy Mangan's show "The Badman." No RSVP is required for this event.
The rumored beer mug ice-carving event in conjunction with Jeremy Mangan's show is scheduled for July 24, and it does require an RSVP (and a confirmation from us) to thetelephoneroom@gmail.com.
Thanks. Hope to see you soon! ]]> In response to: New mural at Wheelock library right out of a fairy-tale http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/05/new_mural_at_wheelock_library_right_out_#c169928 2009-06-10T20:26:15Z ldozy1234 Beautiful and wonderful gift to the community! Thank you. In response to: "Water Forest" returns to Tacoma http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/03/water_forest_returns_to_tacoma#c169218 2009-06-04T10:15:05Z whitman411 Poorly conceived and engineered from the beginning. The boy did not bump into the piece, he walked up and pushed it over. The sad thing is that for the sake of art this thing was built in the first place. No tip-over analysis was done. The City should have asked for a refund, but instead, spent almost as much as the original installation "fixing" the thing. The money would have been better spent getting the mayor a better hairpiece.
The money would have been better spent getting the mayor a better hairpiece. ]]> In response to: "Water Forest" returns to Tacoma http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/03/water_forest_returns_to_tacoma#c169204 2009-06-04T05:38:54Z tree_guy $382,000 would fill a lot of potholes. In response to: "Water Forest" returns to Tacoma http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/06/03/water_forest_returns_to_tacoma#c169201 2009-06-04T05:25:18Z kevin22262 I have been waiting years for this to return! In response to: Farewell, Helm Gallery http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/05/12/farewell_helm_gallery#c166728 2009-05-13T06:33:10Z NineInchNachosII This is a tragedy. The Helm was the best art gallery ever. In response to: And the winner is... http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/arts/2009/05/11/and_the_winner_is_1#c166686 2009-05-13T00:27:31Z jeffernet This was an awesome year for the film competition. Thanks to everyone that supports this year over year. "Calming Heads" is on both YouTube and Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/4558422
"Calming Heads" is on both YouTube and Vimeo:
http://www.vimeo.com/4558422]]>