Kentuck’s April 16 a la cARTe celebrates the art of mosaic-making with a mosaic bench community project and additional paper mosaic-making for kids.

Leading the project of mosaicking a bench for the Kentuck Art Center courtyard is Linda Munoz, who has been a stained glass artist for almost 25 years. Her interest in glass has led her to a love of mosaic art and fused glass. She has taught mosaic art to children and adults for the last five years, including classes at The University of Alabama, the Akron Alabama Boy's and Girl's Club, The Kentuck Art Center, and the Coleman Center for Arts and Culture. Linda currently resides in Cuba, Alabama.

Children can contribute to the mosaic bench during the event and, in the Kentuck for Kids area, make and take home paper mosaic artwork.

A la cARTe offers another opportunity to visit the Kentuck Gallery exhibit of extraordinary woodworking by Bill Hubbard, and to see the Annex Gallery exhibits. The Annex is hosting work by students in the Northport Fine Arts Initiative and an exhibition of work by The Tin Man, Charlie Lucas. Charlie is one of three self-taught artists being featured at the Venice Biennale in Italy this summer.

Kentuck’s a la cARTe series, now in its second year, engages the community and perpetuates the arts with conversation, artist demonstrations, Kentuck for Kids activities, and occasionally, regional cuisine. More information is available at www.kentuck.org, or by calling Kentuck at 205-758-1257.

                        Battle-Friedman Home Celebrates 175 Years

Though the Battles and the Friedmans lived in their home on Greensboro Avenue during different eras, on Saturday, April 16, members of both families will come together. Represented by community members and dressed in historically appropriate attire they will greet and entertain visitors with their stories of life at the house between 1835 and 1965 as the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society celebrates the Battle-Friedman Home’s 175^th Birthday.

“We have tried to make this Birthday party for the home appealing to everyone by having two programs. The morning program, from 10am to Noon, which is geared to families, will give visiting children a chance to see and hear what life was like in the past in a fun way,” said Katherine Mauter, Executive Director of the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society.

The morning program will include visits with the Battles and the Friedmans, refreshments including Birthday cupcakes and cookies, balloons, and tours of the home.  There will also be a special gingerbread display of the house.

The party in the evening, from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm, will be slightly more formal with refreshments on the porch, tours of the home, visits with the Battles and the Friedmans, musical entertainment and a very special birthday cake to mark the event.  The Society is also very excited to welcome descendants of the Battle and Friedman families.

Paul Houghtaling, Director of the Opera Theatre at the University Of Alabama School Of Music who has sung at both national and international venues will, in the guise of Stephen Foster, entertain with some of Fosters best remembered songs.

 “Mr. Houghtaling has sung at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and many other famous locations. I think everyone will enjoy his music and we think everyone will be surprised with the wonderful birthday cake that is being created to add to the festivities,” added Mauter when speaking of the evening program.

Robert Loveman, a recognized 19^th century poet was a guest of the Friedman’s when the homes’ gardens inspired him to write a poem which became the basis for the well known song “April Showers.” Loveman will also be represented at both programs.

On Sunday, April 17, from 2:30 to 4:30 the home will host the Preservation Society Annual Easter Egg Hunt for children with the games, refreshments, the Easter Bunny and prizes for everyone including adults.

Tickets for the family program on the morning of April 16 and for the Easter Egg Hunt on the 17th are both $10 for a family of four. An additional $2 will be charged for each extra child.

Tickets for the evening program are $50.

For more information and questions or to order tickets please call the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society at 758-2238.      

CREATIVE CAMPUS HOSTS 2nd Annual DRUID CITY ARTS FESTIVAL

The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus is pleased to announce the 2^nd Annual Druid City Arts Festival (DCAF). DCAF is a multi-genre, two day festival celebrating regional original arts with a focus on music on March 25 & 26, 2011. The DCAF Music Crawl will kick off the celebration Friday, March 25 in participating venues across town.  Each venue will showcase DCAF musical acts from 6 pm until the close of business.  DCAF will culminate on Saturday, March 26 in a FREE, all-day, all-ages festival from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm in Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa.  To show support for the local arts community, donations accepted throughout the weekend will benefit the Tuscaloosa Arts Council’s small grants program to fund arts education initiatives. 

Now in its second year, Druid City Arts Festival will center around musical performances representing a range of genres including Indie Rock, Hip Hop, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, Reggae, Funk, and more with a focus on local and regional original music. 2011 DCAF headliner is Matthew Mayfield.  Patrons can also enjoy performances by the Black Warrior Storytellers featuring Kim Weitkamp.  Other special guests and activities include Charlie Lucas, Seraphina, University of Alabama Resonance Show Choir, Strings In Schools, UA African Drumming Ensemble, RipTide Dancers, and children’s interactive arts activities.  The festival will also feature a variety of on-site food vendors including Benny’s Hot Dogs, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Bama Dining, and Event Concessions.  DCAF jointly celebrates downtown Tuscaloosa alongside the Tour de Tuscaloosa Criterium Cycle races and invites you to enjoy all of the festivities.

Free festival parking is available in the Intermodal Parking Deck adjacent to Government Plaza on 7^th Street.  Additionally, DCAF has chartered a Crimson Ride to run continuous routes throughout the day between University of Alabama campus locations, Government Plaza, and back.  There is no charge to ride the Crimson Ride.

Druid City Arts Festival started as a student idea and is fully produced by The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus’ undergraduate student interns.  These students have done more than put together an arts festival; they have brought together a strong line-up of local regional musicians, artists, storytellers, created a fun family atmosphere, and turned a bright spotlight towards Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  The process has been one of education and balance as the students have learned the ins and outs of large scale arts event planning while juggling their classes. From arranging for dumpsters and tents to working with artists and fundraising the process has been both arduous and rewarding as their project has taken shape.

This free community festival is presented by The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus with grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and UA’s Center for Community Based Partnerships.  It is also supported by the City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission, Harrison Galleries LLC, Lamar, private donors, and multiple University of Alabama entities including the University Union, College of Arts and Sciences, Bama Dining, Honors College Assembly, Office of Advancement, Blount Undergraduate Initiative, New College, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.  The venues participating in the DCAF Music Crawl are also contributing sponsors and include Alcove International Tavern, The Bear Trap, Carpe Vino, Egan’s, 4^th & 23^rd, Green Bar, 1831, Harrison Gallery, and The Alabama Art Kitchen. 

Druid City Arts Festival is FREE, open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.  For more information, visit www.druidcityartsfest.com, email druidcityartsfestival@gmail.com, follow @theDCAF on Twitter, or call 205-348-7887.

CREATIVE CAMPUS HOSTS 2nd Annual DRUID CITY ARTS FESTIVAL

The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus is pleased to announce the 2^nd Annual Druid City Arts Festival (DCAF). DCAF is a multi-genre, two day festival celebrating regional original arts with a focus on music on March 25 & 26, 2011. The DCAF Music Crawl will kick off the celebration Friday, March 25 in participating venues across town.  Each venue will showcase DCAF musical acts from 6 pm until the close of business.  DCAF will culminate on Saturday, March 26 in a FREE, all-day, all-ages festival from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm in Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa.  To show support for the local arts community, donations accepted throughout the weekend will benefit the Tuscaloosa Arts Council’s small grants program to fund arts education initiatives. 

Now in its second year, Druid City Arts Festival will center around musical performances representing a range of genres including Indie Rock, Hip Hop, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, Reggae, Funk, and more with a focus on local and regional original music. 2011 DCAF headliner is Matthew Mayfield.  Patrons can also enjoy performances by the Black Warrior Storytellers featuring Kim Weitkamp.  Other special guests and activities include Charlie Lucas, Seraphina, University of Alabama Resonance Show Choir, Strings In Schools, UA African Drumming Ensemble, RipTide Dancers, and children’s interactive arts activities.  The festival will also feature a variety of on-site food vendors including Benny’s Hot Dogs, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Bama Dining, and Event Concessions.  DCAF jointly celebrates downtown Tuscaloosa alongside the Tour de Tuscaloosa Criterium Cycle races and invites you to enjoy all of the festivities.

Free festival parking is available in the Intermodal Parking Deck adjacent to Government Plaza on 7^th Street.  Additionally, DCAF has chartered a Crimson Ride to run continuous routes throughout the day between University of Alabama campus locations, Government Plaza, and back.  There is no charge to ride the Crimson Ride.

Druid City Arts Festival started as a student idea and is fully produced by The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus’ undergraduate student interns.  These students have done more than put together an arts festival; they have brought together a strong line-up of local regional musicians, artists, storytellers, created a fun family atmosphere, and turned a bright spotlight towards Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  The process has been one of education and balance as the students have learned the ins and outs of large scale arts event planning while juggling their classes. From arranging for dumpsters and tents to working with artists and fundraising the process has been both arduous and rewarding as their project has taken shape.

This free community festival is presented by The University of Alabama’s Creative Campus with grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and UA’s Center for Community Based Partnerships.  It is also supported by the City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission, Harrison Galleries LLC, Lamar, private donors, and multiple University of Alabama entities including the University Union, College of Arts and Sciences, Bama Dining, Honors College Assembly, Office of Advancement, Blount Undergraduate Initiative, New College, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.  The venues participating in the DCAF Music Crawl are also contributing sponsors and include Alcove International Tavern, The Bear Trap, Carpe Vino, Egan’s, 4^th & 23^rd, Green Bar, 1831, Harrison Gallery, and The Alabama Art Kitchen. 

Druid City Arts Festival is FREE, open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.  For more information, visit www.druidcityartsfest.com, email druidcityartsfestival@gmail.com, follow @theDCAF on Twitter, or call 205-348-7887.

“TIN MAN” BOOK SIGNING EVENT AT KENTUCK MUSEUM WITH BOOK CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDING ARTIST CHARLIE LUCAS

Internationally Recognized Alabama Folk Artist to Exhibit Art and Tell Personal Stories

At the Kentuck Museum Artist Charlie Lucas will be joined by Co-author Ben Windham and Photographer Chip Cooper to talk about Tin Man an autobiography released in 2009 by UA Press which presents the life and art of Charlie Lucas through his own stories and also through vivid photographs of his art. This event is sponsored by the Kentuck Museum, the University of Alabama Press, the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, New College, UA Department of English, UA Department of American Studies, and the UA Honors College Assembly.

Charlie Lucas, also known as “The Tin Man” makes art from a variety of found objects which become incorporated into sculptures and paintings. “The Tin Man” is a self-taught artist and although he has made art since childhood, only since a debilitating accident in 1984 did he turn to art as a career. His work contains rich stories and layers of symbols which reveal wisdom and meaning in a dreamlike fashion and he has been recognized nationally and internationally as a great innovator in American folk art. Charlie has been invited to Venice, Italy, this June to attend the Venice Biennial Festival as part of a contingent from the American Folk Art Museum.

WHAT: A book discussion, art exhibit, and book sale and signing at the Kentuck Museum in Northport, AL

WHEN: Friday, March 25, 2011, 5:00PM - 6:30PM

WHO: Event free and open to the public.

SAKURA FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY

The University of Alabama Capstone International Center will celebrate the 25th anniversary of itsSakura Festival with events throughout March that include the Doll Festival/Hina Matsuri Exhibit in 121-F B.B. Comer Hall and theHanga: Two Hundred Years of Japanese Woodblock Prints Art Exhibit at the Ferguson Center Art Gallery. Additional events to be held include Matsuri in the Mall, special exhibits at the Children’s Hands-On Museum, activities at the Tuscaloosa Public Library branches and writing contests.For a complete listing of Sakura festival activities go tohttp://uanews.ua.edu/2011/02/ua-sakura-festival-celebrates-25th-anniversary/. Contact: Holly Buckner, Capstone International, 205/348-5256 or hhbuckner@ua.edu

DANCE ALABAMA! The UA department of theatre and dance presents the “Dance Alabama!” spring concert from Tuesday, Feb. 15, to Saturday, Feb. 19, in Morgan Auditorium on Stadium Drive in the UA Theatre District. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets can be bought at the theatre and dance box office in Rowand-Johnson Hall from noon to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Friday, or by calling 205/348-3400. Contact: Richard LeComte in media relations, 205/348-3782 or rllecomte@ur.ua.edu