www.StarNewsDaily.com – Week of May 17, 2012 – Vol.5, No. 20 – FREE
To Infinity and Beyond
Spring Showcase features talent and practice of local young artists Star Special Scott Wise and Mallory Diefenbach
The students at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. are highly talented individuals. These students have their creative talents and performance skills nurtured by local, professional musicians and educators. On May 19, a music and art Spring Showcase will allow Infinity students to show everyone their creative growth. “The Spring Showcase is a music and arts showcase of Infinity students,” said Shane Hawkins, executive director at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. “Infinity student bands and ensembles will be performing, as well as a handful of soloists. We will feature everything from jazz and blues to reggae, folk and world music. We try to keep the dynamic different all throughout the evening, because it keeps the audience on their toes and intrigued by the idea of what might come next. New this year, we will also be featuring a performance from our student-directed drama club in addition to our musical acts.” Some headlines at the showcase this year will include: a African Drum Ensemble, Caribbean-based steel pan alley and collective groove, all-girls ensemble, jazz-based group “Milestones,” our blues group and drama club, dueling pianos and several
soloists. Since Infinity has been founded, its primary objective has been to showcase its students’ hard work and artistic growth. As such, there have always been public showcases of student performance. Last year, however, was Infinity’s first Student Art Exhibit and Open House. “We had just renovated the studio, and held our ‘Grand Opening’ of the art and dance space on the night of Spring Showcase,” said Hawkins. “We had a fantastic turn out, as well as a great display of student art work, and decided that the art exhibit and open house was a great way to not only showcase our music students during Spring Showcase, but also our
art students and the facility.” Also on display are ArtFusion LED light box art kits created by the students. Although the art show is open to all children under 18, the music component is comprised of a pool of Infinity students. Those who wish to take part in future showcases should enroll in Infinity. “Interested students can pick up registration papers at the Infinity Center, print online from our website, or get them at one of our monthly new student Orientation sessions, the next one being on May 21 at 6 p.m.,” said Hawkins. There are several benefits to being a student at Infinity. They include access to music ensembles and
student bands, recording studio, high quality instruments, equipment and supplies, and unique music and arts workshops. In addition there is the opportunity to participate and perform in showcases like the Spring Showcase and meet and interact with other creative individuals! The Spring Showcase is May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Reg Lenna Civic Center. Starting at 5:30 p.m. there will be a student art show and Infinity faculty tours at the Infinity Center. Tickets are $5 pre-sale and $6 at the door. You can buy tickets at Infinity or by calling 664-0991, ex. 7070. All Infinity students and children under 18 are free of charge.
‘Routes to Art’ May 19–20 Multi-Media Exhibit Displays Local Talent
Artists in the show are approved by a panel of their peers; it is open to any Star News Writer artist regionally as long as they agree to show their artwork in Cattaraugus Art is a wonderful highlight of County. culture. It is the expression of human “Sometimes it’s hard to find artwork thought and emotion. On May 19 in our region,” said Conroy-Baiter, and 20, a self-guided open studio the executive director. “There are tour called “Routes to Art” will be only a few galleries and a few places available across Cattaraugus County. to buy art, and this weekend there “Routes to Art” is in its fifth year of will be 45 of the best and brightest all existence, and won the 2009 Touropen at once.” ism of Excellence Award in Cultural “Routes to Art” is free and everybody Heritage from the New York State is welcome to come. The goal of Travel and Vacation Association. “Routes to Art” is to allow residents Unlike most tours, participants plan to see the region through the fresh their own schedule and visit the artist eyes of a tourist as well as bringing locations during the appointed hours those who aren’t from the area into of the show. the region. “There are four main areas,” said A viewer enjoys colorful paintings by artist Dawn Lombardi, showing in The show is a great way to spend the Anne Conroy-Baiter, the executive spring weekend with the family and Cattaraugus, NY with potter Anne Mormile and photographer Michael director of Cattaraugus County Arts Weishan. be exposed to different people and Council. “There is Alleghany and different forms of art. In addition, Olean... and it will have artists at the every single time a person visits an ing painting, pottery, photography, Th en there is a region that centers Arts Council, three different ones. artist, they sign in and every single jewelry, sculpture, fi ber arts, woodaround Salamanca, and our Seneca One is jewelry, one is painting and carving, ceramics, beading and much time they sign in, they are entered three-dimensional work and another artists are there. in a chance to win three pieces of more. The artisans will be available And then there is another cluster of one is painting. Also in Alleghany artwork. artists around Ellicottville and Little during the “Routes to Art” tour to and Olean, are two professional Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Valley, and then there are some up in answer inquiries visitors may have photographers who also do fine art on their work as well as be able to To see the different artists and their the Irving area.” work, and there is a print maker demonstrate on how they do their locations, visit routestoart.com. and another painter. So, you know There are 45 artists from Western craft. In addition, visitors have the within just a couple square miles of New York area participating in the ability to purchase works of art from each other there is a whole different show allowing for an expansive the artisans who are participating in variety of places to visit.” range of media to be shown includthe event. By Mallory Diefenbach
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