Tuesday, July 28, 2009
State Arts Commission forced to make cuts
Posted by David Hoppe on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 4:00 AM
This just in from the Indiana Arts Commission concerning cuts it has had to make after the state legislature cut its budget in excess of 20 percent.
Arts Commission to cut two programs and scale back others to meet budget reduction
(Indianapolis, Indiana) — The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today that two grant programs will be eliminated and additional programs scaled back to help address State budget reductions in excess of 20 percent for the current fiscal year.
The announcement came as the result of an emergency session of the Commission on July 20th to review budget options resulting from the two-year State budget approved last month by the Indiana General Assembly which calls for a 20 percent reduction in the appropriation for the IAC. In addition, the State Budget Agency has mandated an additional 5 percent holdback to be added to State reserves for all state agencies.
"During the regular session of the legislature it appeared we, along with most other state agencies, would receive a budget reduction of about eight percent," explained IAC Executive Director Lewis C. Ricci. "When the Commission met in June they reviewed a number of budget scenarios ranging from 10 to 15 percent reductions, which at that time we felt would be realistic expectations. The additional reduction made it necessary to call a special Commission meeting earlier this month to finalize our FY2010 budget."
As a result of the reduction, the Commission considered three new budget plans for the current fiscal year. Each would impact internal as well as external grant programs and services. Two IAC grant programs, the Presenter Touring Program and the American Masterpieces Program will be eliminated for the current fiscal year. The IAC's Arts in Education Program will be cut by 50 percent, and the Individual Artist Program will be reduced by 20 percent.
Grants to Major Arts Organizations (those with statewide or multi-region programming) will be scaled back by 23 percent, and block grants to the IAC's Regional Arts Partnership will be reduced by 21 percent.
"Of the three budget scenarios the Commission considered, the one they approved will have the smallest fiscal impact to all grantees and sub-grantees in our state while keeping intact our highly-effective decentralized, regional service system," Ricci said. "We are also taking a number of steps internally including staffing, travel, and office relocation to further reduce agency expenditures."
Several grant awards approved by the Commission at its June meeting had been placed on hold pending the outcome of the Special Session of the General Assembly. With the Commission's approval of this new FY2010 agency budget, grant recipients should begin receiving notification about their pending grant awards within the next several weeks.
On behalf of the people of Indiana, the Indiana Arts Commission advocates engagement with the arts to enrich the quality of individual and community life.
New dance academy in Carmel
Posted by David Hoppe on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 4:00 AM
This just in from Carmel...
Central Indiana Dance Ensemble to celebrate 10th Anniversary with opening of new Academy
The Central Indiana Dance Ensemble is pleased to announce that it will celebrate its 10th Anniversary Season with the opening of the Central Indiana Academy of Dance. Artistic Director, Suzann DeLay, will add the title of Owner/Director to her name when the new dance academy begins classes on August 10, 2009. Located in Carmel at 14950 Greyhound Court , the new facility will feature three large state of the art studios with sprung floors.
From preschoolers experiencing dance for the first time to high school students aspiring to a dance profession, the Central Indiana Academy of Dance will provide a full schedule of programs for every level of dance enthusiast. "My goal is to provide excellent training for every age and every ability" said Ms. DeLay.
With an emphasis on classical training, the academy will offer classes in ballet, pointe, pas de deux, jazz, tap, modern, character and Men's classes. Ms. DeLay and her faculty bring many years of professional dance and teaching to the Central Indiana Academy of Dance.
"As CIDE has grown and evolved over the past 10 years, from an ensemble of 6 dancers to a regional pre-professional company of 60 dancers, the creation of the academy was the natural next step to round out the program with excellent dance instruction" Said Ms. DeLay.
As for the Central Indiana Dance Ensemble Ms. DeLay promises another exciting season highlighted by the 10th annual production of The Nutcracker, CIDE's annual Spring Concert and in May The Sleeping Beauty. Central Indiana Dance Ensemble continues it's membership with Regional Dance America and was again designated Honor Company status.
For more information please visit the academy's website at www.ciaodance.com or contact Ms. DeLay at 317-844-7453 or 317-581-2423.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Ruschman's last week
Posted by David Hoppe on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:00 AM
This reminder from Mark Ruschman, whose gallery closes once and for all this Friday...
There still remain many opportunities to buy great art at great prices. Works remain on sale throughout the week at 20% - 50% off regular prices. The gallery will keep normal business hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. through Friday the 31st. For more information please call 317-634-3114.
Sports & Rec Mike Beas: on athletes and privacy
Posted by Mike Beas on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:00 AM
It's common for professional athletes from bygone eras to grumble under their breath about today's preposterously high salaries. Others have been known to skip directly over grumbling, leapfrog the urge to voice sternly and go straight to screaming.
But the hip-replacement crowd needs to lower the volume a tad because today's celebrities manufactured by sports have their own buffet spread of issues to deal with. First and foremost, that little thing called privacy. The advent of the internet, picture-taking cellphones, blogging, YouTube and the like force celebs — sports and otherwise — to exist in a world of uncertainty.
Guaranteed, more nervous peering over one's shoulder goes on today than 10 years ago.
Ask Olympic hero Michael Phelps, whose reputation went up in smoke inside a University of South Carolina frat house once pictures of him smoking marijuana showed up in a British tabloid. Gauge the opinion of Erin Andrews, whose broadcasting credibility absorbed a sucker punch when images of her in various states of undress surfaced on the internet. Go quiz LeBron James about the grainy footage leaked showing some college kid dunking over him.
Big stories all three. Huge. And every one made possible because of modern technology, the kind that has made amateur photographers out of billions worldwide.
Somewhere along the line, Mark Spitz, the man whose Olympian standard of seven gold medals stood for 36 years until Phelps came along, must have exhibited some form of behavior of which he wasn't proud. Former CBS broadcaster Phyllis George, a head-turner in her own right during the 1970s, wasn't accumulating worry lines wondering if some creep with a cellphone would be filming her through a motel wall peephole.
Which brings us to Michael Jordan, the player James goes out of his way to emulate. Great as Jordan was, I'm betting there were times he was dunked on in practice. Doubtful Luc Longley or Bill Wennington had anything to do with it. Or Craig Hodges or Stacey King. Much easier to visualize is Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman storming to the rim over His Airness and making a point en route to two points.
Travel further back in time and, really, do we want cellphone photos of Ty Cobb climbing into the stands to pummel a heckler who due to an industrial accident had been reduced to one hand and lost three fingers on the other? Or images of Mickey Mantle passed out or Paul Hornung bellied up to a Las Vegas black jack table? Or Wilt Chamberlain . . . uh . . . never mind.
In most cases, yes, we do. We're nosy that way. Yet in other eras, fast-moving rumors were the first building blocks, the ground floor, of sports legend. Not having visual proof to back them up has given these and other stories about long-ago sports icons a mysteriousness that is attractive and stands the test of time.
So the retired athletes and coaches need to quit complaining. Maintaining their privacy meant securing their dignity, and you can't slap a pricetag on that.
International Interfaith Initiative volunteer opportunity
Posted by David Hoppe on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:00 AM
The International Interfaith Initiative is looking for volunteers for a trip to the Children's Museum...
Volunteer opportunity: III is seeking volunteers to assist with transportation for Iraqi refugee families to visit the Children's Museum on August 6th at 4pm and a trip to Dearborn, MI on Saturday August 8th. Dearborn has the largest Arab community outside of the Middle East and many of the refugee families have expressed an interest in traveling there to buy supplies in preparation for Ramadan which begins on August 21st. If you have access to a minivan and would like to participate in either or both of these culturally enriching experiences contact Charlie cwiles@peacelearningcenter.org or call (317) 466-0114.
IndyFringe tix on sale now
Posted by David Hoppe on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 4:00 AM
IndyFringe (which kicks off August 21) announces that tickets are now on sale. Here are the details...
Indyfringe.org - Your guide to the festival! Start planning NOW!
With 280 shows on 6 stages the site will guide you through with shows descriptions, photos and listings.
Download your daily calendar and start planning your shows.
Advance Ticket Sales - don't miss all your favorites from past years.
Download the official NUVO program.
First time Fringing? Read the FAQ for Fringe tips.
Buy advance tickets - The only way to skip the line at the festival!
$10 adults/$7 students/$5 children under 12.
$3 Backer Button - one-time only purchase, needed for festival admission.
$40 Fiver Pass - See any five shows for the cost of four.
Three ways to get your advance tickets - Through Aug. 14 only!
By Phone: (317) 522-8099
Credit card (except American Express - sorry!)
Online: www.indyfringe.org
All major credit cards via PayPal - plus $1 transaction fee.
In person: IndyFringe Building, 719 E. St. Clair St. (Near Mass Ave. and College)
Cash or credit card (except American Express - sorry!)
Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Weekends Noon - 5 p.m.
Backer Buttons, Fiver Pases, $5 T-shirts and canvass tote bags also for sale at the IndyFringe Building.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sports & Rec And the winner is...
Posted by Andrew Roberts on Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 4:00 AM
Robby Ginepri upset the last great hope for American tennis, Sam Querrey, in straight sets today to win his second Indianapolis title.
Ginepri's placement in the All-American final was nearly perfect, as he ran Querrey all over the court with dangerous tact and poise. Sam was unable to land his first serve, and--on a couple of important occassions-- his second serve, and without the threat of this 130-mph thunder to keep Ginepri honest, the 32-year old American was able to seize control of most every exchange.
After losing the first set 6-2, Querrey rallied back to take control in the second. However, he lost a crucial break point with the advantage to Genepri, after blowing a 40-0 lead. He then double-faulted and went down 5-4. Ginepri then went up 40-0, and his serve was returned a foot deep of the baseline. Robby went to one knee, pointed to the sky, and claimed his second Indianapolis title-- the only two ATP events he has won in the last four years. His prize is $91k.
Top-seed Russian coward Dmitry Tursunov was still afraid to play me in Wii Tennis on the concourse, but got some small retribution for his quarter-final loss to Frank Dancevic by winning the Doubles title, in league with Latvian whipper-snapper Erensts Gulbis. They defeated a pair of well-seasoned Australian teammates in Ashley Fisher and Jordan Kerr for a cool 30-grand a piece.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sports & Rec Tursunov vs. Dancevic II: The Reckoning
Posted by Andrew Roberts on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 4:00 AM
I was compelled by nostalgia to shift my schedule around and make it out for a rematch of the 2007 final between Dmitry Tursunov and Frank Dancevic this afternoon.
That impossibly hot day of July '07, Tursunov handily beat Dancevic in straight sets; the Canadian had nothing left in the tank and was simply over-matched, having defeated Andy Roddick a day earlier in one of the great sports upsets I have ever witnessed live.
My affection toward Dancevic for humiliating Roddick was reinforced when Roddick threw a temper-tantrum and yelled at a reporter in the post-match press conference. One of my great memories as a journalist was seeing Roddick, on the verge of tears, slam his towel down and yell at a stocky, kind, mustached gentleman from the Indy Star for asking him what this loss meant for American tennis. Brilliant.
For the first time since 1990, five Americans have survived to the quarter final. The winner of Tursunov/Dancevic will hopefully face Sam Querrey tomorrow in the semi-finals - and I fully expect the winner of that match to win the final on Sunday.
Though if Querrey is able to win even one break point, it is unlikely that Dancevic or Tursunov would have the strength to deal with his serve, given their lackluster showing on the court this afternoon.
Seven games into the match, neither player had lost a break point, and both men seemed to be quite content resting comfortably along the baseline; the crowd did not see much fire. It's as if they had someplace else to be, but both of them came anyway, just because they thought the other one would be really mad at them for not showing up. The hardest working people on the court were the ball-kids.
Dmitry is still alive in the doubles draw as well, and may have spread himself too thin, fresh off of an ankle injury. He admitted to me on Tuesday that while it doesn't hurt very much, it is affecting his play as he is subconsciously "protecting it."
His first serve from the left side was consistently terrible, often soaring several feet wide of the alley. However, in the second set, after he fell behind-- Tursunov began to use more finesse, rather than overpowering him as he had been trying to-- and won a crucial breakpoint on a beautiful drop shot that spun back toward him with ferocity, and Dancevic flatly hit it into the net.
Tursunov then served out the next game in consecutive points, making it 5-5. The two then traded wins to send it to a tie-breaker, which Dancevic won 7-5, tying Dmitry at one set a piece, and sending the match into a third set, which an exhausted Dmitry Tursunov seemed to all but completely concede to the younger and fresher Canadian.
There were several forehands that Dancevic simply slapped past Tursunov, though he was seemingly within reach of them. Dmitry spent most of the final set shaking his head in frustration, only going after any balls that happened to fly within his arms' reach... like a venus fly trap.
In 180-degree turn from 2007, it was Dancevic who ultimately out-hustled Tursunov and came out on top. Frank now awaits the winner of Querrey and Gicquel, while Dmitry prepares for his doubles quarter-final...which he has 45 minutes to prepare for...barely able to stand up at the moment.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Indy BANG! Cultural luncheon
Posted by David Hoppe on Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 4:00 AM
Indy BANG! Monthly Cultural Luncheon - July 31, 2009 with Hugh Vandivier of Primary Colours
Indy BANG! presents Indy's Business and Arts Networking Get-togethers
bringing together business and arts professionals for their mutual benefit and to support our community.
On Friday, July 31, 2009 the business and arts speakers will be Hugh Vandivier.
Hugh Vandivier was recently named the first Executive Director of Primary Colours, an Indianapolis-based arts non-profit. Primary Colours was established in 1998 as an Indianapolis-based charitable organization comprised of visual artists and art enthusiasts. Its mission is to facilitate interaction between visual artists and the community. It strives to create a thriving environment for the visual arts through unique exhibitions, workshops, and special events, among these Allotropy, Installation Nation, TOYS, the Professional Development Series, and Art vs. Art. To find out more about Primary Colours, please visit them on the web at www.primarycolours.org.
Presentation Topic: Indianapolis arts and cultural organizations currently face threats from all sides: a city and state with a waning vision of how the arts contribute to the community, dwindling financial support from once-reliable but now cash-strapped foundations and businesses, and the constant fight to inspire and enlighten a sports-hungry populace inclined to artistic ennui. As Primary Colours prepares for its sixth staging of Art vs. Art, new executive director Hugh Vandivier discusses the challenges facing his organization and other nonprofits; some strategies for partnering with other organizations and marketing your organization in the digital age; and some lessons learned from successes and failures of running an arts organization on a shoestring.
This month's cultural luncheon is a special culinary event aimed at giving back to the community. Our speaker will be Nora Spitznogle, Director of Operations of Second Helpings, Inc. Nora will provide us with an educational tour of the Second Helpings Community Kitchen and Food Pantry at 11:30 followed by a FREE buffet lunch at 12:00 noon. Please bring a monetary or food donation (rice or pasta has been requested). To learn more about Second Helpings, please visit them on the web at www.secondhelpings.org.
Date & Time
Friday, July 31, 2009
11:30AM - NOON (Educational Tour of Second Helpings, Inc.)
NOON - 1PM (Speakers/Luncheon)
Location
Second Helpings Community Kitchen and Food Pantry
The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Center
1121 Southeastern Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 632-2664
Web: www.secondhelpings.org
Driving directions
Please join us
* if you are a small business professional
* if you are an arts professional
* if you are an arts and culture consumer
* if you are interested in how small business supports the arts ?and the arts inspire small business
Founded by James Moriarty, Indy BANG! is the nonprofit arm of Moriarty Media.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sports & Rec Tursunov to field: "I MUST BREAK YOU."
Posted by Andrew Roberts on Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 4:00 AM
With Roddick's preemptive pull-out (insert Jessica Simpson joke here) from the Indy Tennis Championships, Russian Dmitry Tursunov has assumed the top seed, and in his first match he won a hard-fought brawl with a big German brick-house named Michael Berrer.
Tursunov came out firing mercilessly and it looked like he was going to end it in 12 minutes,but a mess of double-faults and hail-mary backhands gave Berrer an easy second-set victory. Ultimately the Russian's vicious forehand left Berrer lifeless and dumbfounded, as a flurry of unforced errors by the German repeatedly flew into the net and two feet deep of the baseline.
I had a chance to speak with Dmitry after his match, and true-to-form, he was mercilessly frank. "His serve was crap," he said of Berrer.
We also spoke about his recent injury, the appeal to the players of Indy Tennis, and how he's been spending his time in town. I challenged him to a match of Wii Tennis out on the concourse, and called him a coward (in so many words) for saying he was "too tired" after his 3-set match with Berrer... (pfft). He did agree to play me later in the week, so if he keeps winning, we should be able to get that video up on the NUVO web. The stakes are high... if I win, he has to play for the U.S. instead of Russia in the Davis Cup. The full video of the interview will be posted on nuvo.net later in the week.
Before Tursunov slapped around Berrer for a couple hours, Israel's Dudi Sela (No. 2 seed) had defeated Chicago's own Vincent Spadea handily in straight sets. Spadea currently leads all ATP players in career losses, and also has the longest consecutive losing streak in the circuit. The 35 year old also has been named "The World's Worst Person" and it is rumored that his kids wish he was dead. I'm only being sarcastic about that last bit. I think it's time to hang 'em up, Vince.
Also today, Carmel resident Rajeev Ram defeated Devin Britton (6-3, 7-5) and goes on to face Sam Querrey. It should be an interesting match, as both of the young American athletes are built like basketball players and have huge serves. As I mention every single time I write about tennis... Querrey broke the all-time record for consecutive aces at this tournament two years ago.
More soon--
