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Arty Party Promotes Area's Culture

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CHERYL KUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2009

Talented area visual artists, dancers and musicians presented a variety program for a large, enthusiastic audience at the third annual Greater Brandon Arts Council Arty Party held Feb. 28 at the Winthrop Barn Theatre in Riverview.

The annual party is a membership drive benefiting the nonprofit arts council's continuing supportive arts programs. The event also aims to acquaint the public with the area's richly diverse arts offerings.

Highlighting the evening were performances, starting with the lyrical husband-and-wife duo of flutist Jenny James and guitarist Ron Gilbert.

Later, the melodic strains of the American Indian flute resonated courtesy of award-winning composer and musician Dock Green, aka Silverhawk. He recently led the opening ceremonies at the new Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa and also will present the opening music at the 40th anniversary celebration of Nature's Classroom in Thonotosassa on April 18 and 19.

Performances at the Arty Party continued with vocal renditions in the style of songstress Patsy Cline, a tribute by Barbara Van Eycken that had country music fans begging for more.

The Store-4-Strings in Brandon offered a guitar ensemble and musical quartet that played some fine fiddling, banjo and guitar music, and a solo on the saxophone by Luis Quixton.

Several dances with interpretive movements were presented by Kim Hall's School of Dance in Brandon. Ballet Madrid of Tampa offered traditional variations, including a riveting flamenco dance performed for an enthusiastic crowd that clapped along to the beat of the dancing feet of the company's director, Maureen Patrick, and first dancer, Cathy Bosek.

Not many Tampa Bay communities can boast their own string orchestra. The audience cheered in support of the Brandon String Orchestra, under the direction of Brad Anderson, whose youngest member is violinist Brendan Chen, an 11-year-old prodigy from Valrico.

Brendan won the orchestra fiddle contest, competing against adult violinists.

"His brother Kevin Chen, a charter orchestra member, asked that I try Brendan for an orchestra position. I said OK, but only if he can pull his own weight," Anderson said. "He is doing an incredible job and has been playing with us for the past year."

A long line of admirers waited to meet acoustic guitarist Shaun Hopper, who rocked the Arty Party crowd with music from his new CD titled "Once Written." Hopper will perform the opening act for musician Joe Cocker at a performance April 22 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

"These artists have contributed their time, talents and efforts in a community showcase and to the arts auction in the hope of encouraging art lovers to become excited about creating an even more enlivened cultural atmosphere by becoming active arts council members," said arts council President Kim Hall. "As our membership increases, the more community events, student scholarships and support we are able to give."

For information about the Greater Brandon Arts Council, go to www.brandonarts.org. Annual memberships are available for a donation of $25.

For membership information, contact Meletha Everett at ArtWiz200@aol.com

Cheryl Kuck is a media member of the Greater Brandon Arts Council. She can be reached at wkuck@tampabay.rr.com.

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