NEWS #125 WEB - Shemer Art Center

enaissance
French Institute of Arizona
Where French is Français
Bulletin of the
Art Renaissance Initiative
a 501[c][3] nonprofit cultural organization
Bimonthly nº 125 — Jan / Feb 2015
Vivaldi Society of America
Arizona Vivaldi Festival
Thebeautyofmultiplecultures
N
A 17th century Tibetan mandala reflects
the many artistic and spiritual influences
that might aggregate through centuries
onto one single work of art.
Contents
The beauty of multiple cultures
Calendar
Spirits of the Kachina
Art in America: a tormented tapestry
Art News
Flamenco! Fun-Raiser
Piaf: un centenaire
En lisant, en relisant: Jean d'Ormesson
Cyrano
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ature's infinite diversity is a component of its inspiring beauty, be
it mineral or part of the living world. As
nature's most elaborate form of life to date,
human communities show a similar trend
to diversify, depending on their location
and their history. We call cultures those
specificities that build the identity of a
group at a particular moment in time.
We realize today that variables between
and within cultures, first casually dismissed
by early explorers (who themselves often
were not the most educated), go sometimes
far deeper than we thought. For instance,
we are rightfully proud of the discovery
of the alphabet and of what the written
word enabled us to accomplish. Many
ancient cultures, however, on every continent, have flourished without any form
of writing besides signage, by developing
an incredibly rich verbal vocabulary. Tribes
in the Amazon have dozens of words to describe the same flower at different stages of
growth or bloom, and even children know
and memorize those words. At the other
end of the cultural spectrum, one might
wonder what happened to the "language of
Shakespeare" that we have overly simplified today into acronyms or jargon.
Cultures, expressing the identity of living creatures, become themselves a form
of life: they appear, develop and die. Our
generation witnesses the emergence of a
"global culture" — the legitimate child
of the Internet ?— that threatens the
existence of myriads of rich and colorful,
immensely enjoyable "sub-cultures." Shall
we all dress the same, eat the same food,
listen to the same music, have the same
"lifestyle"?
For the generations coming after us, let
us protect our own miraculous diversity.
Michel Sarda
Culture is the sum of all forms of art,
of love and of thought which,
in the course of centuries,
have enabled man to be less enslaved.
André Malraux
Events of Note
Art Renaissance Luncheon
Thurs., Jan. 8 at 12 noon sharp
Calligraphist extraordinaire Domenica
Corbo will share her journey into one
of the most ancient forms of art. At
Vincent's, 3930 E. Camelback. $25
inclusive. RSVP (602) 954-6573.
GAUGUIN at the Shemer
Thurs., Jan 8, 6 to 7:30 pm
See p 3. Additional info at
www.shemerartcenter.org
Arizona Bach Festival
Sun., Jan 11 thru Sun., Jan 25
Classical music at its very best.
See full program page 3.
Reservations and additional info at
www.ArizonaBachFestival.org
Flamenco ! Fun-Raiser
Tues., Jan 13, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Support our favorite charity while
enjoying the best of flamenco dancing.
See page 4.
Museum of the West
Thurs., Jan 15 — Opening Day !
A great addition to the Scottsdale art
scene, right at the center of the art district, at Marshall Way and First St.
See your local newspaper for more info
or scottsdalemuseumwest.org
Arabian Horse Show
February 12 thru 22 at WestWorld
A treat for all horse lovers. And Arabians are not ordinary horses — they are
works of art. See p 3. Addl info at (480)
515-1500 or
arabian@scottsdaleshow.com
(continued page 4)
2
opinion & society
SpiritsoftheKachinas
byPatsyLowry
Art in America:
A tormented tapestry
by Donnalee Sarda
A
frican art doesn’t stem from the
Netherlands and Rembrandt didn’t
come from the land of the Hopi. Art is a
part of and a product of the culture from
which it comes. The two are inextricably
woven together. It’s through this basic
premise that this writer sees not only art,
but much of the world. Below are some
recent observations.
F
Film makers — Following a recent
controversy, let’s imagine two filmmakers, both foreign nationals, expressing personal views on American
politics. One would make a satirical
movie entitled, “The Assassination of
Ronald Reagan” - no need to explain the
subject. The other one would work on
a spoof called “Hanging the President,” a
story about a movement in the south to
hang our current President in effigy in
front yards across Mississippi; this film
would be released in the American south,
including Texas. In Manhattan, theaters
are offering free popcorn to the Reagan
film. The theaters in the south are
boycotting the Ronnie run, saying that
the premise is disgusting. How should
we react? How would you react? Can
we imagine a closed society that cannot
fathom our “right" to free speech? I
dare say our Founders might not see the
connection between free speech and bad
taste. Just sayin’.
Because the Hopi have no written
language, Kachina dolls are carved from
cottonwood roots and painted to resemble
the masked Kachina dancers to remind the
children what particular Kachinas looked
like during the ceremonies. To be an authentic Kachina doll, it must be carved by
a Hopi or Zuni. They are teaching tools
as well as art objects.
The Hunger Games — Why are
people flocking to see a series of movies
that show children killing children,
all murders encouraged by their
government? This is a question that
might be asked by those who have not
seen The Hunger Games films or read
the trilogy of books that preceded the
box office enormous success. So having
seen the films (I doubt I’ll opt for the
books, having not yet read The Life of
Pi), I suggest a possible explanation.
It’s not about children killing children.
Rather, it’s about those with no power
having to succumb to the wishes of the
powerful in order to protect themselves
and their families. Many Americans feel
we already live in a similar society, albeit
less fantasmagorical and photogenic.
Just sayin.’
Photos by Michel Sarda
or the past 50 years, my husband Ed
and I have attended Kachina ceremonies and collected Kachina dolls at the
Hopi Mesas.
Kachinas are spirit forms that act as
intermediaries between the Hopi people
and their gods. Kachina dances are basically prayers for rain, good health, better
crops and fertility. There are between 250
and 450 recognized Kachina spirits, even
clowns called Mudheads and Kosharis.
When Hopi men dress and don masks
of Kachinas, the Hopi believe the dancer
actually become a Kachina spirit with supernatural powers. It is a duality of man
and mask. A communion with the land
and a oneness with all living things.
(top center) Name unknown (h 15.5")
(top left) Mudhead (h 15.5")
by Lonnie Nutumya, Oraibi
(center) Mong Kachina (h 19")
by Kenny Lucas Sr., Oraibi
(above) Kokopelli Mana (maiden)
by Stewart Dunkevoo (h 9.5")
The Hopi continue to celebrate their
legends, stories and myths as they have
for over 800 years. To this day, their
settlements on the Arizona mesas are the
oldest permanently occupied in North
America.
3
art & culture
ArizonaBachFestival
Art Renaissance Series
at the Shemer Art Center
Sun., Jan. 11 at 3 pm
Recital of Bach music by organist Ben
Sheen, All Saints' Episcopal Church
6300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
Tickets $22 advance, $25 at the door.
5005 E. Camelback, Phoenix, AZ 85018
$5 contribution to drinks & snacks
Fri., Jan. 16 at 7:30 pm
The Musical Offering — Chamber Music
for a King at Central United Methodist
Church, 1875 N. Central Ave.
Tickets $22 advance, $25 at the door.
J
Gauguin, Are you jealous? 1892
Paul Gauguin
(1848-1903)
A fascinating artist's journey of selfdiscovery—and destruction.
Presentation and (new) slide show
by Michel Sarda
Thurs., Jan. 8 from 6 to 7:30 pm
ohann Sebastian Bach is widely
recognized as the composer who
provided a solid structural foundation
to what is now called classical music.
Immensely prolific (his catalog of works
lists more than a thousand pieces), his
melodies appear today in popular songs
and film soundtracks, and he continues
to inspires contemporary composers as
well as interpreters.
Sun., Jan. 18 at 3:00 pm
Cantata Choruses by Festival Chorus &
Orchestra — at Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N. Central Tickets $27
advance, $30 at the door.
Sun., Jan. 25 at 3 pm
Bach for Brass, Timpani and organ by the
Sonoran Brass and Scott Youngs, at All
Saints' Episcopal Church
6300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
Tickets $22 advance, $25 at the door.
Tickets & information at
www.ArizonaBachFestival.org
Klimt, The Kiss, 1908
•
T
Gustav Klimt
(1862-1918)
At the turn of the 20th century, this Viennese artist invented a style entirely his own,
immensely successful to this day.
Presentation and slide show by
Michel Sarda
Thurs., Feb. 12 from 6 to 7:30 pm
he Scottsdale Arabian Horse
Show is truly a world-class event,
with participants coming from every
corner of the Americas. The beauty, the
elegance and the grace of those magical animals are beyond description. An
inspiring experience for the entire family. At Scottsdale WestWorld, 16601 N.
Pima Rd 85260.
From February 12 to 22
Info at (480) 515-1500
Dancing Colors & Halos
Michel's visual homage to the art of
our friend Patsy 'Skyline' Lowry,
featuring her hand-painted fabrics and
colorful head pieces, is available at
mfsarda@aol.com or (602) 954-6573.
150 full-color pages on art paper
Large format trade paperback
$30 net + $6 Priority shipping
Net proceeds benefit Art Renaissance.
Checks payable to Art Renaissance
Send at address below.
✄
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Checks payable to Art Renaissance. Send to: 4610 N. 40th St., Phoenix AZ 85018
Tax-deductible donations are needed and welcome. Thank you for supporting innovative art and culture in our community.
Digital image by Michel Sarda
D
efenders of Children is our favorite charity. Their fundraisers often
involve the presence of artists — we like
that. The tradition continues here with
Zona Flamenca's Flamenco in the Round,
featuring dancers Bernadette and Martin Gaxiola, guitarist Monte Perrault
and more.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
6:30 to 9:30 pm
Flamenco!
Fun-Raiser
to benefit
Herberger Theater Center
222 East Monroe, Phoenix 85004
Cuisine by John McAlister
& Joanne McDonald
Contribution from $75 per person,
includes wines
and it-will-feel-like-you-had-dinner.
Reserved seat additional.
Most is tax-deductible.
Reservations at (480) 585-8111
Art Renaissance Luncheon
Thurs., Feb 12 at 12 noon sharp
Our guest artist is sculptor Kevin
Caron who will share his experience
with an exciting new tool for creators
and artists — 3-D printing.
RSVP at (602) 954-6573.
Gustav KLIMT at the Shemer
Thurs., Feb 12, 6 to 7:30 pm
Discover a master artist, contemporary
of Bruckner and Mahler, when Vienna
was competing with Paris as Europe's
capital of the arts.
See p 3. Additional info at
www.shemerartcenter.org
Happy New Year 2015 !
enaissance
INNOVATION
IN THE ARTS
SINCE 1992
Events of Note (continued)
Bulletin of the Art Renaissance Initiative
a 501[c][3] nonprofit educational and cultural organization
Issue nº 125 — January-February, 2015
Michel F. Sarda, Publisher • Donnalee R. Sarda, M.C., Editor
(602) 954-6573 • mfsarda@aol.com
Dates of notes (more inside and in Calendar) — RSVP or reserve the date TODAY
Jan 8
Art Renaissance lunch with calligraphist Domenica Corbo
Jan 8
Presentation & slide show on Paul Gauguin at Shemer Art Center
Jan 11-25 Arizona Bach Festival (see page 3)
Jan 13
Flamenco Fun-Raiser to benefit Defenders of Children
Jan 15
Opening of the new Scottsdale Museum of the West
Feb 12-22 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Feb 12
Art Renaissance lunch with sculptor Kevin Caron
Feb 12
Presentation & slide show on Gustav Klimt at Shemer Art Center
Is your subscription current? Please check your label.
Présence Française USA
Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Arizona
where French is Français
published by the Art Renaissance Initiative
nº 125 — Jan / Fev 2015
La politique est un chapitre de la
météorologie, laquelle est la science
des courants d'air.
Edouard Herriot
J’ai beau faire, tout m’intéresse.
Paul Valéry, Cahiers
EdithPiaf:lecentenaire
E
Piaf, portrait par Kiffer, 1937
Le surnom de Piaf (moineau) lui a été donné
par son ami et agent Louis Leplée.
The stage name Piaf (sparrow) was given to her
by her friend and agent Louis Leplée.
Piaf Centennial at Arcosanti
Saturday, April 18 2015
Our talented friend Helene
Bergeon, who produced the Piaf
Forever memorial show in Tempe
two years ago, is preparing a Piaf
recital with other singers, in the
magical setting of Arcosanti. We'll
keep you posted. Save the date.
dith Piaf, c'est une époque, c'est une
certaine image de la France, un peu
grise, un peu triste parfois, mais avec de
tels éclairs de bonheur! Peu de célébrités
ont eu des débuts aussi difficiles, et pour
ces quelques-là, combien sont parvenus au
sommet de leur art? Piaf, c'est la revanche
du talent et du courage sur l'injustice et
la misère.
Edith Piaf est née en 1915. Abandonnée
par sa mère, aveugle de 2 à 7 ans à cause
d'un vilain cas de kératose, mais guérie
— un miracle, dira-t-elle — après un pélerinage à Lisieux; élevée dans un bordel
de Normandie puis travaillant dans les rues
dès l'âge de 14 ans avec son père acrobate;
des antécédents italiens et maghrébins qui
n'étaient pas pour faciliter une ascension
sociale; un enfant hors mariage à 17 ans
qui mourra à deux ans d'une méningite;
une accusation de complicité dans le
meurtre de son agent Louis Leplée, puis
de collaboration avec l'ennemi à la fin de
la guerre — n'en jetez plus!
L'épisode qui la détruira presque sera la
disparition brutale de l'amour de sa vie, le
champion de boxe Marcel Cerdan, dans un
accident d'avion en 1949 alors qu'il venait
la rejoindre à New York. Et ce n'est pas fini.
Elle aura trois sérieux accidents d'auto qui
vont endommager un corps déja frêle. Les
angoisses de santé vont s'ajouter à celles,
inévitables, de sa carrière de chanteuse;
l'alcool et les sédatifs vont entrer dans sa
vie pour ne plus la quitter, malgré des tentatives de réhabilitation. Elle sera emportée
par un cancer à 47 ans.
La courte vie d'Edith Piaf ressemble à un
roman parce que c'en est un, douloureux
et lumineux tout ensemble. La vie en rose
— vraiment?
Michel Sarda
Piaf en 1929, à 14 ans.
Summary
he name of Edith Piaf resonates in the
French psyche — it belongs to a particular
era, somewhat grey and sad, but with such
blinding flashes of happiness! Few successful
artists had such unlikely beginnings. Piaf is
the ultimate example of courage and talent
overcoming poverty and prejudice.
She was born in 1915— abandoned by
her mother, blind from age 2 to 5 because of
keratitis, raised in a brothel in Normandy
— then singing in the streets with her father,
a circus acrobat. She had a child out of wedlock
at 17 — a little girl, Marcelle, who will die
of meningitis at age 2; At 21, she was accused
of complicity in the murder of her agent Louis
Leplée. Then again, in 1945, she was falsely
accused of collaboration with the occupying
Germans.
That's not all. After losing the love of her life
in a plane crash in 1949, her frail body will
be crippled in not one, but three car accidents.
Addiction to alcohol and pain killers sent her
several times into rehab. Cancer killed her at
age 47. Her life resembles a novel — because
it is one, painful and luminous at the same
time. "La vie en rose"? Hardly.
T
En lisant, en relisant
6
Du même livre, riche et dense:
• Si grande, si forte, si belle, l'histoire est le
royaume du mal.
• L'idée de bonheur est le triomphe de la vie.
• Nous vivons dans l'avenir parce que nous
vivons. Toute vie est comme aimantée, comme
attirée par l'avenir. Le passé nous soutient,
mais l'avenir nous aspire. Nous ne sommes que
souvenir et nous ne sommes que projet.
• Le métier de prophète est extrêmement difficile. Surtout en ce qui concerne l'avenir.
Et d'Un jour je m'en irai..., ces quelques
perles:
• La vérité est une idée neuve dans le
monde.
• C'est parce qu'il y a un ordre des choses que
la science est possible.
• La beauté est un mystère qui chante et danse
dans le temps et au-delà du temps.
•
J
ean d'Ormesson, déja mentionné dans
cette colonne, est un cas particulier dans
les lettres françaises d'aujourd'hui. Il aura
90 ans cette année. Je n'ai pas tout lu de lui
— peut-on jamais tout lire d'auteurs aussi
prolifiques? — mais sa lecture procure un
bonheur d'être dont il a le secret. Membre
d'une vieille aristocratie, exposé tôt à ce que
l'art et la littérature offrent de meilleur, il
a complété cette éducation raffinée en accumulant diplômes et connaissances, divers
postes de prestige et de savoir (Unesco,
Le Figaro, etc.) — mais aussi en partant
à la découverte du monde et des hommes
avec une insatiable curiosité et cette vertu
de l'enfance que les adultes perdent trop
vite, la don de s'émerveiller.
Aristocrate aux idées larges (son père
était ambassadeur sous le Front Populaire),
il sait reconnaître le talent lorsqu'il le rencontre, et ses hommages renouvelés à la
mémoire d'Aragon, communiste notoire
mais assurément le plus grand poète français du siècle, vont jusqu'à lui emprunter
deux alexandrins du même poème pour
donner un titre à deux de ses livres de
mémoires et de réflexion, C'est une chose
étrange à la fin que le monde, et plus récemment, Un jour je m'en irai sans en avoir tout
dit.
L'humour, inséparable de l'art d'écrire,
est partout présent dans les livres de
d'Ormesson. Dans Presque rien sur presque tout, où il s'interroge sur l'univers,
le temps et l'origine des choses, et sur la
place minuscule et grandiose que nous y
occupons, il reconnaît que "l'éternité c'est
bien long, surtout vers la fin."
Jean d'Ormesson
par Jean-Loup Sieff, 1975
Quelques titres
La Gloire de l'Empire (Grand Prix de
l'Académie Française, 1971)
Au plaisir de Dieu (1974)
Le Vagabond qui passe sous une ombrelle
trouée (1978)
Dieu, sa vie, son oeuvre (1981)
Mon dernier rêve sera pour vous (1982)
Le vent du soir (1985)
Histoire du Juif Errant (1990)
La Douane de mer (1994)
Presque rien sur presque tout (1995)
Le Rapport Gabriel (1999)
C'était bien (2003)
La Création du monde (2006)
Odeur du temps (2007)
Saveur du temps (2009)
C'est une chose étrange à la fin que le
monde (2010)
C'est l'amour que nous aimons (2012)
Un jour je m'en irai sans en avoir tout dit
(2013)
re sée
b
Li en
P
B
ien que de nombreux mystères
demeurent, les mécanismes de
l'évolution de la vie sont maintenant
mieux connus: nous savons que ce ne sont
pas les plus forts ni les plus intelligents
qui survivent, mais ceux qui s'adaptent
le mieux aux changements. En d'autres
termes, ceux qui ne s'adaptent pas sont
destinés aux oubliettes de la vie; et ils
représentent 99% de toutes les formes
vivantes apparues sur la planète depuis
un milliard d'années.
Nos sociétés pourraient en apprendre
quelque chose si nous ne voulons pas
faire partie des espèces disparues. L'ignorance et l'orgueil nous font croire que
l'évolution a enfin atteint son but avec
l'homme, qui n'existe que depuis un bref
instant dans l'histoire du monde.
On a vu récemment de petites nations,
le Danemark, l'Islande, la Suède ou
Singapour prendre des risques et faire
des sacrifices pour affronter les défis du
nouveau siècle; elles sont aujourd'hui
parmi les plus performantes. A l'inverse,
on voit de vieux pays (la France, l'Italie)
et de plus jeunes (Etats-Unis) peiner à
réaliser que cette adaptation est affaire
de survie plus que de politique. Ne
mentionnons que pour mémoire les pays
où se perpétuent des traditions engluées
dans des croyances d'un autre âge; ceux-là
ont des jours difficiles devant eux.
L'intelligence humaine, si fertile dans
les domaines de la science ou de l'art,
reste absente de la gestion des affaires
du monde, encore dominées par le culte
du pouvoir et du profit, au détriment des
équilibres naturels.
A nos risques et périls.
Cyrano
Vincent's Open Market
Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm
A taste of France on Camelback Rd.
Info at (602) 224-0225