PORTLAND
‘Drawn to Disaster’ artist to speak at ICA at MECA
In conjunction with the exhibition “Drawn to Disaster,” visiting artist Anthony Campuzano will deliver a lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art.
Known for his use of found language, the Philadelphia-based artist activates texts from a variety of sources — newspaper headlines, Wikipedia entries, the covers of paperback novels, trivial cultural events, common cliches, pop song lyrics — in drawings that couple intense color with the tangible presence of the artist’s hand.
Campuzano received his bachelor’s degree from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine.
Campuzano has had solo exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia; Churner and Churner, New York; Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, and White Columns, New York, and has been included in group shows at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia; and Franklin Parrasch Gallery, Salon 94, Bellwether Gallery and Andrea Rosen Gallery, all in New York.
New trustees and president chosen for PSO’s board
The Portland Symphony Orchestra recently added five members to its board of trustees.
The new trustees, elected to three-year terms, are Sally Bancroft, Jan Gerry, Matthew O’Reilly, Alicia Sampson and Margaret Wilkis. Debby Hammond was elected president of the board.
In addition, Sue Burdsall and Marjorie Gallant have joined the symphony’s staff.
Bancroft, of Cumberland, is retired from her management position with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, and serves on the Alumni Board of Wheaton College, the council of her church and on the development committee and the advisory board for the PSO.
Gerry, of South Freeport, worked for IBM and in executive management of international startups. She became executive director of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in northern Virginia and served as president of the board of the Capital Wind Symphony.
O’Reilly, of Falmouth, is chief investment strategist and senior vice president of People’s United Financial Inc. He is a member of the Maine Estate Planning Council and serves on the Investment Committee of Piper Shores, a nonprofit retirement community in Scarborough.
Sampson, of Portland, is the service learning coordinator at the University of Southern Maine’s Office of Community Engagement and serves as the project coordinator for Civic Matters. She also is the program assistant and facilitator at the Center for Grieving Children’s Multicultural Program.
Wilkis, of South Portland, is the development officer with the University of Southern Maine School of Music. She is on the board at PORTopera and Portland Ovations.
Hammond, of Cumberland Foreside, served as the PSO Women’s Committee president from 1979 to 1981, as a PSO trustee from 1976 to 1981, was re-elected a trustee in 2008, and is currently president. She was the PSO’s marketing director for 18 years, retiring in 2002.
Burdsall, of Saco, joins the PSO staff as administrative assistant. Gallant, of South Portland, will serve as marketing coordinator.
Playwrights invited to enter Portland Stage contest
Portland Stage Company announces the opening of the 2011-2012 Clauder Competition, a New England playwriting contest.
The Clauder Competition was created in 1981 to support New England playwrights. The goal is to provide exposure, encouragement and feedback to promising playwrights.
The competition identifies new works and helps ensure their success through readings and productions at Portland Stage Company.
Past Clauder winners or finalists who have launched successful playwriting careers include Gregory Hischak, Quiara Alegria Hudes, Adam Bock, Laura Harrington, Elizabeth Egloff, Bridget Carpenter, Melinda Lopez, Liz Duffy Adams, William Donnelly, Kim Rosenstock and Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel.
Entries are being accepted through March 1, 2012. The winning play will be announced in December 2012.
The Clauder Grand Prize winner will receive an award of $2,500, as well as a full production at Portland Stage. Gold Prize winners will receive $600. Additional prizes will be awarded to the best play submitted from each of the six New England states.
For complete information, visit portlandstage.org.
BLUE HILL
Documentary about painter to premiere at library
A documentary film about Maine painter David Larson will premiere at the Blue Hill Public Library at 5 p.m. Aug. 1 as part of the Blue Hill Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event.
The movie also will screen at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at Osher Hall at Maine College of Art in Portland.
Larson Fine Art opened in South Portland last year after 35 years in Penobscot. It features Larson’s work exclusively.
The artist’s son, Soren Larson, directed the movie and will attend the screenings, along with producers Rob Shetterly and Richard Kane.
The film’s soundtrack was recorded at Kneisel Hall and Kane-Lewis Productions by five students: Janice LaMarre, Elizabeth Lyon, Clara M. Lyon, Jessica Park and Euntaek Kim.
The film also will be broadcast as part of Maine Public Broadcasting Network’s Community Films series at 10:30 p.m. Thursday and at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
A second film premiere will focus on York artist Beverly Hallam. “Beverly Hallam: Artist as Innovator” will screen at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. Kane directed this film and co-produced with art author Carl Little.
BANGOR
Open call audition seeks Penobscot Theatre casts
Penobscot Theatre, Bangor’s professional theater company, will hold an open call audition for the 2011-12 season from 2 to 6 p.m. July 31 at the Bangor Opera House.
Penobscot Theatre is looking for actors and singers of all types and ages.
This day will serve as an initial audition for the entire season. Callbacks will be held throughout the rest of the year as the specific shows approach.
To secure an audition slot, call 942-3333 between noon and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For information about the upcoming season and the auditions, visit penobscottheatre.org.
NAPLES
Artists paint birdhouses for library benefit auction
The Great Birdhouse Auction will take place Aug. 13 at the Naples Golf and Country Club. Two dozen bird, bat and butterfly houses were parceled out to local artists, donated by Jim Turpin of Coveside Conservation Products.
The auction is a fundraiser for the Naples Public Library.
Artists painted the houses in many ways, often invoking local scenes and landmarks, including the Naples Causeway, the Songo River Queen and the famous swing bridge.
The birdhouses are on display locally and at the library. All are pictured on the library website at naples.lib.me.us.
The event on Aug. 13 begins with a social hour at 6:30 p.m., and the auction starts at 7:30 p.m. Call 693-6841 for details.
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