April Johnston, fashion designer

2010 SCAD fashion grad and Savannah resident April Johnston is to be a competitor in upcoming season of “Project Runway”.

At 21 years old, April will be the youngest of the 17 contestants, the largest number of designers in the show’s history. And the Savannah resident is the only contestant from the South.

“Everybody at SCAD is thrilled for April. We’ll all be glued to our sets,” says School of Fashion Dean Michael Fink. “If her provocative and powerful senior collection is any indication, we’re confident she’ll create some exciting and intriguing clothes.”

April’s senior collection was inspired by deconstructed halls, old asylums and abandoned morgues. Her SCAD Style Lab mentor, Zac Posen, guided her through the creation of her collection. The result was a theme of dark beauty—black and grey designs whose beauty was found in the detailed textures.

“Project Runway” premieres on Lifetime Network Thursday, July 29 at 9 p.m. EST.

April Johnston's SCAD Senior Collection

McIntosh County Shouters

The McIntosh County Shouters are making a special appearance on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Second African Baptist Church, 123 Houston Street in Savannah.

The McIntosh County Shouters have been bringing folks to their feet with their unique “shouting” performance for over 30 years. A mesmerizing blend of circling dance movements, call-and-response singing and percussive handclaps, modern “shouting” derives from the communication used by African slaves working in rice fields in the 18th- and 19th centuries. It is thought to be one of the oldest surviving forms of African American cultural and spiritual expression, and its influences can be heard in later musical genres including jubilee, gospel, and even jazz.

The ring shout tradition was for the most part forgotten by the world until it was discovered that a small community had been passing down this joyful practice for generations. The group began performing as the McIntosh County Ring Shouters in 1980 and has held audiences spellbound ever since. Unchanged for hundreds of years, today’s ring shout both pays homage to the community’s ancestors and contributes to a greater understanding of early African American culture.

The Shouters have been featured in a Georgia Public Broadcasting documentary, performed at Lincoln Center in New York City, and are a recipient of the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

This event is brought to you by the Georgia Historical Society and is free and open to the public. For more information, www.GeorgiaHistory.com

The McIntosh County Shouters presented by The Georgia Historical Society on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Second African Baptist Church, 123 Houston St., Savannah, GA
Cost: FREE

View Map of the Location here

Oscar de la Renta for Pierre Balmain, Evening Gown – Haute Couture, black silk tulle with laser-cut tulle skirt and train, c. 2001. Photo by SCAD

The SCAD Museum of Art announces its latest exhibition, “Fashion in Focus: Photos and Evening Wear from the SCAD Museum of Art Collection,” ongoing now through Sept. 30, 227 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

This exhibition of more than 30 objects highlights recent couture gifts to the SCAD Museum of Art including exquisite evening dresses by contemporary designers Ralph Rucci, Oscar de la Renta for Balmain, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Isabel Toledo, Valentino, and Lars Nilsson for Bill Blass. The aesthetic ranges from the sumptuous splendor of an aubergine opera coat and the charm of an ice cream pink ball gown to the clean simple lines of a little black dress or the austere grace of silver and ivory evening dresses.

Among the fashion photographs on view are images from the past few decades by noted photographers Sir Cecil Beaton, Horst P. Horst, Karl Lagerfeld, David Bailey, Arthur Elgort, Herb Ritts and others, in images that graced the pages of Vogue or other fashion journals and featured the top models of the time.

As a teaching museum, the SCAD Museum of Art supports the academic and creative programs at SCAD by providing students with direct encounters with works by major artists while enriching the artistic, educational and cultural offerings available to the university and wider communities. The museum is a cultural gem that adds to Savannah’s reputation as an ideal location for visitors and those interested in the arts and architecture.

For more information about the exhibition and to arrange group tours, call 912.525.7191, or visit www.scad.edu/scadmuseum. Museum hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Fourth of July Events in Georgia 2010

4th of July fireworks at Tybee Island, GA

There are lots of fun things to do in coastal Georgia for the Fourth of July weekend. Many cities start their celebration of Independence Day already on the 3rd of July this year. This means that you can actually enjoy fireworks and events all weekend long and make the weekend an extraordinary birthday bash for the country.

SATURDAY JULY 3, 2010

Fireworks Tybee Island Pier
Get an early start for the  Fourth of July weekend and head out to Tybee Island. Here the party starts already on Saturday July 3, 2010, with fireworks at Tybee Pier and Pavilion.
Call 912-786-5444 for more information.

4th of July Festival in St. Marys, Georgia

Independence Day Festival, St Marys, Georgia
Please note that this year, St Marys celebrates the 4th of July already on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010. Come visit historic downtown St Marys, GA, for a delightful Independence Day complete with parade and fireworks. Fireworks at dusk.  For more information call 912.882-4000

Cannons Across the Marsh, Fort King George, Darien
On Saturday- July 3, 2010 from 10am-4pm, Fort King George State Historic Site will be hosting their annual Cannons Across the Marsh celebration in honor of Independence Day.  Artillery and musket firings will be going on throughout the day.  Free watermelon and lemonade will be served.  Also, Boston Butts will be sold at $25 and may be picked up on the 3rd.  RSVPs for Boston Butts are being accepted now and must be received no later than June 30th.  Additionally, BBQ sandwiches will be sold during the day on Saturday the 3rd.

Fort King George State Historic Site, 302 McIntosh Rd. SE, Darien, GA  31305

Call (912) 437-4770 or www.gastateparks.org/fortkinggeorge

Sunday July 4, 2010

Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, Brunswick, GA
Come to Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick for an Old Fashioned Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2010, for the whole family.  Lots of fun with games, contests, free watermelon and much more. Fireworks at dusk. Downtown Brunswick. Contact 912-265-4032

Jekyll Island Beach, Georgia

Sunshine Festival Arts & Crafts Show, St Simons Island, Georgia
This annual arts and crafts festival takes place in Postell Park in the village. Come and get inspiration for your next art project, or find that perfect gift! Painting, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, garden art, wood craft, photography, sculpture, sweetgrass baskets, art glass and much much more.

Fireworks July 4.  July 2 – 4, 2010. Sunshine Festival Arts & Crafts Show. Pier Village Parks, St. Simons Island. Pier Village Association. Call 912-262-0628. Fireworks on St Simon’s at 9 pm!

Fourth of July Celebration – Jekyll Island, GA
Jekyll Island is a gorgeous island to visit, so if you have friends and family in town, it might be a great idea to head out to the beach on Jekyll Island.  Every year Jekyll Island hosts a family-fun party at the Beachdeck . The fireworks finale is said to be one of the best in the area. Click here to read more about the Jekyll Island Fourth of July Extravaganza

For more information call 877-4-JEKYLL

Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia

Fantastic Fourth of July on River Street, Savannah, GA
In Savannah, the celebration takes place on River Street in the downtown district.

Celebrate the Fourth of July in River Street style in Savannah, Georgia. The party starts at 5 p.m. on the plaza with live entertainment, ice cream eating contests and more. Fireworks will begin around 9:20 p.m.
Call 912.234.0295 or visit www.riverstreetsavannah.com

Click here to read all about Fourth of July events in Savannah

Have a Blast with Dad!

What dad can resist a good old cannon firing? Wouldn’t that just be the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day in style? This time of year there are cannon firings at Old Fort Jackson! For history buffs, a visit to the National Historic Landmark Old Fort Jackson is a special treat – especially when the visit includes cannon firings. The cannon firings take place at 10am and 2pm all throughout the spring and summer.

For more information, contact us at 912.232.3945 or visit www.chsgeorgia.org for more.

Fly Boy Special
Blasting cannons might not interest your dad, but how about air planes? In honor of Father’s Day on Sunday, June 20, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is offering all fathers a special admission rate of $5.
Jun 20, 2010 – 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne Ave., Savannah, GA
Call for admission information 912.748.8888 or visit www.mightyeighth.org

Jazz It Up
If your dad enjoys jazz, this is a great idea for a fun event to attend.
The performance with the Equinox Jazz Quintet led by Jeremy Davis is not your everyday concert or a jazz recital, but more a one-of-a kind, high-energy stage show featuring some of the best jazz musicians around.

Jeremy Davis has shared the stage with artist ranging from David Sanborn, Ellis Marsalis, Bill Watrous, Carl Fontana, Fred Wesley and Harry Waters to George Clinton, Govt Mule, Col. Bruce Hampton, Derek Trucks and many more.

Jazz – Just Across The River presents the Annual Fathers’ day Concert, featuring the Equinox Jazz Quintet, on Sunday, June 20 at 5 pm at the Westin Savannah Harbor on Hutchinson Island. The concert is free for Coastal Jazz Association members and $10 for non-members. Attendees who join CJA while at the concert will also be admitted for free.

The Equinox Jazz Quintet with Jeremy Davis
Sunday, June 20th 5:00 p.m.
Westin Savannah Harbor – Hutchinson Island

For more info call: 912.920.1317 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org

I Scream, You Scream…
Lately the heat has been a bit tiring, so make sure to include a trip to Leopolds Icecream Parlor – what dad is going to turn down a delicious cool treat?
Leopold’s has been around forever, and there is a special flavor for everyone. The pink grapefruit sherbert is so refreshing. I know that suggestion would meet with “the look” from my Dad, he would have opted for the more appropriate “real man” flavor of Peanut Butter Chippy or Rum Bisque.

Leopold’s Ice Cream, 212 E. Broughton St., Savannah
912.234.4442 or visit Leopolds Icecream

The Beat Goes On
Join dad on a trip down memory lane with this fun performance. Remember the big hair, the funky fashion and most of all the music. This hit musical will covers all of dad’s favorite songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s! From beach blankets to the BeeGees, it’s three decades of Big Hair and big fun!

Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St., Savannah 912.233.7764

A Luxury Brunch for Dad
To impress dad, how about a fantastic Father’s Day Sunday Jazz Brunch at Aqua Star at the Westin? You and dad will enjoy a decadent meal prepared by Executive Chef Roger Michel and his team of culinary experts. Live music provided by Jazz legend Ben Tucker. Reservations to this event is strongly recommended since it most likely will sell out.

So call now and reserve your spots at 912.201.2085 or visit www.aquastar@westin.com.

Down the River
Another idea is to go on a Fathers Day Brunch Cruise in the Savannah River. This is a great way to see Savannah from the water if you’re visiting for the day.

Enjoy a buffet style brunch while the Captain narrates the rich history of Savannah along the way. Spend some quality time with dad, learn about Savannah’s history and a experience a boat ride on the river!
The brunch cruise takes place at noon on Jun 20, 2010. Call (800)786-6404 for ticket information.
9 East River Street, Savannah, GA
Tickets: $21.95 – $39.95
www.savannahriverboat.com

For the Brave Outdoors Man
For dads who enjoy the outdoors – how about a special trip for summer solstice? This is an easy paddling tour down a historic, blackwater creek.Paddling is a great way to experience the outdoors, and this trip is suitable for beginners too. After basic canoeing instruction, the naturalist will lead the way downstream past stately tupelo and cypress. Their bright green foliage and unique trunks reflect perfectly in the mirror-dark water. Keep an eye out for turtles, herons and kingfishers. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to spot a shy alligator.

The paddle takes place at Ebenezer Creek. The price is $45 – person, includes canoe, paddle and basic instruction. Please call 912.236.8115 or visit www.wilderness-southeast.org

June 14-19, 2010
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom

In June, the Telfair proudly presents its third annual Juneteenth Festival, celebrating the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States. This year’s event focuses on the roots of African music as well as its impact on American music. Throughout the week, the Telfair will present programs at multiple sites to explore black history, culture, and identity. Highlights include a talk by author and political commentator Farai Chideya, a performance by the renowned Senegalese rap group the Gokh-Bi System, and the third annual Juneteenth Family Day.

The Telfair will kick-off the 2010 Juneteenth festival on Monday, June 14, with an opening ceremony featuring storytelling by Aunt Pearlie Sue. Aunt Pearlie Sue is the creation of Anita Singleton-Prather, a native of the Sea Islands in Beaufort County, South Carolina. From 6:30-7:30 pm, the Aunt Pearlie Sue character, based on Prather’s grandmother, will entertain visitors with Gullah-flavored stories and folktales.

Owens-Thomas House Tour/Talk:
“How the Owens-Thomas House Got the Thomas Name”
June 15, 5 pm
Telfair’s Owens-Thomas House

Lecture by Multimedia Journalist Farai Chideya:
“The Color of Our Future: Race in the 21st Century”
June 17, 7 pm
Second African Baptist Church, 123 Houston Street
A former host of NPR’s News and Notes, Chideya is an award-winning political reporter and writer who has worked in print, television, and radio, as well as online. She has authored several books, including Kiss the Sky and Don’t Believe the Hype: Fighting Cultural Misinformation about African Americans.

Akonting Workshop with Sana Ndiaye of the Gokh-Bi System
Presented in collaboration with the Ships of the Sea Museum
June 18, 6 pm
Ships of the Sea Museum, 41 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Museum Garden Pavilion
Musician Sana Ndiaye will lead a workshop on playing the akonting—a stringed, banjo-like instrument used in parts of West Africa including Senegal and Gambia. Bring your akonting or come by to listen. Registration requested.

Juneteenth Family Day
June 19, 10 am – 1 pm
Telfair’s Jepson Center
This fun-filled morning features storytelling, instrument-making demonstrations, and more!

Family Day Schedule

10-10:10 am
Welcome with Drumming/Libations – Majied /J’miah

10:10-10:50 am
J’miah’s Juneteenth Storytelling

10:50-11:10 am
Health Restoration 101:
Presentation by Carolyn Guilford, Consulting Nutritionist

11:10am-11:40 am
Juneteenth and the Puppet People Theater

11:40 am-12 pm
World Music Interlude: “Hanif aboard the Black Star Liner”

12-12:30 pm
Conversation with Sana and Tony Pizzo, Director of Ships of Sea Museum (Musician Sana Ndiaye)

12:30p m
World Music Interlude and Broom Jumping with Sista V and Jahwalks

Activity Stations
Eckburg Atrium
Health Talk – Carolyn Guilford
Oral History Table – Barbara Fertig, Volunteer (Dr. Barbara Fertig, Preofessor of History at Armstrong Atlantic State University
Basket-weaving Demonstration – Jery Taylor

Gokh-Bi System/Rap Tassu from Senegal Concert
Presented in collaboration with the Ships of the Sea Museum
June 19, 5-7 pm
Ships of the Sea Museum, North Garden
Recognized as one of the leaders in contemporary African music, the Gokh-Bi System unites hip-hop with its ancient West African roots. The group uses a variety of instruments, including djembe drums and the traditional, stringed akonting, while rapping in English, French, Arabic, and Wolof.

All Juneteenth programs are free of charge and open to the public, thanks to project funding provided by the City of Savannah. Additional support for selected programs has been provided by the Ships of the Sea Museum.

Click here to read all about the exciting Savannah Asian Festival taking place on June 5, 2010.

The concert series is being managed by New Arts Ensembles (NAE), a Savannah-based group that showcases some of the region’s finest musicians. “Musicians from different styles of American traditions will be performing music loved by young and old,” said NAE founder and co-owner Ricardo Ochoa. “Whether you are visiting Savannah or taking a break from the office, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab lunch from one of our many outstanding local restaurants and enjoy your meal with great music.”

The concert series will kick-off on June 2 with Roger Moss & Eric Jones in Johnson Square. The concert line up also includes: Silver Lining (Modern Jazz); Jan Spillane (Folk/Blues); vocalist Claire Frazier & Frank Bright(Jazz); and Bottles ‘n Cans (Blues).

Concerts are free and open to the public. For information and a complete concert schedule, call 912-651-6417 or visit www.savannahga.gov/arts . For information on NAE, call 912-596-1360 or visit Www.newartsensembles.com.

2010 Summer Concerts in the Squares Schedule
June 2 Roger Moss/Eric Jones
June 4 Regina Rene Quartet
June 09 Jan Spillane
June 11 Jimmy Wallin Band
June 16 Trae Gurley
June 18 Claire Frazier & Frank Bright
June 23 Eddie Wilson
June 25 Bottles ‘n Cans
June 30 Silver Lining
July 2 Roger Moss & Eric Jones
July 7 Trae Gurley
July 9 Annie Allman Trio
July 14 Clair Frazier & Frank Bright
July 16 Silver Lining
July 21 Eddie Wilson
July 23 Bottles ‘n Cans

But in 2008, Feiler, the father of two young girls, learned he had a life-threatening tumor in his left femur. Confronting the possibility that he may not be around to help his daughters grow up, he reached out to six men from all passages in his life and asked them to be present through the passages in his daughters’ lives. And he called this group of men “The Council of Dads.”

“I believe my daughters will have plenty of opportunities,” he wrote to these men. “They’ll have loving families. They’ll have welcoming homes. They’ll have each other. But they may not have me. They may not have their dad. Will you help be their dad?”
On May 12, one of the Council of Dads, Dr. Ben Edwards will be in attendance at Trinity United Methodist Church for a heartwarming introduction of Mr. Feiler.

THE COUNCIL OF DADS is the uplifting story of what happened next. Feiler introduces us to the extraordinary, far-flung men in his Council and captures the life lesson he wants each of them to convey to his daughters—how to see, how to travel, how to question, how to dream. And he captures in beautiful, wrenching prose the harrowing journey of his “Lost Year” fighting cancer and trying to salvage his leg. With unflinching candor, Feiler details not only the physical effects of the disease and treatment, but also the toll it took on his family. But along the way, the wisdom and strength he gathers from his Council, coupled with the beauty and humor he discovers in his own family, transforms his “Lost Year” into a “Jubilee Year” of reconnection and renewal. The result is an extraordinary tribute to friendship, and a sage collection of advice for how to cultivate our dreams.

THE COUNCIL OF DADS is a deeply hopeful book, a story of enduring love between a husband and wife and between a father and his daughters. But most of all it’s a celebration of friendship and a testament to the profound power of human connections.

BRUCE FEILER is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including Walking the Bible, Abraham and America’s Prophet. He has traveled to more than sixty countries on five continents and is the writer-presenter of the PBS miniseries, Walking the Bible. With his books, Bruce Feiler has moved readers to take a fresh look at history and far-flung places of the world. Now, with THE COUNCIL OF DADS, Feiler inspires us to cultivate a deeper appreciation of the people closest to us and revitalize the most intimate bonds in our lives. A native of Savannah, Georgia, he lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Linda Rottenberg, and their twin daughters, Tybee and Eden.

For more information visit www.savannahbookfestival.org

Tybee Island Beach Bum parades is like most others consisting of floats pulled behind cars and trucks. The difference is that on Tybee this is a playful water-play event for all ages between floats and spectators lined up along Butler Avenue. Spectators arm themselves with bucket, squirt guns and other water spraying weapons. This is your chance to get wet before you even set foot on the beach!

Tybee Island is located just outside Savannah, Georgia. The parade takes place on May 21, 2010 and starts at 6 p.m.

For more information call (800) 868-2322 or click here to visit the website

At the Savannah Scottish Games you get a chance to experience a little bit of Scotland right here on the Georgia coast.
So what can you expect to see at the event? How about traditional games such as Heavy Athletics with stone throwing, weight tossing, hammer throwing, caber turning, and sheaf tossing. The festivities also include whisky tasting, pipe band competition, highland dancing championship to just mention a few.

Here is the link for a $2 off admission coupon  to Savannah Scottish Games

The Savannah Games are held on the campus of the historic Bethesda Home for Boys. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. (Click here for direction)

In May 2000, the university honored Talley with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was renamed to include Talley’s name and has been presented successively to fashion legends Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld, Miuccia Prada, Tom Ford, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, and most recently Isabel and Ruben Toledo. In 2004, Zac Posen was honored with the André Leon Talley New Look Award. Talley is a member of the SCAD Board of Trustees.

Hailing from Brussels, Belgium, von Furstenberg first arrived in the fashion world in 1972 with her iconic wrap dress, the seed of what is today a full fashion house. By 1976, von Furstenberg had sold millions of her dresses, coming to symbolize female power and freedom to an entire generation. In 1997, after a hiatus from fashion, she reemerged on the New York fashion scene with the re-launch of the dress that started it all and began transforming her company into the global luxury lifestyle brand it is today. The impact of this garment to women and the fashion industry is so profound that it is now part of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian.
In 2004, she was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from SCAD. In 2005, von Furstenberg was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for her impact on fashion, and one year later, was elected president of the CFDA, an office she continues to hold today.

Headquartered in New York City, there are currently 33 freestanding DVF boutiques worldwide and DVF collections are also sold in select retail specialty stores in more than 71 countries. As a longtime resident of New York’s Meatpacking District, von Furstenberg is a vocal member of the local community. She opens up her studio on a regular basis to host cultural events and is actively involved in the campaign to save and redevelop the historical High Line railway. A firm believer in the power of women, she sits on the board of Vital Voices, a women’s leadership organization that empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the world.

110 undergraduate and graduate students are currently vying for one of 30 prestigious slots in the SCAD Fashion Show, which has become one of the top student fashion shows in the country. Selected by a jury process, the students’ work is critiqued every step of the way, from sketches to garments, by some of the top professionals in the fashion industry.

SCAD has the largest and most comprehensive School of Fashion in the world, and offers more degree programs and specializations in fashion and accessory design than any other art and design university. Encompassing fashion design, accessory design, fashion marketing and management, luxury and fashion management, and menswear, the SCAD School of Fashion prepares students for the practical and professional needs required in today’s global fashion industry through innovative design combined with state-of-the art technology, anchored in creative thinking.

Complementing classroom instruction, the SCAD Style Lab mentorship program in the School of Fashion affords students a realistic glimpse of working industry standards, offering direction and inspiration for a select group of students’ senior collections through one-on-one critiques and guidance from concept through production. Mentors have included Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian, Yigal Azrouël, Lars Nilsson, Zac Posen, Catherine Malandrino, Bryan Bradley and Angel Sanchez.

Tickets for the 2010 SCAD Fashion Show will be available beginning April 30 for the SCAD community and May 3 for the general public at the SCAD box office, 216 E. Broughton St., online at www.scadboxoffice.com or can charged by phone at 912.525.5050. A matinee at 4 p.m. will precede the 8 p.m. gala featuring von Furstenberg. Matinee tickets are $20 each or $10 with a SCAD ID. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $50 each or $25 with a SCAD ID. All tickets are limited to two per person for both shows.

Individual Student
First Place: Tori Spriggs, illustration, Spanish Fort, Ala.
Second Place: Gaby Esteves, painting, Sunrise, Fla.
Third Place: Cynthia Guzman, visual communication, Mexico City, Mexico

Group—Students
First Place: Debbie Chen, industrial design, Taipei, China; Ran Wang, design management, Beijing, China; Wen-Shan Huang, industrial design, Pingtung, China; Jun Yan, interior design, Guangzhou, China
Second Place: Wei Hsin Lai, industrial design, Taipei, Taiwan; Wan-Cheng Hung, arts adminstration, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Third Place: Sam Miller, illustration, Charlotte, N.C.; Elyse Robichaud, illustration, Windham, Maine

Alumni
First Place: Jeremy Caldwell, B.F.A., illustration, 2009, Savannah, Ga.
Second Place: Jordan Shapot, B.F.A., illustration, 2009, Citrus Springs, Fla.
Third Place: Hannah Jackson, B.F.A., illustration, 2009, Jacksonville, Fla.

Cyberwalk Arts Contest Award—Students
First Place: Lindsay Anne Rosenberg, illustration, Saginaw, Mich.
Second Place: Joan Olkowski, graphic design, Dearborn, Mich.
Third Place: Eunlee Cho, animation, Nairobi, Kenya

Cyberwalk Arts Contest Award—Alumni
First Place: Tran Ngoc Nguyen, B.F.A., illustration, 2009, Savannah, Ga.
Second Place: Nicole Seitz, B.F.A., illustration, 1994, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Third Place: Jade Taylor Nellans, B.F.A., illustration, 2008, Atlas, Mich.

Gray’s Reef Best Underwater Environment Award
First Place: Ryan Sanchez, illustration, Savannah, Ga.
Second Place: Jamie Gordon, photography, Seattle, Wash.; Mariana Ruiz, fashion, Miramar, Fla.; Corie Jones, art history, Palm Beach, Fla.; Kasandra Torres, photography, Miramar, Fla.
Third Place: Leslie Martin, animation, Cincinnati, Ohio; Chelsea Deering, animation, San Antonio, Texas

American Greetings Award
First Place: Casey Crisenbery, illustration, Lebanon, Ohio
Second Place: Jayne Morgan, painting, Birmingham, Ala.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church “Where the Spirit Meets the Art” Award
Victoria Burke, South Effingham High School, Guyton, Ga.

Drawing Minor Award
Chok-Bun Lam, illustration, Hong Kong; John Sutherland, illustration, Denver, Colo.; Clark Rogers, graphic design, Frankfurt, Germany; Moises Silva, interactive design and game development, Peabody, Mass.

Graduate Student Award
Cheng-Fang Lee, interactive design and game development, Taipei, Taiwan

Prospective Students – Undergraduate
First Place: Kendra Ashe, Rosman High School, Brevard, N.C.; Jennifer Fleming, Bryan County High School, Pembroke, Ga.
Second Place: Toan Nguyen, Groves High School, Savannah, Ga.; Shane Chapman, Rosman High School, Brevard, N.C.
Third Place: Adam Bryant, Richmond Hill High School, Richmond Hill, Ga.; Bethany Gill, Johnson High School, Savannah, Ga.
Best replica of a famous artwork: Kari Schneider, Bloomingdale, Ga.
Best use of color: Gabrielle Luppacchino, St. Vincent’s Academy, Savannah, Ga.
Best special effect or optical illusion: Alnesha West, Groves High School, Savannah, Ga.
Best nightmare: Olivia Israel, Rosman High School, Brevard, N.C.
Best comic hero: Cesar Bautista, Groves High School, Savannah, Ga.

Free Films in Forsyth
The Sidewalk Arts Festival activities kicked off with Films in Forsyth, a series of outdoor cinema screenings in the park. “Back to the Future” will be screened on Thursday, April 22, at 8 p.m., and “Up” will be shown on Friday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Both screenings are free.

This is definitely a great day to plan for a trip to Savannah.  The festival also includes food, and children’s and youth areas for young artists as well as live music throughout the day.

Sidewalks in Cyberspace
New for 2010 is the online Cyberwalk Arts Contest for SCAD students and alumni worldwide to compete online with a virtual concrete canvas. Those not able to make it to the festival can experience the digital chalk work of talented SCAD artists competing in the contest. The entries will be available for view April 12-24 at http://www.scad.edu/experience/events/sidewalkarts/. The online winners will be announced at the festival, with SCAD‘s eLearning department awarding three current students and the alumni department awarding three alumni works.
The Sidewalk Arts Festival has been a cornerstone of SCAD Savannah’s spring activities for more than 20 years. Its participants represent SCAD’s many areas of study, from animation to architecture. First, second- and third-place monetary prizes are awarded in three categories: students, alumni and prospective students. This year marks the return of a perennial award sponsor, Gray’s Reef, whose competition theme for student-specific awards is “Best Underwater Environment.” Two new partners are also involved: American Greetings will sponsor a flora and fauna competition theme, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s award theme is “Where the Spirit Meets the Art.” Prospective student award categories range from “Best Copy of a Famous Work” to “Most Whimsical.”

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information call 912.525.5865 for more information or visit www.scad.edu

The Savannah College of Art and Design will host SCAD Style 2010, the college’s nationally recognized, signature style and design event, April 26 – May 6, at various locations at SCAD-Atlanta and SCAD-Savannah. This series of events features world-renowned artists, designers and industry professionals and highlights several of the college’s programs of study, including fashion, fibers, interior design, industrial design, and architecture. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Throughout SCAD Style, students and the public will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, workshops, exhibitions and book signings from some of the most well-known artists, designers and industry professionals.

Among the eclectic group of style and design experts currently scheduled to participate in SCAD Style 2010 are:

Chris Benz at SCAD Style 2010

• Chris Benz. fashion designer, noted for spearheading the reemergence of classic sportswear in American design, CFDA Award recipient;
• Venessa Bertozzi, Editor-in-Chief of Etsy, the world’s most vibrant handmade marketplace;
• Derek Blasberg, Senior Fashion News Editor at V, fashion and style journalist, blasblog on Style.com;
• Simone Bodin, known professionally as Bettina, was a French fashion model of the 1950s and an early muse to the fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy;
• Hamish Bowles, author, European Editor at Large for Vogue, recognized as one of the most respected authorities on the worlds of fashion and interior design;
• Michael Bruno, founder/president of online antique and vintage design resource 1stdibs.com;

Michael Bruno

• Clodagh, renowned architecture and interior designer;

• Thom Filicia founder of Thom Filicia Inc., widely-known for his role on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy;”

• Rita Konig, NYTimes blogger, decorator, author;
• Derek Lam, fashion designer, multi-CFDA Award-winner noted for his luxurious but wearable clothes;
• Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion and widely credited as the creator of New York “Fashion Week;”
• Claude Morais and Brian Wolk, fashion designers behind Ruffian, the popular ready-to-wear fashion label;
• Caleb Mulvena, architect, principal of Mapos architectural design firn, collaboated with Peter Marino on Louis Vuitton flagship store in Paris;
• Jonathan Olivares, furniture and industrial designer;
• Nicole Phelps. Executive Editor of Style.com;
• Robert Rufino, editor-at-large for House Beautiful;
• Cameron Silver, premiere authority on vintage fashion;
• Paula Wallace, President of Savannah College of Art and Design, author of “Perfect Porches: Designing Welcoming Spaces for Outdoor Living.”

Bettina

For a complete schedule of events at SCAD-Atlanta and SCAD-Savannah, visit www.scadstyle.com.

The Sand Arts Festival organized by SCAD is a competition in sand castle design, sand sculpture, sand relief and wind sculpture. Lots of talented SCAD students and alumni compete and this is a great spectator event.

Artwork competing in the sand castle, sand sculpture and sand relief competitions are judged for creativity, design, craft and detail.

The Sand Arts Festival is free and open to the public.

The 2010 festival will feature eight days of events (April 18 – 24, 2010) including live music, film screenings, artist workshops and more. Nearly all of the festival’s events will be free, to encourage people to come out and participate. SUAF will be a “pass the hat” festival where attendees are asked to donate a few dollars if they enjoyed the event and the performers.

Last year’s festival included performances from Savannah natives and internationally known musicians Anthony David and Brittany Bosco, along with film screenings, dance performances, dance parties, The SUAF King of the Beat producer battle, live music from regional artists, and presentations from award-winning hip hop historian/author Jeff Chang and Community Arts Activist Bill Strickland.

The feature for this year is the the southeast regions largest touring arts exhibition, Art, Beats and Lyrics. The exhibition has been featured Atlantas High Museum of Art and cities throughtout the southeast to include Charolotte, NC and Birmingham, AL. AB+L has consistently drawn hundreds of art enthusiast from around the country to experience this unique urban art exhibition. AB+L’s appearance is supported by grant funding from the Georgia Council for the Arts and the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs and Cricket Wireless. Local supporter include Paragon Design Group, WSAV, and Comcast of Savannah.

Schedule of Events:

Sunday (4/18)
7-9pm: Festival Introduction and Therapy Session Open Mic Night hosted by All Walks of Life Inc. – The Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave. All Ages.

Monday (4/19)
6-9pm: Graffiti Night* – Includes a mural painting workshop and a screening of “Style Wars,” the 1983 documentary about the emerging graffiti culture. Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Rd. All Ages
*(The festival does not support illegal graffiti practices, and will distribute literature to participants regarding applicable city and state laws, as well as the punishments associated with them).

Tuesday (4/20)
6-9pm: Artist Development workshops – There will be two sessions: First, “MC Bootcamp” where rappers will learn about different styles and flows, then be put through a series of challenges to test their lyrical abilities. Second, “What Artists Need to Know,” a session lead by industry professionals including performers, radio, media, and public relations professionals discussing what aspiring artists need to understand about professionalism and the music industry. Meddin Studios Conference Room. 2333 Louisville Rd. All Ages (Sincere interest, work ethic and experience as an artist strongly recommended.)

11pm-2am: Hip Hop Night hosted by Dope Sandwich – live music, MC battles and break dancing. The Jinx, 127 E. Congress St. 21+

Wednesday (4/21)
6-9pm: SUAFilm – Screenings of work by independent filmmakers from across the Southeast, including scripted and documentary films. Indigo Arts Center. 703D Louisville Rd. All Ages.

11pm-2am: Rare Grooves hosted by DJ Valis – Cool selections of funk, soul, breaks and hip hop. Bacchus, 309 W. Congress St. 21+

Thursday (4/22)
7-9pm: Keep it Cool – Live performance from Atlanta Futuristic-Soul Singer Dezaray Dawn, spoken word poetry performances, and a photo exhibition titled “The Face Project” by Sheldon Frazier: Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, 42 MLK Jr. Blvd.

9pm-12am: The Jam Session – An eclectic set of performances from musicians, dancers, poets and others. Visual arts exhibit TBA. The American Legion Post 135, 1810 Bull Street. 21+

Friday (4/23)
6-9pm: On the Grind Skateboarding – An evening skating session and skateboard demos. Woody’s Skate Park, 218 Windsor Road. All Ages

9pm-1am: Shut Up and Fight – A video game tournament, the SUAF King of the Beats producer battle, and the “Last Man Standing” regional breakdancing tournament, as well as the opening reception for an exhibition of selected visual artists. Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Road. 16+

Saturday (4/24)
12pm-6pm: The Big Party – A full day of live music, food, vendors, activities and more for the whole family. The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, 460 MLK Jr. Blvd. All Ages
Continues
7pm-11pm: Art Beats + Lyrics – A traveling Urban Arts Exhibition from Atlanta that includes live music, DJ performances, visual arts and more. The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Righst Museum, 460 MLK Jr. Blvd. All Ages

Sunday (4/25)
1pm-2:30pm-SUAF Artist Networking Brunch-Come hangout on the last day of SUAF and enjoy a light brunch and network with other artist from around the region. Hit the road feeling SUAFY. The Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Rd. All Ages
5pm-10pm: Vinyl Appreciation – A group of local DJs and record collectors gathering to play some of their favorite rare and undiscovered music selections. The Indigo Arts Center, 703D Louisville Rd. 16+

Nel Adams, Feather & Fan Cowl, Hand spun wool/handknit at Gallery S.P.A.C.E

Wool recently shorn from the sheep at Oatland Island Wildlife Center will be used by Guild members during a modified ‘Sheep to Shawl’ demonstration at the opening reception. The handspun yarn will be used in weaving, knitting and crocheting demonstrations. Reception attendees will have the opportunity to test the spinning wheels, floor looms and drop spindles.

Guild members will also be conducting lunch time demonstrations on Wednesdays throughout the month of April from 11am to 1pm. On April 14th spinners will demonstrate how to create handspun yarn using spinning wheels and drop spindles. On April 21st weavers will demonstrate weaving on a floor loom and more affordable frame and cardboard looms. On April 28th guild members will be demonstrate the fiber crafts of knitting, crocheting, and beading.

The exhibition, reception and lunch demonstrations are free and open to the public. S.P.A.C.E. is located at 9 W. Henry St. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free off-street parking is available. For information, contact 912-651-6783 or visit www.savannahga.gov/arts.

The wine festival will feature over 100 international wines plus delicious  tapas from some of Tybee Islands best restaurants.  But for those of who don’t appreciate good wine, the organizers have arranged something special for this year. This year the festival will also  offer a selection of craft beers, so you have no excuse for staying home. There will even be  a raffle, silent auction and live music by some of the island’s finest musicians.

Attendees receive a free gift package which includes a souvenir wine glass and wine tote. Participating restaurants are Hunter House, Papa’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood, The Breakfast Club, Fannies on the Beach, Marline Monroe’s, Doc’s Bar, Huca Poos, Sundae Cafe and Sting Rays.

All festival net proceeds go to the restoration of the Tybee Post Theater.

Tickets are  available online at  tybeewinefestival.com.

“The Station” will run Saturday, April 3 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 4 at 3 p.m., and Monday, April 5 at 8 p.m. at Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., Savannah, Georgia.

This fun-filled romp brings together more than 30 dancers. Act I features a number of characters in various scenes—sisters, lovers, soldiers, businessmen—as they wait at a train station for their train to arrive. Act II brings these characters back to the same train station years later, full of the hope, love or regret from the decisions they made at the station years before.

A graduate of The Juilliard School in New York, Brosseau danced the works of such renowned choreographers as Jose Limon, David Parson, Paul Taylor and Anna Sokolow. His television credits include the PBS special “Live from Lincoln Center” in which he performed in Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom.” Before coming to SCAD, Brousseau directed the modern dance company Brosseau Danceworks, based in Charlotte, N.C., for six years. At SCAD he has choreographed “Guys and Dolls” and “Carousel,” and created the dance pieces “Silence,” “Ripping Souls” and “The Crossing,” among others.

Admission to “The Station” is $5 for students, seniors and military; and $10 for the general public. Free with valid SCAD ID for the Monday, April 5 performance ONLY.

Tickets are available at the Trustees Theater box office, 216 E. Broughton St., online at www.savannahboxoffice.com, and by phone at 912.525.5050.

The self-guided house tours featured a different historic neighborhood each of the four days. Tour participants receive a guide book with a color coded map. Volunteers are at hand to assist you at each tour site. You do this tour at your own pace.

Savannah has the largest urban landmark historic district in the U. S.  In this 2.5 square mile area, there is an astonishingly preserving the  beauty, architecture and history of the old South.  The city of Savannah was founded back in 1733 by General James Edward Oglethorpe whose grid design influenced the city.   To this day there is twenty-one oak-canopied squares giving Savannah its unique character.

Walking Tour tickets will be priced at $40 per person, per day with six to nine sites on Tour each day. Click here to buy tickets.

Please call 912-234-8054 with questions.

Download the brochure for the event here!

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

Unique co-bills and original productions are staged in intimate venues throughout Savannah, Georgia, during the festival which continues through April 3rd. This is one of Savannah’s most popular festivals.

Some of the highlights in this year’s festival is violinist Daniel Hope’s Sensations chamber music series (this year featuring newcomers Mark O’Connor, Jeffrey Kahane, Gabriela Montero and Gautier Capuçon), the Savannah Jazz Party series with Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Roberts, Henry Butler, Gerald Clayton, Dick Hyman and others, Bill Frisell’s Trio playing two nights alongside Malian powerhouse Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, the Del McCoury Band, Nicole Cabell, Wilco, Kristina Train, Yefim Bronfman, She & Him (featuring M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel), Ruthie Foster, Renaud Garcia-Fons, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and the debut of the all-new Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band with The Wood Brothers opening.

Below is a video of an “unplugged” performance with Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba on a roof top in Timbuktu

For a complete schedule or to order tickets visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org or call 912-525-5050.

Also, visit the latest episode of Tripping with Joe to find out what Joe has to say about the event.

Tara Feis, an Irish Festival
Then on Saturday, we’ll go all out with a genuine Irish Festival, Tara Feis taking place on  Saturday March 13. This is a festival celebrating Irish culture with lots of fun for the whole family from food, to music and dance and much more. The festival is held in Emmet Park. The event is free and open to the public, this year’s event features the Cathie Ryan Band. Tara Feis festival takes place in Emmet Park from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information call 912.651.6417 or http://www.savannahga.gov/arts.

Then there is of course the River Street celebration in the historic downtown district on March 16-17, 2010. This is the main waterfront location for all Paddy Day partygoers coming to town.

The 2010 St. Patrick’s Festival on Historic River Street takes place along the waterfront, includes the following area: River Street from East Broad Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Festivities in this area include games, food, beverages, and live entertainment. The event itself is free, but partygoers must purchase a wristband ($5) to consume alcoholic beverages on the plaza and inside River Street businesses on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wristbands will be sold at kiosks on the plaza, and at businesses on River Street. Already on Tuesday, the party starts with the I-95 Battle of the Bands.

For more details about St Patrick’s Day on Riverstreet, visit www.riverstreetsavannah.com

The City Market also hosts an Irish celebration on March 16-17.

St Patrick’s Day Parade
Don’t miss the parade itself. This year it’s the 186th time for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, so this is one of the oldest in the United States. The parade features bands and marching groups from across the country. Savannah St Patrick’s Day parade starts at 10:15 a.m. (Here is the map of the parade route)

For more information visit www.SavannahStPatricksDay.com

The city will double in size for St Patrick’s Day – so plan to come early and stay late. For more information about St Patrick’s Day and places to stay, contact Savannah CVB at 1-877-SAVANNAH

This year’s show will begin with a preview gala the evening of Thursday, March 4, and runs daily from Friday, March 5, through Sunday, March 7.

Preview Gala and Champagne Receiption

Already on the evening on March 4, 2010, it’s time for kick off. The event begins with the preview gala, An Evening in the Garden, at 7 p.m. Here  collectors have an  opportunity to secure the antiques of their choice in the dealer gallery.  Meanwhile the elegant black-tie (optional) soiree will be going on in the adjoining tent. One of the highlights of the evening is the performance of the Mary Davis & Company band. Also hors d’oeuvres will be provided by noted caterer Anna Hood and the women of St. Peter’s Church.  Dinner stations will feature a variety of cuisines from noted Savannah-based chefs.  Call 912-598-9521 for invitation information.

The daily show dates are Friday and Saturday, March 5 & 6, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, located on Skidaway Island, 20 minutes southeast of the city.

Tickets to the show are $8 and are valid for all three days. Tickets may be purchased on site during the event.

Gourmet lunches and desserts, prepared from recipes in St. Peter’s cookbook, Manna from Savannah, are offered daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a flower-filled tent adjacent to the dealer showcases.

For more information, visit St Peter’s Episcopal Church website by clicking here.

The Savannah College of Art and Design will host the 29th annual Black Maria Film and Video Festival Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m. at Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St. Admission is $5 for the general public and free with a valid SCAD ID.

The Black Maria Film and Video Festival, started in 1981, is known for its annual roster of bold contemporary works by award-winning independent film- and video-makers that give insight to the human condition, political, social and environmental issues, and aesthetic investigations. It is a traveling showcase that circulates nationwide to more than 50 host institutions. Each location shows a different selection of work, with the Savannah films selected by faculty from SCAD’s film and television department.

“The Black Maria festival continues to provoke and challenge our concept of cinema,” said Michael Chaney, SCAD professor of film and television. “I’m always inspired by these short innovative works of exceptional filmmaking, and there’s always something for everyone.”

SCAD has hosted the festival annually since 1999, screening work by luminaries such as Leighton Pierce, Emily Hubley and Stan Brackhage.

The Black Maria Film and Video Festival’s mission is to advocate, exhibit and reward cutting-edge work from independent film- and video-makers. It is also an opportunity to view exciting and engaging work from both emerging and established filmmakers from around the world.

For more information on the festival, visit the Web site at www.blackmariafilmfestival.org.