Quilt show adds workshops May 17-19: Quilting in Northwest Iowa: An Evolving Tradition will be part of the Sioux Prairie Quilters' annual Tulip Festival quilt show May 17-19. Workshops will be held twice daily, on quilting traditions and stories, hand quilting and appliqué, and patterns and colors, featuring members of Sioux Prairie Quilters. Left to right are presenters: Linda Feikema, Orange City; Barb Tazelaar and Laurey Zwart, Sioux Center; Marcia Van Oort, Doon; Kathy Fictorie, Sioux Center; and Kathy Kelly and Carolyn Elder, Orange City.

ORANGE CITY – Six local quilters will give workshops, Quilting in Northwest Iowa: An Evolving Tradition, at the Sioux Prairie Quilters quilt show during Orange City’s Tulip Festival May 17-19.

Curious about quilting? Intimidated by the experts? Come for informal talks about choosing fabric, picking patterns, and selecting colors. Learn what makes a good quilt from some of the best, and hear the family stories embedded in the quilts. Watch daily demonstrations and try your hand with a practice quilt.

Featured workshops on Thursday will be Evolving Traditions by Carolyn Elder of Orange City and Marcia Van Oort of Doon.

On Friday, workshops are Hand Quilting and Appliqué, featuring Linda Feikema and Kathy Kelly, of Orange City.

Saturday’s workshops will be Patterns and Colors, with Barb Tazelaar and Kathy Fictorie, of Sioux Center.

Bed turnings, featuring stories about quilts, will be held daily following the workshops. Laurey Zwart and Pat Jongewaard of Sioux Center and Mary Zagaeski of Rock Valley will lead the bed turnings.

The 45-minute workshops will be moderated by Dr. Riki Saltzman, the Iowa Arts Council’s folklife coordinator.

All presenters are members of Sioux Prairie Quilters, which has a 30-year history in northwest Iowa. Founded in the 80s by six quilters, the group grew and spawned new clubs in Sheldon and Le Mars. Now the guild has 44 members, mainly from Sioux and Lyon counties – young and old, beginners and masters. The quilt show has become a defining feature of the guild.

Most of the workshop leaders learned to quilt from their mothers or grandmothers. “I grew up thinking quilting was a Dutch art form,” said Linda Feikema with a smile.  “I now know better, but I think Dutch women in particular have a deep understanding of the need to use each scrap of fabric wisely.”

The quilt show will be held 9:00am to 8:00pm Thursday and Friday, and 9:00am to 6:00pm Saturday, at the Bultman Center at Northwestern College. Workshops will be held daily at 10:00am and 4:00pm. Admission to the quilt show is $5.

The program is sponsored by the Sioux Prairie Quilters, the Orange City Arts Council, the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts: Folk & Traditional Arts Program. Saltzman will also record several members of Sioux Prairie Quilters for the Iowa Roots radio program and the Iowa Folklife Collection at the State Folk Arts archives.

Similar programs will be held in Storm Lake May 19 and Council Bluffs June 10.

For more information, contact ocArts@orangecityiowa.com.

MORE INFORMATION:

Quilting in Western Iowa: Evolving Traditions

Riki Saltzman, Folklife Coordinator

Curious about quilting? Intimidated by the experts? Take this opportunity to visit with master quilters in Orange City, Storm Lake, and Council Bluffs. You’ll learn what makes a good quilt from some of the best and hear the family stories embedded in the quilts. As well, visitors can watch demonstrations and try their hand with a practice quilt.

The Iowa Arts Council is pleased to announce a series of three public quilting programs in Western Iowa in May and June of this year at the Sioux Prairie Quilters’ Show at Northwestern College’s Bultman Center during Tulip Festival in Orange City (May 17-19 at 10 and 4 each day), at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake (May 19 at 1:30), and at The Center in Council Bluffs (June 10 at 2).

Traditional quilting in western Iowa really is about community and giving back, which the NEA-funded Iowa Folklife Survey really brought home. According to folklorist Andrea Graham, who documented folk & traditional artists during 2008-9, “One of the strongest traditions throughout [western Iowa] is quilting. There are quilt stores in Council Bluffs, Storm Lake, Carroll, Exira, Le Mars, Harlan, Elk Horn, Cherokee and Creston, and . . . many more I didn’t see. Many . . . towns also have organized quilt guilds—Harlan, Walnut, Glenwood, Cherokee, Orange City and Storm Lake, to name a few. I heard of or visited church quilt groups in Panama, Manning, Harlan, Cherokee, Storm Lake, Shenandoah, Le Mars, Correctionville, Portsmouth and Earling, and that just scratches the surface. But the most interesting quilting traditions I saw were the church groups who hand-quilt for other people as a fundraiser for their church, or make tied scrap quilts for charity, both local and overseas.”

Featured quilters at the different programs include Carolyn Elder, Linda Feikema, and Kathy Kelly (Orange City), Marcia Van Oort (Doon), Barb Tazelaar, Kathy Fictorie, Laurey Zwart, and Pat Jongewaard (Sioux Center), and Mary Zagaeski (Rock Valley) at the Orange City event; Carole Suhr, Leann Baumhover and Ruth Anderson in Storm Lake; and Jeanine Williams, Rachel Summy, and Karen Hochom in Council Bluffs.

Collaborations with the Orange City Arts Council, Friends of the Storm Lake Library, Witter Gallery, Bluffs Arts Council, the Sioux Prairie Quilter’s Guild, and the Southwest Iowa Piecemakers as well as with local quilters have made these public programs possible, as has support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council.

For further information, please contact folklorist Riki Saltzman, Iowa Arts Council, at riki.saltzman@iowa.gov or 515/242-6195; Janine Calsbeek, Orange City Arts Council, at  712-707-6514 or ocArts@orangecityiowa.com; Elizabeth Huff, Storm Lake Public Library, at 712-732-8026; and Laural Ronk, Bluffs Arts Council, at 712-328-4992.

The Orange City Arts Council has announced its schedule for shows in Orange CIty’s Windmill Park for the upcoming summer season.

The series will feature 13 Wednesday nights of entertainment, beginning with May 30 and the Lionel Young Band from Boulder, CO, a double-winner of the International Blues Challenge.

Season opener: Lionel Young Band... The Lionel Young Band, the first ever double winner at the International Blues Challenge, will perform its distinctive brand of blues on May 30, as the season opener for Onstage Orange City. The Orange City Arts Council, with support from local businesses, sponsors the Wednesday night series in Orange City's Windmill Park.

Other artists include the young a cappella group Six Appeal June 13, the comedian and magician Jerry Frasier July 18, Americana roots rock band Brother Trucker July 25, Kelley Hunt and her band singing blues, roots and gospel August 8 and countrified folk-rock band Blame Sally August 22.

Kelley Hunt to perform August 8: Kelley Hunt's blues, roots and gospel come with a refreshing originality. From Lawrence, KS, she brings her band to Onstage Orange City on August 8.

Festival Latino is scheduled for June 6, and will feature Estrella de Jalisco and La Perla Tapatia from Sioux City. Local favorite Bella Ruse will perform July 4, following an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration.

The SchoolHouse Company returns again on August 15, bringing family-friendly theatre. On June 27, the second annual Orange City’s Got Talent! show will be featured, in conjunction with the open house of Prairie Winds Event Center. And the Orange City Area Community Band brings more local talent to the stage June 20, July 11 and August 1.

Contributions from local businesses and individuals, with help from the Orange City Arts Council and City of Orange City, fund Onstage Orange City.

Most shows begin at 7:00pm at Orange City’s Windmill Park.

For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council at 712-707-6514 or ocArts@orangecityiowa.com. Onstage Orange City fliers are available at the city hall & Chamber office.

Blame Sally: Coming to Onstage Orange City from San Fransisco, these four earthy women play what's been called "countrified folk rock." Their show ends the Orange City Arts Council's summer season in Windmill Park – on August 22.

Watoto Children's Choir to perform in Orange City: They're an energetic fusion of contemporary gospel and traditional African rhythm, and share a message of transformation, said Watoto founder Gary Skinner. The popular and widely acclaimed Watoto Children's Choir is returning to Orange City, and will perform at First Reformed Church in Orange City Thursday, May 3 at 7:00pm, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council.

ORANGE CITY – The Watoto Children’s Choir will present their energetic music and dance show in Orange City Thursday, May 3 at First Reformed Church.

The 7:00pm show features original and vibrant African music with dance routines and life-transforming stories. The program is entitled “Beautiful Africa: A New Generation.”

The globally acclaimed choir was born from the holistic care program, Watoto, initiated to serve a variety of needs of the African people, especially those of children orphaned as a result of war, poverty and HIV/AIDS. “We share a message of transformation,” said Watoto founder Gary Skinner, “telling the story of Africa’s rescued orphans and women.”

Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents, and all live in Watoto Children’s Villages.

The choir hopes to reach audiences “with the message of Christ’s healing power,” said Skinner.

This tour began in Dallas, TX and the 22 children and 10 adults will travel for six months, visiting San Antonio, Tulsa, Wichita, Little Rock, St Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Chicago.

Since the tour’s inception in 1994, 50 choirs have traveled globally, providing the children with an opportunity to broaden their world view. They have done shows in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S., and have performed for royalty and national leaders.

The May 3 concert is free, but an offering will be received for Watoto.

A school assembly will be held at First Reformed Thursday afternoon, May 3. For more information, contact the sponsor, Orange City Arts Council, ocArts@orangecityiowa.com or 712.707.6514.

Visit watotochoirs.wordpress.com for regular updates on choirs on the road – choir 54. For additional information, see watoto.com/choir.

Green Horizon by Jan Vander Linden took first place at the Iowa Watercolor Society juried exhibition. The Society's traveling show will be on exhibit at the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center in Orange City April 10 to May 3, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council. Meet some of the artists the evening of April 28, prior to the Northwestern College theatre production, Mama D.

ORANGE CITY – An art exhibit in April in Orange City will feature the work of 26 Iowa watercolor artists.

The 2011-12 Iowa Watercolor Society traveling show is being exhibited in several northwest Iowa communities this spring, including Orange City April 10 to May 3 at the Northwestern College DeWitt Theatre Arts Center.

The exhibit, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council, is being held in conjunction with the Northwestern College theatre production, Mama D. A “meet the artists” reception will be held from 6:45 to 7:25 pm Saturday, April 28, prior to the final night of Mama D. Exhibiting artists from northwest Iowa hope to attend.

The juried exhibit features 30 paintings by artists from 16 Iowa towns and one from Nebraska, including watercolors by Barbara McGee of Peterson and Rose Kelly Peterson of Sioux City. Top place winners are Jan Vander Linden of West Des Moines, Missi Paul of Lincoln NE, Delores Frederick of Clear Lake, Jane Baty of Ames and Sarah DeLong of Grinnell.

Gleeful by Martha Rhoades

Last year’s Iowa Watercolor Society juried exhibition featured Sojourners by Judy Thompson of Orange City, first place winner.

The Iowa Watercolor Society has been active for 35 years, and annually sponsors a juried exhibition. Don Andrews of Fairhope AL and three-time winner of awards from the American Watercolor Society, juried the 2011-12 show. He is the author of several books on watercolor and conducts painting workshops across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa.

Andrews looks for visually exciting pieces with originality of concept and design organization, he said.

To reserve tickets for Mama D for April 19-21 or 26-28, email boxoffice@nwciowa.edu or phone 712-707-7098, beginning April 10. For more information on the Iowa Watercolor Society exhibition, contact the Orange City Arts Council at 712-707-6514 or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.

The exhibit will move to Spencer for May and June, then Storm Lake for July and August.

See Food Diet by Barbara McGee

Check out summer art classes 2012. The Orange City Arts Council is sponsoring five classes for children: Creating Portraits; Ceramics;  Zip, Zap, Zog: Exploring Theatre; Exploring Theatre on Stage; and Beginning Guitar. For adults, the Arts Council is offering one class: Try Your Hand at Portraits.

Classes are scheduled between June 4 and July 13.

And Missoula Children’s Theatre is coming this year! Cinderella is the show, the dates are July 16-21.

Click on CLASSES on the Arts Council home page for details about 2012 classes & Missoula Children’s Theatre.

Those were the words of someone who heard Nevue on the piano. His music provides “the gift of emotion in every moment,” another said. “Magical and beautiful.”

Nevue will present a piano concert in Orange City Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, sponsored by the Orange CIty Arts Council.

As a young boy, Nevue (pronounced NEV-Yoo, rhymes with nephew) sat at his grandma’s piano and figured out melodies. He “faked” his way through three years of formal piano lessons, he said.

His college music theory class opened his eyes. Once he understood the patterns of the keyboard, he said, he was able to teach himself to play the music he’d been hearing in his head.

He played with a few rock bands in his early years, then turned to his true love – the piano. He completed his first album of original piano works at age 25. Now he lives in Eugene, Oregon and works full-time in the music business.

Nevue writes through improvisation, “just playing around on the piano until an interesting chord progression or melodic riff catches my ear,” he said. He plays all of his pieces from memory.

He calls his style neoclassical. He has been influenced by everyone from progressive rock bands like Rush, Pink Floyd and Kansas, to Kate Bush, Clannad, Jeff Johnson and early U2. He loves classical musicians Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Debussy.

And there’s George Winston. “Were it not for my being introduced to the music of pianist George Winston, I don’t think I would have ever considered writing for solo piano.” Now his music is compared to Winston’s, also to Jim Brickman’s and David Lanz’s.

His love of the theatre brought him experiences on stage, and his two-hour piano show will include the stories behind the songs. The theme of the concert will be “living life to the fullest… finding joy everywhere,” he said.

Nevue’s music is heard on over 220 radio programs worldwide. He has recorded 13 CDs. His album “Overcome,” was named the best instrumental piano album of 2005 by Lifestyle Music Awards. His album, “Adoration”, a collection of traditional hymn arrangements, reached number one of the NAR (now Zone Music Reporter) album charts in May 2008. This year his album, “A Delicate Joy,” is a finalist for the Zone Music Reporter’s best instrumental piano album.

Nevue authored “How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet” and founded The Music Biz Academy, an educational website for musicians. In 2003, he launched Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio, an internet radio program.

To listen to Nevue, check www.davidnevue.com and click on “Listen.”

Tickets for the March 29 concert are $5 for adults and $3 for students in advance at Dove Christian Bookstore, Immanuel Christian Reformed Church (1405 Albany Ave NE) or the Orange City Arts Council. At the door, tickets are $8 and $6. For more information, contact OCArts@orangecityiowa.com or call 707-6514.

Pianist David Nevue to perform in Orange City: Pianist, composer and storyteller David Nevue will present a piano concert Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. Hear his original pieces and arrangements of hymns at www.davidnevue.com. The event is sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council.

Nevue will also do a benefit concert for Cary Christian Center March 17 at 6:30 pm at Dordt College’s BJ Haan auditorium in Sioux Center.

Improv with Black V: Yep, some of them are a bit crazy, an essential ingredient in improv. Northwestern College's improv team, Black V, will teach a free class for middle schoolers after school Thursday, March 15 at First Impact in Orange City, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council.

ORANGE CITY – An improv class for middle schoolers, Do IMPROV!, will be held Thursday, March 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. at First Impact in Orange City.

Aaron Bauer and Black V, the improv team from Northwestern College, will lead the class. These improv gurus know how to put on side-splitting shows. Try it yourself! No pressure. Just show up March 15.

The March 15 class is free for students grades 6-8, sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council and First Impact. Those interested in signing up for more improv classes may register March 15.

First Impact is located on First Street, south of Don’s Food Center and Evie’s Hallmark.

For more information, contact Jamie Jeltema at jamie.jeltema@nwciowa.edu or Janine Calsbeek at the Orange City Arts Council, OCArts@orangecityiowa.com.

David Nevue, pianist, composer & storyteller, will perform at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 1405 Albany Ave NE, Orange City, on Thursday, May 29 at 7pm.

His music is heard on over 220 radio programs worldwide. He has recorded 13 CDs and performs concerts across the USA. His album, Overcome, won “Best Instrumental Piano Album” at the 2005 Lifestyle Music Awards. Please bring your friends to this evening of piano music and storytelling that will inspire you!

Listen!  http://www.davidnevue.com/listen.htm

POSTER 2012 David Nevue Click to see full-size poster!

David Nevue fact sheet  Click to read David’s fact sheet & FAQ.

I'm Yours, Folsom Prison Blues, The Devil Went Down to Georgia – they're all on the program for The Hunts' show in Orange City Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 at the MOC-Floyd Valley High auditorium. The family show features a family of nine, performing Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational and original tunes, with fiddling, vocals, percussion and step-dancing. Check out huntsontour.com. Sponsor is the Orange City Arts Council.

ORANGE CITY – In 2005, they were “The Hunt Family Fiddlers,” playing violin and performing Irish dance.

Now “The Hunts” – this family of nine – are not only champion fiddlers and step-dancers, but have added drums, djembes, ashikos and cajóns, acoustic and electric guitar, plus mandolin, piano and vocals.

They’re performing in Orange City Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the MOC-Floyd Valley High School auditorium. Sponsor is the Orange City Arts Council.

The Hunts’ Feb. 25 show will feature Celtic reels, original numbers and a collection of favorites: Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash, Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours, and the Charlie Daniels Band’s The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Five years ago, Josh Hunt, 20, bass player for The Hunts, represented the U.S. in the World Championships of Irish Step Dancing in Glasgow. Jonathan, 18, keyboard player, has danced in Ireland and Scotland; Jordan, 17, drummer, was the lead dancer for the Hunts at the Busch Gardens, Williamsburg; and JJ, 13, competed at age 10 in the world championships of Irish Step Dancing in Philadelphia.

Jessi and Jenni Hunt, 22-year-old twins, fiddle, sing and write music for the family, and Justin, 15, plays guitar and percussion. Parents Clint and Sandy encouraged the children to begin the family ensemble years ago, by performing in hospitals, nursing homes and talent shows.

The family, of Chesapeake, VA, has performed in Scotland, Ireland, Canada and all over the U.S., including an opening for the Virginia Symphony and a performance for Queen Elizabeth during her most recent visit to the States. They’ve recorded five CDs and authored two books.

The music, dance and light show will be a hit for all ages.

Tickets are available at Dove Christian Book Store and the Orange City Arts Council. In advance, the general admission tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for students. At the door, tickets are $12 and $8.

For more information, contact the Orange City Arts Council, 712-707-6514 or OCArts@orangecityiowa.com. Hear the Hunts at www.huntsontour.com. Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF4EMnJAI6E

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv8zGyboZsg