"In the Heat of the Night" is the September Classic Movie Shown in Bigfork

The Classic Movie Series this year starts with a mystery drama from 1967, “In the Heat of the Night,” staring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. It is about a black Philadelphia police detective who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi. The film won five Oscars in 1967 including the year’s Best Picture award. It is so good that it was followed up by two sequels and a TV series with the same name. It is worth seeing, if for no other reason, to find out what all the excitement was about. Great stars, great time period and great drama: that’s makes a great combination. With lots of racist implications, a false arrest, and a good plot you will find out why the movie richly deserved those five Oscars. This September Movie Classic will be shown at the Edge Theatre in Bigfork by Jack Nachbar. It will be accompanied by Jack’s presentation providing a better understanding of the time period of the movie.  Date: Thursday September 13^th. Time: 6:30PM. Price: FREE of charge.

The murder suspect is a black man found and arrested at the railway station. Probably sounded logical to the Sparta police, but they quickly discover he is a detective from Chicago.  Oops.  Not only that, the murder seemed to take place in the building site of a new, and, important to the town, factory being built by the murdered man. The widow is not happy about the local police and threatens to stop construction.  It is a good plot based on a 1965 novel of the same name. When you come to see it, keep in mind that Sidney’s line “They call me Mister Tibbs,” ended up being named #16  Most Memorable Movie Quote of all time by the American Film Institute.  

1967 was a bad time in America to be black, Sidney Poitier would not work in the south because he and Harry Belafonte were almost killed by the KKK during an earlier visit to Mississippi. That’s how Sparta Illinois got the work, not Mississippi. Just a few days of location shooting in Tennessee once again put Poitier under threat.

Sir Sidney Poitier (February 20, 1927) is Bahamian-American and an accomplished actor, film director and diplomat. It is hard to pick a “Best" of his Films from his list of 52 films. This movie is number 27 on his career list. He was the first Bahamian and first black actor to win an Oscar. He has some 19 awards.  I suspect receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2009 ranks way up on his list with along being Knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1974.

Rod Steiger (1925-2002) made his mark on the film world by playing “off beat’ kind of crazy characters that were ready to fly off the handle.  He was associated with “Method Acting” to the point that it often caused verbal exchanges with directors and such during filming. That explains why his work is so often  realistic. But it was very good for “In the Heat of the Night."  In this case he was so so good that he won the best actor Oscar. That might be reason enough to see the movie all by it self. He was asked by the director to chew gum during his scenes, which Rod did not particularly like, but doing as directed, he learned to like it so much he went through 263 packs of gum during the shooting.  Now that’s dedication. Wonder what his dentist thought of the idea? Interestingly his co-star in this movie Sidney Poitier thought Steiger and  Spencer Tracy were the best actors he ever encountered.  

A great movie from an award winning book that spawned two film sequels and a TV series. That most likely means there is something special on the big screen in Bigfork in September.  The classic Movie Series is part of the District 318 Adult Education program.  Come and see a mystery thriller that will make you think.  Place: The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork. Date and time: Thursday September 13^th at 6:30PM. It will be worth going to Bigfork, because Jack will provide you with background about the movie and a cartoon of the period. An appropriate snack will be served courtesy of Jack and his wife/projectionist, Lynn. 

Baskets from the Edge: Antler, Ash, and Willow at the Bigfork Art Gallery

Art or craft, craft or art? Which came first? That question has vexed our conversations since the first stone implement was hacked out of a piece of rock. It seems that every item mankind has ever produced has sooner or later been embellished, enhanced or decorated, turned into a more sophisticated form, and called “art.” Utilitarian items take on an entirely new form and meaning and are celebrated for being “even better” for the addition of creative embellishments. Come and see what has developed from the early utilitarian baskets at August's art exhibit at the Edge Art Gallery. The gallery is next to the Bigfork School and is open from 10A.M. to 4 P.M on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Admission to the gallery and the reception is free.

Interestingly, while making baskets is one of the most widespread crafts in the history of any human civilization, it is very hard to accurately date when various techniques started. The reason is that most of the basket materials degraded and eventually disappeared entirely. Of the baskets found in and near present-day Egypt, carbon dating shows then to be between 10,000 and 20,000 years old. However, that is believed to be much later than when people first formed something that could be called a "basket" to gather food from the wild. That may have been as early as between two and three million years ago, but even those dates are pure speculation. While it is conceivable that early hunter-gatherers developed something to carry gathered foods, the Egyptian carbon dated vessels were more similar to pottery burial relics than to baskets.

That discussion is about the “tools” side of basket making; what you will see at the Edge Center is more on the "art" side of the topic. Basic materials used to transport just about anything have been altered in such ways as to completely transform their utility to into something completely that transcends their original intent.

Welcome to “Baskets from the Edge,” where three master artists will display and demonstrate their mastery of the art of basketry for your edification and enjoyment. Watch them blur the line between art and craft at our reception on August 3rd at 5 P.M. at the Edge Gallery in Bigfork.

Willow weaver Jacki Bedworth strides forth into the Red Willows every spring gathering the materials for her traditional basketry. Items of everyday usage are transformed into sublime pieces of ingenuity and art under the magic fingers of this delightful woman.

Fred Kogler takes logs of ash, strips them, polishes them, and weaves them into baskets artfully and individually designed for a variety of uses, from berries to bread. Fred has mastered the art of the Shakers and the “lightship weavers” who wiled away the days at sea weaving ash baskets. Fred’s display and collection of this sophisticated art form and his delight in sharing his passion art and history of baskets will delight and inform.

Cathryn Peters skillfully transforms basketry into decorative, award-winning designs, incorporating bold colors and shed antlers in ways that delight the eye and demonstrate the broad range of what basketry can become. Her recent entry into the gallery’s juried art show drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd and kudos from the juror. 

These three master weavers will be sharing their skills, answering your questions at an open house reception on Friday August 3rd at 5P.M. The gallery is delighted to present this exhibition of local master weavers for your edification and enjoyment. This is an evening you don’t want to miss.

On Friday August 3rd the Baskets from The Edge show opened with a reception that included the three artists providing demonstrations of their techniques. The opening was very well attended and the following photos shows some of the guests enjoying the show, demonstrations, and treats. 

14th Annual Juried Exhibit at the Edge Center Gallery in Bigfork

This will be the fourteenth time that the Edge Center Gallery in Bigfork has invited visual artists to submit their work for judging by a juror. Peter Spooner, this year's juror, is an independent educator, art appraiser, and curator. Living in Duluth, he teaches studio art, art history, and first-year seminar courses at The College of St. Scholastica, Lake Superior College, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. This year’s juried show will be on display in the Edge Gallery from July 5th to July 28th. The awards reception will take place on July 6th from 5 to 7 pm and will allow visitors to meet some of the artists and to vote on the People's Choice Award, which will be awarded later on during the reception. Admission to the gallery and reception is free. The Edge Center Gallery is next to the Bigfork School and is open from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Juror

Spooner has served as a grant review panelist for numerous institutions, lectured at universities and museums in the U.S., Japan and Canada, and has juried many exhibitions locally and regionally. His current and past community involvement includes volunteer service for the Duluth Public Arts Commission, Duluth Public Library, Duluth DFL, The Artists Fund, Chester Bowl Improvement Club, and Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.

Samples of Exhibits

This year’s show includes a wonderful selection of artistic offerings in many different media and styles from 19 artists. This blog will not provide a photo of each artwork but will show a selection of them to give an overall sense of the exhibit. The artists selected this year are: Sarita Alami (photo), Thomas Anderson (colored pencil),  Rein Boyd (collage), Susan Clandon (acrylic), Doug DeWitt (multimedia), David Dobbs (oil on canvas),  Will Dinski (book), Reid Harer (photo),  Ashley Hise (ceramic), Mary Jasper (photo), Jon Offutt (blown glass), Cathryn Peters (fiber/basketry), David Richter (colored pencil), Scott Rollenhagen (photo), Stephanie Stevens (watercolor), Christine Tierney (pastel), Yuta Uchida (oil on canvas),  Michael Weatherly (multi-plate linoleum cut), and Coralyn Worth (charcoal).

Reception Details and Award Sponsors

The awards ceremony on the evening of the opening reception starts at 6:15 pm. A special thanks to the sponsors of the awards: Kocian's Family Market has sponsored the Best of Show award, Arvig Communications and First State Bank of Bigfork have sponsored two Awards of Excellence, and Bigfork Valley Hospital has sponsored the audience-selected People’s Choice Award. This is always a treat for the visitors. It gives them a chance to see how their opinions compare to the juror's opinion. And a general thank you to all who have supported and continue to support The Edge Center here in Bigfork without which we would simply not exist.

    Kocians Family Market

   arvig Communications

   First State Bank of Bigfork

   Bigfork Valley Hospital

“Madagascar” Comes to Bigfork

“DreamWorks Madagascar—A Musical Adventure” is coming to Bigfork's Edge Center for the Arts this July. Join us to follow the adventures of Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo as they make their escape from New York’s Central Park Zoo to explore the world. With an imaginative set and colorful costumes, “Madagascar: A Musical Adventure” is a high-energy, dance-filled musical celebration perfect for a family outing. Performances will be on stage at the Edge Center on Friday through Sunday, July 13 through 15, Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.

                                             Photo by Steve Fischer for Stages Theatre Company

The musical presented in Bigfork is produced by the Stages Theatre Company of Hopkins and is aimed at the hearts and minds of audiences of all ages. “Move it, Move it with us this summer as Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and, of course, uproariously plotting penguins enter our stage in the musical adventure of Madagascar. Not content to live in blissful captivity, Marty lets his curiosity take over as he escapes to explore the world. His friends and some unusual penguins will not be left behind as they embark on an unforgettable voyage.”

                                                 Photo By Sandy Boren-Barrett for Stages Theatre Company

Every summer Stages Theatre Company brings a production with their special brand of fun and laughter to Bigfork.  They not only bring the cast and supporting staff, they also bring much of the sets they use on-stage at their theatre in Hopkins. The effort is extraordinary. The result is that Bigfork area audiences get to see a world-class creation and the young cast and crew get to experience what is like to be “on the road” for a few days. It is a great experience for both sides and always leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Photo by Steve Fischer for Stages Theatre Company

Stages Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Sandy Boren-Barrett, who is also the Director of this play, says, “Everybody has a friend, that one best friend that makes you do things (good or bad), or try things that you might not be brave enough to try without them convincing you that you can do it.  That is Alex and Marty – they are there for each other, they laugh with each other, take risks for each other, and save each other when they need to be saved.  This is a story about wanting more, and finding that you actually had all you needed or wanted all along, you just needed a ‘best friend’ to remind you of that.  Madagascar is truly a musical ADVENTURE, it has fun, lively musical numbers that will keep your toes tapping and you dancing out the door.  We can’t wait to share it with you.” 
   

Photo by Steve Fischer for Stages Theatre Company

“I am grateful for the amazing opportunity that our summer tour to Bigfork provides, for our young actors, their families, and for the community that we at Stages Theatre Company have come to value and love.  We can’t wait to ‘Move It Move it’ with you all in this once in a lifetime production.”

                                                   Photo by Steve Fischer for Stages Theatre Company

This play is based on the DreamWorks Animation motion picture.  Book by Kevin Del Aguila. Original music and lyrics are by George Noriega and Joel Someillan.

                                        

                                                Photo By Sandy Boren-Barrett for Stages Theatre Company

Stages Theatre Company (STC) was founded in 1984 and since then has grown to become one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the country. STC engages young artists with themes relevant to their lives and produces work which features young people in significant and meaningful roles. It annually serves more than 130,000 young people and their families. STC has been producing these young people’s productions in Bigfork for a number of years and the productions have become part of a summer entertainment tradition at the Edge Theatre.

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Edge Center in Bigfork

The EdgeWild Players in Bigfork open the stage season with a comedy that includes gangsters joking, dancing, and singing. Fake wooden Tommy guns, scared white faces, and the witty, savage satire heighten the entertainment of this period comedy by German playwright Bertolt Brecht titled “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.” It is a satirical look at the rise of a mythical, small-time thug in 1930s Chicago who is trying to take over the cauliflower racket by selling "protection" to small groceries. Sound interesting? That’s the magic of a great satirist like Brecht. His characters are so ridiculous that they can transport laughing audiences to a funny new reality. Place: The Edge Center Theatre, Bigfork. Date and time: June 21 through 23 at 7 p.m. and June 24 at 2 p.m. Price: $15 for adults, $5 for children.

The play was written in 1941 by the great modern playwright Bertolt Brecht. Director Patricia Feld is infusing it with the lively music that Brecht and Kurt Weill wrote for many of their classic plays. Among the songs is the familiar “Mack the Knife.”

                                                  

This play is also an allegory Hitler’s rise to power and the characters and events have direct parallels in history to Adolf Hitler’s henchmen. Brecht turns der Führer into vulgar American thug Arturo Ui, a small-time New York hoodlum who comes to Chicago with his gang to “sell protection” using intimidation, threats, arson, and murder. But, unlike the gangster movies of the 1920s and 1930s, this show is done for maximum laughs. The broad, vaudeville acting style, the between-the-scenes musical numbers, and the elaborate sets, costumes, and stage antics keeps things lively and funny.

                            

Patricia Feld, the Artistic Director for the Edge and director of this play says, “Our large cast has a ball with the mugging and the overly physical acting style.  The complex sets and 1930’s costumes will help to create an impressive and entertaining performance.”

The Edgewild Players have received a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to rent lovely, historically accurate costumes, and the students of Bigfork School are creating props and helping to build the sets.

                                          

This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature's general and arts and cultural heritage funds.

The Fun starts Thursday June 21 and runs through Sunday June 24. The times and prices are June 21 through 23 at 7 p.m. and June 24 at 2 p.m. Price: $15 for adults, $5 for children. Some come and see something you really might not expect...but then that's what the Edge is all about; seeing the unexpected. It will be a great escape and you'll get lots of laughs, music and entertaining.