PRSky » Art and Culture

Afro-Cuban Tampa

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:41:36 +0000

Tampa is one of the most interesting and unusual places in the country, if not the world. There is a great diversity here culturally, and it makes for a very lively city. Lots of exciting events happen all year round, and there’s something for every visitor of every age. With the bay, and rivers, and their intriguing histories, there’s also something here for visitors who like to investigate origins. There is also a very vibrant Afro-Cuban culture here, which has as strong a presence as the native cultures. Coming to Tampa to visit, work, or have a vacation, the hotels here are delightfully hospitable, making a great time in a great city even better.

It’s fascinating to see how the city changes culturally over time. Even in less than a lifetime, it’s becoming a very different place, and there are many more opportunities to see live entertainment, enjoy a night on the town with dinner and a club, or even enjoy the local museums and galleries. Here, too, one might notice that there is a strong Cuban influence in places. It’s certainly one of the predominant themes in visual art, and there’s no question that it’s here in the music. Afro-Cuban rhythms are some of the most potent rhythms in the world, and it’s an infectious sound that’s hard not to love.

Understanding the history of Cubans in Tampa can be very eye-opening for visitors and even for the residents. It’s long and complex, and tells part of a long story of African diaspora, and cultural migrations that have deep roots in the centuries before ours. The stories of slavery, religious persecutions, along with many different forms of oppression all go into the mix, and they’re all at the source of how things came to be, and how they are today.

Afro-Cuban Tampa is a post from: PRSky

Indie Triple in Lafayette

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:55:33 +0000

The center of Cajun culture, Lafayette is a wonderful place to go to get your head spun back on right. It’s a lush and mysterious setting, and also an extremely lively local urban culture. There are always plenty of concerts and art events, and the fascinating blend of cultures and languages here are very pleasing to the seasoned globetrotter. For seasoning, however, the place will melt your ideas of food into something entirely new, as Cajun food is some of the most incredible flavors anywhere in the world. Be on guard for gout, however, and use a little sense, but so much as to prevent you from having a good time here. The music is very good here, and I’m guessing that one concert in particular will fill the hotels in Lafayette, if anyone has any sense.

I understand that the economy is making it very difficult for people to get to see the shows they want. We’ll probably be seeing many different techniques used to draw larger crowds again, the same kinds of cons and acts of common sense that always crop up in times of crisis. One of the most sensible of these, however, is stacking the bill. One band used to draw people, and still does, occasionally, but if you have two bands that are both really great, then you’re in for something more lively. Add another to the mix, and it should be one of the great concerts of the year. That’s exactly what’s up at The Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge in February.

It’s going to be worth the hour drive. This show is featuring indie rock greats Eisley, from East Texas, along with two local bands, Norcio and Cohen and the Ghost. All of these bands are extraordinary talents, and play some of the coolest sounds anywhere. That they’re local, however, makes it even more worth the visit. If you’re from here, it’s a chance to touch roots and the future of the roots at the same time. If you’re visiting, this will probably make you wish to move here.

Indie Triple in Lafayette is a post from: PRSky

Family Attends the Musical Wicked in New York

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:42:53 +0000

“I want to see Avenue Q,” “I want to see Wicked!” “I want to see Hamlet!” “Hamlet isn’t even playing anymore, stupid.” And so it went for about a week before the Miller family finally left for their summer vacation in New York. They were going to spend a week in the city and then visit relatives upstate for about four days. Their children were extremely excited about the trip and for reasons unknown to their parents, have no background in the theatre and actually very little interest in local productions, all three of their children were obsessed with seeing a Broadway show. All they heard in the weeks prior to their trip was “Broadway this, and Broadway that.” Somehow in the course of the previous month each of their children had decided to become either a Broadway actor, a director or a major musical composer. Carl even started calling himself C. Lo Web in honor of his hero Andrew Lloyd Webber. His parents assumed that C. Lo had chosen his favorite composer based on the one show they had taken their children to see, which perhaps obviously was Cats.

In the week prior to their trip, in addition to learning that their children had Broadway celebrity careers in their future, the Millers also learned that it was in their best interest to keep family vacation plans a secret until it was time to pack and go. However, being a rather close family, the Millers didn’t want to spoil their children’s fun and went along with their dreams and ideas. They agreed that they could see one Broadway show while they were on vacation in the city, but they would have to agree on which one it was. After a bit of deliberation it was C. Lo that got to make the final vote and he opted for Wicked. This was a bit of a relief to his parents as they were slightly concerned about some of the subject matter in Avenue Q.

Family Attends the Musical Wicked in New York is a post from: PRSky

The Brisbane Sound

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:21:25 +0000

There are many wonderful reasons to come and visit Queensland’s capital, and our five-star Brisbane hotels are certainly a fantastic place to star. We offer the finest in luxury accommodations, blending old-world traditions of hospitality and service with the best of new technology and convenience, to help refresh a weary soul. Our offerings meet the highest standards of the industry, with sumptuousness and elegance abounding in every nook and cranny. There are the standard features that one expects from a five-star hotel, along with a host of extras that will keep you wondering how life could be so good. After a lovely night’s rest, you’ll be ready to enjoy one of our delicious gourmet meals before setting out to see the city.
Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia, and also one of its most culturally forward-thinking. It has attracted a large number of artists for the past few decades, gathering here to make work individually and collectively. There is a great alternative music scene, and the visual arts culture is extremely lively and very cutting edge. There have been periods where art and music folded together quite seamlessly, and one period of its recent history, on the cusp of the early 1980s, was particularly exciting. Visitors here can find traces of this by doing a little digging around, but it won’t be very difficult, and it has left a fine and lasting impression. A good place to begin the search would be at the Institute of Modern Art, where there was recently a major exhibition remembering the Brisbane Sound.
The Brisbane Sound refers to the post-punk years, which were particularly fertile artistic years here and in other major urban centers. Some of the more famous players here were Ed Kuepper, John Nixon, Robert Forster, and Jenny Watson, who were instrumental in taking advantage of a particular cultural moment. Some of their contributions to the Brisbane Sound involved making connections and putting mechanisms into place that would allow the contemporary currents in music and in visual art to come together. Deeply steeped in post-70s conceptualism, there was a very deep mistrust of the standard systems of art production and reproduction. New schools of thought revolving around ways of making work came from following a persistent dissatisfaction, and finding links in other artists and their ideas.

The Brisbane Sound is a post from: PRSky

Not quiet so Farmers Market of Chelsea

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:54:26 +0000

It took me a while to figure out that I did find the Farmers Market of which my concierge at one of the Chelsea Hotels I was staying at, told me about. I was literally looking for a Farmer’s Market. I passed by it twice, until I asked around where I could find the market, that it’s supposed to be here somewhere. The person I asked was kind in not making me look ridiculous when he said I was standing in it.

Let me explain a little, Chelsea Farmers Market no vegetables stalls, instead it’s a conglomerate of businesses arranged next to each other in a square. There is a bookshop, a tobacconists, some restaurants, an organic food shop where I found a great selection of marmalades. In the bookshop I found a rare bound copy of ‘The Book of Tea’ . I’ve been looking for a copy for years, randomly asking about if anyone had a copy. This was definitely a sign that I was in a really good bookstore. I ate at a Spanish restaurant, where I had the best steak and fries every. It was a very hot day so I even ordered a nice glass of sangria to cool down with.

Okay, so it’s not a farmers market with real farmers, but man, it’s little business’s it does have are really fantastic. I recommend coming down here with a group of friends and just chill out. While I was drinking my sangria, I noticed there were a lot of Greek and Spanish people hanging around, very nice looking, interesting, handsome. I think I’ll stick around, maybe see what the tobacconists has to offer in the way of a nice tobacco a Greek or Spanish man might like to smoke.

Not quiet so Farmers Market of Chelsea is a post from: PRSky

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf Onstage Again

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:30:07 +0000

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a dark comedy by Edward Albee. It first opened on Broadway on October 13, 1962 a the Billy Rose Theatre. The original production featured legendary actress and acting teacher Uta Hagen as Martha and Arthur Hill as George. It was immediately controversial due to the nature of its subject matter and extreme use of abusive language and profanity. However, this did not deter it from receiving great critical acclaim and it won a Tony Award for Best Play. It also won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award that same season.

The play revolves around a married couple, George and Martha, who invite George’s new colleague Nick and his young wife Honey, over for a dinner party. The evening quickly dissolves into chaos as George and Martha viciously argue and insult each other as they progress further into drunkenness. The disturbing elements of their relationship and personal lives are revealed in endless slew of insults that fill the evening. What sets this apart from standard dramas is its amazing use of sarcasm and humor that keeps the audience laughing through the despair and turmoil.

This play is still widely popular today and is often produced in major cities around the world. It enjoyed a Broadway revival in recent years and starred Kathleen Turner as Martha. She also joined the touring company and performed the role in major cities and theatres. Theatre tickets are available online for most productions. The play was also adapted into a film version in 1966 and stared Elizabeth Taylor as Martha and Richard Burton as George. George Segal played Nick and Sandy Dennis was cast as Honey. The film as well as the play was considered to be extremely controversial at its release. The intense sexual themes, and disturbing language and display of emotional and substance abuse were elements in the controversial aspect.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf Onstage Again is a post from: PRSky

Jack Goes Boating Successful Off Broadway

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:11:35 +0000

Jack Goes Boating is a unique comedy drama that often boarders on the dark. It’s themes and certain plot lines are definitely dramatic and dark, while the overall story contains hope and persistence over obstacles and the audience roots for the characters. It was written by Bob Glaudini. Glaudini is a New York based actor, writer, director and teacher. This recent play of his had a successful run off Broadway. Theatre tickets for this show and all of the productions in New York are easily accessed and sometimes even available through contacts in the city’s top resort hotels.

Philip Seymour Hoffman played to title role in the New York production. The four person cast also included John Ortiz, Daphne Ruben-Vega and Beth Cole. A film version of the play is being made and Hoffman will present his debut work as the director. The film is currently in pre production and is anticipated to be released in 2011. As will all forms of literature that are adapted into films, it will be interested to see how this play makes the transition. Plays are generally set in one or just a few locations. This is for the obvious reason that this structure is better suited for the stage. Sometimes this creates a purposeful confined or claustrophobic feeling in the film as they are almost always shot in short scenes and many locations. Plays are generally much longer in their scene length and confined to single or double locations.

The plot of Jack Goes Boating tells the story of four friends who are all dealing with various personal and relationship issues. The focus is on a dinner plan that is planned by Jack, who intends to cook a scrumptious meal for his new romantict interest Connie. The mishap ridden evening takes place at his friend’s house. In addition to plays, Glaudini has written many screenplays. Some of these include The Princess Diaries, Bugsy, Mississippi Burning and The Alchemist.

Jack Goes Boating Successful Off Broadway is a post from: PRSky

Osage County in San Francisco

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:14:35 +0000

San Francisco has a vibrant theatre scene. Original works are strongly supported and major touring companies receive sell out audience support. The Curran Theatre in San Francisco is one of the city’s theatrical staples. It has an ongoing selection of major touring shows, and one of its upcoming options is the Tony Award winning play August: Osage County. The show completed its phenomenal sold out run at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in August of 2007 and is one of the leading theatrical productions in the country. It also recently completed its run in New York and closed at the Music Box Theatre in June. Theatre tickets for this and other shows are available by contacting the box office and certain Internet services.

The play was written by Tracy Letts and is a dark comedy that centers on the reunion of the Weston family in Oklahoma. The title of the play refers to the region in Oklahoma that is just northwest of Tulsa. It incorporates many issues into the characters and plot structure, such as substance abuse, death, incest, racism and infidelity. It has a large cast that is composed of various family members and servants and friends that eventually unveil the multiple circumstances and issues present in the family. Anna D. Shapiro directed both the Chicago and New York debut productions. In November of 2008 it made its London debut at the National Theatre. It has also been translated into Spanish and was produced in Buenos Aires.

August: Osage County has received great critical acclaim and has won many awards. In addition to the Tony Award for best play it won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Drama Desk Award and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, among many others. Part of its brilliance is the darkly comedic presentation of these delicate and disturbing topics that are more commonly found in individuals and families than most people are willing to admit.

Osage County in San Francisco is a post from: PRSky

Trance in Singapore

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:39:57 +0000

Savvy travelers know that when looking for a five-star hotel, Singapore is a paradise on earth. Singapore is a fascinating country, with a long history of cultural exchange with its neighboring countries. Malaysia, China, and India all have a strong influence in Singapore, and vice-versa. Because of this, there is a beautiful tradition of exchange and hospitality. This is palpable in the hotels, where the guests are attracted to the atmosphere of graciousness. There are also fabulous amenities here, that demonstrate a commitment to the best of tradition and the promises of innovation. Travelers here have access to the most cutting edge features in connectivity to global culture, and are also the lucky recipients of the most time-tested comforts and luxuries that hotels can offer.

Singapore is perhaps one of the most global cultures on the planet. The culture here is always tuned in to the latest and the greatest in world trends, and leads the world in fashion, technology, and youth culture. There is also a complex trance culture here. But here, we’re not looking at Trance music in Singapore, but dissociative Trance disorder in Singapore. There have been numerous interesting studies on the phenomenon of trance here. Trance in this sense refers to an altered state of consciousness where the person experiencing trance “goes away,” on a kind of mental journey, one that is characterized by catatonia, characteristics of possession, or deep relaxation.

Most of the studies on trance in Singapore relate it to the subject’s personality traits tending toward anxiety, problems in the military, marital discord, or religious or cultural conflict. But there are some studies that are sensitive to cultural ideas of trance, and in these studies, incidents of trance in Singapore are related to the subject’s previous experience with trance. There is a strong belief here in ancestor worship, and the idea the ancestral spirits affect the daily life of human beings. There are also a variety of goddesses and gods in the Taoist and Hindu pantheons, and some of the spiritualist traditions here look at possession as a rather natural occurrence. In these studies then, the idea that trance could be a manifestation of these spiritual traditions, is given weight in examining the subject’s sensitivity to trance. Whatever the conclusions that can be drawn from these studies, it is fascinating to look at how culture makes the world a more complex and interesting place.

Trance in Singapore is a post from: PRSky

Delhi’s Experimental Art Gallery

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:05:15 +0000

There are absolutely wonderful five-star hotels in Delhi, one of the major, truly global cities in the world. The hotels here are a reflection of the city, with an admiration and reflection of both tradition and innovation. There is a fantastic sense of contemporary urban design, and also a finely-honed inclination toward hospitality and grace. The hotels have up-to-the-minute technologies to keep the guests well-connected to the world at large. There are also ample amenities to keep guests happy as clams, and if the purpose of the visit is to hide from the world, the hotels are very inviting. There is no doubt that one will find a great sense of renewal of spirit and body and mind here.

Delhi itself is a city that is constantly renewing itself. One of the longest continually-inhabited places on the planet, Delhi holds a vast sea of human nature, displaying its ongoing drama in all its vividness. One excellent reflection of the human spirit is the art that we make. In Delhi, there is a deep appreciation for art, and artists, and ideas. The Experimental Art Gallery in India Habitat Centre is a fantastic example of this.

India Habitat Centre is a large umbrella organization designed to link individuals with organizations. There is a wide range of facilities with numerous connected organizations, initiatives, a film club, learning centres, and an arm that produces publications for the public. Educational initiatives are one of the core values of the Centre, and there is a promotion of ideas sponsored by individuals and collective organizations. The Experimental Art Gallery is an initiative by the Visual Arts Gallery. Its aims are to display and promote works of new media that include digital art, video, and virtual art forms. The high-tech sensibility comes from the notion that these new forms are the future of art, or at least one road of the future of visual art, and it deserves a place in contemporary Indian culture.

Delhi’s Experimental Art Gallery is a post from: PRSky