Connections

Posted on May 15, 2013 by BlogEditor

by Gabriella Powell

In Project Art Connects I’ve learned a lot about the importance of starting a civilization by a body of water. When Bradenton was growing in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the ports played a vital role in gathering resources like food, transporting people and goods, tourism, sports and other forms of entertainment.

The reliance on water and ports stuck with me and I became inspired b flowing, ocean-like patterns on some of the pottery that I saw at the South Florida Museum. Local Indians had made them long ago, and each piece had such individualized and the uniqueness of a handcrafted artifact. The decorative aspects of the pottery suggest that they were intended for aesthetic or ritualistic purposes as opposed to everyday use.

What are other benefits of living near water in those days and in today’s society?

Gabrielle Powell, a student at New College of Florida, was a participant in Realize Bradenton’s Project Art Connects during the summer 2012. Project Art Connects is an innovative project for high school and college students that uses art and history to connect students to the heritage of their community. The project is supported by the Knight Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation along with numerous other local sponsors.

Fresh Grown Culture

Posted on May 8, 2013 by BlogEditor

by Diana Gonzalez

I decided to go a little deeper and do my art piece on what most people don’t pay much attention to — agriculture. Agriculture is such an important historical aspect of Florida.

A misconception people often have is that back in the day people grew their own fruit and vegetables because they were poor. That’s false.

They did have economic troubles, but it was the fresh taste of their crops, without all the harsh chemicals, that drove them to grow. They found out that it not only tasted better, but was also healthier.

It didn’t stop there; some also brought non-native plants and tried planting them here only to find that almost anything is able to grow in Florida.

What a blessing we have, to be able to have rich soil, plant almost anything, and produce outstanding results.

Why do you think they chose to grow their own fruit?

Diana Gonzalez was a participant in Realize Bradenton’s Project Art Connects. Project Art Connects, is an innovative project for high school and college students that uses art and history to connect students to the heritage of their community. The project is supported by the Knight Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation along with numerous other local sponsors.

May Market Happenings

Posted on May 2, 2013 by BlogEditor

By Keren Swedberg

As weather heats up and snowbirds head home, the Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market remains the community gathering place on Saturday mornings with fun family activities, featured chef demonstrations, and an array of vendors with local produce, art, food, and unique services. Want to see what’s up in May? Take a photo tour to see what you’ll discover!

Kevin Webb, the Market Manager, and Downtown Ambassador, Arleen Cagle, at the Farmers’ Market information booth where you can find the most up-to-date information on fun things going on Downtown and in surrounding areas.

In the picture above, curious attendees surround Chef Jim Copening from Arts & Eats Restaurant during a chef demonstration. Chef demonstrations always start at 10 am and are FREE! Below is the schedule through the month of May:

May 4: 9th Street Bistro

Chef Meador will teach participants how to make delicious Mexican dips.

May 11: Ortygia Restaurant

Chef Gaetano CAnnata will do a tour and demo based on market produce.

May 18: Arts & Eats

Chef Jim Copening will demonstrate how to prepare sauteed vegetables with miso sauce.

Photographed here are kids decorating their Farmers’ Market bags. Every week kids can come and participate in a free activity that runs from 10 am to 1 pm. See below for a May schedule of kids’ events:

May 4: Hispanic Heritage

Create papel banners and colorful Mexican blankets to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

May 11: Paper Airplanes

Join Realize Bradenton to learn how to make the best paper airplanes EVER.

May 16: Face Painting

Get your face painted by the DeSoto Sisterhood of the Crown.

May 25: Scavenger Hunt

Come join in a fun scavenger hunt around the market!

Market goers Floyd & Elizabeth Ellis say, “We live nearby. It’s fun! There are things for the kids to do and we can get our shopping done.”

Local clown “Spaghetti” also comes to the market most Saturdays and is a big draw for the kids! He is always playing a fun tune and making people laugh.

Local musicians enjoy setting up around the streets at the market. Featured here is musician “Syl Vee Reichman” playing acoustic blues.

The key component of the market is, of course, the produce! Pictured here is Kathy Whitlow from Greens on the Gro Farm selling hydroponic vegetables. Greens on the Gro is one of the many regular vendors at the market who sell healthy, local and chemical free produce. To see a full list of vendors, click here.

Professional knife sharpener Gene Tenery hard at work on a Saturday morning. Gene is here most Saturdays — be sure to bring your knives when you come!

Enjoy art? Featured here are wonderful creative pieces sold by vendor “Nautical Odyssey.” Every third Saturday of the month, MainlyArt connects with the Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market and hosts dozens of local artists and craftspeople displaying and selling their creations. To learn more, go to this website.

Kettle Cornball and many other vendors sell fresh, delicious food. Other vendors include K.C.B. Barbeque, Split-Fire Grill, Marylyn’s Toffee, Leah’s Lemonade and more! Click this link to see more.

One market attendee says, “We often come to get lemonade. It’s always nice to see people we know, but lemonade is the big draw!”

The market also is the community gathering place for friendly dogs on Saturday mornings. If you are looking for a place to have your dog socialize, look no further than downtown Bradenton! Leashes are required.

So what are you waiting for? This is a great way to connect with your neighbors, get great fresh produce, and spend a relaxing day in downtown Bradenton. The Farmers’ Market will continue until May 25, take the summer off, and then resume Oct. 5, 2013. Parking is free downtown on weekends!

What else would you like to see at the Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market?

Keren Swedberg is the Volunteer Program Coordinator, Assistant Market Manager and Creative Fellow at Realize Bradenton.

Mystical River

Posted on April 24, 2013 by BlogEditor

By Chantal Varon

The local Native Americans inspired my piece. When you look at the young woman, she is giving an offering to welcome you to come and take a look at the Calusa Tribe.

They were not farmers or hunters — they were fishermen. The ceramic pot was very important to the natives. They used them for cooking, gathering water and as urns for their deceased.

The pot that I designed is too extravagant for food purposes. A pot like this would normally be used as an urn, but I wanted to show life coming from death. Out of the pot you see two fish along with water pouring out. These two fish are native to the area; catfish and mullet.

I love the whole idea of going back to the most natural time of Bradenton where there was an abundance of food, trees and land. The woman knows the many things this place had to offer people and wants to share it.

What do you find most interesting about Bradenton’s history?

Chantal Varon, a student at State College of Florida, was a participant in Realize Bradenton’s Project Art Connects during the summer of 2012. Project Art Connects, is an innovative project for high school and college students that uses art and history to connect students to the heritage of their community. The project is supported by the Knight Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation along with numerous other local sponsors.

Bradenton comes together to ‘Embrace Our Differences’

Posted on April 18, 2013 by BlogEditor

by Caron Cooper

The “Embracing Our Differences” exhibit features 39 powerful art pieces along the Bradenton Riverwalk through April 29.

The annual outdoor exhibit, “Embracing Our Differences,” has arrived in Bradenton and was unveiled Friday, March 29, along the downtown Riverwalk. Residents and friends walked the grounds to admire and discuss the powerful art pieces, while children participated in a scavenger hunt to find small photo snippets within the exhibit.

The mission of “Embracing Our Differences” is to use art and creative writing as a catalyst to promote the ideas of diversity and inclusion and to teach the lesson of standing up against hatred and prejudice.

“We love the idea. We love the concept. This program embraces everything we are trying to do with the Riverwalk,” said Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston. “To be inclusive and to bring different kinds of people together.”

There were 4,502 pieces of art and creative writing submitted for the 2013 exhibit, with only 39 places available for display. About 1,000 submissions came from local residents and students. The rest came from around the world, the most from the country of Iran. Eleven of the pieces chosen were submitted by Manatee County students.

“The notion that Bradenton is a friendly city is an understatement. The warmth with which we’ve been accepted here, the openness, the enthusiasm — it just warms our hearts, makes us so happy and makes this experience to us seem like such an important thing to do. We really appreciate that,” said EOD Vice Chair Dennis McGillicuddy.

The artwork will be on display at three locations (by the skate park, at the pavilion and just west of the amphitheater) along the Bradenton Riverwalk through April 29.

After the unveiling presentation, folks gathered at the amphitheater for a free concert.

The opening night presentation was followed by a free concert sponsored by Realize Bradenton featuring Dean Johanesen & the Human Condition at the Riverwalk Amphitheater.

To learn more about Embracing Our Differences visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.

What is your favorite piece of art from the Embracing Our Differences exhibition along the Riverwalk?

Caron Cooper is a guest blogger at Realize Bradenton.

ArtSlam through a Photographer’s Eyes

Posted on April 10, 2013 by BlogEditor

by Keren Swedberg

As the winner of the 2012 ArtSlam photo competition, Kista Gifford spent all day at ArtSlam working hard to capture the energy of the event through her photographs. “I tried to be where the action was happening, which wasn’t easy to do when there was over a mile of art to experience!”

All her hard work — and over 10 miles of walking — paid off. Below you will see her top three photos that represent the energy and feel of 2012 ArtSlam.

Kista drew attention to the vibrant colors and accentuated how much motion was going on by doing a still shot of the art with skaters flying by.

Art in motion: Kista captured a photograph of children having a great time using hula hoops and other vibrant colored things to help them create their own dance.

Expressing himself: Kista found a young man who was expressing himself by painting a self-portrait on plastic canvas.

Kista enjoys capturing moments of “life” with her camera and feels like she sees the world through a different lens than most people. If you are curious to know more about her work and want to get involved in a fun game she calls, “What do YOU see?” you can check out her Capture This Facebook page or email her at capturethisbykista@gmail.com.

Keren Swedberg is the Volunteer Program Coordinator and Creative Fellow at Realize Bradenton.

Last Performance at Manatee Players’ Riverfront Theater

Posted on April 3, 2013 by BlogEditor

By Leona Braun

Photo of Corinne Woodland by Leona Braun

While driving to Manatee Players’ Riverfront Theater on Sunday evening I felt as if I was going to a funeral. I was, in fact, heading to the final performance on the 60 plus year-old stage. I realized I was sighing as I turned right from Third Avenue onto Old Main Street and headed north to the river. To the south, a barricade was preventing vehicle traffic as a crowd of green-clad revelers celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in the street. It’s funny, I thought, as I parked outside the crumbling theater, how there could be a rollicking party one block away from where we would be saying goodbye to a beloved old friend.

My mood quickly changed as I approached the doors leading to the lobby with its thread-bare carpet. The performers were arriving, carrying the formal attire they would be wearing onstage. Everyone was smiling, hugging, waving and shouting greetings.

Next staff and current Board members filled the lobby, adding to the party mood. Soon former Board members, musicians and cast members from years and shows past joined the crowd and the lobby overflowed with people and laughter. As I tended bar, I watched this solemn occasion become a joyous event.

Photo of Rick Kerby by Leona Braun

The performance began following a greeting from Dr. Anthony Pizzo, Board Chairman, who introduced and thanked major donors and announced a new 2-to-1 match to raise the final amount needed for the completion of the new performing arts center. Twenty-one leading ladies and men from some of our most acclaimed productions soon took the stage, singing their signature songs. They introduced each number with a story or memory of how their lives had been personally and positively affected by being a cast member of a Manatee Players show. Some had trouble completing their tunes without including a few sobs and tears. Executive Director Janene Witham and Producing Artistic Director Rick Kerby served as masters of ceremony, sprinkling their introductions with stories of their own.

The final number, “What I Did for Love,” from A Chorus Line, began with RIck singing the first verse. He was soon joined on stage by all the evening’s performers. As the song progressed, the lyrics were projected onto a screen and the audience was invited to join in. Any dry eyes left in the house quickly moistened.

Lastly, Rick encouraged all audience members who had ever been onstage or worked back stage for any production at the theater to join the cast for one huge final curtain call. As I took that final bow along with so many friends, former campers (now main stage actors) and acquaintances, my heart swelled with joy and gratitude. I knew that all of these talented people, members of the Manatee Players’ extended family, would be moving into a beautiful state-of-the-art building with me and that there were grander, more magnificently elaborate productions yet to come.

Then the dusty red curtain came down for the very last time and the best cast party I had ever helped to host commenced.

What was your favorite play at the Manatee Players’ Riverfront Theater?

Leona Braun is the Project Coordinator at the Manatee Players.

A Perfect Evening at Music in the Park on the Riverwalk

Posted on March 27, 2013 by BlogEditor

By Morgan J. Bettes

DON’T MISS — the final FREE Music in the Park concert March 29, 6-8 PM

Looking for the perfect date night, family night or just an excuse to be outside on a budget? Let me tell you, Music in the Park is where its at.

Last Friday a few friends and I attended the FREE outdoor concert at the Mosaic Amphitheater on the Riverwalk and enjoyed live music by local Chicago blues favorite, RJ Howson Band.

We laid out some blankets and purchased a delicious bowl of clam chowder from Renaissance on 9th to accompany the great music and watched a gorgeous riverfront sunset.

The crowd was fantastic and energized, the food for sale was delicious, and the tunes didn’t stop until dark, all of which contributed to a perfect Friday night out.

Eager to purchase tickets for the 2013 Bradenton Blues Festival?! Tickets are already on sale at www.BradentonBluesFestival.org.

Morgan J. Bettes is a Creative Fellow at Realize Bradenton.

Kim Hoffmans’ Famous Veggie Pie

Posted on March 13, 2013 by BlogEditor

by Keren Swedberg

Delicious smells wafted from the Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market as Kim Hoffman, owner & chef at local restaurant Charisma Café, led forty participants to different vendor booths to pick up ingredients to make her Famous Veggie Pie.

Kim hosted the tour & demonstration as a part of the “Featured Chef” event held at the market. Her goals are to teach participants how to purchase correct produce, introduce participants to the growers, provide samples, and have them leave with an experience they would want to share with their friends.

Her biggest messages;

The Farmers’ Market has the freshest produce
Produce purchased at your local Farmers’ Market will last much longer than produce purchased in a bag or container from a store
The Market gives you the ability to get on a personal level with the growers
Prices at the market are very cost effective

“A Farmers’ Market is a place where you can get up in the morning, take a stroll, have a cup of coffee, see who’s doing what, and walk in your community.“ She adds, “By shopping at the market and shopping local, we have the opportunity to make it grow and grow and grow.” This growth allows our community to be economically prosperous.

Kim’s tour audience were willing to ask questions and share information they learned with complete strangers. Kim was able teach them something new through her tour and demonstration. In return, Kim reported that many customers who came to her restaurant the following week were from the Farmers’ Market.

Curious about meeting Kim & trying her famous veggie pie? Go to her website for restaurant hours and locations at charisma-cafe.weebly.com.

Curious about future featured chef demonstrations at the Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market? Go to BradentonFarmersMarket.com.

Why do you buy local produce?

Keren Swedberg is the Special Events Coordinator at the Downtown Bradenton Farmers’ Market

Riverwalk, the Canvas for ArtSlam 2012

Posted on November 14, 2012 by BlogEditor

by Morgan J. Bettes

Dorothy followed the yellow brick road and I, Morgan, followed the Riverwalk to ArtSlam 2012. There were no flying monkeys, no wicked witches but instead painted faces, dancers, rockin’ bands, and a sea of fish roaming the Riverwalk.

The diversity of art projects brought all ages and interests of people together. Kids and adults drew with chalk, wrote poetry, had their faces painted like animals and much more.

It was a great day to be outside and enjoy the live music throughout the day with a final performance by local blues favorite, the RJ Howson Band. I feel it is safe to say, this years ArtSlam surpassed expectations on every front. ArtSlam was truly a grand slam and I look forward to continuing the Riverwalk kickoff season with the 2012 Bradenton Blues Festival on December 1.

What was your favorite art project on the Riverwalk during ArtSlam12 and why?

Morgan J. Bettes is a Media Specialist at Realize Bradenton.