ForImmediateRelease May8,2012

Contact:LeahAmmon,(408)9615814 lammon@montalvoarts.org

MayFinalFridayShowcasesMontalvoFellowsProjects
EveningofpresentationsbycurrentLucasArtistsinResidencecomingMay25
SARATOGA,Calif.VisitorstoMontalvoonFriday,May25
willenjoyafulleveningofeventsledbycurrentMontalvo artistsinresidence.Beginningat6pm,soundartist MamoruOkunowillgiveapresentationofhisinnovative worketudeforeverydaylife.From7:30to8:30pm,the ProjectSpaceGallerywillbeopentothepublic,displaying itemsfromthecurrentexhibitionMontalvoHistorical FabricationsandSouvenirs(APopUpShop).Then,aspart oftheperformanceseriesNewDirections,at8:30pm, musicianandcomposerBethCusterwillpresenta rediscoveredSovieteraavantgardefilmMy Grandmother,accompaniedbyalive,alloriginalmusical scoreunderthestarsintheMontalvoGardenTheatre.AdmissiontothepresentationbyOkuno andtheexhibitionisfree;thescreeningofMyGrandmotherwillbe$20forgeneraladmission, $16formembers,and$8forstudentswithcurrentschoolID. PoetryoftheEveryday:MamoruOkuno MontalvoartistinresidenceMamoruOkunoisa soundandvisualartistwhofocusesonsimple gestures,andexploreshowtheseunremarkable actionscarrytheunexaminedfreightofcomplex socialconditions.Hislatestwork,"etudefor everydaylife,"celebratestheinherentbeautyof
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themundaneandvalorizesactionsandobjectssocietytendstoignore.Heusesitemssuchas plasticstraws,foodwrap,ice,steelhangers,instantnoodles,anelectrickettle,andthe microwave,andintegrateseverydaypracticessuchasshopping,eating,anddrinking.From theseheextractsandrearrangessoundsandgesturestocreateanintimatelistening experience. The"etudeforeverydaylife"serieshasbeenexhibitedandperformedatTheJapanFoundation (Hanoi,2011),MOCATaipei(Taipei,2011),AomoriContemporaryArtCenter(Aomori,2011), MUMOK(Vienna,2009),LaChambreBlanche(Quebec,2008),YUKATSURUNO(Tokyo,2010) andotherinternationalvenues.In2010,theetudeno.13hangingicewonthefirstprizeat theTOKYOEXPERIMENTALFESTIVALorganizedbyTokyoWonderSite. Okuno'sFinalFridayslecturewillincludevideoandlivedemonstrationofseveralofthe"etude" pieces,givingtheaudienceinsightintohiscreativeprocess. ManufacturingMemories:TheMarianas*andtheirSouvenirPopUpShop MontalvoartistsinresidenceMichaelArcegaand StephanieSyjucoareSanFranciscobased interdisciplinaryartistswhoarefascinatedbythefraught relationshipbetweenpastandpresent.Arcega,who worksmostlyininstallationandsculptureart,draws inspirationfromhistoricaleventsandthestructureof language.Heoftenuseshumorinhisworkstocouchhissociopolitcalcritique.Syjuco,alsoan installationartist,hascreatedabodyofworkincludingspectaclesofcollectedculturalobjects, cumulativearchives,andtemporaryvendinginstallations,oftenwithanactivepublic engagementcomponent. CollaboratingunderthemonikerTheMarianas*,ArcegaandSyjucohavecreatedanexhibition entitledMontalvoHistoricalFabricationsandSouvenirs(APopUpShop),whichwillbeonview atMontalvothroughJune20.Theshowdirectlyaddressesourculturesappetiteforsouvenirs, bothasrepositoriesofmemoriesandascommodities.TransformingtheProjectSpaceGallery intoafunctioningstorewithanactivefactoryarea,theartistswillbepresentinthegallery, bothcreatingandsellinghandmadelimitededitioncollectiblestovisitors.These
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souvenirswillengagewithaspectsofMontalvoscentennial,aswellasitsplaceinthecultural andpoliticalhistoryofCalifornia. DuringtheMay25FinalFriday,thegallerywillbeopen,andthepublicwillhavethe opportunitytoviewandpurchasethesouvenirsonview. AccompanyingAnarchism:TheBethCusterEnsemblepresentsMyGrandmother MontalvoartistinresidentBethCusterisaSan Franciscobasedcomposer,performer,and bandleader,whohascollaboratedwitha myriadofartistsfromaroundtheworldduring thecourseofherdecadeslongcareer. CurrentlyanAdjunctProfessorofComposition atMillsCollege,aswellasaprivateinstructor forclarinet,voice,andcomposition,shehas beentherecipientofnumerousnationalfellowshipprizes.AmongCustersfondestpassionsis filmscoring;shehascomposedscorestoaccompanysuchclassicsasG.W.Pabst'sPandoras BoxandFritzLangsMetropolis. Custerslatestscorewaswrittentoaccompanythe1929filmMyGrandmother.MadebySoviet GeorgiandirectorKoteMikaberidze,MyGrandmotherwasbannedinitsdayforitsirreverent satireofthestateorganizationofthestillyoungUSSR.AdelightfulexampleoftheSoviet EccentricCinemamovement,thefilmtellsthestoryofthetravailssufferedbyamilquetoast bureaucratmodeledafterAmericansilentcomicHaroldLloydafterheloseshisjob. Mikaberidzesworkstilldazzlestodaywithitsbold,experimentalcinematictechniques includingstopmotionanimation,puppetry,exaggeratedcameraangles,andconstructivistsets. CustersscorefeaturesaquickpacedpasticheofAmericanjazzandblues,contemporary classical,andworldfolkmusic.ShewillleadherensemblefeaturingNilsFrykdahl(narrator), ChrisGrady(trumpet),VickyGrossi(bass),JessicaIvry(cello),JanJackson(drums),David James(guitar),andDinaMaccabee(violin)inaliveperformanceofthepieceduringa screeningofMyGrandmotherintheMontalvoLilianFontaineGardenTheaterduringtheMay 25FinalFriday.
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MAYFINALFRIDAYATMONTALVOARTSCENTER
What:AneveningshowcaseofworkbycurrentMontalvoArtsCentersartistsinresidence includingsoundartistMamoruOkuno,installationartistsTheMarianas*,andcomposerBeth Custer When:Friday,May25,from6p.m.to10p.m. Where:ThehistoricVilla,ProjectSpaceGallery,andLilianFontainGardentheateratthe MontalvoArtsCenter Admission:TicketsarefreetoMamoruOkunoslectureandtotheMarianas*exhibition;$20 forgeneraladmission,$16formembers,and$8forstudentswithcurrentschoolIDforMy Grandmother ###
Nowcelebratingitscentennialyear,MontalvoArtsCenterisanoasisofculture andnaturewhosemissionistocreateandpresentartsofalltypes,nurtureartists, anduseourhistoricVilla,buildings,andgroundsininnovativewaysthatengage peopleinthecreativeprocess.LocatedinSiliconValley'sSaratogahills,Montalvo occupiesaMediterraneanstyleVilla,builtin1912bySenatorJamesDuvalPhelan, surroundedby175stunningacres,includingthecampusofourinternationalLucas ArtistsResidencyProgram.SenatorPhelanbequeathedthevillaandgroundsto thepeopleofCaliforniafortheencouragementofart,music,literatureand architecture,amandatethatMontalvohascarriedforwardeversinceitsfounding. Formoreinformation,call(408)9615800orvisitwww.montalvoarts.org.

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