Monterey Museum of Art names Charlotte Eyerman as new Executive Director

Charlotte Eyerman has been named executive director of the Monterey Museum of Art, it was announced Thursday.

Eyerman emerged as the choice after a roughly eight-month long national search. She fills the role left vacant by E. Michael Whittington, who announced his resignation in January.

Eyerman, who lives in Los Angeles, currently serves as director of the French Regional American Museum Exchange (FRAME), a consortium of 26 major museums.

Eyerman previously did strategic and curatorial work for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and has extensive curatorial and consultant  experience at several Southern California museums and galleries, including work with Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills, the Pasadena Arts Council, and the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Eyerman is expected to move to the Monterey Peninsula sometime in October. She will be in attendance for the Aug. 25 closing ceremony of “Return to the Sea: Saltworks” by Motoi Yamamoto.

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Cali Roots and the future of Monterey Peninsula music

I absolutely dig this logo

    On Monday, organizers of the wildly successful California Roots Music & Art Festival announced an east coast version, "California Roots — The Carolina Sessions," Oct. 26 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
  It's an impressive accomplishment — a niche musical genre festival building momentum over a short period of time (the first festival was held in 2010), evolving into a 7,500-person-a-day, three-day event.
 To put it in perspective, the Monterey Jazz Festival, still the grand daddy of all regional music festivals, achieved its record three-day attendance watermark of 40,000-plus attendees in 2006 and 2007.
 That was accomplished 49 and 50 years after MJF was established. The jazz festival also had the benefit of a major corporate sponsor in Verizon.
 With total attendance of 22,500 at this year's event, Cali-Roots has grown to more than half that size of MJF. It did it independently, in less than five years.
 Cali-Roots organizers, chief among them founder Jeff Monser and lead organizer Dan Sheehan, are to be commended for establishing a solid brand and business model in the ever-so-fickle concert promotion industry.
 I can't say with any certainty that there's a lesson to be learned from the festival's success, but the evidence does bode well for contemporary music fans on the Monterey Peninsula.
 That is, when shows featuring young, hot, well-known musical artists with established buzz and loyal fan bases are announced, fans will show up from all over the region.
 I saw it last year with the Mumford & Sons "Gentlemen of the Road" tour stop, which brought in 10,000 people.
 It continued in April when Band of Horses performed a sold-out show at the Golden State Theater.
 Cali-Roots got it right by booking acts with strong touring experience and solid digital album sales. This year's headlining acts — Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid and Matisyahu — certainly fit those bills.
 It also helped that the Central Coast has a strong local reggae-rock music scene. Local acts like Wasted Noise and Matt Masih & The Messengers were rewarded for their hard work with spots on this year's Cali-Roots bill.
 As it stands, the Central Coast can regard itself as the national reggae-rock capital.
 Cali-Roots is in the process of establishing a year-round local presence. On July 5, it hosted J-Boog at the Fox Theater in Salinas. VIP tickets sold out before the doors even opened.
 That's not to say that anything with the reggae-rock tag is destined to sell-out locally. But it's proof positive that when promoters identify the right musical and cultural movement at the right time, and are able to cater to that audience, it can be very successful here on the Central Coast.
 The next test will be the First City Festival, which is promoted by Goldenvoice, the promotion company that organizes the Coachela Music & Arts Festival. With that built in brand recognition should serve FCF well.
 I predict a good turnout, anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 people a day. That still won't match up with Cali-Roots.
 Once First City Festival is done, we'll countdown the days until the 2014 Cali-Roots Festival lineup is announced.
 And we'll see if Cali-Roots can ultimately become the biggest music festival on the Central Coast. Period.

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Best Bets: Arden Park Roots in Concert Saturday, May 18 at Casa Sorrento in Salinas

   
   What: Arden Park Roots in concert
   Where: Casa Sorrento, 393 Salinas St., Salinas
   When: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18
   Sacramento's Arden Park Roots deliver funky, crowd-pleasing California Reggae-Rock that has earned them loads of accolades in thestate capital. 
   The band has taken the Sacramento music awards, aka "The Sammies," twice for "Best Reggae/Rock/Funk band." In 2012, the band was inducted into the "Sammies" Hall of Fame. 
   The band has been on the road grinding and spreading its conscious vibe, touring the east coast and performing songs from its most recent album, “Pipe Dreams.” 
   $5 cover. For information, call 757-2720, or see CasaSorrento.com.

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Best Bets: Clyde Carson and more in concert Friday, May 17 at Fox Theater in Salinas

   

   What: Clyde Carson, HD of Bearfaced, Lil Raider, J-Blaze, Jay Rezz and more in concert

   Where: Fox Theater Salinas, 241 Main St., Salinas
   When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 17
   Oakland rapper Clyde Carson first saw success as front man for popular Bay Area act The Team. 
   Regional hits like "Hyphy Juice" and 2012's "Slow Down" helped Carson maintain a presence on the radio airwaves, while his recent mixtape "Something To Speak About" helped fuel the recent Bay Area rap revival.                                                                                                                 

 

Salinas rapper Jay Rezz performs
Friday at Fox Theater Salinas

 

  Friday's show also features performances from HD of Bearfaced, Lil Raider, J-Blaze, Lil Ro, Yung-D, Varcity, Yung Ant, Thomas Alex and up and coming Salinas rapper Jay Rezz. 

  $20 advance tickets available at Tickle Me Pink, 1294 N. Main St., Salinas. For information, call 510-827-0444 or 229-9907.

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Best Bets: Forrest Day & The Suborbitals Thursday, May 16 @ Carmel Bar & Grill

What: Forrest Day, The Suborbitals in concert
Where: Carmel Bar and Grill, 3601 The Barnyard, Carmel
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16
   Locals pining for the days of Monterey Live (count us among them) get a double dose of nostalgia Thursday night in Carmel. Bay Area firestarter Forest Day brings his jolly band of misfits and songs from his new album, "The Second." 
   There's no real way to describe the sound and energy, so we'll just say this — imagine The Muppet's "Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem" band come to life. Yup, that about sums itup. 
   Opening is the masked men of The Suborbitals and their own category-defying brand of style and sound. En Vivo Monterey. Siempre!
   $15 cover. This show is 21 and over. See ForestDay.Bandcamp.com or
Facebook.com/TheSuborbitals.

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City of Salinas and Youth Commission announce Salinas Youth Poet Laureate competition

  The City of Salinas and the city's Youth Commission hosts a poetry competition at 6 p.m. June 1 to find the city's first Youth Poet Laureate.
  The competition takes place at Sherwood Hall, 940 North Main St., Salinas. It is open to any Salinas resident age 13-19.
  The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and serve for one year as the city's poet laureate.
  For information, call 758-7217. See the press release below for full information.


Name of Organization: City of Salinas, Youth Commission
Event: Salinas Youth Poet Laureate
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2013 6:00pm.
Place: Sherwood Hall, 940 North Main Street
Fee: Contest Entry and Event Admission Free

   Become the first Salinas Youth Poet Laureate for one year and receive $1000.00! The contest is open to any resident of Salinas aged 13-19.
   All styles of poetry are welcome. Poetry performed must be original work. Term of the Poet Laureate is for one year.
   For information, call 758-7217 or email sheilam@ci.salinas.ca.us.  See our Face Book page Salinas Youth Poet for more information.

   For more information call: 758-7476

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Video: "The Legend" by Arwa Awan

Pacific Grove High School student Arwa Awan performs "The Legend" by Garrett Hongo at the 2013 California Poetry Out Loud state competition. Awan took first prize and will represent California at the national Poetry Out Loud competition this spring in Washington D.C.

Awan is the thirs Pacific Grove High School student to win the state competition since 2010. Previous winners were Morgan Brown (2010) and Robert Marchand (2011).

Awan won the Monterey County competition in 2012.

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Interview: Dustin Lance Black

Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black was in attendance for a staged reading of his play "8" Friday night at The Western Stage. Here is a transcript from a short interview he gave "The Beat" prior to his appearance.


For the record, what was the time frame you lived in and attended school in Salinas?

I was here 88 to 92, maybe the end of 87. Because I was here for junior high a touch, and then I went to high school here. I graduated from NS High School in 1992. I was always in Salinas. We were working in Fort Ord. My step-dad and mom were working at Fort Ord.

I was always on the north side. We started in an apartment that was down by (Northridge) Mall. And we ended on Julia, 945 Julia (Street). On the corner of Alvin and Julia.

Talk to me about what you took from those formative years for you, growing up in Salinas.

Mexican food is better here. There’s no Rositas (Armory Cafe) in Los Angeles. I came away with two different ways of pronouncing Rodeo, or Ro-day-O.

I did spend a lot of time here (gestures to The Western Stage). This was kind of my little oasis. I felt a little isolated and a little different here. Growing up Mormon, it wasn’t that kind of community. I was a closeted gay kid and at the time there was almost no place in the country where that was okay, and I was into the theatre, and that also was like, at least at North High, there wasn’t much of a theater program. So this became home, and it was a place, I learned how to open up, even though I was incredibly shy. They gave me confidence in who I was.

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Ink At The Bay Festival takes place Friday through Sunday in Monterey

The inaugural Ink at The Bay Tattoo Festival is a coming out party for the local tattoo scene.
The event takes place 2-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. - 7 p.m . Sunday at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey.
For information, visit www.inkatthebay.com.
About 40 artists from Monterey County and abroad, including artists from as far away as Italy, Switzerland, and Brazil, as well as the Bay Area and Las Vegas.
Juan Gonzalez, event organizer and owner of Exclusive Ink tattoo shop in Salinas, said the mainstream acceptance and popularity of tattoo art has opened the door for this type of event locally.
“With the tattoo industry getting bigger on television, before it wasn’t like that,” said Gonzalez, referring to reality TV shows like TLC’s “Miami Ink” and spin-off “LA Ink.” “It’s like more people are into tattoos.
Gonzalez, 30, opened Exclusive Ink about five years ago. He said he has been tattooing professionally for about seven years.
His artistic development began at a young age. His first medium was oil paintings, with a particular interest in portrait paintings.
Gonzalez now specializes in tattoo portraits, creating lifelike images for his clients.
“You can’t erase, obviously,” Gonzalez said of the challenges of the flesh as a canvas. “You’ve got to give your best on every tattoo. These people are going to be walking around with it for the rest of their lives. It’s a little more stressful than painting on a canvas.”
Event organizers are hoping to get between 2,000 to 3,000 attendees for the event.
Gonzalez named a few of the artists he’s looking forward seeing over the weekend.
Daniel Rocha of Las Vegas specializes in tattoo portraits. Los Angeles artists Fernie Andrade is another portrait artist, known for his black and white work.
Italian artists Gianluca Altavela has a reputation for free hand Polynesian artwork, a tribal style that is especially popular in modern tattoo circles.
Gonzalez said organizers modeled “Ink at the Bay” after a few of the industry conferences he’s attended. He’s gone as far as Italy for recent ink festivals.
Organizers also wanted to offer other attractions for casual tattoo fans. For non-tattoo enthusiasts, organizers have scheduled a Saturday evening concert. Vanishing Affair, Cali Nation, Automatic Animal, Hate For State, Dub Dog, Spin Farm, Voodoo Boys Trio, Thirty 9 Fingers and Ill G will perform.
There will also be Aztec Dancers, face and body art demos, DJ’s and a pin-up model contest on Sunday.
It’s all aimed at promoting the local tattoo scene.

 “I’m stoked that there is going to be a convention here,” said Rick Webster, manager of Gold Coast Tattoo in Monterey, which is a sponsor of the event. “Guest artists can come here and tattoo and have a little vacation, too.”

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Chelsie Hill of Pacific Grove introduced on "Push Girls"

Monterey Peninsula native Chelsie Hill was introduced to a national cable audience on Monday night's episode of "Push Girls" on The Sundance Channel.
In her introduction (embedded video above), Hill is greeted on the show by cast member Mia Schaikewitz. They are attending a dance recital by wheelchair-bound dancer Auti Angel.
In a voice-over, Schaikewitz explains that Angel first met Hill and introduced the Pacific Grove native to the cast.
“Now we’ve all taken her under our wings,” Schaikewitz said.
Hill’s story is explained briefly in a snap montage. A photo of Hill prior to her car accident
justapozed with a picture of her in the hospital.
“When I first met the girls, my first reaction was “Oh my gosh, you can be beautiful and be in a wheelchair,” Hill said in an aside.
“When I was in the hospital, I watched video of (Angel) dancing,” Hill explained. “I met (Angel) and then she introduced me to the girls. I’m definitely still learning my body right now. And being with the girls has definitely helped me a lot.”
During Angel's competition scenes, Hill shares some emotional anguish brought.
"I've been dancing since I was three. Going into the ballroom competition and seeing all those dancers brings back that feeling," Hill said,"like if I could just turn off my paralysis for two hours and dance, oh my gosh. I'd be the happiest person ever."
Hill will have a recurring role in the season's second half, according to a show spokesperson.
"Push Girls" airs Monday nights on The Sundance Channel. Check your cable provider's listings for show time.

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Review: "Old Ringers" @ Paper Wing Theatre Co.

The current production of Old Ringers at the Paper Wing Theater in Monterey was written by Joseph Simonelli, directed by Katie Burmaster, and was billed as a Neil Simon style comedy. Thus I arrived at the theater with high expectations.

The set revealed a 1960s style apartment somewhere in New Jersey with Amanda the daughter (Kelly Machado) working on a laptop computer, which was the first of the series of incongruities. Amanda was talking to her mother, Diane (Andrea MacDonald), who was in another room but unfortunately Amanda's voice was low enough to entirely miss her first two or three sentences. 

My first indication that there were philosophical differences between mother and daughter was the subsequent arrival of three of mom’s old friends. While the older women discussed their current financial plight Amanda found spaces in the conversation to lecture them about the evils of drink and sex.

When Diane receives a call requesting phone sex the idea of supplementing their income by providing this obviously needed service took root. All four women, Diane; Verna (Suzanne Alvin) the only one of the group who showed a glimmer of a promiscuous past; Kathy-Anne (Linda Dale) whose struggle to cover up with her raincoat provided the only true comedic moment; and Rose (Kira Gray) participating in providing this service, even including Harry (Richard Mueller), Diane’s current physical interest, whose role consisted of potentially servicing a gay clientele.

The title of the show indicated that all four of these women had, somewhere in their history, worked in burlesque. But the costumes did not match those expectations. There were no feathers, no garish earrings, and no boa in sight. Incoming calls were transferred from a princess phone to cell phones creating even greater confusion as to timelines.

Officer Rumson (Jay DeVine), Amanda's current romantic target, saved the day by collecting all cell phones and offering to find jobs for the would be soiled doves.

The overall comedic aspect was lost in part by the fumbling of lines and a feeling that the show had not received adequate rehearsal time. The constant movement of five or more people on stage at the same time screamed for better blocking and the set called for much greater research. 

Perhaps with a few more shows under their boas and the redefining of the space and electronic props this show will be able to present the easily identifiable comedy intended by the playwright and cast.

-Sam Sebastian

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Review: "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"

You’d be crazy to miss The Western Stage’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

I went into the stage adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel with no expectations and an open-mind. I’ve not seen the movie or read the novel but both have become such staples in American culture that everyone seems to be familiar with the narrative.

The ensemble cast did a fabulous job creating a believable version of a psychiatric hospital’s dayroom inhabitants.

Nathan Liittschwager, as Billy Bibbit, is vulnerable and displays the anguish one might expect from a person who had recently attempted suicide and has the expected problems with meeting his mother’s expectations

Ron Cacas’ descriptions of his hallucinations as Martini had audience members double-checking themselves to ensure that it was merely his hallucination. Alex Bush’s Ruckley serves as a warning to other dayroom dwellers of what happens to those who buck the system.

John G. Bridges’ portrayal of Charles Cheswick reveals a man who plays by the rules of the institution but finds it difficult to measure up to rules on the outside.

Valerio Biondo’s Scanlon never reveals what caused his stint in the psychiatric institution but one can well imagine with the bit at the beginning of the play.

There are three players who merit special attention, however.

No version of “Cuckoo: would be complete without a stern Nurse Ratched, in this case played with tight control by Dawn Flood Fenton. While I had expected a Nurse Ratched who chewed up the scenery, Ms. Fenton’s portrayal showed far more restraint and calm control – she
may have been too nice, in fact.

Jeff McGrath’s mesmerizing interpretation of Randall McMurphy was reminiscent of Nicholson’s film version, though he made the role his own. He was blustery and conniving, a good time Charlie who found a way out of the workhouse.

But it was Reynald Medrano’s interpretation of Chief Bromden that held the play together.

For most of the play Medrano doesn’t speak while on stage and we listen instead to his thoughts in quiet moments before or after scenes. When he finally does speak it catapults the action into high gear and causes the other men to question their own inevitable shrinkage as a result of their time in the psychiatric hospital.

This performance reminds me that we have wonderful local talent on the central coast and in particular on The Western Stage.


-Lee Ann Ritscher

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Info for Gentlemen of the Road Festival, Aug. 25 @ Monterey Fairgrounds

Taken from www.Gentlemenoftheroad.com:

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
SATURDAY AUGUST 25, 2012
MONTEREY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

ON SALE 10:00AM JUNE 1ST

Monterey, California: “Monterey was not a town to let dishonor come to a literary man.” So wrote Steinbeck in Cannery Row. As literary men ourselves, we thought Monterey would be the perfect place to end our American adventure. Plus, weʼre huge Steinbeck nerds.

The Monterey Fairgrounds have a long history of epochal music events. Itʼs the place where Jimi Hendrix learned to light his guitar on fire (and, presumably, to put it out). The Fairgrounds are part arena, part eclectic campus, part carnival. And then, once night falls, weʼll roll down to Monterey proper: Cannery Row, the Aquarium, and lots of other cool spots.

A very limited quantity of $59 tickets with no additional fees or charges will be available beginning June 1 on a first-come, first-served basis. These tickets will sell out, so please watch the onsale timing and plan accordingly.

All remaining Stopover tickets will be $69, all-in, with no additional fees or charges. Every ticket is also a commemorative passport and includes an exclusive live download compilation featuring performances taken from across the Stopovers.

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Mumford & Sons coming Aug. 25 to Monterey County Fairgrounds

Courtesy of Mac McDonald:

Mac About Town

2 hours ago

British indie folk stars Mumford & Sons will headline the Gentlemen of the Road Festival Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at gentlemenoftheroad.com and folkyeah.com. Also on the bill: Gogol Bordello, Grouplove, The Very Best, Two Gallants, Apache Relay and Haim. The group was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2010, including Best New Artist and Best Rock Song ("Little Lion Man"). They garnered four nominations at this year's Grammy Awards.

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Update from Dylan Bird @ first day of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

7:30 a.m. PST: Round one is over! Dylan cannot discuss it with me yet, per his confidentiality agreement. 

We are taking a break from the books for a few minutes. Dylan is trying to kick my butt in gin rummy! I'm not going down without a fight though,lol.

Study after that for about 2 hours. After 3 p.m. approximately, all first round tests should be completed, at which time we can try and figure out how he did. Very unscientific though....out of the 50 words they spelled, only 25 pre-selected words will count toward preliminary score. 

We will not know officially until Free round 3 is completed by all, roughly 5,30 to 6pm. Keep u posted as it goes....N

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Dylan Bird's First day of competition @ the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Editors Note: Monterey County Spelling Bee champ Dylan Bird is in Washington D.C. for the first day of competition in the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Dylan's mother, Nichola Bird, is sharing the family's experiences with "The Beat." Below are texts and photos she sent Tuesday morning. Stay tuned for more updates. 


5:18 a.m. PST: Round one test is underway already. (I am) anxiously pacing outside, waiting. I will not be allowed to even ask Dylan about it as he had to sign a confidentiality agreement into all participants have finished the test this afternoon.

Dylan signing in for Round 1

Here's a quick look at The Hall of Champions. Starting in 1925 with Frank Neuhauser with his winning word GLADIOLUS.

2012 contestants in Scripps National Spelling Bee. More appropriate title should be International, as kids hail from all over the world to this prestigious event.

Dylan Bird

Dr Jacques Bailey, 1980's winner, and the famed pronounced of the bee.

Scripps Emblem

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Dylan Bird @ The 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

EDITOR'S NOTE: DYLAN BIRD OF PEBBLE BEACH IS REPRESENTING MONTEREY COUNTY AT THE 2012 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IN WASHINGTON D.C. DYLAN'S MOTHER NICHOLA BIRD SENT THIS CORRESPONDENCE. COMPETITION BEGINS TUESDAY MORNING.

This picture is outside the Maryland Ballroom, where the competition takes place. Outside there is a long hallway, aptly titled "Hall OF Champions."

   Dylan decided to forego the (opening BBQ) and study instead! If we didn't emphasize what an amazing job Scripps do emphatically enough last week, I have to reiterate... there are no questions left unanswered regarding all aspects of competition week. They are so thorough.

Spellers orientation was last night. They run through all info needed verbally before handing out printed agendas for the week.

Along with prizes, Scripps National Spelling Bee Certificates, backpack, t-shirts, sunglasses are all embossed with "SPELLEBRITY, along with a definition of themselves, lol....You know Dylan can't wait to sport that combo! Did I mention that they are day glow orange??? I'm wearing mine.... albeit to sleep in!





When we were done there, we stepped outside to find a festival going on here at the hotel. It's really beautiful, it overlooks the Potomic and yachts are conveniently harbored right there, so as to make a stunning backdrop. 

Adam Lambert in concert

Totally unexpected was the Adam Lambert Concert we were lucky enough to fall into. We found ourselves eating funnel cake, & philly cheesesteak sandwiches just a few feet from the stage. I watched idol, the season Lambert was on, but let me tell you, he can blow, WOW!!! Even Dylan was impressed. 


Just as it was coming to a close, a security officer realized that we were wristband-less and void of all other appropriate entrance materials, you know, like a ticket..Haha. We had the pleasure of hearing and videotaping a vocal extravaganza on an exquisite backdrop, ate some local fare, before the ants descended in armies, heading directly to our funnel cake, and we took our cue to exit. They followed up with a fireworks display from the boats on the water. 
We went upstairs to study and being fortunate enough to be on the 15th floor with a side Potomic view we felt those fireworks. We tried to photo, but didn't come out that well. 

We study all day today in Preparation for the early (Tuesday) morning call of the 1st Round - a 50-word computer test. 



It's really special seeing your child here. So proud of him. No matter what. I keep reminding him how he will look back years from now with such pride at this accomplishment... twice, no less.






-NICHOLA BIRD

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Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black comes to The Western Stage in Salinas July 20

The Western Stage and the 2x4 Bash event organizers announced Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black will attend a July 20 staged reading of his play "8" at the Mainstage Theater in Salinas.
The full announcement can be read here and after the jump.

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VIDEO: HARA Motion Picture Conservatory's "A Long Shot" trailer

Here's the trailer for the "A Long Shot," produced by Monterey Peninsula students in the HARA Motion Picture Conservatory.
"A Long Shot" premiers May 11 at the Performing Arts Center in Pacific Grove. For information, visit www.haramotionpictures.com.

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VIDEO: YUN-GUN "Beautiful Mess"

The 831's own Yun-Gun drops his latest video, "Beautiful Mess." Directed by Yun-Gun himself.

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