Category Archives: KMFA recommends

Hanging out at the Blanton B scene

Office of Charles and Ray Eames

Office of Charles and Ray Eames

Last Friday I attended the Blanton Museum’s B scene B cool. I had never been to a B scene so I was not exactly sure what was in store for me, but when I arrived my ears perked up to the sounds of DJ Chicken George spinning his special array of jazztronica.

This event featured the Blanton’s temporary exhibit – Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture at Midcentury. What a fun exhibit too! Birth of the Cool takes you back to the 1950s where mod was in and everyone owned a swivel chair that was just as artistic as the paintings in the room. The collection contains paintings by Karl Benjamin, photography by Julius Shulman, and popular album covers of the day (Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck Quartet, and Chet Baker). Much of the abstract and mod aesthetics born from this era still influence art and architecture today.

What I liked about Birth of the Cool is that it does an excellent job transporting museum visitors to a specific location and time. And the B scene event tied it all together with great music and food. You can check out Birth of the Cool at the Blanton Museum on the UT campus through May 17, 2009. Bobby socks not mandatory.

Judy Watts
Development Coordinator

In the KMFA Studios: Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway!

Lady Jeanne Galway, Dianne Donovan, Sir James Galway

Lady Jeanne Galway, Dianne Donovan, Sir James Galway

It was a special treat to have world-renowned flutists, Sir James Galway and Lady Jeanne Galway in the KMFA studios as they sat down with me to chat a little bit about their lives, and their careers (as both solo and duo artists). You can catch their performance with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Peter Bay,  this Friday and Saturday night at the Long Center For The Performing Arts. Sir James Galway will perform Mozart’s Flute Concerto no. 2 and both Sir James and Lady Jeanne will perform Cimarosa’s, Double Flute Concerto in G.

To hear the interview click here:
http://www.kmfa.org/archives/Galway_interview_26_Feb2009.mp3

Dianne Donovan
Midday Announcer

New Year’s Resolutions

Welcome to 2009! I love this time of year because it’s like a blank page, anything can happen and the sky’s the limit.  It’s a time when we reevaluate ourselves and resolve to make changes for the better.  

 newyear

I know a lot of people who’d like to lead stress free lives this year or become fitter and healthier.  Whatever it is you choose to do – take KMFA with you! I think we’re one of the few things that could help out in just about any New Year’s Resolution.  Classical music is the only cure-all with no crazy side effects.

 

And remember to support the things you love this year.

 

Happy New Year to all.  May it be a great one!

Judy Watts, Development Associate

Texas Choral Consort rocks the house… errr… church

Each year December is jammed packed with holiday parties, performances, and gatherings.  It’s tough to choose what to attend and what to skip.  I had a jammed packed weekend (it seems everyone I know was born in December) but I’m so delighted that I took some time to attend Texas Choral Consort’s Carols & Lullabies last Saturday night.

 

The program consisted of some familiar and some not so familiar holiday tunes.  Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” was performed with vigor and oomph ending the first half of the concert on a perfect note.

 

The real gem of this concert, however, was Conrad Susa’s “Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest” where lullabies and seasonal songs were played from the south west corners of the world.  Several songs were sung in variations of Spanish.  My favorite without a doubt was the Nigerian song that ended that collection.  Conductor Brent Baldwin asked audience members to take our keys out and provide a little added percussion to the group.  As always Texas Choral Consort provided a quality, upstanding performance while remaining fun and interesting. Can’t wait to see what they perform next holiday season!

 

Judy Watts, Development Associate