Arists ask DoN about art show opportunities frequently, here are some heady themes to get your creative juices flowing:
Off the Wall Gallery @ Dirty Franks – Call for Entries for DEJA VU: ART AND MEMORY, our upcoming Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition:
Picturing
The Decameron
An awards exhibition of Da Vinci Art Alliance @ Smile Gallery
Picturing the Decameron Da Vinci Art Alliance Prospectus
For artists interested in participating in the November Da Vinci @ Smile show based on our collaboration with International Opera Theater’s production of Boccaccio’s Decameron (prospectus attached), here’s a list of the scenes Karen Saillant will feature (with references to the day, story numbers in the book):
Prologue, Florence, Calandrino
I, 1: Ciappelletto di Prato – evil notary
IX, 1: Federigo and his Falcon – poor knight
VIII, 3: Maso del Saggio and the Enchantment of Calandrino – lapidary
IV, 1: Ghismunda and the Heart in a Goblet – princess of Salerno
IX, 2: The Habit of Mother Usimbalda
V, 8: The Wedding of Nastagio degli Onesti
X, 10: Griselda and the Marquis of Saluzzo
Postlude, Calandrino
Please note: you can submit up to 3 entries; depending on the number of entries received, we will do our best to install all works.
Decamero
world premiere
Based on Decamerone by Giovanni Boccaccio
Music: Efrain Amaya, Michael Djupstrom, Daniel Shapiro,
Adam Silverman, Tony Solitro, Thomas Whitman, Ya- Jhu Yang,
Libretto: Karen Saillant
Italian Translation: Tommaso Sabbatini
November 12 and 13 at 8 PM
November 14 at 3 PM
The Prince Music Theater
ACT I Prologue;
Calandrino (who comes out of his giant costume, which consists of large pieces of fabric with scribbling all over them) speaks to the audience about The Plague and implores all of the individuals sitting in front of him to leave the premises immediately because The Plague is killing everyone!! (Gavoccioli-the name of the large boils that appear on the body as a result of The Plague)
Calandrino narrates in English
· First Day: First Story– Thomas Whitman, composer
The scoundrel Ser Cepperello manages to pass himself off as a virtuous man during his last confession. After his death, he is remembered as Saint Ciappelletto and people pray to him for favors and believe him capable of performing miracles.
Calandrino narrates in English
· Fifth Day: Ninth Tale
A young gentleman by the name of Federigo falls in love with a beautiful lady named Monna Giovanna. He spends large amounts of money trying to gain her attention but she remains indifferent to his love. Eventually he loses everything and is forced to live in poverty in a little farm with only his beloved pet falcon for company. Meanwhile Monna Giovanna’s husband dies and her son falls very ill. The sick child asks his mother to get him Federigo’s falcon. She goes to visit Federigo to ask for the falcon. As she arrives at Federigo’s house, he is very distressed to see her and not having any food in the house to offer her and not knowing the cause of her visit, Federigo kills his falcon and makes it into a meal for his beloved lady. After dinner Monna Giovanna reveals the reason for her visit. Federigo is devastated that he cannot help her and she has to leave empty-handed. Monna Giovanna’s son dies. After a period of mourning, Monna Giovanna, who is rich and still young and beautiful, rewards Federigo’s loyalty by marrying him.
Calandrino narrates in English.
· Eighth Day, Third Story
Calandrino overhears the lapidary, Maso del Saggio, talking to himself about a place where mountains are made of parmesan cheese and vines are hanging with sausages. Calandrino is enchanted with the idea of visiting this place and is especially determined when he learns about the stone called The Heliotrope that it will make him invisible. He shares the story of the heliotrope with his friends Buffalmacco and Bruno and they continue the ruse as they pellet him with stones all the way home from The Mungone River.
Calandrino narrates in English
· Fourth Day, First TaleTancredi, Prince of Salerno and father of Ghismunda, slays his daughter’s lover, Guiscardo, and sends her the heart of her lover in a golden cup: Chismunda pours upon it a poisonous distillation, which she drinks and dies.
ACT I
Ninth Day, Second Tale
An abbess rises in haste and in the dark, with intent to surprise an accused nun in bed with her lover: thinking to put on her veil, she puts on instead the breeches of a priest that she has with her. The nun, after pointing out her abbess’s head covering, is acquitted by the abbess. The abbess extols the virtues of love and thenceforth allows all members of the order to find it easier to meet with those interactions which bring them to greater love.
Calandrino narrates in English
Fifth Day: Eighth Story
Wealthy Nastagio degli Onest is in love with a lady of noble lineage who despises him. Discouraged, Nastagio leaves town and, in the wilderness, witnesses the frightening scene of a young woman who is chased down by a knight and murdered by having her back slit open and all of her organs pulled out of her and throw to wild dogs. The knight explains to Nastagio that they are both souls in torment, doomed to repeat the scene for years. The deed is part of his punishment for his having committed suicide in despair at being rejected by the lady. The lady in turn is punished for her pride and cruelty in rejecting the love of the knight. Nastagio has the idea of making arrangements to have his beloved witness the scene. Once she sees the naked woman murdered for her cruel and cold heart, she changes her mind about Nastagio and agrees to be his wife.
Calandrino narrates in English
· Tenth Day: Tenth Story
The nobleman Gualtieri marries Griselda, a peasant woman. At first he treats her well but then decides to test her obedience. He speaks to her abusively and takes away their two infant children, suggesting to her that they are to be killed (in reality, they are taken to Bologna and raised by friends). Griselda bears this with patience. Her husband then expresses his wish to divorce Griselda and sends her back to her father’s peasant house. Pretending to be making arrangements for his new wedding, Gualtieri calls back Griselda and orders her to take care of all the preparations, including the welcoming of the new bride and her brother. Putting up with it all, Griselda obeys and graciously receives the beautiful young woman. Gualtieri then reveals the truth and announces that the supposed bride and her brother are really their own children, now nineteen and twenty years old. Griselda is congratulated on her heroic patience and obedience and welcomed back as the lady of the home.
Prologue: Calandrino returns to book, admonishing everyone to be attentive and leave town as quickly as possible.
Main Issues of Decameron Opera:
- Main colors will be red, black and white (but Artist should not limit themselves to these colors if they do not want to.
- literal and symbolic meaning of The Plague
- The Plague as symbol for the healing that can take place after a great tragedy
- Condition and direction of society in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance and as it speaks to us today
- SYMBOLS:
- Apple, its seeds, especially the center of the apple, known as the pentacle
- Blood Stone: Heliotrope, known as the bloodstone.
- Land of Bengodi (similar to idyllic land of Cockaigne )
- Stories as “mirrors” of vices and virtues
- literature as medicine for healing society
- costumes modern, with taste of Middle Ages
- emergence of playful, light-hearted, human, and humane view of life after a great traged-
- critique of human vices marked by understanding and humor rather than heavy moralizing.
- hypocrisy of religious and moral authorities; superstitions and the gullibility of people.
- Beauty, pleasure, love, laughter and play as privileged values
- carpe diem ethos of work
- mixing of people from different social levels and classes;
- more egalitarian society where merit is based on actions and character,rather than birth or inherited wealth
Both of these long running art spaces have track records for attendance, participation and recognition in Philadelphia – support your local art galleries by entering the shows, visiting the galleries and volunteering to help produce these events. Thanks to Dr. Deb Miller of DVAA and Jody Sweitzer @ Dirty Franks for their efforts!
Center for Emerging Visual Artists
Artist, Career Development Program Fellowship
Organization: The Center for Emerging Visual Artists
Job Categories:Curatorial, Education, Marketing & Public Relations, Philadelphia County (PA), Artist Development & Residencies, Foundations/Fellowships, Visual Arts
Free two-year fellowship in the Career Development Program at The Center for Emerging Visual Artists. The Center for Emerging Visual Artists strives to provide the essential support services and programs emerging artists need to build sustainable careers. Our Career Development Program Fellowship offers a select group of talented artists the following: a two-year fellowship period and lifelong alumni affiliation, group exhibitions around the region and beyond, a three person show in the second year of the fellowship, professional development workshops, mentorship, community, volunteer opportunities, individual career counseling, and alumni solo exhibitions and travel grants.
To Apply:Eligibility requirements include the following: Applicants cannot be full-time students. Applicants must live within 100 miles of CFEVA (all of New York City and boroughs included). Applicants cannot have a contractual agreement with a commercial gallery or gallery representation. For the online application and further eligibility requirements, go to http://www.cfeva.org/cfeva_
Deadline: 11/01/2010
Good Luck!
LoVe
DoN