This video totally goes against the “shorter is better” rule of online video. It’s somewhat over an hour long. But it’s also the only full-length record of the 2nd Annual Village of the Arts Poetry Slam, held at The Village Bookshop in honor of National Poetry Month. I don’t think many people are going to watch this all the way through, but for those of you who have never been to a poetry slam or want to see what happens in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts besides selling paintings and crafts, here you go. (Note: the “slam-master” is Kevin Webb, nationally-recognized poet and owner of the Liberal Artz gallery in Bradenton.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2008 - The Village of the Arts in Bradenton, Florida, held its first-ever St. Patrick's Day parade. It was organized by Dona Lee, owner of the Village Voices Book Gallery on 10th Ave. West.
Most of the shots in this impromptu video were taken at the corner of 11th St. West and 16th Ave. West, in the "South" section of the Village of the Arts the city has decided should not get additional improvements. It was a joy to see the mayor and three city council members here — and an even greater joy to see a police car here not answering a call.
Dona dida great job organizing this event, and deserves huge credit, especially for including the oft-forgotten section of the Village of the Arts South of 13th Avenue.
Shot at the Charisma Cafe in the Village of the Arts, Bradenton, Florida, on Feb 9. 2008. Not Tuna does Hot Tuna covers and a bit of Greatful Dead in addition to their own, original material. More songs from them coming soon…
Some years back, when rap first got popular, I predicted that if we could have “music” with no tune, we’d soon have “songs” with no words.
Ooh uh uh. Geh grr ug ug!
I called my hypothetical wordless songs “grunt rock.”
And there I was, at C.O.R.E. in Bradenton, Fleriduh, one afternoon, when six young men who called themselves ‘Tomorrow is not a Promise’ got up on the little stage and started loudly pumping out… grunt rock!
Adults either shook their heads or left, but a small corps of teenage girls sat there, enthralled.
Wow. These guys were totally accomplishing the two mission of any high-quality disaffected-teener band: repelling adults and attracting girls.
Ooh ugh Wah Fuh! Boo huh rah mah?
This is great…. no need to waste time and brain cells learning lyrics. Just get up there and grunt!
An exercise in pseudo-steadicam (constant motion) camerawork + a “short cut” editing style I don’t usually use. Kevin and Diane do great work, and Kevin is an accomplished performing poet, so his narration is great. I just walked around with the camera and recorded their work, then cut on the beat, y’know? Came out very well!
Yes, it’s a gallery with two names: Fancy Free Boutique and Blue Morpho Gallery. The “boutique” bit comes from the many interesting clothes and decorations owner Elizabeth Righter imports from the Caribbean (she lived on St. Thomas for 15 years) and other parts of the world. The “Blue Morpho” part comes from the Blue Morpho butterfly, a number of which are part of art pieces Elizabeth and her husband have made. But why read text when you can watch the 3:30 video and get the whole story, complete with a soundtrack featuring Elizabeth’s favorite music style: Bluegrass.
One of the best ways to spend Saturday afternoon in Bradenton, Florida, is wandering the Village of the Arts. You’ll find unique art galleries and studios, cafes, a couple of bookstores, and more often than not a little street music by local performers. First Friday night (of the month) Artwalks are also great fun. See you there!
Jo Ellen Gorris is a prolific sculptor who loves to get other people involved. Most Thursday mornings a neighborhood group gathers at Clay in the Garden to do pottery. And almost any other time JoEllen is at her Bradenton studio, you’re welcome to pick up a lump of clay and work along with her. JoEllen’s statement that hers is the only (messy) “working studio” in the Village of the Arts is not quite true; Miki Boni and others have well-used studio space, too. But JoEllen’s studio is probably the only one that doesn’t have a separate, cleaned-up showroom or gallery space. In her case, massaging the clay is the message.
