October 25, 2005
Jazz art exhibit kicks off West Lafayette grant activities
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – "Seeing Jazz," 100 jazz-inspired art works by Happy Hollow Elementary students, goes on display Nov. 1 in West Lafayette's Morton Community Center.
The exhibit opens a month of special jazz activities in West Lafayette coordinated by Purdue University Bands with funding from a West Lafayette Arts & Culture Enhancement Grant. A public reception for "Seeing Jazz" artists, their families and the community runs 5-7 p.m. Nov. 3. The Little Rascals, the West Lafayette seventh-grade jazz band, and the Purdue Jazz Combo, will present special music.
To kick off the West Lafayette Jazz Artist in Residence program, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders at Happy Hollow, taught by Katherine Pechin, were introduced to the history and sounds of jazz in early September by Mo Trout, director of the Purdue Jazz Bands.
Students also listened to recordings by trumpeter Byron Stripling, who'll visit their school later in November, as well as other jazz greats, as they worked on their art pieces.
Everything from colorful abstract expressions of music, to pictures of instruments, dancers, performing musicians and true jazz cats came out of their imaginations.
"It was really exciting how they were so different, and that the students all had their own interpretations of what jazz looked like," Pechin said. "The project was a great way to show students how the arts are all interrelated.
"To now display the art in the community is a really great experience for them."
Of the more than 400 artworks created, 100 were selected by Kathy Trout, retired West Lafayette art educator, to be matted and displayed in a formal gallery setting at the Morton Community Center, 222 N. Chauncey St., West Lafayette.
A brightly colored work by Marysia Skibniewska, depicting a rosy-cheeked jazz musician, was selected to be incorporated into a poster advertising the final event of the residency, a concert featuring Stripling Nov. 18 at Loeb Playhouse.
Stripling is a regular soloist with the Boston Pops, was chosen to play the lead role in the Broadway-bound "Satchmo," and has played with the Count Basie Orchestra. He will be presented with a framed copy of the poster at the show, and a selection of artworks will be on display in the Loeb lobby for the evening.
The full show will be on display at the Morton Center through Nov. 30. The center is open to the public Monday through Saturday. Viewing hours vary; for times, call (765) 775-5120. Admission to the gallery is free.
Related November events sponsored by the Arts & Culture Enhancement Grant include:
• I Feel the Rhythm – Stripling and members of the Purdue Jazz Band in a special concert presentation for Happy Hollow Elementary students, 10 a.m. Nov. 16, in the school gym.
• Student Jazz Clinic with Byron Stripling, West Lafayette High School, on Nov. 19. Time will be announced.
• Jazz Jam –Stripling and Mo Trout Quintet, with a guest appearance by the Little Rascals, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Nov. 17, in the University Inn. Admission is free.
• Stripling and Purdue Jazz Band in concert, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, in Loeb Playhouse, Purdue Stewart Center, with an art display in the lobby. Admission is free.
Writer: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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