A group of local plein air artists who share a passion for painting outdoors are showing off the results of their art outings in an exhibit this spring at The Provident Bank, 66 Storey Ave., Newburyport.
Susan Spellman, Christine Molitor Johnson, Susan Hebenstreit and Cheryl Dyment - better known as "Women in the Wild" - have spent the past three years painting landscapes together in the open air, as the impressionists once did. They are drawn to the local environs, which they capture in watercolor, acrylic and oil. They have all studied with Kevin J. Shea of Newburyport and J.C. Airoldi of Hampstead, N.H.
The Provident Bank exhibit runs through May 11. It is part of the bank's rotating Lobby for the Arts program, which spotlights local artists. A reception for the artists takes place Thursday, April 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Call Julie Ganong at 978-834-8587 for more.
Pop music strikes chord in writer's new book
Boston writer Brendan Halpin highlights his new novel, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress!" in a reading and discussion tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Jabberwocky Bookshop in the Tannery, 50 Water St., Newburyport.
An author and pop culture commentator, Halpin's new novel combines humor and heartbreak in his take on pop music's power to map one's lives through love and loss, ruin and redemption.
Halpin, who lives in Boston, is the author of two previous novels, "Long Way Back" and "Donorboy," and the memoirs "It Takes a Worried Man" and "Losing My Faculties."
Admission to tomorrow's program is free. Call 978-465-9359 or visit http://jabberwocky.booksense.com.
Get acquainted with Port Literary Festival honoree
Music historian Peter Guralnick of West Newbury, author of biographies on Elvis Presley and gospel musician Sam Cooke, is earning the spotlight for the second annual Newburyport Literary Festival.
Guralnick, who has written extensively on American music and musicians, will be the featured author at the festival, set for April 27 through 29. In conjunction with the honor, the Newburyport Public Library is encouraging individuals and book groups to read Guralnick's books.
He is the author of "Last Train to Memphis" and "Careless Love," a prize-winning, two-volume biography of Presley; and "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke." His other books include "Lost Highway," "Feel Like Going Home," "Searching for Robert Johnson" and "Sweet Soul Music."
Susan Spellman, Christine Molitor Johnson, Susan Hebenstreit and Cheryl Dyment - better known as "Women in the Wild" - have spent the past three years painting landscapes together in the open air, as the impressionists once did. They are drawn to the local environs, which they capture in watercolor, acrylic and oil. They have all studied with Kevin J. Shea of Newburyport and J.C. Airoldi of Hampstead, N.H.
The Provident Bank exhibit runs through May 11. It is part of the bank's rotating Lobby for the Arts program, which spotlights local artists. A reception for the artists takes place Thursday, April 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Call Julie Ganong at 978-834-8587 for more.
Pop music strikes chord in writer's new book
Boston writer Brendan Halpin highlights his new novel, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress!" in a reading and discussion tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Jabberwocky Bookshop in the Tannery, 50 Water St., Newburyport.
An author and pop culture commentator, Halpin's new novel combines humor and heartbreak in his take on pop music's power to map one's lives through love and loss, ruin and redemption.
Halpin, who lives in Boston, is the author of two previous novels, "Long Way Back" and "Donorboy," and the memoirs "It Takes a Worried Man" and "Losing My Faculties."
Admission to tomorrow's program is free. Call 978-465-9359 or visit http://jabberwocky.booksense.com.
Get acquainted with Port Literary Festival honoree
Music historian Peter Guralnick of West Newbury, author of biographies on Elvis Presley and gospel musician Sam Cooke, is earning the spotlight for the second annual Newburyport Literary Festival.
Guralnick, who has written extensively on American music and musicians, will be the featured author at the festival, set for April 27 through 29. In conjunction with the honor, the Newburyport Public Library is encouraging individuals and book groups to read Guralnick's books.
He is the author of "Last Train to Memphis" and "Careless Love," a prize-winning, two-volume biography of Presley; and "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke." His other books include "Lost Highway," "Feel Like Going Home," "Searching for Robert Johnson" and "Sweet Soul Music."
The Newburyport library has purchased multiple copies of Guralnick's Presley biographies along with copies of his other work. It is also highlighting books and music related to Elvis, the blues and other traditional American music.
For more about the Newburyport Literary Festival, visit http://www.newburyportliteraryfestival.org/.
Perfect timing for Firehouse's 'Gothic at Midnight'
The Firehouse Arts Center in Newburyport's Market Square gets a little macabre for Friday the 13th next week when it presents Joshua Kane's award-winning "Gothic at Midnight."
Kane's one-man performance blends the drama of solo theater with the ancient art of storytelling. It features staged readings of horror literature mixed with laughter and anecdotes, with Kane relying simply on his voice to convey the emotion and tenor of the words.
"Gothic at Midnight" will be performed Friday, April 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32, with a $3 discount for Firehouse members. For reservations, call the Firehouse box office at 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org.
Travels in black and white at Northern Essex
Richard Yee, owner of the China Blossom restaurant in North Andover, shares photographs taken over many years of travels in an exhibit this month in the Technology Center at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill.
Yee's photographs include more than 40 black-and-white landscape images depicting scenes of China, Death Valley, Rockport, Lawrence, New Mexico, Georgetown, Beacon Hill, Mount St. Helen and Vermont. His work is said to be reminiscent of the photographs of Ansel Adams.
The exhibit runs through May 7..A reception takes place Tuesday, April 10 from noon to 4 p.m. The gallery will also be open, April 7, 8, 15, 21, 22 and 28, all from noon to 4 p.m.
'Showstoppers!' for Merrimack Valley Concert Band
The Merrimack Valley Concert Band will serve up a musical salute to favorite movies and Broadway hits when it performs "Showstoppers!" on Sunday, April 15 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Georgetown Club, 258 Andover St., Georgetown.
The night will feature a buffet dinner, cash bar and a touch of dance music. A silent auction to raise funds to benefit the community band will round out the evening.
Tickets are $35 and are available by calling 978-346-4217, e-mailing tix@MVCBand.org, or sending checks payable to the Merrimack Valley Concert Band, attn: Tickets, P.O. Box 76, Merrimac, MA 01860. Visit www.MVCBand.org/showstoppers.htm for more.
Spring birding throughout the region
Discover the birds that call the area home in four spring outings planned this month by Newburyport Birders. The trips will search Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, Maudslay State Park in Newburyport and the Merrimack River for birds. Here's a look at the schedule:
* Evenings at the Refuge, a look at spring migrants, on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 21, both from 6 p.m. to dusk at the refuge. Sue McGrath will lead the walks, which will focus on bird behavior and aids for identification. Participants can also expect to observe the aerial courtship display of the male American woodcock at dusk, weather permitting. The programs start from the observation deck adjacent to the Visitors Center at parking lot 1. All levels of bird enthusiasts, including families and children, are invited. The cost is $10.
* Birds of Maudslay, a trip through the rolling meadows and pine groves of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport in search of birds, on Saturday, April 14 from 8 to 11 a.m. The outing will include views of the Merrimack River, and information on the bald eagles that have been attracted there. The cost is $18. which includes parking.
* Wings Along the Merrimack, a trek along the lower Merrimack from Newburyport to the Rocks Village Bridge in Haverhill, on Sunday, April 22 from 8 to 11 a.m. The group will stop at various locations and discuss the physical adaptations and field marks of the birds it encounters.
Advance registration is required for all programs, and group size is limited. Call McGrath at 978-462-4785 or e-mail newburyportbirders@comcast.net.
Jon Pousette-Dart Band reunion at Firehouse
Newburyport's Firehouse Center for the Arts is preparing to travel back in time with a concert by the Jon Pousette-Dart Band in May. The concert will feature the original members of the group in a special North Shore appearance on May 27 at 7:30 p.m.
The band formed in the late 1970s and 1980s with a soft rock sound that found them in sync with the Eagles, James Taylor and other soft-pop troubadours of that era. It released four albums, and became a busy touring band, working with such artists as the Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Billy Joel, Peter Frampton, Taylor and others.
In addition to Pousette-Dart, the band included sideman John Troy and local musician David Brown.
After a break from music, Jon Pousette-Dart released the CD, "Heart & Soul," which received seven Grammy nominations for its stylistic sound blended with the roots, rock and folk influences that became his trademark. His music was recently featured on the TV series "Lost," and he performed at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January,.
Tickets for the show are $25, with a $3 discount for Firehouse members. Call 978-462-7336, or visit www.firehouse.org.
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To submit a Lookout item, e-mail it to svartabedian@ecnnews.com, fax it to 978-465-8505, or mail it to The Daily News, 23 Liberty St., Newburyport, MA 01950.
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