Art and Culture Archives - SB Magazine

Give a Child a Crayon and Watch What Happens

SB Magazine — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:46:40 +0000

One of Haley Kirton’s earliest memories of her growing creativity occurred when her parents handed her a piece of paper and some crayons during a church service to keep her occupied. While many parents do this, Susan and Patrick Kirton recognized that their daughter’s drawings were special.

“I would show them my drawings, and they would always be so excited. I was like, I’m gonna be an artist one day,” Haley recalls. Parental support and encouragement are so very important to a little one.

In the 6th grade, Haley was accepted into the talented arts program at school, which confirmed that she was pretty good at this art thing. She was excited that the types of projects the students were doing were so outside the box and weird and different, “it just sort of made me fall in love with art even more.” One of her TAP teachers, James King, was one of her favorites – always motivational and encouraging. Not a man to mince words, but Haley valued his input and opinions.

Throughout her educational career, Haley learned to work with numerous art mediums. She has always been drawn to portrait work and has spent countless hours honing her skills in oil and acrylic. Today, she is naturally focused on the digital arts. It’s basically painting, but it’s all on an iPad. Haley will not incorporate AI in her work. “I find the artistic process deeply rewarding, and the joy comes from creating something with my own hands and imagination. While I wouldn’t call AI a bad thing, using it (for me) feels a bit like opening a jigsaw puzzle only to discover that all the pieces have already been assembled. Where’s the fun in that? It takes away the experience and vulnerability of putting it together myself.”

She doesn’t need to. Besides, she prefers everything she produces to be handcrafted. She loves the process of creating everything from the ground up.

In her laid-back fashion, she explains that she sketches everything, chooses the colors, and then begins blending. She makes it sound so easy -right? She likes to work digitally “because it’s all in one place. I like being a little mess-free.”

You read that right. Haley is a neat artist, which is almost a contradiction in terms. Being the “neat” artist certainly hasn’t prevented her from achieving incredible success with several projects. One of the most recent is a mural she was commissioned to do for the Airline Drive Walmart.

“They reached out to me one day. I just put my art on this website called Culturalist. It’s like a big Louisiana database for artists. And, like, a week later, they reached out, and they were, hey – We’re Now Art working with the Walmart company.”

Now Art loved her work and asked permission to put Haley on their roster. Haley thought it was a scam and almost deleted the email. Good thing she took the chance that the offer was the real deal. The rest is history.

Haley was also part of the creative team commissioned to produce the huge mural at our new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shreveport. She found it interesting to see how it evolved from the very beginning. They didn’t know each other very well, and they didn’t know what to expect. But you get six or seven gifted artists together, and something fantastic is bound to happen.

Haley draws her inspiration from several sources. Fellow artists who she follows online, YouTube, and more often than not, her ideas just blossom. It’s a meditative process for her, like putting a puzzle together and seeing how everything will fit.

Haley is sure to have a plethora of subjects to study with her work as the marketing director for the Shreveport Metropolitan Opera.

“It’s not something I ever thought I would do. I came in not knowing much about the opera, but I’ve steadily fallen in love with it. I just think it’s so beautiful, and, meeting all of these artists and seeing them do their thing on stage and shining is just really crazy.”

Haley lends her extensive talents to other projects as well. She’s made her directorial debut in a short film that will be entered into the Film Prize this year. You could label her a true Renaissance woman – eager to cultivate everything that interests her and then share what she finds with us through her art.

To see more of Haley’s work, visit her website: Haleykirton.com. You might now consider investing in a piece or two before she becomes a national treasure.

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Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

SB Magazine — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:03:46 +0000

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. With its magnificent score, dazzling costumes, and whimsical story, this time-honored ballet never fails to take us to a magical world full of life and imagination.

Conceived in 1892 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker is based on the libretto by Alexandre Dumas père, titled The Tale of the Nutcracker, which is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.

Each year the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet presents this heartwarming story in a ballet extravaganza full of celebration and holiday sparkle – the perfect holiday family event.

This year’s production comes to us from an international and local ensemble that will grace the Strand Theatre stage on November 19th. The 32nd annual North American tour showcases a fusion of talent from esteemed ballet capitals worldwide, converging on one stage to spread the overarching message of the holidays– peace.

Headlined by principal dancers hailing from renowned opera houses in Ukraine and joined by a troupe of 40 exceptional artists representing Japan, Italy, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Poland, and beyond, the 2024 tour unveils newly reimagined scenes crafted by acclaimed Polish choreographer Viktor Davydiuk. Seamlessly blending classical ballet with avant-garde circus techniques, Davydiuk’s vision breaks new ground in ballet-theatrical presentation.

“As we prepare for this year’s tour, alongside the visionary choreography of Viktor Davydiuk, we’re thrilled to unveil exciting new elements that promise to elevate the enchantment of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet to even greater heights,” shared Dan Talmi, Executive Producer of Talmi Entertainment. “We’re stepping into a new era of artistic expression and creative exploration. Our dedication to pushing creative boundaries and engaging all of the senses ensures that each performance offers an unforgettable experience, weaving together both traditional and modern elements that will strike a chord with audiences of all ages.”

Talmi Entertainment’s NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is the largest touring production of its kind, with performances in many of North America’s most iconic theaters, including Detroit’s Fox Theatre, New Orleans’ Saenger Theatre, and Midland’s Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center. In the 2024 production, Ukrainian ballerinas Karyna Shatkovskaya and Elena Pechenyuk will reprise the role of Clara. Exclusive to Talmi Entertainment’s Nutcracker rendition is Act II’s poignant depiction of the “Land of Peace and Harmony,” featuring the signature acro-ballet adagio “Doves of Peace.” This powerful symbolic scene embodies unity and understanding through dance, resonating with a broader plea for international peace among nations.

This year introduces the Herald to the scene; a Cyr Wheel artist that embodies the spirit of the Forest. The Herald leads Clara through a joyous celebration adorned with magnificent 10-foot-tall puppets and elegantly dancing couples representing five of the world’s great heritages.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. nutcracker.com. Special pricing is available for groups. Call 800-320-1733 or email groups@nutcracker.com.

Talmi Entertainment proudly serves as the exclusive representative for NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet’s North American Tour, captivating audiences in over 86 cities annually. With a legacy rooted in pioneering artistry and a commitment to transcendent storytelling, the company continues to redefine the boundaries of classical ballet, enchanting audiences worldwide for over three decades.”NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet ushers in a new era of artistic innovation and creative exploration,” founder, Akiva Talmi (producer, composer, and recipient of the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Richard Rodgers, and Leonard Bernstein Awards). www.talmientertainment.com

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ART & CULTURE: LAURA CRAWFORD

SB Magazine — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:01:49 +0000

Art & Culture

Laura Crawford

by Diane VanHoozer

SB sat down with Laura Crawford to learn more about her passion, her influence, and the reasons behind her success.

Laura Crawford started playing violin with the instruments that her father smuggled out of Austria before Kristallnacht. This eventually led to her calling as a violinist/teacher and the forming of the Centenary Suzuki School in 1977 with just ten students.

Today, the school boasts teaching more than 1500 students, but the influence this has had on families’ lives is unfathomable. Instilling a deep appreciation of music is core to the founder and director, as well as to the other CSS teachers: Charles Regauer, Dan Santelices, Adrienne Gabriel, Elizabeth McShane, Brett Andrews, and Elizabeth Beck.

What age do you typically start children?

“We usually start kids in our program at about 4 for girls and 5 for boys. I wish somebody had started me at that age because it’s great to be able to develop so much technique at an early age. Some of our kids at age 12 are playing Mozart concertos.”

How important to you is music education?

“I think it’s crucial. In addition to children learning to express emotion through music, neuroscience research shows that studying music raises your IQ and expands the brain. While many of our Art & Culture Laura Crawford By Diane VanHoozer SBMAG.NET | SEP 2024 39 children become professional musicians later, that’s not our goal. In a recent study, medical schools took 60% of music majors and 40% of biochemistry majors. If children hear beautiful music from a young age and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They will become more aware and appreciative of all that is artistic in life. They get beautiful hearts.”

What is the Suzuki method, and how is it different from other methods of teaching music?

“It’s patterned after the way you learn to speak a language. You learned to speak from listening to your parents’ words. Dr. Suzuki thought if you do the same thing with music, and if children hear the music that they’re going to learn to play from an early age, then it’s like the native language. We want them to focus on the correct violin position and be able to learn pieces quickly by ear.”

How would you handle having to tell a parent that maybe their child isn’t suited for music, or have you ever had that happen?

“I’ve never had a child in all these 40-plus years who couldn’t learn to play. Now, some of them are going to go slower and some faster. So rather than tell the student that you’re not suited for this, we would tend to tell the parent if you could practice every day and don’t skip a day, then you’re going to notice an amazing difference. I don’t think we’ve ever told somebody you can’t do this. Our goal is to have them all enjoy music for life. And even though I have 4 sons who all went through the program, only one is really playing now. My oldest was on the board of the New World Symphony in Miami, and my second one is on the Shreveport Symphony board. My third one is the vice-president of The Strand Board, and my youngest is in New York as a professional cellist. So, they all love music, and all musicians need an appreciative audience!”

When all is said and done, what will you cherish most about your life and your influence?

“In addition to my faith in God, I cherish most the love and support of my husband, Ed Crawford, and our four sons, because I couldn’t do any of this without their help. They’ve been so supportive of my love for beautiful music.” If you are interested in learning more about the Centenary Suzuki School, go to www. centenarysuzuki.com to apply for your child to be on the waiting list.

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ART & CULTURE: A Passion for Acting, Theatre, and Teaching

SB Magazine — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:05:15 +0000

Acting and the theater have long captivated audiences and artists alike, offering a unique avenue for self-expression, creativity, and emotional connection. The world of acting is not just about playing a role on stage; it involves a deep exploration of human emotions and experiences. It’s not a place for people unwilling to put in a great deal of work, nor a place for prima donnas prone to temper tantrums. The theatre, with its immersive and collaborative nature, requires people working together to create a magical space where stories come to life. It’s challenging and also one of the best excuses to never stop learning and growing.

It was one (or perhaps all) of these attributes that compelled high school senior Logan Sledge to make the long walk from Byrd High School in Shreveport to the Centenary College Campus to talk to Dr. Robert Buseick, the head of the theatre program. That walk would take him on a journey that would deepen his love of this art form, where he would ultimately find a new love for sharing his talents with others through teaching.

Logan’s interest in theatre didn’t just come out of the blue. He credits his early performance experiences to Randy Edwards at First Baptist Church. Edwards produced choir shows that incorporated sermon-style performance pieces. “That’s really where I got some very early and valuable acting experience, being up there myself in front of everyone. We traveled the country with that choir,” Logan says. He recalled one tour stop at a prison. When he took the stage for his “sermon,” he got a reaction from his audience. It turned into more of a call-and-response moment. A give-and-take that happens with a live audience. “It’s that moment where you meet them, and they meet you, and there’s that exchange that happens, I got to experience in that setting – different setting, obviously. I’m doing something that’s working. I’m doing something that has some meaning to it. These people are with me. It’s touching them. Here. (pointing to chest) It’s touching them. It’s having an impact. I think that’s what they talk about when they say that bug that you get. You know? It’s just that energy from an audience.”

He played numerous roles in Marjorie Lyon’s Playhouse’s opening show, Bent, also set in a prison. His most memorable show? There were several. “Lost In Yonkers. That was kind of a breakthrough performance in my mind just because it was more of a character role. Lonely Planet stands out. That was just me and Patric McWilliams. It was a 2 person show. Even at that stage, I was still getting this complete master class in acting from my acting partner. It was the show that really taught me what Patric and Buseick, and others had told me all along. If you are just present and listening, your attention is on your acting partner; they’re going to give you your performance.”

Fast forward to graduation and a big move to the West Coast to naturally pursue a film acting career. “Being all of 23 years old, I just thought that was the direction I wanted to go. I love theater and had so much fun doing it, but I really wanted to get into film and television and film in particular,” says Logan.

He enrolled in grad school at Cal State University, Fullerton, and started teaching as an adjunct there to earn income while auditioning for films. For the fall semester, he had 365 students in one class. That’s extreme, coming from a small campus like Centenary to such a large population of Fine Arts students.

Returning to Shreveport was just the beginning of his journey back to Centenary, where he is now the Chair of the Theatre Department. He was instrumental in developing the Centenary Theatre Program’s (CTP) curriculum, designed for four years of progressive learning. Graduates of the program are “prepared for a successful transition to graduate school or professional work.”

Logan and colleagues John Gayle, Don Hooper, and Alan Berry used their downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop a strategic plan for the future of CTP. They modeled it after the college’s strategic plan of growing enrollment, recruiting, and retaining students. The result? The incoming class this past fall was the largest they’ve seen in quite a while. This fall’s class is shaping up nicely, with thirteen students already committed. Once enrollment increases, the department can “put in for another tenure track.” The short-term goal is to work with the music department to develop a musical theatre minor and to bring dance back. The long-term goal is to build a new performing arts building in the field adjacent to Marjorie Lyons Playhouse.

All it takes is money, right? This is just a suggestion, but if a person wants to help fund the performing arts program at Centenary, they can earmark their donation to ensure it goes towards the goal of Logan’s dream theatre. “I’d like to see us actually get to the point where we had probably somewhere in that 60 major range.

Four full-time faculty members, a musical theater program reinstated, dance back with us the way it’s supposed to be. A collaboration with a professional theater company that shares our stage with us,” he says.

Would Logan rather be performing in New York as a professional actor? (Because he absolutely could – he’s that talented.) “…along the way, I discovered that I really do like teaching. There’s nothing like it. You get to watch these young, emerging theater artists do what they love to do. If you’re open to it, the joy that it actually gives you is immeasurable. We meet them where they are, and they just make these leaps, and it’s like, wow!”

It’s true what they say. The rewards of teaching theatre go beyond the classroom when you can stand back and watch a student blossom and grow. When you give them the opportunity to become a successful adult on whatever path they choose to take, actor or not, you have done your job well.

As audiences continue to be captivated by the art of acting and the allure of the theatre, the world of performance will continue to thrive and inspire generations to come. It’s comforting to know that we have professionals like Logan Sledge in our community. He is committed to nurturing and teaching up-and-comers so that live theatre remains a thriving source of entertainment that continues to enrich our lives in countless ways.

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5 Best Ways to Express Your Creativity in SBC

SB Magazine — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:33:51 +0000

By Kim Condon

Shreveport-Bossier City is a vibrant creative hub buzzing with artistic energy and Southern warmth, and by the work of passionate community leaders, I can feel it reaching out in encouragement for the community to take a dive into creative expression. I’m convinced that within our midst, there are countless individuals eager to showcase their unique expressions, contributing to the ever-evolving artistic landscape of our beloved city. Here are the five best ways to take the plunge and share your artistic talent in Shreveport-Bossier City:

Karaoke/Open Mic Nights:

Put yourself out there from behind the mic and release all that stage fright with a karaoke or open mic night. Venues like Strange Brew and Bears on Fairfield play host to these events, creating a welcoming atmosphere where you can share your musical or spoken-word talents with an appreciative audience. For me, I like my karaoke with a little two-step, so I head over to Big Country, Bossier City.

2. Performing Arts Theatre:

Step onto the stage and explore the world of acting, dance, and behind-the-scenes magic at theaters like Shreveport Little Theatre, Emmett Hook Center, Stage Center, East Bank Theatre, or BPCC Theatre. Our city’s thriving performing arts scene offers a stage for everyone, from seasoned performers to those taking their first steps in the spotlight. Additionally, if you’re looking to venture into the realm of experimental and avant-garde theater, Shreveport-Bossier City is home to troupes like Lumpy Grits and collaborative experiences with Company Rep Theatre.

3. Artist Calls

Keep an eye out for local artist calls and exhibitions organized by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and The Bossier Arts Council. Events like Critical MASS or themed shows provide opportunities for visual artists to display their work, connecting them with our dynamic arts community. They aren’t the only ones; for example, The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation has an artist call out now celebrating the Whooping Crane, with a deadline of January 6, 2024. The calls come quickly, so sign up for the email lists to get the first alerts. You might also want to join the Shreveport-Bossier Artist Calls Facebook group for a variety of artist calls.

4. Makers Fairs:

Showcase your handmade jewelry, woodworking projects, or any unique creations, and connect with fellow makers in our community. When figuring out how to price your creations for a Makers Fair, think about what you spent on materials, your time, and any other costs like rent or tools. Check out what similar stuff is going for, and keep in mind who’s shopping—try to find that sweet spot where your prices are fair, and people still see the value in what you make. Think you can jump right in? Sign up through the BAC for the Mardi Gras Makers Faire in The East Bank District on Jan. 26th.

5. Prize Fest Competitions:

Elevate your creativity by participating in the annual Prize Fest, a celebration of innovation in film, music, food, and fashion. Whether you’re a filmmaker, musician, chef, or fashion designer, the allure of significant cash rewards adds an extra layer of excitement to this vibrant festival, motivating participants to showcase their best work and compete at the highest level. The generous cash prizes serve as a testament to the festival’s commitment to supporting and honoring outstanding talent across diverse creative disciplines, making Prize Fest an unmissable opportunity for aspiring and established artists alike.

Whether through music, theater, visual arts, or friendly competition, our community welcomes your individual perspective. So, embrace your creative spirit, share your talents, and become an integral part of the artistic heartbeat that defines the lifestyle of Shreveport-Bossier City.

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