Paul Henry's Art Gallery 2/24/12

Jim Murzyn and Dave Guiden

I saw Jim (left) and Dave (right) last week at Studio 659.  They had another friend with them that played bass that night.  If you like country style music, follow them . . .

Lou Shields

Lou is still the staple of the house playing his delta bluegrass style music.  He is original and entertaining.

Michelle Milan (less the Honey)

Michelle keeps coming back with a smile, putting a smile on our faces too.

Have a Seat, Let's Jam

Don Taylor

Don brings his mellow music from my era.  I was able to see Don act in the play Sordid Lives at Beatniks on Conkey, and it was a joy to see his versatility in art.

Steve Early

Steve is doing some very nice work.  You can tell he is not one to cut short the quality of his performance, and at the same time try new stuff.  The one song he gave us a glimpse at was very good!

I did not get a photo of Riana Zona who sat with Steve on his second song.  She is an angel.  I would like to here more from the two of them.  I did take a video of Steve and Raina, however it is high res right now and would take you forever to download.  I will make some time to reduce the size so I can link it here.

Thomas Matecki and Rich Alvarez

Gallery Groupies

Spoo Willoughby

Spoo Groopie

Open Seating

Sophia Rapata

I must say I was impressed with Sophia.  Her presence looks like she belongs in front of people performing. Given I was trying color temperature settings, it made it a bit difficult to get enough shutter speed to properly frame the photos of her.  I would like to hear more of her music along with the art she creates, and to photograph more of her.  Oh, and she did bring in more art pieces this week.

Mycul Hanus and Leticia Marquez

I must say, it was fun listening to these two. They were very expressive vocally and in movement. I thought it was refreshing.

Then Accompanied by Alex Powell

When Alex joined in, the group picked it up a notch I think.  The three of them together made for some really nice music / entertainment.

Tigva Gold

Adrian Remirez

Adrian was at his best this night.  Some real soul gut digging was going on there, and great rhythm . . .

Then Second Round of Fun

The second round came.  Again, I was very impressed with the Michael, Leticia, and Alex.

With the Honey

Some People areThirsty

Lauren is either thirsty or sticking her tongue out at me.  I choose thirsty.

Then There's Spoo

History Blog for Paul Henry's Art Gallery Thursday Night JAM . . .

76th Acoustical Jam - Paul Henry's Art Gallery

75th Acoustical Jam - Paul Henry's Art Gallery

74th Acoustical Jam - Paul Henry's Art Gallery

73rd Acoustical Jam - Paul Henry's Art Gallery

72nd Acoustical Jam - Paul Henry's Art Gallery

71st Acoustical Jam - Paul Henry's Art Gallery

Thursday Night Jam Session 

Paul Henry's Art Gallery - Thursday Night JAM 12/29/2011

For more information where to park and get in:

Paul Henry's Art Gallery - Hammond, IN

Also, a link to a promo video for you.  If you may also want to search "Paul Henry's Art Gallery" on YouTube for additional vids . . . Paul Henry's Art Gallery Jam Night Promo vid 

And here is a link to the gallery's home page: http://www.paulhenrysart.com/


Click on this line for my copyright.

Sordid Lives 2/18/12

This was my second week attending a production at Beatniks on Conkey.  And once again, a sold out house.  As last time, I only took photos prior to and after the play using no flash.  I hope there is enough photo for you to enjoy!

The play, "Sorted Lives" by Del Shores, was directed by C. Dale Kelley.  I have to say, the small venue, a lot of props, and a large cast, played out very well.  As advertised,  Sorted Lives is a black comedy about white trash!  It is very comical, adult, and I felt every character in the play had a part drawing you in.

My son and I arrived about 30 minutes early.  Some of the audience was already there when we arrived.

The set was cool. Though you don't see it, unless you went to the play, the set multi-function and was rearranged every chapter. It was cool to watch everything transform in front of you like that. And I mean in front of you, because of the small venue. Very cool!

As said, it was a full house opening night.  It excited the audience as much as it did the actors.

Everyone did well. I walked away with several fun feelings from this production. First, though they prepared you in writing, verbally, and you saw it waiving around and were in anticipation, the gun with blanks that was shot still scared the daylights out of you. After the first, the rest came easy.

I greatly enjoyed the contrast spotlighting the character Bitsy Mae Harling, played by Pattie Shaffner, at the beginning of each chapter. And the character Ty Williamson, played by Niko Elliott, who to me was the most powerful given the directing, acting, and lighting. And I cannot forget the character Sissy Hickey played by Andrianne Bacavis. That was so powerful I do not want to smoke a cigarette ever! (Dang, keep those rubber bands away from me! You need to go see the play . . .)

I liked the entire play. My hat is off to all who took part in its presentation! The next two photos are of the cast at the end of the play.

The cast of characters . . .

Pattie Shaffner who played Bitsy Mae Harling

Nikko Elliott who played Ty Williamson

Adrianne Bacavis who played Sissy Hickey

Kim Bernstein who played Noleta Nethercott

Bonnie Johnson who played Latrelle Williamson

Andrea Creasbaum who played LaVonda Dupree

Don Taylor who played G.W. Nethercott

Rip Johnson who played Wardell "Bubba" Owens

Tim Murray who played Odell Owens

Bridget Barnett Choe who played Dr. Eve Bolinger

Jon Fetsch who played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram

Wayne Puchkors who played Reverend Barnes

Beatniks on Conkey

418 Conkey Street

Hammond, IN 46324

(219) 852-0848

www.beatniksonconkey.com

BeatniksOnConkey@sbcglobal.net

Click on this line for my copyright.

Paul Henry's Art Gallery 2/15/12

There are pies, and there is The pie, and this pie caught my eye as soon as I walked in the door.

Bonnie Kaysen's Pie

Monday night was the gallery's Valentine's Eve chocolate pie contest.  I have to say this was a very enjoyable evening with a small crowd, just mingling and enjoying the event.

I have to give Michelle Milan a big thanks, for without the piano and her singing as background music, the ambiance would not have been the same.  Thank you Michelle!

David cutting a pie for the judges . . .

Other guests . . . and pie tables . . .

And to think, this photographer failed to photograph the other pie table . . . arrrrrr . . .

Judging the pies . . .

James and Amy Rummel - Judges

Some more Michelle providing our background music . . .

The judges . . . still confused . . . (actually they were great, and it was a filling judiciary responsibility)

And now, the winners of this years Valentine's Eve chocolate pie contest . . . drum roll please . . .

Marlene Duckett's refrigerated pie (accepting her award is Bill Ducket, shown below).

Dawn Diamantopoulos (below) won an award for her baked pie.

Bonnie Kaysen (below) won the participant award for bringing 4-pies (yum).

James Rummel (below) accepted the judges award.

A special thanks to Chuck Rocek for providing the "heart mobiles".  And . . . there have been delicious rumors of a possible 4th of July Eve pie contest!  Now, that might get me to bake a cherry pie the way mom use to make it . . . :)

Click on this line for my copyright.

V-Day 2/12/12

"Beatniks on Conkey" is a small theatre just South of downtown Hammond.  Different shows can be seen from the Hammond Community Theatre, The DJayma Show, and the most recent one that I went to see, the 2012 V-Day Hammond Benefit Performance of "The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler", presented by the Beatnik Babes (Anrea Creasbaum, director / performer; Lisa Farver, performer; and Bonnie Johnson, organizer) and the other performers who auditioned.

The theatre is small and comfortable.  Saturday nights performance I would estimate sixty in the audience.  As we entered we were greeted and I believe all felt very welcomed.  I arrived about 30 minutes early and I would say the theatre was about one quarter full at that time.  There is sufficient parking, however given the bitter cold night I suspect people were arriving a little early to find parking as close as possible.

There were hors d'oeuvres and beverage before the performance.  There was also a silent auction, and I believe another raffle, all to raise money for the V-Day campaign and Haven House.

Silent Auction Items

At the time I would have guessed, but I never asked (figured it out later), the ladies that were dressed in black greeting and mingling with the audience were the actors for this nights performance.  

Now, if you do not know about V-Day and Eve Ensler, I strongly suggest you research and read about Eve's activism to end violence against women and girls, because I would do a great injustice trying to explain.  Then, after your research, go see "The Vagina Monologues" anywhere it might by in production.  If you do not walk away with a renewed sense of what humanity is, well lets just say, your not human. It is that simple.

Given what V-Day is for, and being my first time seeing this monologue, needless to say I was a bit on edge what to expect, what to feel at the end, what I wanted to walk away with.  And this was after the research.  In all it was a great experience, insight as to who we are (more so who women are), who we have become, and who we do not want to be.  I have to give great credit to the "The Beatnik Babes" and other actors, who invited us in, made us comfortable before the performance, and both comfortable and uncomfortable during the performance. 

It was a good performance by all.  I will have to give Gail Komer a special thanks for her performance!  And to Abigail and Lareasa for such a contrasting dual performance.

Cast Photography by Betty Howe

The performers, in no particular order:

Liz Simmons

Amanda Dietrich

Becky Longhauser

Dawn Baldwin

Kimberly McCullom

Jennifer Pellar

Andrea Creasbaum

Stephanie Collins Washington

Kate Carpenter

Cecilia Baader

Lareasa Smith

Ana Flores

Gail Komer

NaJeane Brown

Abigail Michelle

Mary LaLuna

Jennifer Stevens

Liz Farver

You can find more information on V-Day at www.vday.org.

Beatniks on Conkey

418 Conkey Street

Hammond, IN 46324

(219) 852-0848

www.beatniksonconkey.com

BeatniksOnConkey@sbcglobal.net

All of the above photos were taken without flash in JPG format by Wesley Bushby, all rights reserved.

Click on this line for my copyright.