Visual Art Shows and Free Concert Showcased At Charlie's Center for the Arts

Online, September 9, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The St Charles Arts Council, in partnership with the St. Charles Park District, and Arts Partners, the Arcada Theater, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, Water Street Studios' PrintLab, Cedar Avenue Studios, and Norris Center showcase some of the terrific arts programming going on during the All-City, All-Arts Event - Charlie's Center for the Arts - ALL of the ARTS, ALL over TOWN.

To open the Charlie's Event, on Thursday night, September 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the Arcada Theater is hosting a FREE CONCERT featuring Classical Blast. Classical Blast is a unique band dedicated to bringing the classical arts to mainstream rock & pop music. These classically trained musicians love to rock! From Bach to classic rock to metal to pop, their performance will keep you on the edge of your seat. An evening with Classical Blast is a total blast for any age!

Open on Saturday and Sunday, the St Charles Arts Council has organized a new showcase visual art event - Charlie's Center for the Arts Fine Craft/3D Art Show. Charlie's has over 50 artists whose media include Sculpture/3D, Fashion/Wearables, Ceramic, Wood/Furniture, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media, and Mosaics, and will feature artisans who make custom furniture, sculptors who do monumental work and large scale installations, fashion designers whose work is shown on runways in New York and Chicago, craftspeople whose work is typically seen in ACE shows - overall a wonderful collection of both high-end and accessible 3D and fine craft art. And the show is indoors - 951 State Avenue (at the intersection of State and N. 9th Avenue, just east of downtown St. Charles) - a fantastic circa 1920 manufacturing building that SCAC volunteers are turning into a perfect venue for an art show - no worries about wind, rain or other weather events - just enjoy the art and the moment. (The SCAC would like to thank our Corporate Partner, Batavia Enterprises, for providing this wonderful place for an art show.)

Artists in the Show are: John Abel, Skeeter Aschinger, Cynthia Ashby, Guy J. Bellaver, Raymond Bock, Gary Brown, Fawn Clarke-Peterson, Teresa Dahmen, Ann Everett, Kimber Fiebiger, Jennifer FitzGerald, Elizabeth Garver, Heather Hambrecht, Valerie Hanks-Goetz, Jim Jenkins, Nathan Jones, Linda Julian, Christine Kefer, Barbara Keisman, Ray Kobald, Bob Krawczyk, Michael Kuehl, Beverly Livermore, Cindy Miceli, Patrick Murrin, Susan Otterson, Carlos Page, Jeanne Papadopoulos, Armando Pedroso, Laura Rendlen, Brent Rogers, Joe Ruck, Howard Russo, Kathrin Schmidt, Lori Schmidt, John Sternickle, Peggy Sue Seehafer, Kate Tillman, and Fashionwerks (Andrea Reynders, Gillion Carrara, Agnes Hamerlik, Beata Kania, Olivia Kimber, Anke Loh, Kristin Mariani, Lagi Nadeau, Kate Pankoke, Jessica Rodriguez, Shelby Steiner, Takako Yamanko)

Elizabeth Bellaver, President of the SCAC and Co-Chair of the Art Show says, "We're so pleased with the response from visual artists that we received for this inaugural art show - we can't wait to show it off. And really, the entire Charlie's Event is so exciting. The support that we've gotten from our Civic and Arts Partners has been awesome. There are just so many things to see and experience this weekend. We can't wait to open the city's "arts doors" to our community and beyond - anyone who would like to experience an entire weekend of arts programming, combined with beautiful late summer weather, good food, and the ambience of a city with so much cool stuff going on."

The St. Charles Park District, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, Cedar Avenue Studios, Water Street Studios PrintLab, and the Norris Center will be presenting art shows and demonstrations in their galleries. The Park District's Sculpture in the Park, an outdoor exhibition of sculpture is ongoing in Mt. St. Mary's Park from Thursday through Sunday - park opening 'til dusk. The Fine Line's Kavanaugh Gallery features a show from the Yellow House Artists - Color Redefined. The reception is on Friday, September 13 from 5:30 - 8 PM, and the show runs from September 13 to October 5. Cedar Avenue Studios present Paint-Prints-Photos Galleries, open Saturday from 10 to 6 and Sunday from 10 to 5. PrintLab's Awesome Art Afternoon and Demonstrations will open on Thursday and Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 12 to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. at their location in the lower level of 117 West Main Street. Norris Cultural Arts Center's Gallery at 1040 Dunham Road will open their Vicinity '13 Show on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And, not to be missed, if you're a fan of classical and/or tango music and dance, or you'd just like to see/hear something different and/or beautifully performed, you won't want to miss Tango Espejo - performing at the Baker Community Center on Saturday evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Those attending the concert are encouraged to dance.

For the long September 12 - 15 weekend, the SCAC and the Park District, along with their Arts and Civic Partners have organized an event featuring multiple artistic disciplines in venues all over the city. Charlie's will feature visual art galleries/studios, music, literature (spoken word performances, storytelling, etc.), dance, live theater, and as much Arts Programming as we can pack into the weekend.

Come to town early for coffee and a baked treat, attend Charlie's Fine Craft/3D Art Show and all of the many Art Shows, Studios, Galleries, and Visual Art Demonstrations going on all over town, and enjoy lunch or dinner in any of St. Charles' dozens of restaurants. Or consider a late summer drink and/or a bite to eat at one of the restaurants' gorgeous outdoor patios.

East Side, West Side, and Downtown - ALL over TOWN - residents and visitors will be treated to an incredible array of arts programming.

For more information about this fantastic weekend of art, check out the St Charles Arts Council's web site - StCharlesArtsCouncil.org or call the SCAC at 630.443.3794 or email us at [email protected].

About the St. Charles Arts Council:
The SCAC will serve all those individuals (professionals, amateurs, and students) who produce tangible, consumable works of the imagination and all organizations, businesses, and groups that include and represent those people. This would be arts and cultural activities in their broadest sense, including graphic, plastic, and decorative arts, architecture, crafts, literature and poetry, music, theater, and dance. The primary long-range goal is the transformation of St. Charles into an arts community/an arts magnet/a nationally-known arts market. Ultimately we foresee a municipal arts center, more working artists and opportunities in arts education, many privately-owned galleries, performance venues, and related arts businesses, and a downtown architecture and streetscape conducive to both the aesthetics and business of art.

About the St. Charles Park District:
The St. Charles Park District is a special purpose government unit. It is the mission to enrich the quality of life of Park District residents through excellence in programs, parks, facilities, and services. This is the mission of the Park District as expressed by the Park Board. The mission represents the fundamental statement of purpose and is the point of reference for all decision making.