Our Town: Beats & Streets summer drumming program kicks off on May 20th, 2012 at the Children First Ice Cream Social from 2-5 pm at Wolfe Park with a drumming performance by Chico Perez and Stanley Kipper of the New Primitives from 3-4 pm. In an interactive drumming concert, Chico and Stan will share their message of finding common ground and understanding through percussion.

Stanley Kipper returned to Minneapolis in 1989 after nearly 20 years in Los Angeles touring and recording with such artists as Bill Withers, Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Karla Bonoff. Stanley has composed songs for several films and commercials, and has also won top honors in the Coors Light National Song Contest.

Chico Perez has been an active percussionist for many years, touring with such groups as Crow Cola, Gypsy, Jump Street, and 7th Wave. His professional career includes numerous studio projects, as well as keeping busy as a drum-maker and teaching African and Afro-Cuban percussion at the Minneapolis Drum Center.

When asked about performing, Stan said, "I love knowing that what we are going to be showing people is like letting everyone in on something they forgot along the way but already know deep down. Something that we all share in common. Everyone, everyone can play drums; everyone has rhythm." he added.  Chico agreed, "It's a great way to make complete strangers feel better than they did before they came to see us. They may have the blues when they arrive but certainly not after they leave. If they were happy when they got there, they will be feeling really good by the time we finish."

Make sure you stop by the FoTA table before the concert to make your own maraca to play along with Stan and Chico during their performance!

Our Town is a community arts program sponsored by FoTA with a mission of Building Community thru the Arts.  This year's drum program, Beats & Streets, was especially designed and programmed by FoTA to promote the concept of One World, One Beat - we can all be part of the rhythm. Together we are more than one. This program is also funded in part by FoTA. Please come be part of the rhythm and see your membership dollars at work. Full summer drumming schedule at www.SLPFriendsoftheArts.org

Our Town is funded in part by the Metro Regional Arts Council, through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State's general fund, and its arts and cultural heritage fund that was created by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.  Additional support was provided by the Harmon Family Foundation and the St. Louis Park Community Foundation.

In January, FoTA welcomed new board member, Mark Hauck, a freelance theater director and designer, owner of COTY- award-winning design studio division of Bluestem Construction, former Hopkins High School Theater Director, and the Founder and Executive Producing Director of the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona.   

As a lifelong professional theater artist and arts educator, Mark's goal is to find meaningful connections between the work of professional artists and the communities they serve.  After teaching students in Hopkins for five years, Mark came to appreciate the difficult role of theater educators. He became interested in bridging the divide between educational, community and professional theater. This interest led him to create the Public Theater of MN which has its home in St. Louis Park.

This community-based theater company is committed to making theater where people live and combines community, educational and professional aspects so everyone can get involved. The organization has a professional stage company performing classics and new plays, a community company for anyone interested in taking part in theater, and a new artist company for emerging young artists to have a voice and take a risk. 

"In my diverse career, I have been struck by how professional theater companies do not often work with or talk enough to theater educators or community theaters. Each works in its own world separated from each other which seems to be the antitheses of what theater is all about," said Mark. "I wanted to create a place where we could all come together as theater professionals and support each other's work, create community and learn together," he added.

Recently, the Public Theater of MN received a 2012 St. Louis Park Arts and Culture grant to present, Live in Wolfe Park, a series of FREE weekend performances in July of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The Arts & Culture Grant Program administered in partnership with FoTA, highlights our community's commitment to promoting and integrating arts, culture, and aesthetics in all city initiatives.   

"St. Louis Park was a natural fit for our company," said Mark. "When we looked for a hometown, we wanted a place where there were a lot of theater goers and support for theater but not as many theater opportunities. I am delighted to be a part of the rich theater community that supports Maggie's Farm and The Park Theater Company and look forward to some wonderful collaborative efforts," he emphasized.

In his spare time, Mark is raising money to support the Public Theater of MN's infrastructure (equipment costs for the summer series are $10,000 alone!), directing shows at other venues and pursuing ongoing research which examines the role of the arts in youth development and adult well-being, focusing on the biological/neurological roots of art-making activity.

To learn more about Mark and The Public Theater of MN, please visit www.ptmn.org.

Bring your favorite blanket or lawn chair and make yourself comfortable while you enjoy a picnic in the park before each performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Performances run, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, July 6 - 22, 8PM. -10PM.

Great news for artists and public art patrons everywhere!   The city of St. Louis Park has added a new website all about public art in St. Louis Park- http://www.stlouispark.org/arts-culture/st-louis-park-public-art.html.  The city has this to say about art in SLP:

"St. Louis Park is committed to promoting and integrating arts, culture and community aesthetics in all city initiatives, including implementation where appropriate. Through various partnerships, the city has promoted and celebrated the creation of public art throughout the community."

You can learn more about many of the city's public art projects by visiting links highlighting projects like The Birds Nest at Westwood Nature Center by Jonee Kulman Brigham, The Celebration of Peace at Wolfe Park by Evelyn Raymond, and many more. 

The story of Friends of the Arts (FotA) is best told by the lives we touch.

Our story is told by six-year-old Shelby, a very bright but shy little girl. She really loves music and wanted to take dance lessons. Her young parents thought this was a good idea but just couldn’t figure out how to manage this with their already stretched budget. Then Shelby’s mother found a brochure about FotA’s Arts for Life scholarships and decided to look into the opportunity. Five months later Shelby was a vibrant dancer in her first recital at a local dance studio thanks to the scholarship. “She just blossomed – her body, her mind, her whole self,” said her mom. And now she says Shelby’s being more social at school, she has friends, she has learned so much and become more confident in every aspect of her life.

Our story is told by the retired University professor who reads his original poetry at Friends of the Arts Poetry jams and now feels like part of the fabric of his community. He makes new connections and inspires others.

Our story is the story of local artists that are building connections through the opportunities provided by our various programs.

These stories are possible because of community support at all levels. These stories are possible because of generous individuals and businesses that donate both time and money. These stories are possible thanks to those that believe in the power of art and the creative experience.

Thank you for being part of that story.