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The museum will be closed briefly today, Friday, July 12 for a private event. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts is please to unveil its new visual arts exhibition, Mirage: Energy, Water and Creativity in the Great Basin, on view June 13 – August 23, at The Center museum in Ketchum.
The Great Basin is a vast expanse of land covering much of the American West, with its rivers draining internally rather than to the ocean. Its boundaries circumscribe parts of Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and California, and nearly all of Nevada. The Mirage exhibition uses the idea of a closed watershed system as a metaphor for thinking about this uniquely dynamic landscape as a source of regenerative power: a place of resource extraction and renewable energy, a place that has long generated creativity (including Land Art works), and a place of shifting 
boundaries. The Great Basin is also a place of contradictions. Much of it is desert, but it comprises multiple ecosystems and topographies; this incongruity mirrors the fact that though the region is now largely arid, it was once an inland sea. Despite the fact that it holds vast stretches of open, unoccupied land, it is a place of mystery and obscurity. Its scale allows individuals, corporations and government agencies to do things they can’t do elsewhere, from creating monumental artworks on the land to extracting natural resources or installing enormous wind farms, from testing weapons to experimenting with technology.
Artists have long been inspired by the many paradoxes of the region. Each participating artist in the Mirage exhibition presents work that considers the Great Basin from a different point of view:
“There’s something magical about the Great Basin — it’s a place of shimmering landscapes where it’s often difficult to be sure that what you think you see is real,” said Dr. Courtney Gilbert, Curator of Visual Arts at The Center. “Its vastness offers a kind of secrecy, and its open spaces offer up possibilities and inspire experimentation. Each of the artists in the exhibition illuminate the magic of the Great Basin in different ways, working in a range of media, from photography and film to painting, printmaking and wallpaper. Together, they reveal the Great Basin as a place of cyclical energy, creative activity and personal reinvention.”
The following special events are associated with this exhibition:
FREE Gallery Exhibition…..June 12–Aug. 23, 2019
FREE Opening Celebration…..Thursday, June 13, 5 p.m.
FREE Panel Discussion: “Is Landscape Still Relevant in 21st-Century Art?”….Thursday, June 13, 6 p.m.
FREE Evening Exhibition Tour…..Thursday, June 27, 5:30 p.m.
FREE Gallery Walk…..Friday, July 5, 5–7 p.m.
FREE Panel Discussion: “Photographing the Great Basin”…..Tuesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
FREE Gallery Walk…..Friday, Aug. 2, 5–7 p.m.
FREE Evening Exhibition Tour…..Thursday, Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m.
In addition, the Mirage exhibition includes family visitor guides for younger patrons and hands-on activities for learners of all ages in The Center’s maker space.
Mirage: Energy, Water and Creativity in the Great Basin is sponsored in part by grants from the Robert Lehman Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Center applied for NEA funding through Art Works, the Arts Endowment’s principal grantmaking program. After convening panels to review 1,605 eligible grant applications, the agency awarded 972 grants, one of which will help underwrite Mirage.
Following its exhibition at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Mirage: Energy, Water and Creativity in the Great Basin will travel to the Boise Art Museum in 2020.
In conjunction with Mirage, Gail Severn Gallery presents an exhibition by internationally known painter Tony Foster, Tony Foster Watercolour Diaries: Great Basin and Copper Basin, June 14–July 29, 2019. The gallery, located at 400 First Avenue N. in Ketchum, will host an opening celebration on Friday, June 14, 2019, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and an artist chat with Foster on Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m.
Mirage: Energy, Water and Creativity in the Great Basin will be on view at The Center through Aug. 23, 2019. For more information call 208.726.9491.
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts invites members of the community to a special event celebrating the opening of the 2018–2019 Classroom Enrichment Exhibition, Deepen the Discussion, on Thursday, May 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. The visual arts exhibition, which explores how art deepened student learning throughout the year, will be on view at The Center’s museum through Saturday, June 1.
The Deepen the Discussion exhibition showcases artwork created by students who participated in projects associated with The Center’s Classroom Enrichment program during the 2018–2019 school year. This innovative arts integration program brings professional museum educators and teaching artists into the schools to work with non-arts classroom teachers at the secondary level in developing a project and co-teaching an element of planned curriculum through a hands-on art project.
Enrichment projects are offered annually to core subject teachers and 6th–12th grade students across the Blaine County School District. These projects provide students with new tools for interpretation and problem-solving; encourage three-dimensional learning, critical thinking and self-expression; and deepen student engagement with academic course material. Generously sponsored by Wendy and Alan Pesky, the program reaches 400–700 secondary students in their classrooms each year, including 740 students who participated in enrichment projects during the current school year.
“This exhibition is the first time we’ve highlighted student artwork and the process involved in our Classroom Enrichment arts education program,” said Katelyn Foley, Director of Education and Humanities at The Center. “The program is now 6 years old, and it’s incredible to see how it has grown and can supply a year’s sample of the work being done. By showcasing student artwork, we hope to share with our community the power of arts integration on learning!”
Jordyn Dooley, Art Enrichment Coordinator at The Center, expanded upon Foley’s comments. “This program provides students with a new platform for creatively engaging with classroom topics and expressing their understanding in a way unique to themselves,” she said. “The exhibition elevates the students’ hard work and celebrates it with the broader community.”
The Deepen the Discussion visual arts exhibition will be on view at The Center in Ketchum on May 30 and 31 (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) and June 1 (noon–3 p.m.).
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts is proud to announce the winners of its 2019 Arts and Humanities Scholarship program, which provides monetary awards to local students and educators to help advance their education and experience in the arts. Now in its 21st year, the scholarship program is an important part of The Center’s mission of enriching the education of students and educators through transformational arts experiences. A private reception to honor this year’s scholarship winners was held at The Center’s Ketchum location on Tuesday, April 9.
The 28 scholarships awarded by The Center fall into five different categories, each of which allows Wood River Valley students and educators to expand their education in the arts and humanities. The total amount awarded in 2019 is $44,000, bringing The Center’s overall scholarship awards since 1998 to $932,397. The Center’s Arts and Humanities Scholarships are made possible by private donations and funds raised at the organization’s Annual Wine Auction event.
JACK THORNTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – A $3,000 scholarship awarded to an 11th– or 12th-grade student who has demonstrated their passion for the study of performing arts (music, theater, voice or dance). The 2019 Winner is Emma Pulleiro, a junior at Wood River High School who will participate in the Boston Conservatory Opera Intensive in Valencia, Spain, this summer.
GAY V. WEAKE SCHOLARSHIP – A renewable scholarship of $2,000 per year, awarded to a 12th-grade student or full-time college student majoring in the arts or humanities, to be applied toward tuition at an accredited college or university. The 2019 winner is Elva Chen, a Wood River High School senior who plans to study design at Rhode Island School of Design, University of Southern California, University of Washington or UCLA. The following winners of the Gay V. Weake Scholarship from previous years will receive awards as well: Jorgen Lawrence (2018), Lemuel Reagan (2017), Pierson Carlsen (2016), Ashlie Pulleiro (2015) and Haylee Pettit (2015).
EZRA POUND SCHOLARSHIP – A $5,000 scholarship awarded to an 11th-grade student to pursue advanced study in the visual arts during the summer between junior and senior year. The 2019 winner is Geneva Dupuis, a Wood River High School junior who will study painting and drawing at the San Francisco Art Institute.
HIGH SCHOOL ARTS & HUMANITIES SCHOLARSHIP – Multiple scholarships of up to $2,500 awarded to students currently enrolled in grades 9–12 to further their formal studies in the arts and humanities outside of regular school hours. The 2019 winners are Ben Anderson, Leyla Ba, Gabe Delgado, Paige DeShields, Daniel Durand, Britta Heaphy, Ethan Hunt, Jennifer Jordan, Murphy Kendall, Luke Mauldin, Adri Meyer, Julia Ott, Daniel Pearson, David Taylor, Elias Trevino, Ivan Varela, Samantha White and Sharom Yallico.
WENDY & ALAN PESKY EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP – Multiple scholarships of up to $1,200 awarded to K-12 educators to support formal professional development in visual arts, performing arts or humanities. The 2019 winners are Amanda Palan of Syringa Mountain School and Kimber Traue of Bellevue Elementary School.
“To date, The Center has given nearly $1 million in scholarships to local students and educators,” said Sarah Stavros, Education Associate at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. “Every year I am always blown away by the generosity of our donors. It is amazing to see how this money transforms students’ lives and how thankful the students are for these amazing opportunities.”
Applications for The Center’s 2020 scholarship program will be available Dec. 1, 2019. Detailed information about the program can be found at sunvalleycenter.org/education-humanities/scholarships/. Questions about the application process may be directed to Katelyn Foley at kfoley@sunvalleycenter.org or (208) 726-9491 x119.
Always one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Sun Valley summer season, The Center’s 2019 Summer Concert Series will feature three incredible nights of music featuring a lineup of world-class performers and their bands: Ziggy Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Jackson Browne.
“We’re incredibly excited about this summer’s concert series!” said Kristine Bretall, Director of Performing Arts at The Center. “We’ve got something for everyone of every age coming to Sun Valley this summer. The series opens with the phenomenal Ziggy Marley, and hometown favorite Michael Franti will be a stunning finish to that first show. R&B artist Nathaniel Rateliff has been on our short list for the last few summers, and this year we’ve finally reeled him in. We’ll close out the season with a concert by the renowned Jackson Browne, who’s been on our wish list for decades. Truly, it’s a summer of huge performers, and all of them will be performing at River Run Lodge.”
Michael Franti & Spearhead and Ziggy Marley
Monday, June 24, 7 p.m.
Early Entry and VIP access – 6 p.m.
General Admission gates open – 6:15 p.m.
Two amazing musicians and their bands—one stage, one night. Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award winner, author, and philanthropist. He is not only a reggae icon in his own right but is also part of reggae royalty—the son of Bob and Rita Marley and the bandleader of his own Melody Makers.
Michael Franti is well loved by Sun Valley locals for his upbeat songs that feature funk, reggae, folk and, more than anything, a danceable vibe and energy that leaves audiences smiling. With worldwide hits “Say Hey” and “The Sound of Sunshine,” Franti’s music and work focus on spreading positivity and battling the cynicism in the world today.
This co-bill show will be a full night of great music to kick off the summer concert series.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats with special guest Lucius
Wednesday, July 24, 7 p.m.
Early Entry and VIP access – 6 p.m.
General Admission gates open – 6:15 p.m.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are a Denver-based Americana, R&B and soul-inspired band known for their sold-out, raucous performances and their hit songs “Hey Mama,” “S.O.B.” and “You Worry Me.” With two performances at Red Rocks already sold out for August 2019, this is an incredible opportunity to see this acclaimed band in an intimate setting.
Opening the evening is Lucius, a four-piece band fronted by the enchanting Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. Lucius has drawn acclaim for their powerful songs showcasing taut hooks, mesmerizing stage presence and bold visual aesthetics. The New York Times described Wolfe and Laessig’s vocals as being “especially gorgeous,” while Rolling Stone says Lucius is “powerful enough to knock you over.”
Jackson Browne
Monday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m.
Early Entry and VIP access – 6 p.m.
General Admission gates open – 6:15 p.m.
Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most literate and moving songs in popular music and has defined a genre of songwriting charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2007.
His debut album came out on David Geffen’s Asylum Records in 1972. Since then, he has released 14 studio albums and four collections of live performances. Browne is known for his advocacy on behalf of the environment, human rights and arts education.
Ticket Information
“If you’re not yet a member of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, it’s time to join us and support the arts in the Wood River Valley!” said Bretall. “Membership supports the programs that The Center brings to the community and students all year long, plus, members get discounts and first access to tickets, including tickets for the Summer Concert Series. The series package includes one ticket to all three concerts, and you’ll get a 10 percent discount on top of the already $10 per ticket per show discount. The all-in price for the general admission series ticket package is $141.”
Series tickets are available FIRST to Sun Valley Center for the Arts members starting April 2 at 10am.
Ticket release dates and timing:
(As always tickets go on sale to Center Members first)
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES PRICES
VIP Seating Area: $333 ($364.64 including taxes and fees; seats are provided but are not reserved. VIP area is located in front of the sound board, not directly in front the stage)Early Entry: $198 ($218.84 including taxes and fees)
General Admission: $126 ($141.08 including taxes and fees)
Tickets for individual concerts start at $20 for students (except for Jackson Browne), $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers, not including taxes and fees. Prices vary per concert; please visit www.sunvalleycenter.org for details on pricing and how to purchase. Tickets are also available by calling The Center’s box office at 208.726.9491, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2019 Summer Concert Series Sponsors
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts 2019 Summer Concert Series is presented in part by Lutz Rentals, Sun Valley Resort and Zions Bank. Additional support provided Alpine Lodging, Goode Motor, Hotel Ketchum, and Wood River Inn & Suites.
What important elements have been omitted from our collective understanding of colonization in the Americas? What are the possibilities for reinterpreting colonial history from the indigenous point of view? The Sun Valley Center for the Arts explores these questions and more in its next BIG IDEA project, Unraveling: Reimagining Colonization in the Americas, opening Friday, March 8, 2019, at The Center’s museum in Ketchum. The opening celebration is free to the public and will begin at 5 p.m.
As traditionally taught in North American schools, the colonial history of the Americas is a fairly straightforward story of European conquest of indigenous cultures. It is a story of settlement and expansion by the Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch and French as these European powers competed for possession of American territory — lands already occupied for millennia by native peoples.
Umar Rashid (Frohawk Two Feathers), Study for portrait of Bonnie Prince Johnnie Sidney, Pharaoh of Novum Eboracum and co-leader of the Sidney and St. Marc Expedition to the Pacific Coast of North America, 1791, 2017, ink and pencil on paper, courtesy the artist
The real story, however, is anything but straightforward. It is fraught with conflict and negotiation; wars and treaties; and occupations, sales and transfers of enormous swaths of land, usually without input from the original occupants. Even today the theme of manifest destiny run through the commonly held view of American history, effectively obscuring the stories of those who were displaced or dispossessed by the colonial process.This BIG IDEA project re-examines the colonial history of the Americas and offers up alternative perspectives and stories based on both fact and fiction.
“History is never a fixed story; who tells it and how it is told, what parts are emphasized, what gets left out — these all shape how we digest our past,” said Kristin Poole, Artistic Director at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. “This project offers a way for all of us to open a new door to the history of the Americas. The museum exhibition is imaginative and darkly funny, full of alternative histories, offering a reconsideration of colonization as a system of cultural exchange, subversion and resistance, and shifting borders. Other program offerings will unveil new perspectives on certain historic moments, some of which ask us to reconsider what we think we know and others that will flesh out fuller pictures of histories most people have only vague knowledge of. All of it promises to be compelling. We urge the community join us in query and conversation.”
The exhibition for Unraveling: Reimagining Colonization in the Americas also includes hands-on activities for learners of all ages in The Center’s Maker Space.
The visual arts exhibition for Unraveling: Reimagining Colonization in the Americas will be on view through March 22, 2019. Admission to The Center’s museum is always free, and the public is invited to visit the exhibition during The Center’s open hours, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.sunvalleycenter.org or call 208.726.9491.
As part of its BIG IDEA project At the Table: Kitchen as Home, Sun Valley Center for the Arts (SVCA) is excited to welcome award-winning professional chef and cookbook author Joanne Weir. In addition to Weir’s SOLD OUT museum talk “Plates, Places and Stories from My Family Kitchen,” (Saturday, Feb 23, 4pm at The Center, Ketchum), SVCA is offering two more events – a private dinner and cooking demonstration – that make the most of her time in the Wood River Valley. Both are fundraisers for The Center. (The Center is currently accepting names for a waitlist for the sold out museum talk).
Friday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m., Zinc Restaurant, Ketchum
$350 per person
Joanne Weir will preside over a specially designed private dinner in an intimate setting for 40 guests. To kick off the evening, Weir will meet guests at a pre-dinner reception where each party will receive a copy of her cookbook. She will then host the dinner, sharing stories and recollections along the way. This is a unique dining experience that’s not to be missed!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Saturday, Feb. 23, noon, location to be announced
$550 per person
In addition to the private dinner on Friday evening, this ticket includes a cooking demonstration and light lunch for an intimate group with Joanne at a private home. The cooking demonstration is only available as a package with the Feb. 22 dinner and cannot be purchased separately.
TO BUY THE DINNER & DEMO TICKET PACKAGE please call us at 208-726-9491.
In anticipation of her visit to the Wood River Valley Joanne Weir said, “I’m excited to be back in Sun Valley. I’ve visited a few times and loved it. This time will be even more special since I will be talking about my family’s table. Growing up in a food family, the table has always held great significance and continues to be an important place to me. It’s here that we really take time to talk to one another, share our day and our thoughts without distraction. It will be fun to reminisce, share stories and hear your stories of memories made at the table.”
To register for the lecture waitlist or to purchase tickets for the Feb. 22 Dinner with Joanne Weir (either with or without the Feb. 23 cooking demonstration), visit www.sunvalleycenter.org or call the box office at 208.726.9491.
About Joanne Weir:
A fourth-generation professional cook, Joanne Weir spent five years cooking at Chez Panisse after receiving a Master Chef Diploma with renowned French chef, teacher and restauranteur Madeleine Kamman. Weir is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author and teaches cooking classes in the U.S. and around the world. She is the host and Executive Producer of several award-winning television series, including “Joanne Weir Gets Fresh” and her brand-new series, “Joanne Weir’s Plates & Places,” which began airing in February 2018. Weir has written 18 cookbooks, including her most recent memoir, “Kitchen Gypsy: Stories and Recipes from a Lifetime Romance with Food.” She is co-owner of Copita, modern Mexican restaurant and tequileria in Sausalito, California. In 2012, Weir was appointed by the U.S. State Department to the American Chef Corps, a select group of chefs chosen to promote world relations through food. She also writes for numerous publications, including Sunset magazine, Cooking Light, Better Homes and Gardens, Fine Cooking and Food & Wine. Tickets for Weir’s lecture are $10 for members of The Center and $12 for nonmembers.
Artistic Director Kristen Poole said, “Joanne Weir knows deeply how food connects people to each other and to memory. Not only is she is a James Beard award winner but she was appointed by the State Department to use her skills as a chef to assist in world relations. Her dinner and her museum talk are a perfect match for The Center’s current BIG IDEA project At the Table: Kitchen as Home.”
Feeling Lucky? The Center is excited to announce Bourbon and Betting — a new winter fundraising event to benefit Company of Fools. This celebratory evening, which features a charitable “Texas Hold ‘Em” poker tournament, a free bourbon-tasting event and a variety of fun casino games, will be held Friday, Jan. 25, 6:30–10 p.m. at The Mint in Hailey. All games are for entertainment only, and all proceeds from the event will benefit Company of Fools.
Single-player entry into the Texas Hold ‘Em tournament is $500 ($380 tax-deductible), which includes 2,000 “Fools” chips. General-admission tickets are $150 ($100 tax-deductible) and include 500 “Fools” chips to play casino games such as blackjack, craps and roulette. In addition to free wine, beer and appetizers, all guests will enjoy an exclusive bourbon tasting sponsored by Grand Teton Distillery, the creator of award-winning, Idaho-made bourbons.
“We are excited to bring back Company of Fools’ popular Casino Night, but this time we’ve added some new twists, including a poker tournament and bourbon tastings,” said Alison Van Hook, Development Director at The Center. “The Mint is an ideal venue for the event, as it has just recently reopened and shares a storied history with the Liberty Theatre. We hope this event will bring together longtime Company of Fools patrons as well as a new audience that is excited to have fun and support theatre in our community.”
TICKETS:
To learn more about the opportunity to be an event sponsor or table host, contact Alison Van Hook at 208.726.9491, x123 or avanhook@sunvalleycenter.org.
Sponsored by Grand Teton Distillery, First Lite, Wood River Roofing and Katherine Rixon & Rob Cronin KELLER WILLIAMS SUN VALLEY
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce that Scott Palmer has been hired as the new Producing Artistic Director of Company of Fools. In his new role, Scott will lead the artistic direction of the Hailey-based professional theatre company and serve on The Center’s executive leadership team, reporting to Executive Director Christine Davis-Jeffers.
Since 2004, Scott has served as the Founding Artistic Director of Bag&Baggage Productions, a nationally known professional theatre company in Hillsboro, Oregon. In 2015, under Scott’s artistic leadership, Bag&Baggage was honored with a National Theatre Company award by the American Theatre Wing—the organization responsible for managing the Tony Awards.
Scott brings to his new role at Company of Fools a track record of artistic excellence, community engagement, strategic vision and inspired civic leadership. During his 14-year tenure at Bag&Baggage, Scott stewarded the organization from a small touring company to one of the greatest recent theatre success stories in the state of Oregon. He was described by Oregon ArtsWatch as “one of Oregon’s, if not the nations, most ambitious directors.” Scott was named to the prestigious National Theatre Conference in 2017 in recognition of his work with classical theatre and his commitment to making quality performing arts accessible to all. He is also actively involved with the Theatre Communications Group, the national association of professional theatres, with a specific focus on working to advance theatre in rural and suburban areas.
“Scott comes to The Center with a wealth of theatre knowledge from his time with Bag&Baggage,” said Christine Davis-Jeffers, Executive Director. “One of the things that distinguished Scott as a candidate is that his artistic vision and values are well-aligned with those of Company of Fools and The Center. He shared with us that he looks forward to developing the BIG IDEA projects with the group and welcomes the wonderful opportunity to lead Company of Fools. Not only is he a highly talented director and artistic director Scott also has a great sense of humor. We are lucky to have him join us and lead us in the next chapter of Company of Fools history.”
Scott will work part time for several months as he fulfills his commitments in Oregon and will begin working full time with COF in early March 2019. In the near term, Scott will collaborate with COF’s Season Producer R.L. Rowsey, Production Manager K.O. Ogilvie and Company Manager Kris Olenick to develop the Company’s 24th theatre season.
Scott replaces Kent Thompson, who has served in an Interim Producing Director capacity at COF since the June 2017 death of Founding Company Artist John Glenn. In addition to shepherding the Company’s 23rd season, Kent was instrumental in helping The Center identify the kind of leadership role that would be best for COF’s future; he also helped define the job description at the heart of the candidate search that led to Scott.
“I am so honored to have been selected as the next artistic leader of Company of Fools,” said Scott. “Company of Fools has a national reputation for excellence, and I am eager to get to work supporting the staff, board and patrons to continue that great legacy of quality with a focus on the community. Already, I have felt welcomed by the people I have met from the Valley, and I can’t wait to start this exciting new position.”
Click here to view a PDF of the release.