Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
Anna Maria Mendieta
A weekend fundraiser is planned for September in support of Gualala Arts. “Together For The Arts and Global Harmony,” a gala extravaganza fundraiser created by Fred Adler, is set for Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17 at Gualala Arts. Each day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include music of various genres, drama, food, beverages and more. In addition, visitors will be able to enjoy the art on display as part of the 2023 Plein Air Affair exhibit, which opens on Friday, September 15.
Do to Unforeseen Circumstances Sundays concert has been cancelled
On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be a minimum of 5 events, bringing world-class performances to the Chamber Music space at Coleman Hall. There will be a printed schedule of events (subject to change) during the weekend. The daily admission ticket will allow everyone to come, go and return as they wish. Daily tickets are $25. In addition, $100 donor tickets (with special reserved seating) are available in advance or at the door.
The menu choices will include Violet’s Homemade Matzo Ball Chicken Soup, Ukranian Borscht with Sour Cream, Yellow Curry from the Thai Kitchen, Boston Coolers, a delicious drink made with Ginger Ale and vanilla ice cream.
Saturday’s performers will include (times approximate and subject to change):
FIRST SET – 11 am
• Karl Young, shakuhachi flute with Laura Leigh, Japanese haiku poetry.
• A dramatic reading about women’s strength with Bryn Harris.
• Jazz musicians Carlos Martinez, trumpet, Gary Zellerbach, guitar, Pierre Archain, upright bass, Gabe Yanez, drums, Don Watanabe, bass.
• Music by the group Pacific Sun: A.J. Pursell/piano; Andrew Olson/guitar; Lupita Valencia/vocal
SECOND SET: 2 pm
• Fidé Matta, pan pipes and south of the border string instruments.
• Danielle Warner, dance.
• Eric Kritz, clarinet, and Carolyn Steinbuck, piano performing music by Francis Poulenc.
Do to Unforeseen Circumstances Sundays concert has been cancelled
Miles Graber will perform solo piano, playing familiar classics such as Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, Debussy’s “Claire de Lune”, Satie’s “Gymnopédies”, a Chopin prelude and other beloved classics.
Harpist Anna Maria Mendieta will stun us again performing one of Astor Piazzolla’s nuevo tangos. She will be joined by concert pianist Miles Graber and vibist Tommy Kessecker.
Eric Kritz, clarinet, and Carolyn Steinbuck, piano will perform an atmospheric composition by 20th Century French composer Francis Poulenc. Performing a classical gem will be Marcia Lotter, violin, and Sue Bohlin, piano.
In addition, magic will be in the air with jazz improvisations and standards performed by Tommy Kessecker, vibes, Chris Doering, guitar, Don Watanabe, upright bass, Pierre Archain, bass, Andrew Purcell, piano and Gabe Yanez, drums. There will be selections from the great composers, such as George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Tommy Kessecker and Fred Adler will perform a brand new composition that they have written for this occasion titled “Together For The Arts”.
Coastal musician Fidé Matta will play pan pipes from the Andes and string music from South America and Mexico.
Karl Young will be playing Japanese shakuhachi flute, as Laura Leigh reads haiku poetry.
Bryn Harris will bring drama to the stage.
There will be visual on-screen performances and talks about the importance of the arts and the uniqueness of Gualala Arts Center by a number of musicians: jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich, jazz vocalist Jackie Ryan, and a statement submitted by jazz flutist Elena Pinderhughes. Many will remember Elena who, as a jazz prodigy, between the ages of 11 and 13, performed on Gualala Arts’ Coleman Hall stage numerous times, and as an adult has recently been on a world tour with jazz great, pianist/composer Herbie Hancock.
There will be a variety of food options offered, including Israeli and Ukrainian specialties including Violet’s homemade chicken matzo ball soup, Eastern European borscht. All food and beverages will available for purchase beginning about noon each day.
The music coordinator of the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast Whale & Jazz Festival (which began in 2003), Fred Adler brought the Count Basie Orchestra and the Glenn Miller Orchestra to Gualala Arts, and he created “A Night of Gershwin”. He also brought blues artist Charlie Musselwhite, and the late singer-songwriter Richie Havens, among others, to the Arena Theater. He has hosted specialty music programs on coastal radio stations KTDE-fm in Gualala, and on KZYX-fm in Mendocino County since 1966. Adler originated the Gualala Arts Global Harmony Series whose mission is “encouraging global harmony by sharing cultures through the arts.”
MORE: Read a recently published letter about the arts and Gualala Arts from Fred Adler.