I'm in Seattle this week honeymooning and celebrating two milestone birthdays as well! And, of course, loving all the artistic expressions to be found here. I love visiting new places and observing how regional differences influence the work of local artists. The waterfront and the Native American presence is obvious here in the beautiful works we see everywhere. Larger metropolitan areas also tend to provide support (financial and otherwise) with artistic avenues in the public spaces and that's always inspiring.

It seems everywhere we look, there's sculpture sitting alongside a park walkway, or a highway or a street corner. Many buildings and walls have colorful murals or mosaics displayed. We even saw a very colorful installation using chewing gum for its media as we were walking along Post Alley in the Pike Market area. And, yes, the public is welcome to and happily adds to the work. Art? In this case, believe it or not, yes. But don't try that at home, folks!

Closer to home, we've got some great live stage events to see (but leave the chewing gum at home...). It's the final weekend for "Rush Limbaugh at Night School," at the Rialto, the "Yee Haw" variety show is on at PACT, "Aida" continues at Harbor, and "Rocky Horror Picture Show" explodes at the Aurora. The rain will stop, the sun will shine and art will continue to inspire. Go grab some!

Upcoming Events:

• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., through September 25 - Final Weekend. "Rush Limbaugh Goes to Night School" Stage Comedy. Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Saturday, September 25, 7:30 p.m. - "Yee Haw!" Variety Show. Port Aransas Community Theater. Admission: Call for Info.
• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:00 p.m. and Sundays, 2:00 p.m. through September 26 - "Aida!" Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $16.
• Tuesday, September 28, 7:00 p.m. - "Rialto Rhythms" Weekly Open Acoustic Jam. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free ($5 contribution suggested).
• Fridays, 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. through October 31 - "Rocky Horror Picture Show," Aurora Arts Center. Admission: $14.
• Daily through September 24 - "Man Alive Group Show" Art Exhibit. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Daily through September 30 - "Young Musings." Anita Bransom Debut Art Exhibit and Aransas Pass Chamber Mixer. Main Gallery, Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.
• Saturday, October 2, 7:30 p.m. - "Yee Haw!" Variety Show. Port Aransas Community Theater. Admission: Call for Info.
• Saturday, October 16, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. - "4th Annual Port Aransas Art Walk." Self-guided tour of art galleries and studios on the island. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Daily through October 16 - "Sylvia Benitez" Art Exhibit Opening Reception. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.

Jen Jones Rubinowitz is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker Myers-Gallagher. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line at jen@jenscoastalbend.com.

The Art of the Story

Joe Hayes, resident storyteller at Santa Fe's Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, says "I think the greatest contribution you can make with storytelling is that it really builds a sense of community. The tellers and listeners work together, and when we share a story, it removes barriers of strangeness." I have yet to make it to the annual George West's Storyfest every November, usually because it conflicts with the Rialto Theater's "Black Tie & Blue Jeans" Gala, but I can certainly relate to Mr. Hayes' point of view.

Every artist, whether visual or performing, attempts to impart a story in that moment to their audience. Some via a two-hour play, others through a painting, a three minute song or through touch of a sculpture. In today's culture of soundbites, the internet, and instant gratification, artists are challenged to capture the patron's interest and attention with their work. Some painters spend their life telling a story through a series of paintings while others paint a picture with only one. A triptych is a series of three panels comprising one body of work. You'll often see them in the regional art exhibits here in the Coastal Bend.

Regardless of how the artist chooses to share in their media of choice, think about art as simply a way of telling a story to you. It's nothing more or less than that; a way of reaching out to you, removing the barriers of strangeness that separates and alienates us as individuals. Art can provide a common bond and enable you to see someone else's point of view in a whole new way.

Upcoming Artisan Events:

• Friday, August 6, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - "First Friday" Opening Reception. Live Music, Food & Drink. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Tuesday, August 10, 7:00 p.m. - "Rialto Rhythms" Weekly Open Acoustic Jam. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free ($5 contribution suggested).
• Daily through August 7 - "Shirley Blackman Poster Artist" Reception and Opening Exhibit. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.
• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:00 p.m. and Sundays, 2:00 p.m. through August 8 - "Chicago" Harbor Playhouse. Admission: $16.
• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2:30 p.m. through August 15 - "Cabaret" Aurora Arts Center. Admission: $7-$14.
• Daily through September 23 - "Young Musings." Anita Bransom Debut Art Exhibit and Aransas Pass Chamber Mixer. Main Gallery, Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.
• Friday & Saturday, 7:30 p.m., September 10-11 - "Rush Limbaugh Goes to Night School" Stage Comedy. Rialto Theater. Admission: $12.
• Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. September 24-October 9 - "Driving Miss Daisy" Rialto Theater's 2010-2011 season opener. Final Performance October 10, 2:00 p.m. Matinee. Admission: $12.
• Saturday, October 16, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. - "4th Annual Port Aransas Art Walk." Self-guided tour of art galleries and studios on the island. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.

Jen Jones is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker Myers-Gallagher. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line atjen@jenscoastalbend.com.

"Tony Awards" & Local Theaters

The Tony Awards continue to razzle-dazzle us, year after year. The themes of both the Best Play and Best Musical award winners this year revolved around true stories (or as "true" as any staged or Hollywood presentation is) from other areas of the creative arts. "Red" portrays American expressionist Mark Rothko and his struggle to create a masterpiece while coping with competition from his protege'. Best Musical "Memphis" is loosely based on the work of 1950's disk jocky "Daddy-O" Dewey Phillips who stretched the boundaries of the day and broadcast music based on what he liked, ignoring racial boundaries. Daddy-O was also the first to play Elvis' "That's All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky" debut on the air.

Another Best Musical nominee, "Fela" tells the story of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. "American Idiot" is a post-911 tale set to the music of the popular band "Green Day." "Sondheim on Sondheim" is a portrait of the famous Tony-award winning composer/lyricist. It seemed this year, art itself was the inspiration for many fine plays who all deserved to win, of course. I also found it interesting that many of those nominated had strong ties to television and movie roles. For example, the entire category of "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play" was comprised of movie actors like Jude Law, Denzel Washington and Liev Schreiber.

Now, most of us can't hop a plane to Broadway and we're not likely to see movie stars on our local stages. Nevertheless, we have fine talent in the region performing at community theaters around the area. You'll be surprised at what you'll find if you go get a little taste of Broadway (or off-off-Broadway) at theaters right in your backyard. Give them a try; they'll never win a Tony but they'll entertain you with no problem at all.

• Upcoming Artisan Events:Saturday, June 19, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - "Shirley Blackman Poster Artist" Reception and Opening Exhibit. Rockport Center for the Arts. Admission: Free.
• Tuesday, June 22, 7:00 p.m. - "Rialto Rhythms" Weekly Open Acoustic Jam. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free ($5 contribution suggested).
• Daily through June 23 - "First Look" Debut Art Exhibit by Norma Gafford and Mary Rush-Griffin. Main Gallery, Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.
• Thursday, June 24, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - "Young Musings." Anita Bransom Debut Art Exhibit and Aransas Pass Chamber Mixer. Main Gallery, Rialto Theater. Admission: Free.
• Thursday, June 24, 7:30 p.m. - Special Half-Price Preview of "Showtime on the Showboat (or Don't Throw Garbage in the River)" Summer Melodrama. Rialto Theater. Admission: Free to Marquee Members, Others $6.
• Fridays and Saturdays, June 25 through July 10, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, July 11 at 2:00 p.m. - "Showtime on the Showboat (or Don't Throw Garbage in the River)" Summer Melodrama. Live on Stage. Rialto Theater with special performance Saturday, July 3rd at Noon (no showing that evening at the Rialto) at Sail South Texas 2010. Admission: $12.
• Fridays-Saturdays through July 27, 7:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees - "Rumors" by Neil Simon. Aurora Arts Theatre. Admission: $14.
• Daily through - June 30 "Guys and Dolls" Art Exhibit. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Friday, July 2, 5:30 p.m. - "First Friday" Opening Art Reception. Art Center for the Islands. Admission: Free.
• Fridays-Saturdays, July 15 - July 31, 7:30 p.m. - "Year with Frog and Toad" Youth Theatre Production. Admission: $5-15.

Jen Jones is a member of the Board of Directors of the Rialto Theater, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization fostering art and education through visual art, music and live stage productions in the historic movie theater in downtown Aransas Pass. Her day job is in real estate at Coldwell Banker Myers-Gallagher. If you have someone you'd like to spotlight in this column, drop her a line at jen@jenscoastalbend.com.