By Michelle Fritz
The 2nd biennial Women in the Arts Festival, a month-long celebration of women’s creativity, will take place throughout Niagara and Erie counties during March which is Women’s History Month.
At least 20 events are scheduled, including concerts, a film festival, art exhibits and crafts displays.
“My hope is to see the festival grow each time it is held, every two years,” said Carole Harris, organizer of the festival. “It has already grown so much since the first festival in 2008 and my hope is that it will be bigger for 2010.”
“In an area like Western New York there’s always a lot going on no matter what field your involved in,” Harris said. “Sometimes there is so much that it flies in one ear and out the other. I think it’s nice to make a special event to really concentrate on women’s productivity.” Harris, a musician herself, notices that women artists do not always get the recognition to deserve.
The festival’s inspiration came from musician, composer and professor Dr. Barbara Harbach who held a year-long women in the arts festival of over 850 events in Missouri in 2005. Harris said Harbach realized her life’s work to promote women’s arts in the late 70s while performing as a guest musician. After her concert a panel discussion was held and a person in the audience asked there are so few women composers? The panelist responded that there weren’t any women composer and if there were they wouldn’t be any good. Harris said the incident demonstrated that although times had changed, there was still much work to be done to promote women’s work in the arts. Harbach inspired Harris to create a similar women’s festival in Western New York.
Events taking place in Niagara Falls include four concerts at the historic Holy Trinity RC Church, 1419 Falls St., presented by Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service.
Three area sopranos will be featured including Mary Beth Wrobel at 2 p.m. Sunday; Rachael Napoleon at 3 p.m. Mar. 14; and Emily Helenbrook at 6 p.m. March 20. The fourth concert at 7 p.m. on March 25 will feature Harbach, the inspiration for the festival, as an organist.
The Ladies First Big Band will perform on Saturday at the Church of the Nativity in Tonawanda and many other musical events are on scheduled for the celebration (see below).
Harris said there is still room for women creators and crafters to be part of this event. Those who would like to participate or become involved in the festival can contact Harris at 298-1310 or at ccjjharris@roadrunner.com.
Other events:
Through March 21
Art exhibit by women artists in various media at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center (NACC), 1202 Pine Avenue at Portage Road, Niagara Falls, NY. www.thenacc.org.
Throughout March
A “Women in the Arts” exhibit of books, CDs and DVDs by women creators on display in the Henrietta G. Lewis Library at Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY. Phone 614-6786. Assembled by librarians Karen Ferington and Jeanne Touhey.
Through April 2
Impact Artist Gallery 2010 Women’s Spring National Show. Reception Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Currently showing: Featured member Genevieve Whitefield. The gallery is located at the Tri-Main Building, Suite 545, 2495 Main St., Buffalo. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wed. through Fri. and 1 p.m .to 4 p.m. Sat.
Saturday
Noon to 4:30 p.m. “Women’s Work: Crafts, Music, Storytelling and More!” at Kenmore Presbyterian Church, 2771 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, NY. 875-7600. Featuring crafters, storytellers, dancers and artists. Free. The afternoon event will feature a concert of sacred and secular music by women composers. Included will be a hymn festival of hymns written by women composers and/or writers. Free-will offering.
8:00 p.m. Saturday: Ladies First Big Band at the Church of the Nativity, 1530 Colvin Blvd., Town of Tonawanda. 875-3365. Great music for listening and dancing! Tickets $10, may be purchased at the door.
Sunday
2:00 p.m.: Concert by soprano Mary Beth Wrobel at Historic Holy Trinity RC Church, 1419 Falls Street, Niagara Falls. Call 807-6547 for information. Presented by Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service. Tickets $15.
Monday, March 8
7:00 p.m.: “Remember the Ladies: A History of American Women in Song,” lecture by Linda Russell at the North Tonawanda History Museum, 54 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Call 213-0554 or visit nthistorymuseum.org.
March 10
7:30 p.m.: The Women’s Studies Film Festival, in the Palisano Pavilion on the Canisius College Campus. Film title: “Daughters of the Dust.” An informal discussion session and refreshments will follow the film. 888-2112. Free.
March 13
3:00 p.m.: Handbell Concert/Festival at Clarence United Methodist Church, 10205 Greiner Road, Clarence. Presented by the Buffalo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and featuring a number of works by women composers/arrangers. Free.
March 14
3:00 p.m.: Student/Faculty Recital, Christ the King Chapel, Canisius College, Main Street, Buffalo. Included in the program will be works by a number of women composers. Free.
3:00 p.m.: Concert by soprano Rachael Napoleon at Historic Holy Trinity RC Church, 1419 Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY. 807-6547. Presented by Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service. Tickets $10.
March 16
6:00 p.m.: Open music lecture presented by Canisius College music department faculty Prof. Ellen Barnum and Prof. Carole Harris. In Lyons Hall Room 309 on the Canisius College Campus. 888-2537. Free.
7:30 p.m.: Film: “Butterfly,” part of the Social Justice Film Series at Canisius College, in Old Main Room 414 on the Canisius College Campus.
March 18
2:30 p.m.: Art history lecture: “Photomontage, Gender and the Bauhaus” by Elizabeth Otto, Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art, SUNY at Buffalo. In the Regis Room of the Richard E. Winter Student Center, Canisius College. Free.
March 20
6:00 p.m.: Concert by soprano Emily Helenbrook at History Holy Trinity RC Church, 1410 Falls Street, Niagara Falls. 807-6547. Presented by Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service. Tickets $10.
March 21
1:45 p.m.: 11th Annual Spring Spectacular by the Akron Elementary School 4th/5th Grade Choir under the direction of Kimberly Stachowski, with Matthew Willadsen, accompanist. Featuring choral works by women composers and/or arrangers. At Kleinhans Music Hall, preceding the BPO concert.
3:00 p.m.: “There Is Delight in Singing,” a concert presented by soprano Janet Obermeyer, harpsichordist Jane Cary, and fortepianist Karen Schmid. In the Montante Cultural Center, Main Street, on the Canisius College Campus. Free. Reception following, presented by Sigma Alpha Iota, International Women’s Music Fraternity.
5:00 p.m.: “Sisters in Song: The Music of Sister Theophane Hytrek and Hildegard von Bingen,” at First Presbyterian Church, Symphony Circle, Buffalo. Featuring the creative works of 20th-Century composer Sister Theophane of Milwaukee and 12-Century German composer and mystic Hildegard of Bingen. Presented by William Fay and Carole Harris, with organists Patrick Barrett, David Bond, Diane Green and David Snyder. Also performing is the Lewiston, NY, women’s choral group Voces Regales, accompanied by Peter Smith and directed by William Fay. Co-sponsored by the Buffalo Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Tickets $10 general admission, $5 for women religious.
March 23
7:30 p.m.: The Women’s Studies Film Festival, in the Palisano Pavilion on the Canisius College campus. Film title to be announced. An informal discussion session and refreshments will follow the film. 888-2112. Free.
March 25
7 p.m.: “Women Composers Through the Ages” presented by renowned organist, harpsichordist and composer Dr. Barbara Harbach at Historic Holy Trinity RC Church, 1419 Falls Street, Niagara Falls. Call 807-6547. Harbach will present a lecture/demonstration and play a number of organ works by women composers. Presented by Niagara Heritage of Hope and Service. Free will offering.
March 26
7:30 p.m.: “Women Composers for the Organ,” organ recital by renowned composer and organist Dr. Barbara Harbach. At First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora, 9 Paine Street, East Aurora. Call 652-0160 for more information. Free will offering.
March 30
7:30 p.m.: The Women’s Studies Film Festival, in Old Main Room 410 on the Canisius College Campus, Main Street, Buffalo. Film title: “Reason for Hope.” An informal discussion and refreshments will follow the film. Call 888-2112 for information. Free.
