Local museum is free and open to the public

photo courtesy of www.amarilloart.org

By: Rachel Nelson

http://www.amarilloscene.com/

The Amarillo Museum of Art has been adding color to the lives of people in the Golden Spread for forty years.

According to AMOA executive director Graziella Marchicelli, the arts are important in all of our lives regardless of economical or educational background.

"The arts do more than just decorate your home. The arts are much broader and have a much deeper meaning than we give it credit for," she said.

The mission of the museum is to "provide quality visual arts programming to the residents of the Texas Panhandle, eastern New Mexico and western Oklahoma through collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programming, preservation and research."

The AMOA holds exhibitions, art classes and special events for the community on a regular basis.On the third Thursday of every month, AMOA holds an event called "Third Thursdays." It is in collaboration with Starbuck's Coffee and includes live music, children's activities, art based lessons for the entire family and coffee tasting.

The events are held at the museum, located on the northeast corner of the Amarillo College Washington Street campus, and are free to the public.

Those who attend Third Thursdays can go on tours of current exhibitions, and the museum usually shows a film or documentary. Activities start at 6 p.m. and run until 9. The next Third Thursday event will be held October 18.

"We are more than just a place for pretty objects," Marchicelli said.

At the last Third Thursday event held on September 20, the museum introduced the "Art-o-mat." It is a refurbished cigarette machine that was custom designed for the AMOA. Five dollar tokens can be purchased at AMOA to be used in the Art-o-mat. The machine dispenses miniature pieces of original artwork by various international artists. There are only three of these machines in Texas.

Currently running at AMOA is an exhibition called The Face of India: Photographs of Donald M. Robinson.

"Through his lens he shows us the social contradictions in India and disparities within the country from the congestion of elephants and buggies on the main street to the quiet, majestic palaces of the maharajas," the AMOA Web site reports.

"It was a pleasure and a privilege to discover India," Robinson said. "The experience afforded me unparalleled photographic opportunities.

"The Face of India exhibition will run at the museum through October 21. For more information about the museum and the exhibition, visit www.amarilloart.org.

Other exhibitions running at AMOA are Syncopated Rhythm: the Collage of Lance Letscher and Dante Marioni: Form – Color -Pattern. These exhibitions will run until October 28.

Marchicelli encourages people to take advantage of visiting the free-to-the-public museum.

"Art is an intuitive part of who we are as human beings," she said.

The AMOA currently is looking for volunteers for Third Thursdays. Anyone interested should call the museum at 371-5050.

Museum Hours:Tues - Fri ... 10-5 p.m.
Thur... 10-9 p.m.
Sat - Sun ... 1-5 p.m.

Location: 2200 S. Van Buren, Amarillo, Texas 79109
Mailing Address: PO Box 447, Amarillo, Texas 79178
Phone: 806-371-5050
Fax: 806-373-9235
Email: amoa@actx.eduwww.amarilloart.org

Local BMX freestyle rider soars to top

Duke Dustman performs a stunt on his bike.

By: Rachel Nelson
http://www.amarilloscene.com/

Eighteen-year-old Duke Dustman knows what it means to overcome obstacles. He experienced the loss of his father at the age of 14, and he didn't graduate from high school. He never imagined he would be where he is today.

"I started riding. It kept me from doing bad things. It keeps me happy," Dustman said.

Dustman started out watching freestyle bikers perform stunts on TV. Today, a few broken bones and injuries later, he has three sponsors that help him excel in the sport.

Outdoor Elements Sports and Torn are the local businesses that support Dustman by donating equipment and monetary needs for his endeavors. Black Eye Bikes out of Colorado also provides support.

Dustman began progressing in the world of freestyle biking when his friend, Adam Cossey, opened an indoor skate park in Amarillo.

"He's picked up quicker than anybody I've seen. In three years he's done what most kids try to accomplish in 10," Cossey said of Dustman's accomplishments.

After spending time at Cossey's skate park, Dustman entered a contest with the New Mexico Xtreme Sports Association where he landed first place in a freestyle competition. He was then flown to California to attend Camp Woodward, a BMX facility, where he received daily instruction for one week.

"That's an amazing place. It's like bike heaven," Dustman said.

Since then, Dustman has been involved in several competitions.

Among Dustman's favorite tricks to perform is the "tail whip."

"It's where I get off my bike in the air, spin the bike around and get back on it."

He also has mastered the art of doing back flips.

Dustman and a few of his bike buddies recently established their own freestyle team. Team EKUD has done a few shows around town.

"We want to do birthday parties and stuff like that," Dustman said.

Those interested in having Team EKUD perform at their event can reach Dustman at (806) 324-3633. Team EKUD is also on the lookout for someone to sponsor them in making clothing.

Dustman said his freestyle family keeps him encouraged on his journey, although he doesn't think it's going to be his career.

"Thanks to all my friends that ride with me and help me out through the hard times," he said.

To others desiring to get involved in BMX riding, Dustman offers advice.

"Get a bike," he said. "If kids want to get a bike, they can go to Outdoor Elements. They're really nice people."

Although Cossey's indoor skate park is no longer open, John Stiff Park in Amarillo has a free outdoor establishment open to the public.

Above all, Dustman encourages people pursuing freestyle biking to have a good time.

"Ride for fun. Don't take it seriously," he said.

Theatre expands, welcomes local talent

By: Rachel Nelson

http://www.amarilloscene.com/

Among the explosion of the local art scene is the Amarillo Repertory Theatre, located in Sunset Center. The theatre, commonly called "The Rep," was started one year ago by Shawn Martin and David Burton, and since then it has produced 13 shows, a majority of which have been written by local playwrights.

"The theatre itself has been going through a lot of growth," said artistic director Sirc Michaels.

The current show that The Rep is running is "Faust," which began on Halloween night and will repeat November 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 8 p.m.

"This is the beginning of the first full-on season where we will be doing shows for adults and families," Michaels said.

Admission to the show is $5 for students and seniors and $10 for everyone else. Tickets can be purchased at the door."

"'Faust' is the classic story about a man who sells his soul to the devil for a chance to relive his youth, only to realize the folly of his actions all too late," said Michaels, who wrote the script.

Those who come to the production will enter the theatre through a creative set-up that appears to be the mouth of hell.

Another show running in November will be D Fever and Hank Robey on the 14th at 8 p.m.

According to Michaels, The Rep puts on a diverse selection of thought-invoking shows. He described some plays as family friendly fairy tales, while others "push the envelope."

"We're not just doing one type of show," he said. "We're trying to do provocative theatre … stuff that you wouldn't just see around town. Our whole thrust is to help cultivate performing arts in the Panhandle."

Michaels believes that theatre is "the common man's art."

"Our goal is to reach people who normally wouldn't go to the theatre," he said. "There's something very magical about the theatre. This is something that everyone should experience."

Going to the movies and attending live theatre are two completely different experiences according to Martin, who is the managing producer of The Rep.

"The country is currently enthralled with electronic stimulation," he said. "The medium of film has completely overtaken the entertainment industry so currently people don't even realize that they can be entertained enjoyably by live human beings."

Martin encourages people to give live theatre a chance.

"It's fun to be entertained by live people," he said. "Every theatre experience is brand new. If you come see the same show ten times, you will see ten different shows because of the human factor."

Contrary to popular belief, Michaels said theatre isn't just the stereotypical men in tights.

"It's varied, it's exciting and it can really charge a person in terms of their emotions," he said.

Because of lacking funds, the arts are commonly the first thing to be cut from public schools. Michaels said that one of the future goals of The Amarillo Repertory Theatre is to go into schools and tie shows into the curriculum. They also will host the Panhandle Playwrights Festival where writers in the area will have an opportunity to submit their work to be produced at The Rep. The deadline for submissions will be at the end of January. Six finalists will be chosen for live stage readings, one of which will get a production at the Repertory Theatre in May.

For more information, visit the group's Web site at http://www.art-in-amarillo.com/.

The Amarillo Repertory Theatre desires to work with local talent.

"We're really keen on working with groups," Michaels said.

The theatre invites those with an interest in acting to audition for shows and welcomes scripts from local writers. They also are willing to provide a venue to people in search of one.

Slamarillo, a group of slam poets in Amarillo, have made the theater their home venue for the past six months and perform on the last Saturday of every month at 8 p.m.

The Amarillo Repertory Theatre has a full season slated. To stay up-to-date with shows, visit the groups Web site or check out Myspace.com/amarep.