This event is a fundraiser for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds will be used to develop visitor services and promote Jacksonville as a year-round preferred destination.
New Members Minstrel Streams
Art Presence Welcomes New Members Minstrel Streams
New Members Minstrel Streams: Guitarist/Pianist Matt and Flutist Rebecca Stuart
We are happy to welcome new members Minstrel Streams to Art Presence. Husband and wife musical duo Matt and Rebecca Stuart are the talented musicians/composers and recording artists behind the name Minstrel Streams. Matt plays piano/keyboards and acoustic guitar and Rebecca plays flute and Native American flutes. Their inspirational music has been described as a blend of classical, folk, and world music. We met them at our last Board meeting, and what a delight to hear their music for the first time at the Small Treasures reception a few days later! The couple only recently moved to Medford, so we also welcome them as new neighbors.
Art Presence now offers the four CDs they have made together—On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Cradle of the Moon, New Horizon, and the self-titled Minstrel Streams—in the gallery on their behalf. In addition, they have offered to play at our receptions and special events going forward. If you haven’t already fallen in love with their music, we’re sure you will enjoy listening to our new members Minstrel Streams at our next reception.
Props and Accomplishments
Their critically acclaimed CD New Horizon was recorded at Will Ackerman’s legendary Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont. It has reached a global audience with radio airplay around the world…being a hit on Pandora and Music Choice “Soundscapes.” New Horizon was also a GRAMMY contender.
In the words of Bill Binkelman of Zone Music Reporter:
“while listening… I recalled many classic recordings from the days of both Windham Hill and Narada in that the music has that ‘classic’ acoustic sound present on both labels, especially at their outset. There is a sonic richness and an emotional depth present here that goes beyond just ‘good music and well played.’ ”
New Members Minstrel Streams’ mission is To promote peace, love, joy, healing, and mercy through music.
Matt and Rebecca Stuart
Matt Stuart grew up in Chicago and began playing the piano at the age of four. Shortly thereafter he began taking formal (classical) lessons at Northwestern University’s Conservatory of Music. As a child, Matt’s passion for music was most easily recognized in one particular way. His parents were big movie fans, so they treated Matt and his younger brother to weekly trips to the cinema. Upon returning home, Matt would frequently plop down in front of the piano and immediately begin working out the movie’s soundtrack’s themes. Miklos Rozsa’s “Ben Hur,” Maurice Jarre’s “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago” made huge impressions on him. In high school, he added folk guitar to his musical repertoire, inspired by luminary artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Peter, Paul and Mary, and John Denver. College followed with formal studies at UCLA, including courses in film scoring and ethno-musicology.
Rebecca grew up in southern California and started her musical voyage playing flute in the fourth grade in Ventura County. She took individual lessons from two members of the Ventura County Symphony Orchestra, including its principal flutist, Bertie Atkinson. Winning awards for her playing in high school in both band and orchestra, Rebecca followed with a career in a number of bands as well as playing at numerous bookings for weddings, retreats, and as co-worship leader in the Porterville, California chapter of Aglow, Int’l. Rebecca counts the renowned James Galway as one of her most prominent influences in her music.
Matt and Rebecca Meet to Compose a Song…
There are numerous examples of serendipity coming into play when musicians collaborate, but sometimes the stars align in such perfect fashion that not only is a new musical entity formed but something much deeper, more personal and intense, also grows from the encounter. In the case of Matt and Rebecca Stuart, the chance circumstances of their meeting led to not just the two forming a musical duo, but also becoming life partners…and such was born Art Presence new members Minstrel Streams.
Now the story gets really interesting. In Rebecca’s own words. “I had started to compose a song, but needed some help with it. I played my piece for my apartment manager. About one month later she approached me and said, ‘Rebecca, a composer came by looking for an apartment. I think I’m supposed to give you his card.’ I decided to call Matt Stuart. He seemed interested in composing my song and wanted to meet me that same night. A Jack In The Box® restaurant was between our apartments…we met there. We exchanged our [solo] CDs and talked about the song, our day jobs, learned that we were both in the field of social work and taught independent living skills to the disabled. In fact, we both knew many of the same people! Matt looked at me and commented, ‘You have hazel eyes like I do!’ I wondered if he was single. After going home, Matt called to ask if I had a boyfriend, or if I was married. I told him no, and then yes to our first date. We married 6 months later and have composed many wonderful pieces of music since then!”
…and Minstrel Streams is Born
The duo got their name through an equally serendipitous event. As Matt recalls, “We were looking for a word to pair with Minstrel. We played at a church service in Squaw Valley, CA. A week later the Pastor called and said he had a word to describe our music, which was ‘confluence’—a place where streams flow together to form a river. He said we did this with our different instruments.” The duo began playing together in 2008 and released the first of four recordings (to date) in 2009, On Earth As It Is In Heaven, followed by Minstrel Streams (2010), and Winterpeace (2012).
Recent Developments for Minstrel Streams
An obvious turning point in the duo’s career came about recently when Rebecca began a Facebook correspondence with noted producer and artist Will Ackerman (helped along by mutual friend, pianist and GRAMMY winner Laura Sullivan). Ackerman considered Matt and Rebecca proficient and talented enough that he turned the production of their new album over to the pair, leaving them in the hands of ace engineer Tom Eaton. Recording their latest album, New Horizon, at Imaginary Road Studios and working with such notable accompanists as cellist Eugene Friesen, English horn player Jill Haley, and vocalist Noah Wilding (among others) was, in their own words, “…magical and inspired.” New Horizon was officially released in February of 2014.
Rebecca and Matt currently reside in Southern Oregon. Here they continue to play live in a variety of diverse venues including concert halls, wineries, art galleries and churches. When not playing or composing, Rebecca whips up delicious healthy, gourmet vegan dishes while Matt indulges his love for the detective mysteries of Tony Hillerman.
And Art Presence Art Center proudly announces our musically talented new members, Minstrel Streams!
Taste of Summer FREE Wine Pairing Class
Taste of Summer FREE Wine Pairing Class
“I want my wines to take a person back to some special moment in time, to a special location or an event that lingers in their memory. Wine is meant to be savored and enjoyed. May you enjoy our wines as much as we enjoy creating them.” – Platt Anderson Cellars
Taste of Summer is an annual celebration in Jacksonville, Oregon benefitting the Britt Music & Arts Festival, presented by Britt Music & Arts Festival and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. The event includes a Taste of Summer free wine pairing class, wine walk, live music, food booths, artisans, classic cars and more. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Wine walk tickets will be sold at Art Presence beginning at 11AM.
Stay tuned for details on music, participating wineries and more: http://www.brittfest.org/
To start off the wine walk and begin your day of wine tasting with some inspiring information, head to Art Presence Art Center for a Free Wine Pairing Class taught by local wine and culinary experts. The class, presented by Platt Anderson Cellars, begins at 11 AM and features:
»Toasted Onion Crisps and Spanish Tapas Flatbread with Goat Cheese and a Dollop of Pesto paired with Albarino
»Cilantro Lime Shrimp paired with Sauvignon Blanc
»Meatballs with Dollop of Tomato Sauce paired with Dolcetto
»Brats with Sauce paired with Dolcetto
»Proscuitto Wrapped Melo paired with Vermentino
»Rogue Blue Cheese Popcorn paired with Vermentino
Find out more about Platt Anderson Cellars: ashlandwine.net
No admission charge for the class.
MUSIC, SIGHTS & SOUNDS: Free and open to the public
WINE WALK TICKETS: $30 per person (glass/tastings included) | Limited to 450 participants
PURCHASE: Day of @ Wine Booth, corner of California/N. 3rd | @ Art Presence Art Center, 206 North 5th Street
Life Drawing Summer Hiatus
Art Presence announces a summer hiatus of our Monday Life Drawing Open Studio, beginning in June 2016. We will resume life drawing sessions in September.
Read MoreCliff Creek Cellars to Pour at December Reception!
Art Presence is delighted to announce that Cliff Creek Cellars will be pouring their wines at our December reception!
Our “Small Treasures” show opened November 7 and continues through December 28, with a reception on Saturday, December 6 from 12–3pm after the Jacksonville Christmas Parade. Come meet the artists and shop for one of a kind artistic treasures created by local talent from paintings and ornaments to sculptures while enjoying a lovely glass of Cliff Creek wine!
For this show, art purchases can be taken home immediately for gift wrapping and shipping. We will replace sold art with new works to keep the gallery full of small treasures throughout the holiday shopping season. The gallery will be open from 11am – 5pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Read MoreSmall Treasures in November
Small Treasures
Our art exhibit for November and December 2104, Small Treasures, will feature small works priced for holiday gift giving. Created by local artists and Art Presence members, all works will fall within the range of 4″ x 6″ to 10″ x 14″ for the perfect little package that will make their eyes shine!
The show opens November 7 and continues through December 28, with two receptions, the first on Saturday, November 8 from 12–3pm and the second on Saturday, December 6 from 12–3pm after the Jacksonville Christmas Parade. Come meet the artists and shop for one of a kind artistic treasures created by local talent from paintings and ornaments to sculptures.
For this show, your art purchases can be taken home immediately to give you time for gift wrapping and shipping! We will replace sold art with new works to keep the gallery full of small treasures throughout the holiday shopping season. The gallery will be open from 11am – 5pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Handcrafted wooden box by Bruce Millbank
We are adding an Artist Gift Shop to the front room of our gallery in November! Artists will provide cards, ornaments and small gifts in the shop to add dimension to our offerings and options for your Christmas gift giving list. Felted wool figures, elegant wooden rattles, and handcrafted wooden trinket boxes like this one by new member Bruce Millbank are just one example of the small treasures you will find in our new gift shop!
We will also be open during the Jacksonville Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 28, 2014. We will add more details to this post as they become available.
For more creative gift giving options, visit our Art Presence curated exhibits of full sized art:
- Deanna St. Martin, an Art Presence member, shows her colorful abstract watercolors at the Medford Main Library through March 2015
- Bill Stanton’s exhibit of impasto oil paintings continues at Pioneer Village through December 10
- Dirk Siedlecki has filled the display case at the entrance to the Jacksonville Library with photos and artifacts related to Jacksonville’s cemetery and pioneer history, including “Silent City on the Hill” by Bill Miller, the first book written and published about Jacksonville’s cemetery (which would make a great gift for the local history buff on your list!). This display continues through December 18
- Sue Bennett’s show of paintings in the Jacksonville Library’s Naversen Room continues through December 17
Read More
Haunted Trolley Tours Next Weekend!
Art Presence is pleased to announce that the gallery will be open during Jacksonville’s new Haunted Trolley tours, and the first three tours on 10/30 and 10/31 will land here! If you’re planning a tour on the haunted trolley, allow extra time afterwards to view our Dia de los Muertos gallery exhibit, which has gotten rave reviews from everyone who has come to see it! The Day of the Dead artwork comes down on November 2, so this weekend is your last chance to view this amazing and colorful show.
Meanwhile…What lurks behind the lace curtains and wooden shutters of Jacksonville’s historic homes? Jacksonville’s first ever Haunted Trolley Tour will introduce you to the spirits and stories that inhabit some of our charming town’s most familiar structures.
The tour features 8 sites and includes additional historic anecdotes. There will be a little history thrown in, but this is mainly for entertainment. Come hear our stories and share your own. The tours will be 45 minutes long, departing on the hour at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 pm from the Jacksonville Visitor Information Center next to the Library and—on October 30 & 31st—ending at 5:45, 6:45 and 7:45 at the Art Presence Art Center. Those planning on these tour times might want to park near the gallery – it’s a short walk across town to the Visitor’s Information Center, but it will be chilly by the time the tour ends and you might like a shorter path to your car as well as a place to warm up before returning home.
The 45 minute tours take place on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 30 & 31 and November 1, and begin hourly from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The 5:00 tour will be child friendly, so those bringing young children will want to plan on that tour. The trolley is open air so dress for the weather!
Tickets now available. Sold in advance through the Jacksonville Visitors Center. You can stop in at the corner of West C Street & North Oregon by the Jacksonville Post Office or call 541-899-8118.
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