Meet the Artist!

Denise Stewart-Sanabria is an artist whose work is currently featured in the Renaissance Regional Art Exhibition on view through October 24th.

Denise was born in Massachusetts and received her BFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has lived in Knoxville since 1986. She has received over twenty awards during a five year period from both curators and directors from the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Knoxville Museum of Art, The Hunter Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery and most recently the Purchase Award from The Renaissance Center.

Here's a little information about Denise's piece Class of '37 currently on display...

This particular piece was part of a large project inspired by abandoned photo albums I got at a Elders Used Book Store in Nashville. This album was a do-it-yourself high school yearbook from 1937. I integrated the commentary and found objects that the owner had placed in the album into my portraits of the students. The high school as Vashon High School of St. Louis, MO. I was later able to trace what became of many of the students through the St. Louis Genealogical Soceity.


Denise's other work can be viewed at www.stewart-sanabria.com. Also, Denise will be exhibiting her life size plywood people in the East Wing, January 22nd, 2010 - March 6th! But if you can't wait till then come by and see her work before the Regional Exhibit closes!

Meet the Artist!

Randy Toy, also known as Toyzini, is a local talented artist and a staple to the Dickson arts community. Currently his piece, Scarry TV, is on display in The Renaissance Center's 11^th Annual Renaissance Regional Exhibit. He has also donated a piece to the Dickson County Humane Shelter Auction on September 19in the Rotunda. Much of Randy's work captures the lifestyle of the rural South. Made of traditional and non-traditional material, Randy, a graduate of Austin Peay University brings the viewer in with the bright colors and comical scenes, while still challenging the viewer's relationships to familiar places, events, locations, and even their own societies and communities. Recently I asked Randy to write a few words about his process…

Painting for me is a way to say the things I want to get across, ideals I have that just saying them would soon be forgot. Images can stay in your mind and can be thought about anytime. One of the greatest compliments I ever received was when a viewer told me that he was thinking about one of my paintings while driving down the road.

The piece that is currently on display at The Renaissance Center is about how people have become so afraid of the weather, and at the same time we become numb to the fact that every time the news comes on it is about how many murders have happened in the past 24 hours.

Another series I have been working on is how artist do not use sponsorship like sports does. Go to a baseball game and the fence is cover with advertising so I have started advertising on the frames of my work. Look on the high school level have you ever seen the local news bring a helicopter to a high school art exhibit?

Another interest of mine is family and local stories both provide me with endless subject matter. Dan Prince called me a storyteller in his book Passing in the Outsider Lane and I love that.

And here is an excerpt from Passing in the Outsider Lane by Dan Prince:

"Randy Toy is a country 'folk teller', as much as any old fellow sitting on the porch whittling and 'yarnin'. His stories condense all of the homilies, common sense, and good fun of rural Tennessee into visual vignettes. Here a picture is worth a thousand words, and while he gives you a bright figurative scene, the paintings also show the dark side of human nature. Randy questions some old time notions, with modern ideas, and uses a farmer's ageless eyes to see the encroachment of modern civilization."

The image to the right is titled Still Wet and depicts Randy Toy's Grandmother selling moonshine on her porch. Come see Randy's work in the Regional Exhibit on view now through Oct 24^th!

New Mind Enriching Theatre Series Season

The Renaissance Center's Mind Enriching Theatre (M.E.T.) Series consists of age appropriate plays aimed at enhancing an educator's curriculum. Perfect for public schools, private schools, or students being home schooled. To book a field trip to see one of our entertaining plays, please call Laura Jackson at 615-740-5533. And now on to the season...

Math Quest: An Adventure with Numbers
September 22nd- November 19th
recommended for 2nd-5th Graders

Charlene is a 4th grader who is stressing over an end of the year test. She neither likes nor understands math and is unable to shake the anxiety- even in her sleep. When her head hits the pillow, she enters Math Land, a dream world populated by numbers where math concepts come to life. Characters like Mr Uno, Mrs Dos, Mr Sum, Mrs Difference, and a chorus called The Decimal Points all help Charlene master the concepts she'll need for her exam. The show's music is written by the Tony Award winning composer Jack Herrick and the national award winning study guide was developed by Duke University (available to download at our website... www.rcenter.org).

Ferdinand the Bull
November 20th only!
recommended for k-5th

Come meet Ferdinand, the mild mannered star of the Nashville Ballet's newest production, based on The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. Children and adults alike will be charmed by the lovable bull that would much rather sit in the field and smell the flowers than fight and fuss like all the other bulls. Through Ferdinand's gentle spirit, children learn to appreciate and embrace what makes each of us special and realize that, sometimes, stopping to smell the flowers is a better response than putting up a fight.

Jack Frost Saves Christmas
December 1st-18th
recommended for k-6th grade

Children of all ages will watch in wonder as a penguin, a polar bear, a rabbit and a raccoon appear from the snow to lead the ever silly Jack Frost on an amazing adventure through the city of Christmastown in the entertaining new musical. Through song and dance, Jack discovers his amazing talents and manages to heroically save Christmas. With songs like Countdown to Christmas and Gifts are for Giving, the audience will experience the joy and magic of the season and will leave the theatre ready for the holidays!

Auditioning 101: The Basics

Since we have auditions for Frankstein: A Radio Show coming up on September 14^th and 15^th, we thought we'd share with our amazing readers a little bit of auditioning knowledge. Let's face it, going into an audition can be a very nerve-wracking experience. The following tips are like a survival guide for auditioning.

First it is good to understand the two different types of auditions. The first kind is a general, cattle-call interview in which directors simply want to get a sense of what kind of raw talent is out there for possible use in a future show. The second—and the type of auditioning we are using for Frankenstein—is a "cold" reading of the script for a specific play. Cold readings are those in which actors have no prep time to study a script prior to reading it with one or more other actors on stage. Now let's suppose the audition will be comprised of readings from the upcoming play to be produced. Find out the play that is being produced and get your hands on that script pronto! That way it may be a "cold" reading for your peers but you, planning ahead, will have already read the script from cover to cover and feel at ease with the dialogue. You may even have decided which part you would most like to play. That's fine. Do not, however, rule out any of the other roles, especially if you can project a different character or voice for each one. This demonstrates to the director that you're not only versatile but open to just about any part he or she might find you suitable to play.

Okay, now that you've figured out the type, let's talk about what to do for the actual audition. Note that the first step to an audition is having confidence. The assessors aren't looking for someone who fidgets and doesn't want to be in front of people. Sit quietly and wait your turn. Make sure and listen; in some auditions the Stage Manager or Director will give you added instructions that weren't on the audition notice. Wait for your name to be called and then proceed to the stage. Before saying anything, make sure that you have their full attention. You don't want to begin while they are still writing or talking to one another about the previous actor. Wait till you've achieved eye contact with all of them so that they can listen to you from the very beginning. Then, make sure and state your name for the director, regardless if they know you from prior contact. After you audition, the director may ask you some questions or ask you to do a part again. Be patient, answer all questions truthfully, and do the requested part to the utmost of your ability. It may pay off when the director makes their final decision. Once finished, say thank you, and exit so the next person can audition. Make sure and be relaxed going into the audition. If you are calm, cool, and collected, you will do a better job than if you were wound up like a clock.

After the audition comes the waiting… This is probably the toughest part of the whole process. This is the time when you feel most helpless - your fate, at least for this role - is now out of your hands. Before you leave the audition make sure you know where the call back list will be posted or, if there are no callbacks, where the final cast list will be posted and when. Once home, don't stress! Most times actors post-audition will psyche themselves out by analyzing each and every part of the audition, then agonizing until they see the cast list. One word: DON'T. Sometimes there will be many days in between audition and final casting, and sometimes there is even a second audition for call backs to narrow down the field. If that's the case, then be prepared to work with other actors in scenes from the play, and possibly even read for characters you don't want the roles for. But whatever you do before the cast list goes up, don't stress out. It's out of your control, and if you don't get cast, it's not because you are a bad actor. A more likely reason is that the director couldn't find a place for you in his or her vision of the production. Don't get upset with anyone there. This is no time to start blaming anyone for anything, including yourself. Things simply didn't work out. If you are cast, then congratulations. Now the fun really begins!

Don't forget, now that you are a pro, to come audition for Frankenstein at The Renaissance Center on September 14 & 15 at 7pm. No appointment is necessary! If you have questions contact Amy Scott at 615-740-5551 or amy.scott@rcenter.org.
Do you have any tips to share about the auditioning process? Help your fellow actor and comment below!Information compiled from allsands.com and wikihow.com.