Guitar Legend Joe Bonamassa Rocked The Morrison Center

Hailed worldwide as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation and an ever-evolving singer-songwriter, Joe Bonamassa approaches his 26th year as a professional musician. 

He brought his special brand of music to The Morrison Center at Boise State University on Friday.

"As Joe Bonamassa approaches his 26th year as a professional musician, he continues to blaze a remarkably versatile artistic trail, and amass an authentic, innovative and soulful body of work. Bonamassa’s career began onstage opening for B.B. King in 1989, when he was only 12 years old," his website reads. 

Do you love books? Do you want to get published? Like Michael Strickland, Publishing Consultant, on Facebook. https://t.co/WUwLDaaMii
— Michael Strickland (@PublishWithUs) June 26, 2014

Today, he is hailed worldwide as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation, and is an ever-evolving singer-songwriter who has released 15 solo albums in the last 13 years, all on his own label, J&R Adventures. Bonamassa’s tour schedule consistently hovers at around 200 shows worldwide each year, and a heaping handful of markedly diverse side projects keep him thinking outside the box and flexing every musical muscle he’s got. He founded and oversees the non-profit Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation to promote the heritage of the blues to the next generation, fund music scholarships, and supplement the loss of music education in public schools. There’s a case to be made that Joe Bonamassa, like another star who shared the same initials, is the hardest working man in show business.

In addition to live performances, 2014 will mark four major projects on the J&R release schedule: a live DVD/Blu-ray plus 2-disc companion CD from the neo-funk/jazz combo Rock Candy Funk Party which was filmed over three nights at the legendary Iridium Jazz Club in New York City; a live CD/DVD/Blu-ray with singer Beth Hart filmed at Amsterdam’s famed Carre Theatre last summer while the duo was touring in Europe; and a 4-disc CD package of Tour De Force: Live In London, Bonamassa’s career retrospective recorded and filmed (the DVD/Blu-rays came out in late 2013) at concerts at four iconic London venues. After that, another blues-rock solo album—aka Joe’s “day job”—will follow.

 “Sometimes journalists just shake their heads, and ask me ‘Isn’t it risky?,’” says Joe. “But I say why not do it? Why play it safe? I want to diversify, not just always have it be business as usual.” 

It all builds on Bonamassa’s ascendant prominence of the past few years. Recent kudos include his very first Grammy nomination for Best Blues Album, which he earned with much buzzed about singer-songwriter Beth Hart for their sophomore collaboration, Seesaw; a Blues Music Award nomination for Best DVD for the 2013 solo acoustic project, An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House; eleven #1 Billboard Blues Albums (more than any other artist); five consecutive “Best Blues Guitarist” wins and a top “Best Overall Guitarist” honor in Guitar Player’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and recognition as Billboard’s #1 Blues Artist, 2010— the year Joe Bonamassa: Live At The Royal Albert Hall was released, featuring Eric Clapton joining him onstage.

Reviewing 2011’s Dust Bowl, Premier Guitar wrote:

“Over time, Bonamassa has created his own universe that no longer has much to do with what we think of as traditional blues. It’s movie music for your mind with astonishingly great guitar playing.” 

Regarding Bonamassa’s 2012 album Driving Towards The Daylight (with guests including Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford), Guitar World called him the “roots-based six-string’s new king of pyromania.”

Rolling Stone wrote:

“his exacting singing blends with fiery symphonic playing.” 

In a review for the 2012 CD/DVD Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre—Live From New York, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer said:

“He makes every note matter and resonate emotionally. Indeed, he is one of the finest musicians in the business today.”

tOd aLan presents GLAMOROUSNOIZE 3 a fashion event . An evening where Fashion-Art-Music collide in this colorful Fashion theater

tOd aLan presents GLAMOROUSNOIZE 3 a fashion event . An evening where Fashion-Art-Music collide in this colorful Fashion theater.........Not to be missed . VIP tix $25 available at Azure Hair Studio LLC only and must be purchased in advance. doors open 8.13 SHow starts 9.45pm tickets available at the door for general admission $15.

Special thanks to Amanda Woods, Vanessa KaRyn Ferguson, Woods On Fire Innovative Beauty, and Back 2 Life Chiropractic for alerting me to this great event!

Tod Alan added: "This is the ONE.......the most amazing group of 49 Models......the clothes-fabrics.....textures......the Music......the hair and makeup......going to be electric.........ive never been so Xcited for a show as i am this one.....and this is my 22nd one................Let the games begin."

• Saturday, 3/28/14 at 8:15pm

• Show Map Linen Building Event Center 1402 W. Grove Street, Boise, Idaho 83702

Michael Strickland's Idaho Arts and Culture Spot: tOd aLan presents GLAMOROUSNOIZE 3 a fashion event... http://t.co/RGFV2SL728
— Michael Strickland (@PublishWithUs) March 28, 2014

Novelist and College of Idaho alumnus Christopher Farnsworth to Speak at Commencement

Novelist and College of Idaho alumnus Christopher Farnsworth will return to his alma mater as keynote speaker for the College’s 2014 Commencement ceremonies May 17.

Farnsworth ’93 is best known as the author of The President’s Vampire series chronicling the adventures of Nathaniel Cade, a vampire sworn to protect the President of the United States from supernatural threats. Born and raised in Idaho, Farnsworth worked as an investigative and business reporter before selling his first movie script, The Academy, to MGM. His work also has appeared in the New Republic,Washington Monthly and the New York Post.

“The College of Idaho has long been known for helping young writers grow and hone their craft,” C of I President Marv Henberg said. “Christopher is continuing that legacy and we are pleased that our Class of 2014 will hear from a graduate who has achieved so much success as an author.”

Farnsworth came to the C of I expecting to pursue a career in law, but was persuaded by long-time writing professor and Idaho Book of the Year winner John Rember to pursue a career in writing. Farnsworth’s bestselling books have been optioned for film and television and translated into nine languages. His next novel will be published by William Morrow in 2015.

Commencement begins at 10 a.m. May 17 in Morrison Quadrangle at the heart of the C of I campus. The ceremonies conclude at approximately noon and will be webcast live at www.collegeofidaho.edu/videostream.

Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books?

Of 3,200 children’s books published in 2013, just 93 were about black people, according to a study by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin.
 


SEE The recent New York Times article: Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books? by Walter Dean Myers.

Boise State Partners With Sun Valley Film Festival

BY: ELLIERODGERS

Recognizing that the arts, creativity and culture play a vital role in Idaho’s prosperity, Boise State University is announcing a new partnership with the Sun Valley Film Festival, scheduled for March 13-16.

This partnership will not only provide opportunities for students, faculty and professionals to further their creative activities, it also will leverage the economic impact of the arts in Idaho.

“Arts and culture provide more than ideas and inspiration — they spur the creativity and innovation that are a vital part of Idaho’s quality of life and our future,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “Boise State is committed to positioning our students at this intersection of the arts and innovation.”

The arts create a wide diversity of jobs, employing writers, designers, film and video producers, as well as other positions in advertising, media, tourism and entertainment.

“Communities that support the arts and culture not only enhance their quality of life, they also invest in their economic well-being,” said Terri Schorzman, director of the Boise City Department of Arts & History.

Film Festival Director Candice Pate said the Sun Valley event, now in its third year, has become known as a filmmaker’s festival in part because the area is so steeped in cinematic history, but also due to its intimate location far from the Hollywood scene.

“We have a proven knack for drawing industry heavyweights and independents,” Pate said. “But the Sun Valley Film Festival also offers student and Idaho filmmakers the chance to showcase their work.

“This new partnership with Boise State — especially the addition of its students and faculty — brings a new vibrancy to the festival this year and for years to come,” Pate said.

The festival will screen more than 50 curated films and host filmmaker Q&A sessions, parties and panels. There will be several new programs, including conTent — an afternoon dedicated to digital content — the Future Filmmakers Forum and Works-in-Progress workshop. As part of Boise State’s partnership with the festival, the university will present the signature standing-room-only Coffee Talks with top industry insiders.

The Sun Valley Screenwriters Lab will be hosted by Melisa Wallack and Craig Borten, co-screenwriters of the Academy Award-nominated “Dallas Buyers Club.”

For more information about the festival, go towww.sunvalleyfilmfestival.org.

Screening of ‘Rafea: Solar Mama’ at Boise State Featured Peggy Goldwyn

The Arts and Humanities Institute at Boise State University teamed up with the Family of Woman Film Festival and presented an early viewing of “Rafea: Solar Mama.” The film, shown on March 5, in the Special Events Center.

The story is about a Bedouin woman named Rafea who lives with her daughters in one of Jordan’s poorest desert villages on the Iraqi border. She is given a chance to travel to India to attend the Barefoot College, where illiterate women from around the world are trained in six months to be solar engineers. If she succeeds, she will be the first female solar engineer in Jordan and will be able to electrify her village, train more engineers and provide for her daughters. But first she will need to find support and be able to change the longstanding traditions of her Bedouin community.

Peggy Goldwyn, a longtime filmmaker, screenwriter and humanitarian who was vice president of the Samuel Goldwyn Company for 20 years, is the founder of the Family of Woman Film Festival, and will be on hand to open the event. Meagan Carnahan Fallone of the Barefoot College will introduced the film lead a discussion afterward.

The Family of Woman Film Festival was launched in 2007 by Friends of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) board member Peggy Elliott Goldwyn in Sun Valley in order to bring attention to the work of UNFPA. It has since grown to include six films and many other events over a six-day period. This year’s festival is March 4-10.

For more information on the film, visit www.rafeasolarmama.com; for more information on the Family of Woman Film Festival, visit familyofwomanfilmfestival.org.

Idea of Nature Lecture Series March 13

The third annual public lecture series titled “Interdisciplinary Explorations – The Idea of Nature” continues March 13 with “Emily Dickinson and Science” by Richard Brantley.

This series is inspired by the theme that big questions need interdisciplinary answers. The goal of the series is to foster the public humanities by bringing distinguished lecturers to Boise.

The lectures are free, open to the public and no tickets are required. The lectures will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the Student Union Simplot Ballroom. Each lecture will be followed by a reception with a no-host bar and appetizers. To reserve a spot at a reception, or for more information about free parking and the series, send an e-mail to samanthaharvey@boisestate.edu or visitscholarworks.boisestate.edu/ideaofnature.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) took her cue from the scientific method. “Experiment escorts us last,” she wrote. Just as her understanding of temporal and spatial change channeled geology, so her sense of the sublime consulted astronomy. Her grasp of the bald, cold truth of life’s struggle out-Darwined Darwin. Thus she thrilled and shuddered in nature’s creative and destructive presence.

Brantley is professor emeritus at the University of Florida. His works brings together philosophy, religion and literature. His essays appear in such journals as Studies in English Literature, Eighteenth-Century Studies, Studies in Romanticism, Eighteenth Century Life and Harvard Theological Review.

He is the author of Wordsworth’s “Natural Methodism” (Yale, 1975); “Locke, Wesley, and the Method of English Romanticism” (Florida, 1984); “Coordinates of Anglo-American Romanticism: Welsey, Edwards, Carlyle, and Emerson” (Florida, 1993); “Anglo-American Antiphony: The Late Romanticism of Tennyson and Emerson” (Florida, 1994); and “Experience and Faith: The Late-Romantic Imagination of Emily Dickinson” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004).

The lecture series continues April 24 with Susan Oliver, “Getting to the Roots of the Matter: Trees in 19th Century Literature.” Oliver is a reader in English Literature at the University of Essex in England. She specializes in late-18th-century and Romantic period literature, transatlantic studies, periodical culture and environmental writing. She also works on the more general literature and culture of the 19th century.

The British Academy awarded her the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize (2007) for “Scott, Byron and the Poetics of Cultural Encounter.” She recenlty was Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the Huntington Library and has held fellowships at the University of Wyoming, the American Philosophical Society, the MLA, the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at Edinburgh University and at Essex.  She is Honorary Fellow in Literary Studies in the Department of English, University of Wyoming, and a senior member of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge.

The “Interdisciplinary Explorations: The Idea of Nature” public lecture series is supported by the Idaho Humanities Council, The Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning, the College of Idaho and the following units at Boise State: Arts and Humanities Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, Extended Studies, Department of English, the College of Business and Economics and the Environmental Studies Program.

Distinguished Lecture Series Presents Richard Heinzl April 8

BY: KATHLEEN TUCK

The Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series at Boise State University presents Richard Heinzl at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Student Union Jordan Ballroom.

The lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and free parking is available in the Lincoln Avenue Garage.

Heinzl, the Canadian physician who founded the first North American chapter of Doctors Without Borders, will deliver a lecture titled “Creating Opportunity in a World Without Borders.”

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian medical relief organization has inspired a commitment among medical professionals to help the world’s most vulnerable populations. Heinzl will share stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the midst of war and other challenges.

Heinzl founded the Canadian chapter in 1988 when he was just out of medical school. Shortly thereafter he became its first field volunteer, spending an extraordinary year in remote Cambodia. These experiences are captured in his memoir, “Cambodia Calling: A Memoir from the Frontlines of Humanitarian Aid.”

Hundreds of volunteers have since followed in his footsteps, bringing their healing skills to help many of the world’s most vulnerable people. For his work, Heinzl has been named one of Report on Business’s Top 40 Under 40. He also was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, McMaster University. 

The Distinguished Lecture Series features speakers who have had major impacts in politics, the arts, science, business or other realms of contemporary significance. Former speakers in the series include environmental architect William McDonough, National Book Award winner Jonathan Kozol, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, Nobel Laureate in economics Joseph Stiglitz, biologist E.O. Wilson and Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of Poland Lech Walesa, among others.

For more information, visit go.boisestate.edu/distinguishedlectures.

Americus Dotter Around the Net. Read more at Americusdotter.com

This is an embedded post showing Americus Dotter, featured on one of Facebook's most popular Pro-Life sites.

Post by Michael Strickland.

Idaho authors tell fascinating wilderness tales (from the Idaho Statesman)

EXCERPT: about “Merciless Eden”

Blog post by Janice Hildreth 

My Take: From the first to the last page, the Tims’ love of the Idaho wilderness draws you into the story of this small Idaho paradise.They write an historical account of Campbells Ferry, an isolated section of the Idaho wilderness almost exactly in the center of Idaho.

I enjoyed learning more new stories about Idaho’s rough and tumble history and most of them were new which made them all the more fascinating. As a counterpoint to the history, Doug Tims intersperses he and his wife’s present-day story in Campbell’s Ferry as they try to preserve the historical homestead.

If you’re a lover of history, or simply one who enjoys a good story, you will find  worth the read.

Read more here: http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/25041/#storylink=cpy

Read more of my work about authors: http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/1420915/michael_strickland.html

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/103413695990974504298/103413695990974504298/posts/eTcrrtu2Xxq

Meet Mrs. U.S. Ambassador 2013 from Idaho, Tina Bartlett Mitchell

EXCERPT from: http://tinamitchellspeaks.blogspot.com/

Friday, February 7, 2014

Scared stupid much?

I knew this day would come, not that I haven’t had small glimpses of it the whole time I was creating it. Today my first workshop Mission Possible is done!! It’s ready to be sold, online. Why am I so freaked out? (and so relieved it's finally ready at the same time..)  The thoughts that ran through my head were “Who am I to teach this stuff” “Who is going to listen to me?” Who is going to pay $ to listen to me?, is any of this info even new to anyone?” “This workshop maybe it should just be free” I was angry at myself for the fact that these thoughts were even entering my mind! What was I saying? I worked way too hard and too long with a specific goal in mind, why would I throw it away? then comes the ”well maybe I will just lower the price tag”…NO NO NO NO NO! TINA! What are you saying? Palm to face… I basically didn’t know what to do, how to feel, I wanted to curl up and sob like a little baby. But I didn’t. I was too busy for that and I just don’t live a life where fear has much room in my thoughts. It presents itself a lot, but I usually just say to fear “ I see you there, I’m going to walk past you now” I don’t live needing permission or approval. This took me some time to realize there were not rules for most things. Just like I don’t live with fear stopping me. I have no room in my life for fears like this I just work and go and DO! So what that really means is that I am too busy being successful to stop and be taken over by fear.