About
More Art Inc.
The purpose of More Art, Inc. is to promote and showcase
the arts and artists, including the performing arts and the visual arts,
stage and film, and reach into the community with educational programs promoting the arts.
Address: 10667 White Oak Ave. Granada Hills CA, 91344
Email: info@moreart.us
Phone: 818-428-1377
Michael Lewis and Alison Robinson, Directors and Co-Founders of More Art, Inc.
THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD
by
Michael Lewis
Once upon a time, my parents took me to see the original Broadway production of “The Music Man” -- my first real, live stage show. Miraculous! Electrifying! A locomotive right on the stage! A marching band! A parade! But the most amazing thing to me was the audience -- the effect that show had on the audience.
Simply put, they were happy. When people are happy they don’t hurt one another. When people are happy they don’t argue or glower or suffer from despair or the laws of physics. A two-and-a-half hour aesthetic experience in a large semi-lit chamber had accomplished this feat, and I never forgot it. The power of art.
In my work as a professional writer I have come in contact with many artists. Artists are people, only more so. Because Life is the essential raw material of artists -- be they sculptors, performers, painters, writers, directors, or whichever -- they involve themselves more with Life than other people. They communicate some teaspoon or cup or hundred gallon vat of Life with every piece of art they create.
For that reason what an artist does with his art is vitally important. An artist capturing the heart of his or her audience is achieving a victory far more complete than the conquest of an empire. An artist is a warrior who causes effects on an audience. And with today’s instantaneous global communication, those effects could morally cripple an entire culture in a matter of decades or just as surely create a new age of enlightenment and grace. Which it will be is in the hands of the artist.
When Alison and I first conceived of More Art, we wanted, simply and shamelessly enough, just that: More Art. More singing, more writing, more dancing, more dreaming.
More gazing at the sky and seeing more than the weather.
More painting, more images, more forms, more beauty.
More inspiration, which in turn begets more living, more hoping, more understanding.
In short, with More Art, we are putting in our two cents in the hopes of lending our voice to the best thing in the world: CREATING
The future is an empty canvas to paint on, a great unwritten novel to contribute to, a glorious musical with a finale not yet conceived.
To create the future is quite a project to undertake. Yet artists everywhere are knowingly or unknowingly already creating that future by putting their ideas and images into the free air.
We who breathe that air can -- with our showcases, our workshops and our concerts, with our encouragement, appreciation, and love – help them create with a free and light heart, a future of which we can be proud.
Come create with us!
the arts and artists, including the performing arts and the visual arts,
stage and film, and reach into the community with educational programs promoting the arts.
Address: 10667 White Oak Ave. Granada Hills CA, 91344
Email: info@moreart.us
Phone: 818-428-1377
Michael Lewis and Alison Robinson, Directors and Co-Founders of More Art, Inc.
THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD
by
Michael Lewis
Once upon a time, my parents took me to see the original Broadway production of “The Music Man” -- my first real, live stage show. Miraculous! Electrifying! A locomotive right on the stage! A marching band! A parade! But the most amazing thing to me was the audience -- the effect that show had on the audience.
Simply put, they were happy. When people are happy they don’t hurt one another. When people are happy they don’t argue or glower or suffer from despair or the laws of physics. A two-and-a-half hour aesthetic experience in a large semi-lit chamber had accomplished this feat, and I never forgot it. The power of art.
In my work as a professional writer I have come in contact with many artists. Artists are people, only more so. Because Life is the essential raw material of artists -- be they sculptors, performers, painters, writers, directors, or whichever -- they involve themselves more with Life than other people. They communicate some teaspoon or cup or hundred gallon vat of Life with every piece of art they create.
For that reason what an artist does with his art is vitally important. An artist capturing the heart of his or her audience is achieving a victory far more complete than the conquest of an empire. An artist is a warrior who causes effects on an audience. And with today’s instantaneous global communication, those effects could morally cripple an entire culture in a matter of decades or just as surely create a new age of enlightenment and grace. Which it will be is in the hands of the artist.
When Alison and I first conceived of More Art, we wanted, simply and shamelessly enough, just that: More Art. More singing, more writing, more dancing, more dreaming.
More gazing at the sky and seeing more than the weather.
More painting, more images, more forms, more beauty.
More inspiration, which in turn begets more living, more hoping, more understanding.
In short, with More Art, we are putting in our two cents in the hopes of lending our voice to the best thing in the world: CREATING
The future is an empty canvas to paint on, a great unwritten novel to contribute to, a glorious musical with a finale not yet conceived.
To create the future is quite a project to undertake. Yet artists everywhere are knowingly or unknowingly already creating that future by putting their ideas and images into the free air.
We who breathe that air can -- with our showcases, our workshops and our concerts, with our encouragement, appreciation, and love – help them create with a free and light heart, a future of which we can be proud.
Come create with us!
This page has been viewed 4033 times.
More Art Inc.:
Michael Lewis and Alison Robinson, Directors and Co-Founders of More Art, Inc.
THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD
by
Michael Lewis
Once upon a time, my parents took me to see the original Broadway production of “The Music Man” -- my first real, live stage show. Miraculous! Electrifying! A locomotive right on the stage! A marching band! A parade! But the most amazing thing to me was the audience -- the effect that show had on the audience.
Simply put, they were happy. When people are happy they don’t hurt one another. When people are happy they don’t argue or glower or suffer from despair or the laws of physics. A two-and-a-half hour aesthetic experience in a large semi-lit chamber had accomplished this feat, and I never forgot it. The power of art.
In my work as a professional writer I have come in contact with many artists. Artists are people, only more so. Because Life is the essential raw material of artists -- be they sculptors, performers, painters, writers, directors, or whichever -- they involve themselves more with Life than other people. They communicate some teaspoon or cup or hundred gallon vat of Life with every piece of art they create.
For that reason what an artist does with his art is vitally important. An artist capturing the heart of his or her audience is achieving a victory far more complete than the conquest of an empire. An artist is a warrior who causes effects on an audience. And with today’s instantaneous global communication, those effects could morally cripple an entire culture in a matter of decades or just as surely create a new age of enlightenment and grace. Which it will be is in the hands of the artist.
When Alison and I first conceived of More Art, we wanted, simply and shamelessly enough, just that: More Art. More singing, more writing, more dancing, more dreaming.
More gazing at the sky and seeing more than the weather.
More painting, more images, more forms, more beauty.
More inspiration, which in turn begets more living, more hoping, more understanding.
In short, with More Art, we are putting in our two cents in the hopes of lending our voice to the best thing in the world: CREATING
The future is an empty canvas to paint on, a great unwritten novel to contribute to, a glorious musical with a finale not yet conceived.
To create the future is quite a project to undertake. Yet artists everywhere are knowingly or unknowingly already creating that future by putting their ideas and images into the free air.
We who breathe that air can -- with our showcases, our workshops and our concerts, with our encouragement, appreciation, and love – help them create with a free and light heart, a future of which we can be proud.
Come create with us!
That's right! You can support the arts - which is the soul food of the culture - simply by continuing to buy and eat regular food!
All you have to do is register your Ralph's Rewards Card online and name More Art, Inc as your favorite non-profit.
Then by doing so, every time you shop at Ralph’s Supermarkets, a portion of your grocery bill goes right to More Art, Inc!
More Art, Inc. has partnered with Ralph’s and its Community Contribution Program.
Here’s how you can participate in just 13 fun steps!!
1. Go to ralphs.com.
2. Click “sign in/register” on the right
3. Click “sign up today” on the right
4. Follow the prompts for your contact info, etc
5. They now send you an email with a link to click verifying your email address
6. So do that, verify your email address
7. You are directed back to ralphs.com to log into your account
8. Sign in with your new password etc
9. Click on “Community Contribution Program” on the left
10. Follow the prompts
11. At “Find your Organization, enter “92016” or “More Art” and click Search”
12. Select “More Art, Inc” under “Select Your Organization”
13. Click “Save Your Changes”
You’re done, and thank you!!
A cop stops a guy with a pickup truck full of penguins. He pulls the guy over and says, "You can't drive around with penguins in this town! Take those penguins to the zoo!" The guy says okay, and drives away. The next day, the officer sees the guy still driving around with the truck full of penguins. He pulls the guy over and demands, "I thought I told you to take those penguins to the zoo!" The guy replies, "I did! They loved it! Today we're going to the beach!"
If you're a musician, vocalist, performer, etc we have concert dates and we also have showcases. The concerts offer a more professional venue (the admission is more expensive!) while the showcases are more casual and free-form. We try to video all artists as they perform, especially the professionals, as we can't give you much more than Love in return for your magic. A DVD and an upload (with your permission) of a number or two from your set is definitely something we can do, though.
Please contact our producer, Cathy Segal-Garcia for more info and possible booking. She's at cathy@cathysegalgarcia.com
We are trying to accomodate as many of you as we can in our limited space (photo below). It is truly gratifying to have so many artists reaching to us from the community!
When something is sold here, the general plan is one-third is donated to More Art, and the rest goes to the artist.
Due to our space limitations we have these general guidelines:
1) We cannot accept sculptures at this time except friezes that can be hung
2) Size limit is 16"X20"
3) Please frame your work. The only exception to this would be paintings that cover the entire canvas.
3) Please contact us at moreartinc@yahoo.com or at info@moreart.us. Attach a picture or a link to a location online where we may view your work. You can also mail us a CD with pictures on it to 10667 White Oak Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344
Our main "gallery," which incidently is where people have to pass in order to get to our concerts, showcases and workshops
(The following is an article from the January 26, 2010 LA Daily News)
PROUD TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THE ARTS
by
Troy Anderson, L.A. Daily News Staff Writer
Photo by David Crane
A professional jazz singer, Cathy Segal Garcia understands the important role of the arts in society.
That's why she agreed to chair the advisory board of the recently formed nonprofit organization, More Art Inc., which showcases and promotes artists and their work in the San Fernando Valley.
"I've been an artist all my life and I really do believe the arts are a gift for people," said Segal Garcia, a 56-year-old Granada Hills resident who also works as a voice teacher and coach, composer, recording artist and event producer.
"It helps them escape the drudgery that people can come up against, and also the act of creating is really very healing and healthy. So, for those reasons, I think it's really very important."
Segal Garcia, Oscar nominee Karen Black ("Five Easy Pieces", actress Judy Norton ("The Waltons") and a roster of other local celebrities and dignitaries will headline the ribbon-cutting Wednesday at More Art's new Granada Hills home.
Other advisory board members expected to attend include character actor Jim Meskimen ("Apollo 13" and "Frost/Nixon"), Johnny Lewis ("Sons of Anarchy") and Grammy nominee Harriet Schock ("That Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady.") Schock will perform at the free event in More Art's newly refurbished "Stage One."
"The whole purpose of this is to showcase all the arts and give the artists and performers a bit of a leg up on their careers," said Michael Lewis, a screenwriter and playwright and co-director of More Art. "We've been doing concerts with established performers and showcases with people who are not quite so established - young talent, new talent or struggling talent."
Currently, More Art is doing a regular program of workshops by professionals - songwriting, career-building, screenwriting, acting, drawing and children's books. The venue also includes a small gallery where artists can display their work.
More Art wants to help people do "more singing, more writing, more dancing, more dreaming ... more painting, more images, more forms and more beauty." In short, More Art wants to inspire more art, "which in turn begets more living, more hoping, more understanding," according to its Web site.
"We are trying to get everything in - visual arts and performing arts," said Lewis, who wrote the screenplay to "The Seventh Coin" starring Peter O'Toole. "I think the only thing we haven't had so far is juggling."
In the last six months, the organization has put on eight concerts and several teen and young adult showcases covering jazz, rock, blues and the classics.
"We're delighted that the community has responded so warmly to us," said co-director Alison Robinson, an award-winning poet who was nominated for the national poet of the year in 2007. "They love that live entertainment is back in town and right around the corner."
Since the closure of the Granada Theatre a few years ago, Granada Hills has largely been devoid of live entertainment, Lewis said.
"It's a beautiful community and it really needs to have its own live entertainment," Lewis said. "The community really needs to have support groups for its arts and artists."
For Segal Garcia, the new arts venue will provide the community with an opportunity to get to know its artists and performers, will help artists keep connected to the arts and reveal the power of art - the happiness it brings to people.
"People need the arts," Segal Garcia said. "It's not only a healing tool, but it teaches you something about how to live. It's important for everybody to have the arts in their lives and to be touched by it."
The two celebrities are on the Advisory Board of the recently formed non-profit organization which is dedicated to the showcasing and promoting of the arts and artists in the San Fernando Valley.
The celebrity Advisory Board also includes multi-Grammy Award winner, Chick Corea, who will be unable to attend due to his concert schedule. Advisory Board members expected to attend the ribbon-cutting include veteran character actor Jim Meskimen ("Apollo 13," "Frost/Nixon") and Johnny Lewis ("Sons of Anarchy") as well as Grammy nominee, Harriet Schock, composer of "That Aint No Way To Treat A Lady," who will also perform at the event in More Art's newly refurbished "Stage One."
"We call it 'Stage One' because it literally is that -- our first stage," says More Art co-director, Michael Lewis, himself a produced screenwriter and playwright. "We expect to move on up from there as we expand our reach into the community. Right now we're doing a regular program of workshops by professionals -- songwriting, career-building, screenwriting, acting, drawing, children's books -- you name it. "
Adds co-director Alison Robinson, "We've already done 8 concerts and several teen and young adult showcases in just under half a year -- covering Jazz, Rock, Blues and the Classics. We're delighted that the community has responded so warmly to us. They love that live entertainment is back in town and right around the corner."
More Art, which is a member of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce, reaches out directly to Valley artists and performers and anyone who wishes to simply help out. "We're the new kid on the block right now," says Lewis, "so we appreciate all the help we can get."
Adds Robinson, "We love what we do here. We feel like we are injecting that much more life into the world every time we produce a show or help someone achieve their artistic goals through our workshops."
OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR JULY AND AUGUST
All concerts, showcases, and workshops take place at More Art’s Stage One in the back of the Valley Life Improvement Center Building, 10667 White Oak Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344. Donations for admission are accepted by phone, 818 428 1377, or online, http://www.moreart.us.
Our Artist of the Month for July-August is Fine Artist, Dan Deming. We will be exhibiting Mr. Deming's works in the media of ceramic tile and paints for viewing and purchase. Mr. Deming has exhibited throughout the country, eliciting such critical accolades as "fresh and strong," "Interesting and bizarre;" "Mr. Deming can create any mood."
Friday July 23rd - Teen and Young Adult Showcase - 7:15 pm. Featuring the best of local youth bands and Open Mic performers. If you want to perform, contact curtastic@gmail.com. Minimum donation of $5 gets you pizza, root beer, and a great night's entertainment
Sunday August 1rst, 3:00 -6:00 pm A Swingin' Jazz Afternoon with vocalist Maria Wasserman and The Way To Happiness Jazz Band. Straight ahead swinging jazz and vocals with a modern twist, featuring pianist,Matt Lamy, mega-drummer, Bob Sullivan, smooth bassist, Roman Sirwinski, exciting sax stylist, Jeff Snow, and Larry Williams on the swing guitar
Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Friday August 20th is our Eclectic Blues, Country, Rock, Etc. Showcase. 7:15 pm. $5 minimum donation.
Friday August 27th - Teen and Young Adult Showcase - 7:15 pm. Featuring the best of local youth bands and Open Mic performers. If you want to perform, contact curtastic@gmail.com. Minimum donation of $5 gets you pizza, root beer, and a great night's entertainment
Call now to book your seat. 818-428-1377
Or simply press the "Donate" button to your upper left
Check this section for our next Friday night showcase -- a smorgasbord of musical delights showcasing the very best in local talent. Imagine! An evening of LIVE ENTERTAINMENT for just $5 (plus, of course, whatever else you'd like to voluntarily donate)!!
John, Paul, George and Ringo -- all superb musicians -- yet none of them played so much as a note in "Elinor Rigby." An orchestra was hired for the instrumentation while the boys simply sang.
Check this website, under "Upcoming Events" for the latest info on the next one, or phone us at 818-428-1377, or email us (info@moreart.us) if you're interested in performing or have a requested performer (within reason, please!)
WHERE: 10667 White Oak Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344
WHEN: 7:30 pm Friday nights as scheduled
REQUESTED DONATION: $5 (gets you admission plus a slice or 2 of pizza and root beer
Do you love the arts? Do you have anything to do with the arts? Do you aspire, perspire, or seek to inspire through, with or by the arts? Do you know someone who does?
Are you a working professional right now? Do you know anyone who is?
Become a member and get in on the fun! Become a member today and get a free admission to the concert of your choice!
$25 for one year membership.
$100 or more gets you 10% discounts on all More Art events, concerts and showcases for the year of your membership.
$250 or more puts your name in bronze on our “Class Acts” honor roll.
$1000 or more gives you a lifetime membership, your own bronze plaque and free admission to all More Art events, concerts and showcases forever!
Right now those are the "ground floor" membership levels we have available. As we grow, so too will the levels of membership. But for right now, in this, our first stage of development, whatever donation you can spare is absolutely key to our survival and expansion.
At a time when one stroke of the budgeteer's pen has wiped away the arts from all public schools in Los Angeles, we of the private sector must come to bat --now, more than ever. We must keep the flame of the arts lit, not just for our sake, but for future generations as well.
We appreciate, therefore, any and all donations and contributions!
Just click the "DONATE" button at the top right corner of the home page and follow the prompts.
Non-monetary contributions are also acceptable.
Lights, sound and video equipment, printing, etc. Call us to make arrangements, at 818-428-1377.
By phone you can reach us at 818-428-1377, which is the line for our ever-changing info on concerts and workshops.
Hear from you soon, and thank you!
The Four Seasons of Music is an exciting new concept in Concert Festivals. Three months each of four different genres of music! Each occuring the first Sunday of each month from 2-6 in the afternoon.
Summer is Jazz -- the best, most swinging hot and cool jazz this side of New Orleans! The first Sundays of the months of July, August and September
Autumn is Rock -- Rhythm and Blues, Classic Rock of the Fifties all the way through to British Invasion Sixties and on through to cutting edge contemporary. Experience it the first Sundays of the months of October, November and December
Winter is Classical -- The finest young talents in all aspects of classical music on display for your consideration and sampling the first Sundays of the months of January, February and March
Spring is Pop -- Broadway and the standards of your life -- all for the first Sundays of the spring months: April, May and June
Tax deductible donation for admission is only $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
PAY ON LINE BY CLICKING THE "DONATE" BUTTON AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THE HOME PAGE
Call us for more info: 818-428-1377
One Saturday or Sunday afternoon per month we are delighted to welcome a working professional from the performing or visual arts -- someone who is working and succeeding in their chosen career, who will impart his or her hard-earned wisdom.
Find out what is successful in creating your career as a musician, writer, painter, photographer, actor, whatever is your chosen field. And, even more importantly, find out what pitfalls to avoid!
Past workshops have included Grammy-nominated songwriter, Harriet Schock ("That Aint No Way To Treat A Lady") sharing her secrets of creating her work and her business; Los Angeles singing legend and vocal coach, Cathy Segal-Garcia; and many others.
Keep tabs on this website for upcoming workshops!
We are delighted and honored to have such a distinguished group of show business personalities on our Advisory Board, a real cross-section of most of the arts which we seek to represent.
From bands to solo performers, from unknowns to Grammy nominees, from classical to Heavy Metal, More Art's stage has seen them all! The videos below provide a sampling of some of the talent that has honored our place. Enjoy! And come back again -- we expect this page to be constantly changing!
| Phone: 818-428-1377 | © More Art Inc. 2010. A non-profit organization. | Email: info@moreart.us |