Hey, DENMARK!

Greetings.  So, we’ve been asked a couple times, “When is your summer calendar out?” and I wanted to offer an answer.  We usually get our summer calendar out by Memorial Day.  But CURSE THIS GREGORIAN CALENDAR, Memorial Day moves about all the time, and this year, it is quite early. Doesn’t this sound like an excuse? It is.  We won’t have our Calender out by Memorial Day this year, but rather by June 1. And it will be worth the wait–you’ll see.

In the meantime, we will have our entire summer program up on our website by Memorial Day, so do stop back here then.

And until then, we’re busy today with much better things: namely, EUROVISION!

Cheers!

Jamie Hook, Program Director

Saturday April 20 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Denmark Arts Center and Bicentennial Park the 20th Annual Sheepfest will be taking place!

Bring the whole family to this historic, traditional and annual event in the town of Denmark, ME. There will be sheep shearing in the park, demonstrations of fiber arts, rabbits, alpacas, vendors and good food too!

You can register your sheep at (207) 452-2687 or email Linda at linda@pinestarstudio.com

For more information go to denmarksheepfest.com

Adult admission – $2, Children – $1

See you there!

Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, a non-profit of Fryeburg, Maine is holding an art show and sale

March 30 at the Denmark Arts Center from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm! 

The show will feature more than ten artists from around the state of Maine. Quilters, painters, photographers and more will present their work for sale, all to benefit the wonderful Harvest Hills Animal Shelter.

Come out and support this wonderful cause, the Denmark Arts Center is proud to be the location for the event!

Contact the shelter at (207) 935-4358 for more information.

Here ye, here ye!

The Denmark Arts Center is looking for any and all interested in volunteering for our annual water-front music festival “The Dam Jam”. Though not for many, many months (the awesome fest is gonna be on July 27) we are already trying to organize volunteers. Because, you know, they are definitely gonna be needed. Below is a tentative list of jobs you may be assigned to for any and all interested in helping out with this great event right in our own backyards! If you are so interested in volunteering, please contact our Program Assistant Harry Corthell at harrycorthell@aol.com for more information and any questions. There will be a volunteer meeting in July for further planning and staff tee shirt hand out.

Positions needed:

Set Up and Break Down Crew: A strong set of men and women who are interested in helping set up the event. This will include setting up the stage, tents, ropes, lights, technical equipment etc. Odd jobs may be assigned.

Merchandise Table: A few select needed to run the Merchandise table. It would be spectacular if you were good with money and personable. Merch includes tee shirts, band cd’s and the famous Blueberry “Dam Jam” from Pleasant Mountain.

Tickets: We need men and women at the door of the event handing out tickets, counting patrons and of course carding those who wish to go under the beer garden tent.

Hospitality: Ever wanted to work backstage with famous bands? Now may be the chance for charismatic, personable people who take direction well.

Art Pavilion and Kids Tent: We’ve got a big kids tent full of artsy and fun things. Those who work well with kids, and like arts and crafts need apply. Warning, lots of paint and chalk will be staining your clothing.

Odd Jobs: Extra crew is always helpful, and we are sure there will be many odd jobs during the event. If you’re a good listener and have an affinity for getting-things-done-fast this may be the position for you.

Join the Denmark Arts Center for a bit of mid winter fun! On Friday February 15 and Saturday the 16, we will be hosting another one of our famous cabarets! The event is BYOB, with free popcorn and drinks.

The Performers:

Susie Mosca, Janet Gill, Teresa Dyer,
Ginnie Spaulding, Sue Farrington, David Cronin, Chaz LaFreniere,
Tom Ferent, Dave Mason, Craig Holden

Directed by Lillian Lee Morse
Proceeds for the benefit of the Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St, Denmark, ME

We  bring you all very important news! The Bridgton Winter Carnival is underway Saturday January 26 and the DAC will be participating! We will have Board Members at the festival from 10 am until 2 pm selling cookies and promoting summer programs! That evening at the DAC, we will be holding a children’s movie night. We will be FEATURING the children’s winter classic BALTO on our silver screen.

Have you kids bring their sleeping bags and popcorn and we will be having quite a cozy night!

See you at 6 pm!

Here at the DAC, we still have the Peter Pentz’s collection of photographs of Denmark, Maine residents. The show will be ending soon, and we highly encourage everyone who reads this to take the time and visit the gallery, open Friday through Sunday from 2 pm – 6 pm.

Peter has also, FINALLY, posted his prices.

Large photographs – $350

Small photographs – $250

Don’t miss out on these pieces of Denmark, Maine history.

The great “Louie” composer has taken up residency in the DAC and after that SUNRISE composition, is quickly becoming a welcome fixture. 

SOLO CELLO CONCERT TO BE HELD

SEPTEMBER 1st, 7:30 PM

Brent Arnold to take the DAC stage once more on September 1st, at 7:30 pm!

Just recently, Arnold has forced us (not really!) to program a concert featuring him and his solo cello work. He was such a wonderful addition to programming, we thought why not have him on again?

Join the Denmark Arts Center this weekend for a concert with Artist-in-Residence Brent Arnold. Arnold will play recent cello compositions and older work. Classically trained by Walter Gray, Arnold’s abnormal approach delights his audience with electronics, looping tracks and original composition. The acoustic backdrop of the DAC’s main hall present a perfect setting for this solo performance. Sponsored in part by the Simmons Foundation, enjoy this impromptu performance to help the DAC celebrate one of its most vibrant and exciting summers yet. Seating is cabaret and the event is BYOB. Brent Arnold will be in residence for two more weeks.

 Brent Arnold is a cellist and composer with a wildly unorthodox approach, using amplification, guitar-like fingerpicking, electronics, and techniques from Arabic and African music to create his intricate and moving songs. He has worked with Reggie Watts, Eyvind Kang, DJ/Rupture, Modest Mouse, Wayne Horvitz, Death in Vegas, and Filastine. He composed the cello music for Louis C.K. And FX channel’s show “Louie” and numerous films and shorts. Brent studied the cello with Walter Gray of the Kronos Quartet and legendary jazz violinist Michael White. He resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Brent Arnold Scoring SUNRISE Live

My father was born in 1952, and I was born in 1995. He was a late-in-life father and I appreciate that. Throughout my childhood I have been exposed to many cultural things I would simply have not been if he was 28, instead of 43 when I was born. I remember days off from school when my  dad would make me a lunch of Grilled Cheese while rocking out to Classic Rock before we would go down to the den and watch some Fox News and TMC.

The many afternoons watching old silent movies and American classics helped me grow an affection for classic cinema. It is hard for me to really fall in love with a film, but last night, it was easy.

Brent Arnold, composer for FX Network’s “Louie” and Vacationland!, slowly pulled his bow across his cello as the film started and a stark, weird, noir fell over the room. I instantly sat forward in my seat and was captivated by the film’s style.

Directed by F.W. Murnau, director if Nosferatu, it was everything I expected; gritty, dark, romantic and overall bizarre. Arnold’s score was perfect, also being gritty, dark, romantic and bizarre. I cannot give it justice through words so I invite you to please listen to some of Brent Arnold’s work below in his latest music video.

About to cry at the end of the film, I realized I had just witnessed a truly beautiful piece of American Cinema. I would encourage everyone to watch it, but you will experience nothing without Brent’s amazing score.

See you all soon!

Harry

Earlier this summer, I received two random contacts through the DAC’s website:  The first was from a man called Marty, who was traveling with his family to Copenhagen, and wanted to take a class in encaustic painting and/or forgery.  I politely elucidated his geographic dislocation, and that was that.

The second was from a woman named Carla Crawford, who claimed to be a painter in need of studio space for the month of August.  Ever the skeptic, I used that trusty Google to investigate, and turned up some compelling proof:

I was all like wow and stuff.  And I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for some fine looking art! You can find much more of her work here.

So, it is with great pleasure that I welcome Ms. Crawford to Denmark and the DAC, where she will be in residence for the month of August, making excellent use of our artists studio on the second floor. By way of further introduction:

I am sure that Denmark will provide a fabulous welcome to Carla, and I encourage you to say hello at Jimbob’s and stop by the DAC for her open studio hours, Sundays from 2pm-6pm throughout August!

WELCOME!!!