The Gift of the Magi

As the year comes to a close, so does our Performing Arts Series. We've had a wonderful year presenting various performing artists to the community, including MadCap Puppets, Frisch Marionettes and the Playhouse in the Park performances.

On Sunday, Dec., 9th we will present the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati's performance of The Gift of the Magi.

This magical tale, based on O. Henry's short story conveys the true meaning of the holidays.  Thematic elements are about holiday giving and the concept of sharing.

Join us at the Kings High School, 5500 Columbia Road., Kings Mills, OH at 3:00 p.m.for this lovely performance that is suitable for all ages.

Tickets are $2.00 per person and children ages 2 and under are free. Tickets sales are at the door. Cash and checks are accepted. No reservations are required.

A special thank you to Deerfield Township and ArtsWave Presents for making this performance possible.

Visit www.masonarts.org for more information and a listing of our 2013 performance schedule.

A Collaborative Spirit

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. —Henry Ford

The Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance has begun a creative collaboration with an amazing group called The Creative Collaborative. Robin Ok and Glenda Miles are the minds that sprinkle glitter gently to grow ideas and generously come to the table.

We're always open to new partners. We've built our success on collaboration. We're often approached with "a great idea". Sometimes we embrace it and sometimes we have to let it go. We look closely at our mission and vision, take a gut check and make sure that we will be "right" for each other. We take care to make sure that we all will have all of our best interest at heart.

Along time ago, someone said to me..."Your organization has a nice spirit." To date, that remains the highest compliment about the Arts Alliance because it truly embodied the "feel" of who we want to be.

The day I met Robin and Glenda, these two whimsical and quirky characters, my inner voice said , "I like their spirit."

Since that day, we have worked to help each other grow. The Creative Collaborative has brought some very unique programming to the Arts Alliance. Starting with the Creativity Camp for young girls and the Kick Booty Series for Women.

This summer, the Creative Collaborative will present two incredible summer art camps for young girls called Creative Summer DREAM Camp for Girls, on June 11 - 14 from 12:30 - 4:30. And then the Creative Summer WISH Camp for Girls will be held on July 23 - 25 from 12:30 - 4:30.

These camps are magic. Young girls ages 10 - 15 will leave these camp different people. They will walk away feeling secure in who they are, happy to be who they are and free to express themselves. They'll spend the week exploring words and images that reflect their inner beauty. They will leave with art projects that will tell a story...just about themselves. It's amazing what a little glitter and glue can do...it builds a young woman...it builds a spirit.

Visit the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance website at www.masonarts.org for Summer Art Camp registration, Camp Descriptions and Instructor Information. Or call 513-309-8585.

Visit www.creativecollaborative.us for more information about Robin and Glenda.

The Intrinsic Public Value of the Arts...Enrich, Inspire and Enjoy

Last weekend the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance and Deerfield Township presented in part of their ongoing Performing Arts Series, The Frisch Marionettes, Hansel and Gretel.

The marionettes are a unique art form that include sculpture, science, fiber arts, set design, music and the skill of the puppeteer. 200 people attended our event. It made me wonder...what will this audience take away from this performance today? When they leave, how will they feel? What will they think? Will be conscience in knowing that they have been enriched?

We know that the public value of the arts is often a layered concept.  When defining the public value of the arts, people attach words like instrumental benefits along with public and private benefits. We've seen research studies that concentrate on the economic, social, health and behavioral benefits of the arts, too.

When the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance sets out to develop yearly arts programming, we have a responsibility to be mindful of many elements that will make that programming accessible to the community. We measure location, cost, time and educational value. But, mostly importantly, we measure something that we can't possibly anticipate...the audience's value of the event. We cross our fingers and hope, first that they will show and second that they will leave enriched.

That intangible thing...that thing that "effects" our audience...that what is known as the intrinsic benefit. That is what we care about the most. We don't set out to stimulate the economy or improve test scores. We set out to contribute to the overall experience of a person. We look to inspire them and to cultivate even more interest in the arts. We look to enrich their lives and hope that as a family they have shared and enjoyed common experience.

The public value of the arts can be measured in many ways. But for us, it's best captured in this photograph. Wonder, curiosity, enjoyment and the love of the arts that is nurtured in a child.

A little Puppet "Fishy" Fun in Deerfield Township

On Sunday, January  22, the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance and Deerfield Township presented the first of the 2012 Performing Arts Series, MadCap Puppets, When You Wish Upon A Fish.

Like all of our performances in the series, each ticket was $2.00 per person and children under the age of 2 are free.

MadCap actors arrived with buckets and barrels of supplies. Wild and wholly puppet heads toppled over containers and headed for the stage.

We closed the doors to the auditorium at the Kings High School, so little peepers wouldn't have the chance to ruin any surprises that might be in store.

In the lobby, a local business by the name of Skidaddles, was at the ready to paint little faces. Cheeks and hands adorned painted fishes, spiders and stars.  We appreciated Skidaddles volunteering their time and materials to make this experience even more enjoyable for the kids.

The doors opened and 190 kids, parents and grandparents found their seats.  The show began...and giggles ensued. Fish taught us lessons about choices and kindness. Then the MadCap actors had a little question and answer period. "How does that puppet work?" asked a nine year old. "Did your costume come off by accident or was that planned?" asked another little whipper snapper!

As the crowd made its way out...the 25 kids whose parents had registered them for the puppet making workshop made their way to the cafeteria. Glue guns, felt and puppet socks lie in wait. A three eyed puppet was perfectly acceptable. Anything goes.

There is nothing better than seeing kids feeling free to create. No boundaries. No matter what their puppet looked like in the end...that was ok.

Thank you to ArtsWave presents... for their partnership in the arts.

Our next performance will be:

Frisch Marionettes, Hansel and Gretel

Sunday, Feb. 19

Kings High School Auditorium

3:00pm

$2.00 per person. Ages 2 and under free.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ChooseDeerfieldTownship?sk=app_156131131125555

For more information about the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance visit www.masonarts.org

Finding Our Way...through the arts, a wish and some glitter

Last week, the MDAA hosted a fabulous camp called Creative Summer Soul Camp. Instructors Robin O'Neal Kissel and Glenda Miles shared their talents with a modest group of six young, beautiful girls.

Starting out a little shy and reserved, the girls found their place along the long table that was filled with a magical array of all things that go sparkle. By the end of their four day camp week, these girls had not only found new friends, but they also found themselves.

Who knew that some glitter, ribbons and hot glue could create a world of magic, wishes and friendship...but it did just that.

Each day they would enter the MDAA Arts Bungalow and once they stepped over the threshold, they found themselves in "WandWish-Ville". The universal theme was apparent...a little glitter makes that wish a little stronger.

The entire week they centered on their most precious commodity...themselves. Starting with a canvas board that expressed an introduction to who they are and then to creating a journal that told their story. Each day they looked forward to a little quiet reflection with their instructors.

The room was filled with boxes of ideas, thoughts, words, charms and all those things that make a person feel reflective and hopeful.

By day four, wishing wands were in full production. Quietly asking themselves, "what is my wish for myself, my future, my family and my world",  the glued, stamped and created the most magical hopes and dreams for themselves.

They also took a moment to write themselves a letter. It contains a message to themselves that expresses their hopes and desires. Their instructors will mail these letters many years from now. What a gift to see yourself at 12 years old, through your own eyes.

Robin and Glenda ended their session with a walk outside to the group's favorite tree and hung wishes written on muslin...to flow in the wind and be energized by the strength of a maple. This writer caught one of the girls tap her wishing wand to her wish...just for extra measure.

In a world filled with overachievers, competition, movers and shakers and pressure, this beautiful camp was successful because, quite simply, there were no right or wrong answers. These bright and lovely young girls blossomed through the creative process. They shined in finding the words that defined a piece of them. They shared in a unique experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUb4XDDJXg&feature=share  Enjoy this video put together by intructor Glenda Miles.

Let There Be Light...and a Curve Ball

Let there be light...and a Curve Ball

by Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 12:53pm

Last night, we had high hopes of presenting the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in Deerfield Township. Nature had another plan. She decided to put on her own show. She was flashy and showed off her brightest lights. She nudged us with her not so gentle hint that she was calling all the shots.

She might have thought she held all the cards, but as we watched her and waited, something pretty magical was happening right here on the grassy side.

This event was a collage of collaborators. It was this mix of a municipality, an arts anchor with an impressive history and a small arts organization with a lofty dream.

As the lightening worsened, we encouraged our hundreds of guests to take some cover. Without one disgruntled word, they picked up their picnics and headed to our waiting shuttle buses, tents, cars and the Snider House. The Pops musicians sat in wait in their bus with hopes of performing. A Fire chief kept a keen eye on his radar.

A kind of cool vibe started to emerge. Those waiting in their respective places began having their own little community gathering. This storm found strangers talking and finding common ground. Volunteers rallied. Trustees helped. Parks and Recreation workers went over and above.

As the sky flashed and huge cracks of lightening landed on awaiting targets, these troopers waited it out. They laughed, they talked, they came together. There was something kind of gratifying about the community closeness that was surrounding us.

In the world of arts event planning, we hope for magical results. Fingers crossed for a perfect day and a happy community. In the end, that’s exactly what we got.

Not a note was played. But through that disappointment, we came to find the true meaning of partnership. It’s a puzzle of many pieces that in the end come together through, compromise, understanding, agreement and best of all, new found friendships.

Be open to the unexpected. Never expect things to go as planned. You never know what gifts are waiting for you in a lightning storm.