Apr 29, 2009
Jazzmouth Comes to G.Willikers!
Bruce Pingree reads poetry at G.Willikers!On Saturday, April 18th jazz and poetry collided at G.Willikers! Toy Shop as part of the city's Jazzmouth festival.
Local jazz master Larry Simon and friends entertained families with a live, interactive performance. Guest readers Bruce Pingree and Ayanna Gallant captured the perfect blend of prose and personality with rhythmic recitals for a one of a kind show.
Pint sized percussionsChildren were encouraged to keep the beat with egg-shaped maracas and a variety of drums and all guests received a free copy of the book JAZZ ABZ (generously provided by the NH Humanities Council).
It was the perfect family friendly kick-off to what has become one of the premier musical events in the seacoast....JAZZMOUTH!
Larry Simon on guitar.
posted in: Local Events
Apr 26, 2009
Clay Rice visits G.Willikers!
Clay Rice at work
CLICK to see pictures from this event.
Nationally known silhouette artist Clay Rice brought his rare skill of cutting silhouette portraits to Portsmouth, NH Wednesday, April 22 when he created over 70 of these heirloom memories for local residents. His scheduled day was packed full with fans of this simple art form.
The term derives from Etienne de Silhouette (1706-67), French Minister of Finance under Louis XV, who cut shadow portraits as a hobby. Until the end of the 18th century silhouette portraits were more commonly known in Britain as ‘profiles’ or ‘shades’. This form of portraiture, being relatively quick and inexpensive to produce, was very popular from the 1750s to the 1850s, when it was overtaken by photography.
Mr. Rice proved to be as interesting as his art. “I started cutting silhouettes at about age 6 when my grandfather showed me how to cut out simple shapes such as barnyard animals and trees.” In fact Carew Rice, Clay’s grandfather was hailed by Poet Carl Sandburg as “America’s Greatest Silhouettist”. His hauntingly beautiful landscapes of Southern life and lands are sought after by collectors worldwide. Rice’s first paying job as a silhouettist didn’t come until he was 20. “I was living in Nashville, TN, learning to write songs and commuting home to the South Carolina lowcountry in the summertime to make extra money cutting silhouettes at the Pawleys Island Hammock shops for vacationers from the upstate."
Clay Rice finishes a portrait
posted in: What's New
G.Willikers! blog is the place for parents and kids to go for all the latest news and events happening at our toy store in Portsmouth, NH and around the Seacoast area.
