A woman's place is in the arts

BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer

Performances by cellist Monica McIntyre (top left) and singer Dafna-Naphtali (above) and an artwalk of galleries displaying art by women artists will be among the events at the Women's Arts Festival. Singers and songwriters, actors and playwrights, artists and galleries will all share their talents in a celebration of the creative energies of women during an event-filled week in Asbury Park.

Building on the overwhelming success of its previous arts festivals, Black Box of Asbury Park, in association with the Stephen Crane House in Asbury, will present its ambitious and original fourth annual "Outside the Box - Women's Arts Festival," which began Sept. 7 and continues through Thursday, Sept. 21.

The 2006 festival presents new and established women artists of all artistic genres and backgrounds in an array of professional performances and educational programs.

Free and ticketed events, which feature local New Jersey artists and visiting guest artists, include visual arts, music, stage productions, film, poetry and workshops.

Dafna-Naphtali Terri Thomas, Black Box president and the festival's organizer and co-creator, says this year's lineup of events promises to be as extensive and exciting as it has been over the past five years. She explained that it started as a women's playwright festival five years ago, but four years ago they incorporated all genres of the arts.

"We had found research somewhere that made the point that only 3 percent of decision-making and positions of power in the arts were held by women. While women have a strong face as performers, they are not in positions of influence, and we wanted to give them a platform where they would be able to express themselves freely, without censorship," Thomas said.

She explained that when they first came up with the idea for a women's arts festival, she wasn't sure there was really a need.

"But the phone never stops ringing, so there obviously is still a need for a separate platform for women," she said. "However, men are welcome, and the male perspective on women is also welcome."

"Mixer" by Jennie Schaeffer Among the many highlights will be "The Mommy Project," a saucy, fun, irreverent and candid cure for the common cultural misunderstanding that mothering is all smiles and giggles. The one-woman comedy by spoken-word/stand-up poet Pandora Scooter promises to leave audiences, particularly anyone who is a mom or has a mom, feeling great, Thomas said.

Preceding "The Mommy Project" there will be an opening performance by jazz cellist/vocalist Monica McIntyre.

Scooter describes herself as a rhythmic ranter, rhymescape philosopher, mother and human.

"Samurization," Scooter's piece that debuted at last year's festival, is about confronting death to fully live life. It has toured throughout the state and was seen at Stage Left Studio Theatre in New York City.

McIntyre is a cellist, vocalist and lyricist who has performed at numerous events throughout the country.

"Portrait With Dog" by Nancy Schafer On Wednesday afternoon there will be a "Women Artists Art Walk" that will showcase visual artists' talent in a unique, engaging and informative way.

The range of art represented is varied, including figure and pet portraits, abstract painting and wall sculptures, watercolors, landscapes, assemblages and works by printmakers.

Participating artists are both local and of national renown, Thomas said.

Last night there was a reading of a serialized screenplay. Called "The Deal," it is the first episode of "Ocean Mile," a TV sitcom pilot by Maureen Nevin of Asbury Radio fame.

According to Thomas, the audience will be asked to present the other characters who will bring to life subsequent episodes.

Other performers include Dafna Naphtali, who will present "The Music Of Invention - Sound Art and Improvisation."

Naphtali is an active singer, sound artist/improviser and composer with an eclectic background of music-making folk, gospel, rock and jazz.

These days she performs and composes, often using her own custom Max/MSP programs for sound processing of her voice and other instruments.

The electric - and eclectic - Dianna, from NJ Pride Center's "Out of the Box Open Mic" team, will host a special event called "Out of the Vox."

Listeners and sharers alike are welcome to the open mic event.

Thomas explained the way it works: Folks show up by 2:30 p.m. and sign up as they arrive.

"Every effort is made to make sure everyone who signs up will be given time up on the mic to share. Priority is given to those who get there earlier, but if there's room, we'll fit everyone in, if possible," she said.

All of the "Outside the Box" events are held in Asbury Park. Festival guides and maps listing events and venues are available in libraries, stores, and online at www.asburyparkblackbox.org.