Tickets on sale May 5 for “Divergent Minds”

By Carrie Breitbach, Customer Service Coordinator, RAM


What do you get when you mix a 2,200-seat historic theater, two world-renowned artists, an exceptional composer, and a rock legend? Give up? I'll tell you what you get. You get a slammin' night of visual and performance art, all in one.

That's right, folks, Rockford Art Museum (RAM) is presenting “Divergent Minds,” Friday, June 13, at the Coronado Theatre in downtown Rockford. “Divergent Minds” is a one-night-only performance that features visual artists, the Zhou Brothers, and performing artists, Rick Nielsen and Donald Fraser.

In one corner of the ring, we have the Zhou Brothers, whose collaborative paintings and sculptures have achieved international acclaim since immigrating to Chicago 20 years ago.

Then, we have composer/conductor powerhouse Donald Fraser in the other corner, teaming with Cheap Trick guitarist/songwriter Rick Nielsen to encompass not only original music, but live performance.

If this seems a little confusing, let me break it down for you.

The Zhou Brothers will paint on a canvas the size of the Coronado's stage, which will be hung from the rafters so that the audience can watch the entire process. Using large brushes (that actually look like giant mops), they'll be painting a one-of-a-kind piece.

At the same time, collaborating musicians Rick Nielsen, on guitar, and Donald Fraser, on piano and percussion, will be rocking out in the orchestra pit. They're creating all-new, original music to perform that night; some to play solo and some together. You also have to appreciate the fact that this type of performance has only been done about a dozen times, all over the world—and normally it's done to classical music.

This is a first for the Zhou Brothers, and certainly a first for Rockford.

If that doesn't wow you, think about this: last week, they were in New York to give a live performance for the United Nations. Then, they'll be right here in Rockford—painting for us, at the Coronado. And later this summer, the Zhou Brothers will be in Salzburg, Austria, at the Mozart Music Festival, creating a painting to the score of The Magic Flute.

Tickets are on sale right now at RAM for museum members. (I guess that becomes another HUGE perk for joining the museum.) Tickets are $35, $50 and $125. If you decide to go with the $125 ticket, there will be a bash held at the museum immediately following the show, where the artists and musicians will be. We will all be mingling and jammin' out at RAM together after the performance. Now, doesn't that sound like fun?

So, call me at the museum and order your tickets. If you're not yet a member, why not join now? And then you can get your tickets before they go on sale to the public.

Pre-sale tickets for RAM members are still on sale Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and public sales start Monday, May 5.

Beginning that day, you can purchase tickets two ways—through the Rockford Art Museum Store, by calling (815) 972-2865 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.), or from the Coronado Box Office, by calling (815) 968-0595 (Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon-5 p.m.).

See you at the show!

Contact RAM Customer Service Coordinator Carrie Breitbach at cjohnson@rockfordartmuseum.org.

From the April 30-May 6, 2008, issue
Copyright 2002-2009 The Rock River Times

 

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