2025 Native American Arts Festival Week

2025 Native American Arts Festival Week

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Three-Time U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Headlines 2025 Native American Arts Festival Week

The Idyllwild Arts Native American Arts Festival Week returns to the Idyllwild Arts campus from Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Now in its third decade, the celebration enhances the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program through a variety of Native American arts-focused activities. Executive Director Shaliyah Ben (Diné) leads the event, which includes an invitational exhibition, tastings of traditional Native cuisine, the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series, a curated film evening, the Welcoming Home the Birds event and a staged reading of the latest play by three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Mvskoke) featuring jazz trumpeter Delbert Anderson (Diné).

The week begins Monday, June 16, with the invitational exhibition “Renegades of Art,” curated by Pamela Peters (Diné). Four artists will showcase works conveying the strength and cultural resilience of tribal nations through murals, mixed media and tribal presence. The artist/curator-led panel discussion starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Parks Exhibition Center on campus, followed by a reception with a Native foods tasting at 7:45 p.m.

This year’s Michael Kabotie Lecture Series features poet and performer Kinsale Drake (Diné), N8ive Beauty cosmetics creator and host of PBS/FNX series “This is Indian Country” Ruth Ann Thorn (Luiseño), and Yup’ik song and dance with Ossie from Inuit-soul band PAMYUA. The festival also includes a screening of the documentary “Indian Alley,” written and directed by Pamela Peters (Diné).

The week concludes on Friday, June 20, with Welcoming Home the Birds, honoring the relationship the Cahuilla and Serrano have with their traditional homelands. This family-friendly event begins at 5:00 p.m. with a Native artist marketplace, hands-on activities for all ages, and Native song and dance performances. Bird Singing starts at 7:45 p.m. Idyllwild Arts acknowledges the Qawishpa Cahuillangnah (also known as the Cahuilla Band of Indians) on whose land the Idyllwild Arts community resides.

Located on a 205-acre campus in the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild Arts Academy was recently ranked by Niche as the #1 High School for Arts in America, and prides itself on providing the tools for young artists hailing from more than 30 countries to leverage their imaginations to change themselves and the world around them.

Idyllwild Arts Academy is located at 52500 Temecula Road, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549. For the complete schedule of workshops and events, visit idyllwildarts.org/nativeamericanarts.

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Jazz Girls Day

Jazz Girls Day

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First-Ever “Jazz Girls Day” in California To Take Place at Idyllwild Arts Academy on Sunday, March 2, 2025

California is about to witness a historic celebration of music and empowerment as Idyllwild Arts Academy hosts its very first Jazz Girls Day. Set against the stunning backdrop of the academy’s mountain campus, this free, daylong clinic — running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 2 — is dedicated to female-identifying improvising musicians between the ages of 10 and 18.

Originally founded by Dr. Colleen Clark in 2021 and supported through her role at the University of South Carolina, Jazz Girls Day aims to bridge the gender gap in jazz, a genre historically dominated by men. The initiative offers a dynamic blend of masterclasses, jam sessions and a live concert, ensuring that young participants of all experience levels are welcomed and challenged in a supportive environment — all without the pressure of an audition.

Dr. Clark’s initiative aims to inspire students across the country, and while it’s already landed in many other states, this will be its first time in California amidst her ongoing vision to help cohost a Jazz Girls Day event in all 50 states by 2030. The program puts the spotlight on the future of women in jazz and aims to repair the disparities.

Alex McLaughlin, the newly appointed director of the Jazz Program at Idyllwild Arts Academy, shares his excitement: “Idyllwild Arts is thrilled to be the first in California to host Jazz Girls Day. This event is a wonderful opportunity for young musicians to explore their creativity, learn from some of the best in the business and connect with peers who share their passion for jazz. We encourage families, teachers, mentors and friends to support these talented girls as they embark on this musical journey.”

McLaughlin also noted that research presented at the recent Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference revealed that participants in Jazz Girls Day are more likely to continue pursuing their musical interests — especially after experiencing the unique opportunity to perform with an all-female band. This transformative experience not only builds musical skills but also fosters a deeper, more confident perspective on what it means to be a musician.

Join Idyllwild Arts Academy (52500 Temecula Rd #38, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA) on March 2, 2025, for a day of inspiration, learning and community that promises to empower the next generation of jazz musicians.

Registration is still open, and interested participants and their supporters can sign up at Idyllwild Arts Academy’s Jazz Girls Day event page.

 

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IDYLLWILD ARTS CELEBRATES “INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY” ON OCTOBER 14 WITH DAYLONG EVENT

IDYLLWILD ARTS CELEBRATES “INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY” ON OCTOBER 14 WITH DAYLONG EVENT

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Programming will Recognize, Celebrate, and Uplift Indigeneity in the Arts

On Monday, October 14, Idyllwild Arts will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with a daylong special public program designed to educate and uplift the Native American community. Guest artists, scholars and performers will share a vast array of knowledge based on traditional philosophies. The overall goal is to reconcile Native American history with United States history through programming that supports calls to action for recognition and reconciliation.

The day will be headlined by the Delbert Anderson Quartet (DAQ), led by Diné jazz trumpet artist, composer, and educator Delbert Anderson. The DAQ revives the improvised sounds of Diné songs, blending them with jazz, funk and hip-hop. Anderson’s compositions are inspired by Diné Bikéyah, Navajo Nation landscapes, historical events, and the desire to preserve and educate about Diné history. His achievements have garnered recognition including multiple awards from Chamber Music America, the Cultural Capital Fellowship from the First Peoples Fund, and the Jazz Road Program at South Arts. Delbert Anderson recently performed at the Kennedy Center and has gained national recognition with recent feature coverage in The New York Times, SF Gate, and NPR, to name a few.

One of the highlights of the Indigenous Peoples Day event is the emphasis on the Idyllwild Arts community being good neighbors. Each year, Idyllwild Arts welcomes students from Sherman Indian School in Riverside, California to join the IA student body for a fun day of learning.

This phenomenal day of education and fun is made possible by generous learning partners such as the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Cahuilla Band of Indians and an anonymous foundation.

WHAT:

Daylong Programming

IDYLLWILD ARTS CAMPUS – 52500 Temecula Road, Idyllwild, CA 92549

9:00 am: Welcoming

The day of celebration will commence with a welcome by:

  • Pamela Jordan, President, Idyllwild Arts Foundation
  • Shaliyah Ben, Executive Director, Native American Arts Center
  • Michael Madrigal (Mountain Cahuilla), President, Native American Land Conservancy

9:30 am – 12:00 pm: Morning Presentations

  • Students, staff, faculty and the public are welcome to join two public presentations, including the Delbert Anderson Jazz Quartet.

12:00 pm: Complimentary Indigenous Foods Luncheon with Music Performance

  • Outdoor luncheon will feature Indigenous foods, including crowd-favorite frybread and a high-energy DJ set by Idyllwild Arts Academy alum Kino Benally (Diné), also known as DJ Béeso.

1:30 – 4:00 pm: Glassblowing Demonstration

  • Public open-studio visit with Hopi glass artists Ramson Lomatewama and Ayen Talashoma. Guests are encouraged to make their own glass flower!
  • IA Indigenous Peoples Club will be selling artwork to support this year’s club activities!

HARVEY HOUSE – 54420 S. Circle Drive, Idyllwild, CA 92549

6:00 – 6:45 pm:

  • Delbert Anderson Quartet “11th Note” live recording, “The Long Walk: 1674 Days.” A commemorative composition for instruments in any key to acknowledge the forced relocation of Diné people in 1864.

6:45 – 7:15 pm

  • Flute Music by Randy Kemp (Choctaw, Muscogee Creek, and Euchee) of Artificial Red.

7:30 – 8:30 pm

  • The Delbert Anderson Quartet.

For the full event schedule, please visit https://idyllwildarts.org/indigenous-peoples-day/

WHEN: Monday, October 14, 2024

WHERE: Idyllwild Arts Academy (52500 Temecula Road, Idyllwild CA 92549) and Harvey House in Idyllwild (54420 S. Circle Drive, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549)

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Venice Beach Run

Venice Beach Run

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Inaugural Venice Beach Run Saturday, July 20

Registration is open for the inaugural. The run starts and finishes at the Venice Beach Pier with proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Parks Foundation (www.laparksfoundation.org) supporting the Venice Beach Recreation Center. LA Parks Foundation was founded in 2008 to enhance and preserve the City’s public parks and recreation.

The Venice Beach Run is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Participants can sign up for a 5K or 1 Mile Race/Walk with the 5K starting at 8 a.m. and the 1 Mile at 9 a.m. The Beach Fitness Challenge & Expo and the awards ceremony commence at 10 a.m. All participants will receive a commemorative die-cast VB 5K & 1 Mile Finisher Medal, premium beach t-shirt, and string bag along with access to sampling and exhibitor booths.

The Race To The Pier 1 Mile is open to speed-oriented youth and adults. The 5K is flat and fast, starting and finishing at the end of the Venice Beach Pier. The remainder of the course will cover the historic Venice Beach Boardwalk. The finish-line celebration event will run from 8 a.m. to noon at the world-famous Venice Beach Pier with access to fitness expos and samplings from various local shops and eateries.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.laparksfoundation.org/laparks_events/venicebeachrun2024/

 

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS, IDYLLWILD ARTS PRESENTS FINAL “JAZZ IN THE PINES” CONCERT SERIES

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS, IDYLLWILD ARTS PRESENTS FINAL “JAZZ IN THE PINES” CONCERT SERIES

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Famed Festival to Deliver Inspiring Jazz Performances & Programming from June 30 to July 13

Idyllwild Arts Academy announces the return of its popular annual fundraiser, Jazz In The Pines, marking its 30th and final year with an exciting lineup of live performances by famed artists and students, taking place on the art school’s 250-acre campus. Guests can purchase tickets for individual events as well as an all-access pass: https://idyllwildarts.org/jazz-in-the-pines/.

For 30 years, Idyllwild Arts has brought legendary jazz giants from across the United States to perform for eager audiences and, most recently, to work alongside the young jazz enthusiasts of the Jazz In The Pines Student Clinic. Jazz In The Pines began in 1994 and this final Jazz in the Pines will be dedicated to the memory of jazz guitar giant Bob Boss.

Jazz In The Pines is curated by festival co-founder Dr. Marshall Hawkins – the legendary bassist and beloved teacher – along with revered New York Times-featured jazz vocalist Rose Colella. The life and career of Dr. Marshall Hawkins – who has played with jazz giants from Miles Davis to Shirley Horn and Roberta Flack – has been and continues to be a cornerstone for jazz at Idyllwild Arts from founding the Academy’s Jazz Program in 1986 to curating performances that have attracted thousands of music lovers to the mountain town over the years.

“The 30th anniversary will mark the conclusion of the festival but we pass the torch on to the educators and performers of the Jazz In The Pines Student Clinic as they continue,” says Pamela Jordan, President of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation. “We are forever indebted to the talented Dr. Hawkins for his vision, his love for his students, and his generosity to our community.”

The two-week festival will include a headlining performance by the legendary John Daversa and his Big Band featuring the Grammy Award-nominated album “Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles,” Dr. Marshall Hawkins Seahawk MoJO: “A Tribute to Bob Boss,” Harry Pickens, Euphoria Brass Band, The Rose Colella Quartet, the Idyllwild Arts Jazz Faculty Big Band, Idyllwild Arts All-Star Student Jazz Combo, and more.

Performances will occur on concert stages on The Idyllwild Arts campus, including William M. Lowman Hall, Holmes Amphitheatre, and Stephens Recital Hall. Two special events will be featured off the mountain at The Merc in Temecula.

In celebration of this momentous occasion, Idyllwild Arts hopes guests will also consider a donation during the final festival year to support student scholarships. Dr. Marshall Hawkins continues to play a vital role in securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to support deserving and talented young jazz musicians from around the world.

 

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ICONIC WINE TASTING SERIES RETURNS TO BARNSDALL PARK FOR SUMMER

ICONIC WINE TASTING SERIES RETURNS TO BARNSDALL PARK FOR SUMMER

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The Highly Anticipated, Quintessential LA Event Kicks Off on May 31

Barnsdall Art Park Foundation is excited to announce the return of its popular fundraiser, Barnsdall Fridays Wine Tasting, which after a hiatus since 2019, is back in full swing for 2024. The event, which has always attracted sell-out crowds, takes place on the West Lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, Los Angeles’ only UNESCO World Heritage site, every Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day (May 31 to August 30) from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The opening event is already selling out quickly, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets for maximum comfort!

Marking its 15th season, the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation’s signature fundraising event supports the Park, its arts programing and landscaping, which includes the recent restoration of the historic Olive Grove, which dates back to the 1890s. With green spaces being more important than ever, Barnsdall Park welcomes all Angelenos to the Park. For wine tastings, the gated area on the West Lawn will be designated to those 21 years and older to sip wine, picnic, enjoy panoramic views, and watch the sunset for another not-to-be-missed season at this iconic cultural destination, which features Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, a world-class art gallery, art center, and theater on its campus.

Ongoing partner Silverlake Wine will curate their fine selection of boutique artisanal wines and rotating food trucks will be on offer from popular LA haunts, including Triple Beam Pizza and Ardi’s Eats & Sweets. Popular DJs will feature over the course of the series, including DJ edma2z and Dougee Dimensional, a founding member and vocalist of electronic lounge group, The Gentle People. Through July 20, guests can also visit the COLA exhibition on view at DCA’s Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG), which is the culminating presentation of the recipients of the City of Los Angeles Independent Master Artist Project grant program for visual arts and design.

As part of the series, a limited number of tours of the interior of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House will be available for a premium ticket price throughout the evening.

Guests who book the tours will get to view Ravi GuneWardena: Ikebana for Hollyhock House. The installation, which runs through fall, features striking new ikebana by GuneWardena, which reanimate the interiors of the Frank Lloyd Wright-described “garden house” through the Japanese art of flower arranging, further showcasing the influence of Japanese art and design on the site — built simultaneously with Wright’s Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), in collaboration with the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation (BAPF) and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation (LAPF) recently installed showcase native plantings at Hollyhock House, which wine tasting guests will see onsite. The new native gardens designed by landscape-design studio TERREMOTO celebrate the beauty and sustainability of native plants, featuring nearly 500 native plants.

Wine-tasting tickets cost $45 and $70 with a guided tour of Hollyhock House. Designated Driver tickets available for $15 with entry only and wine tasting not included. Purchase tickets to be a part of this unforgettable comeback celebration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/barnsdall-art-park-foundation-presents-friday-night-wine-tasting-21-tickets-59078739099

The Park is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Parking is very limited; rideshare and public transportation are highly encouraged. Please tag us at #BarnsdallFridays.

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Idyllwild Arts Partners With Pioneering UK-Based Theater Company Stan’s Café to Deliver Thought-Provoking Performance Art

Idyllwild Arts Partners With Pioneering UK-Based Theater Company Stan’s Café to Deliver Thought-Provoking Performance Art

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Idyllwild Arts Partners With Pioneering UK-Based Theater Company Stan’s Café to Deliver Thought-Provoking Performance Art

Free Reception February 9 a Highlight of Exhibitition Running February 6-14

 

The InterArts Department at Idyllwild Arts is pleased to present a special collaboration between

its students and UK-based interactive theater company, Stan’s Cafe.  Of All The People in All The

World is an internationally-acclaimed performance installation that turns abstract human

population statistics into emotionally gripping stories using grains of rice. The public is invited

to view Idyllwild Arts’ iteration Of All The People in All The World at a celebratory reception on

Friday, February 9 from 6 to 7.30 pm, featuring InterArts students and Stan’s Café founders,

James Yarker and Graeme Rose. The free event takes place at the Parks Exhibition Gallery

located on Idyllwild Arts’ stunning campus (52500 Temecula Road #38, Idyllwild, CA). The

unique exhibition will also run from February 6 through 14, 2024.

 

Of All The People In All The World has toured the world since its inception in 2003, landing at

top international venues, including the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the World

Financial Center in New York, adapting to the times and contexts in which it is found. 

 

President of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation, Pamela Jordan sais, “We are thrilled to welcome

Stan’s Café to the Idyllwild Arts campus because this collaboration reflects many synergies

between both organizations where the spirit of a Citizen Artist is the focus. This unique

opportunity bolsters our ability to foster creative, innovative, curious, globally minded problem

solvers. I have no doubt that our students will be enriched and inspired by this experience and

Stan’s Café will be inspired by our talented, young artists and mountaintop village.”

 

The rice is carefully measured to represent human population statistics. These statistics are

drawn from the most reputable sources available. Each grain of rice equals one person and over

a period of days, a team of performers carefully weigh out quantities of rice to represent a host

of human statistics. These statistics are arranged in labeled piles, creating an ever-changing

landscape of rice. Their juxtapositions can be moving, shocking, celebratory, witty and

thought-provoking. That’s it. This installation is that simple—and that elegantly complex.

 

Since its debut, Of All The People In All The World has used this deceptively straightforward

concept to communicate statistics that are otherwise difficult if not impossible to grasp. After

the performance the rice will be donated to charities and recycled.

 

Established in 1991 and based in Birmingham UK, Stan’s Cafe is a group of artists from a variety

of disciplines, but mostly theater makers, working under the artistic direction of James Yarker.

The company consists of an evolving team of long-term collaborators and associated artists,

and the lineup changes according to the project being worked upon.

 

Artistic Director of Stan’s Café, James Yarker said, “We can’t wait to collaborate with the young

creatives at Idyllwild Arts Academy. The students will share with us their vision of the world, we

will teach them how our show works, and together we will research and make a wonderful new

version of Of All The People In All The World.”

 

        For more information, visit: https://www.idyllwildartsgallery.org/of-all-the-people-in-all-the-world



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​​Idyllwild Arts’ Native American Arts Festival Week Returns June 18-23

​​Idyllwild Arts’ Native American Arts Festival Week Returns June 18-23

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Idyllwild Arts Foundation’s annual Native American Arts Festival Week returns from Sunday, June 18 through Friday, June 23 with exhibitions, demonstrations, Native food tastings, events and performances at the Idyllwild Arts campus in the San Jacinto Mountains. This year’s festival, again led by Shaliyah Ben (Diné), the director of Idyllwild Arts’ Native American Arts program, the only one of its kind at a residential arts high school in the country, will examine and celebrate Native humor, comedy and joy.  

 

Festival highlights include the daylong opening celebration “Welcoming Home the Birds” featuring Cahuilla and Serrano Bird Singing, California Native foods by Willie Pink (Luiseño) artist vendors and hands-on activities by Tony Soares, Lily Clarke (Cahuilla) and Lorene Sisquoc (Cahuilla/Apache) with the Mother Earth Clan. Curated by Meranda Roberts (Numu/Xicana), this year’s invitational exhibition, Still We Smile: Humor as Correction and Joy,” opens on Monday June 19 and features a range of artistic mediums from multimedia works to prints and photography.  On Tuesday, June 20 through Thursday, June 22, the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series returns to campus for a series of comedy-themed, in-person lectures during the noon hour, which will also stream live on Facebook and YouTube. The week of programming culminates with The Good Medicine Comedy Showcase on the evening of Friday, June 23, organized by Jackie Keliiaa (Yerington Paiute/Washoe) and headlined by Tatanka Means (Navajo/Ogala Lakota/Yankton/Omaha).

Idyllwild Arts is located at 52500 Temecula Rd, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549. All events are free and open to the public. For more information and the full schedule, visit https://idyllwildarts.org/nativeamericanarts.

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