Artifacts 8/18/06

Fountain Street plays host to New York art

The Fountain Street Gallery will hold an exhibition during the September First Friday of art by New York artist Vernita Nemec on Sept. 1. Nemec is the current director of the Viridian Artists contemporary arts cooperative in New York's Chelsea district. Her work on display at Fountain Street is called "Endless Junkmail Scroll," a 100-foot statement on information overload. Nemec will also deliver a lecture at Southeast Missouri State University at noon on Aug. 31.

FTB releases first album with JetSpeed

Local rock band FTB, formerly Flip Top Boxx, recently released its first record with the JetSpeed Records label. The CD is called "Pouring Rain" and is available for purchase now at www.jetspeedrecords.net. The band's music has also been selected for the DVD "Moab," which features Hummers racing across the Utah desert, by IMV Films. IMV is known for its "Vehicular Lunatics" series. FTB says a CD release party is planned in Cape Girardeau in the coming weeks.

Jerry Ford Orchestra to perform USO show

DUQUOIN, Ill. -- The 13-piece Jerry Ford Orchestra will perform a USO Tribute to Veterans show at 7 p.m. on Labor Day (Sept. 4) at the DuQuoin State Fair. For more information, call (618) 542-1535.

Chapman, O'Donnell to display at arts council

In September the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will exhibit the work of Dr. Jean Chapman and Billyo O'Donnell in its galleries, starting with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 1. Chapman is the founder of the local Visual Arts Cooperative, while O'Donnell is known for his landscapes of scenes around Missouri. For more information, call 334-9233.

River City Players hold musical auditions

The River City Players Community Theatre group has announced auditions for the musical "Nuncrackers," part of the "Nunsense" series. Auditions will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday upstairs at Port Cape Girardeau. Auditioners will be expected to sing at least 16 bars of a Broadway show song either a capella or with CD/cassette accompaniment and to cold read. For more information, call Chris at (573) 200-0611.

SEMO Acoustic Musicians' Guild meets Aug. 28

The SEMO Acoustic Musicians' Guild will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Community Room in the Cape Girardeau Public Library. The meeting is a chance for local acoustic song writers to perform and get feedback on their songs and talk about songwriting ideas. For more information, call Jerry Swan at (573) 270-5114.

Market House Theatre accepting registration for Footlights

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Market House Threatre in Paducah is now accepting registration for its Footlights youth acting classes, which begin Aug. 26. All classes meet on Saturdays in the Market House Theatre's Studio Theatre classroom at 120 S. Second St. and are led by the theater's director of education, April Cochran. For more information, call (270) 444-6828.

Columbia to hold arts festival in September

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Columbia will hold its 15th annual Columbia Festival of the Arts in the city's downtown area Sept. 23 and 24. The festival will feature 50 artists displaying and selling work, as well as 40 performances of dance, music, theater and storytelling on two stages. Activities for children will also be included. The festival is free and open to the public. For more information, call (573) 874-6386.

-- From staff reports