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died in 1956 but his promise still inspires today: We honor his legacy every June with the DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Rodney Square. But Rick Rothrock, an Arden resident and renowned sculptor, has taken the jazz icon’s star to new heights, literally and figuratively. Rothrock created, beginning in 2008, a tribute to Clifford Brown that includes his Twin Obelisks for Brownie, a 14-foot-tall granite structure at Clifford Brown Garden, located at 16th Street and Clifford Brown Walk. (The first two phases are finished. Phase III will include a sound installation, done with UD professor Ashley John Pigford, that will play music as visitors cross thresholds. Rothrock hopes to have the installation complete in time for this year’s jazz fest.) Rothrock was also commissioned to create Rendezvous in Freedom Plaza and Reflection at the Can-Do Playground. Each of these pieces, Rothrock says, has a different but important purpose. “Rendezvous… encourages the public to interact with the sculpture,” he writes in his artist statement. “One can sit either in or out of the flow of foot traffic and at the same time view what is occurring on the other side. The geometry of the stone and the solar orientation creates a changing play of light throughout the day. Reflection at Can-Do Park is playful, while Twin Obelisks for Brownie is educational.” in
GET CREATIVE!
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nspired by the artists we’ve profiled here, or maybe wanting to try a new New Year’s resolution? Check out the following city schools and programs, where you can learn an instrument, take a dance class, paint a portrait, and more. Christina Cultural Arts Center CCAC has been an arts-education anchor in downtown Wilmington for decades. The center offers classes for both children and adults, including dance (Zumba, hip-hop, ballet, jazz, modern, African modern, tap, and acrobatics), music (DJing, private or group instrument lessons), visual arts, theater, and other workshops. ccacde.org Delaware Art Museum Not only home to some of the country’s most amazing works of art, the Art Museum has a new Sunday Studio Series for children ages 3 to 12 that includes printmaking, photographic transfers, Create-a-Kite, and Easter- tile painting. There’s also a Spring Break art camp for children ages 6 to 10 and professional-development opportunities for teachers. delart.org Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts The DCCA has classes for children as young as 4. Mediums explored range from graffiti and comics to prints and the new-art movement. Workshops are offered throughout the year and four-week summercamp sessions are available. thedcca.org Delaware Children’s Theatre The Children’s Theatre not only provides some young actors with their fist play experiences, but summer workshops are also offered. The workshop introduces children to basic theatre techniques for acting, auditioning, and even staging a play with lighting, props, set design, and more. dechildrenstheatre.org
Delaware College of Art and Design In addition to being a premiere two-year college for students pursuing a career in art, DCAD offers continuing-education classes for those looking to explore an art form or enhance their skills. The school has degree programs in animation, graphic design, fine arts, illustration, interior design, and photography. Continuing-ed classes focus on computer graphics, fine arts, interior design, jewelry design, and photography. dcad.edu Delaware Theatre Company DTC brings acting to the stage but also makes it available to the community with its theater classes. Children can start with games that help them get the feel for acting and move into Scene Study. Adults can start with Beginning Acting I. delawaretheatre.org Grand Opera House The venue offers music instruction with professional musicians in various genres. The We Kids Rock! program is a 10-week session that introduces music to children ages birth to 5. thegrandwilmington.org The Music School of Delaware Adults and children can learn music on all levels. The school offers individual and group instrument lessons, music theory, music history, music therapy, ensemble training, and early-childhood music lessons. musicschoolofdelaware.org Urban Environmental Center The Environmental Center not only focuses on ways to go green, it also offers creative opportunities. In addition to landuse planning, sustainability, and gardening workshops, the center hosts pottery classes for adults. Students are also able to use studio time to work on their art. 658-9832 — Christine Serio
FEBRUARY 2011 | 9 magazine
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