St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis is pleased to announce the recipients of the 5th annual President’s Arts Awards. The 2009 award winners are:
(Literary Artist of the Year – Pamela Binnings Ewen) Pamela Binnings Ewen 's first novel, published in May of 2006,was Walk Back The Cat. She is also the best-selling author of the acclaimed non-fiction book Faith On Trial, published in 1999, currently in its third printing. Her most recent novel, The Moon in the Mango Tree (Published in May 2008) is currently available online and in bookstores everywhere. Pamela's new book, Dancing On Glass, will be released in the spring of 2010, and she is currently working on a sequel.
Ewen has served on the Advisory Board for The New Orleans Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans. Pamela is a co-founder of the Northshore Literary Society.
(Culinary Artist of the Year – Shane Gorringe, Zoe’s Bakery) Pastry Chef Shane Gorringe opened Zoe’s Bakery in Covington, named for his daughter, after obtaining a wealth of experience literally the world over. A native of Surrey, England, he apprenticed at Sweet Vienna Patisserie, a renowned Austrian pastry shop south of London. Thereafter, he was assistant pastry chef at luxury hotels in England, Germany, Holland, Venezuela and the Middle East. Coming to New Orleans, he took over as pastry chef of the frequently honored Windsor Court Hotel. Chef Gorringe now develops and explores his talents and creativity on the northshore.
(Performing Artist of the Year – Allen Little) In the summer of 1959 Little joined a teenage theater education group at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre’ and was bitten by the infamous theatre bug. While attending U.S.L. in Lafayette, he studied voice and participated in University productions. Little’s first production in Slidell was a summer show at the Slidell Auditorium “Annie Get Your Gun”. Since that time Little has been involved in all areas of the Slidell Little Theater from serving on the Board of Directors in a number of positions including Past President, to acting and directing over 50 productions for which he has won numerous Ginny Awards for excellence. In the 1990’s he chaired SLT’s “The Second Stage” fund-raising group and raised over $100,000 that was used to build SLT’s present theater.
For the past 29 years, Little’s other major interest is Captain of the Krewe of Perseus where his duties include deciding a theme, designing the costumes, co-ordination of the decorations of the floats to coincide with the theme, and general operation of the Krewe.
In the 1970’s, as a member of the Jaycees, he served as chairman for the Bi-Centennial Commission for Slidell, was on the organizing Board for Mayor’s commission on the Arts and the founding chairman for the Slidell Museum.
(Arts Patron of the Year – Inside Northside Magazine) Inside Northside Magazine is your guide to living well on the northshore of Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain. Reflecting our true quality of life, it has captured the attention and garnered the respect of the northshore community for many years. With featured articles by local writers on the best in home decorating from the arts to cooking and lifestyle tips Inside Northside demonstrates the best of what life on the northshore is all about.
(Visual Artist of the Year – Alan Flattmann) Alan Flattmann was born in the city of New Orleans. At the age of seventeen, he received a New Orleans Art Association Scholarship to study with the renowned regionalist painter John McCrady at the John McCrady Art School in the French Quarter. He has painted the French Quarter for decades, and his work has been recognized internationally. Spanning a career of over 4 decades, Flattmann is recognized as one of America's most outstanding and gifted artists. He was inducted into The Pastel Society of America’s Hall of Fame in 2006 and awarded the PSA Master Pastelist distinction in 1991.
(Musical Artist of the Year – Brian Stoltz) Brian Stoltz has created a unique sound when playing the guitar, and has successfully made this part of his own trademark. His guitar playing, songwriting, and arranging skills have made him increasingly in demand as an artist. Whether recording at his studio in Lacombe, arranging for the likes of Aaron Neville, or performing his original music on the road, Stoltz has redefined the role and range of a guitarist. Stoltz has received awards from CMJ (College Music Journal) and the New Music Corporation for Lifetime Achievement. His co-written Healing Chant, performed by the Neville Brothers, won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental in 1991. Brian was also nominated for a 2004 Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues category.
(Lifetime Achievement in the Arts – Ronnie Kole) Ronnie Kole's love affair with the piano began as a boy in Chicago, where he was born. As a youngster Ronnie developed a bad heart that would put him flat on his back for 4 or 5 months out of the year. To keep him from playing baseball his parents bought him a piano, and the rest is history. Ronnie went to Spaulding School for the handicapped , and it was there that many movie and radio celebrities would visit and try to help the students build up their morale.
The late legendary trumpet virtuoso, Al Hirt is mainly responsible for the career of Ronnie. It was he, who insisted that Ronnie leave his "steady gig" in Chicago, and go on the road. Mr. Kole followed this advice, and it proved to be a good thing, as he performed in Vegas, on television and eventually settled in New Orleans. He first shared billing at a club with Hirt, and eventually had his own club. Kole has been a member of the board of directors of The Easter Seal Society of Louisiana since 1972, and President on four separate occasions. He has been host of The Easter Seal Telethon for all of its 19 years. Kole has had the great pleasure of performing for Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton, as well as Pope John Paul II and numerous times at Carnegie Hall, just to name a few.
(President’s Special Award – Bryan Gowland) Bryan Gowland has an extensive history of community involvement in Abita Springs and St. Tammany Parish. Always the consummate master of ceremonies at the Abita Opry, he is constantly promoting both his town and his parish. A retired coach, Bryan easily transferred his infectious enthusiasm for the sports world to the music world. Gowland has worked to showcase these musicians at the Abita Opry, and has created a well recognized stage for local performers. He was instrumental in getting the Opry started, and has remained a vital part of its growth into a nationally recognized entity. He has served in many positions of leadership on a municipal level, including on the Abita Planning Commission, as an Alderman and then Mayor of Abita Springs, and on the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission.
The 5th annual President’s Arts Awards ceremony will be held on January 15th at the Louisiana Medical Center and Heart Hospital.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LUKE’S BRISKET & BROADWAY
“Take My Husband Please” directed by Christine Barnhill is a hysterical comedy, starring Grace Marshall, Katie Lynn Cotaya, Derrick Middlestead, is bound to keep you laughing for days. Watch the humor unfold as a newlywed couple tries to keep their in-laws’ marriage together without compromising their own. Runs Friday and Saturday’s from Feb. 12th to March 6th. Dinner and show 40.00 pp. Doors open at 6:30 PM. For reservations call 985-781-6565.
Cutting Edge Productions presents the regional premier of Matthew Wilkas and Mark Setlock’s “Pageant Play” February 19 - March 6. Directed by Brian Fontenot, Pageant Play welcomes the audience to the hilarious, terrifying and surreal world of child beauty pageants. Pinky Corningfield will do anything to make sure her little angel wins the ultimate title, Supreme Queen. Performances will be 8pm Fridays and Saturdays from February 19 through March 6. Ticket prices are $17.00. For more information, please visit www.cuttingedgeproductions.org or call (985) 290-0760
SLIDELL LITTLE THEATRE
Presents “Love and Jest” - a hilarious comedy by Bud Faust. January 2nd at 8 pm and January 3 at 2 pm Tickets are $15.00 All proceeds go the SLT “Next Stage II” project.
“Much Ado About Nothing” January 15 - January 31st. A romantic comedy by William Shakespeare set in Messina, Sicily. The story concerns a pair of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are due to be married in a week. To pass the time before their wedding day they conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, to trick their friends, Beatrice and Benedick, into confessing their love for one another. The Prince's illegitimate brother, Don Juan, however, jealous of both Don Pedro's power and his affection for Claudio, plans to sabotage the coming wedding. Reservations: 985-641-0324.
CREATIVE ARTS OF ST TAMMANY
January 2- “WHAT? NO SANTA??” 2PM at CAST PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO, 1133 N LEE ROAD
January 15, 16, 17 DISNEY'S “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR,” Greater Covington
Center
February 4,5,6 “Sojourner Truth is my Name” 7pm at CAST PERFORMING ARTS
STUDIO
February 26, 27, March 5, 6 12 “DANCING PRINCESSES”
Jennifer H. Patterson -CAST Director
Fore more information please call: 985.590.3645 www.dramaandmusic.com blog.nola.com/mystage/