Post by reddog62 on Mar 12, 2009 9:53:15 GMT -5
Published: March 12, 2009 10:31 am
MUSIC: Music is Art comes to Niagara County
The midst of a recession might seem to be the worst time to expand the business operations of any organization. Robby Takac disagrees. The Buffalo native and founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls will be in town this weekend to see his Music is Art charitable group reach out into Niagara County for the first time. Starting with a concert Friday and continuing with a new art exhibit that opens Sunday, this weekend’s festivities are the first of what Takac hopes will be many ventures north for his group.
The idea for the Niagara County event was sparked by Fred Heuer, Niagara University’s assistant vice president for marketing. The school had hosted many of the bands on Takac’s Good Charamel Records label over the years, Heuer said, and talks with those musicians led to the desire to do more.
“They’ve all told what a great cause MiA is,” Heuer said of the charity, which was founded in 2004 to encourage and enable people to get involved with music. “After reading about MiA’s goal of using the arts as a key part of an individual’s education, it was an obvious fit with Niagara University’s mission of educating the whole person.”
After hosting a couple benefit shows earlier this academic year, it was decided to put on this weekend’s celebration. While apprehensive about extending the charity’s resources too far, Takac is excited to finally reach out into Niagara County.
“I like to see things grow, but I like to see them grow at a natural pace. You’d hate to see it try to grow and see it implode upon itself” he said during a phone conversation from his home in Los Angeles. “To see this happen with an established institution ... that’s what led me to moving forward.”
The group’s continued forward momentum, while difficult during the ongoing economic crunch, is more important now due to the tendency to put the arts on the backburner when money’s tight, Takac said.
“I didn’t have the football team to teach me teamwork. I picked that up in music,” he said. “An organization such as this exists for those reasons.”
Friday’s concert will feature 15 local bands in all genres, including Bear Hunter, Wenzday Atemz and Inlite — what Takac called “a good cross-section of Western New York music.” The concert serves as a “mini version of the bombardment of acts” the charity rolls out every year during its main festival in Buffalo, Takac said. Artists will also be on hand painting throughout the night.
Events continue Sunday with the opening of a Jed Jackson art exhibit at the university’s Castellani Art Museum, which is discussed at length in the accompanying story. Takac said he will be in attendance at some point this weekend but couldn’t say for sure when he’d arrive.
This weekend is MiA’s first Niagara County venture, but the charity’s second local act is already in the works. MiA is set to sponsor the Rusted Root concert taking place March 27 at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Niagara Falls. NU officials are happy to contribute to the charity in any way they can, Heuer said; the school is one of MiA’s main sponsors for the 2008-09 academic year.
“Strategically, I feel Niagara really fills a void in the Music Is Art program by giving them a stronger presence in Niagara County,” Heuer said.
“Just like us, they are dedicated to community involvement and to making sure young people find their voice,” Takac said of the school. “We have a pretty cool idea put together at this point.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Music is Art concert featuring 15 local bands
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Kiernan Center at Niagara University, Lewiston
MORE INFORMATION: Call 286-8655
www.tonawanda-news.com/nightandday/gnnnightandday_story_071101513.html?keyword=topstory
MUSIC: Music is Art comes to Niagara County
The midst of a recession might seem to be the worst time to expand the business operations of any organization. Robby Takac disagrees. The Buffalo native and founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls will be in town this weekend to see his Music is Art charitable group reach out into Niagara County for the first time. Starting with a concert Friday and continuing with a new art exhibit that opens Sunday, this weekend’s festivities are the first of what Takac hopes will be many ventures north for his group.
The idea for the Niagara County event was sparked by Fred Heuer, Niagara University’s assistant vice president for marketing. The school had hosted many of the bands on Takac’s Good Charamel Records label over the years, Heuer said, and talks with those musicians led to the desire to do more.
“They’ve all told what a great cause MiA is,” Heuer said of the charity, which was founded in 2004 to encourage and enable people to get involved with music. “After reading about MiA’s goal of using the arts as a key part of an individual’s education, it was an obvious fit with Niagara University’s mission of educating the whole person.”
After hosting a couple benefit shows earlier this academic year, it was decided to put on this weekend’s celebration. While apprehensive about extending the charity’s resources too far, Takac is excited to finally reach out into Niagara County.
“I like to see things grow, but I like to see them grow at a natural pace. You’d hate to see it try to grow and see it implode upon itself” he said during a phone conversation from his home in Los Angeles. “To see this happen with an established institution ... that’s what led me to moving forward.”
The group’s continued forward momentum, while difficult during the ongoing economic crunch, is more important now due to the tendency to put the arts on the backburner when money’s tight, Takac said.
“I didn’t have the football team to teach me teamwork. I picked that up in music,” he said. “An organization such as this exists for those reasons.”
Friday’s concert will feature 15 local bands in all genres, including Bear Hunter, Wenzday Atemz and Inlite — what Takac called “a good cross-section of Western New York music.” The concert serves as a “mini version of the bombardment of acts” the charity rolls out every year during its main festival in Buffalo, Takac said. Artists will also be on hand painting throughout the night.
Events continue Sunday with the opening of a Jed Jackson art exhibit at the university’s Castellani Art Museum, which is discussed at length in the accompanying story. Takac said he will be in attendance at some point this weekend but couldn’t say for sure when he’d arrive.
This weekend is MiA’s first Niagara County venture, but the charity’s second local act is already in the works. MiA is set to sponsor the Rusted Root concert taking place March 27 at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Niagara Falls. NU officials are happy to contribute to the charity in any way they can, Heuer said; the school is one of MiA’s main sponsors for the 2008-09 academic year.
“Strategically, I feel Niagara really fills a void in the Music Is Art program by giving them a stronger presence in Niagara County,” Heuer said.
“Just like us, they are dedicated to community involvement and to making sure young people find their voice,” Takac said of the school. “We have a pretty cool idea put together at this point.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Music is Art concert featuring 15 local bands
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Kiernan Center at Niagara University, Lewiston
MORE INFORMATION: Call 286-8655
www.tonawanda-news.com/nightandday/gnnnightandday_story_071101513.html?keyword=topstory