Posted inArts

On downtown Berkeley street, the poetry is underfoot

The Berkeley Poetry Walk, completed in 2003, was motivated by community sentiment in the 1980s to create a vital downtown arts and cultural district to reverse economic decline. Photo: edrdo On a downtown Berkeley city block, poetry is a constant companion. Stretched along both sides of Addison Street between Milvia Street and Shattuck Avenue, cast-iron “stepping stone” plaques […]

Posted inCommunity, Nature

Bay Nature: Restitches our connection to natural world

David Loeb, publisher and editor of Bay Nature Magazine which is based in Berkeley. Photo: Diane Poslosky David Loeb, publisher and editor of Bay Nature Magazine which is based in Berkeley. Photo: Diane Poslosky No matter how grand the “internet of things” becomes, all the digital wizardry in the world will never rival the unsurpassable majesty of […]

Posted inArts

Chiura Obata: A story of resilience, a passion for Yosemite

Death’s Grave, Chiura Obata (1885–1975), Death’s Grave Pass and Tenaya Peak, High Sierra, USA, 1930, Color woodcut, Private collection Death’s Grave, Chiura Obata (1885–1975), Death’s Grave Pass and Tenaya Peak, High Sierra, USA, 1930, Color woodcut, Private collection When Kimi Hill was in her teens, just turning the corner on self-absorption and curious about her […]

Posted inArts

A ‘Swan Lake’ inspired by an English Royal love triangle

Joined by Berkeley Symphony and conductor Nicolette Fraillon, The Australian Ballet makes its Bay Area premiere at Cal Performances with Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ (choreography: Graeme Murphy), Oct. 16–19, 2014 in Zellerbach Hall. Photo: Jeff Busby Joined by Berkeley Symphony and conductor Nicolette Fraillon, The Australian Ballet makes its Bay Area premiere at Cal Performances with […]

Posted inArts

Ambitious Ojai North Music Festival returns to Berkeley

Storm Large, performing at Ojai North in Berkeley. Photo: courtesy Cal Performances Storm large and Storm Large: the words serve double duty at this week’s Cal Performances Ojai North Music Festival, running June 19-21 on the Berkeley campus. “Storm large” could be considered emblematic of the fearlessly ambitious annual contemporary music festival that drew the storied […]

Posted inArts

‘Acis and Galatea’ promises to be a grand, sensory delight

Mark Morris’ Cal Performance presentation and world premiere of Handel’s Acis and Galatea runs April 25-27 Musical morsels become masterpieces in the hands of composers like George Frideric Handel and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Spring forward 200-plus-odd years and find dance and design have their modern day monument builders as well. When choreographer Mark Morris and […]

Posted inArts

Michael Ray Wisely: Grand dramas on everyday stages

Michael Ray Wisely. Photo: courtesy AlterTheater Known in local theater circles as a deep-thinking actor’s actor—and by fans of the DIY Network as host of the ever-practical Home Transformations—Michael Ray Wisely has built himself a DIY career. Wisely is inaugurating the Aurora Theatre Company’s new second stage performance space, Harry’s UpStage, as the predatory “Director” […]