Cornell College’s Slick Shoes (a student run dance group) is offering discounted three-week sessions of professionally led ballroom and Latin dance lessons for residents of Mount Vernon and the surrounding areas.
When: 7:30 – 8:30 on Mondays
Cost: $5.00 per session or $12.00 for three sessions.
Where: Located in the gym at the First Street Community Center.
The First Street Community Center in Mount Vernon Iowa is proud to announce its 2nd Annual “Evening Gala Celebrating the Arts in Mount Vernon, Iowa”.
Put this date on your calendar: Saturday, September 17, 2016. The gala will start at with a Social Hour from 7:00 – 8:00 pm with wine, non-alcoholic beverages and hors d’Oeuvres, and Program at 8.
This event will be held in the Uptown Theatre and will honor Jay Gunn, Don & Judy Stine, Laura Werkman, Dick (Pete) Peters and Hugh Lifson.
Tickets for this wonderful event are $20 and can be reserved at 319-535-2030.
AWARD-WINNING AUSTRALIAN SINGER/SONGWRITERS Lucie Thorne & The Yearlings PERFORMING at LILFEST FALL SERIES IN MOUNT VERNON, IOWA on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 7:30 PM
WORLD ALT-COUNTRY MUSIC OPENS THE 2016-7 LILFEST CONCERT SERIES IN MOUNT VERNON. Lucie Thorne, lauded for writing “some of the most simple and beautiful songs you will hear” (-The Age), has earned her place as one of Australia’s most striking contemporary songsmiths. With eleven releases to her name – including her latest LP Everything Sings Tonight – and a prodigious touring schedule, Lucie continues to carve out an extraordinary creative career. After being awarded Best Roots Album of 2009 by the Sydney Morning Herald; and having a song selected for inclusion on a Universal Records international compilation alongside Leonard Cohen and Radiohead, her album LOVE OVER GOLD, with Pieta Brown, brought more world attention to the Iowa music community.
A lot can happen in twelve years. Some relationships grow weary and worn, but for the Adelaide, Australia duo The Yearlings (Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson), passing time has only distilled their unique brand of Australian alt. country, steeped in Americana traditions. After spending the past four years sharing their brooding ballads, rolling roots and haunting harmonies with local and international audiences, The Yearlings have returned to the US with their fifth studio album, ALL THE WANDERING, a ten-song collection which showcases their quiet evolution. Dark and sparse, yet full to the brim with imagery and atmosphere, the CD was recorded to 2-inch tape on a vintage Studer 24-track tape machine; its soul every bit as old as the machinery on which it was captured. Evocative stories of country, travel, love and longing are cradled by the subtle, yet substantial grooves of bassist Harry Brus (Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes) and drummer BJ Barker (Kasey Chambers). There is more diesel in the tank, but The Yearlings’ trademark fragility and spaciousness remains, masterfully captured by iconic Mick Wordley.
The LilFest Series at Uptown Theatre in the First Street Community Center brings worldwide quality performances to an intimate concert setting. These artists follow in the footsteps of performers like Nathan Bell, Chad Elliott, Phil Heywood, Radoslav Lorković, Guy Mendilow, Claudia Nygaard, James Lee Stanley, Eric Taylor, & The Sweet Potatoes. Deeply rooted songs and stories of passion and power for our modern lives.
WHY: Lucie Thorne – “exquisitely impressionistic… poetry in motion” –Rolling Stone
“There is a quiet, contemplative beauty to Thorne’s music. Strong, precise visual images… her rich but never overworked lyrics crackle with poetic intensity. With simplicity and clarity Thorne’s music and words cut through [and] she hits that sweet spot” – Courier Mail
The Yearlings – “One of the best roots rock records I’ve heard from Australia, or anywhere, this year.” –Noel Mengel, Courier Mail
“Brooding, country folk. Chalklen’s voice can haunt you for days.”- The Sydney Morning Herald
“The Yearlings express the lyrical truth of storylines about real life that poetically tug at the heartstrings.”
– Jimmy Little
WHERE: LilFest Series at the Uptown Theatre in the First Street Community Center
221 First Street NE, Mt. Vernon, IA, 52314. Parking on street and in adjoining lot.
WHEN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 7:30 PM BYOB with purchase of Uptown Theatre Sippy Cup
HOW MUCH: Suggested contribution for the Opening Concert $20.00. Subscription Sponsorships for the series, @ $100 each ensure center front section seating if received by September 10.
Please join East End Art for our August First Friday featuring local photographer, Russ Charboneau.
Friday, August, 5th from 5:30-7:30pm in the air conditioned Library of the First Street Community Center.
Light refreshments served during this casual and free event. Come meet Russ and see his creative eye portrayed in his photography.
Russ describes his process and the pieces for the exhibit below:
I started shooting digital about 10 years ago mainly photographing birds. I use mostly Nikon equipment including a high resolution camera I’ve been using for a couple of months.
I switched over to photographing buildings, barns, tractors, etc. with the advent of HDR imaging & photo manipulation software. These techniques gave the photos the look I wanted.
The 11 photos for this show were all shot in eastern Iowa… I’ve found these to be wonderful subjects in early or late sunlight.
I also try to photograph these before some of these buildings are demolished or have simply fallen down. For example, the Winter Window house has been demolished since I shot the photo. Every year more of the old buildings are going away, so I try to photograph as many of these as I can.
3 of the photos are of Cornell College buildings which are a great resource for my photography. I’ve also included a locomotive and a steam engine both from Iowa’s past. There’s a shot of the Scottish Temple in Cedar Rapids and 1 of the Sutliff bridge reconstruction.
– Russ Charboneau
East End Art Gallery hosts a featured gallery artist and a reception every first Friday of each month in the First Street Community Center’s Library meeting space.
The artist will be available to visit with. The exhibit will stay up for the rest of the month, until the next reception.
We invite the public to join us, no reservation, or fees and dress casual… just come!
