Pyle it On
In this year of all things Pyle—the 100th anniversary of his death—Delaware Art Museum has an extra special event on Nov. 9: the premiere of the new documentary film “Howard Pyle & the Illustrated Story.” The film traces Pyle’s work around the world and his influence on books, movies and art. Pyle, of course, is the famed illustrator of “The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood” and the main reason why the Delaware Art Museum came to exist. “The Illustrated Story” was written and directed by Wilmington filmmaker Paul Mento. Join him after the screening for a Q&A session, along with Margaretta Frederick, curator of “Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered,” which is on display now at the museum. Space is limited, so reserve your tickets soon at delart.org. For more, call 571-9590. The screening begins at 6 p.m.
More Illustration and Film
In celebration of another milestone year, Brandywine River Museum will screen “Treasure Island,” starring Charlton Heston as Long John Silver, on Nov. 9. The film was directly inspired by N.C. Wyeth’s illustrations of the Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel. This is the centennial year of its publication—considered the iconic edition ever since—which the museum is commemorating with the exhibition “N.C. Wyeth’s Treasure Island, Classic Illustrations for a Classic Tale.” The exhibition unites all of Wyeth’s 16 original paintings in one place for the first time since they left his studio. The film stars Christian Bale as Jim Hawkins, Oliver Reed as Captain Bill Bones and Christopher Lee as Blind Pew. Director Fraser Heston will be at the screening to introduce the film, which begins at 11 a.m. Seating—first come, first served—is limited. Call (610) 388-8382, or e-mail education@brandywine.org.
In other happy news, the museum has been honored for its 40th anniversary by a proclamation of the Senate of Pennsylvania. Since opening in 1971, the museum has hosted 6 million visitors, who come to see its unique collection of American art, especially that of the Brandywine Valley and the famed Wyeth family. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the museum is displaying the largest number of works ever on view in its galleries, including nearly every work by Andrew Wyeth owned by the museum. See it while you can. For more, visit brandywinemuseum.org.
Going for Baroque
Here’s yet another unique offering from Brandywine Baroque: “Women & Music at Zimmermann’s Café!” on Nov. 15. Brandywine Baroque members Karen Flint playing harpsichord and flautist Eileen Grycky will join UD students for a concert on period instruments presented in the spirit of Telemann’s Collegium Musicum concerts at the famed Leipzig coffee house, with a nod to women composers of the era. The Collegium Musicum was a musical society of the type popular in German and German-Swiss cities into the mid-18th century. The collegia musica performed vocal and instrumental music for pleasure, focusing on instrumental music as it rose in stature during the Baroque era. Get a glimpse of that heady time at the Roselle Center for the Arts at the University of Delaware. For more, visit music.udel.edu. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
Don’t Forget the Funk
The Meters Experience, featuring Meters founder and guitarist Leo Nocentelli, visits World Cafe Live at The Queen on Nov. 10. Nocentelli has played blues, jazz and more with and for the best in the business, including Bobby Womack, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staple, Etta James, Stevie Wonder and other Motown greats like The Temptations and The Supremes. The list goes on and on, which is why the founding father of funk was honored with a Grammy for lifetime achievement in 2001. But his greatest legacy will perhaps be the syncopated rhythms he perfected with The Meters on such great tunes as “Cissy Strut.” Hear some at WCL. Visit queen.worldcafelive.com for tickets and one cool video.
Peppy DePue
Classical training? Bluegrass playing? If you don’t know the exciting, eccentric DePue Brothers Band, see them rock—yes, rock—at the Arden Gild Hall on Nov. 12. The four brothers are each classical virtuosos who have been making music together for more than 25 years. Since taking on other members, the have performed and recorded together as a band since 2004. They were named Musical Family of America by the president in 1989 and became the subject of a PBS documentary in 1993. Two brothers were featured in the documentary “Music From the Inside Out in 2005.” Their first album as brothers, “Classical Grass,” sold out of its first printing. World Cafe Live founder Hal Real has said, “This band of brothers, and symphonic friends, gives real meaning to the phrase ‘progressive bluegrass,’ bending genres while delivering a powerful mix of classical chops, blazing bluegrass, and rock ‘n’ roll.” Larry Groce, host of “Mountain Stage” has called them “nice guys, great players.” With such praise from authorities such as these, this is one not to miss. For tickets, call 475-3126, or go to concerts@ardenclub.org. Visit ardenclub.org for more.
A Grand Return
Wilmington native Emily Samson Tepe, known today as IVA, gave her first public performance at the age of 9 on the main stage of The Grand Opera House. Now she is an international star who has crossed from opera to popular music. Described as a mix between Madonna and Enya, IVA has been noted as an artist to watch by Billboard magazine. Catch her homecoming concert at The Grand on Nov. 12. For more, visit thegrandwilmington.org, or call 652-5577.
Barefootin’
Has there ever been a funnier honeymoon than the one in Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park”? (The answer is probably not.) See the Wilmington Drama League perform this comic classic on this, its final weekend, Nov. 11-12 at the playhouse on Lea Boulevard in Wilmington. For more, call 764-3396.
Universal Meaning
If you want to see some of the best in student work, visit The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts for “MFA Biennial 2011: Masters of the Visual Universe” until Feb. 5. The 22 artists who are showing are current or recently graduated MFA students from neighboring areas like Towson University and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Taken together, their work explores the ideas of art education, aesthetics and display. Is educational mastery in art still a fact or a science fiction relic in the eyes of many young artists today? See. Think. Discuss. Various presentations are planned for the duration of the exhibition. For more, see thedcca.org/exhibit/masters-visual-universe.
