Picnic with the New Jersey Symphony on Sunday at Giralda Farms in Madison

Great music, great friends, great location.

That’s always been the formula for a fine summer afternoon with the Arts Council of the Morris Area. Sunday’s Giralda Music and Arts Festival at Giralda Farms in Madison promises some extra treats that should make this edition especially memorable.

“Giralda 2010 offers a fantastic excuse to put your household chores on hold, and invite your friends and family to enjoy an afternoon immersed in the arts,” said the council’s Kadie Dempsey, festival organizer, in a statement. “The grounds provide a perfect setting to enjoy a picnic, a chilled glass of wine or lemonade and to treat yourself to this inspiring yet affordable festival.”

The centerpiece, as always, is the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The concert starts at 6 p.m. and will feature Opera New Jersey soloists Inna Dukach, Ava Pine, Andrew Garland and Matthew Boehler, guided by conductor Jeffrey Grogan.

Gounod’s “Faust,” Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale,” Lloyd-Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” and Gershwin’s “Girl Crazy” and “Porgy and Bess” are on a program that also includes Berlin’s “God Bless America,” Arlen’s “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz and selections from John Williams’ “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

The gates open at 3 p.m., and there is plenty of pre-concert entertainment for people who come early. Disclosure: We played a very small role in the planning this year, and have seen the preparations first-hand. It should be a great day.

In addition to an art show and sale, there will be face painting and balloon creatures for children, and demonstrations of spin art (Ryan Taylor), watercolor painting (Katie Truk) and therapeutic drumming (Mark Wood). The Morris County Historical Society will describe the ins and outs of weaving, the Morris County Tourism Bureau will share ideas for summer fun close to home, and the alternative rock band Moss Points North will open for the symphony.

Sandwiches, fruit, pastries, ice cream, popcorn and water will be available for sale, a 50-50 raffle is planned, and prizes will be awarded to guests with the most creative picnic setups.

“For barely more than the cost of a movie, people can hear music ranging from symphony/opera to alternative rock/folk, see an art show, build a drum, create a watercolor, win a picnic prize or a big cash bonus (while supporting the scholarship fund), sample delicious food. ….and relax  in a beautiful outdoor setting–the former Dodge estate!,” said Lynn Siebert, communications director for the Arts Council.

Tickets at the gate are $15 for adults, $5 for students, kids under 4 are free. If you buy in advance, it’s $12 for adults and $4 for students.  Tickets can be purchased at area Kings Supermarkets and at Gary’s Wine and Marketplace in Madison, or from the Arts Council at 14 Maple Ave., Morristown (973-285-5115, ext. 14, kbecker@morrisarts.org).

Proceeds benefit the Arts Council, which supports arts programs and scholarships across Morris County. (See list below.)

If the weather is bad on Sunday, the symphony will move inside to Madison High School at 6 pm. Check back here, or at www.morrisarts.org or call (973) 285-5115, ext. 14 AFTER 1 pm Sunday for updates.

FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL OF THE MORRIS AREA…

Projects supported by the council:

Educating Youth through the Arts

The Arts Council contracted to place 25 Arts Plus Residencies into the schools that directly involved more than 3,000 students with in-depth, interdisciplinary programs with professional teaching artists. One of the Arts Plus Residences, the Barbara Keefauver Memorial Residency, is targeted for an underserved school in Morris County and is funded by the Arts Council of the Morris Area.  The Arts Council also presents its Annual Arts Education Showcase, attended by approximately 300 cultural arts representatives, teachers, administrators and artists representing more than 200 schools from 10 NJ counties, in addition to offering several workshops for cultural arts representatives.

Also funded through the Arts Council, Telling Our Stories, is a program for middle school students that uses storytelling as the vehicle to focus on improving oral and written communication skills in addition to developing self-esteem, conflict resolution abilities and problem-solving skills. Also funded was Girls Surviving, an intensive summer program led by a storyteller and an actor in which 14-17 year old girls examine issues facing them, share insights in a safe forum and work through the issues by writing and performing a play as the culminating event.

Building Vibrant Communities through the Arts

The Arts Council regranted $40,500 in State funds to 24 arts organizations/arts programs throughout Morris County for general operating support or special arts projects. The Arts Council and its regrantees provided more than 2,000 cultural events that benefited approximately 100,000 individuals in Morris County.

The Arts Council’s Gallery at 14 Maple, a professional gallery showcasing work from NJ artists, presented two juried exhibits open to the public as well as a special tour for the sight-impaired.
Arts in Community

In collaboration with the College of St. Elizabeth, the Arts Council presented “Who Does She Think She Is,” a film screening of an award winning documentary film about 5 women artists, followed by a panel discussion with women artists.

Recognizing Outstanding Accomplishments in the Arts

Celebrate the Arts on May 13th recognized The Community Children’s Museum as Outstanding Arts Organization; Roxbury High School as Outstanding Arts Educator/School; Virginia Fabbri Butera, PhD as Outstanding Arts Advocate; The Star-Ledger as Outstanding Corporation; and Maria Lupo, MFA, MA, ATR as Outstanding Professional in the Arts.

The 2010 Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship ($1,250) was awarded to operatic soprano Alessandra Altieri who will graduate from Randolph High School in Randolph and will attend the Manhattan School of Music in New York City next fall.

The 2020 Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship ($4,500) was awarded to ballroom and Latin dancer Daniel Knapp who will graduate from Morristown High School and will be attending Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA next fall.

Thomas Carle, operatic tenor from Randolph High School received Honorable Mention. In the fall, he will be attending Bucknell University (where he was accepted into the Bucknell University Opera Company) in Lewisburg, PA

Collaborations & Partnerships

First Night® Morris County 2010:  on New Year’s Eve, the Arts Council programmed more than 300 artists, presenting more than 90 arts events in 25 venues in downtown Morristown. Thousands enjoyed visual art exhibits as well as performances in dance, music, and theatre.

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders: the Arts Council presented monthly performances by high caliber performing artists at Morris County’s Morris View Health Care Center in its 3rd Saturdays at Morris View program.

The Arts Council also managed the Atrium Art Gallery bringing year-round art exhibits into the Morris County Administration building, and showcasing hundreds of artists.

In collaboration with The Community Theatre-Mayo Center for the Performing Arts:  the Arts Council is programming four free outdoor concerts, spanning music from West Africa to Japan – on the Morristown Green and in front of the Community Theatre, as part of a community outreach effort.

Recognition & Awards

Major Service Organization designation from the NJ State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) for the 12th consecutive year in recognition of the Arts Council’s “solid history of service excellence, substantial activity and broad public service.”

Citation of Excellence from NJSCA for “achieving the highest standards of excellence.”

Arts and Humanities Week Proclamation from the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders identifying the Arts Council as “a leader in developing, supporting and promoting artists, the arts and experiences that enhance and transform the lives of Morris County citizens.”