Attend arts activities this month and register for a chance to win awesome “ARTS” prizes! The rules are easy. Look for the Heart of the Arts Logo at participating arts and cultural events in Polk County.  Provide your contact information one time at each activity, so we can contact you if you are a winner. The more activities you experience, the more opportunities you have to win. Drawings take place in early November.

This weekend in the Heart of the Arts (Oct 7-9):

Oct 6-9: The Full Monty at Theatre Winter Haven

Oct 7: View & Review – Critiquing Emerging Artists (Photography) at Polk Museum of Art.

Oct 7: Ask a Gardener at Bok Tower Gardens

Oct 7: People’s Choice at Arts on the Park

Oct 7: Half Price Admission to Explorations V from 6-8pm

Oct 7: Cracker Storytelling Festival Ghost Stories at Polk County Historical Museum

Oct 7-8: THE EDGE Stage Read Series – “Hot L Baltimore” LCT at Lake Mirror Theatre

Oct 8: Opening Reception for Student Exhibition at Polk Museum of Art

Oct 8: History Highlights Polk Proud 150 at 2pm at Bok Tower Gardens

Oct 8: Underground at the Polk at the Historic Polk Theatre

Oct 9: Edward W. Bok Birthday Carillon Concerts at Bok Tower Gardens

View the complete EVENT CALENDAR.

Visit our listing with links to Polk’s arts & cultural organizations.

Bok Tower Gardens Remembers at 2 p.m.
Commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 during a time of quiet reflection as we honor the memory of our fallen heroes. Help plant two live oak tree dedicated to world peace during a special ceremony featuring Rob Quam, Lake Wales Care Center director. Included with admission; 863-676-1408; www.boktowergardens.org

10th Anniversary Commemorative Concert at 4 p.m.
The Bach Festival of Central Florida and Florida Southern College present a Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Concert of September 11, 2001 at FSC’s Branscomb Auditorium. The program features choruses, orchestras, bands and other music ensembles of all ages from Central Florida to remember and honor those who lost their lives that tragic morning. The featured soloist is Kimberly Milton. The music will be traditionally American. All are invited. Admission is free.

The program includes quotations from memorial words and searching questions, which were posted on churches, walls and fences surrounding Ground Zero. These were posted in the days and weeks following the smoldering holocaust and remain on the barricades of the entire area to this day.

ROTC Honor Guard Flag ceremonials will open and close the event along with the singing of the National Anthem and patriotic favorites. The intention of the concert is to be a tribute to the fallen heroes of that dreadful day when the whole world stood still.  “Lest We Forget.”

9/11 Memorial Concert at 7 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church presents a “9/11 Memorial Concert” on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in the FPC Sanctuary, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, at 7:00 p.m.  This concert is FREE and open to the public.  All are welcomed to attend and join in this remembrance!

The concert will include the haunting Fauré “Requiem” and Copland’s “Quiet City” as musical tributes to the tragic events that occurred ten years ago on 9/11.  Interspersed with the music and congregational hymns, this Memorial Concert includes poignant stories, poetry, and scripture to evoke recollections of that heartbreaking day in our history.

Lakeland’s Chandler King returns from the American Boychoir in Princeton, NJ to sing Fauré’s beloved “Pie Jesu.”

Platform Art Parties showcase regional and emerging talent in the fields of visual arts, film, fashion, sound and performance in a nontraditional setting.

Platform Art Party #17: We’re not in Canvas Anymore culminates in the unveiling of a mural created in collaboration with professional artist/educator Paula Allen, Lakeland Sister Cities, City of Lakeland, St Joseph’s Academy, Parker St Ministries and Prodigy Lakeland.

The bicycle safety themed mural created on four panels of four foot by four foot handmade paper will be unveiled at this Platform Art Party, then presented to Lakeland Sister Cities to display publically until it travels to Imabari Japan as part of a formal cultural exchange.

This project serves as a model for expanded relationships with other Sister Cities; and/or a permanent mural to benefit the City of Lakeland community. See a few of the images that the kids developed for the mural in a little animoto video by clicking here.

Get single tickets.  Learn about the benefits of getting an annual pass or becoming a member at various giving levels by clicking here.

January 4, 1:30pm and 7:00pm: Opera Overtures: A theatre broadcast preview of Puccini’s La Fancuilla del West (The Girl of the Golden West).  Live in theatres on January 8th at 1:00pm at Cobb Theatres Lakeside Village 18 Cinemas in Lakeland and Cobb Grand 10 Cinemas in Winter Haven. Learn more!

On exhibit through January 7 at the Lake Wales Municipal Building: Municipal Fine Art Show sponsored by Lake Wales Arts Council and City of Lake Wales.  Learn more!

On exhibit through January 8 at Polk Museum of Art – Eye See America: Through the Lens of Joshua Mann Pailet and Visual Unity 2.  Learn more!

January 9, 1:00pm and 3:30pm: Edward Bok Memorial Carillon Concerts. Commemorate the life of Gardens’ founder Edward W. Bok who died January 9, 1930, less than a year after his beloved Singing Tower was dedicated.  Free with admission.  Learn more!

January 13, 7:30pm: Afiara String Quartet, Updike Hall at Lake Wales Arts Center.  Learn more!

January 17, 1:00pm and 3:30pm:  Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Carillon Concerts featuring music of hope, inspiration and peace honoring Dr. King. Learn more!

January 18, 7:30-8:30pm:  Moonlight Carillon Concert at Bok Tower Gardens.  Learn more!

January 19, 7:30pm: Singer and comedian Mark Lowry performs benefit concert for Southeastern University at The Historic Polk Theatre. Learn more!

January 21, 8:20pm (2020 hours): Pecha Kucha Night Lakeland at 241 S. Kentucky Ave in Lakeland.  The doors open at 7:20pm for this fun and creative event where eight creatives give thought-provoking and entertaining presentations of 20 slides for 20 seconds.  Learn more!

January 21 – April 1: Municipal Fine Art Show at the Lake Wales Municipal Building.  The opening reception and awards ceremony are on January 21 from 5:00-7:00pm.  Learn more!

January 22, 7:00pm: The Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s Night at the Opera takes place in Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College.  This 10th anniversary season celebration includes selections from Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Barber of Seville, La Traviata, Tosca, La Boheme, Lakme, Cavalleria Rusticana, Samson & Delilah, Le Nozze Di Figaro and Lucia Di Lammermoor with a nationally renowned cast, including Stella Zambalis, Mark Thomsen, Thomas Potter, John Thomasson and Christina Sale, led by Artistic Director James Caraher, Indianapolis Opera.  Learn more!

January 23, 4:30pm: Music at Pinewood Concert Series: Duo Turgeon, Piano. Learn more!

On exhibit through January 27 at Lake Wales Arts Center – Ringling College of Art and Design Trustee Scholar Artists.  Learn more!

January 27 – April 21: 12-Week Watercolor Art Classes at Bok Tower Gardens.  Thursdays, except April 14. Beginning/Intermediate: 9:30am-12:30pm, Intermediate/Advanced: 1:30-4:30pm.  Learn more!

January 29, 7:30pm: Leap of Faith – A hand-clapping, toe-tapping evening of gospel music featuring some of the finest voices of church choir members from around the community. Celebrate faith, family and heritage.  This jubilant salute will lift your spirits and restore your soul.  Presented on the Bartow Performing Arts Series at Bartow Elementary Auditorium.  Learn more!

January 30: Sundays @ the Center – Singing Tree, 2:00pm.  Updike Hall at the Lake Wales Arts Center.  A special name for a unique duo. Celtic, folk and traditional music.  Learn more!

January 30, 2pm. One day only – “Thank you for the music – the music of ABBA,” a joint production of Theatre Winter Haven and Lakeland Community Theatre presented at The Historic Polk Theatre.  Tickets available through the Polk Theatre are $25, $20, $15.  Phone: 863.682.7553.  Learn more! Purchase tickets online here!

Learn more about arts events and news by visiting the Polk Arts website.

Future concerts will include dixieland music by the Good Times Jazz Band on July 25; 50s and 60s music with Elivis impersonator Dwight Icenhower and The Repeatles on August 22; and traditional Appalachian music by Mustang Sally and the Hamjos on September 11.

All of the performances start at 7:30pm and tickets are $15 ahead of time, or $20 the day of the event. The optional dinner starts at 5:45pm in the Blue Palmetto Cafe and cost $15.50 for Bok Tower members or $17 for non-members.

For tickets and more info, visit the Live at the Gardens page on their website.

The SummerJamz are for ages 18 and up, tickets are $10, and all proceeds will benefit Polk Theatre and Florida Dance Theatre. Doors open at 9, ladies are free before 10pm. Here’s the flyer:

Once again, I was checking out Art-i-Facts magazine, and I see that the Lake Wales Art Show is this weekend. This little known gem has been around for 38 years now (the same age as Mayfaire by-the-Lake, Polk Museum of Art’s big outdoor festival), and features more than 125 artists. I have to admit that I’ve never made it over to the show, although I’ve heard good things about it for years.

For the music lover, though, yo’ve got a hard choice to make: the Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band Concert at Harrison School for the Arts or the Florida Southern Choral Concert. Both are on Saturday night (3/28) at 7:30pm.

Backing up a day, and I know it’s not art related, but the event I’ll be at and that I’m looking forward to is the Alliance for Independence’s Wine Festival of Central Florida. Over 100 wines and great food! Whoo hoo! I’m so there. It’s going to be held at the Lake Mirror Promenade in Downtown Lakeland, 6:30 – 9:30pm, and tickets are $55 at the gate.

So pick an event and enjoy. It’s going to be a fun weekend in Polk County!

That’s what’s happening next Saturday night, January 24th. Polk Museum of Art and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra are both hosting great events, and both at the same time! Now you just have to decide what you like better: a wine tasting, or a night of opera!

Since I always talk about the Museum, I’ll start with what’s happening with ISO. A Night at the Opera: Don Giovanni will be held at Florida Southern College’s Branscomb Auditorium starting at 7:00pm. Tickets are $60 Gold, $40 Silver, $30 Bronze, and $20 Economy. Children and full-time students can get their tickets for half price!

This is a performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which is considered one of the greatest operas ever written. My sister is a trained opera singer (no, she’s not in the performance), so while we were both in college, I was exposed to quite a bit of opera floating out of her bedroom. Mozart’s operas were always the most palatable to my untrained ear, and Don Giovanni certainly had some amazing arias.

Anyway, this performance is a fundraising benefit for ISO. Besides the opera itself, they’ve worked out a couple of great deals with local restaurants and hoteliers. You can get 20% off your bill at Mario’s with your ticket to the opera. Lakeland Yacht & Country Club members can enjoy a special 3-course meal prior to the performance. And the Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites is offering a special room rate for the evening also.

Tickets to A Night at the Opera: Don Giovanni can be purchased by calling ISO at 688-3743 x4 or by visiting their website.

If opera’s not your thing, then head over to PMoA for Drinkable Art: An “Exhibition” in Good Taste. This annual wine tasting, which is presented in partnership with Vintage Wine Cellars, will feature 30 wines by eight vintners. The idea behind Drinkable Art is that vintners are artists whose media is the grape. Each bottle of wine is an artistic creation. I understand that each vintner will have their own table and a representative on hand to talk about their work.

Vintage Wine Cellars will also be providing a variety of cheeses to sample, and Billy Needs a Beard will be entertaining everyone with their folksy musical sound. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door, and can be purchased by calling 863-688-7743 x238 or visiting the Museum’s website.

So there you have it! Two great events on one night, and at the same time. Take your pick! You’ll have a great evening either way.

I’m looking forward to Florida Dance Theatre’s Harlequin Ball this Friday, October 10, at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club. The staff and volunteers have been working hard to make this a great benefit event for FDT that includes food, drinks, dancing and a performance by FDT’s professional company. Everything starts at 6:30. Tickets are $75 each and will be available at the door. I’ll be there, probably helping with check-in, so if you see me, tell me you read about it on this blog!

Also on October 10, Cracker Storytellers present Ghostly Tales at the Polk County Historical Museum in Bartow, and Art from the Collection of George Lowe opens at the Melvin Gallery at Florida Southern College.

Bartow Art Guild’s Conucopia Art Show will open at Bartow Public Library on October 13. The show runs through November 14, and reception will be held on November 2 at 3:00pm.

For performances: Tuesday Music Club of Lakeland will present Opera Live on October 14 at 10:30am. Call 701-2813 for details.

The Lake Wales Music Club will meet at 1pm at the Lake Wales Arts Center on October 16.

Polk Community College will present Broadway on Tour, also on October 16, but at 7pm. Tickets are $28 each. Call 800-624-8038 x1.

Rounding off the weekend are three visual art events: On Friday, October 17, Polk Museum of Art will host its second View & Review. Local artists are invited to bring a piece of art to be reviewed by guest critic and PCC painting instructor Vilas Tonape. It’s $15 for artists who wish to be reviewed, and $5 for the audience. Plus, there’s a cash bar!

Saturday, October 18, is PCC’s annual Fallfest. From 9am – 4pm, you can enjoy over 100 arts and crafts booths; a Kids Zone featuring a pumpkin patch and magic by Luis Campaneria; a Haunted House; an Arcade & Pinball Expo; musical performances; EMS & Police K-9 demonstrations; and more. The event is free, so head toward Winter Haven to enjoy the day!

Finally, on Sunday, October 19, Polk Museum of Art and the Center for Creative Studies will present their monthly Creative Studies Series. This month’s presentation is “Transformation through Clay with Claudia Van Horn.” The presentation begins at 5:30pm, and tickets are $15 for non-members, and $12 for Museum members. Space is very limited, so if you’re interested, please pre-register with payment by October 13.

There’s so much going on in October, I think I’ll end there for now! You’ll hear more from me in the coming weeks, though.

P.S.: I’ve posted pictures of Polk Museum of Art’s Red, White & The Blues, which was held Friday, October 3. Go here to see a slideshow!