For Immediate Release:

Date: Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Contact: Jim Zieliński, Marketing and PR Manager

Panoply 2010 – “Home is Where the heART Is!”

Huntsville, AL—The Arts Council, Inc. (TAC) announced today that the Panoply Arts Festival would take place Friday-Sunday, April 23-25, at downtown Huntsville’s Big Spring International Park and Von Braun Center and that this year’s theme is “Home is Where the heART Is!”  The announcement was made by Allison Dillon-Jauken, TAC’s Executive Director, in the atrium of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (HMCCVB).

Dillon-Jauken added that the festival would be expanding into the East Park—which would feature its free Kids Art Yard activities—and that the International Performing Arts Stage (associated with the popular Global Village) would increase in size.  Another highlight will be the addition of a “Custom Panoply Playhouse” designed and constructed by local builders, painted by area VIP’s, and with a yard of flowers created by festivalgoers.  This original work of art can be bid on during the festival weekend through a silent auction located at the Panoply Information Booth.

This year’s festival promises many of the beloved activities and competitions of the past.  Dillon-Jauken noted that festivalgoers can access the park through four entrances sponsored by the Boeing Company, your gateway to Panoply, and that among the returning favorites are the Toyota Motor Manufacturing’s Art Marketplace, the Buffalo Rock Family Food Tent, and Region’s Bank’s Fifth Grade Days.  She added that $10 weekend Panopasses are available for sale this year at over 40 ticket outlets.

In a continuance of cooperative spirit existing between their respective cities, both Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville, and Paul Finley, Mayor of Madison, spoke about Panoply’s positive impact on the culture and tourism of Alabama in general and the Tennessee Valley area in particular.

Each year the Panoply poster artist, who has previously appeared at the Art Marketplace, is chosen based on the quality and uniqueness of his or her work.  For 2010, Huntsville artist Yuri Ozaki was chosen.  Her artwork, “A Panoply Fantasy,” captures the festival’s energy and creativity and was unveiled at the HMCCVB by Ann Lee and Patrice Rowe, this year’s festival co-chairs.  They were introduced by Chris Robinson, President of TAC’s Executive Board, who thanked both the chairs and the many Panoply sponsors and volunteers.

Further information on Panoply, including volunteer opportunities and more, is available at www.panoply.org or by telephoning (256) 519-ARTS (2787).

This program/project has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE ARTS COUNCIL, INC.

AND THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

Al Christopher, Inc.

Anglin • Reichmann • Snellgrove & Armstrong, P.C.

CDPA Certified Public Accountants

DirtBusters Fire and Water Restoration

Lewter Hardware Co.

EarlyWorks Children’s History Museum

Maysville General Store

Off Campus College Bookstores (UA Huntsville, AAMU, Athens State)

Progress Bank

Regions Bank (Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Limestone Co., Scottsboro, Albertville, Priceville, Moulton, Hartselle, Arab)

Samples Properties, Inc.

Servis1st Bank

Star Supermarket and Discount Pharmacy

Van Valkenburg and Wilkinson Properties, Inc.

Yuri Ozaki, the Panoply Arts Festival’s 2010 poster artist, finds that people often have an attachment to the places in her paintings.  “I often hear comments like, ‘my father owned that building’ or ‘my husband proposed to me on that bench.’  These personal connections fascinate me.  As a newcomer to Huntsville, I like to think that I bring a fresh eye to the scenery around me.”  Through her Panoply artwork, she “wanted to capture the wonder and joy of the event.  In my area of Japan, they are known for a great fireworks festival called Kumano Oh Hanabi – I  used some images from this festival as reference for this painting…”  If one looks closely, she adds, they may see some of her friends from the Flying Monkey and a man making huge bubbles from a piece she previously painted of the downtown Sidewalk Art Stroll.