Shangri-La ART Reception for Embry

"When that 'little black dress' is not enough ... SHANGRILA!"

FEATURED EVENT REMINDER

LET'S GO FLY A KITE art event and reception 4-7-04 featuring the Japanese and Tibetan art of Tom C. Edwards, 2 to 6 PM, Shangri-La Gifts and Publications, 156 E. State Street (The Commons). Exhibit open daily through April and May, call 607-272-6156 or visit us HERE for details.

Fine Art Reception at Shangri-La

For Evelyn Embry

Portrait artist Evelyn Embry had her first exhibit reception at Shangri-La on the evening of 5 March 2004, from 5 to 8 PM. Well over 100 guests attended our fun filled evening of live entertainment. Embry's art was featured at Shangri-La through the month of March. Click HERE to read Embry's essay on art in America, Between the Cracks.

Embry is nationally recognized for her captivating portrait paintings. Her original oils and pastels are represented in numerous private and public collections throughout the country, and may now be purchased exclusively through Shangri-La. Her numerous awards, include the 2002 Agora Gallery, 2002 Soho International Art Competition, the 2002 Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts Grant, the 2003 Astraea Visual Arts Awards, and most recently the 2004 Contemporary Portrait Exhibit Award at the Rye Arts Center, Rye, NY.

From 5:45 to 6:30 PM, Soprano Sherry Scanza performed several recital pieces in concert with harpist Sarah Estelle Blau. We are currently preparing video and audio clips for you to be able to download from our website. Currently a member of The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble, Sherry Scanza is was until recently the adjunct vocal instructor and assistant director of the University Chorale, Pepperdine University and associate conductor and managing director of the Angel City Chorale, Los Angeles, CA. Sherry has performed with the Ohio Light Opera Company, Pittsburgh Opera Theatre and the Contemporary Opera Company of America. She is heard frequently in recital, most recently in Ithaca in May 2003. On March 5th, Sherry Scanza sang “Un Moto di Gioia” - Mozart from The Marriage of Figaro, “Love” – Rorem, “O mio babbino caro” - Puccini from Gianni Schicchi, and Doretta's Aria - Puccini from La Rondine. She teaches private voice at Cornell University and is on the faculty of the Community School of Music and Arts.

From private recitals to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Carnegie Hall, Sarah Estelle Blau is at ease with many harp pieces by Bach, Debussy, Grandjany Handel, Perkofiev, and Tournier. Harpist Blau has loved music her entire life. Although harp is now her main instrument, she can also play the piano, violin, and oboe. Her sister, Laura Iris Blau is working with Shangri-La to design new textiles and fashions. We wish to thank these two classical performers for enlivening our evening festivities.

From 7 to 7:45 PM, the night heated up at Shangri-La with Joaquin Canay and Rina Gendelman performing traditional Argentine Tangos. Joaquin Canay is a native of Argentina and has been dancing tango since he was 15. Rina Gendelman is from Moscow, Russia, and has been teaching dance for the past 7 years. Gonzalo Gallardo (guitar) and Virginia Pasour (flute), both students at Cornell University, accompanied the dance couple in a "history of the tango" performance. This dance couple also offers classes in tango, tango vals, and milonga for different levels of skill, at the Courtside Racquet and Fitness Club, 380 Pine Tree Road, Ithaca, NY.

Many guests came in from the cold at our March 5th soiree to celebrate the nationally acclaimed portrait art of Evelyn Embry. We hope that you can join us for our next event on April 7th!