Dennis Borycki

The free concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., is part of the “Jazz Concerts at the PAS” series, is produced and sponsored by The Performing Arts Studio and Jazz in June.

The performance will feature a combination of the poetry of noted Canadian poet Glen Sorestad with a musical trio accompaniment, and jazz repertoire played by a trio consisting of Oklahoma musicians Dennis Borycki on keyboards, Johnny Nelson on bass and Chris Hicks on sax.

During the each of the two sets, Sorestad will read for 15-20 minutes with the musical accompaniment, and the trio will play the rest of the set.

“The background music is written primarily by me, but there also will be a bit of musical composing collaboration among the performers,” Borycki said. “Some of the music might even be partly improvised at the time of performance. We are interested in maintaining a degree of spontaneity in the spirit of the ‘jazz’ language.”

Sorestad’s poems have appeared in literary magazines and journals, online journals and Web sites and more than 50 anthologies and textbooks, and have been translated into a half-dozen languages. He has authored more than 20 books of poems, including Road Apples (2009) and What We Miss (2010). Sorestad has given public readings of his work in every province of Canada and 17 U.S. states, as well as France, Norway, Finland and Slovenia. He is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contributions to literature in Canada.

The Second Sunday Poetry Reading with Kristin Hahn has been cancelled, and will be rescheduled for a later date.  Information on the new date will be posted to the web site as soon as it is available.

A four-session writing workshop designed to help women age 55 and over document their lives will be offered on consecutive Thursdays in April at The Performing Arts Studio.  PAS is located at the historic Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave.

The workshop, taught by University of Oklahoma instructor Dana Loy, is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. April 1, 8, 15 and 22.

Designed for all levels of writers, the class provides participants with an opportunity to recall events in their lives, share memories with others in the group and document them in writing. At the end of the workshop, each participant takes home her collection of autobiographical writings. The writing is not or edited or prepared for publication.

“Writing taps into memory. In this class, women with rich life experiences can work on their life stories,” Loy said. “A lot of people would like to write about their lives but it’s hard to find the time. Through this workshop, we give ourselves that time and create a beautiful collection of written memories. Some are funny, some are historical and some touch your heart.”

Tuition is $75 per person and enrollment is limited to 18. The deadline for registering is March 30. To register by phone or to request a registration form, contact PAS at 325-9320 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Click here to open a printable registration form.

An exhibition of drawings and paintings by Norman artist Nick Wu will open with a reception for the artist at 2 p.m. Feb. 7 at the historic Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave.
 
Presented by The Performing Arts Studio, “Art of Portraiture” will run through March 28.  There is no admission charge.

Wu specializes in portraiture characterized by spontaneity of expression and realism and a skillful control of light, tone and texture.  Although he received some formal training in China, he is largely self-taught.  “My parents encouraged me to develop my art at an early age by taking me to various art studios, where I became familiar with the works of llya Repin, Nicholai Fechin and Richard Schmid,” he explained.  “Those artists have had a lasting impact on my use of light and color.”

Wu works with great speed, completing oil portraits of live models within three hours and pencil drawings within 30 minutes.  “Drawing is the most important foundation technique for any visual art, including painting,” he said.  Wu demonstrated his drawing technique at the Depot during the December 2009 and January 2010 Second Friday Circuit of Arts.