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--> HELLO AND WELCOME.
COMING UP LATER ON PRAIRIE
PULSE WE'LL MEET ARTIST JEAN
RANSTROM OF ALVARADO
MINNESOTA, BUT, FIRST, OUR GUEST
IS A WOMAN WHO WEARS MANY HATS.
LINDA COATES IS A FARGO SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBER AND MANY THINGS.
BUT TODAY YOU ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE FARGO-MOORHEAD
SYMPHONY.
--> RIGHT, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
--> AS WE START OFF TELL US ABOUT
YOUR BACKGROUND.
--> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
JAMESTOWN, NORTH THAT COAT ARC
BEEN IN PRAIRIE AREA MY LIFE.
I HAVE HAD MY CAREER HERE IN
ARTS AND TEACHING AND MY HUSBAND
AND I HAVE A RECORDING BUSINESS
AS WELL.
--> HOW DID YOU COME TO BE
INVOLVED IN THE FM SYMPHONY.
--> AT THE TIME I WAS DIRECTOR
AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
ARTS COUNCIL, MY FIRST STINT WAS
93 TO 93, WE OPENED OUR BUSINESS
AND IT GOT TO BE TOO MUCH, I
LEFT ON GOOD TERMS AND A FEW
YEARS AGO THE SYMPHONY HAD GONE
THROUGH SOME CHANGES AND ASKED
ME TO COME BACK, THIS IS MY
SECOND STINT WITH THE SYMPHONY,
SO IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE BACK.
--> 2007 TO PRESENT?
--> YES, TO NOW.
--> TELL US ABOUT THE SYMPHONY
AND THE SEASON THAT IS NOW UNDER
WAY.
--> SURE, THE SYMPHONY IS IN ITS
78TH YEAR, WE'RE ALMOST 80 YEARS
OLD, IT'S A FULL PROFESSIONAL
SYMPHONY, ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE
SYMPHONY ARE ADMITTED THROUGH A
VERY RIGOROUS AUDITION AND THEY
ARE ALL PAID FOR REHEARSALS AND
PERFORMANCES AND OUR MUSIC
DIRECTORIES BERNIE RUBENSTEIN
WHO COMES UP FROM SANTA FE, WE
ARE DOING EMBARKING -- YOU HAVE
OUR WONDERFUL BROCHURE.
WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS COMBINE
ARTS IN A VISUAL WAY WITH OUR
SEASON SO WE COMMISSION AN
ARTWORK EVERY YEAR, SO THAT
WONDERFUL PAINTING ON THE FRONT
IS BY KAREN BACHE, THIS YEAR WE
DID SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
WITH THE MUSIC.
EACH MASTERWORKS CONCERT IS
GROUPED AROUND A PARTICULAR
COUNTRY OR LOCAL AND THAT'S NOT
A REAL TYPICAL WAY OF PRESENTING
A SYMPHONY CONCERT BUT FOR
EXAMPLE WE HAVE MUSIC OF SPAIN,
MUSIC OF FRANCE, MUSIC OF YOU A
AUSTRIA, OF RUSSIA AND ENDING UP
WITH AMERICA, WE HAVE PARTNERED
UP WITH RESTAURANT AND FIVE
TIMES A YEAR THEY WILL COME UP
WITH SPECIFIC MENU TO MATCH OUR
CONCERTS, SO YOU CAN GO OUT FOR
A DINNER AND ENJOY THE FOOD OF
SPAIN AND THEN GO HERE SPANISH
MUSIC OR HAVE A FRENCH DINNER
AND HEAR MUSIC BY FRENCH
COMPOSERS.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS, WE
HAVE NEW SEASON SUBSCRIBERS, THE
FOOD SEALS THE DEAL, WHO DOESN'T
LIKE MEALS.
--> YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR CONDUCT
OR, CAN YOU GIVE US MORE ABOUT
HIS BACKGROUND?
--> YES, BERNIE HAS STUDIED WITH
LEADING CONDUCTORS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, RIGHT NOW HE MAKES HIS
HOME IN SANTA FE, HE HAS
CONDUCTED IN TULSA, TEXAS, HE
CONDUCTS BALLETS IN TEXAS EVERY
CHRISTMAS TIME, SO HE'S
SOMEWHERE EVERY DECEMBER.
WE ADORE HIM, HE TAKES GOOD CARE
OF US AND HE HAS DONE A
BEAUTIFUL JOB FOR THE SYMPHONY.
--> CAN YOU TALK HOW THE SYMPHONY
SORT OF WORKS IN SORT OF A
MEDIUM SIZED CITY?
--> SURE, IT'S A VERY COMPRESSED
SCHEDULE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND MANY
MUSICIANS ARE PROFESSIONALS IN
MUSIC IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER,
THEY ARE COLLEGE PROFESSORS OR
LOCAL TEACHERS AND SOME ARE IN
OTHER FIELDS, BUT PLAY AT A
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.
BUT IT'S A VERY GRUELING WEEK
FOR THE MU MUSICIANS.
SUNDAY IS THE FIRST REHEARSAL,
MONDAY IS STRINGS, FRIDAY IS
DRESS REHEARSE AS, KNEE DAY AND
SUN DAL ARE CONCERTS, IF YOU
TEACH OR WORK ALL DAY AND GRAB
SOMETHING TO EAT AND CONCENTRATE
TWO AND A HALF HOURS DAY AFTER
DAY, IT'S A TOUGH WEEK FOR THE
MUSICIANS BUT THEY LOVE IT AND
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION
EVERY TIME THERE IS AN OPEN
SEAT.
--> YOU SAY MR. RUBENSTEIN, YOU
SAID, LIVES IN SANTA FE, BUT DO
MOST OF THE PLAYERS IN THE
ORCHESTRA, ARE THEY FROM THE
AREA?
--> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE PRETTY PROUD WE DON'T
BRING IN RINGERS, THE ORCHESTRA
IS THE TALENT FROM THE
FARGO-MOORHEAD AND THE
SURROUNDING REGION.
WE HAVE SOME THAT DRIVE IN AS
FAR AS THE LAKES AREA, FOLKS
THAT LIVE THERE, SOME FOLKS FROM
GRAND FORKS TRAVEL DOWN AT THEIR
EXPENSE, WE DON'T REIMBURSE FOR
MILEAGE, WE TREAT ALL THE
MUSICIANS THE SAME, WE HAVE HAD
A FEW PEOPLE COME UP FROM
MINNEAPOLIS TO TAKE PRINCIPAL
POSITIONS IN OUR ORCHESTRA.
IT A FABULOUS ORCHESTRA, WE'RE
VERY PROUD OF IT.
--> YOU HAVE PROBABLY ANSWERED
THIS QUESTION, BUT WILL PEOPLE
BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH MUSICAL
TALENT THERE IS IN THIS REGION?
--> IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO A
SYMPHONY CONCERT THAT MIGHT BE
YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION BUT SOME
OF THE MUSICIANS, THERE ARE MANY
THAT PERFORM ON A NATIONAL
LEVEL, I CAN POINT TO ANY NUMBER
OF FOLKS WHO PERFORM AS GUESTS
THEMSELVES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
AND THAT TEACH AT THE LOCAL
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND
SOME HAVE DONE RECORDINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY
RELEASED SO JUST A WONDERFUL
DEPTH OF TALENT AND THE FACT WE
HAVE THREE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES, EACH ONE WITH A
SIZEABLE, HIGH QUALITY MUSIC
DEPARTMENT, MEANS THERE IS A
VERY DEEP BEN TO DRCH TO DRAW OR
FACULTY MEMBERS AND EVERY YEAR A
FEW STUDENTS AUDITION AND MAKE
IT ESPECIALLY IN THE STRING
SECTION WHERE WE NEED MORE
MUSICIANS, EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE
BEEN BACK THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OR
THREE OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL
PLAYERS IN THE ORCHESTRA WHICH
IS FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE FOR
THEM.
--> OKAY.
TELL US SOME ABOUT YOUR RECENT
CONCERTS, LIKE BACH ON BROADWAY
AND THE MUSIC OF SPAIN.
--> SURE, WE DO TWO KIND OF
SERIES, ONE IS THE BIG ORCHESTRA
IN THE CONCERT HALL PEOPLE MIGHT
BE FAMILIAR WITH BUT WE ALSO DO
A CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES WHICH IS
A LOT OF FUN.
CHAMBER MUSIC IS DEFINED BY US
AS MUSIC THAT IS DONE BY A SMALL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE, COULD BE
ANYONE FROM A DUO TO A QUARTET,
QUINN AT THTET, SMALL GROUP WITA
CONDUCTOR, IT A CHANCE TO SEAT
THE VIR TUOSITY OF THOSE PLAYERS
UP CLOSER, THAT'S A FAVORITE OF
MINE, I LOVE THAT SERIES.
THIS YEAR WE DID SOMETHING A
LITTLE DIFFERENT, NORMALLY THAT
TAKES PLACE IN A CHURCH IN
DOWNTOWN FARGO THAT HAS
WONDERFUL ACOUSTICS BUT WE
STARTED THIS YEAR WITH A CHAMBER
SIZED ORCHESTRA AND OUR
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR HAD THE IDEA
INSPIRED BY A GUEST HIS
CONDUCTOR FROM CUBA LAST YEAR
WHO IN HER HOMELAND OF CUBA HAD
AN ALL FEMALE CHAMBER GROUP,
JANE SAID I THINK I WILL DO THAT
SO THEY PUT TOGETHER MANY OF THE
WOMEN OF THE ORCHESTRA AND DID A
FEMALE CHAMBER MUSIC, WE CALLED
IT BACH ON BROADWAY, WE HAD
QUITE A BIT OF BACH AND OTHER
PIECES, IT WAS FANTASTIC AND A
LOT OF FUN.
THEN JUST SCHEDULINGWISE IT
HAPPENED THE CHAMBER OPENED THE
SEASON BUT THEN OUR BIG OPENING
WAS WITH A BIG STAR THAT WE
BROUGHT IN, WHO WAS AMAZING, AND
THAT WAS TRANSCENDING CONCERT,
HIS MUSIC WAS JUST -- HE IS ONE
OF THE TOP CELIST IN THE
COUNTRY, HE WAS HERE SEVERAL
YEARS AGO AND IT WAS A THRILL TO
BRING HIM BACK.
--> YOU TALKED SOME ABOUT YOUR
MASTERWORKS SERIES BUT CAN YOU
EXPAND ON IT?
--> SURE, THE MASTERWORKS SERIES
IS WHEN THE ORCHESTRA HAS THE
CHANCE TO PRESENT THE WHOLE SPAN
OF ORCHESTRA REPRITOIRRE,
SOMETIMES WE DO VIVALDI OR BACH
ALL THE WAY UP TO PIECES THAT
ARE CONTEMPORARY.
THIS YEAR IT IS FUN GROUPING
THEM AROUND DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,
AND THE CONCERT WE JUST HAD, THE
MUSIC OF SPAIN, WHAT IS
INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS IF YOU
LOOK AT THE PIECES PERFORM THEY
ARE NOT ALL BY SPANISH
COMPOSERS.
IN THE ROMANTIC AREA, 1800'S,
EARLY 1900 COMPOSERS WERE
INTRIGUED BY SPAIN, A LOT OF
COMPOSERS DREW ON THAT FOR
INSPIRATION.
SO, WE HAD A RUSSIAN COMPOSER,
RIMSKI CORSAKOV, I'M BLANKING ON
THE OTHERS, BUT THEY ALL SOUNDED
SPANISH.
THE NEXT CONCERT COMING UP,
MUSIC OF FRANCE, ALL FRENCH
COMPOSERS AND THE MUSIC HAS THE
FRENCH, WONDERFUL SHIMMERING
SOUND TO IT.
--> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
MENTIONED A LITTLE BRIEFLY IS
YOU COMMISSIONED AN ART PIECE
NOW, SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING FOR HOW LONG?
--> I STARTED THAT WHEN I WAS AT
THE SYMPHONY IN THE 90s AND IT
WATTS ALWAYS AN EXCITING
COLLABORATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THE THEME OF THE COMING YEAR WAS
GOING TO BE, MATCH UP WHO WOULD
BE A GREAT ARTIST TO MAKE THAT
THEME COME TO LIFE AND WE HAVE
HAD THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH SOME OF THE BEST
GRAPHIC ARTIST AND VISUAL
ARTISTS IN THE REGION OVER THE
YEARS, THIS IS FUN.
KAREN BACHE IS KNOWN FOR MURALS
IN INSTITUTIONS ALL OVER THE
REGION SO IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE
HER WORK ON THIS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GOING
TO COME UP WITH, I GAVE HER ALL
THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PIECES, COMPOSERS AND THE IDEA
OF THE FOOD AND MUSIC GOING
TOGETHER AND I THINK SHE DID A
REALLY INGENIUS APPROACH, IN THE
BACKGROUND ARE EDIFACES FROM ALL
THE PLACES, THEN IN FRONT FOOD,
POTATOES FROM RUSSIA, PEARS FROM
FRANCE.
--> THE FAMILY CONCERTS, CAN YOU
TELL US WHAT THAT MEANS?
--> WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN AT THE
HOLIDAY POP CONCERT, THAT'S THE
ONLY TIME WE ARE DOWNTOWN, MOST
OF THE TIME WE ARE AT THE
CONCERT HALL.
BUT AT FARGO THEATER WE PRESENT
HOLIDAY POP CONCERTS, THREE IN
FARGO AND ONE IN FEARING US --
FERGUS FALLS, THIS IS A GREAT
TIME FOR GRANDPARENTS TO BRING
THEIR GRAND KIDS, A PERFECT
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FIRST
CONCERT, I LOT OF VARIETY,
GUESTS, SING ALONGS, SANTA,
COOKIES AND CIDER AFTERWARDS,
THE HOLIDAY POP CONCERTS ARE
FUN.
WE ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO
COME TO THE CHAMBER CONCERTS
TOO.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THE CHAMBER
CONCERTS ARE MORE ESOTERIC SUB
SET OF THE MASTERWORKS AND WE
FOUND IT WORKS THE OPPOSITE
BECAUSE THE PIECES ARE SHORTER
AND THE MUSICIANS ARE WONDERFUL
AND ENGAGING IN DESCRIBING THE
MUSIC THEY ARE ABOUT TO PLAY
OFTEN WITH HUMOR, THE PIECES
THEMSELVES ARE SO BRILLIANT AND
FULL OF KIND OF VIRTUOSTIC
PLAYING THAT THAT ACTS AS A
GREAT FIRST EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE
A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
WHO COME TO THOSE.
--> OF COURSE, I UNDERSTAND THE
MOSCOW BALLET IS COMING AND
PERFORMING THE NUTCRACKER.
--> YES, THAT IS NOT GOING TO
FEATURE THE ORCHESTRA BUT WE
KIND OF PARTNERED UP WITH THEM
THINKING THIS IS SOMETHING OUR
AUDIENCES WILL REALLY ENJOY AND
THEY NEEDED A LOCAL PARTNER TO
HELP WITH THE TICKETING SO WE
ARE HANDING THEIR TICKET SALES
FOR THEM AND THAT WILL KICKOFF
THE HOLIDAY SEASON AS WELL IN
LATE NOVEMBER AT THE CONCERT
HALL, SO, THE ORCHESTRA IS NOT
INVOLVED BUT WE ARE KIND OF
INVOLVED AS A CO-PRESENTER, AND
JUST THINK THAT THAT WILL BE A
BIG THRILL FOR LOCAL AUDIENCES.
--> HOW IS THE FM SYMPHONY
FUNDED?
--> WE ARE VERY SIMILAR TO LOTS
OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS,
NONPROFITS.
WE TRY TO KEEP OUR TICKET PRICES
AFFORDABLE AS MOST GROUPS DO,
AND, SO, TICKET PRICES ONLY
COVER A FRACTION OF THE COST OF
WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT ON A
PRODUCTION AND HAVE AN
ORGANIZATION IN PLACE TO MANAGE
THE SYMPHONY, SO, OUR FUNNING
PIE INCLUDES A LOT OF SUPPORT
FROM LOCAL PRIVATE DONATIONS AND
BUSINESS DONATIONS AND SPONSOR
SHIPS.
WE DO HAVE SOME GRANTS AND THE
TICKET SALES, AND WE DO HAVE TWO
MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS EVERY
YEAR, WE HAVE SYMPHONY BALL
WHICH HAS BEEN GOING FOR MORE
THAN 50 YEARS, THAT IS ALWAYS
THE FIRST SATURDAY IN DECEMBER
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE WINE AND
BEER ON THE RED WHICH IS WINE
AND BEER TASTING EVENT IN THE
SPRING WHICH ACTUALLY WE TOOK
OVER FROM PRAIRIE PUBLIC, YOU
ARE THE FOLKS THAT STARTED IT
AND HANDED IT OFF TO US MANY
YEARS AGO AND WE'VE HAD FUN WITH
IT EVER SINCE.
THANK YOU FOR IT.
--> WELL --
--> NOT GIVING IT BACK.
--> SO PEOPLE CAN BECOME MEMBERS?
--> YES, WE DON'T HAVE MEMBERSHIP
PER SE, BUT ANY KIND OF
TICKETING, ANYONE WANTS TO COME
TO ANY CONCERTS, FOR THE FIRST
TIME THIS YEAR ARE AVAILABLE ON
LINE, YOU CAN JUST GO TO THE
WEBSITE AND PICK YOUR SEAT, PICK
YOUR TICKET, PAY FOR IT AND
PRINT IT OUT ON YOUR PRINTER, WE
ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND TO DONATE TO THE SYMPHONY
IS, I GUESS, WHAT WE CALL
MEMBERSHIP, BUT WE REALLY DO
RELY ON CONTRIBUTIONS OVER AND
ABOVE THE TICKET SALES FOR THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
SUPPORTING THE SYMPHONY.
--> YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU DO
PERFORMANCES.
HOW ARE THE CROWDS AT THE
SYMPHONY PERFORMANCES?
--> THEY ARE GROWING ALL THE
TIME, WE HEAR A LOT AND I HEAR A
LOT ABOUT SYMPHONIES AROUND THE
COUNTRY IN MY PROFESSIONAL
LITERATURE OR WHATEVER, THAT
MANY SYMPHONIES ARE STRUGGLING,
SOME OF THE BIGGER SYMPHONIES IN
THE BIG CITIES ARE HAVING
TROUBLE AND SOME ARE IN DIRE
STRAIGHT, AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO
DO WITH THE FINANCIAL REALITIES
AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WE ARE
FORTUNATELY SO MUCH A PART OF.
I'M SO ENCOURAGED HOW OUR
AUDIENCES CONTINUE TO GROW AND
CONTINUE TO REFLECT THE FULL
GAMUT OF PEOPLE OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
WHEN YOU GO TO A SYMPHONY
CONCERT YOU WILL SEE HIGH SCHOOL
KIDS, COLLEGE KIDS, YOUNG ADULT,
FAMILIES AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO
ARE ELDERLY OR RETIRED, I THINK
YOU THINK OF THE TYPICAL
SYMPHONY AUDIENCE BUT I THINK IT
COMES DOWN TO SOME VERY
COMPELLING REASONS.
MUSIC EDUCATION IN THIS PART OF
THE COUNTRY IS SO STRONG AND
SUCH A HIGHLY HELD VALUE THAT
THOSE PEOPLE GROW UP ENJOYING
MUSIC WHEN THEY ARE IN SCHOOL
AND SEEKING OUT GOOD MUSICAL
EXPERIENCES IN THEIR YOUTH AND
AS THEY GROW UP AND INVOLVE
THEIR FAMILIES AND IT IS JUST A
REAL PART OF THE ESSENCE OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND I THINK WE REALLY
SEE THAT.
THERE IS ALSO A VERY WONDERFUL
HIGH QUALITY YOUTH ORCHESTRA,
THE YOUTH SYMPHONY ACTUALLY HAS
TWO YOUTH SYMPHONY, ONE THAT HAS
80 MEMBERS AND THE SENIOR HIGH
WHICH IS A FULL ORCHESTRA MADE
OF KIDS FROM 9TH THROUGH 12TH
GRADE SO WE ARE REALLY STEEPPED
IN HIGH QUALITY MUSIC HERE AND
IT SHOAPPED UP IN OUR AUDIENCES
HERE.
--> HOW DOES YOU BEING A MUSIC
PRODUCER HELP IN YOUR JOB?
--> IT'S FUN, LIKE I SAID IN '95
MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED A
RECORDING STUDIO AND WE'VE DONE
SOME CD RELEASES OF ALL SORTS OF
MUSIC AND IT GIVES ME A GREATER
APPRECIATION FOR THE TECHNICAL
ASPECT OF WHAT GOES INTO -- WHAT
YOU HOPE SEEMS LIKE AN
EFFORTLESS PRODUCTION AND I ALSO
HAVE A VERY WIDE RANGING MUSICAL
TASTE, SO SOMETIMES WE CAN
WORKING TOGETHER WITH BERNIE WHO
HAS TERRIFIC IDEAS COME UP WITH
FUN PROGRAMS FOR OUR AUDIENCES.
--> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MAGIC
OF YOUR MUSIC AND WHAT IT MEANS
TO YOU?
--> I DON'T KNOW IF MY PARENTS
THOUGHT ME GOING INTO MUSIC WAS
ALL THAT MAGICAL WHEN I WAS A
KID BUT IT TURNS OUT TO PLAY A
CENTRAL PART OF MY LIFE, EVERY
ZIGZAG MY LIFE HAS TAKEN HAS NOT
BEEN FAR FROM MUSIC, SO IT'S
PRETTY MUCH THE CENTRAL CORD OF
MY LIFE AND I KNOW IT MAKES MANY
PEOPLE'S LIVES MUCH RICHER.
--> MY QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
CONTINUE TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE OR
ANYBODY FOR THAT MATTER INTO
CLASSICAL MUSIC AND INVOLVED IN
THE SYMPHONY.
--> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REALIZE PEOPLE SEEK OUT
EXPERIENCES THAT MEAN SOMETHING
TO THEM AND THAT HAS A PERSONAL
CONNECTION.
PEOPLE AREN'T VERY LIKELY TO
SEEK OUT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST
COMPLETELY UNUSUAL OR STRANGE OR
SCARY OR INTIMIDATING, SO WHAT
WE REALLY TRY TO DO IS BECOME
MORE AND MORE OF A PART OF THE
FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY'S LIFE.
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY CLASSICAL
MUSIC ALL THE TIME, IT THE
SOUNDTRACK OF A LOT OF FILM, TV
AND RADIO, YOU HEAR IT WITHOUT
NOT NECESSARILY KNOWING THIS IS
THAT PARTICULAR PIECE BUT WHEN
YOU SEAT SEE IT PERFORMED IN FF
YOU WITH MUSICIANS, IT'S A
POWERFUL THING AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO MIX UP FAMILIAR
THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN GRAB
ONTO -- OH, I GET IT, AND YOU GO
FROM THERE.
BUT WE TRY NOT TO LOSE SIGHT OF
WHAT THAT FIRST LISTENING
EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE, SO ANY
CONCERT YOU COME TO WILL BE A
PLEASANT AND EXCITING
EXPERIENCE.
--> LINDA, IF PEOPLE WANT MORE
INFORMATION OR PURCHASE TICKET
WHERE CAN THEY GO?
--> IT AT OUR WEBSITE AT FM.ORG.
--> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
--> I APPRECIATE IT.
--> JEAN RANSTROM OFFICIAL
VARIOU -- OF ALVARADO, MINNESON
ARTIST.
--> IF YOU WOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNE DAY THAT COW AS YOU CK
FOR, YOU SAY, GOD, I'M GOING
OUT, THIS IS WHAT I WANT: I
WANT 65 DEGREES, NO WIND, HIGH
OVERCAST AND NO BUGS, YOU WOULD
THINK YOU HAD DIED AND GONE TO
HEAVEN, BUT YOU MIGHT GET ONE OR
TWO OUT OF THAT LIST.
OKAY.
WELL, THIS WOULD BE PERFECT.
I AM AN OIL PAINTER AND A
PASTELLER, I BASICALLY STARTED
AT 10 YEARS OF AGE.
A LADY ASKED MY TWIN AND I TO
COME OVER AND SIT, SHE WANTED TO
PAINT OUR PORTRAIT.
I WAS INTRIGUED WATCHING HER PUT
PAINT ON A CANVAS.
I STARTED AT BASICALLY 10 YEARS
OF AGE.
I PRIMARILY PAINT STILL LIFE,
LANDSCAPES, DO A LOT OF PET
PORTRAITS, DIE NOT PAINT PEOPLE.
IN THE LAST YEARS THIS BECAME
VERY IMPORTANT TO ME SO I WAS
OUTDOORS PAINTING A LOT.
SO, I'M SEEING WITH ALL THIS
YELLOW GREEN, I'M SEEING A
PURPLE THAT NEED TO BE PAINTED
OUTSIDE, IT WAS PROBABLY THE
FASTEST GROWING GENRE IN THE
UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
IT OFFERS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
CHALLENGES.
FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE ROUGHLY A
HALF HOUR TO CATCH A LIGHT
PATTERN IN WHATEVER IT IS YOU
ARE PAINTING AND THEN IF YOU ARE
ABLE TO EDIT EVERYTHING OUT AND
ONLY GET IN YOUR LIGHT, YOUR
MIDDLE TONES AND SHADOWS, YOU
CAN WORK FOR APPROXIMATELY
ANOTHER HOUR ON THAT PIECE AND
STILL HAVE A SENSE OF THE TIME
THAT YOU DID THIS AND IT TRULY
IS A SKILL BUILDER.
YOU NEED TO WATCH FOR ANT HILLS,
SNAKES, RAIN, SNOW.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
KEEP EVERYTHING FROM GETTING
WET, SO WE WILL JUST KIND OF
MY HUSBAND WON T WOULD BE THE VY
FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU IF I GET
CRABBY, HE TELLS ME TO GO TO THE
STUDIO.
I CAN RELAX, BE OUT IN THE
GARDEN, COME HERE IN THE STUDIO,
PICK UP A PASTEL OR A PAINT
BRUSH AND FOR TWO HOURS I'M
TOTALLY LOST, IT'S ANOTHER
WORLD.
I'M RELAXED, EVEN IF I'M
STRUGGLING WITH A PAINTING.
AS A PAINTER, WHAT I FEEL IS
WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO DECIDE
WHAT COLOR GREEN YOU ARE PUTTING
ON THE TREE AND WHERE BECAUSE
YOU ARE TOTALLY ABSORBED IN WHAT
YOU ARE DOING.
YOU CAN NOT BE WORRYING ABOUT
WHETHER THE CAR IS GOING TO NEED
TO BE REPAIRED OR WHETHER YOU
HAVE MONEY FOR RENT OR SOME OF
THE OTHER DAILY PROBLEMS YOU
HAVE, SO FOR ME IT IS LIKE A
FANTASTIC RELAXATION.
I PAINT PRETTY MUCH WHAT FEELS
INTERESTING AND FUN TO ME, AND I
THINK IF I'M ENJOYING IT, I'M
HOPING SOMEONE ELSE IS ENJOYING
IT.
SO FAR IT'S WORKED OUT PRETTY
WELL.
--> I PROBABLY COULD SELL A WHOLE
LOT MORE PAINTINGS IF I DID NOT
FOLLOW MY HEART AND WHAT I
REALLY ENJOY AND WANT TO PAINT,
SO, I REALLY DON'T PAINT FOR
FASHION AT ALL.
I THINK MY BIGGEST NIGHTMARE IS
PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME INTO OUR
STUDIO AND HAVE ALL THEIR
SWATCHES AND THEY SAY WE NEED A
PAINTING TO MATCH THE SOFA.
I HAVE A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS GOOD
ART DOES NOT HAVE TO MATCH THE
SOFA.
--> WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR
THIS WEEK.