FestivALL: The GazzCast

We cornered Larry Groce in the GazzCast studio on Tuesday in the midst of shepherding FestivALL 2007 toward its citywide launch next week. He sits still for a moment and talks to our camera about what’s going on all over the city next weekend and just exactly how you do look at one of the famous sidewalk masterpieces of English artist Julian Beever, coming soon to Appalachian Power Park.

See this week’s GazzCast at thegazz.com/gazzTV.

Talk of Charleston

Care about Charleston’s cultural scene? Want to see it grow healthier, livelier and a wee more interesting? Then pencil in 9 to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Blues BBQ restaurant, but move fast to get the free tickets for a discussion on that subject.

Gazz hosts a city dialogue that night on the 2007 FestivALL theme “A City Becomes a Work of Art.” How can artists and creative people be more involved in decisions on the city’s growth? How can Charleston move forward culturally? What’s holding it back? And why is it worth it to live here?

Panelists include artist Paula Clendenin; sculptor Joe Mullins; artist/educator and new city councilman Cubert Smith; state Division of Culture and History Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith and “Mountain Stage” host and FestivALL headman Groce.

It’s free, but you’ll need a ticket, as seating is extremely limited. Call 348-3017 or e-mail douglas@cnpapers.com. Expect plain speaking and thoughtful give-and-take. If you cannot make it or we run out of tickets, we’ll be videotaping and webcasting highlights at www.thegazz.com.

Join us afterward in the bar of the restaurant, right across from the Clay Center, for music by the Ryan Kennedy Trio — speaking of quality local culture — which will be playing all evening long.

Gazz via e-mail

Get a colorful e-mail heads-up on the week ahead in the arts with the free gazz newsletter. Click “newsletter” at thegazz.com home page or type this into your browser: www.thegazz.com/subscriptions.

— By Douglas Imbrogno