Author: andres@davidperry.com

MEDIA ADVISORY / REQUEST FOR ONSITE COVERAGE: FRIDAY, 1/18 – 5PM

Revolutionary Island: Tales of Cuban History & Culture opens

WHAT: Revolutionary Island: Tales of Cuban History & Culture opens

WHO: Cuba’s famous artists on hand: Ruben Alpizar and Esterio Segura and curator Darius Anderson

WHERE: Sonoma Valley Museum of Art: 551 Broadway, Sonoma (just off town square)

WHEN: Friday, January 18: opening reception / media availabilities: 5pm-9pm

WEB: www.svma.org

WHY:

Nothing in Cuba is what it appears,” says Darius Anderson and he should know from his 25 plus years traveling to that fascinating island. From January 19-March 24, 2013, Anderson’s passion for Cuba will be reflected in a new exhibit coming to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (www.svma.org). Revolutionary Island: Tales of Cuban History and Culture The Sarah and Darius Anderson Collection.

“A culture is expressed through its art,” said Kate Eilertsen, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. “The works in this exhibition provide a profound and realistic assessment of revolutionary to present-day Cuba. Some of the works are powerfully moving, like a series of near life-sized paintings of everyday Cuban people doing everyday things, but all under water. The impact comes when you find that every one of these people of all ages—men, women, even children—have died attempting to cross over by sea to Florida. This personalizes an ongoing tragedy still relevant today.”

The Sarah and Darius Anderson Collection demonstrates that passion with objects as diverse as paintings, sculpture, humidors and more. Through this dynamic and diverse collection viewers will see not only art work illustrating the desire to express non-conformity, or even a sly, knowing wink to the savvy viewer, but also the passion for baseball, love of tobacco and a collection of historic documents that will illustrate the stories that make up the culture and history of this island of revolution. This exhibition will feature Cuban artists: Rene Francisco, Esterio Segura, Ruben Alpizar, Carlos Valera (musician) and many more.

With more than 1,000 members, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) is the largest visual arts organization in the San Francisco North Bay region. It was incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote the creation, exhibition, and collection of fine arts, to provide a venue for art exhibition in Sonoma, and to offer educational opportunities for people of all ages. It occupies an 8,000-square-foot space at 551 Broadway, just one-half block south of the historic Sonoma Plaza. The Museum purchased the building in early 2001, and completed extensive renovations in March 2004.

Darius Anderson’s Cuban Connection

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art to exhibit North Bay business insider’s unique collection of Cuban visual arts, opening January 19, 2013

www.svma.org

17 January 2013 – Sonoma, CA: North Bay business leader Darius Anderson is already widely known for his world-class collection of Jack London manuscripts, first editions and memorabilia. So it is little surprise that it was Sonoma Country’s favorite son that led Anderson to his other collecting passion—for art and artifacts from the island nation of Cuba.

An exhibit of Anderson’s Cuban collection, Revolutionary Island: Tales of Cuban History and Culture, The Sarah and Darius Anderson Collection, opens January 19 at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) in Sonoma CA.

Anderson is the well-connected consultant, lobbyist and investor whose Sonoma Media Investments group recently acquired The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat and other regional media properties. He is also CEO of Kenwood Investments, a venture fund focused on California development projects, and of Platinum Advisors, a public affairs advisory firm.

Already an avid fan of Jack London adventures at age 16, “I learned that Jack had traveled to Cuba on his honeymoon in 1905,” Anderson recalled. London’s widow Charmian described the couple’s travels in Jamaica and Cuba in her 1921 memoir. “I told myself that one day, I too would visit that exotic place,” Anderson said.

His first visit was love at first sight. “There was a sweetness to the air that enticed me like dark chocolate,” he said, the same sweetness that has drawn him back more than 50 times since. Over the course of years, his fascination grew for the cultural and artistic expressions of the Cuban people in the face of momentous historical events.

From the Spanish-American War in London’s time, to pre-Revolutionary offshore vice capital, to the Cold War hot spot of Anderson’s youth, to the ongoing economic isolation of the present day, “this little island’s impact on the world has been historic,” Anderson says.

How could a small island with a population of just 11 million have such an outsized world impact? Anderson believes the answer lies in the essential cultural character of the Cuban people, combining tolerance and passion that expresses itself in Cuban visual arts across historical periods.

The wide-ranging collection includes graphic and fine arts from the pre-Revolutionary period to the present. Featured themes include commercial arts from Cuba’s native tobacco and rum industries; political poster art from the Cuban Revolution; and contemporary fine art that speaks to Cuba’s unique world role. A timeline of Cuban political and cultural history, illustrated with artifacts, contextualizes the visual art displays.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to present this important body of works by a prominent local collector. Darius embodies the qualities of vision, enthusiasm, and community involvement that are essential to the work of any important art collector,” said SVMA director Kate Eilertsen.

Anderson acknowledges that his fascination with Cuban art and culture was fed in part by its forbidden nature. The U.S. government has restricted its citizens from travel to Cuba since 1960, part of a program of economic embargo that Anderson regards as Washington’s “greatest international policy failure.”

In addition to his admiration for the Cuban people, Anderson credits family members for inspiring the collection. He honors his parents for teaching him to find beauty in people and places and his wife Sarah for supporting his passion for collecting Cuban art.

With more than 1,000 members, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) is the largest visual arts organization in the San Francisco North Bay region. It was incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote the creation, exhibition, and collection of fine arts, to provide a venue for art exhibition in Sonoma, and to offer educational opportunities for people of all ages. It occupies an 8,000-square-foot space at 551 Broadway, just one-half block south of the historic Sonoma Plaza. The Museum purchased the building in early 2001, and completed extensive renovations in March 2004.

A special members’ preview will be held Friday, January 18 at 6 pm. Special programs and events will be held throughout the exhibition. The exhibition will open to the public Saturday, January 19, 2013. Museum hours are Wednesday–Sunday from 11am to 5pm. More information about the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is available at www.svma.org or by calling (707) 939-7862.

Visit www.jacklondoncollection.com for more information about The Jack London Collection by Sarah & Darius Anderson.

TV Listing. December 2012 – January 2013

Ten Percent — LGBT-TV for Northern California

Mondays – Fridays, 11:30am & 10:30pm and Saturdays & Sundays at 10:30pm on Comcast Hometown Network Channel 104 in Northern California.

www.comcasthometown.com

Episode # 169
Monday — Friday, December 17 – 21, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, December 22 – 23, 10:30pm

David Perry interviews Matthew Bajko, political columnist for The Bay Area Reporter. Perry also chats with Lisa Geduldig about the 20th anniversary of her annual holiday show, Kung Pao Kosher Comedy.

Episode # 170
Monday — Friday, December 24 -28, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, December 29 – 30, 10:30pm

David Perry interviews iconic singer and “disco diva” Martha Wash, recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from San Francisco’s AIDS Emergency Fund.

Episode # 171
Monday — Friday, December 31 – January 4, 2013, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, January 5 – 6, 10:30pm

DDavid Perry interviews writer Angus Whyte who reads from his upcoming book. Perry also talks to Fred Finkelstein about his documentary I’m Just Like You: Children With Psoriasis.

Episode # 172
Monday — Friday, January 7 – 11, 11:30 am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, January 12 – 13, 10:30pm

David Perry chats with Joe Wolosz, co-owner of Gentleman Farmer Wines. Perry also speaks with Todd Trexler, a poster artist whose iconic works feature such legends as Sylvester and Divine.

Episode # 173
Monday — Friday, January 14 – 18, 11:30am & 10:30pm
Saturday & Sunday, January 19 – 20 10:30pm

David Perry interviews Martin Rawlings-Fein, organizer for the Bay Area Bisexual Network. Perry also talks with Bay Area special events guru Andrew Freeman.

Ten Percent is also available 24/7 through the “On Demand” Feature through your Comcast Cable Network. Choose “Get Local” and “Comcast Hometown” to access Ten Percent. Past shows may also be viewed online at www.comcasthometown.com.

Become a fan on Facebook: 10 Percent on Facebook

About 10 Percent

Comcast Hometown Network (CHN), Comcast’s regional cable network covering Northern and Central California, continues its commitment to quality original programming with Ten Percent, a weekly interview series that focuses on lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LGBT) issues. The half-hour show, created and hosted by long-time San Francisco media professional David Perry, airs on Channel 104, Mondays – Thursdays at 11:30am & 8pm and is available to all Comcast digital cable customers throughout Northern and Central California. Each episode will then be available online at www.comcasthometown.com as well as on Comcast’s popular ON DEMAND platform, which is free to Comcast digital customers. To view Ten Percent ON DEMAND, Comcast Digital Cable customers can tune to Channel 1 on their Digital Cable lineup or press the ON DEMAND button on their remote control, then click on the “Get Local” section, then click on “Comcast Hometown.”

“I jokingly call the show ‘Charlie Rose for the LGBT world,” said David Perry, Producer/Host of Ten Percent. “We may be only ten percent of the general population, in round numbers, but our issues are one hundred percent front-and-center in today’s world. Whether it’s the fight for marriage equality or debates about gay clergy or the right to serve openly in uniform, our issues are reflective of the world at large.”

“David has a well-known and unique voice that bridges many communities,” said Jason Holmes, Executive Producer at Comcast Hometown Network. “David’s talents and the launch of Ten Percent further enhance Comcast’s commitment to our communities and Comcast Hometown Network’s compelling, community-based regional programming,”