Third Coast Film Society Presents, Buena Vista Social Club
Friday, July 30

The Third Coast Film Society at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts continues its monthly film series on Friday, July 30 at 7 p.m. with Buena Vista Social Club.

This documentary, inspired by a Grammy winning album of the same name, depicts legendary Cuban musicians, some in their nineties, who are brought together by Ry Cooder, a guitar legend himself.
Director Wim Wenders travels to Havana, Cuba, to chronicle their camaraderie as well as their sell out concerts in Amsterdam and Carnegie Hall.

The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1999. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary and won numerous awards for best documentary/ foreign film in Germany, Norway, Scotland, and Brazil, as well as winning the LA Film Critics Award, and The NY Film Critics Award. This film is Rated G.

Next month, the Third Coast Film Society will complete screening films about artists. In August the Society screens, Basquiat, about the post-modern African American artist, Jean Michael Basquiat.

Tickets for each film screening are $7 per person at the door. Popcorn and beverages will be available for sale.
Sweet Summer Art Exhibition Continues Through July 31

The exhibition features 50 paintings by 20 area artists in a non-juried show. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Artists were invited to submit work under the broad theme of Sweet Summer. Jenna Sanders of Ludington chose to submit Tulips in Pitcher because, “The first things I think of when I think of summer are red tulips.
They are a sign to me that winter is gone, and I love to pick a vase of them for my house.”

Similarly, Laura Carter chose Umbrellas because, “To me, everybody on the beach represents summer. It’s the only season people can go out and enjoy the warm weather.”

Greetings From…An Exhibition of Postcard-Sized Art
Opening Reception, August 6

Next up in the gallery of the Center is Greetings From… Area artists were invited to submit works of art in any medium, as long as they measure the size of a 4×6 postcard.

All works will be for sale for a set price of $30, with 50% to the artist and 50% to the Center. The show’s opening reception and sale is on Friday, August 6 from 6-8 p.m.

The exhibition runs from Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 21. Gallery hours are noon-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Sweet Summer Celebration’s Sandcastle Contest Rescheduled for
Saturday, July 31 at Stearns Park in Ludington
Ludington, MI: The Sweet Summer Celebration Sandcastles Contest has been rescheduled for
Saturday, July 31, weather permitting. The event was originally scheduled for this past Saturday, July 24, but was cancelled due to rain. The contest, which is sponsored by Sandcastles Children’s Museum in partnership with the Ludington Area Arts Council, runs from 8 to 11 a.m. with registration from 8 to 9 a.m. near
the South Concession Stand at Stearns Park.
The contest is free to enter and offers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize ribbons in each of the following categories: ages 8 and under; ages 9 to 15; ages 16 – adult; and families. Participants should be original in their sandcastle design; use sand and natural materials only; work within the age categories described above; and are encouraged to incorporate lots of detail. Tools may be used to create the sandcastle entry but may not be part of the sculpture. “Sandcastles on the beach is a natural for the Sweet Summer Celebration,” said Mary
Todd, organizer of the contest. “So, when the Ludington Area Arts Council approached Sandcastles Children’s Museum about organizing the contest, I was excited to jump on board and hope to make this an annual event.”
Mary Todd, who is on the board of the Sandcastles Childrens Museum and works on the museum’s exhibits, is passionate about sandcastles. In fact, she has logged 30 years of experience building them or running contests. As co-owner of Whiskey Creek Resort, she ran a sandcastle contest. Todd and her family also participated in Pentwater’s contest, winning first place in the family category for many years.
If you have questions about the Sandcastle Contest, email Mary Todd at
mfmetodd@gmail.com.
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Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer and Guitarist Tim Ellis Kick Off Sweet
Summer Celebration with Epworth Concert on July 21

Ludington, MI: The first annual Sweet Summer Celebration begins on Wednesday, July 21 at
7:30 with a benefit performance by Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer and guitarist Tim Ellis at
Epworth Heights, followed by a sunset reception at the historic Epworth Hotel. Tickets are $10
at the door or in advance at the Epworth office or at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts.
The concert is sponsored by Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan and West Shore
Bank. The Sweet Summer Celebration, a multi-day festival of arts and culture, runs through
July 24 at venues around downtown Ludington. The complete schedule of events and
information is available at sweetludington.org.
“We are delighted to invite the public to experience this musical event in the historic Epworth
Auditorium and to enjoy the sunset over Lake Michigan after the performance,” said Liz
McFadzean of Epworth, which is co-presenting the concert.
Aaron Meyer’s unique brand of music bridges world, contemporary, and progressive rock
and classical genres. A classically trained violinist since age 5, Meyer debuted with the
Philadelphia Orchestra at age 11. Since then, he has soloed with major, international
symphony orchestras and ballet companies, in addition to performing for many world leaders
and dignitaries. Meyer has worked with vastly contrasting artists such as Pink Martini, Smokey
Robinson, Aaron Neville, The Temptations, Leftover Salmon, 2002 Miss America – Katie
Harman, and the platinum record selling band, Everclear.
In addition to being a professional guitarist, Tim Ellis is an award-winning composer, music
producer, and owner of Kung Fu Bakery Recording, one of the Northwest’s premier, music
recording facilities.
Parking for the concert is available at Epworth. Check in at the gate for a pass and parking
instructions. Attendees are invited to enjoy the walk from the Epworth Auditorium to the Hotel
after the concert. Limited shuttles will be available from the parking lots to the Epworth
Auditorium and from the Auditorium to the Epworth Hotel after the concert for those who need it.
For tickets or more information, please call the Epworth office at 845-7898 or the Ludington
Area Center for the Arts at 845-2787.
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Sweet Summer Celebration Continues with Reading and Book Signing by
“With A Cherry On Top” Author, Angela Williams on Saturday, July 24
at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts

LUDINGTON—The Sweet Summer Celebrations continues with a reading a book signing by Angela
Williams, author of “With A Cherry on Top,” a delightful confection of reminiscences, poems, recipes,
facts, and photos about cherries.
The event, which is on Saturday, July 24 from 4-6 p.m. at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts,
is free and open to the public. Copies of the book are on sale in the Center’s new gift shop, which is
open Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5:30 p.m.
Author Angela Williams has worked in the cherry industry since 1997. She studied theatre and
creative writing at Western Michigan University. Poetry is her usual genre, but bridging two parts of
her life became possible with this project. The book also features poetry, memoirs and fiction by other
Michigan writers.
The reading and book signing is part of the new Sweet Summer Celebration, a multi-day festival
of arts and culture, which will be held from Wednesday, July 21 through Saturday, July 24 at venues
around downtown Ludington. More information about the Sweet Summer Celebration is available at
www.sweetludington.org.
The Center is at 107 S. Harrison in the historic former home of the United Methodist Church in
downtown Ludington. Parking for Center events is available in the public lot south of the Center at the
corner of Harrison and Loomis streets.

Show Off Your Talent at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts on July 22
Do you have an unusual, spectacular or funny talent to show off? As part of the Sweet
Summer Celebration, the Ludington Area Center for the Arts is holding a Variety Talent Show
for all ages on Thursday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. The performances will be followed by an Ice
Cream Social sponsored by House of Flavors Ice Cream.
Whether amateur or professional, any family-friendly talent is acceptable. Auditions for
the Sweet Summer Celebration Variety Talent Show are July 15 & 16 from 6 – 8PM. The
deadline for registration is July 13 at 5PM. The Show is limited to twenty acts of no more than
three minutes. Acts will be critiqued by a panel of judges, and prizes will be awarded in various
categories. Registration forms are available online at www.sweetludington.org.
The Variety Talent Show is part of the Sweet Summer Celebration, a multi-day festival of
arts and culture, which will be held from Wednesday, July 21 through Saturday, July 24 at
venues around downtown Ludington. For more information, go to sweetludington.org or the
Ludington Area Center for the Arts at 231-845-2787.
The Center is at 107 S. Harrison in the historic former home of the United Methodist
Church in downtown Ludington. Parking for Center events is available in the public lot south of
the Center at the corner of Harrison and Loomis streets.

MASON COUNTY DISTRICT LIBRARY JUST IMAGINE SCIENCE CAMP

Young scientists are invited to ‘Just Imagine’ Science Camp at the Mason County District Library, 217 East Ludington Avenue in Ludington. Monday, July 12, 10:00 am to noon is Pond Scum at Ludington State Park! Monday, July 19, 10:00 am to noon is Outer Space, with a real Planetarium right here in the library! And Monday, July 26, 10:00 am to noon is Cool Concoctions, where we will be making flavored lip gloss and homemade soda pop. Space is limited for this program, and registration is REQUIRED. Students entering 3rd through 6th grades next fall may register at the library. This program is free of charge. Registration forms are available at the Mason County District Libraries in Ludington and Scottville. This event is made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Ludington Library.

STARLAB PLANETARIUM AT MASON COUNTY DISTRICT LIBRARY

Explore the wonders of the night skies at your library! The Starlab Planetarium will be at the Mason County District Library in Ludington Monday, July 19. Shows will run continuously from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Shows include “The Sky in Your Eyes”, with sky orientation, what you can see in tonight’s sky, meteorites, constellations, and when you can see them. In “The Planets”, audience members will explore planet names and myths, learn which planets are visible, and who discovered them. “Men, Myths and Monsters of the Summer and Fall Skies” features traditional Greek and Roman stories about the sky, constellations and stars. These and other planetarium shows are offered for FREE at your library Monday, July 19. Children under age 8 MUST be accompanied by an adult. This planetarium visit is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the Ludington Library.