By Jaime Fuller
As we all know, this year there will be no da Vinci Days Festival. The event supposedly needs some rejuvenating, some remodeling, in order to bring in sufficient crowds and revenue.
In response to this need, Tinamarie Ivey, executive director of the Majestic Theatre, came up with the idea that the Majestic Theatre could host a week of da Vinci-themed workshops as a fundraiser for the festival. She collaborated with Mike Dalton, executive director of da Vinci Days, and Kate Feldman, board member of the Majestic, to give us a taste of what we normally see at the festival dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci.
“We’re trying to cram as much as we can into this little venue,” said Ivey. The workshops are geared toward children and youth and will offer similar experiences as da Vinci Days, but on a smaller scale. Parents are welcome to attend as well. Workshops include “Multi-Cultural Hand Prints Mural,” “Space Alien Life Support Hats,” “Dichotomous Key Charts,” and “Sound Maps.”
In the evenings there will be events for adults that appeal to the wide variety of tastes in Corvallis. The first two nights will feature several keynote speakers. Dr. Kim Anderson and Dr. Steven O’Connell will discuss “Silicone Wristbands to Monitor Personal Exposure to Chemicals,” followed by “Let’s Talk Real About Nanotechnology and Its Impact on Society” presented by Dr. Stacey Harper, Josephine Bonventre, and Alicea Clendaniel. Wednesday night will provide an exploration of “The Art of Science,” presented by the Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry.
The final evenings will showcase two contrasting concerts to make sure everyone in our community feels served. The Sound and the Fury, a trio of composers who excel at cello, violin, and piano, will appeal to those who have a soft spot for instrumentals. The Belly Full of Bob Benefit Concert, a tribute to Bob Marley and the Wailers, should garner the rest of the population…or at least a different contingent of personalities. The tribute will feature members of Audiophilia, Xenat-Ra, Space Neighbors, Eleven Eyes, Different Feeder, Stairway Denied, and Blookie.
Da Vinci Days is something the community loves, and this is a way to keep it alive in people’s minds. Everyone who attends this event is helping the cause. Performers and personnel are all donating their time. At its heart, this is an effort to demonstrate support for da Vinci Days.
Da Vinci Days Youth Workshops will take place from noon to 3 p.m. every day from Tuesday, July 15 through Friday, July 18. A $5 donation is suggested for each. Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16 will feature keynote speakers at 7:30 p.m. The Sound and the Fury will perform on Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. with tickets running $20 to $25. The Belly Full of Bob Benefit Concert will be held on Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. with tickets ranging from $10 to $15. Don’t forget the Graand Kinetic Challenge, Saturday July 19 & Sunday, July 20 at Benton County Fairgrounds.