The arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! L/A Arts is calling all to artists to submit for Art Walk Lewiston Auburn 2013. If you, or someone you know, is the perfect candidate to showcase at Art Walk Lewiston Auburn then submit your work for the Art Walk. To submit your work visit www.artwalklewistonauburn.com and follow the submission guidelines. Looking to reserve gallery space for a future Art Walk? L/A Arts is currently accepting requests to reserve space for the June, July, August and September Art Walk events. To reserve your space today, please email [email protected]. In the subject line list your full name, and the month you wish to exhibit (i.e. John Doe July Art Walk). In the body of your email please include your phone number, estimated number of work to be presented, and two sample jpeg images of your work. Typically, a “display” consists of a single artist’s work (or works by an established collective of artists). Artists are able to submit as few as one piece of work to exhibit and as many as fifteen. The display remains hung for approx. 2-5 weeks, depending on venue. Artwork scheduled for display should be available during the length of the exhibit. All media will be considered for display, including photography, paintings, sculpture, and jewelry. We are additionally, seeking submissions of ideas for site specific installation art in window fronts and office spaces. Artwork on display may be for sale to the public. L/A Arts is the only point of contact for all art sales related to Art Walk Lewiston Auburn displays (unless presented through an independent Art Walk venue). Art Walk Lewiston Auburn receives a 20% commission on all artwork sold during the display process. To facilitate more submissions from local artists, L/A Arts is eliminating the $10 artist submission fee. Submitting artists please note that L/A Arts retain the right to deny work they deem unsuitable or inappropriate for Art Walk Lewiston Auburn. For more information, or any questions or suggestions regarding Art Walk Lewiston Auburn or accompanying events/performances, please email [email protected] or call L/A Arts office at 782-7228.

For over forty years, the voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo have married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience representing every corner of the religious, cultural and ethnic landscape. Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s musical efforts over the past four decades have garnered praise and accolades within the recording industry, but also solidified their identity as a cultural force to be reckoned with.

For one night only, Ladysmith Black Mambazo will grace the stage during L/A Arts MainStage performance series July 2 at 7:30PM. The performance will take place at the Bates Chapel, 275 College St. Lewiston. Tickets to see this outstanding group live are $27 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Purchase your tickets today by calling the L/A Arts box office at 782-7228 or online.

Buy Tickets

Assembled in the early 1960s, in Durban South Africa, by Joseph Shabalala (still currently leading the group) – then a young farmboy turned factory worker –Joseph took the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Ladysmith being the name of Shabalala’s rural hometown; Black being a reference to oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo being the Zulu word for axe, a symbol of the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them. Their collective voices were so tight and their harmonies so polished that they were eventually banned from competitions – although they were welcomed to participate strictly as entertainers.

A radio broadcast in 1970 opened the door to their first record contract – the beginning of an ambitious discography that currently includes more than fifty recordings. Their philosophy in the studio was – and continues to be – just as much about preservation of musical heritage as it is about entertainment. The group borrows heavily from a traditional music called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), which developed in the mines of South Africa.

In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon visited South Africa and incorporated Black Mambazo’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his Graceland album – a landmark 1986 recording that was considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences. “Graceland” one many awards including the Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year. A year later, Simon produced Black Mambazo’s first U.S. release, Shaka Zulu, which won the Grammy Award, in 1988, for Best Traditional Folk Album. Since then, and in total, the group has received fifteen Grammy Award Nominations and three Grammy Award wins, including one in 2009.

In addition to their work with Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper and many others. Their 2006 CD, “Long Walk To Freedom” had guest singers join them, such as Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal and others.

Their film work includes an appearance in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker video and Spike Lee’s Do It A Cappella. They provided soundtrack material for Disney’s The Lion King, Part II as well as Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, Marlon Brando’s A Dry White Season, Sean Connery’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and James Earl Jones’ Cry The Beloved Country. A film documentary titled On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, the story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated for an Academy Award. Their performance with Paul Simon on Sesame Street is legendary and is one of the top three requested Sesame Street segments in history.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been invited to perform at many special occasions. By special invitation from South African President Nelson Mandela, they performed for the Queen of England and the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The group has also performed at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a concert for Pope John Paul II in Rome, the South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics and many other special events. In the summer of 2002, Black Mambazo was again asked to represent their nation in London at a celebration for Queen Elizabeth’s 50th Anniversary as Monarch. They shared the stage with Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and Phil Collins.