BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – ArtsBridge, a celebration of the arts in our neighborhood, will present a Collage Concert and Exhibit at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church, 475 Green Avenue on Morton Hill in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

The program will feature jazz pianist, Ivan Akansiima, All God’s Children Community Choir, and functional ceramics by Anthony Schaller and Michelle Witzel will be on exhibit and for sale.

Minister of First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Laurie Hartzell, praises ArtBridge’s ability to bring people together.

“In a community that is often known for its racial and socio-economic divisions, ArtsBridge provides a safe space where people can come together through the creative and performing arts. There is incredible talent throughout our community—what a joy to share in it together,” he said.

 

Ivan Akansiima

Akansllma is a naturally gifted, multi-talented, self-taught musician (piano, bass, acoustic guitar, drums) from Uganda, East Africa, currently living in South Haven. He began playing music at age 7 as a drummer for his church in his hometown of Jinja.

Ivan’s growth and experience as a musician has come from 18-plus years of playing and performing as an accompanist and solo act in churches, concert halls, music festivals, parties, jazz clubs, events, art centers and schools in more than 40 countries. It was during a tour with Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa that Ivan became acquainted with South Haven.

Akansiima’s first musical influences were African indigenous drum rhythms from his ancestral music roots of banyoro and basoga, in his mid-teenage years, Ivan was introduced to western music through local radio stations playing R&B, rock, ballads, soul, pop, Afro-folk, and gospel. His cousin had a collection of black gospel jazz albums by artists such as Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, John P. Kee, Fred Hammond, Commissioned, Take 6 and Hezekiah Walker. Listening to these albums improved Akansiima’s drumming skills and musicianship in the late 90s. Then in the early 2000s, a friend made a compilation CD of Bebop jazz artists (Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Pat Martino, Bud Powell, Joe Pass, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson) that Ivan passionately loved and devoured diligently for hours each day.

He focused on learning and understanding jazz and its various styles. Ivan is currently a music student and bandleader of the Tri-tones jazz trio at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, where he is earning his music associates degree with plans to pursue advanced studies in jazz performance.

 

The All God’s Children Community Choir

This multiracial, multicultural group of talented and enthusiastic children and teens, ages 5 to 18, draws from many different communities in Southwest Michigan. Led by a multiethnic team of directors, the Choir is now in its 15th year, inspiring audiences with its messages of brotherhood and sisterhood, unity, friendship peace and respect for all people. In addition to the full choir, the older members of All God’s Children (12 through 18) are organized into a Teen Ensemble, which performs as a separate group and together with the younger children.

Since the Choir’s initial appearance at the Race Relations Council Awards Program in 2001, All God’s Children has performed on more than 100 occasions. These special events have included performances at Lake Michigan College and Andrews University to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Also, they have performed a special Habitat for Humanity concert for former President Jimmy Carter and concerts in Grand Rapids and Traverse City for state and national teachers’ conferences, along with joint appearances with the Chicago Children’s Choir in Michigan and Chicago, a Holiday Traditions concert with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera star Angela Brown and a 2014 Martin Luther King day concert at Navy Pier in Chicago. They have shared performances with renowned professional musicians Tom Chapin, Josh White, Jr., Gemini, LaRon Williams, Nikki Harris, Peter Yarrow, and Pamela Chappell (with whom All God’s Children recorded an award-winning CD).

In 2013, the choir released its own CD, titled All God’s Children, with a special guest appearance by Pamela Chappell. The All God’s Children Community Choir is led by its Co-Founders and Coordinators Sandy and Larry Feldman and Directors Hursel Cole, Corey Hampton, Stephanie Ng, and Kortney Moore.

 

Anthony Schaller

Schaller is the owner of Schaller Gallery at 210 State Street in St. Joseph, which represents internationally recognized ceramic makers and is considered one of the top functional ceramic galleries in the nation. Schaller obtained a Bachelor of Science in Fine/Studio Arts from Andrews University. He also received ceramic training from three Minnesota St. Croix Valley artists — Jeff Oestreich, Linda Christianson, and Warren Mackenzie.

In addition to his gallery, Schaller has a studio at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph that is focused on functional ceramics, and implements many locally sourced natural and experimental materials. His work displays a love for edge and line with aesthetic values coming from historical ceramics. Schaller’s ceramics are on display and for sale in his studio and gallery and he has also worked as a curator and associate professor.

Currently, he is developing a plan to implement a professional development program to help others achieve their goals in the arts. Furthermore, he continues to present workshops, lectures, critiques, and discussions at universities and art centers across North America and abroad. In February, he consulted and critiqued at the Craft Alliance Expo in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In May, Schaller will travel to Tall Hisban, an archeological site in Jordan, where he will be responsible for developing a pottery workshop and education program.

Schaller also plans to participate in the International Chawan Expo in Belgium this year. The expo is an exhibition featuring the worlds top tea bowl (chawan) makers. It starts off at the Museum of Ceramics in Andenne, Belgium and then travels to eight other museums on three continents.

“I am pretty excited about this one,” Schaller said.

 

Michelle Witzel

Witzel grew up in Berrien Springs, Michigan and went to Andrews University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics. She has been working in ceramics for nearly 20 years. Her primarily porcelain work is strongly influenced by the Danish and Scandinavian minimalist modern movements. She has a studio at the Box Factory for the Arts right next door to her husband, Anthony Schaller’s, studio. Michelle’s ceramics are on display and for sale at her studio at the Box Factory and the Schaller Gallery. Michelle travels with her husband to his presentations when she can.

Admission is free and donations are accepted. For more information, call (269) 925-7075 or visit on Facebook: First Presbyterian Church in Benton Harbor.