As the California State University Summer Arts program continues at Fresno State, we envision this Beehive post as a place for news, recommendations, reader reviews, gripes, background information -- anything related to the program. You can leave a comment here or send an email.

FRIDAY July 25

• We made it. After more than 40 public events, all sorts of free culminations, hundreds of hard-working students, a bevy of world-class guest artists -- another CSU Summer Arts comes to a close. Today is your last chance to get a taste of this popular festival with the final round of student performances. (And they're all free!) I'd get there REALLY early for the Steppenwolf culmination -- the theater is small and the show, Lanford Wilson's "Balm in Gilead," is powerful. (I saw it the last time Steppenwolf came to Summer Arts.) Here's a list of culminations:
• Memoir writing, 1 p.m., Conley Lecture Hall
• Film post production, 3 p.m., Conley Lecture Hall
• Music composition, 4:30 p.m., Concert Hall
• Flamenco guitar, 6 p.m., Concert Hall
• Animation, 7 p.m., Lyles Gallery
• Clown performance, 7:30 p.m., John Wright Theatre
• Steppenwolf Theatre, 8:30 p.m., Woods Theatre

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Previous bulletin-board entries:

THURSDAY July 24

• Hard to believe there's only two days of Summer Arts left. Tonight, the guest-artist component of the program concludes with a memoir reading by William T. Vollmann, winner of the 2005 National Book Award for "Europe Central." (8 p.m., Wahlberg Recital Hall)
• Student culminations kick off tonight with the first part of the "Writing the Memoir" course. Students will read from memoir narratives created during the workshop. (6:30 p.m., Conley Lecture Hall)

WEDNESDAY July 23

Tonight the public event is flamenco guitarist Ricardo Marlow, a Washington, D.C.-based musician who has performed with Arte Flamenco Dance Company in such venues as the Kennedy Center. You can check out his Web site here. (7 p.m., Concert Hall)
At last night's packed performance of the Kronos Quartet, the program was eclectic, challenging and beautifully played. Read my impressions here.

TUESDAY July 22

• Tonight there are two public events. Carole Maso, the author of several novels, will give a memoir reading. From her bio: Maso is the award-winning author of "Ghost Dance," "The Art Lover," "The American Woman in the Chinese Hat," "AVA," "Defiance," "Aureole" (a book of short fictions), "Break Every Rule" (essays), "The Room Lit by Roses" (a journal of pregnancy and birth), and "Beauty is Convulsive: The Passion of Frida Kahlo." She is the recipient of many awards, including a Lannan Fellowship. She teaches literary arts at Brown University. (6:30 pm, Conley Lecture Hall)
• And following that presentation, the famed Kronos Quartet -- the ground-breaking chamber music ensemble that appears in the world's most prestigious concert halls, clubs and festivals -- settles in for an intimate Fresno State appearance. (8 p.m., John Wright Theatre)

MONDAY July 21

• No public performances today.
• Check out my account of David Shiner's memorable clown performance on Saturday at the John Wright Theatre -- including associate dean Joe Diaz's brush with stage glory.
• Felicia Matlosz attended the much-anticipated lecture by Gary Sinise. Read her account here.

SATURDAY July 19

• This last full weekend of Summer Arts is a busy one indeed. On Saturday night, David Shiner will present a clown/theatre performance. As I told Heather for inclusion in her weekend roundup, Shiner is one of the world's leading clowns. He started out as a street mime in Paris and performed with various European circuses. He's also been prominent on Broadway: He played the Cat in the Hat in "Seussical" and directed the touring production of "KOOZA" for Cirque du Soleil. I know that some people have issues with clowns and mimes, but I've heard great things about Shiner -- this is on a whole different level than that scary clown who tried to make you laugh at your fourth birthday party. (7 p.m. Saturday, John Wright Theatre)
• On Sunday afternoon, composer Howard Frazin will give a music composition lecture. From his bio: "Frazin is President of Composers in Red Sneakers, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based composer’s collective. His recent commissions include working with the Boston Classical Orchestra and the Wellesley Symphony, among others." You can check out his Web site here. (2 p.m. Sunday, Conley Lecture Hall)
• On Sunday evening, one of the big names to hit Summer Arts will give a theater lecture: Gary Sinise. Felicia Matlosz plans to attend this event. As she told Heather: Most people think of him as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump" or in his current role as the star of "CSI:NY." But he's also a respected stage actor and co-founder of the prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre Company. I'm really looking forward to his reflections on life as an actor. (7 p.m. Sunday, John Wright Theatre)

FRIDAY July 18

• If new music is your thing, you won't want to miss tonight's concert featuring Stefan Poetzsch and Guy Livingston. From their bios: Poetzsch is a German violinist, violist, and composer who "specializes in the electronic manipulation of acoustic sounds and in improvisation. He performs around the world with a variety of different performing ensembles. He also writes experimental works with other artists, including dancers, actors, and painters." Livingston is a Paris-based pianist and producer "who is one of the foremost performers and promoters of George Antheil’s music today. In addition to his performing schedule, he is also a contributor to the Amsterdam Weekly, and is creating a new radio show to highlight the latest in modern music." (7 p.m., Concert Hall)
• On Thursday, Felicia Matlosz was able to catch the glass-sculpture lecture by Therman Statom. (Felicia is becoming a glass-art groupie after writing several stories on the subject, so she was particularly looking forward to this lecture. She'll post her impressions later this afternoon.) The other performance was flamenco singer and composer Jesus Montoya. Did anyone see his show? Let us know what you thought.

THURSDAY July 17

• There are two public Summer Arts events today. The first is a lecture by prominent glass artist Therman Statom. From his bio: "Statom is an artist and educator known for his large-scale installations and public art commissions in painted glass and mixed media. He has built a career, plundering the notion that glass is necessarily pristine and decorative. His large-scale painted glass installations celebrate concepts of control and recklessness." (6:30 p.m. Conley Lecture Hall)
• Afterward, the flamenco guitar celebration continues with a concert by Spanish singer Jesus Montoya. From his bio: Known as "The Gypsy Dynamo" and the "Pavarotti of Flamenco," Mr. Montoya has toured tirelessly with most every major flamenco company throughout the United States and Canada. (8 p.m., Concert Hall)

WEDNESDAY July 16

• Tonight the public-event focus is on memoir writing. Fresno State faculty member Steven Church's first book, "The Guinness Book of Me: a Memoir of Record," was released in 2005 by Simon & Schuster. Born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Church earned his BA in philosophy and his MFA in Creative Writing. He has also worked as a fry cook, a tour guide, a Bobcat operator, a maintenance man, a housepainter, a barista, a conflict mediator, an academic adviser, and a teacher. (7 p.m., Fresno Art Museum)
• I wasn't able to make it last night to Charles Zembillas' animation lecture, but it sure sounded interesting. Can anyone who was there fill us in?

TUESDAY July 15

• The focus tonight is on animation, with a public lecture by Charles Zembillas, a character designer, animator, and art director for many animated television shows. He is also a teacher at his own studio, The Animation Academy, and a professor at CSU Northridge. (7 p.m., Conley Lecture Hall)
• Most of the Summer Arts students live in the Fresno State dorms on campus. On the front page of The Bee today, reporter Doug Hoagland has a story about the trend for visitors to stay in the dorms. One of the people he writes about is Jim Thomas of Huntington Beach, who was a student in last session's digital photography class.
• Monday night's documentary film lecture, which focused on a half-finished project titled "Ars Medicina," was an interesting chance to witness the creative process at work. You can read my impressions of the evening here.

MONDAY July 14

• Tonight the focus is on documentary film. "Ars Medicina" is a new documentary from Bklyn2LA productions and MEDiA OFFLiNE. Working with HELPS International, "Ars Medicina" follows several Los Angeles-based doctors and surgeons as they undertake a journey of personal discovery and compassion in rural Guatemala. For one week the medical teams set up a surgical camp in Solola, Guatemala, a breathtakingly beautiful but distressingly poor community. The medical teams work around the clock for five days in an effort to help the hundreds of people who come for free medical aid. (7 p.m., Conley Lecture Hall). The evening's presentation isn't just a film screening. Offering commentary will be Alan Jacobs, editor; Michael Berlin, executive Producer; and Erin Henning, cameraman. This event is about the process of editing 60 hours of footage into a feature length documentary.
• Sunday night's Juan and Juani Serrano concert at the Tower Theatre was packed, reports special guest Beehive critic Blake Jones. Read his impressions here.

SATURDAY July 12

• It's goodbye day for Summer Arts students ending the first two-week session, so there are no public performances. We know that last day of summer camp can be poignant and sad: Just think of all those intense relationships and bonding experiences cemented over the last couple of weeks. (Overheard in the corridors of Summer Arts on Friday: one romantically distressed woman saying to a friend: "If he's leaving me, he can take this pain with him, because it's his.") You get the idea.
• I got the chance to attend the Gospel Music culmination Friday night, and as you'd expect, the student choir and gospel icon Edwin Hawkins raised the roof. The professional band was superb, and the addition of Edwin's preacher brother, Walter, ratcheted up the energy level even more. I can't get "Oh Happy Day" out of my head, and that's a good thing.
• After this one-day break, it all starts again on Sunday with the opening of the second two-week session. Many scenes will be repeated: students arriving on campus and tentatively venturing out to meet their classmates for the first time, guest artists getting acquainted, excitement in the air. Over the next two intense weeks the bonding process will once again get crazy. For the public, the big-deal event will be a concert by flamenco guitar master Juan Serrano and his son, Juani Serrano (7 p.m., Tower Theatre.)

FRIDAY July 11

The big day is here: For almost two weeks now, Summer Arts students have been feverishly preparing for their final projects/performances to be unveiled at the program's traditional culminations. These free events are often an opportunity to see a wealth of artistic talent on display. It'll make you feel good to know that passion for the arts is alive and well. Here's the schedule:

• Digital photography: 1 p.m., Conley Art Gallery
• Short Film and the Film Actor: 1 p.m., TV Studio
• Spoken Word Performance: 2 p.m., Conley Lecture Hall; 4 p.m., around the campus
• Screenwriting: 3 p.m., TV Studio
• Dance: 5:30 p.m., John Wright Theatre
• Gospel Singing and Conducting: 7 p.m., Concert Hall
• Steppenwolf Theatre: 8:30 p.m., Dennis and Cheryl Woods Arena Theatre

In today's 7 section, I have a short piece on the digital photography class. Here are some photo tips from students I talked to in the class.

THURSDAY July 10

• There are no public performances planned for today. Summer Arts students and guest artists are busily preparing for the whirlwind of student culminations that begin at 1 p.m. Friday and continue well into the evening.
• On Wednesday night, an interesting panel discussion on "Surviving Hollywood" offered advice to aspiring screnwriters and actors. You can read my recap here.

WEDNESDAY July 9

• The focus tonight is on the Short Film and Film Actor workshops. A panel of Hollywood writers and producers will discuss how "one navigates the media machine known as Hollywood." The program says the topics will be of interest to a variety of people, from the working professional to the person who has a casual interest in understanding the inner workings of the media business. (7 p.m., Wahlberg Recital Hall). UPDATE: Michael Berlin will not be a panelist because he will be leaving for L.A. today to attend a funeral. Michael will be replaced by Robert Thissen. Robert is an industry filmmaker and former Summer Arts student who recently won a Sundance Channel and Sci Fi Channel Film contest. He has also worked on the television show Battlestar Galactica. You can see some of his winning film at www.scifi.com/exposure and www.sundancechannel.com/exposure.
• Tuesday's event, featuring spoken-word performance artists Kimberly Dark and Alix Olson, was a rousing affair that truly heated up Wahlberg. (Or was that just the fact that it was, like, 150 degrees outside?) My review is here.
• On Tuesday, I spent a couple of hours talking with students in the digital photography class. (I'll have a story in Friday's 7 section.) Afterward, I got to drop by the gospel-music class rehearsal and listen to guest artist Edwin Hawkins (famed for "Oh Happy Day") work his magic with the choir. Hawkins told me afterward that his brother, Walter, is coming Friday to appear with him at the student culmination. I always tell people, by the way, that the Summer Arts culminations are the best deals in town: They're free and often fabulous.
• We're getting down to the home stretch of the first two-week session of Summer Arts, and students are feverishly preparing their final projects and performances for Friday's culminations. I'm betting that the midnight oil will be burning in some of those Summer Arts dorm rooms.

TUESDAY July 8

• Poetry is a big deal at this session of Summer Arts, and tonight is your chance to experience two dynamic women known for arts and activism. Alix Olson is an internationally touring folk poet and progressive queer artist-activist. Kimberly Dark is an internationally touring performance artist, poet and storyteller whose work focues on women's lives, queer lives and justice for all. Together they should make quite a show. (7 p.m., Wahlberg Recital Hall)
• On Monday night, I dropped by the CSU Summer Arts Guest Artist Dinner, which was held at the dramatic Tollhouse home of artist (and former Fresno State faculty member) Bill Minschew. You've probably seen this house, which sits atop a hill, as you've driven along Highway 168. Minschew built and landscaped the place by himself, from the elaborate stonemasonry gardens and separate artist studio to a vast lawn shaded by a canopy of trees. (Good thing there was some shade, because it was HOT up there at 6 p.m.) The views are dramatic, and the extra smoke in the air from the fires made the sunset that much more dramatic. You feel as if you've just dropped into the rolling hills of Tuscany. The guest list included such Fresno State movers and shakers as President John Welty and Dr. Vida Samiian, dean of Fresno State's College of Arts and Humanities; Summer Arts director Jim Spalding; and prominent members of Fresno's philanthropic and arts community, including Kaye Cummings and Polly Brewer. Most impressive was the concentration of all those guest artists in one place -- now that's a lot of talent. For the shuttle ride down to the parking lot, I got to ride with members of the Urban Bush Women dance company, whose performance last week I loved. What a great way to top off the evening.

MONDAY July 7

• My colleague Felicia gets the award for Summer Arts weekend warrior after attending the Friday performance of gospel musician James Hall (read her review here) and the Saturday performance of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's "An Evening of Saroyan" (read her review here).
• On Sunday, PhotoShop expert Tim Grey spoke at the Fresno Art Museum in front of a near sell-out crowd. You can check out my impressions here.
• At that Tim Grey lecture, program director Jim Spalding noted the exceptional attendance for public events so far for Summer Arts: Out of seven performances, five have been sell-outs and two have been "very close."
• Tonight, there are no public events planned. There will be an invitation-only reception for artists and Summer Arts supporters at the dramatic Tollhouse studio/home of Bill Minschew. This should be a nice break for the hard-working Summer Arts faculty -- no students for a few hours! -- and an impressive gathering of creative talent under one roof.
• On Tuesday, poetry takes center stage at Summer Arts with a performance by Alix Olson and Kimberly Dark. (7 p.m., Wahlberg Recital Hall). More on that tomorrow.
• Program feedback: Both Felicia and I love the glossy Summer Arts program (along with that insert directing people to the Beehive for Summer Arts coverage), but we'd have also loved a list of performers for the James Hall concert and Steppenwolf performance. If it isn't feasible to print the material, a placard in the lobby (like they do at Broadway shows and for touring shows at the Saroyan) would be peachy.

THURSDAY July 3

The rest of the country might be going into semi-hibernation mode for the long Independence Day weekend, but Summer Arts is cranking it up. If you have house guests coming to stay with you in Fresno over the Fourth, consider taking them to an event -- it's a great alternative to the same old fireworks. Here's what's on tap:

• On Thursday, adventures in poetry continue with an "Invitational Slam" featuring working-guy standup poet Jack McCarthy (7 p.m., Fresno Art Museum).
• Singer, director and composer James Hall takes the stage Friday with a gospel music concert. He's most known for the "killer vibratos and twister harmonies found in the best of today's gospel music." (7 p.m., Fresno State Concert Hall).
• The Steppenwolf Theatre Company on Saturday presents "An Evening of Saroyan." Fresh off a Tony-Award win for "August: Osage County," Steppenwolf is hotter than Chicago pavement in the summertime. (7 p.m., John Wright Theatre, Fresno State).
• And on Sunday, digital photography fans won't want to miss digital imaging expert and Photoshop guru Tim Grey in a lecture (7 p.m., Fresno Art Museum).

WEDNESDAY July 2

• No public performances today; it's one of the few dark days of the festival. All those Summer Arts students will get a chance to catch up on their homework. (Or sleep.)
• How'd the poetry slam event with Taylor Mali and Sonya Renee go last night? Was it a good turnout? A poetic experience? Leave a comment and let us know.

TUESDAY July 1

• Last night's lecture by Nevada Wier attracted a full house at the Fresno Art Museum. Read Donald's impressions here.
• The public event tonight, 7 p.m. at Wahlberg Recital Hall at Fresno State, features noted poets Taylor Mali and Sonya Renee. If you're into the world of slam poetry, this is something you won't want to miss. Mali, a slam champion and former president of Poetry Slam Incorporated, was one of the original poets to appear on the HBO show "Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry" and was in the documentary film "SlamNation." Renee, a National Poetry Slam Champion, scored a first-place finish at the Four Continents European International Slam Championship in 2006. (This one has to go uncovered by the Bee tonight, so comments and impressions of the performance are especially welcome.)

MONDAY June 30

• After last night's rousing opening performance, courtesy of Urban Bush Women, on tap for tonight is a lecture that will be of interest to photographers everywhere: Nevada Wier, known for her photos from exotic locales. Here's some interesting background on her, and she has a great Web site. She'll appear at 7 p.m. at the Fresno Art Museum.
• A tidbit from last night's introductory remarks from director Jim Spalding: If preliminary enrollment figures hold up, this will be a record Summer Arts in term of number of students.

SUNDAY June 29

• Read Donald and Felicia's Top 10 picks for this year's Summer Arts festival.