The Bluffton Cultural Affairs Town Hall Concert Series features "indigenous music, art and culture," in its 7 p.m., Saturday, April 21, Earth Day Concert in the third floor of the town hall, according to Wendy Chappell Dick, of the cultural affairs committee.
The program includes a program featuring a multi-media trio of Bell Acoustics, artist and photographer Carole Elchert, and didgeridoo player David Leavitt.
Carole Elchert
In 1981, Elchert traveled to Nepal and the Himalayas. Elchert returned to the Himalayan regions, including India, Nepal, Ladakh, and Tibet, every year or two for ongoing study of these cultures.
Since 1993, she has organized over 17 eco-cultural tours for adults and students. Elchert's photographic images from these trips have appeared in exhibits in New York, Los Angeles, London, Melbourne as well as art galleries and universities throughout Ohio and the Midwest.
Some of her images of Tibet, featured at the 1989 Kalachakra Ceremony conducted by the Dalai Lama, are in the collection of Chicago's Field Museum. Elchert will show her work via a projector and screen.
Greg Bell
Greg Bell of Bell Acoustichelps the earth through recycling: many of the instruments he plays were built by himself, using parts from old pianos. Both Greg and his band mate Scott Brown are fascinated with ways to mix music and photography.
Bell Acoustic's original compositions sound "natural" accompanying the images of Earth-with their lilting melodies and pastoral string sounds.
Bell, co-founder of Bell Acoustic, Bucyrus, has performed professionally for 23 years. He has produced nine albums featuring original compositions. Brown, a Lexington, resident, has performed with Bell Acoustic for two years.
David Leavitt
Leavitt of Ann Arbor, begins the world music theme with his set on the didgeridoo (also known as didjeridu or Yidaki), a wind instrument developed by Aboriginal people of Australia around 1,500 years ago. Since learning to play in Australia in 1990, he has been developing his own style of improvised didgeridoo playing that incorporates elements from modern electronic music and beat-boxing. He plays with respect for the Aboriginal Australians and their ongoing struggle in our modern world.
