Marika at the Coleman Theatre

Posted on July 7, 2014 by marikaarts

Entrance to downtown Miami, OK

Coleman Theatre Historical Marker

The Coleman Theatre- exterior

The Vaudeville Stage

The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ

The Exhibit

Mandela-Nelle

Presentation

Excerpt from Presentation

Well, this is about inspiration, creativity, and vision; not my inspiration, creativity, and vision but that of Ms. Darcie Shultz, the Interim Manager of the Coleman Theatre. Because of her passion for the arts, she is allowing the lines of the visual and performing arts to intersect, merge, and form an artistic connection. This is about community. George Coleman built this magnificent theatre for his community. Darcie Shultz asked for a sculpture exhibit so that her community could have a visual arts experience in the home of the performing arts. Ms. Shultz thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness.

Creativity and community fascinate me. We imagine creativity happens in a vacuum to a select few. This is not the case. Inspiration, creativity, and vision, happen in community. Look closely at the Coleman Theatre Beautiful. I love how they included the word beautiful in the name. This is a place of beauty and delight. The architecture is Spanish Revival, the interior design is Louis XV and the organ is a Wurlitzer. What we see is the vision of a man who dug water wells for a living and the vision of a community who brought back a decaying building to its former glory.

Presentation to Upward Bound Students

Excerpt from Presentation

One is saying, money is not inspiring; another, creativity comes out of problems, and the third, we need a quest. So, where does this leave us? George Coleman built this theatre in a small town on Route 66 halfway between New York City and Los Angles.

Did he find inspiration in money?
Did the building rise up because of a problem or limitation?
Was there a quest?

George Coleman and his brother made a fortune when they discovered lead and zinc north of town. Money allowed George to travel and enjoy vaudeville with its variety of entertainment: singing, dancing, comedy, juggling, and one-act plays. Mr. Coleman had a passion for vaudeville. They say it was his first love. I believe, it was this passion for vaudeville that aroused his inspiration to address a problem, a limitation. His workers and the people of the town could not easily experience vaudeville in 1929. His quest was to bring high-calibre acts to a world-class theatre in Miami.

Excerpt from Presentation

Time was allowed to take its toll on the theatre. The building structure fell into a state of disrepair. The original furnishings were gone, including the chandeliers and the Mighty Wurlitzer. Decay. Faith. Yes, there were those in the community with the vision of a restored Coleman Theatre Beautiful as the center of the community.

Miami’s Administrative Assistant, Sue Valliere had the vision to search for the lost Wurlitzer organ. After it was found, volunteers expended great time and energy in reconstructing it. There are many stories about what it took to bring second life to the theatre: reconstructing the chandeliers, finding the stained-glass medallions in such places as at garage sale and at a Tulsa restaurant, and the fund-raising effort of a “seat adoption” program. As Barbara Smith of The Friends of the Coleman said, “This journey has been one of faith.” And, may I add, it took a self-respecting community with a passion for excellence to undertake the quest.

Entrance to Miami, OK

Seguin sculptor gives lessons on the road

Posted on May 9, 2011 by marikaarts

From the Seguin Gazette Enterprise

Posted: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 6:15 pm, Tue Apr 26, 2011.

Staff reports |

EL PASO – Sculptor Marika Bordes recently made presentations to university and high school students at the request of the University of Texas at El Paso.

“When Marika talks with students about how she creates her sculptures, they literally lean forward to get closer to her and learn from her as they are drawn in and captured by her passion,” said Dr. Richard Padilla, vice president for student affairs at UTEP. “The pictures of her in the presentation, a petite woman wielding a chainsaw, attacking large blocks of wood while making the first cuts in creating a sculpture, instantly challenge and inspire the students to see themselves in new ways.

“Marika is a great role model. Like the sculptures she creates, she is elegant in her simplicity, inspires others to see beyond boundaries, and she is always full of surprises,” Padilla said.

The university students learned about creativity, teaching methods, conceptual sculpture and the art of living.

Marika offered some advice for the future teachers of Texas children: “Along your path, as an artist, share ideas; as a teacher, encourage each creative spirit; as a creative person, continue to learn and appreciate life’s lessons.”

Riverside High School students from the Ysleta Independent School District and Chapin High School students from the El Paso Independent School District also heard presentations by Marika.

“As an artist, I am here today to open the doors to the art world, challenging you to enter it freely and without fear,” she told the students. “I also have the privilege to help demystify the art of making sculpture.”

Marika met Saturday afternoon, April 16, with more than 100 high school students participating in the Upward Bound program which provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance.

The focus of the presentation was similar to the one for the high school classes, but it included an exhibit of Marika’s sculptures and tools.

Students came in small groups to the stage to view sculptures and ask questions about the art of sculpting, creativity and the business of art.

“When you take the next step on your journey, search for the unopened doors,” she told the students. “You have the keys. Do it with a clear and giving heart. Life is nothing but an offering.”

The presentations were made April 14-16 in El Paso.

Presentation at the University of Texas El Paso to the Upward Bound Students

Posted on April 21, 2011 by marikaarts

This podcast is from Marika’s presentation to the Upward Bound Program students at the University of Texas at El Paso Union Cinema on Saturday, April 16, 2011. On the preceding day, Marika made the presentation at the Riverside High School, Ysleta Independent School District and then at the Chapin High School, El Paso Independent School District.

Click here to hear the presentation: