Paladin

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: City Style

Media Credit: Jenny DuBois [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Matt Robinson Iameson performs on Gilmore acoustic. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Matt Robinson Anicha Ha paints on a circle. [Click to enlarge]

University by the Sea transformed downtown Long Beach into a 'university' for a day combining intellectual stimulation, arts, film, food, drink, and music, Sunday Oct. 5.

"It was a great event that brought the whole community together. It really shed light on a lot of Long Beach musicians that don't get enough recognition," Caitlin Carter, Long Beach resident and former LBCC student said. "If people can see that these artists are making a living playing their music, then support for these music programs should flourish."

The all day festival, which began at 10 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m., was the brainchild of Long Beach Arts Council President Justin Hectus, musician Jay Buchanan, and U-Sea organizer Ryan Smolar. The festival was sponsored by Cal State Long Beach, the Port of Long Beach and downtown Long Beach associates, among others.

"As a vital part of University by the Sea, CSULB is excited and pleased to showcase so many of our wonderful educational programs in downtown Long Beach," CSULB President, F. King Alexander.

U-Sea teamed up with Schooled in Song, held at the Carpenter Center in 2007. Last years event proceeds went to keeping music programs in the schools of Long Beach.

"We have a little bit more of everything this year," Smolar said.

This year, the event was much bigger , aimmg to imporve the East Village Arts District for years to come. The festival spread over downtown from Ocean and Linden to 1st Street all the way to Elm Blvd. Restaurants became classrooms where experts, community leaders and professors led lectures on dozens of topics ranging from wine tasting to yoga to the history of the city. The streets became a school plaza where artists, performers, thinkers, and activists explored new ideas with the public. Even the local bar, House of Hayden turned into a wedding chapel, marrying both gay and straight couples throughout the day.

Another focus of the event was 'going green'with classes offered on native landscaping and composting, tours of an organic garden, free valet for bicycles, mass transit incentives, solar powered rental equipment, 100% post-consumer biodegradable containers, tree plantings and much more.

The main stage, hosted by Indie 103.1, was the epicenter of the action and hosted performances from many national and local musicians for 12 hours.

Artists such as Jay Buchanan, Brett Bixby, Molly Jensen, Marliese and Dusty Rhodes and the River Band rocked the crowds of people filtering in and out during the back- to -back sets. The Gilmore acoustic stage also entertained people passing by and locals on the balconies of their apartments with performances by Jameson, AJ Degrasse, Sas, Cory Joseph and LBCC student and musician, Chris Paul Overall.

Later in the evening, the beer garden was the place to be with food, beer, and the Fingerprints stage featuring Long Beach artists The Dibs, Deccatree, and The New Fidelity.

"Being a part of this year's Schooled in song was fullfilling both as a resident of Long Beach and as a former student of Long Beach public schools. Just knowing that my friends getting together and making some music may possibly benefit and impact a future generation of musicians makes the whole process worthwhile for me," Justin Burrow, guitarist for Jay Buchanan, 'Sas and Chris Paul Overall said.

Hectus said more than 7,500 people including students, art aficionados, families, professionals, and community activists were present at the event making a great connection between downtown and citywide arts, commerce and cultural enthusiasts.

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