PAST EVENTS

The ARTS OLYMPUS has brought together thousands of people through many different programs. These include global Art Salons, concerts, exhibits and events that encourage the development of creativity in all people, young or old, as well as giving opportunity to the mentally or physically challenged. We foster a pride in the uniqueness of people and their culture. In the next few pages we have pulled some random photos and explanations of events that give a good idea of the scope and range of past events worldwide.

 

NEW YORK CITY staged an exciting salon in a unique and wonderful space donated by the Angel Orensanz Foundation. The evening was ecstatic with live performances representing different cultures from Asia to Africa. The Tarumi Children violinists under the direction of Yukako Tarumi brought the audience to it's feet with applause, while the rhythms and beats of the drums from Senegal created a vibrant backdrop for the Almany Dance Ensemble. This free event was open to all people and embraced all ages and all backgrounds under one roof.

UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, was the location for the World Conference of Indigenous People at the United Nations. We were invited as delegates to attend and participated with Grace Collins (director of the Museum of Compassion) to create and hang an art exhibit of work done by the homeless. After the event, we staged an evening Salon at the Café du Grutli that is centered in the heart of the cultural district in old town Geneva. Creative minds from the local arts community, as well as visiting members of the World Conference of Indigenous People, had the opportunity to meet. Entertainment, as well interesting conversation, exposed cultural differences and created new friendships with people assembled from all parts of the world.

NUREMBERG, GERMANY was the perfect setting for a Salon that took place in one of the oldest structures in the city. The actual home of artist Birgit Ramsauer, this fourteenth century tower is part of the original fortification of this ancient town. We could have called this Salon a vertical event as each room in the tower is on top of the other. Hence, we were going up and down stairs to participate in the evenings fun. Some of the top people in the arts joined this festive occasion. Dr. Ulrich Grossmann, head of the German National Museum, managed to break away from his hectic schedule to join us, as did prima ballerina Christiane Milenko of the City Theater of Nuremberg. Artists in all disciplines came together to create a fun evening that had its own interesting energy.

LOS ANGELES
hosted one of our most unique Salons. We were given by the city of Los Angeles what is considered to be one of the most historic interiors in the city, Hollyhock House. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1920’s, this interior is the best preserved and most complete of all his structures in California. The Salon attracted attendance from as far away as Moscow. Tatiana Kolodzei and her daughter Natasha from Moscow are considered to have probably the largest contemporary Russian art collection in the world.


Gerhardt Mayer, a prominent artist from Germany, flew in, as well as Grace Collins from New York (director of the Museum of Compassion) who spoke at the affair. All in all, the evening proved to be quite magical with live performances throughout the house. We had poetry reading in the gallery, music in the music room, talks in the library, artists showing slides of their work, Cambodian dancers in the courtyard, and lots of great conversations with people who appreciate the arts. As always, there was no cost to attend and everyone was welcome.

NEW YORK CITY
In our ongoing effort to give opportunity to all in the arts, we worked with AMI-FACT Alliance for the Mentally Ill to create an exhibit that spotlighted the artwork done by talented individuals who are mentally challenged. The exhibit was very well attended and was especially encouraging for all who participated. Aside from the artists and the public, the opening reception included the appearance of guest speakers. Richard Vine, former art critic and writer for the Chicago Review and now editor of Art in America magazine, spoke on how important the arts are in all our lives, regardless of what level.

Ursula Ruser, president of Artists for Peace, phoned in during the opening from Geneva, Switzerland as an encouraging gesture to all the artists who participated. The evening was free and took place at the Cast Iron Gallery in the Soho district in New York city

 

LOS ANGELES
Some of our programs are designed to get art supplies for kids to be creative. This has been named Art Supplies for Kids or ASK. At many of our salons, we will collect art supplies from those who attend, similar to a canned food drive. We then give the supplies to shelters for homeless families. Another project that we have created is very similar to Toys for Tots but, instead of toys, we collect art supplies. We supply barrels that kids decorate and then we put them in art supply stores for donations of crayons, paints, etc. from customers. When the barrel is full, it goes straight to children’s creative arts programs. These are very simple projects that involve no exchange of money, it is product into the barrel and that from the barrel to the kids.
NEW YORK CITY
In our pursuit to expose kids to live performance, we are constantly trying to create opportunities to get children into the theaters. On one such occasion, we were able to make available over 600 tickets to a top Broadway musical in New York City. Tickets were given to all ages.
Most of these kids come from deprived families and could never afford such an event. The producers of “ABBY’S SONG”, in an outstanding gesture of kindness, put aside these tickets for our kids.
The show was an uplifting first time experience for deserving kids.The musical was free of violence and taught children to reach for their dreams. This was a landmark experience in the minds of all who attended.


Meeting his Royal Highness Crown Prince
Haakon of Norway

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK CITY
The ARTS OLYMPUS was asked to participate in the annual United Nations Correspondence Ball. The evening was an event to remember. The U.N.Corespondence Association is a global organization that covers and reports on all the activities worldwide for the U.N. Our contribution to the ball was not only to create a presence at the U.N. but to introduce the Tarumi Children Violinists to the festivities. They were a highlight of the evening and also proved to be a hit at their most recent performance at the White House. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the U.N., gratefully shook hands with the children as well as members of the Arts Olympus.

Once a year, the UNITED NATIONS CELEBRATE with an elaborate concert in the famous General Assembly, the largest and most photographed room in the U.N. It is the only time the space is used for such a festive occasion. A stage is assembled over what would normally be the speaker’s platform and, for this one night, it is a concert hall with an international audience. The seats are filled with members of the U.N. from all departments. At a past event the Duke Ellington Foundation sponsored a concert and assembled some of the most famous names in the jazz world to grace the platform of this global stage. The Arts Olympus sponsored a grand reception salon immediately following the concert on the penthouse floor of the Dag Hammarskjold Building. With a black lacquer piano and open mike in the center of the large room, we experienced the magic of impromptu performances. The audience was in awe as they witnessed some of the world's greatest talent only a few feet from where they were sitting.

LOS ANGELES
The 26th Annual Korean Festival in Los Angeles was the largest Korean celebration outside of the country. That year Robert Slaughter, president of the Arts Olympus, was asked to speak at the opening day ceremony in celebration of thousands of years of Korean culture. The event has a tremendous draw. Los Angeles has the largest Korean population outside of Korea.

NEW YORK
The Arts Olympus co-hosts the First International Humanitarian Awards in Film in New York City. Some of the top stars in the movie business showed up to support this international event that was simulcast between Hollywood, New York, and the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
The Arts Olympus takes a delegation of children to participate in a WorldChildren’s Conference. Topics included all areas of discussion with regard to the welfare of children. This was an incredible opportunity for children to meet children from all parts of the globe. Our talented delegation created a large mural, as well as sang and danced in the Globe Arena for an audience in the thousands. The Arts Olympus also hosted a creative arts session of drawing and painting with kids from around the world. We were received by the King and Queen at the Royal Palace and by Dr. Nobel who presented our children with small replicas of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Robert Slaughter, our founder and president, continues to do his art salons. His salon in Bangkok was a hit. Well attended by an international crowd, which included film director Oliver Stone, the room was vibrant with activity. Sponsored by one of the top restaurants in Bangkok, Robert's magical evening took place in a glass pavilion in the heart of an exotic garden. The evening had quite a display of performances, which included a 'Cirque du Soleil' type presentation, with costumes influences by Japanese Kabuki. The highlight of the evening were pint-size Thai children dancing to the rhythms of an indigenous orchestra.

The salon was given in the uptown brownstone of Marcia Levine that rocked the entire neighborhood. Some of the top jazz musicians of New York City showed up for a night that from one to ten, turned out to be a twelve. The windows were open to let the breezes blow through, and at the same time, sent music out into the streets and caused in impromptu block party. People were literally dancing in the streets. Children watched with smiles from the balconies. Music brought the neighborhood together and we were thanked by young and old for making and sharing a good time for one and all.

 

First introduction to ballet as a former Prima Ballerina from the
Metropolitan Opera of New York shows children how it's done.