Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 pm
“Deep Fried Pickle Project – CD release”
$10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12

Join the Pickle Project and friends for the release of their new kids CD on Saturday, Jan.21 at 7:30 pm. The evening of family friendly music will include a few surprises by this award-winning “junk band”.

The Deep Fried Pickle Project has spent the past five years writing, recording and producing their second kid’s album. The band chose the Box Factory as “CD Release Central”. Featured performers will include All Gods Children Choir; the littlest Pickle himself, Max Daniel- son of Pickle Daniel Daniel; and special appearance by local cellist Gregg Ladewski.

The Pickles, aka as Alan Selvidge and Daniel Boone Daniel, present musical fun for all ages and feature homemade instruments with names like “Canjo” and “Flamingophone”. These musicians take cues from many musical influences including American Roots muisic forms with a sprinkle of metal and hip hop thrown in for good measure. Buy Tickets

Saturday, January 28 at 7:30 pm
Last Saturday Film – “Protektor”
FREE

The Maud Preston Palenske (St. Joseph) Library and the Box Factory for the Arts begin 2012 with a new partnership and a new film series on the last Saturday of each month. The adult-rated films, shown at 7:30 pm, are free to the public.

Stephanie Masin, Library Director, approached the Film Committee of the Box Factory with the idea for the new partnership which will show award-winning Independent and foreign films as part of the Last Saturday Film Series. Staff from the library and the Box Factory will alternate hosting the series; however, all films will be shown at the Box Factory. After the screening, DVDs of the films will be available for circulation by the library.

“Protektor,”  the winner of 9 Czech film academy awards, will be shown on January 28th. The film is set in Prague at the outbreak of WWII and centers on the story of radio reporter Emil who is married to Hana, a famous film star who is oblivious to the Nazi  threat. Hana’s Jewish heritage precipitates her fall from the height of her career to the bottom of the social ladder and a marriage in crisis.

Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 pm
“Neil Jacobs”
$10 adults; $8 seniors and students; free for children under 12

Classical 12-string guitarist Neil Jacobs returns to the Box Factory for the Arts stage on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 pm. With his own style of playing that the St Louis Riverfront Times describes as “mesmerizing” and the Austin Chronicle describes as “the rockin’est since early Leo Kottke”, Neil truly touches on music diverse and varied as Gypsy, World, Balkan Folk, Jazz, and Fingerstyle guitar, while maintaining his own refreshing energetic style of playing.

A self-taught musician, Neil draws inspiration from his world travels and experiences. His most recent focus includes the Gypsy music of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, which is showcased in his third CD “American Gypsy”, in which he draws from his first hand knowledge of Eastern European Gypsy, Balkan and World Folk music to create his riveting compositions. The “American Gypsy” CD was nominated “Album of the Year” in the 2001 American Independent Music Awards. Neil studied with the Gypsies of Spain as part of a special cultural exchange grant in 1994, the same year he was voted”Outstanding Folk Instrumentalist” at the Columbus Music Awards. He then resided in Seville, Spain for over a year before returning to Columbus.

He then joined the acclaimed Balkan group, Zivili**, on an amazing refugee camp tour of the war-torn Balkans, including performances in Croatia, Bosnia, and Sarajevo. As a result of this experience, Neil produced his more pensive second CD, “World Blue”. In 2003 he accepted a temporary teaching position as Associate Professor of Gypsy/Balkan music and history at Alfred University in New York. His most recent release, “12 String Guitar”, is an homage to the classic instrument and features striking array of styles and concert favorites. “12-String Guitar” was recently nominated “Best Solo Guitar CD at the JPF MUsic Awards in Nashville. Buy Tickets

February 3, 5, 11 and 12
“Coastline Children’s Film Festival”
$1 per person suggested donation

The Coastline Children’s Film Festival in partnership with Brookview School wishes to announce the unveiling of the 2nd annual international children’s film festival for Southwest Michigan. This one-of-a-kind family event will take place at the Box Factory and at various locations in Berrien County, MI from February 3rd through February 12th. More than 50 films will be offered at this year’s festival, including comedy, adventure, love, music, dancing and lots of happy endings and a few sade ones. Films to be presented are the best short films from the world-renowned New York International Children’s Film Festival. Admission is free; however, a one-dollar suggested donation per person is requested. Children must be accompanied by a parent or other adult.  For more information call Brookview School at 269-925-3544 or visit the school’s website at www.brookviewschool.org. Parents will be given guidance to content and age appropriateness.

Films to be presented at the Box Factory are:

Friday February 3rd 7:30 PM

“Flawed” (13 min.) Ages 12 plus 2011 Canadian
A sweet powerful film confession about a personal journey of self-discovery and accepting our physical selves.

“Louder Than A Bomb” (99 min.) Ages 12 plus 2011
Tells the story of four Chicago high school poetry teams as they prepare to compete in the world’s largest youth poetry slam.

Sunday February 5th 4:00 PM

“Sea to Shining Sea” (13 min.) All ages 1964
An inspiring unconventional teacher and his students, edited by famed filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.

“A Shine of Rainbows” (101 min.) Ages 8 plus 2009 Ireland
An adopted boy and a seal meet in Ireland, with Aiden Quinn. (8 plus)

Saturday February 11th 7:30 PM

“Pressure Cooker” (99 min.) Ages 10 plus 2010
A culinary arts boot camp for high school students in Philadelphia.

Sunday February 12th 4:00 PM

“Eleanor’s Secret” (80 min.) All ages 2010 French screened in English
The magic of learning to read.

“TuTuMuch” (83 min.) Ages 9 plus 2011 Canadian
A ballet documentary follows six aspiring dancers as they prepare for the audition for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet summer program.