Photo Courtsey of Arts & Ideas

Jazz virtuoso Ben Allison plays Friday on the Green.

The International Festival of Arts & Ideas
Through June 28 at various locations in downtown New Haven. artidea.org.

This year’s International Festival of Arts & Ideas has been blinded by science. That’s a good thing for those who think a love for the arts is the cultural equivalent of god-worship or homeopathy, some unproveable old-school passion which seems at odds with today’s science and economy-based realities.

This year’s festival has shown how progressive, industrious, profitable, practical and socially minded the arts can be. Very little of the fest could be said to be empty entertainment. Even the elements that were set in stone, brought in from existing tours or theaters, commented on raging national debates.

Death and legacy were the overtones of Roseanne Cash’s violin-enhanced tribute to her father Johnny Cash. The fear of bad leadership during wartime fueled Seamus Heaney’s Antigone re-centering The Burial at Thebes, which focused on the lousy decisions of new king Creon rather than the loyalties of the radical Antigone. (Not that radicalism wasn’t acknowledged elsewhere: witness “613 Radical Acts of Prayer” this weekend.)

Beyond Cash’s duets with the imposing violinist Mark O’Connor on pop and country material, many of the musical acts on view rewrote the accepted rules of performance: electrified rock remakes of opera riffs from East Village Opera Company; the repositioning of the cello (as played by Maya Beiser, whose peace-seeking offering “Provenance” also featured electronics, percussion and oud) and the stand-up bass (jazz virtuoso Ben Allison, this Friday for free on New Haven Green).

Two of the fest’s big dance pieces—Chunky Move’s “Glow” and Teatro di Palazza d’Occasione’s “Japanese Garden”—both used computer technology to enhance the artistry of live dancers, taking the synchronicity in opposing directions. TPO’s gardens explored peace and tranquility through projected images of flowers, lily pads and stepping stones, which dazzled children. “Glow” showed the dark side of the computer age, battering its lone female dancer with an assault of scratchy lines and white noise.

Smart, sharp work, the stuff for kids was as intelligent and provocative as that intended for adults. That worthy standard continues for A&I’s final days, especially with the grand finale world-premiere performance of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange’s “613 Radical Acts of Prayer.” That multi-site community-building movement piece months in the making and welcoming multiple levels of public participation (from workshops held since springtime to opportunities to just jump in during the performance), kicks off at 7 p.m. June 28 at Center Church on the Green before moving to other nearby locations.

The following are the final events of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas 2008. All addresses are in New Haven. All information and ticket sales are at artidea.org.

From the UK and Russia
Sebastian Barry and Paul Muldoon: Two modern-day Irish wordsmiths—playwright/novelist Barry, whose The Pride of Parnell Street is currently being staged at Long Wharf, and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon speak at the Yale Center for British Art (1080 Chapel St.) June 27, 5:30 p.m.
Doors: The Apparatus Theatre Company’s surreal, hyperphysical tribute to the Russian children’s book author Daniil Kharms. At Yale’s New Theater (1156 Chapel St.). The show’s creator Sasha Pepelyaev holds an artist discussion about Doors following the Thursday performance.

Jude Kelly—“Arts as Catalyst to a Creative Economy”: A discussion with the director of the Southbank Centre in London and longtime cultural ambassador and cheerleader, about how the arts can be a big part of new industrial developments. It continues another “Ideas” talk from last Friday, Don Randel’s argument that the arts are a good financial investment. June 26, 5:30 p.m. at the Yale Center for British Art (1080 Chapel St.).

The Pride of Parnell Street: Sebastian Barry’s modern Irish romance. Don’t expect Once, but don’t expect Samuel Beckett either. June 26 & 27 at 8 p.m., June 28 at 3 p.m. at Long Wharf Theatre Stage II, 222 Sargent Dr. (203) 787-4282.

From This Great Country of Ours
Denyce Graves: The amazing, and accessible, operatic mezzo-soprano performs her “favorite arias and songs” concert-style. June 27 at 8 p.m. at the Shubert.

Presidential Election 2008: Oh, how much has changed between when this “Ideas” talk must have first been arranged and now! Douglas Schwartz, who has his finger on the pulse of the populace through his gig at the Quinnipiac Polling Institute, moderates a wide-ranging look at the race of the century. June 28 at 3 p.m. at the Yale Center for British Art.

From Hipster New York
Ben Allison and Man Size Safe: The cutest bassist since McCartney gets top billing over the guitarist, saxophonist, trumpeter and drummer in his latest modern jazz ensemble. The combo should sound especially invigorating and improvisational in a free show on the Elm Street Stage, 7 p.m. June 27 on the Green.

From Less Than an Hour’s Drive Away
Carrie Ashton: Mainstream Connecticut female rocker. June 26, noon, on the Green.

Christopher Robin Band: Folk-pop singer-songwriter from Fairfield. June 26, 5:30 p.m. on the Green.

Connecticut Commission Artists Showcase: A diverse gaggle of the entertainers, edutainers and culture-sharers who’ve been noticed by the state commission, charged with bringing art to the masses and cataloging the results. 1-5 p.m. on a variety of stages around the upper Green.

Freestyle Repertory Theater: Theater games and improv sketches. June 26, 1:15 p.m. on the Green.

Hip Hop Dimensions: Break dancing never really went away, did it? June 27, 1:15 p.m. on the Green.

Kenn Morr Band: Rural Connecticut roots rockers. June 27, noon on the Green.

New Haven Jazz Festival: The renewed fest, which will return to the Green in August, hosts an ensemble of local talent on the Elm Street Stage, 5:30 p.m. June 27.

From the Backyard
Eclectic Chapel West: A food tour, beginning at Geronimo Bar & Grill (271 Crown St., where the tour begins at 1:30 p.m.) and winding around to Ahimsa and Miya. $40.

Walking Tours: Downtown Public Art (June 26, 5:45 p.m.), A History of Broadway (2 p.m. June 28) and the Yale Art Gallery’s current photo exhibits (June 28, 4 p.m.).

Where It All Comes Together
Liz Lerman—”613 Radical Acts of Prayer”: World religions, a supernatural international aura of faith and community, a major American dance troupe based around principles of democracy, interactivity and story-sharing, and dozens of area performers (dancers and non) unite for the festival finale. Begins at Center Church on the Green, between Elm and Chapel streets.

See the Arnott of the Arts blog at newhavenadvocate.com for daily coverage of the festival.

chris@scribblers.us