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Boise is home to a burgeoning artistic scene. Artists from different genres are collaborating in interesting, and sometimes challenging ways, pushing Boiseans to new understandings of art.With the shadow of the Great Recession still hanging over them, a group of emerging artists have decided to make Boise their springboard – potentially changing the city’s cultural landscape forever.We'll introduce you to these five Boise artists who are making a name for themselves. Plus, find behind-the-scences photos and video, and learn more about the artists at our blog.00000176-d8fc-dce8-adff-faff727c0001Name: Anne McDonald aka Frankly FrankieArt form: Burlesque danceAnne McDonald fell in love with burlesque almost ten years ago. A few years later, she formed The Red Light Variety Show and has been pushing the envelope with her dance and performance art ever since. Anne – whose stage name is Frankly Frankie – leads the Frankly Burlesque show every Sunday in downtown Boise.Anne’s headed to NYC for some special cabaret training this summer, where she hopes to book a couple of shows before returning to Boise.Hear her story.00000176-d8fc-dce8-adff-faff727e0002Name: Jake FulliloveArt form: FilmFilmmaker Jake Fullilove is full of ambition. At 21-years-old he’s already started his own film equipment rental company, and is in post-production for his first short film. "Spring Garden" is a psychological thriller filmed in Boise last summer. Jake says it was his most challenging (and exciting) creative project yet. Jake wants to help put Idaho – and Boise specifically – on the filmmaking map. 00000176-d8fc-dce8-adff-faff72800000Name: Danny KerrArt form: MusicMusician Danny Kerr is an in-demand guy. He composes music and does sound design for film projects, plays bass in a young rock n’ roll band, regularly packs the dance floor when he DJ’s at the Neurolux, and runs the sound for touring and local bands playing at The Crux. He’s also been sitting on his second solo album for months, making sure it’s perfect before releasing it to hungry Brother Dan fans. 00000176-d8fc-dce8-adff-faff72820000Name: Cody RuttyArt form: PaintingCody Rutty made painting his fulltime job a couple of years ago. Since then, he’s sold work to people from all 50 states and more than 20 different countries.Cody studied architecture at the University of Idaho before deciding to follow his childhood dream of being an artist, but the drafting board still influences his work. He’s been an Artist In Residence through the city’s Arts and History Department, and has an upcoming solo show at State and Lemp this June. Hear his story. 00000176-d8fc-dce8-adff-faff72840000Name: Heidi KraayArt form: TheaterHeidi Kraay is one busy playwright. The 30-year-old’s latest play is called “DIRT,” and it runs through May 31 in Boise.Heidi is also a Theater Lab teacher, helping teens learn how to write, produce and perform their own plays at Boise Contemporary Theater. This summer she’s participating in the renowned Seven Devils Playwrights Conference in McCall, and she was recently accepted to a MFA program at the California Institute of Integral Studies.Hear her story.This series was made possible by a grant from the Boise City Department of Arts and History.

Boise Musician Curtis Stigers Sets Out On His Latest European Tour

Marina Chavez

Curtis Stigers’ latest album “Hooray For Love” is the Boise singer’s first release since his 2012 record “Let’s Go Out Tonight.”

Stigersis touring this year to promote his new record, his eleventh album and the eighth he’s done for California-based Concord Records. But U.S fans won’t get many chances to see the singer in person. Most of Stigers’ concerts are once again in Europe

“It’s just per capita, I’ve sold more records [in Europe] and there just seems to be an interest,” he says. “That’s where they pay me so that’s where I go.”

He says the sheer size of the U.S. makes tours here more arduous.

“I can tour around Germany, play 10, 15 cities and towns, and never drive more than two or three hours a day,” he says.

Stigers says he remains comfortable with calling Boise his home. He lived in New York for nearly 17 years, but says Boise’s quality of life makes up for any conveniences such a big city once provided.

“I love living here. This is where I belong," he says. "And although it is a little bit harder to fly to Europe from here than it is from New York, the drive to the airport is much shorter.”

The 48-year-old admits he has a high profile in his hometown. Stigers says hosting concerts that raise money for local charities was something he could never do in New York.

“I was such a small fish in huge pond that the idea of doing something for charity was almost inconceivable to me,” he says. “But being here, I can sing a little bit and get my friends together, and make a lot of money for important causes.”

Stigers’ album continues to climb the jazz charts. He touts the new work as a happier record than 2012’s “Let’s Go Out Tonight,” which he labels as a “dark” project that came after his marriage had fallen apart.

Stigers will resume his tour next week with dates in Washington D.C., Boston and New York. He’ll end the month with concerts in London and Paris. His next Idaho concerts are in August in McCall

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