Performances, exhibitions, recitals, and other cultural activities or those by supporters of the arts
Sunday in the Park with George is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. It is inspired by Georges Seurat's painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Join Debra Block as she explores the artistic process, the relationship between art and life, and the legacy of an artist. Sponsored by the Cummings Foundation Grant.
Based on her new book The Wreck of the Royal Tar, author Jane Parks Gardner presents a gripping multimedia program that brings to life one of New England's most haunting maritime disasters. The talk explores the history of the ill-fated steamship, the immigrant experience of many passengers, the colorful world of 19th-century traveling circuses, and the perils of sea travel in the 1830s.
Possession and Exorcism in Yiddish Folk CultureJoin journalist and educator Rokhl Kafrissen for this exploration of the folk magic and culture of Eastern European Jewry. Among Yiddish-speaking, Eastern European Jews, possession often took the form of a dybbuk, a wandering, sinful soul trapped between worlds and seeking refuge in a living body.
A Crash Course in Yiddish Language and LiteratureYiddish is both an ancient and modern language, with roots that go back 1,000 years and the most widely spoken Jewish language in history (others include Hebrew, Aramaic, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic). Even after the loss of Yiddish speaking communities in Eastern Europe from World War II, Yiddish endured, and there is now a renewed interest in learning the language and reading the literature, supported by the creation and growth of Yiddish institutions such as the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Join author Jane Healey for a conversation about her most recent release, The Women of Arlington Hall, a historical fiction novel about love, loyalty, betrayal, and Cold War spy games. The book delves into the life of a female codebreaker who puts her future and her heart on the line.
We are so excited to welcome authors Mansi Shah and Weina Dai Randel to our virtual stage! They will be discussing Mansi's new book, Saving Face and Weina's latest release The Master Jeweler. Although very different in content, we'll be discussing the importance of their stories, how they delve into diaspora issues, the impact on their books on our thoughts and understanding of the world, and their path to publishing.
Travis Ireland will discuss the best American whiskeys to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Revolutionary War! You may be surprised at how many wonderful whiskeys made right here in the good old U. S. of A. ! Learn a bit of history and BYO to do a virtual taste test with Travis, who will be recommending some of his favorites.
Love Speculative Fiction, SciFi, and Fantasy but not sure what to read next? Join blogger, Kristen, of Fantasy Cafe for this quarterly session of her recommendations of some of the best of SciFi/Fantasy books out there! We're sure you'll find something to like from Kristen's many enthusiastic reviews.
Love Speculative Fiction, SciFi, and Fantasy but not sure what to read next? Join blogger, Kristen, of Fantasy Cafe for this quarterly session of her recommendations of some of the best of SciFi/Fantasy books out there! We're sure you'll find something to like from Kristen's many enthusiastic reviews.
