A Community of Writers
"Just as we need to be loved to know we are lovable, and heard to know we have something to say, a writer's voice needs a community that values its uniqueness in order to become unique." -Gloria Steinem
The final reading for the community of writers was attended by twelve people, nine of whom read from their work. The group discussed continuing the series next fall and inviting new members to attend. We will check with the library about using the meeting room again. Everyone agreed that having mixed ages was great, but some of the parents of younger members said the evenings can get late for them and the small number of younger writers makes the mostly adult group very intimidating. The presence of visiting writers was appreciated by all and thanks were expressed to the Bean Foundation and the local merchants such as the Dutch Epicure, Black Forest Café, and Moulton's Market for their contributions to the program.
From the posted photos, you can see the range of ages and see the writers at work during various sessions. If you have questions about the program, please contact Blanche Milligan. The fall series will most likely be held once a month on Mondays. Special thanks are extended to members of the Amherst/Mont Vernon and Souhegan Cooperative School District for their help in inviting members and organizing meetings.
MONTHLY SCHEDULE:
January 29, 2004
Favorite books and authors
A celebration of writers and their books that we already know and enjoy. Maryann Cocca-Leffler, a children's book author will be visiting with us in January (learn more about her and her books.) After sharing with each other, we will all respond to a writing prompt to get the entire group writing on a topic generated by the facilitator.
Refreshment will be provided by the Dutch Epicure, Heritage Place, Route 101A, Amherst.
April 15, 2004
Celebration of National
Poetry Month
The guest poet is Emily Archer. Participants will respond to a writing prompt using poetic techniques with Ms. Archer’s guidance and comments.
Emily Archer is a teacher, scholar, and poet whose work appears in a variety of magazines, literary journals, and educational texts. With a doctorate in contemporary American literature, she has written extensively about the poetry of Denise Levertov, and about the intersections of literature with art, music, and religion. For ten years she has enjoyed leading book discussions across the state for the New Hampshire Humanities Council. Recently, she has combined her love of texts with textiles in a new venture called Milkweed Arts. Emily lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in Mont Vernon.
February 19, 2004
The art of memoir
Sid Hall will be our guest this month. Read Sid's bio or visit his website.Exploring personal stories and how to share them with a reading audience. Students will help gather stories from older participants. Everyone will write a short memoir piece. New members welcome! Join us at the Amherst Public Library 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
Refreshments will be provided by the Black Forest Cafe and Bakery.
May 13, 2004
Nature journaling
With the help of Emma Rous, the group will write in response to nature.
Emma taught for 30 years, all ages, pre-school to college, including 17 years in the English department of Oyster River High School. While there, I started a course called "Literature and the Land" to raise students' environmental awareness through literature, nature journaling, and outdoor experiences. In 2000, Heinemann published my book about the course (by the same title). I enjoy hiking and canoeing (especially in places I've read about) and led backpacking and writing workshops for teens in the White Mountains for 5 summers. I have done numerous workshops on nature writing for teachers and environmental educators. I am currently serving in the NH House of Representatives on the Environment and Agriculture committee.
March 25, 2004
The role of meaning in writing
Looking at words and symbols to explore how we find meaning in communication. Writing instructor Marilyn St. George will facilitate a program in response to a writing assignment members are working on in connection to Women’s History Month.
June 10, 2004
Wrap-up and celebration of writing for group
Burlington Taiko - April 17, 2004
"With the power of an elemental force of nature, drummers play the passion of complete abandon, fully committing their bodies and spirits to the beautiful, precise choreography and powerful, surging rhythms expressed by taiko."
Hands-on-workshop
Portsmouth Middle School, 155 Parrott Avenue
2-4 pm
The workshop focused on learning to play the mia daiko or temple drum, a wine barrel sized drum originally used in Buddhist temples. The workshop participants included teens, teachers, and other interested adults. This hands-on workshop on Japanese drumming techniques brought together various age groups in a creative activity of self-expression and cultural awareness.
Performance
Portsmouth Music Hall, Chestnut Street, Portsmouth
8 pm
Taiko - Japanese for "big drum" - is a relatively modern revival of ancient Japanese drumming traditions. Taiko incorporates drums up to 60" in diameter, struck with wooden sticks using a full-body enthusiasm and almost ritualistic choreography influenced heavily by martial arts, Shinto temple ritual and the delicate, stylized movement of Japanese Theater.
Taiko as a symbol holds much of the essence of the spirit of Japan, particularly demonstrating commitment to constant improvement and selflessness for the good of the group. Taiko has its origins in the daily life of ordinary people; priests used taiko to dispel evil spirits and insects from the rice fields; Samurai used taiko to instill fear in the enemy and courage in themselves; peasants used taiko in their prayers for rain, in festivals and in thanksgiving for a bountifu harvest. In keeping with tradition, the practice and performance of taiko requires dedication, physical endurance, and a harmony and collective spirit. Burlington Taiko has taken the essence and voice of the traditional taiko, and infused it with the vitality and freshness of their American spirit to create a dynamic and compelling Japanese-American art from. They use the power and beauty of taiko to transcend cultural barriers and to foster greater understanding of international culture.
Since 1987, Burlington Taiko has been mesmerizing audiences with the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of the taiko. Burlington Taiko estimates it has introduced over half a million people to the power of taiko via public performaces including feature performances at the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, annual performances at Burlington's First Night, the Joseph Campbell-Keepers of the Lore festival, the Black Ships Festival at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, and over 200 corporate, collegiate and public performances. The group has twice been honored by the International Taiko community having been selected as a feature performer at both the 1998 30th International Taiko Festival in San Francisco and the 1999 North American Taiko Conference in Los Angeles. In 2001, Burlington Taiko received First Night International's Prism Award, first place recognition for Most Creative Programming.
For Burlington Taiko, the spirit of taiko is an expression of respect and unity-one, which the group continually strives to develop. The basic elements of this "taiko essence" and philosophy are: attitude, kata, musical technique, and ki. These elements are equally important and interdependent-each building on the other. With proper practice we believe that the ultimate expression of taiko can be attained-the art becomes part of the personality, a way of being, and an outlet for our life's expression.