"Fine Art Exhibition: Textiles" featured works in various media by Sonja Robinson, including this piece, titled "Tapestry", which she and her daughter made together while watching tv.
So many reasons I love this piece, not the least of which is it reminds me of a soft sculpture made by Axelle Kieffer several years ago, using articles of clothing from friends... and this piece reminds me of one of my favorite - and my first - Carole King albums!
The annual W.W. Law lecture via Telfair Zoom was on a drizzly Wednesday, so I was glad to not be out in the cold this year.
George E. Shinhoster, upper right, provided the Civil Rights talk, focused on his part as a child as one of seven students attending the newly-desegregated classes of Groves High School in 1963.
I certainly understand how scary that was; I went through the same issues at Myers Middle School in 1971 when busing tried to accomplish more integration. Every day brought new threats from groups of trespassing black high school students, with me getting kicked and beat to the ground one day. That terrifying experience kept me out of school for a week.
What a nice touch that a sign-language interpreter was part of the presentation that night! Even though the talk was aimed at a younger audience with no prior experience of such events, I'm sure the Civil Rights lecture had older listeners, too.
Valentine's Day brought the return of Lillian, this time at the Penn Center, with "Forged By Fire: The Strength And Resilience Of Our People".
As well as having beats from the drummer, she accompanied her stories with the chain-draped rattle there on the floor. She was especially active with that instrument while telling the tale of Brother Rabbit and the Tiger, who was selfishly guarding a pear tree from the other animals -
like an Aesop's Fable! That's at timestamp 22:00.
I very much enjoyed the interludes with the songstress, of course.
The in-the-round version of "Motherless Child" performed by the two women was fabulous and so beautifully done - brava!
"Wade In The Water" was very good, too, with its message for escaping slaves, much like the scene depicted in the movie "Harriet".
Monday brought "Visual Art Exhibition", with more story telling, like Nicholas Seward's tale of his mom dragging him around to galleries and museums... and his love of photography which ensued from that experience.
My favorite piece of art was from a student, Olivia Johnson, who had fashioned a dress from strips of the letters between her and her imprisoned father.
I was very touched by the piece, and by the misunderstandings it embodies, especially those between a parent and a grown child, with the parent trapped by past behaviors and beliefs and unwilling to listen and move forward into the present.
Why is this piece included?
Well, there was a photo of an art exhibit in the atrium of the Jepson, one I'm sure I attended, where an artist - Paul E. Walker - gifted me with this rocking chair crafted from laundry clothes pins.
I have a rocking chair from Panama - and I have frequently written of washing clothes - so this little craft is quite appropriate for me; how did the artist know?
Back to the SBHF32, with its showcase "Annual Future of Jazz Concert and Tribute to Ben Tucker"!
I have attended this event for so many years that I have lost count; at least, with the pandemic, I can enjoy it multiple times, virtually!
This time, there were five men and two women in the group - and that isn't including the singer, Gigi Jordan!
The guitarist in the photo is Tad Adams, who was certainly the most stylish with his gold paisley tie and colorful face covering - very nice!
Another young man who caught my eye was Justin Mendez, on the alto sax, who insisted on playing with his mask on - wow!
The other two in the brass section - Langston Oliver on trumpet, Robert Mitchell on trombone - took their masks down when playing.
The man tickling those ivories for the group was Randy Reynoso, a quite talented fellow, and there was a guest bassist, Delbert Felix, for one tune.
And just what songs were played?
I wish I knew!
The downside of a virtual concert is the lack of a written program for the event.
Maybe I'll be able to figure some of them out... off to listen again!
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