Riehl Life: Village Wisdom for the 21st Century » Announcements

Award the Women of Inspiration in Your Life

riehlife — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:46:06 +0000

As the last post in Women's MemoirWomen of Inspiration s Women's History Month question of what women inspire us, I wrote about the Women of Inspiration in my life. It honors eight women who give me hope in becoming the kind of old woman I want to be. All six are in their 80's and 90's.

Scoot on over to Womens Memoirs and find out more about these and how you might honor people who've made a difference in your life.

St. Louis Centennial Tribute to Tennessee Williams: There are benefits!

riehlife — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:17:27 +0000

This is the 100th birthday year for Tennessee Williams (March 26, 1911-February 25, 1983). His childhood in St. Louis shaped his writing career, so let's celebrate! Lana Pepper directs and produces an hour-long tribute. Six actors perform scenes from: A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Glass Menagerie.

WHEN? April 8, 9 & 10

April 8th, Friday. 6:30 dinner, 8PM performance-call St. Louis Actors Studio for tickets: 531-1515 If you like: Wear something that one of his characters might have worn.

April 9th, Saturday.7:00 Performance and dinner afterwards: call St. Louis Beacon for tickets: 632-6121

April 10th, Sunday. 5:30 Performance and dinner afterwards: Call Central West End for Tickets: 367-2220

WHERE?

St. Louis Actor's Studio
@ Gaslight Theatre
360 N Boyle Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108

Tickets are $75.

Prose? Poetry? Who knows?

riehlife — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:29:45 +0000

Prose? Poetry? Who knows? My collaborator Stephanie Farrow and I have discussed this topic endlessly. Where is the line between poetry and prose? Is a story poem just prose with line breaks? Does a poem have to be obscure to qualify as art?

I've explored these questions and many others with participants at conferences for the Missouri Writers Guild
and Story Circle Network (in Texas). One of my favorite excercises in this workshop is to take poems and prose from recognized authors and ask the workshop participants to "translate" the prose into poetry and the poetry into prose.

Try it to see what you discover about these two ways of writng and the border where they meet and cross.

Alton Senior High School Poetry Grant: We can do it.

riehlife — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:10:28 +0000

Awhile back I funded an annual program that provided monthly guest presenters to talk to students in the creative writing class at Alton Senior High School. There was a fine line-up, including a presentation on the Kwansaba form developed by the Eugene Redmond writing club. The St. Louis Poetry Society administered the grant. I dedicated this grant to my grandmother Anna Riehl and my great uncle Frank Riehl who were both fine published poets.

In this era of cut-backs in the arts, we can each think of ways to bridge the gap, and enhance curriculum in our local schools.

Judging the Poetry Out Loud Regional Contest–how I got through it

riehlife — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:28:36 +0000

Once again this year I judged a regional Poetry Outloud contest. It's sponsored by The Poetry Foundation, State art agencies, and the National Endowment for the Arts. It's now in its sixth year of national competition.

Melissa Crockett Mustain, director of The Jacoby Art Center in Alton, organized the event. I love that the students memorize and perform poems from classic and contemporary poetry rather than presenting their own poems.

Although I've been a judge in many contests, I always feel edgy, because judging seems to be so subjective despite whatever rubric or criteria one is working within. In this case there are 8 categories to judge within a minute! Talk about demanding. There are three judges on the panel. One of my fellow judges recommended that I simply stay true to myself and not worry about the rest of it.

"Go from your gut," he said, "and keep your scores in a consistent range. That'll keep it fair." I did this and ended up having a pretty good time. The performances from all the students were outstanding. The winners and their families were glowing afterwards. These students go onto state. The winners at state go onto the national competition.

Let's hear it for the young people!
Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by building on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form,

as seen in the slam poetry movement and the popularity of rap music among youth. Through Poetry Out Loud,

students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

Now in its sixth year of national competition, Poetry Out Loud has inspired thousands of high school students to discover classic and contemporary poetry.

Next Regional Contest

Saturday, February 5

1 p.m.

At Lincoln Middle School Auditorium

Edwardsville, IL

To learn more about the national Poetry Out Loud program, visit the website at www.poetryoutloud.org.

Family Stories Our Way: In Poetry, Prose, and Music

riehlife — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:21 +0000

My father and I have given several workshops on family stories. Last year we presented a workshop called "Family Stories in Poetry, Prose, and Music" at the Hayner Library in Alton, Illinois. With my father, these three always go together.

I set up a structure for the workshop on how to write family stories. Pop quite naturally slid in and told a few of these stories. Our little violin trio of Pop, me, and Nancy (a young musical protege) broke into music and song spontaneously to accent the story of the moment. We displayed our published books, photo-documentation books, and the riches of family and local histories that Pop has assembled over the decades.

Oh, yes. We fed our guests well afterwards in line with the country hospitality I grew up with.

Editorial: “Wisconsin Solidarity,” by Jenny Hazard

riehlife — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:51:20 +0000

Most recently on Riehlife we've heard from Jenny Hazard on art as the magic of the mundane. Jenny is a Mentor and Independent Consultant Supporting Survivors Through Mid-life and Beyond. She can be found at White Wave Consulting or Nanakoosasplace. Now she weighs in on the political situation in Wisconsin. For more information check Jenny's Facebook page where she posts personal updates, videos, and news articles on the situation in Wisconsin.--Janet

_____________________

WISCONSIN SOLIDARITY
by Jenny Hazard

I've been marching, writing and cleaning up dog hair. What's happening here in Wisconsin is more than the budget or even Union rights (as if that's not important enough!) The bill threatens huge cuts to education which is already drastically underfunded. Arts and music are almost non existent in most schools Teachers
have already been cut and face even more layoffs. For many children who come from already impoverished families and jobless, crime ridden neighborhoods, school is a safe haven and an influence which can help empower them to bring positive change to their suffering communities. The bill threatens to cut eligibility for Medicaid to many of those families, ironically targeting the "working poor" the hardest.

Finally, Walker proposes to sell our energy plants through no bid contracts by offering huge tax breaks and, this is the worst....safety deregulations. As if we haven't witnessed the horrible consequences of those policies already.

In summary this bill threatens every aspect of our state, Unionization and workers rights, the right to an education and health care and environmental safety. The network news will not report much of what is happening here. We are holding strong and have had a presence in the Capitol building for over two weeks now.

Twice the Police have been ordered to remove protesters and have instead stood in Solidarity with them, as they have for entire duration. This is unprecedented. We are hanging tough and will not give in...but I believe it's important for people everywhere to know the truth about the potential
consequences of this bill.

What’s new with noted fabric artist Edna Patterson-Petty

riehlife — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:53:56 +0000

I'm proud to call Edna Patterson-Petty a friend. She's a phenomenal woman containing more creative energy than I can keep track of.

For Black History Month Edna organized a group show at Southern Illinois University. She titled the exhibit "Inclusion." Her artist statement defines inclusion as: "artists with different view points, ideas, and delivery come together to celebrate the arts. As people we are divided by race, gender, and a fixed set of biases, but the arts connect us all. Let's Celebrate!" This is aligned with my mission on Riehlife to create connections through the arts and across cultures.

Edna was one of nine artists chosen from 51 applicants to provide a cultural experience for travelers. Each artist designed design three glass panels for a total of nine triptychs to be displayed on concourses A and C. The panels are 65 inches high and 36 inches wide. You can read about this exciting "Airport Experience" project here.Edna will have a one person exhibit in Ottowa Canada from December 2- February 2012.

See Edna J. Patterson-Petty's work here.

St. Louis Swap-O-Rama

riehlife — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:24:48 +0000

Wendy Tremayne--one of my blogging buddies--has founded a wonderfully creative and fun community re-use program: Swap-O-Rama-Rama

One will happen soon in St. Louis at the St. Louis History Museum.
When: Saturday, March 5, 2011 12:00 PM
Where: Missouri History Museum - 5700 Lindell Blvd St Louis MO

Don't miss out on the third annual Swap-O-Rama-Rama at the Missouri History Museum! Join us for the ultimate community clothing swap and DIY upcycled clothing workshop!

Bring at least one bag of your unwanted (but clean!) clothes to contribute to the "store," then dive in and find the treasures you would like to keep. You can take them home as is, or head into our "Modification Station" where volunteers with sewing machines will help you alter or transform your finds! Sewing notions will be provided.

Al-Jazeera streams untold stories of people around the world

riehlife — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:13:57 +0000

AJE - Al Jazeera--English version of the Arabic-language news network. Breaking news and features plus background material including profiles and global reactions.

My friend Judy Tart says:

For the past couple of weeks, I've been watching Al-Jazeera streaming on-line to get the latest and best coverage of the uprisings in the Middle East, and I've been really impressed by their in-depth coverage and analysis.

But sometimes when I go for updates, I find fascinating documentaries about peoples whose lives never get covered in Western media - struggles of young people in rural China, and Australian aborigines losing contact with the land and their nomadic way of life. It's a completely different take on the world, as if the globe has been turned upside down and all the important stories come from the part we never see - even the weather news - how often do you see the weather for Africa, India, and Brazil on the Weather Channel?

Give it a try - you might like it!

Thanks, Judy!