It was not planned to be a gala affair…it just happened that way.
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| (Left to Right) bill berry, jr. CEO/Publisher, aaduna Inc., Terry Quill, musician, "Jumping Joe" Joe Whiting, musician, Featured Readers: Karen Faris, Charles "Seabe" Banks, Vanessa Johnson, Doug Curry, Bernie Williford/music accompanist for Vanessa) and Howard Nelson |
Once a year on the fourth Thursday of May, selected and invited poets, writers and musicians come together for a special evening of sharing their creative gifts that are delicately and fiercely wrapped in words and notes in the spirit and legacy of the ongoing impact of the Harlem Renaissance. Audience members came decked out in flapper dresses, glittering bow ties, and sharp and hip caps and hats marked by a frivolity of spirit and attitude that morphed to attentive listening as the music cascades for bodily movement, and the words reign a multitude of emotions and topics that challenge and enlighten.
It was not planned to be a gala affair…it just happened that way.
The 4th annual aaduna spring 2018 fundraiser was convened in the Carriage House Theater, the engaging and intimate multi-use performance space of the Cayuga Museum of History and Art in Auburn, NY.
Musicians Joe Whiting (saxophone and vocals) and Terry Quill (guitar and vocals) opened the evening with a vitality of sound that heralded what was to continue.
Give a listen to aaduna CEO/Publisher Bill Berry's welcome to the aaduna spring 2018 fundraiser "Free Style"
Poet Howard Nelson, once again kicked-off the evening of words with subtle
and intriguing homage to musical giants (some known, some not) who influenced
his sphere of consciousness. Howard once again, set the poetic bar for readings,
high. He does this every year…set the bar.
Here is Howard's ode to Sister Rosetta Tharpe! LISTEN
Vanessa Johnson, a contemporary griot embedded with the spirits of
ancestral beings flowed her graceful, poignant, and powerful poetic words with
the keyboard accompanist Bernie Williford (who played with the Stevie Wolf band
at last year’s fundraiser.)
CHECK IT OUT:
Doug Curry, a Blues poet, raconteur, and suave storyteller, made a repeat
appearance at this year’s event. He weaved a richness of words that touched the
audience, as he did last year.
POWERFUL!!!! LISTEN UP!!
Charles “SeaBe” Banks bobbed and weaved in the spaces that exist between the
letters composing words; soared with elegance, and exhibited his visual art
influences in his painting of words.
BUS STOP.... IT'S RAINING CATS N DOGS!!!!! CHECK IT:
MEET HOT FLASH MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!
Karen Faris pranced the stage and opened her emotional being to be
observed and embraced by the audience. Through her understanding as to how
words can transform consciousness, Faris concluded Round One and set the
expectations for Round Two of readings.
The bar was raised.
As audience members interacted with readers and each other during the
reception intermission, Whiting and Quill, Quill and Whiting elevated the
overall ambiance in the theater with a thoughtful selection of tunes covering a
diverse range of musical styles and influences. Their unique interpretation of
established musical charts was refreshing and harkened the spirit of the
Renaissance…that of discovery and exploration.
Joe Whiting on saxophone and Terry Quill on guitar; both on vocals.
Carrie O'Grady, raffle coordinator
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| Keith Batman, candidate for the NYS Assembly and bill berry, jr. |
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| Eileen McHugh, Executive Director/Cayuga Museum & Billye Chabot, Executive Director/Seward House Museum, Treasurer/aaduna board of directors |
Round Two firmly established the theatrical ambiance of the evening.
Experimental, dramatic, musical, challenging, this round emboldened the myriad
themes inherent in Round One and challenged the perseverance of the audience to
partake in levels of poetic discourse that is not normally available in Auburn,
Cayuga County, or central New York.
aaduna thanks the featured readers, musicians, audience members, Carrie O'Grady, and especially Eileen Mc Hugh and Kirsten Wise of the Cayuga Museum for their support and willingness to make this event more than just special.
This event was funded in part by Poets and Writers with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
But, do not take my words and this review as gospel. Videos and photos show you and document the rich story of a gala that was not planned.
It just happened that way!
***
Very special thanks and
thunderous applause to Eileen McHugh (director) and Kirsten Wise (curator,)
Cayuga Museum, for their unselfish support that easily went above and beyond. aaduna appreciates their generosity of
spirit, and publicly recognizes that without their support, the annual fundraiser
would be a Sisyphusian challenge. And we know how that turned out! |
| Eileen McHugh, Executive Director & Kirsten Wise, Curator / Cayuga Museum |
Kevin Barry and the Cayuga Museum, thank you for your
unsolicited gift of items that aaduna
was able to raffle, our first. Kevin's framed photos and accompanying booklet documented the spirit of the Renaissance. The Cayuga Museum' s canvas bag, museum membership for a year, guest passes and a book describing the history of the Case Research Lab were fitting for an evening of remembrance and words. Thank you.
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| Ron Van Nostrand, Publisher/Olive Trees with wife, Toni Van Nostrand |
Ron Van Nostrand, a partner in a collaborative
project simply referred to as “word, revisited” a bi-monthly literary series in partnership with
the Museum and aaduna, is a recognized
musician, decades-old print literary publisher (Olive Trees) and dedicated contributor and supporter of the arts
(literary, musical, theatrical and otherwise) in central New York, and
especially Auburn/Cayuga County. Thank you for your vision, wisdom, and dedication.
And to supportive aaduna Board of Directors, we gracefully
exist under the umbrella of your guidance and knowledge especially when needed. Thank
you.
And to our readership and event audiences, and especially the aaduna all-volunteer contributing editors and staff, as well as social media platform
participants, thank you, thank you, thank you.
aaduna editors and staff, each of you are appreciated. THANK YOU. And we will further recognize your vast contributions when the spring 2018 issue is launched.
aaduna exists and thrives because of your support.
bill
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While a distinct and separate event, this fundraiser is part of the Cayuga Museum, Olive Trees and aaduna “word, revisited” initiative that brings a bi-monthly literary series to the larger community.
aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.
Help us build community! Share with your friends, "like" our Aaduna-Inc facebook page and follow us on twitter @ aadunaspeaks !
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