slamming at the square!

Our poetry slam this week was amazing. We had a great turn out of both young poets and community members attend. In honor of Black History Month, students were inspired by the poets of the Harlem Renaissance to present either their own original works or to interpret works by Harlem Renaissance poets. The result was a great evening of poetry and fellowship - check out the photos!

Participating Poets:

Linkhorne Middle School, 8^th Grade – Bianca Adams, Shaviya Griffin, Valentina Kastrati, Vanessa Wells

Jefferson Forest High School, 12^th Grade - Michael Chao, Austin DeLaHunt, Tricia Elliot, Zach Foust-Meyer, Garrett Hegner, Stephanie Kountz, Ben Turpin, Logan Wamsley

Miller Park Neighborhood Center, part of the Youth & Neighborhood Services program: Angelica Davies (12^th Grade, E.C. Glass), Shabrina McCloud

Community Participants – Clarise Hicks, Joann Stinnette, Patty Webb, Debra Woodson

poetry slam at the square!

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?...Maybe it just sags like a heavy load? Or does it just explode?

~ A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

That excerpt from one of Langston Hughes' most memorable poems is just a snippet of what you'll hear at our From Harlem to Lynchburg Poetry Slam tonight! The slam starts at 5 pm and goes until 7 pm. Young local poets will share their favorite poems from the Harlem Renaissance as well as their own original work inspired by our own Lynchburg community.

Want to participate? All you have to do is show up! It's an open mic, which means that anyone can participate. Be sure to come down, hear some great poetry, maybe share your own, and enjoy in food and fellowship with your Lynchburg neighbors.

Sidenote: Speaking of a dream deferred, did any one catch A Raisin in the Sun on television Monday night? I thought it was really fantastic and great precursor to our event tonight!

Fiddlin' Fun

This past weekend's program, featuring Woody McKenzie and friends, was a rip-roaring, toe-tapping good time! If you weren't able to make it, you missed out on a chance to hear music from all over the the world, try your hand at playing the fiddle, and make the dancing man dance.

Check out this photos below to see how much we're having during The Year of Authors!

Celie and the Harvest Fiddler

This weekend, we're hosting a local legend, Woody McKenzie, to come down to The Square and present a fiddling demonstration. This program was inspired by a great children's book, Celie and the Harvest Fiddler.

The story is about Celie, an lively and adventurous girl who lives in the South in the 1870s. She plans to win the prize for the best costume at the All Hallow's Eve parade. When she meets a mysterious fiddler, she accepts the African mask he offers her. But is the mask more than it appears? And what is the story behind the fiddler's mysterious song? If you like stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, you'll love this historical thriller, coupled with beautiful oil illustrations.

Woody McKenzie, local musician and college professor, will present a rip-roaring demonstration of traditional Appalachian fiddle music and take questions about from visitors about his music, his instruments, and just about anything else! Guests are invited to bring their own instruments as well and join in the fun!

As always, this program is free with the cost of admission.

Saturday, February 23rd
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Don't miss it!

Gwyn Moses

Gifted author and storyteller Gwyn Moses visited the museum last night as part of our Visiting Author Series. Gwyn shared African-American folktales and stories ranging from the Br'er Rabbit tales to stories about African safaris to the modern classic Henry's Freedom Box.

Upcoming African-American Authors Programs:

• Fiddling program with Woody McKenzie, inspired by the book Celie and the Harvest Fiddler
• From Harlem to Lynchburg Poetry Slam - An evening of poetry by local student poets, inspired by their own community!
  

If you're interested in participating in the Poetry Slam, it's not too late! Call the museum at 434-845-1888 for more information!

Books in Art

Caught Reading!

Our resident book worm has been very busy getting this month's featured books into the hands of our gallery staff members. One of our long-time floor managers, Jillian, was recently snapped this morning checking out A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams. [Teachers, check out a great related lesson plan here!]

About Jillian:

Jillian was born in Louisiana and raised in Winchester, Virginia. An outdoorsy girl, Jillian spent a lot of time riding horses or pursuing art. A graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Jillian has been working at Amazement Square since October 2006. She loves good food, good friends, good movies, good books, and great art!

Favorite Book as a Child:

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardem. “I liked the illustrations and how it was about Africa, which was so far away and exotic.”

Favorite Book as an (sort of!) Adult:

“One of the only novels I have read more than once is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I love the way she writes about women during that time period.”

What Year of Authors element are you most excited about?

March’s Author of the Month, Dr. Seuss! “His creativity and ability to get kids reading and thinking in such a silly manner while teaching life lessons is brilliant!”

Why check out Amazement Square’s African-American Authors this month?

“This month’s programming is really exciting because it features stories from strange and exotic places as well as authors who write about aspects of American history that are important and relevant. I’m most excited about the Poetry Slam – that sounds awesome!”