The Morgan Book Project and Scholastic Writing Awards!

I'm playing catch-up here - 

Following last year's Book Project Awards that was cancelled due to the pandemic, The Morgan Library and Museum found a way to make it happen this year. The award ceremony was virtual, and judges had an opportunity to speak with the kids about their projects. I loved hearing their thoughts on the book project program experience, what inspired their projects, and how they made decisions about design layout and story. Themes included public safety Covid guidelines as a reflection of the times, and stories of cooperation and kindness toward others, an appeal to everyone to work together. Their dedication to their work was an inspiration to all of us. And a special thank you to the schools and teachers for helping to pull this off! All of the projects submitted were wonderful and full of heart. Congratulations to every participant for their extraordinary accomplishment. View the winning projects HERE click on the cover to expand the book. 

As a bonus to the kids for their tremendous effort during such a challenging time, all finalists have their books on display in the gallery through August 15th. 

The Scholastic Writing Awards were a great success. Another wonderful program I feel privileged to be a part of. The students surmounted the tragic uncertainty of living through a pandemic by channeling their creativity through the art of writing, and produced a record of our time. There were of course works influenced by personal experience of the pandemic represented in the submissions. But all of the work, all of the themes they embraced, proved that expressing ourselves creatively is important and should be nurtured through programs like this. Whatever the genre, these young writers showed they had something to say. Read the winning works HERE by genre. Regional awards list. Congratulations to all the participants and to the winners. Thank you for sharing your art, and thank you to the partnering organizations that helped to create a space where their work can flourish. Keep writing with Writopia Lab.

Look for more information about the programs and how young people can participate through the links.

Earth Day - 2021

Want an easy way you can help the environment? 

Gather all your unused prescription drugs and drop them off at a participating location for DRUG TAKE BACK DAY, April 24th. Find the nearest location to you HERE. 

Drugs will be disposed of properly instead of throwing them in the garbage, toilet or down the drain where they come in contact with animals. This is an annual event around Earth Day. If you miss Take Back Day, there is also a separate list on the site for year round locations. 

For more Earth Day content, visit my website blog.

EXHIBIT NEWS

BLOOM & GROW: brilliant botanicals
Nature feels more important than ever during these uncertain times. It's wonderful to be a part of an exhibit that reminds us of the beauty of nature.
Ann Marie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
13470 Dowell Road
Solomons, MD 20688
The show runs through August 30, 2020 in person and online 

BOOK READINGS ONLINE - kids of all ages

Chapter readings by the creative community of some beloved books. Tune in regularly for the next chapter, or catch up at the link site. Click on the title.

Filmmaker, Taika Waititi is joined by celebrity friends to read James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
to raise money for Partners in Health. The Roald Dahl Story Company and their partners will be matching donations.
On the Wizarding World website: Harry Potter Book I - scroll down for Chapter 1 read by Daniel Radcliffe.
Other J.K. Rowling news, she's releasing chapters of a previously unpublished manuscript, The Ickabog.  to read, and there's an art contest for kids. 

COVID-19 AID AND INFO FOR ARTISTS

Arts organizations all over the country are coming together to help artists who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a teaching artist, I see firsthand how vital the arts are to the wellbeing of a community. Please support these efforts with your voice to increase legislative protection for freelancers, and donate if you are able. 
For freelancers: https://www.freelancersunion.org

Artist Relief Project - Anyone pursuing the arts as a career (any discipline, any level of experience) can request financial support from the Artist Relief Project, which will provide applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis with a one-time emergency stipend of $200 and free resources and support to pursue alternative economic opportunities.

Any artist in any discipline who has been impacted by COVID19-related cancellations and closures may apply for assistance. Stipends and support will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the only limitation being how much money we are able to raise.

The only requirements are (1) you demonstrate you’re an artist by sharing your resume and website, where applicable, and (2) you share this fundraiser with your own networks and provide a screenshot of that activity.

Initiative by Artly World, a registered 501c3 nonprofit based in Austin, TX. Artly World provides free arts and music programs to underserved communities and beneficial resources and opportunities to artists, musicians, and performers to share their work with a broader audience.

After seeing the devastating impact of COVID19-related cancellations and closures on people working in the arts industry, Artly World set up a fundraiser to collect funds that would directly benefit affected artists, musicians, and performers.  donations are tax deductible you can reach out to us at artistrelief@artlyworld.org with questions or concerns.

At Home

egret eating fish

Hope everyone is well. I watched an egret devouring his catch. He/she repositioned the fish to swallow it. I could see the outline of the fish as it went down. It was amazing!

And here are some links to things I've enjoyed during this “stay at home” period.

Theater  https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home

Literature No waiting to read or hear the audio of book 1 in the Harry Potter series through your local library with your card. or here stories.audible.com. OR OverDrive’s Libby app available through the end of April

For activities related to Harry Potter Harry Potter At Home hub here 

Nature African Tembe live stream watering hole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twVMjl_wPrc

Bird cams from around the world https://birdcams.live/ just watched this owl cam from the Netherlands https://nestkastlive.nl/steenuil3/

Art and Performance videos of lectures and performances from the Metropolitan Museum in NY https://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia. . archives

museums around the world are offering virtual tours

#anthonybourdainday

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain had been on my To Read pile for ages despite being a fan of his food/travel TV series. I don’t know what took me so long. I finally read it last month and it is now one of my favorite books – for writing. A raw, probing, honest, classic account of the restaurant business culture, the book is about people. A character study of those in the business, and a personal story of Bourdain’s struggles as he built his career. The writing is direct and brilliantly crafted, engaging from the first line. He had what publishers seek and writers aspire for, a voice unmistakably his own. Warning, there is foul language, instances of objectification of women, locker room antics and debauchery. He wrote it as shop talk for those in the business and was later surprised the book found a wider audience. 

Today is Anthony Bourdain Day. Gather your friends, put down your smartphones and have a conversation over a good meal. Then curl up with Kitchen Confidential and allow yourself to be drawn in by a consummate observer who was curious and thoughtful. Bourdain was, no is, a raconteur in the best of storytelling tradition. I urge you to read it.