A Centennial Celebration of the Provincetown Players

Provincetown, MA, the oldest continuous arts colony in the country, is also heralded as the birthplace of the Provincetown Players, whose innovations shaped modern American drama. In July 1915, new ideas about politics, feminism, arts, psychology, and theater came to artistic fruition in Provincetown with the creation of a non-commercial, experimental theater, led by Greenwich Village writers, painters and philosophers who traveled to the tip of Cape Cod to write, direct and act in short plays still recognized for their witty, perceptive social commentary.

The founding of the Provincetown Players established Provincetown as a center of modernism in the arts, and thus set the stage for playwrights Eugene O’Neill and Susan Glaspell. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of this widely influential theatrical milestone, the Provincetown Theater will host THE PROVINCETOWN PLAYERS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION in July 2015. The theater will present “THEN AND NOW,” with four productions each evening, of short plays written during the Provincetown Players’ formative years:

SUPPRESSED DESIRES by George Cram Cook and Susan Glaspell
Produced by Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
Directed by Jeffry George

CONSTANCY by Neith Boyce
Produced by the Provincetown Theater
Directed by Brian Carlson

TRIFLES by Susan Glaspell
Produced by the Payomet Performing Arts Center
Directed by Sarah MacDonnell

THE SNIPER by Eugene O’Neill
Produced by CTEK Arts
Directed by Margaret Van Sant

Each play is performed on every date.

Saturday, July 11th, the Provincetown Theater will host the Eugene O’Neill Society and the Susan Glaspell Society for a day of presentations at the theater. The plays will be presented at 6PM, followed by a Humanities Panel at 8PM moderated by Susan Rand Brown, with O’Neill and Glaspell scholars Robert M. Dowling, Linda Ben-Zvi, Jeffrey Kennedy, and Pulitzer Prize winning American Playwright Tony Kushner. Reception at 9:00pm with John Thomas on piano. Tickets are $50 for Plays, Panel & Reception.

Sunday, July 12th a Breakfast Brunch will honor the Societies at 11:00AM, followed by a book talk by Robert M. Dowling, author of “Eugene O’Neill: A Life in Four Acts.” Dowling will be available to sign copies of the biography, named a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist in biography for 2014. $10 Suggested Donation.

OPEN STUDIO WITH JARED BOWEN.WGBH

Pest-o

There he was in the grass. I aimed and pulled the trigger. blew his head right off. The sirens sounded immediately. I began to tremble. I'd never used a gun let alone kill anyone before. "He was eating my basil plants," I said as the officers came towards me. The taller one cuffed me. I didn't mean to break the law. The officer made me stand up and get into the squad car. "I just had a bloody fight with a groundhog," I said. That won't fly around here. Maybe in Providence, on Federal hill, but not here.

the wind threw its contorted strength around the sky, the wheel survives the myths

Thanks to Henry Gould for sharing this Wallace Stevens poem with me.

The Sense Of The Sleight-Of-Hand Man

by Wallace Stevens

One's grand flights, one's Sunday baths,
One's tootings at the weddings of the soul
Occur as they occur. So bluish clouds
Occurred above the empty house and the leaves
Of the rhododendrons rattled their gold,
As if someone lived there. Such floods of white
Came bursting from the clouds. So the wind
Threw its contorted strength around the sky.

Could you have said the bluejay suddenly
Would swoop to earth? It is a wheel, the rays
Around the sun. The wheel survives the myths.
The fire eye in the clouds survives the gods.
To think of a dove with an eye of grenadine
And pines that are cornets, so it occurs,
And a little island full of geese and stars:
It may be the ignorant man, alone,
Has any chance to mate his life with life
That is the sensual, pearly spouse, the life
That is fluent in even the wintriest bronze.

Bright Stars

Mamadou, Tramon, Devon, Sakari, Skyler, LeShay, Lauren, Michael, Ava, Raphael, Emma, Leo, these are the stellar children who are coming up next.

Michael Moore

Yesterday Angelina, a nurses aid was having her lunch on the bench. I was walking by with Lily picking up trash. We got chatting about the Bristol Parade. When we talked about Munchausens Syndrome she recommended this film.

SiCKO (2007)

The words "health care" and "comedy" aren't usually found in the same sentence, but in Academy Award winning filmmaker Michael Moore's new movie 'SiCKO,' they go together hand in (rubber) glove.

While Moore's 'SiCKO' follows the trailblazing path of previous hit films, the Oscar-winning BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and all-time box-office documentary champ FAHRENHEIT 9/11, it is also something very different for Michael Moore. 'SiCKO' is a straight-from-the-heart portrait of the crazy and sometimes cruel U.S. health care system, told from the vantage of everyday people faced with extraordinary and bizarre challenges in their quest for basic health coverage.

In the tradition of Mark Twain or Will Rogers, 'SiCKO' uses humor to tell these compelling stories, leading the audience to conclude that an alternative system is the only possible answer.
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Slacker Uprising (2007)

After 20 years of making groundbreaking films and setting box office records -- from "Roger & Me" to "Bowling for Columbine" to "Sicko" -- Mike has decided to thank you by giving away his newest film, "Slacker Uprising," for free!
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Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

One of the most controversial and provocative films of the year, Fahrenheit 9/11 is Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore's searing examination of the Bush administration's actions in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11.

With his characteristic humor and dogged commitment to uncovering the facts, Moore considers the presidency of George W. Bush and where it has led us. He looks at how - and why - Bush and his inner circle avoided pursuing the Saudi connection to 9/11, despite the fact that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis and Saudi money had funded Al Qaeda. Fahrenheit 9/11 shows us a nation kept in constant fear by FBI alerts and lulled into accepting a piece of legislation, the USA Patriot Act, that infringes on basic civil rights. It is in this atmosphere of confusion, suspicion and dread that the Bush Administration makes its headlong rush towards war in Iraq and Fahrenheit 9/11 takes us inside that war to tell the stories we haven't heard, illustrating the awful human cost to U.S. soldiers and their families.
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The Real Problem With Medical Internships

By SANDEEP JAUHAR JULY 1, 2015

New York Times

APROXIMATELY 26,000 newly minted doctors across the United States will begin their internships today. For many, this legendarily grueling year will be the most trying time of their professional lives. Most will spend it in a state of perpetual exhaustion, as near ascetics with regard to family, friends and other pleasures. I was an intern nearly 20 years ago, but I still remember it the way soldiers remember war.

Fortunately for today’s interns, regulations have since reduced some of the misery. Most interns now are not permitted to work shifts longer than 16 hours. They are also encouraged to nap while on overnight duty.

At first glance, such reforms make sense. Studies have found that doctors who got no sleep during a night on call scored lower on tests of simple reasoning, response time, concentration and recall. Indeed, a single night of continuous sleep deprivation has been shown to be roughly equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent — that is, being drunk.

But there is a downside to these regulations. Limits on work hours lead to frequent patient handoffs, which are susceptible to breakdowns in communication between doctors, thus potentially creating errors. In aviation, most crashes occur on takeoff and landing, and in medicine, too, most mistakes happen during transitions.

Full Moon: Feel the LOVE

It's raining but the full moon still makes us nuts.

I have been swimming with my hard yellow Zoomers and my calves are sore they are getting a huge workout. I feel like a ballerina! My torso is stronger. Now I carry my husband's extra heavy tool bag from the car without flinching. I still have wonky asthma though and need my puffer in the pool.

My Sourdough Climbed out of the Bucket!

My sourdough climbed out of the bucket! This happens if I use fresh yeast in summer. I used sourdough starter too and added wheat berries. Now I am preheating all of my cast iron muffin pans to bake rolls and wine biscotti for friends neighbors and the police dept.

Possible Tornadoes, Again!

Weather Service: Chance of severe thunderstorms, even an isolated tornado can't be ruled out

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in the Providence area especially from late this morning through the afternoon, the National Weather Service says.

"The main threats will be damaging wind gusts and hail, although an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out," the Weather Service says. "In addition, heavy rainfall may result in localized flooding."

The high today should reach 77 in Providence, with a south wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. A chance of showers continues until about 7 p.m.

Thursday looks sunny with a high near 80, while Friday should be mostly sunny, also with a high near 80.

Saturday, the Fourth of July, should be mostly sunny with a high near 78. Some clouds will move in Saturday night for the fireworks shows.

I'm Addicted

I'm addicted to picking up trash! My HUNTER self loves it. My dog tolerates it. People love to come over and chat. It's a win win!

LOST in WOONSOCKET

This an excellent film made in our neighborhood!

read more: http://www.lostinwoonsocket.com/oprah-update/

“This film is an excellent teaching tool for churches wishing to challenge their understanding of Justice Ministries, Homelessness, and Addiction to Recovery.”
~ Bishop Weaver, United Methodist Church, from UMC Conference 2008, RI

“… examines the rush people get from helping one another, the ceaseless struggle against addiction, and the belief that compassion still exists in modern society. LOST IN WOONSOCKET revealed how small acts of compassion can change lives, maybe yours…”
~ Harold A. Smith, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, MD

“You wouldn’t believe it unless they actually captured it on film!”
~ Alen Nevile, Crossroads, RI

“The movie is mind blowing powerful!
~ Alen Graham, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, TX

“Authentic! This documentary is an accurate and moving portrayal of alcoholism.
~ Alex Shohet, Founder, 12 Angels Network, CA

“I’ve been a part of bringing Lost in Woonsocket to two colleges/universities in the last two years. This film brings a powerful message of hope and change that cannot be ignored. Its realistic portrayal of the strong grip of addiction and the power to make a difference seems to resonate with all who experience it. Every time I’ve viewed the film, it has moved me, it reaffirms my motivation to make a difference.”
~ Josh Walehwa Coe College/Washington University, IA

“A compelling movie with a powerful message. My students were talking about the film for days after they viewed it.”
~ Randall Fenderson, Health Teacher; Fairfax High School, CA

“What a beautiful film! Amazing!”
~ Bernadine Fried, Clinical Director, Wonderland Treatment Facility, CA

“Lost in Woonsocket is an amazing story about human transformation. It demonstrates the power of being of service to a stranger and how it is never too late for anyone to make a change for the better.”
~ Orlando Suarez, Covenant House, Homeless Shelter for Teens, CA

“Beautifully shot and sensitively told, ‘Lost in Woonsocket’ is an inspirational account of man’s capacity for compassion.”
~ Chris Tilly, TIMEOUT London

Herman's House

When I saw this film it made me want to have art projects for the neighborhood kids.

The Film

The injustice of solitary confinement and the transformative power of art are explored in Herman’s House, a feature documentary that follows the unlikely friendship between a New York artist and one of America’s most famous inmates as they collaborate on an acclaimed art project.

In 1972, New Orleans native Herman Joshua Wallace (b. 1941) was serving a 25-year sentence for bank robbery when he was accused of murdering an Angola Prison guard and thrown into solitary confinement. Many believed him wrongfully convicted. Appeals were made but Herman remained in jail and—to increasingly widespread outrage—in solitary. Years passed with one day much like the next. Then in 2001 Herman received a perspectiveshifting letter from a Jackie Sumell, a young art student, who posed the provocative question:

“What kind of house does a man who has lived in a six-foot-by-nine-foot cell for over 30 years dream of?”

Thus began an inspired creative dialogue, unfolding over hundreds of letters and phone calls and yielding a multi-faceted collaborative project that includes the exhibition “The House That Herman Built.” The revelatory art installation—featuring a full-scale wooden model of Herman’s cell and detailed plans of his dream home—has brought thousands of gallery visitors around the world face-to-face with the harsh realities of the American prison system.

But as Herman’s House reveals, the exhibition is just the first step.

Their journey takes a more unpredictable turn when Herman asks Jackie to make his dream a reality. As her own finances dwindle, Jackie begins to doubt if she can meet the challenge of finding land and building a real house. Meanwhile, Herman waits to find out if the Louisiana courts will hear his latest appeal.

Along the way we meet self-confessed “stick-up kid” Michael Musser, who credits Herman for helping him turn his life around while in solitary; Herman’s sister Vickie, a loyal and tireless supporter despite her own emotional burden; and former long-term solitary inmate and fellow Black Panther activist Robert King who, along with Herman and Albert Woodfox, was one of the so-called Angola 3 that became a cause celebre in the 2000s.

“I’m not a lawyer and I’m not rich and I’m not powerful, but I’m an artist,” Jackie says.

“And I knew the only way I could get (Herman) out of prison was to get him to dream.” There are 2.2 million people in jail in the U.S. More than 80,000 of those are in solitary confinement. Herman Wallace has been there longer than anyone.

With compassion and meaningful artistry, Herman’s House takes us inside the lives and imaginations of two unforgettable characters–forging a friendship and building a dream in the struggle to end the “cruel and unusual punishment” of long-term solitary confinement.

Black and White

Try this: make a painting with only black and white paint. For a subject paint something black or white or gray like black and white skates or sheet metal. Report back!

Life is full of surprises! I'm Grateful

I have been grieving over the fact that two my favorite families I have come to know over the years are moving away. Last night I met two new families on my street. Th other night Sandy invited me to draw pictures with her kids. Life is full of surprises!

Woodchucks and Banana Trees

I've known we had a woodchuck since I always fall into his "living room" hole every winter traipsing thru the snow to get Lily from the yard. The woodchuck has discovered my garden. I'm sure I'd be hauled in if I took him out with a shotgun. I wouldn't! I'll get a water pistol. Our neighbors at the formerly pistachio-colored "Happy House" call them beavers. They call the ailanthus banana trees because of their Jack and the Beanstalk pods look like bananas to them. It's fascinating what people say. A few words and their whole world is revealed. I am sad when kids are afraid to eat mulberries and blackberries. They don't know where real food comes from! Don't get me started. perhaps I ought to rent a cow for milking to show the kids. GREAT IDEA!!!!

Urban Zen

I have arrived at a point in my life where I need to spend more time to pursue my Urban Zen commitment to its fullest potential and follow my vision of philanthropy and commerce.
- Donna Karan

They Love Life

My sweet 23 year old neighbors bought a paddle boat last night and a trailer to hitch it on the back of their bumble bee yellow car. "Were going to Wallum Lake! they said pulling out of the driveway. So cute! I love these kids (the culinary kids!) they love food they love their kids, they love life! Most of all they love each other.

Ninjas: the New Normal

During our last parade Gaspee Day Parade in Pawtuxet Village there were SWAT team Ninjas on the roof aimed at us and the reviewing stand. I missed them, but our drummer caught them. I hope this isn't the new normal.

Ninja
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A ninja (忍者?) or shinobi (忍び?) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, and open combat in certain situations.[1] Their covert methods of waging war contrasted the ninja with the samurai, who observed strict rules about honor and combat.[2] The shinobi proper, a specially trained group of spies and mercenaries, appeared in the Sengoku or "warring states" period, in the 15th century,[3] but antecedents may have existed in the 14th century,[4] and possibly even in the 12th century (Heian or early Kamakura era).[5][6]

This is Community!

Last night walking to the pool I met the new family that loves to cook curry. They are so sweet. We stood in the street and chatted watching the full moon come up. Their son plays with the boys next door to them, who are from India. I told them about the pool and they are interested in swim lessons for the boys. This is community!

Lucile Aurore Dupin

It's the birthday of French novelist George Sand (books by this author), born Lucile Aurore Dupin in Paris (1804). She was raised by her grandmother at the family's estate in rural Berry in central France, and was sent to an English convent in Paris to be educated. Although she started out as a troublemaker, Aurore underwent a spiritual conversion and decided to become a nun. She was an enthusiastic convert, and the other girls called her "Saint Aurore." When her grandmother discovered her granddaughter's intentions, she promptly removed her from the convent and brought her home.

Back in Berry, she abandoned her dreams of the convent and did whatever she pleased. She loved to ride horseback, and her tutor at the time encouraged her to wear men's clothing since it was more comfortable, so she rode all over the countryside in pants and a loose shirt. She smoked tobacco, learned to shoot, and flirted outrageously with all the local men. When her grandmother died, she inherited her money and estate.

She briefly went to Paris to live with her mother, then got married and had two children. But her marriage soon deteriorated — her husband drank too much and was unfaithful. She fell in love with other men, including the novelist Jules Sandeau. Her relationship with Sandeau was short-lived, but while they were together, they co-wrote a novel, Rose et Blanche (1831). It was published under Sandeau's pseudonym, J. Sand. When the publisher asked for another book, she had one written entirely by her, but Sandeau did not want it under his pen name. As a compromise, she published her new novel, Indiana (1832), under the name George Sand. It was a big success.

She was a prolific writer; she wrote more than 90 novels, 35 plays, and a multivolume autobiography.

Sand was one of the most famous women of her time, not just for her writing but for her scandalous behavior — everything from her men's clothing and cigars to her sexual exploits were in the public eye. She had a long string of lovers, including Frédéric Chopin, and her many friends included Honoré de Balzac, Émile Zola, Eugène Delacroix, Ivan Turgenev, and Gustave Flaubert. Sand and Flaubert were especially close, although the two novelists disagreed on just about everything from politics to the role of women to the purpose of art. They spent long hours together, smoking and discussing literature and humanity; they exchanged frequent letters, and read each other's unpublished work. Sand was 17 years older than Flaubert; he addressed his letters to her "dear master," while she addressed hers "friend of my heart."

She said: "The world will know and understand me someday. But if that day does not arrive, it does not greatly matter. I shall have opened the way for other women."
- Writer's Almanac