A New Exhibit, Eric Carle’s Art Comes Full Circle…and More

Here is another wonderful post from Jennie, the excellent teacher!

A Teacher's Reflections

After months of having to close its doors to the public, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Massachusetts has reopened.  I was thrilled.  The number of visitors and safety procedures were controlled, yet the experience was full and open – I was once again a child on discovery.

And discover, I did.

In my customary note of appreciation to the museum I said,
“It always astounds me that every single visit to the Eric Carle Museum is nothing short of remarkable.  Really.  Today was no exception.  The angels exhibit was nothing at all like what I expected, and one of the best exhibits I have seen.”

As a member of the museum, I was greeted so warmly upon my return by the staff- like an old friend.  They gave me extra copies of their spring newsletter (where I am featured), and asked to take my picture.  I…

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Returning to Dining With Authors

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Renaissance_theatre)

The drawing of the Swan Theatre (1596)

Hamlet, Doctor Faustus, The Tempest, and Edward the Second are just a few of the plays produced by the two greatest playwrights of the Renaissance: William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Born in the same year–1564, they were the two premier writers of their age and arguably among the  most important of any era. These are writers who have informed both my studies and entranced my imagination.  At Muhlenberg College, I teach Renaissance drama courses and Shakespeare . This summer I am teaching a course called Renaissance Plays In Process, in which we look at several plays and the circumstances surrounding them in the Renaissance as well as how they might be produced today. Whenever I can, I love teaching about these playwrights.

https://pixabay.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Marlowe

I would love to have the opportunity through a magic time machine to sit down and have a conversation with these two giants of the theater. I would invite both writers to spend an afternoon or evening at a pub–English of course–and over beer and food discuss many topics with them. I am sure that sometimes I would simply listen to them.

I would love to hear what they said about their work and how they felt about each other. I would love to learn from them the specifics of the way their plays were staged. I would ask Marlowe about his mysterious work for the Queen of England.  Was he a spy?  I do not know if he would answer, but I would still have to ask.

I would ask Shakespeare about the canon of his plays.  Were there plays he wrote that are currently lost?  If so, what are they? And I have often wondered if he ever considered writing a tragedy about King Arthur.

I also wonder how the two great writers would behave together. Would this be a polite conversation, a deep discussion of theatrical issues, or a wild and fiery debate or argument among bitter rivals?

I wish I could speak with them.

https://pixabay.com

 

If you could speak with 2 or 3  authors, no matter living or dead, who would they be? Where would you like to have the meeting?

Books That Are Needed Now

Some books speak to a specific time, and some reach across eras with their messages. Some include a message for a definite audience, while others span a more general readership.  And some times call out for certain books to be read.

Books are one form of the Media, which must remain free if freedom itself is to survive. Given the turmoil of our present time, I am suggesting these books as crucial reading for today’s world:

1984

by

 George Orwell

 

(https://commons.wikimedia.org)

 

Night

by

Elie Wiesel

 

(http://night2011.wikispaces.com)

 

It Can’t Happen Here

by

 Sinclair Lewis

(https://en.wikipedia.org)

I have offered three books I consider to be essential for our times.

What books or books do you think are needed now?

 

Shakespeare on Wisdom

(Photo by Mike on Pexels.com)

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

                                               As You Like It

 

“ And seeing ignorance is the curse of God, Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven”

                                              Henry VI, Part 2

 

“There is no darkness but ignorance”

                                              Twelfth Night

 

 

Look Up, Look Down

Here is a lovely post about keeping wonder alive from that excellent teacher Jennie!

A Teacher's Reflections

We can all take a lesson from children.  They notice everything.  They look up, and they look down.  They stop to look, really look, and to wonder.  They remember what they see, and if an adult is around they ask questions.

The wonder children see is always there.  We just have to stop and look up and look down.  I did that tonight.

I looked up.

I looked down.

The moon began to rise.  Do you see it on the left?  I stayed to watch, and it looked like the Northern Lights were in the sky.  The sky changes quickly, so I pay attention.

The moon is high.  The sky and trees are beautiful.  It reminds me of summer camp and slow evenings of wonder.  It reminds me of the lyrics to Taps, played by a bugle.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from…

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Thank You to the Eric Carle Museum, and Kate DiCamillo’s New Book.

Here is another wonderful post from the excellent teacher, Jennie!

A Teacher's Reflections

Just before the pandemic hit, the Eric Carle Museum asked me if they could include in their quarterly newsletter my story, my blog post, about visiting the museum and hearing author Kate DiCamillo speak.

Yes!  Of course, yes!

They enjoy reading my blog posts about my visits to the museum.  Well, how can I not write about a visit?  Every one is remarkable.  When I heard Kate DiCamillo speak, the blog post flowed.  She is one of my favorite authors- for many reasons.

Little did I know that my inclusion in the newsletter would be a full page.  What an honor!  Thank you Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art!  Their write-up was terrific.

Good News!

The museum is opening this week for members only (I snagged my reservation right away) before it opens in August for the public.  Yes, the protocol procedures will be strictly enforced.  I will have…

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Quotations By Isaac Asimov

(https://en.wikipedia.org)

 

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”

 

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”

“The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists.”

May Poetry Retreat 2020 With Poet Robert Fillman Leading A Workshop

Hello everyone: My good friend and extraordinary poet, Robert Fillman will lead a workshop in an online Poetry Retreat. This will be a wonderful opportunity to work on your poetry.

This is being called “May Poetry Retreat” which is rescheduled from an earlier planned retreat.

Here’s the info: 

May Poetry Retreat 2020 is a single-day retreat through Zoom.  Poets can spend the day generating new material, sharing their work, and talking with other poets.  Opt for any (or all) of three creative writing workshops, sign up for a spot at one of our two Zoom readings, or spend some quiet time writing.  We’ll also provide Zoom breakout rooms throughout the day for small group discussion on the side as preferred. Poets of all experience levels welcome.

 

When: Saturday, Aug 1, 9am – 3pm

Cost: $15

To Register: Email kingswritingconference@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Please remember to check out Robert Fillman’s excellent book of poetry:

Available here:

Book Review: Get The Draft Done! By Charles F French

I want to thank Michelle Saul for this lovely review of my book Get The Draft Done!

mythoughtsonwritingandreading

I’ve mentioned my novel several times on this blog and admitted how it’s in pieces (and admittedly still is). I’ve talked about my struggles time and time again with finding the time to write and how I haven’t reached my monthly goal, especially in recent months. Mainly, I’ve simply struggled with getting the first draft of my current novel (or any novel for that matter) done!

Well that’s where Get The Draft Done! by Charles F French comes in handy! This book is a must read for any writer who is currently working on the first draft of their novel and struggling with it! In the 89 pages of this book, Charles explains his experiences with getting his drafts done and everything he has learned from that process. He uses Amelia as an example of a writer who wants to write but doesn’t know where to start because of her…

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Trump’s Attack On Democracy

(Photo by Sharefaith on Pexels.com)

What happened the other night in Portland, Oregon should have all Americans who believe in the Constitution, Freedom, and Democracy outraged and frightened. Please do not divert the subject by speaking about “riots”. That is an issue that is addressed by local and state authorities, not the Federal Government.  The President does not seem to care about the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Fourth Amendment says, “The right of the people to  be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Having Federal agents, wearing police insignia without identification of person or office arresting people without warrants and taking them away in unmarked vehicles is a clear violation of both the Fourth Amendment and their oath to uphold the Constitution; it is, by its very nature, an assault on American freedom and democracy. Without a warrant and an authorized jurisdiction of policing, these actions are kidnapping.

Let me be very clear. What happened is what occurs in totalitarian dictatorships, such as Putin’s tactics in the Crimea. Putin is very likely extremely proud of his friend, Donald Trump.

Further, for those who are true conservatives and care about the separation of states and city rights from the Federal government, they should be horrified. This was a clear violation of state and city sovereignty and jurisdiction.

It is also ironic that with the turmoil in our country about the abuse of police power, that these actions, themselves, are abuse of police power.

Let me be clear. I am not speaking as a member of a political party. I am speaking as a proud American who holds our Constitution to be a sacred document. Regardless of political affiliation, no matter if you are Republican, Democratic, or Independent, you should decry these actions. Our land must never become one that is ruled by autocrats and dictators who use force as they wish and ignore the rule of law.

Let us also remember that many fought and died to preserve out democracy. Let us honor their memory by insisting on the government abiding by the Constitution of the United States of America.

(https://en.wikipedia.org)