BETTYE FOSTER BAKER
508-696-9983
Karen Achille, the children’s librarian, and her three assistants, Allison Brown, Colleen Morris, and Kristina Ivory, run a stellar program for the children in Oak Bluffs at the town library. How fortunate we are to have this great team. There can be no better use of taxpayer dollars than to support our world-class library.
The power of art education can also be found at Featherstone Center for the Arts with the show Art in Action: What it Takes, which opened July 13 and will continue through August 8 from noon to 4 p.m.
One of the artists whom I have come to know over the years and marvel at her work is Heather Sussman, sculptor. Heather is able to capture that wonderful innocence of childhood and often creates pieces with children as a theme. She has created sculptures of her own children for this show. Other artists participating are Sandry Bernat, Eva Gallant, and Julia Mitchell.
Another great art educator was the late Dr. Della Brown Hardman. This year’s annual Della Brown Hardman Day, July 26, sponsored by the Town of Oak Bluffs will be a double feature!
On July 26, at the Oak Bluffs library, there will be an artists’ reception and photography exhibit from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The library in conjunction with the fourth annual celebration sponsored a contest to select images on the island that best reflect Della’s favorite theme, “Savor the Moment.” The winning entries are published in a 2009 calendar. The selected photographs will be on display at the library from July 25 to August 16.
At 4 p.m., at the Ocean Park bandstand, Dr. Hardman will be honored with a performance featuring the U.S. Slave Song Project with Jim Thomas and special guests Sandy Grymes, Studio Museum of Harlem, Haki Madhubuti, poet and publisher of Third World Press, and poet Rose Stryon. The performance is free and open to the public. Don’t miss either activity!
Lisa Dunn-Dern, writer and educator, along with her family, will be in residence at their Oak Bluffs home later this month from July 27 to August 8. Lisa has been busy with her children’s books, her radio program, and her Ethiopian television program, now in production for its second season. Check out derngoodbooks.com. My grandchildren love her children’s book, Dr. Duncan, Dog on Duty.
On Friday, August 1, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Martha’s Vineyard Festival and Golden Door of Edgartown will host a private reception and exhibit, Tribal Art on the Vineyard, at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP. The donation is $45.
On Friday, August 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. and on Saturday, August 2 from noon to 10 p.m. the exhibit will be on view. The donation is $10. More information is available by calling 508-693-8045.
There was a fascinating literary and art experience about mermaids this past week offered at a book signing for Margot Datz’s new book, A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids, held at Lola’s Restaurant on July 13. It’s hard to believe that Margot was not a mermaid in her past life.
Four generations will gather this weekend at the summer home of Avery (Bud) and LeNore Skilton, Plum Blossom’s Place, 68 Penacook avenue.
Bud and Lenore have been coming to the Vineyard for 40 years. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family reunion on the Island in 2005.
Guests this weekend include their daughter Beth and her husband Edward Merritt, and their grandson Dr. Christopher Merritt and his wife Dr. Nicole Abrunzo who recently moved from Chicago for Christopher to take a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Brown University Medical Center.
Planning a wedding, anniversary, family reunion, special tribute? Have guests coming? Let me know. This column shares memories, coming events and all that’s new and exciting in Oak Bluffs. And by the way, don’t forget to open your gifts.
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