My beautiful daughter-in-law's beautiful violin with her beautiful harpist friend Elizabeth Steiner
Vaughan Williams- Lark Ascending Arr. Violin + Harp
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UNDOCUMENTED: DIFFERENCE IN AMERICA TODAY
Kirk's Grocery, Billings, MT December 6, 2018 - January 6, 2019 Curated by Sherri Cornett and Dr. Aaron Rosen The dual show features internationally recognized artists MICHAEL TAKEO MAGRUDER and BENTLY SPANG. Each artist reflects on discourses of intolerance and belonging in the light of their family histories and current events, especially the crisis facing immigrants at the southern border of the United States. Community response to this show, (and the addition of Plaid Shirt Guy's plaid shirt in the front gallery), was powerful. For more information: https://www.sherricornett.com/undocumented-difference-in-america-today.html 'Undocumented' explores immigration, internment, land access at Billings South Side gallery Anna Paige Dec 7, 2018 Billings Gazette https://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/community/undocumented-explores-immigration-internment-land-access-at-billings-south-side/article_974ee693-9491-5dfd-a27f-aa187a54b896.html?mode=nowapp&fbclid=IwAR3ZyWcEQ-ZWkoSqGfUtNQIj_lzNAIJkfw_S3JFbvUrpoI5Q4Nl24fo8IRQ Halloween on Clark Avenue is always uplifting and a reminder how our community can come together to share joy and wonder in a peaceful, if haunting, setting. We estimated 3100 children (and some adults) came up to us for their candy.Six or more of us outside at any one time dispensing the candy with a positive comment or question about costumes for each child - so easy to do. So many darling faces, cheerful "Trick or Treats" and "Happy Halloweens" and costumes. My favorites were a little fortune telling girl, her small table in front of her hanging from shoulder straps, complete with glowing crystal ball, tarot cards and a box into which to place the candy (which dropped down to a cleverly concealed bag underneath) and a little porcupine boy with foot long+ quills arching out of his back and dragging on the ground. Thank you again to Prunella for getting this going so many years ago as a confirmation of Halloween as a fun community event. And thank you to the other residents (who created intricate and beautiful tableaux along the street ... and provided thousands of pieces of candy. and some books! As part of For Freedoms 50 States Initiative Billings, I invited participants in our various events to create lawn signs.
The beautiful What Freedom Means to You banner created by MSUB's Club Art Collective and the Freedom lawn signs that we are creating at the town halls For more information about this project: https://www.sherricornett.com/for-freedoms-billings.html The Dinners Project: Billings Creatives Potluck and Conversations
Part of For Freedoms 50 States Initiative Billings Thursday, October 4, 2018 First Congregational Church of Billings, Community Room, 310 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101
Free To Be Me: Diversity at MSUB
Part of For Freedoms 50 States Initiative Billings Saturday, September 15, 2018 (2:30 – 4:30) MSUBillings Student Union Building, Rooms A & B (lower floor and east through the cafeteria) and Free Speech Lawn 1500 University Dr, Billings, MT
Native American Race Relations and Healing Series “For Freedoms” Part of For Freedoms 50 States Initiative Billings Thursday, September 13, 2018, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Billings Public Library 510 N Broadway, Billings, MT
A sampling of moments from a most beautiful celebration: Collin Kriner and Emily Botel's wedding this last July. I am still in reverential respect & wonder ... the caliber of humans with which they have surrounded themselves, the genuine, open embrace of Emily's family, the joy of having Ann and Scott as partners in this week of love, the deep love and support from our family and friends, and enduring sense of hope. And the dancing! And, the friendly, professional people with whom we worked to pull this off in Carmel Valley.
Love, hugs, love, family, love, friends, and more love ... the glow continues from our Welcome Gathering "Tacos and Toasts" at Georis Gardens in Carmel Valley the night prior to the gorgeous wedding of our son Collin Kriner to our beautiful, talented, daughter-in-law Emily Botel last week.
We were so very touched by those who chose to join us - connections from near and far, older and more recent - and by the tender and humorous words spoken about Collin and Emily. I often told Collin, as he left the house when younger, "have fun and make good decisions." He made very good decisions in his friends, who warmed my heart with their affection, loyalty and attentiveness to all of us, and, especially, his choice of Emily as his wife. And Emily's friends were equally warm. They brought together a deeply happy gathering of people to celebrate them. And, our hearts were overwhelmed with the open embrace from Ann and Scott and their family members. We learned a new and lovely word machatonim, which is so much more than "in-laws" - a lifelong connection made through this wedding. Thank you to Rob Weber for these photos! And to Ann and Scott for the perfect wedding. My latest thoughts on activist curating: "Beyond Hegemony"
... my essay for the RISE: Empower, Change and Action! exhibition catalog. "I admit to a fascination with word play, linguistics, and derivations and that the upswelling of termininology that is aimed at moving us beyond our past—as with post-colonialism, post-capitalism, post-feminism, postmodernism, post-identity, post-heteronormativity—sends me down lengthy rabbit holes of investigation. While I do believe such exercises can expand one’s understanding, the most powerful and empowering actions and interactions come when we take the “Think Globally, Act Locally” motto to the intimate scale— sharing our personal stories and our art and in face-to-face communication." I am grateful to the writings, actions and suggestions which kept these musings evolving: ~Maura Reilly "Curatorial Activism: Towards an Ethics of Curating" ~Bently Spang, who recommended John Brown Childs' "Transcommunality: From The Politics Of Conversion to the Ethics of Respect" ~The artists from RISE, whose work supported these thoughts: Carolyn Doucette, Marisa Govin, Gina Herrera ~The perpetually stimulating work of Linda Nochlin ~And the lecture and conversation with Linda Nochlin, which Maura presented at the University of Sydney’s Curating Feminism conference in 2014 https://vimeo.com/113864836 Exhibition curated by Gutfreund Cornett Art (Karen Gutfreund and myself), Suzanne Whitney-Smedt (Owner/Director, Whitney Modern Gallery) and Marianne Kennedy McGrath (Curator of Art at New Museum Los Gatos). Whitney Modern Gallery, Los Gatos, California, July 18 – August 31, 2018 Reception: 12:30 - 2:30, Artist Talk: 2:30 - 3:30, Saturday, July 21, 2019 Catalog available via Amazon https://www.amazon.com/RISE-Empower-Gutfreund…/…/ref=sr_1_5… Info about the exhibition https://www.gutfreundcornettart.com/info-rise.html Ed Kemmick offered me this column in his Last Best News online newspaper ... an occasional series of conversations with Billings-area leaders who are committed to creating a vibrant community for all. What a fascinating and hope-inducing group of people.
Claudia Stephens Sitting down with Claudia Stephens, the strategic planning specialist for Ag Worker Health & Services, I feel, immediately, her earnest attention. Listening and being heard were some of the themes of our conversation, as were neighborhoods and the influence of mothers Fitzgerald Clark Contemplative, modest and a self-described introvert … Fitzgerald “Jerry” Clark talked with me about courage, the power of our youth, embracing change and looking at our own frailties. Gwen Kircher Gwen Kircher’s life experiences have given her much to share. Our conversation flowed quickly, from being good neighbors to policy making, to history, race and class. All of these topics appertain to her roles as the current chair of the Montana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and a past member of the Billings Human Relations Commission. Marci McLean I caught Marci McLean briefly at home between travels as executive director of Western Native Voice, which promotes Native education, advocacy, leadership and community engagement. Our conversation wandered through our connections to family, the land, the power of words and forgiveness. Tyson Middle Tyson Middle is inspired by art and trains, by the young people he mentors and by his 3-year-old son, Jaxon, who joined us for this conversation.Tyson and his mother co-own Underground Culture Krew, where he sells high-end spray paints to crafters, painters and graffiti artists. He grew up in Billings and Greybull, Wyoming, developed his work ethic on his family’s farm, and earned a psychology degree from MSU Billings. Patrick Scott-Wilson Patrick Scott-Wilson is currently passionate about three things: how stories told through theater create culture, discovering how to be an ally to those facing injustice, and how these support each other. He started Sacrifice Cliff Theatre with his husband, Shad Scott-Wilson, six years ago. They are currently assessing what it means to be a theater company in Billings in the 21st century. Abena Lane Abena Lane’s full birth name translates as “pure strength warrior.” This quality is woven into her military service, her faith and the way she talks about representations of black culture, reaching out a hand and Montana Interfaith Network, a group of spiritual leaders that stands up against violence and injustice. Sonia Davis Sonia Davis is a co-founder of Billings SURJ, a chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice, and the Senior High School speech and debate coach. She spoke compassionately with me about white people addressing injustice, and about mutual respect, standing up for each other and the wisdom of youth. Taylor Tellez As a master’s of education student at MSU Billings, Taylor Tellez’s main message is to be unapologetically yourself. He and I talked about identities and labels and the growing number of circles in Billings that support such discussions. Mehmet "Mo' Casey Having lived his whole life in Baghdad, Iraq, Mehmet “Mo” Casey’s path to leaving the deteriorating conditions there came through a Fulbright scholarship to teach Arabic at Rocky Mountain College. He is currently an international admission and advising specialist at MSU Billings and had much to share about the journey of assimilating into a new culture. SxSW!
Congrats to my son Collin Kriner (film editor) and Director/Writer Nijla Mu'min's team for being selected to premiere this sweet film at SxSW and winning the Narrative Feature Award. Jinn Director/Screenwriter: Nijla Mu’min Summer is a 17-year old carefree black girl, whose world is turned upside down when her mother, a popular meteorologist named Jade Jennings, abruptly converts to Islam and becomes a different person, prompting Summer to reevaluate her identity. Cast: Zoe Renee, Simone Missick, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Hisham Tawfiq, Kelly Jenrette, Dorian Missick, Ashlei Foushee, Maya Morales, Damien D. Smith (World Premiere) Watch it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jinn-Zoe-Renee/dp/B07KLMD4HH IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6641528/ Other Awards & Recognition:SXSW Winner- Special Jury Recognition Award for Writing.American Black Film Festival-ABFF: Best Screenplay Award. NBC Spotlight Actor Award-Zoe Renee.Blackstar Film Festival- Best Narrative Film & Audience Award- Narrative FeatureRoxbury Film Festival- Best Narrative Feature - DramaBronzelens Film Festival- Best Feature & Best of the FestivalIndie Memphis Film Festival- Best Screenplay AwardBarbados Independent Film Festival - Best Narrative FeatureShadow & Act Rising “Creator” AwardMPAC- Hollywood Bureau Media Award for Courage and Conscience 2019Black Reel Award- Best Independent Film 2018Official Selection- BFI London Film Festival 2018 (International Premiere) Thank you to our artists Priscilla Otani, Doerte Weber, Tessie Barrera-Scharaga, Shannon Wright and Carlos Cartagena, the staff and faculty of Santa Clara University and all those who attended from the community. Our Community Conversation with the Artists brought forth many stories to further dialogue around immigration, migration, assimilation and deportation and why and how we, as artists and curators, do such work.
Powerful art and emotional reactions leading to continued sharing of stories at the reception of our "Beyond Borders: Stories of im/Migration". Thank you to our artists, the SCU faculty and staff and the engaged community. Beyond Borders: Stories of im/Migration Santa Clara University January 8 - April 7, 2018 Exhibition Reception: February 2, 2018 Curated by Sherri Cornett and Karen Gutfreund, Gutfreund Cornett Art Migrations of humanity, whether instigated by war, conflict, persecution, poverty or climate change, transport peoples from the known, their homes, families and communities, to the unknown. Beyond Borders: Stories of im/Migration explored the personal and observed narratives surrounding the struggles of flight, the immigration process, asylum, assimilation, deportation, threats of violence and the perception of being “other” within the American culture. Despite the complex assortment of legal, social, emotional and physical challenges, increasing numbers still trade these risks for the chance of safer, better lives for themselves and their families. Beyond Borders acknowledged the dignity, dreams and sacrifices of these people and reflects on where we are going, individually and as community. Received a strong dosage of community, faith, hope, action at MLK Interfaith Service today hosted by Not In Our Town at Wayman Chapel.
Powerful speakers: Susan Barnes doing an adaptation of “A Prayer for America at the end of 2017” SavannahSinquah, Adverse Childhood Experiences Researcher Barbara Marsh singing Mahala Jackson’s “Elijah Rock” Jerry Clark (Baha’i Faith) Abena Lane talking about the weariness of shouldering the conversations and actions and yet still moving forward Reno Charette ‘s “I Combat Hate” essay Pastor Simon Dalondric Bergen Dave Christianson and the Waymon Choir leading us in “Down by the riverside/don’t want to study war no more”, “we shall overcome” and “ this little light of mine” Thanks to all who came out for the “A Series of Fragments of Memories” show and “Luminous” in the other gallery! Lots of interaction and sharing of experiences at my piece “What [(Is It) About My] Memory” made this first mini-installation so satisfying.
Collin Kriner, Emily Botel, Courtney and Chris Scott, Judy Johnson-williams, Durba Ghatak Sen, Rebecca Stroth-Pickens And loved sharing the evening with the artists: Shannon Amidon, Katelyn Dorroh, Sally Beth Edelstein, Penny McElroy, Priscilla Otani, Blond Jenny and David Weinberg and especially Karen Gutfreund, the curator and artist. What [(Is It) About My] Memory? What about my memory? What memory? Somas http://www.sherricornett.com/somas-what-is-it-about-my-memory.html Memory Cards http://www.sherricornett.com/memory-cards-what-is-it-about-my-memory.html |
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