I was over at MassArt today doing some filming for a set of videos I'm producing for their website, and it's fun seeing progress on the new residence hall. The environmentally-friendly building, designed by ADD Inc. with input from MassArt students, is inspired by Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life.
The building will enable MassArt to guarantee housing for all freshmen and sophomores. It looks like it's going to be a cool place to live.
The Alcove Gallery had its grand opening on March 3 with a show called Within. It features works by Michael Richmond and Emily Korson (fellow San Francisco Art Institute MFA grad) that "expose what lies within the body and mind." Michael's paper cutouts and Emily's anatomically inspired encaustic paintings are beautiful and evocative.
The gallery is at the corner of Arlington and Melrose Street in the Bay Village neighborhood. Check out the show before March 31!
Stand for Children continues to do fantastic local and statewide work to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for college. As Stand expands to more communities across the nation, they asked me to produce a short piece for a staff retreat to highlight the mission and passion that unite their staff.
The Winter 2012 issue of Tikkun magazine features a great series of articles on restorative justice, including pieces by Kay Pranis (an advisor on my Peacemaking Circle project) and by Fania Davis and Rita Alfred, whom I've worked with in documenting restorative justice in Oakland, CA. There's also a photo I took of a peacemaking circle at the now-closed Cole Middle School in Oakland.
The final details of Indelible Lalita are finally getting taken care of. On Wednesday we recorded the remaining music for the film with Brian Cass at Sounds Interesting Studio in Middleborough.
Carla Kihlstedt (playing pump organ above, but mostly playing violin and voice) and Geni Skendo did a fantastic job... helped by great music by Jorrit Dijsktra (maybe I'm biased, since he's my husband).
In January we'll do our sound mix, followed by the online. Can't wait!
This fall I worked with Jeanne Blake of Words Can Work to produce three videos about kids and healthy lifestyles. The pieces premiered on November 15 at a forum at the Massachusetts Statehouse called "Talking with Kids about Healthy Lifestyles." The discussion focused how teachers, parents, and other caring adults can positively impact young people's lives by talking - and listening - sensitively to them about nutrition, physical activity, and weight.
I had the pleasure of filming three young people - Khaaliqa, Keron, and Chloe - and the adults in their lives who have made a difference.