I am not a regular blog reader. Often I may link to a blog from a news or social media site, but I don’t subscribe to blogs and have never found one that I have made an effort to return to. Sometimes in searching for specific topics, Google will offer me some relevant blogs, but I tend to avoid them when I can find well-known, reputable sources for information.
But I have always wanted to chronicle my experiences in the classroom, so I am resurrecting Fate of the Empire, a feeble attempt I made at blogging back in 2009. I have four objectives for FOTE Redux: 1. To write over a sustained period of time as a model for my students (while they journal, I will craft my blog post for that week); 2. To chronicle and reflect on my teaching and student learning; 3. To document arts and cultural experiences I engage in outside of the classroom; and 4. To provide students with a safe space for sharing outstanding student work and writing. For this reason, I will need to make the blog a private site with invitation only access.
Saturday is Art Beat in Somerville--my favorite free public event. The City closes the streets in Davis Square for local artists to share and sell their work. So this event will be the first featured on my blog.
From the Somerville Arts Council Website:
ArtBeat is one of the area's largest and most innovative arts festivals, with over a dozen bands, dance troupes, 75 craft vendors, food, and all-age activities.
This year's ArtBeat theme is "Voice," a celebration of all things that have to do with being vocal —both literally and figuratively. How does a community find a collective voice and be heard? How does an individual find a voice to speak up and share thoughts, desires and frustration? From sotto voce to a loud roar, voices can take on all volumes, tones and timbres. What's your voice — and how does it harmonize or perhaps clash with other voices? Thinking in a more expansive way, voice doesn't have to be vocal or audible — it is more about advocacy. Someone doesn't always have to speak out loud to be heard; voice can embody all types of expression. We look forward to your creative interpretations of this theme — whether it's a proposed puppet show about a girl who loses her voice, dance choreography that addresses the voices we hear in our heads, or a sound installation about how giving voice can affect change. Surprise us! Get Vocal!
On Saturday, July 15th we shut down Davis Square for craft vendors, two stages of music, dance in the Somerville Theater, and a host of great interactive performances from 11 am to 6 pm.
Two items I bought last year at Art Beat:
Fish Print Coasters by Stephanie Mason, Gloucester
I promise to post many photos from the day, but I hope many of you will join me there!
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