These early bursts of warmth have acted as flower-bloom-speeder-uppers, and around us, New England presents a rather dizzying array of color and texture. On the days the temperature drops back seasonable for April—even chilly—I walk about even more dazed as my eyes feast warmer than the calendar or the specific day’s weather. Put another way, ah, magnolia! Ah, stands of tulips! Ah, flowers!
Maybe it’s not surprising that at this time of the year, worries about snow basically behind us, summer not yet upon us, academic year rounding toward a close, there’s an unbelievable amount to do, see, and hear in the Valley. Oh, and it’s Earth Day—fortieth anniversary version—on Thursday. Like trying to keep pace with the flowers extolling their bright colors, I just can’t keep up. I’ve missed way more than I’ve attended and there’s a lot more I wish I could even consider getting to, and my lovely smart eldest child thinks posts that mention too much “stuff” are boring. And yet, I have a few mentions to make… So, I’m going to hope my frame—essentially, this is why I am making it to these things and think maybe you will want to, as well—holds a blog post together and gives you some great idea, whether you live in my blossoming valley or must look to what’s on offer in your blossoming neck of the woods.
Northampton’s venerable Academy of Music Theatre is hosting four days of puppet shows at ten each morning (Monday through Thursday) this week. They are presenting classic tales for less than taking a kid to the movies (five bucks). I’m taking Saskia on her “home” day from Sunnyside (where she spends three mornings each week). I’m excited about this because puppets are fun. Mostly, I’m excited because she’s two and she’s the fourth child and I mean to do “stuff” with her, like say, the Nields’ awesome sounding Hootenanny or the Tiny Tots class at Hampshire Gymnastics I know to be an extremely delightful adventure, but most of our outings tend to be to River Valley Market, where we have a totally wonderful time, by the way. I’m reminded being told by friends—this before we had children and before twins were not unusual—by a friend who had a child followed by twins. She was so overwhelmed by raising a pair that she pretty much kept them home all the time—thankful for their backyard with swing set—and the twins thought going out meant going to the doctor. Sometimes, I think Saskia gets the fourth child equivalent experience. She loves, for example, riding along for the carpool to her eldest brother’s school (good times!).
So, anyway, we’re going together—with friends even—to the puppet show! And not to raise the bar (languishing on the floor) too high, but on Saturday, we will, I am pretty certain, make it to the Eric Carle Museum to see Paintbox Theater’s Mother Goose. If I am an extraordinary mama—and a little bit organized and the schedules work somewhat in our favor—we’ll go by bus. The bus is so easy and Saskia is dying to ride on one (we do read a lot, and Wheels on the Bus is a favorite). Call that dream-come-true.
**
I did get out with my eldest between his stints as assistant stage manager for PACE’s Jesus Christ Superstar a couple of weeks back and his last minute stage hand turn now for the upcoming production of Pippin at Williston to see Henry V at Smith. It was a great, fresh, all-female slant on the classic drama. The show continues its run Thursday through Saturday and is very much worth seeing. As busy mama to four, I certainly enjoyed going out with my possibly even busier eldest son. While he doesn’t quite tower above me—yet—he’s undeniably taller than me and these days interacting with him can feel a bit science fiction-y. He’s bursting—Incredible Hulk style save for the fact that he’s not turning green nor garnering insane musculature—out of his clothing practically in front of my eyes, practically like the flowers pushing forth in front of me. On my never-to-be-completed to-do list: find him some bigger clothing.
Saturday night upcoming, I’m going to go with one or two of my kids to see First Generation performVisioning at Northampton Center for the Arts. I don’t think that before I see the performance I can accurately describe what I’m going to see, so here’s what I know: my wonderful friend Julie Lichtenberg has been working with underserved populations through the Performance Project for many years, people in prison, youth at risk, and immigrants. What she’s doing, this time with an intergenerational ensemble, is encourage people to claim their voices—and this means not simply individual voice, but also weaving in cultural heritage—to create art that’s meaningful to them, and to others, art that is both beautiful and a vehicle for meaningful community building. This is a fundraiser to support First Generation’s continued efforts. I believe it’s going to be a powerful evening.
**
Last Sunday, I went on my own to see Harriet Diamond’s installation about war, The Pit, at Oxbow Gallery. The show is up Thursday through Sunday the 25th and what I really want to say to you is go see this exhibit. I could barely breathe when I walked out of the gallery I was so moved—including a pained smile at Diamond’s gentle, generous and yet pointed depiction of Barack Obama contemplating Afghanistan—by this work. Her ceramic sculptures, and her large installation (The Pit) manage to be subtle and yet devastating at once. I am not sure how she manages to do this, but I believe it has everything to do with holding humanity dearly. This is the kind of commentary about war we all should be seeing, because there’s just enough gentleness to soften us up and then compel us to really think—hard—about war.
If Diamond’s work leaves you—it did me—a bit defeated about the relentless nature of war as we are engaged in it these days, then maybe like me you’ll be glad for the celebration that is Earth Day. Despite so many harbingers that we aren’t yet doing all we need to do about climate change (admittedly), I believe in celebrating what we can do, what we are doing, and how we feel when doing it, because who can argue against Earth? (Oh, don’t answer that). If you live elsewhere, you know a couple of clicks should lead you to some celebration, even something like cleaning a trail or a park. At the least, visit Carol Duke’s Flower Hill Farm blog (I took a photo from her for this post) and take in some spring in the hills glory. Pulaski Park in Northampton will have many great Earth Day activities for all on Sunday; Dar Williams and Patty Larkin bring their love for the big Momma to the Academy of Music Theatre late that afternoon for a concert all who attend are sure to love. And that’s full circle, Academy, elsewhere, and back.
