Pioneering artist Barbara Slate: ‘My Life in Comics’
Great Barrington — Barbara Slate, one of the first women to write and draw for Marvel and DC Comics, will speak about a career that has coincided with the growth of graphic novels from an under-the-covers cult to a well-respected genre. In conjunction with the month-long Berkshire Festival of Women Writers, the Hillman-Jackson Gallery at Bard College at Simon’s Rock will present “My Life in Comics,” by comic industry trailblazer Slate from Tuesday, March 31 until Thursday, April 16.
Slate will give a talk on “My Life in Comics and Tips for Creativity,” followed by a reception, on Tuesday, March 31 at 5 p.m. in the Hillman-Jackson Gallery at the Daniel Arts Center. The gallery is open to the public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Slate has been called “titanically talented” by industry legend Stan Lee. In a profile for the book “A Century of Women Cartoonists,” Slate is singled out for her contribution to comics created specifically for girls in a traditionally male-dominated career and industry.
“My Life in Comics” will display original pages, synopses and rough sketches demonstrating the process of illustrating a comic book or graphic novel. In addition to Marvel and DC Comics, Slate has written and drawn for Archie and Disney Comics as well as created several graphic novels such as Getting Married and other Mistakes. Slate teaches sequential art using her critically acclaimed textbook You Can Do A Graphic Novel and is a Comic Con keynote speaker.
For more information, a complete list of events, directions, or parking instructions, visit the College’s frequently updated website www.simons-rock.edu/events.
–H.B.
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April 11 benefit for D’Aniello family at Butternut Ski Area
Great Barrington — A benefit for a local family who lost everything after fire swept through their home is planned for April 11, 4 p.m. at the Butternut Ski Area Upper Lodge.
The D’Aniello family was not home when the March 11 fire began in the basement and rose through the house. Chris D’Aniello teaches auto shop and is the football coach at Monument Mountain Regional High School; his wife Anne teaches social studies. Their three girls are 6, 8 and 11.
Owners of Smokey Sweet BBQ, Todd Tinker and Sarah Mead, will provide the main meal. They have asked that people bring appetizers, salads, pastas and desserts. If your last name starts with A-I, bring an app or salad; J-R: side dish; S-Z, bring a dessert. Refreshments will be available at the Lodge, and the event will also feature live music.
For questions or details, or to donate for the event’s raffle and auction, email smokeysweetbbq@gmail.com, or go to the Smokey Sweet BBQ Facebook page or the event’s Facebook page. So far, 356 people have signed up to attend.
Advance tickets can be purchased at S&A Supply, The Well and the VFW; $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 12-5 (under age 5 are free.) Tickets will be $25 at the door. Sarah Mead, who organized the event, will also have tickets at Monument High, where she works.
If you can’t attend and would like to make a donation to support the family, you can do so at gofundme, where an account was set up in their name.
–H.B.
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Music in Common’s 2nd Youth Summit at Bard College at Simon’s Rock July 19 -29.
Great Barrington –– Music in Common (MiC) announces the 2015 MiC Summer Youth Summit at Bard College at Simon’s Rock from July 19-29. The Youth Summit enrolls American and international delegates to participate in a music and multimedia program for high school aged teens. The program is open to anyone regardless of musical skill level. Registration is now open.
During the course of the 10-day program, participants live on campus and work collaboratively to write and record a song and make a music video. They gain hands on knowledge of the creative and technical processes of songwriting, recording, performance, and videography as well as experiential learning of the important life skills of teambuilding, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Integrated into the Summit are field trips to many of the cultural destinations and natural places the Berkshires play home to. The Summit concludes with a public performance of the delegates’ song, screening of their video, and a community forum of the teens’ experiences in the program.
The 2014 Summit brought together a diverse group of American teens with an equally diverse group of Israeli and Palestinian teens. In the midst of a raging war between Israel and Hamas, this was no easy feat. “We didn’t think we were going to pull it off and it was literally down to the wire,” said Music in Common executive director, Todd Mack. “We saw other organizations with similar programs cancel because of the war but that was never really an option in our minds. And I think that because of the war, the experience for the kids was much more powerful and lasting, the bonds deeper, and the friendships more meaningful.”
It’s no surprise to Mack that he and the MiC team didn’t give in to the challenges the war presented. For the past five years, the nonprofit organization has committed itself to bridging divides and deepening understanding between Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans. Mack founded MiC in 2005 in response to the murder of his friend and band mate, Danny Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was abducted in Pakistan shortly after 9/11. Over the past 10 years, Music in Common has produced programs and events in some 250 communities throughout the world, serving thousands of people along the way. They have worked extensively in the Middle East since 2010.
Online registration for the 2015 MiC Youth Summit is now open at www.musicincommon.org/youthsummit and will close April 15 or when enrollment fills, whichever comes first. Enrollment is limited to the 25 delegates and is expected to fill quickly. Scholarships are available. Videos from last year’s Summit can be viewed at https://youtu.be/1obs36_Q2LQ and https://tinyurl.com/q36sn3d. For additional information please contact Youth Summit project coordinator Nancy M. Rogers at nancy@musicincommon.org.
— H.B.
