Hello Fellow Members,
Beauty is all around us in October and I hope you are taking the moments to breathe deeply of the fresh air and glory in the colors of autumn in New England. I’ve spoken before of my life in Rome and find it interesting how often I am reminded of that. In fact, that we even speak of October at this time of year is due to Julius Caesar and his reform of the Roman calendar around 45 BCE. Verbally, October’s prefix means the eighth month, but it is the 10th month of the Julian calendar. September, November, and December are similarly misplaced by two months, because Julius added July (for himself) and August (ditto…). Of course, he did that in order to put the calendar on a schedule based on the earth’s revolution around the sun rather than the extremely complicated Roman computations so we owe him a debt of gratitude. But as the Bard said, “What’s in a name?” Whether the 8th or 10th, October is a lovely month.
The colors of October, and of all the seasons, are reflected in the Artist Member Show still open at the Arts Center. I urge you to come in and be surrounded by beauty in its myriad artistic forms and mediums. The Opening Reception on September 20th literally packed the house and the response was electric. Without hyperbole, this is the finest Artist Member Show anyone can recall. It is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. through October 27th. Do not just drive by; come on in and refresh your spirits.
There are many ways to express beauty, to express art, to be creative. Our extremely popular 4th Friday @ the Arts Cafe evenings are among the ways. On October 25, we highlight Hugh Blumenfeld, a singer-songwriter, published poet, ex-English Professor, present medical doctor, and researcher, a life-long professional musician: a true Renaissance Man. Hugh was the first musician to play at our 4th Fridays and having him back this month on the 2nd anniversary of our musical evenings will indeed be an evening to celebrate. Among the many venues he’s played in Europe and America, he has played in Greenwich Village in the vibrant 1980’s, the Smithsonian’s Folkways Collection, and the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage Series in Washington, DC. He has opened for Arlo Guthrie among many other greats. He was also Connecticut’s State Troubadour from 1999-2000. And he will be here in Marlborough with beautiful music from quiet ballads to political satire on Friday, October 27 at 7:30 – 9:00 . ($8/individual or $15 for two) What an evening this will be, truly one evening you do not want to miss.
But to bring you all this beauty, we must have members so October is also the month in which we begin our 2014 Membership Drive. Check our website (www.marlborougharts.org) for the Membership Form. Frankly, the Marlborough Arts Center would not exist without the loyal support of each and every one of us. So fill out the form, send it in with your dues, and we will send you your 2014 Membership Card giving you the 10{eba5a16469fb4a7f18f8ea69c1431b00c5f2da579f8ac6bd75c322ccea0d0754} discount on purchases plus the other benefits of belonging to this dynamic group of art lovers. These Art Shows, classes, workshops, music, collaboration with Town Hall and the schools, the being a center for art in our community and the region: these are visual signs of the Arts Center at work throughout the year, but we need your dues to do it all. The Membership Committee will send out an email reminder to rejoin – or join – soon. Already they are organizing for receiving membership forms and for writing the second Membership Directory that has brought us closer together as a group, which is why we begin now so the popular Directory will be ready for you in January and the beginning of the new membership year.
As I sign off for this month, I realize we are all busy in many ways and hope it really is a good month for you personally in the midst of such seasonal activity – and the beauty around us.
Joan
Joan Lester, President