55th Reunion May 24 – 27
Click here to register now!
Reunion Teaser from our Class President, Mollie Fair!
I honestly think the Friday agenda is topnotch. Pres. McCarthy’s address at 9am will be excellent and the student panel always knocks my socks off. The update on the Neilson library will be fascinating: the one I heard a year ago gave me a glimpse of a brave new world in education. The faculty presentations will be superior and our special class program at 3pm is something our reunion chairs are raving about. It is a one-act play “Tea for Three,” written by Elaine Bromka, a Smith alum, presenting a conversation between Betty Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, and Nancy Reagan. Might sound a little hokey but it has been an off-Bway hit and a reunion hit also. Then we can all relax together and move on to enjoy our class dinner. Since registration costs the same however long you stay, you might as well stay all three nights and join in the parade and picnic lunch/class meeting on Sat. Both Friday and Sat. Nights back at our HQ we will be having readings and discussions by various authors we have in our class. We decided that having featured our visual artists at tour 50th we would highlight our literary ones this time. Be sure to join us May 24-27.
Click here to register now for a great reunion.
Calling all creative and energetic members of the class of 1963
Writers, artists, poets, philanthropists, bloggers, photographers, founders: Send links to your work to Carol Wilson Lightwood or Rosalie Oster Kerr for posting on our Links You’ll Love page (see above). We can be great resources for each other as many of us begin new endeavors or continue existing ones.
Betsy Abbott Quilt Art to be exhibited at Wayne Art Center, PA
The Wild Ravenwood quilt created by Betsy Abbott
Betsy took up quilting as an art form after retirement and her quilts have been shown in several galleries. From March 18 to April 30, 2016 one of her works will be included in a quilt art show at the Wayne Art Center. The opening reception will be April 2nd. For more information visit her website: http://www.betsyabbottquilt.art.com
Georgia Pugh’s Seawall Series exhibit at Alumnae House
One of the Seawall Series of paintings by Georgia Pugh at the Smith College Alumnae House.
If you are in the Northampton area between January 19th and April 18th, 2016, be sure to stop into the Alumnae House to see the exhibition of Georgia Pugh’s paintings entitled ‘The Seawall Series’. There will be a reception for the artist on March 4th, between 5 and 7 p.m.
For more information go to Georgia’s website: http://www.georgiapugh.com
First play by Janice Ambrose produced in Tucson
A scene from The Earth Mother’s Tale by Janice Ambrose performed at the Cabaret Theater in Tucson.
Janice Schwartz Ambrose, a theater major, had her first story published while still at Smith. After graduation life with all its complications came next. Now, 50+ years later, she has had her first play produced.
In January, 2015 the Old Pueblo Playwrights performed ‘The Earth Mother’s Tale’ at the Cabaret Theater in Tucson. When asked how long it took to write it, Janice said “All my life. It is my shadow. And I certainly hope to write more.”
Two Kickstarter successes with classmates
Susan Gilbert Tileston and Mary Buford Hitz have both used Kickstarter successfully to fund new projects. Susan found a new life as a member of a dance troupe and Mary decided to produce an audio version of her latest novel, Riding to Camille.
Susan wrote: Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? For the past 2 summers, my husband and I, plus 10 other untrained dancers, all over the age of 60, have been involved in rehearsing and performing Dancing in the Third Act. The brainchild of Toronto choreographer Randy Glynn (age 64), this is an hour long ‘dance’ piece incorporating our 800 years of lives lived.
We performed to sold out crowds in our home town of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia (pop. 450), took it on the road to Yarmouth, NS. This past summer, we formed The Company of Angels, performed Dancing in the Third Act plus a new piece with 8 teenagers at Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal (started by our chief angel, Randy) and opened two dance festivals in Montreal and Moncton, NB. Taking 14 people on the road isn’t cheap, so I ran a Kickstarter campaign that exceeded our $9000 goal.
What’s our biggest challenge? Remembering the steps! What’s the best thing about this project? Laughing ourselves silly, and having such enthusiastic audiences.
Here are links to videos of parts of The Company of Angels performance, and interviews with some of the dancers. vimeo.com/75546058 For a glimpse of the darker, deeply moving side, watch: vimeo.com/75586333
If you have a ‘New Beginning’, something you’ve begun since you retired, please let us know! We would love to post information about whatever it is–a new company, a new endeavor, a new passion, or a new exhibition! Send information and links to Carol Wilson Lightwood (carollight@sbcglobal.net) or Rosalie Oster Kerr.
Class Artists and Reunion Art Exhibit
Pam Winton Gosner has done a beautiful job of putting many of the works in our Reunion Art Exhibit online. Take a moment now to view them online.
Louise Peabody had her own show at the Alumnae House Gallery last year and there is an interview with Louise about her artwork posted on the College Alumnae website.
Our 50th Reunion posts have been moved to our class Archive, but here are a few photographs from that fabulous, fun weekend!
