Racimo con Brio: Fear Not Summer's End; Lots of Great Arts Ahead

By Victoria Racimo Thursday, August 26, 2010

As we find summer winding down, the suntan lotion nearly gone, squeezed to the max like the last bit from a tube of travel tooth paste, and as we anticipate that last juicy bite of hamburger on Labor Day and listen to the last crunch of potato chip, I hope your summer has been restful and lively, exciting yet calming, productive and “lazy.” So, as fall slides in, it’s so long to May June July and August and hello to school, more work, shorter days and hello to new events.

“An Occasion for the Arts” comes our way October 2nd. More on that later – but for now, a reminder to mark your calendars.

More immediately, the VSO presents “Unplugged,” an intimate, acoustic preview of the Symphony season at the Granby Theatre on Saturday, August 28 at 7 p.m. Joe Burgstaller, Robert Thies, Sarah Williams and Vahn and Amanda Armstrong will perform. Music Director JoAnn Falletta is hosting.

A new exhibit of photographs by Williamsburg resident David Scherer is on display at the Williamsburg Library Gallery now through September 4. The exhibit is free of charge and viewable during library hours.

David describes his choice of subjects as "eclectic," says he grew up in Williamsburg, (Williamsburg, Brooklyn that is) and his first camera was an old box Brownie. He has taken photos for a number of area organizations and non-profit groups and was a Colonial Williamsburg volunteer for 13 years.

I visited the exhibit just after it opened and was taken with some of his pictures. Reminded me of photographer Joel Meyrowitz, a favorite of mine for many years. Especially notable were these pictures: a shot of rhinos in the zoo. In the foreground, a sign which read,”On strict diet – DO NOT FEED.” Others - a lone squirrel in the snow, REALLY looking at a thermometer that reads 15 degrees, a striking shot of seagulls and the Surry Ferry, and finally a very moving picture of exhausted fire fighters, done out, leaning against their Jersey City fire truck during 9/11.

This coming Saturday, the 28th, The College Bookstore in Merchants Square will be hosting two-time Bram Stoker award-winning horror author Brian Keene, who will be reading from and discussing his newest book, "A Gathering of Crows."

Mr. Keene is almost single-handedly responsible for reinvigorating the zombie novel with his book "The Rising," and its sequel "City of the Dead." His new book explores a very different kind of evil. Here is a description: "Something wicked has come to the sleepy town of Brinkley Springs, something ageless and dark. And when this long night is over, Brinkley Springs will awake to blood -and death."

Here’s advance notice of the Kick-Off Event of something really special titled “Constitutional Conversations” on Monday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Library Theatre.

Congressman Rob Wittman (R-1st VA); Dean of the William and Mary School of Law, Davison Douglas; Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-96th VA); Sen. John Miller (D-1st VA); and City of Williamsburg Mayor Clyde Haulman set the stage for an eight-month conversation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. This non-partisan event is a celebration of civic education and active participation in democratic self-governance. Perhaps at no time in recent memory have the intricacies of Constitutional law played such a central role in the everyday happenings of American politics - both in the home and at the highest levels of government.

Beginning in October, the Williamsburg Regional Library and The Institute of Bill of Rights Law at the William and Mary School of Law are presenting a series of conversations about the Constitution and Bill of Rights led by law students and featuring instructional programs for each of the following groups: elementary school students, middle and high school students, and parents. You’re invited to join the effort to start a national conversation about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Eight sessions beginning October 7 and running throughout the year until May 5, 2011.

As I close out today’s column, I’m looking forward to taking a long overdue vacation. After next week’s column, “Racimo con Brio,” will be on hiatus, back on September 23rd, the day after my interview at the Library with the authors of “Furious Love.”  I say vacation but in fact, it will be a combination of work and play. Am going to R & R in Malibu, for a while, (am currently in Los Angeles on tour.) Then back on the east coast to direct a special theatrical event in Washington, D.C. on September 16 at the Newseum. It’s the launch of Splashilife, a new organization geared to helping Millennials find their way in today’s depressed economy, jobs, education, etc. It’s anticipated that Whoopi Goldberg will be part of the show. So I lied, not wading in the Pacific the whole time. Soon on the DC Metro. But oh, what fun.