“Troy Events Combine the Arts and Advocacy”

Sanctuary for Independent Media announces spring events

Troy events combine the arts and advocacy

By Nana K. Adjei-Brenyah

Published 2:07 pm, Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Art and advocacy will meet this spring at the Sanctuary for Independent Media, which has just released its spring schedule.

To kick off the season, the Sanctuary will host a three-day convergence called “Changing the Climate: (r)Evolution for Social and Environmental Justice,” beginning March 22.

Other featured events include the “Be the Media” workshops and a talk and film screening with MacArthur genius grant winner Louis Massiah on April 13.

Admission to most events is by donation ($10 suggested, $5 student/low-income). The Sanctuary is located at 3361 Sixth Ave. (at 101st Street) in North Troy. For more information, call (518) 272-2390 or visit https://www.mediasanctuary.org.

The full season:

Friday, March 22, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, 4-9 p.m.; Sunday, March 24, 9 a.m.-noon: “Changing the Climate: (r)Evolution for Social and Environmental Justice.” The three-day summit will be a joining of minds driven by economic, environmental and social development. The first day will feature an art opening and a book event focused on the prison industrial complex. Saturday will feature five distinct tracks of workshops, lectures and conversations geared toward social change and a wide variety of issues, including bio-remediation, urban gardening and media representation. Sunday will provide an opportunity for all convergence participants to meet.

Friday, March 22, 7 p.m.: Book release party for “Maroon the Implacable: The Collected Writings of Russell Maroon Shoatz.” Celebration of release of book by Shoatz, a self-described political prisoner who is serving life in prison in the killing of a police officer.

Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m: Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits. Performance by one of Africa’s best-selling recording artists.

Saturday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.: Filmmaker Louis Massiah. Screening with the acclaimed documentary filmmaker and founder of the Scribe Video Center in Philadelphia.

Friday, April 19, 7 p.m.: Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole. Performance by Watson, a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist and songwriter.

Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m.: “Birth Story” with filmmakers Sara Lamm & Mary Wigmore (via Skype). The story of Ina May Gaskin, who created a model of care for women and babies that changed a generation’s approach to childbirth.

Thursday, May 2, 7 p.m.: “Taking A Chance on God: The Story of Pioneer Gay Priest John McNeill” with filmmaker Brendan Fay. Celebration of the story of renegade gay priest John McNeill and the founding of the outcast gay Catholic group Dignity.

Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m.: “Our Nixon” with filmmaker (and former Troy resident) Penny Lane. Previously seized by the FBI during the Watergate investigation, this visual record created by H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and Dwight Chapin presents an intimate and complex portrait of the Nixon presidency.

Saturday, May 18, all day: “Bike Fest 2013.” An all-around celebration of bicycles, including a neighborhood bike rodeo, community meal, cakes, movies. A benefit for Troy Bike Rescue. Suggested donation: $20.

Wednesday, May 22, 7 p.m.: “Dirty Wars: The World is a Battlefield” with author Jeremy Scahill. A look inside America’s new covert wars.

Saturday, June 15, all day: “Juneteeth” with MAKU Sound System, Taina Asili y la Bande Rebelde. Taina Asili presents a celebration of the oldest national commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the U.S.

Exhibit

Opening: 5-6:30 p.m.. Friday, March 22, through June 15. “Connecting with the Land.” Experience local farms through the eyes of youth, with photos taken during photography classes at urban and rural farms in Rensselaer and Washington counties.

Saturday, June 1-Sunday, June 2: “Found Art Mosaic Mural Workshop.” Learn the art of breaking tile, cutting mirror, gluing, grouting and more with artist-in-residence Isaiah Zagar.

‘Be the Media’

This season’s “Be The Media!” workshop series includes:

Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.-noon: “Freedom To Connect.” Digital freedom in the Internet age.

Saturday, March 23, 2-4 p.m.: “Histories, Dreams and Disasters.” Stories of independent media organizations.

Tuesday, April 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: KitchenSanctuary presents “The Story of Beans.” Digital storytelling meets DIY cooking in this teaching session.

Sunday, April 14, 1-5 p.m.: “The Wealth Around You: A Community History Workshop.” Workshop for simple independent filmmakers that want to shine a light on the community.

Saturday, May 4, 1-5 p.m.: “Kids and Guns: Digital Stories.” This workshop will focus on the North Central Troy community with digital storytelling techniques to explore issues of growing up with guns and violence.

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