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In this ArtsLetter
A Poem by Peaches Gillette
Village at Ithaca, "Seats at the Table"
Peter Walz, "Illusion and Illumination" CAP ArtSpace
SOS" Grant due Sept. 19
CAP's Creative Recovery Fund recipients
Lots of Local Arts Events!
Our Sponsor: Visions Federal Credit Union - Double Bump!
Donate to CAP and THANK YOU!
A Poem
In this ArtsLetter, you'll see a list of our recent Creative Recovery Fund recipients which include quite a few projects that focus on the inspiration and healing when telling our stories.

This poem by local author Peaches Gillette beautifully speaks to that theme.

We hope you scroll down to the listing of local events and enjoy all that our local artists have to offer to us all!

Humility

I will listen
as you speak,
constructing an armature of questions
that invite you to say more.

I will listen with my heart
as you unwind your thoughts
and chance to explore and expose all that you feel.

In this precious moment of mutual grace,
I will sit in the quiet of your words
and use your taking of my time
as an opportunity to give.


Peaches Gillette. from her book,
The Breadth of a Tree: Poems, Letters and Dreams.
Spotlight on CAP Grantee
Village at Ithaca
(written by Ithaca College Writing Intern Grace Condon)
The Best Curriculum: The Value of Collaboration

The project is one of the recipients of our Creative Recovery Fund. (Scroll down to see all recipients!)

Young people (ages 13+) used their creativity, passion, and research skills to reclaim 12 found/used chairs. Through decoupage, paint, and other techniques, they transformed the chairs into testimonials and depictions of Black agents of freedom who came before them. 

Sarah Wolff, Program Educator, came up with the idea while she was walking down her road and noticed an old chair up for grabs in her neighbor’s front yard. Her experience as an educator mainly revolves around teaching poetry and writing, but she has actively been exploring new forms for metaphor beyond the written.
Her idea was to transform waste (old chairs) into a symbol of empowerment detailing a complex history of oppression. The chairs serve as an accessible metaphor for reworking biased systems in the pursuit of providing, protecting, and nurturing all people or...bring the idea of seats at the table to fruition.   

The group of teenagers, mostly young Black men and women, worked out of Sarah’s garage and yard. It was reassuring for Sarah to see young men use their artistic expression to tell their shared history and communicate ongoing challenges their community faces.

The chairs serve as a reclamation of a history that has neglected to be included in much of the curriculum in today's education. Sarah mentioned this might be the best curriculum she has used as an educator, which goes to show just how involved and impactful the project was. This was A chance for them to practice advocacy on a small scale, she said.

“I love seeing moments like that happen; It showed me the value of collaboration,” Sarah said, A table came to exist...We had our table.” 

Merging history with abstract expression, some of the chairs, such as the “Ida B. Wells Throne of Truth and Justice,” were celebratory of Black agents of freedom. Others, such as the “Maternal Mortality Chair,” confronted past and current challenges the system creates. The CDC published a statistic which found black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. The reality is there are racial disparities in access to and quality of healthcare.  

This project bears many questions: Can chairs representing truth and justice have their place at the “table”—current social and political structures—or are these chairs meant to provide a seat for the community they represent at a table that is coming to exist irrespective of the “table” that for so long they have not been welcome to?

Finished pieces for this ongoing project, were displayed this past July at the Ithaca City School District Diversity Symposium.

School administrators and educators who had the opportunity to view the chairs at the symposium were impressed by the students’ craftsmanship, collaboration, and scholarship. The assistant principal of Ithaca High School was in tears after the chairs were presented.  

Though they have made great progress transforming twelve chairs, the project is not over. “It is not a done deal,” Sarah says. “It’s still evolving.” Ideas for the chairs continue to emerge and there is the possibility of future exhibitions.

For more CAP Grantee Features, visit this page
September at CAP ArtSpace
Ithaca College Summer
Scholar Program's
Peter Walz
"Illusion and Illumination"

Learn more about the exhibit here.

Exhibit is up through September 30.
110 N. Tioga Street, Tompkins Center for History & Culture (on the Commons)
Open: Mon - Sat, 10am-5pm.
We thank the Tompkins Trust Company for their generous annual sponsorship of our CAP ArtSpace.
Upcoming Grant Opportunities
CAP's Strategic Opportunity Stipend
Due: Sept 19, 2022
Guidelines on our grant page

CAP's Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS) support artists or arts organizations who have an opportunity or project that will that significantly impact their career or mission.
NYSCA/NYFA Artists with Disabilities Grant
This grant provides up to $1,000 for artists with a disability who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis to cover art related expenses. The grant will be open to visual, media, music, performing, literary, and multidisciplinary artists who live in New York State outside of the five boroughs of NYC. Due Nov. 1. Click here for details.
Our 2022 Creative Recovery
Fund Recipients

CAP's Creative Recovery Fund, now in its second year, provided funds for Tompkins County community-focused arts projects that will make a difference in our communities in the focus areas of racial justice, public and mental health, and economic recovery.
Bree Barton: "Naming the Unnameable," an audio/visual installation featuring local youth sharing their stories.

For me personally, receiving this grant is a beautiful affirmation that the work I am doing with young people matters. So many kids are hurting—and this grant helps provide one of the most invaluable gifts we can offer another human - space to speak. This grant tells them that they matter, and that even their darkest moments can help guide them toward the light.

Circus Culture: BIPOC circus artists come to Ithaca to work and create with Village at Ithaca youth.

Community Unity Music Education Program: for video and camera equipment for local artist Resana Malone to capture and document CUMEP's programs and activities.

Civic Ensemble: "Community Soup, Storytelling Toward the Beloved Community"

In order to face the seemingly insurmountable challenges and divides of the current moment, we need to connect and listen to each other and appreciate and honor each other's stories. Together we can define what our beloved community looks like, and what actions we need to take to make it a reality.

Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers: "Good Trouble" musical commission and performances.

Greater Ithaca Activities Center: Black History Month Talent Show performers.

Mama's Comfort Camp: "Helpful Help," a film featuring conversations with local Mothers of Color.

 It has never been more important to listen directly to mothers and caregivers of color and learn from their personal stories about the challenges and stigma associated with asking for help, maintaining one’s boundaries while attempting to get needs met, and avoiding the strings that are all too often attached to assistance.

OAR of Tompkins County: for a mural tour and mural creation by members of OAR.

Story House Ithaca: "Stages of Life," intergenerational, interracial playwrighting workshop.

Village at Ithaca: "Our Seats at the Table," (See feature above!). Youth use reclaimed chairs to create testimonials to Black agents of freedom.

Walking on Water Productions: "Now. Here. This." a contemporary musical designed for an inclusive audience.

You can see more details about these
projects on our Grantee Directory.
Thank you to The Community Foundation of Tompkins County who generously seeded this grant with $11,000.
The Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County provided $2,500. An additional $3,700 was raised from generous individual donors.
October Greater Ithaca
Art Trail Events
Some Art Trail dates to put in your calendar!

Greater Ithaca Art Trail Group Exhibit on Gallery Night
Friday, October 7, 5pm to 8m

Two Open Studio Weekends!
October 8, 9 and 15, 16, 11am to 5pm

Information about which Art Trail artists will be open on the Open Studio weekends will be at the Art Trail website by September 25th. In the meantime, check out ArtTrail.com to see all artists on the trail. Visits by appointment are available year round!
Our ArtsLetter Sponsor
Thank you Visions FCU!
Double Bump!

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Then, bump it up again!
Only available until September 30th, our Double Bump Share Certificates offer a low-risk way to see higher dividends.
How much higher? Check out the rates here!
Online, over the phone, or at a local branch – open yours today.
So Many Local Art Events
Tompkins County is artistically rich!
Dr. Nia Nunn, Book Release and Video
"DEEP BREATH: Poetry Book & Curriculum"
Learn about and order the book here and watch her amazing video here.

Buffalo Street Books  
Upcoming September author readings amongst other literature events!  

Cayuga Chamber ORchestrra
Learn about their upcoming season and a special Pre-Season Chamber Music Concert, the Gershwin Influence.on September 18. https://ccoithaca.org
 
The Cherry Arts 
Monthly puppets shows, a Sunday, Sept. 11 Kick Off Barbeque and More at https://www.thecherry.org/

Cinemapolis  
See what's playing at cinemapolis.org  
  
Circus Culture  
Check out the fall 2022 schedule for upcoming workshops and classes. 

Community School of Music and Arts  
There's a CSMA faculty show in their gallery, and upcoming Fall offerings for classes and workshops. www.csma-ithaca.org
  
Cornell Concert Series
Sean Ardoin, Kreole Rock and Soul, Saturday, September 17 at 8pm 
Bailey Hall, Cornell University

Corners Gallery   
New paintings by Michael Sampson in his exhibition, Figurative on view September 10-October 28. For details: https://www.cornersgallery.com/  
  
Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers  
Click here to watch their spring concert. https://www.dorothycottonjubileesingers.org  
  
Downtown Ithaca  
Gallery Night Ithaca, on the first Friday of every month. https://www.downtownithaca.com/events/  
  
Gallery at South Hill  
Nicholas Gecan’s, Love Your Mother at Gallery South Hill through Sept 18.    
 
Johnson Museum   
Free and open to all! museum.cornell.edu  
  
Hangar Theater  
The Hangar Theatre has many upcoming events and concerts this Fall!
 
History Center Tompkins County   
Tours, Events, Programs and Exhibits at https://thehistorycenter.net  
  
Ink Shop and Printmaking Center  
Member Show 2022 on view through October 28, and workshops!   

Ithaca City of Asylum
Exiled writers to share their stories. Friday, September 23, 7 p.m.
Learn more here

Kitchen Theatre
Upcoming performances of, Do You Feel Anger? September 6–25. For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://www.kitchentheatre.org
  
Odyssey Bookstore    
Did you know they have book clubs for adults and teens? https://www.odysseybookstore.com  

Opera Ithaca
See their festival running from October 21 to Nov. 6. https://www.operaithaca.org/
  
Running to Places Theater Company  
Frozen Jr. Disney musical, October 7-9. Tickets are free! Preregistration required https://www.runningtoplaces.org/
  
State of the Art Gallery  
Artists Eva Capobianco and Patricia Brown. Through October 2. http://soagithaca.org/  

State Theatre
  
Saltonstall Foundation:  
Open House: Readings + Art, Sunday, September 18, 2-4 pm. https://www.saltonstall.org 
 
Story House Ithaca  
Friday, September 23 at 7 PM for Dissidence: Exiled Writers on Resistance and Risk.    

THIS is Ithaca
latest episode featuring Samantha Mason, a former Gimme Coffee employee who helped form the first baristas' union in the country. Listen here.

Tompkins County Public Library  
There are always great events at the library! tcpl.org.  
 
Trumansburg Conservatory   
Always has a variety of events tburgconservatory.org

Donate to CAP
Support the Arts in your communities
Learn more and find the link at ArtsPartner.org/Give
Thank you!
Enjoy the arts and stay safe