Alameda Meet the Artists Reception
January 18, 2014, 11:30-3:30
Alameda Museum
Presented by Artists Embassy International.
This photo report is offered as a tribute to Mary Rudge. Mary was a long time resident of Alameda, member of Artists Embassy International and, for many years, part of Natica Angilly’s Poetic Dance Theater Company. She was an honored poet, artist, historian, reporter and an active proponent for world peace and understanding. Mary travelled around the world with Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company performing her poetry in conjunction with United Poets Laureate International and by personal invitations.Mary was the founder of Alameda Island Poets Branch of California Federation of Chaparral Poets and First Poet Laureate of Alameda. During this event on January 18, Mary read her poem, Irish Girls with her daughter, Diana, as it was being danced by Natica Angilly’s Poetic Dance Theater Company. She also introduced her latest book, Jack London’s Neighborhood which arrived from the printer the previous day.
Mary passed in her sleep early in the night of January 19, 2014. Her daughter, Diana, was with her.
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| Mary Rudge, Judy Hardin Cheung, Diana Rudge. Judy is presenting a photo of Mary and Diana during their reading of "Irish Girls" at the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival in September, 2013. This presentation was made on January 18, 2014, right after their performance of "Irish Girls" at the Alameda Museum. (photo by George Hollie) |
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| Panorama of Artists Embassy International Annual Art Show during the month of January, in the Alameda Museum's art gallery. (Photo by Bob Arnold) |
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| Food, fun and friends are major components of this arts event. Background art is by Suparna Ghosh, Montreal, Canada; Alisha Rodrigues, Tetonia, ID; Kazumi Crasney, Oakland, CA; Elizabeth Addison, Oakland. (Photo by Judy Hardin Cheung) |
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Our Program was opened by Artists Embassy International President Natica Angilly introducing prize winning poets from the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival of September, 2013, held in the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Each poet read their prize winning poem.
Dancer Lois Flood of Diablo Dance, with poet Marjorie Wagner, performed Marjorie's poem, Vincent, If You Only Knew."
Artists spoke about their art.
Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company, artistic director Natica Angilly, performed two Grand Prize winning poems from the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival: Seamstress Masters Her Craft, by Joanne M. Clarkson, Olympia, WA; and Out of Temper, Out of Tune, by Jan Dederick, El Cerrito, CA.
Mary Rudge introduced her new book (arrived the day before from the printers) Jack London's Neighborhood.
Dancers of the Pharoahs, artistic director Shukriya DeVine, performed Mary Rudge's poem, Irish Girls, read by Mary Rudge and her daughter, Diana Rudge.
Banat el Hogar performed Spinny Dance, lead by Loywanner Haddadou, artistic director.
Prize winning books and newly published books were available on a table to be reviewed and purchased.
Performing dancers in the dance troupes: Wanda Ingmire, Nancy Merritt, Cindy Levinson, Sarah Lum, Loywanner Haddadou, Faith Dunham-Sims, Vera Foss, Ronda Hollie, Caroline Williams, Takako Miyshita, Natica and Richard Angilly. Music for Out of Temper, Out of Tune by David Merritt.
We apologize for not being unable to post photos of everyone who spoke, read or performed. It was a very rich and varied afternoon!
Photos are by Judy Hardin Cheung and George Hollie unless otherwise stated. Photos were selected and edited by Judy Hardin Cheung.
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| Natica Angilly, President of Artists Embassy International, opened the show with welcomes and introductions. In addition to being MC for the afternoon, Natica is also the artistic coordinator of Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company and president of AEI. |
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| Alegra Silberstein , Davis, CA, read her "October Afternoon." |
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| John Rowe, El Cerrito, CA, read his "The Celebration" |
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| Kay Speaks, Livermore, CA, read her poem, "Endangered People." |
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| Florence Miller, Fremont, CA, read her "Raven Reads the Fog." |
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| Lucy Lang Day reads her prize winning poem, "Water Lilies." Water lilies and lotus was a secondary theme of this show. |
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Poets who were invited to read as the local prize winning poets of the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival were Claire J. Baker, Katy Brown, Dah, Lucy Lang Day, Jan Dederick, Mary Eastman, Carol Frith, Laverne Frith, Tanya Joyce, debee loyd, Wulf Losee, Florence Miller, Garrett Murphy, Elizbeth Pelaez Norris, John Rose, Yu-Hua Liao Rozelle, Alberta Silberstein, Kay Speaks, Marjorie Wagner. AEI poets and members of Alameda Island Poets branch of California Federation of Chaparral Poets were also invited to read as time allowed.
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| Lois Flood of Diablo Dance performed to a backdrop of the art of Natica Angilly. |
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| Throughout the afternoon, Arther Levinson, AEI's official videographer, documented the program for AEI archives. |
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| Mary Rudge and Diana Rudge read Mary's poem, "Irish Girls," in the background as Dancers of the Pharoahs perform the dance for an appriatiave audience. |
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| Dancers of the Pharoahs, Shukriya DeVine artistic director, performed "Irish Girls" by Mary Rudge, read for performance by Mary Rudge and her daughter, Diana Rudge. |
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| Dancers of the Pharoahs perform with a backdrop of the art of Natica Angilly, Richard Angilly and Judy Hardin Cheung |
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| Sometimes details do matter. We love those Irish Girls' socks! |
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| This event is always a good time to meet new friends. Maria Kaplan, sister of United Poets Laureate Past-President Ben Yuzon and Current President Virgilio Yuzon, met us for the first time. Here, she poses with Judy Hardiin Cheung after discussing various art and poetry common interests. (photo by Nicole Dobson Neal) |
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| Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company performed one of three grand prize winning poems from the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival, 2013, "Seamstress Masters Her Craft," by Joanne M. Clarkson, Olympia, WA. "...She learned from her grandmother who reared her..." |
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| "Her life is cloth; it is how she sees. Draped or fitted, each body seeks its narrow rainbow..." |
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| "Her schooling was not at machines, although machines have their use, or in stitches although she knows at least two hundred by heart,..." |
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| "Out of Temper, Out of Tune," by Jan Dederick, El Cerrito, CA, was the second of this dance medley of grand prize winning poems from the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival danced by Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company. ""Piano's out of temper, piano's out of tune. She clangs instead of sings, I don't want to play with her...." |
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| "...isn't there...someone who hears in each string of us our potential for resonance? |
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| Poet Jan Dederick, El Cerrito, CA, takes a bow after the dance performance of her grand prize winning poem, "Out of Temper, Out of Tune." |
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| Tanya Joyce, artist, poet, workshop leader, discusses her art. Tanya and Natica led art workshops: Jan. 4, "Power of the Labyrinth"; Jan 25, "Know Your Audience." |
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| Richard Angilly discusses his "Poetry Bytes" and recites some of his poems. |
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| Elizabeth Addison, Oakland, CA, discussed her art and her prize for "Big Art" sponsored by Salons for Your Imagination in conjuction with the 20th Annual Dancing Poetry Festival. |
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| Nicole Dobson Neal poins out her rock sculptures and magnets. Her magnets, at $1 each, are always the best selling item of the afternoon. Don't go home without one. |
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| Takako Miyshita, artist and dancer, discusses her ichibana creation on the far right in this photo. |
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| Ishtar-Lhotus Zavier, dancer, poet, artist, talks about her art. |
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Artists who displayed their art in this month-long exhibition include: Tanya Joyce, Jacqueline Paull, Joyce Yamata, Dr. Kenneth Kuanling Fan, Liz Hack, Natica Angilly, Richard Angilly, Judy Hardin Cheung, Nicole Dobson Neal, Claire J. Baker, Ishtar-Lhotus Zeviar, Marjorie Wagner, Suparna Ghosh, Alisha Rodriques, Zazumi Crasny, Elizabeth Addison, Takako Miyshita, Mary Hart, and Mary Laughren.
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| Banat El Hogar, directed by Loywanner Haddadou, lived up to the number's name of "Spinny Dance." |
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| Green skirts of "Spinny Dance" hover in the air, reflecting the green lotus leaves of the red framed Lotus Scroll by Dr. Kenneth Kuanling Fan in the back. Beside the Lotus Scroll are two additional poetic paintings on scrolls by Dr. Kenneth Kuanling Fan of China. |
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| We all felt light headed and spinny from all of the art of so many genres. The dancers invite us with outstretched hands to always dance throughout our lives. |
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Many books were available for review and purchase. Scheduled authors showing books included Natica Angilly, Tanya Joyce, and Judy Hardin Cheung with their collaborative chapbook, "Inspiration and Collaboration; Judy Hardin Cheung with her new chapbood, "Living in Dreams"; Mary Rudge's new historical book, "Jack London's Neighborhood." Also available were books of Dave Holt, Nina Serrano, Peter Lee, Alameda High School Anthologies, Tanya Joyce, Garrett Murphy, Nanette Bradley Deetz, and Claire J. Baker.
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| Judy Hardin Cheung introduced her new chapbook, "Living in Dreams," read two poems from it, discussed her art on the wall, brought the food and took photos. She was very busy! |
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| Dave Holt tells about his award winning book, "Voyages to Ancestral Islands." |
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| Elizabeth Paleaz Norris introduces "Prisms," Literary Arts Magazin by the students of St. Joseph/Notre Dame High School, Alameda, CA. |
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| Mary Rudge (L) debuted her book, "Jack London's Neighborhood," on January 18. Early in the morning of January 20, Mary quietly passed away. Her daughter, Diana (R) was with her.We are so glad that Mary was able to take part in our joyful arts event and to be active until the very end. We love you and miss you, Mary Rudge. You will be in our hearts forever. |
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