Marshwood Middle School

Performing tomorrow

Maine Arts Leadership Initiative participants, teacher leader Kris Bisson and teaching artist leader Brian Evans-Jones have collaborated on a project that will be premiered tomorrow night, June 5 at Marshwood Middle School.

The premiere performance of “The River Sings its Song”, funded by the Marshwood Education Foundation will take place on Tuesday, June 5, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Marshwood Middle School’s seventy-six member chorus has worked the entire school year to research, discover, and collaborate to create a unique curriculum-based study of our local community through the Great Works River and Bridge in South Berwick, Maine. The students worked with artist-in-residence, Brian Evans-Jones, to create their thoughts and then with their Choral Director, Kristine Bisson, to take their words and compose an original piece of music to be sung by the Grade Seven and Eight Marshwood Middle School Chorus.

The students are donating $200.00 from their annual Middle School Talent Show to the Great Works Bridge Brigade to help support the fundraising efforts of the Brigade to build a timber-frame footbridge where the bridge once was accessible. They will be presenting the check to members of the Brigade this Tuesday evening at the concert.

Art of Ashley Bryan

Portland Museum of Art

Opening August 3, 2018 – November 25, 2018

FILM ON CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR ASHLEY BRYAN

JUNE – AUGUST SCREENINGS IN BELFAST, GREAT CRANBERRY

AND PORTLAND

Film trailer:  https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ashleybryan
Website:  www.ashleybryanfilms.org

Portland, ME —  The new award-winning film I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan, winner at 14 film festivals, will be screening in three Maine locations: Belfast, Great Cranberry Island and Portlandfrom June through August 2018. See schedule and locations below.

I Know a Man … Ashley Bryan (2016), directed by Richard Kane, is a powerful documentary film featuring one of America’s greatest living African American poets, illustrator and artist, named a Library Lion by the New York Public Library, a recipient of three Coretta Scott King Awards, and a 2017 Newbery Honor for his book “Freedom Over Me” reviewed in the NY Times.

Ashley lives on Little Cranberry Island in view of Mount Desert Island where the local school bears his name. Now available on Vimeo on Demand

TRAILER LINK

Linocut by Ashley Bryan Photo credit: The Ashley Bryan Center

Born in Harlem in 1923 and drafted in his teens into an all-Black battalion in World War II, Ashley preserved his humanity through drawing and painting. Soon to be 95, he is an award-winning poet/illustrator of 50+ published children’s books, maker of magical puppets from discarded materials and stunning sea glass windows inspired by his African heritage. Ashley urges us to seek unity over division, peace over war and love over intolerance and bigotry.

REVIEWS

 “… a vibrant, inspiring, personal portrait of an artist who possesses the desire to help people find their inner child”  —  BOOKLIST

“The film is … a wonderful tool to learn about diversity, cultural competency, inclusion and social justice.” — AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION” 

“elegantly constructed … intriguing and palpably warm … vibrant, joyous, evocative, witty, and thoroughly engaging.”    Dennis Perkins, MAINE TODAY

For more information see the website:  www.ashleybryanfilms.org

Beautiful Blackbird, words and illustrations by Ashley Bryan

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2018, 2pm – Belfast, ME Senior College Festival of Art, U Maine Hutchinson Center Auditorium, FREE. Director Richard Kane will be in attendance for a Q&A.  http://www.belfastseniorcollege.org

SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2018 at 3pm – Great Cranberry Historical Society, Great

Jojo, puppet by Ashley Bryan

Cranberry Island, ME.  IN PERSON Ashley Bryan!! Q&A with Ashley and director Richard Kane. Contributions welcome for the further distribution of the film. Mail boat from SW Harbor, Cranberry Cove Ferry.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018 at 6pm – Portland, ME, University of Southern Maine Wishcamper Center, Room 133, the Lee Room. IN PERSON Ashley Bryan!!  Q&A with director Richard Kane. Contributions $5-$20 for the further distribution of the film. Seating is limited.  This screening follows the August 3^rd Portland Museum of Art opening exhibit of Ashley Bryan’s art.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 at 3:00pm – Great Cranberry Island, ME Great CranberryHistorical Society. IN PERSON Ashley Bryan!! Q&A with Ashley and director Richard Kane. Contributions welcome for the further distribution of the film. Mail boat from SW Harbor, CranberryCove Ferry.

Ashley Bryan with his puppets Babatu and Osaze