Sunday, June 19, 2011

Pamper Yourself at SPAC July 16, 2011


Linda Gold and AAUW present a Bus Trip

NY City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Magic Flute/ Circus Polka/ Apollo/ Serenade

Saturday, July 16, 2011    Cost $122

                               
                    
Pamper yourself for a day! The cost of $122 includes luxury coach, gratuities, mimosas with breakfast en route, an hour to explore the charming town of Saratoga, elegant lunch at the Hall of Springs restaurant and superb seats for this wonderful combination of four ballets. Hors d’oeuvres with wine and chilled beverages will be served on the return trip.

The bus departs from the front of the Monticello Government Center on North Street at 8am and from the back of the former Ames, Kingston Plaza at 9:15am. We return to Kingston at approximately 7pm and Monticello at approximately 8:15pm.

A highlight of the performance is Peter Martins’s Magic Flute, which is revived for the first time since City Ballet performed it in 1983. This Magic Flute has nothing to do with the famous opera by Mozart, although the story does contain the wondrous instrument of the title. This one has a score by Riccardo Driga and was originally danced by Peter Martins. It’s a tale of a pretty heroine who loves a poor but proud village lad, but her parents have their sights on a wealthy, but elderly buffoon.

Circus Polka, was originally choreographed by Balanchine for circus elephants – a commission by Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus. The story is told that after receiving the commission, Balanchine asked his friend Stravinsky to compose the music. “What kind of music?” asked Stravinsky. “A polka.” was Balanchine’s reply. “For whom?” “Elephants.”  After its premier in 1944 the ballet was  re-choreographed by Balanchine and later by Jerome Robbins (1972) for young students with a Ringmaster (who was often a notable guest such as the Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov).

Apollo is a charming ballet choreographed by Balanchine with a score by Stravinsky. It is with this ballet that Balanchine, at age twenty-four, achieved international recognition and began his lifelong partnership with the composer. Apollo, the young god of music is visited by three muses: Terpsichore, muse of dance and song, Polyhymnia, muse of mime, and Calliope, muse of poetry.

Serenade with a score by Tchaikovsky, is the first original ballet Balanchine created in America and is one of the signature works of New York City Ballet’s repertory. It’s an exquisite ballet – ethereal and hypnotic­ - in four movements.
We always have a full bus for our Saratoga trip, so sign up early to insure a spot. Make your check payable to AAUW (American Association of University Women) and mail it to: Linda Gold, 1 Jacobs Lane, New Paltz, NY 12561. For further information call Linda at 845-255-5256 or email artladyLG@aol.com. Specify “art tours” in the space for “subject” so that your message is not deleted.

Reserve now: Clark Institute Trip August 6, 2011


Linda Gold and AAUW present a Bus Trip to Williamstown, MA

Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
for the exhibit, “Pissarro’s People”
Includes complimentary optional visit to Williams College Museum of Art
Saturday, August 6, 2011    Cost $100

     
The cost includes luxury coach, all gratuities, breakfast with champagne en route, tickets to the special exhibit, “Pissarro’s People” at the Clark Art Institute and optional transportation to Williams College Museum of Art. Lovely platters of cheeses and fresh fruit with a selection of wines will be served on the return trip. Lunch is on your own at the Clark’s Courtyard Café, Clark Café, or Stone Hill Terrace Café.

Don’t miss this glorious trip to the Berkshires. We’ll visit the Clark Art Institute - one of the most beloved and respected museums in the world. The Clark’s summer exhibit, “Pissarro’s People” is a highly personal and poignant exploration of this great Impressionist’s portraits, harvest scenes, and market views.  The paintings in this stunning exhibition reveal his personal relationships, profound social and economic concerns, and anarchist beliefs. While at the Clark, we’ll view its renowned collection of French Impressionist paintings by Monet, Degas, Renoir and Pissarro. The color and light-filled “Renoir Room” is extraordinary. The museum is also known for its 19th century American paintings (Homer, Sargent & Cassatt), as well as a gorgeous collection of English and American silver.

During the afternoon, we’ll provide bus transportation for those interested in an optional visit to Williams College Museum of Art. Among the many exhibitions on view are: “Art Re: Art,” “The Gallery of Crossed Destinies,” and “Labeltalk 2011: Art of the Ancient World.” In addition to the special exhibitions, this museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by the artist brothers Maurice and Charles Prendergast. Bequeathed to the museum by Charles’s widow from 1983- 1995, the collection incorporates over 450 magnificent watercolors, oils and sketchbooks. 

The bus departs 8am from the front of the Monticello Government Center on North Street, and 9:15am from the back of the former Ames in the Kingston Plaza. We return to Kingston at approximately 6:30 pm and to Monticello at approximately 7:45pm.
  
To sign up, make your check payable to AAUW (American Association of University Women) and mail it to: Linda Gold, Gourmet Art Tours, 1 Jacobs Lane, New Paltz, NY 12561. For further info, call Linda at 845-255-5256 or email artladyLG@aol.com. Specify “art tours” in the space for “subject” so that your message is not deleted. Your early sign-up will insure a spot.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Protect the Reproductive Health of NYS Women

Tell Rep. Cahill what you think
The NYS Assembly is evaluating two pieces of proposed legislation right now. It's critical we let them know our position.
  • Vote NO! Assemblyman Katz has introduced a piece of legislation (A-7841) which would defund vital health care centers that provide services to thousands of women in New York including Planned Parenthood.
  • Vote Yes! The Reproductive Health Act introduced by Assemblywoman Glick (A-6112) needs to be passed to ensure New York State's laws are strong as it relates to protecting a women's reproductive health options.

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill is a member of the Health Committee and can play an important role protecting the women and girls of NYS.

Use the YWCA advocacy site to tell your elected representative how you feel.

Pay Equity Legislation in NYS

How can there be such a disparity between what women and men are paid for the same job? One reason -- employers give the same jobs different titles and slightly different job descriptions. Another? Workers who identify wage discrimination or even share salary information remain vulnerable to retaliation.

Tell Sen. Bonacic to get this bill passed!
For several years running, the New York State Assembly and the NYS Senate Labor Committee has passed the NYS Fair Pay Bill (A.6130/S.2200), which addresses these two issues. But, each year, the bill dies before passage. Sometimes it’s the Senate Finance Committee, sometimes an end run by the Senate leadership. 

The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee  once again. Senator Bonacic, who represents many of us, is a member of the Finance Committee.

Please take action. Call or write to Senator Bonacic asking him to support this bill to reduce wage disparity based on the centuries old bias against “women’s work.” Passing this Act will ensure that equivalent jobs are paid fairly despite the gender and/or race of those performing the work.

A quick way to make your opinion known is to use this link offered by the YWCA.