The Creative Process - Danger Alert for the Hudson River

We asked Doris Goldberg to tell us about the piece she is exhibiting at "Focus the Nation."

I was inspired to conceive this work after attending John Cronin's class at Bard on the Hudson River and hearing about his experience on the River and with environmental activism. "Danger Alert for the Hudson River" is an 8 by 11 foot hanging assembled for the "Focus the Nation" conference that addresses climate change at Bard College.

I chose to represent the River’s past with photographs taken in the late 1800's primarily by Seneca Roy Stoddard. These photographs show the energy and grace of the River in a former time.

My thoughts distilled into a Haiku-esque statement which I made into a banner:

salt waters pulse north mountain streams cascade south
mighty river flowing both ways
danger alerts as ice caps melt and seas rise flooding
high banks drowning both past and present
calling us to guard, calling to protect the life of
our Hudson, our comfort and joy
mighty river flowing both ways

Native Americans recognized the tidal aspect of the Hudson, calling it the 'river that flows both ways'. We now know that for over 150 miles -- from New York Harbor to the dam at Troy -- the River is tidal. As the ice caps melt and the seas rise -- some estimate over 30 feet by the year 2050 -- there will be dramatic changes as the banks are flooded with sea water.

Mounting the photographs and banner on fish netting, using fabric to suggest mountains, developed into more of a project with thread and needle than I could manage. Jane Sunshine graciously came to my rescue, volunteering her sewing expertise for several days

"Danger Alert for the Hudson River" will be exhibited at the Bertelsman Campus Center at Bard College from Friday, February 1st until Monday, February 4th. Update: the exhibit has been extended through February 7th.

All are welcome to view works on climate change by regional artists. The opening reception will be Friday, February 1st at 6:30-7:30 pm.

One Book/One Community 2008

This year, One Book/One Community will be joining Bard College to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe’s classic Things Fall Apart.

One Book/One Community 2008 Schedule

Tuesday, Feb 26 at 8 PM A TRIBUTE TO CHINUA ACHEBE

Presented by the Pen American Center, at Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, NYC Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe is joined by Toni Morrison, Chris Abani, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Edwidge Danticat, Suheir Hammad, Ha Jin, and Colum McCann for this exciting anniversary tribute to Things Fall Apart (1958) -- one of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim. The evening features a special performance by the Francesca Harper Dance Project with dancers from the Alvin Ailey School. Presented in collaboration with Vintage Books.Ticket Price: $15 available at Ticketmaster

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Thursday, March 27 at 7 PM ACHEBE, CONRAD AND IMAGES OF AFRICA IN THE WEST

Explore two literary classics on African themes: Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness with a panel of Bard and SUNY Ulster Professors - Vanderlyn Hall, Student Lounge, Ulster Community College. Free

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Saturday, March 29 1:30 PM MODERNITY & TRADITION IN AFRICAN LIFE

The clash of civilizations will be discussed by Professors Wendy Urban Mead and Myra Young Armstead - Poughkeepsie Library Auditorium, 105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie Free

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Thursday, April 3, 12:30 PM LISTENING TO ACHEBE'S WORDS

Nicola Sheara will read passages from Things Fall Apart. A light lunch of salads and desserts will be provided by the AAUW - Kingston Library, 55 Franklin Street, Kingston, Free

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Friday, April 11, 7:00 PM A PREMIER WORK OF LITERATURE TURNS 50

Panel Discussion with: Chinua Achebe and Jesse Shipley, Bard College; Amadiume, Dartmouth College; Simon Gikandi, Princeton University; Christine Griffin, Red Hook High School; Moderator: Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, Dartmouth College. Sosnoff Theater, Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Bard College, Free

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Tuesday, April 15, 1:00 PM Kingston AAUW Book Club

The Book Club will discuss Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Kingston Library

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Sponsored by SUNY Ulster, Bard College and the Kingston chapter of the American Association of University Women

Funding provided by the New York Council for the Humanities (any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect those from the National Endowment for the Humanities)

How to Register for Focus the Nation

Our AAUW Board Member Doris Goldberg's artwork of the Hudson River past-present-future has been chosen for the Focus the Nation teach-in and Art Installation.

You can see Doris' work at the Bard Art Reception Friday, February 1st, 6:30-7:30 pm. Update: the exhibit will be on display through Feb. 7th.

Update: you can read Doris' post on her creative process here -- link.

FOCUS the NATION is a national teach-in at over 1,300 institutions of learning. Government, educational institutions, faith groups, civic organizations and businesses will collaboratively engage in an interdisciplinary discussion about " Global Warming Solutions for America."

Click for more information:
REGISTER (note: you will not get a confirmation email after registering)
SCHEDULE (Word document)
Panel sessions (Word document)