Nov 182014
 

While one could say there is always something “magical” going on in Salem Ma, it is especially true on the 3rd Thursday of every month— courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum. The PEM/PM event Digital Detox, scheduled for Nov.20th, is a perfect example.

PEMPM Past EventThe public in invited to join in an evening away from the distractions of technology. Yes. Travel back to a simpler, yet more direct time of personally speaking to someone, or writing actual letters. Leave it to our challenge-taking local museum to “push the envelope” and experiment with this old-fashioned concept.

PEM/PM is an unconventional gathering feature cocktails and conversation, art making and music, culinary demonstrations and surprising experiences. Members and Salem residents (with ID) are admitted free of charge, while nonmembers pay a nominal $10 fee. The event runs after hours from 6-9pm

(Also on the third Thursday of every month, the entire museum stays open from 10 am to 9 pm.)

Doneeca Thurston, new PEM Adult Programs Coordinator, explains the rationale behind Digital Detox, “the inspiration draws from our permanent collection. A lot of our newer exhibits have digital components whether its music, interactives, or visuals, which has been really fantastic. While its great to incorporate technology and reach our audiences in new and exciting ways, we realize that there is still something very special about walking into one of our permanent galleries and just taking in all of classic artwork and sculpture.”

She adds, “So this event is an invitation to power down and enjoy the evening engaging in the art of conversation, writing a heartfelt letter to a friend or loved one, or ease your mind with a peaceful meditation session.”

OPEN MUSIC SESSION in the Atrium
Join in on this impromptu jam session led by The Dejas. Everyone is welcome.

LETTER WRITING in the Atrium
A long forgotten practice, letter writing. Pen a note for a special someone, PEM will provide the stamps.

NAPTIME in the Atrium
Let your phone get some much needed rest. As an incentive, PEM is even handing out specially designed sleeping bags, for your phone that is!

LIKE in the Atrium
Now you can “like” someone in person. PEM staff will be handing out thumbs-up stickers by the info desk. “Like” a friend or stranger- be sure to say what you like about them.

SELFIE in Studio 1, Create Space
Students from Montserrat will be on hand to help you capture the perfect selfie. Stop by the Create Space to have one of these talented artists draw your portrait.

ART-MAKING in Studio 1, Create Space
Create your own vinyl record art. Paint, bedazzle, draw, the possibilities are endless.

VINYL RECORDS in the Atrium
Spin some vinyl records, courtesy of Salem’s own Hoofbeat Records

ART OF CONVERSATION at Pop-up’s throughout the galleries
Salem State University’s Philosophy Club brings interesting conversation to PEM. Join in on the conversations at several pop-up’s throughout the galleries.

7:00, 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30pm
MEDITATION in the Indian Gallery, 2nd floor
Certified Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor, Susan Himml, will lead 20 minute meditation sessions. Sign-up at the information desk.

As the nights get cooler, this sounds like a very warm & toasty, friendly & comforting event. There will also be a cash bar and special small plate menu items from the Hawthorne Hotel. For more info, call the PEM at 978-745-9500, (or toll free 866-745-1876). The Peabody Essex Museum is located on East India Square (161 Essex St.) Salem.

(Photo of previous PEM/PM event (c) 2014 Peabody Essex Museum. Photo by John Andrews)

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Nov 022014
 

Words, words, words. Just because you can string a few words together does not mean that you can create a sentence. BUT…. but, if you can create a sentence, then the world awaits, for if one sentence can be ushered from your mind, others will follow. And if they can be of a common purpose, then perhaps you have a story to tell.

Salem Lit FestThis all leads to the return this week of the Salem Literary Festival. Multiple events are scheduled to run Nov 6-9 at various historic venues in Salem. The goal is to unite published authors, book lovers and storytellers.

And this year it is extra special as the festival has joined with New York Times bestselling author Brunonia Barry and her organization, Readers and Writers. Inc. This should attract more authors and attendees.

You can pick up additional details about the overall schedule at their website. But we wanted to touch on one new aspect this year, live storytelling: “The Tell Tale Arts: Live Storytelling Event” at the Peabody Essex Museum (East India Marine Hall, 161 Essex Street), Nov. 9, 3-5pm.

Each person has up to 10 minutes to spin true-life tales on a chosen theme without the aid of notes or a script. In a casual cafe atmosphere, you will relax and listen as bold storytellers share revealing moments from their own lives.

Michelle Moon, is the Assistant Director for Adult Programs at the Peabody Essex Museum, where she oversees PEM events and activities for all adult audiences. In that capacity she also serves as program collaborator with the Lit Festival.

She explains, “PEM had been looking for an opportunity to participate in the live storytelling movement. Many museums have experimented with this format – for example, The Moth at the Met. PEM is a museum that celebrates individual creative expression, and first-person storytelling offers a powerful channel of creative communication to individuals who reshape their life experience into a story.”

The evening’s theme, “At the Movies,” is inspired by the PEM exhibition “The Woods” by internationally renowned video artist Candice Breitz, which delves into the cinematic culture of three centers of global filmmaking — Hollywood, Bollywood (India) and Nollywood (Nigeria) — to reflect the culture of stardom and movie fame.

But the submission process was a bit different than what we might have expected. Storytellers had to use a one-sentence elevator-like pitch to be selected for this event.

Moon reveals, “One of the most powerful aspects of live storytelling is the feeling of spontaneity. By asking for only a one-sentence pitch, storytellers get to identify one of the most intriguing nuggets of their tale and use it to entice us. But they don’t have to write it all out in advance, which might take away from the energy of crafting the tale on the fly and drain it of some of its potential life.”

“Many writers who have done live storytelling,” she adds, “use the experience as a way to reveal the compelling heart of a story, and later on take some of what they have discovered in the live experience of telling to work out ways of presenting material on the page. Live storytelling and story writing are different but related arts.”

(By the way, Michelle also produced the successful live story series “A Winter’s Tale” in Portsmouth, NH, for three years, ending in March 2014. So, she knows what she’s talking about.)

Audience members will also be invited to share anonymous brief versions of their own “At the Movies” story; a few of the most interesting will be selected to read during the intermission and between speakers.

Deadline for submissions is Nov. 3. Send the one-sentence pitch to Michelle Moon at michelle_moon@pem.org. Make your reservations by Nov. 7th by calling PEM at 978-542-1511 or visiting pem.org/calendar. Admission: Members $5, nonmembers $7 (plus museum admission if applicable).

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Oct 232014
 

Salem Open MarketWhere can you find the “best independent designers, artisans, artists and crafters together in a maelstrom of cutting edge design, art and handmade wares?” Where else but in Salem Ma; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the last three weeks of October, you will find SOWA, an open-air arts market with over 50 booths.

Just to give you an idea of the eclectic items that await you, here are descriptions of three vendors that have been or will be available on the weekend.

Nick & Jillian of R.H. Mardigan Enterprises and Emry’s Handcrafted Fynery. She makes jewelry and accessories out of ephemera, resin and other findings. He makes leather cuffs and accessories with a steampunk flair. And from the Steampunk events at the Peabody Essex, you know there is interest in that genre.

Diane Koss of Cutesy But Not Cutesy, specializes in making monsters (we think we’ve seen a few of those in recent weeks in Salem), but she also makes monster designer toys that you can cuddle; and a popular item has been the amazing monster hoodies for kids, adults and dogs!

And then there is the strange relationship between Zombies (always a big item in Salem during October) and published author / illustrator Greg Stones. Just look at this picture representing (at least to us) the clash of a long running horror theme and a recent over-the-top horror craze.

SOWA
SOWA will run Friday-Sunday 10/24-26 at Derby Square Vending from 11 am – 6 pm, and Essex Street Vending from 11am – 10 pm. For more info go to their website http://newenglandopenmarkets.com/

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Oct 122014
 

Coming soonObviously neither Bram Stoker (creator of the popular Dracula character) nor Vincent Price (celebrated actor in many a macabre movie) can be here. Both have passed on. But descendants are keeping the memories, stories and work alive… and will be sharing with you this month during Haunted Happenings: Dacre Stoker on 10/16 and Victoria Price on 10/20.

Dacre Stoker is the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, and himself an author, having written Dracula: The Un-Dead (with Ian Holt) said to be based on handwritten notes of Bram Stoker’s for characters and plot threads. He will be in Salem to discuss the Stoker family perspective on all things Dracula as part of a film screening of the award winning documentary Vampires of New England at CinemaSalem, 7pm on Oct. 16.

Canadian by birth and now living in South Carolina, Stoker has been a teacher and an athletics coach (in fact he is a former Pentathlon world champion and coached the Canadian Pentathlon team in Seoul at the 1988 Summer Olympics). And from this clip, you can hear he is also an engaging speaker.

Dacre Stoker – Garlic and Vampires from Historical Haunts on Vimeo.
Called “The Blood is the Life: A Night of Dracula and New England Vampires” the event is presented by Historical Haunts LLC and Cinema Salem. Stoker will be available for photos and autographs afterwards.

For more info go to www.histhaunts.com or www.cinemasalem.com.

This month has also been a celebration of another author, Edgar Allan Poe. Of course one could not visit the written works of Poe without the visual memories of the stories as presented by Vincent Price in many movies. Rounding out the celebration of all things Poe will be a special appearance by Victoria Price, the actor’s daughter on Oct. 20th.

Price will make herself available in three different areas of Salem:

  • 5:30 pm, a walking tour of Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
  • 6 pm, a lecture/talk at the next-door STV studios.
  • After the lecture ends, Price will meet with participants at The Scarlet Letter Press & Gallery for an evening of wine & words (she will sign autographs).

Victoria has established herself as a lively, popular public speaker (as you will see in the below clip) on topics ranging from the life of her famous father, to interior/industrial design to the role of the art collector in society.

Victoria Price from thesoundofvincentprice.blogspot.com.
Her stories about her dad will charm, entertain and give you insights to the man that we loved to have scare us.

For more info go to The Scarlet Letter Press or The Nightmare Gallery.

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Oct 092014
 
Come little children, I’ll take thee away; into a land of enchantment. Come little children, the time’s come to play: here in my garden of magic.

Hocus PocusHauntingly chanted by a Sanderson sister in the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, that is something as children we learned was a bad thing to hear echoing in the cloud-filled skies— be you in Salem Ma or elsewhere. But, after all it was just a movie. And that movie is fondly recalled every year here in Salem, where the producers actually took the time to film several scenes.

Radio 92.9 is presenting a free, weekly Haunted Movies Series in Salem during October; this week Hocus Pocus, rained out last week (perhaps the burning rain of death?) has been reset for Saturday, October 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on the Salem Common under the stars.

Bring a blanket or beach chairs to watch this movie, which picked up 2 wins and 11 overall nominations during the 1994 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA awards.

Last year was the 20th anniversary of the movie. Here is a bit of trivia: did you know that the actor playing Thackery (not Zachery) Binx was Sean Murray who now plays Tim McGee on NCIS? You did? Well, did you also know that he was the voice of neither Thackery nor the cat? Movie Magic.

Hello Salem! My name’s Winifred, what’s yours? I put a spell on you…

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