Recognized writers with JP connections to read

By DOROTHY DERIFIELD May 1, 2008

Courtesy Photo Poet Susan Donnelly

At its last reading before summer break, Chapter and Verse will present the esteemed poet Susan Donnelly as well as two writers who live in Jamaica Plain—award-winning fiction writer John Fulton and poet Audrey Henderson. The reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Loring-Greenough House at 12 South St. across from the Monument on Wed., May 7.

Susan Donnelly, a Boston native, says she often visited relatives living in Jamaica Plain during her childhood and adolescence, “walking around with girlfriends hoping to see Latin School boys.” Her third collection of poetry will feature poems that reflect American culture as well as its histories, both personal and national.

Small Works art show May 20

May 1, 2008

Courtesy Photo "Maisy's Leap." a gounache on paper by Michele Lauriat, will be one of 50 pieces of art on sale to benefit Jamaica Plain Open Studios.

The Jamaica Plain Arts Council will hold its second annual Small Works Show
and Sale at the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes on Tues., May 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. Just in time for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations and weddings, the show will offer 100 works of original art, all under 5 by 7 inches and priced at just $50. The event will also feature light food, raffle baskets and silent auction items.

“We’ve expanded to include small sculptures and other three dimensional works,” Jamaica Plain Open Studios (JPOS) Coordinator Jean Mineo said.

JP to host poet laureate twice in early May

By JONATHAN CLARK April 17, 2008

Courtesy Photo Boston Poet Laureate Sam Cornish reads at his installation at the Parkman House in Boston on Valentine's Day this year as Mayor Thomas Menino looks on.

Boston’s first poet laureate will make his Jamaica Plain debut the first week in May—not once, but twice.

Sam Cornish will kick off the 2008 Word on the Street series on Thurs., May 1 and close out the Poetry in the Chapel 2008 series on Sun., May 4 by reading some of his acclaimed work.

JP Open Studios Preview

By JEAN MINEO April 18, 2008

Courtesy Photo "Shiva Monkey" is one of the sock monkey photographs created by JP resident Thomas Durand that will be on display during JP Open Studios Sept. 27 and 28.

Thomas Durand: Photographs

Photographer Thomas Durand has been a fixture in Jamaica Plain for over 20 years—first as a resident on Centre Street and now as a sub-contractor at J.P. Licks, where he curates the exhibitions and functions as the ambassador for the arts. Durand is also member of the JP Arts Council, which is organizing the annual JP Open Studios. “I have been connected to the arts community for a long time, and these are the ways I can give back,” he said.

Artists to gather to learn about JP Open Studios, 2008

April 4, 2008

The Jamaica Plain Open Studios (JPOS) annual artist’s meeting will be Mon., May 5 at 7 p.m. at the Footlight Club at 7A Eliot St. JP Open Studios is open to all artists working, living or showing in JP. Artists from outside JP may also apply for group shows or to exhibit with local artists in a shared space. All artists are invited to attend the meeting; light refreshments will be served.

JPOS art on display at convention center

April 3, 2008

Courtesy Photo
Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Executive Director James Rooney poses with some of the artists whose work was selected from Jamaica Plain Open Studios participants for display at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center until the end of April. From left to right: James Wright, Cynthia Kollios, Silvani Mizrahi, Gloria Carrigg, Rooney, Angela Wooldridge, Neil Wyatt and Jessica Burko.

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) last week announced the final selections from Jamaica Plain Open Studios (JPOS) artists to display their art at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). The show, consisting of two dozen original artworks, will be on display until the end of April on Level Two at the BCEC’s Northwest lounge area. It is part of the growing effort to bring the work of Boston artists to the public eye.

“Singin’ in the Rain” at Footlight just in time for April showers

By KRISTIN MACDOUGALL April 4, 2008

April is finally here! It’s time for theater-lovers of all ages to pull on their galoshes, open their umbrellas and take a stroll to The Footlight Club on Eliot Street for “Singin’ in the Rain.” This big, bright musical classic plays weekends April 4 -19.

Winning Latin School goes to drama festival

April 3, 2008

Courtesy Photo
The cast and crew of the award-winning “Tilt Angel,” a production of Boston Latin School, consists of many JP residents.

Boston Latin School’s production of “Tilt Angel” by Dan Dietz, under the direction of Christa Crewdson and involving many students from Jamaica Plain, advanced past the finals of the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild last weekend. The two winning schools and the alternate at the Massachusetts competition are not available to compete in the New England Drama Festival April 17-19. So Latin School, which placed fourth of 14, will represent Massachusetts.

Poets who explore nature, society and self to read April 2

March 20, 2008

Photo By Doug Macomber Poet Martha Collins

Chapter and Verse, the literary reading series at the historic Loring-Greenough House, will feature Martha Collins, Fred Marchant and Alice Kociemba—three distinguished poets who bring a variety of backgrounds and experience to their poetry—on Wednesday evening, April 2.

Multitalented, well-known poets to read March 5

By DOROTHY DERIFIELD February 21, 2008

Courtesy Photo Poet and Publisher Gloria Mindock.

Three significant Boston-area poets—Afaa Michael Weaver, Gloria Mindock and Judy Katz-Levine—will read as part of the Chapter and Verse literary series on Wed., March 5. The reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Loring-Greenough House at 12 South St. across from the Monument.

Afaa Michael Weaver—poet, playwright, short fiction writer and translator—is the author of 10 books of poetry, including “Talisman” (Northwestern, 2000), “The Ten Lights of God” (Bucknell, 2000) and his most recent collection, “The Plum Flower Dance, Poems 1985-2005,” published by the University of Pittsburgh Press in November 2007. Weaver is a man of many accomplishments. During the past year his poems have been featured prominently in the much-respected “Poetry” and “American Poetry Review”; his picture has appeared on the cover of “Poets & Writers” magazine to accompany an article inside; and he was the subject of a recent in-depth feature article in the Boston Globe. Far from being an overnight success, he has worked and struggled for years to reach his present position of eminence in the poetry world.