This time of year...

At this time of year - just before Thanksgiving and the start of Advent in the USA - it helps my spirit and soul to get away from the grind for a short mini-retreat. This has been part of my spiritual rhythm for almost 25 years. So, we found a place for the dog (he is an old coot who loves the kennel) and headed out for Brattleboro, VT.

What an oasis for us: art galleries everywhere, an old time restored movie theatre AND five - count them: 5 - independent book shops! We had found our new "get-away" retreat and it is only 90 minutes away. Travelling through the hill country of Northern Massachusetts was lovely and the wee town of Brattleboro, built along the Connecticut River, is JUST what we were looking for, too.

We stopped by the "In-Sight Photography Project" consortium for teens which has intrigued Dianne for years. Their website notes:

The In-Sight Photography Project was conceived by Bill Ledger and John Willis when they were distracted by a large number of teenagers hanging around aimlessly in downtown Brattleboro and by the police who were moving them along for loitering. This scene was so distressing that they decided to teach a free course for these youths. The plan was to offer a one-time, one-month class during the summer break for area youth. Encouraged by an outpouring of community support, John and Bill built a gang darkroom and teaching facility at the Brattleboro Teen Center (now known as the Boys and Girls Club) and the one-month course quickly blossomed into a year-round program.

As photographers committed to their medium, the volunteer staff at In-Sight knows the value of the photographic image and its use of visual language to help individuals discover themselves. This process of seeing and discovering helps teach individuals about themselves through a visual language that can then be used to communicate with others. The result is teens who have greater self-esteem and who are more willing to develop a viewpoint and present it to others. The medium of photography thus becomes a tool for building both self-esteem and communication skills.
(check them out: www.insight-photography.org/History_of_The_In-Sight_Photography_Project.html)

Later we visited local artist. Marilyn Buhlman, who is working on a "Sacred Spaces" project using a variety of styles. And serendipitously, upon returning to our hotel room we discovered that her art work adorns the walls of our room - another gentle affirmation that this little trip was food for our souls. Then after resting and fine food, we watched "Pirate Radio" with about 300 local hipsters. On the surface this movie is mostly soundtrack - GREAT 60s rock and pop tunes - and some fun and eccentric characters.

And that would be enough - some movies are just about fun - and this show works on that level. But there is something else going on, too, and that has to do with the battle between cynicism and joy. Or repression and beauty. Or between pausing for refreshment and being trapped in the grind of the status quo. And this is where "Pirate Radio" shines...

It is worth the effort to see it - especially with someone you love who LOVES rock and roll - it will not only make you smile, it will also feed your soul. Music matters, my friends. Beauty matters. Art and poetry and dance and movies matter.