Looking for something creative, charitable and community-building to do this weekend? Two arts-related events in Hartford and Springfield can use your support.

Environmental Film Festival

Saturday night, November 15, the charming Cinestudio theater on the Trinity College campus in Hartford is screening eight short films, sponsored by the local REI store. It is the only screening in the state for the nationally-touring Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival.

A list of films to be screened is provided by REI, and the film festival provides several short trailers. (Above left, a still from Sergio Cannella’s two-minute “Carpe Diem.” Below right, a still from Isaac Brown and Eric Flagg’s “Gimme Green.”)

Starting at 7:30 pm for about three hours (doors open at 7:00), the films are all water- and renewable energy-related. REI notes the festival “aims to inspire and motivate people to go out and make a difference in their community and around the world on a variety of environmental issues. The film subjects will range from kayakers on a road trip from Alaska to Argentina, to a humorous look at the American obsession with our nation’s largest irrigated crop—the lawn.”

Proceeds will benefit the Farmington River Watershed Association and the Park River Watershed Revitalization Initiative. Tickets are $20 on the day of the screening but can be purchased in advance today for $15 through the local REI store at (860) 233-2211.

Phoenix Arts Show

Saturday afternoon and evening, November 15, Nehemiah Ministries Inc. in Springfield will host a third annual Phoenix Arts Show at Christ Church Cathedral, 35 Chestnut Street, on the quadrangle adjacent to the Springfield Museums and downtown library branch. The show is free and open to the public.

From 2:00 to 8:30 pm, the unusual show will feature over 200 new works of art from “emerging artists from Springfield’s homeless and low-income population.” 

The artists include Leonor Rivera, Jessie Shameka-Serrano, Arthur Smith, Bernard Jones (at left), Caren McKenzie, Migdalia Vazquez and Georgieanne Lazarus (below, right). There will also be live music and poetry beginning at 4:00, including performances by Bizz Zoc 7 and Soft Spoken Prophet, food and beverages for sale, and items available to purchase from local artisans. 

Shiloh Bradshaw, director, described the Phoenix Arts Project in a release as “an artist collective emerging from Springfield’s marginalized population that gives witness to new life being birthed in the midst of hardship.” 

Nehemiah, local non-profit Christian community development organization, initiated the project as a means to support “the often isolated homeless and low-income population, and to give them a face, voice and connection to the broader community of Springfield.” The organization has been offering twice-weekly art sessions with free supplies and instruction for guests and staff of the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen at the church.

“In its third year,” Bradshaw said, “the project has catalyzed a critical mass of artists whose growing self-confidence, friendship, and artistic talent give testimony to the redemptive possibilities for Springfield as a whole.” Natasha Clark reported in the Reminder that 80 percent of the profit from art sales will go to the artist; 20 percent will return to the program.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am and is filed under Agriculture, Community building, Events, Hartford, Media, Springfield, Urban Compass.