Hearts All Whole*: Creating a Compassionate Community Workshops
Workshops with Robert Black will be held on four Thursdays in April starting this week!
(Apr. 3, 10, 17, 24) 12–1:30pm.
Each week’s class will be two 45-minute sessions.
Session 1 (12–12:45pm) to be a lecture discussion with a guest speaker.
Session 2 (12:45–1:30pm) will be a simple, hands-on activity (“workshop”) to explore the topic presented in Session 1.
Some products of Session 2 work will become part of an on-going art display at the Chaffee during the month of April.
Fee: $25 per workshop if attending both sessions; $20 for one session; Discount for all 4 workshops $95.
Min: 5 attendees per workshop
MUST PRE-REGISTER by Noon Wednesday before the workshop.
This week’s workshop on Apr. 3: How has the RAILROAD shaped Rutland’s growth — Past, Present & Future?
Apr. 3, Session 1: Brief Overview of All Aboard Rutland and Historic Railroad maps by Robert Black with Featured speaker, Paul S. Andriscin.
BIO: History professor at College St. Joseph from 1998 to 2019 when closed. Taught many varied American history courses & Intro to Geography Also, adjunct at Castleton State and taught at CCV. Site Interpreter at Mt. Independence Vermont State Historic & Hubbardton Battlefield from 1998 to present doing tours, research, programs & work with visitors to better understand the sites. One of the original members of the Rutland Railway Association and currently the museum collection curator. Avid model builder, model railroader and train, military vehicle & aircraft enthusiast with primary interest in World War 2.
Apr. 3, Session 2: An exercise of imaginative thinking and improvised sketching/diagramming in response to two prompting questions relative to either remembering or imagining a special journey on a train. Describe the train, the people, what you saw, where you went …
2nd Workshop on Apr. 10: Why Art??
Apr. 10, Session 1: Robert Black will present a brief overview of the inspiring Public Art — Murals & Sculptures — in Downtown Rutland and their effect on the Rutland Community.
Featured Speaker: Fran Bull/Artist.
BIO: Award-winning sculptor, painter, printmaker and performance artist Fran Bull, has been exhibiting her work worldwide for over 40 years. Her art is included in numerous museum and university collections, ranging from the Museum of Modern Art in New York, to the Guilin Museum in China. She makes her art in Brandon, Vermont and Barcelona, Spain. Bull’s early Photorealist art brought her international acclaim, but in the mid 1980’s this more identifiable approach evolved towards art that could be understood as a visualization of the unseen. Today Bull’s work seeks to connect ordinary life to larger mythic and historical motifs, themes and narratives.
Apr. 10, Session 2: Imagining Public Art. Pretend that you just received a major Arts grant from the State and the Rutland Downtown Partnership to create the next Public Art in Rutland. What is your vision for this special Artwork that would speak to the larger community of people to inspire them to become more accepting and compassionate towards their fellow citizens. Write a simple statement of your intention and make a rough sketch of your idea.
3rd Workshop Apr. 17: Who Am I?, (or Why Am I Here ?)
Apr. 17 Session 1: This session is intended to explore personal identity and how any one individual can make a positive difference in their family, community and the world at large. Examples of famous and not-so-famous men and women will be shown to prompt a lively group discussion led by Robert Black. Guest Speaker: TBD
Apr. 17 Session 2: Simple exercise called “Signature/Sign/Design” will look at the identity of a personal signature and how it has evolved from history to the present day. A short sketch problem will follow to explore the design of a personal symbol. Examples of famous signs and logos from business, politics and entertainment will be discussed to prompt the participants’ imagination to create a meaningful symbol for their personal identity.
4th Workshop on Apr. 24: What is Compassionate Community and how do we create and sustain it?
Apr. 24 Session 1: Robert Black will present an overview of the concept for the Compassionate Community project and examples of ways in which Rutland is already shaping elements of a compassionate community — in volunteerism, economic development, health care, food and shelter for all her citizens, education and life-long learning, among other endeavors.
Featured Speaker: TBD
Apr. 24 Session 2: A creative and collaborative exercise with pairs of individuals working together or small break-out groups (depending on number of participants) to form a mini “think tank” to imagine what ideas are needed to grow and sustain a compassionate community. A short written description, sketch or diagram of the ideas generated by each break out group will be presented and discussed.
(*from the James Agee Poem: “Sure On This Shining Night”)