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THE
WRECK OF THE THRESHER
- POETRY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
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In
2004, the Mystic Seaport published a wonderful festschrift book to
celebrate William Meredith's 85th birthday. It is a beautiful, leather-bound
volume with a broad sampling of William's poetry, archival photos
from WWII, and a journal section where one might reflect on the work,
or write their own poetry. We have received a number of copies of
the book in a generous grant from the seaport and are making copies
available to 20 high schools, colleges, and libraries in the area
to continue William's legacy as well as that of 158 courageous Navy
men who died serving their country in the loss of the SS Thresher
submarine in 1963. Each of these twenty institutions will receive
24 copies of the book for use in the classrooom. Students may compare
notes and share their thoughts in this journal in an effort to this
heritage alive in the minds of future generations. One teacher at
Montville High School, Mrs. Wendy Halsey, will use the books to recognize
winners in a in a new program she has designed, The William Meredith
Poetry Awards at Montville High School.
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William
often said that "usefulness" was a quality he cared most
about in his work - though extremely sophisticated, his poetry is
accessbile and not that of an "ivory tower" poet. We feel
he would be very happy to see his poems reach this next generation
by this program. The following photos show recent visits to several
of the schools which have received this gift. Pictured with the various
administration is John Hracyk, a foundation patron who first came
up with this suggested program and has contributed time, energy and
resources to make it a reality. |
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Richard;
Donald Macrino, Principal Waterford High School; John Hracyk
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Richard;
Kathleen Sasso, Librarian, Griswold High School; John Hracyk
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Jackie Bagwell, Secretary, Wm Meredith Foundation; Richard Harteis,
Tommy Thompson, Principal; John Hracyk
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Richard,
Tom Doherty, Headmaster at St. Bernard's High School, John Hracyk
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Exhibitions
New Haven
Free Public Library October, 2011
In 2003, William
and I were honored to be part of the Avignon Arts Festival and later
participated in the Marche de Poesie at St. Sulplice in Paris. There
we met the extraordinary artist, Sooky Maniquant who began an art
folio project including serigraphs of our work. These works were
exhibited at the Lyman Allyn Museum in New London in 2006.
This fall, the
center welcomed translator and art critic, Marc Albert and his two
daughters for a short residency to continue the translation project.
Two exhibitions will result from this visit, the first to take place
at the New Haven Free Public Library October 29th through November.
Ms. Maniquant's work will accompany that of a fine local artist,
Deborah Curtis. William was a great patron of the arts and often
sponsored exhibitions for emerging talents. He wrote a brilliant
series of dramatic monologs, HAZARD THE PAINTER which has inspired
the foundation's continuing interest in supporting this art form.
Please visit the foundation website for more info:
http://www.williammeredithfoundation.org/foundation-upcoming.htm
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Alexy
Von Schlippe Gallery (April 15, 2012)
The gallery
is reserved for the ongoing exhibition of the Maniquant serigraphs,
AFTER WILLIAM MEREDITH. We will launch a bi-lingual edition of William's
poetry in French and English at the opening.
Alexy
Von Schlippe Gallery ( July/November 2015)
Gallery Director,
Julia Pavone has reserved all four rooms of the gallery for a special
retrospective featuring all the Bulgarian painters who first showed
their work (The River People) in the 2000 exhibition.The exhibition
will include Bulgarian painters and sculptors who have since crossed
the remarkable bridge William first established between our two
countries when he served at Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress
and invited Bulgarian artists to the United States for programs
throughout the country. A generous grant from Jim and Mary Gibbons
will enable us to return a number of works from Seattle where they
were exhibited in 2006 at the Delight Hamilton Gallery to be part
of this exhibition.
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Stoimen
Stoilov "Thresher Sailors" etching
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PUBLICATIONS
We continue
to work on the first William Meredith Award in Poetry which will
be the publication of David Fisher's new and collected poems. Joanie
Di Martino is preparing the manuscript for editing and Rick Williamls
is preparing a cover illustration for the book.
During the April
Exhibition at the Von Schlippe we plan to introduce a bilingual
edition of William's poetry in French and English which has been
translated by a number of translators including the former head
of the French Department at Connecticut College, Prof. Nellie Murstein.
A third volume
scheduled for publication is that of Edmund Skellings, Poet Laureate
of Florida. Mr. Skellings produced a cd of William reading his work
at the University of Florida. These two poet/pilots flew high together
in poetry events when William wintered in Florida and we are pleased
to be able to honor this longstanding friendship.
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Ed
Skelling at home, with Richard
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We have applied
to the Chelsea Groton Bank for a small grant to support these publications
and should know in a month if we are to receive such support.
THE WILLIAM
MEREDITH POETRY FESTIVAL
We have applied
for funding to the National Endowment for the Arts to provide the
budget for the festival and have begun contacting prospective faculty
with great success. The Griffis Arts Center has been very supportive
of this project, and Connecticut College has agreed to let us hold
the event on campus in October 2012. If we are awarded this grant,
funds can only be used after June of 2012 and so we have moved the
date up till the begining of the academic year. The NEA grant is
a matching grant and so the additional time will enable us to continue
to achieve our budget and solicit participants as we move forward.
Last year's November fundraiser did enable us to begin production
of the William Meredith Award for Poetry which will be presented
regardless of future funding for the festival.
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MARATHON
AT FILM FESTIVALS
This summer
and fall, MARATHON has played as an official participant in an number
of film festivals including the Anthem Film Festival in Las Vegas
where it was awarded a special jury prize for excellence in film
making. I attended the Twin Cities Film Festival where I presented
the film as well as copies of William's poetry.
Two more festivals
remain this fall, including the Gig Harbor Film Festival near Seattle
which will be paying all expenses, including air fare for me and
foundation treasurer, Nancy Frankel. Given the biographical nature
of the film and caliber of artists and well-educated audiences one
meets, these festivals are an excellent way to meet our goal of
keeping William's voice alive among us. The Palm Beach International
Film Festival, for example, has invited us to screen MARATHON at
the Countess DHLH Theater April 5, 2012 at 6:00 as part of their
outreach program during National Poetry Month.
Distribution
opportunities continue to emerge as we screen the film.
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Juan
Williams at the Anthem Film Festival, Las Vegas
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Anthem
Film Festival Award Trophy
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RIVERRUN
I'm happy to
say The William Meredith Center did not sustain any frozen pipes
or major problems this past winter and we were able to welcome visitor
such as patrons, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bourret (who helped a great
deal in the clean up effort after hurricane Irene,) as well as Marc
Albert with his daughters. We hosted working sessions with Little
Red Tree Editor, Michael Linnard, and his wife Temara along with
poet and volunteer copy editor, Joanie Di Martino. During a visit
by Johnes Ruta, we were able to work on the foundation website and
develop the exhibition for the New Haven Free Public Library.
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Sarah
Bouret at Riverrun
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Michael
Linnard at Riverrun
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When we installed
the new furnace last summer, it was recommended that the chimney
be relined to make the new furnace more heat efficient and keep
it from collapsing. We replaced that lining in June, had the wood
stove checked to be sure the squirrels hadn't nested there again.
There is a lot of work to be done in the garden, the gutters need
to be replaced, the deck stained - always something with a house,
but it is still the elegant little cottage William built. The the
oil lamps burned bright when the hurricane shut us down that week.
I have a bread plate that has the inscription: God Bless This House.
Indeed. My continuing hope is that one day we may find funding to
support to keep the center going when I pass on. We were honored
that the State declared Riverrun an historic landmark and wish to
preserve this beautiful spot for posterity.
This winter
I will continue to investigate possible funding sources for such
a transition. We are required by law to hold an annual meeting for
the foundation, and I have proposed November 5th or 12th to the
board of directors. This update will serve as background for that
meeting as we take up new business and prepare for the coming year.
Given the economy, arts foundations have not had an easy go of it
this past year. But we remain optimistic for the future and extremely
grateful for the support we continue to receive.
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The
Two Trees at Riverrun
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