Worship, Theology and the Arts Shine
Oct. 5-6, 2005 saw the successful opening of the Women’s United Nations Report Network’s (WUNRN) workshop program in the United States—right here on the campus of Andover Newton Theological School. With the help of WOTA students, the conference was especially welcoming and diverse in its attention to the whole person as it engaged theologians, Non-governmental Organizations, human rights workers, religious leaders, associations, and students in a lively presentations and ‘cultural’ events (as they like to call such worship-like events in United Nations’ lingo). Designed so that all groups working on similar issues might look across the boundary lines usually drawn between NGOs and religious communities and learn where fruitful connections might be made, the touches added by ANTS’; vibrant arts community, large and small, welcomed visitors with more than words.
At left, Prof. Fontaine welcomes everyone to the workshop.
“Wherever we looked” says Prof. Fontaine, the conference organizer, “we saw those things that make our setting uniquely inviting. ANTS’ student Jen Hollomon, owner of Sea Lily Flowers, did a splendid job of adding a touch of color and life to all our facilities, aided by the volunteer workers of the class TMPL/OLDT 613 on Religion and Women’s Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Luis Alvarenga, ANTS’ resident film maker and digital camera man, added his expertise to the filming of the event. One of our initiatives, Girls on the Edge was a particular hit, and incorporated work done through ANTS’ innovative youth program, FYI (Faith Youth Initiative).
At right, Filmmaker and ANTS Student Luis Alvarenga meets Swami Agnivesh, beautifully framed by WOTA’s ongoing exhibit by artist Linda Hoffman.
We were so glad to be able to include music and dance, along with our visual art presentations and girls’ poetry. Beatrice Greene, African American ‘fusion’ composer, wrote and performed special music for the WUNRN event, and led the audience through a discussion of themes found in her special work.
At left, Beatrice Greene, composer.
Laura Lapointe, a recent ANTS graduate known for her work with gospel choirs, sang ‘Her Eye is on the Sparrow’ at the closing reception.
WOTA Artist-in-Residence Judy Medeiros, familiar on campus for her wonderful dancing workshops, had previously taught a few simple Sacred Circle dances to the OLDT/TMPL class so that we had some ‘ringers’ seeded into the gathering for the dance that closed the conference.
Said Swami Agnivesh, “I have never before in my life danced with a woman!” I joked with him, ‘…and now here you begin with thirty-five women! It is a good beginning to make up for lost time!” said Fontaine.
At right, Dean Pazmiño and Girls on the Edge Poet Aine M.
“Of course, words hold a special place in the arts on Institution Hill—how could it be otherwise?” Fontaine went on. “We wanted to have a real sense of the power of Sacred Text and interpretation in our presentation of word art. In an interfaith gathering, we can’t just stop at the point of saying, ‘This is our text—love it and join us, or leave us!’ Rather, we wanted to show by our actions that the Text is alive and well in the world wherever creativity is seriously engaged on behalf of justice. That’;s how Girls on the Edge was born: we asked, what form is the Word taking in our girls? Do they know they themselves are Text and Interpreter, Beloved and Belonging? With the able organization of MA WOTA student Jennifer Thompson, the voices of young women were heard—and then some!—in our gathering of justice-seeking elders!”
Due to concerted begging by ANTS students, Prof. Fontaine finally consented to perform her ‘The True Ritual Meaning of Baseball-Cursed or Un-’ for the group (and camera) before the dancing commenced. The entire conference will be available eventually on DVD, including the tribute to the true faith of Boston’s Red Sox Nation.
Looking for something like this from WOTA at your church? Our performers are yours to acquire!
About Our Performers
Judith C. Medeiros, M.Div., is a sacred and liturgical dancer, studying with Robert Verecke of the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble and various teachers from the United Kingdom and Findhorn Sacred Dance Community in Scotland. Judy is Artist-in-Resident at Andover Newton Theological School, organizing its first Liturgical Dance Troupe, teaching Sacred Circle Dance and Body Prayer and offering dance in worship services at Andover Newton and local churches. Judy offers workshops in Circle Dance, Sacred Dance on the Labyrinth, and Movement for Worship. Email: jmedeiros@ants.edu
Beatrice Greene is a composer and pianist. She has written numerous compositions for piano and jazz trio. Her musical pallet reflects her study of classical European, African American classic jazz, African drumming, and spirituals. In her compositions one experiences a deeply rooted spirituality. Tonight’s composition written for WUNRN honors the courageous women and men moving for freedom from violence perpetuated against women in the name of religion, tradition and culture; and, the sister ancestors who died victims of this violence. Beatrice holds degrees from the College of Wooster, Howard University and Berklee College of Music. She is an active member of First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain in Boston.
Laura Lapointe (ANTS M.Div. 2005), trained as an actress at Tisch School of the Arts and was moved to new heights by her participation with the New York University gospel choir and has not stopped singing since her first rehearsal with them. She has managed tours for the Boys Choir of Harlem and sung with a number of choirs in the Boston area, including the Boston Community Choir, Boston Pops Gospel Choir, and New England Conservatory Millennium Choir. She also enjoys dancing for worship services. Her current ministry is as a teacher at the Suffolk County House of Correction, and she is searching for ways to combine her love for music and desire to spread a gospel of hope and encouragement to those often neglected and forgotten by much of society.
Jennifer Thompson is a second-year a masters degree candidate here at Andover Newton in Theology and the Arts. She currently teaches art at Boston Trinity Academy among a very diverse body of students. Originally studying fashion design at Drexel University, she now has a B.F.A. in Art & Art History & a Post. Baccalaureate degree in Art Education from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, one of the countries only all women’s art schools. A Delaware native, she plans to continue working in art education, women’s studies, and art history. Believing that the arts are a powerful vehicle for worship, education, and reform, Jen hope to use her gifts to glorify God and serve others through the arts. She is the key coordinator of art and poetry by Girls on the Edge. Her email is: jenbeatricet@aol.com
Our Cultural Events at the Boston WUNRN Workshop are sponsored by the St. Lawrence Foundation for Religious Education in the Unitarian Universalist Tradition.
See the complete slide show of all the WUNRN events at http://photoshow.comcast.net/c.fontaine