Music as Meditation brings a Multi-Media Show
to Christ Church
This season, the Music as Meditation series is every more
collaborative than it has been. For our November 3rd event, I've switched
roles. I'm producing a theatrical/musical/visual art performance by a
very interesting artist who goes by the name Barbara Toothpick. Ms.
Toothpick attended a recent Music as Meditation and pitched the idea
of using the event to stage her show. As soon as I began to read the script
she sent me, I was a gung-ho supporter. Not only was the piece rife
with humor of the most reflective sort, but she talks about raising
worms. Any fellow-vermiculturist gets my full attention and I read
on. This show is a reflection on so many aspects of life. I am
looking forward to my role on the day of the show—as audience
member. I hope many of you will join me.
Some things about this performance remain the same as previous Music
as Meditation events: It's on the first Sunday of the month at Christ
Church in North Conway. There is no admission fee. We will accept
donations toward the upkeep of the beautiful Steinway at Christ
Church. The generous congregation of Christ Church is lending us the
space and we are all hoping that attenders and artists alike will
come away refreshed and ready for the next adventure life hands each
of us.
Visual, Musical, and Theatrical artist Barbara toothpick will present
One-Woman Show With Alan on Sunday, November 3 at 5 pm at Christ
Episcopal Church as part of the Music as Meditation series. Featuring
17 costume changes, three life-sized effigies, and original music and
paintings, toothpick’s show depicts her quest for what she can
trust in an ever-changing world. Toothpick describes the show as “a
romp” and notes, “It’s not preachy and telly, it’s showy and
do-Eeeeeee!” It is directed and produced by Sarah Dalton-Phillips
and Helen Swallow. Toothpick’s quest encompasses her reflections on
the body, the solar system, poetry, visual arts, “the stern
patterning of music,” her learning to become a team with mate Alan
HorseRadish and raising children, and her view of all individuals.
The multidimensional show will evoke “the delightful roller coaster
road” she and Alan have traveled in pursuit of their artistic
creations.
Working in the interface between painting (acrylic and watercolor) on
triangular canvases, composing soundscapes with visual scores, and
poetic writing of all kinds, Barbara toothpick’s work was recently
seen in 2018 in a show at the University of Maine at Machias (with
Alan HorseRadish). This year her work has been on view at Eastport
Gallery, the Tides Institute, and Eastport Art Center. She currently
has a book in the Philadelphia Center for the Book’s show at City
Hall in Philadelphia. For the past three years, she has produced Play
Theater in Philadelphia. Under the name Barbara Bodle Kirschenstein
she earned BS and MA degrees from Ball State University.
While attending the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Alan
HorseRadish painted large acrylic paintings but soon changed to
watercolors, creating heavily saturated seascapes and faces. He has
shown his paintings at the University of Maine at Machias, the Tides
Institute, and many places in Philadelphia. Under the name Alan
Kirschenstein he earned a BA degree from the University of
Pennsylvania.
The
show is part of the Music as Meditation series coordinated by Ellen
Schwindt and hosted by Christ Episcopal Church. Admission is free,
but donations are welcome and will go toward the upkeep of Christ
Church's beautiful Steinway piano. For more information about the
show or the Music as Meditation series contact Ellen Schwindt at
ellenmschwindt@gmail.com.
