Let's Talk About it~ The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui
As part of the Let's Talk About it Series with the McCall Public Library Wednesday, February 9th
7:00 - 8:30 pm New Location: McCall Donnelly High School Library With Dr. Paula Coomer
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui is a critically acclaimed example of the graphic novel form, which has risen in popularity in the 21st century, perhaps reminding us of the surreal nature of contemporary life. Using beautifully minimalist lines to depict her scenes, Bui tells a very personal story that explores the anguish of immigration and its lasting effects. She casts a bright light on our present refugee crisis by humanizing people who are regularly generalized by mainstream media. Bui documents her family’s daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves.
Family history coincides with Vietnam’s history as she learns of the trauma her parents experienced as children and young adults in the years before and during the war. She comes to understand the impacts of her father having witnessed the executions of political prisoners on his behavior and uncovers significant events stretching from the turn of the last century through Vietnam’s bloody attempts at liberation from France, Japan, and the United States. Bui presents these in the order she learned about them, rather than the order in which they originally occurred, reminding us that all historical memory is situated in individual personal chronology. These tragedies are revealed as Bui adjusts to life as a first-time mother and learns what it means to be a parent, while also coming to understand the strength of family, her drive for individual identity, and the meaning of home.
Cabin Fever Events Happening Now
Move With Grace Pilates Class Thursday, February 10th
5:00 - 7:00 pm
At McCall Pilates Studio With Lisa Marie
This 2 hour workshop will get you moving and finding Grace in your body. Finding your center will help you become more balanced and stronger. In this workshop with Lisa Marie you will learn movements to help you feel suppleness and strength in your "own house"~ your body. Learn some Pilates fundamentals and get moving with the Pilates equipment to find your true strength.
Lisa Marie has been teaching Pilates and Personal Training for over 16 years. She started practicing Pilates due to numerous injuries from years of training, and a major ski accident in 1998.
She realized years of training without proper movement and her past injury led to her chronic lower back and neck pain. Her first Pilates session with Steve O’Neil at the Pilates Studio in Salida, Colorado taught her that she was not breathing correctly but holding tension in her neck due to past injuries and chronic allergies.
After just a few private sessions, she knew that Pilates was her way to find relief and to move in an efficient and graceful way. That day she realized she needed to learn and share the Pilates method to all.
Fall In Love with Carbs Again Saturday, February 12th
9:00 - 10:30 am
On Zoom and Recorded With Deanna Clauson and Susan McCandless
Straight talk on carbohydrates and how you may be missing a key nutrient to help you achieve your 2022 health goals.
Discover a secret nutritional superstar that makes eating simpler, improves your digestion, helps you achieve a balance of mind and body, and can truly skyrocket your health.
You’ll walk away with the tools and confidence to make the information work for you in your kitchen and on your plate. This workshop will also provide you a meal plan, recipes and handouts to help you translate information into action in your daily life.
Susan McCandless is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and certified as an Integrative and Functional Care Practitioner, LEAP Therapist, and Intuitive Eating Counselor. Read more at her website Mint Nutrition.
Can you believe we get the two of them together in one class?
Crochet a Headband Tuesday, February 15th and Thursday, February 17th
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
At Keep Me In Stitches With Lynda Vrgora
Learn to crochet a handband with fiber artist Lynda Vrgora in her beautiful downtown studio. Choose your color and enjoy an easygoing class with Lynda’s expert guidance. Students should have basic crochet skills. All supplies will be provided, including yarn and a crochet hook to take home.
Lynda is the longtime proprietor of our local yarn store, Keep Me In Stitches. Her teaching and crafting nook is one of the coziest places in town for warm brews and conversations.
Other Upcoming Events
The Art and Practice of Meaningful Conversations Wednesday, February 23
6:00 - 7:30 pm
At Heartland High School Commons
With Melissa Daniels
Save the Date ~ Annual Heritage Night is March 8. Stay tuned for additional events with visiting Hopi Elders.
Missing the green packets? Find a full description of all events here.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP).
Announcing Auditions for Children's Spring Musical
This year's Spring Musical will be a production of Mary Poppins Jr. By Disney and Cameron Mackintosh Directed by Dawn Kolden and Music Direction by Linda Moyer
Feb 28th through March 3rd
Ages 9-18
Auditions will be held at the Alpine Playhouse-Masks required for participation Performances will be held in May outside at The Barn in Roseberry
Registration is required in advance for auditions Email Dawn@mccallarts.org with any questions
Rad After School Scribblers, Creative Writing for Teens Wednesdays
Ages 13–17
Break out your muse and dive into discovering and refining your unique voice. We'll engage in a wide array of writing prompts, styles, and genres so you can find and explore what works for you.
Spring Break Acting Mini Camp March 21-24
Ages 7-12
With Linda Moyer
Costumes, Singing, Movement, Acting, Animals Masks and Focused Play.
We are committed to providing access to the arts for children and affordable events for everyone. We also believe in paying artists and scholars and actively promote this ethic with other local and regional arts organizations. Need-based partial scholarships are available for most classes upon request. Please enquire at info@mccallarts.org.
We're happy to welcome our new Administrative Director, Lynn Johnson. We're excited to have her great creativity and expertise on our staff.
We are grateful for your continued presence and support.
To All Things Bold and Imaginative, Dawn Kolden, Artistic and Education Director
Lynn Johnson, Administrative Director
Trinity Nash, Development and Communications
Board of Directors~ Ellen Ganz, Renée Silvus, Anissa Rooney, Julie Ronnow,
and CMarie Fuhrman
Contributing to MAHC
We are only able to do what we do through the generosity of our community. Even $5 a month makes a costume, script, book, or stash of supplies.
If you'd like to help but can't support us financially, talk to us about volunteering or tell your friends and family about the fun, creative things we're doing.
