Franco-American colloquium
ORONO, Maine — The public is invited to attend a cultural round-table discussion and colloquium Friday through Sunday, May 20-22, in Jenness Hall, University of Maine. More than two dozen of the leading voices of the Franco-American experience will share their work and discuss cultural identity.
“The Living Past: Franco-American Identity in the Modern World” will explore the contemporary expression of Franco-American culture through conversations, storytelling, dramatic performances, music and art. It will address the significance of Franco-American culture today and what a Franco-American identity is, how it is experienced and shared. In addition, many opportunities for informal exchanges will arise.
“It is our goal to build new foundations for the future of Franco American communities,” said Susan Pinette, director of Franco-American studies at UM and associate professor of modern languages.
The gathering is being organized by UM’s Franco-American programs and funded by the Centre de la Francophonie des Ameriques in Quebec, the Cultural Affairs-Distinguished Lecture fund, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Franco-American Studies and the Royal Arcanum.
For information, visit https://sites.google.com/site/faculturalidentity. Members of the public are welcome to participate by registering in advance. Attendance for evening events is free. Teachers can receive continuing education credit. For info on Franco-American studies, visit http://www.umaine.edu/francoamericanstudies.
Franco-American music
ORONO, Maine — An evening of traditional and modern Franco-American music with Josee Vachon, Va-et-Vient and Adele St. Pierre will be held 8-11 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Foster Student Innovation Center, University of Maine.
This free event is open to the public thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Centre de la Francophonie des Ameriques in Quebec. The concert is part of the conference “The Living Past: Franco American Identity in the Modern World.” For more information, call Brooke at 848-4000, ext. 116.
Talking Art Museum
BANGOR, Maine — Fifth-grade students of Bangor Christian Schools will present an opportunity for the public to “meet” and talk with world-famous artists in the “Talking Art Museum” 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the University of Maine Museum of Art, 40 Harlow St.
Students have researched the lives of famous artists and created PowerPoint presentations. Each student also re-created a famous work from his or her artist. The exciting part comes in the presentation. Some students will be dressed as artists and others will be painted to be a talking part of the painting. Those attending will learn about the artists and the paintings directly from the “source.”
Featured artists include Jackson Pollock, Paul Signac, Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh and many more. It will be a night of art, history and entertainment. The event is free and open to all. For more information, contact BCS teachers Erin McDonald or Carol Kutz at 947-7356.
Art sale at Buck Library
BUCKSPORT, Maine — Bucksport native son Ed DesJardins has announced a gift of 65 pieces of art, original and prints, to the Buck Memorial Library. These pieces will be offered for sale to the public at attractive prices, to benefit the ongoing restoration of the library facade, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22, at the library on Main Street. Works may be previewed Thursday and Friday.
During preview, bids at silent auction will be taken for a chance to win DesJardins’ 14-by-32-inch original graphite drawing of the ship Providence, docked in Bucksport Harbor. The winning bid will be announced May 22. Call Buck Memorial Library, 469-2650, for further details.
Dolls club annual tea
HAMPDEN, Maine — The Maine-ly Dolls Club will hold its third annual Girls and Dolls Tea at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Hampden Congregational Church, Route 1A. The theme is “My Favorite Things,” and the event is open to girls and women of all ages.
Refreshments and tea will be served. Club members will display dolls from their collections, including American Girl dolls, travel dolls, paper dolls and Barbie dolls. Attendees may participate in a craft project they can take home. Attendees are urged to bring a favorite doll.
Admission is $10 at the door. Space is limited and preregistration is required at 866-7781 or Sue@mainelydollsclub.org. The Mainely Dolls Club was founded in 1985 in Hermon.
Quilt show planned
ORRINGTON, Maine — Along the Lilac Path, an 1840s bridal quilt, will be featured at a quilt show 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 21, at East Orrington Congregational Church, 38 Johnson Mill Road. Admission is $3. A salad luncheon will be available for $5. The public is invited to enter quilts or wall hangings which may be brought to the church office 9 a.m.-noon Thursday and Friday, May 19-20; or 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, May 19. For information, call Linda Weinmann, 825-4591.
Author Janet Chapman
BANGOR — New York Times best-selling author Janet Chapman will be the guest speaker for the Not Your Ordinary Book Group at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 26, in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library. All are welcome to join members of the book group to listen to the experiences of Chapman, a Maine native.
“This is why my stories are set here. And why I wish to share them with the rest of the world. I live in a log home on a lake in central Maine. I’ve been married for 25 years and have two remarkable sons,” she wrote on her Good Reads website. She has 16 books in print and two more titles due to be released. “Mystical Warrior,” the third book in the Midnight Bay series, will be released on June 28, and the first in the Spellbound Falls series in early 2012.
A list of Chapman’s books with cover art and links to Bangor Public Library’s catalog is available on the Web page,http://www.bpl.lib.me.us, Author Visits link. Bring questions to ask about her books or her writing.
Musical on growing up
BREWER, Maine — The teen group of Next Generation Theatre has been working since January on an edgy, contemporary musical dealing with issues such as cliques, dating, rumors, peer pressure, and accepting who you are and being true to yourself.
With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and based on the book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, “13” is a hilarious, high-energy musical about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.
The cast of 28 represents several area high schools and middle schools. The play is directed and choreographed by teenagers Rachel Caron, Stephanie Colavito, Alek Sayers and Tommy McCarthy.
Shows will take place at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 20-21; and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22. Tickets are $7, $4 students through 12th grade. To purchase or reserve tickets, call Between Friends Art Center, 39 Center St., at 989-7100.
Fun at the library
Coming children’s programs at Bangor Public Library:
• A planting party at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, on the Children’s Terrace. Children are invited to lend members of the Bangor Garden Club a hand in planting the flowerpots for the Children’s Terrace. Members will give a brief show-and-tell to explain what it takes to make a pleasing display. Children will help plant and water the large pots that will grace the terrace through the summer. After cleanup, children may enjoy a snack. Rain date is 4 p.m. June 1.
• Doll’s Day Tea Party, 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4, Story Room. Bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal to join the parade. Special guest will be Vicki Moschella, a member of Mainely Dolls Club. She will introduce her favorite Madame Alexander dolls. Children up to age 10 and their guests are invited.
Chorus spring concert
BANGOR, Maine — Bangor Community Chorus members, led by conductor Joshua Schmersal and accompanied by Colin Graebert, look forward to welcoming the public to the group’s annual spring concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St.
The chorus recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. The concert is free, but donations are appreciated. Refreshments will be served.
Sweet Adelines
BANGOR, Maine — The Heart of Maine Chorus is a local women’s barbershop group and a chapter of Sweet Adelines International with the mission of promoting excellence in singing and preserving the American folk art barbershop. The chorus will open its doors at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 23, at the rehearsal site, 639 Grandview Ave., Bangor.
The chorus welcomes women who share a love of singing to join in an evening of fun. It will be an opportunity to observe a working rehearsal, learn about the basic techniques and participate in learning a song. The evening will conclude with refreshments, questions and discussion.
Heartwarming movie
BANGOR, Maine — Movie Night will be held at 6 p.m. the first and third Friday of the month at Columbia Street Baptist Church, 63 Columbia St.
The series will begin on Friday, May 20, with the family movie “Because of Winn-Dixie,” the heartwarming “tail” of a girl and the four-legged friend who changed her life. Pizza will be served before the movie. Both the movie and popcorn are free. For more information, check the website at http://www.csbcbangor.org