Sedona AZ (November 29, 2011) – In the midst of the turmoil around the world today – the wars in the Middle East and the global movements for socio-economic justice – we ought to pause for a moment and take a deep breath. We should be grateful that we live in beautiful Sedona and enjoy a peaceful environment in one of the most sacred and natural places in the world. Giving thanks for all these blessings only once a year is not enough. This holiday season may give us the necessary strength to go on with our personal struggles and to give thanks each and every day for how lucky we are! Christmas is around the corner and we invite all to experience the holiday season at Sedona Public Library.
To warm your heart up and put you in the spirit of this holiday season, everyone is invited on Friday, December 16 to attend the special holiday program “Christmas Readings, Music, and Magic” (6:00 – 8:00 pm). This charming evening will feature selected readings by Sedona authors, live acoustic music, and a magic act.
An amazing array of local writers, artists, and musicians will share their talents for the enjoyment of our community. Sedona author Gene Garrison will read a holiday anecdote about a group of people from the Phoenix area who used to go every year to the Navajo Reservation to distribute gifts of food, clothing and toys to families.
Clint Frakes of Sedona considers himself a “working poet.” He is a writer, teacher, editor, creative consultant and naturalist. He also facilitates pilgrimages to sacred sites in Northern Arizona. His poetry has been awarded the James Vaughan Poetry Prize (2006), the Peggy Ferris Memorial Prize for Poetry (2006), and the Pudding House Chapbook Prize (2008). Clint will read some of his original work.
Accomplished musicians Kelly Ireland and Michael Drew will play modern acoustic music. Kelly has a background of 25 years in classical music and plays the concert C flute. Michael plays drums and piano in addition to other musical instruments. This magnificent duo will perform an original piece for flute and piano.
Mia Margaret “Angelica” is a professional harpist and has been a Sedona resident for over 20 years. Mia learned how to play the harp in Hawaii and Sedona with maestros from around the world. She is an international recording artist who has created her unique harp-style and has recorded 15 CDs. Now she performs and offers harp lessons in Sedona. She will delight the audience with her original harp songs.
Gary Every, professional storyteller and author, will be doing southwestern Christmas storytelling and performing some of his original poetry. Author Bert Cisneros –the Elder Poet of Cottonwood—has been a mainstay of the Verde Valley poetry scene for many years. Cisneros will read some of his original poems. Joining this cast of local poets will be “The Klute,” an Arizona slam poetry champion who has performed all across North America. He is flat out amazing and hilarious and he will for sure lift your spirits!
Rose Boerner (former member of the Board of Trustees of the Sedona Public Library) and I will perform a bilingual reading by Nobel Prize winner Ruben Dario (Nicaragua). We will read the fairy-tale style poem “To Margarita Debayle,” alternating stanzas in the original Spanish with its English translation. Magical Michael will wrap up the program with a magic act in which the audience will participate. Light refreshments will be served. Mark your calendars and come to Sedona Public Library to enjoy an evening of readings, music, and magic!