Arts Showcased at Ave Maria
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Published on Sunday, 22 March 2009 22:12
Lucille Hawkins of Naples has waited about 75 years to have her poems read in public. But when Ms. Hawkins, now 95, saw an announcement for a poetry contest at the Ave Maria Festival of the Arts, she decided to enter some poems she penned in the 1930s. She received Honorable Mentions for two of them, and made the trip out to Ave Maria for the festival poetry reading Sunday afternoon.
"I'm having just a wonderful time here," she said as she came into the room for the reading. Since her voice is not strong enough to read the poems herself, she had her friend, Kathy Carpenter, read the two selections -- Rain and A Picture -- for her. (Pictured, Ms. Hawkins with Poetry Committee Chair Marilyn Krepf.)
"This contest has been the best thing that's happened to Lucille in quite a while," Ms. Carpenter said. "She's been really excited about it."
In addition to the poetry reading, the arts festival featured displays of works from juried artists, musical performances, a dance recital and lectures by artist Karen Laub-Novak, whose art will be exhibited in the AMU library for six weeks, and sculptor Márton Váró. At the lecture by Mr. Váró, attendees were able to purchase chips from the Carrera marble being used to carve the three-story bas relief of The Annunciation that will adorn the front of the Ave Maria Oratory. At left, Kathy MacMillan of Naples examines a piece bearing Mr. Váró's signature. (For a previous story on Mr. Váró's life and call as a sculptor, click here.)
Displays of visual arts also included works from various high school and middle school students from Naples and Immokalee that were hung in store windows in La Piazza which rings the oratory in the town center.
The Festival began with a Mass at which the Missa Sancti Nicolai by Haydn was performed by the AMU Choir before a packed oratory. The Mass was also the first time many people heard the new organ at the oratory.
Other musical performances in the town cent
er included the Immokalee High School Jazz Ensemble (right) and the Ave Maria Concert Band (left).
The day concluded with a performance of the musical Oklahoma! by AMU students. There will be another performance Saturday, March 28.
"It was great today, and we're already looking forward to next year," said co-chair Moira Fennessy, pictured at right with co-chair Jane Healy.
