T thanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about.
That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.
Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

Now that November is here it’s an ideal time to reflect on our summer, appreciate the joy of warm days and evenings and prepare for the pending change of season and eminent series of holidays! Now is also the time for all of us to send up our prayers, good vibes, well wishes, whatever method we have of asking for help outside of ourselves to the new leadership of our nation.

When I write this, the elections are pending; by the time most of you read this, the elections will be done and a bunch of new people will be running the country – including the White House. And the way things are going now, they will need all the help they can get, from wherever they can get it!

This month I also want to recognize and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Ujima Theatre in Buffalo. Ujima is the Swahili word meaning “collective work and responsibility.” The popular use of African words to interpret the efforts of contemporary Black culture in America really took off in the late 1970’s with the establishment of Kwanzaa as national holiday for African Americans to celebrate the principles of unity, accomplishment, family, and prosperity in a culture that has an unfortunate history of oppression. Ujima is one of the seven principles of celebration in Kwanzaa as well as the tenets to live by proposed for African Americans. (More on Kwanzaa in December)

When this movement began to gain popularity and acceptance among the African American populous, art, culture and the traditional arts such as drumming, African dance, the visual and literary arts and other forms of craftsmanship were flourishing!

Artists such as Lorna Hill seized the opportunity to nurture and cultivate this modern awakening and appreciation by establishing Ujima Theatre Company to promote, advance and share with the world the extraordinary range of theater works created by writers of color from across the globe, past and present.

Examples include plays by remarkable talents such as Athol Fugard, Derek Walcott, Zora Neal Hurston, August Wilson, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Endesha Mae Holland, and Melvin Van Peebles. Although works by mainstream writers such as David Mamet have been produced on the Ujima stage, too.

Founder Lorna C. Hill has her own list of impressive credentials. The first African American woman to be accepted into the prestigious Ivy League institution, Dartmouth College, Lorna has been a featured actor/writer/director in more than 75 stage productions, countless stage appearances as well as television and film – and even now she is putting together a project for our local public radio station that is indeed going be part of a syndicated program for National Public Radio – Uncrowned Queens: Community Builders, that is quite wonderful.

I must also take time to mention her undeniable ability as a most effective teaching artist – an act of service that Lorna has been engaged in since the late 1970s. Lorna’s resume is about 20 pages long, so there is no way for me to share the full spectrum of her work in the theater and in the community with you in this small space … suffice it to say she is spectacular at what she does.

Now is probably one the best times to visit Ujima Theatre while they are presenting the reprise of their 1989 block buster show, “In De Beginnin” by the late great theater genius, Oscar Brown, Jr. and his son, Oscar Brown, III. The play is a super fun musical interpretation of the first part of the book of Genesis: the creation of the world, Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, their eventual fall from grace and eviction from Paradise. A tale told with aplomb and outrageous humor by a delightful cast of characters accompanied by a band of outstanding musicians and small chorus of fine singers, “In De Beginnin” illustrates the determination of Lorna to always present what will best reflect the mission of the company and its strongest suits. The show runs through November 16 at their Elmwood Avenue home, Theatre loft, 545 Elmwood Avenue (near W. Utica). For tickets call 883-4232. Really, you don’t want to miss this show!

Other opportunities to be thankful for in November include:

November 1, 8 pm - Pilobolus – an amazing ensemble of edgy, contemporary, experimental dancers that always thrill their audiences. UB Center for the Arts, Amherst Campus, call 716.645.2787 for tickets and information.

November 1 – 21 – Partners In Art Gallery – A Passion for Detail, original watercolors by Jane Stoddard. An intimate gallery setting to view the work of this award-winning local artist. 74 Webster Street, N. Tonawanda, NY. Call 692.2141 (Free)

November 1 – 21, Buffalo Society of Artist 112th Annual Catalogue Exhibition, Art Dialogue Gallery, One Linwood Ave, Buffalo, NY - Tues – Thurs, 11 am – 5 pm, Sat. 11 am – 3 pm. Call 716.885-2251 for details

November 2, 1 pm – 5 pm Bunka No Hi – Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens. In Japan, Bunka No Hi is a national holiday celebrating arts and culture. On this day the Botanical Gardens will celebrate Japanese art and culture from the Buffalo Niagara region. Tickets include: Ikebana displays and demonstrations, traditional Japanese dancing with Odori No Kai, Kendo demonstrations, Japanese tea ceremony demonstrations, Japanese cuisine demonstrations and a litany of other events. The event is produced in collaboration with a long list of Japanese community organizations. Tickets range from $12 - $6. For info. call 827.1584 ext. 204. Address: 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218.

November 3, 8 pm The Buffalo Chamber Music Society – Trio Con Brio Copenhagen, music for violin, cello and piano performed by this celebrated ensemble from Vienna. Mary Seaton Room, Kleinhans Music Hall, Symphony Circle, Buffalo. Call 716.462.4939 for ticket information.

November 6 – 9, 2008, weekdays 10 am – 9 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. - Christmas in the Country – this event is ranked 2nd in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine for its exceptional range of participating artisans and cross-section of items and products available to the general public. You name it, you can find it here in handcrafted form. The event will be held in the Agri-Center at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, 5820 South Park Avenue. Call 716.648.9733.

November 7 – 30, 8 pm - Simply Simone: The Music of Nina Simone, an amazingly beautiful journey through the music of an iconic figure in American music presented by the Paul Robeson Theatre, at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave., Buffalo. This is another absolutely must see show in November! Call 884-2012 for tickets.

November 8, 14, 15 at 8 p.m., November 9, 16 at 2 p.m. – Buffalo Contemporary Dance offers a program of original works by area choreographers Leslie Wexler and Amy Taravella in the new ALT Theatre space located at 255 Great Arrow in Buffalo. Tickets available at 716.868.6847.

November 1 – 21, Buffalo Society of Artist 112th Annual Catalogue Exhibition, Art Dialogue Gallery, One Linwood Ave, Buffalo, NYTues – Thurs, 11 am – 5 pm, Sat. 11 am – 3 pm. Call 716.885-2251 for details

November 14, 8 pm – American Guild of Organists Members Recital. Calvary Episcopal Church, 20 Milton Street, Williamsville, NY. A program of works ranging from solo to ensemble. (Free)

November 14 – 16, Both Your Houses, Pulitzer prize-winning dramatic humor play by Maxwell Anderson presented by The Playhouse of American Classics as “chamber theater,” or a very well rehearsed staged reading by professional actors. Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, 25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo. Tickets $15 general, $10 Seniors/students. Call 716.873.9644, ext. 301 for info.

November 14-16, 20-23 7:30 pm Zodiaque Dance Company celebrates its 35th Anniversary season with performances that highlight the artistic efforts of UB’s dance faculty and dancers. UB Center for the Arts, Amherst campus. Call 716.645.2787 for details.

November 21 – 23, Holiday Gift Show, Kenan Center. A fabulous array of jewelry, crafts, clothing, home items, etc. to get you in the spirit of the holiday shopping season! 433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY. Various hours each day, call 716.433.2617.

November 22, 7:30 pm - Canisius Concert Bank & Jazz Ensemble, a terrific program performed by the best students in the program, lead by premiere players, Dave Schaivone and Paul Biddle. Montante Cultural Center, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo. Call 716.888.2536 for ticket information.

November 23, 6:30 p.m. – The Buffalo Choral Arts Society and Ars Nova presents the 30th Anniversary concert of Viva Vivaldi featuring “Gloria.” First Presbyterian Church, One Symphony Circle in Buffalo. For info and tickets call 716.812.1541.

November 28 – 29, 8 a.m. – 5 pm Christmas Food Fair, The Broadway Market offers a wonderful and unique selection of ethnic delicacies, seasonal sweets, holiday decorations, and stocking stuffers that are made and manufactured locally. Please help our community’s small businesses and make the trip to the Broadway Market. There will also be live entertainment and general good fun! And it’s FREE. 999 Broadway, Buffalo, Call 716.893-0705.

Also throughout November the Castellani Art Museum in Sanborn (easy to get to) is celebrating Picasso with their ART EXPRESS workshop series. Every Saturday in November starting at 2 p.m. you and your family, or just you can enjoy making something or learning something about a modern master, Pablo Picasso – also includes tours. Admission is $3 and includes any materials and all instructions. Call 716.286.8201.

Every Friday is free at the Albright Knox Art Gallery beginning at 5 p.m. with Gusto at the Gallery series offering the public a wide range of interesting and eclectic things to enjoy in a world-class contemporary museum. 1285 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Call 716.882.8700.

Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. distinguished professors and film critics Bruce Jackson and Diane Christian present the Buffalo Film Series – a discussion and screening of the finest movie classics at the Market Arcade Film & Art Center in downtown Buffalo’s Theater District. 639 Main Street. Call 716.855.3022 for information.

The Western New York Books Arts Center located at 468 Washington Street is offering a full complement of programs and workshops related to the art of bookmaking, understanding about books and other provocative information about books that promises to delight all participants. Times and hours vary.

In closing, I wish one and all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving – we have lots to be thankful for, even when it doesn’t seem like it. There is always someone in the world with greater stress, loss, illness or grief than you or me. I’m glad to be here making what contributions I can to my community and hope the best for all of you!

Any thoughts, you can email me at Clawson@onthemove.com.

Celeste Lawson has been involved in the arts as an artist and arts administrator for more than twenty-five years. She has been the Executive Director of the Arts Council in Buffalo & Erie County since December 1996.

During her tenure the Arts Council has been the recipient of the 2001 Outstanding Upstate Arts Organization Award from the New York State Alliance of Arts Organizations; the 2002 NYS Governer’s Arts Award for Excellence in Programming; a 2004 Civic Empowerment Award and in 2003 Celeste received the YWCA Executive Leadership Award.
Celeste is a Board member of Project Flight. She is also on the executive committee of the Western New York Women’s Hall of Fame. Member of the Women of the Crooked Circle writing group. Executive Director, Arts Council in Buffalo & Erie County. You may contact her by calling 856-7520 or emailing her at celeste.lawson@artscouncilbuffalo.org.