Repairing the world
By Judith Jenya, April 20, 2007
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Reading Judith Jenya in the PEN “New Voices” series Fri, Apr 27, 4pm Sala Quetzal Biblioteca Pública Insurgentes 25 |
For most of my life I have been a painter but began writing stories and reflections on experiences of war and its aftermath in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo about 10 years ago. I wanted to share some unusual experiences and thoughts. I continued writing a collection of pieces for a book whose working title is Leap Before You Look: Reflections on an Activist’s Life.
Living in San Miguel for the past year, I am working on redefining my writing and, instead of a memoir, it is now “Imaginative Nonfiction,” or something of the sort.
Several of my pieces have been published in magazines and newspapers, and I have read at gatherings in California, Hawaii and several East Coast universities.
I have been more active than reflective, so writing is an opportunity to be reflective and share it at the same time.
In my late 30s while living in Hawaii, a numerologist told me I would start my real life’s work at age 50 with children in another country.
By the age of 50 I was an attorney practicing family law in Hawaii, leading groups, divorced with kids in college, and engaged as both an artist and photographer. I began to take more personally and seriously the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (social justice), which was my family ethos but which we called work on behalf of social justice in my agnostic, European-born, immigrant, socialist family.
When I was 50, I went with a group of people to help lead a youth camp for kids from Chernobyl and other ecological disasters outside of Moscow. That started my work with kids overseas, and in 1991 I went back to Russia to look for orphans to place for adoption. In early 1992, I started the Global Children’s Organization, first placing 20 orphans from Russia with American families. In 1993, I went to Croatia to find out about helping kids from the wars there and in Bosnia and started a series of programs and summer camps for peace, reconciliation and healing that are still ongoing. The programs have now helped thousands of kids in Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Jordan and Los Angeles and are run by volunteers and staff whom I recruited and trained.
My life prior to 1990 also had many twists and turns beginning in Ukiah, California, where I was born. Ukiah spelled backward is haiku and in many respects I think in haiku form. I grew up in several small towns in Southern California, attended Reed College, Berkeley, Harvard and the University of Hawaii where I amassed several degrees and subsequently worked as a psychotherapist, social worker, art therapist, life coach, teacher, concert promoter, attorney, activist and always as an artist.
I have been living in San Miguel for nearly a year, and find myself acting, writing, painting and learning to be my own architect, designer and jefe of an old house. I came here first at 14 with my mother and throughout all my life and world travels have held this as the place I someday wanted to live. Well someday is now! I have always loved adventure, the thrill of the unknown and new cultural experiences—freeing myself from roles imposed by society, finding my own spiritual path and testing my own mettle. And, San Miguel keeps me engaged in all of that.
The joy of books and assorted literary activities
By Atención staff
International Day of the Book
Mon, Apr 23, 11am-1:30pm
Rare Book Evaluations
Open Mic
Make Your Own Book Art
La Tienda, Biblioteca Publica,
Insurgentes 25
International Day of the Book, also known as World Book and Copyright Day, is celebrated annually on April 23 in honor of two of the greatest writers in English and Spanish literature: William Shakespeare and Miguel Cervantes. And so for San Miguel, reknown as an artists colony but now also as a writers colony, it is only fitting to celebrate the love of literature at the Biblioteca Publica (Public Library).
On International Book Day La Tienda at the Biblioteca Publica offers a variety of literature related activities from rare book evaluations to making your own book and of course readings by some of San Miguel’s known and soon-to-be-known authors. So much more than the usual joy of combing the library shelves to find the latest release.
Antique Dealers Carlos Nayola and Lety Fernández of La Buhardilla Antique shop at La Aurora will give free evaluations at La Tienda. Bring your old books to show them. Books, Magazines, Posters, Anything Paper! According to these specialists there is a treasure hidden away in book and magazine collections and the possibilities are huge—old books, posters, post cards, pre-1970 magazines, out-of-print, autographed books even menus. And valuable finds have been discovered in the following categories as well: fine arts, performing arts, photography, architecture, magic & occult, cookbooks, medieval illuminated manuscripts, books of hours, non-fiction, classics, sci-fiction & fantasy, mystery & crime, biographies & memoirs, and many others. Bring that book in, you may discover a true treasure!
Another fun event during the day is the Open Mic reading. With special featured readings by Linda Lowery, Richard Keep, Ron Ruiz, Manja Argue, Leah Feldon, Patrice Wynne, Victor Sabuatoba, Diana Alstad, Lulu Torbett and more. Registration in advance is required due to the number of people who want to sign up but you can sign up on the day of the event as spots become available. Readings are limited to five minutes per reader and must be original material. Please check in at La Tienda to sign-up.
And to continue the day with hands-on activities Make Your Own Book Art, for anyone aged 6 to 106. Look for the table in the Sala Infantil to make your own original tome.
The Biblioteca Publica continues to offer an amnesty on overdue books until the end of April. Just Drop off the overdue books into the colorful boxes located around the library.
World Book Day quiz
1. The Bard from Avon in As You Like It (Act II, Scene IV) undoubtedly refers to San Miguel words about San Miguel
2. William Shakespeare, Vladimir Nabokov and Manuel Mejia Vallejo were born on this day.
3. Who was the ambitious Lady-who-would-never-be-Queen obsessed with spot removal? Hint she was not doing laundry.
4. "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool". Name the play… and the scene?
5. Who wrote A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience, Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory and Good actions ennoble us, and we are the sons of our deeds.
Answers
1. “I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it”
2. April 23
3. Lady Macbeth
4. As You Like It (Act V, Scene I).
5. Miguel Cervantes
Join us for Día del Niño
Dia del Nino (International Childrens’ Day)
Sat, April 28, 11am-2pm
Biblioteca Publica
Insurgentes 25
International Children’s Day, April 30, is celebrated in Mexican schools with fun activities in art, sports and of course, lots of treats. To give San Miguel children a head start to the festivities the Biblioteca Publica plans its celebrations for next Saturday. The schedule for the day includes contests for Song, Poetry, Painting, plastelene sculptures and of course piñatas and dulces.
Submissions for the contests must be received by Friday, April 27. For more information see Eduardo, the Childrens’ section coordinator.
Join us in this family event