Dog Ears Bookstore is once again offering a free literary and art program for senior citizens. Those 55 and older are invited to participate in the “Around The World & Back Home Again” Literary & Art Program that explores different countries around the world and their authors, artists and culture as well as local authors, poets and artists.
On Wednesday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a literary instructor will introduce participants to the work of local poet John Kryder and his work “On Friendship” (2021). The theme “City of Good Neighbors” will be explored during an interactive group discussion.
Kryder is an adjunct professor of English at Canisius College. He co-founded and for 18 years co-directed the Buffalo/Williamsville Poetry, Music, Dance and Art Celebration and for 10 years he was a contributing editor for The Potomac Journal of Poetry and Politics. He taught at Attica/Wyoming prison in the Consortium of the Niagara Frontier and his involvement in prisoner advocacy groups motivates and informs his academic work. At Canisius College, he teaches Freshmen English and honors seminars, and the Law and Literature and Journey in American Literature courses (https://www.canisius.edu/academics/our-schools/college-arts-sciences/faculty-and-staff/john-kryder).
Following the literary discussion, Burchfield Penney Art Center will be on hand to guide participants in an art project and exploration of a local artist and their work.
A graduate of Buffalo State College, Norma Joy creates art that serves as a reflection of her interactions with life and the world. Using color in an intuitive way, Joy allows the image to reveal itself, expressing the layered quality of time and space. She will reference the tradition of nonobjective abstract through the work of artist Harriet Greif and guide participants in making their own abstract piece of art.
Greif (1924-1988) was born in New York City and studied at Columbia University as a student of Architectural Drafting, and Cooper Union School of Art and Architecture, where she received a certificate in 1946. Greif came to Buffalo in 1947 with her husband, painter Seymour Drumlevitch, and taught drawing, painting and design at the Albright Art School from 1948-1954, after which she taught privately and at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. Greif began as a figure painter, but even as early as 1950 she was dividing her compositions into geometric bold color areas. Of her work, Greif has said, “My paintings relate to the natural world — space, sea, sky, land and light. They are a fusion of elements seen and sensed in nature.” (https://burchfieldpenney.org/art-and-artists/people/profile:harriet-greif/#harriet-greif).
The program is limited to 15 participants and is completely free for senior citizens. All class materials are provided. In addition, a book of the highlighted author’s work will be raffled off among those in attendance.
The program will be held at Dog Ears Bookstore, which is located at 688 Abbott Road, Buffalo, near Mercy Hospital. Street parking is available along Abbott Road and on surrounding side streets. The café will be open for food and beverage purchases.
Pre-registration is required for each session and can be made by calling the bookstore at (716) 823-2665.
The Around The World & Back Home Again Literary & Art Program is a monthly series that features different countries and its authors and artists as well as local artists, authors and poets each month. The program is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Services Inc.