A Model of Best Practices
The Finding H.D. project embraces a full flow of cultural placemaking best practices. Among the many fundamental elements of this extended community arts project are:
• The creation of new works based on community needs and issues
• The paid support of local artists and arts groups
• Integration of community arts, academic, and community centers
• The interpretation of local history through the arts
• An artistic commitment to issues of gender diversity
• Creating a project offering numerous opportunities for public interaction
BACKGROUND
The Finding H.D. project is a wide-ranging community initiative with the unified goal of properly recognizing and celebrating Bethlehem Pennsylvania’s most important native artist, Hilda Doolittle (H.D.). This year-long inquiry into the life and work of H.D. has touched hundreds of Bethlehem citizens and community organizations in over a dozen public programs and events. These programs, each based on some aspect of her poetry or philosophical vision, served to inform and promote two culminating artistic outcomes- the creation of a portrait of H.D. destined for the central lobby of the Bethlehem Area Public Library and the creation of a play,” The Secret,” based on H.D.’s life to be staged at Touchstone Theatre. More than a celebration of an important feminist poet, Finding H.D. is a community cultural exploration of gender identity, politics, and power.
GOALS
The central goal of the Finding H.D. project is to assert poet and feminist visionary Hilda Doolittle’s place as the most important and acclaimed artist to hail from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In this, we strive to join other American communities who understand the importance of celebrating their accomplished daughters just as they have always recognized their native sons. By doing so, our hope is to promote a future system of municipal and civic governance in the city of Bethlehem that is more fully gender inclusive and representative of women’s political influence.
FUNDING
The Finding H.D. project was funded through the generosity of several local foundations, including The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and the South Side Initiative of Lehigh University. In addition, the project was supported by grants provided to Mock Turtle Marionette Theater that include funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Quality of Life grants provided by Lehigh County Pennsylvania.
September 29, 2019
H.D.'s Bethlehem: A Walking Tour
October 5, 6, 7, 8, 2019
"The Secret" A Mixed-Media Play
October 25, 2019
Never More the Wind
Steven Sametz composition
Lehigh University Choral Arts
Winter 2020
Unveiling of Commissioned Portrait of H.D.
April 2, 2020
The Secret (Second Run)
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
November 14, 2018
Public Reading of H.D.'s Work
January 30, 2019
How We Fell in Love with H.D. and Why You Should Too
February 26, 2019
H.D.'s Moravian Roots in Bethlehem
March 6, 2019
Challenging Limited Understandings
of Gender and Sexuality
April 16, 2019
Panel Discussion: H.D. and the Natural World
April 29, 2019
Art History from a Queer Perspective
Bisexual poets: Hilda Doolittle and Emily Dickenson
June-September 2019
Play production of The Secret
September 22, 2019
Forest Bathing with H.D.
PARTNERS
The Finding H.D. project was a result of a partnership including the Lehigh University English Department, the Bethlehem Area Public Library, Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, and Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.
In addition to these partners, this year-long exploration of the life and work of H.D. is indebted to the participation of the Moravian Archives, The Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, Little Pond Retreat, Touchstone Theatre, Zoellner Art Center, Festival Unbound, and numerous individual contributors.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS
Now in its second year, the Finding H.D. project is in its culminating stages. After seven well-attended professionally lead programs and an intense summer of play production, “The Secret” was premiered during Touchstone Theatre’s Festival Unbound in October 2019. In a wonderful reception, “The Secret” played to three full houses and was offered a second run at the theater in April of 2020. This run will include a whole new set of pre and post-show features. Referred to in our promotional literature as H.D. Act II, we will offer an exhibition and discussion of the play-making process by puppeteer Doug Roysdon and a post-show series of H.D.-inspired programs in poetry, visual arts, theater and music. Finally, the Finding H.D. project, will culminate in the creation of a portrait of H.D. for the lobby of the Bethlehem Area Public Library.
“THE SECRET”
The following artists and hundreds of hours were engaged in creating the culminating play, “The Secret”.
Performers:
Abriana Ferrari, actor-puppeteer-singer
Aidan Gilrain-McKenna, actor-puppeteer-singer
Tommy Gilchrist, cello
Madison Ledergerber, actor-puppeteer-singer
Liam McKenna, trumpet
William Reichard-Flynn, actor-puppeteer-singer
Matilda Snyder, actor-puppeteer-singer
Grace Spruiell Hochella, actor-singer, percussion
Production:
Doug Roysdon, chief writer and puppet maker
Jennie Gilrain, director
Liam McKenna, chief composer
Larry Lipkis, musical consultant
Ree Harrington, costume designer
Melpomene Katakalos, set designer
Ara Barlieb, lighting designer
Seth Moglen, historical and literary adviser
Music composed by: Liam McKenna, Abriana Ferrari, Aidan Gilrain-McKenna, William Reichard-Flynn, Kalyani Singh,Matilda Snyder, and Tommy Gilchrist
Script devised by: Doug Roysdon, Jennie Gilrain, William Reichard-Flynn, Aidan Gilrain-McKenna, Matilda Snyder, Kalyani Singh, and Seth Moglen