Hello Friends,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. These past months have been quite a challenging time for our community, our country, and our world.
As a host and producer of community arts programs at HCAM-TV for the past 14 years, I have witnessed the significant connecting power that the art of poetry, story and song have when shared with community. Furthermore, I believe that sharing our voices through the arts can serve to better understand one another, uplift and also offer hope.
On this page I have been invited to gather such works in that same hope and belief that when art is shared, it can serve to encourage and inspire one another as community.
This page will include a weekly submission of an original poem, story, song, visual art or film link representing some of the art that people of community have to share.
I am beginning with examples of art that I have received from family and friends as well as some of the art that I have shared with others during the past few months of this pandemic.
Also, if you are so inclined, you are invited to share a submission of your art for potential posting on this page to wakeup@hcam.tv
Take very good care each day.
With very best wishes,
Cheryl Perreault
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Most people who plan to celebrate Halloween this year are well aware of the need for changes in trick-or-treat protocol due to COVID-19 health restrictions. This admittedly can put a damper on such a festive time of year. However, we as a people are adaptive when need be. We repeatedly have been showing our flexibility and creativity this past year. The two poems below serve as some examples of how people are making the best of these times in small circles of friends and family gatherings. The first poem was submitted by Arhan Shrivastava who is a middle-school student. The second poem, with memorable title "Pumpkin Poop" was written by poet Trisha Knudsen, proud grandmother/"Gah-Gah" of three little trick-or-treatsters (see photos below.)
In Year Of The Pandemic, This Is How We Trick Or Treat Everyone dressed for Halloween |
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Pumpkin Poop
We’re throwing a Halloween party for the Littles We’ll have mac and cheese and chicken nuggets ---Trisha Knudsen |
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Hope Music Video | This week's video is an original song "Hope" performed by guitarist and good friend of HCAM-TV, Steve Rapson and his granddaughter, Savannah Gerard. Savannah is performing her grandfather's song of hope while he accompanies on guitar. This is a very important time for all generations of families and people of our communities to be talking together, about things like hope as well as sharing stories and learning from one another and even singing together too! |
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Music video (Suitable for children) |
This is Hopkinton's official "back-to-school" week! All students, teachers, school staff and parents are wished the very best. In the spirit of getting back-to-school, this week's submission for "Art of Hope and Community" includes a music video that my friend Tom Smith recorded with musician Seth Connelly and ten wonderful young people ranging in age from 7 to 13 years of age who sing about using our hands, brains, voice and hearts to make the world a better place. Bravo to these musical messengers! Bravo to all those going back to school (whether on-site or remote) too! More info on this song. |
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Music video (Suitable for children) |
This is Hopkinton's official "back-to-school" week! All students, teachers, school staff and parents are wished the very best. In the spirit of getting back-to-school, this week's submission for "Art of Hope and Community" includes a music video that my friend Tom Smith recorded with musician Seth Connelly and ten wonderful young people ranging in age from 7 to 13 years of age who sing about using our hands, brains, voice and hearts to make the world a better place. Bravo to these musical messengers! Bravo to all those going back to school (whether on-site or remote) too! |
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Clouds | Have you noticed the natural artwork of the clouds in the sky above us this summer? This is a beautiful song performed by singer-songwriter Deborah Rocha of Newton MA. Deborah has often been to HCAM Studios to share her songs at past programs of "Wake Up And Smell The Poetry." Her beautiful song "Clouds" was set to stunning film and photography by singer-songwriter Steve Rapson. |
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This Pretty Planet | This is a performance of song by Elmwood Elementary School students (2nd and 3rd grade) submitted by Hopkinton School Superintendent, Dr. Carol Cavanaugh. The students in this music video are singing "This Pretty Planet" and their collective chorus is made possible via Zoom. Elmwood Elementary School has always had a special place in my Hopkinton heart. I remember when my own daughters sang this song at Elmwood School about 20 years ago! |
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Never Been to Mexico | Steve Rapson's performance of the original song in 2018, Never Been to Mexico. I find his words and personable performance incredibly moving and inspiring. |
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Snowdrops | A friend recently shared an article published in The Washington Street Journal indicating that amidst tragic time of pandemic, the snowdrops are still showing up in the US, Europe and other parts of the world as they transition from the harshness of unpredictable weathers of winter months into new growth that comes in the Spring. When I began writing poetry in my late 30s, I remembered how much I loved to get up close to the snowdrops in my mother's garden as a child. I felt like they were teaching me about Spring and it's soon-coming promises of new-growth and transformation. May the snowdrops continue their good teaching for us all. |
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Saturday | Abbey Perreault (who happens to be my daughter), Zawadi Noel and Chris Price have sent along the video of the collaborative song they put together via Zoom. |
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From all the news I've read this week, this poem stands out - sent with a donation of masks from a Chinese company to Italy. This pandemic is revealing how all humans truly are in it together, globally we are so interconnected, and our lives depend on one another. This is the time to put the common good above all else. let's think about how our actions affect others. Let's first of all take this seriously, stay home to slow the spread, check in with each other, think of ways to support the most vunerable in our communities & to support healthcare providers too. May we shift our collective mindset to act as waves of the same sea. Words and Drawing by Jaclyn Perreault |
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