Remember quieter, slower paced times? Warm lazy summer afternoons when time stood still; end-of-day campfires with roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate?
This July, Orcas Island in Washington State, will again be home for KindlingsFest an annual celebration of Art & Ideas where they intersect with the spiritual.
“This relaxing event allows plenty of free time to enjoy the island while drinking in the stimulating lectures each morning and conversations with artists in residence and BagEnd Cafe each evening,” said a news release from veteran broadcaster, Dick Staub, about the event. “Last year registrants came from across the U.S. and Canada as well as from a number of other countries (including China and Bulgaria!)”
The release went on to say that “truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget and this year’s event will explore the nature and importance of friendship with guest speakers like poet and writer Luci Shaw, who will speak about her lifelong friendship with the late Madeleine L’Engle, author of such classics as ‘A Wrinkle In Time.'”
Staub said that Dr. Hal Poe, C.S. Lewis scholar and author of The Inkling’s Oxford will explore how the friendship of Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien affected their work and life. Seattle Pacific University Professor Dr Jeff Keuss will explore friendship through the eyes of emerging adults in a lecture titled, “iPod, YouTube, WiiFit.”
Nigel Goodwin, British actor and international arts advocate, will share from his heart as he discusses “Friendship and my Spiritual Journey.”
Popular speaker Jerry Root is returning to provide daily thoughts to open the day. KindlingsFest 2010 will also feature amazing artists-in-residence throughout the week, including singer-songwriter Bob Bennett, visual artist Kathy Hastings and Windham Hill Artist Jeff Johnson.
Also joining us will be Madeleine L’Engle’s god-daughter, Orcas Island resident and filmmaker Corrie Moore, who will screen Dark Horse, her most recent movie most of which was shot on Orcas Island.
Each evening award winning broadcaster and writer (and now pastor of the Community Church) Dick Staub, will host a Kindlings Muse podcast live from the event.
Thursday afternoon KindlingsFest will again feature an Artwalk in collaboration with Orcas galleries and has added a book signing with KindlingsFest authors at Darvill’s bookstore. Friday evening is movie night featuring two award-winning films, “Waiting for the Train” and “After the Storm.”
Saturday night we’ll enjoy an outdoor community concert with performing artist Bob Bennett followed by root-beer-floats.
“The exciting KindlingsKids program will be better than ever with a nursery for children age 4 and under and crafts and activities planned for ages 5-12 everyday from 10-11:30,” added the release.
Don’t this one-of-a-kind gathering of thoughtful creatives. Space is limited and is filling up fast, so for more information and registration go online to www.thekindlings.com/kindlingsfest or call 360-376-6422 Tuesday through Friday 11AM to 3PM.
Note: The Kindlings is a movement inspired by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Dorothy Sayers and a diverse group of gadflies and friends called “The Inklings,” who met in an Oxford pub each week for lively conversation and friendly disputation.
Staub said, “We think such discourse should be intelligent, imaginative and hospitable. Its aim is to rekindle the spiritual, intellectual and creative legacy of Christians in culture.”
In a posting on his website, he also said, “C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are in my view iconic in their embodiment of the spiritual, intellectual and creative traditions of Christianity in culture. They communicated gospel (Lewis more forthrightly than Tolkien), countered the cultural fads of their day and yet contributed to mainstream culture.
“Such is our calling today: to rekindle the spiritual, intellectual, creative legacy of Christian faith in culture.”
For more information, contact Dick Staub or Monique Turner
dsjr@dickstaub.com . moniqueturner6@gmail.com
360-376-6422 M-F 10AM -3PM
www.thekindlings.com/kindlingsfest
Sounds pretty neat! 🙂
This piece doesn’t mention the dates!
July 14-17 2010!
There is still room!
Thank you! Much appreciated!
I went to this last year and it was wonderful!! I had the opportunity to interview Michael Ward, who wrote “Planet Narnia”, a book on his discovery on the CoN. (http://www.aslanscountry.com/narniacode) I would very highly recommend attending!!
-Hannah