By Valerie Baugh-Schlossberg | Program Manager, Story Tapestries
On May 18, 2019, Story Tapestries continued its tradition of celebrating literacy and the power of story at the 10th annual Gaithersburg Book Festival. We had well over 200 children and adults stop by our booth to create a piece of art, take a donated book home, and/or experience Arianna Ross' magical storytelling.
Every year, the creativity of young people touches our hearts. A few examples that readily come to mind are the siblings who drew the most beautiful, glittery butterflies fluttering toward brightly lit flower petals and the young man who shared his truth in a poem on our story quilt:
“Art is sport, sports are art.
Playing sports is the art in my life.
What is the art in your life?
Could it be reading, writing, or acting a scene?”
Then there were countless adults whose joy filled our tent as they thumbed through our stacks of donated books, reliving their fondest childhood memories of the books they loved as kids. This is why I love returning to the Gaithersburg Book Festival year after year!
“The Gaithersburg Book Festival is a celebration of the written word and its power to enrich the human experience. Our mission is to foster an interest in reading, writing, and literary conversation.
Since its inception in 2010, the Festival has quickly become one of the nation’s top literary events, attracting hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors, poets, and songwriters from across the country to its quaint, park-like setting in the heart of Olde Towne Gaithersburg.”
--Gaithersburg Book Festival 2019
We truly believe that the arts are a bridge to break down barriers while also becoming the foundation for building skills in other areas. Story Tapestries supports and strengthens neighborhoods by helping partners build self-sufficient, sustainable, arts-based programs for children, especially those in high-need areas. We believe that children should be at the center of any approach to creating a brighter future for our communities. We have the greatest impact on children’s development when we involve those who support their growth: caregivers, educators, and school administrators, and especially community members.
In that spirit, in our community-driven initiative, Amplify Us! we provide workshops that teach community members how to tell their personal stories through spoken word and visual arts.
In fact, we wish to extend an invitation to two upcoming FREE public performances on June 20th and June 22nd at BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, MD - for you and/or your loved ones in the Greater Washington Region.
Upcoming Events: Please join us if you are near Germantown, Maryland on June 20th and June 22nd, 2019
Experience funny, dramatic, and heart-wrenching true stories in these thought-provoking and entertaining performance events. Locally famous and Nationally renowned artists, Regie Cabico and Vijay Nathan, will share their lives with you through a documentary film, storytelling, slam poetry, and visual arts. In addition, local performers who have experienced an Amplify US! workshop will take the stage as well! To conclude, reflect upon the stories you hear guided by a professional facilitator, Carolyn Lowery.
Admission is FREE. Reservations are preferred, though tickets will be available at the door.
HOWEVER – we suggest you reserve today – last year’s event SOLD OUT!
For accessibility requests, call 301.916.6328
June 20th, 7pm at BlackRock Center for the Arts
Click Here for June 20th Reservations
June 22nd, 7pm at BlackRock Center for the Arts
Click Here for June 22nd Reservations
We hope to see you there and thank you for your continuous generous support!
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