Kiss To Be
West Tisbury artist Traeger di Pietro, known for his oil paintings of familiar Island scenes and mixed media pieces, is launching a new, 365-piece, year-long painting campaign.
“Each of the paintings will depict that most simple expression of love: a kiss,” according to the press release. On Valentine’s Day 2012, all 365 paintings will be exhibited together in a gallery show in New York City. A portion of the proceeds will go to a charitable foundation benefiting cancer research.
“We’re calling this the ‘Kiss To Be’ campaign and we’re inviting all of you to complete the phrase — ‘kiss to be happy, ‘kiss to be healthy,’ ‘kiss to be cool,’ ‘kiss to be warm,’ etc. — by submitting a photo of you kissing someone you love.” Mr. di Pietro will paint each selected photograph for the exhibition next year.
Visit kisstobe.org for rules.
Local eats
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s (MVRHS) culinary arts department and the Island Grown Initiative present a local dinner this coming Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 6 pm, at the high school. Guests will enjoy a local meal made by chefs Dan Sauer, Jack O’Malley, and the culinary students. Tickets, available at Cronig’s and SBS, are $25. Proceeds benefit the Petricone Scholarship for MVRHS culinary arts students.
The Yard news
The Yard dance colony in Chilmark, entering its 39th year, has appointed David R. White as the consulting artistic director. He comes to The Yard after having been the executive director and producer of Dance Theater Workshop in New York City (1975-2003), creator of ARTVENTURES New England, and most recently appointed a member of the Presenting and Commissioning Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Cover shot
A photograph of Edgartown resident William Waterway Marks has made its way to the hardcover edition of Island author Geraldine Brooks’s next novel, “Caleb’s Crossing.” The photograph was taken on the beach at the Gay Head Cliffs. “I stood in the water to get the cliffs and infinity, photographing wave after wave after wave to finally capture the white foam flowing over the seaweed-darkened lip of the rock,” Mr. Marks wrote in an email.
Open mic benefit
This Thursday, Feb. 17, Waterside Market in Vineyard Haven hosts a benefit Open Mic Night from 6 to 9 pm. A $10 admission at the door benefits the Ferland family, an Island family whose daughter has worked at Waterside for three years. Enjoy free coffee and snacks, a raffle, and entertainment.
Dinner theater
This Saturday, you can enjoy the M.V. Regional High School’s “Willy Wonka” production on a full stomach, thanks to Les Troubadors French Club. As a fundraiser for its upcoming trip to France, the student group is serving a French dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the school’s cafeteria. Enjoy chicken marsala or vegetarian ratatouille with salad, rice, and green beans. Admission is $12; $8 for children. For more information, call Terry at 508-627-9108.
On tall ships
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Sail Martha’s Vineyard holds another of its winter dinner and lecture evenings at the Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven. Starting at 6 pm, hear from Lt. Cmdr. Jorge Martinez, executive officer of the U.S. Coast Guard’s tall ship Eagle (pictured above), who will present on this ship, the largest flying the Stars and Stripes and only square-rigger in U.S. Government service. The dinner and presentation is $20. Pre-register by calling Sail M.V. at 508-696-7644.
Feel the beat
According to the American Heart Association, one in three women die from heart disease, almost one every minute, making it the number one killer of women. Working to change that statistic, the AHA is sponsoring a Zumbathon charity event this coming Monday, Feb. 21, at Curves in Vineyard Haven. Starting at 11 am, make a donation of any amount and partake in the “Party Hearty” Latin-dance-inspired workout for a cause. For more information, visit partyhearty.org.
Downward dogs
This month, The Yoga Collective’s benefit class is for the animals: the Animal Shelter of M.V. and PAWS. Jane Norton teaches the all-level class on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 10 am at Island Co-Housing in West Tisbury. The class will be an Anusara-inspired class focusing on animal-inspired poses, from camel to cobra to crow, and is donation-based. For more information, email janenortonyoga@gmail.com.
