The grass is high, and haying season is in full swing. Chilmark softball season held a pre-game last Sunday, with its new flag flying, though the official first game is Sunday, July 3, at 8 am, complete with bagpipes and former Softball Commissioner Bill Edison. All ages welcome.
Congratulations to another win for Chilmark at the Vineyard Herreshoff Cup regatta held at Edgartown for H and H-12 class boats. I ran into a joyful Edward Miller still dressed in sailing overalls, coming straight from the race to Kara Taylor’s elegant “Bouquet” painting opening at her South Road gallery; stop by the gallery from 11 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
I am thrilled former Grey Barn cheesemaker Jackie Foster is inaugurating her food truck, Mangku, named for a Brahman holy man she met on a Southeast Asia trip. It’s parked every Wednesday from 6:30 pm at the CCC, so you can eat before TMVFF films or just get takeout. She is serving farm-to-truck fresh Asian rice bowls with lots of pickled and fermented fresh veggies, but also offerings like kimchi flapjacks. Check Mangku out on Facebook if you want to know where else to find them.
It’s Chilmark Community Center summer program time; you can register online this year or in person. Camps and programs begin on Tuesday, July 6. Call 508-645-9484 for more information.
Chilmark was represented last week at the International Center of Photography (ICP) inaugural museum opening in its new home on the Bowery in New York City. I attended the Tuesday-night opening with my husband, documentary photographer Ed Grazda, whose photography exhibit of handmade buildings is showing at A Gallery at 8 Uncas Avenue in Oak Bluffs through July 13 (learn more at his July 6 gallery talk at 5:30 pm). As soon as we entered the ICP opening, we ran into longtime Chilmark summer resident artist Ellen Liman and her partner Walter Liebman, who were chatting with Aquinnah summer resident Phil Block, ICP deputy director. Soon we ran into longtime Chilmark summer residents Ellen and her husband, Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson, both looking forward to getting to the Island. And if you are interested in Cuba, you can check out the newly arrived book by Bruce and Ellen’s daughter Anna Mia Davidson, “Cuba Black and White,” at our library; she will be speaking about her book at the library on August 10 at 5 pm.
What a great presentation Jane Dreeben gave at the Chilmark library last week for her new book, “The Urge to Create: 50 Vineyard Portraits.” She invited three Chilmark guests who appear in her book, harpist Annie Howell, shoe designer Sawyer Klebs, and garden designer Peggy Schwier, to speak about their creative work. Jane did a wonderful job, and followed her passion in creating this homage to the diversity of creativity on Island. Her next library talk is Wednesday, July 6, at 6 pm at the West Tisbury library; come and meet creative locals or just buy her book at Island bookstores or at janedreeben.com.
Head over to Native Earth Teaching Farm on Friday, July 1, for a Family Campfire, from 6:30 to 9 pm, with popcorn, marshmallows, and stargazing. For more info call 508-645-3304.
If you’ve always wanted to take Nancy Aronie’s Chilmark Writers Workshop or give it as a gift, she is offering only four workshops this season: July 5 to 7, July 18 to 21, August 1 to 4, and Sept. 19 to 22, so sign up now at chilmarkwritingworkshop.com/mv-summer-workshops/.
Wampum artist Joan Lelacheur is having an Open Studio and Sale on Saturdays July 2 and July 9, from 10 am to 5 pm at 42 Old South Road, Aquinnah. For more information call 508-645-9954 or joanlela57@gmail.com.
Lobster Rolls to Go, every Tuesday starting at 4:30 pm, at the Chilmark Community Church. Also the Chilmark Flea is on every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm.
The Jim Thomas Spirituals Choir presents the U.S. Slave Song Project, songs circa 1619-1865, also known as Negro spirituals, on Wednesday, July 6, at 5 pm at the Chilmark Public Library, free.
At last, summer is here: Have a great July Fourth.