Tours of the Historic Barn House with Special Exhibit “Steps to Resilience: Intimate Portraits by Will Kasso”
Saturdays, 10 AM – 11: 30 AM (through October 27, 2018)
Sign up: http://bit.ly/CFFWillKasso

Join us on Saturdays, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. for a guided tour of the historic Barn House.  The Barn House is actually two historic buildings: a granary and a cow barn, both built sometime between the late 1700’s and the early 1800’s.  Jackson Clemmons joined the two buildings together more than 20 years ago, while he was in his 70’s.  Our October tours feature a special exhibit! Considered the godfather of the Trenton art scene, Will Kasso Condry promotes and produces street art throughout the Northeast and the West Coast.  His lived experiences, cultural heritage, and social issues inform the subject of his murals, paintings, and illustrations. Kasso’s work centers on using mural arts as a vehicle for community-building, activism, beautification, and healing. For over 20 years, his public art initiatives and civic engagement have had profound impact by helping vulnerable and fractured communities come together to creatively problem solve issues that affect their neighborhoods and everyday lives. Kasso firmly believes in the power of art to inspire, empower, create dialogue, and improve lives.  The exhibit includes seven magnificent portraits of individuals who inspired Kasso in his former life in New Jersey and in his present life in Vermont. The portraits use oil and spray paint on canvas. Audio-recordings of Condry describing his inspiration behind of each the works and videos of Condry’s process are also a part of this vibrant exhibit.

Cuban Culinary Adventure:  How to Make Potaje de Frijoles (Cuban Black Bean Soup)
Friday, October 19, 5-7 P.M.  Featured Artist:  Eloy Guzman
Sign up: http://bit.ly/CFFCulinaryYum

Join Eloy Guzman as he brings the culture and stories of Cuba to the kitchen of the Clemmons Family Farm.  Participants in this cooking class will learn how to make Cuban Black Bean Soup while also learning the Spanish words for the ingredients, their special significance in Cuban culture, while also hearing stories about how these recipes were passed down in Eloy’s family.  All of the participants will get a chance to share in the finished meal while also continuing the conversation about Cuban culture. Eloy learned how to cook on his family’s farm in Artemisa, Cuba while also learning the cultural significance of food.  Cooking has always been a central aspect of creating and maintaining community within the Afro-Cuban culture. It has also been key to nourishing the body and soul of not only the individual but the whole community. We invite you to join us to experience the rich cultural history of the African Diaspora in Cuba through its food.

To Sing of Common Things: The Voices of Young People in 2018
Saturday October 20 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 p.m. Featured Artist: Grace Success Brown
Sign up: http://bit.ly/2SingatCFF

In these times of increasing civil unrest, social injustices and violence across our nation as well as in our beloved Vermont, how are young people coping and how does art help them to do so? Find out when you join us at the historic Barn House with Grace Success Brown in the fourth of our five-part humanities speakers’ series. Grace will share how she uses her art to express her feelings, find her grounding and take action. She will also share brief performances of some of her creative works. Co-organized with The Young Writers’ Project, and co-hosted by Ms. Kiah Morris and Mr. Rajnii Eddins, professional spoken word artists based in Bennington, Vermont and Burlington, Vermont respectively. This event is part of a five-part speakers’ series, which takes place between July and October 2018 in the historic Barn House. It is funded in part by the Vermont Humanities Council and ArtPlace America. The speakers’ series is inspired by the poem “Common Things” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906). Dunbar, an African American poet, novelist, and playwright and born to his parents when they were still enslaved, started engaging with words as a child and published two poems at the age of 16 in Dayton Ohio’s newspaper, The Herald.

Art that Binds
Sunday, October 21, 11-1 p.m.Featured Artists:  Jude Desmond and Julio Desmont
Sign up: http://bit.ly/ArtBindsCFF

The workshop invites everyone of different skills and abilities to explore their creative energy through painting guided by Julio Desmont and Jude Desmond.  Julio and Jude will create a space for participants while also sharing stories and insights about the connection between their art, Haitian culture, and life experiences.  Participants will be welcomed into a space of artful thinking, creativity and collaboration. They will have the opportunity to engage with peers allowing connections and friendship, and perspective that they fit into a moment where every voice matters and every participant is celebrated for they unique contribution. They will be introduced to our work style; juxtaposition of colors, and dynamics.

The workshop will be framed with the principles of painting:  balance, proportion and scale, contrast, repetition and pattern, unity and harmony.  Using these principles, participants will learn about the reflection of these elements in art to thought. The goal is to nurture indigenous knowledge across generations and cultures especially through Haitian art.  Using the space created and these skills, participants will gain inspiration to create their own work using these principles and ideals.  Jude and Julio believe that art is a bridge to the exploration of self.  They are extending an invitation and will be the guides for the exploration of self, creative exploration, and a taste of Haitian culture through painting.

Cuban Culinary Adventure:  How to Make Boniatillo (Cuban Sweet Potato Pudding)
Thursday, October 26, 5-7 P.M. Featured Artist: Eloy Guzman
Sign up: http://bit.ly/CFFCulinaryYum

Join Eloy Guzman as he brings the culture and stories of Cuba to the kitchen of the Clemmons Family Farm.  Participants in this cooking class will learn how to make Cuban Sweet Potato Pudding while also learning the Spanish words for the ingredients, their special significance in Cuban culture, while also hearing stories about how these recipes were passed down in Eloy’s family.  All of the participants will get a chance to share in the finished meal while also continuing the conversation about Cuban culture. Eloy learned how to cook on his family’s farm in Artemisa, Cuba while also learning the cultural significance of food. Cooking has always been a central aspect of creating and maintaining community within the Afro-Cuban culture.  It has also been key to nourishing the body and soul of not only the individual but the whole community. We invite you to join us to experience the rich cultural history of the African Diaspora in Cuba through its food. A special treat: Sweetly and the Hotness of the satellite radio show “Restaurant Magic” will be joining us at the Farm!

To Sing of Common Things: The Voices of Young People in 2018
Sunday October 28 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 p.m. Featured Artists: Kiah Morris and Rajnii Eddins
Sign up: http://bit.ly/2SingatCFF

In these times of increasing civil unrest, social injustices and violence across our nation as well as in our beloved Vermont, how how does art help us to cope? In this last of our five-part humanities speakers’ series, our co-hosts, Kiah Morris and Rajnii Eddins will speak of the early creative experiences and how they used art to express their feelings, find their grounding and take action during their youth. Now they are seasoned professional spoken word artists and poets and widely-respected art and social justice leaders in the state. Ms. Morris recently made national headlines when she resigned from her position as Vermont’s only African-American woman in the state house of representatives. Mr. Eddins is Artistic Director of the Young Writers’ Project and community leader and youth mentor in the Burlington area.  Each will share some of their present-day experiences and  how they continue to use art for resilience, action and change.against the backdrop of the race, politics and power struggles of our times.  The Clemmons Family Farm’s humanities speakers’ series is inspired by the poem “Common Things” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906). Dunbar, an African American poet, novelist, and playwright and born to his parents when they were still enslaved, started engaging with words as a child and published two poems at the age of 16 in Dayton Ohio’s newspaper, The Herald.  The series is implemented in partnership with the Young Writers Project and funded by the Vermont Humanities Council and ArtPlace America, with support from our fiscal agents Burlington City Arts and the Peace and Justice Center.