S is for

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Sunday- Chamber singers performed Sucut locustus est and Suscepit Israel for dedication of the (now) Bito Hall in the new conservatory building.

At first I thought that “oh, singing for some rich guy who gave us money, at least we have a new building”. We did have to listen to a few pandering talks. And we do need the money; though (or because) we have a great academic and arts programs, not too many students go off to make money, and since it’s a non-profit, a lot (though not enough) goes to scholarships. Simply: we have no endowment.

But the guy who donated is László Z. Bitó, who came to the U.S. from Hungry as a refugee. First he was in the camp in Cleveland, but then he went to Bard for a English-learning program. Of the people there, two received scholarships to go to Bard College. He came and studied biology, in part because his English was still not strong enough to pursue a literature degree. After that he went to Columbia and has since then he has developed a medical cure for glaucoma and written a few successful books. Though watching people pander is still uncomfortable, at least he’s respectable to begin with.

This evening I went to a performance of The Bakkhai (or The Bacchae) as performed, translated and staged by Bard students. The initially set was this giant sheet of semi-transparent plastic, like a taut curtain. From behind it, you can see someone moving. With a knife, he cuts a straight opening in the sheet. The lights go out and for a moment nothing is to be seen. Then, you see him, torso through the plastic sheeting, lighter flickering in his hands, and a wild sexual gaze on his face. He is Dionysus.

When the scenes come that are not in Thebes but in the woods, the sheet drops, and a giant cloud of fog roles off the stage and you see that the stage is covered in a giant hill of dirt, and a fir tree is suspended upside down from the ceiling. Yes. The set design, some stage moments, costumes, lighting (and use of strobe lights) and music were all quite great.

Saturday- Farm Fest was Bard bands playing outside throughout the day. In the evening I went to a production of The Vagina Monologues. My neighbor directed it, and a few girls I know performed. Then: Hannah’s leek soup, stuffy Surrealist Circus show, and the cast party.

Sentimental- Friday I went to TBL and read a poem and took photos (I'll post links later when it's online). We smoked chocolaty hookah and drake tea and I fell asleep that night with a sadness in me. Some of my friends are finishing college this year- Did we have enough time? Of the people I hung out with last year- One went back home to Tibet. One moved to Jersey City and we still keep in touch. One went home to India. One moved from Florida to India. Britt never came back to start senior year.