Sanctuary for Independent Media Announces Fall Schedule of Events

The fall 2013 season at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy kicks off outdoors in Freedom Square on Saturday, September 28 with the third annual StoryHarvest celebration, featuring performances by international jazz stars the Don Byron New Gospel Quintet, singer-songwriter Nawal, plus local gospel artists and a free community potluck BBQ.

Throughout the season, the Sanctuary will host a wide variety of events ranging from music to films and to speakers. Highlights include musical performances by the Battlefield Band, African music master Vieux Farka Touré, the extraordinary maloya singer Christine Salem, a book talk by award-winning authors Bob McChesney and John Nichols, a 50th anniversary performance by the Bread and Puppet Theater, screenings of new films (with the filmmakers) such as one about the 1985 MOVE bombing in Philadelphia and another on the highly controversial subject of third trimester abortions, and much more.

The the schedule of upcoming autumn events for the Sanctuary for Independent Media:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1-5pm at Freedom Square

StoryHarvest: The Third Annual Celebration of Art and Food from Seed to Table
FREE admission

Jazz legend Don Byron’s New Gospel Quintet revisits Thomas A. Dorsey’s gospel works as well as lesser-known gems. Nawal, originally from the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean, dazzles with her Sufi-inspired collection of songs. The afternoon starts with a musical collaboration between Don Byron and local artists, sharing the cultural traditions of jazz and gospel.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 
7pm

“Dollarocracy”
Admission by donation, $10 suggested ($5 student/low income)

On the eve of the 2013 United States general elections, award-winning authors media scholar Bob McChesney and journalist John Nichols discuss their new book “Dollarocracy: How the Money and Media Election Complex Is Destroying America.”

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6, 
7pm 

The Battlefield Band
$10

Moving forward with Scotland’s past! Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength and vibrancy of the cultural scene which they have done much to create and fuel, the Battlefield Band is at the forefront of a great revival in Scottish music.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 7pm

Christine Salem
$10

Christine Salem, from La Réunion in the Indian Ocean, sings maloya – the once-banned, African-influenced music of the Creole descendants of slaves who worked the island’s sugar plantations. These are dangerous tunes that rouse the spirits and challenge the authorities, which means that her shows are as controversial as they are spellbinding.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 5pm

Gallery Opening: Female Vets Speak
From 2012-13, women from Guardian House — a transitional home for female veterans in Ballston Spa — attended photography and writing workshops that documented their lives after serving in the military. Some of the women were active duty and others were not; however, similarities in their experiences were powerful and created lasting friendships. Their powerful photographs and poetic prose speak of long dark journeys, homelessness and hope, struggles and personal strength.


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 7pm

Bread & Puppet Theater: 50-Year Anniversary
Admission by donation, $10 suggested ($5 student/low income)

A series of four short shows (“Dead Man Rises,” “President and Chair,” “The Foot” and “A Man Says Goodbye to His Mother” celebrate Bread & Puppet Theater’s first half century.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 7pm

“The Body in a Criminal Age” with artist Paul Vanouse
Admission by donation, $10 suggested ($5 student/low income)

Remember the OJ Simpson case? This talk will creatively counter mass-media dramatizations that misinform the public, and provide the conceptual tools to understand current issues surrounding use of DNA imaging and databasing.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 

7pm

Vieux Farka Touré
$20

Dubbed the “Hendrix of the Sahara” by critics, Vieux Farka Touré mixes tradition from his roots in Mali with American blues and jazz to create a shimmering sonic fusion. His new album Mon Pays (My Country) was recorded as homage to his homeland, which has been splintered by violence.
 A benefit for the Sanctuary for Independent Media.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 7pm

“After Tiller” with filmmaker Martha Shane
Admission by donation, $10 suggested ($5 student/low income)

An intimate exploration of the highly controversial subject of third-trimester abortions in the wake of the 2009 assassination of Dr. George Tiller. A moving and unique exploration of one of the most incendiary topics of our time.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 
7pm

”Let the Fire Burn” with filmmaker Jason Osder
Admission by donation, $10 suggested ($5 student/low income)

The chilling saga of Philadelphia’s 1985 decision to drop a bomb on the radical back-to-nature group MOVE, told using only archival news coverage and interviews. Eleven were killed and 61 buildings burned in one of the most tumultuous clashes between government and citizens.


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 
7pm

”Call Me Kuchu” w/ filmmaker Malika Zouhali-Worrall
Admission by donation, $10 suggested ($5 student/low income)

The story of David Kato, Uganda’s first openly gay man, whose memory has inspired a new generation of human rights advocates.