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Education and Humanities

Education and Humanities

TCAH's Humanities programs are an opportunity for audiences to enrich their experience of TCAH programs and events by listening to and engaging in discussion with many of the ground-breaking artists featured in "The Play's The Thing", Writing Awards, Astronomy and local performing arts programs. 

Poetry Slams/Writing Awards/Mark Fischer Poetry Prize

In 2009, TCAH was pleased to partner with Mark Fischer's widow Elaine Fischer to offer the annual Mark Fischer Poetry Prize.  Mark was a daring experimenter who loved language, humor and poetry.  For more information, click here for the 2010 press release and all submission information.  All submissions are due March 19, 2010.

The Mark Fischer Poetry Prize for 2010 will offer $250 for first place, $150 for second, and $100 for third.  The prizes will be announced in late April during National Poetry Month.  The winning submission will be read aloud by emcee, poet and County Commissioner Art Goodtimes and will be published in Telluride Magazine.

The 2009 winners were as follows:

First Place: Thirty Years Till Birth, by Quentin Collier.  Click here for the winning poem!

Second Place: My Children at the Ute Monument, by Beth McKee

Third Place: Naming Names, by Robert King

The Play's the Thing

In 2009, TCAH introduced "The Play's the Thing" - interviews and question and answer sessions with TCAH and SquidShow Theatre artists moderated by scholars, cultural commentators, directors and actors.  The Play's the Thing is a play reading series - come see the play and stay for a discussion about its text, ideas and history with cast & crew.  Call 728-8959 for information, to suggest plays to read, or to participate in The Play's the Thing.

 The Play's the Thing will be:

 January 29 (Sartre's "No Exit", the classic existential masterpiece),

 March 19 (Aristophanes' "Lysistrata", the greatest anti-war play ever written),

 May 15 (Cancelled),

 Aug 24 (Christopher Durang's "Laughing Wild", one of the funniest plays ever written), 8:30 PM at X Cafe (formerly Chair 8); and

 Sept 24 (John Patrick Shanley's "The Dreamer examines his Pillow"), 8 pm at La Cantina at Los Montanas. 

All plays will be announced a month before the show.  Please check back for updates or call 728-8959.  Each The Play's the Thing will be at 7pm, at Stronghouse Studios, 283 South Fir Street.

Astronomy: StarGazing

***All events happen, rain or shine!  If raining, only the outdoor viewing portion will be cancelled - the indoor presentation and meet & greet will continue!***

2010 Update:  Due to lack of funding for Mountain Village events, we are ceasing the program for summer 2010.

Discover the universe and join us for dynamic presentation and opportunities to explore the night sky.  Bring your telescope, or binoculars, and learn to be a stargazer.  Become more confident about finding your way in the night sky - where and how do you look to find constellations, planets and deep sky objects?

Plan on meeting at the firepit in Mountain Village every other Thursday in July and August (starting June 25, in sync with the Historical Museum's fireside chats) at 6 pm at Capella to learn about and observe Telluride's resplendent sky with local astronomers from Mesa State, Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff, AZ)  and the University of Colorado.  Duration: 90 - 120 minutes (weather permitting).  Generously supported by the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association ("TMVOA") and Capella!  Contact Capella for more information or hotel packages.

Stop by Capella at 6 pm (est) for a meet & greet, drinks & appetizers, with the astronomers!  Then stay for a short presentation at 7pm (Capella's Ingram Room).  We will then congregate outside at the Mountain Village fire pit at 8:30 pm before heading up to the top of San Sophia for stargazing. 

Scheduled dates are as follows (and subject to change):

June 25- Cosmology/Big Bang Theory and Black Holes.  Join us and presenter Chad Middleton, PhD for a discussion of black holes and cosmology, including man's understanding of cosmology.  Meet at Capella at 7pm for a meet & greet with Professor Middleton, including free appetizers, or gather at the Mountain Village Fire Pit at 8:30 pm to join the stargazing group.  Don't forget your telescope!

July 9-  Astronomy & Mythology "Wonders of the Night Sky".  Join us and Christopher Crockett to learn a basic introduction to the night sky and all about the mythology behind the constellations. Meet at Capella at 6 pm for a meet & greet with Mr. Crockett, including free appetizers , stay for the presentation at 7pm, or gather at the Mountain Village Fire Pit at 8:30 pm to join the stargazing group.  Don't forget your binoculars!

July 23 - Galaxies, Constellations & Poetry.  Join us and Kim Hermann to learn about galaxies and constellations, and participate in "out of this world" poetry.  Meet at Capella from 6-7 pm to meet and greet Ms. Hermann, including free appetizers, stay for the presentation at 7pm, or gather at the Mountain Village Fire Pit at 8:30 pm to join the stargazing group.  Don't forget your binoculars!

August 20 - AstroArchitecture: Chaco Canyon and beyond.  Join us and Professor Kim Malville for a discussion of the astronomy of the ancient southwest, including Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde and Chimney Rock.  Learn how and why astronomy became a central focus of the Puebloan culture and how it impacts our world today.  Meet at Capella at 6 pm for a meet & greet with Professor Malville, including free appetizers, , stay for the presentation at 7pm, or gather at the Mountain Village Fire Pit at 8:30 pm to join the stargazing group.  Don't forget your telescope or binoculars!

And stop by the next morning, Friday, August 21,  for Professor Malville's book signing of his book, "Prehistoric Astronomy of the Southwest", with free breakfast, at Capella's "living room", from 9 am to 11 am!

Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities

P.O. Box 152 | 283 South Fir St. | Telluride, CO 81435 |TEL. 970.728.3930 | FAX 970.728.8959 www.telluridearts.org