Rebecca Wisniewski Named Delaware Poetry Out Loud Champion

The content of this post comes from a press release from The Delaware Division of the Arts.

Rebecca Wisniewski of Milford, Delaware's Poetry Out Loud Champion

From a field of 10 Delaware high school students, Rebecca Wisniewski, a senior from Milford High School, earned the title of 2021 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion at the state finals held virtually on March 2, 2021. The first runner-up was Lia Dougherty from Sanford School in Wilmington, and the second runner-up was Janelle Carter of Delaware Valley Classical School in New Castle.

Rebecca is a member of the school drama club and has acted in plays and musical for years. She unexpectedly found that learning poetry has made her a better performer in general, stating, “...you have to put yourself in the background – while you are forming a deeper connection to the pieces. Reciting a poem means you have to pull from your emotions. It’s about being self-aware, even while forming a deep connection to the voices in the poems.” Ms. Wisniewski also took part in Poetry Out Loud previously in her junior year.

Wisniewski chose poems this year with very different energies. “Domestic Situation” by Ernest Hilbert, which Wisniewski calls “a tricky poem,” challenged her with its seeming sarcasm about a somber subject – domestic abuse. “I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain” by Emily Dickinson felt manic and mournful, and “has so much room inside it to perform.” Her favorite, “How to Triumph Like a Girl”, by Ada Limon, was, in Rebecca’s words, “fun, upbeat and has a positive message.” All of the poems scored high marks with the judges.

For her winning presentation, Wisniewski will receive $200 and will compete at the National Semifinals which will be held virtually on Sunday, May 2nd beginning at Noon on the National Endowment for the Arts website, arts.gov. Milford High School will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials for its school library. Lia Dougherty, the first runner-up will receive $100, and Sanford School will receive $200 for its school library.

The Poetry Out Loud state competition, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.

First State Ballet Theatre Hires Molly Rooney as New Managing Director

First State Ballet Theatre has announced that Molly Rooney will be joining the company as Managing Director, effective March 15. Prior to joining First State Ballet Theatre, Molly was an Account Manager at Dandelions Digital. Molly has served as Director for the National Ballet Competition for the past three years.

As the creator of National Ballet Competition, Molly will be bringing her unique skills in communications, digital marketing, fundraising and community relations, as well as her passion for ballet, to First State Ballet Theatre. Molly is a former professional ballet dancer and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Communications.

“I am beyond excited to join First State Ballet Theatre, a company dear to my heart, as their Manager Director. As a former dancer, I am excited to be on the administrative side and be a part of developing this wonderful organization,” says Molly. “We are super excited about bringing Molly on to the First State Ballet Theatre team. She shows a lot of enthusiasm and passion and we think she will bring great things to the organization,” says Kristina Kambalov, Executive Director.

“Molly is an exceptional person in all aspects of her life. She is very detailed and precise and can provide exactly what is needed,” added Paige Obara, Business Manager.

ABOUT FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE
First State Ballet Theatre (FSBT) was founded in 1999 with the mission to present professional ballet performances throughout Delaware, offer high-quality ballet training and performing experiences to aspiring dancers, and educate the Delaware dance audience of the future. 

Founded in 1999, FSBT is Delaware's only professional ballet company and this season employs professional dancers under the artistic direction of Pasha Kambalov, a graduate of the esteemed Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. FSBT presents classical ballets and commissions contemporary works from both local and internationally-recognized choreographers. 

FSBT is based in Wilmington's Grand Opera House and attracts thousands of patrons to the City of Wilmington each season, in addition to performances statewide. The School of First State Ballet Theatre enrolls over 100 students ages 3 and up, and offers classes six days a week in its studios in the Grand Opera House and at its satellite location at the Dupont County Club. FSBT students have won awards in international ballet competitions, been accepted at some of the country's elite ballet schools, and danced professionally all over the world. 

Exhibit at The Sold Firm Features Works of Incarcerated Artist

Starting this month, Wilmington gallery The Sold Firm — headed by owner/gallerist, Nataki Oliver — presents a solo exhibition from artist Sakana Walls. 

Walls, 49, is a Philadelphia visual artist currently incarcerated in a Delaware correctional facility. 

Walls actually began his creative path in the culinary field. He has been incarcerated since 2006 with three years left on his sentence. Walls began drawing seriously in 2010 and painting in 2016, starting with his first piece, “Weathering The Storm,” which is featured in the exhibit.

The exhibit, entitled STORM, opened on February 19 and will run through April 24, 2021. During points in the exhibit, Sakana will be present on video from the correctional facility.

With Oliver's assistance, we were able to connect with Walls and ask him a few questions about his exhibit. Check out our discussion below...

*How long have you been creating? What is your medium of choice and why?

I've been creating for about 11 years now. I started sketching with pencil and charcoal, but I found it more liberating to work with acrylic. I use to observe other artists painstakingly mixing colors, trying to produce a hue that was considered "acceptable," and I didn't see any freedom in the practice. I treat each color as I would any individual: Accept it for its truest form/essence. If we can embrace who we really are, maybe we could come together and create something beautiful.

*Why did you choose the title "STORM" for this exhibit?

It was something that was discussed between Nataki and myself. when I told her my story, we agreed that "Storm" would best describe the exhibit. The pieces that were chosen for this exhibit represent hope, spirituality, and consciousness. All things needed in this trying time.

*What do you want your work to "say" to patrons? 

I really do not want the pieces to say anything. Rather, I want the pieces to act as a defibrillator...to allow the numbness (that has developed over the last couple of years) to diminish. I also want people to think about what happened in the last couple of years with our government, the pandemic, and within our communities.

*What is your favorite piece in the exhibit and why?

My favorite piece is the hooded man titled Weathering The Storm. It's a representation of who I've become. The searchlight in the lower right represents the prison life left behind. The rain and the lightning represent the adversity going on in the world. The jacket represents consciousness, protection from all of the elements.

*How do you feel the arts have helped you during this time and how will they serve you going forward? 

Sitting back and doing the same things day in and out does not promote growth. I refused to succumb to the "Groundhog Day effect," so it was important for me to not become institutionalized. I had to find something to do differently. Creating something new every day allowed me to do time purposefully. Going forward, I see the arts hopefully serving as a vehicle to bring togetherness and awareness within the community and beyond.

*What advice can you give to other justice-involved individuals?

Holding yourself accountable will prove to be beneficial in the growth process. If you're experiencing an injustice, educate yourself and make it a fair fight. Adding other than self to the thought process will produce different results.

*What are your goals — artistic and personal — now and post-incarceration?

As an artists, I want to continue to make people feel; personally, I want to educate self before I medicate others. After my release, I want to continue to live life with purpose. 

“We must conquer self doubt in order to weather our own personal storm; then we’ll be able to learn, understand and respect one another.” — Sakana Walls

Reservations to attend the exhibit must be made online. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks are required while in the gallery. For more information and reservations, visit thesoldfirm.com.