“My battery is low and it’s getting dark.” -Opportunity Mars Rover
Time is finite for each of us. We get to choose what to do with our daylight. Whether that is to devote ourselves to the service of our fellow man or fill the world with beauty, each person has something to contribute. It is up to every one of us to discover our particular talents and use these skills to forge the path we will tread. It is a miraculous thing to be alive, and more incredible to have the opportunity to choose how we will use the time given.
Sylvia Arthur was born in Britain to Ghanian parents. A non-fiction writer and avid reader, Arthur amassed a collection of over 1300 books. She found the books took up so much space that it became necessary to ship many of them to her mother in Ghana. Years ago, Arthur began planning to fulfill her dream to create the first and only lending library in Ghana. She relocated to Ghana about 18 months ago to make her dream a reality.
Arthur loves watching children engage with books. She discusses the power that a book series can hold over a child who comes to her excited to read the next book. In a digital world, Arthur sees firsthand that books can still captivate children if they are given access to them.
A writer herself, Arthur’s play, Obama and Me, was accepted to the Black Box Theater Festival at Etcetera Theater. She worked on the piece up until moments before her solo performance.
To hear more from Sheila Arthur, listen to the complete interview.
A Few Words to Keep in your Pocket:
What will you do with your daylight?
Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android please click here. All weekly essay pieces in a shareable format are here. The full archive of interviews here.
Books to Read
What are you reading? Add your titles to our reading list here. If you have children in your life, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney might be just the book series to engage them.
Opportunities / Open Calls
Joint Adventures is accepting submissions by those wishing to be considered for their support program promoting international exchange between contemporary dance and theater artists. According to the website, “The International Guest Performance Fund for Dance aims to foster the exchange between German artists and international organizers, create incentives for a stronger rotation of existing and new productions, and strengthen the international presence of German dance professionals. It is directed at organisers abroad who would like to invite a dance production created in Germany.” For complete details and to apply, visit the website. Deadline is April 15.
Deadlines
Weekly Edited Grant and Residency Deadlines – review the list here.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics. He has written six books for artists; Making it in the Art World, New Markets for Artists, The Art World Demystified, Fund Your Dreams Like a Creative Genius, Sell Online Like a Creative Genius and the forthcoming Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius.
Signed and doodled copies of these books can be purchased from Praxis Center.