A world-renowned Pomo basket weaver and medicine woman; Mabel McKay expressed her genius through her celebrated baskets; her Dreams; her cures; and the stories with which she kept her culture alive. She spent her life teaching others how the spirit speaks through the Dream; how the spirit heals; and how the spirit demands to be heard.Greg Sarris weaves together stories from Mabel McKays life with an account of how he tried; and she resisted; telling her story straightmdash;the white peoples way. Sarris; an Indian of mixed-blood heritage; finds his own story in his search for Mabel McKays. Beautifully narrated; Weaving the Dream initiates the reader into Pomo culture and demonstrates how a woman who worked most of her life in a cannery could become a great healer and an artist whose baskets were collected by the Smithsonian.Hearing Mabel McKays life story; we see that distinctions between material and spiritual and between mundane and magical disappear. What remains is a timeless way of healing; of making art; and of being in the world. Sarrisrsquo;s new preface; written expressly for this edition; meditates on Mabel McKayrsquo;s enduring legacy and the continued importance of her teachings.
#3522936 in eBooks 2013-02-25 2013-02-25File Name: B00BRG11VS
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Chicago is Still First For Theatre in America! Just Forget Broadway!By SylviastelTheatre and drama critics and their reviews reveal Chicagos theatrical history since the 1850s with the earliest reviews from the beloved newspaper; Chicago Tribune. They include George Putnam Upton (aka Peregine Pickle) (1834-1919); William Lines "W.L." Hubbard (1867-1951); Percy Hammond (1873-1936); Sheppard Butler (1893-1972); Frederick Donaghey "F.D." (1869-1937); Charles Collins (1880-1963); Cecil Smith (1906-1956); Claudia Cassidy (1899-1996); William "Will" Leonard (1912-1977); Linda Winer (1946); Roger Dettmer (1927-2011); Lawrence "Larry" Kart (1942); Richard Christiansen (1931); Sidney "Sid" Smith (1950); Michael Phillips (1961); and Christopher "Chris" Jones (1963). Theatre critics were either beloved like Richard Christiansen or despised like Claudia Cassidy. Regardless; they all had valid points and helped build Chicagos theatre community perhaps surpassing New York Citys Broadway.As somebody who has been taken with Chicago theatre since Steppenwolfs production of "August; Osage County" premiered on Broadway; this book is invaluable tool in understanding the evolvement of the Chicago theatre district. Claudia Cassidy was nicknamed Acid Cassidy for her scathing criticisms of touring productions with often second rate performers rather than the Broadway stars. Of course; it must be frustrating to see a performance of the same show with an inferior cast than on Broadway. Cassidy sought and desired to be entertained on a high quality level. She demanded Chicago audiences get the same treatment and execution of Broadway audiences. If Cassidy enjoyed a show like "A Raisin in the Sun;" her reviews went a long way in promotion. She also raved about Laurette Taylors performance in "The Glass Menagerie" and Uta Hagens performance in "A Streetcar Named Desire." They both appeared in touring productions and Tennessee Williams was a favorite playwright of hers.Claudia Cassidy wanted a classic theatre in Chicago to represent excellence. Chicago theaters like Steppenwolf; Victory Gardens; Goodman; Chicago Shakespeare Theater; and the Lookingglass Theaters have been awarded the Tony Regional Theatre Award among their accolades. Steppenwolf Theatre Company was also awarded the National Medal of the Arts.Unlike New York City; Chicago theaters offer a wide repertoire in a season of productions whether musical or dramas and at an affordable price for a family or the theatre aficionado. Chicago offers more for the average person and invites a wide range of audiences. What is truly remarkable in studying Chicago theatre history is the flops and the success stories. You can only imagine how Lorraine Hansberry must have felt when she passed the Claudia Cassidy test. The Chicago critics inspired; praised; and criticized when necessary. Take for example Frank Galatis unforgettable production of John Steinbecks novel; "The Grapes of Wrath;" Christiensen didnt praise it but he inspired changes to help master the production for its potential and excellence before the show hit Broadway.If you enjoy reading about theatre and Chicago; you will definitely enjoy this book and see how a group of ambitious unknown performers started a little theatre company in a basement called "Steppenwolf" and how the company evolved from modest; humble beginnings. The company members have become famous as actors but they are still drawn to the stage as well.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great cultural criticismBy D.F.Chris Jones is such an amazing writer and cultural commentator -- Chicago theatre is richer for having him!!!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Anton CourierI especially loved the Claudia Cassidy reviews along with Chriss commentaries about the reviews.