Posted by Meredith on Thursday, Oct 24, 2019
Presented by The Englert Theatre and Little Village Magazine, Witching Hour is a festival dedicated to exploring the unknown, discussing creative process, and presenting new work. Each year, Iowa City welcomes the brightest artists and thinkers pushing the boundaries of their respective crafts. Through performances, readings, discussions, workshops, and screenings, we engage what it means to be human in today’s world.
This year’s festival will be held November 1 and 2 at several venues throughout downtown Iowa City. The Iowa City Public Library is pleased to be a festival sponsor and venue host. While most Witching Hour events require paid admission, programs held at ICPL are free and open to the public.
The following Witching Hour programs will be at the Library on Saturday, Nov. 2:
Lowercase Library / Community Print Studio from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library Lobby
The Iowa City Press Co-Op will host a community screen printing session that will result in a member-designed poster and takeaway in support of the Stanley Museum of Art exhibition Pollinators. Lowercase Library will be present with a selection of zines and alt. publications with themes stemming from Rachel Grimes’ The Way Forth and the UI Stanley Museum of Art’s exhibition Pollinators. Come by for browsing, reading, reflection, and respite.
Creative Tools for the Apocalypse (Presented by Beatrice Thomas) from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Meeting Room A
It’s hard to predict where we are going in this world. Moral bankruptcy is celebrated and our lives, relationships, and jobs are being impacted. The winds of change are blowing and some would say we are already going through the apocalypse. How do you chart a course when the future is uncertain? The short answer is: know who you are, what you value, and what’s important to you. It’s about having a decision-making tool that will keep you in alignment with your core values, what drives you, and what you need to live a balanced life. Through personal narrative, Beatrice Thomas will share three creative tools to make artistic, personal, and professional decisions.
All Bodies Belong: Positive Acceptance of Our Physical Selves (Presented by Betsy Rippentrop and Sarah Driscoll) from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Meeting Room A
Many of us live in a primarily mental world where we dissociate from or leave our bodies regularly. Research shows that we have complicated, often negative relationships with our physical selves – and for women, the number one source of shame in our lives can often be our bodies. Betsy Rippentrop (Heartland Yoga) and Sarah Driscoll (Breathing Room Yoga) will lead a discussion about achieving true acceptance of our bodies and the bodies of others, shedding light on the work behind self-love and the benefits a mindfulness practice can offer while also examining American yoga culture’s ongoing failure to maintain diverse and inclusive spaces. A presentation of the All Bodies Belong photography exhibit will be shown in conjunction with this session. The exhibit showcases images and stories of body diversity within a yoga practice.
For more information, visit witchinghourfestival.com.