Plenty planned for ‘Zero to Fierce’ festival
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Playhouse Arts’ fifth annual “Zero to Fierce Womxn’s Festival” is slated for March 8 to 14 at Arcata Playhouse, 1251 Ninth St., Arcata. Tickets are available at www.zerotofierce. org, or call 707-822-1575.
The theme of this year’s online celebration, beginning on International Women’s Day, is “Womxn as Activists.” Playhouse Arts is bringing together an array of local and out-of-the-area performing and visual artists, as well as chefs, faith leaders, scholars and social activists “to celebrate the power of love, community and womxn.”
Almost all events are being offered at no charge, and the Zoom platform allows participants to stream all day or drop into individual events.
“I want to talk with others and be challenged to find loving solutions, fierce loving solutions. And laugh. And sing. And eat good food. This is what the festival does for many people,” said Playhouse Executive Director Jacqueline Dandeneau.
The festival is comprised of five daily series: Morning Movement, Lunch Box Series, Family Time, Afternoon Adventure and After Five.
Morning Movement starts the festival off with a sunrise marsh walk, and then activates the week with alternating yoga and meditation with Stephanie Perrett and/or DanzUrbano with Mimi Kyoko.
The Lunchbox Series will be held Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Topics include “Wild Escapes,” a book release by Patti Johnson; “She Tore It, Then Wore It,” a mending workshop led by Emilia Sumelius-Buescher; a discussion with Camaray Davalos about her new film, “Woman Who Blooms at Night”; a conversation with Judge Abby Abinanti, chief justice of the Yurok Tribal Court; and a new project, Voting for Women, with the Playhouse team. Each day of the lunchtime series, one can pre-order a meal from different local chefs for $10.
Family Time includes “Crafterzooms” and storytelling. On Saturday, author Ali Freedlund and illustrator Becky Grant will release their new book, “Lucy the Bear.”
Afternoon Adventure includes “Book Binding Chapbooks” with Katie Belknap, painting and collage with Violet Crabtree, “A Classical Garage Band” with Julie Fulkerson and Gwen Post, an activist panel, compositions by Mo HD, Radio Centro-Mujeres Activas, “Herbs and Self Care” with Jane Bothwell, beer tasting with Sarah McKinney and Johanna Nagan, and the roving Walls on Wheels Gallery.
After Five kicks off with the annual Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s Evening Celebration. Other events include “Wildflower: Indigenous Spirit” by Sophia Madrigal, The J Street Radio Hour featuring an allladies lineup, a Fireside Chat with Joan Schirle, cocktails with Kate Martin at the Logger Bar, a “Very Ray Variety Show” with Rachel
Post and the 10th annual One Minute Dances.
The festival also features a musical performance on March 13 of new solo releases by Allison Russell, named one of the Top 12 “Artists to Watch in 2021” by Rolling Stone. She’s a founder of the band Birds
of Chicago and a member of the band Our Native Daughters.
The festival closes March 14 with an afternoon discussion on “Love and Spirituality in Activism” and “Get your Phyllo On,” a cooking class and dinner with Lauren and Mariah Sarabia.