Round Tables

We begin our exploration of Medieval Women with a discussion of their working lives. While domestic labor dominated their time and strength, they also developed many specialized skills. They were excellent brewers, dyers, butchers, ironmongers, farmers, leatherworkers and even bookbinders. But above all, they spun. Fiber arts, from spinning to weaving, knitting, embroidery and tapestry were a fundamental part of women’s lives. We’ll begin with spinning and Raye Lynn Thomas, accomplished fiber artist and Sitting Room Librarian, will demonstrate the art. YES, drop spindles, and spinning wheels will be available for all interested in trying their hand.

Please RSVP to JoAnn Borri at joannborri@gmail.com. Limit 10

A writing gong, qi gong workshop designed to appeal to your Creative within – be she/he a writer, painter, sculptor, weaver, musician…. For all creatives, from beginners to advanced to masters of an art form, even if that art amounts to doing life. Writing will be the act that serves to integrate the gentle movements of a qi gong practice to one’s creative practices. Participants will be prompted to write reflectively between segments of qi gong movement. For additional information and to RSVP, e-mail Fitz at thinkinc@aol.com Subject: Qi Gong. Or call/text 415-246-6804. Limit 10.

In her poem “Poetry,” Marianne Moore writes: “I too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond all this fiddle. / Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one discovers that there is in / it after all, a place for the genuine.” Join us for a discussion on Moore, including her poems “Poetry” and “An Octopus” (copies will be provided). Bring your own favorite poems by Moore, or poems of hers you find challenging. Come offer your views on what is just “fiddle” in the greater world of poetry, and what is “genuine.” Our discussion will be led by Dave Seter, who wrote his Dominican University of California Master’s in Humanities thesis on Marianne Moore. Please RSVP to JoAnn Borri at joannborri@gmail.com. Limit 10.

Come prepared with nothing but your CURIOSITY; pick a topic or an author or an artist you want to know more about from our Archive list and then DIVE IN — and share what you found with the others and also what you’d like to add to it or even toss out of the file. Become, in short, indeed a very short time, AN ARCHIVIST! Please RSVP to JoAnn Borri at joannborri@gmail.com. Limit 6.

Time for the annual ‘Write Your Own Obituary’ workshop! It’s fun and easy when you imagine your story, organize its chapters and communicate what makes you wonderful. Learn the form, then forget it if you like—or—make the whole thing up and imagine a life as yet undiscovered. Please RSVP to JoAnn Borri at sittingroomlibrary@gmail.com. Limit 6

These Round Tables are a new way of getting small groups in conversation using the rich resources of the Sitting Room Library. Here is how we are imagining them: no cost, no advance preparation needed. And only one meeting planned. Browse the library, select a book. Each person speaks and also listens and thus we have what we all say we are wanting: conversation. Bring your curiosity!