Hudson Mohawk Magazine

The American Library Association declared October 1-7 "Banned Books Week." In this segment, Carol Roberts, head of Young People's Services at Troy Public Library, discusses a few books commonly banned (both fiction and non-fiction), some of the topics that usually raise concern (hint: sexuality & LGBTQIA-related works), and the disservice to children in limiting their access to materials. She notes that she supports parents' right to decide what their own children read, but that folks should not have the right to decide what others should have access to. Books discussed: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo (Bundo & Twiss, 2018); It's So Amazing: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families (non-fiction, Harris, 2014); Speak (Anderson, 1999); The Witches (Dahl, 2007); and The Fault in Our Stars (Green, 2012). For more info, see www.thetroylibrary.org or stop by the Banned Books display at the Troy Library's main branch at 100 Second St. in downtown Troy. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Oct. 8, 50 years after the first Yom Kippur War, Hamas troops invaded Israel along with an estimated 5000 missile strikes, killing close to 1000 individuals, including many civilians, and taking an estimated 150 hostages. Israel responded by declaring an all-out war against Hamas with massive missile attacks and deaths in the occupied Gaza strip. Prof. Steven Zunes of the University of San Francisco provides an overview with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Albany Barn's executive director, Casey Polomaine, checks in with HMM producer KP Holler to discuss their 12th annual FUSION anti-gala, a Friday the 13th-themed fundraiser showcasing the work of Albany- and Schenectady-based artists.

Moses Nagel reports on two meetings of the Albany Common Council and the community response to two specific items discussed at those meetings.

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall's Director of Education and Outreach Jessica Bowen is in conversation with Hudson Mohawk Magazine's Andrea Cunliffe about the upcoming Kaleidescape Musical Genre Whiplash. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall will unveil a brand new event, Kaleidescape: A Sonic Journey, on October 14. The event will feature over 15 artists and is set to be a musical experience unlike anything the venue has ever hosted before. The venue has commissioned seven artists to create an original piece of work that will debut at Kaleidescape.

Kaleidescape: A Sonic Journey at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall October 14 at 6pm

Culminating an almost year long art project that engages the community and their stories, Oakwood Community Center will be hosting a community celebration and art show named "Views From the Porch" on Saturday, October 21. Justin Relf and Rachael Lorimer came to Hudson Mohawk Magazine and spoke with correspondents Jacob Boston and Sina Basila Hickey.

In place of our regular Hudson Mohawk Magazine programing, today we share this episode of The Aunties Dandelion podcast called "Nikaronhya'a Dawn Martin (Kanyen'kehà:ka) Miss Six Nations, Teacher, Two-Spirit Advocate, Farmer" by The Aunties Dandelion." The interviewer is Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore who presented on "Indigenous Lens on Media Making" at The Sanctuary for Independent Media on 10/03/2023.

Show notes from The Aunties Dandelion:

Wa’tkwanonhweráton Sewakwékon. On this edition of The Aunties Dandelion we visit with Emergent Auntie Nikaronhyá’a Dawn Martin who is Kanyen’kehà:ka (or Mohawk) from Six Nations of the Grand River Rotinonhsón:ni Territory and who recently won the title of Miss Six Nations. Nikaronhyá’a is a two-spirit culture and language carrier, a teacher, and a farmer who honors the foundation of the feminine. NIKARONHYA’A: The way I translate it is… that’s my power… that is my power. My mother is my power, my mother is my strength – that is where I get – all the will to live comes from her and that could be Mother Earth or my birth mother, right? AUNTIE: During our visit we discuss Nikaronhya’a’s relationship with the beauty and trauma of her community and family and how the power of our Mohawk language - through her father’s influence - has become her support and guide. NIKARONHYA’A: He said it’s about the voices of your ancestors. It’s not even about a word. And that’s what he would talk about is vibration and energy. That that word don’t live on the paper. That word don’t live in the text book. That word only lives with us in our being and our energy and our voice and our breath to make it come into existence. AUNTIE: We are Yethi Nihsténha ne Tekaronyakánere – the Aunties Dandelion. We’re a media collective focused on revitalizing our communities through stories of land, language, and relationships. We are thrilled today to say “nyá:wen” which means “thank you” in Mohawk to the our friends at the Indigenous Screen Office of Canada onkak teyonhkiwihstekénha who are funding our podcast for the coming year. So make some tea, get comfortable and take some time to… listen to your Aunties.

Petra Kuppers, disability culture activist and a community performance artist, is coming to Troy. Using dance as a way to interact with the world, communicate, advocate, and engage our bodymindspirits, Kuppers will visiting both EMPAC and the Sanctuary to give talks, workshops, and performances. She spoke with Sina Basila Hickey for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Join Petra Kuppers for an artist lecture at EMPAC on Oct. 11.

Then on Oct. 12 Kuppers comes to the Sanctuary:

5pm–6pm: Wheelchair Procession along Sanctuary Eco-Art Trail with Petra Kuppers & diverse disability networks

6pm-7pm: Community meal

7pm–9pm: Petra Kuppers’ Dream Performance & Workshop

Learn more and find the interview transcription at: https://www.mediasanctuary.org/event/wheelchair-procession-petra-kuppers/

Maurice Louca is an Egyptian musician and composer whose been commissioned for new work for "Shifting Center," the upcoming exhibition at EMPAC. Louca’s work often engages microtonality. He spoke with Sina Basila Hickey for Hudson Mohawk Magazine about his plans for the installation, influences in his work, location-based work.

"Shifting Center" will be at EMPAC from November 3–18, 2023.

Prior to the exhibition opening, Beatriz Cortez’s sculpture "Ilopango, the Volcano that Left" departs Storm King Art Center, the site of its current exhibition, to embark on a three-day performative journey along the Hudson River to Troy. The volcano can be witnessed as it sails upriver from various viewing points on both shores and online through a livestream. There will be a welcoming reception at the Sanctuary on October 28.

In this episode of Election Watch, we are covering Troy City Council District 4. Democrat Aaron Vera, a civil engineer, is running against Republican Darcie Cunningham Casey. Today Elizabeth (EP) Press talks to Darcie Cunningham Casey, the acting commissioner for the Rensselaer County Department for the Aging.