Women’s History Month at UMaine:

Contact: Mazie Hough, (207) 581-1225, George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

ORONO — This year’s Women’s History Celebration, March 14 through April 7, at UMaine features a program series of lectures, performances, movies and music that explore the lives of women ranging from Joan of Arc to Maine’s Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby.

Through a program of 15 presentations and performances, Women’s History Celebration 2005 is designed to impart “a broad vision of what women have done and the vast opportunity for what they can do in the future,” says Mazie Hough, associate director Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies Program, which primarily sponsor the program. All events are public and free, unless otherwise noted.

“Each year we take a theme. Every year we try to do something a little bit different,” Hough says. “This year our theme is ‘Drawing from the past, Feminism for the Future.”

As part of the series, Portland-based feminist playwright, performer and activist Carolyn Gage will appear at Minsky Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. on March 22 to discuss her book “The Second Coming of Joan of Arc,” based on transcripts from Joan of Arc’s 15th century trial. Joan led an army of 12,000 French against the British but later was burned at the stake for heresy.

“The following week,” Hough notes, “is ‘Pop Culture Princess,” March 29 with feminist performance artist Elizabeth Whitney, whose performance will critique the ways in which women are defined and controlled by cultural representations, and explore the meaning of “Barbie.”

“Looking toward the future, we will also feature a visit by Hannah Pingree, the Democratic state representative from North Haven,” on March 24 to discuss how and why women should get into politics, Hough says. “She is a very dynamic speaker.”

Films about women’s roles in Vietnam, India and Mexico, as well as in an Africa American community off the Georgia coast also are part of the celebrations programs.

The program schedule follows:

March 14
“Daughters of the Dust”
This film by Julie Dash explores the unique culture of the Gulla women, descendants of slaves — respected for their basket-weaving skills and who lived off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina — through the story of an African American family as it prepares to move north at the beginning of the 20th century. 4 p.m., 115 D.P. Corbett Business Building.

March 15
“Into the Woods: Maine Women Workers Now and in the Past”
Two historians and an agriculturist-educator will discuss the women who have gone into the woods for a living: Julia Hunter of the Maine State Museum and author of “Fly Rod Crosby: The Woman Who Marketed Maine;” Pauleena MacDougall, associate director of the Maine Folklife Center, who has done extensive research on Fannie Hardy Eckstorm; and Vivianne Holmes of the Cooperative Extension Service, who is developing a program to assist Maine women woodsworkers. 12:15 p.m., Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union.

March 16
Questions of Franco Identity and Feminism in Honore Beaugrand’s “Jeanne La Fileuse”
Sarah Domareki Kazmericzak, graduate student in French, will explore issues of identity and feminism in this classic Franco-American novel. 12:15 p.m., Franco-American Center, Crossland Hall (Part of the Franco-American Studies Spring Series on Ethnicity).

March 17
“Salt of the Earth”
This 1954 film focusing on a strike of Mexican American zinc mine workers in New Mexico explores the interconnections of gender, race and class. A discussion will follow. 7 p.m., 110 Little Hall (Maine Peace Action Film Series).

March 19
Spruce Run Chocolate Buffet and Silent Auction
This favorite annual event will also feature musical entertainment. Proceeds benefit Spruce Run Association, 7 p.m., University College Center, Bangor Campus. For tickets ($15/person) and information, call Spruce Run, 945-5102.

March 20
“Arundhati Roy: Power in the Age of Empire”
This is a film of Indian feminist activist and writer Arundhati Roy’s speech in San Francisco, Aug. 16, 2004. “So when we speak of public power in the Age of Empire” she notes, “I hope it’s not presumptuous to assume that the only thing that is worth discussing seriously is the power of a dissenting public.” 5 p.m., Peace and Justice Center, 170 Park St., Bangor

March 21
“Surname Viet, Given Name Nam”
In this thought-provoking film, Vietnamese-born Trinh T. Minh-ha explores the role of Vietnamese women historically and in contemporary society using dance, printed texts, folk poetry and the words and experiences of Vietnamese women in Vietnam. 4 p.m., 115 D.P. Corbett Building.

March 22
“Flute Music by Women Composers: Program of Music and History”
Laura Artesani, instructor of music and women’s studies, and assistant chair of the School of Performing Arts music division, Elizabeth Downing, flautist and piccolo player in the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, and UM music students will introduce us to the history and music of women composers. 12:15 p.m., Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union

“The Second Coming of Joan of Arc”
Portland-based and internationally acclaimed feminist playwright, performer and activist Carolyn Gage draws from transcripts of Joan of Arc’s trial in this re-vision of Joan’s narrative. 7:30 p.m., Minsky Recital Hall, Class of 1944 Building.

March 23
“Working Out a Salvation: Jane Addams and Democratic Faith”
Victoria Bissell Brown, professor of history at Grinnell College, has recently published “The Education of Jane Addams,” a book that has been referred to as the definitive biography of Addams, a social reformer, suffragette and peace activist at the turn of the 19th Century. 3:15 p.m., Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union. (Part of the History Department Symposium)

March 24
“Feminism for the Future: Young Women Getting Involved in Politics”
State Rep. Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, will discuss how and why young women should get involved in politics. 7 p.m., 117 D.P. Corbett Building

“Hard Work to Make Ends Meet,” drawing on a 19th Century survey of working women, award-winning filmmaker Jim Sharkey of Orono combines the voices of these working women together with period music, photographs and interviews with Maine historian Carol Toner, UMaine research associate and coordinator of the Maine Studies Program. The film explores the working and living conditions for women in Maine’s shops and factories around the turn of the century. 7 p.m., Bangor Public Library

March 28
“After the Revolution and Embargo: Cuban Social Policy for Women and Families”
Mary Jo Blazek, professor of human services and adjunct associate professor of social work at the University of Maine at Augusta, traveled to Cuba this past year to gather data for MADRE, an international women’s rights organization. She will reflect on what the new Cuban Social Policy means for women and children, 10:30 a.m., Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union.

“Ma Vie en Rose”
This film offers us the story of Ludovic, a little girl born in a boy’s body who truly believes that a miracle is going to happen. 4 p.m., 115 D.P. Corbett Building.

March 29
“Performance as Feminist Activism”
Award-winning feminist performance artist Elizabeth Whitney, who received her Ph.D. in performance studies and speech communication from Southern Illinois University, will reflect on what led her to leave the academic world for the world of performance. 12:15 p.m., Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union.

“Pop Culture Princess”
In this one-woman performance, Elizabeth Whitney critiques the ways in which women are defined and controlled by cultural representations and explore and transform the meaning of Barbie. 7:30 p.m., Minsky Recital Hall.

March 31
“Unbought and Unbossed”
This is the first historical documentary on Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and her campaign to become the Democratic Party’s bl
ack Presidential nominee in 1972. 4 p.m., 115 D.P. Corbett Building.

April 2
“Women With Wings and the Maine Women’s Balkan Choir”
Women With Wings, founded by the late Kay Gardner, seeks to create a safe and sacred space for exploring women’s spirituality through music. The Maine Women’s Balkan Choir draws on a rich inheritance handed down from mothers to daughters as they sing traditional songs of the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Together they perform a powerful women’s music finale. Workshop, 4 p.m., FFA Room, Memorial Union, concert, 7 p.m., Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union.

April 7
“Hard Work to Make Ends Meet”
See description from March 24th event. 4 p.m., University Club, Fogler Library
Refreshments will be served. (Co-Sponsored by the Friends of Fogler Library.)

Additional sponsors of the program include the UMaine Cultural Affairs Committee, the Distinguished Lecture Series, the Arthur R. Lord Fund, the Class of 1934 Fund, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Office of the Vice President for Research, Ann Margaret Johnstone Memorial Lecture Fund, The Student Entertainment and Student Government, Inc., UMaine’s Multicultural Programs, Department of Communication and Journalism and the Maine Peace Action Committee.