"Liberty and Justice" - Three presentations on the role of civil disobedience in a healthy democracy

Join us for three thought-provoking presentations and join the conversation on the role of civil disobedience in a healthy democracy. The evening includes award-winning Cape author and historian Jim Coogan, reading Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience as well as a modern-day perspective focusing on the current Hong Kong protest movement presented by Cole Silva. Also, Salley Mavor’s stop-motion-animated film, “Liberty and Justice: A Cautionary Tale in the Land of the Free,” rarely seen on large screen, will be shown. The presentation culminates with questions and answers. Find out more and save your seat now!

What happens when a pair of lost citizens wander in the deep dark woods  in search of a new leader? In this satirical take-off of the traditional folk tale, “Hansel and Gretel”, the wordless story follows protagonists Liberty and Justice as they negotiate the challenges of today’s unique political landscape, while being shadowed by a persistent Twitter bird. Check out the short here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGKyCmwRjlM

“Dark, funny and strong” is how Ms. Mavor describes her “Liberty & Justice” series about the current political landscape.  The film is a dark satire, made in the exaggerated style of caricature. 

About Jim Coogan:

Jim Coogan was raised in Brewster and educated in local schools. After graduation from Boston College and service in the Navy, he began a career as a high school history teacher. Retiring in 1999, after almost 30 years in the classroom, he joined with his writing partner, Dennis author Jack Sheedy, in launching Harvest Home Books. He has since written eight books about Cape Cod, including three for children. His Sail Away Ladies: Stories of Cape Cod Women in the Age of Sail, won the 2004 U.S. Maritime Literature Award. A popular speaker on the subject of Cape Cod history, Coogan, has been a regular columnist for the Cape Cod Time, lives and writes in Sandwich.

About Cole Silva:

Cole Silva is a language teacher who was working and living in Hong Kong until just recently. When the protests first broke out in June 2019, he felt a personal obligation to join. He protested for nearly four months before returning home for personal reasons, and continues to be active in the movement remotely. He has been giving presentations about the current protest movement around Massachusetts and the Islands, editing a book on nonviolent political defiance specifically for the current Hong Kong protest movement, and working collaboratively to develop a Hong Kong General Strike Protocol. Cole is also actively involved with the Cape Cod chapters of multiple social and environmental justice groups, including serving as the Action Coordinator of Extinction Rebellion and an active member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

About Salley Mavor:

Salley Mavor is devoted to stitching. She learned to sew as a child and has been using a needle and thread ever since. At home, there were always art supplies close at hand and a sense that time was available for creative pursuit. Drawing with crayons was never enough for Salley. She remembers feeling that her pictures were not finished until something real was glued, stapled or sewn to it. As an illustration major at the Rhode Island School of Design, she left traditional mediums behind, preferring to communicate her ideas with sculptural needlework. Salley has continued to develop her techniques for over 40 years, creating 3-dimensional works of art that tell stories with needlework and found objects. Check out her video Rabbitat here and another video, Liberty and Justice, here.

Ms. Mavor has illustrated many children’s books using her unique blend of materials and hand stitching techniques. Her picture book, Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes won the 2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the 2011 Golden Kite Award. Her popular how-to book, Felt Wee Folk: New Adventures is in its 2nd edition, inspiring creativity in all ages. She and her husband Rob Goldsborough recently collaborated on the stop-motion animation, “Liberty and Justice: A Cautionary Tale in the Land of the Free”. Salley Mavor lives and works in her home studio in Falmouth, Massachusetts.