February 09, 2013

The Jewish Book Council recently announced the 2012 National Jewish Book Awards in New York City.  Dr. Eric Kandel, winner of the  2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology, was named the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to the contemporary Jewish community, to the world of literature and of science.  The National Jewish Book Awards is the longest running and most prestigious North American awards program in the field of Jewish literature. Awards are presented annually in over 18 categories to recognize outstanding books, stimulate writers to further literary creativity, and encourage the reading of worthwhile titles. 

Dr. Kandel’s book, In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind (W. W. Norton & Company, 2006), outlinines the medical discoveries that led to his being awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in physiology and  is equally rooted in his life experience, most fundamentally his family’s escaping Austria with their lives, after the Nazis had deprived them of all their possessions.  His most recent book, The Age of Insight: A Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind and Brain, from Vienna 1900 to the Present (Random House, 2012)  bridges science, art and his Jewish identity.

Dr. Kandel will be the keynote speaker at the Awards ceremony scheduled for Thursday, March 14th, 2013 at the Center for Jewish History at 15 West 16th Street at 8:00pm.  The event is free and open to the public.

February 08, 2013

The Vilcek Foundation recently awarded Yo Yo Ma the 2013 Vilcek Prize for Contemporary Music.  The annual prize, which comes with a $100,000 cash award, recognizes immigrants who have made significant contributions to the American arts.  Ma, born in France to Chinese parents,  is widely known as a master cellist in the field of classical music.  The Vilcek prize is the first to recognize his important work in contemporary music.“Yo-Yo Ma’s faith in the connection between the arts and enlightened citizenship echoes that of the Vilcek Foundation. We are delighted to bestow the prize to someone who understands how art brings people together, no matter where in the world they are from,“ said Marica Vilcek, Vice President of the Foundation.  

In addition to recognizing Ma, the Vilcek Foundation recognized a younger generation of foreign-born artists at earlier stages of their careers.  Recipients of the three Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Contemporary Music are James Abrahar, a British born-songwriter, Samuel Bazawule of Ghana, and Armenian-born pianist, composer and vocalist Tigran.  Bob Santelli, executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum, will present the prizes in New York CIty at an awards ceremony in April 2013.

February 06, 2013

When asked in a recent interview with the New Scientist: “Doesn’t every physicist dream of one neat theory of everything?“ Randall responded “There are lots of physicists! I don’t think about a theory of everything when I do my research. And even if we knew the ultimate underlying theory, how are you going to explain the fact that we’re sitting here? Solving string theory won’t tell us how humanity was born.“  The full interview with feature editors Valerie Jamieson and Richard Webb can be found at New Scientist Opinion. 

February 06, 2013

In an interview with dance critic Sarah Kaufman at The Washington Post, Mark Morris reflects on his choreographic process, his upcoming work and the music that makes him want to dance.  On February 8 and 9, 2013 the Mark Morris Dance Group will perform a wonderful program at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts that includes three stunning works in their D.C. area premieres,  The Office set to music by Antonín Dvořák; Festival Dance set to Hummel’s Piano Trio No. 5 in E Major; and Socrates, set to music by composer Erik Satie.

Prior to each performance Nancy Umanoff, Executive Director of the Mark Morris Dance Group, will lead a discussion among patrons , allowing them to gain some insight and knowledge about Mark Morris and his world renowned dance group.

February 03, 2013

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina recently honored Johnnetta Cole with the Alston-Jones International Civil and Human Rights Award.  Presented on February 2 at the museum’s gala,  the award  recognizes individuals who have contributed to the expansion of civil and human rights.  In accepting her award Cole told the group “It’s very hard, intensely difficult, for me to find words that would capture how profoundly honored I am.“  Prior to Cole’s current position as director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art she was president of Bennett College and later Spelman College and the first black leader of the United Way of America.  

The gala commemorated the 53rd anniversary of the February 1, 1960 Woolworth sit-ins in Greensboro when four North Carolina A&T students protested segregation laws at the downtown lunch counter.  The museum opened in 2010 in the former Woolworth store.   Named in honor of the museum’s co-founders Melvin Alston and Earl Jones,  the award is the highest honor given by the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

January 22, 2013

Yo Yo Ma recently joined pianist Cristina Pato and former NYC ballet dancer Damian Woetzel for a visit to Waterside Studio School in Queens as part of Ma’s Arts Strike initiative.  Launched in 2010 by Ma and Woetzel,Arts Strike was designed to have celebrity artists engage with students, educators and communities to promote learning through the arts.  Still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, the school welcomed the opportunity to create new music and dance with the artists and to show off instruments they made with debri from the hurricane.  For Ma it was a chance to give back to a community devasted by Hurricane Sandy and to continue advocating the importance of music in education.

January 11, 2013

The Beyond Center at Arizona State University has invited Lisa Randall to deliver the 2013 Beyond Annual Lecture on February 11.  Each year a scientist or philosopher of international standing is invited to the Beyond Center’spremier public event to offer a reflective account of their work and interests, and to speculate a little bit “beyond” their comfort zone. Randall is expected in her lecture to  draw on ideas ranging from the famous Higgs boson to the enigmatic dark energy that pervades the universe to reflect on the nature of the scientific method, the relation between beauty and truth and the future of mankind.

December 31, 2012

Fifteen years ago, Ted Turner announced he was giving away $1 billion to United Nation causes such as fighting poverty, clearing landmines, and helping refugees.  While that was one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever, more important was the example it set for America’s richest, helping to revive the tradition of great philanthropists like Rockefeller and Carnegie, writes Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times.

December 31, 2012

We are deeply saddened to announce that Philip Streich, 2009 Legacy Winner for the Intel Science Talent Search - Seaborg Prize, died on September 25 at his family’s farm near Platteville, Wisconsin.   Philip was a wonderful part of the Creativity Foundation family—he embodied the spirit of creativity in each and every thing he set his mind to: in business, entrepreneurship, and in public service.  He will be missed by Creativity Foundation staff, board and fellow Legacy winners. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

December 03, 2012

World-renowned cellist and Chicago Symphony Orchestra creative consultant Yo Yo Ma recently visited  Chicago where he engaged in a week of activities with Chicago intitiutions designed to elevate the role of culture in everyday lives .  There was a mix of performances and public appearances, including a first time appearance since 2007 by Ma and his Silk Road Project at the Symphony Center, a meeting with Mayor Emanuel and Renee Fleming  to lend support for a New Arts Education Plan in Chicago Public Schools and a town hall meeting with young Chicago Civic Orchestra musicians to boost their involvement in the broader cultural world.  The Chicago Tribune has the full storyon Ma’s efforts.