11/06 @ First Presbyterian Church in Albany
“A community gathering like this helps build not only recognition, but the networking necessary for friends and neighbors to help one another in our incredibly diverse communities.”
This November 6, the Albany-based, medieval and renaissance-focused musical group, The Bleecker Consort, will be bringing their specialized renditions of medieval compositions to the First Presbyterian Church in support of Prism Counseling and Advocacy LGBTQ Services. This "Mead us in the Middle (Ages)" themed first Friday event will also collaborate with artist Lora Lee Ecobelli to give audiences an unforgettable night of music, art, and history.
With skillful reproductions of medieval instruments, The Bleecker Consort is set to perform a night of rarely shared medieval music. To truly make November 6 a night of historically accurate fun, Bull and Bee Meadery will be providing mead, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages with support from their sponsor, Upstate Wine and Spirits.
“Mead us in the Middle (Ages)” is more than just a one-off performance however; this event was meaningfully organized to spotlight the mental health and LGBTQ+ services that are essential for our community. Alongside the night of music, Ecobelli, a consummate artist, writer, director, and film maker, will be presenting her collection of artwork from her upcoming book, Wanda Allen, a graphic novel focused on themes of childhood trauma.
“The language being used today is similar to that used during the Middle Ages when encountering persons with mental illness, variation — or even just existing as the ‘other’ — ‘unnatural, sin, divine punishment, disgusting,’ and more,” details Michael Murphy, ethicist and board member for Prism Counseling and Advocacy. “Our early music is a joyful response using a diversity of instruments meant to display incredible variations in texture and nuance and help celebrate the incredible work that Prism Counseling and Advocacy has been doing for the last quarter of a century.”
The First Presbyterian Church in Albany, seems like the perfect location for “Mead us in the Middle (Ages)” to be held. The church's efforts in creating safe spaces for community outreach and support for vulnerable communities, go hand in hand with the mission of Prism Counseling and Advocacy. With notable funding cuts for programs focused on harm reduction to diverse communities, Prism Counseling and Advocacy hopes to utilize this event as a resource for connection and inclusivity building.
“Even with our incredible outreach and success, Prism Counseling and Advocacy is under significant pressure with increasing client needs and decreasing opportunities for funding,” Murphy says. “We have scores of success stories and continuing mental health services for our communities in New York State. A community gathering like this helps build not only recognition, but the networking necessary for friends and neighbors to help one another in our incredibly diverse communities.”
This first Friday event will be kicking off at 5:30 p.m., followed by an evening of Medieval fun. From history buffs, music fans, art connoisseurs, or anyone hoping to help an essential local resource, “Mead us in the Middle (Ages)” is the perfect local outing for all attendees.
For more information on The Bleecker Consort and the “Mead us in the Middle (Ages)” event, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/168565940063/