November 1990

 

The Changer and the Changed (......-......i;..,..,,..,...-....,,.,

as an incredibly female album, more than a
lesbian album. The relationships described
in the songs are seldom explicitly between
women (almost always the case with Cris
Williamson's music), and where it is clear
that the singer is singing to a woman, the
songs are not necessarily love songs. For
example, "Sister" talks about friendship
between women, and "Tender Lady" about
the power of music to comfort. Even
"Sweet Woman" has never struck me en-
tirely as a lesbian love song. At some level,
the woman who is "rising so fine" seems to
me to be the singer herself, and when we
listen to it, she is all of us.

Thus, the album is able to express the
sensibility of all women, much of which is
sensuous and erotic. The Changer takes as
its themes nature, spirituality, and sensual-
ity and links them together through the ex-
perience of women. It celebrates women's
love and passion directly in songs like
"Dreamchild" ("You've got me burning
with the sweet love heat, I'm just a
dreamchild of desire") and "Shooting Star"
("Thunder is shaking the roof of my car; I
would go through a desert for you"), and
indirectly in songs like "Waterfall" ("Fill-
ing up and spilling over like an endless
waterfall").

The songs on The Changer and the
Changed are old friends which have always
been able to comfort and reassure me. The
album's opening words are "Sometimes it
takes a rainy day just to let you know
everything's gonna be all right." Its final

words are "Lean on me, I am your sister,
believe on me, I am your friend." In be-
tween there is the wonderful "Song of the
Soul," which tells us "Love of my life, I am
crying, I am not dying, I am dancing.
Dancing along in the madness, there is no
sadness, only a song of the soul." I have
listened to the song hundreds of times, and
it has helped me make sense of my life.

I look at the album cover - a black and
white photo of a young Cris, standing alone
in the desert, wearing denim overalls and
no shirt, smiling at the camera, her hair long

and dark brown, like it was the first time I
saw her in concert. She is beautiful. And I
think of her the last timel saw her in concert
this past August - her hair is shorter and it
has turned gray; she no longer tours solo;
and I've never seen her in overalls. But she
still tells great stories; she is still blessed
with that magnificent voice; she is still
beautiful; and she still sings songs from The
Changer and the Changed. Iam very grate-
ful that fiften years ago she gave us that
wonderful gift, and that she is still around
today to share it with us.

A Studio of One's Own

A new studio for women artists on
Welcome Hill in West Chesterfield, New
Hampshire, is now complete. It joins the
first studio, built by women in 1978.

The studios, which are available to
women artists of whatever genre for one
week and up to three-month stays, are situ-
ated on a mountaintop of 110 heavily
wooded acres in southwestern New Hamp-
shire, just across the Connecticut River
from Brattleboro. There are excellent hik-
ing trails on the property, a nearby lake for
swimming, cross-country skiing trails, fre-
quent lesbian-centered get-togethers with
owner Ann Stokes and poet-in-residence
Lynn Martin, and as much privacy as one
desires for doing creative work

The studios are fully furnished, with
wood-heating stoves for winter. Food is not
provided, but each studio has a kitchen with

a gas stove. Rent is $50.00 per week or
$150.00 per month. For those artists who
have higher incomes, a donation to ARS
Inc., the foundation that supports the proj-
ect, would be most welcome.

Many creative women have resided at
Welcome Hill in its twelve-year existence.
Beginning artists are as welcome as those
who are established in their work. A femi-
nist perspective is a must.

It was owner Ann Stokes's vision to
offer women artists congenial space to do
their art - "studios of their own." Women
from as far away as New Mexico and from
as nearby as Putney have shared the peace,
the quiet, and the beauty of Welcome Hill.

To inquire about a stay at Welcome
Hill, write to ARS Inc., Box 324, Welcome
Hill, West Chesterfield NH 03466, or tele-
phone 603-256-6362 or 603-256-8886.

OUTRIGHT VERMONT TRAINING

at 865-9677.

Volunteers interested in staffing an informa-
tional / support line for lesbian, gay, and bisexual
youth in Vermont can still sign up for training.

V Training is scheduled for January, with the
info—1ine starting up at the end of the month.

V . Individuals interested in participating in the
training should Contact OUTRIGHT Vermont

Walter Zeichner M. A.
Howard Russell M. A.

Are Pleased to Offer

0

Therapy Group for
Gay Men

For infomiation call:
Walter: 863-5510

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