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BY MICHAEL C. ALBERD

It was a time when people
fought to end prejudice as well as
other world ills. Loose clothing, beads,
peace signs and communal gardens
were essential staples in life and many
people spent their days trying to re-
new a lost relationship with Mother
Earth. Daisies were implemented into
almost every jewelry creation, and
love was a beautiful thing. The de-
mands and restrictions, so common
in current times, were nonexistent, and
everyone spent joyful days trying to
find the illusive inner peace of spiritu-
ality. Children of this world began to
evolve, realizing the importance of fol-
lowing a goal in addition to the heart.
However, as the environment contin-
ued to change, these ideals were soon
lost in the lure of the corporate realm,
and many “love children" abandoned
their hopes. One exception, though,
is Lisa McCormick, who recently left
a relatively secure career as a college
professor to follow a dream of being
a musician. _

For as long as she can remem-
ber, music has been a part of Lisa
McCormick’s life, especiallyduring her
youth in upstate New York. As a child,
McCormick was constantly sur-
rounded by the songs of her parent’s
favorite band, the Beatles. As a result,
Lisa also developed a fondness for
the group, “...|isten(ing) to them con-
stantly. I felt like they were part of me
in a way... ’they provided the
soundtrack to my life. I listened to the
songs backwards searching for the
‘mysteries and searched the album

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Iisa mccormic

covers, too.”

In addition to music, the young
McCormick possessed an avid inter-
est in creative projects and nature.
Even though her parents always en-
couraged her endeavors, she ‘would

often play alone. ‘‘I liked to get on my.

bike and get myself lost in the woods
and then figure out how to get home.
. . playing in nature. I went into that
same kind of space where I am [now]
writing music. It’s where time stops
and all I’m aware of is what I’m do-
ing,” stated McCormick.

Summer vacations to
Provincetown, Massachusetts were
another source of enjoyment and in-
troduced McCormick to alternative
lifestyles, including homosexuality. In
the midst of sand, surf and fun, Lisa
sensed another more powerful energy,
and the impact it made was
Often she would think “...those

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ing their lives, unlike the people I saw
in upstate New York. There was a
strong artistic presence there. I looked
up to the hippies, gays, artists because
they were living their joy, bIiss.”
Despite this realization,
McCormick did not acknowledge her
own homosexuality until her teenage
years and only officially “came out” at
the age of nineteen, while attending
Marlboro College. “It came in phases’.
At that age I decided it’s true. I began

to live as though it were true.” After .

enlightening her family as to her
sexual orientation, McCormick was
extremely surprised at how difficult it
was for them to accept. Never did she
expect the difficulties which followed
and it simply “...was a struggle for a
long time.,|t took a lot of work on
everyone’s£art. They were very up-

   
 

 

APRlL.98

WEDNESDAY

UVM Psychology Department Challenges Biased Behavior 7-9
p.m. in 427 Waterman - Talk: GAY BASHING: THE PSYCHO-
LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF HATE CRIMES, Speaker:
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D. 7-9 p.m. at Lafayette 207 - Two Films:
ALL GOD'S CHILDREN and FIRES IN THE MIRROR: CROWN
HEIGHTS 7-9 p.m. in Fleming 101 - Film: JOY LUCK CLUB

Deadline for Vermont History Day Contest. Sponsored by the
Vermont Historical Society. 802-828-2291.

Joan Baez in concert at the Flynn Theatre, $32.44, $2714
THURSDAY

UVM Psychology Department Challenges Biased Behavior 7
p.m. in Memorial Lounge, Waterman Building - Talk: HATE
CRIMES AND FEDERAL POLICY: PAST AND CURRENT INI-
TIATIVES, Speaker: Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D.

FRIDAY

UVM Psychology Department Challenges Biased Behavior. 4 p.m. in Memorial
Lounge,Waterman Building - Ending keynote address: LITTLE ROCK METAPHORS
FOR 1998 Speaker: Terrence Roberts, Ph.D.

SATURDAY

Susan Marshall & Company, post-modern dance troupe, $24.50, $19.50, $12

Through 11 The Johnson State College Fine and Performing Arts Department will
present their spring production, Quilt:A Musical Celebration for four performances,
April 3, 4, 10, and 11 .All shows start at 8:00 PM and will be staged in Dibden Center
for the Arts at Johnson State College; Johnson, Vermont. Quilt is a musical collage
of stories for, from, and about The Names Project AIDS Memorial quilt, the most
powerful piece of spontaneous art ever created. A portion of the AIDS memorial
quilt from San Francisco will be displayed at Dibden Center for the Arts from April
1st - 11th.'In addition, the April 11th performance will be a benefit for VT. CARES,
while a portion of the proceeds from each of the other performances will go to
AIDS Research.

Opening reception for Marshfield oil painter David Smifh’s show of landscape paint-
ings. 5 - 7 p.m. at Phoenix Rising, 104 Main St., Montpelier. 229-0522 Exhibit runs
through 4/25.

Alison Bechdel book signing at the Peace and Justice Store on Church Street
Marketplace, Burlington. 1:00 - 3:00 p.m..

Through Sun., April 5. Burlington College workshop ‘Writing for Hollywood." In-
strugtor: Craig Kellem (Saturday Night Live, Charles in Charge, NBC, Universal
Studios). Audit $115, Credit $228. 802-862-9616

Gender Role-Free Contra Dance for gay/Iesbian/bi/transgenders and friends - all
welcome.Tom Mousin calling. Live music by Amy Cam and Lise Brown 8:00-11 :00
p.m. sliding scale admission $5-7 Putney Community Center, Christian Square,
Putney, Vermont. All dances taught - no experience or partners necessary. Smokel
drug/alcohol free space. Beginner's introduction at 8:00 p.m. Please bring light-
soled shoes to dance in. For more information call Sam at 802-387-2066 or Mike at
802-257-8984

Richie Havens at the Barre Opera House. 8 p.m. Tickets $18 to $24. Call the box
office for more information 476-8188.

Cabaret Destiny, a homespun night of faerie performance art, magick, dance and
fun. 8:00 PM. at Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St., Jamaica Plain (just
steps from the Stony Brook T stop). $10.00 donation to benefit Faerie Camp Des-
tiny. Co-sponsored by Art in the Attic and Boston Faerie Circle. More info: Daisy at

617-713-2660.
CALENDAR
CONTINUES, [I12