Clark welcomes summer with reasons to think, move, and smile

We know that with the last few months spent in a Zoom world and with summer at our doorstep, the prospect of spending any discretionary time in front of a computer screen sounds unappealing. But Clark has an offer that should make you feel better about logging on.

On Thursday, June 18, we launch the Clark Summer Series, a roster of webinars that will inspire you to exercise body and soul, think deeply on provocative topics, and even have a good laugh.

The series will feature Clark faculty, staff, and alumni sharing the insights and expertise on a wide range of subjects, from baseball to science fiction, from an insider’s observations about stand-up comedy to a discussion about the ways challenging times shape how we view art and design.

To participate, visit our schedule of webinars on the #ClarkTogether site. Learn which webinars are upcoming, access the Zoom information for the next webinar on the calendar — and enjoy!

Our first three webinars are:

Yoga and Meditation (June 18, 10 a.m.): Put everything else aside and let Erica Beachy, director of wellness education at Clark, lead you through 30 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of meditation. Self-care is critical but too often overlooked, especially during times of great stress and challenge. Beachy offers you an opportunity to explore avenues for relaxation, coping, and fitness that you can follow at home.

The Hard Work of Good Comedy (June 19, 4 p.m.): Charles Gould ’07 takes you backstage, and then onstage where he earns his living as a stand-up comedian (he’s also an actor and writer). He’ll describe the sources of his material, reveal the secrets to constructing a routine, and share the joys and pains of making an audience laugh. Gould has performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Comedy Central, and in clubs across the country. He’s yet to begin a joke, “Two Clarkies walk into a bar….” But there’s still time.

Why Make Art in an Unjust World? (June 23, 11 a.m.): John Aylward, associate professor of music composition and theory, and Toby Sisson, associate professor of studio art, will discuss technique, concept, and influence as they relate to an artist’s search for meaning and expression. Sisson notes the webinar’s title derives from a series of conversations about a 1972 essay by Olly Wilson, an African American composer, “that led us to meaning and purpose as it relates to artmaking in these undeniably turbulent times.”

Watch for more Clark Summer Series webinars in the coming weeks.