Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 26, 2007 issue
Boone Saloon Experiences 40/40 Vision
on Wednesday, May 2
Story by Ron Fitzwater
When Mar Startari-Stegall turned 40 she began to get the standard questions from her friends: “What are you gonna’ do?” and “What does it feel like?” “Actually I felt nothing about it, other than being my daughter’s fourth birthday; it was just another day to me. No big deal,” Stegall said.
But in the days following her 40th, Stegall began to really think about what turning 40 meant. “Words started piling up in my mind, so I wrote them down,” she said. Over time she began to collect her thoughts about the milestone on anything handy. “The poetry was scrawled on napkins, receipts and anything else I could find as the words poured out,” she said.
From a collection of random poems, Stegall’s “words” turned into a project, and the project grew. “The next idea to float into my head was movement,” Stegall said. So she enlisted the talents of her daughter’s creative dance teacher, Kristen Kissik. Kissik, who arrived in Boone via Boston where she had a “successful career as a choreographer and performance artist,” said Stegall, greeted the project with enthusiasm. “Kristen and I organized the scraps of paper into an eight-act multimedia piece called 40/40 vision.”
Stegall, Kissik and others will perform 40/40 Vision at Boone Saloon on Wednesday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. While Stegall reads from her collection of poems, Kissik and her dance troupe The Pleiades will interpret the text with movement. Stegall’s “alter ego, Rita the Reader will be portrayed by Lexie Danner.”
Each of the eight acts is an interpretation of certain aspects of Stegall’s life, including parenthood, partnership, culture and technology. During the “Friction Act,” the troupe will perform a piece called When War IS The Answer while artists simultaneously paint a large tapestry. Additionally, three other tapestries will be painted in conjunction with poems during the show. The tapestries will be sold at a silent auction at approximately 8:15 p.m. The auction will be accompanied by provocative dance to live drumming performed by Mystic Mountain Belly Dancers.
Stegall wants people of all ages to come to the performance. “Whether you are 40 or not, there is something for you at the show,” she said.
Admission for the show is $5 per person with children admitted free. During the event, the Boone Saloon will be a smoke-free environment.
Want To Go?
Date: Wednesday, May 2
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Boone Saloon
Cost: $5 per person / free for children