Kate MacLeod
Tuesday | April 16, 2019 | 7:00-9:00 pm
Earth Day is April 22. To celebrate this seminal 49 year old event, singer and activist, Kate MacLeod will help us appreciate the value of this earth and think about ways we can contribute to its health. Kate will share her experiences, approach, and some of her music through implementing her art in political and cultural activist activities.
GATHERING AT:
Home of Ed and Kristen Iversen
3582 Oak Rim Way Salt Lake City, UT 84109
If there is no parking to be found near the home you can also park in the “park & ride” lot on the NW corner of 3900 South and Wasatch Blvd. Oak Rim Way is just east of the intersection on the north side.
You’re invited to bring some finger food to share
THE DISCUSSION:
Kate’s formative years between birth and the age of 18 were during the hotbed of the political and cultural upheaval of the 1960s-70s, residing in the Washington DC area. Her first experiences with art and music were in observation of them being used in meaningful and activist ways beyond just entertainment. Kate believes music has always transcended commercial value, and so works in the music business first as an artist, with music’s value as a commodity being far down on the totem pole of her priorities. This approach, in paradox, has caused her work to be valued by others in ways that feed her soul, and miraculously, her pocketbook. Kate’s sharing will include the inspiration behind her activism, when and how she uses her art for activist purposes, and how her activities affect her career trajectory. She’ll share a few of her musical pieces with us.
We’ll also discuss the value of Earth Day and how we can utilize some of what Kate shares to contribute to a brighter future for our earth.
ABOUT KATE:
Americana musician Kate MacLeod has lived in Salt Lake City since 1979, when she moved here from the Washington DC area to study violin making. She has gradually built a performing career since her first recording release in 1995, produced by the late Charles Sawtelle. Since then she has raised three children, worked in a variety of jobs, and has over time increased her music activities to become a full-time working musician.
Kate is a songwriter and fiddle player. Her violin work specializes in folk fiddle including all styles of Celtic fiddle, Eastern European, American Old-Time and Bluegrass. Before ever recording her first CD, her original songs were being shared and recorded by other musicians throughout her region. Since she began recording her songs, they’ve been recorded by other artists from California to the Czech Republic. Kate is a teacher as well as a performer. She offers private music lessons and teaches in workshop situations for both songwriting and fiddle playing. She travels the country to share her music experience with people of all ages at music camps and festivals.
Her contribution through music extends beyond the borders of her genre, leading her to various projects that she finds important and meaningful. Kate regularly donates her time and music to activist organizations working for peace and social justice concerns including Adopt-a-Future, Pandos (Peaceful Advocates for Native Dialogue and Organizing Support), the Utah Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, and The Entrada Institute. She is also often invited by Politicians and organizers to contribute music to political protests, and fundraisers.
Kate donated three years of volunteer service to the Innocence Project, where she united musicians for music playing and performing. The musicians that she aided were all exonerated from wrongful convictions, some of them having spent as many as 25 years in prison.
Kate’s song The Grand Staircase Escalante won first prize through the Friends of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, an organization that seeks to preserve that National Park. She regularly plays for the Heart and Soul organization of Utah, an organization that brings musicians into hospitals, convalescent centers, and schools. Kate was 2018 Artist-in-Residence for the Quakers, completing a three-month residency during which she composed a collection of peace-motivating and inspirational music titled A Harmonious Sound.
Kate has twice been Artist-in-Residence for The Entrada Institute, an environmental and arts organization based in Southern Utah. Her residence with the organization led to a large repertoire of music based on the Western desert and history.
As with all our gatherings, there is no pressure to share in the large group or if/when we break into small groups. But what makes Faith Again and Think Again work is not just who presents but who is present, prepared, and willing to share. For guidance in having productive conversations please read the intentions page.
