A day threatening to storm turned out to be a lovely, windy Sunday to celebrate mothers at the MOMbo Mother’s Day Celebration held at the Lake Harriet bandshell on May 13. Hosted and organized by Nanci Olesen, founder and creative force behind MOMbo (www.MOMbo.org), this second annual event featured an hour of entertainment, culminating in a dramatic reading of ‘The Mother’s Day Proclamation for Peace’, written in 1870 by poet Julia Ward Howe, who also wrote ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’. Elizabeth Bonderson provided ASL interpretation.

Billed as a Maternal Variety Show, the event started with Chicks on Sticks, the all-female stiltwalking and performance group, greeting visitors and handing out programs from on high. Local musical talents The Brass Messengers, with their Romanian gypsy brass sound, and The Twin Cities Women’s Choir got the show on its way. Kate Lynch and the Favor offered several original numbers written specially for the event.

After several rousing musical numbers, Jean Thilmany and Amy Finch (as EveryMom) with her son Max Finch-Raymond, performed a comedy sketch to introduce the ‘Mother of All Awards’. Mothers in the audience were invited to come forward for their award, to honor all the (often unappreciated) work they do.

To introduce what she considered a ‘regal moment’ in the show, Olesen talked about Julia Ward Howe and her work for peace and justice. Leslye Orr and Sarah Richardson then came on stage to read the proclamation, which was delivered with inspiring dramatic flair. Brightly colored 15-foot puppets from In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre danced in the front of the stage to wind up the festivities.

Olesen moderated the show, offering thoughts about family and parenting, and promoting a pilot show she is hosting for American Public Media, “How's the Family?” (To hear the show, tune to Minnesota Public Radio news and information stations at 2 p.m., Friday, May 25.)

Connie Lanphear has been attending SJA since 1990 – first as a single person, then married with kids, now single with kids. She lives near the river in Minneapolis with her two grade-school aged daughters and two cats. Most recently, she has worked in communications for two environmental organizations and has just launched a freelance business offering writing, editing and graphic design. Her hobbies include yoga, rowing, reading, stained glass, knitting and working (endlessly) on her house.
After the show, mothers lined up to take their rightful place on a real pedestal, and have their Polaroid photo taken with (or without) their kids. To see a YouTube video of moms on pedestals, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyIXW92sbT8.

MOMbo founder Nanci Olesen, right, discusses music and parenting with musician Kate Lynch.


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