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LETTERS

Akron Remembers the IJA

As executive director of The Akron Civic Theatre, I would like to express my thanks and delight to all IJA members for their decision to hold the convention in Akron and the weekend events here.

I can safely assure you that our "Jewel on Main Street" has not seen the likes of Frank Olivier, OooLaLa and Bounce and the smallest animate object to be juggled (alias Baby Michelle Mills) since the days when Sally Rand the fan dancer, Milton Berle and the old elephant acts graced our vaudeville stage (or tromped on it).

I would like to thank Kevin Delagrange and the Rubber City Jugglers for their hard work and being easy to work with. We have many future conventions lined up at The Akron Civic Theatre, but somehow, I don't think they will have the same magic!

Patti Eddy Akron, Ohio

IJA Perspective on Saintes

L'lnstitut de Jonglage is to be congratulated for the magnificent job that they did in organizing the 10th European Jugglers Convention. It was a great success in many different ways. The wonderful spirit of fun and friendship was maintained despite the difficulty of hosting an event for almost 1,000 people. Jugglers were greeted at the door by friendly faces offering a very low registration fee and a beautiful hand-made admissions button. Housing options included everything from camping or staying with a local family (both free) to a room at a local seminary.

Convention highlights (for me) included Kevin Brooking's antics at Club Renegade (Kevin's gentle character immediately disarmed a very hostile, heckling crowd); a parade followed by juggling games in a beautiful amphitheatre (games overseen by Caesar himself); and finally, the establishment of the European Jugglers Association.

Although the association's sole purpose is to review proposals and offer support for the European convention, it also provides a starting point for some constructive dialogue between the IJA and European jugglers. For 40 years the IJA has presumed to use the word "international" and yet not fulfilled its resulting obligation to jugglers outside of the U.S. We have much to learn from the EJA about what it means to be international. In this, their first year of operation, they have five different countries represented on their board of directors (including the U.S. ) We can also learn a lot from them about community involvement in conventions and about cutting loose and having fun European style!

Holly Greeley - IJA President - Naples , Fla.

About The Nicaragua Story

Whilst appreciating inclusion of articles about jugglers in Nicaragua last issue, we feel strongly that two statements need clarification. The title, "Juggling Ambassadors to the Sandanistas" was a serious misrepresentation of the reason Ben Linder, the Women's Circus and the Jugglers for Peace went to Nicaragua. We were there to show Nicaraguan people we supported them in their struggle for national sovereignty after decades of U.S.backed dictatorship. You wouldn't describe the Chinese Acrobats as ambassadors to the Republican Party when they tour the USA, would you?

Secondly, reference to 'the emerging use of juggling for political work" is shortsighted. The Flying Karamazov Brothers, Michael Davis and others have been making political statements for years. We believe juggling performers are a lot more political than your statement implies. We've never known such a powerful group of anarchists before, have you?

Cort Peterson & Tim King Pahoa , Hawaii

Thanks for the "Juggling for the Sandinistas" article in the Fall issue. It's time the American people learned the truth about Nicaragua . Although I'm active in the Albuquerque peace movement, it was through your article that I learned of Benjamin Linder's juggling talents.

I was juggling for the orphans in Managua before Linder was born, and long before the revolution. But there is no comparison. What Linder did, and what others who follow in his footsteps are doing in today' s reconstruction period in Nicaragua , requires a rare sense of dedication and great courage.

God bless the jugglers and others who are trying to bring peace and happiness instead of death and destruction to the country of my birth.

Francisco Alvarez Albuquerque , N.M.

Thanks for the fine "Jugglers for Peace" article and tribute to Ben Linder. It moved me deeply and reaffirmed my belief in juggling as a tool to bring people together and move the world forward.

Larry Forsberg San Francisco , Calif.

A Museum Vision

After reading this summer's historical issue of Juggler's World from cover to cover and then visiting the American Museum of Magic in Marshall , Mich. , I wondered why we don't have an American Museum of Juggling.

I can visualize a museum consisting of many displays: the development of juggling clubs with examples of the clubs themselves; a room full of promotional material, autographed 8 x 10s, fliers, posters, newspaper clippings; an array of various types of props with photos and descriptions of their appropriate use.

Since juggling is such a visual art, there should be a place for people to witness juggling. There are two ways to do this. The first would be a room where the museum patron could witness films of some of the classic jugglers - W.C. Fields, Enrico Rastelli, Francis Brunn and the Kremo family.

The other opportunity would be to build a theatre with a high ceiling and lighting that is useful to the juggler as well as the observer. Contemporary jugglers could work here, with acts changing every two weeks or every month. To encourage the awareness of the general public, a studio could be built for juggling and movement classes. What about a variety arts library with books on juggling, vaudeville, magic, clowning and acrobatics? And what about a Hall of Fame, a place where some of the finest jugglers could be enshrined for all time?

Juggling is probably the least understood and least appreciated of all the performing arts. If the history, art and skill involved in juggling is presented in an intelligent and attractive way, we might get the respect and appreciation we all deserve.

I'll be interested in hearing comments and ideas on this concept from other members in future issues.

John R. Mallery Kansas City , Mo.