INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LORENE STUNSON HILL

Haunted Hotel, England

What inspires you? 

Boredom inspires me. It began in High School, I use to get bored during Summer Recess from School. To pass time, I hand wrote a novel each summer. But, lacking confidence, I threw each one away as soon as School started again. 

Secondly, searching for a sense of accomplishment is my biggest inspiration. Unfortunately, I tend to write better when I’m down and I write to bring myself up. For example, in 2007, emerging from homelessness, I lived in an old historic relic of a hotel that was known to be haunted. Many of its residents were “put” there by Social Services or on drugs. Residents paid by the week so, for many it was a revolving door. I stayed locked up in my apartment raising my one year old Grandson, whose Mom abandoned him. Writing my recently released novel, 'To Dance with Ugly People,' was my escape and it made my life rich and rewarding. I felt in touch with a higher power while writing this book, which was my third inspiration. 

I’d pray for where to go next, having reached writer’s block, and I promise you the answer would pop into my head during the night. This novel brought me to a new divine awareness. I realized I had experienced a lot in life that had left me strewn and unsettled; the book brought about the resurgence of a strong feeling of cohesion, for me. I could feel my heart glow with excitement and enthusiasm as I wrote this book. 

Who inspires me? 

I have loved the written word my whole life. I have attended lectures and readings by Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and Sonia Sanchez. I’d shed tears of admiration sitting in the Audience. Ntozake Shange, Alice Walker, Terry McMillan and Alice Walker are among others I have admired.

What are you passionate about doing? 

I am passionate about writing. I keep a notebook and pen in my purse, in every room and on the table beside my bed. I’ve started my second book. It is a sequel to, “To Dance with Ugly People,” titled “Ugly People Can’t Dance.” I am also passionate about dollhouses. I build them from kits. I shop on Ebay for miniature furniture, I paint the rooms with paint sample from Walmart. I make tiny curtains, shingle the roofs, place shutters, lay carpet, you name it. Once finished I give them away to a needy little girl.

How do you express your interests? 

In the middle of the night when the house is quiet and everyone asleep, I write. Sometimes I go to bed with a question on my mind, and the answer pops into my head. I jump up and write it down. I am retired, so I am able to take cat naps during the day. When I am working on my dollhouses, I think about the story I am writing.

How do you stay inspired? 

Listening for little sayings people use. For instance, I met an older lady who would say, “Don’t Dance with Ugly People!” every time we parted. That memory was my inspiration for my book title, “To Dance with Ugly People.” 

I am a people watcher. I am very quiet in a room full of people because I am listening so hard. Even a trip to the grocery store, has me nosily listening to every conversation I can. Phrases, Hints, Character names, Ideas (if it hits my ear right) gives me something I may be able to use. Day to day I am writing down my favorite things I have heard and I put in an hour a day, at least, writing. My son calls my writing a crossword puzzle. He is right. I might be writing something that is used in Chapter 10 today and haven't completed 1 through 9. I eventualy move everything around, put in some fill in and have a completed novel. I can't explain it any other way. 


The interview series comes from talking with creative types who want to share what what they do, what their interests are, and what inspires them, in the hopes of inspiring creative energy in others. If you have something to say that is if interest to others, feel free to submit.

INTERVIEW WITH HENRIETTE GREGORIO, FOUNDER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BAROQUE SOCIETY

October 31, 2010, Henriette Gregorio, center, debuting as fictional tongue-in-cheek 1760's character, Lady AuRevoir, pictured with the Haűsmusik string quartet, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The occasion is a private performance featuring Baroque composer Wolfgang A. Mozart. In an ode to Mozart’s panache and humor, Gregorio created his & hers historical couture costumes (pictured). 

Background

A lover of all things Baroque and Rococo, I am a first generation American with Saxon-German roots.  Expressing myself through design, I created over six centuries of historical clothing, to fully embody past characters while reenacting periods of history through dance, social events and festivals. I have traveled across twelve countries, mainly throughout central and western Europe, lived in five, and organized full immersion events which allow a participant to live a playful, fun role from the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th century historical eras.

Since I was a teen, I loved designing clothing.  As a historical reenactress and hobbyist in my adult life, I loved working with the richly decorated fabrics of silk, lace, velvets and gemstones and modifying patterns to recreate clothing for historical reenactment, festivals and balls. 

Professionally, I have served as a consultant for non-profit, government and small businesses with services in marketing communications, graphic design, photography, public relations as well as advocacy for healthcare causes. 

Earlier still, I stood up for drug-free sport competition, winning six regional and state bodybuilding championships, including Ms. NorthWestern America, Ms. California, Ms. San Francisco Bay Area, which stood in contrast to my eight years of training in classical piano, operatic voice and "finishing" school. 

Growing up, I studied, practiced and played a continual piano repertoire of Bach, Handel, Brahms and classical hymns for the residents of my family’s business, the Berkeley Senior Residence in Berkeley, California. This was in addition to a weekly chapel accompaniment in private grade school.

Throughout my life, I have always loved Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, the architectural richness of Baroque cities and their cultural heritage.  My heart is drawn to the opulence of the 17^th and 18^th century Europe, particularly the Loire Valley Chateaux region of France, the musical gem known as the city of Prague, and the early roots of Baroque in Italy, my favorite being Venice with its annual Carnivale.  

I fell in love with Prague during my first visit in September 2011, a city of music, a Baroque heaven. I loved every cobblestone I walked on, every wall I touched, every corner that rang with Carillon bells from churches in every quadrant on Sunday mornings. It brings tears to my eyes just remembering the feeling of standing on those streets in Old Town, a 360 optic love affair from Petřín Tower, walking in and out of the local craft shops, zigzagging from the Castle on Nerudova street, listening to classical and folk street musicians everywhere. I feel the deep pull of my roots in central and western Europe every time I set foot there.

A striking moment of connection occurred during the 2014 Santa Barbara Historic Dance Weekend. It was during the performance of dancer Bruno Benne.*  Seeing the graceful but exacting spirit of Baroque moving through his footwork, I found myself in tears remembering, for the first time in my adulthood, that I had danced this same footwork, alone, in my childhood home, at the age of 6.

With no one to witness, I remember feeling compelled to express those dance movements, the fibronacci** hand gestures and the upright posture in time with the music of the great Baroque composers.  I did not have a point of reference for these movements at that age.  In my mind and heart as a young girl, I saw myself in full court dress, dancing in the Court of the King and Queen.  No one ever knew or saw me.  No dance or dance training was in my upbringing or adult life, outside of social enjoyment at historical reenactment balls.  

Until Bruno's performance, I had forgotten that experience, which had became buried in the 'growing up' process and evolution of young adulthood.  I am very grateful to Bruno for the profound spirit that he shared, which re-awakened this burning childhood memory, a memory which had been incongruous with my young environment.   I cried for several hours while processing the emotional flash of that powerful, profound childhood memory.

L:Louis-XIV-Lebrun, public domain; R: Marie Antoinette 1767, public domain

What is the Baroque Period?

Wikipedia references the Baroque era in three phases:

• Early Baroque, c.1590–c.1625
• High Baroque, c.1625–c.1660
• Late Baroque, c.1660–c.1725

Late Baroque is also sometimes used synonymously with the succeeding Rococo (1723 – 1785) movement. This is the musical period of the great Bach composers:  Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Christian Bach. It was the time of Marie Antoinette and, earlier, the famous King Louis XIV, known as Louis the Great, the “Sun King” (Le Roi-Soleil).  It was the architectural style period of the prominent architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, who designed the Palace of Versailles.

The term Baroque is derived from the Portuguese word meaning “pearl of irregular shape.” Baroque began in Rome, Italy, embodied by religious themes of the church in art, and heavy, elaborate ornamentation in design elements. Rococo began in Paris, France in the early 18th century and was developed as a reaction against the grandeur, symmetry, and strict regulations of the Baroque.

Baroque and Rococo across all channels of art, fashion, architecture, culture, dance and music can be recognized by their complex geometric design: symmetrical in the Baroque period while being asymmetrical, curvilinear and exotic in the Rococo period.

In both Baroque and Rococo, ‘flourishes’ (dramatic, sweeping gestures), seemingly endless ornamentation, complexity of line, űber-opulence and the use of precious, rare materials were engineered with the finest craftsmanship and artistry of the time.

When you think of Baroque, think Venetian silk embroidery, laces, tapestries, French powdered wigs, Italian 24K gold ceilings, Moravian jewels, the Sun King Louis XIV of France (1638-1715). When you think of Rococo, think of Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), light colors, shell-like curves, porcelain figures, florals, playful and witty themes. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Gardens of Villandry, France also demonstrates the geometric beauty of the Baroque period. 

Examples of Baroque above: characteristics include symmetry, balance, and heaviness. Top: Chateau de Villandry, Villandry, France. Above, clockwise from left: aerial view of Baroque town, Palmanova in Venice, Italy ©2011 Ayishwariya Balagopal; Château de Versailles ©2013 Henriette Gregorio; ©2008 HiSunnySky/Shutterstock

Clockwise from top: Rococo garden in Painswick, Gloucester, U.K. via rococogarden.org.uk; abstract asymmetrical Rococo ceiling stucco at Neues Schloss Tettnang in Bodenseekreis, Germany via wikimedia; Rococo facade of Golz-Kinský Palace, dominating the northeast part of the Staroměstské Square, Prague. ©1997; AISA, Archivo Iconográfico, Barcelona, España

What inspires you about this time period?

In 2009-2010, after I created my first Baroque couture set, a lady’s formal gown and gentleman’s suit, I was hooked.  I was driven by my vision to create these pieces even though there was no event to wear them until the performance of the Haűsmusik string quartet on October 31, 2010. 

The beauty, richness of detail, colors, music, light, elegance and artistry ring to me like Carillon bells, calling me back to this period of time.  Every time I come in contact with Baroque art and culture, it rings through me with a sense of complete familiarity. I feel a sense of home.

The creation of Lady AuRevoir at the Haűsmusik performance lit a flame that would grow to eventually reveal a vision to be living, working, traveling and playing with a community that loves the Baroque period as much as I do.  This passionate vision launched in the Spring 2014, as the North American Baroque Society. To relive, travel, and be immersed in Baroque in Europe with friends who feel the same, eager to explore the Baroque experience to its fullest potential through dance, art, music, culture, cuisine and play is the foundational aspect of the North American Baroque Society.

What is the North American Baroque Society?

We are a community of Baroque lovers enjoying the 17th and 18th centuries through culture, travel, news, resources and full immersion events from around the world.  Our mission is to connect, share, explore and travel with a community of friends (online and in person) in North America and Europe who love Baroque in all of its many expressions:  art, music, dance, architecture, fashion couture, culture and events.  Think masquerade balls, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Duchess, Casanova, Amadeus and the famous annual Italian event:  Carnivale of Venice!

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