On Sunday, Jan. 31, a memorial was held at the Chilmark Community Center for Dr. Marianne Goldberg of Chilmark. Choreographer, writer, artist and the founder/director of Pathways Projects Institutes, Marianne was a passionate patron of all the arts, as was evident at the multimedia memorial in her honor.

The center was beautifully transformed by the Pathways team — there were many glorious displays of coral-colored roses, and ocean-blue silk draperies covered the windows. After the welcome by Scott Crawford of Pathways, Rabbi Caryn Broitman solemnized the occasion, and then art took center stage.

Unfurling/To Inhabit Together, choreographed by Marianne, was performed by her longtime dance collaborator, Jesse Keller of The Yard, who moved strikingly through an environment enlivened by yards and yards of colored silk undulating like ocean waves around her. As accompaniment, Marianne’s poem, To Inhabit Together, was read, with several readers alternating passages, and a musical counterpoint was provided by piano, flute and bells.

That performance was followed by family members, friends and colleagues recalling Marianne Goldberg as variously, a sister, mentor, collaborator and inspiration, and those tributes featured video, performance and song.

A multifaceted happy/sad celebration that Marianne herself would have thoroughly enjoyed.

Richard Skidmore
Aquinnah