For the Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland Times-News
—
CUMBERLAND — Talented artists will reveal their crafts — writing, blacksmithing, music and photography — on four consecutive Thursdays next month starting April 8 in Lunch with the Arts, the popular series presented in downtown Cumberland.
A partnership between the Allegany Arts Council and Allegany College of Maryland, the series features accomplished area artists who discuss and, in some cases, perform what they do over a catered lunch.
Each hour-long session begins at noon. The schedule is as follows:
• Shane Riggs, April 8 — An award-winning writer with more than two decades in his craft, Riggs is managing editor of Allegany Magazine, Maryland’s only full-color lifestyles magazine. He previously worked as a news anchor and director, talk show host and radio personality and newspaper reporter. Riggs is the co-author of two holiday-themed books and the author of several plays, including “Confessions From the Ladies Room,” The Marie Defense” and “The Lightbearer.” The latter has been performed three times in Cumberland and at the North Canton Playhouse, where it won best production of the year by an Ohio community theater organization.
• Ed Small, April 15 — A longtime blacksmith, Small draws inspiration from plant and human forms to create singular designs with open shapes and a sense of motion. In addition to blacksmithing techniques that include large animals, Small works in the physically challenging medium of hot iron, using temperatures of up to 2,200 degrees to convince reluctant material to move, especially in large dimension.
• Sally Dhruva’ Stephenson, April 22 — A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Stephenson blends many musical textures to create an experience augmented by her earthy alto voice. Known for a vivacious performance style, intriguing studio recordings and a passion for creating community through music, Stephenson will share samples of her music and relate stories from her teaching experience in China in the past year.
• Dave Romero, April 29 — Equal measure artist and technician, Romero combines a unique vision, attention to detail and pursuit of new technologies in his creative work. He has evolved from an electronics engineer and marketing executive into a commercial photographer and designer serving the photographic and marketing needs of professional artists.
He and his wife, Meg, were pioneers among artists moving to Cumberland, where they renovated a large downtown building that contains their studios.
Lunch with the Arts is facilitated by ACM’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, located in the Gateway Center on Baltimore Street, in collaboration with the Allegany Arts Council and the Professional Development and Extended Learning unit of the ACM Center for Continuing Education.
The first three sessions will be held in ACM’s Culinaire Café; the final session will be at the photographer’s studio at 55 Baltimore St.
For more information contact Kathy Condor, ACM coordinator of professional development and extended learning, at (301) 784-5121.
As lunch is included in the cost of each session, pre-registration is required. There is a 10 percent discount when the entire series is purchased. To register call (301) 784-5341.
