The O-town Scene

News/Coming Events Artist works with Hartwick class Hartwick College welcomed Artist in Residence Thomas Kerrigan for the January Term. His works been shown across the nation and work, and he will working with Hartwick art students to create a site-specific installation of a series of ceramic forms to be used as percussion instruments. In the spring, Hartwick percus- sion students will compose a recital for April, when Kerrigan returns to campus. After completing his Master’s in Fine Arts degree at Ohio Univer- sity, Kerrigan continued to be a producing artist during the six years that he taught at Virginia Com- monwealth University in Richmond and the 25 years that he taught at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. During his artistic career, Kerrigan has explored five distinct series of work, each springing from a different well of inspira- tion. Kerrigan’s home and studio are in Tucson, Ariz., from where he travels to conduct workshops through- out the U.S., Canada and Europe. “I think of art as physical manifestations of vibrations of the soul,” he said. “My cur- rent body of work is a reflection on the essence of the desert. For the past 15 years, my primary residence has been in Arizona, and during this time period I have as- will compose and perform the recital April 7 in the Foreman Gallery in the Anderson Center for the Arts. Play tryouts this weekend Orpheus Theatre will hold audi- tions for the 2010 Playwright Project Competition-winning play, “Lenah,” at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 and 2 p.m. Jan. 22. Written by Ellen D’Aquisto, “Lenah” tells the story of a young woman’s epic journey from the Old World to the New. From the constraints of Jewish family life in the late 1890s to her fresh start in New York City’s Lower East Side, the character Lenah is propelled by the forces of social change and her own strong charac- ter, a media release said. The show features a large cast, ranging in age from 5 to 85. Detailed character de- scriptions can be found on the auditions page of the Orpheus Theatre website, www.orpheusthe- atre.org. Those audition- ing will be asked to read from the script and need not bring anything prepared. Auditions will be on the second floor of 99 Main St. in Oneonta. Performance dates are March 18 and 19. Contributed ‘Desert Sentinel B-VI,’ Earthenware with glaze, stain, and metal by Tom Kerrigan. similated the various phenomena of the desert in my work. The desert is a source of spiritual sustenance for me, and I find that the grand simplicity of it speaks to a primordial cord with me.” He’s working with students in assistant professor of art Stephanie Rozene’s January Term class Claystallation. Assistant professor of music Jason Curley’s percussion ensemble 22 O-Town Scene Jan. 20, 2011 For more information, call 432-1800. Poet to perform The Red Dragon Reading Series returns for 2011 with Patricia Smith at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Hamblin Theatre in the Fine Arts Center on the SUNY Oneonta campus. Smith has been lauded by critics as “a testa- ment to the power of words to change live,” a media release said. She’s the author of five poetry volumes including “Blood Dazzler,” a 2008 National Book Award finalist which chronicles the devastation wrought be Hurricane Katrina. Smith’s previous book, “Teahouse of the Almighty,” was a National Poetry selection and winner of the inaugural Hurston/Wright Award for Poetry. Her other works include “Close to Death,” “Life According to Motown” and “Big Towns, Big Talk.” Smith’s work has been published in Poetry, The Paris Review, TriQuarterly and other literary journals/anthologies. She’s performed around the world, including at Carnegie Hall. A four-time individual champion on the National Poetry Slam — the most successful slammer in the competition’s history — Smith also has been featured on HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam.” For more information, call George Hovis at 436-2571 or Robb Thibault at 436-3013. Restaurant to donate drink profits Alex and Ika’s in Cooperstown is presenting “Well Spent Wednesday.” Each month, the restaurant will donate 50 percent of profits from the sale of draft beer and wines — with eight wines to choose from — on Wednesdays to a nonprofit organization. This month’s group is Otsego 2000, which opposed natural gas drilling and hy- drofracturing in the area. For more information on the restaurant and the fundraiser, call 547-4070. The restaurant is located at 149 Main St. in Cooper- stown. Coffee club set for Fri. Sarah Manchester, a local Edward Jones financial advi- sor, will host a coffee club at 9:30 a.m. Friday at 762 State Highway 28 on Southside Oneonta between Verizon Wireless and Quiznos. “The coffee club offers us an opportunity to learn from Contributed Mark Pawkett one another and receive market updates,” Manchester said. “I look forward to keeping individual investors informed about the cur- rent market and economy, as well as have fun and get to know some of my neighbors.” Edward Jones looks to provide financial ser- vices for individual investors, a media release said, through the building of long-term, face- to-face relationships with clients and helping them understand their personal goals. Seating may be limited. To reserve a seat, call 432-1510. For more information on Edward Jones, go to www.edwardjones.com. Guitarist, coffee Sunday in Walton The Walton Theatre will host Coffeehouse at the Theatre from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at 31 Gardiner Place in Walton featuring guitarist Mark Pawkett. He’s an applied music lecturer at SUNY Oneonta. In addition to being a guitarist for several Orpheus and SUCO musical theater produc- tions, Pawkett has been talent buyer at the Autumn Café, leader and vocalist for various professional bands and author of the 2002 book “The Pawkettian Reference Guide for the Versatile Guitarist.” The performance will include a variety of works for the guitar. The performance will be in the second floor Museum Room and is part of monthly cof- feehouse events showcasing local musicians presented by Music on the Delaware. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The concert is free, with donations being accepted. For more information, call 206-2587 or e-mail musiconthedelaware@gmail.com. continued on page 23

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