Culture

(Wikipedia)

The Big Read, a program designed to restore reading to the center of American culture with be hosting Edgar Allan Poe inspired events in Newburgh. Check out the list of events that will be happening around the City from October 13 to November 7. All events are free. Mark your calendars.

Wed, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. a book discussion of Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe at the library, 124 Grand St. Dr. Jessica Gerson is the scholar for the book discussion and books in English and Spanish are available for checkout. Registration is suggested, call 8455633613 or 5633618 or go to www.newburghlibrary.org

Mon., Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. a program called “Ghost Detective” features local police detective Michael Worden who investigates cases involving the living and the dead. Newburgh Library Auditorium

Sat., Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. discover the history of the Old Town Cemetery on Liberty St. on a “Cemetery Walk” with Newburgh city historian Mary McTamaney. Did you know that Poe proposed to his fiancée Sarah in a graveyard? Meet in Newburgh Library Lobby

Sun., Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. “Pop Culture in the Age of Poe” features with music of the Romantic Era with vocalist Lydia Adams Davis, keyboardist Ruthann Schempf and violinist Emily Faxon. Newburgh Library Auditorium.

Sun., Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. Dances of the 1800s-learn traditional dances that were popular during Poe’s time. Audience participation is encouraged. The program is presented by Homespun Community Dancing. Newburgh Library Auditorium.

The Tom Humphrey Guitar Series is back for the 3rd year in a row bringing arts to the City of Newburgh. Cindy Cashdollar and Steve James will perform on Saturday, October 16 at 8 PM in the Ritz Theater Lobby at 107 Broadway in Newburgh.

Cindy Cashdollar is one of the foremost steel and dobro players in the country and has collaborated with everyone from Bob Dylan to Rod Stewart. She has played roadhouses and concert halls throughout the country and abroad and, has appeared on national television (including The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits and Nashville Now) and has played on numerous albums. Steve James is a well known name among devotees of contemporary acoustic folk and blues. His instrumental versatility on guitar, bottleneck slide guitar, mandolin, and guitar-banjo has made him a favorite on the Country/Blues scene.

Tickets can be purchased through TicketWeb or (866) 468-7619, or by calling the Ritz Theater Box Office at (845) 784-1199. All tickets are $25 and include a reception with the musicians immediately following the concert. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets to all five shows by October 1 and receive reserved seating in the first three rows. For more information about the series and the historic Ritz Theater, call (845) 784-1199 or email boxoffice(at)ritztheaternewburgh.org.

“Still Life with Vessels” by Christopher Peters

This Saturday at 6pm will be the opening of a new exhibit at the Ann Street Gallery called, “Momento Mori: Contemporary Vanitas.” Vanitas means “vanities of life,” and usually feature an elaborate arrangement of objects rich in commonly understood symbolism. This intriguing style of still life often contains pictorial messages with moral undertones, to remind the viewer of the transience of life, the futility of pursuing earthly pleasures, the certainty of death.

The six artists in the Memento Mori exhibit express such themes through varied and diverse works. Each artist uses their own unique and contemporary visual language to speak directly to the viewer of the inherently transitory nature of life, and ones own mortality.

Tara Giannini
Kira Greene
Kirstin Lamb
Monika Malewska
Christopher Peters
Justine Reyes

The above painting struck me the most. The exhibit runs through Saturday, October 30. For more information, contact Virginia Walsh at (845) 562-6940 ext. 119 or vwalsh@safe-harbors.org