Huntington's Arts Season Heats Up

As warmer weather descends upon us, so does some fabulous events for the summer season.  

Attention all writers-published, aspiring and otherwise:  The Heckscher Museum is holding a Writers Workshop Series every Monday in June.  Each session will be led by a writer with a different specialty.

The June 6 and June 27 meetings feature novelists Alyson Richman and Mickey Clement, respectively; memoirist Carole Gaunt headlines the June 13 workshop and the June 20 class features poet Orel Protopopescu. To continue the celebration of writing and writers, the museum will spotlight poetry and prose with all four of the writers from the series in attendance for the First Friday perfromance on July 1. 

Two new exhibits will debut at Heckscher this summer.  The first one, “New York, New York," is in honor of the 10 anniversary of 9/11.  It will feature pieces from the museum’s permanent collection and it will run from July 30 to October 16, 2011. 

“Earth Matters," an exhibit by local artists that focuses on the environment, also debuts at the end of July.  This special exhibit runs until October 23.

It is now the men’s turn to get into the museum free.  All dads and granddads will be admitted without charge on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19.  Free admission is also  available to all active duty personnel anytime with proper military identification. 

Speaking of dads, if you have one who is a sports fan, there are three upcoming events at the Book Revue where you may be able to pick up the perfect gift.  How about a signed copy of “The Way of Baseball” by former New York Met Shawn Green on June 6, “Death Clutch” by WWE-UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar on June 7 or “Those Guys Have All The Fun:  Inside The World Of ESPN” by James Miller and Tom Shales on June 10. 

Over at the Cinema Arts Centre, filmmaker Matt Berkowitz will be on hand to discuss his film, “Play It Again Sam:  The Sam Schoenfeld Story” on June 1.  The movie is based on the book by the same name by author Stan Friedland, who will also be present at the event with the famous basketball player’s son, Dr. Robert Schoenfeld.  On June 3, the film “The Importance of Being Earnest:  Live in HD” debuts at the Cinema.  The film is a live recorded version of the hit play starring Tony Award winner Brian Bedford.

The Huntington Arts Council’s Summer Arts Festival at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Heckscher Park opens June 25.  The eight week long concert series begins with a performance by a former member of the Weather Girls (remember “It’s Raining Men”?), rhythm and blues R&B singer Martha Wash.

If you know a budding female poet, the Walt Whitman Birthplace is currently accepting submissions from girls in grades 3 through 12 for its 2011 “String Poet Women Writers of Tomorrow” poetry contest.  Each category’s winner will receive a $50 savings bond.  The deadline for entries is June 15.