M.E.C.A has some exciting activities planned for the 2007-2008 season. All events are at the Steve Carpenter Gallery and Art Center unless otherwise noted. All venues are handicapped accessible.

Monday, October 1, 2007 7PM
Christine Sevilla, Moderator

In an age of arts merged with ‘entertainment’ or ‘leisure,’ can we say that we value art as we once did? Four experts will debate these and other controversial questions at the October 1, 2008. Together with the audience, the panel will frame the beginning of a set of rights and responsibilities, and the discussion will carry on in a web conference (www.luminguild.com/MECA) where a declaration of artists’ rights and responsibilities will be drafted.

Panelists include:
* Bruno Chalifour - Fine-art photographer, educator, art critic
* Roz Goldman - Art Appraiser
* Doug Rice - Coordinator of ArtWalk
* Alan Singer - Artist and Professor (teaching Business for Artists)

Monday, November 5, 2007 7PM
Lynn Allinger & Gary Stam, Retail Owners of Craft.
Co. #6

Former artist woodworker Gary Stam and Lynn Allinger have created one of the most notable and successful retail craft stores in the country. Highlighting skilled artisans from the US only, they continue to garnish national awards for their mission of bringing the finest arts & crafts selection to our community. They are also leaders in the Rochester community in creating and supporting ArtWalk on University Avenue.

Join us to hear of their retail adventure and their roles in revitalizing ArtWalk and the Rochester community.

Monday, March 3, 2008 7PM
Elizabeth Agte

Elizabeth Agte has been a jewelry artist, living in the Rochester area for the last twenty years. Originally a ceramicist by trade and a weaver by distraction, she brought many of those skills and aesthetics to her jewelry making. She works from a perspective of a constantly challenging her sense of design and craftsmanship, Making almost any material fair game. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Precious Metal Clay Masters Registry.

Friday, April 4, 2008 7PM
Thomas Warfield
at SOTA (School of the Arts) Prince Street

Thomas Warfield is the founder and artistic director of PeaceArt International and director of dance and faculty member at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He is the director of the RIT/ NTID Dance Company, associate director of Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre at the New York Institute of Dance, as well as the vocal soloist at Unity Church. Thomas will speak about the rewards, and challenges, of artistic collaboration.

 

Monday, April 7, 2008 7PM
Mark Cuddy Artistic Director of GEVA Theater

MARK CUDDY (Artistic Director) is in his 13th season as Artistic Director of Geva Theatre Center. Mr. Cuddy has let Geva through a renaissance of artistic and institutional growth with a diverse repertory, top-flight artists, wide-reaching educational programs and a commitment to new play development being his artistic signature. During the past decade, Geva has doubled its operating budget, built the 180-seat Nextstage, erased previous accumulated deficits and began an endowment. During the 2005-2006 Season, Geva produced four world premieres including plays by Marc Wolf, James Still and Jamie Pachino. Recently, Mr. Cuddy has directed Urinetown the Musical, Our Town, Tuesdays with Morrie, the world premiere of Splitting Infinity, Vigil, Hamlet and A Chorus Line. Other Geva credits include the world premieres of Convenience (musical) by Gregg Coffin and Thiophilus North by Matthew Burnett from Thornton Wilder (also at Arena Stage), plus 1776 (musical), House and Garden by Alan Ayckbourn (East Coast premiere), That Was Then (American premiere) and Famous Orpheus by Oyamo (choreography by Garth Fagan). Mr. Cuddy has also served as Artistic Director of Sacramento Theatre Company, Producing Director of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and on the directing staff of the Denver Center Theatre Company. He has served on the review panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts and Theatre Communications Group. He received his BA in Theatre/Honors from the University of Massachusetts where he was a Commonwealth Scholar. He resides in the Highland Park area of Rochester with his wife, artist Christina Selian, and their son, Augustus. Their oldest son, Maximilian, is in the Honors Program at Temple University.

Monday, May 5, 2008 7PM
Eric Kunsman, Photographer, Book Artist and
(Owner of the newly opened Booksmart Studio,
Anderson Alley, 250 N. Goodman Street.)

Eric will discuss how digital printing has played a key role in his personal photography, both technically and creatively. Eric will also discuss what lead him to starting Booksmart Studio, which now includes a printing studio, book publishing, galleries, workshops, and supply sales.

Monday, June 2, 2008 7PM
Peter Billett, Fellow & Examiner Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing

Fellow International Dance Teachers Association, United States President Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, World Championship Adjudicator Guest Lecturer across U.S. and U.K., Finalist at the United States Championships, 30 years Adjunct Faculty at R.I.T., Owner of the Billett Ballroom Club for over 30 years.

Mr. Billett will speak on how Ballroom Dancing relates to Life, Marriage and Physics.