Time is fleeting. Time has the universal potential to cement certain events and experiences in our memory bank; embolden activities in a contemporary moment for later recall and reflection, and deeply embed unexpected experiences in our consciousness that becomes those enmeshed and cherished memories. The club was in Rochester, NY. The name escapes recall. It was a dual art exhibition where the art was complemented by a spoken word piece that transformed the visual image to an outburst of fiery and nuanced words that bore deeply into one’s consciousness. And there was the esteemed leader of diverse, prolific wordsmiths whose poetry, literary delivery and powerful, un-stylized performance galvanized the audience. Lu Highsmith (photo provided) Lu Highsmith is at the core of a literary hurricane. She rests in the center of an humanistic enclave where brilliance comfortably is adjacent to a certain calmness as the outer whirlwinds spin in a pre-ordained state of magnificence and p...

  Many readers may know a creative individual and even embrace that person as a friend or easily an associate, a colleague. And many creatives are singular in their pursuit: dance, music, art, theater, writing etc. And several creatives develop an complementary artistic interest that supplements if not complements their primary artistic interest. And then there is that smaller cohort of creatives whose imaginative reach impacts several fields; those folks naturally evolve into a whirlwind of artistic endeavors.   Karen Faris (photo provided) Karen Faris is one of those whirlwinds. With a quiet demeanor and inquisitive mind, she is hard to pigeonhole. At one point, she can be seen as a poet, then writer, then fabric artist, then papermaker, then photographer, then whatever her creative mind latches on to for her to quelch her insatiable creative mind. So, this description may not necessarily serve her well; but you can meet and greet her at the aaduna gala fundraiser on Thurs...

  Music has the power to embolden a wide and diverse range of human emotions from joy to sadness, celebration to sorrow, excitement to reflection. It is possibly the singular most influence on humanity and how people share their hopes, destinies and desires. Music has always been a critical component of the aaduna universe. While we extol the power of the “word” and the enriching contours of the visual arts, it is acknowledged that music is a uplifting core of aaduna live events and is always the backdrop when putting together any issue.   The October 27 th 2022 gala fundraise r at the Cayuga Museum’s Carriage House Theater in Auburn, NY will once again give our audience the freedom to “shake that thang.” Here are the musicians who will bring their “chops” to further elevate words to even higher levels. Bernard Williford , a multi-instrumentalist keyboardist who plays bass, guitar, flute, trumpet and can lay down a mean set of vocals, is musical director for aaduna’s...