FREE | Every Friday: May 9 - September 19 | 5 PM - 6 PM
Join us throughout the residency season for our free public series of short and informal artist talks, readings, and presentations. We’ll learn about works-in-progress from our artists and scholars-in-residence with informative and inspiring presentations in all disciplines. This is a wonderful way to kick off your weekend! Bring a friend, all are welcome.
Location: Main Campus. Look for Craigardan Event sign at the end of Main Campus driveway (two “doors” west of the farm store, towards Keene). Google Maps Link
Lu Chekowsky
Lu Chekowsky is an Emmy-winning writer and creative director who built a successful career in media through gut, intuition and addiction to approval. Her forthcoming book, DON’T BUY WHAT I’M SELLING (Little, Brown 2026) is part memoir about Lu's lifelong relationship to advertising and part manifesto about how others can break free from the grasp of advertising's relentless, targeted influence. Lu’s poems and essays have appeared in The Rumpus, Pigeon Pages, The Maine Review, and others. Her work has been supported by MASS MoCA, Vermont Studio Center and Monson Arts. She is currently a New York State Council on the Arts/New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow in Nonfiction Literature. www.lchekowsky.com
Gregory Amos
Gregory Amos, or Greggo as he’s known by just about everybody, has been writing since grade school.
Greggo began his professional career as a writer in 1987 with a reflective essay published in Essence magazine. In addition to magazine writing, Greggo co-wrote a story for the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was produced as the second season episode “A Matter of Honor.” Other freelance credits include co-writing the self-help book The Power in You with cookie mogul Wally “Famous” Amos (Greggo’s father). Greggo also wrote columns for Road Bike magazine and remains an avid motorcyclist. Other types of writing include copywriting for the Irvine, CA advertising agency Lansdale Carr & Baum; grant writing for the development agency CARE International, the New York-based workforce development nonprofit STRIVE, and the Lancaster-based community development financial institution Community First Fund. He worked as a copywriter and marketing and communications professional for Stevens & Lee, an Amlaw 200 law firm that also serves as the cornerstone corporation for a professional services organization that includes an investment bank, an insurance consultancy, and a medical services consultancy.
Greggo blogged for a short period and then stopped writing because of worsening mental health brought on by bipolar illness.
He recently began writing again and is currently working on a memoir titled I Changed My Mind, which will recount the full story of how bipolar first presented and then how Greggo became mentally healthy over the past two decades.
Greggo is also a public speaker and openly shares the ups and downs of his journey from mentally ill to mentally healthy.
Born in the Bronx, New York, Greggo resides in Medellín, Colombia. He is a graduate of Cornell University.
Kayleigh Woodward
Kayleigh Woodward is a Western contemporary painter from northern California. She is a graduate of the class of 2024 from the University of the Pacific, with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. During her time as an undergraduate, her work was featured twice at the Reynolds Gallery, where she was also named Chair of the Exhibition Committee for her senior Show. She recently completed an Art Education internship for Blue Line Arts Gallery in Roseville, California, where her work was also featured. Through the internship, she received an opportunity to be a designer and lead muralist for a charity campaign that raises support for public art. Through her work, she strives to give a voice to the native North American species that have sustained generations and impart their resilience as well as beauty. She seeks to glorify God in all she does and ultimately, use her work to pay homage to creation.