The Arts and Culture for Lackawanna County presented “The Face of Irish Music”— an exhibit of photographs by Philadelphia resident Robin Hiteshew on Scranton’s First Friday for the Arts in downtown Scranton, PA. The exhibit documents decades of musicians playing traditional songs. It has been shown at the Irish Consulate in New York City and at the Pennsylvania Capital Building.
The opening reception was on April 7. Music was provided by All Ireland Champion fiddle player and teacher Brian Conway. Conway is an esteemed teacher of his instrument and his students have won All Ireland titles as well.
The opening was held at the Lackawanna County Government Center in the Globe Store, 123 Wyoming Ave.
A panel discussion on Irish music and culture was held on Saturday, April 8.
Dancing in the Kitchen
By John McGuigan
The Saturday night music
streaming from the kitchen
enchants the little boy.
Like a thread of melody
he weaves his way around
the room, in and out, circles
a crowd of stomping feet
under clapping hands, his mind
reeling in rhythmic images.
He climbs onto a wooden high
back chair in the far corner,
watches. The kitchen is dancing.
His eyes are flying eighth notes
caught in the flashing colors
and whirling beat of the room.
Everything is dancing.
The chair dancing with the floor
moves in measured breaths
like the piper’s bellows.
The walls dancing with the clock
and calendar the dishes
and pots and Saint Bridget’s aaacross.
Everything is moving.
The curtains are swaying,
the window panes run
in rivulets of rhythms.
The kitchen is dancing.
His fingers grip and splay,
tap the back of the chair.
He is dancing.
His dreams are dancing
He is dancing.