First Posted: 8/13/2014

THIS WEEK: Aug. 20 to 26, 2014

JCC Book Club, a discussion of “The Burgess Boys” by Elizabeth Strout. Jewish Community Center, 60 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Thursday, Aug. 21 at noon. Luncheon reservations available. 570-824-4646.

Book Discussion of “Doctor Sleep” by Stephen King. Wyoming Free Library, 358 Wyoming Ave. 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Limited copies available. Registration: 570-693-1364.

Franklin Street Sleuths, a discussion of the mystery “The Bad Always Die Twice” by Cheryl Crane. North Branch of the Osterhout Free Library, 28 Oliver St., Wilkes-Barre. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Refreshments served. 570-822-4660.

Writers Group, for all genres and levels of writing. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. 570-996-1500.

Poetry Open Mic, sponsored by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers Collective. The Vintage Theater, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. Thursday, Aug. 21 with signups at 8 p.m. and open mic at 8:30 p.m. Free. 570-589-0271.

Book Signing, with Barbara Taylor, author of “Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night.” Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. 570-829-4210.

FUTURE

Stress-Less Short Story Session, a discussion of five H.G. Wells short stories: “The Magic Shop,” “The Diamond Maker,” “The Valley of the Spiders,” “In the Avu Observatory” and “The Flowering of the Strange Orchid.” West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave. 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Free. Registration: 570-654-9847.

A Featured Reader Open Mic Night, with authors Chris Champion, Dawn D’Aries Zera and Eric Wilson reading selections from their works followed by open-mic readings. Hoyt Library, 284 Wyoming Ave., Kingston. 6 to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. 570-287-2013.

Writers Group, for all genres and levels of writing. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. 570-996-1500.

Biography Book Club, a discussion of “Prepared for a Purpose: An Inspiring True Story of Faith, Courage and Compassion in Crisis” by Antoinette Tuff. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. 570-829-4210.

The World-Wide Crimes Against Humanity Initiative, a talk by author Leila Nadya Sadat, director of the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute at Washington University and author of “Forging a Convention for Crimes Against Humanity.” McGowan Room, Mary Kintz Bevevino Library, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Free. 570-674-6400.

Distinguished Author Award, the annual presentation honoring Colum McCann, National Book Award Winner and author of “Transatlantic.” Presented by the Weinberg Memorial Library at the University of Scranton. DeNaples Campus Center, 900 Mulberry St., Scranton. Saturday, Oct. 18 with book signing at 4 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m. and awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. $60; $25 students. Reservations: 570-941-7816.

Drew Magary, a talk by the acclaimed author of “The Postmortal,” about a future where a cure for aging is discovered. Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts, East Stroudsburg University. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. 570-422-3529.

ONGOING EXHIBITS

Historic Quilts, showcasing 20 quilts from the Luzerne County Historical Society’s collections, including many patterns, types and sizes from the 19th and early 20th century. Luzerne County Historical Society Museum, 69 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Through Saturday, Aug. 30 with gallery hours noon to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. 570-823-6244.

She Rolled Up Her Sleeves: Luzerne County’s Women at Work, a tribute to working women with photographs, ephemera, machines, uniforms and 20 quilts from the museum’s collection. Luzerne County Historical Society Museum, 69 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Through Saturday, Aug. 30 with gallery hours noon to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. 570-823-6244.

The Genesis Myths: Win Forman, ceramic plates depicting different cultures’ ideas of the creation of mankind. Also: ceramics by Joni Maya Oye-Benintende and two- and three-dimensional pieces by Robin Dintiman. Artists for Art (AFA) Gallery, 514 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton. Through Saturday, Aug. 30 with gallery hours noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. 570-969-1040.

Visual Connections, paintings in various mediums by artist Vicki Giordano. Marquis Art and Frame, 515 Center St., Scranton. Through Saturday, Aug. 30 with gallery hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. 570-344-3313.

Parting Shots, a series of portrait photographs by Nick Shotwell taken with a “sprocket rocket,” a panoramic plastic camera. CameraWork Gallery, 515 Center St., Scranton. Through Saturday, Aug. 30 with gallery hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. 570-510-5028.

Mark Ciocca Exhibit, a display of linocut prints. The Vintage Theater, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. Through Saturday, Aug. 30 with gallery hours noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. 570-589-0271.

Membership Exhibit and Sale, with 40 works of art by artists of the Hazleton Art League, 225 E. Broad St. Through Sunday, Aug. 31 with gallery hours 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 570-454-0092 or 570-817-1075.

Hollywood Rides the Rails, a look at some of the train-themed films and the stars that rode them, with movie stills, artifacts, posters and the 1903 film “The Great Train Robbery.” Steamtown National Historic Site’s Changing Exhibits Gallery, 150 S. Washington Ave., Scranton. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Monday, Sept. 1. $7 ages 16 and older; free ages 15 and under when accompanied by adult. 570-340-5200.

The Beauty of Creation: Skies, Mountains, Oceans and Birds, impressionistic landscape paintings by Pocono artist Kathy Crane. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. Through Monday, Sept. 1 with hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. most Saturdays. 570-629-3061.

Harmonious Reflections, a group show with paintings by Mark Boyer Dryfoos, textiles by Kerry Burke and photography by Mindy Nardone. Marquis Art and Frame, 122 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. Through Saturday, Sept. 6 with gallery hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. 570-823-0518.

Francisco Goya: Los Caprichos, a set of 80 etchings by the Spanish artist (1746-1828), influenced by the thinking of The Enlightenment, who denounced superstitions and social abuses. Through Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Allentown Art Museum, 31 N. Fifth St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. 610-432-4333.

Sharks! A multidisciplinary exhibit highlighting the power of sharks in nature and popular conception including photography of South Africa’s great white sharks, shark-related artworks and cultural artifacts. Everhart Museum, 1901 Mulberry St., Scranton. Through Monday, Sept. 8 with hours noon to 4 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 570-346-7186.

Pablo Picasso: 25 Years of Limited Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection, 46 original ceramic plates, bowls and vases by the internationally known painter, sculptor and graphic artist who set the standard for 20th-century art. Through Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas. Also: “Picasso: Art & Psyche,” a lecture by Elisa Korb of the Fine Arts Department of Misericordia University at both 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 with a reception following. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 570-674-6250.

Written in the Czech Language, photographs, original art and illustrated travel-journal and essay excerpts by students and faculty from a recent trip to the Czech Republic. Lackawanna Heritage Valley, 213 S. Seventh Ave., Scranton. Through Tuesday, Sept. 30 with hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 570-963-6730.

WYSO: The Coal Connection, the art of Frank Wysochansky, whose paintings and sculptures document the life and work of anthracite coal miners and their families in the 20th century. Anthracite Heritage Museum, 22 Bald Mountain Road, McDade Park, Scranton. Through Friday, Oct. 31 with hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 570-963-4804.

Exceptional Art — Exceptional Artists, colorful new works created by artists of the Deutsch Institute’s Verve Vertu Art Studio. Speech-Language Pathology Department, John J. Passan Hall, Lower Campus, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas. Through April, 2015 with hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 570-674-8255.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Costumes of Downtown Abbey, a bus trip to Winterthur to view the exquisite designs from the award-winning PBS drama series. Sponsored by the Everhart Museum, 1901 Mulberry St., Scranton. Includes a narrated tram tour through the 60-acre gardens, a tour of the Winterthur estate with 175 rooms of antiques and decorative arts, the Winterthur exhibits and time for shopping. Saturday, Oct. 4. $125. Reservations: 570-346-7186.

Call for Art Entries for the Art Expo at the Sullivan County Fall Festival Oct. 11 and 12 in Forksville. Cash prizes totaling $1200 will be awarded in the juried competition which is accepting all mediums. $20 for three entries. Applications at sullivanarts.org or email coveredbridgegallery@gmail.com.