Prepare For A Scare!

Director Herk Harvey, who also stars as the ghoulish specter, "The Man."Â Janus Films

Driving alone down an empty road at night, surrounded by desolate plains of uninhibited nature, the lingering nightmare might be getting a flat, but in American director Herk Harvey's 1962 horror film "Carnival of Souls," screening outdoors in service of Halloween anticipation on Thursday night, Oct., 26 behind the Kent Memorial Library in Kent, Conn., a busted tire would be a relief. Instead, physiologically tortured Mary (Candace Hilligoss), driving to start a new life in Salt Lake City, Utah, after a tragic incident, is haunted not just by her own survivor's remorse but by a ghoulish face man, a vision of the uncanny whose chalky mask of flesh and sleepless eyes stare into her guilty soul. He glowers in the window's reflection; he glares motionless in the open road. Â
Played by Herk Harvey himself, the spectral image of death is just one of the spine-chilling images conjured in this shoe-string budget black-and-white film, shot guerrilla style and funded by local businesses in Salt Lake City and Harvey's hometown of Lawrence, Kansas. Loosely based on the short story and perennial high school English assignment, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," by American Civil War veteran Ambrose Bierce, known for both his horror fiction and satirical writing, the script for "Carnival of Souls" penned by Harvey's friend John Clifford employs a similar "Twilight Zone" like twist.Â
Despite the small production scale, Harvey's murky footage of gothic gloom graying over the American Plains has left a lasting cultural impression. In 2017, young American indie folk singer Phoebe Bridgers released a music video for her romantic ballad "Smoke Signals" based around the recognizable ballroom scene in "Carnival of Souls." Her production didn't stray too far from the film's small-scale roots. "Instead of random dead dudes, it's all my friends," she told NPR. "I paid them in pizza. We shot it at the Masonic Hall in Highland Park, which is the coolest place ever."
The outdoor screening begins at 7 p.m. Blankets and coats are encouraged.
When longtime arts administrator Amy Wynn became the first executive director of the American Mural Project (AMP) in 2018, the nonprofit was part visionary art endeavor, part construction site and part experiment in collaboration.
Today, AMP stands as a fully realized arts destination, home to the worldâs largest indoor collaborative artwork and a thriving hub for community engagement. Wynnâs departure, marked by her final day Oct. 31, closes a significant chapter in the organizationâs evolution. Staff and supporters gathered the afternoon before to celebrate her tenure with stories, laughter and warm tributes.
âWe had such a fun party for her,â said AMP founder and artistic director Ellen Griesedieck. âI am excited for what is next for Amy and grateful for every moment she has invested in her work at AMP.â
Wynn, who previously led the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, said her decision to step down came after careful reflection.
âItâs time for me to shift into the next phase of my career, which will call upon my 40-plus years of nonprofit experience to do project work,â she said. âIâve absolutely loved my time at AMP.â

Under Wynnâs leadership, AMP expanded education programs, deepened community partnerships and oversaw key milestones in the creation of its monumental centerpiece â a three-dimensional mural stretching 120 feet long and five stories high â celebrating American ingenuity, industry and collaboration.
âThrough all these years, Amy has worked with tireless enthusiasm for AMP, running day-to-day operations and guiding the overall direction of our mission,â Griesedieck said.
During Wynnâs tenure, AMP evolved from a concept into a dynamic cultural campus. She helped professionalize its structure, solidify its funding base and develop programs that drew visitors from across the state and beyond.
âThe work she has accomplished, the hours of overtime she has logged, the mountains we have climbed together since that moment are many and miraculous,â Griesedieck said.
AMP also weathered challenging times, including the pandemic, which forced arts organizations to rethink audience engagement. Wynn guided the team during that uncertain period with a steady hand.
To ensure a smooth transition, AMP has brought on Renee Chatelain of RMCreative Solutions, LLC, an experienced consultant, attorney and arts administrator who previously worked with AMP on its capital expansion planning.
Chatelain will serve as interim executive director while a national search is conducted for AMPâs next leader.
âA longtime friend, Renee comes to us with a depth of knowledge on executive transition,â said Griesedieck. âAs an attorney, a leader of several arts organizations and a classically trained dancer, she is particularly well-suited for this interim role.â
Though stepping down, Wynn said she will continue her work in the nonprofit field in a more flexible, project-based capacity.
âIâll be seeking consulting projects with other nonprofits, assisting with grant work and strategic planning,â she said. âWhat I enjoy most is leading a collaborative effort and finding solutions to challenging problems.â

Even as AMP bids farewell to Wynn, its focus remains on the future. The next phase of development will focus on converting a second mill building into expanded programming and community space.
âThe next step has got to happen,â Griesedieck said. âItâs absolutely what the Northwest Corner needs â a place for the community to congregate.â
The proposed expansion would create flexible areas for performances, workshops and public events, further establishing AMP as a cornerstone of the regional arts scene.
With community support and grants, AMP hopes to carry forward Wynnâs momentum into a new era.
âShe is not leaving,â Griesedieck said. âAmy will always be here for us.â
Founded in 2001, the American Mural Project was conceived as a tribute to the American worker â a celebration of skill, creativity and perseverance. The mural, the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world, was created with contributions from thousands of children, artists, teachers, tradespeople and volunteers nationwide.
Today, AMP offers tours, workshops, lectures and performances, all rooted in its mission: to inspire, invite collaboration and reveal the contributions people of all ages can make to American culture.
As Wynn turns the page, her legacy â from her calm, strategic leadership to the collaborative spirit she fostered â remains woven into the fabric of AMPâs story.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Stissing Center in Pine Plains will be host to the Hudson Valley premiere of the award-winning music documentary âComing Home: The Guggenheim Grotto Back in Ireland.â The screening will be followed by an intimate acoustic set from Mick Lynch, one half of the beloved Irish folk duo The Guggenheim Grotto.
The filmâs director, Will Chase, is an accomplished and recognizable actor with leading and supporting roles in âLaw & Order,â âThe Good Wife,â âRescue Me,â âNashville,â âThe Deuce,â âStranger Thingsâ and âDopesick.â After decades of acting on television and on Broadway, Chase decided to take the plunge into directing his own short films and documentaries.
In âComing Home,â Chase follows one of his favorite bands, The Guggenheim Grotto, on a reunion tour in Ireland. Founding members Mick Lynch and Kevin May have not played together in more than a decade, and the reunion may also serve as a farewell tour for the band. The film captures not just the music, but the friendship and shared history between Lynch and May, set against the homeland that shaped their songs.
âIâm just a huge fan,â Chase said. âItâs a big 45-minute love letter to the guys. They really dive into why they didnât make it as a band, whatever that means,â noting that many acclaimed musicians struggle to find mainstream recognition. âI look at them and theyâre very successful. They were on television shows, they won some awards, but it also makes people go âOh, right. There are other bands out there other than the ones that I just read about.â There are all these wonderful artists that we donât necessarily know about.â
Over the years, The Guggenheim Grotto earned major critical acclaim. Their 2005 debut album âWaltzing Aloneâ was hailed as âone of the most beautiful records of the yearâ by LAâs KCRW. An Independent Music Award followed in 2007 for best folk song/songwriting. The band grew quite popular in their native Ireland, but Lynch eventually moved to New York while May remained in Ireland. Though the bandâs future seemed uncertain, there was always hope for a reunion of some kind.
Reflecting on his collaboration with the band, Chase said, âI was very fortunate and thanked them profusely for being so open and honest in the documentary. No one had done this with them before, and thank God theyâre just affable, funny, great guys. They really love the piece. I think it touched them in very different ways.â
Immediately following the screening, Mick Lynch â one half of The Guggenheim Grotto and current Hudson Valley resident â will take the stage for an intimate acoustic set. The documentary, coupled with the live performance, offers a rare chance to see and hear what goes into the making of great music, art, and film.
Tickets are available at thestissingcenter.org
Ulysses Quartet
Music Mountain is partnering with Wethersfield Estate & Garden in Amenia to present the acclaimed Ulysses Quartet, joined by clarinetist and Music Mountain artistic director Oskar Espina Ruiz. The performances, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16, will open Music Mountainâs Winter Concert Series â an extension of the beloved summer festival into the colder months and more intimate venues.
The program features Seth Grosshandlerâs âDances for String Quartet,â Thomas Adèsâs âAlchymia for Clarinet Quintet,â and Mendelssohnâs String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2. Adèsâs 2021 composition draws inspiration from Elizabethan London. Each movement is âwoven from four threads,â writes the composer with titles that refer to Shakespeareâs âThe Tempest,â John Dowlandâs lute-song âLachrymae,â variations on the playwright Frank Wedekindâs âLautenliedâ and more.
Praised for their âotherworldly magicâ (The Millbrook Independent), the Ulysses Quartet brings a remarkable chemistry to the stage, one honed through years of international accolades and residencies. Espina Ruiz, known for his âtender warmthâ and ârhapsodic easeâ on clarinet, will join the quartet for Adèsâs modern masterwork.
The Carriage House at Wethersfield, with its singular acoustics and historic charm, offers an ideal setting for this blend of heritage and innovation. A reception with the artists will follow each performance.
Tickets are available at wethersfield.org or by calling (845) 373-8037. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Performances at 3 p.m.