Best Of: Common Ground on the Hill Courses

In a nutshell, Common Ground on the Hill is a two week art fest that takes place at McDaniel College. What makes this festival unique is that Carroll County residents can take part in the classes and be an intergral of the event. The arts offered are unique and interesting and taught by experts in the field from around the globe.

This is just a sampling of the courses offered, for a full listing and descriptions of all courses, click here.

Photography: The Open Road

While it is an excellent course to learn how to manage a DSLR camera, instructor Phil Grout (an amazing local award-winning photographer) also teaches his students how to view the world and crop and develop a unique perspective using just the viewfinder, with no Photoshop or similar programs. The first day is spent on the McDaniel campus, but Grout takes his students to various places in the Carroll County area during the course of the week for various types of photographing experience. Places include Smith Brothers' junkyard on Syndersburg Rd., Patapsco Valley State Park and even his own home. Participants always leave with a book of their own digital prints that the whole class has critiqued, including Grout. 

Spoken Worldplay

A class designed to hone communication and expression skills in addition to writing poetry. Instructors Lee Francis and Gabriel Vanaver create a relaxed environment in which members of the class are comfortable enough to share intimate details about themselves through the wonders of Slam Poetry. The class often begins with free association exercises and warmups to loosen up, and then the two share unqiue stories and poets in order for participants to create their own work to share at the end of classes and ultimately, the week. This is an excellent course for both kids and adults.

Gosepl Choir

Shelley Ensor has taught the gospel choir course since Common Ground's creation with unlimited energy and spirit. Participants are dunked straight into the culture of gospel on the first day, learning pieces by ear and being instructed rather informally on the traditions through these songs. Though there was no official course this year, Ensor still instructs the nighttime gosepl choir which will perform in the Friday concert at McDaniel's Alumni Hall.

Total Body Conditioning

A relativley new course, Total Body Conditioning is less artistic and more about keeping the mind and body healthy through set exercises for a set period. Instructor Laanna Carrasco helps her students to stay in shape through small nutritional tips. She pushes to foster a healthy environment with classic exercises such as planks, stretches, lunges and basic yoga positions, catering to the class demands on ability and pace. A perfect introduction and set period to work out for those who cannot balance their schedules.

 Watercolor

Instructor Ellen Elmes has been painting in watercolor, and through other mediums for decades. In her course, she selects a theme for her week, leaving her students to interpret its meaning. The goal is to create a singular piece for display at the student art show at the end of the week. Throughout the course, Elmes demonstrates techniques for conveying various emotions and what a color might mean in a painting. She is always available for critique and advice and has been a member of the Common Ground community since its creation.