Common Ground on the Hill is a traditional arts summer school program based out of McDaniel College. Traditions bearers and students come from around the US and the world to teach traditional music, dance, visual and arts, and philosophy every summer. I have performed a variety of roles in the organization since 2006, including administrative assistant, volunteer coordinator, instructor, and others. In 2015 and 2016, I acted as program photographer. This photo essay features some of the highlights I witnessed, including gallery talks and music, art, and dance classes.
Jeanean Martin teaches “Drawing Fundamentals” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Maverick Jaillet teaches “Wooden Bowl” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Frank Solivan teaches “Bluegrass Fiddle II” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Liza DiSavino teaches “Rise up Singing” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Mirror mirror on the wall in “Latin Dance” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Closeup at Ken Kolodner’s “Beginning Fiddle” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Hilarity in Jumoke Ajanku’s “African Dance” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2016. 
Concentrating in Rickie Simpkins’ “Bluegrass Fiddle II” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
A student practices in Guy George’s “Advanced Hammered Dulcimer” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Students in Cassie MacDonald’s “Nova Scotia Fiddle” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Instructors admire art at the Gallery Opening at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Bobby Little Bear teaches “Nature Painting” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Students envision a “World Without War” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Students do vocal and facial warmups in Sheila Arnold Jones’ “Storytelling” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Students in Slime Harrison’s “Jug Band” class perform at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school. 
A student draws a still life in Jeanean Martin’s “Drawing Fundamentals” class at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Ehukai Teves teaches “Bass Guitar” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Milliner Tatiana Rakhmanina discusses her art form at a Gallery Talk at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015. 
Carol Zaru teaches “Learning Arabic” at Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school 2015.
