Laura Kumin
August has arrived, bringing with it a compelling lineup of programs at the Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment. As the 2026 season draws to a close, this month’s highlights include an exploration of the women’s suffrage movement through a culinary lens, a look at the intersection of music and politics, and hands-on art workshops designed to inspire creativity.
Have you ever stopped to consider what it would have been like to be arrested for voting? Not too long ago in our nation’s history, that was the reality for most women. Author Laura Kumin will join CLE on August 5 for her presentation, “From Seneca Falls to the Ballot Box: The Battle for Women’s Suffrage.” Drawing from her extensive research and her book, All Stirred Up: Suffrage Cookbooks, Food, and the Battle for Women’s Right to Vote, Kumin will trace the more than 70-year fight for women’s suffrage, reveal how food played a surprising yet crucial role in the movement, and explore why women’s battle for the vote still matters today.
Then, on August 7, join Laura Kumin for “All Stirred Up: A Women’s Suffrage Culinary Demo.” Part conversation, part cooking, Kumin will recreate many of the recipes featured in her book, which were derived directly from women’s suffrage cookbooks. These cookbooks, as participants will learn, were imperative in advancing suffragists’ agenda to win the vote.
On August 12, Matthew Auer returns to CLE with “The Music of Politics.” Music has long been a potent medium for political expression, mobilization, and resistance. Through fascinating case studies featuring figures such as John Williams, Bob Dylan, Oscar Peterson, and others, Auer will examine the many ways music and power intersect, from gaining influence to reinforcing it.
Get ready to turn up the color on August 12 at CLE instructor Mary Cavaioli’s “Pop Art Playground.” Experimenting with repetition, contrast, color, and line work, participants will channel their inner Warhol or Lichtenstein with a punchy, modern twist. Artists will leave with several small pieces that pop with personality. Cavaioli returns on August 24 with “Watercolor, Pen, and Ink,” an all-levels workshop where participants will explore the expressive combination of fluid watercolor washes and crisp pen-and-ink techniques while building confidence, refining their skills, and creating beautiful original artwork.
For more information on all of CLE’s 2026 programs, times, pricing, registration, and membership, please visit clehighlands.com or call (828) 526-8811.
Favorites Count: 0