East County News Service
Lemon Grove Farmers Market announces that talented local artist Calvin Manson will be presenting his amazing artwork this Thursday, September 12, at the Farmers Market, located at Treganza Heritage Park, 3200 Main Street, Lemon Grove, between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
A native of San Diego, Calvin Manson is a highly accomplished visual artist, award-winning writer, producer, and theater director with a strong commitment to promoting African American culture and arts. As the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Ira Aldridge Repertory Players, Mason has inspired our community for more than 45 years by presenting and celebrating African American stories and theater.
In addition, Minola Clark Manson will be knitting or crocheting for a “craft, meet and greet” during the event.
Calvin Manson served on the San Diego Commission of Arts and Culture from 1996 to 2007, and is a former board member and Artistic Director of the Common Ground Theater 
and Community Actors Theater. Manson also served as an advisory board member with Black Storytellers of San Diego, Ronald McDonald Foundation, Roller Reader, and Friends of San Diego Library.
Manson cofounded African American Artists and Writers, The Human I Theater Company, and Live on the Street Theater Project (a youth theater group). He established Keeping Black Theater Alive, an advocacy group ensuring the future of African American Theater in San Diego. He has written 84 original plays and directed 150 stage plays to date.
Manson has been widely honored in his field with awards such as the 2023 Wakanda Visionary Award for Theater and Art, the 2022 Gate Keeper Award from the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Arts, NAACP’s Lorraine Hansberry Performing Arts Award for excellence in producing classics and new works of art, the NAACP’s Image Award For Excellence, the 2016 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Performing Art Award, and the 2010 Best Theatrical Production and Best Director from San Diego Theater Critic’s Craig Noel’s Award.
Calvin Manson received 9 nominations from the Associated Community Theater Audrey Awards for original play and first Place in The Negro Ensemble Theater Company playwright contest for the original play Passion and Honey Passion & Honey. He won 6 Audrey Awards for Best Production, Best Direction, Best Set & Sound Design, Best Playwright, and his cast won Best Ensemble.
The Lemon Grove Mobile Farmer’s Market offers various ways for customers to participate and save, with options for EBT/SNAP and other payment methods. The revised nutrition literacy survey incentivizes a $10 voucher for those who complete it. San Diego State University interns manage the surveys and also assist with nutrition information and recipes.