As a lead up to the upcoming Olympic games in
Beijing, View, the Center for Arts and Culture in Old Forge, will hold an Olympian
Roundtable Discussion with Erin Hamlin, Robert Esche and Hank Kashiwa at 3 p.m. on
Saturday, January 29. This event is free and open to the public.

Following the roundtable discussion, View staff welcomes everyone to the Opening Reception for the art exhibits
Winter in Action, The Winter 46, Lawrence Van Alstyne’s Olympic Poster Series, and Take the
Scenic Route: A Journey Through America’s National Parks from 4 to 7 p.m. The Opening
Reception is open to the public and will include hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and live music
featuring John Kelsey. To help celebrate the events, View will offer free admission all day
to its galleries.

Erin Hamlin, photo provided by Erin Hamlin

Erin Hamlin is a four-time Olympian and the first American luger to medal in a singles
competition at any Winter Olympics (Bronze in 2014), also becoming the first non-
European woman to win an Olympic medal in luge. At the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018,
Hamlin was selected as the U.S. Flag Bearer during the Opening Ceremonies. In addition
to her Olympic success, Hamlin won two Gold Medals and two Silver Medals at FIL World
Luge Championships throughout her celebrated career.

Rob Esche, photo courtesy of Uticacomets.com

Robert Esche grew up in Whitesboro, New York, and began his professional hockey career
in 1998 with the Phoenix Coyotes. Esche saw his career take off after a trade to the
Philadelphia Flyers in 2002, winning the William M. Jennings Trophy (with teammate
Roman Čechmánek) in 2003, which is awarded to the goalkeeper(s) for the team with the
fewest goals scored against it. Esche was selected as one of three goalies to don the red,
white, and blue for the 2006 U.S. Olympic team in Torino. He was also a member of the
U.S. teams at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the World Championships in 2008 and
2009.

Hank Kashiwa (center), photo courtesy of the Town of Webb Historical Association

Hank Kashiwa was a member of the U.S. Alpine Ski team from 1967-1972. After being an
alternate on the 1968 Olympic games in Grenoble, Kashiwa skied the World Cup circuit
from 1968-71, finishing in the Top 10 six times. In 1972, he qualified for the Olympic team and skied the Downhill and Giant Slalom events in Sapporo at the age of 22.

Post-Olympics, he joined the World Pro Ski circuit, winning the World Pro Title in 1975.
Kashiwa is an Old Forge native whose mother, Mirnie, founded View.

View is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. Gallery admission is free for View members and $10 for guests. View is located at 3273 State Route 28 in Old Forge. For more information, visit ViewArts.org or call (315) 369-6411.