Art Day at Wallace Cross Mill

I spent all day Saturday painting the view from the 3rd floor doorway of Wallace Cross Mill near Stewartstown. It was warm up under the metal roof but I'd rather be too warm than too chilly. I enjoyed chatting with visitors who made their way up the steep narrow steps. My 8x10 painting doesn't merit a frame but it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Volunteers turned on the millworks a dozen times for the benefit of visitors, making the building tremble. It was as if the mill came alive, grumbling & creaking... I tried to imagine the miller operating such equipment 24/7 which they said was the case in its heyday. It was still running
commercially as recently as the 80s.

Long's Park Art & Craft Festival

On Labor Day I spent several hours enjoying the remarkable variety of arts & crafts at Long's Park Art & Craft festival, one of the top 10 nationwide. Weather was perfect, neither too hot nor too chilly with zero rain all weekend long. It's a show I may apply to in 2011. Four days is a long event but the setting in gorgeous, show is well-organized & crowds are enthusiatic. For further info or to see what you missed: http://www.longspark.org/art.html

York Fair: Demo Painting in Old Main Building: September 10-19, 2010

Has it been nearly 12 months since the '09 York Fair? It doesn't seem possible; however, I am gearing up for an exciting stretch of demonstration painting in the Old Main Building. A display of my paintings will be located just inside the doors on the southwest entrance of the building. You may stop by to Top photo by Chris Knight - Patriot News; Bottom photo by Ray Olewiler watch & chat, then check back on my progress later in the day. If I am not sitting at my easel, you may find me on the opposite side of the room, pointing out to fairgoers, paintings & artwork done by my students & grandchildren. My tentative schedule is Fri-Sun: 10-1, 2-5, 6-9; Mon-Wed 2-5, 6-9; Thursday: off.

In addition to a variety of arts & crafts, you will see entries of photographs, sewing, needlework, quilts, antiques, 4-H & Home Ec projects. Beyond the pumpkin tent, don't miss Horticulture Hall, showcasing an aromatic assortment of fruits, vegetables, flowers, eggs, & home products such as jellies, honey, baked goods & decorated cakes. Be sure to enjoy delicious funnel cakes and milkshakes from Schnader's refreshment stands out on the York Fair midway(see photo.)

Mt Gretna Show August 21-22, 2010

2010 marks the 36th year for the Mt Gretna Outdoor Art Show, which will be held Saturday & Sunday August 21 & 22. I consider it a topnotch show & plan to apply in 2011. Several times in the late 80s & early 90s my work was part of the show in this quaint, artsy community & the enthusiastic crowds made it quite worthwhile. Parking is always a challenge but there is a field in which to leave your car & possibly a shuttle so you don't walk your legs off before you pay for admission. FYI: There had been a maverick show sprouting in a field adjacent to the parking area. The quality of most of the crafts was inferior to the official show vendors. I wonder if the maverick display pops up annually, like mushrooms after rain...
Check this link to the official show:
http://www.mtgretnaarts.com/

Lititz Outdoor Art Show

We had fantastic weather for the Lititz Art Show on July 31, 2010. Temps were in the 80s. Humidity was moderate. Crowds were good. I did something different for my display this year: I only exhibited originals, whereas I had previously shown my hand-painted copies of Old Master works mixed in with my own. It was exhilarating to scan my booth and see all my original artwork. My painting, "Abalone and Pearls," won 2nd place in the Oils/Acrylics category and I received a check for $100. A delightful day!

Elegant Victorian Lady Parade Costume

Artists love creative variety. Here is an example of that. I made this Victorian-era dress in 1984 for the sesquicentennial parade in a nearby town. This year I wore it for another town's 150th annversary parade. My updated hat was fashioned with rosettes around the brim. The lacy parasol was a dollar-store umbrella covered with a stretchy, babydoll lingerie item from Goodwill. My purse, camouflage for a water bottle, was repurposed from a lace camisole top. The dress, of moire taffeta, was inspired by a Lenox figurine, titled, "Springtime Promenade." I used 2 historic dress patterns to make it: one had the bodice & sleeves I wanted; the other had the tiered hoop skirt. "Abe Lincoln" was a separate entry but we were placed together in the parade line-up, I suppose, because we represented a similar time-period. Temps were in the high 80s but the lively crowd made it worth the effort. We even made the evening news!

Friends of Katie Festival, Stoney Creek Iris Gardens

My next exhibit will be at Friends of Katie Festival. I will have a number of new floral paintings for sale & if the weather is agreeable, I will attempt a demonstration painting of... an IRIS!
Friends of Katie Festival will be held on Saturday, May 22, from 10am-4pm, at Stoney Creek Iris Gardens, near Dauphin PA. Katie writes on her website: Open Gardens will be May 22 and May 23, although honestly, it's not going to be the best year ever; "I renovated a lot of beds last year, so many are still getting settled in from that. But you're still welcome, as long as you understand that this isn't a showplace. I'm not so good about weeding and there's probably going to be laundry on the line. But there's a lot of interesting stuff happening here, iris and otherwise. On Saturday May 22, we'll have food for sale and some other vendors here from 10-4. We think of this as the arts festival for people who don't want to walk too far. Come look at iris, maybe buy a few tomato plants, some handmade soap, get some lunch, hang out and have an iris-nerd talk with me." http://www.stoneycreekiris.com/
If you can't make it to the festival, get a taste of the down-homey-ness of Katie's farm by way of her blog:
http://www.stoneycreekiris.com/blog.php