A unique art show featuring several area artists and writers opens this weekend in Foxburg. “EKPHRASIS: Writers Responding to Artists” showcases 15 visual artists creations that were shown to writers from the Bridge Literary Arts Center who then created poetry to accompany the works. The writers are expected to give readings from 4 to 6 p.m. this Sunday at the Red Brick Gallery at 17 Main Street in Foxburg, Pennsylvania. “When I began discussing this collaboration with poet Phil Terman, of the Bridge Literary Arts Center, I saw it as an opportunity to connect our audience, and our cooperative members at the Red Brick Gallery, with a broader range of artists and writers than ever before,” said Jason Lewis, curator of the Red brick Gallery. “I requested assistance from co-curator Barbara Pierce of Arts Oil City. Bringing her experience with collaboration and arts promotion, she was able to put me in contact with several established regional artists with whom I was not familiar. For example, some members of the Roycroft collective, the Northwest Pennsylvania Artists' Association, and participants in the artist relocation program in Oil City, have been included in this exhibit. Thanks to Barbara, we together have collected a distinctive group of artists from all over Northwest Pennsylvania.” The pairings include:
Lewis said adding the poetry aspect to a traditional gallery experience creates a new dimension in which to view and understand the work. The hope is that through the interpretation of work, by a viewer who is also a creative, discusses layers of meaning that may not have been readily available to the casual observer. “I hope this exhibit will foster connectedness and build bonds between the creators, and with our audience,” Lewis added. “I know it will serve as a celebration of the diverse creative talent that is flourishing in our region.” The Red Brick Gallery hours are Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5.p.m. The opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday is followed by a concert next door by acclaimed award winning bluegrass artist Becky Buller and her band. | Editor's note: This show contains a mixed media painting by Eight & 322 owner/publisher Richard Sayer |
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The little hole-in-ground gallery that has housed some of Oil City's finest art shows over the last decade or more is no more. The basement space, known as the Graffiti Gallery, parted ways with the National Transit building last fall when the rent was increased and found new digs a stone's throw away down Seneca Street. The new space gives the Graffiti Gallery committee and the Oil City Arts Council a street-level walk-in level year-round space to serve the Oil City Arts scene. This weekend they kick off their 2024 art show season with its annual photography show. This year the committee is trying to up their art street-cred by holding juried art shows again. This year Kris Risto, an Erie-based artist who is well-versed in sculpture, photography and painting was tasked with picking out award winners for the show opening at 6 p.m. tonight (March 8). The show will run for roughly a month with two big events planned. A St. Patrick's Day party in the gallery with some Celtic music on March 17 from noon to 4 p.m. and a guest lecturer, Patti Larson of the Photographic Arts Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, will discuss the photography experience and how artificial intelligence has been and will effect photography. The Gallery is located at 228 Seneca Street. The hours the show will be available for viewing are Friday, March 8 (opening reception) from 6-9 p.m.
The gallery space is also available to rent for parties, meetings etc. Connect with the Oil City Arts Council for more information.
In 2011, the group moved its workshops to a local bookstore, and in 2014 started publishing the "Bridge Literary Arts Journal" about every other year. The journal is dedicated to highlighting regional authors and artists in western Pennsylvania, especially those in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties. A call for submission is accepted to happen later this year. To help with this effort, the group previously partnered with Bridge Builders Foundation to accept donations.
Moving forward, the group expects in-person open mics to be scheduled mainly at 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month and the workshops to be at 11 a.m. on the fourth Saturday. "The purpose of the workshops is to foster writing in Venango County and (the) surrounding region," Terman explained. "We hope to integrate the literary arts with the already-thriving arts here in theater and music. Participants can hope to gain a community of other writers, who love to share their work and grow in their writing, as well as help enhance the cultural life of our region."
To keep up with all the details on the Bridge's gatherings and receive a link to virtual programs, email the group at [email protected]. Information is also available at bridgeliteraryartscenter.org. What could possibly go awry if you visit the Barrow-Civic Theatre this week for the opening of The Play that Goes Wrong, a spoof on a acting troupe that just can't seem to get it right?
If ABBA music takes you back to you wilder days, or if you want to support young people in the arts in a beautiful historic theater, then Titusville High School is the place to this Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday. The cast of Mama Mia is ready to light up the Colestock Auditorium stage starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 15 and running Friday and Saturday nights at the same time. Tickets for the event are $7. Below are photos from Wednesday night's dress rehearsal. See even more photos by clicking here sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p3602688.
And Saturday also at 7:30 p.m.
There are over 25 artists participating and they are expected to be available to answer questions.
Visitors can also watch special effects makeup artist Kaleb Lewis, who appeared on the reality show Face Off, and his students put the finishing touches on the characters they have been creating during his recent classes. A red carpet style presentation of the work will be done at 4:30 p.m. in the Great Room of the National Transit building. Artists Sunday will kick off with Oil City’s mayor Bill Moon reading a proclamation at 11 a.m., also at the National Transit building. Maps and directories will be available on the Arts Oil City Facebook page and at different participating locations that day. Pierce said there is still room if additional artists are interested in participating. Visitors should enjoy the range of items from note cards to large-scale original art, according to Pierce. “Everything from stocking stuffers to (high quality) original paintings,” she said, emphasizing the event promotes hand-made original works while providing a truly unique shopping experience. Artist Sunday runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. November 26 in locations throughout Oil City’s north and south side business districts. There is no fee to attend. A group of performing art lovers in northwest Pennsylvania is hoping to raise the curtain once again on an old Vaudevillian theater and usher in new prosperity for a once booming downtown. Oil City was once the place to take in a show. In the downtown alone, there were at least a half dozen possibilities. For those who didn’t like one venue’s vibe, it was just a short walk next door or down the block to another. Among those options was the Lyric Theater on Seneca Street.
In 2001, Community Playhouse, Inc. purchased the building. The little theater troupe had been adrift. Over the years they used spaces at the high school, the local college, and the Moose Lodge. The group has a dream of creating a permanent home for itself by salvaging a piece of history. To make it a reality, they partnered with the Colonel Drake Cultural Alliance, Inc. in 2006, which assumed management and development of the theater. Since then the project has made some progress in getting ready for the final renovations. And they are close.
“This one is doable,” Dittman said of the now gutted theater that is basically ready for renovation. He remains hopeful that the final bit of money can be found. He says, this is not just a restoration of the past, but a plan for the future. “There is such a group of young people who are so talented and I’m afraid of them moving away because they can’t make a living here performing,” Dittman said. “There (are) musicians, actors, tech people that are great at it but they can only fit it in, in their spare time and they have to sling hash or something else. It takes away from their real passion.” Dittman said that another theater in the region can only increase the potential for the area’s performing artists, and hopefully open the door to more possible stage incomes. “My hope is the theaters can work together, share resources and people.” The goal of a revamped Lyric Theater is to be more than just a home for the Community Playhouse, Inc. They want to show movies, host parties, concerts and event weekends. All of which, they hope adds to the revitalization of downtown Oil City and other nearby communities. “It will help all of our downtowns as people come in for a show, maybe shop, maybe eat,” Dittman said. “I think it opens the door for a lot of progress and to bring life back downtown. People on the street at other times than when they are just driving through.” How to help One of the group’s most regular fundraising activities has been the Karma concert series which has raised over $30,000 for the project. The series features bands playing at Billy’s in Oil City with a $5 cover that benefits the Lyric Theater restoration project.
The next show is November 16 and will feature the Brandon Rae Band. Jesse James Weston will perform on November 30. Donations can also be made online at https://bbcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2255. This story, by Richard Sayer and Eight & 322, was made possible through a grant from Arts Oil City and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. |
Click painting or here to view his website www.dpwarner.com
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