Artists work on mini-masterpieces at Village Artisans

Village Artisan workshop participants Moya Shea and Louise Simons work with ATC instructors Ann Bain and Nancy Mellon on their individual Artist Trading Cards for an upcoming exhibit.



On Tuesday, March 23, Village Artisans hosted an Artist Trading Card workshop. According to the website, www.artist-trading-cards.ch, Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of one-of-a-kind art created specifically with the idea of trading them with others -- like baseball cards -- at trading sessions. Participants get to meet different artists and are exposed to many different personal styles, then go home with a collection of original artwork that takes up a very small amount of space!

Works must be 2.5" x 3.5" and name, contact information, and title of the ATC are written on the back of each card. At Tuesday's workshop, instructors Ann Bain and Nancy Mellon provided a variety of materials including stamps, brushes, colored pens, paints, and papers along with helpful tips and instructions on various art mediums and techniques.

The next ATC workshop will be April 27, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Village Artisans, 100 Corry Street. Workshop fee is $12.00. All art supplies are provided. Space is limited.

In July, the co-op gallery will be hosting a month-long ATC exhibit. Anyone is invited to create and drop off up to 8 cards to hang in the show. Please write your name and contact info on the back of each card. Submissions must be in to Village Artisans by Friday, June 18.

On the last day of the show, Saturday, July 31, all artists are invited to come and trade their cards with the other artists from 1-3 p.m. It's a great way to build a unique collection of art.

For questions or to sign up for the April 27 workshop, contact Nancy Mellon at 767-1366 or nancy_mellon@sbcglobal.net.

photos by Susan Gartner -- March 23, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 25, 2010

A garden of art comes to Dayton Street

Join in the community effort to beautify Dayton Street. All are welcome to meet at Brother Bear's Cafe at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 26, to create colorful felt flowers that will later be "planted". Bring felt, needles, thread, buttons, or anything else you would like to contribute. For more information, contact jafagirlart@yahoo.com.

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 24, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 25, 2010

YSAC members mingle at The Art Space

The "Meet the Board" Open House was a big success Friday night at the Yellow Springs Arts Council Art Space located a 108 Dayton Street, second floor. Pictured in the foreground are arts supporters Sally Dennis and her son, Oskar, and Art Space Gallery Committee member Sarah Strong. The YSAC permanent collection, showcasing the artistic heritage of the Yellow Springs community, is on exhibit through March 31.

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 19, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 21, 2010

Flower Power on Dayton Street

Local artists (left to right) Nancy Mellon, Beth Holyoke, Pierre Nagley, Chelle Palassis, Corrine Bayraktaroglu, Sarah Strong and others came together at Brother Bear's Cafe on Friday morning, March 19, to create bold and beautiful felt flowers for a Jafagirl project coming soon to Dayton Street. The group plans to meet again on Friday, March 26 at 9 a.m. Feel free to join in and bring felt, needles, thread, buttons, or anything else you would like to contribute. For more information, contact jafagirlart@yahoo.com.

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 19, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 19, 2010

Child care offered during 3rd Friday Fling

Child care will be available during Third Friday Fling, March 19, from 6-10 p.m. at Yellow Springs Montessori School located at the First Presbyterian Church. A $5.00 per hour minimum donation is suggested. Please contact Stephanie McClean at 767-0155 or 545-0665 to reserve a spot. All donations to benefit YSMS. Depending on the turn-out, child care services may be offered for all Third Friday Flings.

Pictured above, Liam McClean is a YSMS student. His mom, looking on in back, is a part of the parent cooperative that helps contribute to the success of YSMS. For more information about the school, contact YSMS.kids@gmail.com

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 13, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 16, 2010

Swap clothes at Bryan Center

On Saturday, March 27, from noon to 3 p.m., there will be a Clothes Swap on the second floor of the John Bryan Community Center. The event is the senior project for Yellow Springs High School senior Molly Turner. Molly is the daughter of Brother Bear (aka Patrick) and Mindy Harney and can often be found working on the weekend with her sister, Sophie, behind the counter at Brother Bear’s Café.

A clothes swap is a great way to clean out your closet and update your wardrobe without spending a dime. Swap participants bring unwanted clothing to a meeting place during a designated time. Clothes are casually sorted into piles (shoes, boots, belts, hats, purses, and coats are also welcome) and then participants “shop” for a new wardrobe.

Molly’s first experience with a clothes swap happened when her YSHS teacher, Elizabeth Lutz, invited some students over to her home one evening last year.

“We all made dinner,” Molly explained to me as she took a quick break from her barista duties. “We brought clothes and jewelry and traded it and it was awesome. We all found great stuff. That got me into the groove.”

The senior project is a focal point for YS high school seniors. Molly’s friends Nancy Epling and Conor Stratton are coordinating a skate, music, and art festival at the skate park. Other friends Marlee Layh and Lucas Donnell are working on establishing a dog park for Yellow Springs. As part of the project, each student has to answer a series of questions such as “How will this project help the community?” and “How will I benefit from this?”

Although initially attracted to the idea of bringing the community together in a fun and creative way, Molly really likes the idea that no money will be exchanged.

“I’m all about the concept of trading,” she said.

Molly was also motivated to connect the event to a good cause. After all the “shopping” is done, any leftover clothing will be donated to a women’s shelter in Springfield.

Music, snacks, and beverages will be provided. For more information, contact Molly at (937) 475-6045.

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 11, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 11, 2010

YS Library goes to the dogs

(clockwise from top left) Regan Parker (mvPTa Certified Therapy Pet Handler), Alexia Stockton, Stephanie Cooper, Skyler Miller, Ana Smith, Silas Buehrig, and mvPTa Certified Therapy Pet Bronwen follow along as Ana reads “If Dogs Could Talk.”


On Tuesday, March 9, the YS Library presented “Read to the Dogs,” a program which helps young readers practice reading out loud to a certified therapy dog. The library provides the books and a quiet, comfortable corner. The dogs provide an attentive and uncritical audience.

German Shepherd "Bronwen" and her human Regan Parker and $5-rescue-dog "Lacey" and her human Gerry Coen are pet therapy teams from mvPTa ― Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association. The mission of the all-volunteer community-based organization is to promote the use of highly trained domesticated pets to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of citizens in the greater Miami Valley. The human/animal teams visit libraries, nursing homes, hospitals, and even (upon request) funerals, providing comfort and companionship to those in need. Eight-week training classes are offered twice a year to interested pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and hand-held animals) and their humans. For more information about mvPTa, visit their website at www.mvpta.com.


mvPTa Therapy Pet Lacey listens dreamily as Sarah Gansz concentrates on reading aloud.




photos by Susan Gartner -- March 9, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 14, 2010

Intergenerational Concert at Senior Center

Accompanied by music teacher, Shirley Mullins, Olivia Brintlinger-Conn practices for the Fifth Intergenerational Recital to be held on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center Great Room, 227 Xenia Ave. Admission is free. Donations to the Yellow Springs Youth Orchestra Association's scholarship fund are appreciated and used for music lessons and camps. Call Shirley Mullins at 767-3361 for more information.

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 4, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 6, 2010

Hot coffee and hotter entertainment at Brother Bear's

Soul Fire Tribe performed in front of Brother Bear's Cafe on Tuesday night, March 2, as part of the cafe's one year anniversary.

photo by Susan Gartner -- March 2, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 3, 2010

Jazz at The Herndon

The New York City-based Matt Wilson Quartet performed on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Herndon Gallery on the Antioch College campus. The concert was part of Dayton's Cityfolk series of jazz events. The quartet is comprised of drummer Matt Wilson, saxophonist and clarinet player Jeff Lederer, bassist Chris Lightcap, and trumpeter Kirk Knuffke. Earlier in the week, the quartet hosted a series of workshops throughout the Miami Valley including one at Mills Lawn Elementary School as part of Cityfolk's "Culture Builds Community" educational program.

photos by Susan Gartner -- February 27, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- March 1, 2010