The Dayton Street Flower Power Project paid its respects to Eddie Eckenrode, co-owner of Sam & Eddie's Open Books, who died Tuesday night, May 25. Flowers (felted and otherwise) are accumulating on the steps of the bookstore to commemorate the passing of a village friend. A memorial service is scheduled at the Glen Helen building on Sunday, May 30, at 2 p.m.
photos by Susan Gartner posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 28 & 29, 2010
Two years ago, the long-running Wednesday Night Duplicate Bridge group at the Senior Center decided to stave off their dwindling numbers by offering classes to teach new members how to play. The plan worked beautifully.
“Sometimes we have up to five tables, which is spectacular!” says long-time bridge enthusiast Shirl LeVesconte, who co-teaches the game with Susan Freeman on Monday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. As LeVesconte explains it, duplicate bridge at the Senior Center is completely different from what duplicate bridge means to most bridge players.
“Duplicate bridge groups can get very competitive and can also be unfriendly,” she said, “but this is a very low-key, relaxed kind of duplicate bridge. You won’t find anything like this in Dayton.” When I spoke with her on Wednesday night during a break in the action, LeVesconte pointed out all the participants that evening who were recent “graduates” of the class. She especially wants people to know that Wednesday night bridge games include “gentle instruction” and “lots of laughing.”
Freeman is currently teaching a group of new players on Thursday nights. She would be happy to teach an additional group (at least four new persons) on Tuesday afternoons. On Wednesday nights, the action starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information about classes and dates, contact Freeman at 767-0235. All ages are welcome. You do not need a bridge partner to attend.
photo by Susan Gartner -- May 26, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 28, 2010
The soul of Bob Marley was summoned Saturday night by the reggae band Soul Rebels who played in front of Village Cyclery, courtesy of Brother Bear's Cafe.
photo by Susan Gartner -- May 22, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 23, 2010
Despite the dreary skies and occasional downpour, the Friday night opening reception of "Art of the Human Form: Works in Progress" was a lively and colorful affair. Pictured above, local artist Phyllis Logan was one of 10 artists whose work is exhibited in the show. The exhibit showcases 2-D and 3-D works created during weekly live model drawing sessions in the Yellow Springs Arts Council ArtSpace, located upstairs at 108 Dayton Street. Extended gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Saturdays May 29, June 5 and June 12. For more information about the drawing sessions or the exhibit, contact Beth Holyoke at bethsh@att.net.
photos by Susan Gartner -- May 21, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 23, 2010
On Friday night, May 21, the First Presbyterian Church of Yellow Springs hosted another successful Soup Supper in conjunction with Third Friday Fling. Homemade soups, salad, rolls, drinks, and desserts were available for $7 per person, free for kids under 5. Proceeds will benefit building repairs. The event also featured the band, Wheels, comprised of high school students Jamie Scott (harmonica), Sam Salazar (mandolin), and Rory Papania (guitar) singing tight harmonies on folk classics like "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and "I'll Fly Away."
photos by Susan Gartner -- May 21, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 22, 2010
Join local artists and tile bench sculptors Beth Holyoke (above left) and Kaethi Seidl (in background) for their final workshop at Rosewood Arts Centre in Kettering this Saturday, May 22, from 1-3 p.m.
Handmade tiles have been created in the previous four workshops and now need to be fitted and "mosaic-ed" into sections as part of a permanent sculpture to be installed this summer in Kennedy Park, Kettering.
The session is free and open to the public. All ages welcome.
Where: Rosewood Arts Centre, 2655 Olson Drive, Kettering 45420
When: Saturday, May 22, 1-3 p.m.
Contact: Rosewood Arts Centre (937) 296-0294 Connie Campbell: connie.campbell@ketteringoh.org Beth Holyoke: bethsh@att.net Kaethi Seidl: seidl@yellowsprings.com
photos by Susan Gartner -- May 18, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 19, 2010
I’m not a music reviewer but I can appreciate the reviews on Neil Jacobs’ website which, although they were written for entirely different concerts, really capture his 12-string guitar performance at the YS Library on April 15th:
"Imagine Russian cowboy music. Imagine flamenco joined with Balkan dances. Imagine one guy doing all that while sounding like a whole orchestra." - The Cleveland Sun Messenger
"For more than 25 years, Ohio native Jacobs has circumnavigated the globe performing his exotic hybrid of gypsy jazz, flamenco, and Eastern European Folk on solo 12-string guitar." - Vince DeMasi, Guitar Player Magazine
And my personal favorite:
"He does everything to that guitar but give it a massage." - Livingston Taylor
Jacobs is originally from Columbus, OH. In addition to touring with Balkan musicians at refugee camps in Eastern Europe and studying with the gypsies of Spain, he also lived for a brief time on Glen Street in Yellow Springs. His most recent release, "12 String Guitar", was nominated "Best Solo Guitar CD" at the JPF Music Awards in Nashville. For more information, visit www.NeilJacobs.com.
video by Susan Gartner posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 18, 2010
In addition to being Flower Power Friday (every Friday 9 a.m. to noon at Brother Bear's Cafe), last Friday was also "Fairy Friday" as designated by Lily (black fairy dress) and Gabriella Kibblewhite (pink fairy dress) and Olivia Hasek (pink and purple fairy dress). Dayton Street Flower Power Project co-originator Nancy Mellon got lots of fairy assistance as she attached flowers to the railings in front of the cafe and next door at Village Herb Shoppe while Flower Power Sew-In participants created more flowers inside. Join us again this Friday for more felt fun. Go to jafagirls.wordpress.com for more info and photos.
photos by Susan Gartner -- May 14, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 20, 2010
Great stuff went to happy homes at the Glen Helen Great Stuff Garage Sale which took place on Saturday, May 15 at the Glen Helen Corry Street parking lot. Pictured above, Glen Helen Executive Director Nick Boutis (in green Oberlin t-shirt) was among the many bargain-hunters making their way through the treasure aisles. Proceeds of almost $4,000 will go to the Glen. Thanks to all the volunteers, donors, and shoppers for your support!
photos by Susan Gartner -- May 15, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 17, 2010
“Artist’s reception at The ArtSpace…” “New exhibit at ‘Would You, Could You’…” “The Winds will feature works by…”
Each week, A Yellow Springs Blog and the Yellow Springs News post notices telling villagers about various upcoming art exhibits. Do you ever fantasize about having your own work exhibited in a gallery? Does the pressure of a blank canvas or the responsibility of creating enough artwork to justify a full exhibit keep you from pursuing this dream?
If this sounds like you, a rare opportunity to have your dream exhibit in your dream gallery is available June through July.
On Tuesday, May 25, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., calligraphy artist Ann Bain and mixed media artist Nancy Mellon will be offering an Artist Trading Cards workshop at Village Artisans, 100 Corry Street. Fee: $12.
Artist Trading Cards, or ATCs, are miniature works of art, 2½ x 3½ inches, and are small enough to fit inside a standard baseball-card-collector pocket or sleeve. The idea behind ATCs is to encourage artists to trade their cards with one another rather than sell them. After creating their miniature masterpieces in an ATC workshop, participants then spend the latter part of the workshop trading cards with each other. Everyone goes home with a full gallery of new and unique art that fits in the palm of their hand!
The greatest part about ATCs is the size of the “canvas” which is much more user-friendly and forgiving than standard-sized canvases. Sometimes an ATC artist will be inspired to create a larger piece of work and then cut or tear the work into 2½ x 3½-inch pieces. All mediums are welcome: acrylic, watercolor, markers, collage, stamps, pen and ink, calligraphy, fabric, wood carving, even knitting! The possibilities are endless!
Here’s where the unique opportunity comes up. Any ATCs created in the May 25 workshop or at home will then be exhibited at two local galleries – “Little Art at The Little Art” (for the month of June) and “Size Does Matter Part II” at Village Artisans (for the month of July). There is no entry fee or artist statement required, no lengthy forms to fill out, all submissions will be accepted, and you don’t have to worry about sending in photos of your work for pre-approval. Anyone of any age or artistic ability is welcome to submit up to eight cards. ATCs dropped off at Village Artisans by May 31 will be exhibited in both shows. ATCs submitted after May 31 will go in the July exhibit only.
Face-to-face trading will occur on the final day of the show, Saturday, July 31, from 1-3 p.m. at Village Artisans. If you cannot be present that day, be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope when you mail in your ATCs along with instructions for whether or not you want your cards to be included in the trading. Village Artisans will send back your cards (or ATCs from eight other artists) after the July show.
Take part in this opportunity to have the dream exhibit you always wanted! For questions and workshop registration, call Nancy Mellon at (937) 767-1366.
photo, video, and article by Susan Gartner -- May 12, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 13, 2010
The power of the flower reached all the way to Tybee Island, Ga., this week where my sister-in-law, Lisa, and her 3rd and 4th grade class at St. Michael’s Elementary School created felt Flower Power pins.
Lisa was inspired by the Dayton Street Flower Power Project photos she saw posted on A Yellow Springs Blog for the past several weeks and came up with the idea as a Mother’s Day present for her students. She told me the boys were just as enthusiastic about the idea as the girls ― the sewing part in particular ― and everybody really threw themselves into the project. No blood was drawn, nobody accidentally (or intentionally) sewed their finger to a flower, and all the pins turned out beautifully.
“I could tell they were really proud of themselves,” said Lisa, who called me as soon as school let out on Thursday and the children had gone home with their presents. She originally thought of purchasing inexpensive jewelry boxes to hold the pins but instead found an appropriate template to use and taught the kids how to make their own triangular prism box.
“These worked out so much better,” she said, describing how each student individualized their own creation. “From top to bottom, these presents were truly something that they made by themselves.”
article by Susan Gartner -- May 7, 2010 photos by Glen Gartner posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 7, 2010
Get your color "fix" at "would you, could you" In a Frame where Karren K. Brito's opera shawls are currently on exhibit. Also pictured are glass works by Ken and Ingrid Hanson, Fritz Glass, Anchor Bend, and Ed Branson. The custom framing and contemporary art gallery is located at 113 Corry Street in downtown Yellow Springs, OH.
photo by Susan Gartner -- May 7, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 9, 2010
“I should stay away but what can I do I hear your name, and I’m aflame Aflame with such a burning desire That only your kiss can put out the fire…”
“That Old Black Magic” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer Performed by Vikki Carr (1961)
Miami Township Fire – Rescue Station 81 presents its Open House on May 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Station 81, 225 Corry Street in Yellow Springs. Fire engine rides, Jr. Firefighter Kombat Challenge, ambulance tours, new fire engine dedication ceremony, pulled pork meal. Adult meal: $10, children’s meal $5. All proceeds benefit the Miami Township Firefighters Association Equipment Fund.
Next time you’re thinking of throwing out a fan, think of throwing it at Bruce Parker. Well, not exactly at him, but maybe in his direction.
Taking inspiration from a growing collection of discarded fans, the local contractor has just installed his first piece of public art. The piece, entitled Davis Street Propeller Bush, was “unveiled” last week and is ready for viewing in Lori Beckman’s front yard at 115 W. Davis Street.
The “whimsical recycled kinetic art” stands not only as a reflection of Parker’s affinity for recycling materials but also as a creative solution to a common village problem: what to do with the exasperating honeysuckle.
“Laurie didn’t want to chop the honeysuckle tree down entirely,” Parker said in a recent interview, explaining the unique location of his artwork, “but she didn’t want it to grow either.”
Using the honeysuckle as a foundation, Parker combined plastic corrugated drain pipe, threaded rods, assorted fan blades, spray paint, and a sense of humor to create the piece which took an unexpected turn ― many turns, in fact ― as Parker completed the installation.
“That was an extra bonus,” said Parker of the pinwheel effect. “I wasn’t planning the movement ahead of time.”
Last year, Parker entered seven different designs in the 2009 Yellow Springs Outdoor Sculpture competition but none was selected as a finalist. Since then, he has been patiently waiting for an opportunity to display his public art sensibility. In some ways, Parker’s “public art” has been displayed all over town since he opened his business, Azur Contracting, in 1986. The village currently boasts 13 homes he has designed and built along with numerous remodeling projects.
“I had such a fun time,” he said, recalling the creativity that went into his contest submissions. “Afterwards, my mom [long-time villager Donna Cottrell] was encouraging me to keep pursuing it. She said, ‘You should do something with that bush down at Lori’s house.’”
Encouraged by the positive feedback and his mom’s support, Parker is looking for more public art opportunities.
“Now she wants me to do the same thing in front of US Bank,” he added with a grin.
video and article by Susan Gartner -- May 4, 2010 posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 5, 2010
The Emporium and Underdog Cafe hosted an opening reception for local artist and construction contractor Chris Glaser on Saturday, May 1. Music provided by The Corndrinkers.
video by Susan Gartner posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 2, 2010
Local dancers and choreographers, first-timers and seasoned professionals, came together April 16 and 17 to present the Yellow Springs Community Dance Concert 2010 and celebrate their return to Antioch College South Gym Performance Space.
video by Susan Gartner posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- April 29, 2010
