New Year's Dreams and Wishes

This December, I got to realize a lifelong dream to be a window dresser when Kathy Downing, owner of Downing's Do It Best Hardware store in downtown Yellow Springs, gave me the chance to create a holiday display in her front store window.

Inspired by the annual car trips my family took into Chicago at Christmas time to look at the elaborate mechanical window displays at Marshall Fields and other department stores, I set to work using recycled and repurposed items along with a wonderful selection of miniature stores and houses provided by Kathy. Starting the week of Thanksgiving, I gradually added more and more items to the window to create the illusion of an impending winter snowstorm. If you look carefully, you will see a tribute to two local artists and yarnbombers, Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon.

Thank you, Kathy, for allowing me the opportunity to work in such a unique venue and discover the magic of Extra Glittery Tulle. Happy New Year to my sweet village of Yellow Springs, OH. May we all realize our dreams and wishes in the New Year.

JafaGirls let down their hair at "The Hairy Art Palace"

above photos by Susan Gartner

"The Hairy Art Palace," presented by JafaGirls ("Just Another Flippin' Artist") Nancy Mellon and Corrine Bayraktaroglu, held its Opening Reception on Friday, October 14, at the Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery, 309 Xenia Avenue. In addition to highlighting street graffiti, guerilla art acts, and yarn bombing projects by the JafaGirls over the years, the exhibit featured a 99-piece puzzle (of Jafagirl works), I-Spy games, the Art Ball Vending machine, eyebrow pencils to draw on your own moustache, the newly released book, Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In (featuring Nancy, Corrine, and Yellow Springs in Chapter 1), an attachable hairy armpits station, a Dog Art gallery, audio interviews, food, wine, and the lively accordion music of Ben Hemmendinger.

JafaGirls Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon

Extended gallery hours for the exhibit are Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., October 22 and 29.

"Veneer -- Cover or Disguise" exhibit open on Saturday

Photos are from the YS Arts Council Gallery opening reception for local artist Chelle Palassis and her exhibit, "Veneer -- Cover or Disguise," which took place on Friday, September 16, as part of Third Weekend Fling in the Springs. Extended gallery hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., September 24 and October 1.

The exhibit will also be open through Street Fair on October 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The gallery is located at 309 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs. Call or text 937-831-2219 for more information or to schedule a private viewing. For more info about Yellow Springs Arts Council, visit www.ysartscouncil.org

photos by Susan Gartner -- September 16, 2011

KAOS comes to Yellow Springs!

Introducing: Karen’s Academy Of Sewing (KAOS) Theory and Practice

Local fabric artist Karen Jane Russell is offering sewing classes in the basement of the Yellow Springs United Methodist Church, 202 S. Winter. She is teaching all levels of fashion sewing from the very basic to basic haute couture, sewing machine care and maintenance, techniques of tailoring and pattern cutting, and how to make soft toys, soft furnishings, curtains, children’s clothing and costumes, prom dresses and more.

KAOS students Jenny Delk Clark and Joel Moss Levinson practice their

sewing techniques while they learn to make an oven mitt.

The current plan is to have a full day of open class where participants can drop in at the hours of their choosing to work on any project with Karen there to guide and assist. BYOSM (Bring Your Own Sewing Machine). Class fee is $10 for the first hour and $5 for subsequent hours along with a donation to the food pantry of either food or a minimum of $2 in cash. For now, classes are being held on Wednesdays, approximately 9 a.m.-2 p.m. but other days/times will be considered depending on class interest.

If you are interested, please contact the class administrator, Karen Lynn Moore, at (937) 689-4077 or karen.moore.2006@hotmail.com. She is also on Facebook (Karen Lynn).

List of supplies you’ll need:
sewing machine, extension cord, scissors, tape measure, pins, thread, your project or ideas for project (lots of sewing project books supplied)

Donation for food pantry
Payment for class cash only please
$10 first hour then $5 for every hour after that

KAOS creator and instructor Karen Russell explains pattern instructions to Joel.

photos by Susan Gartner -- September 21, 2011

The last Dance Piazza for the season

The season finale of Dance Piazza, hosted by Judith Wolert-Maldonado (aka "DJ JuJu"), took place Saturday night, September 17 at the Art Park, corner of Dayton and Corry Streets in Yellow Springs. Special musical guests were Rick Good (of Rhythm In Shoes) accompanied by Yellow Springs' own Corn Daddies. Rick's wife and long-time collaborator, Sharon Leahy, taught villagers Appalachian Clogging as they danced to old time music.

From DJ JuJu: Thank you to all who participated in these events during this season, from May through September: whether you attended, taught, performed, danced, watched, listened, funded or documented, you were all an important part of the Dance Piazza 2011: Cultivating Community through Dance! Gracias ♥



video and photos by Susan Gartner -- September 17, 2011

Wine and Dine for a Canine shows Ashton the love!

Saturday night’s Brandeberry Winery fundraiser for a diabetic assistance dog was a huge success on many levels. Both winery parking lots were filled to capacity as friends, family and incredibly kind strangers came from all over the area to enjoy music by Full Circle, food from Bentino’s Pizza and Brandeberry’s new Blackberry wine, and donate money to help with the purchase of the dog. The dog is for Ashton Gueth, son of our beloved mail carrier, Adam, and his wife, Vanessa. Adam and Vanessa were shocked at the turnout and the generosity of local businesses.

A portion of the sale of bottles of blackberry wine were donated and Bentino’s Pizza donated 100% of all food orders. There were yummy homemade desserts for sale, a raffle, and Premier Jewelry which also donated 100% of proceeds to the cause. Ten-minute massages from Ferguson Chiropractic Solutions (wonderful massages with Sharon!!) were offered with 100% of the proceeds going towards the dog.

The evening temperatures were perfect and the setting was idyllic. It couldn't have been a prettier or more relaxing event.

This is what Brandeberry Winery posted on their Facebook page afterwards:

“You not only opened your pocketbooks to help Ashton get his dog you opened your hearts and were so wonderful even though some of you waited hours to get your food. Your kindness is very much appreciated by everyone at the winery.

The turnout for Wine and Dine for a Canine was incredible. It was by far the busiest day the winery has ever seen. It shows what a caring community we live in. The generosity and kindness of everyone who came out was unbelievable. We had an issue with long term waiting for pizzas because of how we bombarded Bentino’s with orders. However, there wasn’t an angry person around. Every one of you was patient and understanding and I can’t thank you enough."

A fundraiser is scheduled for October 1st at Peach’s Grill. Stay tuned for more details or contact Vanessa Gueth at vgueth@yahoo.com. Donations may also be made directly to an account at the Yellow Springs branch of US Bank under the name of Ashton Gueth.

photos by Susan Gartner -- September 17, 2011

Photos from Third Weekend Fling in the Springs

Third Weekend Fling in the Springs started off Friday, September 16, with artist receptions, music and wine-tasting in town.

The Dayton band, Matter of Chance, performed an impromptu benefit concert in Art Park at the corner of Dayton and Corry Streets. The concert was a benefit for the organization, For the Love of Children (FLOC), a charity for at risk youth in the Greater Dayton Area.

The music was an unexpected treat and captured the attention of passersby who then came into the gallery at Village Artisans to see new works by fabric artist Kate Burch.

Burch (left) uses a number of techniques in her work including digitized embroidery, machine quilting, and thread painting. Her work can be viewed at Village Artisans, 100 Corry Street, through the month of September. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Emporium Wines and Underdog Cafe hosted their Friday night wine-tasting and featured musical guests, The Show. The Show is a Yellow Springs-Springfield trio and includes band members Jessica Kinzer, Matt Housh, and Ryan Henry. Artwork currently on exhibit at the Emporium is "Works on Paper" by Michael Casselli (on exhibit through September 30). There was even artwork on the wine bottles!

photos by Susan Gartner -- September 16, 2011

Steel Painting Workshop in King's Yard

Springs Gallery, a fine art/fine craft gallery in Yellow Springs, offered two hands-on painting workshops recently with Dayton artist Mike Elsass. Elsass (wearing a baseball cap) and his students set up the painting-on-rusted-steel workshop on Thursday, September 15, in King's Yard, outside of Springs Gallery. The weather was perfect for both workshops and the protected courtyard provided a sunny and inspirational place to paint.

If you want to be alerted to upcoming workshops, contact Christine Klinger at springsgallery@earthlink.net or 937-409-5047.

Springs Gallery is located in King's Yard at 220 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday, noon-7 p.m. and on Third Fridays (Fling in the Springs) noon-9 p.m. Visit their blog at www.springsgallery.blogspot.com.

photos by Susan Gartner -- September 15, 2011

Wildflowers in John Bryan State Park

photo by Susan Gartner -- September 12, 2011

A beautiful day to be a street musician (or a Carrot)

The band, Caleb and the Carrots (temporarily minus Caleb and 1 Carrot), performed in front of Bonadies Glassstudio yesterday.

photo by Susan Gartner -- September 12, 2011

West African Dance and Drum at Dance Piazza

On Saturday, September 3, the typically quiet and contemplative Art Park at Corry and Dayton Streets was transformed into a high-energy showcase of West African Dance and Drum led by BabaaRitah Clark and her all-girl performance group Akwaaba. The event was hosted by Judith "DJ JuJu" Wolert-Maldonado as part of her bi-monthly Dance Piazza.




The final Dance Piazza event of the season will be this Saturday, September 17, and will feature Rick Good & Friends, who will perform old time music and teach Appalachian Clogging from 7-8 p.m. Rick Good is a founding member of the Hotmud Family and a twenty-four year veteran of Rhythm In Shoes.

From 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., DJ Juju will spin Latin dance tunes (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton), along with other world dance music including Afro-beat, Bhangra, Middle Eastern, club, old-school R & B and more.

The event is free and open to all ages.

photos and video by Susan Gartner -- September 3, 2011

Village vignettes

photo by Susan Gartner

Summer's end

photo by Susan Gartner

Faerie sighting: Corner Cone

photo by Susan Gartner -- August 21, 2011

Music, mirth, and mosquitoes at Davis Street Block Party

The Community Wide Block Party sponsored by the Yellow Springs Human Relations Commission took place this past weekend.

The Davis/Whiteman/Phillips/High/Xenia Block Party on Saturday, August 20, featured food, fun, friendship and ping pong with musical accompaniment by Elizabeth Price, Patti Dallas, Joseph and Matt Minde, and Mark DeLozier.

After invites went out to 80 homes, pictures were taken of all the houses and made into a neighborhood map to help guests make a visual connection of faces to places. Many participants had just moved to the area and appreciated the creative (and well-timed) way to meet their new neighbors.

Thanks so much to the Human Relations Commission for the inspiration, $20 gift certificate from Tom’s Market, and the box of chalk. We hope we did you proud. Wait 'til you see what we've got in store for next year!

photos by Susan Gartner -- August 20, 2011