Yellow Springs Street Fair June 2011

photos by Susan Gartner -- June 11, 2011
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- June 12, 2011

Celebrating a peaceful form of bombing

To celebrate International Yarnbombing Day, local yarnbombers waited out the rain Friday morning and then took to the streets -- mostly Dayton and Corry -- to wrap their town in soft, colorful knit graffiti. A special effort was extended to the Morgan House Bed and Breakfast and a newly planted tree in honor of Arthur Morgan. The community event was coordinated locally by Jafagirls Nancy Mellon and Corrine Bayraktaroglu.

photos by Susan Gartner -- June 10, 2011

They came, they saw, they chewed

On Sunday, June 5, the World's First Traveling Gum Wall made its public debut at the Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery, 309 Xenia Avenue. The Traveling Gum Wall, an interactive public art project, was created by Jafagirls ("Just Another Flippin' Artist") Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon as a fundraiser for YSAC. Packets of gum are on sale to participants who then chew the gum and stick it on the wall. All participants get to sign the back of the Gum Wall for a permanent record of their contribution to art. A free Jafagirl postcard goes to anyone who donates packets of gum. (Please no sugar-free gum or gum advertised as not sticky.)

The next scheduled appearance of the Gum Wall will be Street Fair, Saturday, June 11. The wall will be located in front of the YSAC Gallery at 309 Xenia Avenue. In the revered tradition of sticking your gum somewhere, Jafagirls invite you to Stick It For Art.

For more info, contact jafagirlart@yahoo.com

photos by Susan Gartner -- June 5, 2011

Dance Piazza: Salsa!

This week's Dance Piazza, a biweekly outdoor international dance party hosted by "DJ JuJu" (aka Judith Wolert-Maldonado), featured special guest instructor Lali Chaves of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lali taught an enthusiastic crowd Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata. The next Dance Piazza will be June 18 and will feature International Folk Dances. The dance party takes place 7-10 p.m. at Art Park, corner of Corry and Dayton Streets in downtown Yellow Springs.



video by Susan Gartner -- June 4, 2011

Dance Piazza Saturday night at Art Park

This week's Dance Piazza, a biweekly outdoor international dance party hosted by "DJ JuJu" (aka Judith Wolert-Maldonado), featured special guest instructor Lali Chaves of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lali taught an enthusiastic crowd Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata. The next Dance Piazza will be June 18 and will feature International Folk Dances. The dance party takes place 7-10 p.m. at Art Park, corner of Corry and Dayton Streets in downtown Yellow Springs.

photos by Susan Gartner -- June 4, 2011
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- June 5, 2011

Scene Around Town

Last Day of School Rhapsody

I walked past this impromptu concert happening downtown Yellow Springs at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.

This is Dennis Farmer’s 6th grade band class. He gave the students several options of what they’d like to do for their last day of class and they unanimously picked the option of playing downtown.

photo by Susan Gartner -- June 1, 2011
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- June 2, 2011

Swap inspires new appreciation for plants, books, hats and heritage

Maxine's Annual Plant and Book Swap took place on Sunday, May 29. Participants are asked to bring and browse through previously loved books and plants with the hopes that all will find an appreciative new home in the end. The remaining books are donated to the annual Planned Parenthood Book Sale. Maxine also encourages participants to wear their favorite garden hat and kindly supplies emergency loaner hats for those who come unprepared. This year I was fully prepared, having been inspired by a recent viewing of My Fair Lady (shown on the big screen at the downtown Dayton Victoria Theatre as part of their Cool Film Summer Series -- highly recommended) and a photo of my greatgrandmother, Victoria (on the left), which arrived the day before the swap.

photos by Susan Gartner and Corinna Lyon -- May 29, 2011

Scene Around Town

What I like about this unexpected piece of art is that it really is "hidden in plain sight." The face is not visible to motorists who pass by it unknowingly every day. It's only visible to pedestrians. I wish I knew who the artist was...

Third Weekend Fling serves art and music

On Friday night at the YS Arts Council Gallery Opening Reception, exhibiting artist Bridgette Bogle, center, chats with former gallery committee member Jessica Roller (holding new baby Wren) and current gallery co-chair Deb Housh in front of one of Bogle's paintings. The exhibit, "Cavort," is shared with diorama designer Michelle Blades. Extended gallery hours are Sunday, May 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, May 28, 1-5 p.m.; Friday, June 3, 5-9 p.m.; and during Street Fair on Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information about the exhibit or to schedule a private viewing, visit www.bridgettebogle.com or www.ysartscouncil.org.

Folk/Bluegrass band Blue Moon Soup entertained a crowd of all ages on Friday night in King's Yard.

photos by Susan Gartner