“April” pulled into the station at Harrisburg about five minutes late. She only felt a little “foolish,” but, by the next day, all was well. Now, April 2 is a very special day for us, but you will have to read through to the end to learn why.
Back in 1964, Paul Simon wrote a tune with the beginning refrain, “April come she will…when streams are ripe and swelled with rain.” The brief song (1.53 minutes) takes one through a season of love ending in September. Simon equates the seasons of change as a metaphor for a girl changing her mind about love or at least the one she loved just six months prior. April heralds spring and its rebirth of life both pastoral and elegiac in its myriad odes to the cycle in nature.
“Octopus’s Garden” by Beau MacGinnes, Jana MacGinnes, Aubrey McNaughton and Debbie Reihart at “Art in the Wild”
“All on board, first stop, Wildwood Park.” One of those bookmarks is “Art in the Wild’s” 11th edition, highlighting land art installed by 18 artists this go-round, which just opened to the public on April 2. The theme this year is “The Earth Laughs,” so get out and have one on them as you traverse the 3.1-mile trail at Wildwood Park. Pulling up to Site #5, “The Octopus’s Garden,” I was greeted by familiar faces all. The MacGinnes team spearheaded by Beau, the only 11-year participant of AITW and his mother, Jana, now in her eighth year, with his sister, Aubrey McNaughton, in year five were joined by land art enthusiast, Debbie Reihart in her second year as part of the team. She is now considered family. They were putting finishing touches on their magnum opus. It is woven of grapevine, limbs, branches, reeds with its eight tentacles inlaid with lichen for an authentic suction cup rendering. Its extended limbs lead to a beatific garden of daffodils safely protected in its grasp. The team prides itself in incorporating only materials found within the park, true to AITW’s original concept and rules established in 2012. Past back-to-back winners, the MacGinnes team was buoyed by all the onlookers stopping to marvel over the process of the four weekends creating the work. The Beatles would be honored by their tribute.
Past participants of “Art in the Wild” made worthy contributions, notably, Eve Gurbacki, Ray Curancy, Carol Reed, David Reeve, Richard and Maria Joel with Steven Reinhart’s installation named best of show. Newcomers to the fray collectively made an impact with school groups, family presentations and an amazing number of youngsters paving the way for future endeavors at Wildwood Park. Highlighting the artist reception was a presentation from Bill Allis of the Bower, a 36-acre land garden sanctuary nestled in Perry County. AITW is open to the public through Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, indoors, the Art Association of Harrisburg is now down to its final 10 days in its revolutionary “Reinterpretations” at 21 N. Front Street. For the first time, this institution will hold a must-see closing night reception on April 21. AAH curator Rachel O’Connor brilliantly brought together a foursome of fearless facilitators of art for the exhibit from this side of the Mississippi to Harrisburg in mounting this powerhouse show. O’Connor discussed the criteria she uses when grouping artists together for a show. “Do the artists’ works allow for conversations between them; do they stimulate dialog metaphorically and literally; is the bridge between solid enough to work in sync with each other? Certainly, opposites attract and yet there is a distinct thread of continuity at play,” she said.
Art by Joseph Mayernik
Chicago-based photographer, painter and collage creator, Jeffrey Equality Brooks’ works are like a gust of fresh air blowing in from Lake Michigan. Tossing all three mediums into the air, Brooks balances them like the art juggler he is, pulling parts from one, adding to the next and completing the exchange before they crash to the floor. In a feat of legerdemain, they remain somehow suspended in a surreal surfeit suitable for any taste in art.
Joseph Mayernik hails from Rochester, N.Y., well familiar with March Madness, home to basketball powerhouse, Syracuse University. One could say that artist Mayernik is a real “cut up.” His reputation for dicing up vintage comic books in creating larger-than-life iconic images and superheroes is the stuff of legend. In a hyper-exaggerated manner, catapulting collage characterizations cohesively careening off the canvas, Mayernik’s “madness” explodes in a comic bubble. KAPOW!
Works by John Guarnera
As seen through the eyes of an 8-year-old boy walking through the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the first time, a world of wonder and beauty seeped into the subconscious mind of ceramist, John Guarnera. John, looking back at his younger self shared, “The statuary shaped, multi-colored and ornate is representative of headdresses worn by chieftains.” His vessels, vital vagabonds, create a community contained in its own unique cadence. Pretty heady stuff for a young mind to assimilate years later in modern-day interpretations. John is from Duncan’s Island or, as it is known today, Duncannon. Guarnera’s objets d’ art stem from a 12th-century process firing ceramic vessels using the Obvara technique of Raku as the pieces are dipped into an alchemist mixture that incorporates flour, yeast, sugar and water that creates a unique pattern. He is part of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and teaches Raku at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center.
James Gallagher, who calls the Red Rose City of Lancaster home, shares the love of ancient cultures with fellow ceramist Guarnera. In fact, he was the latter’s mentor. He explores how prior civilizations used art to better understand the world. Symbols and signs represent a variety of natural phenomenon. He renders his pottery full of markings and meanings such as spirals, chevrons, zigzag patterns and more to arrive at the foregone conclusion as to what came before comes full cycle. Ancient art conveyed seasonal change and major events in the circle of life. Gallagher is represented by Lancaster Galleries and has taught at Millersville University and Lebanon Valley College.
CEO Carrie Wissler-Thomas and curator O’Connor are aided by gallery assistant Nate Foster, who singlehandedly completely revamped the Gallery Sales Room with members’ works and exhibiting artists’ pieces available for purchase. The trio is greatly anticipating the closing night reception featuring the artists from the eastern seaboard from 5 to 8 p.m., which promises a tour-de-force evening of electric exchanges. With this show, the AAH positions itself as a showrunner of imagination, innovation and ingenuity.
New Cumberland Collective: Earth and Art Festival
Did you hear the one about the educator, environmentalist and artist who walk into a library? The educator asks the librarian, “Please give me the latest data on implementing change in schools.” The environmentalist queries, “The last word on climate change please?” And the artist pauses, reflecting on their requests and inquires, “Can you point me to the kids’ section because I know there I will get the truth?”
“Yellow Warbler” by Steph Holmes at New Cumberland Earth and Arts Festival
Touted as “an arty party for the planet,” the New Cumberland Collective is hosting the first annual “Earth and Arts Festival” at the New Cumberland Public Library on Sunday, April 16, promising five hours of earthbound excitement from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mark your calendar, it’s this coming Sunday. This environmental event kicks off spring as a pre-Earth Day celebration. With music, food and merchants, as well as quest speakers, true Earth advocates will share their experiences all day long. It speaks to the public having much to choose from. Topical talks and workshops will range from fish fly-tying, seed swaps, stewardship for wildlife, a neighborhood foraging walk and a seed-planting station round out a smorgasbord of Earth-friendly fare. Activities artistically entail a community clothing recycling drive incorporating vintage clothes, hands-on indigo dying with fabric chanteuse, Dirt Petal, screen printing station to print your own and a tutorial on recycling clothing 101. Music from Swamprat, Joe Pye Revival and Autumn Sky Hall will offer something different for everyone’s taste. Food trucks galore will temp tastebuds. A Restyle Sustainable Fashion Faire features varied merchant vendors. Merrymakers include homemade soaps from Soap du Jour and handmade clay bead bracelets for adults and kids, upcycled clothing from Beehive’s Vintage and Cumberland Bootleg. Gabe’s Gardens and Em’s Garden showcase, you guessed it, garden accoutrements. Steph Holmes Art, Moonrise Candle Company, The Rebel Herbalist, Radiant Flora, Lawler Creative Company, Beshore Hill Farm, Mycrosymbiotics, Why Knot, Jillian’s General Store, “Paint Your Stones” by Lisa Jones (hum a bar, it will take you far), Meraki, Thrifting Fashion with Hannah Lyter and, last but not least, Carrie Shusta’s stained glass.
Of Special Note: Happy Birthday
And as for the story behind April 2 in our hearts…borrows from Bread’s ’70s hit, “Aubrey.” “And we’d go a million times around the world just to say she had been ours for a day.” Our beautiful daughter, Aubrey, was born in Fort Lauderdale on that date and now we have her daughter, too, making life that much sweeter. Happiest of birthdays, Aubrey!
April Art Events
“Midtown Makers Series,” classes in diverse art mediums, April 1 to April 30
New Cumberland Collective: Art in the Stacks at the New Cumberland Library features the Art of CASA Students April 1 to April 29
“Art in the Wild,” 11th edition, at Wildwood Park, April 2 – Sept. 30
Hershey Art Gallery & Studio Grand Opening, April 15 and 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1077 Swatara Rd., Hershey
“New Cumberland Earth and Art Festival,” April 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Cumberland Public Library
3rd in the Burg, Friday, April 21
Art Association of Harrisburg Closing Night Reception for “Reinterpretations,” meet the artists. The 4 J’s from 5 to 8 p.m., April 21, with James Equality Brooks, Joseph Mayerink, John Guarnera and James Gallagher
Odd Ones Bazaar, April 22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Millworks 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg
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