Tag Archives: Garrick Dorsett

Bob’s Art Blog: Millworks Milieu Ooh La La!

April 16, 2024 | by Bob MacGinnes

Suspend disbelief for a moment and join me in the lobby of the Millworks restaurant.

Imagine a chorus line of their in-house artists fully engaged in a musical production moving wildly to the boisterous tune of “Galop Infernal.” You have never heard it, you say?

From the turn of the century, the 20^th that is, it is instantly recognizable as the music played at the Moulin Rouge for their cancan dancers circa Paris 1899. Toulouse-Lautrec painted the scene that was all the rage back then. He would drink absinthe into the wee hours of the morning until its celebrated doors closed for the evening. Ooh la la! Millworks may be a far cry from Paris and the demimonde that ruled the notorious nightclub. And yet there is a common bond between the two establishments.

A pyramid of beer cans featuring art by Millworks artists (photo: Jana MacGinnes)

Moulin Rouge literally translates to mean “Red Mill” and, of course, Millworks history speaks to the building’s original purpose housing the Stokes Mill. It dates to the 1940s when it manufactured trim and wood products. The cancan fascination exists between the two in a much different format. The Moulin Rouge cancan dancers lifted their skirts to reveal split leg bloomers while the creatives at Millworks lift their cans (beer) that hold their special brand of “art and ale.” Their designs adorn the cans brandishing their vision on the aluminum containers—ooh la la! Over 40 in-house artists have basked in the limelight as their art resides in the restaurant’s cooler. Highlighting a current top-10 available for purchase depends on the rotation through the brewery. The picture reveals the 10 when this frame was shot, engineered by P.D. Murray and staged by RLo, both of Millworks fame with can pyramid by Jana MacGinnes.

Linda Benton McCloskey’s beatific landscapes venture forth to new vistas while compatriot, fine artist, Paul Gallo’s work is pastoral as well, with windmills and a cow in tribute to the Dutch countryside. Marjorie Taylor’s easily identifiable butterflies, moths and bees land on the aluminum canvas fluttering about as Rebecca Adey’s 3-D Mod Sew creations of lovable creatures pop off the can’s surface. Recently departed from the studio, Carrie Shusta’s stained glass reflects the light, just so, even in the dark, while Pamela Black’s signature style, with her ever-changing palette of poetic paintings constantly in flux. Tina Berrier’s luminous label speaks to the permeability of worlds yet to be charted and cultures melded as one. Elaine Elledge has an edge geometrically speaking as her deftly designed can holds the elements of architecture meeting art. Studio mates Reina R76 Wooden and the Huckle Buckle Boys (HBB) topple convention with boundless bewilderment. For Reina, the Pennsylvania Keystone State outline and 1787 adorn her making an historic reference to statehood as one of the original 13 colonies. Zack Rudy and Garrett Dorset (the HBBs) have always been known for the characters they create. They are far removed from those we meet on the avenue of everyday life. In fact, if you came across them anywhere, you may want to cross the street. Alter egos or just part of the gang—you decide. No matter the time of year, you can count on Millworks cooler case being chock-a-block stocked with the latest libations (seasonal brews) artfully packaged in one of your artist’s favorite fantasies. And in a balancing act that defies the Moulin Rouge dancers’ high leg kicks, see how many cans you can stack without spilling their contents. Ooh La La!

RLo’s Adventures

Having moved on from Millworks Studio 215, Richard L. Hernandez, better known as RLo, has set his sights on the wide-open spaces of Wisconsin. Fortunately, art lovers who have marveled at his outsized charcoal masterpieces can take heart, as he will remain a vital part of Midtown’s art scene through the end of summer. If one can liken RLo to a spirit animal, then William Blake’s metaphorical poem, “The Tyger,” captures his true essence. In the poem, the phrase “burning bright” alludes to the tiger’s bright yellow fur, glowing as it roams the forest at night. RLo’s images burn bright day or night, and talent cannot be caged so, this fall, RLo will become a Wisconsin Badger’s boon companion.

This work by RLo is currently showing at Maryland Art Place in Baltimore.

Anyone who has stood before a masterwork feels the humility and awe that pervades the human psyche. They are something ever-present when viewing RLo’s charcoal catalog. In rare instances, a light every few thousand years shines brighter than others…in the universe we know it is a beam burning incandescently, a brilliant example of expression for the ages. In the vein of the great masters, Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo, RLo has taken his rightful place among them with his charcoal treasures. From old world monuments to modern day perfection, his work defines the medium. As part of the recent exhibition, “Embodiment,” at Maryland Art Place, MAP in Baltimore, his work is featured depicting a scene that bubbled over in a charnel house of human desire, caught up in a sepulcher of souls. I labeled his work, “The Agony and the Ecstasy.” Like his other outsized drawings, it showcases the breadth of his mastery. Look for RLo in art events and pop-ups locally throughout the coming months or contact the artist at [email protected]

3^rd in The Burg’s Hot Ticket for April

Julia Mallory’s art on the February cover of TheBurg

As an artist in Harrisburg, what do you do next to top having your painting featured on the cover of TheBurg? You open an art gallery! That is exactly what February’s featured cover artist, Julia Mallory, did. John Lennon penned the song, “Julia,” in 1968 and wrote of “an ocean child with seashell eyes.” How did he know that Julia Mallory would write a series of books under the banner of black mermaids? And now she has opened the doors to her studio and gallery titled Ten Oh! Six at, of course, 1006 N. 3rd Street, just a block up from TheBurg. Come out and meet Julia Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m. Digital portrait pop artist Cody Burt is the gallery’s featured guest star for the month under his moniker, Codeture.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Millworks Fireworks

June 30, 2023 | by Bob MacGinnes

Arriving now at Millworks.

The street side awning quietly announces an umbrella of art, food and brewery. Watch your step, please. Going up to the rooftop 3^rd floor where you will find pyrotechnics of all sorts…cherry bombs, sparklers, Roman candle, and bottle rockets. Studio #318, a shared space for three and #323, mirroring the same, are artists havens where numbers and letters play vital roles. Millworks has fireworks of its own in the likes of the ever-incendiary Huckle Buckle Boys (HBB) and R76 and P.D. Murray. You will meet these explosive artists who create art all year round.

Bette Davis, yes, those eyes, once stated “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.” Soon, you will learn “eyes” are a recurrent theme in the artists’ body of work. Buckling in is a safety measure well applied when on the rollercoaster that Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy man in their amusement park of characters colliding in their zany funhouse.

Artwork from the Huckle Buckle Boys

Zack and Garrick are intense artists, radical in every sense of the word but as laid back as a Sunday morning, philosophically. They operate in a world completely of their own making. So, to be invited to their inner sanctum is a rare treat. Alice in Wonderland had nothing on this duo. Just ask Neo, “the red or the blue.”

To try to capture their art is akin to catching lightning in a bottle. Characters stemming from two fevered imaginations spring forth, creating a narrative that begs description. But rather than pigeonhole meaning, they leave the script wide open to interpretation. In creating mixed mediums on canvas, a new body of work is born out of their fomenting minds. HBB speaks to “new layers, drips, stabs and general experimentation” in sun-washed, colorful tones that would look snappy drying on a clothesline, except their subjects don’t wear clothes. Garrick went on to share that this is “a period of time to step back and check each other’s work, developing characters organically.”

Their latest offerings revolve around the integer “six,” which holds a questionable math quandary. The paintings focus on #’s 6, 12, and 24…are you beginning to see a pattern here? This new spate of surrealist tableaux reverts to a time when creatures crawled out of the ocean and walked on all fours, full of eyes far more than is necessary to see while begging to be seen. These specimens are desperately seeking classification under genus species. Where did you get those eyes? Jeepers creepers, where did those peepers come from? Just another secret, the HBB’s hold close inside, dating back to the mystery of 822. And as for letters, both Garrick Dorsett and Zachary Rudy have a number of R’s in their names. Looking forward to the next chapter of numbers 48 and 96 and of course 192 ad infinitum.

Art of Reina “R76” Wooden

When all one needs is a letter and a number as identifiers, it is a good indication that the persona is larger than life. Such is the case for R76, aka Reina Wooden, Harrisburg native, Howard University graduate and self-taught artist. Bombastic on all counts, from her bubbly, over-the-top personality to her fervent belief that art can and does change the world, she is a force to be reckoned with. Reina is an art activist, doing her part to help mankind become colorblind. It is my belief that, when that occurs, the platforms of art, sports, music, dance and positive dialog will eradicate all barriers blocking peace and harmony. She is a high-flying performer who never uses a safety net, trusting her own instincts from her days at university. This human dynamo wants more than anything to try to set the record straight.

As an African American, Venezuelan artist, Ms. Wooden is a revisionist historian with her works shifting the paradigm to reflect a spotlight illuminating the brutal eradication of marginalized histories in the African diaspora. She achieves this presciently with her thought-provoking tributes of Crowns for Kings and Queens for those who gave their lives through no choice of their own, as slaves, a theme revisited time and again in her oeuvre. Her series, “faces with Xs for eyes,” further advances the notion of a people who are not seen as human beings, merely a face among many. It is through her paintings that Reina focuses her lens on the tropes of racism, confronting the wrongs of the past, replacing those ills with symbols of royalty and power. The artist states, “the struggle is the canvas and the brush, the success.”

“No Longer Afraid” by P.D. Murray

The “IRs” of P.D. Murray point to “Irascible,” “Irreverent,” “Irrefutable,” just to list a few. Most of what follows is true. Looking at Bohemian artist, Paul D. Murray, a seafaring scalawag may come to mind. Paul’s eyes, gimlet for certain, are heightened by his trademark eyewear, which enhances his facial anatomy that looks at the world with a vision that is always 20/20, especially in 20/23. His visions often hallucinatory, high on life, often appear left of center always in keeping with his pure sense of self (awareness, reliance, perpetuating, you get the “picture”) and on the off chance you don’t, Paul will spell it out for you in his titles, captions, comments, etc., that adorn the encyclopedic range of ideas presented in his paintings. The artist personified, he is “irascible” proudly, “irreverent” by his very nature in a child-like way, and most certainly irrefutable,” a true force of nature. Old school art cred permeates his very being, a child of the ’60s born, the journey on his road to find out fortunately finding its way to the central PA art scene, landing in Millworks Studio #323. He holds court there on most weekends regaling visitors viewing the “master at work,” my appellation for him and engaging friends in his painterly patois dispensing thoughts on a variety of subjects. Knowledgeable and worldly as in one who lives life, Paul is perhaps a national treasure, or at least a local one. Think of Aristotle or Plato and the gallery of wisdom seekers surrounding them for a fraction of wisdom and insight. It is like those acolytes thirsting for knowledge delivered tongue in chic from P.D., always with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. The best part of all, no hidden agenda, what you see is what you get.

Commissioned works are a part of the show. Just ask him, brush always at the ready. Skyrocketing up the charts is a brand-new collaboration with the HBBs, guaranteed to turn heads and multiple sets of eyes. Murray’s latest offerings hanging on the wall at Millworks feature a massive work titled, “No Longer Afraid,” a repeated proclamation chanted aloud, reminiscent of What about Bob’s “baby steps.” Lastly, on P.D.’s summer itinerary… hang gliding over Ibiza, safari in Kenya, and waterskiing through the Everglades.

“Not only is painting cheaper than therapy, but it never asks me how I’m feeling,” P.D. says. “Usually, it tells me.”

Millworks is located at 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Special Day in the Year

April 1, 2022 | by Bob MacGinnes

Part I: The Men Who Fell to Earth

Scientists from NASA put out the alarm as soon as they heard static on their sonar tracking system thousands of miles out in space. It picked up a devastating, 230-kiloton asteroid that could hit Earth early May or sooner. The odds were one in 3,800 that it would actually hit our planet…but still. NASA readily admitted not all asteroids are trackable, but, with the size of this one, that fact fell out the window. Perhaps the noise could be an identified craft entering Earth’s atmosphere. The Northeast coast was the target, but when and where would be anyone’s guess. As the week wore on, the unknown object became the main topic of conversation with speculation rabid. Whatever would arrive by the workweek’s end was headed straight for central Pennsylvania.

The clock struck midnight as the first day of the month arrived, with a glowing streak shot through the rooftop at the Millworks with such force, finally settling on the third-floor art studios. For the local residents, it was a massive jolt causing the Midtown neighborhood of Verbeke and 3rd to come to life with everyone spilling into the streets to find out what caused this catastrophic collision. A spacecraft glowed for city blocks, emitting a strobe show like something out of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” UFOs have always held a certain fascination for the American public, and this one would only serve to advance that notion. When the craft’s doors opened, the Electric Prunes’ “I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night” echoed, the reverb feedback created by the guitars thumping bass line.

Art of the Huckle Buckle Boys

As the spacecraft entered the Earth’s atmosphere, it hit a time warp continuum setting the calendar back to 1967, and the occupants within left dazed and confused. As the mothership’s portal swung wide, out stepped Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett of Studio 318, Millworks’ very own Huckle Buckle Boys, delivering their out-of-this-world art. “The Men Who Fell to Earth” were none other than comrades-in-arms, brandishing paint and canvas to conquer Earth or at least central PA bringing a fresh palette back with them from their space jaunt just in time for an April 1 arrival. Canvases featuring characters that could easily come from Area 51 showcase optic colors of moondust yellow, Venutian violet, Jovian juniper to include the multi-colored rainbow rings of Saturn. Zack eagerly exclaimed to the onlookers that, “we were off in a dream and went for a ride last night” by the Turtles’ “She’s My Girl,” as Garrick gleefully gushed we even traveled to “Itchycoo Park and touched the sky” by Small Faces. Both agreed, “it’s all too beautiful!”

This blog is delivered in the spirit of the day and all April Fools Day stands for. With a nod to Orson Welles’ Halloween night original broadcast of “War of the Worlds” in 1938.

Look for the unveiling of Huckle Buckle Boys’ room-size mural and beer release collaboration at Spring House Brewery at 209 Hazel St. in Lancaster on May 1. Public invited.

Part Two – More Millworks Mayhem

Works by Erica Binder

Continuing the theme of out-of-this-world art at Millworks finds “Words of love, soft and tender” as once cooed by Mama Cass, lends credence to Karma Ashanti Love, a crafter of consummate skill with her one-of-a-kind rope bags, bowls and baskets. The business-branding name is derived from the designer’s daughters, “tossed with love at the end. Hand dyed ropes and buttons made of clay, complete the labor-intensive process in delivering the final product to the customer,” shared Erica Binder of Studio 212.

Display by R76

Reina Wooden (R76) makes “singing in the rain” easy-peasy with her message laden umbrellas twirling and swirling on the wall recently in the lobby at Millworks. Decked out in eye-catching colors, the protection from the elements is more than functional and fun when the conversation-starters clamor for attention down the boulevards of Midtown.

Art by P.D. Murray

Outsized and outrageously outré iterations that P.D. Murray borrows from The Bard for inspiration, using Shakespearian icons Prospero, Ariel and Caliban from the “Tempest,” King Lear, Ophelia from “Hamlet” and Papageno, Queen of the Night, from Mozart’s opera, “The Magic Flute.” This eclectic group is featured in Murray’s latest array of cotton candy-colored paintings found in Studio 323. Choosing a palette perfect for “Springtime when Man’s fancy turns to thoughts of…” Artist-created libations found at the bar at Millworks, mixed with elan by its in-resident bartender, Roman. Millworks’ artists now have their own signature cocktails available to sip and enjoy. Cheers and happy April Fool’s Day!

April Art Events

“I’m Fine” at Creative York, 10 N. Beaver St. in York, is a community-engaged exhibit of masks and stories dedicated to sculpting mental health awareness through May 21.

Spring Odds One Bizarre is Saturday, April 30, in the parking lot of the Broad Street Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Romancing the Art

December 6, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Midtown Manuscript Chapter I: “How to Succeed in Business by Really Trying”

They say the more you put into something, the more you’ll get out of it. I like to believe that is true. I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of covering just about all of the 42 Millworks artists with the remaining few on the horizon for the new year.

To be successful in anything, one needs to put in the work with a major investment of time. When art buyers come to make a purchase, they are parting with a portion of money that will enrich their lives by its beauty, inspiration and connection to their spirit. By all indications, the more time artists spend in their studios talking and romancing the art, the greater the opportunity of making a sale.

There is a group of dedicated studio dwellers who habitually haunt their studios with such regularity that one can almost set their clock by them. This blog features a random group of five that maximize the opportunities that Millworks provides for public time with clients. Two Midtown art galleries are highlighted, as well, that are open year-round and are truly looking forward to the holiday shopping season’s final three weeks.

Ornaments by Amie Bantz

Amie Bantz of Studio 322 is very busy, from her art day job for the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts to art events for the Millworks. But she still finds time to create amazing work, which includes prints, graphic designs and paintings. Amie tries to spend as close to 20 hours a week in her studio. Highly visible during 3rd in the Burg events, she correlates being present to selling her range of art and getting commissioned orders for the future. Her yardstick for success is measured “by the conversations and connections with consumers coming in to see me at the studio.”

Tina Berrier in Studio 319 was an early adaptor of the Millworks art haven, joining before they even opened their doors. She makes it a rule to be in her studio every Saturday and Sunday, meeting visitors, customers and patrons of the restaurant. Tina realizes the importance of face time translating to transactions made and embraces 3rd in the Burg events, whether teaching classes or residing in her studio.

Painting by Tina Berrier

Most “First Saturdays” and the Odd Ones semi-annual “bizarres” are regularly circled on her calendar. Berrier often cross-references cultures past and present, unifying them to pitch-perfect in her paintings. She dramatizes worlds real and imagined to include animals possessing human qualities in otherworldly renderings. Tina states that, “The Millworks artists provide added value to its operation.”

Art of the Huckle Buckle Boys

The Huckle Buckle Boys, Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett, have now been in Studio 318 since July and recently revamped the studio layout to highlight their wide range of mono-prints and one-of-a-kind, wall-sized “niche” artwork. Having known each other since the age of 15, the “boys” push the envelope of art to its tipping point, encouraging the imagination to run wild. They also echo the need to be present to educate new initiates into their world and to greet old friends and customers. 3rd in the Burg nights provide the opportunity for them to be themselves, collaborating in a partnership that has aged well with time. For Huckle Buckle, it is “about the experience of creating than any award financially or symbolically. It is in discovering the next big thing to create.”

P.D. Murray is a true Renaissance man, holding court in Studio 323. Paul is erudite and enlightened, which is a potent combination in any field, but in the art world, it proves to be kinetic. Creating characters completely his own and paying homage to elements of past lives, PD enters his own realm. He develops vignettes of art narratively nuanced and visually astounding, leaving the viewer in awe. Paul spends almost 30 hours weekly at his Millworks loft studio. His philosophy shares that, “Patrons aren’t buying just art but the artist. One cannot separate the work from its creator.” He has created limited edition holiday ornaments for the Millworks tree for sale, as well as a limited edition holiday prints. Paul relates, “I want my legacy to be the quantity of works living in people’s homes. Works they have made an emotional connection with, including humor. I’ve never let popularity influence what I do.”

Art by P.D. Murray

Art of Reina “R76” Wooden on the cover of Black Wall Street

Some people possess a larger than life personality, and one can’t help but be bowled over in their presence. It is part of their DNA, and to be any other way would be denying their true identity. Reina “R76” Wooden has one of those outsized personas. Her art reflects the same ethos—bold, bombastic and beyond categorization. The mediums employed in her creations are an extension of her artistic soul—point and counterpoint. From paintings of crowns and kings insignia to faces without eyes and canvases made from recycled vintage garments, Reina lays claim to the universe as her mood board. Reina maxes out her hours in Studio 318, clocking in at 30 hours a week Wednesday through Sunday, whenever the restaurant is open. It allows her to make personal connections to patrons of the business and to explain her creative process to first-time visitors. In addition to her regular schedule, she is promoting Sunday brunch hours for the holiday season. For Reina success is measured, “by returning customers bringing new friends and families to view my art.” And on a global scale, her passion for art helps to inspire the next generation of artists.

Chapter II: Beyond Millworks

A wall of art at Nyeusi Gallery

At the intersection of N. 3rd and Verbeke streets, bordering the Broad Street Market, two art galleries are primed for the holiday shopping season. The newest can be found at 1224 N. 3rd St. with a storefront that looks like Fifth Avenue in New York City. The glamorous gateway leads inside to the Nyeusi Gallery, which opened in July. Already, in its first five months, Michelle Green, curator, is enthusiastic about the response to the city’s first fully dedicated gallery to African and African American art. The presentation is visually arresting, with an entire wall devoted to paintings, sculptures, artifacts and more. A legion of local artists includes others from major cities throughout the United States. The art is representative of a world stage often found by owner Dr. Dale Dangleben from his travels around the globe. One side of the space is solely devoted to art, while the other half is home to the communications component that Michelle employs as part of her creative consulting business. She dedicates over 40 hours per week to the gallery’s business, podcasts and in-store events that include painting parties. Michelle even teaches chess to those eager to learn the intricacies of the game.

A long-standing destination for pottery, photography and gifts galore can be found at 258 Verbeke St., the home of Vivi on Verbeke. 3rd in the Burg holds special meaning to the owners as they keep night-owl hours, open to 11 p.m. They also participate in special events, like September’s “Jazz Walk,” with great enthusiasm. The gallery is bursting with handcrafted bowls, mugs, vases and wall art. Vivi can be found at the wheel throwing and hand-building clay into enchanted vessels. Partner Jackson Boyd shoots panoramic photos of the Susquehanna and its boundless bridges. Vivi has dedicated an entire collection to her “River Series” ceramics, and both look forward to finding shoppers the perfect piece for those impossible to buy for and those who know just what they want. Word has it that the North Pole has moved to N. 3rd and Verbeke.

Mugs at Vivi on Verbeke

This season, more than ever, support artists locally at all art spaces. “Success” is a state of mind, but it is always important to be able to see the value of creativity in dollars and sense. Shop at a place surrounded with goodwill by those who embrace making people happy with their special selections, and you will help to spread the spirit of the season. Happy holidays to one and all!

Chapter III: Behind the Scene at SAM with Phillip Earenfight of the Trout Gallery

Phillip Earenfight, the director of the Trout Gallery, the art museum at Dickinson College, will speak about the current exhibit at the Susquehanna Art Museum in the Beverlee and Bill Lehr Gallery on Sunday, Dec.12, from 2 to 3 p.m. Mr. Earenfight will lead a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibit, “Four Seasons and Seven Vices: Old Master Prints in Series,” which is on loan courtesy of Dickinson College. The tour is free with standard admission to the museum.

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Season of Thanks & 3rd in the Burg Preview

November 15, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

The Art of a Cover

After all is said and done, the very best art comes from a community of contributors, as evidenced on the latest TheBurg cover for the November issue. A classic autumnal ambiance is achieved with all the colors of the season.

TheBurg’s November cover, photo by Haley Harned

Gracing the front page, the photo has a “wow” factor, staged and shot by Haley Harned. Behind the scenes, no less than nine artists and local businesses added accessories to the mix, elevating it to a still life masterpiece. Candles light the table from Millworks Moonrise Candle Co as its art director, Tara Chickey, provided the china and napkins. Silverware from the Antique Marketplace of Lemoyne sparkles and shines. Flowers courtesy of Paper Moon Flowers find a home, as well as an artisinal mug from potter Vivian Sterste of Vivi on Verbeke. Pumpkins from Radish & Rye Food Hub, coffee from Good Brotha’s Book Cafe, apple pie from Raising the Bar and fall spices from Callicut’s Spice Co. complete the frame.

Haley Harned is an editorial and commercial photographer, as well as a “staging stylist” for numerous local magazines. Having graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2008 with a BFA, Hailey employs film and digital media to capture her subjects with aplomb. The still life frame featured on the current issue of TheBurg speaks to a level of art obtained by a trained eye turning assignment to an articulated achievement of beauty.

Season of Thanks

A new mural in Harrisburg

In the season of appreciation and thanks, it is a gift to be able to write about the beauty that surrounds us, especially that of seasonal change and the natural landscape that we oftentimes take for granted. For those who live in the city of Harrisburg, there are other special words of thanks.

Over the past five months starting at the end of May and continuing well through the fall, Spocket Mural Works graced the community with myriad marvels of murals now totaling well over 50. The new additions combine with the mix of the previous mural festivals, creating an astounding allure. As before, the thanks are many and far reaching to all who made this third festival so special and meaningful. A thank you to one and all—from the 300-plus volunteer brigade to the artistic vision of the muralists to the generosity of the corporate sponsors and the dynamic duo that founded Sprocket, Megan Caruso and Jeff Copus. The murals are living proof of their commitment to the cause by providing public art that makes a difference, opens discourse and adds beauty beyond measure.

Gallery@2nd Notes and News

It could be the title for a Quentin Tarantino film, “The Grateful Eight,” as there are eight artists in all. The number included gallery owner Ted Walke, who generously offered studio space to a select group of likeminded local artists to showcase their work rent-free, as well as fee-free when art is sold. The original trio of artists came on board when Gallery@2nd reopened in July. They included Chad Whitaker, Keegan Beinhower and Sean Arce. After the initial response to the gallery’s new presentation, more art disciples were afforded space, including Johanna Martin, Rance Shepstone, Angelica Rios and Ashley Russo, all sharing a fervent zeal for the lowbrow art zen of Ted. It’s easy to see why gratitude is part and parcel from the artists’ point of view and, yet, it cuts both ways. The proprietor was grateful to be in a position for all of this to occur after being closed for almost three years. Gallery@2nd would like its clientele to know that the 3rd in the Burg event on Friday, Nov. 19, will be the closing night for the year, with the gallery reopening sometime in April.

HBB On the Road Saturday

Art of the Huckle Buckle Boys

A Saturday road trip to Easton on I-78E will be well worth the while for a Nov. 20 date to see the Huckle Buckle Boys’ “Wondering Ox” exhibit opening and reception party at the Hemlock Art Place for a 6 p.m. kickoff. Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy of HBB fame will be “unifying their flow experience” in their trademark style. Located at 9 N. Second St. in downtown Easton, the just-under 100-mile adventure promises to be a night to remember. Hemlock is an alternative art gallery that promotes special events and workshops, as well as being home to avant-garde art and gifts. Newly opened in July, the gallery fosters creativity locally and throughout the state. So, it is no wonder that HBB got the invite as Hemlock is excited to unleash their latest offerings in “Wondering Ox.” Be sure to look for Socrates, just don’t share his drink.

3rd In The Burg Preview

Rug hook by Susanne Robinson

With 28 venues participating in this Friday’s 3rd in the Burg, the event now surpasses the level of pre-pandemic involvement, which is a positive sign looking ahead to close out 2021 on a high note. From restaurants to clubs to museums to galleries, all bases are covered for support of the arts and local businesses. In this season of giving, it is important whenever possible to keep local business in the foreground and shop local whenever possible.

The latest art venue, Arts on the Square, opened its upstairs gallery housed in Market Square Presbyterian Church at 20 S. 2nd St. on Nov. 7. At the initial reception, this addition to the local scene found a stellar crowd supporting the quintet of artists showcasing their works.

Acrylic art by Kara Young

One of the highlights was Susanne Robinson, fiber artist, who demonstrated the lost craft of rug hooking, which had its origins in 19th century England. With ethereal woolens from Scotland, Susanne weaves a spell of color and texture throughout her exquisite rug tapestries. In addition, a trio of painters graced the walls of the loft gallery covering acrylic works from A to Z. Lori Sweet, award-winning local artist and congregant, is “inspired by nature, mythologies, as well as universal images of the divine feminine.” Kara Young from Gettysburg believes that “art is medicine.” Her guide to create focuses on “justice, peace and faith in a world she believes needs these qualities desperately.” Gail Walden Coleman, artist of local distinction, celebrates “the human spirit and also our sense of humor.” Mother Nature informs her work, and Gail does her best to capture it in her paintings. Last but not least is photographer Kevin Long, congregant and proprietor of Long Shots Photography. He finds mindfulness through slowing down to fully appreciate the world. Photography “helps me recognize the majesty, intricacy and diversity of creations more fully.”

Also, Pine Street Presbyterian, located at 310 N. 3rd St., and St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery, found at 221 N. Front St., offer up art throughout the church and in gallery spaces. Be sure to view “De-Colonizing Christ,” now in its last month through Dec. 19 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Where It’s At

June 1, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

“The name of the place is I like it like that…come on, let me show you where it’s at…”

For this 3rd installment of an intimate art preview, the name of the place is Millworks. And like the authors of this hit song from the ‘60s, the Dave Clark Five, Millworks is now featuring a different quintet comprised of diversely talented artists, as varied as their menus offerings. View this new show through June 13 on the main lobby wall. Come out this Saturday, June 5, for “First Saturday,” where many of the artists will be working in their studios.

Starting within the group is a quartet of women artists. Kristen Fava is a well-known name about town, having worked with TheBurg for six years. Known for her letterpress printing designs, she melds old world skills through the use of historical equipment in a precise manner that brings modern-day results to a finished format. In addition, she designs publication illustrations for clients as varied as the Kennedy Center and the Washingtonian magazine. Kristen is the founder and owner of Rexmake, a local printmaking business started in 2016. Her products can be appreciated on stationery that can be seen and purchased at Millworks studio 210. Ms. Fava is a talented graphic designer with years of multimedia experience. Her art is featured immediately upon entering the foyer. “Drawing” from a palette of neutral shades of tan and gray, Fava creates magic with works on paper that are soothing to the eye, maintaining focus within her crystal-clear vision. (Pictured: mixed media by Kristen Fava)

Elaine Elledge of Studio 212 minds her p’s and q’s like “the student of beauty” she is, advancing printmaking with pen-and-ink to paper as her prescribed medium. It often lifts her to the clouds in a dreamlike state. Her “p’s” include precision, poetry and parachutes. As for the “q’s,” Elaine quietly quantifies quality quintessentially. She is influenced by the German tradition of scherenschnitte to street art—religious symbolism to fantasy stories that inform her works of the human condition. Universal struggles shared by her own emotions and loss provide positive outcomes through her prints, lifting her spirit and those around her. Her art, buoyant and boundless, is like flying in a hot air balloon. Her art lifts me to lands uncharted. And like her art illustrates, she parachutes to a safe landing every time. (Pictured: mixed media by Elaine Elledge).

There is art and there is fine art. That is meant not to diminish the art of any modality or person working within the discipline. The only difference is fine art speaks to a practitioner of consummate skill and accomplishment. Yachiyo Beck falls into that category of artists. Her art ascribes to aesthetics and beauty as influenced by Asian art, with an emphasis on the natural. Beck’s paintings unfold as a most delicate flower opens up to the transformational changes in nature. Fine art is distinguished as unique to applied art or decorative art. Yachiyo’s works are representative of the intrinsic beauty she creates with her brush. In the vein of past masters like Georgia O’Keefe, Beck’s studies evoke exquisite refinement. She is an award-winning painter who works primarily in watercolors and oil. Working from Studio 320, she portrays still lifes, florals, landscapes and portraits with equal aplomb locally and on an international stage. (Pictured: watercolor by Yachiyo Beck)

Another award-winning artist, Linda Benton McCloskey, elevates the art of painting to immeasurable heights as she has mastered the craft in so many forms. Her love of creating through varied approaches encapsulates cold wax, encaustic, contemporary and abstract art and oil paintings. The artist states, “I paint because not to paint is unthinkable. Painting completes me and truly is my life’s passion.” A member of the International Society of Experimental Artists, she is recognized worldwide. Linda provides knowledge well beyond her fine art paintings in that she continues the thread through instructional workshops. In depth detail and execution are all part of her visual repertoire. She gives way to the process of creation, allowing for shape and movement to flow freely. Her work can be admired in Millworks studio 103 and in galleries nationwide. (Pictured: “Hopscotch” by Linda Benton McCloskey).

Ending with the only gentleman in this quintet is Richard Souders, retired art teacher from the Harrisburg School District. His career spans instruction at the Riverside Arts Magnet Program and Harrisburg High as well as the prestigious Pennsylvania Governors School for the Arts when it was located at Bucknell University. Initially forging interests in clay and fiber, Souders today delves into a recently developed love of street photography. This fascination is certainly where the action is, with so many side avenues. Adept at candidly capturing casual conventions, Souder’s street art turns into an intersection of ingenuity. His photos hit the bulls-eye every time. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education from Kutztown University, Richard holds both ed cred and street cred as part of his resume. You can find Souder’s works on the upper level gallery at studio 317 and can be viewed on his Instagram page @streetseen9.

“Waiting” by Richard Souders

SAM Goes To Extremes with Persephone

If you are traveling to and through a rough neighborhood, it is advisable to bring a friend along. In my 70 years of living, I have heard the stories of the toughest neighborhood known to man. It starts with an “H” and ends with double “L’s”—you get the picture. To venture there would be an undertaking of Herculean proportion. So imagine two women going forth in a collaborative journey that took one year to complete. The narrative arc of the Greek goddess, Persephone, inspired a dualistic, multi-layered art opus. The exhibit is on view now in the main lobby at the Susquehanna Art Museum. Artists Elody Gyekis and Joanne Landis “paint on each other’s works and alternate the roles of both artist and Persephone. They explore the themes of birth and death, love and renewal, separation and reuniting, mother and daughter and the seasons of the year.”

“Persephone” at the Susquehanna Art Museum (Photo: Elody Gyekis and Joanne Landis)

Through their work, the artists celebrate the universal theme of the power of women in exploring feminine archetypes and mythologies that reflect current themes. In the end, the 12-panel panoramic exhibit is a testament to two women and their collaborative process. These artists share their journey of creation in an artist’s talk and tour at Susquehanna Art Museum on Sunday, June 13, at 3 p.m. This is an event you won’t want to miss, so reserve your spot today.

You Saw It There First—A Real Jim Dandy

It isn’t everyday that the New York Times features a Harrisburg artist. So, one can only imagine the surprise felt when, on May 13 in the Style section of the paper, I recognized a local name, Jim Caufield. Mr. Caufield was selected among a handful of other artists who had submitted a work of art made over the past year during the pandemic. He “envisioned it as a fantasy place with no rules or recipe.” In fact, “an antidote for the times” (no pun intended) Caufield relied on found and natural materials as an extension of his role as a board committee member for Friends of Wildwood’s “Art In The Wild.” Jim has been a driving force in this annual celebration of environmental engineering for the nine years it has been in operation. With 124 installations accounted for in AITW’s rich history, he borrowed the naturalistic refrain from the annual event in creating his craft. As a retired architect, it was an easy transition for Caufield to shift from design to builder with his “Rustic Magic” creations. His 16-inch tall creation, an abode, reflects a rustic wooden cottage full of charm in its finished rendering. Caufield’s piece was one of 26 nationwide selected for the article bringing recognition to a local artist for his creative work. If you are a fan of AITW, you can bring a bit of it indoors with one of Jim’s dandy art pieces. From the small to the tall, whimsical abodes to light fixtures, e-mail Jim at [email protected]. You can also view his creations through Fine Art America. (Pictured: “Not Gingerbread 1” by Jim Caufield).

HBB in HBG

In local artist news, Millworks adds a new team of artists to the roster in June at the restaurant/brewery/art studios. Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett comprise the Huckle Buckle Boys, outsider artists who march to their own beat. Moving from their West Shore locales to the city, they will be sharing space in studio 318 with Reina Wooden upstairs at Millworks. Look for more HBB news later this month in Bob’s Art Blog. (Pictured: “Where We Met”).

Except where noted, most photos in this story are by Jana MacGinnes.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Pop Goes the Easel

May 17, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Art pop-ups may well become the go to venues for featuring “of the moment art” that is here today and literally gone tomorrow. Promoting a capsulized version of an art fair into a one-day format, with a ticking expiration, brings urgency to the foreground.

Proving to be old hands at this, Charlie Feathers and Reina Wooden return to create a seasonal symphony at the Civic Club of Harrisburg for a May gala in the garden, as well as occupying The Overlook mansion for an afternoon tea party of art. Based on their two-day event at the Civic Club back in February, the couple felt it was the perfect time to reunite artists and art lovers for a spring fling, “Art of the Susquehanna.” The impetus behind the art pop-up is to showcase emerging artists creating diversity through art. There is no better place to do so than the spacious Civic Club and its sprawling grounds. With the backdrop of the rolling Susquehanna River, an outdoor party is perfect for the season even if the weather should turn playful. A veranda and porch will provide shelter just in case. Feel free to carry a parasol to stroll the grounds for that fashionable “Sunday in the Park with George” persona. And that Sunday is May 23, just days from now.

A painting by Ruby Doub

It’s always hard to top the one before, as in the Civic Club’s two-day event for February’s fete, but this edition does just that, as it is taking on the hoopla of a Hollywood movie production. The “Usual Suspects” will be there, of course, with only one missing—Keyser Soze—no surprise there. As before, the “Maestros of Midtown” will be there from the first show, plus a star-studded cast of new faces. From artists to musicians to poets to BBQ, it promises a day to remember. So come out and take part.

With any luck at all, mixed-media artist Nora Carreras will be tickling the ivories at the baby grand downstairs, vying for playing time with musical magician, Jonathan Frazier. Next to them are two of my personal favorites, my beautiful wife Jana and our granddaughter, “La Petite,” selling handmade soaps while the little one promotes her one-of-a-kind clay bead bracelets from kid to adult sizes. You better buckle in for a wild ride as the Huckle Buckle Boys, Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett, will be in high gear with their outsider art. Bethany Nicholle’s, abstract paintings are just one of her many offerings that include tongue-in-chic masks, buttons and magnets, et al. Larry Washington Jr. (aka Larry Lenzz) rejoins the “Maestros” with photographic panache of sights from around the city. Ghost Bae haunts the grounds with “art plus” beyond her tattoo prowess. Jelani Splawn, aka Jelly the photographer and man about town, always has his camera at the ready. Claudie Kenion’s Black Lives Matter will be spreading the word through his venture featuring masks and gear in his effort to Unite Central PA. Chad Whitaker’s art could make for a soft landing with his sculptures, puffy and playful. Charlie Feathers always brings surprises to the party and loves to catch the community off guard and avant-garde. Grace Robinson makes a plea to color.ur.soul with her passionate paintings poetically placed.

A work by Darius Davis

New faces joining the scene are Jeannine Marie with her fashion round up known as Savagehabitexchange.com, with uniquely upcycled wares. Darius Davis, acrylic artist and entrepreneur, will be certain to make a splash. Steve Zerbe is known for pen and ink and adds acrylics in his art, too. Brad Maurer, featured as TheBurg’s “Artist of the Month” in April, works wonders within illustrative insect entomology cartoons. Quincy Yates gets tie-dyed up with clothing for kids (Shopkidsinc.com), while Jamie Earl hawks custom buttons and pins under Keystonebuttoneer.com. The rose between two thorns, Ruby Doub, “sticks” to Keegan Beinhower and Donny Lyons as this trio artistically dabbles in acrylic paints among their other interests. Individually, acrylic is their go-to medium that rounds out and rounds up the Maestros of Midtown to a full roster of 24.

Tie-dye by Quincy Yates

Spinning vinyl will be an import from Carlisle, D.J. Joe George, while Ace Rhoad will be “grilling for chilling” with Smoking Aces BBQ, “where every day is a tailgate.” In fact, Ace will have that food truck card up his sleeve. They wouldn’t be called “the Maestros” without musical components, performances and artists. JAH the G.O.D is taking the stage, sharing a personal journey. In addition, Jonathan Frazier will be romancing art-goers at the piano indoors while, in the garden, violinist and trumpeter, Morgan Hackett, provides the sounds for the season. After sounding reveille, I am hoping for a rendition on the violin of “Moon River,” perfect for the backdrop of spring on the Susquehanna. Troubadours Cherry Springs and Winter Parks will be showcasing their musical talents, as well. Even Maria James-Thiaw, creative writing program coordinator for Capital Area School of the Arts, will be sharing her poetry. She knows art, too, as the CEO of the Reclaim Artist Collective.

Art by Donny Lyons

Again, no better venue for this one-day only special event Sunday, May 23, from 1 to 5 p.m., than the Civic Club of Harrisburg. A big thank you to the president of the oldest civic organization operating in Harrisburg, Marybeth Lehtimaki. And a round of applause to hostess, Reina Wooden (R76), for an art party like no other, perhaps the one of the spring season. No expense was spared in creating this Hollywood opus of a production that exceeds expectations on all levels. The event is free, with masks and social distancing mandatory.

This art blog comes to you special delivery as today I turn 70, which is the new 35. We are returning from art heaven in Asheville, N.C., full of inspiration and ideas. See you on Sunday at the Civic Club with a surprise (no, not a cake).

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3rd in the Burg Events: A “Free for All” at the Art Association (opening May 21)

Growing up as a kid in the ‘50s, when I heard the phrase “free for all,” it was code for anything goes, meaning all bets were off. One can only imagine what ensued…the gamut from brouhaha to brawl and anything in between. Better head for the hills! Or better yet, to…the Art Association of Harrisburg for their latest show, opening this Friday for 3rd in the Burg. This 3rd annual “Free For All” is a more well-mannered affair. After all, it is being held at the AAH. The only pugilistic posture, perhaps poised precipitously, portrays paintings packed peerlessly palatable. Where is Peter Piper when you need him? Perhaps you’ll find him perusing paintings patiently at 21 N. Front St., home of the AAH.

An image from “Free for All”

Prized juror and former art instructor at this venerable institution, artist Maaike Heithonig-Hickok, has a field of entrants to preside over, from members and students alike for this open show of artists. It allows for one work from each person in the juried venue. CEO Carrie Wissler-Thomas and curator Rachel O’Connor shared that this annual event is back by popular demand—and who is to argue that? Any discussion could very well lead to a free for all. So, come out and join this free for all at the AAH for 3rd in the Burg or anytime over the next seven weeks, as the exhibit runs through July 8. An appreciative note to gallery assistant Nate Foster for sending a photo preview of this upcoming show.

The Susquehanna Art Museum

The SAM at the Marty welcomes Midtown Property Management to the neighborhood in opening their courtyard as part of its welcoming party to this business for 3rd in the Burg from 5 to 8 p.m. Ralph Diekemper will be offering up on the piano, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, won’t you be my neighbor”? The evening’s festivities are sponsored by Messiah University.

The above events are just two of 22 venues open for this Friday’s 3rd in the Burg on May 21.

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Bob’s Art Blog: Art Party Must Go On

February 21, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Chad Whitaker’s soft sculptures

By their very nature, parties are a celebration and validation of life, friends and the very things that matter most in life—relationships. Man is a social animal, and what are we if we do not have friends?

There was no shortage of those on Friday night at the Civic Club of Harrisburg for a “Winter Art Party” celebrating diversity through art, hosted by Reina Wooden, “R76.”

February’s 3rd in the Burg special event left those in attendance with an “art afterglow.” Basking in the presence of many varied artists, all sharing a positive take on their respective mediums, allowed for a night apart from other 3^rd in the Burgs. It provided the opportunity for collective creatives, mixed in with the night’s guests, to “network and nosh” on some great barbecue by Queen’s BBQ and Southern Cuisine.

Beyond the artists were musicians Ari De Leo, featuring Winter Parks on the upstairs ballroom stage, lighting it up and sharing space with Chad Whitaker’s soft sculptures. A covey of creativity commingled en masse (as much as safety protocols allowed) in the spacious ballroom upstairs, maneuvering six feet apart. Judging by the turnout, dance cards were filled and egos checked at the door accordingly, as partygoers were thrilled to have an art event to attend.

Hostess Wooden and consort Charlie Feathers were over the moon by visitors coming and going all night long and are looking to do more art pop-ups throughout the year. In light of Mother Nature leaving frigid temperatures and some snow on the ground, the elements did not deter the hearty and the brave. The show itself, billed by an art blogger called Bob, name-dropped the artists as the “Maestros of Midtown.” In addition to the host, the Fab Fourteen are comprised of Shawn Maykovich who groomed the grapevine while Nora Carreras and Jonathan Frazier added to the downstairs decor with paintings potent and punctilious. Meanwhile, upstairs, artists Grace Robinson, Beau MacGinnes, Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett as a set (pictured), Larry Washington, Jr., Ghost Bae, Jelani Splawn, Claudie Kenion and Bethany Nicholle shared the spotlight.

It was a night to see and be seen. From politicos to gallery owners, the crowd was rabid to meet the artists. The vibe was contagious, and, by all reports, the evening a huge success. So much so that a second chance opening today, Sunday, Feb. 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., grants the art-going public another opportunity to meet most of the artists, view the art up close and even purchase. From a one night only to a one day more.

The evening was capped off by Mike Sutherland shooting the scene for posterity. Think of Friday’s party as electric and today’s encore as an acoustic set, stripped down and mellow, easy like a Sunday.

The Winter Art Party continues today, Sunday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Civic Club of Harrisburg, 612 N. Front St., Harrisburg.

Photos by Beau MacGinnes

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Year in Art, Part 2

January 19, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Part 2: July to December: Artists, Exhibits, Murals and a Special Thanks

Early in July, the surf was up at the beach…in Paxtang! The Tiger Eye Coffee Company serves up three of the best items that life offers: ice cream, coffee and art all under one roof. What presents as a throwback tikibar/ice cream parlor/art gallery combined, specializes in incredible coffee and teas too. Owner Makayla Burton, 2019 graduate of Capital Area School of the Arts, has assembled a “Sweet 16” confection of artists to complement her Hershey’s Ice cream choices. Just up the street, the beach vibe continues at her father’s Harrisburg Framing and Sea Gallery et al (pictured). Rob Burton owns a way-cool shell shop and nautical decor emporium. The elder Burton brings a surf shack aesthetic to 3430 Derry St. Between the two establishments, the Burtons capture the beach scene in Harrisburg to perfection…after all, “Life’s a Beach.”

“Busted flat in Baton Rouge waitin’ for a train,” just me and Kelly McGee. Actually, the Millworks in Midtown (suite 216) houses the dream state paintings of Kelly McGee (Curran). Ancestral spirits inhabit the transitory state of her subconscious mind, and she brings those remembrances to life in paintings on pinewood slabs. The knots provide the portals between two worlds, one of the here and now and the other the shadow sanctuaries. They are the “Methods and Meanings” of Kelly McGee.

“Vacation Creation” stemmed from the adventures of 13 local artists who shared their vacation/staycation views. Charlie Feathers and Reina R76, Bethany Nicholle, Julie Riker, Nate & Tzu Foster with son Malik, the HuckleBuckle Boys, Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy, Hannah Dobek, Jonathan Frazier, Natalie Dohman (whose art is pictured), Douglas Beard, Nicole Herbert, Larry Washington, Jr. and even my 3rd in the Burg photographer, Jana MacGinnes all weighed in with anecdotes that regaled as well as inspired.

August’s 3rd in the Boro featured “The Signature Style of Pamela J. Black” and her unique wash application of acrylic paints creating highly distinctive and instantly recognizable works that can only be those of Pamela’s. From her solo exhibit at Cornerstone Coffeehouse to Café 1500 for the start of fall also found her as the featured artist in the Art zine, “Pikchur.”

“On the Hunt for Art” brought September’s 32nd Edition of the Harrisburg Gallery Walk, which kicked off the fall scene in grand style under the auspices of the Art Association of Harrisburg’s President Carrie Wissler-Thomas. The Latino Hispanic American Community Center was a featured stop on the tour that showcased “Stars Shining Bright,” featuring Nora Carreras (whose art is pictured), Lucy Giboyeaux, Claudia Salazar and Raul Cruz. Well-wishers got to sing “Happy Birthday” to Michael Hertrich as his gallery celebrated its first full year in Midtown. Also during the month, we caught up with local baseball historians, Ted Knorr and Calobe Jackson, Jr., with “A Tip of the Cap” in homage to the 100th anniversary celebration of Negro League Baseball at the Susquehanna Art Museum. Jovana Sarver, aka dirt.petal on Instagram, took center stage on the fashion runway as model and designer of facemasks and everything else one can envision. She slayed art forms like they are dragons, fearlessly focused on the designs… proving her to be “A Polymath Petal.”

Thursday’s child “with far to go” turned out to be the executive director of SAM at the Marty, Alice Anne Schwab, who knows “The Best is Yet to Come.” She was featured in in TheBurg magazine in October. “Art of the State” local hometown heroes Andrew Guth and Ryan Spahr joined Central Pennsylvania artists Marjaneh Talebi, Shelby Wormley, Theodore Prescott, Marc Vandyke and Autumn Wright for the virtual 53rd edition of the event. A fall 3rd in the Burg took us to the gallery in Midtown where everyone knows your name thanks to the proprietors with pizzazz, Vivi Sterste and Jeb Boyd of Vivi on Verbeke (pictured). On our visit, we met Broad Street Market busker-on-trumpet and Allison Hill musician of many hats, including record producer, Jonathan Diggs Duke, a true artist with a horn.

“Bill and Russ’s Excellent Adventures” take place in a home shared by partners aptly named Bill and Russ. For as long as they have been together, their fascination with glass has filled their lovely home with beauty. Much of it “stems” from once local artist, Ona Magaro. Meanwhile, over at the AAH, the member’s exhibition was nearing its close. There, I met the youngest artist of the year, “La Petite” Estella, only 5 years old and already a whiz kid. Showing her handcrafted clay art at the Art Association complemented her ceramic bracelets at the Tiger Eye Coffee Company, where she sells colorful and quirky bead bracelets, the money all going toward her college fund. “The Modernists: Witnesses to the 20th Century” at the SAM encapsulated abstract impressionism in its latest exhibit mirroring what we are faced with today. It provides context to the societal upheaval found permeating the world in the first half of the 20th century.

“A Bird Just Being a Bird” by Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy

My final art blog for the year was “A Cautionary Tale,” bringing us full circle. Looking back to the first exhibit of the year afforded insight that intuitive painters Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy were able to see the future and in their painting from that first show of the year. “A Bird Just Being a Bird” did its best to warn us of impending calamity. The bird was wearing a mask, sharing its message for mankind to do the same.

Art Outside the Box

On Oct. 4, an art open house took place with 11 artists showing their diverse works by “staging” a residential home for sale on Verbeke Street It gave me a sense of deja vu as the core group was comprised of those from “Vacation Creation.” This grouping included paintings from Bethany Nicholle, Hannah Dobek and Reina Wooden. Photography from Larry Washington Jr. added to the mix. Among the two floors, Millworks artists Tina Berrier and Ann Benton Yeager’s paintings provided a stark contrast to the pop art of Kevyn Knox and Stephen Michael Haas, whose paintings played off each other well. Rounding out the contributors were Donny Lyons, Becky Shagin and Darian Hoke. Speaking of the Millworks, its art director, Tara Chickey, rounded up all the odd ones she could find for their annual “Odd Ones Bizarre.” The event was moved up a month this year to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather, perfect for social distancing outside on the parking lot across from the Broad Street Market.

Dizz Gavins finishes his mural. Photo by Dani Fresh.

Sprocket Mural Works unveiled five new murals and beautified our city. TheBurg’s creative director, Megan Caruso, president of Sprocket, along with Jeff Copus, its co-founder, engaged a quintet of talented artists, who contributed their own take on larger-than-life art. This formidable five included Samantha Sanders, Stephen ESPO Powers, Tara Chickey, Dizz Gavins and Emily Matusz, who braved gravity defying heights to achieve their grand scale art.

On TheBurg Podcast for December, Caruso announced with some degree of fanfare that the Harrisburg Mural Fest will return in 2021.

A Special Word of Thanks

Within every community there seems to be one person who is connected to the rest through a magical power, one which provides the conduit of information back and forth in the best sort of way. A lightning rod so to speak. For Bob’s Art Blog that person is Reina Wooden, “R76,” who keeps me informed and up to date on our local art scene, and I am in her debt. So thank you, Reina, for the scoop always. As an arts activist, Wooden participated as a panelist in WITF’s recent Zoom symposium on social justice. In addition, her painting, “The Keystone King,” is featured on the cover of the Black Wall Street PA’s current edition. The painting now resides in the office of newly elected state Auditor General Timothy DeFoor, who is the first African American to hold that position in Pennsylvania.

Art for Worthy Causes

Gail Walden Coleman’s bookmarks (pictured) take a page from the phrase, “charity begins at home.” Coleman’s intuitive paintings were shrunk in size for a big cause, helping to provide meals for those in need for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Aided with help from owner Rose Anderson of the Pure Gallery in Arcona, the women have provided well over 10,000 meals. What a true gift in this time of need. A heartfelt thank you to Gail and the Pure Gallery.

In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and so many other lives lost to social injustice, artists Michael Fitzgerald and Gary Dutson, along with friends, erected a Black Lives Matter Mural on the wall of the Harrisburg Improv Theatre as part of a national call that sweeping change desperately needs to take place.

Art Without Borders

WITF’s Zoom meeting on Dec. 17 hosted by Charles Ellison through WITF’s YouTube channel featured a local panel of diverse artists on the topic, “Toward Racial Justice: Celebrates Black and Latino Arts in the Midstate.” The symposium featured Ophelia Chambliss, painter/educator; Shelly Lipscomb Echeverria, painter; Lyneal Griffin from Gamut Theatre, Sankofa African American Theatre Company; Daniel Egusquiza, executive director of Barrio Alegria; Christyn Seay, Capital Area Music Associates; Maria James Thiaw, poet/CEO of Reclaim Artists Collective; Reina Wooden R76, artist. To learn more and watch the conversation, visit WITF’s YouTube channel.

End Note

And perhaps a painting from Pamela J. Black called “The Last Word” (pictured) sums up a year that will be remembered for a long, long time. Her painting draws life from a rich mix of color blending tones, much like the master artist might. It informs the viewer that true beauty, the kind that lasts forever, resides in the space of one’s heart and doesn’t need to have the last word. That is real love in the end and provides us with art from the heart, something we can all use more of.

Read The Year in Art Part 1, here.

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Bob’s Art Blog: A Year in Art

January 4, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Part I – January through June: Artists, Exhibits, 3rd in the Burgs and Social Relevance

The New Year started “on the sunny side of the street—grabbed our hats and left our worries on the doorstep.” We headed to the first art shows of the season on Jan. 10 to the Wild West (Shore).

The year began with art activist Carrie Breschi at Carlisle Art Learning Center (CALC), who kicked off 2020 with another healthy dose of social relevance in her merry-go-round of “Untamed Color,” an amalgam of art addressing seasonal affective disorder (pictured). With colorful sunburst stations set up for kids of all ages to create eye-popping art, Breschi enlisted a company of color consultants featuring Thomas Oakes, Cathy Stone, Deb Allen, Aron Rook and Carol Reed, who converged in the upstairs gallery at CALC. So bright and eclectic, you needed sunglasses indoors.

Meanwhile, miles away in Mechanicsburg, Metropolis Collective held an after-party all night long featuring 20 artists who held fast to the notion there are no rules in art. Under the watchful eyes of owner Richard Reilly (aka Rock-it Man) and Hannah Dobek, gallery director and artist in residence, Metropolis mapped out mayhem in the gallery as the Huckle Buckle Boys, Zack Rudy and Garrick Dorsett unleashed their brand of outsider art, taking no prisoners.

January’s 3rd in the Burg featured two art exhibits that started with an “S,” Scottish landscapes at St. Stephens Cathedral’s Riverfront Gallery from the Art Association of Harrisburg’s CEO Carrie Wissler-Thomas, featuring sacred sites rendered in rich oils that lined the cloister gallery walls. The lure and lore of Scotland came alive under her ethereal brushstrokes.

“Kildalton Cross Sheep, Islay” by Carrie Wissler-Thomas

At the Susquehanna Art Museum, a radical “Shift” took place in the lobby gallery. The technology-tempered paintings from Tiffany Calvert and Alex Kanevsky created a new paradigm. Prominently featured in American Art Collector magazine, the exhibit brought national recognition to SAM, as well as to the artists’ works. To top that off, SAM at the Marty celebrated its fifth birthday in Midtown on Jan. 23 with a party and grand announcement of reaching its $3 million goal for future development and programs, due to the successful “Bridge to the Future” capital campaign.

With February designated for lovers and Mardi Gras partygoers, a 3rd in the Burg-timed event at the Art Association of Harrisburg featured a dual show, “Hear Me?”, an art exhibit featuring deaf artists from around the state downstairs, while upstairs, Charlie “Bootleg” Feathers and Reina “R76” Wooden took over the gallery rooms with a surprise behind every door. As the deaf artists created the connective tissue of disability disavowing any impact on art, likewise upstairs the dynamic duo left no doubt their art was aimed at social relevance too, addressing mental health awareness (Feathers) and the Me Too Movement (Wooden), in an artistic avalanche (pictured, “Me Too Mannequin”). The language of art is universal, be it spoken or signed.

The road trip to spring took us to the Milton Art Bank, where else but in Milton, Pa.? Their “Black/White” exhibit stole the show with a who’s who of A-list artists, past and present, sharing their diverse works across all mediums in black, white and even gray. Museum founder and curator Brice Brown of New York, created a visual tour-de-force for the art-loving public to appreciate in a six-month run. With the pandemic closing down businesses by mid-March, the edition of 3rd in the Burg became my take on “Outsider Art” scenes of nature’s art with a glorious sunset on the Susquehanna River, Italian Lake and an early peek at the eighth edition of “Art in the Wild,” which filled the void for the first look at springtime.

Spring’s return brought sad news when the art community lost local poet, Joe O’Connor, who succumbed to the coronavirus on April 13. One of Harrisburg and Camp Hill’s favorite sons, Joe left behind indelible words for all of us to live by in these uncertain times. Joe is sorely missed. The 50th Earth Day celebration took place behind shuttered doors at St. Stephens Riverfront Gallery, which featured the fine oil paintings of John McNulty, whose studies on the trees of the forest and glens were masterfully created with their inner-play of light and shadow. It is no wonder that McNulty is one of the area’s Seven Lively Artists.

“Conversation” by John McNulty

Meanwhile, at Elementary Coffee Co.’s temporarily closed North Street location, artist Katelyn Buchan achieved her “own personal Nirvana” with an introspective look at what drives her art and fuels her passion, an overlying principal of a deep and abiding love for nature. And to finish off the Earth Day celebration in neighborly fashion, our friends and artists Brandi and daughters Madden and Kendall with our very own granddaughter, Kiwi, created rainbows and stars chalked on the cul-de-sac for all to appreciate, lifting quarantine spirits.

The annual rite of spring known as “Art in the Wild” got moved back from its usual April opening to mid-May due to the pandemic. Established artists who create for the love of art pushed new entrants to grand heights. At the vanguard of installations were previous back-to-back winners Beau and Jana MacGinnes, as well as Eve Gurbacki, who inspired newcomers Suzanne Pagel and Jill Lippert, among others, in creating landscaping legerdemain (pictured, “Kindred Spirits” by Eve Gurbacki).

When June rolled around, I sought out the ancient art of rug-making. Our journey took us to Modern Rugs on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street in Harrisburg. With their art gallery presentation, owners Zachary Nitzan and Tahirih Alia provided a rich history of rugs and romance, of exotic locales and enchanted people. Their lives are as fascinating as the exquisite rugs they produce. We were entertained and enlightened, regaled with high sea adventures and traveled to distant lands, all in search of the finest materials to create one-of-a-kind works of art. In the end, we realized rugs share the story of life, and we were hooked.

Additional Artistic Achievements

By mid-March, quarantine began as central Pennsylvania found itself in lockdown status. In response to a growing concern for her neighbors, Carlisle photographer Nicole Dube took it to heart and started a photographic journey, through social distancing, of over 100 family portraits. “Alive and Well” became not only an archival record but served as a time capsule of the pandemic to be valued even more in the years to come. Viewed at CALC over early summer, it served to define the heart of an artist and a community at large under stay-at-home orders. Dube’s exposé captured a place in time for posterity.

By April 2, just three weeks into restrictions, artists Nikos and Terra Phelps of Christmas Decor festooned an ordinary sycamore tree with 15,000 lights, providing Harrisburg with a Tree of Hope lighting, a way for city residents to rally behind local small businesses and restaurants experiencing hardship due to the pandemic (pictured). Their 17 hours of trimming the tree was a labor of love, which served as a fundraiser with its goal of raising $25,000. Twinkly Pro generously donated the lights, and the Tree of Hope at the base of the Walnut Street Bridge lit the way for other organizations to follow suit.

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