Tag Archives: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral

Tradition Transition: St. Stephen’s Cathedral unveils new digital organ, with hopes to reach new audiences

November 11, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Sarah and Matt Topping with St. Stephen’s new Opus 19 organ.

At St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, tradition fuses with the contemporary, and the sacred meets the culture.

In the sanctuary, light shines through stained glass windows onto wood pews and a crucifix hangs on the wall. Pipes for the church’s organ are affixed to the wall.

But what you may not realize is that the pipes are a façade and in the space behind them sit large speakers.

“This would be the swell division. In here, you can see all the speakers that are buried in here. Normally, this room would be packed to the inch with little pipes. You can see the big subwoofer speakers.”

On a sunny fall day, Matt Topping, St. Stephen’s choir director, showed off the church’s new “Opus 19” organ, opening sanctuary doors to reveal massive speakers where pipes were once housed. The digital organ was just recently installed, capping an extensive two-year process. The instrument is the only one of its kind in the area, according to Topping, and only the 19^th designed by Boston, Ma.-based Marshall & Ogletree, which specializes in digital organ building.

“This organ is built to do exactly what you’d expect from an organ,” Topping explained. “It doesn’t have big computer programs. It functions very much so like a physical organ.”

Topping and his wife, Sarah, the director of music at the church, are also new additions and represent the blend of new and old. The young Harrisburg couple, both in their 30s, have backgrounds rooted in traditional music, teach locally, and serve as advocates for keeping historic music styles and instruments, like the organ, alive. Topping hopes that their presence encourages younger people to experience the instrument.

And it is an experience.

Topping directed me to stand in the middle of the sanctuary while he played deep pedal sounds that thundered from the “swell” room behind the walls and shook the pews. Then he switched to lighter keys that emulated a flute, a French horn and a dainty piccolo. From the ceiling above me, an angelic “ethereal” sound twinkled.

When they all come together, you’re surrounded by music.

The organ offers over 100 types of sounds emanating from speakers strategically placed in seven spots around the sanctuary.

Opus 19

Topping explained how the digital organ allows for far more variety than a pipe organ would, especially in their sanctuary, which is limited by space. Another bonus—no time-consuming tuning and cleaning, which makes it more user-friendly and accessible.

But will the organ purists tell the difference? I asked Topping.

“To the trained ear, you could maybe hear some differences, but that’s the specialty of Marshall & Ogletree. They’re professional organists who are tuning the sound,” Topping said. “There are the purists who are kind of old school who will say there’s nothing quite like a physical pipe organ […] and I think in some ways there’s some logic to that. It’s a maintaining of history. But I would also say to them, they should come and have their minds changed.”

St. Stephen’s plans to put their new investment to heavy use. Topping said that the organ is used in every church service, as well as for choir performances and musical showcases. The cathedral also hosts a Music by the River concert series for the community, which will utilize the organ as well.

“This organ we are hoping brings people together,” Topping said. “It’s a huge investment in the church, but it’s an investment not just for the people that go to this church, but for Harrisburg and the community.”

St. Stephen’s is hosting an organ dedication concert on Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. for free and open to the community. Erik Meyer, an organist at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, will play the new instrument.

While the church remains committed to tradition and history, approaching its 200^th anniversary in 2026, Topping also sees the advancements that St. Stephen’s is making. The church has the same cobblestone floors that it was built with, but is seeing a cohort of younger people attending on Sundays. The Toppings themselves are preserving the classic music style, but with a younger perspective.

Considering all of that, Topping sees the new “Opus 19” as a good example of what the church values.

“I think it’s very similar to what you would hear from the Episcopal Church about how they think about their faith,” he said. “They’re really big on maintaining tradition, but they like to let tradition inform their decisions now. So, I think this organ is a good analogy for that. It’s a futuristic instrument […]but it’s very much so rooted in the tradition and has the standard sounds that you would hear from an Episcopal church.”

For more information on St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral and its events, visit their website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: The Poetry in October

October 18, 2022 | by Bob MacGinnes

“Pot of October” by Jovana Sarver

The English poet, Gordon Sumner, queried, “Will you be my love upon the fields of barley? Many years have passed since those summer days…”

Over the course of Bob’s art blogs, it has become common knowledge that I have an unabashedly amorous affair with the month of October–the most beautiful of the year for those too enamored with autumn. It seems to be the most fleeting month as well, gone almost as soon as it arrives. October brings with it life-affirming themes, even though it is a season of transition from warm, golden days to those that change the landscape around us, blanketing the earth for the days ahead of winter.

“Water of Life” at St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery

“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink…” Thus penned Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his epic poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” in 1798. Little did Coleridge know that, almost 225 years later, the world would be facing drastic climate change. Hurricanes, floods, apocalyptic rain and the list goes on prove that he was a soothsayer of circumspect consideration.

St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery’s current “Water of Life” exhibit touches upon those topics, among others, in a tightly juried show of 23 works from 14 artists. Not to dismiss global alarms, the gallery also pays notice to the roles, both sacred and secular, that water plays in the everyday world, adding a few cautionary tales to the mix.

The exhibit does an exemplary job of the artist’s dilemma in bridging sacred and secular worlds as often they appear to be in direct conflict. In religious terms, water is spiritually linked to purity and baptism, being born again in water resurfacing as a new child in faith, washed clean of sin. Unique works from photography to collage to paintings, water is the focus foregrounded in the viewer’s collective conscience. In this exhibit, less is truly more with each selection standing apart brilliantly.

The jurors awarded local artist Lori Sweet with “Best in Show” for her acrylic painting, “Baptism: The Blessing of Water,” which depicts “a woman holding a bowl of water flowing out into the world.” The woman is caught between the worlds of the seen and unseen, offering blessings to both.

Julie Riker, well-known plein air painter, embraces “alla prima,” which means completing the work in one session, which she feels “keeps the surface fresh.” Julie was honored for her painting, “The Color of Water,” given the jury’s “Award for Excellence.” It is an oil on canvas that features rushing blue and white water by a lakeside shore, shimmering to its very bottom where life is present in the everyday order of nature.

“The Color of Water” by Julie Riker (photo: Jana MacGinnes)

Jonathan Frazier’s “Susquehanna Light” is another representation of plein air painting at its best. Jonathan captures an “exquisite sense of colors that abound in our local landscapes as the light changes over the course of the day.”

“Susquehanna Light” by Jonathan Frazier (photo: Jana MacGinnes)

Craig Bomberger, local art teacher, takes a tongue-in-cheek approach with his acrylic on canvas, “Opening Up to the World,” with a “bright and vibrant” palette of colors capping off the body of water with a wide-eyed character, perhaps symbolizing that we are intertwined with nature. Both bubbly and buoyant, it lifts the spirits of onlookers.

Half of community-minded art couple of Vivi on Verbeke, photographer Jeb Boyd offers a grand scale black-and-white study entitled, “Viaduct Vista: Steamy Susquehanna,” a dramatic shot of the conduits of calibration, channeling the ebb and flow of the great river. Partner Vivian Sterste-Brandler’s painting, “Spiritual Retreat at Fuller Lake,” offers insight as to how water can restore and heal just by being near it.

Daniel Petruzzi mixed his loves for art history and philosophy, bringing an amalgamation of methods and meanings to the foreground in his work, “The Maintenance of Empire.” This multi-media work-on-paper won the “Cathedral Prize” and is a testament to the dualistic themes of control and surveillance.

“Water of Life” can be viewed at St. Stephens Riverfront Gallery through Nov. 20 on Sundays from 12 to 3 p.m. For a relatively small exhibit, “Water of Life” makes a powerful statement on many levels and may just surprise you like a wave at the beach that comes out of nowhere.

Artist Spotlight: Carrie Feidt

Artwork by Carrie Feidt

In a world that can appear constantly to be wearing a frown, it’s refreshing to see a smile turned upside down. Art can move us in many ways, connecting on levels with our inner child. There is art, pure and simple, that just makes us smile and warms our heart. More often than not today, that can be just what the doctor ordered. Carrie Feidt is such an artist who has honed her craft for over 10 years, and, in doing so, has brightened the homes of many local residents. She creates mood boards with her paintings, taking the viewer to a seaside landscape or down a dark, spooky alley with only a flicker of light. Other avenues feature frolicking kittens or holiday-themed vignettes. Black- and-white images in her photography offer local points of interest. Carrie’s works have been featured at the Ned Smith Nature Center, the Civic Club of Harrisburg, Millersburg Art Association and at regular plein air sessions she holds throughout the area. For many artists, “edgy” may be their focus, but for Carrie Feidt, sweet and innocent wins the day. As I’ve read, never underestimate the social awareness and sense of reality in a quiet person. They are some of the most observant, absorbent persons of all. Carrie’s fall events are:

~The SoMa Block Party (S. 3rd St., Harrisburg) on Thursday, Oct. 20 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

~3rd in the Burg in SoMa on Friday, Oct. 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sip @17 (17 S. 3rd St.)

~Face painting at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit’s Fall Fest on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

~Live painting at the Ned Smith Center for Nature

~Art’s Veteran’s Day Gala at the Country Club of Harrisburg from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

People who are interested in the paintings can reach Carrie by calling or texting 717-350-1072, or by emailing [email protected].

Post Script

There is great poetry in October. It’s evident everywhere you look, and the brisk weather takes the eye to the skyline as the trees shed their blanket of nature’s beauty. The magic of the month becomes ever elusive, capturing the joy of little faces on its very last day.

“I swear in the days left, we’ll walk in fields of gold.” ~Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting

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Mini But Mighty: Community members find a tiny way to combat food insecurity in their neighborhoods

September 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

From left, Eliana Roof, Olivia Long, Kara Bidgood Enders and Jennifer Turner Long.
Photo courtesy of Long Shots Photography

They’re popping up outside businesses, churches and on street corners.

Newspaper street boxes, metal lockers and even large mailboxes have been converted into cupboards. Tucked inside are granola bars, cereal boxes and cans of fruit. You might have missed these tiny food pantries or passed one on the street without noticing. But for those who need them, they find them.

For the past few years, local community members have opened these little community pantries. They serve as drop boxes, where people who have extra can leave a little something for those in need to pick up. In and around the Harrisburg area, the pantries have become an innovative way for neighbors to get food into hungry hands.

Peter Leonard, the CEO of Little Amps Coffee Roasters in Harrisburg, is used to feeding people. But last year, he wanted to find another way to do that and help those who couldn’t afford to purchase food. Inspired by coffee shops he saw in cities like Philadelphia and New York, Leonard set up the “Green Street Community Pantry” outside Little Amps’ Midtown location.

“It’s truly intended to be a community pantry,” he said. “Anyone should be able to use it, whether that’s to stock it or to take from it.”

Little Amps relies on the neighboring Midtown community to fill the metal locker with food. While the coffee shop set up the cupboard, it’s meant to be the community’s, Leonard explained, and residents have stepped up to the plate. He knows of several people who will regularly fill the pantry.

“It’s fulfilling to see the community engaging in it,” he said.

Innovative Aid

You may say the mini food pantry is the cousin of the little free library. James Lyles, president of Youth 10x Better Ministries, had several little libraries located throughout Harrisburg’s Allison Hill, Uptown and Midtown neighborhoods, as well as in Steelton.

When the pandemic hit, Lyles decided to swap the books for food. He now has over 10 mini pantries throughout the city.

“Everybody was on lockdown,” he said. “For people that couldn’t get out to get food, they could go there.”

During the height of COVID, he included items like masks and hand sanitizer alongside the food. Even with the most dangerous days of the pandemic behind us, Lyles and volunteer community members still fill the pantries regularly. The need hasn’t stopped, he said.

Lyles remembers a man telling him that he and his wife took food from the pantry during a time of need. Stories like that are what keep him going.

“That lets me know that it’s worth it,” he said.

Across the Susquehanna River, several high school students saw the same need for food in their community. Students at The Studio dance school in Enola recently planned for and constructed a mini food pantry.

As part of The Studio’s student leaders program, dancers are encouraged to find ways to serve. In the past, they’ve participated in trash cleanups, collected winter clothing for people in need and assisted with local parades. While discussing new ways to conduct outreach at a meeting, students decided on a food pantry.

“Food insecurity is a big issue,” said Kara Bidgood Enders, a high school senior. “I see it within my own school.”

Eleventh-grader Eliana Roof, who attends Dauphin County Technical School for its construction program, took the lead on the pantry.

“I saw it as an opportunity to be a part of that project,” she said.

For the next few weeks, Roof built the pantry during shop class at school with the help of her teacher, Robert Brightbill. This summer, they set it up outside The Studio and filled it with nonperishables.

Since then, the students have already seen the difference it’s made. Items have already emptied out, and community members have refilled the box. With classes restarting at The Studio for the fall, owner Jennifer Turner Long expects lots of donations from students and their families.

“This group of kids is very thoughtful and large of heart, and the families go above and beyond,” she said.

For the student leaders at The Studio, their mini pantry project has given them a chance to make a difference in their community.

“It’s rewarding,” said 11th-grader Olivia Long. “I didn’t expect it to be as successful as it is. To see it’s helping others and working—it’s nice to see.”

Give and Take

While Harrisburg has several large food banks where people can pick up items for weekly meals, the mini pantries provide an easy grab-and-go option.

According to Cindy Harbert, an administrator at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral on N. Front Street, transportation can be a barrier for people trying to get to food banks. The mini pantries offer a nearby resource to those in the neighborhood. The small food items can also easily fit in a backpack, for those who may be experiencing homelessness.

St. Stephen’s saw a need for this service over the years, after noticing the amount of unhoused residents who walked along N. Front Street.

“This was a way that we could serve those on the street,” Harbert said. “It’s really to serve the underserved population.”

The cathedral knew it didn’t have the resources to operate a full-sized food bank, so members decided to do what they could. About five years ago, they opened their “Blessing Box.”

The congregation stocks the pantry regularly with food, hygiene items and, in the winter, gloves and hats. Every time they fill it, it’s emptied quickly after.

“It certainly serves a need,” Harbert said. “All are welcome, regardless of your circumstances.”

For those interested in donating to a local mini pantry, Leonard of Little Amps recommends items that can be immediately consumed, like granola bars, drinks or other snacks.

“Don’t assume people have access to cooking materials,” he said.

Canned veggies are an item that is frequently donated, but often left on the pantries’ shelves. The Green Street Community Pantry has been flooded with green beans, so Leonard advises steering away from those. Anything that’s been in the back of your cabinet for years, no one else will want to eat either, he advised.

Personal care items are always a need, as well.

When it comes down to it, Leonard and others overseeing pantries are hopeful that it can truly be a “take what you need, leave what you can” operation.

“It’s our responsibility,” he said. “If you have an abundance, share it.”

The Green Street Community Pantry is located at 1836 Green St., Harrisburg. For more information about Little Amps Coffee Roasters, visit www.littleampscoffee.com.

Youth 10x Better Ministries has mini food pantries at locations around Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

The Studio and its mini pantry are located at 427 N. Enola Rd., Enola. For more information, visit www.summerdaledance.com.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral and its mini pantry are located at 221 N. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.ststephenshbg.org.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

August 26, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Local artist Linda Billet showed off her community mosaic, now displayed in the Harrisburg High School-John Harris campus.

Our Friends of TheBurg Bash is coming up, and we can’t wait to celebrate! If you’re one of our supporters, make sure you buy your ticket this weekend to join us. Now, here’s your weekly news digest. Everything you need to know from this week in Harrisburg is listed, below.

The Broad Street Market is looking for a new executive director, our online story reported. The position has remained open since Josh Heilman, the former director, stepped down.

The Capital Area Beekeeper’s Association spreads awareness about the importance of bees to the environment, our magazine story reported. Over 200 Harrisburg-area residents belong to CABA, and the group continues to grow.

Capital Region Water board of directors approved a plan to reduce pollutants flowing into waterways, our reporting found. The agreement includes projects to help the city’s sewer infrastructure capture at least 85% of system flow during wet weather.

Construction on N. 2^nd Street in Harrisburg is moving forward, as the portion of the roadway from Maclay to Division streets will convert to two-way traffic early next month. The city expects the total project to be completed by mid-fall, our online story reported.

Our editor says that the announcement that Knead Pizza in Harrisburg has closed is a lose-lose situation. In his editorial, read why he sees the closure as a big loss for the city.

Hall’s Ice Cream in Perry County has crafted flavors for ice-cream lovers for 75 years, our magazine story reported. Most recently, owner Matthew Hall stepped up to continue operating the family business.

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday night approved a land development plan for a five-story residential and retail structure at 512-514 N. 2^nd St., our online story reported. Developer Derek Dilks plans to demolish the two dilapidated buildings that currently sit on the property and build a new structure with first-floor retail space and seven apartments above.

Harrisburg School District officials unveiled a new mosaic in the Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus, our online story reported. The mosaic was created with help from community members and students at the city’s Artsfest and assembled by local artist Linda Billet.

Harrisburg will host a parade on Saturday to celebrate World Series champions, the Michael Stepp RBI of Greater Harrisburg softball team, our online story reported. A celebratory picnic will follow the parade.

The Journey Church in Harrisburg held a “Back to School Block Party” on Saturday, our online story reported. The church offered free haircuts, clothing and 375 backpacks full of school supplies.

Knead Pizza decided that it would close both its N. 3^rd Street and Broad Street Market locations, our online story reported. The news came shortly after Knead employees announced a plan to form a union.

Midtown Redevelopment LLC held the first of three public information sessions to share its plan, for dozens of long-empty lots in the unfinished Capitol Heights and MarketPlace neighborhoods, our reporting found. The plan includes apartments, townhouses, a grocery store and commercial spaces.

Sara Bozich’s Weekend Roundup has lots of ways to spend the weekend in Harrisburg. Click here to find them.

Shamaine Daniels launched her general election campaign for congress on Saturday in Harrisburg, our online story reported. More than 100 people came to meet the candidate and help kick-start her campaign.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral in Harrisburg will host an anti-violence event, “PA Prays: Forging Justice and Peace out of Violence,” on Sept. 18, our online story reported. At the event, a blacksmith will reconfigure guns into gardening tools and jewelry.

Ten Thousand Villages in Mechanicsburg will celebrate its 30^th anniversary with a community event featuring music, food and shopping. In our online story, read about the store’s history of promoting fair trade.

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Blacksmith will turn guns into gardening tools, jewelry at interfaith anti-violence event

August 26, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral

At an upcoming Harrisburg event, community members will come together to promote peace.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral will host “PA Prays: Forging Justice and Peace out of Violence” on Sept. 18 with the goal of inspiring unity and advocacy.

“The level of gun violence in Harrisburg this year is astounding,” said Rev. Amy Welin of St. Stephen’s. “We are inviting people to put legs on their prayers and do something about this.”

According to Welin, the event is an interfaith gathering, open to those of all religions or of no religion.

In a unique demonstration at 1 p.m., James E. Curry, a blacksmith with the nonprofit Swords to Plowshares, will reconfigure guns into gardening tools and jewelry. Curry, from Connecticut, works with police departments to collect firearms taken off the streets or gathered through gun buyback programs. He then transforms them and donates or sells the pieces.

Following the demonstration, at 4 p.m., there will be readings from religious texts, music by a community choir, prayer, memorial candle lightings and discussion on ways to advocate for safety through public policy.

Harrisburg artist Vivian Sterste will also organize a community mural project for the event. She plans to provide a large canvas and paint supplies for community members and other local artists to create a mural around the themes of gun violence and peace. The mural will then travel around to city churches interested in displaying the work for a period of time.

“I’m extremely thrilled that there will be an interfaith coalition that will be addressing this issue,” Sterste said. “I just want to encourage people. It’s about spreading hope.”

St. Stephen’s is one of five episcopal dioceses in the state that will take part in prayer services responding to gun violence on Sept. 18. Harrisburg’s cathedral took the lead in starting “PA Prays” and encouraging the other four dioceses to join, according to Welin. This is the first year of the event.

“Our humanity binds us,” Welin said. “This is an opportunity for us to be human together. I’m looking forward to being with our neighbors.”

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral is located at 221 N. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

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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: Spiritual Awakenings & 3rd in the Burg Preview

September 13, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

“The Healer” by Lori Sweet

Mention the word “spirituality” to a crowd of people, and, more than likely, no two responses will be the same. It would mean something different to everyone with a wide range of association and interpretations.

Currently, there are two distinct art exhibits in Harrisburg exploring thematic approaches. One is universal as it posits Christ depicted as a person of color. The other is a self-led journey addressing the “purification of knots”…the journey taken to attain that sense of one knowing the divine being. This Friday offers a great opportunity to view a spiritual slice of life different from those that traditional organized religion has offered. Both exhibits share a unique perspective and are available to view this 3rd in the Burg from 6 to 8 p.m.

“De-Colonizing Christ” at St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery opened last weekend, on Gallery Walk Sunday, featuring 32 works of art with Christ at its center, seen as a person of color. This exhibit is long overdue in dismantling the legacy of colonialism dating from the 15th century in portraying Jesus with fair skin and blond hair. In this new gallery exhibit, that myth is usurped with fresh and relevant renderings that bear investigation toward establishing social justice. This groundbreaking exhibit demonstrates the need for Christ to be experienced differently.

“The image of White Jesus reinforced a social system in which white Europeans occupied the upper tiers and indigenous people with darker skin ranked lower,” according to the exhibit brochure.

Such was not always the case. Dating back to the 3rd century CE, artists depicted Jesus as bearing their own identity, a sharp contrast to the 20th century homogenized portrayals as only white.

“Deposition 2” by Virginia Cohn Parkum

In its initial conception, Rev. Amy Welin and congregant Carrie Wissler-Thomas, CEO of the Art Association of Harrisburg, with an esteemed panel of judges, were selected for the purpose of creating a meaningful and moving exhibit of works by artists from all walks of life and backgrounds. This dramatic presentation was curated by Rev. Welin and Pastor Mack Granderson, under the keen eye and capable hands of Wissler-Thomas.

“There is such a breadth of works from iconic images to the abstract, the pious to pastoral, from artisinal creations to cutting edge technology,” said Rev. Welin. “There is truly something for everyone’s taste.”

“The Christ” by Jacqueline Doucot

The exhibit is featured on the cloister walls and throughout the nave, culminating at the altar with two beatific works on either side of Ludmilla Pawlowska’s massive hanging cross from “Icons In Transformation.” This breathtaking pairing highlights Michael Reyes, a Franciscan monk from New York, in his gold leaf and oil on canvas, “On the Margins Of…” which depicts a brown-skinned “Madonna and Child.” Mary cradles the baby in her arms as the heavily textured painting is laden with colors reflecting the entire spectrum. It transports the viewer to a place in time revered by believers worldwide, cast in a different light. “The Christ,” by Jacqueline Doucot, is a mixed media work in collage, handmade paper and acrylic on canvas. In this work, Christ stands surrounded by the Tree of Life in illuminating shades of blue, green and cream, reflecting the rebirth of life in its abundant bounty.

This prestigious exhibit was comprised of jurors throughout central Pennsylvania, including Nathan Baxter, retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese, as well as Ophelia Chambliss, artist and communications specialist. In addition, Nancy Mendes, artist, teacher and exhibit designer, joined Rachel O’Connor, curator at the Art Association of Harrisburg. Rounding out the panel were the aforementioned Pastor Granderson, director of the minority arts program, PA Council of the Arts, and Carlos Graupera, executive director of the Spanish American Civic Association in Lancaster. The judges awarded local artist, Lori Sweet, the “Bishop’s Award” for her painting, “The Healer.” The “People’s Choice” will be awarded in December by votes from viewers. The exhibit is on view through Dec. 19 on Sundays from 12 to 3 p.m. and 3rd in the Burg Friday nights, from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information about Riverfront Gallery, visit their website.

“Purify” by Kelly Curran at Millworks

“The Pearl and the Womb” by Kelly Curran

Kelly Curran is not your typical artist. She is a searcher, a seeker and, as evidenced by her latest show, “Purify,” a wisdom keeper. Her one-woman exhibit opens Sept. 17 though Sept. 30 in the community room at Millworks downstairs and on the main lobby wall through Oct. 10.

Kelly’s paintings channel her Native American lineage through a series of paintings that speak to ancestral spirits, dreams and interpretations, as well as visions of future days. Think of the setting as a sweat lodge as tribal elders convene to prepare for a vision quest that will reveal all that has gone before and all that is yet to come. The “Purify” pantheon explores Curran’s dream state messages from elders sharing the meaning of “purify” as it speaks to her soul and reveals a deep dive from the artist herself about the purification of knots—knots both literal as knots within the wood slabs and also metaphorically as in the knots that hold us back.

Her vision quest became a personal path. “The purifying of the knots for me was going inside and discovering all that was there,” she shared.

“It was a journey back to my heart,” she said. “The paintings came from a very pure place. At times, it was as if I stepped aside and let the work be done through me as a creative door opened. In accepting the path (revealed), we allow the process to unfold and are left with a flaming light of our own true spirit, able to ‘burn the house down’ and rebuild on solid ground. ‘Purify’ is my journey over the past two years represented through my paintings”.

“Returning” by Kelly Curran

The body of work from the show creates an aura that emanates throughout the paintings, most in light shades and tones as if spirits from the past were guiding her on her quest. There is a lightness that shines from within, evidenced by the element of water filtering from above and below throughout, purifying the subjects portrayed. The central figures to the narrative walk between worlds, finding the veil and parting and passing through portals of time and place.

In sharp contrast to the ethereal works that form the majority of paintings is “Resurrection, Under Manganese Violet,” which required 14 tubes of paint, all applied layer upon layer along with fabric to achieve the rich depth of color and texture in this painting. The subject is surrounded by a blanket of flowers in all shades of purple, violet and lilac with touches of black and white. A halo of harmony and peace permeates her within the resting place in this world, then on to the next in an awakening. Kelly’s journey, which points to the heart, may be universal for the seeker in all of us. Everyone who shares in the visual experience of “Purify” will respond to it on a different level: physical, visceral, emotional and spiritual, especially those open to their own vision quest. True to her heritage, Kelly embodies the belief that everything in life is sacred, playing a vital role in our world. Her journey may help to set a moral compass that points to fairness, integrity and kindness–wisdom to live by.

For more information about the Millworks, visit their website.

Photographs by Jana MacGinnes

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The Painted Word: Take an artsy stroll during Gallery Walk 2021

August 31, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

Art by Jim Morphesis

The ring of school bells heralds September’s seasonal changes.

This month, the venerable three “R’s” (reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic) assume new meaning for the 33rd edition of the citywide Gallery Walk, now representing “rejuvenation,” “renovation” and “renewal.” And one more “R” added for good measure—“rebounding.”

Carrie Wissler-Thomas, CEO of the Art Association of Harrisburg, is the coordinator of this major fall art event. She is most excited about the 60% increase in participating venues this year, appropriately totaling 21 sites for ‘21. Join me as we channel categories collectively.

Take Me To Church: Since Gallery Walk falls on a Sunday, you may want to start the tour at one of four downtown churches. Showcasing a groundbreaking exhibit within the Riverfront Gallery at St. Stephen’s Cathedral is “De-Colonizing The Christ,” featuring 28 works of Christ as non-white or non-European. It is powerful in its scope and vision. From there, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church will feature the paintings of Halifax artist Thomas Wise. Zion Lutheran Church will showcase small prints of Japanese artist Sadao Watanabe. Tours of the church also will be available. Similarly, church tours will take place at Salem United Church of Christ. Look for “From The Broken Pieces” stained glass art from Diane Hoffer, who creates astounding mosaics, while Barbara James, mixed media artist, showcases her realistic works.

History Housed: The components of history and education go hand-in-glove throughout the McCormick Riverfront Library on Walnut Street. During your visit, you can learn about the library’s renovation and expansion next door into the historic Haldeman Haly House, while eyeing the work of several local artists.

Also downtown, Old City Hall has a history of its own, rich and varied. The apartment complex offers visual works from local artists. And, while strolling about Walnut Street, stop into Strawberry Square to check out the work of students of the Capital Area School for the Arts, who created art during the pandemic year, showing how it affected their lives.

Down on the riverfront, the Civic Club of Harrisburg’s Overlook mansion showcases the art of locals and can be viewed while gazing upon the magnificent Susquehanna. Farther down the river, the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion houses the repository of artifacts and adventures from the early days of the county.

Over in Midtown, at the Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, the exhibit “Harrisburg Heritage Highlights through the Decades” features vintage postcards and memorabilia for purchase. Also, author and local historian Rodney J. Ross will sign books for his latest, “Harrisburg and World War II.”

Galleries & Museums: The State Museum of Pennsylvania always has something fascinating within its circular walls. The exhibit, “Witness to History: Col. Paul Evanko’s 9/11 Field Notes,” coincides with the 20th anniversary of 9/11. It details PA State Police Col. Evanko’s race to an emergency command center as soon as he learned the first plane had hit the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

A few blocks away, Gallery@2nd takes the road less traveled, leading to a quartet of like-minded artists offering surreal and abstract approaches that unify their works in the collective experience.

The Susquehanna Art Museum, over in Midtown, is the only dedicated art museum in Harrisburg. It features the final week of the blockbuster exhibit, “The Circle of Truth.” The collection demonstrates how artists view the world as evidenced by 49 evolving interpretations.

Nearby, Robinson’s Gallery offers rare fine prints on view and for purchase, as Midtown Scholar features an art book sidewalk sale out front. Down the street, the resident artists of the Millworks will be on hand to share their work and chat with visitors.

The Susquehanna River provides all the inspiration needed for the gallery, Vivi on Verbeke. Photographer Jeb Boyd, with his virtuosic “Bridges” photographs, captures the fleeting and ever-changing light. Vivian Sterste, co-proprietor, channels her skills on the wheel to create her “Susquehanna River Series” pottery. Together, they present a gallery home that is different with every visit.

A stone’s throw away, Gallery Walk welcomes Harrisburg’s newest art space. The Nyeusi Gallery on 3rd Street specializes in art from Africa and the Caribbean, as well as local Black art. The spacious format is like a breath of fresh air, thanks to owners and curators Michelle Green and Dale Dangleben.

Bite To Eat, Place To Sleep: Add two more “R’s” for restaurant and rest. Mangia Qui is more than a great establishment to dine. Qui Qui Musarra, Staci Basore and Elide Hower will roll out the sidewalk for a plein air demonstration, with local artists painting outdoors. A few blocks away, City House Bed & Breakfast may be the perfect last stop on your itinerary if fatigue sets in. City House presents the paintings of Hershey artist, Joan Maguire, with her watercolor and oil paintings of the sea and shore. If you have a reservation, there are comfy beds upstairs for the weary.

Great Outdoors: Sign up for a guided mural tour. Learn the secrets behind the Harrisburg Mural Festival with artists’ inspirations, themes and techniques. By the end, you may even learn the “mural” of the story. Book your tickets at www.SprocketMuralWorks.com.

Back To The Beginning: This 33rd edition of Gallery Walk begins and ends at the Art Association of Harrisburg with its fall membership exhibition, “Duality.” The opening reception and awards will be held starting at noon with music provided by Hemlock Hollow. Charles Schulz of the Paper Lion Gallery will host the opening reception, with Randy Michener as the exhibition sponsor.

Last year’s Gallery Walk fell under a sparkling fall day and, by all accounts, was received with a tremendous turnout. This year promises even more venues to explore with the added bonus of perhaps not having to wear a mask (at least until Oct. 31).

Gallery Walk 2021 takes place Sept. 12, noon to 5 p.m., at venues throughout Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.artassocofhbg.com/events.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Bob’s Art Blog: Hello Young Artists

June 14, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

See Dick paint. See Jane paint. Spot paints, too, and he pants. Spot is painting with his tail! See Dick and Jane and Spot paint.

If the above passage sounds the least bit familiar, all signs point to the fact you are probably a baby boomer or older. The primers of “how to read” fame featured Dick, Jane, Spot and even Fluffy the cat. I’m allergic to cats so I left poor Fluffy on the sidelines. This trio of friends, especially Dick and Jane, engaged in all sorts of adventures but more than likely never learning how to paint. But what if they did? Learning how to read and create art at the same time could be problematic with one surely bound to suffer. But thanks to Dick and Jane, the issue never came to pass.

Flash forward to 2021, 60 years after Dick and Jane had their heyday, which began in the 1930s with the last of the Elson Readers completion in 1965. In earnest, they might have introduced your offspring to take up the brush and create. This art blog is for parents and grandparents who may or may not have a budding Picasso or Cassatt in their midst. However, we are created to create. From the time a baby can sit up, they can begin to dabble while they babble in the process of making art. The truth is even a 1-year-old can engage in finger painting if not as a bona fide means of self expression, then certainly for the tactile pleasure it gives them by swirling colors around on paper with a contained, wild abandon.

Before I became an art blogger, I worked professionally as a mental health therapist with children. As a behavioral specialist consultant for over two decades, I was able to link families to community resources. These included art centers to channel children’s problematic behaviors into more creative outlets, allowing them to gain confidence while having fun. Developmentally, the optimal age to introduce children to the arts or any extracurricular pursuit is between 3 and 6, as that window provides exceptional opportunities for learning new skills. The activity of art promotes the fine-tuning of motor skills, cognitive thinking and development and even aids with math and language. Most of all, it allows for and encourages free expression. Problem solving and the added bonus of developing the right side of the brain through a fun activity are a win-win for everyone. One key is for adults to provide periods of playtime that are open-ended without leading the activity. Allow the child to choose materials, develop ideas, and let them dictate how they want to express themselves. Most of all, be supportive, listen to their input, and help when needed without doing it for them. Remember, there is no right or wrong when it comes to art. If they demonstrate a true interest that grows over time, then explore the avenues of classes, summer camps and workshops. Locally, there are many available for ages 5 and up. (Pictured: art class at the Susquehanna Art Museum).

The Art Association of Harrisburg offers children’s classes from instructors Crista Sanfilippo and Cassie LaPorta. The Millworks features a number of Rooftop Kids classes, June through the end of August. These free classes will be conducted individually, with artists Amie Bantz, Tina Berrier, Elaine Elledge and Ann Benton Yeager providing in-house instruction on the rooftop.

The Susquehanna Art Museum will offer children’s classes starting in June for ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12 throughout the summer. SAM’s instructors include Lauren Faircloth, Jordan Munoz, Mandy Forst and McKenna Gooden. Even Elody Gyekis, artist of the “Persephone” exhibit at SAM, will be one of the instructors, teaching high school students in the Artistic Expressions Summer Academy, held Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Summer City Camps include arts and crafts and can be accessed at harrisburg.recdesk.com/Communnity/Home. The summer camps are for ages 6 to 17 at six local parks throughout the city. The camps run from June 21 through Aug. 13.

Carlisle Arts Learning Center offers classes for children 5 to 12 from June 14 to Aug. 20. Veteran artists Tom Oakes, Carol Reed, John Guarnera, Brenda Leach, Rebecca Sior, Courtney Blackburn, Jonathan Greenberg, Alison Rosen, Lauren Aungst and Carrie Breschi provide a gallery of experienced instructors. In addition, Jordan Munoz, Kathryn Yoder, Savannah Manetta, Bethany Petrunak and Tori Davenport round out the list of teachers offering a wide range of truly inventive art camps at CALC. (Pictured: “Recycle Robot” at CALC).

Even art birthday parties are a possibility, providing a unique theme for a celebration with a short road trip to Maureen Marks Art in Linglestown for kids starting at age 4. With over 23 years experience, Maureen also offers art classes for children under “Little Brushes,” with four levels of instruction (pictured). Weather permitting, the parties could be outdoors or inside at her studio found at 103 Sunset Ave. She wants these young artists to be able to leave their “mark,” too.

Share in your child’s joy of discovery through art and praise them whatever the outcome. Picasso and Cassatt did not become the artists they grew into overnight, but the interest and support were there. For kids, it is the sheer pleasure of creating, not necessarily the end result. With school out and summer just beginning, be sure to explore your options. Always remain supportive of your child’s endeavors. Be an encourager not a critic. The world is full of those. Instead, be a cheerleader. See Dick paint, see Jane paint, Spot is still painting with his tail. Oh Spot! See your child paint too. Yay!

Market Places, Market Faces

Meet Cooper Weiss, the “Goodwill Ambassador” of the Broad Street Market (pictured, at the JB Kelly Seafood Connection stand). They say the youth get smarter all the time, but sometimes the work ethic is lacking. Such is certainly not the case with a youth just getting started in life and who embraces the ethos of success, only coming before work in the dictionary. Thirteen-year-old Cooper Weiss is just beginning to develop a strong sense of that “W” word and will be redefining it for his peers well into the future. Cooper is a rising eighth-grader and, like most kids his age, enjoys playing video games and football with his friends, likes to cook and loves people. It’s the last one that holds the key to being a great human being. He relishes helping his mom, Jen, at J B Kelly Seafood Connection at the Broad Street Market. Young Cooper literally delivers the goods. Anything anyone needs at the market, he’s your (young) man. He has perfected the art of the hustle, meaning he’s a true go-getter. As the dispatcher delivery guy, Cooper is known by just about everyone at the legendary market, be they vendors or customers. In his spare time, he likes to dabble in the kitchen or cooking at the stand. Equally at home behind the register or a drum set, he marches to his own beat. Remember “The Hustle” from the 1970s? For this enterprising lad, he has given it new meaning. He knows all the moves. Work for him is just another day at the market, connecting with people. It is what makes him happy. Be sure to look for him on your next visit, unless he spots you first.

3rd in The Burg Events (Before, During and After)

This Friday, June 18, heralds the month’s 3rd in the Burg on the town. Before you head out, be sure to charge up with a cup of true blue Joe from Denim Coffee, a new addition to 3rd in the Burg, serving their brand of caffeine until 3:30 p.m., located at 401 Walnut St.

Oil paintings by Joseph Frassetta

During your evening out on the town, be sure to stop in at the Riverfront Gallery at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, located at 221 N. Front St. The gallery recently reopened in time for June’s 3rd in the Burg, featuring on the Cloister walls the fine art paintings of Joseph Frassetta in oils and watercolors from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. After, head over to Vivi on Verbeke at 258 as those late-night owls, Vivi and Jeb, are just starting to celebrate the evening, welcoming guests into their gallery until 11 p.m. If you hear a whoo, be sure to say it’s you.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Bob’s Art Blog: Earth Day at Home

April 21, 2020 | by Bob MacGinnes

“My Inner Nirvana” by Katelyn Buchan

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day takes place tomorrow.

“April brought us springtime and the promise of the flowers,” wrote musician Dave Loggins back in 1972.

We all could use a reason to celebrate this spring when a month ago looked very dark on the horizon. Wednesday, April 22, is over the hump day, and it is important to celebrate Earth Day if only in our hearts and with our friends (with social distancing as life’s yardstick times two) and loved ones. The theme this year is climate change, and there is positive news on that forefront. For now, we visit vignettes from art before and after the stay-at-home order.

Katelyn Buchan, featured artist on view before the pandemic hit at Elementary Coffee Co.’s North Street location, shares an affinity with her love of nature. Among otherworldly motifs, Ms. Buchan finds that painting centers her spirit and focus as was depicted on the wall at Elementary. Her philosophy reflects a mood of inner peace and transcendence that we all long to feel during these uncertain times. Her paintings are rich in color and texture. “My Inner Nirvana” is a dramatic oil on canvas. The thought process behind the painting reveals an artist in touch with a greater meaning of life when she states, “I bow in gratitude…to nature.”

Just a few blocks away at St. Stephen’s Cathedral’s Riverfront Gallery, artist John McNulty’s oil paintings are also behind shuttered doors for now. Paintings include “Summer Shade,” which provides depth and movement in a monochromatic, lush verdant tree creating its own respite for peace and tranquility. “Chronicle,” a study in close-up of a multicolored tree branch in its stages of growth, reflects light and shadows. “Conversations” shows friends congregating, which speaks to the gratitude we will share when we can all be together again. Among other accolades attributed to McNulty is being recognized as one of the Seven Lively Artists and as a painting instructor for the Hershey Area Art Association. In addition, he is one of the artists in residence at the Millworks (Studio 210 to be exact) and is a painter whose medium of choice for now is sumptuous oils. Representative of earth’s beauty are his studies of trees in their rebirth of the seasonal cycle to lift the spirit of on-lookers yet to be. Both artists share a love and appreciation for the natural beauty around them.

“Conversation” by John McNulty

This Earth Day is all the more remarkable in that it is the golden anniversary of the first one held back in 1970. There is a certain irony in that the one thing we are able to do this time around is hug a tree. The universal theme celebrated worldwide in 193 countries is climate change. For those bowing in humble reverence to Mother Earth, now is a great time to recalibrate how the world going forward can globally alter the climate change crisis. As recently editorialized by a bio-scientist in the New York Times, there is already a dramatic change in the reduction of greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere due to nations all around the world staying at home. The air is already noticeably cleaner in China and Italy from this reversal.

Through this all, we hope we will have more compassion for one another, a greater sense of community and gratitude for the slowed-down time with family which, for some, led to time working on creative endeavors together. On a recent sunny afternoon, neighborhood budding artists created color chalk flowers, rainbows, stars and hearts to bring smiles to those enjoying time outdoors—a relevant reminder that the innocence of children sheds a light that we, as adults, sometimes lose sight of in our focus on the very things we have no control over. It is the children who continue to believe in and see the beauty all around us, especially during this special time of year. (Pictured: “Rainbow” by Brandi, Madden and Kendall.)

Go safely outdoors and breathe in the fresh air, sunshine and take in the beauty of nature. Keep safe and positive and hopeful. These are some “Pieces of April … for a morning in May.”

Art can sustain us in uncertain times, enrich our lives when it seems there is little else to offer solace, and give us hope that through the creativity of the human spirit, mankind will not only endure but survive and thrive in the days ahead.

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