Tag Archives: The Huckle Buckle Boys

Bob’s Art Blog: Arts Spring To-Do List—Millworks, the AAH and the JNS Gallery and CALC

April 14, 2026 | by Bob MacGinnes

Set the clock back to Saturday, Jan. 3 at Millworks Art Studios. A call from its creative director, Tara Chickey, was put out to the new group of artists who had joined the established order during the past year.

A shiny trio of very engaged artists excitedly answered, forming “The New Guard.” These hearty musketeers were eager to share their passion for art across radically different mediums.

There was a genuine camaraderie between them…that has always been the glue that holds the Millworks’ artists together.

Annika Koser

Annika Koser’s racecar wall

Annika Koser, acrylic painter, showed up early—that translates to committed, which is a sure sign that she will be successful at what she does. Annika is that and more: “Gentlemen start your engines!” One can almost smell the burning rubber at the Talladega raceway. When viewing her all-too-realistic paintings of fast cars, pit crews, and legendary drivers, she holds the inside track with her amazing lifelike art. Her paintings are featured and sold out of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville, Iowa.

Racecar enthusiasts and fans worldwide hold a deep appreciation for the photorealistic elements of her work. including her rapt attention to detail. It speaks to her personal love for motor sports, having worked at her local track for over a decade. April marked Annika’s one-year anniversary at Millworks in Studio 213. “She has a fast car.”

Jeff Scorza

Found objects artisan, Jeff Scorza, can be found at his namesake studio, Scorza, in #215 on the Millworks’ second floor. Plying his trade as a sculptor working with glass, wood, and metal keeps him on the cutting edge of art.

Having labored professionally as a much-in-demand architect for 30 years, he kept his nose to the grindstone. A true Renaissance man, Jeff gladly traded in his T-squares and scale rulers for a chance to literally dive into the sandbox face first to create a mold for his glass portraits.

His aesthetic captures a unique take on “what yonder light breaks” as it passes through glass. An alchemist of pure imagination, he is enchanted in giving discarded materials repurposed, beautiful objet’s d’ art, choosing “feeling over function”…with the finished work emoting instead of engineering.

The artist revealed, “I pretend I don’t know what glass is…but I know what everything else is and I find ways to connect these things—to hold glass up to the light and let the light enliven it.”

Kelly Anoka

Kelly Anoka (aka Kell’s Woods) can be found in Millworks studio #211, doing far more than “turning wood.”

Her process begins with a tree and what about it draws her to the romantic notion of showcasing its natural beauty. In other words, she finds a way to articulate its very best attributes. “Always in touch with the symmetry of the wood, a ritualistic dance between artist and object unfolds, leaving no doubt when the finished piece takes its bow,” shared Kelly.

Sublime, surreal and even sensuous are but a few superlatives that come to mind. Kelly confided that, “Wood, albeit trees, speak in a language all their own. Movement and meaning are forever linked; the limbs, branches, and trunk all bring something different to the dance.

I have been a self-taught wood worker since 2018…creating functional pieces that showcase natural beauty and flaws through the design of the piece. Sourcing upcycled local wood, I am able to extend the life and the gift that trees bring for generations to come.” From the requisite tables and chairs to smaller objects, like a hand-turned wood pumpkin or even a pocketbook appointed with accents of wood, help to create delightful surprises.

Marina Radanovic

Narrative artist Marina Radanovic is the latest addition to the Millworks art studios, arriving in number 318, sharing that space with the legendary Huckle Buckle Boys, artists from their own solar system.

By all indications, Marina’s story art will complement their ersatz energy. Zach and Garrick (HBB) invented their own genre with their “characters,” demanding the viewer has a pretty good idea of what is going on in the frame. Marina, by her own account, revealed “I feel blessed to now be working alongside two awesome artists in a beautiful inclusive venue.

I look forward to having a more permanent stage for my work where I don’t have to set up a campsite to show it.” Holding a BFA degree from California University of Pennsylvania, she is a self-taught creative who has found her own lane, often driving down the middle, able to navigate the “complexities of human existence through fanciful visual aesthetics or crossing over to methodical, earnest oil paintings using techniques from the Old Masters.”

Her acrylic pieces are often painted on the spot live and in person at concerts and festivals. Her works have been featured throughout PA and Washington, D.C. A timely welcome to Millworks, “Radanovic, artist”—and a happy 30th birthday this week, Marina!

Millworks’ April Events
Millworks’ Roster of Artists, April 13 to May 10, featured on the lobby walls: Linda McCloskey, Rexmake, Rebecca Adey, Kirstin Livelsberger, Caleb Smith, Kathy Mina, and Yachiyo Beck.

Odd Ones annual Spring Bizarre, Saturday, April 25, featuring an array of 38 artists and makers, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring the family for a day of fun and food.

The AAH, Vivid Experiences: The Art of Steve Barber and Earle Rock

Bob’s Art Blog welcomes Alanna Barton, the new director of exhibitions at the now century-old Art Association of Harrisburg, mounting her first show in the role.

The art of Steve Barber is bombastic in his abstract expressionist paintings. Joined by sculptor/painter, Earle Rock—the name says it all—solid as a you know what. Steve Barber can usually be found hanging out at Millworks studio 213.

He recently shared, “With a goal of painting with my design sense, imagination and spiritual mindset letting my skill not dictate with the actual creation is.”

Based in Hummelstown, Earle Rock “specializes in portrait busts, commemorative reliefs and oil paintings.” Often Earle holds workshops at the AAH. The Artemis II crew have nothing on this dynamic duo from another galaxy, another place in time, from the inner recesses of your mind to the outer limits of imagination; do not touch that dial!

You will see before you bursts of color explode. You are weightless, boundless and mindless as you view their world of “Vivid Experiences.” You have now arrived at 21 N. Front St., earthlings, just in time for the April 17 artist reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Trip the light fantastic with music provided by the Elaine Rhodes Jazz duo. PS, I know, I love that “mindless” part the best too!

West Shore: Carlisle Central

The Gallery at JNStudios to Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC), from 175 E. Louther St. to 38 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle, is abuzz with art for spring bursting forth everywhere, including the students’ show soon to be featured at the Trout Gallery found on the Dickinson campus.

Now in her second year, Gallerist Jennifer Neslund has claimed her stake at her East Louther Art Emporium. Opening with a stunner of a spring show: “The Poetic Gossip of Trees” by local artist Kathleen Stoken. Employing personification gives the trees human characteristics as if they could actually gossip among themselves. Reminiscent of the Civil War song, “Eavesdrop,” the elements of nature allow to let the stars watch, let them stare, let the wind eavesdrop, I don’t care.”

“The Poetic Gossip of Trees” by Kathleen Stoken

There is something otherworldly in a grove of trees lining a path to somewhere or nowhere, whispering as the wind rustles the branches.

The result may be a hushed confession acknowledging that, no matter the already known outcome, there is a momentary closeness in the exchange of emotions and physical touch. Kathleen exacts an imaginary dialogue when trees take on a life of their own. Exhibit runs April 18 to May 23 with an artist reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 18. Gallery hours are Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Carlisle Arts Leaning Center (CALC)

CALC echoes the energy of “E,” going from “Vivid Experiences” on the East Shore to “Expressions in Fiber and Form” at the GB Stuart Gallery main floor. The new broom at CALC has swept the place clean for spring under the new leadership of executive director Emily Ashton and the steady hand of director of exhibitions, Abria Donato.

A trio of fiber fabricators find form in flowers, seedlings and landscape tapestries. These artists are Miki Howell, who executes landscape tapestries provides a bountiful crop, Joh Ricci, a fiber sculptor who creates intricate knot work that defies typical conventions, and Beth Reese, who combines collage and traditional quilting, resulting in one-of-a-kind wall hangings.

In the upper gallery, three sisters explore family and memory in the exhibit, “Lineage.” Andrea Hoelscher, Erica Hoelscher and Kristin Hoelscher-Schacker sound like a crack team of legal experts, when in fact, they excel at their crafts using photography, found objects and textile installations created after the loss of their parents.

Art has a transcendent nature of being able to soothe and sort the emotional travails of grief and loss. Join CALC and the artists for the opening night reception on Friday, April 24, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Both exhibits run through May 30.

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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: The Originals and Holiday Gallery Gift Guide

November 28, 2023 | by Bob MacGinnes

P.D. Murray

“The Originals” sounds like it may be a Pixar movie arriving right before the holidays, but, in truth, it is a tribute to the current trio of artists who recently unveiled their Oscar-worthy art exhibit in the Millworks lobby, right on time for First Saturday, Dec. 2. To be an original, one must truly be a “1” of a kind. To be original is to break the mold. Over the years, it has afforded me great joy to write about all the Millworks artists, past and present. They are a community that ardently supports each other, shares an unbreakable camaraderie, and celebrates one another’s successes.

Artists, scalawags three, hold a special place in my art blogs, having written about them on numerous occasions, and now is the perfect time to introduce the new kid–but hold tight for a second. The trio is synonymous with “unique.” Prolifically profane at times, prescient posturing for others, but always on point, P.D. Murray is poised for permanence in the “Painting Pantheon of Poetic Paleontology.” His library of characters is overflowing with quirks and twerks, works with perks, and even “gherks that irks” (sour pickles). Pucker up, P.D. Murray. This is your life!

Huckle Buckle Boys

“Beep beep!!” A P.D. Murray mainstay, “Roadrunner,” like a gust of wind whooshing by in a flash, is on his way to see Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy, aka The Huckle Buckle Boys. Shortened to HBB, the Boys, over the years, have dealt in outrageously outre originals, spaceships and intergalactic travel, birds wearing masks pre-COVID precognition, and, of late, niche numerological navigation. Starting with the number “6” in a series of pattern forming methodologies within their current framework, mathematicians both, Garrick and Zack, crack the code, revealing that “doubling” continues ad infinitum.

R-Lo

Brand new to the Millworks mix, hanging art on the lobby wall, is a major force to be reckoned with…Richard L. Hernandez, better known as R-Lo. The “R” is key and points to the artist’s medium of choice, charcoal. The mystical gravity that pervades charcoal drawings is the interplay of dark against light, as ancient as cave paintings and the Pyramids, the elemental pull of creation comes full cycle in studies employing charcoal. From the first mark on the paper, the work starts to evolve as the velvety tone and texture of soot swirl in a brush with imagination. The components of energy and expressive freedom join in a seesaw of give and take, striking the balance in dusk and twilight shadings. R-Lo takes the Midtown art audience, caught in a whirlwind hurricane on a wild ride, bringing them to its very center at the eye, tossing caution topsy-turvy, tumultuously escaping, coming out on the other side safe but greatly moved and enlightened. Humble and hesitant to recognize his own immense talent, R-Lo’s art bridges the temporal and the eternal, depicting mankind’s struggles of the here and now played out on a grand scale. The paper canvases are wall-sized and dramatically draw initiates new to the medium into the mainframe’s depth as the seductive smears and smudges surrender to surround the senses scintillatingly surreal. R-Lo naturally draws comparisons to the great master himself, Leonardo, both in symphonic symbolism and as a supernal being. Richard’s star will shine bright in the firmament in the years to come.

Millwork’s current show runs through Dec. 10 and sets the holiday table with this unforgettable group of “Originals.” Be sure to stop in to see them and all the other Millwork’s artists in their studios and for First Saturday. View Murray, Dorsett, Rudy and R-Lo. And while you’re at it, break the mold this holiday season and pass on the fruitcake. Try something original instead.

Art for purchase at Vivi on Verbeke

Art Gallery Gift Guide for the 12 Days of Christmas, 8 nights of Chanukah, 6 days of Kwanzaa

Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., 717.236.1432
Specializing in paintings, statuary and assembled objects
Contact Nate Foster, Gallery Sales Director

Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 38 W. Pomfret St., 717.249.6973
Holiday Art Market, an entire gallery devoted to gifts galore.
Contact Amanda Kistler, Giftware Guru

Pat Craig Studios and The Pond, 30-32 W. Pomfret St., Carlisle 717.245.0382
Award-winning gift and custom framing store, hand crafted jewelry, cards, socks, and fine art and prints.
Contact Pat Craig, owner

EsoArts, 317 N. Queen St., Lancaster, 717.696.2093
Artisanal crafted goods from art to jewelry to upcycled clothing and even a tattoo parlor.
Contact Andrew Silvius or Zachary Walter, owners

Hershey Art Gallery and Studio, 1077 Swatara Rd., Hershey, 717.580.1614
Specializing in watercolor paintings, repurposed metal sculptures, charcuterie boards,
Culinary salts, bath salts and botanical soaps, jewelry, fabric art, prints and cards.
Contact Joan Maguire, owner

HIVE artspace, 126 E. King St., York, 917.971.7456
Paintings, cards, tree ornaments, jewelry and gift items
Contact Susan Scofield, owner

Millworks, 340 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, 717.695.4888
Visit 36 artists on 3 floors, shop main floor gift boutique for art, clothing, jewelry, pottery, home goods, and stained glass
Contact Art Director Tara Chickey

Nyeusi Gallery, 1224 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, 717.421.4630
Specializing in Black art and art of the Caribbean with artwork, statuary, masks and books
Contact Art Director Steve Barber

Smith Fine Art Gallery & Custom Framing, 190 Reno Ave., New Cumberland, 717.774.4301
Specializing in fine art, featuring 30 local artists and custom framing, conservation and restoration.
Contact Debbie Smith, owner

Venture, 128 E. King St., York, 717.495.9992
Royal Square Arts District purveyor of fine gifts
Specializing in artisanal paintings, pottery, paper, felting and handbound books
Contact Susan McDaniel, owner

Village Artisans, 321 Walnut St., Boiling Springs, 717.258.3256
Gift gallery 200 nationally known artisans
Specializing in blown glass objects, pottery, jewelry and giftware
Contact P.J. Heyman, owner

Vivi on Verbeke, 258 Verbeke St., Harrisburg, 717.961.9826
Specializing in pottery, photography, paintings and handmade gift items
Contact Vivian Sterste or Jeb Boyd, owners

Photos by Jana MacGinnes

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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.

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

Can as Canvas: Local breweries increasingly tap artists for funky, bright, bold label designs

August 31, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Amie Bantz

With all the beer options these days, choosing a beverage isn’t just about the taste, but about the overall vibe—the name and the can design.

It’s not an easy decision when you’re standing at a store’s shelf or fridge, scanning the rows of rainbow-wrapped aluminum. Maybe for the craft beer connoisseur, the choice is easier, based on the type or flavor. But for a sucker for good packaging, like me, the brighter and wilder the label, the better.

For many local brewers today, the can needs to be a work of art, almost as important as the product inside.

“We just want really cool things on our cans,” said Scott Richardson, director of operations and market development for Spring House Brewing Co. in Lancaster. “There is so much good beer out there, so packaging is important.”

Every year, Spring House works with local and national artists to create the label designs that make their cans pop. It’s something that more and more breweries are doing—turning cans into canvases.

But for Richardson, it’s about more than just selling additional six-packs—it’s an active choice to support artists by showcasing their work.

For five years now, Spring House has run its “Artist Collaboration Series,” featuring 12 new beers with cans wrapped in original work from local and regional artists. The 2022 series received around 500 submissions, Richardson explained. Spring House will accept various mediums, as they’ve chosen fabric art, sculptures, photographs and paintings, among others. Typically, at least half of the submissions come from central PA, and all selected artists are paid and retain the rights to their work, something Richardson is proud of.

Once it’s time to sift through it all, Spring House brewers, family members and friends gather to voice their opinions—over a beer, of course.

“Some immediately stand out,” Richardson said. “It’s sort of a gut reaction.”

Spring House’s class of 2022 definitely stands out, fitting with the brewery’s aesthetic, which Richardson describes as “eclectic, a little off-center and wonky.” There are several animals doing un-animal-like things—a photo of a chipmunk playing a piano, a sculpture of a smiling fish with legs, and a painting of a DJ-ing otter. If these don’t catch your eye in the beer fridge, I’m not sure what will.

When Zack Rudy, one half of the Harrisburg art duo, The Huckle Buckle Boys, applied for the series, he didn’t expect to hear back. But not long after, the pair’s piece, “Blah. Blah. Blah. Day and Night,” a painting of crows on a telephone wire, was chosen.

“It’s awesome when our art is recognized,” Rudy said. “We’ve spent our lives doing artwork.”

The collaboration hasn’t stopped there, as Spring House commissioned the Huckle Buckle Boys for a large mural inside their brewery and has plans to use their art for future can designs.

“Our promise is to get artists additional work and exposure,” Richardson said. “This is one of the best things we’ve done in the past couple of years.”

Idea Brewing

Much like how Richardson selects art for cans based off a gut reaction, Harrisburg artist Amie Bantz does the same when designing cans for Rubber Soul Brewing Co. in Hummelstown.

Based on her immediate response to the name and ingredients of the beer, she digitally illustrates a graphic that she thinks represents it. It typically only takes 10 to 30 minutes to think up an idea, she said.

“I create designs that I would like to pick up,” she said.

The labels tend to be colorful, light and fun, sometimes with a retro feel. Her label “Giggle Guts,” for an India pale ale, uses squiggly lettering with cartoon hands tickling the word “Guts.” Another, “South Paw,” shows an animated hops flower wearing a boxing glove.

“People love them,” said Jamie Mowery, marketing manager for Rubber Soul. “They’re always excited to see what the next funky thing is.”

For the most part, Bantz has complete freedom when it comes to designing labels. The same was true for Bryan “King Prolifik” Hickman when Harrisburg’s Harris Family Brewery tapped him to do the art for a beer collaboration with Zeroday Brewing Co., also in the city.

The two brewing companies concocted a limited edition beer to release for the Juneteenth holiday this year to celebrate Black culture and heritage. To Tim White of Harris Family, Hickman, a Harrisburg artist, was the perfect pick to design the label. Hickman typically includes elements around African and African American culture into his work.

While Hickman is known for his striking paintings, large-scale murals and fire art demonstrations, designing for a can was a unique experience.

“I had to make sure it translates well on a beer can,” he said.

Hickman’s design for the blackberry cream ale, “Blackr Tha Berry,” features a woman wearing a blackberry-shaped headscarf with a city skyline behind her.

“You’ve got to be really creative to stay ahead of the game and put out a product that gets a lot of attention,” White said. “[Hickman] always surpasses what we give him.”

Creativity, Community

What is it about beer and art that go so well together? To Bantz, it’s simple.

“Drinking beer is fun. Art is fun,” she said. “I think it’s a very natural partnership between those two things.”

The way Richardson sees it, brewing is an art form in itself. Crafting a beer is a process of finding the perfect combination of color, haze, carbonation and flavor. It takes a lot of creativity.

“Coming up with new recipes can be similar to approaching a piece of artwork,” he said.

According to Chris Trogner of Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, the beer and art creation processes are closely linked. Brewers make decisions around flavors and bring their ideas to the artists, who begin fleshing out a design. The beer and art at Tröegs are not separate. It’s all interrelated.

“It’s a total package,” he said. “People have to love the beer to keep coming back, but the name and illustrations, the brand, people can fall in love with, as well. It’s equally important.”

While Tröegs has its own in-house designer, the brewery still partners with artists from the community on can designs, murals and other packaging. Supporting local in all aspects is important to the company, Trogner said.

That sentiment holds true for all of the brewers mentioned, who find value in working hand-in-hand with others in the community. Spring House goes beyond just featuring the winners of their “Artist Collaboration Series” on the cans. They sponsor artists’ shows, donate beer for their events and promote them in other ways. It’s all part of their mission to be “the community’s brewery,” according to Richardson.

“We want to support the people around us,” he said. “If you invest in the community and people around you, it just feels good.”

To the artists behind the can labels, it feels pretty good, too.

“Dreams are really hard to go after,” Bantz said. “Sometimes, you need other people to tell you you’re doing a good job. There’s something really beautiful about supporting someone from the community.”

Spring House Brewing Company is located at 209 Hazel St., Lancaster. For more information, visit www.springhousebeer.com.

Rubber Soul Brewing is located at 136 S. Hanover St., Hummelstown. For more information, visit www.rubbersoulbrewing.com.

For more information about Harris Family Brewery, visit www.harrisfamilybrewery.net.

Tröegs Independent Brewing is located at 200 Hersheypark Dr., Hershey. For more information, visit www.troegs.com.

For more information on artist Amie Bantz, visit www.amiebantz.com.

Find out more about The Huckle Buckle Boys on their Facebook page.

Find artist Bryan “King Prolifik” Hickman on Instagram @kingprolifik.

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

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: Jessie Waite’s Map to Somewhere & Millworks IV

June 29, 2021 | by Bob MacGinnes

As an artist removed from the hum of city life, Jessie Waite is attuned to a slower pace where the beauty of the day slowly unfolds.

For me, the mystery began with not knowing exactly where Jessie Waite’s paintings would lead in their abstract form until I realized they would provide me with the map to somewhere and a place where new adventure lies just around the bend, well worth the trip.

Discovering great art and getting to share it is a lot like driving in a convertible on the perfect summer day with no agenda or plan in mind. Miss Waite is an abstract artist and, by definition, the adjective in this case refers to an idea or existing in thought but not having a concrete existence. When applied to art, it becomes nonrepresentational and yet has substance. Think of Jessie’s paintings as an atlas of imagination. There are no defined routes, no legend to reference for clues, and yet the road is wide open and the scenery poetic.

When viewing her art, you are in the driver’s seat, and the options are endless. Honing her craft for years has allowed insight well beyond her age. She is self-taught, working in an abstract form with acrylic paints, and her canvas is the oyster before her, which is found under the heading of intrigue.

Jessie collects “C’s” as if they were jellybeans that spilled over the top of the bag. A capital “C” for “Color” lays the foundation for the map to form. The palette reflects a pure sense of life-affirming shades; a wispy blue, grassy green, barn red and mellow yellow form landmarks along the way. Whatever the color choices, they end in harmony, creating vistas that always lead somewhere, guided by an internal sense of wonder. In her painting, “Untitled #1,” the road trip unfolds, driving to a visible destination in the distance with landmarks dotting the landscape. All are delivered in snapshots of a bigger picture. The lake, the lookout point, the mountain peaks are all represented by space and shades complementary to their perceived ideals. Waite chooses a color scheme that lends itself to the fluid notion of form following function. The overall impact is complete within the frame. You have arrived at your destination.

“Untitled #1”

“Contour” provides the promise of a third dimension, one both atmospheric and interposed, almost out of body or, so da Vinci alluded to, regarding its state of being. “Untitled #2,” given the colors bright and buoyant in reds and blues, takes one behind closed doors to an interior space, a bedroom not a boudoir. The eye goes from zero to 60 in a flash, showcasing bed and coverings blending dramatically just so in the contained environment of a room.

“Untitled #2”

It is especially nice when, given a busman’s holiday, I get to break out my map to Jessie Waite’s art in an unexpected journey, off the beaten path. “Untitled #3” offers a painting of New Mexico’s basin and range. A pueblo is off to the left of the frame, and a Joshua tree bereft of foliage is found in the flat, arid valley. The image evokes a place in the great Southwest. And so the journey continues unimpeded by any construction sites. The mile markers evaporate in the rearview mirror. That adventure in my mind’s eye takes me to the back roads of beauty and beyond. The imagined byways of verdant fields, hay twists, snow-covered pines and a crystal-blue lake share the continuous thread of the seasons. They all exist in the fertile fancy that Jessie lays before her audience. She illustrates these views to create prosaic imagery. Layering all elements of shape, color and expression with a movement that is undeniably hers, she develops a depth of drama with alarming alacrity. Inspired by countryside sojourns and majestic views of the Susquehanna River with its surrounding environs, her work demonstrates an artist who, in the moment of everyday living, finds fascination in the ordinary hum of the earth’s turning.

“Untitled #3”

Abstraction allows for an open-ended conversation, a free form verse of vital importance and somehow, at the same time, gives a sense of contentment in being able to enjoy the simplest pleasures of life as the perfect summer day unfolds—a great day for a drive with the top down. I think someone may be Waite-ing by the road.

To view Jessie’s paintings, Instagram @jessiewaiteart or at Jessiewaiteart.com.

Millworks IV through July 11

The backstory: Nothing in life happens randomly. Even the convergence of art and artists now grouped together on the main lobby wall leading into the Millworks restaurant for a preview highlights a July 3 “First Saturday” celebration. As the nation awaits Independence Day, there is no better time to feature a group of equally talented, individually independent artists—except two of the five share partners in their studios.

The moment captured in the accompanying photos was graciously arranged by Millworks art director, Tara Chickey, allowing us to shoot unimpeded by foot traffic and gaining glare-free light in the hallway. It produced a quiet, almost supernatural session. Immediately, we were thunderstruck as Paul Gallo’s oversized oil painting of a “Day At The Beach” was captured with every element sparkling like the memory of a perfect day in the sand at the shore. From the opposite wall, whispers were heard even though we were alone. The imaginatively inventive paintings of P.D. Murray spoke to us, clamoring for our attention; now we know where the wild things are (at Millworks).

Murray handed the baton to the Huckle Buckle Boys, brandishing their universe of unconventional characters found often times in elaborate fantasy situations, which added to our mental melee. Unable to take much more exhilaration as the room was spinning by, we segued into a more constrained format. Gathering our composure and bearings brought us before Fennec Design’s grouping of dimensionally dramatic iridescent moving silkscreens.

Rounding out the back half of the gallery wall were the aforementioned outsized oil paintings of Mr. Gallo, along with framed enamel on copper works by Averill Shepps, an enamelist of the highest order, both artfully creating worlds of their own to be admired by patrons of the Millworks. Now, to meet the artists and a sampling of their art.

Art by Fennec Design

“Organic in nature” has taken on a cliched meaning in today’s oft-overused sense of the term, but, in the case of artists Justin and Joelle Arawjo of Fennec Design, the term is sublime. The couple embodies an ethos so closely linked to nature on all levels that it rings true in every facet of their business. Collaboration between Joelle and Justin starts at the initial design and runs through to the end in one continuous thread. From jewelry to housewares and textiles, they create a catalog of items. Fennec Design is born of nature and purity of spirit. Find them at Studio 101 on the main lobby floor.

Paul Gallo, as one of the Seven Lively Artists of central PA, brings immediacy to his oil paintings and describes himself as a painter employing “economy of the brush stroke.” Gallo paints to entertain and to take the viewer out of the moment in his representational art. An educator, instructor and plein air craftsman par excellence, Paul’s paintings embrace the environs of fresh air vistas that he creates in oil renderings. Mr. Gallo is an artist with a heart for worthy causes, donating the sale of his paintings to COVID relief charities like Doctors Without Borders and that can be found in Studio 210. (Pictured: “Day at the Beach”)

With an award-winning career that spans over half a century, Averill Shepps, a Smith College magna cum laude graduate, is in a class by herself as an enamalist. She continues her craft, making jewelry, bowls and works of art, as viewed in her Millworks Studio 216. A member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman, she has knowledge across many varied disciplines. My wife, Jana, was fortunate to find her in her studio several months ago. She still talks about Averill, taking time to “show and tell” her craft and background.

P.D. Murray of Studio 323 breaks the mold as an artist. A modern-day expressionist painter of over 35 years, Murray excels at “painting exactly and only like himself,” the same advice he gives to novices starting out. The dictum Murray follows is, at the very worst, “you can always paint over it.” Breaking new ground with “moveable parts paintings,” he works in illustrated paper art that is infused with movement and is rife with sentimentality for simpler times, with a longing for the past sans a technology-dominated influence.

Last but not least, we introduce Millworks patrons to the zany world of the new kids on the block, The Huckle Buckle Boys (HBB). Unmatched bookends Garrick Dorsett and Zack Rudy bring their brand of mayhem to the mix in Millworks Studio 318, their new digs. Now at the studio is their latest collection of digital prints. Be sure to stop in and visit with these talented and diverse artists at work in their studios.

First Saturday, July 3, promises to light up the sky with fireworks of an artistic assemblage at Millworks.

Millworks’ art images by Jana MacGinnes

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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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