newsletter for December 2010 - click on page for larger view

Simple Gifts Performs

Partnerships are roots that nourish a flowering society. Alone we can do but in a partnership we do double, triple or more.

Simple Gifts is a partnership of 2 women, a dozen stringed instruments made to pluck, strum, hammer or bow, a bellows and some recorders that take a simple breath and pull it into a vibrant rainbow of sound. Simple Gifts, Karen Hirshon and Linda Littleton, gave their music to enthusiastic reception at the David A. Howe Library with funding from one of its partners, the Allegany Arts Association.

One element of the concert was the open sharing of information about the instruments and the music which included tunes from Irish, American, Klezmer, Gypsy, Balkan and Indian roots. There was even a lesson in how to play the smallest and most easily acquired instrument – the soup spoons.

Hirshon and Littleton have been partners in music for 13 years. They said that when people get along and make good music, it’s hard to quit. They form an “alternate universe” and it feels, and sounds, like home.

After the program, Aydrianna Weimer said, “The concert was great. I especially liked that they knew different tunes and styles and they smiled a lot.”

Aydrianna, a 4^th grader in Wellsville who plays recorder and intends to play flute soon, claimed the Shruti box as her favorite instrument. The Shruti is an Indian instrument that consists of reeds powered by a foot operated bellows. Hirshon said that the instrument is designed to be used during meditation but that it sounds great when it accompanies a flute and that’s how she first heard it.

Simple Gifts was the first program in Appalachia Rediscovered – a 2 month project funded in part by another Library partner, the Allegany County Area Foundation. Programs include academic lectures, concerts, films, classes, art exhibits and other events to address social, political, economical, environmental and cultural issues that have formed and continue to transform this thirteen-state region.

The full list of programs is at www. DavidaHoweLibrary.org (click on Appalachia Rediscovered on the left.) but here’s a partial list -

Allegany River Indian Dancers, Thurs, Oct 28, 7pm

Family Concert with Dave Ruch: Songs, Strings Spoons and More Fun with Appalachian Music
Sat, Sept 25, 10:30am

Creek Bend Band, Bluegrass, Thurs Nov 4, 7pm

Still Singing: The John C. Campbell Folk School, Betsy And Charley Orlando, Tues, Sept 28, 7pm

Leonard M. Adkins, Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail, Thurs, Oct 21, 1:30pm

Newsletter for September-November 2010 Click on a page to get larger image

Karen Lang Show at Howe Public Library

You just can't see the color in these photos. There isn't enough light in the room for my little camera to make that happen but Karen Lang sees color in the world and she brought her paintings from Berlin to Wellsville so that you can see them too. The Arts Association sponsored her show. Open when the Library is open. Stop by and be amazed.




Tulip Shoes and Summer Fruit (below) are my favorites. Which are yours? Leave a note for Karen in her book.

Allison Midgley adds her touch to the Albright Knox

Early in my life there was an incident with a bobby pin as a scribble-device. Looking back through 55 years of cobwebbed time, I faintly see varnish dust fly from the broken tip of a black bobby pin. The scribble grew, intertwined and danced with movement and intricacy.

Unfortunately my creativity involved a treasured parlor end table. I remember my mother’s crestfallen face as she rubbed the table top in disbelief and despair.

Many of us likely have early life scribble experiences ranging from achievement to disaster. At the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo scribble lives as noun, verb and art as a team of artists, printmakers and architects scribble over walls bridging the 1905 gallery with the 1962 wing with the installation of the last, the largest and possibly the most intricate of the world’s Sol LeWitt drawings.

Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) created structures, drew, made prints and painted, showing his work at hundreds of solo exhibitions around the world from 1965 onward. He was interested in music, mathematics, architecture, line, process, communication and ideas. Over 1200 of his works were huge, architectural drawings executed by crews as is this Scribble Drawing at the Albright-Knox.

The team working now in Buffalo includes head draftsman Takeshi Arita and 4 assistants from the Sol LeWitt Studio in New York, 2 Albright-Knox Art Handlers and 9 apprentices including librarian/printmaker/mixed media artist Allison Midgley of Wellsville. For 8 weeks the crew will draw millions of layered, chaotic scribbles that will, over time and from a distance, become an ordered, precise drawing covering 2200 square feet.

Now, in week three, the artists enter a scaffold area covered in taped plastic sheets housing ladders. The air, filled with graphite motes – escapees from the process - is forced through a filtration system that drones during work periods. Zippers in the plastic allow entry and exit. Disposable booties over shoes trap some dirt and on either side of entry points sticky floor mats are tattooed with graphite footprints.

The plastic walls defining the work area were constructed weeks ago and the scaffolding held painters who covered the walls with 2 coats of oil based paint and then 5 more of latex – sanding between coats - giving the walls the look and feel of paper.

On the uniform surface, the artists measured out the drawing, masking areas with craft paper and labeling it in white chalk numbers with each number indicating a level of density of line. They had a short lesson in basic scribble technique and started turning graphite into the first of millions of lines. They created flowing curves, sharpening the lead by pulling it against the surface of the wall, bending and turning their hands over the lines, becoming ever more graceful as they worked and received individual coaching.

Like many huge undertakings this is not work for the faint of heart - or arm. They work 6 days a week/ 7 hours a day with lunch and an afternoon break. While at the wall, they are asked to be in the moment with intense concentration. “Be present,” Arita tells them. “Don’t be automatic. Each person is an artist. What you do makes the whole thing work.”

Could they cut the number of drawing hours from the estimated 5,000 if they used brushes? Sprayers? Chalk? Not if they want to accomplish the goal. To give the effect required, the drawing must be of many lines, layered and focused.

The apprentices and draftsmen draw crisp, even, whispers of graphite that build on each other to create the visual roar of millions of butterfly wings. The many lines give the drawing depth so that now, 3 weeks into the project, the densely filled areas look luminous. From one side, they are rich velvet and from another point of view they become huge pipes of burnished steel. The surfaces reflect light as if mirrors. All from a simple pencil.

Sol LeWitt began his drawing career in the 60s with pencil on walls – radical for the time and, according to Ilana Chlebowski, Curatorial Assistant at the Alright-Kinox, still radical.

LeWitt explored paints and colors, shapes and shadows, lines and angles over the decades. To give an idea of his stature, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (with Williams College Museum of Art) opened an exhibition of LeWitt’s work that will be on view for 25 years and offers 105 drawings covering nearly an acre of wall space.

Pieces for that exhibit were among the last works LeWitt created before his death in 2007. They were created with the materials he used in 1960 and returned to – the pencil on a wall. Now, this crew of artists is bringing his last huge graphite, wall project to the world.

Allison Midgley saw the notice of Scribble Wall Line Drawing while surfing the internet. She mulled it over reading through the criteria and applied for the position after learning that she could take a leave of absence from her job at the David A. Howe Library. She put forth her art with her willingness to commit to the 8 week task and after time was thrilled to be accepted.

More about the project next week and at www.Albrightknox.org.

The Albright Knox Art Gallery is located at 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York. Call
716.882.8700. Summer hours are noon to 5 Tuesday through Saturday. Admission for adults $12, Students and Seniors $8. Driving time from Wellsville 2 hours.

Tin Can Folk Art Sing Along

The violin used here was constructed of tin cans by Charley Orlando.

Summer Arts Festival 2010

Wanted: interesting kids ages 5 to 15. Must like to make things & be full of ideas. Sign up to make bracelets, create paintings, master calligraphy, build a book from scratch, needle your way through a bunch of fabric or turn broken sticks into snazzy dolls at our free workshops.

All we ask is that you use your hands, use your mind, use your imagination and make something you’ll be proud of this summer. Here's the deal - the friendly people and businesses of Allegany County are sponsoring a bunch of free art classes for kids through the ongoing program of the Allegany Arts Association.

People came up with this idea in the 1980s and every year the Allegany Arts Association has tried to get the word out about classes. Willie Allen was the executive director of the AAA for years and years and she managed to organize the classes and spread the word. Dear Willie is gone but a group of her friends worked up this new schedule for 2010. We just need the kids.
Here are our free classes. Yes, free. You need to register and then find your own transportation. Attend with a friend and share the driving.

Water Color for Teens – Claudia Gildner teaching at Wellsville Library – July 5, 10-12, Ages 13-15.

Little Fingers, Big Brushes watercolor for 5 & 6 year olds – Sally Dannheim teaching at the Wellsville Library on each Tues & Thurs in July from 10:30 to 11:30.

Greeting Cards for Kids – Linda Monsell teaching at the Trinity Lutheran Daycare July 7 - 10-11:30. ALSO at Cuba Library Aug 4 1 – 2:30. Ages 9-11. Both classes open to all children. You don't have to attend the daycare to take the class there that day.

Pastels for Teens – Claudia Gildner teaching at Wellsville Library July 12, 10 – 12.
From Cover to Cover: Making a Book – Bonnie Leigh teaching at the Wide Awake Club Library in Fillmore on Tuesdays 1-3 from July 13 to Aug 10 for ages 9 and up.

Alfred’s Junior Reporters: finding and showing the news –Elaine Hardman teaching at the Herrick Library (Alfred University) - July 12 & 15 and August Aug 16 & 19 – 1-3 p.m. Attend 2 or 4 days. News to be published in Alfred Sun. Ages 9-12

Painting Rocks - Karen Dickerson teaching at 2 locations. Bring your own large rock. Choose: July 13 & 14 at United Methodist Church in Alma 12-2 or Little Genesee Library on July 12 & 15 also 12-2. Ages 5 and up.

Calligraphy – Lillian Thiell Milliman teaching at the Fillmore Library on July 14 and 15 9-12, Ages 9 and up.

Snazzy Stick Dolls - Betsy Orlando teaching at the Belmont Library July 21, 1-3 ages 8 and up. Limited to 6 students.

Edible Art : Sweet and Pretty - Carol Riggs teaching at Cuba Library on July 21 from 1-2 pm, ages 6-12.

Is that a Stick on Your Arm? Making bracelets with natural materials - Kristen Vossler-Wigent teaching at 2 locations. Choose: Whitesville Library 2-3:30 July 23 and Scio Library 1-2;30 July 30 . Ages 7-14. Limit 6

Needling Fabric - decorating with beads & thread - Joan Sinclair teaching at the Belmont Library, August 4, 11, 18, 1-3, Ages 10 and up.

Perky Patchwork Pillows – Meredith Chilson teaching in her home/studio at 5680 County Rd. 2B, Belmont August 10, 11, 12 from 10 - 12. Students ages 9-12.

Junk Yard Music – Linda Staiger teaching in Almond, probably at the library, but we don’t know when yet. Composing and playing music with household items: a class for family groups.

Call 585 808 0385 to register for classes. (Register for Cuba Library classes at the Library.) Find more details at www.AlleganyArtsAssociation.BlogSpot.com or join Allegany Arts Association on Facebook.

And please, help us spread the work. Share our poster on Facebook or print out a copy from our blog and post it where interesting and creative kids will see it.

June - September News Letter - Allegany Arts News

Click on a page to enlarge the image. - see page 2 for summer art classes for children

Free Summer Art Classes for children

Click on the image to enlarge


Claudia Gildner, member of Wellsville Art Association, no class size limit, Register for Watercolor only or Pastels only or both.
Sally Danheim - will teach one class meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays all July. She will work with a small group of 5 and 6 year olds to teach drawing and painting with watercolors.
Linda Monsell - will teach her class in 2 different locations. One is at the Trinity Lutheran Daycare but any child may attend that class even if not enrolled in daycare.
Bonnie Leigh offers Making a book - starting with paper and ending with a page turner.
Elaine Hardman will talk about news vs. opinion and try to help students find and write stories to submit to the editor of the Alfred Sun. It will be very helpful for students to have digital camera to capture the news but the plan is to work in pairs so one camera per pair is enough. Nothing fancy please.
Karen Dickerson finds designs in rocks and rocks in designs. She just rocks. Bring a rock or two and she will have the paint. Again, 2 locations to help ease driving for parents.
Lillian Thiel Milliman will put elegance into your alphabet with Calligraphy in Fillmore.
Betsy Orlando is an internationally recognized art doll artist and a great teacher. Join her in Belmont.
Carol Riggs is an artist with a pastry dough.
Kristen Vossler Wigent will help students make bracelets with wood, bone, feathers and stone - natural materials.
Joan Sinclair knows all about decorating fabric with a needle, thread, beads and imagination.
Meredith Chilson is part of Green Circle Grove where she is a sewing marvel.
Linda Staiger is conducting vocal groups at Alfred State College after retiring from teaching music at Alfred Almond. She will work with children and parents to compose and record musical numbers with common household objects. She just has to work out where and when it can fit into the schedule of the building she hopes to use in Almond.
Questions? 585 808 0385

Summer Arts Festival

The list of classes is posted. Scroll downward (below our logo) for posting made May 9.
Title: Free Summer Art Classes for children in Allegany County

Call 585 808 0385 to register children. Classes restricted by age and registration numbers.

Make stuff. Learn stuff. Live and grow through art.

Poetry Slam Winners - Allegany Arts Associaiton Fourth Annual Poetry Slam

Click on this image to zoom in for easier reading.

WHO IS SHE?

ANDREA SCHOENTHAL
Allegany Arts Association
4TH ANNUAL POETRY SLAM
WINNING POEM: 2ND PLACE

WHO IS SHE?

She is a woman who cries at parades and carnivals, school plays and television commercials.
She is someone people take care of.
A survivor of childhood wounds and adult illness,
She surprises herself at times with her strength,
And at other times with her neediness.
She has known grief and joy, pain and healing, anger and acceptance, guilt and forgiveness.

She is daughter, sister, wife, mother,
Mother-in-law, friend, neighbor, parishioner,
Niece, aunt, great aunt, cousin,
Cat owner, home owner, volunteer, homemaker, writer.

Although she grew up listening to Elvis, Duane Eddy, Ricky Nelson and Roy Orbison,
It wasn’t until the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that she revealed she’s still a rock fan.
Listening now to the local oldies station,
She cries when she hears Elvis sing: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

Who is she? Is she you? Is she me?

Free Summer Art Classes for children in Allegany County

The Allegany Arts Association will sponsor a number of workshops in Libraries throughout Allegany County in July and August 2010. All classes are free and open to students in Allegany County. Pre registration required. Call 585 808 0385 or email SummerArtsFestival@gmail.com and give name, address, phone number, age and which class you are registering for.

Alfred University Herrick Library
1. Elaine Hardman will teach ALFRED’S JUNIOR REPORTS: finding and telling the news in conjunction with The Alfred Sun. Register for July or August or both. Monday July 12 and Thursday July 15 from 1 to 3 pm. Also on Monday August 16 and Thursday August 19 from 1 to 3 pm. For 8 students ages 9-12.

Alfred but at the Union University Church Hall Linda Staiger will teach JUNKYARD MUSIC: composing and playing with non-traditional instruments. This will be a family activity in July meeting weekly for 1 ½ to 2 hours per week for 3 weeks and culminating with a performance and recording. Times TBA.

Town of Alma but at the Alma United Methodist Church basement
1. Karen Dickerson will teach PAINTING ROCKS: finding hidden forms in rocks on Tuesday July 13 from 12:00 till 2:00pm and Wednesday July 14 from 12:00 till 2:00pm

Belmont Library
1. Betsy Orlando will teach DANCING STICK DOLLS on Wednesday July 21 from 1 to 3 pm for 8 students ages 8 and up.
2. Joan Sinclair will teach NEEDLING WITH FABRIC: decorating with beads and thread on August 4, 11 and 18 from 1 to 3 pm for 6 students ages 10 and up.

In Belmont but where the sewing machines are at 5680 County Rd. 2B rather than the Library. (268-7436 for directions). Meredith Chilson will teach PERKY PATCHWORK PILLOWS on August 10, 11, and 12 from 10 to noon each day. 4 students ages 9 to 12 (parents welcome to stay with the class).

Cuba Library – register for these 2 classes at the Library 585-968-1668
1. Carol Riggs will teach EDIBLE ART on July 21 from 1 to 2:00 for 12 students ages 8 to 12.
2. Linda Monsell will teach GREETING CARDS FOR KIDS, On Wednesday, August 4 from 1-2:30. 8 students ages 9-11

Fillmore Library
1. Bonnie Leigh will teach BOOKMAKING on Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm on 7/13,7/20,7/27,8/3, 8/10 for 10 students ages 9 and up.
2. Lillian Thiell Milliman will teach CALIGRAPHY from 9 to noon on July 14 and July 15 from 9 till noon. 9 students ages 9 and up.

Little Genesee Library
1. Karen Dickerson will teach PAINTING ROCKS! - finding hidden forms in rocks on Monday July 12 from noon till 2 and Thursday July 15 from noon till 2 for students ages 5 and up.
Scio Library
1. Kristen Vossler Wigent will teach IS THAT A STICK ON YOUR ARM? ( Making bracelets with natural materials) ON July 30 from 1 to 2:30 for 6 students ages 9 and up.
2.
Wellsville Library
1. Claudia Gildner will teach WATERCOLORS for teens on Monday, July 5, from 10-12 noon. Ages 13-15
2. Sally Dannheim will teach LITTLE FINGERS, BIG BRUSHES: water colors and drawing for 5 and 6 year olds on Tuesdays and Thursdays in July from 10:30 to 11:30 (July 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29)
3. Claudia Gildner will teach PASTELS ON Monday, July 12, from 10-12 noon. Ages 13 to 15
Wellsville but not at the Library - at Trinity Lutheran Daycare but open to the public Linda Monsell will teach GR4EETING CARDS FOR KIDS on July 7 from 10 to 11:30.

Whitesville Library
1. Kristen Vossler Wigent will teach IS THAT A STICK ON YOUR ARM ? ( Making bracelets with natural materials) ON July 23 from 2 to 3:30 for 6 students ages 9 and up.

Early Photos

Above, at the original Allegany Arts Association office in Belmont. Far right Willie Allen, the force behind the Allegany Arts Association. We think the others are Ron Lundberg and Celeste Weursig. Circa 1982



This is Peter Midgley.

Thanks to the Cuba Patriot for passing along these photos.

2010 Summer Arts Festival

Following the lead of Linn Phelan from the early 1980s, we are organizing a program of free summer art classes for children throughout Allegany County. Details will fill in during April. Here is our skeleton plan.

1. Name of Class -Cozy Clay Quilts, a tile project

Teacher - Elaine Hardman

Location of Class – David A Howe Library

Dates –Number of hours - one 2 hour class and then 30 minute pottery party after pots are fired

in July

Ages of students – 10 and up

Number of Students- 10

Cost - $3 per student - to be covered by the Allegany Arts Association

2. Name of Class – Alfred’s Junior Reporters - Finding and telling the news

Teacher - Elaine Hardman

Location of Class – Alfred, Herrick Library Computer Lab

Dates – 1 to 3 pm on Monday July 12, Thursday July 15; Monday August 16, Thursday August 19

Number of hours – 4 2-hour classes

Ages of students – 9-12

Number of Students- 8

Other – define news, how do we find news, how should it be reported – go out into the community and find a news story - take photos and write the story - submit to The Alfred Sun for publication

3. Name of Class – Perky Patchwork Pillows

Teacher – Meredith Chilson, 585 268 7436

Location of Class – Belmont, at Meredith’s home

Dates - early August

Number of hours – three 2 hour classes

Ages of students – 9-12, parents welcome to stay for class

Number of Students- 4

Materials cost- none - $4 - to be covered by the Allegany Arts Association

4. Name of Class - Is That a Stick on Your Arm? – Making bracelets with natural materials

Teacher – Kristen Vossler Wigent, 585 268 5891

Location of Class – Scio at the Library

Dates - early August

Number of hours – 1 90 minute class

Ages of students – 9 and up

Number of Students- 6

Materials cost- none - $3 - to be covered by the AAA

NOTE: Also to be taught at Whitesville Library

5. Name of Class – Little Fingers, Big Brushes, water colors and drawing

Teacher – Sally Dannheim, 585 593 4899

Location of class – Wellsville, basement at the library

Dates – Tuesdays and Thursdays in July from 10:30 to 11:30

Number of hours – 8

Ages of students – 5 and 6

Number of students – no more than 5

Materials cost – AAA will supply pencils, paper and water color sets

CHANGE – ALL SET FOR THE LIBRARY BASEMENT ROOM

6. Name of Class –Painting Rocks

Teacher– Karen Dickerson, 585 593 3579

Place - Little Genesee Library

Dates – Monday July 12th. from 12:00 till 2:00 and Thursday July 15 th. from 12:00 till 2:00

Number of hours –4

Ages of students –

Number of students -

Materials cost –

6.5 - Karen Dickerson teaching Painting Rocks - also at

Alma United Methodist Church basement on Tues. July 13th. from 12:00 till 2:00pm and Weds July 14th. from 12:00 till 2:00pm

7. Name of Class – Dancing Stick Dolls

Teacher – Betsy Orlando, 585 268 7383

Location of class – Belmont in one of the churches

Dates – not sure

Number of hours – 2

Ages of students – 8 and up

Number of students - 8

Materials cost –

8. Name of Class – Watercolors

Teacher – Claudia Gildner, 585 593 7417

Location of class – Wellsville basement room library

Dates – Monday, July 5

From 10-12 noon

Number of hours – 2

Ages of students – 13 to 15

Number of students – NO LIMIT

Materials cost –covered by the AAA

8 ½ Name of Class – Pastels

Teacher Claudia Gildner, 585 593 7417

Location of class – Wellsville basement room in the library

Dates – Monday, July 12

From 10-12 noon

Number of hours – 2

Ages of students – 13 to 15

Number of students – NO LIMIT

Materials cost –covered by the AAA

9. Name of Class – Junkyard Music

Teacher – Linda Staiger, 607 276 2068

Location of class – Alfred, Union University Church Hall

Dates – will check

Number of hours – 5 or 6 hours – meet weekly for 3 weeks for 1 ½ to 2 hours each

Ages of students – open

Materials cost – likely none

Other- This would invite parents and children to work together to make music with non traditional instruments. Performances will be recorded and posted on our blog. Linda Staiger will donate her pay to Jay’s Charity Cycles program.

10. Name of Class – Greeting Cards for Kids

Teacher – Linda Monsell, 585 933 6592

Location of class – at the Church Day Care in Wellsville

Dates – first week of August 2-6 – Wed 10-11:30

Number of hours – 1 ½ hours per class

Ages of students – 9 to 11

Number of Students – 8

Materials cost – covered by AAA

CHANGE – SHE WOULD ALSO TEACH THIS IN CUBA in JULY

11. Name of Class – Bookmaking - preferably in conjunction with a local artist/illustrator,.

Teacher - Bonnie Leigh,

Location of Class - at the Wide-Awake Library in Fillmore

Dates Tuesday afternoons 7/13,7/20,7/27,8/3, 8/10

From 1-3pm

Number of hours 10 hours

Number of Students A class size of 10-12 and ages 9 and up

Materials cost – covered by AAA

12. Name of class – calligraphy

Teacher - Lillian (Thiell) Milliman,

Location of class –

Dates - Her proposed dates are July 13, 14, 15.

Hours –

Number of Students

Ages of students

Material cost

contact Elaine Hardman 585 593 6345 - preregistration required for all classes.