September 19 & 20

That’s right, Newport, as in Perry County. Now, before you rule this one out just on that basis, take a look at the hard work the Perry County Council of the Arts has done to organize a very multi-cultural and diversely artistic event. For example, performances by South African master musician, Mogauwane Mahloele, traditional and modern Irish musicians, Cork; and live wood sculptor and dancer, Eiko Fan Takahira, (who will also present a Japanese calligraphy workshop); a harp construction workshop with harpmaker, David Drain; and even a Coffeehouse Tent, complete with cappuccino, and dynamic performaces by local poets and emerging musicians. Now, that’s a serious cultural mix!

In addition to all of this, there is the Fine Art and Crafts Marketplace, with leatherworks, jewelry, paintings, woodcarvings, fabric art, and other innovative works of art. Bring the children because the Children’s Art Stations will feature creative activities like pine cone birdfeeders, freestyle painting, origami, creative collage, and recycled art. And for the kids at heart (or those closet artists out there), the Adult Art Activities include grapevine wreaths, freestyle painting, and creative recycling with Rumpelstiltskin, UnLtd.

There’s much more, which was too much to list, but you definitely won’t want to miss out on the spirit of community with master quilter, Denise Hoke, where participants of all ages take up needle and thread to contribute to a one-of-a-kind quilt that grows throughout the weekend. As a matter of fact, Commissioner, Mark Keller, will be auctioning off the 1994 Festival Family Tree Quilt on Sunday at 3:45 pm.

Musical performances will also be a huge part of this year’s festival with both local and visiting performers. Southern country rock icons, The Marshall Tucker Band, who are playing to a younger audience these days, with its definitive blend of rock, rhythm & blues, jazz, country, and gospel, will perform Saturday at 3:30. Reclusive pianist and vocalist, Leon Russell, who helped shape the sounds of rock and roll through his work with Jerry Lee Lewis, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan will take the stage on Sunday at 4 pm. Legendary vocalist, Phoebe Snow, whose musical style has been influenced by blues, R&B, gospel, rock, and swing, brings a contemporary-alternative sound to the festival on Sunday at 2 pm. Other performances will include local blues favorite, Krytpon City Blues, contemporary originals by The Legend of Stone Soup, and original folk rock by Takin Jackie.

Harrisburg, PA—Harrisburg’s Tenth Annual Gallery Walk will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13, making this year’s event a two-day extravaganza of fine art, music, and other cultural delights! Twenty-seven galleries will welcome visitors from 10 a. to 5 p. Saturday the 12th, and from noon to 5 p. Sunday the 13th…and it’s all FREE.

Gallery walkers may start at any exhibition site on this self-guided tour of the city’s “art and soul,” but they really should plan to end their tour on Sunday at Dixon University Center where Concertante will present a “Concert on the Green” at 5 p., led by Odin Rathman.

In between, however, walkers can visit a number of interesting exhibits such The Art Association of Harrisburg’s four community exhibitions. Kirby Heltebridle will exhibit large acrylic landscapes in the lobby of the Penn National Insurance building on Market Square in Harrisburg. At Temple University, 223 Walnut Street, Lynn Baney will exhibit her “Abstrabet” series, an interactive exhibit of watercolours representing all 26 letters of the English alphabet. (This exhibit will only be open on the Sunday of Gallery Walk, when the artist will be on hand to discuss her work and to market posters reflecting the show.) The third exhibit is at Penn State Harrisburg Center, 234 North Third Street, where Natalie Lock will exhibit her works in varied media. A meet-the-artist reception will be held on Sunday; the exhibit space will not be open Saturday. The fourth is at the Reservoir Park Mansion, 100 Concert Drive where Danzante and the Art Association will co-sponsor the Colombian artist Alberto Beccerra, who now resides in Philadelphia. Beccerra will be on hand both days of Gallery Walk to discuss his work.

Another fun event of Gallery Walk is the “Art of Food” exhibition at the AAH which will be comprised of works in all styles and media by member artists, with “food” as the theme of all the pieces, and will be a cocktail party for the public to enjoy at $25 per person.

Free trolley service will be provided on both days! The brochure will give complete information on activities on both days for all galleries.