Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts

DRAWING (Pets and Animals) Level: Beginner.

Dates and Times:  Wednesday Evenings April 15th-May 6th, 7:00-9:00pm. Feel free to BYOB.

Cost: $80.00 + $20 materials fee *

Animals and Pets-Give yourself the gift of creating fun portraits of your furry family members or any other animal you would enjoy drawing. We will learn how to get a likeness, and have fun with color, shape and texture to draw animals! A library of pet images will be available to work from or bring photos of your pets. Easy to follow, instructor demonstrations and lots of non-judgmental individual attention provided. A variety of techniques will be explored including light, form, and texture to help get grounded in creating beautiful illustrations of your pet or select from an assortment of animals from a provided portfolio.

Advance registration and payment required. Call the Gallery to register! Limit 10 students per class (4 weekly classes per session). Adults 18+.

To read about your instructor Ron Jesiolowski, please visit his web site: http://rjjrdesign.wix.com/ron-jesiolowski

WATER COLORS (Nature and Landscapes) Level: Beginner.

Dates and Times:  Tuesday Mornings April 14th-May 5th, 10:00am-12:00pm.

Cost: $80.00 + $20 materials fee*

Painting with Water Colors- If you want to relax and loosen up this course is for you! Learn the beauty, simplicity and fluidity of watercolors and how simple shapes and effective use of color can naturally ignite your creativity and provide the skills to render virtually any subject. A library of landscapes and scenery images will be available to work from or bring a photo of your favorite vacation spot! Students will leave with at least two finished paintings and also with the inspiration to paint more. All you bring is yourself and clothing that you could get some paint on!

Easy to follow instructor follow along demonstrations of each and lots of individual attention provided.

Advance registration and payment required. Call the Gallery to register! Limit 10 students per class (4 weekly classes per session). Adults 18+.

Missed classes can be made up with 1 weeks notice with personal one-on-one coaching by the instructor.

To read about your instructor Ron Jesiolowski, please visit his web site: http://rjjrdesign.wix.com/ron-jesiolowski

* SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER: SIGN UP FOR BOTH CLASSES $150.00!

Photos from last night’s Time for Me, my women’s creative circle meeting the last Thursday of every month at the Bottlebrush. We are in our 2nd year! At each meeting, we try a new art form/project. This one was Dream Trees, using canvas, layered inks and painter’s tape. Nice job, ladies! For more information on this art class and others, go to our Adult Classes page.

It’s time for some love!  Come out for a family-friendly Valentine’s Party and help our abandoned, homeless animals at the same time.

Friday, February 13, 2015, 6:00-9:00pm. “Have A Heart for Animals”. Our 4^th Annual fundraiser to benefit the Butler Count Humane Society!

No charge for admission… we only ask that you bring food, toys or supplies donations for the animals. The Humane Society’s donation “wish list” can be seen here: http://butlercountyhs.org/wish_list.html  One easy item to bring that is incredibly useful:  Fold Top Sandwich Bags! Those plain little sandwich bags, not the Ziploc types. The shelter really needs these!
Tax-deductible cash donations also gratefully accepted.  Last year we raised $1500 in 3 hours along with two truckloads of supplies… thank you for your generosity.

Events and Activities:

Live Music by James and Debbie Tobin ~ Art Show by Debbie Tobin ~ Doggy Kissing Booth with Pickles the Boston Terrier ~ Draven, a Love on the Leash Therapy Cat ~ NEW!! Forever In My Heart Memory Wall ~ Scavenger Hunt with Prizes ~ Silent and Chinese Auctions ~ Two Fraus Bakery ~ C&G Pet Delights Dog and Cat Treats ~ Face Painting by Christina ~ Food and Beverages ~ Meet Humane Society Staff and Adoptable Pets!

Featured Artist Debra Zuzindlak Tobin

Thanks to our generous Sponsors!!

Mimi Antonetti, Artist; Angela Bianco; Bear Run Campground; Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts; BRGR;  Butler County Humane Society Volunteers; C&G Enterprises: C&G Animal Delights; Companions in Motion w/Dr. Chelsey, Chiropractor;  Country Corner Bake Shoppe (New Castle); Darn Yarn Needles and Thread; DiBella’s Subs; Draven A Love on the Leash Therapy Cat; The Enchanted Olive; The Exchange at Harmony; Eye Kandy; Fox’s Pizza; Goodfello’s Pizza Pasta & Grille; Harmony In The House Concerts; The Harmony Inn- North Country Brewing Company; The Holistic Houndry and Lucas Shadowpants; Indian Brave Campground; Nadya Lapets, Artist; Debby LeDonne, Artist; Log Cabin Inn; Massage and Skin Therapy by Erian Cortese; Mathew Jewelers; Kriss Mowery, BCHS Volunteer; Lissa Napora, Artist; Pickles Louise and her Kissing Booth; Porter House Brew Shop; Vickie Schilling, Artist; Sci(fi)bers Group from Darn Yarn Needles and Thread; Kathy and Don Seaton, Realtors; Jessica Sebastian; ShuBrew; Spring Street Cafe; Stohr Haus Bakery; The Strand Theater;  James and Debra Tobin, Musicians; Three Rivers Crochet; Two Fraus Bakery;  Cathy Witters-Stewart, Musician; Wunderbar Coffee House

At age 17, Angela Bianco drew portraits of several of Hollywood’s brightest stars, then mailed those portraits to them for autographs. Notables from the 1930’s including Jimmy Stewart, Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, Tyrone Power, Shirley Temple, Irene Dunne, Mickey Rooney, James Cagney and Bette Davis returned the portraits to Angela with their autographs and appreciation.  Bing Crosby even included a thank-you letter.  Those portraits and photos survived the years and are currently on exhibit at the Bottlebrush Gallery through Sunday January 25, 2015. Angie is still drawing portraits at age 93! We are proud to host this exhibit and invite you to view it this week during our special exhibit hours. Thanks to Angie and her family for making these drawings available to us.

Make time in 2015 to enjoy a good read and embrace the emotional power a group can give to enhance your experience. Join us in the inviting atmosphere of an art gallery with group coordinator Sandy Ferrainola.

The Bottlebrush is hosting a reading group the second Thursday of every month at 7pm. The “Bottlebrush Bibliophiles” is open to adults… male or female, married, single… all are welcome! No children, please. Guidelines for discussion and monthly schedule will be distributed at each gathering. If you would like to bring a snack to share with the group, feel free. Bring a friend, too!

You can read the book at your leisure in any format– eReader, hardcover or paperback, audio CD, or on your iPad.

Our first read for February 12 is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Come to the first meeting even if you haven’t finished– this will be our organizational meeting, a nice meet and greet session.

Questions? Contact us via Facebook or call the Gallery 724.452.0539

Other books we will be reading:
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Sabbath’s Theatre by Philip Roth
Nora Webster by Colm Toibin
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Sending big love to our customers and friends for your support this year.  Whether you came to a concert, purchased a gift, attended a young artist show, took a class, donated to a Butler County Humane Society fundraiser, or showed up to help out at any of our events this year, we are thankful for you!

For the holidays,  please consider buying from your local small businesses.  As chairperson of the Shopping Group for Butler County Tourism, I’m more than aware of the large number of independently-owned businesses in the county who would love to have you consider them when making a purchase. Your money goes to the local economy, which in turn helps us all.

Wishing you joy this holiday season!

MJ & Dennis McCurdy, Owners

Join us Friday, October 17, from 7-9pm at the opening reception for  Slippery Rock University art students under the leadership of  Barbara Westman.  This show will feature prints only.  Free admission and refreshments will be served. No RSVP required. If you can’t join us Friday, please stop in the Gallery to view the show which will be on display until Thursday, October 30. We hope to see you!

Harmony Ink Writing Class Special Guest:

Valentine J. Brkich, professional freelance writer, humorist and author advisor, presenting on the topic: “Find Your Success in Writing.”

A graduate of Westminster College, Brkich’s work experience includes Senior Writer at Robert Morris University, PR Writer at Heritage Valley Health System, and Editor of the Beaver Borough Newsletter. He was the recipient of the 2013 Rochester Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award.

Professional publications include:

• Bridgewater: A Narrative History of a Pennsylvania River Town
• Cageball, Poker and the Atomic Wedgie: And Other Tales of Catholic School Mischief
• Get Yourself An Inflatable Baby Sitter And Other Survival Tips for First-Time Dads
• Achieving Mediocrity: Surefire Strategies for a Lackluster Life

Blog: Small-Town Dad (www.valentinebrkich.com), chronicles his many misadventures as a writer and the father of two young children in small-town USA

Refreshments provided. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Limited seating! RSVP to 724.452.0539. More about Valentine J. Brkich here: www.valentinebrkich.com

Time for Me: A Women’s Creative Circle

Meets regularly on the last Thursday of each month, 7-9pm unless otherwise noted.Facilitator: MJ McCurdy, Owner. Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts.  Your $25 fee includes all materials and a take-home piece of art.

Location:  Bottlebrush Gallery and Center for the Arts in Harmony, PA.

Description: As women, we all seem to make time for everyone else in our lives– but when is OUR time? Time For Me is a way to set aside time for ourselves, to meet new friends and express our inner creativity. At each class, we explore various creative forms, learning a different artistic technique each time, then using that technique to express our inner selves. You do not have to be artistically gifted to join us.

This is an on-going class that usually meets the last Thursday of the month. You can attend one class, two classes, or every class if you would like. Each class you attend is $25 and includes all materials needed for the evening. Bring beverages for yourself and snacks for others, if you would like to share.

Women from 13 to 100 are welcome! Private group classes available too– birthdays, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, or just a fun get-together for a Ladies Night Out.

Fall Class Dates: Sept 25, Oct 30, Nov 20, December-no classes.

Contact the Gallery at 724.452.0539 to register, with questions or to confirm dates.

Please register for classes in advance so we have enough supplies.  We hope to see you!