* Free art class for kids signing up for classes this September!

Our fall 2012 class schedule for children, teens and adults is posted online– click on the links at the top of the page to see the schedule.

Any kids ages 5-12 signing up for classes this month get one free art class with MJ McCurdy, owner of the Gallery, artist and long-time art teacher. She says: “We will use pens, crayons, pencils, markers. We will use our fingers and toes. We will sing and dance. We will make art. Come on out and play!”

* A new creative writing group for teenagers, meeting monthly at the Gallery – Harmony Ink!

Like to write? Join Harmony Ink, a teen and young adults creative writing group. This is not a formal class– just a way to be inspired and share your work with others in small groups. Meets every 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6pm.

Harmony Ink

First meeting: October 10, 2012 6pm Also November 14 and December 12. Drop-ins are always welcome!

Group leader:  Nancy Wallace

Nancy Wallace has reviewed books for 16 years. She writes 4-7 articles a year for LibrarySparks magazine and has sold children’s stories to both Highlights and Highlights High Five. In addition to her latest publication by Penguin, The Christmas Cats,  she has a six book series called Abby and the Book Bunch, which will be released in January 2013 by Magic Wagon, an imprint of Abdo Publishing. Nancy is currently the Youth Services Coordinator at Ellwood City Library where she has worked for 23 years. She has taught Creative Writing for 6 years.

Coming to Bottlebrush this Friday!

Opening reception and exhibit of paintings Friday, September 7, 7-9pm for the students of Joyce Werwie-Perry from Le Poire. http://le-poire.com/fine-art This is going to be a fantastic show! Free admission and refreshments provided. Come on out!

More Information on Le Poire: http://le-poire.com/fine-art/  The exhibit runs through September 21.

Enjoy a day of great music at the 1st Annual Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival in Harmony!  Saturday September 8, 2012 with music from 11am to 10pm on two stages featuring 5 bands including headliner Dry Branch Fire Squad.  The stages will be in the Square and at the Historic Harmony Barn.  

The Festival and other activities will be held throughout the town of Harmony.   Designated parking areas, nearby camping, shuttlebus service, and food are available.   Food and drink vendors will include Fisher’s, Phil’s Woodshed, Grace Church and Zippco.  Full Pint Brewing will be doing a beer tasting (21 and over only, ID required).

Please order your tickets online now!   Tickets and information available at www.concertsinharmony.com

The new schedule of art classes for kids ages 5-8 and 9-12 is now available. Click on “kids classes” in the menu at the top of our page to see the latest. More classes will be added, so check back often.

Art classes for teens and adults are also available. Click on the link “art classes” in the menu to see the list of fall 2012 offerings for teens and adults.

To register, visit the Gallery and complete your sign-up form. Payment is due at the time of registration. If you have questions or need help, call us at 724.452.0539.

Returning to the Bottlebrush Gallery in Harmony, last year’s sold out show: Tony Denikos!

Friday, August 10, 2012  7pm-9:30pm  BYOB  $10 – advance reservations requested due to small venue, 724.452.0539. Come on out and support live music!

Tony Denikos writes, records and performs some of the most refreshingly down-home Americana music in the country. His wide range of influences includes John Fogerty, John Prine, Lowell George, Graham Parker & Bruce Springsteen. Tony is a storyteller and songsmith in the tradition of John Prine and Lyle Lovett.  http://tonydenikos.com

“There’s a warmth and natural soulfulness to his sound that is as much approachable as it is admirable. Next time I sit beside Prine at Arnold’s Meat & Three, I am going to hip him to the fact that I know who is going to fill his shoes when he retires.” –Gary Allen (JJ Cale/The Charlie Daniels Band/Stonewall Jackson)

With Special Guest Jeff DeSantis
Jeff DeSantis is a Pittsburgh-based songwriter whose style can be described as Americana/Alt Country, as written by someone who grew up listening to The Who an awful lot. His album “323 13th Street” is available on iTunes and CD Baby, and he is currently working on a follow-up.

Hi everyone, the fall 2012 schedule of art classes for young artists (and older artists too) will be posted this week.  We will be teaching classes in jewelry, mask making, drawing/painting, found object art, collage, mosaic, fiber art (make your own dragon!), celtic art, t-shirt making and more. We’re adding evening and weekend classes.  Check back later this week for our schedule.

House Concert at the Bottlebrush this Friday, July 27!

Jeff Wiley is well known in our area as one of the finest ballad writers to not-yet be famous. His poetic lyrics and gentle delivery bring you in close and make you want to pay attention to every word. For this show he brings a band comprised of Harold Laderer on Drums, Tom Milnes on Guitar, & Frank Jay Wiley on Bass.

Opening act is Jordan Robb…renowned in the area for his hard-edge country style. Jordan is also a fine song writer and stylistically quite different from Jeff. It will be a fun show as the similarity in talent comes through with the contrasts in style keeping you entertained.

Come out and support local, live music!

Student Art show this week on Friday, July 20– Eric Charlton, a student from Slippery Rock University, will be presenting his unique, three-dimensional, multi-media art. Opening reception is 7pm-9pm this Friday; Eric’s show will be on display from July 20-August 3. Free admission. Refreshments will be served. Come out and see us– enjoy our newly installed air conditioning! 🙂

At the Bottlebrush Friday, July 13– The Carpenter Ants from WV. Come on out for some “chicken-fried Gospel soul– lots of feel-good harmonies and a solid groove.” Twenty five years of playing together– touring the US, Moscow and even joined the Rev. Jesse Jackson for a 10-city tour. You are in for a show!

The Carpenter Ants  http://www.carpenterants.net/

Even the best bands come and go but The Carpenter Ants have been around – with virtually the same lineup – for 25 years. The Ants have defied the odds and outlasted most of their peers for a number of reasons. First and foremost, after more than 2,000 performances, regardless of the occasion, the band never fails to have a good time – and that feeling is contagious.

The group’s new CD, Ants & Uncles, was again produced by Don Dixon and features guitarist Bill Kirchen on all tracks. Other guests include keyboardist John Deaderick (Dixie Chicks, Alison Krauss and Michael McDonald), famed peddle steel guitarist Russ Hicks and dobro/lap steel master Jerry Douglas.

With Special Guest Ben Shannon: “Judging by the likable and infectious arrangement of (lead-off track) ‘Break On Through’ which follows in the footsteps of the laid-back style of Jack Johnson, Shannon has a promising musical future ahead of him. The Nashville-born and Pittsburgh-raised singer-songwriter breaks on through in a big way with his full-length debut release “Move On.” -Clint Rhodes, Music Editor – Herald Standard

Bottlebrush: A Gallery for the Arts 539 Main Street Harmony, PA 16037

Tickets $10   BYOB    724.452.0539 or HITH@zoominternet.net Call or email for more information and reservations.

We believe all children are born artists, as did Picasso. Starting in July 2012, the Gallery is offering classes for young artists. Taught by practicing artists and creative instructors, the students will explore a variety of different mediums geared towards their specific age/skill levels. We’ll make personalized t-shirts, lanterns, pinwheels, dolls, jewelry and more– with a finished project to take home after every class.

You can see the entire schedule of classes by clicking on “Art Classes” in the menu at the top of our Web page. Call us or email for more information and to register.

Coming this fall…
Beginning in September, we will offer an after-school series of art classes for children and teenagers. We’re also scheduling monthly Parent-Child Art Classes for mom and dad to take with the kids. Check our Web page for updates or join our email list, and we’ll send you a monthly schedule of activities.