Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts

Photo from Friday night’s St. Patrick’s Eve Concert at the Bottlebrush Gallery. So much fun! Thanks to the Stohrhaus Bakery for delicious shamrock cookies and boxty (Irish potato pancakes), and thanks also to Lisel Moser for lending a much welcome hand!

At the end of the concert, the Poets led the audience on a War Pipes (bagpipes) march from the Gallery all the way to the Harmony Inn and back. Thanks to everyone who attended–

84 people at last count! Click on the 2012 Concerts” link at the top of the page for a list of upcoming concerts and join us for good music in a family-friendly environment.

Please join us on Friday, March 23, 7-9pm as we welcome Seneca Valley High School student Audrey Semel’s Exhibit on “Tolerance” to the Bottlebrush! In addition to Audrey’s work on the theme of “Tolerance”, twelve of her peers will present their artwork in response.

Audrey’s Exhibit will be on display at the Gallery from March 23 – April 5, so please stop by if you’re in the area. Support local student art!

About the Artist:

My name is Audrey Semel, and I am a high school senior at Seneca Valley.  I am the drum major for the marching band, was homecoming queen, and play lacrosse for the school’s varsity team.  I am also a representative on Student Council, part of National Honor Society, and a youth leader of Calvin Presbyterian’s youth group.  I have been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, and I am an active member of St. Gregory’s Church. These are all different realms of my life that have helped shape my character as I have grown, but what has truly made me who I am is God and the incredible people He has placed in my life.

My future plans include going to a four-year university in the fall to earn my bachelor’s degree.

The drawings in my first art show are products of a simple theme: tolerance.  I am discouraged when I hear people making judgments of others based solely on their appearances or backgrounds.  Through my drawings, I show how easily we can pass up incredible souls with powerful stories, every day.  Through my recreation of Van Gogh’s  “Starry Night,”  I demonstrate that there is much we don’t know about others.  Paired with my Van Gogh recreation is narrative about Van Gogh’s spirituality, how it affected his work, and how much more there is to him than a man who cut off his ear.

By involving others to make their own art and think about tolerance, I share the concepts of acceptance and understanding with my community, along with the joy of art.  Through this project, I have made something bigger than myself.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Eve at the Bottlebrush Gallery!

Ploughshare Poets – Traditional and Non-Traditional Celtic Music

with special guest

Shawn MacIntyre – Irish, Scottish, Medieval and Maritime Music in acapella style

Friday, March 16, 2012, 7:00-10:00pm Admission: $10 at door.  BYOB.  Snacks provided along with Irish cheer! RSVP required due to small venue. Please call 724.452.0539 or email hith@zoominternet.net

Vade and Ryan are the Ploughshare Poets. They will sing many old favorites as well as modern Celtic songs and tunes. Between the two of them, they play 3 different bagpipes, guitar, whistles, drums, bouzouki.

Far from being a kitschy pub band, the Poets study the history and cultural importance of a wide array of Scottish and Irish music. Vade has played extensively in England and Scotland and was the lead singer of “Colin’s Way” for 10 years. Ryan has played bagpipes for 20 years and makes his own smallpipes.

Ploughshare Poets playing at the Bottlebrush on St. Patrick's Eve!

New Art from Betsy Hughes and a Save the Date

Our mixed media artist and sculptor Betsy Hughes came to visit us last week, bringing some of her newest work to the Gallery. Wow! Several brightly colored, outdoor paintings you can hang on your porch or patio– incredibly gorgeous colors– and a new 4’ tall “Garden Lady” sculpture in beautiful purple lace… weatherproof, waterproof, and ready to go to her new home in your garden.  Spring will be here before you know it!

Which reminds us… please join us for the annual Harmony Herb and Garden Fair on June 9. Plant vendors, a plant swap, food, live music, and garden-related crafts, all day! Betsy Hughes will be here for our “Meet the Artist” event to talk with you about her garden sculptures and paintings, very cool! In addition, artist and musician Tom Panei from Butler will be doing a “live painting”.  Doug Oster, the “gardening guy”  from KDKA’s Pittsburgh Today Live, will give a talk and sign copies of his new book “Tomatoes Garlic Basil”. More information on Doug’s book here: http://www.dougoster.com/books/   Bring your friends, plants, gardening ideas… we look forward to seeing you on June 9th. Be sure to stop and say hello!

The first Harmony in the House Concert of 2012:

Friday, February 24, 2012  7:00pm Bottlebrush: A Gallery for the Arts 539 Main Street “On the Square” Harmony, PA 16037 $10 Admission- BYOB

Limited Seating – RSVP Call (724) 452-0539 or email hith@zoominternet.net

Ellen Cherry (Baltimore)

Emmy nominated singer/songwriter Ellen Cherry is a full-time touring and working performer based in Baltimore, MD. She has licensed her music to the Oxygen Network, MTV, and Soap.net. In 2009, she wrote, recorded and performed a TV campaign for FOX Networks and also composed the score for a shadow puppet piece entitled “Alonzo’s Lullaby”, which has been awarded the prestigious UNIMA Citation of Excellence. She has been awarded Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards for Vocal Performance (2007) and Music Composition (2009) and founded her own studio and label, Wrong Size Shoes, in 2004.

http://www.ellencherry.com

Sue Gartland (Pittsburgh), opening act

Sue Gartland’s lyrics and melodies are drawn from life’s experience and delivered  in a style that’s all her own with a gentle and soothing voice. Born into a military family at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Sue spent most of her childhood years moving from place to place leaving her with a sense of melancholy rootlessness and wanderlust that is woven throughout her lyrics.

Event Alert: February 14, 6-8pm: Valentine’s Party Benefit for the Butler County Humane Society

Join us for live music by Jack Knight from Pittsburgh, yummy refreshments, door prizes, a silent auction and an art scavenger hunt. Plenty of animal-themed art on display and for sale from regional artists.  BCHS is bringing some of the BCHS dogs and cats who are looking for a new home to meet you. Stop in before or after dinner, or stay the whole time, we are fine with either.  No admission – just bring a toy or food item for the animals. Monetary donations accepted too. 🙂

RSVP requested but not required. 724-452-0539.

Thanks to Bliss Salon and Kerven Subaru in Butler, Stohrhaus Bakery, The Enchanted Olive, The Center of Harmony, and The Harmony Inn in Harmony for their support of this event. Jill Claire is donating one of her fantastic paintings to the silent auction and Nancy Esmus is donating three prints– our artists rock!  Please help us help the animals!

This Friday evening,  January 20, from 7-9:00 will be the Closing Reception for the first Slippery Rock University Art Exhibit.   Under the leadership of Barbara Westman, 23 students are displaying 51 pieces of artwork, ranging from various sculpture media to paintings, drawings to jewelry.  Altered books and sculptures  made from felt and other materials need to be seen to be appreciated! Some of the work is for sale, so if you’re looking for an unusual piece of art as a gift, stop on by and see what’s available for you. Our closing reception Friday is free of charge, with refreshments.  Support student art!

Friends, mark your calendars for our first Opening of 2012!

On January 13th at 7pm, the Gallery will host an Opening featuring the work of Slippery Rock University art students. Under the guidance of SRU Assistant Professor Barbara Westman, 23 students will have their art on display (with some for sale) in our Gallery for two weeks.  Some really cool fiber art including altered books– we are very excited!  Check out samples of their work on these pages:
http://www.sru.edu/academics/colleges/chfpa/art/Pages/photo_fibers.aspx
http://www.sru.edu/academics/colleges/chfpa/art/Pages/photo_print.aspx
http://rockpride.sru.edu/2011/RP120911/photogallery2.php

As usual, we’ll have plenty to eat and drink, and music…  you can check out what’s new in the rest of the Gallery while you’re here.  Looking forward to seeing you on the 13th.  Until then, have a safe and happy holiday.

Friends, come join us in Harmony on New Year’s Eve at the Bottlebrush for the German celebration of New Year’s, known as Silvester.  Festivities begin at 3pm and finish up with the dropping of the ball at 6pm, which is midnight in  Germany.  Bottlebrush will be hosting an open mic all afternoon, so bring your instrument, your voice and holiday good cheer. Wishing you all a prosperous 2012!

For more information on the annual Silvester celebration in Harmony:

http://harmonymuseum.org/news-recent.html#silvester2011

Harmony invites families to enjoy an afternoon of Silvester activities on Dec. 31: 2-5 p.m., Harmony Museum: Tours ($1); children’s games and crafts (free); the short comedy film “Dinner for One,” in English, a popular part of Silvester in Germany (free); Bleigiessen, the German tradition of examining the shape of a bit of melted lead to guess what the New Year may bring ($1); and, beginning at 3:30, a pork and sauerkraut dinner in Stewart Hall ($12). 3 & 3:45 p.m.: The 5th annual Butler Health System 5-K Run/Walk starts at 3 o’clock in the Main and Mercer Streets diamond at the center of the National Historic Landmark District, followed 45 minutes later by a new-this-year 1-Mile Fun Run. Post-race awards are presented at Grace Church Youth Center, Main Street. Entry forms are available from the Harmony Borough office, 217 Mercer Street (724-452-6780); registration is open until race time (5-K $25, 1-Mile $10).

Big doings in Harmony this weekend!

The annual German Christmas Market is Saturday (11-6) and Sunday (12-4). Music, traditional food, artists, vendors, horse and buggy rides, and all the shops will be open, decked out in their holiday finery! Between 3,000-5,000 people are expected. Parking with be tight of course, but shuttles will be running from remote lots. For more information, please visit the Harmony Museum’s page here: http://www.harmonymuseum.org/germanchristmasmarket.html

Friday night, Nov 11, at 7:00PM, Bottlebrush is hosting another of our popular House Concerts featuring Jeff and Vida (New Orleans and Nashville) entertaining us with their country-bluegrass sounds. $10 at the door, BYOB. ZTown is catering, so we will have some good food! 🙂  We anticipate either soup or chili, and we will be providing bread from the new Stohr-Haus bakery across the square from Bottlebrush in Harmony.

If you plan to attend, please call the Shop at 724-452-0539 and reserve a place. Last weekend’s Roy Book Binder show was standing room only, a great turnout and what a show, but we were short on seats. If you have a folding chair, please bring it with you.

Friday 11^th November, 2011, 7:00 PM
Bottlebrush: A Gallery for the Arts
539 Main Street “On the Square”
Harmony, PA 16037
$10 Admission
Limited Seating – RSVP
Call (724) 452-0539 or email hith@zoominternet.net
With Special Guests: The Lonesome No More Band

We’re getting a nice response, but please note this weekend, 11/12-13, is the German Christmas Market festival in Harmony and our back lot will not be available for parking.  There are 2 municipal lots nearby and on-street parking. There is handicapped parking by the stop sign in front of the shop and, if you have special needs, stop out front and we will help accommodate you. Please do not park in the Grace Church lot until after 7pm.

This show should be a blast. If you haven’t heard of Jeff and Vida, check them out on YouTube. I know we are excited to be opening for them. During their 9 years of performing and songwriting, they have delved into many different genres of music; country, honky-tonk, rockabilly, even a little rock and roll.  But throughout their career– which has included four critically-acclaimed albums, literally thousands of live shows in the U.S. and Europe, and a move from New Orleans to Nashville– bluegrass has remained a key influence in their style and sound.  Nowhere is this more evident than on their new CD, Selma Chalk.  For more on Jeff & Vida, go to their website: http://www.jeffandvida.com/JeffVida/Welcome.html.