Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts

Thursday evening May 3, 2012, 7pm-9pm  Please join us for the opening night of the St. Stephen’s Lutheran  Academy  Student Art Exhibit. Support our local art students!

For More Information: 724.452.0539

St.  Stephen’s Lutheran Academy is a licensed private academic school dedicated to providing a positive, safe, and nurturing learning community to students. We serve approximately 260 students from 1st grade through 12th, and focus on individualized instruction to teach students with needs beyond those met by traditional educational programs. Every interaction with a student is an opportunity to help them learn, grow and heal; this is specifically the goal of our art program. It is extremely important for students to express themselves in a positive manner and art class provides them the perfect opportunity.

In Memoriam: Doug Pickett, Assistant Fire Chief, Harmony Volunteer Fire Company. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Please join us in historic Harmony as we proudly host an evening of Art, live music by Sally Zehmisch, and refreshments at the Opening Reception for the Zelienople Art Club.  This very large show will include a variety of never-before displayed paintings by the some of the top artists in Butler County including:

Dee Graham    ~    Jim Hulings   ~      Linda Hynes

Betty Korczynski   ~  May Lutz  ~  Debbie Markich  ~ Janie Springer

These artists are members of the Art group which meets every Monday at the Calvin Church in Zelienople to paint and share their knowledge and experience. New members are welcome!

The Exhibit will be display at the Gallery from April 12-April 29, 2012. Gallery hours are 11am-4pm daily.

RSVP to the Gallery: 724.452.0539 or bottlebrushgallery@yahoo.com

Music at the Bottlebrush Gallery this Friday, 7-10pm, only $10 Admission. RSVP to the Gallery at 724.452.0539.  BYOB!

“Harmony in the House” Concerts presents:

Todd Burge
Folk~Bluegrass~Alt Rock

A return engagement to our area! Todd Burge has performed over 100 shows each year in venues as diverse as The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Center. Todd has performed and toured with Tim O’Brien, Kathy Mattea, Lucinda Williams, Bela Fleck, Mike Seeger, Larry Groce, Ricky Skaggs and many others. His high energy shows are packed with songs and stories of bizarre characters and critters from dogs to sharks to humans.

Last year, Todd played for us at the very successful Homeless Children’s Education Fund benefit. www.toddburge.com

Opening act:  Dennis McCurdy and the Lonesome No More Band– yes, our Dennis! 🙂 
Americana~Folk~Alt Bluegrass

NOTE: at 6pm, Todd will present his fun Kazoo Camp for Kids. Only $5 for the workshop with a free kazoo. Bring the kids!

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!