September 2, 2014 - ChaddsFordLive.com

‘Spirit’ rises at Chadds Ford Gallery

Marie-&-Pam_1JF8269 — Marie Kirkwood, left, and Pam Julian-Smyers open a two-artist exhibit at the Chadds Ford Gallery on Sept. 13.

A new two-artist exhibit, Spirit, is set to open at the Chadds Ford Gallery. While the two artists, Marie Kirkwood and Pam Julian-Smyers, are not household names, their teacher’s name is. That teacher is Chadds Ford’s Karl Kuerner.

“I have found of all the years I have worked with people that have talent…there are few that really see it through. I keep remembering what Carolyn Wyeth and her brother said to me, ‘Paint what you know and your soul will come out and people respond.’ These two women, Marie Kirkwood and Pamela Smyers are doing just that. Their uniqueness and love for what they do speaks volumes,” Kuerner said of his students.

One of the things he tries to get across to his students, Kuerner said, is that “It’s nice to do the pretty pictures, but they’ll only take you so far. But if you really delve into what really means somethong to you, it’ll make an impact.”

He added that their dedication to their art is showing through.

“It’s great they’re showing together, but it will be really interesting when they go their separate ways,” Kuerner said.

Mari Kirkwood's "First Snowmelt'" — Mari Kirkwood’s “First Snowmelt'”

Kirkwood has been studying with Kuerner for 15 years, she said, and Smyers has been with him for 10.

Kirkwood said her approach is to tell a story with her work, based on a surreal feeling that she gets when she sees an image.

“I experience the world outside and I instantly get a feeling. The image grabs me. I see an image that grabs me and I have to get it on film or get it on a sketchbook. When I get home, it starts to develop from there,” she said.

It’s the mood of the scene that grabs her, she added.

Smyers describes her work as realism and impressionism combined.

“I really try to paint my emotions. So, I might have an idea that I want this subject, but I paint what I’m feeling at that time, whether it’s strength or if I’m feeling fragile. That what I try to do,” Smyers said.

She added that she thinks she picks the subject according to what she’s feeling at that given moment.

“It’s coming from me, what I’m experiencing in my life,” Smyers said.

Smyers works primarily with acrylic, while Kirkwood ranges from acrylic to oil, watercolor and tempera.

As for the future, Kirkwood said she wants her art to support her spiritual practice, to help her reach a point of clarity and to know herself.

“I think my art helps me do that,” Kirkwood said.

"Spooked," by Pam Julian-Smyers — “Spooked,” by Pam Julian-Smyers

Smyers said she simply wants to evolve as an artist with technique, color, to become the best that she can be and “to stir people’s emotions.”

“I want people to see one of my paintings and be moved by it,” Smyers said. “When I look at the masters, I look in awe and it moves me. Then I want to know the story behind it. What was that artist trying to say? I hope I can do that for someone.”

Spirit open Saturday, Sept. 13 from 3 to 8 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Sept. 28.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Blogging Along the Brandywine: A Tale of Two Countries and a Love Lock

Along the Ford

=-UTF-8-B-OC0xOXBtLCBMb3ZlIExvY2tzIG9uIHRoZSBNaW1yYW0gQnLDvGNrZS5qcGc=-= — Blogging Along the Brandywine: A Tale of Two Countries and a Love Lock

There’s something from the Brandywine Ace Hardware in Pocopson on the Mimram Brücke (bridge) over the Rhine River in Germany.

Honest. And I’m sure they don’t even know it’s there.

Two summers ago when my husband and I were strolling along a pedestrian bridge over the Salz River in Salzburg, Austria, we were introduced to “Love Locks.” There on both sides of the bridge were multiple hundreds of padlocks of every variety attached to the steel chain link fencing. Each of the padlocks bore initials, a heart or a personal message.

“Für immer und ewig” one said in German, or “For ever and eternity”.

After the padlocks are attached to a chain link, the couple throws the key in the river. Locked forever in un-ending love!

Ah, pure romance.

There seems to be some mystery surrounding Love Locks and their exact origin. Some sources trace their origins to Europe, particularly Italy in the early 2000s, others to the Far East.

Tom and Sally's Lock of Love — Tom and Sally’s Lock of Love

But Tom and I vowed on our next trip to Europe we would come prepared with our own Love Lock.

So a few weeks ago, on August 19, Tom and I found ourselves enjoying a free afternoon on our eight-day Viking cruise up the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam. We walked along the Rheinpromenade Park and right over the Mimram Brücke a modern pedestrian suspension bridge elegantly arching its way over the Rhine between Kehl, Germany and the Jardin des Deux Rives in the historic Alsace region of France, an area which has seen both French and German rule through centuries of fighting. But now with the new European Union, no passports are needed between countries- just walk over the bridge and…Bonjour.

And sure enough, mid-way over the bridge, the chain links of the bridge became tightly packed with guess what, Love Locks.

“Unsere Liebe für die Ewigkeit. Ich liebe dich meine Frau” — Our love for eternity. I love you my wife.

What’s all this stuff about Germans never smiling or being stiff and formal? Here were hundreds of padlocks with Germans publicly and unabashedly professing their never-ending love for one another. Many of the locks were professionally engraved.

Finding an empty area, Tom clicked our lock in place as we threw the duplicate keys into the Rhine.

Yeah, OK, we kind of exchanged a kiss too.

Walking back to our ship later that afternoon we told some fellow passengers about our afternoon escapade, thinking they would chuckle at a tradition probably reserved for younger couples.

“Oh, we hung ours on a bridge in China last year,” came their reply.

However the most awesome Love Lock display was on the magnificent Hohenzollern Bridge over the Rhine in Cologne, Germany that not only carries the main railway as well as pedestrians, but now bears the additional weight of over 40,000 Love Locks including a bizarre collection of bicycle chains and handcuffs, too. Yeah…I don’t want to know.

But I’m glad we chose the smaller pedestrian bridge from Kehl to Strasbourg for our Love Lock: the rural setting, the peaceful feeling and the bridge gracefully soaring over the Rhine, symbolic not only of our love but the new feeling between the two countries.

Recently, Nawel Rafik-Elmrini, the deputy mayor of Strasbourg, France said, “There are no longer physical borders and now there will also no longer be borders in the minds of people.”

It’s a great beginning.

About Sally Denk Hoey

Sally Denk Hoey, is a Gemini - one part music and one part history. She holds a masters degree cum laude from the School of Music at West Chester University. She taught 14 years in both public and private school. Her CD "Bard of the Brandywine" was critically received during her almost 30 years as a folk singer. She currently cantors masses at St Agnes Church in West Chester where she also performs with the select Motet Choir. A recognized historian, Sally serves as a judge-captain for the south-east Pennsylvania regionals of the National History Day Competition. She has served as president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates as well as the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford where she now curates the violin collection. Sally re-enacted with the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment for 19 years where she interpreted the role of a campfollower at encampments in Valley Forge, Williamsburg, Va., Monmouth, N.J. and Lexington and Concord, Mass. Sally is married to her college classmate, Thomas Hoey, otherwise known as "Mr. Sousa.”

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Life On Track: Time for a change

Health

Now that the summer is coming to a close and the next season of life begins to sneak in, what’s next for you? Is there a part of you that wishes for something more? Is there a deep longing for something better? Are you ready for a change in one or more areas of your life?

If you answered yes, then I have great news for you. Today is the day you can make that change, fulfill that longing, and make that wish come true! The fact is, every day, every moment of our lives is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. What tends to happen for many of us is that we don’t seize the moment. We wait until tomorrow. We find a reason why not to do something instead of the reason to do the thing we want to do.

I invite you to make the choice to live differently now. Here is my advice. Put yourself first! It may sound the opposite of what you’ve heard, however, stick with me as I help you to literally design and create the life you want!

Don’t put yourself first in the selfish way you might think I mean. What I’m talking about is the fact that when you put yourself first, you take complete responsibility for everything in your life. Instead of waiting for the right time, the right moment, or the right opportunity, you begin to make it the right time, moment, and opportunity. You also begin to make it your responsibility to live your life the way you want to live your life.

Let me put this into perspective for you. If you want to be more respected at work, who’s responsibility is it to make you feel that way? If you want be in a more loving relationship, who’s responsibility is it to create a more loving relationship? If you want to be in shape, yet your family life prohibits you from going to the gym, who’s responsibility is it to find a way to get in shape? Let me give you a hint, the answer is always, “It’s my responsibility!”

In order for you to fulfill that wish, fill that void of longing, or see the changes you want, you must begin taking complete, and I do mean complete, responsibility for everything in your life. That is going to require you to do a few specific actions.

First, write down what matters to you; don’t consider what it would take, just write down what matters. Next, write down three possible solutions to overcoming the challenge of not being, doing, or having what you want. Now, discuss it with those people in your life who can assist you with choosing the best solution to your challenge. Finally, commit to doing what matters to you, and ask the people you just spoke with to hold you accountable.

The key to success in any area of life is to identify what matters, find the solution to the challenge of that not being your reality, and then taking consistent action. If you mess up, that’s okay. You can mess up, just don’t give up.

Identify one thing that you want to change, now that a new season is upon us. Then do what YOU need to do in order to create and live the life you want to be living!

About Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson is the creator of The LifeTrax Success System and the author of the series of books titled, Your Journey Of Being. As a life coach, his mission is to help people improve their lives and achieve their goals. For more information about Tom’s weekly group coaching or LifeTrax, visit http://LifeTraxCoaching.com

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Art Watch: Busy fall art scene

Arts & Entertainment

boyle and galer — Art Watch: Busy fall art scene

A busy Fall Art Scene & the Influence of Mentors with “Uncommon Denominators” and “Celestial Spheres”!

The Fall line-up for Gallery shows is heating up with September’s First Friday openings for new shows this Friday, September 5th all over Chester County. New Fall Class schedules are also available now for sign-up at The Chester County Chester County Art Association and The Oxford Art Alliance.

There is a double show for artists Katee Boyle and Lele Galer entitled “Celestial Spheres Shining” which will open at Galer Estate Winery‘s Pop up show this Thursday September 4th from 4-8pm, and then reopen at The Chester County Art Association’s Exton Gallery for an art reception from 1-4pm on Saturday September 6th. The Exton Gallery exhibits art in its gallery in the Exton Mall, (located between Boscovs and H&M) and features a different artist every month. Katee and Lele are friends who decided to collaborate on an over-the-top, exploratory, mixed-media show that highlights their own unique points of view. The show’s title is from Dante’s Inferno, and suggests an other-worldly realm of shining spheres, angels and dreamscapes. Katee and Lele are showing a combination of welded steel pieces, encaustic, fabric and oil paintings. Katee says, “‘Celestial Spheres’ represents my movement as an artist, growing forward and upward while exploring different mediums that I have been exposed to by fellow artists. Like the motion of a sphere, sometimes, it feels like running in circles to get to what i feel is the “next level.” Both Lele and Katee acknowledge a great debt to artist and mentor Stan Smokler whose summer welding workshop introduced them to the fascinating and wonderful medium of mig welded steel. Both openings should be a lot of fun.

Speaking of sculpture and great mentors, “Uncommon Denominator: a mentor’s influence” will open this Wednesday September 3rd from 4-7pm at the New Gallery at West Chester University. This is an exciting exhibition of sculptural works from 19 different artists who are all linked by their inspiration from the same art professor, James P. Nestor. Artist Karen Delaney writes, “I have curated this show in celebration of the influence this mentor has had on all of us.” What a wonderful idea for a show! Each of the sculptors have a very distinct point of view that is fresh and challenging, and this is sure to be a fascinating exhibition. Also showing at West Chester University, The Delaware Valley Art League presents a members-only exhibition of juried paintings in the Knaur Gallery at Swope Music Building. The opening for the DVAL show will be Sunday September 7th from 1-3pm.

Painter John Hannafin is opening up his West Chester studio/gallery at 19 South Church Street for this First Friday from 6-9pm. Just returning from an inspiring trip to see the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, John’s newest works strive to “express the humanity, life and spirit that Van Gogh so truly expressed.” At 12 South Church Street, The Church Street Gallery will be unveiling its newest exhibition “Beauty First” with paintings by Monique Lazard. Gallery owner Carol Giblin says that she is “very excited to present Monique Lazard’s first large scale solo exhibition show in this area”. Her work has been seen in a number of area venues including the Carspecken-Scott Gallery, Sunset Hill Gallery and twice participated in the prestigious Wayne Art Center “Plein Air” event. The opening reception will be this Friday from 5-9pm.

In Kennett Square, Mala Gallerie is opening the new season with a reception on Friday from 6-9pm for “Trees” featuring the powerful paintings of Frank DePietro. You have got to stop in there while you are enjoying all the fun at the famous Kennett Square Mushroom Festival! Mala Gallerie is located at 206 State Street in Kennett Square, just up from the post office. This local gem of a gallery features a new artist every month in the main gallery as well as a smaller room exhibiting the of works from a variety of local artists.

The wonderful Wine and Dinosaurs event at the Delaware Museum of Natural History still has tickets available for its big annual event Sunday September 14 and its silent auction features some sculptural work by some of our local favorite sculptors including Jeff Bell, Stan Smokler and Kevin Bielicki. This is a terrific event for a great cause, and a nice chance to purchase some great local sculptures.

Visit artists on the web:
www.kateeboyle.weebly.com

www.lelegaler.com

www.wcupa.edu/cvpa/art/Exhibitions.asp

www.malagalleria.com

www.JohnHannafin.com

www.chestercountyarts.org/exhibit/exton

www.oxfordart.org

www.moniquelazard.com

www.churchstreetgallerywc.com

www.delmnh.org

About Lele Galer

Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.

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Letter to the Editor: The judge made the mistake

Opinion

Concord First, representing the 994 Concord registered voters who signed the petition to have a question placed on the ballot at November’s upcoming election to allow voters decide if our township should become a township of the First Class, filed our brief to Commonwealth Court in support of our appeal on denial of our petition by Delaware County Common Pleas court.

To summarize our argument, the Common Pleas court – at the prompting of Delco Board of Elections using deceptive redactions of the actual code – misread and misinterpreted Section 207 of the First Class code. A plain reading of the statute clearing shows that the First Class question must be submitted to voters at the first election at least 90 days after both the minimum population density of 300 people per square mile (Concord has more than 1200) has been attained and after the petition is filed to the court.

The critical phrasing in the statute itself is:

“At the first general or municipal election occurring at least ninety days after ascertainment, by special enrollment of from the last preceding United States census, that any township of the second class has a population of at least three hundred inhabitants to the square mile, and after a petition signed by at least five per centum of the registered voters has been filed with the … court, the question whether such township of the second class shall become a township of the first class shall be submitted to the voters of the township ….”

The phrasing “after … and after” can only mean one thing: “the later of”.

Of course, that’s the way every prior First Class petition has been handled in Pennsylvania, including the one for Lower Macungie Township in Lehigh County 2007, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, in 1956, just to name a couple. The Delaware County Common Pleas judge is the first one ever to read the statute the way he ruled, and neither he nor Board of Elections cited any precedent for their interpretation.

In his opinion, the judge ruled that, based on his reading of the statute, the only elections where voters can decide the First Class ballot question are the elections immediately following the census. The judge adopted the reading of the Board of Elections, which redefined the word “from” in the statute relating to the census to mean “beginning”, when in the clear context of the statute, “from” means “derived from.” The statute clearly indicates that the population density is derived from the census, not that the census is used to determine at which election or elections the first class question can go to the voters.

The Delaware County judge is the first one ever to read the statute the way he ruled, and neither he nor Board of Elections cited any precedent for their interpretation of this statute that was passed in 1931, 83 years ago. Yet, according to their interpretation, the Lower Macungie and Whitemarsh voters should not have been able to decide since it was not at the first election after the census. The judge made a mistake.

As for the rest of the judge’s ruling, it is settled law that unspecified concerns or objections about signatures do not constitute grounds for denial of the petition. Specific signatures must be struck for specific reasons. Concord First secured nearly twice as many signatures as needed, and the judge did not make any findings of fact to strike a single signature.

Concord First expects a quick and complete reversal of lower court’s ruling in Commonwealth Court.

Dan Levin,
Concord Township
on behalf of Concord First