Darlington parties way back to school

Posted by Press Release on October 12, 2017

Darlington Teaching Artists Lingchin Liao and Ross Beauchamp preformed a string duet

A crowd close to one hundred gathered at Darlington Arts Center for their Annual Back to School Arts Party on Saturday, October 7. “The event is designed to build community through the arts and was an outstanding success,” said Darlington’s Executive Director Eric Carter Thompson. Attendees had opportunities to collaborate on a large mural and also create individual luminaire jars for the holiday season. The highlight of the evening was the music recital segment later in the evening. It proved to be a tour de force of talent featuring performances by Darlington music Teaching Artists that wowed the crowd. In addition, there were works of ceramic art on display by visual art Teaching Artists Tia Santana and Jeremy Sims along with student work.

Darlington family partygoers made beautiful luminaire jars for the coming holidays.

“We invite all members of the community to become engaged with the arts and to participate and be invigorated,” said Carter Thompson. “At Darlington, the arts are active and alive, not passive.”

“Darlington is extremely proud of our outstanding Teaching Artist faculty,” continued Carter Thompson. “They amazed, charmed, and entertained everyone during the event. We celebrated with a dinner in their honor prior to the evening party.” Darlington music Teaching Artists are talented professionals as well as exceptionally gifted teachers helping to train area students in a variety of music instruments from piano and violin to guitar, percussion, trumpet, and woodwinds, in addition to voice and vocal training.

The balmy weather added to the lightness of spirit and enjoyment for everyone at this community gathering. Adding fun to the evening was a jellybean raffle winner announced and the unveiling of the collaborative jigsaw puzzle mural now adorning the Center’s hallway wall as exclamation point to the festive evening.

“It was a wonderful community event demonstrating how the arts are thriving at Darlington, but it doesn’t end there,” says Carter-Thompson. “It just provides a momentary pause to take a breath and invite the public to our Darlington Coffee House Concert series opening this Saturday night on October 14.” Area bluegrass/folk favorite Tookany Creek kicks off the schedule at this intimate venue. This is preceded by Darlington’s initial Art Gallery opening of the season on Friday, October 13 featuring local area artists Joan Griffith and Molly Stevens. At Darlington, the arts don’t stop. They continue to provide enjoyment and opportunities to come together as a creative community.

There’s still time to register for second session Fall Classes for children and adults, and Darlington invites the community to attend upcoming free events including Preschool Halloween Open House on Tuesday, October 31 at 10 a.m. and Holiday Jam on Saturday, December 9 at 2:30 p.m. Learn more at www.darlingtonarts.org.

Darlington Arts Center is a non-profit center for the visual and performing arts offering “Every Art for Everyone.” Fall Classes are underway but there is still room in many offerings. The center is located at 977 Shavertown Rd in Garnet Valley. It is convenient to Delaware, Chester and New Castle counties, less than a mile east of Rt. 202, just south of Rte. 1, and 1 ¼ miles from the Delaware state line. For more information, please visit www.darlingtonarts.org or call (610) 358-3632.