From tonight and into Monday, winter is still doing its thing with a mix of snow and rain, according to both the National Weather Service and AccuWeather.
The National Weather Service is calling for a possible snow fall of 1-2 inches during the overnight hours between 1 and 4 a.m. Friday. That snow is expected to change to rain with possible freezing rain.
AccuWeather is predicting heavier precipitation Sunday into Monday. That storm could bring more snow, rain and ice into the northeast. Pennsylvania is within the snow band. Up to 6 inches of snow could accumulate depending on how the storm tracks.
“Regardless of the storm track,” AccuWeather is saying, “the cold blast that follows will bring a new round of discomfort to the Northeast.” Gusts between 30 and 45 mph are predicted in the Northeast. Blustery conditions are expected for several days but should abate by the second week of March, AccuWeather is predicting.
Another Paint the Folly event is scheduled for Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is $25.
Painters Folly, the home Samuel Painter built in 1857 on Route 1 in Chadds Ford could wind up on the National Register of Historic Places. According to Supervisors’ Chairman Frank Murphy, the home on four acres is one step away.
Overseeing the application has been Township Secretary Maryann Furlong, who credits a couple of township interns with getting the application for recognition ready.
“We were fortunate to have two interns, Lowell Konyk and Sarah Sharp. They really did all the grunt work,” Furlong said.
That grunt work consisted of poring through 82 pages of instructions to fill out a seven-page application.
The township bought the 4-acre property early last year and the work to apply for a place on the register began in June. Furlong said the idea came from Beverlee Barnes of the Delaware County Planning Department.
Furlong explained that simply getting the property to qualify for the register makes the township eligible for grant money through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Those grants would be specific for preservation and restoration work.
Chadds Ford Township bought the property in March of 2018 from George and Helen Sipala for $640,000. One of the as yet unanswered questions is how the property could be used.
A reason the house can’t be used for public events right now is that it isn’t compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. One possible use of that grant money would be for a preservation and restoration study for physical work on the site, Furlong said. Some work would be to make the home ADA accessible.
Painters Folly was once the home of illustrator Howard Pyle, one of N.C. Wyeth’s teachers. Pyle taught across the street at Turner’s Mill, Chadds Ford Township’s current municipal building.
N.C. Wyeth’s son Andrew was known to frequent the property, which is adjacent to the Brandywine Battlefield Park. Andrew Wyeth visited the home often while the Sipalas lived there. He became so friendly with the Sipalas that he had the run of the house. Several of his paintings — Widow’s Walk and The Marriage Bed— were painted at and feature Painters Folly.
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.
Minas, a Grammy Award-winning Brazilian Jazz Band, featuring guitarist and vocalist, Orlando Haddad, and pianist and vocalist, Patricia Kin, perform at noon on March 20 as part of West Chester University’s Jazz Festival.
•Join the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) at Springfield Mall for the Arthritis Foundation’s evidence-based Walk with Ease Program. This free program is proven to reduce the pain of arthritis; increase balance, strength and walking pace; build confidence in your ability to be physically active, and improve your overall health, a press release said. Participants receive the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk with Ease Guide Book; a guide to walking for better health, improved fitness and less pain. Information is shared at each session and then the group walks, each at his or her own pace. The program is held three days each week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. beginning March 4 through April 12. Walk for good health and meet new friends at Springfield Mall. Call COSA at 610-499-1937 to register.
•Arborist Sam Seo, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s community forester, will lead participants in understanding basic pruning tools and techniques that will enhance the beauty and health of their plants on Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. Tackle the woody plants in your landscape with confidence at the end of this workshop, which includes a lecture, demonstration, and supervised hands-on pruning. Light refreshments provided; please bring your own pruners, if you have them. Without pruning, trees and shrubs can become hazardous, aesthetically unappealing, and shorter-lived than otherwise. The cost is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers.
•Tickets are now on sale for the Unionville High School production of “Little Shop of Horrors” scheduled for 7 p.m. March 14-16. A cast of over 60 students brings this unique sci-fi musical comedy to life. The music, by master composer Alan Menken, is in the style of 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown and includes several well-known tunes such as “Suddenly Seymour” and “Somewhere That’s Green.” The plot follows nerdy floral shop worker Seymour who would do or give anything to gain the love of his co-worker Audrey. The depth of his desire is tested when a strange and menacing addition to his floral shop brings him sudden and unexpected popularity. Tickets are available online at www.showtix4u.com. Prices are $12 in advance, $14 at the door and $12 students/seniors.
•West Chester University’s Wells School of Music will hold the 29th annual Jazz Festival, running March 20-23. All events are staged in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. Events Wednesday through Friday are free and open to the public. Parking is also free outside of the Swope Music Building. For full listings and details visit https://www.wcupa.edu/music/jazzfest.aspx
Celebrate wildflowers at Mt. Cuba on April 28.
•Mt. Cuba Center’s annual Wildflower Celebration returns on Sunday, April 28. This annual free celebration at the botanical garden highlights Delaware’s native wildflowers and invites people of all ages to go wild with hands-on activities, nature play, and live music. This year’s celebration features music from Flatland Drive Bluegrass Band and guitarist Jenn Minor, gardening demonstrations from Mt. Cuba Center’s experts, an Ikebana flower arrangement demonstration, lawn games, face painting, story time, arts and crafts, and science exploration stations, among other activities. See the full schedule of programming here. RSVP to this event on Facebook here.
Last weekend, Square Pear Gallery in Kennett Square held a workshop for artists and creative entrepreneurs. I’m not usually one for productivity on a Sunday, but this workshop piqued my interest as it appealed to a very specific creative audience. Square Pear’s “Winter Workshop” featured a two part event hosted by a panel of artists and creatives who have paved their own paths in their respective industries and shared their tricks of the trade.
April Heather Davulcu, illustrator and marketer extraordinaire of April Heather Art, hosted the event along with Corien Siepelinga, owner and curator of Square Pear Gallery, and Estelle Tracy, chocolate educator and social media expert. I was a little cranky about getting properly dressed and socializing with anyone at 8 am on a Sunday morning, but immediately perked up when I arrived to find a) coffee and b) a bunch of fun artists in a cozy gallery setting.
The morning session focused exclusively on product development and branding. April, Estelle, and guest speakers/artists Colleen Attara, and Stephanie Ryan shared their individual experiences developing recognition, and tangible value to their art and services. April opened the event sharing her story, and then introducing the group to her product resources and experiences developing merchandise as an artist. As an illustrator, April Heather Art is featured on Etsy, Wayfair, Trader Joe’s, exists as a brick and mortar within Square Pear Gallery and participates in Clover Market. I listened, ears perked, as each speaker shared their wealth of knowledge, and I soaked it in like a sponge.
The afternoon session featured the same panel, but focused on social media. As a millennial, I often times brush off the suggestion that I need any more training outside of my personal experience growing up and living in the age social media. However, Estelle Tracy and Stephanie Ryan provided some specific tricks to optimizing one’s social media presence and communicating with an audience. One suggestion by Estelle Tracy is not to worry about expanding your audience on social media as much as creating a loyal base through genuine connection and engagement. Quality over quantity will inevitably push your social media presence to new heights. I left this workshop with tangible goals, physical handouts, and a lot of consider as an artist and I’m sure I was not the only one. Kudos to Square Pear for hosting, and for thinking outside the box to create unique programming outside of gallery exhibitions. I look forward to their future events and workshops.
Carol Lesher and Susan Myers at Blue Streak Gallery
First Friday is coming up, and the Art Loop in Wilmington has plenty to offer. Blue Streak Gallery will be hosting Kennett Square’s own Carol Lesher as well as Susan Myers. Lesher will be showcasing her sweeping oil and mixed media abstract landscapes, alongside pastels by Myers. Stop by Blue Streak for a reception this Friday, March 1st from 5 – 8 p.m. Exhibition will continue through April 2nd.
The Howard Pyle Studio will host a themed exhibition, “Blue and White Show” featuring work from the studio artists. Stop in for their First Friday reception from 5 – 8 .pm. Station Gallery in Greenville will host a reception of Jacalyn Beam’s solo exhibition, “A Way of Seeing – Plein Air Paintings of The Brandywine Valley” on Friday from 5-8 p.m. If you’ve grown up in the area, as I have, you may enjoy these lush paintings of familiar bucolic scenery in the area. If you are new to the area, let the paintings introduce you to the beauty of the Brandywine Valley! Stop by and meet the artist during the reception. This exhibition continues through the end of the month.
As always, tune in to Art Watch Radio 1520AM every Wednesday from 1 – 1:30pm. Next week, Amie Potsic interviews Brandywine Museum curator Amanda Burden. Until next week!
