Florence Wainger Ploener, 91, formerly of Chadds Ford, died peacefully on March 29, in New York, surrounded by family. Predeceased by her husband Arthur Ploener, and siblings James Wainger and Sally Weiner. She will be greatly missed by her children, Paul Ploener, Maggie Ploener and Josh Ploener. By grandchildren, Faith Naoi, Rebekah Bolton, Amanda Ploener, and AJ Ploener and great-grandchildren Palmer, Mirabel and Nolan.
Florence Wainger Ploener
Florence was born to Rose and Paul Wainger in February of 1929 in Johnstown, Pa. Her family moved to Atlantic City, N.J. when she was 15. However, 63 years were spent in Chadds Ford and the greater Wilmington Delaware area.
Florence was active in the League of Women Voters where she fought for the cause of good government, in Chester County. She enjoyed her pets, traveling, and playing golf at Kennett Square Golf and Country Club. Her proudest achievement was helping children to be adopted by foster parents. She volunteered for The Office of Child Advocate Delaware, run by the Courts of the State of Delaware for 15 years.
Her cremains were interred with her mother and father at the Stephen Wise Cemetery in Hastings-On-Hudson, New York. Donations in her memory can be made to Youth Advocates Inc for Delaware County and Chester County. https://delcocasa.org/support-us/donate-now If you are mailing your donation, please make checks payable to CASA Youth Advocates and mail to CASA Youth Advocates PO Box 407 Media, PA 19063.
Susan O'Hanlon at work“One Lane – Bridge to Marshalton” by Jacalyn Beam
Like everyone else, artists have had to seriously re-think how they do business since the Coronavirus made its way across the world. Local plein air artist Jacalyn Beam ordinarily participates in a lot of juried events across the country. When out of state traveling restrictions were put in place, she had no choice but to stay put so she turned to painting in her backyard. Funny how a place so familiar is seen through a new lens; now that she is spending more time there she views it differently. “I successfully painted tree peonies and set up flower arrangements to paint on the deck for the first time. It was different subject matter for me but I was outside where I typically paint and where I love to be.”
Jacalyn Beam painting en plein air
The extra time she’s had also pushed her to experiment more. “I’m thinking less about a final product. The spring weather has been cool and the flowers seem to be lasting longer than in past years, or, am I just noticing this more now?” Beam’s heard from several clients during the shelter-in-place inquiring about purchasing additional paintings. “Perhaps it’s due to having more time to enjoy the paintings already hanging in their home and thus, they have a desire to add to their collection. I cannot say for sure. What I do know for sure is that art brings much joy to our lives. My landscapes ‘bring the outside in’ and serve to broaden our personal and collective worlds. Paintings take you places without having to leave home.”
National online exposure is generating new interest in her paintings. Asked whether she think sales via virtual artwork viewing will continue, Beam said, “I’m counting on it! Based on interest and sales during the past three months, virtual viewing is working. It makes sense. Not everyone has the time to attend gallery openings. My clients are not just in the Brandywine Valley but spread across the country and virtual viewing was a norm prior to shelter-in-place.” To see more of Beam’s rich with texture paintings visit Jacalyn Beam.
Since many spring and summer shows have been canceled, Downingtown potter Susan O’Hanlon has kept busy photographing the work she produced for them in order to host an online sales event. “Photographing and getting them up on my website is a tedious process. I prepared a lot of new work so I’ve got a lot to do. I hope to have an online sales event by mid-to-late June.”
Bandit Bowl by Susan O’Hanlon
She is also working longer hours to fill an increased demand for her ceramic slow feeder pet bowls. “My Bandit Bowl is an original design I created for my rescue dog (Bandit) when I couldn’t find a quality slow feeder that worked or didn’t have harmful plastic toxins. It’s a niche product, and I feel very fortunate to be able to offer a handmade product that customers can afford and also justify buying in these trying times.”
O’Hanlon is open to selling works virtually but appreciates face to face interactions. “For me, the value of in-person shows is found in meeting my customers, sharing my passion for handmade pottery, answering their questions, and learning how they use (or will use) my work. Having said that, I think there’s a new normal on the horizon, and that as artists our creativity will help us adapt. While I’ve sold my work online for some time, my online presence has been limited to my functional pottery and slow feeder pet bowls. Going forward, I’ll need to expand that effort to include the full breadth of my work.”
Bowl by Susan O’Hanlon
She also plans to add virtual teaching to her schedule. “I’m not sure how long it will be until I feel comfortable teaching in my home studio again, or until students feel comfortable returning to group teaching venues. I’ll include it in an effort to replace some of my lost teaching income and to provide a venue for me to continue sharing my processes.” O’Hanlon has been getting a lot of support from her buyers via social media. “It seems my customers feel a renewed desire to support local / small businesses and artisans, and that gives me hope for a future where I can continue to make a living as an artist doing what I love and sharing it with others.” To see all of her offerings visit Susan O’Hanlon.
The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank, is hosting a three week benefit virtual exhibition titled Art, For Goodness’ Sake in partnership with West Chester “stickeraffiti” artist @cassius.k1ng. The artist wants to give back to the community in need during this troubling time. In keeping with its mission, The Art Trust will forego any commission on this program so that 75% of all sales will be donated to the Chester County Food Bank. The remaining 25% will be paid directly to the artist to defray costs of printing and framing the artwork. Visit here to make an online purchase.
A native of Philadelphia, Constance McBride lived in Arizona for 16 years, where desert observations made a transformative impact on her work as a research based visual artist. Passionate about contemporary art, she was actively engaged in the local arts community. She served as a board member for several art organizations, managed an artist collective/gallery space, curated and juried several exhibitions and wrote for two arts publications in Phoenix. She taught ceramics at Shemer Art Center and Museum and exhibited her work both locally and nationally. McBride returned to Pennsylvania in 2018 and resides in Chester Springs with her husband and two dogs. In West Chester, she serves as a board member at The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank and teaches ceramics at Chester County Art Association. She also teaches at Clay on Main in Oley, PA. She is a member of American Craft Council, Philadelphia Sculptors, and Women’s Caucus for Art, Philadelphia Chapter.
After being closed for almost three months, Hank’s Place in Chadds Ford Township is up and running again, albeit not for indoor dining. Owners Anthony and Katie Young applied for the newly enacted temporary permit allowing for outdoor dining. The restaurant is also now providing curbside side pickup.
Members of the Cloudy and Porritt families on Monday enjoyed their first chance to eat at Hank’s Place in three months. Kathleen Cloudy, of Kennett Square, said eating at a restaurant after three months of lockdown made her feel free.
Brandon Porritt said he’s delighted that small businesses can start reopening now that the Southeastern region of the state is out of the red and into the yellow.
Hank’s Place owners Anthony and Katie Young capitalized on an ordinance the Chads Ford Township Board of Supervisors passed on Saturday morning. The ordinance allows restaurateurs to apply for a special permit to provide outdoor dining at restaurants that otherwise can’t serve outside. Parking lots and lawn areas may be used if the township approves the restaurant’s application based on a set of conditions.
Anthony Young said there would be seating along the Route 1 and Creek Road sides of the parking lot.
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.
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.
