Pilot Matt Younkin shows off some acrobatic flying skills with his Beach 16.
A dozen pilots and planes were on hand, and so were some classic cars at the 49th annual New Garden Flying Field Air Show. It was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30, but the threat of bad weather pushed it back until Wednesday.
A skydiver brings in the colors.
The show had gone through some other changes during the last few years. COVID prevented the 2020 show, and then came a schedule change because of President Joe Biden.
The show is usually a two-day weekend event, but that changed after Biden became president. Airport Manager John Martin said the reason is that the field in New Garden is within 12 nautical miles of the president’s home in Delaware. When he’s there on the weekend, the airport comes under a TFR or temporary flight restriction. New Garden becomes part of a no-fly zone around Biden’s home.
A P-51 Mustang is considered by some as one of the best American fighter aircraft of WWII.
“We haven’t had an event here in New Garden in the last two years,” Martin said, “but we’re excited to get it back up this year.”
So, this year at least, it became a one-day, midweek event. That fact did not deter the enthusiasm of visitors who “oohed” and “aahed” as vintage planes did loops and rolls.
The event was marked with the appearance and flight of one of only four or five remaining Japanese Mitsubishi A6Ms still airworthy. The plane is more commonly known as the “Zero.”
Pilot Mark Murphy rolls his Japanese Mitsubishi A6M, “Zero.” The craft was highly maneuverable. Because of the red circle marking, a stylized version of Japan’s Rising Sun flag, some American marines and sailors referred to the plane as a meatball.
Pilot Mark Murphy, from Albany, N.Y., said he was attracted to the plane because of its historical significance. He likes flying it because it’s “light and nimble,” he said. Murphy confirmed that its agility was a problem for U.S. Navy and Marine pilots during WWII. The Zero was better at slow-speed maneuverability. While the U.S. Corsair and Grumman F4F Wildcat were superior in other phases of combat, it was unwise for U.S. pilots to get into a traditional style of a dogfight with the Zero.
Also on hand were radio-controlled model aircraft, skydivers, and a slew of classic cars, most of which had vent windows, something not seen in modern cars.
Ground transportation was also on display. A 427 Corvette Stingray Turbojet is one example.
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.
On cool breezes and pumpkin-spice scented winds, new exhibits are finding their way to the Brandywine Valley! Artists are taking advantage of the moment to explore new themes, mediums, and locales. Take a stroll or a drive—and don’t forget that First Fridays are back in towns around the region! Check websites and social media for updated health and safety measures for each venue.
Get in the autumnal spirit at the WGK Glass Art Pumpkin Festival! From September 16th through the 18th, there will be glass blowing demonstrations, “Blow Your Own Pumpkin” sessions, live music, food trucks, an artist marketplace, and more! The Festival will be held at WGK Glass Art, 1255 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, PA. More information can be found at WGKGlass.patternbyetsy.com or on social media @WGKGlassArtPumpkinFestival.
Did you love the Chester Country Studio Tour but want more? Check out the Montgomery County Studio Tour the weekend of September 24th and 25th. With thirty artists showing at fifteen studios across the area, it makes for a fabulous way to take a trip and explore art of various mediums, styles, and themes. More information, including maps, studio information, and suggested routes, can be found at CountyStudioTour.com.
Mix it up at the Chester County Art Association with a new pair of exhibits opening in September. In the Allinson Gallery, With Wax: Materiality & Mixed Media in Encaustic & Cold Wax explores the versatility of the medium and the flowing results of artistic experimentation. In the Huston Gallery, Under the Bones of the Sycamore: New Work by Lorraine Glessner layers complex shapes and colors in new combinations that keep the eye moving through the exhibition. Both shows open on September 8th and run through September 28th. An Opening Reception will be held on September 8th from 5 to 7 pm. A Jewelry Showcase will be held in the ShopArt store in the CCAA from September through November as well. The CCAA is located at 100 North Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChesterCountyArts.org.
Summer Heat 1 & 2 by Diane Burko, Main Line Art Center
Six artists use different mediums to widen climate communications beyond the written word in Risky Beauty: Aesthetics and Climate Change at The Main Line Art Center. Curated by Dr. Cynthia Haveson Veloric, the exhibition challenges viewers and highlights changing perceptions of our world. A Reception and Curator Talk will be held on Thursday, September 15th from 6 to 8 pm, and the show is on view through October 28th. And there is still time to check out Believe in Tomorrow: Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition throughout grounds through October 14th. The Main Line Art Center is located at 746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA. More information can be found at MainLineArt.org.
The Art Trust shows new work from three artists in Convergence, on display through September 23rd. Bold colors and strong lines run through works by Mikel Elam, Matt King, and Carlos Nuñez. An Artists Reception will be held on September 9th from 5 to 8:30 pm. The Art Trust is at 16 West Market Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at TheArtTrust.org.
Celebrate the beautiful local landscape with the En Plein Air exhibition at the Oxford Arts Alliance. Curated by local artist Sally Wilson, the exhibition features local artists depicting Chester County Parks and Preserves. The show will open with a First Friday Reception on September 2nd from 5 to 8 pm, and will be on display until September 30th. The Emerging Artist Gallery will show Dwelling, a solo exhibition by Holly Dudley, the Carlson Cultural Trust Grant PAFA Student, from September 2nd through October 28th. The Oxford Arts Alliance is at 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA. More information can be found at OxfordArt.org.
Experience La Vie Moderne at the Church Street Gallery, a solo exhibition of paintings by Maryann Weselyk. An Opening Reception will be held Friday, September 9th from 5 to 8 pm and the show opens September 1st. Explore this gallery and others during First Friday in West Chester. The Church Street Gallery is at 12 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChurchStreetGalleryWC.com.
There are a few more days to check out Gatecrashers, curated by Katherine Jentleson and organized by the High Museum of Art, on display the Brandywine River Museum of Art from through September 5th. Then starting September 24th, Fragile Earth: The Naturalist Impulse in Contemporary Art will show in two galleries. This exhibition examines the fragility of the environment and our relationship with it through works by Mark Dion, Courtney Mattison, and others. It will include a site-specific installation and a commissioned mural that relates to the native flora and fauna of the Brandywine Valley. The Brandywine River Museum is located at 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA. More information can be found online at Brandywine.org/Museum.
Trailing Clouds by Alaina Enslen, Chester County Art Association
Drop by the David Katz Gallery during First Friday in Downtown West Chester from 5 to 9 pm to see new works, including from their popular Cloud Formations series. The David Katz Gallery is located at 128 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at DavidKatzGallery.com.
Tour the galleries of the Media Arts Council where four new shows take over for September. An Opening Reception on Friday, September 2nd from 5 to 7 pm is the perfect time to meet the artists and fellow art lovers. The shows include Wanderings in Prussian Blue by Amelia Cain, Diane Mont – Inspirations, Katey Carlis – Explorations in Form and Style, and Robert Reinhardt. The MAC Arts Center is located at 11 E. State Street, Media, PA. More information can be found at MediaArtsCouncil.org.
The Howard Pyle Studio will show artwork by Members of the Studio Group during the September Art Loop in Wilmington, DE on Friday, September 9th from 5 to 7:30 pm. The Howard Pyle Studio is located at 1305 North Franklin Street, Wilmington, DE. More information can be found at HowardPyleStudio.org. The Wilmington Art Loop is held every First Friday in Downtown Wilmington. A complimentary shuttle will run between the stops from The Delaware Contemporary, 200 South Madison Street, Wilmington, DE, DEContemporary.org. More information, including all the stops and featured artists and shows on the Loop, can be found at ArtLoopWilmington.org.
Join the Fall Kick Off—Group Show at The Station Gallery at the Opening Reception Friday, September 9th from 5 to 8 pm. The show will be on display until September 30th. The Station Gallery is located at 3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE. More information can be found at StationGallery.net.
Endless Summer continues at Gallery 222 until September 10th. An Artist Reception will be held on Thursday, September 8th at 5:30 pm. Check their website to confirm hours, or the show is available to view online or by appointment. Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.
Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.
Overcome your plein air challenges at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Photo from of Mt. Cuba Center.)
•With Mt. Cuba’s gardens as the muse and Randall Graham as your en plein air instructor, artists can overcome the challenges of landscape painting by creating a plan. Learn color-mixing, drawing, composing, and basic set-up tips in a skillful and encouraging environment. The date is Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information or to register, go here.
•PennDOT’s photo and driver’s license and photo centers will be closed this Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
•The Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates will host an evening of commemoration at their annual Remembrance Day ceremony on Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at Brandywine Battlefield Park. This Sept. 11, is the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine and the 21st anniversary of the 2p01 terror attacks.
The Delaware County Symphony opens its 2022-2023 season on Oct. 16. (Photo from Delaware County Symphony.)
•The Delaware County Symphony 2022-2023 Symphony Series, Mythology and Majesty, begins Oct. 16 with renditions of Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Edouard Lalo’s Cello Concerto, Johan Halvorsen’s Entry March of the Boyars, and Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. Three other concerts are scheduled with one each in December, March, and May. For program information, go here. For ticketing information, go here.
•Newlin Grist Mill will hold its Archeology Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day of archaeology fun in partnership with the Delaware County Planning Department. Discover the rich archaeological heritage that lies beneath our feet by assisting professional archaeologists in excavating and cleaning the artifacts we find. This year’s festival will also feature the unique opportunity for visitors to see the excavation of the original waterwheel pit on the floor of the 1704 section of the Grist Mill. The event and parking are free. For more information, phone 610-459-2359 or visit the website.
•The WSFS branch on Route 202 in Concord Township will host a free shredding event on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, at its location at 395 Wilmington-West Chester Pike.
•The Kennett Heritage Center announces the unveiling ceremony of the new Brandywine Battlefield marker on Friday, September 9 at 4:30 pm at the Kennett Heritage Center, 120 N. Union Street, Kennett Square. The marker commemorates the British “occupation” of Kennett Square on September 10th, 1777.
Randell Spackman, far left, owner of Thornbury Farm, applauds as a sign commemorating Gen. Steven’s Stand at the Battle of Brandywine. Gen. Edward Stevens’ troops covered Washington’s retreat and prevented the British from pursuing. That stand took place on what is now Thornbury Farm in Thornbury Township.
