The Pennsylvania legislature’s motivation to remove Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner over policy and dissatisfaction with his election has been circling the drain. Undeterred by the lack of appetite from colleagues, and with no hope of actually removing Krasner from office, GOP House impeachment manager Rep. Craig Williams is seeking an appeal of January’s Commonwealth Court ruling that found the legislature’s effort to impeach Krasner to be on “insufficient grounds” and that it “fails to support an impeachable charge of misbehavior in office.” This is a separate question from whether the state legislature should even have the authority to remove duly elected local officials.
When the ruling was handed down in January, the GOP-controlled state Senate (which lacks the votes for removal regardless) voted to postpone the trial originally scheduled for the following week “indefinitely.” As of last fall, the cost to taxpayers has been $1 million and counting, not including the $25K the City of Philadelphia’s taxpayers have had to shoulder in defense.
Still, Rep. Williams continues to pursue prosecuting a zombie trial with his appeal to the state Supreme Court, where Democrats hold a majority. Statewide brand-building and “tough on crime” red meat for the conservative base in the lead-up to his run for attorney general are reason enough for Rep. Williams to reanimate the impeachment, or at least keep it on life support for the sake of building name recognition – all at taxpayer expense.
Anyone else seeing some flowers getting an early start on brightening up the Brandywine Valley? Where are those six more weeks of winter, Phil? While we wait to see what the season holds, there are plenty of events, exhibitions, and art to tide us over. Get out there this month and see what you can find!
Artists show off their skill, artistry, and resourcefulness with diverse mediums in Imagined at the Oxford Arts Alliance. Featuring local artists Jill Beech, Lele Galer, Katee Boyle, Michael Csuy, Rhoda Kahler, Michael Kahler, Helen Mason, Lisa Fedon, and John Baker, and curated by Jill Beech, the exhibition includes abstract sculptures created with a wide range of materials. An Opening Reception will be held Friday, March 3rd from 5 to 8 pm, and the show is on view until March 31st. In the Emerging Artist Gallery, Reflections on Home, a Solo Exhibition from Olivia Stoltzfus, a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, features her textile designs inspired by her Amish heritage. It is on view from March 3rd through April 28th. The Oxford Arts Alliance is at 38 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA. More information can be found at OxfordArt.org.
Basketweave in Blue, Jennifer Domal, The Jeweled Warrior. Photographer – Gabe Cariola.
Mommy Monsters, a solo show by Margaux McAllister, is on view at The Jeweled Warrior until March 12th. Then Talisman, a solo exhibit from Jennifer Domal, takes over, starting with an Opening Reception Friday, March 17th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Domal, an award-winning contemporary folk artist, educator, and Master Artisan of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, uses blown eggshells to create gorgeous, unique pieces of art. Find out more about her traditional pysanky and other techniques in this article from Chadds Ford Live: The Legendary Art of Pysanky. The Jeweled Warrior is located at 110 Pottstown Pike, Chester Springs, PA. More information can be found at TheJeweledWarrior.com.
David Katz presents his new series, Wired, at an Art Gallery Opening benefiting the Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children.Drop by the David Katz Gallery during First Friday in Downtown West Chester on March 3rd from 5 to 9 pm. The David Katz Gallery is located at 128 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at DavidKatzGallery.com.
Crossed Wires, David Katz, David Katz Gallery
The Main Line Art Center welcomes resident artist Wit López in their Welcome Gallery as part of their Residency for Artists with Disabilities. On view through March 31st, . . . a place where there’s love overflowing! celebrates the diversity of art and encourages inclusivity. Using clay, metal, wood, yarn, and other materials, López explores a variety of themes while embracing absurdity and the macabre. The Main Line Art Center is located at 746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA. More information can be found at MainLineArt.org.
See what lies underneath at A Terrible Beauty, on view from March 1st to April 21st at The Art Trust. This exhibition includes 2D and 3D multidisciplinary work from Katee Boyle, Diane Cirafesi, and Mia Fabrizio. An Artists’ Reception will be held Friday, March 10th from 5 to 8 pm, an Artists’ Talk on Thursday, March 30th from 7 to 8 pm, and a Closing Reception on Thursday, April 20th from 5 to 8 pm. The Art Trust is located at 16 West Market Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at TheArtTrust.org.
Andrew Wyeth gets a new perspective at the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Home Places. This is the first exhibition curated by the inaugural Wyeth Foundation Curator and Director of the Andrew & Betsy Wyeth Study Center, Dr. William L. Coleman. The exhibition is on view through July 13th. Virtual Talks conducted by the curator can be found on their website. Check out all the details in this article on Chadds Ford Live. Plus the popular Studio Tours are back! Guided tours of the N. C. Wyeth House & Studio and the Andrew Wyeth Studio resume April 5th. Tours of Kuerner Farm will also be held on certain dates. Find all the information and reserve your tickets at Brandywine.org/studios. 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.
Get inspired by the Stories We Tell, a new show at the Square Pear Gallery. Featuring twenty-nine local artists and including visual art, pottery, and jewelry, each piece is accompanied by a story about the subject, the techniques involved, or the inspiration. This show is on view through March and April. The Square Pear Gallery is located at 200 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA. More information can be found at SquarePearGallery.com.
The Wilmington Art Loop is held every First Friday in Downtown Wilmington. This month, it will be held on Friday, March 3rd, featuring galleries throughout the city. Some highlights include: RetroReflection: Amiracle, a live demonstration and art exhibition from Amir Campbell at the University of Delaware Community Education Building; The Art of Beer at The Chancery with local artists and local beer; and Rites of Spring, a show from artist Ken Mabrey, at the Blue Streak Gallery. 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.
Because I’m Worth It, Jeff Schaller, Church Street Gallery
Jeff Schaller is Back by Popular Demand at The Church Street Gallery for March. Explore this gallery and others during First Friday in West Chester, with an Opening Reception March 3rd at 5 pm. The Church Street Gallery is at 12 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChurchStreetGalleryWC.com.
Take a walk in the Artwalk Marketplace this First Friday at Ginkgo Arts in West Chester. Featuring the artists of the Ginkgo Art Gallery as well as Outlash Studio and True by Kristy, there will also be Tarot Card Readings benefiting the Chester County SPCA. Ginkgo Arts is located at 21 S. High Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at GinkgoArts.com.
Experience a new Viewpoint at the Media Arts Council with the art of Cheryl Schlenker. An Opening Reception will be held Friday, March 3rd from 5 to 7 pm. The show is on view through March 26th. Also on view is Grouping: Recent Works from the Studio Arts Program at Delaware County Community College.The MAC Arts Center is located at 11 E. State Street, Media, PA. More information can be found at MediaArtsCouncil.org.
A Sculptural Universe celebrates ceramic art as part of the Philadelphia International Tea Bowl Exhibition, on view through March 4th at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA. Check out all the details in this article on Chadds Ford Live. Then a trio of new exhibitions takes the stage: Diaspora DNA in the Duke Gallery, on view from March 12th to April 16th, with an Artists Reception Sunday, March 12th from 2 to 4 pm; Alvina Davis in the BeaDazzle Lounge Gallery, on view from March 12th through April 16th, with an Artists Reception Sunday, March 12th from 2 to 4 pm; and Alice Myer Wallace: Student Works in the Stairwell Gallery, on view from March 12th to June 6th.The Community Arts Center is located at 414 Plush Mill Road in Wallingford, PA. More information can be found online at CommunityArtsCenter.org.
Jacalyn Beam, The Station Gallery
New pieces are arriving daily at the Strodes Mill Gallery, including from local artists Annette Alessi, Karl Kuerner, and others. The Strodes Mill Gallery is located at 1000 Lenape Road, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at Facebook.com/StrodesMill.
Take a dive at the Chester County Art Association with two innovative exhibits, The Philadelphia Dumpster Divers: Still Upcycling After All These Years and Trashy Women, on view from March 9th through March 28th. An Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, March 9th from 5 to 7 pm. The CCAA is located at 100 North Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChesterCountyArts.org.
Get ready for warmer weather with The Essence of Spring, the new group show opening at The Station Gallery. On view through April 29th, the show opens with a Reception on Friday, March 3rd from 5 to 8 pm. The Station Gallery is located at 3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE. More information can be found at StationGallery.net.
Celebrate the 170th Birthday of Howard Pyle with a special celebration at the Howard Pyle Studio during the March Art Loop of Wilmington on March 3rd from 5 to 7:30 pm. Plus check out the exhibition of artwork by Studio Group Members. The Howard Pyle Studio is located at 1305 North Franklin Street, Wilmington, DE. More information can be found at HowardPyleStudio.org.
At Gallery 222, see Artists I Love: A Heartfelt Collection Curated by Jan Wier, on view from March 2nd through March 25th. An Opening Reception will be held Saturday, March 4th from 2 to 5 pm. Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.
Looking for more events happening through the month? Check out @BrandywineArtGuide on Instagram and Facebook!
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.
Chadds Ford Township supervisors Wednesday announced that North American Land Trust is looking for volunteers to plant trees at the Brinton Run Preserve on May 6. The planting is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with s rain date set for May 13. If interested, send an email to brintonrunpreserve@nalt.org.
A HARB meeting previously scheduled to hear the Brandywine Conservancy’s application to demolish four buildings was rescheduled to April 10 at 7 p.m. The original date was March 13.
Supervisors made two appointments during the March 1 meeting. Helene Badeau was appointed to the Open Space Committee for a two-year term, and Jon Trigg was named a Zoning Hearing Board alternate through the end of this year.
The continuance of a Zoning Board hearing for a parking variance is scheduled for Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m. 1620 Baltimore Associates, LP seeks variance relief from required off-street parking for a proposed coffee shop in the former First Keystone Bank location in the strip mall with the U.S. Post Office. The session is continued from February. The required combined parking spaces for all businesses in the strip is 143 and the provided parking spaces for all businesses in the building is 79, though testimony from last month indicated 102 spaces are available.
The township is planning an Easter Egg Hunt at the township playground for Saturday, April 1. The hunt for 1-3-year-olds is scheduled for 10-10:30, and 11-11:30 for kids 4-6 years old. People are asked to bring their own baskets and to register by emailing the number of participating children and their ages to info@chaddsfordpa.gov. The rain date is April 2.
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.
Rhythm Of The Dance takes the stage at West Chester University on Tuesday, March 14.
•The worldwide Irish Music and Dance spectacular, Rhythm Of The Dance will take the stage at West Chester University on Tuesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale to the public here or at 610-436-2266. The event takes place in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester.
•The Chadds Ford Historical Society’s 2023 lecture series has begun. The series entitled “Powerful Influences of the Brandywine Valley” takes place at the society on March 2, April 6, and May 4 at 7 p.m. The cost is $10, free for members. For more information, or to pre-purchase tickets, please contact Sandi Johnson at the office at 610-388-7376 or email events@chaddsfordhistory.org. More information is also available here.
Forest bathing, anyone?
•We all know about sunbathing, but what about forest bathing or, in Japanese, shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for the natural world and is dedicated to promoting health, happiness, and a sense of awe. Mt. Cuba Center is offering an in-person class on forest bathing from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 12. Discover how to unlock the door to new connections and intimacy with the environment through this guided meditation. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle and a snack, a light backpack to carry your belongings, and something comfortable to sit on in case of wet ground. The instructor is Anisa George, a permaculture designer and certified guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. The cost is $39. Register here.
Scholarship applications are now being taken.
•The Chadds Ford Township Residents’ Association is now accepting applications from township students for the association’s 2023 scholarship program. To qualify, the student must be a Chadds Ford Township resident and be graduating high school in 2023. To apply, go here by April 1 and download the application.
•The Brandywine Battlefield Park will celebrate the commonwealth’s 342nd birthday on Sunday, March 12, by offering free admission. Visitors to Brandywine Battlefield Park that day can see interpreters demonstrating 18 h century trades, watch our 18-minute orientation video, and tour our museum. Additionally, our historic homes, the Benjamin Ring House (Washington’s Headquarters) and the Gideon Gilpin House will be available for tour. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. The Park closes at 4 p.m.
•The Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford Township is reopening this weekend. The museum at 1755 Creek Road will be open from noon to 4 p.m. each weekend until November. Admission is $10. The Sanderson is also looking for volunteers. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should fill out a volunteer form here.
When the ruling was handed down in January, the GOP-controlled state Senate (which lacks the votes for removal regardless) voted to postpone the trial originally scheduled for the following week “indefinitely.” As of last fall, the cost to taxpayers has been $1 million and counting, not including the $25K the City of Philadelphia’s taxpayers have had to shoulder in defense.
