Liatra Sage has found her niche with kitsch.
“Some people would describe kitsch as borderline gaudy or tacky, but it’s really fun to me,” said Sage, of York.
And if there’s one time of year to be kitschy, it’s Christmas. Continue reading Merry Kitschmas: Christmas wreaths, created by York’s Liatra Sage, are kaleidoscopes of kitsch
Chances are, when you think about Philadelphia, certain icons come to mind: Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, soft pretzels and cheesesteaks. You may even hear a strain of the theme song from “Rocky.”
But there’s one more colorful symbol to add to the list: murals. The organization Mural Arts Philadelphia is considered the nation’s largest public art program, credited with creating the world’s biggest outdoor art gallery—with a tally over 4,000. Continue reading Mural Mecca: How Philadelphia became “mural capital of the world.”
Chris Lauer decided to walk across the country.
The Minnesota native set off with not much more than a backpack and camping gear, bound for Philadelphia. But about 1,000 miles down the road, his four-month journey hit a snag on Route 30, in south-central Pennsylvania.
“I fell in love with Gettysburg and stayed,” Lauer said.
The financial picture is a little rosier today for capital region arts organizations.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced $20 million in grant funding Tuesday for the state’s cultural and arts institutions, including a combined $308,978 headed to eight Dauphin County organizations. Continue reading Arts Aid
Amie Bantz is constantly doodling.
“I never thought it would take off, but it’s evolved into my style,” said the 25-year old Carlisle High School art teacher. Continue reading Electrifying Art
Sandra Spicer-Sharp said it was one of her proudest moments as a mom.
Her son’s artwork, created on parachute cloth, was laid out on the grass…ready to be installed as part of the Harrisburg Mural Festival. Continue reading Meet the Artist: Brandon Spicer-Crawley
When the West Shore Theatre’s marquee went dark, one thing was for sure. It wasn’t going to stay dark for long.
The community rallied, making it known that they wanted the show to go on at this New Cumberland landmark. Continue reading The Show that Never Ends
“Why does September seem sunny as spring?” asks one version of the classic Hollywood song, “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Stosh Snyder, whose favorite musical of all time is “Singin’ in the Rain,” likely has the answer. Continue reading Glorious Feeling
Many of our Susquehanna Valley landscapes are simply breathtaking, adding natural beauty and color to our days. Now, thanks to grassroots community organizers, artists, supporters, and lots of vision, many of the Susquehanna Valley’s urban environments are being transformed into colorful, artistic landscapes just as worthy of our attention. We visited several local towns and cities where they’re taking art to a whole new level—street-level. Continue reading Mural Magic
Abraham Lincoln presenter James Hayney has held numerous roles throughout his life. But this self-described “high school dropout” who served in the Navy never saw his ultimate role coming. Continue reading The Role of a Lifetime
Domingo Mancuello says people constantly call him an “old soul”—and he’s the first to admit that they’re right. The pianist’s specialty—ragtime and popular music from the 1890s to 1940s—puts Mancuello’s “old soul” directly in the spotlight. Continue reading The Old Soul Ragtime Show
“It’s been a life-long fascination…I’ve been interested in American history from childhood–I followed it, studied it, and ultimately painted it… professionally, since 1963,” says artist David Wright, known as “the artist of the American frontier.” He makes interpreting history through a paintbrush sound easy–“I paint history,” Wright says. But the intriguing paintings captured on canvas only emerge after painstaking research. Continue reading History Meets the Arts
If music strikes a note with area kids, there’s a good chance their lives are touched by Gettysburg’s Carrie Trax. Continue reading Carrie Trax: Inspiring Future Musicians
Karen Hendricks 