MCFA to hold Arts Forum

The Mercersburg Council for the Arts would like to invite you to an Arts Forum on December the 10th. We will open the floor to our guests to discuss the direction of MCFA in 2010. We have had a successful first year as a non-profit, and continue to hatch plans and ideas for our little town. Now, we'd like your input. Some topics for discussion will be a membership plan - what would you like to gain out of a membership to MCFA? New events. We've had great fun at our Mix it Up and Artoberfest events - can we improve them? How can we serve you better?
We hope you can join us for a lively evening of discussion.

MCFA Arts Forum
Thursday, December 10, 2009
6:30 p.m.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Basement
Linden Avenue, Mercersburg PA
Light refreshments will be served.

RSVP to MCFA by 12/8/09 by clicking here

Halloween Weekend in Mercersburg - Live Music Galore!

It's going to be a big weekend in Mercersburg this Halloween! Come out and support live music!

Friday at Flannery's Tavern on the Square: Boris Garcia, presented by FreeMind, 9 PM, $7 cover

Saturday at Colonel Murphy's: Halloween Party with Love Hate Thing, $7 with costume

Saturday across the street at Flannery's: Monster Mash with Pale Barn Ghosts and The Hello Strangers, FREE, 9 PM

Hope to see you out!

MCFA's ArtOberfest 2009

MCFA's ArtOberfest 2009
Autumn is in the air, and Art is on our mind! MCFA is pleased to announce it's Second Annual ArtOberfest. Local fine arts vendors (including oil, watercolor, printmaking, jewelery, acrylic and digital characitures) will display and sell their wares outside on the Mercersburg square while 6 bands show off their performing talents in a rotating schedule at local establishments, Flannery's Tavern on the Square and the newly remodeled and reopened Colonel Murphy's.

We will be selling Event T-Shirts - 1 for $10.00 or 2 for $18.00. See you there!

When:
Saturday, October 17, 2009
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Artist vendors outside on the square
5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. - Live Music!

Performance Lineup:
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Brian Stoner - Flannery's
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sean Clever - Colonel Murphy's
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Logan Chace - Flannery's
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Lady - Colonel Murphy's
9:00 p.m. - Midnight Kevin Shannon - Flannery's
And Headlining at Colonel Murphy's:
10:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. Toy Soldiers (Philadelphia, PA recording artists)

Where:
The Mercersburg Square - Colonel Murphy's and Flannery's Tavern on the Square.

Other Details:
Free Admission and no cover charges. Come out to support our home-grown talent and enjoy some outstanding original music. Cosponsored by FreeMind, Mercersburg Academy and Flannery's Tavern on the Square. Special thanks to Fast Ink for help with production of our T-shirts!

Mercersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Mercersburg Townfest Art Show

MCFA is pleased to announce it's Second Annual Townfest Art Show. This is a non-juried show, and is open to all ages. This year's art theme is "All things Bright and Beautiful." If you are an artist who would like to submit a piece for display in the art show, please download a pdf form here. Completed forms can be mailed to MCFA, P.O. Box 27, Mercersburg, PA 17236.

When:
Saturday, September 26, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where:
Presbyterian Church
34 West Seminary Street
Mercersburg, PA

Other Details:
Art may be dropped off at the Presbyterian Church, Thursday 9/24, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. If you cannot drop off your art during this time, please contact Allison Zeger at 328-4777 to schedule another option. All art must be picked up at the conclusion of TownFest.

Videos: Big Band Meets Big Fun

This year MCFA sponsored an evening of entertainment at the Mercersburg Lions Club Fair. Spectrum performed a variety of big band tunes while the Lindy Hop Dancers gave free swing and foxtrot dance lessons.

It was an evening of great music and dancing. Take a look at the photos and videos to see all the dancing action!

Local Potter achieves National Recognition

Janine Davis, of MoonDog Pottery in Welsh Run, Pa, has had one of her ceramic pieces selected as part of the 17th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National.

This is a juried exhibit of functional ceramics. There were 1,252 pieces entered from 46 states and DC and only 108 selected.

The exhibit runs Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 25, 2009
560 South Prince Street
Lancaster, PA
www.strictlyfunctionalpotterynational.net

MCFA congratulates Janine on her accomplishment!

Big Band Meets Big Fun at the Mercersburg Lions Club Fair

Please plan to join MCFA for an evening of nostalgic music and dance at the Mercersburg Lions Club Fair. On August 12, The Big Band Era will come alive, as MCFA cosponsors an evening concert complete with dance floor and swing dance lesson session.

When:
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Where:
Mercersburg Lions Club Park
315 South Park Avenue
Mercersburg, PA

Time:
7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Music by Spectrum
Performances and FREE Swing or Foxtrot Lessons by Lindy Hop Dancers.

Cost:
FREE

Calling All Artists: Nancy Horton Heefner Memorial Art Show

The Mercersburg Historical Society is sponsoring the Nancy Horton Heefner Memorial Art Show from September 13th through September 27th. Artists interested in submitting work for this non-juried show should contact Joan McCulloh at 717-328-2248. Entry forms are due by Monday, August 17th.

This is a great opportunity for local artists so please spread the word!

Calling All Musicians and Artists!

Hello friends of MCFA and fellow artists,

Mercersburg Council for the Arts is putting a call out for the following:

• We need musicians for our database! We are often asked to refer musicians for events (our events and those organized by others), and have very few on our list. If you are a musician or know of any, please email us or have them email us at this email (mcfainfo@gmail.com). Specifically, the Mercersburg Farmer's Market is looking for musical entertainment every month until October. Please let us know if you or someone you know might be interested in this fun opportunity!
• We also are in need of artists who would be interested in taking part in our Art Donation Program. Several businesses in Mercersburg have agreed to feature rotating artists' work, which they can sell and/or display. If you wish to be featured at a business, please let us know. Artists featured at the Fendrick Library are asked to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Library Building Fund.
  

Please let us know if you, or anyone you know, wish to take part in any of these great opportunities!

In arts,
MCFA

The Unity Music Festival 2009

2nd Annual Unity Music Festival
at the Farm of Peace
The Unity Music Festival was founded to promote peace, hope and acceptance through great music, great surroundings, and tantalizing natural foods, enjoyed in the setting of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains at the Farm of Peace.

Attractions include: a main stage, speakers, local and regional artist exhibit and some of the best vendors in the region. Take in some of our speakers and workshops. Bring the kids for a family friendly environment. Bring your lawn chair, pack a lunch and spend the day at the Farm of Peace until the stars come out!

Visit the website for more information, and to purchase tickets. www.theunitymusicfestival.com

When:
June 13, 2009 - Gates open at 10:00 a.m.

Where:
The Farm of Peace
1212 Haven Lane
Warfordsburg, PA 17267
All Ages

Performers:
The Unity Reggae Band, Cello Fourte, Kevin Neidig, Lindsay Mac, Alex & the Kaleidoscope Band, Steve Hickman & John Devine, Jackson Monsour, Mock Turtle Marionette Theater and Camela Widad Kraemer. Read more about the performers here.

Cost:
$20 Advance Price for Adult
$25 at the Gate
$5 for Children 10 and under
Children under 1 yr old & under admittance FREE
Remember to bring some extra money for art vendors!

*This is not an MCFA sponsored event. Alcohol and drugs are strictly prohibited from this event.

MCFA 2nd Annual Mixer - Video Recap

This year's silent art auction and mixer, held on June 2nd at Flannery's Tavern on the Square, was a huge success. The videos below should give you an idea of how much fun everyone had. Thanks to Flannery's, Blue Chair, The Hello Strangers, all of the MCFA volunteers and the Mercersburg community for supporting local art!

Mix it Up with MCFA

MCFA is pleased to announce it's Second Annual Fund Raiser; Mix It Up with MCFA. Just like last year, we'll have lots of great local art to bid on during the silent auction, live music and plenty of good vibes! If you are an artist who would like to donate a piece for auction, please click here.

When:
Tuesday June 2, 2009

Where:
Flannery's Tavern on the Square
Main Street, Mercersburg

Time:
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Cost:
Free and open to the public


Schedule of Events:

5:00 p.m.
Silent Auction Begins, meet and greet with MCFA and registration.

5:30 p.m.
Live Music by Blue Chair - Jazz

6:30 p.m.
Live Music by The Hello Strangers - Country/Indie/Rock

7:30 p.m.
Silent Auction Ends

Cash Bar • Butlered Hors d'oeuvres • Limited menu available for purchase

R.S.V.P.’s preferred by May 26, 2009 to mcfainfo@gmail.com

For more information about MCFA, please visit www.mcfapa.org

Rock 4 Drew Benefit Festival, May 30!

The Drew Michael Taylor Foundation, Ledbetter Heights and Rock Towne Apartments are pleased to announce The 3rd Annual “Rock 4 Drew” Benefit Festival to be held May 30th at Britton Park, 304 Britton RD, Shippensburg, PA 17257. “Rock 4 Drew” is being held in support of the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation by raising money to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth in Drew’s memory.

Drew Michael Taylor, the son of Randy and Marcie Taylor, lost his life in a tragic traffic accident on June 13, 2006 in the Outer Banks, NC at the age of 3 and 1/2. Randy and Marcie created the Drew Michael Taylor foundation so that his memory would live on through the children and youth of our community. The foundation is committed to providing educational and recreational opportunities for children by funding established organizations and existing programs in need of assistance while looking to create new opportunities to enhance a child’s mind, body and soul.

Rain or Shine 11AM-6PM “Rock 4 Drew,” This festival style event, is ideal for all ages and will be hosted by Ledbetter Heights. Tony Diehl, Co-Chair of R4D Committee and Manager of Ledbetter Heights; says “This is a multi-band show to include: Ledbetter Heights, Dana Alexandra, Mightychondria, The Hello Strangers, Nancy and Jody, Brightside and more to be announced. Admission is free and everyone is invited to be a part of this benefit concert. There will be food, fun and music for all ages so bring your lawn chairs. All proceeds will go directly to the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation.”

The purpose of this event is to raise money for the DMT Foundation. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000; businesses are encouraged to help us achieve this goal. Nathan Serino, R4D Co-Chairman, is excited about the current commitments. “We feel this goal is achievable with the help of businesses through corporate donations as well as individual community support”, he said. “We’re encouraged by the community support that we’ve received to date.” “To get this year’s event off to a great start, Rock Towne Apartments has stepped up as this year’s anchor sponsor.” The DMT Foundation has committed its mission to the community and specifically to enriching the lives of our young people, and for one day we would like to show our appreciation to that wonderful cause.”

Volunteers are key to making the 09 R4D event a success if you would like to make a donation or volunteer in celebration of God’s gift of life that still flows through Drew, please contact Nathan Serino, Rock4Drew Committee Co-Chair at 888-323-8884 ext2 or email: tpd.sales@comcast.net. All donations are tax deductible and should be made out directly to the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation c/o R4D.

For the most current event information about “Rock 4 Drew” visit www.LedbetterHeights.com and for more info on the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation please visit www.DrewMichaelTaylor.org

- The Rock4Drew 2009 Committee

Register now for Summer Art Camp at Moon Dog Pottery

Register your child for Moon Dog Pottery's Summer Art Camp. The children will do pottery,wheel throwing, hand building, weaving, drawing, painting, sculpture, mask making, stain glass, and much more. Call Janine Davis or e-mail for more information or to register 717-328-9993.

All classes will be held at
Moon Dog Pottery
Welsh Run, PA

June 15-19, 22-26
July 6-10, 13-17,27-31
August 3-7, 10-14

Daily 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The cost for 5 days is $175.

MCFA at the Mercersburg Home and Garden Festival

Children braved the windy day to create paper flowers in various colors and patterns.

Visitors at the Mercersburg Home and Garden Festival paint the MCFA Community Canvas. The finished canvas will be given to the Town of Mercersburg as an anniversary gift.

Carol Hall helps her granddaughter, Sophia Stoner, to make a paper flower at the MCFA tent.


MCFA Volunteer Maggie Goff demonstrates how to make a paper carnation.

May 9th First Annual Mercersburg Home & Garden Festival

Mercersburg Home and Garden Festival
Featuring a Historic District Home & Garden Tour • Art, Craft, Jewelry, and Home & Garden Vendors • Music on the Square • Conococheague Institute Frontier Encampment • Mercersburg Women's Club 100th Anniversary Celebration • MCFA Community art projects. For more information visit festivals.mercersburg.org.

Attention Volunteers!
MCFA will be manning a table at this event. We will have a paper-flower project for kids, as well as a large board for the community to paint their favorite items from nature. The finished board will be presented to the Town of Mercersburg as a 225th anniversary gift. We need volunteers to help with this project. If you are interested in helping to man the table or demonstrate flower making, please email MCFA, or call Allison Zeger at 717-816-7102. If you have extra tissue paper from birthdays or holidays - MCFA wants it! We can use your leftovers - any color, any pattern for our paper flower project. If you can make it to our Open Meeting, you can bring the paper at that time.

Where:
Downtown Mercersburg

Date:
Saturday, May 9

Time:
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Lancaster Artist Shows Work at Mercersburg Academy Burgin Center

Paintings by Lancaster artist, Jeff Kromer, are now in the Niche Gallery of the Burgin Center for the Arts on the Mercersburg Academy campus, Mercersburg PA, until
May 24.

Opening reception for the artist is Friday, May 8 @ 7:00 PM.
Free and open to the public!

Moon Dog Pottery to Host Pottery Classes in Welsh Run

What:
Moon Dog Pottery is hosting Pottery Classes for beginners and experienced potters. The classes will run for 6 weeks and cover wheel throwing, hand building and glaze techniques.

When:
6 week class sessions begin Monday, April 27 or Wednesday, April 29

Time:
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Cost:
$189.00 - All materials are provided.

Contact Janine Davis at 717-328-9993 for more information, or to register.

“Arts in Action Night” at James Buchanan High School

What:
Several departments at the James Buchanan High School will participate in an “Arts in Action Night” at the high school. The evening is designed to exhibit and celebrate the creative efforts of our students.

Included will be a grades 1-12 art exhibit, performances by chorus, band, and orchestra students, and a special appearance by Miss Dicey’s School of Dance. Presentations will include technology department films, CO2 Cars, Pre Engineering “Formalizing Idea” displays, FFA public speaking, a flower display and FCCLA state and national exhibits. JBHS and JBMS Franklin County Science Fair projects will be displayed. Drama Club will assist visitors.

A special dedication ceremony is planned for the JBHS mosaic recently completed by mosaicist Justin Ayala, students, faculty, staff, parents, and community helpers. The public is welcome.

When:
Thursday, April 23rd
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Where:
James Buchanan High School
Mercersburg, PA

Cost:
Free and open to the public

Be Creative @ Your Library

The Fendrick Library in Mercersburg offers programs for all ages over the summer months. This year's Summer Reading Program theme is, Be Creative @ Your Library! The library coordinators are looking for local artists who might be interested in sharing their talents with area youth and their families. Programs for adults are also welcome!

Programs may be set-up for a specific age level or as a family program. They can be just a 1 hour presentation or a hands-on workshop. Day and time is flexible.

Please contact Cheryl Custer at 717-328-9233, or email MCFA to let us know if you are interested in participating in this community project.

Smoke-Free Music in New Orleans

Though a long way off from Mercersburg geographically, we thought this was a great idea to help protect the lives and livelihood of musicians.  Since supporting all artists and our community is our mission, we wanted to share this concept with you.  Hopefully, someday, we can have more events such as this in our area!

Visit The Backbeat Foundation for more information.

MCFA Obtains Non-Profit Status

We have great news to share: MCFA is now a non-profit organization! Our official status came through in March. MCFA is excited about this new venture.

MCFA wishes to thank all of our first year supporters and, of course, The Mercersburg Area Chamber of Commerce for allowing us to serve under their organization as a committee. The M.A.C.C. gave us the opportunity to gain community recognition and legitimacy as an organization.

Our newly obtained status will allow us more flexibility in programming and fund-raising as well as membership options for our organization.

As a new non-profit organization we have secured our own domain name. You can now view our web site at www.mcfapa.org. Please update your information to reflect this change. Our email and blog site will reamin the same.

We're looking forward to many years of service to our Arts community.

All the Best,
Larissa Chace Smith, Allison Zeger, Kelly Schoenberger, Jenn Flanagan, Ryan Smith, Ozzie Weller and Matthew Kearney

Art Opening: Morgan Higby-Flowers

This Saturday evening, March 28, at the Mercersburg Academy Burgin Center for the Arts Niche Gallery, at 7 PM:

An opening reception for the art of local artist, Morgan Higby-Flowers.

MCFA Featured in Elegant Living Magazine Article

The newly formed Mercersburg Council for the Arts recently held a fundraising eventcalled ArtOberfest. Some of the fun included, top left, pottery by Janine Davis of Moon Dog Pottery; top right, a performance by the Hello Strangers alternative country band that includes council President Larissa Smith; bottom left, a musical performance by Mason Bailey; bottom right, an exhibit by artist Diana Penrod, at right.


The Arts are Alive in Mercersburg

Written by DAVE THOMPSON, Elegant Living magazine
Photography courtesy of RYAN SMITH

MERCERSBURG, Pa. — Sometimes all it takes to get a worthy project under way is someone’s desire to do it. The recently formed Mercersburg Council for the Arts is a good example. It basically came about because three young persons had moved back to their hometown and wanted to do something to help it.

Things started when Allison Zeger received an e-mail from a friend, Ryan Smith, that he and his wife, Larissa, had moved back to the area from Austin, Texas. The Smiths have a photography business. Zeger and Ryan Smith knew each other from attending James Buchanan High School. Larissa Smith attended Mercersburg Academy (where her father taught) and said she “vaguely” knew each of the others at the time.

“I got to know Allison after college since Ryan’s brother is friends with her . . . lots of connections!” Larissa said. “I looked at Ryan’s Web site and liked it,” Zeger said. “I was thinking there had to be more artists in the area, and we ought to do something about it.

I had worked in Cumberland, Md., and saw a great artists’ co-op that they had there. “I contacted Ryan, and he said he’d talk with Larissa about it. We met at my place, and it got started.”

“It was Allison who had the idea to start it,” Ryan Smith confirmed. Part of the friends’ desire to start the organization resulted from their belief that relatively isolated Mercersburg is an overlooked treasure.

“We’d like to tell people some of the great things about Mercersburg,” Zeger said. “We don’t want it to become a tourist trap or anything, but we want more people to live here. We felt we all wanted to be involved in the community and help each other make it what we want it to be.”

“We think we are in the right place at the right time and have the drive to do it,” said Larissa Chace Smith.

At 31, Zeger is the oldest of the three. Larissa Smith is 29, and Ryan Smith is 28. After initial organization meetings, the council was formed as a committee of the Mercersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

Its stated mission is: “To facilitate dialogue between Mercersburg area artists and the community through the organization of events and exhibits; encourage local artists to develop and showcase their unique talents; and to enrich our community with cultural and ethnic diversity via the arts.”

“Our big word is facilitate. We want to promote contact between artists and artistic entities that they might not experience otherwise,” Larissa Smith said. “Mary-Anne Gordon at the chamber was very enthusiastic about helping to make us a committee under the chamber. Our goal is to become a nonprofit.”

The group has applied for nonprofit status in Pennsylvania and the goal is to have it by January. Some fundraisers have been held, and personal donations amounting to about $3,500 have been received.

A recent event called "ArtOberfest" featuring an art sale and musical entertainment was held at the James Buchanan Restaurant and Pub downtown.

“We’ve gotten a lot of support from the Franklin County Visitors Bureau,” Zeger said. “The Chambersburg Council for the Arts has been huge. They’ve donated money, offered advice and helped in other ways.” An art show with the theme “What Mercersburg Means to Me,” open to all ages, was held at the recent Mercersburg Townfest.

“We try to get kids involved, then maybe the adults will stop by,” Zeger said. “We also raised a little money with a raffle.”

“Rockwell Construction donated eight great foldable easels for the art show that we’ll be able to use for future shows,” Ryan Smith said.

Larissa Smith is president of the MCFA board, while Zeger serves as vice president and Ryan Smith as historian. The first additions to the board were Kelly Schoenberger, secretary, and Jenn Flanagan, treasurer.

“We got Kelly and Jenn on board for more business sense to keep us grounded,” Zeger said. Other recent additions to the board include Ozzie Weller and Matthew Kearney.

Future plans include events such a Christmas program and caroling, Music on the Square and “First Night” activities downtown on New Year’s Eve.

“We’d like to do things to give artists a physical presence where art can be displayed and sold,” Larissa Smith said. “We’d like to find some permanent space in town for display and even some studio space.”

Smiling, Zeger said, “We’d like to have something in our town so we don’t have to drive so far for everything. We want to be an art-friendly town.”

Area artists, take note.

Recent Event: ArtOberfest

On October 4th, MCFA held the first (and hopefully annual) event "ArtOberfest" this past Saturday evening at The James Buchanan Hotel, Pub and Restaurant.

Artists and musicians filled the crisp, autumn night with the sights and sounds of local art. Many guests filtered in through the restaurant and onto the patio as they admired the talents on display and enjoyed the live entertainment.

Many thanks to our artists and musicians in attendance: Eric Schaeffer, Mason Bailey, The Hello Strangers, The Pale Barn Ghosts, Daniel Jensen, Janine Davis, Diane Skubon, Diana Penrod, Glen Sabetto, Anne Finucane, Teresa Ucellini and Georgia Barvinchak. And thank you to the patrons who purchased art. Your attendance and participation makes these events meaningful and worthwhile.

Thanks to our hosts, John and Deniz Celestin and to their staff, for a job well done.

MCFA hopes to plan and excecute more events like this in the future.

Diana Penrod displays work and talks with visitors at ArtOberfest.

The work of Janine Davis of Moon Dog Pottery.

Patrons examine various artists artwork in the parlor.

Checking out Anne Finucane's etchings.

The Pale Barn Ghosts were the last of four bands to perform in the courtyard at the MCFA ArtOberfest.