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Nancy Mellon

The Hairy Art Palace in Yellow Springs

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Welcome to the Hairy Art Palace where women with hairy arm pits create art with yarn, floss, felt, paint and laughter.  Meet Hairy Mary, play I Spy with the art (win a prize) or try the other goofy art games and puzzles, enjoy wine and the black and white food table (that’s black and white food not the table.  Well actually the table’s black too.) and of course view Awesome Art.   The Jafagirls have created a funhouse of interactive art.  If you’re willing to crawl along the floor you can even see the “The Dog Gallery.” Then listen to a radio interview with Bitty the dog.

OK that’s my opening,  Corrine and I have been working like dogs (not Bitty, he’s lazy) getting this show together.  We are psyched and getting into the sweaty armpit part of the process.  Will we have the gazillion details done before the Friday the 14th opening?  Yes!  And “Yes” we will take baths before the reception.

Speaking of hairy armpits, we will have Portable Hairy Armpits for you to try on.  A Photo op if you dare.

The Jafagirls, Corrine Bayraktaroglu and moi, Nancy Mellon do street art in Yellow Springs.  Since I have to go back to work, details, details, what follows is “the details about who, where, why, when”  from the delightful Deb Housh, the extroardinare Gallery Coordinator for the Yellow Springs Arts Council:

The Yellow Springs Arts Council presents “Hairy Art Palace”, an exhibit of mixed media works by local “infamous” artists, Nancy Mellon and Corrine Bayraktaroglu, aka the JafaGirls. A Third Friday Fling Opening Reception will be held on Friday, October 14, 6-9 p.m. at the YSAC Gallery, 309 Xenia Avenue.


The show will present a mixture of works in media ranging from traditional to contemporary, as well as photography that showcases recent street art projects. The JafaGirls are best known for their Knit Knot Tree of 2008, which picked up international press and was written about in the Washington Post, NY Times, Boston Globe, International Herald Tribune, among other news sources. That project sparked a flurry of other knit bombing, felt flowering and guerilla art acts and displays by the JafaGirls in Yellow Springs.

They use processes and forms of art often considered too ladylike, too old fashioned or irrelevant for “high” art, and they blow those preconceived notions out of the water. Nancy and Corrine craft for a purpose—to bring community together, to encourage questioning of one’s surroundings, to make people smile, and sometimes to convey strong messages about politics and culture.

Works by the JafaGirls are highlighted in a newly released book entitled Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In, which will be available at their show.

For more information about the JafaGirls or a private viewing go to http://jafagirls.wordpress.com or email [email protected]. For more info about Yellow Springs Arts Council, visit www.ysartscouncil.org


The Hairy Art Palace  will be open during the Friday 14, Art Stroll 6-9 p.m. and Artist Studio Tour Saturday, October 15, noon-6pm and Sunday October 16, noon-4pm. Additional extended hours will be Saturdays from 10am-1pm October 22 and 29th. A YSAC special event, “Experience Saturday”, will close out the show on November 5 from 7:30-10pm.

Bring quarters for the Art Ball Vending Machine! P.S. I’m back.  Friday the 14th starts off a grand art weekend in Yellow Springs, Art Stroll Friday night and Saturday and Sunday are the Yellow Springs Artist Studio Tours. The Scarecrow Festival will also be going on in town.  I saw a spooky, Steam Punk, headless lady being created by an artist for Wavelength Salon.  They are going to be all over downtown Yellow Springs.  See you in the Springs!

Art On The Lawn in Yellow Springs

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What do you think?  Can a dog paint?  You get to decide for yourself this Saturday August 13th at Art On The Lawn.  The featured artist for this 28-year-old Fine Arts and Crafts Fair in Yellow Springs is a Great Dane.  He has been in the show for 2 years now and the artists at Village Artisans (who run Art On The Lawn) decided that this year they would make him their featured artist.  OK, I loved his work, I’ve met him but I still had this little doubt at the back of my mind.  Can a dog realllly make art?

So here is the inside scoop about Mozart Dane.  Straight from Beth Mack of the Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue “Mo is a very temperamental artist.  He prefers to paint in his own room, (he has his own studio in his home,) when it is very quiet with very few people around.   He has to be in the mood to paint, and if he is not, he simply refuses to.

Being a non-profit organization, we are always trying to think of new ways to raise money for the rescue.   A bunch of volunteers were brainstorming one day and someone came up with the idea of selling items with a paw print on them. We tried several Danes and they could not run away fast enough. They did not like the feel of the paint on their paws and wanted nothing to do with it.  Then we tried Mo.

At first we had to coax him with American cheese, but not anymore.  (Good thing because he was gaining too much weight!)  He will not allow any other dogs around and only one or two people- and it has to be people he knows very well.  He has a futon that he lies on.   We pour paint onto paper plates, he chooses what color he wants to use and will simply put his paw into the paint and start patting the canvas.  If he does not want to use a color, he will not use it.  When he is finished painting, he is finished.  No amount of coaxing or American cheese will get him to paint more.  The only human assistance he receives is if he is doing a 24” x 36” canvas  – that’s when we turn it to make sure the entire canvas gets covered.

We often have people ask if they can commission a painting with only certain colors in it.   The problem goes back to the fact that if he doesn’t want to use a certain color, he wont use it! ”

Mozart Dane lives at the Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue a no kill shelter that is dedicated to saving and placing abused, abandoned, and neglected Great Danes.

Come this Saturday and make up your own mind about dogs and art.  For me, I’ve decided Mozart Dane is an artist and isn’t life full of wonderful surprises!

Art on the Lawn is a juried Fine Arts and Crafts show taking place this Saturday, August 13, under the green trees, at Mills Lawn, 200 S. Walnut Street from 10 am – 5 p.m.

Come to Yellow Springs and enjoy the art from over 100 artists, including Mozart Dane who happens to be a dog.

See you in the Springs!

The Yellow Springs Experience

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Summer is amazing, all of a sudden there is just so much to do. And I want to do it all! (Well not really, all. Would you believe 1/2?) But here comes another great summer weekend that I have been looking forward to for months! I want to play at the Cirque, pop my gob of gum onto the Traveling Gum Wall, dance with my sweetie under the stars, and, and, well you get the idea.

The Yellow Springs Experience is this weekend, July 15th-17th. There are special events for kids, events for families and lots of fun activities you can enjoy by yourself or with a friend. It starts on Friday night with The Dayton Street Cirque Carnival, the best street party ever.

The Cirque Carnival will be at the convergence of Dayton & Corry Streets from 6-10 pm.

Soul Fire Tribe, fire dancing at the Cirque.

On the Main Stage

• 6-7pm Sportfishing USA

• 7pm Egyptian Breeze

• 7:30-8:45pm YSKP Cotton Club Review

• 8:45pm Yoga Springs Studio

• 9-10pm The Undercovered

At the Acoustic Stage

• 6-6:30pm Coat Hanger Halos

• 6:30 Brendan Sheehan Solo Act

• 7-8pm Acoustic Reveille

• 8-8:30 John and Maria Booth (Spoken Word)

• 8:30-9:30pm Johnny, Stills, Stash, and Youngin

In the Ring of Amazement

• 6:30-7pm- the Jill Becker Group with Dance Improv
.

• 7-7:30pm -The Daredevil Circus Act 1 (aerial performance)

• 7:30 pm-Juggling .

• 8-8:30pm – Laylia – Tribal Belly Dance

• 8:30pm- Flash Mob Dancers

• 9-9:30pm -The Daredevil Circus Act 2

• 10pm Soul Fire Tribe

And there’s a Kids Parade (at 6:30pm, all kids invited!)- The Traveling Gum Wall, (a perfectly disgusting, interactive, public-art experience) –Artisan Booths –Massage and Tarot Readings, you can get Feathers Extensions for your hair and Spray On Tatoos and of course Food! Come in costume if you want. There will be lots of great people watching.

Whew, that’s just the beginning of this wacky weekend!

On Saturday, there are 4 great workshops! You can learn how to make “Sterling Silver Rings” (you make 3 rings to take home.) Or during “Japanese Paper Lanterns” a 2 day workshop, on Saturday you create your own handmade paper, then on Sunday you get to make the Lanterns. Saturday afternoon you can find out about “Ayurvedic Healing” or have a blast learning to “Belly Dance”. Registration is required for the workshops. To register- get artists’ contact info at yellow-springs-experience.org

Also on Saturday, from 3-6 p.m. at the Village Artisans, artist and children’s book author Kathy Moulton will be holding a book signing, talk and reception for the original art from her 4 new books. Kathy’s popular art is made up of a wonderful world of gentle humor. Ask her about her adventures in self-publishing and making art on her computer. Any child that comes to visit will receive free coloring pages (samples from her new books.)

Have a “Quick Sketch” done be Artist Clarice Moore. She’ll be set up at the Art Park, 100 Corry Street, all day Saturday. Or pop into EdenWorld and have a Wellness or Spa Session or have your tarot cards read..

If you love to hike in the woods, Saturday morning includes a docent-led “Birding Hike” through Glen Helen, Yellow Springs much beloved 1000 acre woods.

In the evening it’s mucho Music, mucho Dancing Events and Theater with the YS Kids Playhouse performing “The Cotton Club.”

(I covered that part in my last blog entry. There is so much going on during an Experience weekend that it’s too much for one post! If you would like to read about the Saturday night music and dance events read “Gotta Dance? Do It in Yellow Springs.”

O.K. on to Sunday. Come back and take a peaceful docent led “Wildflower Hike” in the afternoon. Or give yourself a treat and relax with an Edenworld massage. From 2-3 in the afternoon, at the Glen building you can hear a talk about the “Myths and Truths About Coyotes” and Sunday night, you can take in a performance of the Cotton Club.”

Well that’s the scoop, for details go to yellow-springs-experience.com

See you in the Springs!

Gotta Dance? Do it in Yellow Springs!

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Do you find yourself grinning and “Woo Hooing” when someone says let’s go dancing?  Have I got a night made for you!   On Saturday July 16th Yellow Springs will be packed with opportunities to dance.

Dance Event #1

At 6:30p.m. and 8 p.m.  The Show—a Springfield-Yellow Springs based rock trio will be performing original, high-energy music that spans genres from garage and surf, to punk and funk! This musical event accompanies a 6-9 p.m. art exhibit called Synesthesia , featuring concert posters by Ryan Henry & guests. Henry’s designs are influenced from the Art Noveau and Psychedelic poster genres. It takes place at the YSAC Gallery Space and in the beautiful Garden in the back at 309 Xenia Ave.  It’s a free event!

For more information on The Show, go to www.myspace.com/theshowwillgrow

Dance Event #2

7-10pm Dance Piazza @ the Art Park—100 Corry Street is another free event! [yframe url=”]

DJ JuJu’s Dance Piazza is an outdoor international dance party. From 7-8 p.m. on July 16th, Jill Christie of the Dayton Ballroom Dance Club will be demonstrating Swing Dance and encouraging anyone who wants to dance, to try it out.

Then from 8-10pm DJ Juju will spin Latin dance and other world music including Afro-beat, Bhangra, Middle Eastern, club, old-school and R & B.

Judith “Juju” Wolert-Maldonado is a photojournalist, documentary filmmaker and DJ living and working in between Yellow Springs, Ohio, New York City and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Judith says” When in the Buenos Aires province, I frequently attend a weekly outdoor festival, the “Feria de Mataderos.” Each Sunday, thousands of Argentines gather in the closed-off streets to dance the day and night away to the live, diverse sounds of Argentine folk music. If there is an empty ground space at this festival, it quickly fills up with dancers or musicians, just regular folks who enjoy the camaraderie and freedom of dancing and playing out in the open, because they can.  During the Argentine dictatorship of the 1970s and early ’80s, violent curfews and censorships eliminated any sort of festival or public arts events. “

Dance Piazza is also taking place on the following dates with dance instructors featuring different kinds of dance for each event.

JULY 2 – Bhangra (Punjabi Folk Dance) with Karanvir Singh

AUGUST 6 – Mexican Folk Dance with Nuestro Orgullo youth dance troupe

AUGUST 20 – Flamenco Dance & Guitar with Mariya Tarakanova & Brent Del Bianco of Flamencotalk

SEPTEMBER 3 – West African Drum & Dance with BabaaRitah Clark

SEPTEMBER 17 – Appalachian Clogging & Old Time Music with Rick Good (formerly of Rhythm in Shoes) & Friends

The Dance Piazza will be cancelled in case of severe thunderstorms but will carry on under shelter in light rain! *

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEBFtOE4CTM’]

More info: (937) 430-2505 or [email protected]

Dance Event #3

Then there is Ballroom Dancing Under the Stars

9:00 p.m.- 11p.m.  At the Antioch Amphitheater.  Directions to The Amphitheater can be found by visiting www.yskp.org or calling 767-7800.

Ticket are $5.00

Ballroom Dancing Under the Stars will feature live music, lots of prizes, great dancing and a cash bar. After the performance of the Cotton Club (YS Kids Playhouse is performing the Cotton Club, an original Jazz Musical at the Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m.) as the applause dies down, and the stars come out, the sets will be spirited away, a cash bar will magically appear (it’s all magic in the theater) and the band will begin to play.  It’s time for Dancing under the Stars!  (If you like to dress up wear a Jazz Era costume. there will be prizes for costumes too.)

So that’s the line up for Saturday evening on July 16th but I can’t resist telling you about one more opportunity to dance that is going on earlier in the day.

It’s a Belly Dancing  Workshop with one of my favorite dancers.

Saturday July 16th from 2:30-3:30 Janna Mueller will be teaching Intro to Belly Dancing . Her prices are great!  For individual’s it’s only $15, for a Mother/daughter $25 for two, or if you bring a friend (two people sign up together) it’s $25 for two.

Janna is the director of the Egyptian Breeze Belly Dance troupe.  If you have ever gone to the Yellow Springs Street Fair, you’ve seen them.  Janna teaches belly dance to women and girls of all ages, shapes and sizes.  I’ve had friends take her workshops and they say it’s a lot of fun, there’s loads of laughing and letting loose.  You get to learn the basic moves of belly dance, try on belly dance hip scarves and get dancing! To register contact Janet at: 532-3950 or E-Mail- [email protected] You can visit Janet’s web site at- Egyptianbreeze.com

All these dance events are part of the Yellow Springs Summer Experience-July 15-17.  To find out about other fun events (and there are a lot of them!) going on during the Summer Experience go to: yellow-springs-experience.org

Yellow Springs Street Fair is Coming!

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Street Fair is Coming!

Plans for summer events are really brewing around Yellow Springs.  The Chamber is full of signs ready to go out and huge maps of booth positions.  Artists are dropping in with questions.  You can feel the energy in the air.  Street Fair is coming June 11th 9 a.m.-5 p.m.! Everywhere I turn, artists are working feverishly to get a booth full of pottery, sculpture, paintings, hand-crafted clothes, bags or unique jewelry ready for you.

One of my favorites is Jennifer Float’s booth with her colorful and whimsical paintings.  Jenny is a happy painter.  She has a very high “Awww” factor.  Everyone smiles when they see her work.   For the last 2 months, every time I see Jenny shop sitting at Village Artisans (an artist co-op in Yellow Springs) she has half-done canvases stacked on every surface and a brush in hand.  Jenny doesn’t do much sitting when she shop-sits.

So, you probably know about Street Fair, but do you know about some of the other cool events being planned for this summer?  On June 17th, the Friday after Street Fair, is Yellow Springs’ Art Stroll from 6-9 p.m.  One of my favorite shows is happening that night.  Every 2 years is the Miniature Show at “would you could you In A Frame,” at 113 Corry Street. This year, fifty-two artists have created over 100 pieces of fabulous, tiny art. Included are 3-D works, paintings, embroideries, encaustics and more, all no larger than 3 inches x 2 inches.

Art by Lance Rudegeair

The new gallery in town is Springs Gallery in King’s Yard, 220 Xenia Avenue. It will have its Grand Opening celebration during Art Stroll.  I’ve already had a peek inside and  loved the art.  Many of their artists will be present at the opening.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery, 309 Xenia Ave. is having a great reception that will include art, live music and belly dancing.

Also on Art Stroll night, the Art’s Council in partnership with the Jafagirls is going to have a truly disgusting, Interactive Public Art Project at the Art Park at 100 Corry Street. The world’s first Traveling Gum Wall will be there. This summer and fall the Traveling Gum Wall is going to be popping up all over town, serving as a fundraiser for the Arts Council.  Gum is sold for a buck a piece.  You buy the gum, chew, chew some more, squish it onto the Gum Wall, and then sign the back.

Whoops, almost forgot, the Gum Wall will be at Street Fair too at the Arts Council’s Oasis,  309 Xenia Ave.

Much more is going on during Art Stroll, Art Sale at Village Artisans, live music, beer making demo, wine tasting, Free Art Friday,….

Maybe I better explain Free Art Friday.  It’s a movement around the world to leave art on the streets for anyone to find and take home. It’s been a while since the Jafagirls of Yellow Springs have done a Free Art Friday. But the word is out, Friday the 17th there will be art for the finding.  (Check the trees!)

Quick run down of other offerings for the summer:  Twice a month, 1st and 3rd Saturdays, will be “Dance Piazza” with DJ Juju at the Art Park, 100 Corry Street.

From 7-8 p.m. there are dance instructors to show steps to anyone who wants to join in.  From 8-10 p.m. It’s an international Dance Party with DJ Juju.

Here is a list of the styles of Dance taught for the first hour of each Dance Piazza. The last  two hours dance any which way you please!

  • JUNE 18 – International Folk Dances with Miami Valley Folk Dancers
  • JULY 2 – Bhangra (Punjabi Folk Dance) with Karanvir Singh
  • JULY 16 – Swing Dance with Jill Christie of the Dayton Ballroom Dance Club
  • AUGUST 6 – Mexican Folk Dance with Nuestro Orgullo youth dance troupe
  • AUGUST 20 – Flamenco Dance & Guitar with Mariya Tarakanova & Brent Del Bianco of Flamencotalk
  • SEPTEMBER 3 – West African Drum & Dance with BabaaRitah Clark
  • SEPTEMBER 17 – Appalachian Clogging & Old Time Music with Rick Good (formerly of Rhythm in Shoes) & Friends

July brings : The Cotton Club” a YS Kids Playhouse jazz musical and  the “Yellow Springs Experience.” July 15th –17th three days and nights filled with the “Cirque Carnival,” Live music and Dance, Wellness and Spa Sessions, Nature Hikes and Art Workshops.  Woo hoo!  Tell you more about that later.

See you in the Springs!

Art Weekend in Yellow Springs

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It’s a bit mind-boggling. There are almost too many art events going on in Yellow Springs this October 15th-17th weekend…… nah!

Friday night is Art Sroll, and I am really looking forward to that. But I’ve already told you about Art Stroll in my last blog. Though I do have 2 new offering to add to Friday night’s mix:
At 8 p.m. you can stop by the Gardens of 100 Corry Street for a free outdoor theater performance of- “Hey that’s a Nice Bike “ created by Vanessa Query. A second performance at 9 p.m. will be in the courtyard in front of Sam &Eddies on Xenia Ave.

From 5p.m.-9p.m, in King’s Yard, Mike Garrett will be carving Tikis.  Mike is a great Tiki Carver, I can’t wait to see this!

Big breath, get ready, here’s the rest of the weekend-

On Saturday is a “Couples Adventure.” If you’d like something new to do to keep your relationship growing or just want to have fun with your love, here’s a list of 5 new experiences that you can have together on Saturday the 16th.
1. “Healing and relaxation comes when you drum. ”Make a drum filled with your spirit and then later learn to drum together. In this special workshop at Wild Gourd Studio you can each make your own gourd drum with gourd artist Cynthia McDonald. Cynthia plays a lovely, haunting Native American flute and the drum. She has drums in her studio for you to try.
2. A new way to care for each other. During a Thai-Yoga Massage workshop, you’ll learn how to help each other with a deeply relaxing form of bodywork that combines assisted stretching derived from yoga with acupressure style massage and energy balancing. The instructor, Jen Ater, traveled to Thailand to learn with masters this healing bodywork of Thai-Yoga Massage.
3. Bliss out with a great combo-a relaxing private yoga class followed by Swedish massage sessions for the both of you. Janet Baer offers this private session at her beautifully decorated old farmhouse with a labyrinth in the garden.
4. Declare your love forever. Work with Sarah Strong, at Strong heArt Studio and an old time printing press to hand print your own love poster.
5. Create a masterpiece together with New Orlean’s artist Jennifer Float. In Jenny’s Cork and Canvas Class you’ll drink wine, party and make art.
You can sign up and pay for any of these activities at www.getawaysforwomen.com

You need to sign up by Friday morning.

Both Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. is Yellow Springs Artist Studio Tour and Sale. It’s the one time each year that some of Yellow Springs fabulous artists open their studios to visitors. You get to see how they make their art, what tools they use, watch demos, talk with the artists and purchase art. It’s a fascinating peep into an artist’s life. This year there are also 1-2 guest artists at each of the 8 artist’s studios, so you get the opportunity to meet a couple of artists at each stop on the tour.
Download a map at www.ysarts.org This is a free event.

For a great end to a wonderful day, on Saturday from 5 p.m.- 10 p.m. you can stop over at the “Artoberfest” for a music festival and Beer Garden. “Artoberfest” will be held at The Barr Property on the corner of Limestone and Xenia Ave.
During “Artoberfest”, you can enter your favorite beer container in the “Finest Stein” contest to be judged by local artists and celebrities between 7 and 8 pm. Seasonal beers, wine and food will be available and live bands will perform. Brewing and other food and drink demonstrations are planned. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Advanced tickets can be purchased online at www.yellow-springs-experience.org

On Saturday from 6:00-8:30 p.m. is another reception for an exhibit called “Emerging Visions: Antiochians Make Art” It’s at the Herndon Gallery, in South Hall at Antioch College. The show features paintings, prints, and works on paper and tile by 6 alumni artists.

As always, there is more going on, but I’ve run out of steam. Hope you get a chance to join the fun in Yellow Springs this weekend! If you meet up with me, (I’ll be the one in the black ball cap with Jafagirls written in hot pink across the front) say hi!

Third Fridays in Yellow Springs

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On Third Friday, there was a fiddler playing in the moonlight in the first garden of Alan Macbeth’s fantastical building on Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs. On the side of the building is a beautiful, warm mural of an African woman and her child. To get to the Yellow Springs Arts Councils Gallery you pass under the swooping brick arch and enter by the fountain. There is another garden in the back with tables and chairs to sit and enjoy this enchanted, peace filled space.

The show I came to see was a whimsical combination of Sharon Mohler’s sculpted miniature stories in the round and Karen Russell’s colorful textile quilts and paper art. For a month beforehand Karen had been reporting on face book about how she just couldn’t stop herself making these gorgeous tiny paper boxes. It was amazing to see the final results when she put them together. Sharon’s tiny sculpted stories are heart warming; they are frozen moments from “three generations of memories.” She calls them Sharon’s Songs. On her web site she says: “Life has been a bumpy road for me, but it has never been dull. I am blessed with a good memory. I can remember things that happened when I was only two years old. So these works are called my “songs” because they are the ballads of my life.” Sharon once told me that in her home she has stacks of hatboxes everywhere, lovingly filled with these sculpted stories.
Sharon and Karen’s work will be up at the YSAC Gallery through October 31st
Since there are 2 artists they decided to have 2 receptions. So you have a second chance on October 15th, this coming up Third Friday to meet the artists and see their work.

On my way back to visit some of the other art receptions on Corry and Dayton Street, I was pulled in by the joyful live music cascading out the open doors at the Emporium. I stood on the sidewalk and watched the musicians laughing and jamming together with people of all ages dancing in the glow of the Emporium’s golden light. Right in front, two little bitty girls were gyrating like mad. The Emporium holds a wine tasting with live music every Friday night.

Across the street on Xenia Avenue, there were drums being played and Soul Fire Tribe, the fire dancers of Yellow Springs, were dancing and whirling fire sticks and hoops. I can’t just walk by when they are performing, I had to stop and join the crowd ooohing and ahing.

September was a perfect Third Friday Fling. But if you missed that one there is a very special one coming up October 15th. Two times a year, Yellow Springs puts on an art stroll. (I know that sounds confusing, the September Third Friday that I just described sounds like an art stroll. Third Fridays often have art receptions but usually not to the degree that Art Stroll Night is dedicated to them. There is added effort for all the businesses/galleries and restaurants in town to have new art, live music and great food. Plus many more people come out to see the art and chat with each other. It’s sort of the friendly super bowl of Art Strolls for Yellow Springs.) Traditionally all the spots with a reception that night have balloons out front.  Also traditionally Art Stroll is from 6-9 p.m. but it often goes on later.

This year Art Stroll is in memory of a beloved Yellow Springs artist who passed away this past year- Eddie Eckenrode. At Sam & Eddies Open Books, 232 Xenia Ave. (one of my favorite Yellow Springs’ shops for getting unusual cards and birthday presents,) there will be an Art Reception to celebrate Eddie’s new permanent collection, in the upstairs gallery. On display will be an amazing collection from and history of an Ohio artist’s life.

I’ve got to let you know right now that I am not going to cover all the places with receptions, new art up or wine tastings and live music for Art Stroll. I can’t, you’ll just have to come and discover them yourselves!

But I’ve got to tell you about 2 of the art receptions because I am completely biased about them.

The first one is at the Village Artisans at 100 Corry St. Village Artisans is a Co-Op of 20 local artists. I have happily been one of them for 6 years. We are oil, acrylic and water color painters, potters and wood turners, carvers and inlay artists. We work with stones, gourds and precious metals to make jewelry, ornaments, bowls and drums. We are calligraphers and philosophers, textile artists that quilt and embroider and sew and make fabric bowls and wall art. We work with cameras and computers and stained glass. We make books and author books. And pretty much everyone makes cards. (I sure hope I didn’t forget anyone!)
The Village Artisans is putting on the Dare 2B Square show for the month of October. All the art is 12”X12” and is being sold for $100.00 our reception is on (I bet you guessed it) Art Stroll, October 15th from 6-9 p.m. We have over 20 extra artists from this region that are being showcased and then there is the home crew from Village Artisans who are also well represented. And if I do say so myself it is a great show. Come talk to the artists and enjoy our wine and cheese and other goodies.

The other reception that I am totally biased about is at “would you, could you In A Frame” 113 Corry St. The “Stitch Gasp” show is going to be totally weird and totally wonderful. The artist is Corrine Bayraktaroglu aka Jafabrit, (and my Jafagirl art partner.) She has been on an artistic journey from oil paint to graffiti art to stitched art that is fascinating. At her reception on Art Stroll night you will get to see all the stages from art journals to paintings to glorious hand stitched art. Besides, you’ll get to hear the stories behind the art. Stories told in a delightful, non-reverent British way. It will be fun, I promise you.
Art Stroll in Yellow Springs, 6-9 p.m. October 15th- Be there or be square. (Where have I heard that before?)

Where’s the Art in Yellow Springs?

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photo by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

Sometimes visitors to Yellow Springs ask, “Where’s the Art?  I heard this was an art town but there aren’t rows of galleries like other art towns I’ve visited.”

Here’s my answer “the whole town is a gallery.”  Art is everywhere in Yellow Springs, you sit on it – the mosaic benches and the painted daisy benches.  You lean against it- the knit and felt covered benches.  You can touch it on the poles in the knit graffiti.

Visit the public restrooms in the Train Station and look up.  It’s a Loo with a view! Local artists started the Chamber Pot Gallery 4 years ago.

Walk behind Xenia Ave. in Keith’s Alley and see the ever-changing murals. You might catch an artist painting one.

You drive past murals and sculptures on Xenia Ave. and Dayton St. coming into town.

We sneak art in everywhere.  Going for a walk in the glen?  Stop in for a map in the Glen Helen Building and bingo! someone has hung a new art show in the atrium.

Hungry? Get a bite to eat at the Winds Café or the Sunrise Café and you are surrounded with a beautiful art show that changes every month.

Going to listen to the live band at the Wine Tasting at The Emporium?  Whose show is on the walls tonight?   Love the   Pizza at Ha Ha’s?  Check out this month’s featured artist.   On Corry St., Williams Eatery has a couple of regular artists who keep their walls filled with color and wonderful scenes of the Glen.

If you go to see an art film at The Little Art Theater there’s a visual art show hung in the lobby. That’s a double art whammy.

This past month, at the Corner Cone, you could get a scoop of ice cream and depending on the day listen to live music, watch the 10 Minute Play Festival or explore the Art Phone Booth.

Then there are the galleries- Herndon Gallery on the Antioch Campus, Would you, Could you In A Frame on Corry St., the Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery on Xenia Ave and the new kid on the block- Art Happens in Kings Yard.   Plus there are 2 long established artist co-ops, Yellow Springs Pottery and the Village Artisans.   Or go see the John Bryan Community Pottery with its magnificent ceramic mural on one side and it’s painted penguins on the other side of the door.  It is right behind the John Bryan Building at 100 Dayton St..  Inside ceramic artists are working at the wheels and firing the kilns day and night.

Many Fridays, you can find free art pieces left around town by the Jafagirls.

O.K. there’s much  more but I think I will end with a challenge mystery.  Can you find these art pieces?  They are outside, in plain view, in downtown Yellow Springs.

photo by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

1. The Giant Nose- including nose hair

2. A Lion’s Head

3. A Vampire Bunny

4. The small, white Art Box that changes what’s inside from time to time.

5. The mural on a ceiling.

For useful links on upcoming art events visit the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce

A public art map is available at Yellow Springs Arts Blog