VOICE OF THE BOROUGH AUGUST 2013
The Art Issue
“Super Moon Rising Over Mary Cassatt’s House,” by John Hannafin
This is Your Computer
This is Your Computer With A Solid State Drive
Any Questions? Ask Your Doctor about Upgrading to an SSD Today
In the middle of the block at 28 South High Street computerwc.com 610.431.0400 support@computerwc.com
2
the wc press | voice of the borough
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
3
4
the wc press | voice of the borough
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
5
WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY GRADS
www.RadiateAthletics.com Kenny Crockett Jr. 6
the wc press | voice of the borough
Jared Casey
Join us for FREE Services for the High Holidays MAKOM KADOSH: The Jewish Fellowship of Chester County
Wednesday September 4 Join us for veggie/dairy dinner at 6pm Evening service begins at 7pm Thursday September 5 10am
Engaging, inclusive Judaism for the 21st century
Temenos Retreat Center 1564 Telegraph Road West Chester, PA 19382
www.TheJFCC.com ď ł 484-947-6806
YOM KIPPUR
Rabbi Elyse Seidner-Joseph Looking for innovative, accessible Judaism? Come check us out BEFORE the High Holidays! 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 6:30pm Musical, casual services and veggie/dairy potluck dinner 685 Broad Run Road, West Chester, PA 19382
8
ROSH HASHANAH
the wc press | voice of the borough
Kol Nidre Friday September 13 6:30pm Saturday September 14 10am Milestone Events 600 East Market Street West Chester, PA 19382
The Press
Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it Publisher Dan Mathers Dan@thewcpress.com
Graphic Designer Nazarena Luzzi Castro nazluzzidesign.com
Advertising Manager Nick Vecchio Nick@thewcpress.com
Columnists Chelsea Durning cdurning@thewcpress.com DJ Romeo romeo@thewcpress.com Mimi Zaborowski mimizab@thewcpress.com Jennifer Ozgur jozgur@thewcpress.com Clare Haggerty chaggerty@thewcpress.com
Copy Editor Kehan DeSousa kdesousa@thewcpress.com Contributing Editors Molly Herbison mherbison@thewcpress.com Jesse Piersol jpiersol@thewcpress.com Contributing Photographers Luke Darigan lukedarigan.com Andrew Hutchins afhutchins.com Editorial Intern Gabrielle Dallazia Photography Interns Paul Imburgia Annie Tennyson Rachel Crew Marketing Intern Gina Mattioni
Published By The WC Press 13 South Church Street West Chester, PA 19382 thewcpress.com 610-344-3463 The WC Press is a monthly magazine distributed free of charge to more than 250 area businesses. For a free digital subscription, visit thewcpress.com. For more information about specific distribution locations visit thewcpress.com/distribution.
Worth Noting...
Our no-nonsense table of contents 13. WC By the Numbers Our monthly poll infographic 17. Bartender of the Month Jazmine Thai’s Josh Morton 19. Makeover Salon Chemistry proves hair is an art form 23. Owner of the Month Mary Manning knows her art 27. Studio Tours A look inside the mind of an artist 31. Art for Kids Arts & crafts projects for the whole fam’ 35. The WC Gallery Profiling 14 amazing local artists 59. Name that Painting Can you guess the artist? 63. Photo Hunt Spot the seven differences and win! august 2013 | thewcpress.com
9
al
P
ro
s
h
or k Wit W
fes sion
It’s Fall Registration Time! Classes Start Sept. 14, 2013
ACTING CLASSES
MUSICAL THEATER CLASSES EMAIL PHONE
therese@westchesterstudio.com
484-995-2915
westchesterstudio.com
10
the wc press | voice of the borough
From the Editor...
Not all artists are fated to starve
It’s only right to open this issue with a thank you to Joe Niedziejko, Jean Copeland and Sandra Duli, three people who convinced me that there was just as much value in the pursuit of art as in any other field. As my art teacher at East Goshen Elementary, Mr. Niedziejko laid the foundation for my love of art. I distinctly remember the moment I realized art was more than pretty paintings: the first time I encountered MC Esher’s “Drawing Hands” in Mr. Niedziejko’s classroom. I also remember how disappointed I was with the Georgia O’Keefe-style flower painting I made there. Everyone else painted with pinks and reds, purples and yellows, oranges and blues. I wanted to work with blue and orange, but I really wanted to stand out... so I went with green and brown, and the results were underwhelming. It was a major life lesson: being different for the sake of being different isn’t the right decision. Jean Copeland was actually my middle school French teacher. After she caught me spending an entire period ignoring verb conjugation in favor of doodling, Madame Copeland did a funny thing: she gave me a scholarship to summer art classes at the Moore College of Art & Design. It ended up being an ill-fated endeavor. (I was tasked with sculpting a nude, male model my first day in class, and 13-year-old Dan Mathers was extremely uncomfortable spending hours staring at a hairy, full-grown man. 27-year-old Dan still would be.) But, her rewarding my artistic efforts solidified my belief in the value of creative expression. Moreover, showing me respect and connecting with me over art encouraged me to focus during future French classes. I was notoriously disruptive in high school, and most teachers counted themselves lucky if I didn’t show up for class. That made it easy for me to skip out on math and head down to the art lab to sit in on Photoshop lessons and listen to lectures on art history. That’s how I met Sandra Duli. She knew full well I was supposed to be elsewhere but rarely put up a fight if I wanted to stick around. She realized that I was learning far more in her class than I would have in pre-calc, and she was right. The skills I picked up by auditing her classes get used every day to create this magazine–Photoshop might be the most important thing I learned in all of high school. Collectively, Joe Niedziejko, Jean Copeland and Sandra Duli are the reason I feel so passionate about this issue. Every page is an affirmation of the lesson they taught me: art has innate value. This issue showcases the many people in this town who have learned that same lesson and who make their living by following it. Just check out The WC Gallery, which highlights some of the area’s top artists and starts on page 35. We dedicated five pages to the story and still had to turn down plenty of impressive local artists. This magazine showcases the incredible number of artistic talents in this one small town, and for me, that’s proof that it’s possible to find great success in pursuing your passions. I’m pretty sure that’s another life lesson. -DM
presented by High Street Caffe
Happy Hour
7 Days a Week creole fusion gourmet takeout takeout craft beer $35 prix-fixe menu Jazz on Tuesdays 322 s HigH street 610-696-7435
HigHstreetcaffe . com august 2013 | thewcpress.com
11
12
the wc press | voice of the borough
Our marketing intern Gina Mattioni got to work at Swingin’ Summer Thursday and polled 100 attendants with six questions. These are their answers.
favorite color
favorite type of painting
39 pink 12
21 DOODLING
16 IMPRESSIONISM 16 POP ART
blue
GREEN 11 RED 9 PURPLE
6 BLACK 5 YELLOW
4 ORANGE 2 WHITE
1 ONLY ONE! RAINBOW
purchased AN original work of art?
14 REALISM 13 ABSTRACT
61 no 39 yes
34
20
11 EXPRESSIONISM
4 CUBISM
3 POST-IMPRESSIONISM
2 SURREALISM 2 POINTILLISM
MUSIC
23
PHOTOGRAPHY 7 SCULPTURE
who painted the mona lisa? Leonardo DaVinci
72
don’t know! Michelangelo
5
Vincent van Gogh Picasso
favorite type of art
18 3
2
Rembrandt
1
Keith Kurkowski Leonardo DiCaprio
1
1
DRAWING/ PAINTING
9
FILM/ VIDEO 7 DANCE
favorite ninja turtle or italian renaissance artist
38............... Michelangelo 20................... Leonardo
16......................................... RaPHael 14..................................................................... Donatello
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
13
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY
7.13
Goodwill Fire Company threw a party at their firehouse to raise funds for a donation to the West Chester Fire Department in honor of the late Captain Christopher Good. photos by Annie Tennyson
Jessica Good (Widow of Chris Good), Riley Cote (Former Flyer)
Matt DeSantis and Mike Becker of 94 WIP
Kelly Palais, Josie Arnold
Michaela, Jason, Miranda, Jilian
14
the wc press | voice of the borough
Andre, Randy, Anthony, Brandon
Endless Sacrifice
playhard. sleepwell. west chester
300 E. Marshall Street West Chester, PA 19380 610-793-3300
east goshen
1323 W. Chester Pike West Chester, PA 19382 610-696-6600
yourMetropolitan.com
We are Insurance. We are Farmers. Brandt van Naerssen agency owner Business 610-386-7326 Fax 610-441-7583 Cell 610-745-3276 bvannaerssen@famersagent.com
1000 Continental Drive, Suite 500 King of Prussia, PA 19406-2820 www.farmersagent.com/bvannaerssen august 2013 | thewcpress.com
15
Experience West Chester’s Best Thai Restaurant
Local Draft Beer
Jazmine has teamed up with Boxcar Brewing Company to offer Mango Ginger IPA and Original Pale Ale on tap
344 West Gay Street 610.696.3332 Jazminethai.com
Treat your pets to a staycation while you’re away on vacation
Just give us a call, we’ll handle the rest...
PETCARE GROUPINC
SAFE AT HOME, WHILE YOU’RE AWAY!
petcaregroup.com D 610-738-2273 16
the wc press | voice of the borough
Bartender of the Month Josh Morton doesn’t just run the bar at Jazmine Thai– he runs the whole show Story Gabrielle Dallazia Photo Luke Darigan No one deserves the title of Bartender of the Month for this month’s art issue more than Joshua Morton. In addition to concocting delicious beverages at Jazmine Thai, which he co-owns, Josh is a well-established artist, concentrating on abstract expressionism and surrealism. To anyone interested in learning more about his art, Josh suggests coming into Jazmine Thai, ordering a Manhattan (his favorite drink to mix), and checking out his work, displayed throughout the restaurant. Josh sat down with us to discuss his bartending and art; his passion for both shines through. Are you a native of West Chester? I am not. I am originally from upstate New York, but I’ve been living in the mid-Atlantic region for about ten years now. How long have you been at Jazmine? We built this place almost five years ago. What do you like most about it? I really love the people of West Chester and the guests that come here. I love working with people who have an open mind and who are
open to new experiences, like eating Thai food. The guests make this job really fulfilling for me. What’s the best part of bartending in West Chester? The connection that I make with the people here makes me feel relevant. There are a lot of really interesting people with a lot of dynamic personalities and there’s a really good community of people who support one another. West Chester has an openminded, big-city attitude, but a small-town charm where everyone kind of knows each other. What’s your signature drink? Our signature drink is the Ginger Martini. We muddle fresh ginger with lemon juice and add Citron vodka and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur. The ginger is very effervescent, and it’s a refreshing drink. Have you always been a bartender? No, I’d never been a bartender, and I’d never owned a restaurant, let alone a Thai restaurant. So I had to learn how to mix the flavors and the drinks, and I think I’m still learning as I go. Although, after four years, I really think I’m getting good at it. What’s the oddest alcoholic beverage you’ve ever tried? When I first started drinking, I drank some Wild Turkey. I decided I’d chase it with eggnog. It was like, “Okay, I’ve learned my lesson.”
Given that this is the art issue, and you are an artist, tell us about the art that adorns the walls here at Jazmine Thai. The paintings that are on the walls here are a selection of my last ten years of work. What kind of art do you produce? My artwork stems from abstract expressionism and surrealism, though I don’t necessarily like that title. It’s more art derived from the imagination. Who or what inspires your artwork? I’ve been inspired by almost all the classic artists from the last 500 years. However, the artwork that I do is more self-referential. Do you have anything for sale? All the paintings on the wall are available. What’s your favorite part of being a member of the West Chester art community? It’s the arts that really help the West Chester community as a whole to grow in value. The happenings, the beautiful music, the amazing visual expressions… when people come into a community and there’s something to do, it makes people want to move into town and stay there. Bartending is an art in itself. How does being an artist influence the types of drinks you make? Just like mixing certain colors can produce really wonderful new oranges or greens, mixing alcohol, juices, flavors, textures, and temperatures is a similar process. It’s like a palette but on a different wavelength: it’s not about pleasing the eyes so much as the tongue and the nose. WCP
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
17
@ sa Fo lo ll nc ow he fo m ri ist ns ry an p d irin de g si st gn yl s es
Salon
A top-notch salon with a very real feel.
610-585-0102 salonchemistry.net You can find Salon Chemistry on Middle Alley between Walnut and Matlack Streets. Just head down Market Street and Salon Chemistry is in the lot to your left, behind the Salvation Army.
18
the wc press | voice of the borough
Makeover
photos Andrew Hutchins stylist Anthony Giunta
Salon Chemistry proves that styling hair is just as much an art as any other.
Shannon Ross came into Salon Chemistry with a desire for something new. Her hair had grown out of its highlights and mostly returned to its natural color. Generally speaking, her hair hadn’t been touched in months Shannon has incredibly vibrant blue eyes, so Salon Chemistry wanted to accentuate that with her new look. They wanted to complement her eyes and to match the tone of her skin, so a strong, red color was an obvious choice. They worked with top-of-theline, ammonia free, PPD-free, sulfate, paraben and gluten-free, certified organic Maraes color line by Baco. The color turned out beautiful and was accentuated by adding lowlights to darken the red in places. Shannon’s hair had a natural curl that she wasn’t using, so they implemented a cut that would play off those curls. As with most curly hair styles, it was the shape of the cut that was most important and allows her to achieve this same look at home. The cut framed her face and added fringes around the edges to draw attention to her face. The look was finished using Kinky Muk Curl Amplifier to bring out her natural curls, and Kevin Murphy Young Again immortelleinfused treatment oil for sheen. WCP
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
19
Friends, We’ve Moved, and we want you to come!
25
Poly Clean Laundromat Grand Re-Opening! August 2013 Stop By Our Grand Reopening For...
501 Hannum Avenue
Food And Refreshments! Promotional Giveaways! Your First Load of Laundry Washed FREE!
www.polycleanlaundromat.com 20
the wc press | voice of the borough
The Makeshift Chef Chelsea Durning is a cook by trade, and she’s not shy about sharing her wisdom with our readers One of the best things about being a cook is how artistic it can be. It truly is amazing how one can manipulate food. Use the different colors, shapes and sizes of fruits and vegetables. Draw designs with sauces to jazz up your final presentation. Below are a few of my favorite examples. Canvas Cookies Sugar Cookies 4 cups flour; 1 tbsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; 2 eggs; 2 tbsp milk 1 ¼ cup butter (soft); 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 ½ cups sugar Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients slowly. Divide dough into thirds. Chill for 3 hours. Roll portions to ¼ inch thick on a floured surface. Cut into squares and bake for 9-10 minutes. Royal Icing 1 lb powdered sugar; 6 tbsp milk; 6 tbsp light corn syrup; 1 tsp vanilla Whisk together sugar and milk until smooth. Stir in corn syrup and vanilla. It should run off the whisk with a smooth drizzle. If it’s too thin, add 1 tbsp at a time of 10x sugar till you reach the desired thickness. After the cookies have cooled, smear the icing on top from edge to edge. With a “food marker,” design the cookies however way you like! Apple Flower Cups/Bowl 1 large apple, variety of fruits and berries With a small paring knife cut out 6 petal shapes on the top of the apple about ½ inch apart. Be careful not to cut too deep. Cut about ¼ inch around the petals in the same petal shape. Cut off the top just under the second layer of petals. Scoop out the inside of the apple leaving about ½ inch around the outside. Fill with the different fruits and berries. Zucchini Rolls Salad Filling 3 medium zucchini, shaved thinly lengthwise; ½ carrot, julienned; ½ red pepper, julienned; 1 cucumber, julienned; 2 tsp coriander, ground; ¼ cup mint leaves, chiffonade In a large bowl, gently toss the salad. Cashew Sour Cream 1 cup raw cashews, soaked a few hours or overnight; ¼-½ cup water ¼ tsp sea salt, ½ tbsp lemon juice (or cider vinegar) Drain the cashews, place nuts in a food processor, add remaining ingredients, then purée until smooth. Refrigerate until needed. Guacamole 1 ripe avocado; dash of Tabasco, to taste; salt, to taste 2 tbsp red onion, finely diced; ½ lime, juiced On a clean cutting board, lay 8 zucchini strips lengthwise and close together, spread a spoon of each sour cream and guacamole; top with a small handful of salad and roll up tightly. cdurning@thewcpress.com
West Chester 1347 Wilmington Pike | 610-235-4200 | pjspub.com august 2013 | thewcpress.com
21
22
the wc press | voice of the borough
Owner of the Month
Mary Manning of Visual Expansion Gallery knows art... and frames... and maps... Story Gabrielle Dallazia Photo Luke Darigan It’s hard to walk into Visual Expansion Gallery and not be inspired. If the myriad of images by various (local, national, and international) artists doesn’t impress you, the customer service given by Mary Manning and her team sure will. Whether it’s answering your questions about an artist, or assisting with the restoration of a vintage print, Visual Expansion Gallery has the resources for all artistic needs. Mary took time out of her hectic schedule to sit down with us and chat about the business. Are you a native of West Chester? No, I am not. We were living in Denver, and my husband–he’s with ING–got transferred here, and we all moved east with him. What were you doing prior to taking over Visual Expansion Gallery? I had a frame shop in Washington, DC in the ’70s. Then we moved out West, and I did construction for people who are elderly and disabled. I also worked for a home health agency in Denver for eight years. It’s kind of been a hodge-podge. Tell me about the gallery. We’ve been here for 37 years–we started on Church Street in an alley. William Waughn was the original owner, and I bought it from his wife about two years ago. I had been working with Bill for about eight years. Has the business evolved, especially since you took over in 2010-2011? We do more restoration work now than when I initially took over, and we’ve added a lot of local maps and new artists that we haven’t featured before. That’s part of running a gallery–you’re always evolving. Tell us more about the restoration work. We do a lot of work on items that are either old, or need cleaning or repair–we do that for frames, painting and paper. We do some ceramics. We also do a lot of fire and water damage. So, if a house has had some smoke damage or a blow-back from a fur-
nace, we go in and take everything out, clean it thoroughly, and put it all back together. What styles of art does the gallery feature? It is very eclectic. We have a wide range of art, and the reason we do is because we want to appeal to a broad spectrum of people. We have some very modern pieces, we have classical Brandywine watercolors, we have some abstracts, we have some European art, and we have a lot of local art. You don’t come in and see just one style. To what do you owe your loyal customer base? Service is, I think, one of our strongest points. We really go out of our way to help people if they come in. If they’re looking for something that we don’t have, we
try to find it for them. We also have a great team–Elizabeth Taylor and Tina Olexy are integral to our success and enable us to rise to the level that we have attained. Tell us about your fundraising events. That was something Bill had put into effect. Organizations can come and pick out art from the gallery, and we donate 20% of sales. We also help them pick the art out and try to customize it for them. Do you have a favorite piece in the gallery? It depends on the day. That’s the nice thing–I can have a new favorite every day, and it can change depending on my mood. All of our artists are so different; I couldn’t choose one favorite. WCP
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
23
C-MAC’S SATURDAY SMASH
6.22
C-Mac’s Barber Shop hosted a charity festival of tribute bands representing the biggest acts of hard rock: Looks that Kill (Mötley Crüe), High Voltage (ACDC), Kissin Time (Kiss), Mothership (Led Zeppelin) and Van Halen Nation. photos by Paul Imburgia
24
the wc press | voice of the borough
Sunday Brunch 11am-2pm ramsheadbarandgrill.com 40 East Market Street 484-631-0241
Try our breakfast burrito with tots (and a Bloody Mary)
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
25
26
the wc press | voice of the borough
ins ide the
of
an artist
The Chester County Studio Tour is your chance for a sneak peek into the lives and inspirations of the area’s premier artists. –By Jeff Schaller Does the thought of spending a weekend cornered by a self-absorbed pseudo-intellect dressed in black, droning on about their artwork sound appealing to you? If not, rest assured that I don’t enjoy that either. Luckily, I’m going to debunk the myth of the starving, narcissistic artists with a little secret: the Chester County Studio Tour. For one weekend in May, right after Mother’s Day and before Memorial Day, studio doors open to shine a light on the Chester County art scene. The tour connects the winding roads of the country to the city streets of West Chester, all leading to a colorful set of artists showing the fruits of their labor in their own environment. Visiting an artist’s studio is the chance to plunge headfirst into the mind of an artist. The studio is a place where the walls echo the inspiration found on their canvases. The books an artist chooses give great insight into which artists they love, and where they find their inspiration. These real-life influences make a better list of experience and direction than a LinkedIn profile. Materials and mediums wait on the floor and on the shelves ready to be mixed and manipulated before finding their final resting
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
27
“
Art is a universal language
that can be found in downtown West Chester or along a winding road heading out of town.
”
Schaller Studio place in a masterpiece. Sometimes the haphazard, spontaneous drips on the floor or the wall are evidence of the laborious process. Yet sometimes studios are spotless and the tools of their labor are neatly arranged next to the easel. If you are lucky enough, you can still smell the artist’s choice of medium in the room — clay, oil paint, metal. Maybe you can catch a glimpse of a sketch or a work in progress placed in the corner because of the artist’s own selfdoubt or humility. The id, ego and super ego can all be found in the studio, but what you find varies from artist to artist; not all of them are dark or insular. It’s also time to debunk the myth of the starving artist. For the studio visit, artists usually provide some sort of munchies and beverages. For some reason, even without a MacArthur Genius Grant, artists have found that enjoying wine goes best with enjoying art. But don’t let that moment of happiness and enlightenment that stems from viewing art and sipping wine remain in the artist’s studio … take that masterpiece home! Artists are happiest when their thoughts, metaphors and inspirations from life and light hang on other people’s walls. And supporting local artists through purchasing their work means that the myth of the starving artist can remain exactly that. With this newfound knowledge acquired from visiting artists’ studios, there’s no need to be intimidated about buying art. Since the establishment of the Chester County Studio Tour, you don’t have to visit those big stores for your art collecting. Art is a universal language that can be found in downtown West Chester or along a winding road heading out of town. So the next time you see a sign that says “Art Show” or “Open Studio,” stop in and introduce yourself; the artist could be your neighbor. More likely than not, they won’t be grumbling and wearing a beret, though they might be wearing black. I, on the other hand, prefer a Payne’s Grey … it has a bit more depth. WCP For more information about the Chester County Studio Tour, or to find out how you can take part, visit chestercountystudiotour.com
28
The the WC wc Press press | Voice voice of of the the borough borough
Cirafesi Studio
Brown Studio
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
29
30
the wc press | voice of the borough
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
31
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
7.14
Commonwealth Classic Theatre performed a free showing of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” a popular parody of the plays written by William Shakespeare, in Everhart Park. photos by Andrew Hutchins
32
Jackie, Liz , Heather
Brittany, Norma Jean
Angela, Brian
Nathan, Alex
Collin, Tiffany
Sebastian, Ellen, Luke, Gabe
the wc press | voice of the borough
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
33
Sunday Fun Day!
Burger Night Specialty Burgers Starting At $5 Wings $7 All Day Brent Christopher Acoustic At 9:30PM
Monday Burger Bonanza
BarNaBy’S OF WeST cHeSTer
Specialty Burgers Starting At $5 Ed Lover Hosts Bar Bingo & Dance Party $2.50 Stella Artois Pints All Day
@BarNaByS_Wc
Wednesday Wing Night
10 Wings, 8 Flavors, All For $4 Kids Eat Free Off The Kids’ Menu $2.50 Corona Bottles All Day Quizzo & DJ At 9:30PM
Brick Oven Pizza Thursdays Pizzas Starting At $5.99 $2 Miller Light Bottles All Day Acoustic & DJ At 9:30PM
Friday
Chef Special Beginning At 3:00PM $3 Blue Moon Pints All Day DJ Infamos At 9:30PM Acoustic Jam Happy Hour 5-8PM
Saturday
Chef Specials Beginning At 3:00PM 15 S HigH ST $3 Shocktop Pints All Day Schaffer Sound DJs At 9:30PM 610.696.1400 34 the wc press | voice of the borough
BarNaBySWeST cHeSTer.cOM
The WC GALLERY While we generally consider ourselves artistically inclined, we are far from an authority in the field of West Chester art. It is for that reason that we turned to the local experts and consulted the Chester County Art Association. The CCAA is as plugged in to the West Chester art scene as it gets, and we owe them greatly for supplying us with such a perfectly curated collection of artists. The CCAA is instrumental in both creating and fostering the thriving arts scene that helps make West Chester such a vibrant community, and the following collection of art and artists serves to highlight the incredible number of talented people who call this town home. – by Molly Herbison
The Cherries of Everhart Park by Tim Vaughan
TIM’S BIO: Tim Vaughan is an artist, photographer, sign consultant, and a sign and graphic artist living in West Chester. Many of his works reflect a distinct West Chester/Chester County feel, including landscapes, and familiar and historic buildings. Tim is a featured artist, and is described as the “borough’s resident chronicler” in Catherine Quillman’s book, 100 Artists of the Brandywine Valley. An extensive collection of over 40 pieces of Tim’s art is on permanent display at the new Hotel Warner in historic downtown West Chester. He is a member of the Chester County Art Association, the West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the West Chester BID Design Committee and the United States Sign Association.
Contact E: Tim@TimlynVaughanPhotos.com W: TimlynVaughanPhotos.com P: 610.842.2289
My responsibility as an artist is to highlight that which we do not see as we go about our busy lives. Oftentimes, these are littlenoticed, small pieces of the whole: the bright colors, the texture, the shadows, etc. I have always loved the old postcards of the ’30s and ’40s–the artist highlights with color that which he wants us to see! Is it a photo? A painting? A drawing? That is the direction I like to go with my photography.
A New Day by Christina Oddo This pastel came about from our annual family summer trips to the Moosehead Lake Region in the northwestern part of Maine. Renting a home on the shores of Moosehead Lake gave me an incredible view of the sunrise each morning. This painting was inspired by one of those sunrises of brilliant color and dancing light on the lake. Because of the changing light, I quickly took many pictures, along with sketches and notes. The final painting was created a few months later in my studio. While working on it, I was transported back to the shores of Moosehead Lake.
Contact P: 610.942.4045 E: christina.oddo@costudios.com W: www.costudios.com
CHRISTINAS’S BIO: Christina Oddo, born and raised in the Philadelphia area, began her studies in the field of art at Montgomery County Community College. There, she had her first introduction to pastels. She continued her education at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia where she focused on illustration and graphic design. After completing her studies, she began working in the field of graphic design. Seven years ago, Christina moved to Glenmoore, PA and set up her studio. She has been a member of the Chester County Art Association since 2006 and her first pastel paintings were sold through juried shows at the CCAA. She has been represented by the Visual Expansion Gallery since 2010. Her work was exhibited during the Gallery Walk and a holiday art show at The Art Trust.
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
35
36
the wc press | voice of the borough
transition left and right by Rodha Kahler
Jenny Lind Spring House by Denise Vitollo This is a pastel painting of a bathhouse at Historic Yellow Springs where the singer Jenny Lind is said to have been lowered on a swing to bathe in its waters (circa 1850). Subjects that are described by light and shadow interest me. Upon observing the bathhouse in the spring, I was intrigued by the way the light filtered through the trees to create a lacey effect with the cast shadows on the white walls of the bathhouse. I sense a variety of colors in everything around me, and as an artist, I work to train my eyes to achieve a heightened sensitivity to color sensation. I react to what I see by recording it on a surface and then endeavor to share that experience with a viewer. DENISE’S BIO: Denise came to West Chester after marrying Vince Vitollo. When she first moved here, her interest was in illustration, especially of children’s books, but over time she gravitated to fine art pastel. Pastel is her primary medium, yet she truly enjoys the meditative act of watercolor painting. For five years, she taught art at Archmere Academy in Claymont, DE. When her daughter was born, she focused on parenting and making art. She later returned to teaching at Padua Academy in Wilmington, where she has been for the past 14 years. I have also taught classes at The Chester County Art Association, and at Yellow Springs Studio.
Contact P: 610.430.7880 E: dvitollo@verizon.net W: denisevitollo.com (Under Construction)
Sculpted stoneware with oxides and glaze mounted on panel. Kahler’s work is currently on display at WCU’s Knauer Gallery for the months of July and August, and features a gallery talk about her inspiration for the mural. RHODA’S BIO: Rhoda Kahler is a ceramic artist living in the West Chester area for the last 20 years. Her handmade tile murals appear in public and private collections throughout the Delaware Valley — her most recent mural is located on the new E.O. Bull Center for the Arts at West Chester University. The exterior wall spans 85 feet x 15 feet, covered in handmade tile and other shards with a painted background. The design for the wall is based on her tile series titled “Transitions.” Rhoda has also taught classes and workshops at the Delaware Art Museum, the Chester County Art Association, and has participated in a wide range of Resident Artist programs. She graduated from West Chester University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and is currently an adjunct faculty member. Rhoda exhibits her hand-sculpted tiles and sculpture regularly at fine art galleries while also working on her commissioned tile work.
Contact E: Rhoda@RhodaKahler.com W: www.rhodakahler.com
jesus by Dane Tilghman My friend Billy Burch, who is the pastor at Christ Community Church in West Chester, asked me to do an image of Jesus and to make it a very graphic painting with flat, distinctive color because they wanted to make an eight-foot puzzle of the image. The puzzle would be cut out and taken apart only to be put back together again during the sermon. I took on the challenge with gladness and painted the piece in two days. To me, this painting represents the heart of God. He created all people, and, contrary to popular belief, God does not favor one group of people over another. He loves us all and we all are made in His likeness. He was not just one color, he was all colors, and he was beautiful. DANE’S BIO: Dane Tilghman’s work can be found everywhere from the Baseball Hall of Fame, to episodes of “The Cosby Show,” to the pages of Sports Illustrated. He has also shown in solo exhibitions at West Chester University and other Pennsylvania universities. Mr. Tilghman says, “My connection to West Chester goes all the way back to the year 1900 when my greatgrandparents came up from Dover, DE. My parents both graduated from Henderson High School in 1954. My family moved to Paoli in 1963, but most of my relatives have lived in West Chester all of their lives.“
Contact Dane Tilghman’s Representative E: ERiveraV@aol.com P: 609.828.0691
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
37
38
the wc press | voice of the borough
Three golden delicious apples by David Oleski
laugh like never before by Jeff Schaller Inspired by the beautiful eyes of Audrey Hepburn... I wanted to focus on how much information is needed for the viewer to recognize such an iconic person. I find eyes to be so revealing–some say they are the windows to the soul. In this painting, they are both. To help seal the deal and reinforce the fact that it is in fact Audrey, there is the imagery of her admiring the window at Tiffany’s. With the eyes and the memories of great movies, one cannot help but laugh. JEFF’S BIO: Jeff Schaller, who holds a BFA from Arcadia University, has shown nationally and internationally, including shows in Chicago, New York, Switzerland, and recently The Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. He is frequently published in magazines and newspapers, chosen for juried art exhibitions and selected for special projects, commissions and murals. He has been named one of the Top 5 Most Influential Artists in Chester County by Business 2 Business. Schaller received a highly coveted fellowship from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is also the recipient of the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art Purchase Award. Currently he is completing a mural for Iron Hill’s new location in Voorhees, NJ.
Contact W: www.jeffschaller.com E: jeff@jeffschaller.com
This painting is oil paint on stretched linen canvas, and measures 30 inches by 60 inches. It was done from observation of three Golden Delicious apples, executed over the course of several days with a palette knife, with the marks and colors woven together to create a sense of luminosity and depth. DAVID’S BIO: David Oleski has been living in West Chester in his house in the forest for almost ten years. While he travels extensively to exhibit his paintings at outdoor festivals in major cities across the United States, he has built a presence in West Chester by being part of the Chester County Studio Crit group and the resulting Chester County Studio Tour since its inception four years ago. He has exhibited at the Art Trust, the Chester County Art Association, and DeBottis Gallery before it closed, as well as exhibiting at the West Chester Friends School and the Radley Run Country Club. Each year he hosts a series of painting workshops in his studio, where he introduces artists to color theory and the basics of oil painting. He has recently started exploring what he calls “atmospheric studies”, which are large abstract studies of light and color signifying a bold new direction in his ongoing artistic studies.
Contact T: 610.486.6393 W: www.davidoleski.com
awake by Erica Brown Encaustic on panel is my preferred medium, and the inspiration behind this particular piece was in response to being a new mom, working at my job, working hard in the studio and not getting much sleep. I was awake when I’d rather not be, but more so, it’s a call to my heart and mind to embrace my beautiful daughter fully, despite my sleep deprivation. ERICA’S BIO: Erica received her BFA, concentrated in painting and drawing, from Tyler School of Art. She has been pursuing a career as a professional artist since 2003and has been involved in many solo and group exhibitions. Images of her work have been used in advertising and have been written about in several publications. She regularly donates pieces to charity auctions and has been an artist in residence. She often takes on commission work including mural projects and lives and has her studio in West Chester, PA.”
Contact E: contact@ebcbrown.com W: www.ebcbrown.com
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
39
40
the wc press | voice of the borough
Havoc by Steve Mogck
saturday secrets by Diane Cirafesi At The Green Dragon Market in Lancaster County, there is a vendor who sells fancy underwear to the Plain People (The Amish) whose exterior garments must meet strict simplicity rules, but underneath may indulge secrets. This artwork displays my frequent use of collage and assemblage in my paintings, by using one of the lace foundations from that vendor. Cultural quirks and rituals fascinate me. DIANE’S BIO: Diane Cirafesi graduated from West Chester University with a BA in Humanities, majoring the Fine Arts. She also studied under the notable Chadds Ford artist, Rea Redifer. Ms. Cirafesi is a co-founder of The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank in West Chester, a nonprofit contemporary gallery whose mission is to enhance the cultural environment of Chester County by linking business and philanthropy with the arts. Her artwork also resides in private collections nationwide. Of her connection to West Chester, Cirafesi says, “I came to WCU for college and pretty much have been here ever since. Oh–except for that time I went to California in the mid-’70s to find myself: I wasn’t there, so I came back. I definitely characterize myself as a Townie, a Lifer, a West Chesterite.”
Contact W: www.dianecirafesi.com E: dcirafesi@yahoo.com
“Havoc” started as a blank 10’x5’ unstretched canvas. It was painted over a fivemonth period. Worked and re-worked. Stepped on. Gesso pasted on certain spots for texture. Glued collage. Sketches and drawings then painted over. I wasn’t quite clear where I was going. But, as I discovered, that was the fun part. Finally at the end I painted the Charlie Parker image in white. It pulled the whole painting together and gave it balance. I feel that “Havoc” is one of my must successful paintings to date. A collector in Iowa City recently purchased it. It has a great home where it will get a lot of attention. I do, however, really miss seeing it in my studio. STEVE’S BIO: Steven Mogck’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as Marvel Comics and Time Out NY magazine. More recently he has been focusing his attention on fine art. Steven studied illustration at the Pratt Institute and graduated from West Chester University with a BFA in studio arts. Steven lives and works in West Chester, PA with his wife Kim, daughter Ella and dog Hugo. “We have lived in the borough since 2006. We were born and raised in Cape May, New Jersey. West Chester is close enough to visit home and see family, and the town has a strong art community. We love the art community, restaurants and people in West Chester.”
Contact W: www.stevenmogck.com
Chanticleer Poppies — Path Of Life by Monique Kendikian-Sarkessian This piece was done in oil on linen en plein air (painted outside on site) at Chanticleer in Wayne. Nearly all of my landscapes are completed outside because I am very inspired by nature and natural settings. I love the color red and poppy flowers are utterly captivating. Chanticleer has flowerbeds that are so jam-packed with color that it is like 4th of July fireworks going off in them. MONIQUE’S BIO: While still new to the are, Monique first became aware of West Chester’s thriving arts community via Chester County Art Association. She entered a show there three years ago and since then, they have constantly offered opportunities to exhibit and grow. She has exhibited in countless plein air events and exhibits, and in August she will be featured at Found’s, which is starting to be a new local art venue. Last year, she did a painting at D’Ascenzo’s Gelato that the owners purchased and proudly hang there amidst all the beautiful gelato colors and fragrances for a multi-sensory experience. And, her connection to this community seems to pay dividends. “In essence, the more love I show to West Chester, the more it loves me back, for which I am grateful,” she says.
Contact E: MoniqueKendikianSarkessianart@gmail.com W: MoniqueKendikianSarkessian.com P: 610.457.7707
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
41
42
the wc press | voice of the borough
Super Moon Rising over Mary Cassatt’s House by John Hannafin As a West Chester native and impressionist painter, there was nothing more inspiring than to recently learn that one of my heroes, Mary Cassatt, moved to West Chester from Europe in 1855. Her childhood house, on the corner of High and Miner Streets, was on the same street where I grew up, and one block from my current Church Street art studio. Cassatt was America’s first impressionist painter and was friends with my idols Degas, Monet, Renoir and other inventors of impressionism in 1870s Paris. So combined with news of last month’s “Super Moon” being closest to earth, inspiration was peaking. In this painting I wanted to honor our town’s history while at the same time portraying a contemporary, big-picture perspective of West Chester, expressing the vital energy and soul that runs through it. I also recalled childhood dreams of flying over these streets. JOHN’S BIO: Born and raised with a passion to draw in West Chester, John Hannafin is a dreamer and impressionist oil painter who seeks to express life’s beauty and create colorful canvases that uplift, soothe and inspire others. Once upon a time he didn’t believe it was possible to make a living as an artist, so he majored in economics at Lafayette College before working in a cubicle, selling cubicles. Mostly self-taught, he took his first painting classes in 2005 at the Chester County Art Association. His art has been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX News, and in many print publications. He has published a hardcover book and DVD, and illustrated his first children’s book, Dream BIG, Shine BRIGHT.
foreign soil by Jeremy McGirl
flowers for persephone by Gus Sermas I emphasize the expressive nature of color as the primary ingredient in a painting. The nature of my work is to capture the emotional equivalent of the subject. GUS’ BIO: Gus Sermas was born in the Laconia region of Greece, and grew up in Texas. He currently lives in the area and teaches life drawing at West Chester University. He exhibits in and out of the area, and his work is in the AEANON Gallery in Athens, Greece.
Contact E: gusvsermas@comcast.net
In this painting of a shark, there are no concrete references as to the orientation of the animal in its environment. This lack of orientation creates a sense of uncertainty. The shark is situated in an unpredictable position, so the viewer is less sure of direction and the feeling of uncertainty is accentuated. I hope the piece prompts viewers to question what we know (or think we know) about our relationships with space and time. JEREMY’S BIO: Jeremy McGirl received his BFA from Metropolitan State College of Denver, and an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Born and raised in Colorado, Jeremy and his wife moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1999. Jeremy currently teaches in the Delaware County Community College Art Department and at the Chester County Art Association. He lives and works in his studio in Malvern, PA with his wife and two sons.
Contact W: www.jeremymcgirl.com E: info@jeremymcgirl.com
CONTACT P: 484-883-6596 W: www.johnhannafin.com E: John@johnhannafin.com
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
43
Massage is an act of self-care, not self indulgence.
Give your body a vacation this summer and get an Optimal Massage! Massage is essential for relaxing, refreshing and rejuvenating one’s mind, body and spirit. We don’t just want you to feel better; we want you to be healthier.
121 East Gay Street Prescott Alley Entrance
Behind Zukin Realty, Next to Doc Magrogan’s
610.696.6880 | OptimalMassage.com
Mention “WC Press” and receive $15 off your next 60-minute massage 44
the wc press | voice of the borough
The Look It’s that time of year, when excitement over boots, cardigans and cozy looks start getting your fashionista blood flowing, but you’re not ready to pack away your warm-weather dresses. After all, you’re still craving the bright colors and vibrant patterns of summer. Don’t fret–you can have the best of both worlds and look unbelievable! The three most important tips for transitioning your summer staples into fall are as follows: layer, layer, layer. Model Chrisi is wearing a watercolor peplum top and cobalt blue skinnies. It’s an outfit that could stand alone, but pairing it with a sheer black cardigan and tall brown boots transforms the look seamlessly into a cool-weather outfit. Sheer cardigans and blazers will be a really popular trend for early fall, so if you’re thinking about experimenting, go ahead and do it! On the right, Chrisi has on an amazing jersey maxi dress striped in neon yellow and gray. Nothing screams summer more! But by adding a long-sleeved, acid-wash button-down, she instantly tones down the look. Tie it at the waist for a different combination! Story Kristy Mak Photo Luke Darigan
Nich Boutique keeps you ahead of the fashion curve with two of this month’s best looks
OUTFIT ONE
OUTFIT TWO
Cuffed Cardigan by Ya Los Angeles $34
Stripey Maxi by Ya Los Anegeles $40
Floral Peplum Top by Under Skies $42
Acid-Wash Button-Down by Pixie $36
Zippered Skinny Pants by Ya Los Anegeles $28
Cubicle Necklace $8 Cone Drops Necklace $12 Miniphant Necklace $16
Love Wrap Bracelet $20 Screen Cuff $16
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
45
A vast array of one-of-a-kind products including... Hip Clothing, Bags, Accessories & Jewelry Incense, Oils and Candles Tapestries, Blankets & Home/Dorm Decor Grateful Dead, Bob Marley & 60s Merchandise Tiedyes & T-shirts Handblow Glass & Local Artwork Tobacco Accessories 130 West Gay Street 610-431-6607 www.moonflowershop.com Portion of proceeds benefit pro-peace and environmental charities 10% Off With Student ID
46
the wc press | voice of the borough
Classes at... Peter’s Salon & European Spa 1009 West Chester Pike Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs @7pm & Sat @9:30am Bring this ad to your first class and it’s FREE
carolt.zumba@gmail.com
610-436-6464
Children In Tow Jennifer Ozgur is a mother, wife and teacher who still finds time to get out and about with the family Art. I’ve spent much time contemplating the notion. The older I get, the broader my definition becomes. I used to think it was something that could be placed in a museum: paint on canvas or a three-dimensional sculpture. I came to realize the elitism of that statement and expanded my concept to include any finished product that existed for beauty’s sake. Then I was introduced to Art Deco and Dadaism, and in college learned that Art is Art because the Artist says it’s Art. How much did I spend on tuition to learn that brilliant statement? Years later, I’ve became a mom and the reclassification continues. Being an involved parent means being an optimist. You get up every morning and, despite what happened the day before, you put on your best face and make your kids believe that today is going to be great. You’ve got to convince yourself because they, like astute art critics, can spot an impostor a mile away. There is artistry in that ability to see potential in the ordinary and inspire others to share your vision. Parenting also takes creativity. Sneaking veggies in brownies; entertaining a toddler with safe household objects; spinning a sincere compliment without false praise–these all require mental agility and out-of-the-box ingenuity. No doubt, parenting with successful results is an art; it sure isn’t a science. As for our children, we all know how their deceptively simple outlook on life can be poetic. The young artist views the world with all its possibilities and pratfalls, captures those fleeting moments and preserves it. What we as parents need to do is strive to find them. Maybe it’s a caption under a drawing or a collage from family photos. Be it a pass on the field or a perfectly executed grilled cheese, nothing motivates future attempts more than present approval. They may not even be aware of how great they are unless you point it out to them. Kids also look for opportunities to express themselves. It may sound a bit self-congratulatory, but we are their muses. We must provide them with the vehicles and outlets to develop. Sometimes, that may require taking us out of our comfort zone, but it’s worth it. Haul the crew out to the next Music at Marshall Square Park on the 15th or the season’s last Swingin’ Summer Thursday on September 5th and dare them to dance in public. Dancing first and telling them you’ll stop when they start is fair game. So is bribing with food. On the first Saturday of September, give your kids a camera at The Festival of Gardens. Then encourage them to take some great shots. Edit them together, rewarding their efforts with a mug, mouse pad or some other item. Weekends in September and October offer Ghost Tours. Listen to the stories, then go home and have a spooky poetry jam, taking turns sharing each other’s or collaborating as a family, helping each other come up with rhymes. Picasso said, “Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Wise words. Let us as parents heed his observation by keeping a liberal definition of art and applying it liberally to children of our own. jozgur@thewcpress.com
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
47
Attention Graduates: Want to Stay in the Borough?
We'll Give You a $100 Graduation Gift if you rent from us Specializing in apartments for young professionals and post-graduates. Don't miss great apartments available June-September 2013.
est b e th ts in n e rtm nter apa n ce w o t
121 E Gay St 610-696-0953 ZukinRealtyInc.com
CAL NO L W!
studios, 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms granite countertops, dishwashers, washer/dryers hardwood floors spacious bedrooms and living areas!
48
the wc press | voice of the borough
Beyond Books & Booze Clare Haggerty is a WCU student who knows there’s much more to West Chester than drinking and studying The absence of schoolwork in the summer is obviously a huge benefit, but living in a cabin in the woods for two weeks is my favorite part of the season, no question. I’ve been going to the same summer camp for twelve years, and it has been the best experience of my life. I understand the appeal of going to summer school or taking an SAT prep course, but I don’t go to camp just because it’s fun–I go because Camp St. Andrew has made me a better person. I started out as a wide-eyed, terrified camper when I was eight years old. To say my mother was nervous about sending me into the woods for a week at the ripe old age of eight would be the understatement of the century. Imagine her surprise when I started crying when it was time to go home at the end of the week because I didn’t want to leave. Over the course of the last twelve years I’ve moved through the ranks from camper, to counselor-in-training, to senior staff member, or as the camp director affectionately calls us, “old-timers.” As an optimist, I get through life by having something to look forward to at all times. I look forward to weekends and parties and vacations, but the thought of going to camp blows them all out of the water. If you ask anyone who ships off to Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania to attend Camp St. Andrew, they’ll all have different answers about what they like best. But the thing that I love most is that camp never changes. I’ve spent more than a decade planning my summers around the two weeks just after Independence Day, and yet nothing at Camp St. Andrew has changed in that time. Everything has looked the same since my dad went there as a kid, and he can’t help but laugh whenever he sees it. The tarmac basketball courts and wooden dining hall, the main office and the chapel at the top of a steep hill are all just the same as they’ve been for nearly half a century. The red cabins with green roofs, numbered 1 through 16, still sit along the thin road that winds its way down to the lake. The age of everything at the camp just adds to the charm. You can leave one year and come back the next, and it’s like you never left. Clearly I’m a huge supporter of sleep-away camps. I cannot stress enough how important the experience has been to my development as a person. Among other things, it taught me important lessons about coexisting peacefully with others, because you won’t survive a week in one room with eleven other girls if you can’t share. Camp has helped me develop independence, bravery, leadership, and a passion for trying new things. I had never climbed a rock wall or paddled a kayak, and I’d certainly never handled a bow and arrow. Now I’m practically a professional archer… well, not really, but I’m working on it. My dad was adamant that I go to camp because he swore it would teach me skills I could use later in life. With that thought in mind, my parents enrolled me in summer classes when I was younger, but never during those two weeks of July. They recognized that camp aided my development as a person more than math class ever would. And they were right. Besides, who decided that algebra is more important than archery, anyway? chaggerty@thewcpress.com
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
49
IRon hill Twilight Criterium
7.6
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce and Iron Hill put on this professional bike race that circles through downtown West Chester as the streets fill with block parties, foot races and family-friendly activities. photos by Rachel Crew
50
the wc press | voice of the borough
Best Steak House In West Chester Live Music on Weekends, Patio Dining Fabulous Martinis, Seasonal Menu
125 W Market Street West Chester, PA 484.760.6100 ď ´ PietrosPrime.com pietrosprime.com/facebook
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
51
MARKET STREET BLOCK PARTY
7.6
While the bike race was happening just around the corner, the businesses of West Market Street put on a community party complete with food, drink and, yes, street art! photos by Annie Tennyson
Chet Reber, Emma Wiggins
Bob Deane
Andy Giunta, Brad Byers
52
the wc press | voice of the borough
Megan, Ayla
Pedro Tores, Amanda Clifton
Sage, Jonatha, Akansha
The WC August.2013_Layout 1 7/8/13 5:29 PM Page 1
Funky Functional American Art • engagement • wedding • graduation • birthday • anniversary • hostess gifts
Art2 ~ Rickard Studio
Robert Rickard, Hoboken, New Jersey aircraft aluminum panels using copper, bronze & iron patinas & dyes
5
The
Senses
North American Handmade Functional Works of Art
Mon~Fri \ 10 am to 6 pm \\ Sat \ 10 am to 5 pm \\ Open Late Every 1st Friday
133 West Market Street, West Chester, PA • 610.719.0170
www.the5senses.com
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
53
54
the wc press | voice of the borough
In Pursuit of Food Mimi Zaborowski is determined to leave no dish un-eaten as she embarks upon her quest to become a foodie Most people think of the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Sistine Chapel when they think of great art. But who says food can’t be art? Dan Celucci, proud owner and chef at The Roots Café, creates unique, mouth-watering pairings that are often unexpected but always delightful–like a good piece of art. Originally located at 8 West Gay Street, the café’s moved up the street to 133 East Gay Street, and they’ve upped the ante, serving dinner on weekends. What may be most interesting about their dinner menu is how much it’s subject to change based on the availability of local, seasonal ingredients. It may seem that by using fresh, local, ingredients whenever possible, Dan has limited his palette, but it hasn’t stopped him from crafting masterpieces–it may even have inspired him. Chalkboard panels in the café feature daily specials and rustic, flower-covered tables fill the dining area. John Hannafin art covers the walls. My family was so excited looking over the menu that we couldn’t decide what to eat, so we just ordered a little of everything. We started off with prosciutto skewers, a light dish with the perfect amount of sweet from the melon mixing with the salty from the prosciutto, plus a bit of feta cheese. While I stuffed my face with skewers, my mother opted for a salad generously heaped with bleu cheese, candied walnuts and julienned apples. She wasn’t too keen on sharing her greens with me, so I only managed to steal a few bites. We then ordered three different entrées and passed them around family style. I tried the striped bass over a mixture of mashed turnips, parsnips and celeriac with baby bok choy on the side. Not usually a big seafood fan, it surprised me how much I enjoyed the fish, which flaked apart and meshed with the flavor of the sweet root vegetables. Next up was spinach pasta in a chanterelle cream sauce with shiitake and royal trumpet mushrooms, topped with a fried egg. Hot, heavy pasta sounds unappealing on a summer day, but this was light, with a sweet glaze of sauce and the subtle taste of shiitakes. The fried egg on top was unexpected but added a saltiness the pasta yearned for. Back when I was a vegetarian, the pasta would have been my dream, but my veggie days are gone, so it was the duck with appleberry compote and jalapeño polenta with dandelion greens that stole the show. The duck was crisp and seasoned outside, tender and juicy inside. The apple-berry compote added a slight bitterness with a sweet aftertaste complementing the smoky duck. The kernels of corn made for a perfect textural balance with sweet to match the spicy polenta. We finished out the meal with a simple but sweet dessert: rightfrom-the-farm fruit with ricotta cheese and honey. The freshness of the fruit and ricotta made for a light dessert that’s satisfying after a filling meal, especially on a hot summer night. The Roots Café serves as proof that food can be art. Dan Cellucci just plies his trade with pans instead of paints. His dishes convey his vision as surely as any great art: being environmentally conscious and eating responsibly doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice great taste. mimizab@thewcpress.com
Everything Made Fresh Daily, California Style
Delivery Coming Soon!
Summer Salads Burritos (breakfast, too!)
Tacos, Nachos Quesadillas BYOB & Outdoor Dining Burrito Loco (West Chester,PA) @BurritoLocoWC
701 S. High St. 610-918-1112 Facing Linden Street
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
55
Talk to your neighbors, then talk to me. Nancy Ellis, Agent 1515 West Chester Pike West Chester, PA 19382 Bus: 610-692-4398 nancy@nancyellis.net
See why State Farm® insures more drivers than GEICO and Progressive combined. Great service, plus discounts of up to 40 percent.* Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL FOR QUOTE 24/7.
going to a Bachelorette party? pick up your gifts at Feminique!”
20% Off Valid thru 8/31/13
1001174.1
*Discounts vary by states. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL
All Baking Done on Premises 15 North Church Street 610-344-9674
56
the wc press | voice of the borough
In reference to our previous ad for Defense protection Lubricant: The product has not been proven to protect against STDs
104 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380 (610) 551-3262 feminiqueshop.com
Name That Painting
Below you’ll find eight images from eight iconic paintings. Some show a lot of the piece, others just a little. Think you can name all the atists and their paintings? If so, email your answers to contests@thewcpress.com for your chance to win prizes.
When you’re short on time and the sun is shinin’, You just can’t beat Wally’s Weiner World.
n’ i k in
“T
t s ” e s u r o ’ i y c i –Scott Vassel e l h
a e W d
! y l l
a.k.a. Wally
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
57
211 E Market St 610.429.0467
www.chefanti.com
at Sunset Hill Gallery The works of Harry Dunn showing through July and August
23 N High St, West Chester 610-692-0374 www.harrydunngallery.com
Busy Week Ahead? Let Chefanti do the cooking! Fresh, healthy, order-ahead, familystyle meals available for take-out or delivered to your door. Order online for one night or the whole week!
SUNSET HILL HILL JEWELERS We strive to carry only jewelry made in the USA and custom-designed jewelry made by our team of Goldsmiths
Extended Summer Hours Open Tuesday–Saturday
“Grab & Go” Lunch Available M-F, 11:30am-2pm 58
the wc press | voice of the borough
23 N High St, West Chester 610-692-0374 www.sunsethilljewelers.com
We are proud to offer up a print version of everyone’s favorite bar game... and you won’t have to pay 50 cents. You can actually WIN money. Compare the two photos at right. They may look the same, but there are seven subtle differences between the two. Find those seven differences and identify the items that have been changed. Then send an email to contests@thewcpress.com listing those items. You’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a local business. Winners will be chosen at random, and their name will be posted to Facebook along with the solution at the end of the month. So make sure to like us and follow along if you want to play. Enjoy!
Can you spot the seven changes to “Lunchtime at the Car Shop,” by William Ewing, now appearing at Sunset Hill Gallery
Facebook.com/thewcpress
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
59
60
the wc press | voice of the borough
New Music Artists DJ Romeo curates a list featuring this year’s best new acts from a variety of musical styles. Despite the anticipated records from well-established artists we’ve already seen this year, it’s been a surge of new acts that have made 2013 so interesting. It seems like legions of promising musicians have come out of the woodwork to release new music for the masses. From future pop stars to indie darlings crossing into the mainstream, your ears have a lot to look forward to. Here are my favorite new artists of the year so far, and the songs you’ll likely find pop stations playing on repeat.
142 e mARKeT sT | THeNOTeWC.COm THuRsDAy, AugusT 1 | DOORs 7pm | 18+
CRAsH KiNgs & NiCO VegA my NAme is DReW
THuRsDAy, AugusT 8 | DOORs 7pm | All Ages
mAx sCHNeiDeR jORDAN pRuiTT
sATuRDAy, AugusT 10 | DOORs 5pm | All Ages
HellO HigHWAy
jOCelyN, ONCe upON A Time, THe big Time, jOsH mORgAN TuesDAy, AugusT 13 | DOORs 7pm | All Ages
THe WAileRs
sTeppiN RAzOR, THe NeW KiNgs Of RHyTHm THuRsDAy, AugusT 15 | DOORs 7pm | 21+
splAsHiNg ViOleT
pATTeRN CRAsH, KiND Of CReATuRes fRiDAy, AugusT 16 | DOORs 8pm | 21+
40 belOW summeR CRANely gARDeNs
sATuRDAy, AugusT 17 | DOORs 6pm | All Ages
Turns out Lorde is from New Zealand. When’s the last time you heard music from NZ? Lorde – “Royals” Twenty One Pilots – “Holding Onto You” Bastille – “Pompeii” Capital Cities – “Safe & Sound” The 1975 – “Chocolate” The Neighbourhood – “Sweater Weather” Coasts – “Ocean” Joey Bada$$ – “Enter the Void” Wavves – “Afraid of Heights” DRGN King – “Holy Ghosts” Leagues – “Spotlight” Speedy Ortiz – “Ka-Prow” Little Daylight – “Overdose” Disclosure – “Latch” Romans – “Ballad of a Figure 8” Bipolar Sunshine – “Rivers” Prides – “Out of the Blue” Wolf Alice – “Fluffy” Kenzie May – “Hide & Seek” Rudimental – “Waiting All Night” Romeo@thewcpress.com
WHeATus
mATH THe bAND, mC lARs, lATe CAmbRiAN, THe DANgeR Os mONDAy, AugusT 19 | DOORs 7pm | 18+
THe sWORD
CAsTle, AmeRiCAN sHARKs fRiDAy, AugusT 23 | DOORs 7:30pm | 18+
DRAKe WHiTe AND THe big fiRe KObRA & THe lOTus, sHATTeReD seReNiTy sATuRDAy, AugusT 24 | DOORs 7pm | 21+
lyRiCAlly fiT pReseNTs: jAWNzAp7, Dj sOulbuCK, T.H.e. Of THe iiOuRsHOW THuRsDAy, AugusT 29 | DOORs 7pm | 21+
sTARDOg CHAmpiON
(ex bReAKiNg beNjAmiN & lifeR), WHAT COmes TO life fRiDAy, AugusT 30 | DOORs 9pm | 21+
bACKWOODs pAybACK CARl KeVORKiAN, gODDAmNiT august 2013 | thewcpress.com
61
62
the wc press | voice of the borough
august 2013 | thewcpress.com
63