WZAR News

Boyertown’s inaugural Premiere Art Show/Sale scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend-Friday, November 27, and Saturday, November 28, 2009, at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 35 West Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown, will feature the work of almost 50 fine artists and fine crafters in a variety of media. A “Meet the Artists, Authors, and Talents” ticketed ($25) reception on Friday, November 27, 2009, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. will feature the culinary art of The Food Muse and music by harpist Betsy Chapman. Tickets ($25) for the “Meet the Artists” opening can be purchased at Studio B, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue, Twin Turrets Inn, 11 East Philadelphia Avenue, Gracefully Framed, 135 East Philadelphia Avenue, and Bause’s Super Drug Store, 42 East Philadelphia Avenue, strong supporters of the arts in Boyertown.

The upcoming Premiere Art Show/Sale includes a contest with prizes for those works of art featuring Scenes of Boyertown, the release of the second volume of Boyertown’s pictorial history book The History
of the Boyertown Area in Pictures: Special People Create a Special Place and a 2-hour DVD Coming Together-Interviews with Special People from a Very Special Kind of Place-Boyertown, PA created from
interviews of 16 residents of the area. The Premiere Art Show/Sale will be open and free to the public Friday, November 27, 2009, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 28, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Anyone wishing to offer a Purchase Award for Boyertown’s Premiere Art Show/Sale will be invited to a special wine and cheese preview on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church. Contact Jane Stahl for details: 610-367-8066, janeEstahl@comcast.net. To place an ad in our artist program booklet
which will introduce our artists to the community, contact Paula Ziegler, paulas_studio@comcast.net, 610-473-9221. For more details on membership and support for Studio B, contact Bob Misko, 610-704-4495, obmisko@comcast.net.

Boyertown’s Thanksgiving Weekend Art Show/Sale Celebrates History, Special People, Includes Catered Reception, Contest, and Release of Second Pictorial History Book/DVD, Boyertown is planning an especially big art-filled Thanksgiving weekend this year adding a fine arts show/sale to the mix of art-related annual events and venues.

Featured Artists:
Fine artist Nancy Lang Boyer and sculptors from the artist blacksmith studio of Greg Leavitt will welcome lovers of fine arts and crafts to Boyertown’s inaugural Premiere Art Show/Sale scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend-Friday, November 27, and Saturday, November 28, 2009, at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 35 West Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown, featuring the work of almost 50 fine artists and fine crafters in a variety of media.

Now retired from painting, Boyer will showcase her early work including portraits and landscapes. Leavitt’s studio offers the ironwork of his daughter Camille and wife Stephanie Tiana along with his own work which incorporates blown glass from Taylor Backes Glassblowing Studio.

Catered Reception: A “Meet the Artists” ticketed ($25) reception on Friday, November 27, 2009, from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. will feature the culinary art of The Food Muse and music by harpist Betsy Chapman. The art show/sale is hosted by the Arts and Activities Alliance, a committee of Building a Better Boyertown, which features different exhibits each month at Studio B.

Tickets ($25) for the “Meet the Artists” opening can be purchased at Studio B, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue, Twin Turrets Inn, 11 East Philadelphia Avenue, Gracefully Framed, 135 East Philadelphia Avenue, and Bause’s Super Drug Store, 42 East Philadelphia Avenue, strong supporters of the arts in Boyertown.

Support Opportunities: Studio B has as its mission the promotion of the visual and literary arts and artists of the area and enhancing
creativity along with the health and wellness of the community.

Purchase Awards and Program Ads: Anyone wishing to offer a Purchase Award for Boyertown’s Premiere Art Show/Sale will be invited to a special wine and cheese preview on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church to select and purchase their favorite piece of art. Benefactors of purchase awards, along with Scenes of Boyertown contest winners, will be announced at Friday’s catered reception. Contact Jane Stahl for further details or to participate in the Purchase Award Program janeEstahl@comcast.net, 610-367-8066.

Or join us in supporting this new exciting tradition in Boyertown by placing an ad in our artist program booklet which will introduce our artists to the community. For details re: ad sizes and prices, contact Paula Ziegler, paulas_studio@comcast.net, 610-473-9221. For more details on membership and support for Studio B, contact Bob Misko, 610-704-4495, robmisko@comcast.net.

In Memory of Sue Weller:
“The Boyertown Premiere Art Show/Sale was the vision of the late Sue Weller,” explained Jane Stahl, Director of Community Relations for Studio B. “Sue regularly exhibited during the annual Birdsboro Community Fine Arts Show and was determined to offer Boyertown a similar experience.”

“Enthusiastic and committed to promoting local art and artists, Sue participated and brought her artist friends to our first art show during Boyertown’s Holiday House Tour, 2006, at what we called The Lincoln Gallery, the former Lincoln Elementary School; she joined us during our summertime al fresco exhibits, progressive art shows and workshops throughout 2007-2008, coordinated a spring show at what was known as The Bashful Barn, organized and participated in plein air activities, and hosted one of our Yak and Chats during A&AA’s charter years,” Stahl continued.

“And almost two years ago, Sue, Arline Christ, and Paula Ziegler [formerly Paula Stackonis] started planning this upcoming show. I know Sue’s watching over us as we gear up for our big weekend,” Stahl continued. “Our show is dedicated to her memory. We all miss her terribly.”

Weller passed away recently after a valiant fight with ovarian cancer. Ziegler created the show’s poster art featuring one of Weller’s paintings; a limited edition of posters will be available for sale at the show. Ziegler, a fine artist specializing in pet portrature, is in charge of the show.

Added Attractions:
1. Scenes of Boyertown art contest: A special feature of the upcoming Premiere Art Show/Sale is a contest with prizes for those works of art featuring Scenes of Boyertown–areas within Boyertown’s four Gateway Signs. First place cash prize–$500; second place–$300; third place–$200 will be awarded on Friday night at the show’s opening reception.

Juror: Connie Leinbach, Executive Director
of Berks Arts Council, will jury the contest. Her prior experience includes coordinating and booking the Wachovia Bandshell free concert series; helping to coordinate the Berks Jazz Fest; and overseeing the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program, the Berks Arts Fair and the Music Composition Program. Before joining Berks Arts Council, she was a journalist, working as a daily reporter in the 1980s for the Reading Eagle and later as a freelance journalist for local and regional publications and private clients. In 1993, she co-founded with Boyertown artist Elaine Bauer, The Arts Connection, a monthly 20-page newsletter covering the fine arts in the Berks, Schuylkill, Lancaster and Montgomery county areas, which continued publication until the summer of 2001. In addition, she was manager in the mid-1990s of the Star Series Association, a local presenting group. She has worked in public relations for St. Joseph Hospital, Reading Area Community College, WEEU and the YWCA in Tucson, Ariz. She was volunteer production director, stage manager and public relations director for Berks Grand Opera for nine years in the 1980s. A native of Berks County, Ms. Leinbach is a graduate of Wyomissing Area High School and has a bachelor’s degree from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. She has studied art, art history and languages.
Funding for prizes courtesy of Dr. James Tribbett; Barbara Nussmann and Kent Farrell–Bear Fever fans from Rochester, NY–who visit the art project’s new bears each year; and the Bear Fever community art project.

2. Second Pictorial History Book/DVD: In addition, the second volume of Boyertown’s pictorial history book featuring a 2-hour DVD of interviews of 16 residents of the area, will be on sale. The book and DVD, a culmination of hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts over two years, is sponsored by Building a Better Boyertown. A book signing is a planned feature of the event during the Friday night “Meet the Artists” reception which will also include those men and women interviewed for the DVD.

The book: The History of the Boyertown Area in Pictures: Special People Create a Special Place Farms and orchards, civic and service organizations, and a focus on volunteers who have devoted countless hours to the betterment of the community since it was chartered in 1866 became the core of the vision for the second book along with off -Main Street businesses, everyday life, and scenes of the area not included in the first book.

The DVD: Coming Together-Interviews with Special People from a Very Special Kind of Place-Boyertown, PA. A decision to focus on the people who have created and maintained this special community inspired the creation of a two-hour DVD, produced by Zach Reinert, owner and operator of WZAR-TV. Reinert, known locally for his cable TV show entitled Boyertown Live, preserves in film and video the present Boyertown scene for future generations. Reinert was assisted by Bethanne Reinert, Mary Kent, and Joy Rhude.

Hours: The Premiere Art Show/Sale will be open and free to the public Friday, November 27, 2009, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 28, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

History: Thanksgiving weekend in Boyertown is traditionally a weekend featuring arts and crafts. Taylor Backes Glassblowing Studio features breathtaking glass art and holiday decor and debuts their featured ornament of the year at their studio located at Second and Washington Streets. The annual Belsnickel Craft Show sponsored by the Boyertown Area Historical Society attracts hundreds of lovers of fine crafts.

Sunday at Studio B: In addition, on Sunday, November 29, 2009, at Studio B, 39A East Philadelphia Avenue, from 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m., the “chapter chairs” and those who were interviewed for the DVD have been invited to share their memories and reflections.