Come join us this Friday for Friday Live Lancaster : Lancaster, PA's live, online radio show about all the neat stuff happening in our lil city. Laura Kendall, Director of the Ware Center at Millersville University, and Joe Devoy, the owner of Tellus360 host this .
The show takes place at The Rabbit & The Dragonfly (51 N. Market Street in Place Marie), Fridays at 11am. If you can't make it down there, you can listen here.
Thank you The Triangle & everybody who came to our special Embarrassed! evening this past Saturday night.
Readers & storytellers made themselves vulnerable on stage. The audience was swimming in a sea of emotions and hilarity ensued. Highlights included: an impressive amount of teenage poetry, a list of young Jason Mundok's (passionate) likes and dislikes, Michelle Johnsen's time capsule (what a roller coaster ride!), Roller Derby Rachel's illuminating and dirty diary entries and more!
Stay in touch because there will definitely be some sort of sequel down the road.
Please enjoy these stunning pictures by Code from Growing Tree Photography.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
We had a fantastic time at F & M's Writers House last night talking about failure, energy and community. There was audience participation, a traveling space machine, men fumbling with tampons and lots of good cheer. Thanks a million to all of those folks that came out to support us and hear our story. An especially big thanks to Kerry Sherin Wright and Joanna Underhill for the invitation.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 7:30pm
Franklin & Marshall College, Philadelphia Alumni Writers House (600 College Ave, Lancaster)
Join Jo and Libby for a lecture at the F&M Writer's House about crossword puzzles, electricity, failure, hope, funny bikes, lunar advice, the Mona Lisa and more. There will be prizes and many pretty pictures.
The Space Machine Found on the Moon (undated, artist unknown) was discovered during the last few moments of the Apollo 17 mission to the surface of the moon. Later—in interviews—astronaut Elizabeth Johannson claimed to be the one who spotted it, stating “I’ve always been attracted to shiny things.” After being transported back to earth, the machine was detained and quarantined by the United States government. For ten years it was studied, scanned, probed, and analyzed by scientists and leading scholars. The machine would not open and no evidence was gathered as to what it might contain, although after vigorous shaking a handful of mysterious tokens fell out. In 1982, the government released a statement saying that the space machine—although intriguing—presented no terroristic or alien threat. The machine was then handed over to religious leaders, and in 1990, was the subject of the world’s first mass exorcism. Over 100 priests gathered around it, chanting and praying in an attempt to cast its “evil spirits” out. When the religious community could not force the machine to open, it was pronounced Satanic. Six years later, the space machine was purchased by a wealthy patron of the arts during a “fire sale” designed to save the church from impending financial distress. The machine—to him—was not an instrument of terror or Satan, nor did it contain secrets of the universe. He considered the space machine an object of pure art in its truest form. It remained in his private collection until his death in 2008, after which the machine was donated to an undisclosed art museum. During a press interview, the curator of this collection (who has, to this day, chosen to remain anonymous) revealed that they were mystified. “We have no idea what it is,” she said. “...or why it was donated to us. We never knew how to display it, or where, or with what other pieces. It’s just sitting in a storage room in the basement.”
This one-of-a-kind work of art, discovered on the surface of the moon in 1972, is now on display to the public for the first time ever.
Exhibition Tour Dates and Locations The exhibition was created by the Modern Foundation® and organized for travel by the Triangle Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (TITES). “The Space Machine,” its national tour, and related programs are made possible by the Carlo Rossi Fund. The exhibition will travel to 13 cities through 2015, launching in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the Modern Art Studio. It will debut for the first time Friday the 13th of February from 6-9pm.
Join us this Friday, February 13th, from 6-9pm to experience two amazingly beautiful things plus one very mysterious lunar thing.
The fantastically talented and all around stellar human being, Michelle Johnson, will be showing her photographs here at Modern Art. Coupled with flowers for sale by our favorite florist, Susannah Smith, you'll be surrounded by wonderful work created by wonderful people. There will also be potent aphrodisiacs, delicious morsels of hand-crafted snacks, live music, perhaps some dancing, and plenty of interesting people with whom you may engage in exciting conversations.
And we are very excited to unveil the mysterious SPACE MACHINE FOUND ON THE MOON that mysteriously arrived on our doorstep recently. We think you will be as pleased as we are with what it can do.
See you on Friday!
Just when you thought you knew every thing about the multitalented Sands Hall, we've got something else for you to file away in your little I Love Sands Hall journal.
She has appeared in several t.v. shows of the 80's, including Eight is Enough. You may remember the episode entitled, "Goals." Sands played the role of Barbara. Check out her performance in an episode of the poplar series, "Lou Grant" below.
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3456631577/
COME TO MODERN ART THIS SUNDAY FROM 4-6pm TO ENJOY SANDS PERFORM & DRINK SOME WINE.
Modern Art is proud to welcome back one of our very favorite Tiny Modern performers, Sands Hall, on Sunday, Dec 14th.
Sands will be playing her own tunes, joined by numerous musical friends, and asking the audience to join on some well-loved carols. Children welcome. A joyous way to celebrate the advent of the holiday season: wine and cider, cheese and chocolate, and song! Join us! 12/14, 4:00-6:00; music begins at 4:30. (Those of you who braved the snowy sidewalks last year to hear Sands know this is a show not to be missed. It goes down as one of our fondest Modern Art moments.) Doors open at 4pm.
Sands, novelist, theatre artist, and singer/songwriter, has performed in venues ranging from small living rooms to large concert halls; one of her favorites is Modern Art and she is delighted to be playing there again. You can find her on Facebook: Sands Hall, Writer; her website is www.sandshall.com, and she occasionally blogs at sandshall.wordpress.com. Her new CD, RUSTLER’S MOON, will be available.
The tasteful gentleman is looking for that someone special to accompany him to Modern Art's ARTFUL DINING: A Benefit for the Lancaster Museum of Art. Won't you join him (and us)?
We'll be filling our walls with our artwork, as well as the the amazing woodcuts of Tugboat Print Shop (all the way from Pittburgh), and local favorite My Aunt Debbie; filling our bar (and the Mona Lisa) with wine, beer and tequila, stocking our paint tables with the amazing food of the Scarlet Runner, and pumping up the tunes in case the tasteful gentleman asks you to dance.
Here's all the other important info:
FRIDAY, October 17, 6-9 pm @Modern Art (529 W. Chestnut St, 17603) $45/person (includes food, dink and revelry)
To rsvp, call 717-394-3497 or email generalmuseummanager@gmail.com.
Thank you to all the bold, brave and creative visitors who stopped in for Truth or Drawer this weekend, including this lovely lady who accepted the truth (from our pet gorilla) so gracefully. You people make us proud!!!
Check back soon for a full recap, complete with the beautiful photos from Code of Growing Tree Photography.
Sadly, our dear friend The Lionel has left us unexpectedly last night. With his sleek frame and handsome mug, we're not surprised that someone rode off with him. We just wish we'd had one last chance to express our gratitude for all those smooth rides. If you see Lionel around, give him our love. Stay awesome with your new owner.
And whatever you do, don't go changin'.
Modern Art has been very busy preparing a new event for our dear friends during Lancaster's Fall ArtWalk:
Truth or Drawer. A risky game of art, excitement, and some other things.
Here's how it works:
You come visit Modern Art on Saturday or Sunday, Oct 4/5 between 12-5.
You are confronted with a choice: Truth, or....DRAWER.
You decide...
...perhaps you pick Truth? You have chosen to sit yourself down on our truth couch and answer one of our probing truth questions. We record these answers for posterity. (And then use to create a stunning piece of artwork.)
..or dare you pick dare? Aha! You are bold! You have chosen to select a drawer from the card catalog which will direct you to complete one of our Modern Art dares. Perhaps you'll need to create something, act out something, eat something, drink something. Maybe do an errand for us. Maybe ask us to do an errand for you. Maybe have your portrait painted on the wall. You wont know until you pull that drawer.
Whichever you choose, you will be HANDSOMELY REWARDED!!! (And you will be handsome.)
Come play. We double dog drawer you.
On Friday, September 12, join us and the great folks from the Triangle for some very short (but very awesome) storytelling.
In honor Modern Art's third ArtBike, and grand pronouncements, we present to you some of our favorite ArtBike case studies. Whether they are life changing for the subjects or just for us is up for debate. But we still like the stories. CASE STUDY #1: Happy Loving Couple
Early on one ArtBike Sunday, a young couple popped in to Modern Art excited about borrowing a couple bikes. They happened to catch us at a slightly chaotic moment (not uncommon)—many children running around, bikes still being set up, furniture being moved around— so before we had a chance to get their names, IDs, and have them sign a waiver, they'd chosen two of our favorite bikes and pedaled off. Oh well, surely they'll come back, we thought.
Hours passed. The day grew cloudy. We lent out more bikes and continued on, wondering who the mystery couple had been.
More hours passed.
More clouds. And rain.
More hours.
We waited nervously, peeking out for the bikes every few minutes.
As the day grew to a close, we really started to worry. Everyone had come back, but our two bikes (one with a gold-framed picture of Jo's husband Jeremy) were still out. Perhaps our naive idea that we could lend bikes out, for free, just for fun, was finally backfiring. It wasn't going to work. Our faith in the inherent goodness of our community started to fade. The bikes were gone. We called it a day and started closing up.
And that's when it happened: As we were locking up, loud shouts and laughter approached on wheels. Our wheels! Our mystery couple! "WE HAD THE BEST DAY EVER!!" we heard them scream. They jumped off the bikes, ran up to us holding hands and smiling widely at each other. Kissing even. "We went everywhere! All over town! Thank you so much! WE FELL IN LOVE AGAIN! "
As it turns out, the mystery couple was out for a rare afternoon without their 18-month old. They'd stumbled upon ArtBike, jumped at the chance to ride, and in doing so reset the spark in their relationship. And reset our faith that if you do things just for the love of it, even little things, it'll all work out. People are good. And a day on a bike with some art thrown in can change you. It may just have been our very best Modern Art moment ever.
Here's to you, happy, adorable, lovely ArtBike couple! Thank YOU for changing our lives.
Thank you to everyone who helped us find all of our lost things over ArtWalk weekend! Check out more photos from the whole project here. (Thanks to Growing Tree Photography for the great pics!)
Thank you, Frank Fairfield, for a lovely show. We wish you lived next door.
Frank Fairfield returns to the Tiny Modern Stage on Friday, April 25.
All tickets ($15) will be on sale at the door at 7:30, show starts at 8pm.
All ages, BYOB.
Frank Fairfield is a young man and old time folk musician who plays fiddle, guitar and banjo while singing and hollering. An unbelievable word of mouth sensation who channels the spirit of another era in his spellbinding live shows.
“A young Californian who sings and plays as someone who’s crawled out of the Virginia mountains carrying familiar songs that in his hands sound forgotten: broken lines, a dissonant drone, the fiddle or the banjo all percussion, every rising moment louder than the one before it.” – Greil Marcus
“One of America’s best conduits of antiquity” – Pitchfork
ArtBike is back, and do we have some wheels for you. From 12-5pm on May 4-5, our fleet of Artbikes will be up and street-ready for the weekend. Come on over to Modern Art, grab an ArtWalk map, and take your favorite for a spin through the lovely streets of our lovely city. All you need is a smile. (And, preferably, to know how to ride a bike.)
We have about 10 bikes, in various heights, styles and working orders. We've got a few helmets, a pump, locks, and wigs if you need them.
Can’t wait to see you. (In the meantime, check out some of these pics from previous Artbike weekends:)
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An important letter from Modern Art Staff:
To Whom it May Concern: While you spin on your ArtBike through Lancaster's ArtWalk, perhaps you'd be willing to look out for some very important items gone missing from Modern Art? They are vital to our next project, which is in production as we write. A gracious, palpable, colorful award to all who may find and return any of the lost items (you will know them when you see them).
Thank you for your consideration.
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Modern Art is an art and design studio based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Through slightly disarming, curious, and unconventional surprises, we use creativity and design thinking to provide an entry point into change making. We investigate how this can strengthen and propel a community’s sense of social awareness and responsibility.
529 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster, PA / (610) 761-9799 / Studio is open on Open Studio evening, by appointment and by chance!