December 06, 2008 - Drummer needed and Arts Funding bias

At Venangoland, Pete Greene discuss residency requirements and the vocal madness of some Cranberry residents.

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LaTrobe Barnitz is looking for a drummer with a jazz/blues background.for his Oil City First Night gig at the Howling Dog. $50 for the night. Contact him at lbarnitz@clarion.edu

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While I'm pleased that 13 Pittsburgh area arts groups and 3 poets receive NEA grants, I'm also more than a little saddened at the biased geographic distribution of the awards.

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Free and Legal Downloads:
O'Death Live at Mohawk Place on May 18, 2008

Mogwai Live at Hammersmith Apollo on October 24, 2008

November 27, 2008 - Free and Legal Downloads, turkey crafts, local oil and Christmas Creep

A turkey papercraft to keep the kids quiet - and to remind them that there's 'bout a gazillion turkeys without a whole lot to be thankful for today....

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Pittsburgh - Nickelodeon City.

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Don't forget, the Free Brown Bag Opera Featuring the Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera on Saturday from 12pm – 1pm (2425 Liberty Avenue - map) For more information call (412) 281-0912

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Art and the Contemporary Hobo.

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At Venangoland, Pete Greene says, Christmas Creep be darned, enjoy the season!

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Scott Hutchinson wants to encourage the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to drill at the Drake Oil Well Museum.

Mr. Hutchinson chairs a special legislative committee on environmental pollution. He favors removing roadblocks to drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation.

“I think we have to get on this opportunity before we lose it,” he added.

Scott, you understand that the committee is anti-pollution, right?

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The NYTimes lists its 100 Notable Books of 2008

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Transforming Art Into a More Lucrative Career Choice. Remember, you're a business, man, not a businessman.

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This morning as I was wrestling birdzilla, there were Christmas songs on the radio - I believe that to be an abomination, but, if like an aging alcoholic, you like to get into the spirit early, check out Amazon's A Charlie Brown Christmas for $1.99

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Upcoming Shows of Local Interest:

A slow weekend. So slow, in fact, that I couldn't find a single show I wanted to see. Where are you headed? What am I missing?

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Free and Legal Downloads:

The Decemberists live at KXEP on December 18, 2005.

Charlie Musselwhite Live at KXEP on July 19, 2006

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists live at KXEP on April 19, 2007

November 18, 2008 - Venangoland, Citizens of the Year, and Linda Henderson

While I was not blogging last week, Pete Greene was hard at work over at Venangoland with posts on, among other things life without TV and some video footage of the Silver Cornet Band.

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The deadline for submitting a nomination for the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year has been extended to Monday, December 1, 2008. More information and nomination forms are available at the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce office at 41 Main Street in Oil City. Or call 814-676-8521. Please consider nominating someone involved with the local arts.

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Linda Henderson, operator of Oil City's Latonia Theatre showed up in WICU's coverage of the local opposition to California's passage of Prop 8.

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The Allegheny College Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Lowell Hepler, will present a free concert on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3:15 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium.

Sunday's program will include a wide variety of music written or transcribed for symphonic band: “Italian in Algiers Overture” by Rossini, “English Folk Song Suite” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and “Sanctuary” by Frank Ticheli, as well as Harbinson's “River Songs of the South” and Schmidt's “Adoration.” The program will conclude with Henry Fillmore's “The Crosley March.”

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Very Best of Naxos Early Music (full album)

Over the Rhine Live at Majestic Theatre on November 15, 2008

This Is How I Roc: 2008 Yep Roc Label Sampler (full album)

October 31, 2008 - Jim Kronmiller Top 10, Venangoland, Dr. Atomic

It's the last Friday of the month which means it's time for a local artist Top 10 List. Each month a different local artist drops off a list of the top ten things that currently fascinate them. Interested in playing along? Drop me a note and we'll figure something out.

As a tyro photog (check out the 50s beatnik lingo) I do my best to steal, I mean learn, as much as possible from the local masters - people like Jerry Sowden, John Karian, and this month's Top 10 lister, Jon Kronmiller.

Jim's photographic career started at a very early age, developing his first roll of film and making his first photographic print at the age of 10. During school in the Pacific Northwest, he studied graphic arts, and photography, under a vocational style curriculum under the watchful eye of Master photographer John Owens. Aside from working with various other professional photographers, the rest of his training has been self-taught.

Jim has received numerous awards for his work on environmental issues. He also has specialized in glamour and portrait photography.

While being totally disabled has stopped him from doing most of the things he cherishes, he is still quite passionate about nature, and the beauty of the earth. He remains quite concerned about the environment, and the creatures that we share this earth with.

Jim Kronmiller's October Top Ten List

#1: The people in this area. I have lived in many places around the US, and the world, and never have I found so many incredibly caring, friendly people!

#2: Brother Bean Global Coffee House

The most incredible tastes and aromas! Healthy eating and drinking in a very relaxing environment! The best!

#3 The Howling Dog Café. (219 Seneca St, Oil City, PA 16301 (814) 677-2490)

Charlie and his crew serve up some incredible sandwiches, exotic coffees and teas. Great soup too!

#4: The fall colors of our area.

Every year they just get better and better

#5: The arts colony in the Transit Building and Annex.

What incredible talent our local artists have.

#6: Two Mile County Park.

It’s ours again and we need to take care of it. Nothing like sitting there on a warm day and admiring the beauty around us!

#7: Freedom Falls.

Such a great place to take the family or a special one to visit and picnic. The old iron furnace there is amazing.

#8: Clarion University - Venango Campus.

We are really lucky to have this campus here locally. Its small enough to make you feel you are not a nameless face in the crowd, but large enough to attract first rate professors and staff.

#9: Oil City's Pipeline Alley

Lee Mehlburger did an incredible job of beautifying this area. Now they have concerts and a beautiful garden there.

#10: Seeing the younger members of our community getting involved with national causes, charities, and just becoming more involved in our global world. It gives us hope for our future!

Kronmiller Creative Photography Studio is located at 206 Seneca St, 2nd Fl Suite 25, Oil City, PA 16301

You can sign up for upcoming classes with Kronmiller such as the Ice Is Nice workshop and the Be Bold Shoot the Cold! by calling (814) 673-0900


Past Top 10 lists:

• Justin Parson
• Jerome Wincek
• Brother Bean Coffeehouse
• Remora Deign

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Reverse graffitti

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Doctor Atomic plays as part of Erie's Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center as part of the Met's HD series Saturday, November 8, 2008 | 1 p.m. Drawback? Ticket prices are blindingly high for a fancy television broadcast.

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At Venangoland, Pete Greene writes about cutting off his cable.

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International author Horacio Castellanos Moya Horacio Castellanos Moya will do a reading at Clarion University, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m. in the University Gallery, Level A, Carlson Library. He currently resides in the United States as writer-in-residence of City of Asylum/Pittsburgh.His presentation is part of the Spoken Arts Reading Series. The reading is free and open to the public.

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Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is looking for MLIS students interested in an internship for school credit. Potential candidates must be local to or able to commute to New York City. Interested
candidates should apply online

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Mountain Goats Live at Middle East on September 30, 2007

Ben Sollee Live at Fourth Street Live on November 9, 2007

Ben Sollee Live at 91.9 WFPK Studios on November 16, 2007

October 16, 2008 - Upcoming shows, The War for Empire and vanished sleaze

Just a quick note to invite you to the Butler Area Public Library's Author Symposium (pretty fancy sounding, huh?) on Saturday November 22 from 10 am - 1pm (218 N. McKean St, Butler PA 16001 (724) 287-1715). I'll be there selling and signing books as well giving a short presentation and some sneak peeks at my new work-in-progress. Hope to see you there! You can find out more information at the BAPL website .

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Pete Greene writes on venangoland that that "This weekend a strange and varied assortment of people will converge on Franklin to mark the 250^th anniversary of the French and Indian War." I'll nitpick with the organizers of the event, since the only real 250 anniversary of the War for Empire I could find is the Battle of Fort Ligonier in Loyalhanna Township, Pennsylvania. Regardless, I'll probably drop by to take some photos.

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PodCamp Pittsburgh 3 is this weekend

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Iba Ndiaye, African Modernist Painter, Is Dead at 80. He, along with others, founded the École de Darkar art movement , which was aligned with the literary movement of Négritude.

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Novelst Mylene Dressler will read from her work at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21 in the Tillotson Room of Allegheny College's Tippie Alumni Center at Cochran Hall. The program is free and open to the public.

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NPR lists The Best Foreign Books You've Never Heard Of

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Marvel has canceled Spider-Girl. The character who's getting her plug pulled is the only female superhero in Marvel's 70-year history who's managed to carry her own book for more than 100 issues. Oh fellow nerds, when will you stop fearing strong women?

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This Friday marks the start of the 23rd annual Pittsburgh International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, set to run through Sun., Oct. 26

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the speckled band checks in with a scene report from Monday's Poetry for Obama event.

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Lots of people talk about how much cooler Times Square was when it was seedy, but who mourns Pittsburgh's Liberty Avenue?:
Years ago, Pittsburghers interested in the city's underside had a simple, seedy destination: Liberty Avenue. The Downtown thoroughfare was practically a one-stop-shop for strip clubs, 24-hour magazine joints, massage parlors and adult films. Little by little, though, the district's been reformed into a mecca for highbrow culture, hosting art galleries and art films.

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Upcoming Shows of Local Interest:

Bruce Squared plays Seneca's Brother Bean Friday with a newly shuffled lineup from 7-9 pm. No cover.

a voice like rhetoric 10-18-2008 18:00 at Edinboro's Hangout (216 W. Plum St., Edinboro, 16412) with amplexus, arms, manokin, and weekends. $7 cover. Show starts at 7pm.

Dennis McCurdy and the Lonesome No More band play Oil City's Latonia Theatre (1 East First Street, Oil City, PA 16301) Saturday. Show starts at 7:30 with a $5 Children under 12 free.

Pittsburgh opera offers a Free Brown Bag Opera Saturday at noon Featuring the Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera (2425 Liberty Avenue) For information: (412) 281-0912

The Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour (including a screening of Major Organ and the Adding Machine) plays Pittsburgh's Brillobox (4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield) Saturday Show starts at 9. $10 cover. For more infor call (412) 621-4900

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Free and Legal Downloads:




Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Live at Liberty Hall on 1998-06-15 (June 15, 1998)

Drive-By Truckers Live at Summerfest, Harley Davidson Stage on 2008-07-03 (July 3, 2008)

Okkervill River - the Planet Claire Sessions March 7, 2007

September 26, 2008

Brother Bean has been bringing in local, national, and international bands for free shows for almost three years now. It's the epicenter of music talent in Venango County, one of my favorite places to while away a few hours and is breaking my heart.

First was the announcement that shows were moving from Saturday to Friday night which with my schedule meant that I would miss 40 out 52 shows per year. Then came the coup de grace, co-owner Gwen Kahler emailed me to tell me that she and her husband Bruce were preparing to pull up stakes and head out West. And while I'm delighted they'll be able to spend time doing what the want to do, the news left a big emptiness not only in the prospect for quality local music, but in my heart as well. I'm close to making it to the Kubler-Ross stage of acceptance, but I don't like it. Not one bit.

Gwen Kahler of Brother Bean's Top 10 List for September:

Top ten favorites in no particular order

1. Sweet Potato French Fries at The Villa in Oil City. The yellow dining room booths make them even better! And with butter and brown sugar they are amazing.

2. The Bike Trail. We don’t get on it often enough, but really do appreciate having it nearby and love taking walks along the river. (well, Bruce does a version of wobbly roller blading while I walk; I always see people approaching him with a look of wonder and alarm…”I wonder if I should take cover? Is this guy gonna fall over on me?”)

3. All the places to swim for free around here. Swimming holes in the river and creeks.

4. All the different colors of green in the spring. I think it’s amazing how many shades there are when all the trees and plants are recovering from their winter sleep.

5. The small town wonder of being in a store and knowing so many people that you spend your time talking instead of shopping.

6. The sense of community that is growing in the music and arts “scene”. I am so excited over the growing cooperation between venues especially.

7. Local musicians (who are legion!) that have so graciously helped us build the brotherbean music venue.

8. The brucchetta at the new Italian place in Oil City's Arlington Hotel.

9. Watching people watch some of the strange looking young adults that come to stay with us! Musicians and artists get pretty creative and I like to watch people observe them.

10. And, of course, hanging out at brotherbean. I have the coolest job in the world. It’s like all my friends come over to hang out with me in my giant living room!

Brother Bean is located at 2803 SR 257, Seneca, PA 16346 814-677-0232 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, Sat. 9 am to 9 pm

This Friday, October 3rd, Hello Tokyo rolls in from Brooklyn for a no-cover show from 7-9pm.

SOLID ROCK CAFE PA SYSTEM FOR SALE

$2400
matched pa system
mackie 16-channel board in rack
qsc - 1220 - amp
pa amp with connector cables
balanced main and subwoofer speaker (electrovox)

contact Gwen at 814-677-0232

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I took my daughter to see Wicked(again) for her birthday, while at Pittsburgh's Benedum, I couldn't help but notice that SRU prof Steve Hawk was playing in the orchestra.

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A new exhibit opens today at the Erie Art Museum. Beginning today through March 2009, the museum will feature the first North American museum exhibition of East African textiles and will host guests from Kenya and Tanzania, who will be participating in a variety of events scheduled in October. Admission is $10 per person with a free public opening reception is scheduled for Gallery Night Friday, October 10, 2008 from 6 - 10 p.m. (via)

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At Venangoland, Pete Greene says don't believe everything you read.

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Critical Mass has come to Erie. I'm delirious with joy.

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Trying to find an artist to play a house concert?

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Today is the final day that AT&T is streaming Experience Austin City Limits Music Festival

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Free and Legal Downloads:


Okkervil River at The Showbox at the Market in Seattle, WA on September 17, 2008

Drive-By Truckers Live at Charlottesville Pavilion on September 20, 2008

My Morning Jacket Live at Marquee Theater on September 23, 2008

September 14, 2008 - Venangoland and local strongmen

Venangoland lays out some Autumn Inspiration for things to do in the area.

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Nancy Mosser Casting is currently casting local actors and extras for the feature film Sorority Row, which will shoot in Pittsburgh for seven weeks starting October 6th.

Approximately 20 speaking roles and over 500 extras will be cast from the Pittsburgh region. Primarily needed are 18- to 25-year-olds to portray college students.

Anyone interested should fill out an application and upload photos on the Mosser Casting website. There will be an open call for extras to signup in person at a later date. More information may be found on the website, or by calling 412.434.1666.

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Slippery Rock University's Rocket profiles regional "strongmen" (you know the guys on TV who roll tractor tires and pull planes with their teeth) including Venango County's own Rodney Plowman

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Although I never was a fan, it's still tragic to report that David Foster Wallace has committed suicide.

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The poet John Ashbery as collagist.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Alejandro Escovedo Live at The Troubador on September 9, 2008

Mogwai Live at The Grand Ballroom on September 8, 2008

Venangoland author Pete Greene is looking for actors for his production of The Sound of Music.

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Venango County First Book staffers caught got in a photo op recently.

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The NYTimes takes a look at the copyright issues surrounding Pittsburgh based artist Girl Talk.

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Allegheny College has announced the line up for the The nineteenth annual Silberman Recital Series.

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Library Thing is allowing public access to their one million scanned covers. While you're there, feel free to peruse my library.

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Upcoming Shows of Local Interest:

Big Leg Emma plays a free show in Oil City's Justus Park tonight at 7:30 pm.

A Voice Like Rhetoric plays Grove City's Station 71 - Rescue Squad Building (1252 S Center St, Grove City, Pennsylvania 16127) this afternoon. $5 cover Show starts at 5 pm

Brother Bean's Solid Rock Cafe Reunion Festival is Saturday at 6pm. $6 cover with Darby Redford, Remora Deign, Signal Home, and Neocracy playing and Will James performing spoken word between sets. A la Footloose, there will be no dancing white guy style bobbing of heads will be allowed.


Free and Legal Downloads:

Big Leg Emma Live at Silver Maple Music Festival on August 2, 2008

Nine Inch Nails Live at Key Arena, Seattle, WA on July 26, 2008

She & Him Live at the Newport Folk Festival on August 2, 2008

Soundgarden Live at the Sunrise Musical Theatre; Sunrise, FL on July 28, 1994

August 6, 2008

Venangoland has been updated with a post that suggests cell phones as a wildly disruptive technology. Meanwhile the Venangoland Book Club finishes Moby Dickand moves on to Ahab's Wife.

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Justin Parson has just announced a show August 26th from 7:30-9pm at the Venango Campus of Clarion University.

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The Barrow Civic blog is featuring photos from rehearsals of Noises Off which opens this weekend.

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Before the end of the month, 30 volunteers will have the chance to photograph any and everything in a week’s time showcasing what they like and don’t like about Oil City. The effort is a partnership of the City of Oil City and Take Pride in Oil City, designed to stoke interest in making Oil City a place you like to call home. Plans include an initial meeting on Wednesday August 13th to pickup cameras, a camera drop at the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce by the afternoon of the 20th and an assessment of the photos on or about the 25th of the month. Contact the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce for more info.

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The Allegheny College Music Department is holding auditions for the fall season of its College Chorus, a choral ensemble that combines singers from Meadville and surrounding communities with Allegheny students.

In order to join the Chorus, community singers must successfully pass a brief audition given individually at the beginning of the first rehearsal they attend.

College Chorus rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Allegheny Choir Room on the second floor of the Campus Center. The first rehearsal is on Sept. 8. Community singers have until Sept. 22 to pass the audition, at which time membership will be closed for the fall season. Those who audition successfully are expected to attend a minimum of nine rehearsals, including the final rehearsal on Dec. 1.

Interested singers are encouraged to contact Ward Jamison, Allegheny director of choral activities, at (814) 332-3305 or wjamison@allegheny.edu.

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The Post Gazette reivews Quantum Theatre's fabulous production of Cymbeline

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"A Panorama of Pittsburgh," the exhibit of 19th-century prints at the Frick Art Museum, features the first known view of Pittsburgh, a watercolor painted in 1790.

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50 of the Best Websites for Writers

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Create your own Marvel Superhero.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

The New Amsterdams Live at Stubb's BBQ on August 23, 2003

Mike Watt Live at Bluebird Theater on November 6, 1998

The Handsome Family Live at Doornroosje on May 8, 2002

July 26, 2008

The Derrick lists this weekend's Oil Heritage Festival schedule.

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Pete Greene ponders what LA can teach the 814 (that's the new cool way I refer to Venango County, you know just throwing it into conversation, "Nothing, just chillin' in the 814. You?" That sort of thing.)

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Looks like Keystone is slashing Arts and Music in the schools. Thankfully the football team will be fully funded. Penny wise and pound foolish, I believe is the term. If you're facing a similarly poor decision in your district, I'd stat with supportmusic

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Let's Make it Pop-Up! (not as dirty as it sounds.)

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Latonians Gone Wild (Again, not as dirty as it sounds):

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Sometimes I like to look at projects that I could never actually do and just pretend that I could. Call it nerd porn.

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Last summer, my daughter I bought a throwaway camera, a doorpeep hole and some silicon at WalMart and built a DIY fisheye. This is a more sophisticated, but still do-able version.

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Etsy features a pedal powered table saw.

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Cover Lay Down is featuring all Hank Williams covers. Nice.

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Auditions have been announced for Pittsburgh's Shakespeare in the Park's performance of Twelfth Night

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minted is like threadless, only for paper. I'm not sure I get it either.

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Don't forget that Seneca's Brother Bean will have a live webcast of the National Conference on Disability Issues today from noon til 4 pm in the side room. It's free and open to the public.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Minutemen Live at The Channel on July 22, 1984

Dark Star Orchestra Live at Barrymore Theatre on July 21, 2008

Venangoland previews the Thursday's Silver Cornet band concert which will feature Jim Self:
This week's Franklin Silver Cornet Band concert will feature an appearance by tuba pro Jim Self.

Self was born in Franklin and raised in Oil City. Consequently, though he's come back and appeared in the area a few times, I'm not sure that people in these parts get how enormous he is in the biz. He's the heir-apparent to the great Tommy Johnson, the go-to guy for film scores-- Self has appeared in everything from his famous mother ship solo in Close Encounters to more recent films like Lemony Snicket, War of the Worlds, & Sin City. He has way over a thousand film credits, as well as recording credits with everyone from Leon Redbone to Maynard Fergusun to Barbra Streisand. He has worked with orchestras and jazz groups around the globe. He is without a doubt one of the top low brass players in the world.

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Meadville's skate park needs some repairs. And no wonder:
According to the attendance report compiled by the complex, a total of 1,500 users made use of the skateboard facility during June. . . . far ahead of the 875 who used the baseball fields and the 750 who made use of the tennis courts during public sessions.

I guess it's really not a crime. Who knew?

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I'm reading Museum of the Missing: A History of Art Theft by Simpon Houpt for the Franklin Public Library's Summer Reading Program for Grown-Ups - it's an exploration of art theft, both thuggy and institutionalized.


What's the future of photojournalism?

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Art makes better doctors.

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Yeats in the Digital Age

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Tomorrow's father daughter project? A papercraft steampunk x wing kit.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Fiery Furnaces Live at East River Park, NY NY July 17, 2008

Retribution Gospel Choir Live at Bottom of the Hill on July 8, 2008

Hayseed Dixie Live at Stella Blue on May 7, 2008

Draw Tippy. On my Arm Forever.

If you're coming to Guess Whose Hair I'm Wearing tonight or tomorrow make sure that you say "hi". I'll be the short fat ugly guy wearing black, a frantic expression on his face and a glass of box wine in his hand.

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The Franklin Barrow Civic has made a fantastic move in offering a family friendly price package for all remaining shows in the current season. You can buy 2 adult tickets and 2 children's tickets for $50. About $12 per ticket. While I'd like to see a drop to $10 per ticket and maybe even a student rush program (Tickets drop to $5 for students in the last half hour before a show). This is a fabulous step in the right direction of making the arts available and accessibly to everyone in Venango County.

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Speaking of the Barrow, Dave the tech guy (no last names please) is moving to a new position at Joy Manufacturing (with the very talented Linda Henderson of the Latonia Theatre). He will be missed.

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The two most fabulous things I saw in downtown Franklin this week?

A fully-loaded for-touring Rivendell Atlantis bicycle bizarrely leaning in front of Spanky's Tobacco Emporium and a guy with a homemade prison style Tippy the Turtle Tattoo

I wonder if they were related somehow?

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Venangoland has been updated with an essay on "Schools vs the Real World".

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Aluminum Lego Key Chains? Yes. Yes. And yes.

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The Erie Times News profiles the Chaffee Gathering Music Festival.

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Pittsburgh's Irish and Classical Theatre is presenting the complete plays of John Synge. Wow.

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Chatham University has announced thier "Bridges to Other Worlds: An International Literary Festival." from Oct. 4-5 will feature Robert Hass and, one of my daughter's favorite writers, Naomi Shahib Nye.

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A new music festival in Pittsburgh is founded in memory of Alexander Berkman -- the anarchist who tried to assassinate Henry Clay Frick.

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Pittsburgh's Brillobox, recently profiled in the NYTimes, has gone to an all vegetarian menu.

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Upcoming Shows Of Interest:

Guess Whose Hair I'm Wearing? at the Barrow Civic Theatre Little Theatre 91223 Liberty St, Franklin, PA) Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7pm. Tickets $5 at the door - free for students and seniors with ID.

An Evening of Ragtime And Klezmer - 8pm Saturday and 3 pm Sunday at Foxburg PA's Lincoln Hall. $15 at the door.


The Butler Art Center's open mic Spirit Cafe runs Friday from 8-10

Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers play Meadville's Artist Cup Cafe Fridy at 9 pm. No cover.

Newmen play a free show at Meadville's at 9 pm Saturday.

The Cellar Dwellers bring improv to Seneca's Brother Bean Saturday night from 7-9 pm. No cover.

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Free and Legal Downloads

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Live at All Good Music Festival on July 11, 2008

Animal Collective Live at Lux Frágil on May 28, 2008

Spin Doctors Live at Fiesta Days on July 12, 2008

I'm very pleased to tell you that my photography is being featured for the month of July in the Cellar Dwellers' Theatre Gallery Space in Beaver, PA. Much of the work has already been featured on the blog (shots of Justin Parson, Newmen, and others) but hopefully you'll drop by the gallery and take a peek. From my Artist's Statement:

For the past three years, I have been documenting the lives and products of artist living in Pennsylvania’s Oil Region – an area roughly encompassing the territory between Titusville and Emlenton, focusing specifically on the Venango County area. This area was economically devastated by the pull out of the industry that today lends its name to the Region – Quaker State, Pennzoil and other factories supported the area for generations, leaving few economic choices for many residents when the businesses left in the 1980s.

In their wake, and bolstered by Oil City’s appointment of an Arts Revitalization leader, Joann Wheeler, the area has slowly began rebuilding itself as an artist’s Mecca. Touring musicians stop at Seneca’s Brother Bean Coffeehouse and numerous artisans and craftspeople have found studios in the area, drawn by the low cost of living and easy access to metro areas.

Although I compose my images in a variety of ways – including alternative process such as pinhole, cyanotype and Polaroid transfer not featured here – these images have some commonalty. They are shot with ambient light, during the act of creation. They are not retouched digitally, other than a light sharpening. It is my goal with the entire, ongoing, series and with this small sampling to explore the nature of these pioneering artists creating in a setting that in the past has been less than hospitable to working artist. It is my hope that through these images, you, the viewer, can see not only the future of the region, but also the hardships that these subjects filter through their work.

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Next on my list for the Franklin Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Program - Rocking the Cradle of Liberty: A Guide to Anarchist-Connected Historical Sites in Boston

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Bruno Wolozyn, a well-known local piano tuner, has died.

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Venangoland updates with "One More Column About Patriotism"

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Meadville’s Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, is showing the work of local fabric artists until August 10th.

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philly.com profiles Erie resident Dave Wasson's and his self-playing band organ consisting of 456 wooden pipes of different sizes and sounds that he has hand-crafted over 23 years.

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The Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly Not for Sale, the documentary that tells the riches-to-rags story of a Pittsburgh area artist airs Monday night on HBO at 9pm.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

Carolina Chocolate Drops Live at Bear on the Square Festival on April 20, 2008

Cowboy Junkies Live at Turner Hall on November 29, 2007

Death Cab for Cutie Live at Kulturbolaget on February 4, 2006

Defiance, Ohio Live at The Bike Barn on June 22, 2005

Venangoland has been updated with a post about long-forgotten wearer of fashionable clothes, opponent of pesthouses and native of Venango County, Samuel J. Crumbine.

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The Linesville Carp (which BTW would make a great minor league team name) are going on a diet. No more, "cupcakes, bagels, doughnuts, buns and other items. . . "

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GeekDad releases a (Netflix-ready) list of Classic Sci-Fi Summer films.

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According to Media Matters, Fox News is getting even with its perceived enemy reporters by altering their pictures to make them look rather monstrous, then airing the results.

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One Less Car covers The 2008 Cycle Messenger World Championships in Toronto, Canada (Adult Language Follows the Jump)

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When I was an ungrad, my professors steered me towards grad school with the logic that there was going to be a mass retirement of boomer tenured profs and I would have my pick of jobs. Clearly, that did not happen. But the NYTimes says, now, a decade and a half later later, it's going to happen. For reals. I'll believe it when I see it.

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Upcoming Shows of Interest:

Remora Deign plays Franklin's Barrow Civic Little Theatre (1223 Liberty St, Franklin, PA 16323) Saturday 7:30 pm. $5 at the door.

Nate Custer plays Seneca's Brother Bean Saturday from 7-9 pm. No cover.

Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers play in Oil City's Justus Park at 6pm tonight. No cover. they play Foxburg's very lovely Lincoln Hall Saturday at 8pm. $15 cover at the door.

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Free and Legal Downloads:

WFMU - Selected Sounds from the Free Music Archive vol. 1

Miranda Sound -Miranda Sound (technically, pay what you will)

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Live at Casino Ballroom on June 29, 2008

Minutemen Live at The Blue Note on May 12, 1984

North Mississippi Allstars Live at Recher Theatre on May 18, 2008