Neighbor to Neighbor

Inner-City Neighborhood Art House 201 East Tenth Street July 2007 Erie, 16503 (814)455-5508 www.eriebenedictines.org/arthouse

RAKU MAGIC Taste of the Arts 2007 The six students sat on the grass in in ceramics that is completed so fast. Annual fundraiser to benefit the front of the large outdoor kiln, waiting for As the pots got hotter and hotter, Neighborhood Art House the intense heat to show fire and melt Jeremiah shouted, “I can see the fire! the colors on their clay pots. I can see the fire!” Looking through the The advanced clay students from the Neighborhood Art House took part in a three-day raku workshop at Mercyhurst College by Tom Hubert, art department director and a well- Neighborhood Art House known artist. on Parade The children made their pots dur- ing the first two sessions and added Tuesday, September 18, 2007 color and glaze on the last day, then Under the Tent at the Neighborhood Art House watched and waited while Hubert fired 201 East 10th Street up his kiln to 1,800 degrees. During

Sister Margaret Ann Pilewski, OSB 5:00 pm. Cocktails and light buffet the process, the greens, reds, blues and browns melted together to cre- NAH students watch their ceramic pieces change :30 pm. Performance ate interesting colors and designs. colors. by Neighborhood Art House children “I like this because you really don’t hole, he watched the glaze starting to Co-hosts: Core Committee Women know how it will work out,” said Sister melt on one of the pots. Barbara Pollock and Mary Ann Toohey Margaret Ann Pilewski, NAH ceramics Setting each pot carefully in a pile of teacher. sawdust, the resulting Display of Children’s Art available for purchase “It’s going to be smoke would change the Emcee: Brady Louis magic,” Hubert said. colors, Hubert explained. Siblings Maria, Peter The children ex- Silent Auction include the work of local artists: and Jacob Samusenko claimed in wonder as Fred Beebe, Bill Campbell, Evan Everhart, were participants, as well each pot was revealed. Vitus Kaiser, Cheryl Vicary, Tom Vicary as Jeremiah Richardson, “There’s mine,” Erika Erika Thomas and Nguyen said excitedly. After mar- Other silent auction items Nguyen. veling over each bowl, “Buckets and Brooms” Package The children watched the children scrubbed (services for your home) intently as Hubert lit the them in sinks and pre- Golf Outing Package for 2 gas to fire the kiln and ex- pared to take them

Sister Margaret Ann Pilewski, OSB plained the process. “How home. “Oh, that’s cool,” Cleveland Indians Baseball Package— many of you have been to a Nguyen said about his 2008 Season barbecue with a grill? Guest artist Tom Hubert finished product. That’s the same thing we’re doing right “Wow, they really By Request Catering Package now as you do with a barbecue,” Hubert changed,” Pilewski said. said. “They came up with some beauties,” And one live auction item: The process would take 45 minutes, Hubert said. “Masterpieces.” featuring the work of a he said. “The colors will melt. There’s a (Tom Hubert was the first guest artist to lead an Neighborhood Art House student special burner that makes it real, real annual pottery workshop as part of the Brother Thomas Bezanson Pottery Fund established in 2006 Raffle–2 prizes to be awarded: hot.” Raku originated in Japan 600 years by Friends of Brother Thomas through his gallery, ago, Hubert said, and is the only process Pucker Gallery, .) Cash prize of $1,000

st In-Town Getaway for Two 1 Student Newspaper Lodging, dining and entertainment KIDS’ ART HOUSE NEWS Erie Seawolves’ Mascot Josh Ferrare, called C. Wolf when in costume, signed JOIN THE hundreds of autographs during his visit in May to the Neighborhood Art House. Children from throughout the building asked Ferrare, who will be a Strong SECONDLINE PARADE Vincent High School senior, to sign his name on Seawolves’ promotion cards to their mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. If you’ve ever wanted to hi-step and dance in the Ferrare was one of the guests invited to the NAH as part of a newspaper project Second Line at a Mardi Gras parade, twirling a fancy umbrella, now’s your chance. in Monday writing classes. Ten children, ages 8 through 11, took part in the project and Art House students and their teachers have trans- created the first Art House formed 24 white umbrellas into colorful works of art. newspaper. They came up with the name—Kids’ Art House News— wrote questions in advance of a guest’s scheduled visit, did the interviews, took notes and wrote the stories. One student was the photographer and an- other the illustrator. The chil- dren also interviewed other stu- dents in the building to find out Sister Anne Wambach, OSB what they would do if they were Jeremiah Richardson paints an umbrella for Taste president of the . of the Arts.

Sister Anne Wambach, OSB They also wrote stories on The idea is to design umbrellas with images of butterflies, Sister Anne Wambach, execu- designs from African fabrics, and Air Brush designs, in the Writing students Devon McRae, Emilia Balos, Esmeraldaliz Torres, tive director of the NAH, about manner of famous artists like Modigliani’s elongated faces or Amber Fritz and Keenan Gore with C. Wolf. with the words of famous poets like Langston Hughes. her long musical career, and All the umbrellas, which can be used in Mardi Gras teacher Larisa Melodinskaia about her love of dancing. parades and on rainy days, will be unfurled in a special way at The newspaper was presented during the Spring open house and copies Taste of the Arts 2007 on Sept. 18, when they will be sold. were given to every family who attended. The children who participated in the The idea is based on The Umbrella Project, a non- class got special color copies. A second newspaper will be prepared during the profit organization that uses art to empower young people summer session. worldwide through creativity. Inner-City Neighborhood Art House Beauty Non-Profit MEMORIAL Organization Benedictine Sisters of Erie Vision US Postage Peter L. Petersen, one of the NAH’s most 201 East Tenth Street Hope PAID Erie, PA Erie, Pennsylvania 16503-1007 Inner-City devoted volunteers, passed away suddenly Neighborhood Art House Permit No. 247 in June. Pete was a fixture of faithfulness

Sister Anne Wambach, OSB

Pete Petersen reads with Art House student, Athena Fuller. The COLORS of Industry: Art Piece Commissioned and generosity at the NAH, reading to the The colors conveyed what the children every Friday in the Hooked on students saw the day of their visit: the Books program; accompanying the chil- tremendous heat generated in creat- dren on field trips to Youtheatre produc- ing the industrial rolled rings manu- tions at the Erie Playhouse; coordinating factured by the Erie firm. holiday gifts for NAH families through the “We have lots of color photo- Kiwanis Club. He will be greatly missed. graphs of machinery around here, We are grateful to his family for des- but this is a much more interesting, ignating memorials to the Inner-City Neigh- artistic view of what we do,” said Kevin borhood Art House. O’Connell vice president of sales and

marketing for McInnes Rolled Rings ○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○ company. HOOKED on BOOKS! Students from the Neighbor- hood Art House toured the company Volunteer readers are needed Paul DeNiro at 1533 E. 12th St., last December at the Neighborhood Art House. and were commissioned to create an art piece. From left, Chris Rust, Michael Alvarez, Nick Dzuricky and Chris Call 871-7422 Schneider with their painting Based on that visit, five students created a 3’x7’ acrylic painting of reds and or- list the Art House students who created the anges on a black background, under the direction work of art: Chris Rust, Chris Schneider, Nick SCHOLARSHIP INTERN of Art House teachers Chuck Dill and Paul DeNiro. Dzuricky, Michael Alvarez and Shane McClelland. Why would a college student who plans to “I think this painting really captures what O’Connell also invited the artists to bring go to medical school, want to intern at the we do here,” said O’Connell. their parents to see their painting. Neighborhood Art House? “In medical school I The painting will be hung on a 5’ by 7’ foot The official presentation was made in will gain the scientific knowledge I need to wall just inside the front lobby of the corporate Spring to O’Connell and Elizabeth Mayoglou, become a successful doctor, but medical school office, according to O’Connell. the firm’s director of media development, by won’t teach me hu- A bronze plaque below the painting will the students and Paul DeNiro. manizing values like compassion,” ex- Neighborhood Street Scenes plained Bucknell se- nior Jennifer Grant. The easels are a big deal for the young “At the art house I people, according to their teacher, Dr. Penny hope to learn how to Miller. understand people For two weeks and reach out to in June and July, them, recognizing more than 60 their needs.” students have Jennifer, who taken their easels

Jennifer Grant spent the summer outside, on the Photos by Jennifer Grant as an administrative assistant intern, received grounds of the Art the Bucknell Public Interest Program scholar- House to paint Teacher Dr. Penny Miller and students ship after Sister Anne Wambach, executive street scenes in big dogs across the streets; the clamor of director of the NAH, wrote a letter on her water color and traffic; the baseball park; and the flowers and behalf outlining her internship responsibilities. acrylic. butterflies in the garden. Jennifer offered the following reflection “The easels “I love art and I love using an easel,” said on her experience: allowed the chil- 13-year-old Soni McCloskey, who was working “I am inspired by how many great people dren to feel and act on a watercolor of roses in the Art House from the Erie community come to volunteer like artists,” said garden. their time at the program, either through Miller, a profes- “Who would have thought easels would Hooked on Books or in the Art House. I think sional artist, teacher and a summer faculty make such a big difference,” said Miller. “Look people are initially attracted to the program’s member at the Art House for the past four at how serious they are; it’s wonderful.” mission, and then continue to come back be- years. The classes are the last for Miller, who will cause they are awed by the daily success seen Like all artists, the students became keen be moving out of the Erie area. in the smiling faces of the children as they observers of the sights and sounds of their “I love spending my summers at the Art create beautiful art using their own imagina- environments. The Art House students ob- House. It renews by soul. Unfortunately there tion and gifts. It is a very special place and I served the men at work at the tire store; two is nothing like it where I’m going.” hope that I can continue to stay connected to the Neighborhood Art House in my future.” The BPIP Internship Fund is supported by We believe the human soul is shaped alumni, parents, and friends of Bucknell Univer- sity. Its purpose is to give students experience by beauty and the arts. in the non-profit/public sector. Inner-City Neighborhood Art House Mission Statement

Meeting June 18. A display of artwork by GRANTS EVENING of the ARTS students Anthony Ferrara, Shania Heim, In June the Neighborhood Art House Holly Anderson and Megan Paluh, 2007 Brian Maloney, Maritza Alvarez and Becky received approval of a $5,000 grant for seniors at Fort Leboeuf High School, Dzuricky greeted guests in the lobby of the general operations from the Department of Waterford, gave a donation to the NAH Warner Theatre. Also included in the dis- Community Economic Development. We are from a special event they organized at the play were Poetry Pockets, the most recent grateful for the assistance of Rep. Pat school in April under the guidance of faculty newsletter, information about Hooked on Harkins in submitting the application. member, Ms. Jennifer Peters, former NAH Books and a copy of Fierce the Frog and the The John Nesbit Rees and Sarah Henne teacher. Mysterious Egg, a children’s book composed Rees Charitable Foundation gave a $6,000 by Art House Students. The display was grant to the NAH in support of art educa- ART HOUSE on DISPLAY organized by Sister Margaret Ann Pilewski, tion programs. (This is the twelfth annual Artwork by five Art House students was part of art coordinator. The ECF is a long-time sup- donation from this foundation.) the Erie Community Foundation’s Annual porter of the NAH.

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR Editor: Sister Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB. Contributing writers: Ron Wasielewski, Debbie McQuaid