Potter Kevin Lehman needs your help making 250 bowls at this week's "Empty Bowls" event, during First
...(more)
Potter Kevin Lehman needs your help making 250 bowls at this week's "Empty Bowls" event, during First
...(more)
Potter Kevin Lehman needs your help making 250 bowls at this week's "Empty Bowls" event, during First
...(more)
Kevin Lehman's Pottery is located at 560 S. Prince St.
It happened one day in sixth grade.
Lancaster artist Kevin Lehman stayed after school to accept a teacher's offer to try out a potter's wheel.
"Once I felt the clay shaping in my hands, I knew that was it," Lehman says. "I was a potter for life."
The 33-year-old Lancaster City resident has come a long way since then. In fact, it would be easy for Lehman, who graduated cum laude in art from Millersville University, to boast about how widely recognized he has become because of his craft.
Instead, he recognizes the needs of the world around him and offers his art to help. During downtown Lancaster's September First Friday event, Lehman's studio, at 560 S. Prince St., will host a free community-service activity.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, the artist will encourage guests to shape some clay of their own. Lehman hopes 250 people will take the time to shape and design soup bowls, which will be used to raise money for the Crispus Attucks Community Center's Food Kitchen.
After the bowls are fired, they will hold soup during a dinner hosted by Lehman's studio, 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
"It's a free experience to make the bowls," Lehman says. "Fundraiser tickets for the dinner are $15."
The bowl is included in the price, and all proceeds go to feed the area's hungry.
For those who touch the clay and feel the same surge of energy through their hands that Lehman did in elementary school, he offers pottery classes for all ages. When he isn't teaching, he develops his craft.
While he still produces a great deal of functional pottery, Lehman says he has also taken on new, larger challenges.
"I can create pieces of just about any size," he says. "I'm currently working on an arch that's nearly 13 feet tall."
Visitors who stop by the studio can see this work in progress, in addition to many other completed projects, including sculptures, wall hangings, lighting fixtures and architectural tiles.
Lehman has room for other craftsmen in his facility. Currently, his building is home to seven other artists, who work in pottery, glassware, mosaics and stoneware.
One of those artists, Deirdre Foley Citro, says Lehman is one of the area's truly unique talents.
"It takes a tremendous amount of skill to work on some of the large pieces he does," says Citro, whose specialties include hand-pressed tile and mosaics. "It's amazing just to watch the amount of effort that goes into his work."
There's even something special about Lehman's smaller pieces, she says.
"He creates a form of local, traditional pottery, called 'redware,' " Citro says. "As traditional as it is, all of his pieces have a very signature Lehman look."
Fellow studio artist Phil Kreider attributes at least some of that signature look to Lehman's willingness to take chances.
"A lot of thought goes into his designs and proportions," Kreider says. "But he uses a firing pattern that allows nature to insert something unpredictable into his creations."
The end result is something that is beautiful in form and earthy in appearance, he says.
"Lately we've done some collaborating together," Kreider says. "We complement each other very well, since I am always cautious, and he is always very bold."
Lehman, whose solo and collaborative works have been exhibited in such places as the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., says he is more excited than usual for this month's First Friday.
"Lancaster is really growing as an artist community," Lehman says. "It's just a joy to see this city filled with so many people sharing a common experience."
SOUP'S ONA soup dinner will be held at Kevin Lehman's Pottery from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 509-7547, or e-mailing
klpottery@earthlink.net or
amy@lancasterfarmfresh.com.
KEVIN LEHMAN'S POTTERY
WHERE: 560 S. Prince St.
FIRST FRIDAY: Open 5 to 10 p.m.
LINKS: www.klpottery.com www.lancasterarts.com/firstfridays/CONTACT: 509-7547
THE EXHIBIT: Create a bowl that will be donated to "Empty Bowls," and help feed the needy in Lancaster.
FIRST FRIDAY STOPS
Annex 24
24 W. Walnut St.
"Urban Art and Hot Rod Whips"
Urban Art meets High Society and a tribute to personal automobiles made way back when. Paintings, photography, and graffiti jam by Rick Velazquez, Eric Regester, the Reisig's, and more. Artist reception with music.
Art & Glassworks
319 N. Queen St.
Artistic mix of stained glass, American glass, and art pottery. Octavia's blues & jazz 7-10 pm.
Art in the Alley
323 N. Queen St.
Keppel Building, Suite 130
"Artist Choice" A variety of two- and three-dimensional art works.
Art Studios in the Keppel Building
329 N. Queen St.
Individual studios open by chance.
Building Character
342 N. Queen St., Warehouse B
"Friday Night Live"
A happening created by downtown artisans involved in art, music, and food.
Candy Factory at the Keppel Building
323 N. Queen St.
Chestnut House
25 W. King St.
Watercolors by Bertie Brown.
Christiane David Gallery
142 N. Prince St
Original art work in oils, watercolors, and acrylics.
CityFolk
146 N. Prince St.
Dan and Marlene Coble use antique and custom furniture as their canvases, graining, stenciling, and freehand painting in a masterful American fancy tradition. Reception.
D & J Scott Galleries
323 N. Queen St.
Delores Hackenberger - Lancaster's Grandma Moses - capturing the nuances of Early American Folk Art.
David the Goldsmith
15 W. Chestnut St.
Katy Conlin will be on site to talk about her Impressionistic oils on canvas.
Demuth Museum
120 E. King St.
"The Philadelphia Ten on the Road: The Rotary Exhibit"
Paintings by "The Philadelphia Ten," a group of women artists who worked and exhibited together during the mid-1910's to mid-1940's. Reception 5-7 pm.
East Walnut Emporium
23 E. Walnut St.
American Art Pottery.
Edwin P. Huddle Photography
122 E. Chestnut St.
Black & white fine art photography.
Eggs-Actly Right Gifts
346 N. Queen St.
Hand-carved and hand-made eggs of all kinds, including Pysanky. Demonstrations.
Elks Club
219 N. Duke St.
"Birds and Barkers"
A fun look at birds and dogs of Neffsville by local artist Ellen Wascou. Reception.
Exhibit 110
110 E. King St.
Abstracts by Claire Giblin; landscapes and florals by Eileen France; ongoing show by Gail Gray.
Flowers by Paulette
258 N. Queen St.
"Oil Paintings by Carol Herr"
Original oil paintings and prints featuring landscapes by award-winning Lancaster County artist Carol Herr.
Framing Concept
328 N. Queen St.
New works of oils and watercolorsby William Mammarella.
Fulton Theatre
Fulton Opera House
12 N. Prince St.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!"
Celebrating the 10th anniversary season of Artistic Director Michael D. Mitchell. An all new production of the defining musical that forever changed musical theatre in America. Choreography by Tyce Diorio.
Galerie Michelle
226 W. Chestnut St.
"Avian Landscapes"
Laura Vernon-Russell's evocative series of photographic drawings incorporating x-rays of birds. The works are the result of the artist's artistic and extensive scientific investigation of the natural world.
Gallery 141
113 N. Water St.
PCAD graduate photography show, paintings by Brian Ziegler, and Egyptian beaded jewelry by Fatma Soleman.
Gallery 2
142 N. Prince St.
"The ALL NEW 2008 Red Umbrella Collection"
Original works featuring Liz Hess's most popular signature--the Red Umbrella! From local landmarks to European destinations, follow the solitary figure with the Red Umbrella through Liz's paint brush.
Gallery dePaul
226 N. Arch St.
"What is the Nature of Nature???"
Gail Gray's new work awakens the vision to explore and imagine the vast web of the natural universe from infinitely small to infinitely large. Artist reception 5-8:30 pm.
Gerhart Studios
9 N. Pine St.
Handmade, hand-carved, custom-designed wood sculptures, furniture, and signs.
Heritage Center Museum
5 W. King St.
"Patchwork Politics: From George to George W."
Quilt collection commemorates great political campaigns and events in our nation's history.
"Psychic Photography: Lancaster's Spiritualist Connection"
Photographs of spirits and ghosts taken at Camp Silver Belle, a spiritualist retreat in northern Lancaster County.
Museum Store"Cats and Dogs"
Redware pottery by Ned Foltz. Artist present.
Hole in the Wall Puppet Theatre
126 N. Water St.
"Broadway to Berlin"
New cabaret for the Over 21 Club features the talents of Artistic Director, Robert Brock, who will perform with his latest marionette creation, Liza Minnelli.
Hotel Brunswick – Rhumba Club
151 N. Queen St.
Free salsa lessons 8-9 pm.
The Infantree Gallery
21 N. Prince St. 4th Floor
"Saints Show"
Mixed media paintings and drawings by Tim Hoover, Stephen Procopio, and Ali Wunder. Artist reception. Open until 10 pm.
Isadore Gallery
228 N. Prince St.
"Two for the Show"
Featuring the creations of husband and wife Ed and Sheila Letvan. Ed Letvan's works are romantic landscapes in oils and watercolors. Sheila Letvan experiments with nature images using printmaking, painting, and photography.
j a sharp Custom Jeweler
322 N. Queen St.
Fine jewelry in all precious metals and gems by Jude Sharp, plus exotic hardwood and metal pieces by Lancaster's own Mio Studio.
Jerome Hershey
34½ N. Queen St.
"Work in Progress"
Lyrical abstractions. Acrylic, mixed media, mail art, and giclee.
Julia Swartz Gallery
17 N. Prince St., 2nd fl.
"Café Life"
A series of oil paintings on canvas depicting city life at the café. Open until 10:30 pm.
Kalargyros Gallery
112 W. Orange St.
Featured artist David Sauer works in acrylics.
Kevin Lehman's Pottery
560 S. Prince St.
Come create a bowl that will be donated to "Empty Bowls" and help feed the needy in Lancaster. Free. Open studio 5-10 pm.
Keystone Art & Culture Center
420 Pearl St.
"The Naked Truth" Box Series
Eric Gibbons' large realistic oil paintings are often mistaken as photographs and are crafted using techniques learned in Japan. Artist reception. Open until 10 pm.
Lancaster Arts Hotel Gallery
300 Harrisburg Ave.
"Brad Stroman: A Delicate Web"
Works that take a closer look at nature and the environment.
Lancaster Co. Democratic HQ.
53 N. Duke St., in The Underground
"You Must Remember This"
For this show, Jim Heston uses the unusual technique of sgraffito on scratchboard. David and Art Miron play a selection of music "from the 50's to the 90's; from C&W to Rock; from American to Israeli." 5:30-8:30 pm
Lancaster Galleries
34 N. Water St.
"Wissler's England"
Oil paintings by John David Wissler. Inspired by the land and light of England and the masters who painted the sites before him.
Lancaster Museum of Art
135 N. Lime St.
"Beautiful Lancaster," - recent works by Suk Shuglie.
"Sunshine & Shadow" - jewelry art by Valerie Jo Coulson. "Colorful Paintings" –mythical & modern acrylics by Kurdish artist Sadradeen Ameen. "Visual Dialogue, Unspoken Conversation" – art as the medium of communication among friends Donna Albert, Blakelyn Albright, Mariann Lehmann, Jenie Oakes, and Jan Yatsko.
Lancaster Public Library
125 N. Duke St.
"A Closer Look; A year of Exploration and Discovery in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin"
Nature photographs by local photographer, Professor Matt Willen of E-town College.
Also, craft activities for kids!
Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum
37 N. Market St.
"Rags to Rugs: PA Hooked and Handsewn Rugs"
Learn about the functions of these rugs as well as how they are made. Includes juried work of contemporary artists.
Museum StoreQuilt-designed hand-painted wooden bowls by
Mary Charles. Artist present.
Living Light Gallery
150 N. Prince St.
Featuring the works of numerous artists working in a variety of media -- paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, and glass.
Mark-Finberg
104 W. Chestnut St.
"Contemporary Realism Inspired by Nature"
A collection of fine art originals and limited edition giclees on canvas by Laura Mark-Finberg.
Master Plan Drafting
44 W. King St.
Watercolors and acrylics by Michael Hurrell.
Metropolis
154 N. Prince St.
"Cannibal Hearts"
Works by Brooklyn-based Jennifer Tong explore the relationship between living things, both human and non-human, in a forest setting.
Mommalicious/Smilin' Gal
310 N. Queen St
My Aunt Debbie - Debbie Serdy's wearable art from vintage recycled treasures. Emily Truman - Funky clothing and jewelry creations from found objects, fiber, metals, and fabrics. Merengue music by Willie Benito.
Mulberry Art Studios
21 N. Mulberry St.
"Lens, Brush, Needles, & Chords"
Multimedia exhibition featuring the artwork of the talented staff of Mulberry. Reception 5-8 pm.
Nick Gould Photography
104 W. Chestnut Street
Wedding, portrait, and architecture photos by Nick Gould.
PA Academy of Music
42 North Prince Street
Twilight Series Concert – 8 pm
Featuring 'Ensemble la Bernardinia' performing baroque music from Bach, Vivaldi, and Telemann.
PA College of Art & Design
204 N. Prince St.
"World War II Vintage Posters"
Vintage posters displayed during WWII in the Cummins Engine Factory in Columbus, Indiana. Designed and illustrated by artists including Jean Carlu and Norman Rockwell.
PA Guild of Craftsmen
252 N. Prince St.
"The Guilded Tulip"
Opening its doors for the first time in Lancaster, the PA Guild of Craftsmen celebrates fine craftsmanship and the work of 35 exemplary artisans in its gallery. Reception.
Phillips Museum
F & M Steinman Center
"Inscriptions" - Paintings by Edward Evans.
"Reflections" - Digital photographs by David Spitzer.
"Where do you Draw the Line?" -
Works from the permanent collection.
Artists reception 4:30 pm.
Rainbow Pet Creations
305 N. Queen St.
Pet photography by MC Schlacter and demonstrations by Serve Us Canine Consultants.
Red Raven Art Co.
138 N. Prince St.
"Floral Interpretations" by Reed Dixon. "Simple Dwellings and Spaces In Between" by Lou Schellenberg. Highlight artist: Eric Diehl. Emerging artists: Lancaster Catholic art students. Framed giclees by Brad Stroman.
Square One Coffee
145 N. Duke St.
"Super Art Force, GO!"
A celebration of young, creative minds – artwork by local youths who participate in the Salvation Army's summer camp. All proceeds benefit the program.
Strawberry & Co.
11 W. King St.
"Halloween Surprises!"
A collection of artworks depicting Halloween.
Studio 235
235 N. Prince St.
Works by Inta Glah and others in various media.
Twisted System Gallery
148 N. Prince St.
New works by a group of young artists.
Veleska
348 W. Orange St.
"Leaves and Bees Under the Tree"
Mixed metal, crystal, and gemstone jewelry by Mary Demarco of La Contessa. Reception 5-8 pm.
Water Street Bindery
28 N. Water St.
Exhibition of historic American bookbinding from 1720 to 1880.
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