confluence•creative•arts•center

PUMPKIN FEST!

THE FINE ART OF PUMPKIN CARVING 

Saturday, October 5 & 6

light up at dark

 

The Arts Center is where you’ll find the largest patch of pumpkins during Confluence’s famous Pumpkin Fest.  For family fun or individual expression, stop by a pick out a free pumpkin to carve.  Scary or silly, happy or or hideous...come make a face with your friends.  It’s a great way to spend a little festival time.  Be sure to stop back at dark when we light up the night with the county’s greatest display of Jack o’ lanterns!  

 

STORYTIME STEAM

Summer Tuesdays

Story Time is a special morning of stories, activities, games, and crafts just for kids.  New this year, the Turkeyfoot Lending Library is partnering with the Somerset County Library system to bring a special reading program to our community. Kids will enjoy STEAM-realated activities  (science, technology, engineering, art, math) during Story Time. No preregistration is required for kids to drop by to listen to a read-aloud book and participate in activities that are fun and educational. Parents or guardians may drop off kids or are welcome to stay and lend a hand or support their young reader/artists. 

 

Free books and other reading incentives will often be available for kids to take home. A pick-up lunch will be available to all participants at the Confluence Community Center after each Story Time.  

 

CONTEMPLATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

January 20

Veronica Corpuz is an interdisciplinary poet who explores themes of grief, loss and identity through mixed media and photography. A member of the Madwomen in the Attic of Carlow University, she co-curates with Sarah Williams-Devereux Mad Bookends, featuring poetry, fiction and nonfiction by women writers of color. She also contributes book reviews and literary profiles to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

 

Through guided imagery and generative writing prompts, participants will excavate memories and dreams to germinate seeds of authenticity and truth telling. The workshop is a portal for reflection and creative expression, quieting the mind and body to exercise deep listening and presence.  

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FROGTOWN UKESTRA

Jan. 19, 26 / Feb. 2,9,16, 23 / Mar. 2

Jump into something fun and exciting in our corner of Confluence, once known for its croaky frogs!  We'll be strumming and humming and singing and making a musical splash!  Kids AND adults interested in learning to play the ukulele are encouraged to join our community ukestra!  It's a perfect family endeavor! 

-8 weeks of group instruction geared for all levels from beginners to advanced players

-Play and/or sing with the group.   -Fun tunes: folk / traditional     -Final showcase performance on March 10.

-Ukuleles are provided or bring your own

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FABRIC COLLAGE CLASS

July 28

Fabric Collage is an opportunity for both new and experienced sewists to create an artistic fabric collage. Barbara Lincoln will share her experience in seeing to show how to stitch raw scaps to batting and backing to create a work of textile art. Enjoy this fun experience with a friend at this special Come Create program.  PRE-REGISTRATION is requested in order for materials to be ready.  Contact Barbara directly for questions or to reserve a spot in the class: forkcsj@yahoo.co.uk or text 814-442-2768 

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LANTERN PARADE & ART IN THE PARK

August 5

Come on out and get creative at Confluence’s drop-by day-of-art-making!  Kids, teens, and old geezers are invited to stop by and paint, print, craft, and create at multiple craft stations suitable for all ages and abilities. We'll be celebrating Confluence's 150th Anniversary with extra-special, family-friendly arts and crafts with a nod to our town's history.   

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POSTCROSSING: INTERNATIONAL POSTCARD EXCHANGE

January 22 and March 19

Be part of the first-ever Confluence Postcrossing meetup!  Postcrossing is an international postcard exchange organization with over 800,000 participants in 207 countries. Over 70 million postcards have been exchanged.  Stop by to sign up and learn how you can send and receive postcards to folks all over the world!   We'll showcase the cards that are received and meet again on March 19. We'll discuss how Confluence might be a meetup location for international Postcrossers who want to visit our area.  More info about Postcrossing can be found here: 

https://www.postcrossing.com/about or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcrossing

 

CYANOTYPE WORKSHOP

August 11

Cyanotype printing is one of the oldest forms of photographic printing processes. It uses UV light  to create a cyan-blue image after treated paper is exposed to the sun.  Workshop participants can bring flowers, lace, and other flat items that will be placed under glass for the process resulting in a unique cyanotype work of art.  This is a partially-outdoor activity for all ages.  

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BE A CRANKIE PERSON: ADULT WORKSHOP

February 6, 13, 20

Interested in learning how to make a crankie?  Attend one or all of these workshop sessions where you'll learn the behind-the-scenes steps involved in designing and performing a scrolling panoramic crankie.  We'll share resources, explain design ideas, and provide advice that you can use to make your own crankie.  You can start your project at the workshop and complete it at home.  Participants may have an opportunity to perform their crankie at the Festival for Scrolling Panoramic Arts or an open stage show at the Arts Center. 

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CRANKIE KIDS: ART & PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP

January 19, 26 & February 2, 9, 16, 23 and 25

Kids and teens who live in or near the Confluence region are invited to participate in a collaborative crankie-making project.  Over the course of the sessions, participants will work together to help create the artwork for a really giant crankie!  Participants will also develop a performance that will include singing and shadow puppetry.  The sessions will culminate in presenting the crankie at this year's Festival of Scrolling Panoramic Arts on February 25.

Kids must attend at least four sessions and a rehearsal in order to be part of the final show.  Parents must attend a brief orientation meeting at the beginning of the first session.

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GELATIN PRINTING

December 18

Just in time for the holiday season!  Print handmade cards or artistic gifts by learning how to make gelatin prints.  Eddie "Spaghetti" Maier will teach this class and provide all the materials and instruction needed to successfully create beautiful works of art.  No experience needed!   Gelatin prints are created using a pan of Knox gelatin which is inked up with water-based ink. This spontaneous printing process creates unique prints using leaves and other elements of nature.

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HOOTENANNY: VARIETY / NO-TALENT SHOW

January 2021

Chuckle! giggle! guffaw! snort! Hee, hee, hee!

We're launching into the New Year with a variety show that guarantees to deliver belly laughs and knee-slapping fun.   Plan to be part of the show or part of the lively audience.  Expect to see short comedy skits of every stripe!  Family-friendly walk-on acts encouraged.  

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HOMESCHOOLERS HAVE HeART

Second and Fourth Wednesdays September - May

1 - 2:30 / $6 per student

Young artists are invited to gather for hands-on fun at a socially-distanced art class geared for students who are online, remote, or homeschooling.  We'll meet twice a month on Wednesdays starting at 1 pm. Jody Best will instruct kids aged 5 to 14 in a variety of arts and craft projects.  We'll make a glorious mess and have lots of fun with creative explorations!  Kids should bring their own smocks or aprons.  

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TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO SESSION

July 18 - 19, 2020

Photos $65 - $115

The Arts Center is pleased to invite you to a unique opportunity initiated by our good friends at the RIVERSIDE ANTIQUE MALL in Confluence.  Schedule a PHOTO SESSION with acclaimed tintype photographer Joseph W. Brown or stop by to see the process and shop for vintage treasures.

 

What's tintype? Tintype photography originated in the  mid-1800's and allowed photographers to quickly process images onto thin sheets of metal. The images of the Civil War were captured by famous tintype photographer Matthew Brady. The shallow depth of field and distinctive tones characterize each photograph and are still appreciated today. 

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PICKIN' and PICNICING

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Break out the picnic basket and join us at the bandstand in Confluence for a family-friendly September afternoon of listening, picking, and picnicking.  The Sumac Pickers will have your toes tapping to country and bluegrass favorites.  Musicians Hannah Standiford and John Bagnato will keep the music sweet and spirted...just the thing for this season!  Don't miss the fun. Musicians are invited to bring along their instruments for an impromptu jam session after the show.  Socially-distanced good times!

 

BEGINNING KNITTING: 

SOCIALLY-DISTANCED INSTRUCTION

August 30, 2020

2-4 pm

$30

It's a great time to learn to knit, a relaxing hobby you can start during a pandemic and enjoy for a lifetime! Learn all the basics needed to complete a simple project.  Learn how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off.  Participants will be provided with a knit kit containing everything needed to complete a simple project such as a scarf or washcloth.  Avalon Folmsbee is a patient and enthusiastic teacher, and this class will be a fun way to end the summer getting ready for winter with a warm, hand-knit woolen that you can be proud to have made!

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BLUEGRASS JAM @ THE BANDSTAND
July 11, 2020

4 pm

Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and stake out your socially-distanced space around the bandstand in Confluence to listen to live bluegrass, country, and gospel music performed by Jerry Yeager, Radford Vance,  Michele Vance, and others.  Enjoy a picnic in the park and some toe-tappin' tunes! 

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CRANKIE FEST and POTLUCK

Saturday, February 9

Potluck at 6:30 followed by crankie show at about 7 pm

by donation

Crankies are a traditional form of entertainment that combines traditional music, stories, or poetry with back-lit art which is scrolled through a viewing box.  We are pleased to host a gathering of crankie performance artists from around the region for a show that will take you on a journey bright and magical.  We welcome crankie artists from around the region and encourage and welcome those who would like to try to make a crankie and share their efforts.  Check out www.thecrankiefactory.com for information about this art form. 

 

Also...bring an art trading card or two or three to swap and collect. (More information about artist trading cards can be found online at www.atcsforall.com/.  Check out Pinterest for ideas!)    

 

THE CRANKIE FEST WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SONG SESSION ON SUNDAY, FEB 10 from 1 to 3 pm!   EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN THE GROUP FOR SINGING AND SOCIALIZING.

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CONFLUENCE LITERARY SOCIETY

First Monday of the month

1 pm at the TURKEYFOOT LENDING LIBRARY

please call Joyce Tressler for book details: (814)395-3817

 

Extra, extra...read all about it!  Join Confluence’s book club for a variety of literary activities.  Each meeting will include a monthly book discussion.  Other activities may include discussion of universal themes in literature, trading of surprise books, writing and reading poetry, book critiques and more.

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UKELELE WORKSHOPS

Wed., September 6 (school workshop and evening jam session)

Wed., October 4 (school workshop and evening jam session)

Wed., November 8 (school workshop and evening jam session)

Sat., December 2 (All-day workshops and evening showcase and concert)

The Arts Center has teamed up with the masterful musicians of Simple Gifts and the students of Turkeyfoot Area School District to spread some ukelele love!  Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon--will present a series of workshops for students (during the day) and for all ages and abilities (in the evening). Check ‘em out:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu_8YMWJZc0   Ukes are inexpensive, easy to play, and fun, fun, fun!  The workshop series will culminate with a potluck concert and performances on Saturday, December 2!  This program is made possible in part through the generous and fantastic  Earl and Jeanne Berkey Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies and the support of the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance/PA Council on the Arts.

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TODDLER TIME: COLORFUL CONNECTIONS!

Thursday, October 12

Thursday, October 26

Thursday, November 16

Thursday, November 30

10:30 – 11:30

$3 per child aged 2 – 4 (no charge for infants)

 

Join Ms. Jeanie Couchman for fun and games that will engage and amuse preschoolers. Kids love Ms. Jeanie, an experienced preschool teacher. Children aged two to four are invited to bring their Mommy, Daddy, or caregiver to Toddler Time for hands-on art projects, singing, stories and more.  Through creative projects and activities, little artists will develop fine motor skills, focus, and communication skills.  Adults will enjoy interacting with their children and other parents while kids explore all sorts of colorful connections!  Infant siblings are welcome at no charge.

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PRINTMAKING: LINO-CUT PRINTING

Friday, December 16

5 pm  - 9 pm

class fee $30 (includes materials)

 

Learn printmaking from one of the region’s finest teachers and artists.  Eddie “Spaghetti” Maier is back by popular demand to lead a workshop in linoleum printing. Plan on making your Christmas cards or other works of art to use as gifts or to proudly hang in your own home.  Student will learn how to create and print an image.  Limited class size...PREREGISTER TODAY to reserve your spot.

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CONCERT & POTLUCK FEATURING PEREGRINE ROAD

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER 10

SOUP, SALAD, AND SWEETS POTLUCK starts at 6 pm...SHOW starts at 7 pm
Suggested donation $10

 

The acclaimed Peregrine Road group consists of Karen Axelrod and Rachel Bell who perform energetic Celtic reels, heartbreakingly beautiful waltzes, mesmerizing French village dance tunes, lively originals, elegant English country dance tunes, tasty blues riffs, and more. Outrageous travel stories and interesting tidbits about multicultural traditions add both an educational and entertaining dimension to each concert.  The evening will begin with a soup, salad, and sweets potluck at 6 pm where the community is invited to socialize and visit with the performers prior to the 7 pm show.  There is also a free family magic show scheduled for 2 pm on Sunday, September 10, so spend the day and evening at the Arts Center for non-stop entertainment!

 

MAKE-A-SCENE PLAYERS (Kids Acting Up)

present....

CHARLOTTE’S WEB!

Rehearsals Monday evenings beginning SEPTEMBER 11

Bulldozer week (intense rehearsals/tech/set) NOV. 6 -10

PLAY PERFORMANCE: Sat., Nov. 11, Sun., Nov. 12, Mon., Nov.13

5:30  - 8:30 pm

$40 participation fee includes script cost

 

Salutations! The Make-A-Scene Players, our community’s youth theater group, is bringing one terrific pig to Confluence.  Students may attend the information session with their parents on September 11 to be cast for a role in this fall’s show.  Kids aged 5 to 18 are invited to participate.  Everyone gets an important part!   The Make-A-Scene Players is a supportive and welcoming organization which provides opportunities for kids to develop their acting skills, become more confident, learn cooperation, and be part of something big and fun!  Participants must be available for ALL rehearsals and performances.

 

YOUNG MASTERS ARTISTS SERIES

Third Thursday of the month

September 14, October 19, November 16, December 21

5:30 – 7:30 pm

$6 per student

preregistration required

 

Youthful artists will explore the world of master artists with activities, amazing historical information, and--best of all-- HANDS-ON ART INSTRUCTION.  The class is geared for students 5 to 15, and the individual art projects are suitable for a range of ages and abilities.  Everyone learns and everyone has a creative and engaging experience.​

 

FREE MAGIC SHOW!

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER 10

2 pm
FREE, FREE, FREE!

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Abracadabra!  Family fun for FREE!  The Laurel Highlands Magic Club will be doing a promotional video of their magician members.  They are opening up their show to the community and offering kids to be part of the amazing show.  The afternoon will be filled with comedy, magic, and mentalism.  Come with family and friends and enjoy an afternoon of amazement!

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TRAIL TOWN QUILT SHOW & MOST AWESOME BAKE SALE

WITH FIBER ARTIST SHOWCASE

Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22

10 am  - 4 pm (Saturday hours) 

1 pm  - 4 pm (Sunday hours)

by donation

 

Fall colors means it’s time for colorful quilts!  Confluence has an active group of quilters and textile artists, and our Trail Town Quilt Show means everything good will be found at the Arts Center on Saturday, October 10:  chocolate, colors, cookies, quilts, music and you!   Our big fundraising bake sale will feature a room full of treats from the area’s best cooks.  Stock up on pies, breads, cakes, and your favorite goodies, then feast your eyes on a display of quilts made by area textile artists.  Vote for your favorite quilt, enjoy some quiet background music, and appreciate the good things in life.  Quilts must be entered by October 1.  For information about entering a quilt in any category, please contact Amy Childers at achilders54@gmail.com

 

STAINED GLASS

Friday, November 3

6 pm  - 9 (or so) pm

class fee

Just in time for the holiday season, Diane Bauerle will teach the fundamentals of working  with stained class.  Beginning students will learn how to cut and solder glass and have an opportunity to make an ornament or sun-catcher—a perfect gift.  More experienced students can use the materials and tools to create a small project of their choice.  Class size is limited.  Please preregister early.

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NEEDLE TATTING

Tuesday, August 22

6:30 - 8 pm

fee TBD (less than $10)

Learn a craft from the past!  Nancy Enscoe works in a variety of mediums and has offered to teach students how to do needle tatting.  Needle tatting is done by using thread to make rings and chains which form lovely ornaments and decorations.    Tatting was once used for lace-making, and there are lots of ideas (see Pinterest!) for using tatting today!  Please contact the arts center to preregister.  confluencecreativeartscenter@verizon.net

 

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