First Friday Artist Claire Parsley

First Friday Artist Claire Parsley

by | Mar 29, 2024 | artwork, First Friday

On Friday, April 5th from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to start our First Fridays at the Depot back up again with a Gallery Opening featuring the multi-talented artist Claire Parsley (she/they)! Join us to welcome them and view their mixed-media gallery of cat portraits, entitled Ineffable Cats Through Time, and to enjoy refreshments and community. RSVP for this event on Facebook here and get to know them more in their biography below!

*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility needs. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.

 

Bio:

Hello all!

My name is Claire and I am a local artist who has scribbled on every surface and slapped stickers everywhere since I was a wee one. I love the act of creation, especially the 3D kind. I believe in building over buying any day, there is nothing more satisfying than owning something that your own magical mind thought up and your very hands brought to life. The effort and hours adds to the beauty. For this gallery I have poured hours upon hours into making cat portraits of the mixing media variety. I find them immensely silly and I hope they knock your socks off. Take your time to find the buttons, beads and cloths layered in with the acrylic paint! Thanks for coming out to my show!

If you like what you see, feel free to follow my account to stay tuned in! My official art instagram is @cparse.art. If you aren’t engaged with social media, my contact info is on my business card so definitely snag one if you want to inquire about commissions or otherwise!

 

“Ineffable Cats Through Time” Sneak Peek

Multi-media cat on checkerboard portrait by Claire Parsley. Multi-media formal cat portrait by Claire Parsley. Multi-media cat mermaid portrait by Claire Parsley.

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This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!

Red Wing Academy at First Friday

Red Wing Academy at First Friday

by | Nov 24, 2023 | community, First Friday, Fun

Red Wing Academy is back this year to play music for our special Holiday and First Friday event on Friday, December 1st from 5:00 – 7:00pm. We absolutely love supporting and partnering with Red Wing Academy each year, and it is such a pleasure to get to host a small group of these talented students each year for our holiday celebrations.

Red Wing Academy is hosted by Eric Brubaker of The Steel Wheels as a four-day intensive camp, leading up to a performance on-stage with the band at Red Wing Roots Music Festival. It’s open to non-beginner violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin and banjo students ages 5 – 19. Students receive individual and group instruction from highly trained music teachers and are coached by members of The Steel Wheels throughout the week. It’s an incredible opportunity to play with and learn from music experts.

 

 

Gaines Group Architects sponsors the camp each year as a way to support the next generation of musicians in our community. A focus on musical instruction not only teaches kids how to play, but studies have shown that it accelerates brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of the brain that are responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception, and reading skills.

A special Thank You to Meg with Tiller Strings for making the partnership possible!

Red Wing Academy string players.

Below, read more about Red Wing Academy and see clips of their performances at EMU and on-stage at the Red Wing Roots Music Festival.

“We see the old lines between instruction and play dissolving, bringing the spirit of traditional American music into the classroom, and fusing the culture of festivals with expert training in string instruments and live performance.
 
Red Wing Academy’s mission is to nurture both the wings and the roots of the newest generation of old time musicians. We provide emerging, student musicians with the skills, talents, and community to go beyond classical training into the culture of improvisational performance and group play, the hallmark of a genre that has always celebrated spontaneity and place as part of its sound and tradition.”

 

This event is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served, there will be artists and craft vendors, and there will be opportunities to take photos with Santa himself! We look forward to seeing you there, and you can RSVP at our event page here.

First Friday Artist: Wood and Wool

First Friday Artist: Wood and Wool

by | Nov 23, 2023 | artwork, community, First Friday

On Friday, December 1st from 5:00 – 7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a special Holiday Celebration/First Friday event at the Depot and host Lynn and Phil Adams of Wood and Wool. Lynn specializes in needle felting and Phil in wood turning. Their holiday-themed creations will be available for sale and make perfect holiday gifts!

Join us to welcome Wood and Wool, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate the holidays with the community. Also don’t miss our other featured artists and vendors, Randy Harman, Russ Eanes, and David Sutton with music by Red Wing Academy. Check out work by Wood and Wool below and RSVP for the event here.

This event is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served and there will be opportunities to take photos with Santa himself. We look forward to seeing you there, and you can RSVP at our event page here.

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). This month, artwork by our featured artist, Randy Harman, will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!

First Friday Artist: David Sutton

First Friday Artist: David Sutton

by | Nov 22, 2023 | artwork, community, First Friday

Don’t worry if you’ve missed him at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market because we’re excited to announce another artist at our special Holiday Celebration/First Friday event, David Sutton! Join us on Friday, December 1st from 5:00 – 7:00pm to welcome David and view his beautiful hand-turned woodwork which will be for sale – perfect gifts for the Christmas holiday. Also, don’t miss our other featured artists and vendors, Randy Harman, Wood and Wool, and Russ Eanes with music by Red Wing Academy. Read more about David and “Port Farm Wood Turnings” below. RSVP for the event here.

Artist David Sutton

Bio:

I grew up in Penn Laird, VA and went to Montevideo High School and became interested in wood turning as a part of shop class. After college I had a career with the University of Florida with their aquatic plant program. After I retired to Port Republic, Virginia I pursued my interest in plants. I joined the Harrisonburg Farmers Market in 2007 to offer plants and produce. I remembered how much I enjoyed turning wood during shop class so I bought a lathe and began to make rolling pins and added them to my offerings at the Market. Many of the wood products I now offer come from suggestions of customers.

 

About Port Farm Wood Turnings:

Most wood is from local trees. I try to showcase the natural beauty and grain characteristic of the wood while trying to items items that have a functional use. All wood products are food safe and water resistant. 

This event is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served and there will be opportunities to take photos with Santa himself. We look forward to seeing you there, and you can RSVP at our event page here.

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). This month, artwork by our featured artist, Randy Harman, will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!

First Friday Artist: Russ Eanes

First Friday Artist: Russ Eanes

by | Nov 21, 2023 | artwork, community, First Friday

On Friday, December 1st from 5:00 – 7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a special Holiday Celebration/First Friday event at the Depot and host author Russ Eanes. Russ will be signing and selling copies of his latest book, Pilgrim Paths to Assisi: 300 Miles on the Way of St. Francis. Join us to welcome him, enjoy refreshments, and celebrate the holidays with the community. Also don’t miss our other featured artists and vendors, Randy Harman, Wood and Wool, and David Sutton with music by Red Wing Academy. Read more about Russ and his books below. RSVP for the event here.

Artist Russ Eanes

Bio:

Russ Eanes is a writer, walker, and cyclist from Harrisonburg. Formerly the Publisher and Executive Director for MennoMedia, he has written and published two books about his pilgrimage experiences in recent years.

His latest book, published this year, is Pilgrim Paths to Assisi: 300 Miles on the Way of St. Francis. He is also author of the bestselling The Walk of a Lifetime: 500 Miles on the Camino de Santiago. In addition to writing, he works as a publishing consultant and tour host and guide, specializing in active travel for older adults.

He and his wife Jane have six children and eight grandchildren.

This event is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served and there will be opportunities to take photos with Santa himself. We look forward to seeing you there, and you can RSVP at our event page here.

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). This month, artwork by our featured artist, Randy Harman, will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!

First Friday Artist: Randy Harman

First Friday Artist: Randy Harman

by | Nov 20, 2023 | artwork, community, First Friday

On Friday, December 1st from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a First Fridays Gallery Opening and special Holiday Party at The Depot which will feature the talented artist Randy Harman! Join us to view Randy’s exhibition, a bold pop of color of poured painting, and to enjoy refreshments and community. Get to know more about Randy and his art below, and RSVP on Facebook here.

Also, don’t miss our other featured artists and vendors with their work for sale, Russ Eanes, Wood and Wool, and David Sutton with music by Red Wing Academy.

Artist Randy Harman

Bio:

Randy Harman is a native of Harrisonburg and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Randy has worked in the real estate industry since 1996—first as a Realtor, then three years later obtaining his Principal Brokers license and founding Harman Realty, Inc.

Mirroring his own colorful personality, he birthed a lively and family-focused corporate culture while maintaining a strict dedication to the personal and career development of each of his employees. It was this combination of ingredients, coupled with a technology-forward approach, that would prove to be Harman Realty’s special recipe—fueling its sustained growth for decades to come.

Outside of the office, Mr. Harman has many hobbies; but the greatest of these has been his love of art. He has an eye for color usage, as evidenced by his most recent passion for, and the subject of this display, the abstract method of painting called poured or fluid painting using the highest quality of acrylic paint. Randy has been an artist in many areas of his life including palette knife painting with heavy body paints, silk painting using alcohol paints and inks, as well as the art of Shibori which is an ancient method of silk dying and forming colorful permanent pleats in the fabric. Randy also enjoys working in several aspects of art within the use of various textiles, ie fabrics, strings, cords, etc. Randy continues to evolve and expand his artistic ventures but has found much joy and satisfaction in his most recent conquest, the poured or fluid method of painting.

Randy lives in Harrisonburg with his husband Kyle, travels often to visit his daughter attending college in Miami, all while running his business and exceling and expanding in his art! Randy can be reached at his email which is Randy@HarmanRealty.com or his mobile phone which is 540-246-4300. Randy also has an Etsy store where he displays many of his latest paintings, so feel free to find him there. The address for his Etsy shop is www.etsy.com/shop/RandyHarmanArt .

Randy Harman Signature. CEO Harman Realty, Inc.

This event is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there! See the event page and RSVP here.

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!