Art in Richland

Don't miss the beautiful visual arts that are on display right now in Richland. At the Blue Water Gallery, 8860 N. 32nd Street in the Clocktower Green complex, the current exhibit is "Heartland," beautiful and functional porcelain pieces by Young Ae Park and paintings by Alec Hall. Two magnificent 8-foot-tall horse sculptures by Holly Fisher are also on display. Blue Water Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "Heartland" is on exhibit through September 12.

Richlandfest!

A near miss . . . but do not miss Richlandfest, which is going on even as I type, in Richland Village Park--you know, in front of the library. Tonight, Saturday, August 29, the Douglas James Band plays until 11 p.m., and there's great food and drink to be had from the Richland Meat Center and Mission Point Restaurant. Admission is $5 for the evening. The expected rain seems to have held off today, so head on over and enjoy the mild weather!

Music at Richland Farmers' Market

Don't miss an especially great day of music at the Richland Farmers' Market! On Wednesday, August 19, Emily Nott will sing and play with Sarah Denick, Celeste Mora, Ray Marolt and other Gull Lake High School students and alumni. They'll be performing songs from their just-recorded CD--which, with any luck, will be available for purchase.

The Market is open every Wednesday through October, from 3:30 to 6:30, at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. In addition to the music, you'll find fresh local produce--including peaches, beans, greens, berries, tomatoes, squash, jam, honey, eggs, maple syrup, granola, and fabulous baked goods. Come shop while you listen!

A Sunday Afternoon of Barbershop Harmony, Ice Cream, and Art

It's August, so it must be time for . . . Americana in August!

What could be more delightful than a summer Sunday afternoon of barbershop harmony and an old-fashioned ice cream social? Come on out and join the fun this Sunday, August 16, from 2 to 5 at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. The Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus and its offshoot quartets will provide the sweet sounds of barbershop. Performing Arts Foundation volunteers will be scooping the ice cream--cold, delicious, local Plainwell Ice Cream. And the Center will be exhibiting its new collection of prints of classic American works of art. The Picturing America collection is the result of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the images will be used by Gull Lake teachers at all levels and in all curriculum areas to enrich their classroom teaching. Sunday is the first opportunity for teachers and the community to view the entire collection.

So, come one, come all, and bring the whole family for a festive, all-American afternoon! Suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family, all of which benefits the Performing Arts Foundation.

Your presence requested at PAF meeting Tuesday

You are urged even more enthusiastically than usual to join us at the monthly GLCS Performing Arts Foundation meeting this Tuesday, August 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richland Area Community Center, 9400 East CD Avenue. Why? Well, it's our last meeting before our big--and fun!--fundraiser, Americana in August, next Sunday, August 16. We'll be discussing the logistics--which will mostly involve taking donations and scooping the cold stuff for the old-fashioned ice cream social--and trying on our (fake) straw boaters. You're invited to pitch in! If you'd like to volunteer for Sunday but can't make it to Tuesday's meeting, please contact Jan Watson (mjwats4@aol.com).

Then we'll see EVERYONE for a great afternoon of barbershop harmony by the Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus, ice cream, and great American artworks on Sunday, August 16, from 2 to 5 p.m. at RACC. Your suggested donation of $5 ($10 for the whole family) will get you a free ice cream cone and all the fun you can stand. Even better, the whole event goes to support arts education for kids in our school district. Come on out!