Taste of the Arts - Friday, May 11, 2018 - Downtown Piqua, Ohio
The Official Kickoff to Summertime in Miami County!
Taste of the Arts is a one-day family-friendly arts event that features local restaurants and caterers serving taster size portions of their popular menu items, live entertainment and children’s activities in the Main Street Kids Zone.
Our 2018 event will be held on Friday, May 11 from 5 – 9 p.m. in downtown Piqua.
Taste of the Arts is a one-day family-friendly arts event that features local restaurants and caterers serving taster size portions of their popular menu items, live entertainment and children’s activities in the Main Street Kids Zone.
Our 2018 event will be held on Friday, May 11 from 5 – 9 p.m. in downtown Piqua.
Woodcarver Appears at 2018 event
Dayle Lewis, chainsaw sculptor, will be one of the featured artists at the 24th annual Taste of the Arts event on Friday, May 11, from 5-9 pm. Lewis, a 21 year sculptor, will be demonstrating his craft in front of the Schmidlapp Building on Main Street.
Lewis, a self-taught artist, began woodcarving in 1992 and transferred to chainsaw carving in 1996. “My hand-carving experience was an advantage in becoming skilled with the chainsaw,” he said. “My favorite type of wood to use is Catalpa, but I have carved in about every kind of wood there is,” he continued.
He teaches classes at Hayes Arboretum in Richmond, Indiana, and has taught over 1600 people from the ages of 8-88 in various cities and states. Currently Lewis does 90% chainsaw and 10% hand carving. “I do approximately 325 carvings a year,” he added. Lewis is well known for his woodspirits and authored a how-to book carving a woodspirit with step-by-step instructions and lots of photos.
“My ultimate challenge was creating a 20-foot mountain man from a standing oak tree. There is now an 8 foot dog beside him and a raccoon and squirrels! I have also been able to travel to hurricane-ravaged areas where I have converted damaged logs into sculptures that were sold for the relief fund to help the people in those regions—those were very special projects for me to do,” he said.
Lewis has garnered several awards in his trade over the years. He earned a second place finish in all of Michigan in both 2011 and 2012.
“Carving is very relaxing for me. It is really enjoyable to create something for someone from an idea or a picture. It’s a real joy to show them the final product and see their faces light up!”
“Another special treat this year will be ‘Sidewalk Chalking’ with Sheryl Lazenby,” said Lorna Swisher, Taste of the Arts Chairperson. “Sheryl will be doing sidewalk chalking in front of Ken-Mar all day. Her work will be completed by 6 pm that night so attendees will want to be sure to check out her talents that evening while at the Taste of the Arts event,” added Swisher.
Taste of the Arts is sponsored by Mainstreet Piqua. For more information, contact Lorna Swisher, Mainstreet Piqua Executive Director, at (937) 773-9355 or visit piquatasteofthearts.com.
Lewis, a self-taught artist, began woodcarving in 1992 and transferred to chainsaw carving in 1996. “My hand-carving experience was an advantage in becoming skilled with the chainsaw,” he said. “My favorite type of wood to use is Catalpa, but I have carved in about every kind of wood there is,” he continued.
He teaches classes at Hayes Arboretum in Richmond, Indiana, and has taught over 1600 people from the ages of 8-88 in various cities and states. Currently Lewis does 90% chainsaw and 10% hand carving. “I do approximately 325 carvings a year,” he added. Lewis is well known for his woodspirits and authored a how-to book carving a woodspirit with step-by-step instructions and lots of photos.
“My ultimate challenge was creating a 20-foot mountain man from a standing oak tree. There is now an 8 foot dog beside him and a raccoon and squirrels! I have also been able to travel to hurricane-ravaged areas where I have converted damaged logs into sculptures that were sold for the relief fund to help the people in those regions—those were very special projects for me to do,” he said.
Lewis has garnered several awards in his trade over the years. He earned a second place finish in all of Michigan in both 2011 and 2012.
“Carving is very relaxing for me. It is really enjoyable to create something for someone from an idea or a picture. It’s a real joy to show them the final product and see their faces light up!”
“Another special treat this year will be ‘Sidewalk Chalking’ with Sheryl Lazenby,” said Lorna Swisher, Taste of the Arts Chairperson. “Sheryl will be doing sidewalk chalking in front of Ken-Mar all day. Her work will be completed by 6 pm that night so attendees will want to be sure to check out her talents that evening while at the Taste of the Arts event,” added Swisher.
Taste of the Arts is sponsored by Mainstreet Piqua. For more information, contact Lorna Swisher, Mainstreet Piqua Executive Director, at (937) 773-9355 or visit piquatasteofthearts.com.
Intersection of Fun & Friends returns to Taste of the Arts
Celebrations! Competitions! Frivolity and Fun! These are the experiences families will enjoy at the 24th annual Taste of the Arts on Friday evening , May 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Piqua. The "Intersection of Fun and Friends" hosted by committee volunteers Melinda Sillman and Duane Bachman takes place at North Main and Greene Streets, featuring crazy and fun family activities. Contests will be held with hula hoops and music trivia - with prizes to the winners! And all ages will enjoy dancing to music like the Twist, "YMCA", the chicken dance and bunny hop and line dancing. Scattered around the intersection will be benches and chairs for people to rest while enjoying the festivities.
The always-popular Kids Zone reaches into the 400 block of Main Street, again offering free "make and take" craft projects, featuring such activities as spin art by Piqua Public Library, straw rockets by the Learning Place, beading fun by Young Life and a variety of items by the Girl Scouts and the YMCA. A very special section of the Kids Zone will be the Imagination Station coordinated by Piqua Catholic Music Instructor Rachel Birman. Students will perform and kids can try their hand at playing musical and rhythm instruments. And the popular face painter, Alter Ego, will again be offering creative designs (for a fee).
If you enjoy friendly, competitive games, you can have tons of fun with the giant wood games created specifically for Taste of the Arts last year by wood crafter Wayne Vondenhuvel. Giant Jenga, Dominoes and Yard Yahtzee will test your skills. These will be available for all ages just south of the Kids Zone near the performance area of the Kuroi Taka Taiko drumming group from Mississinawa Valley Schools who will be featured in two performances during the evening.
In addition, Taste of the Arts will offer great food - taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, will feature headline entertainment by the Columbus-based Red Hot Rhythm Review, will have demonstrating artists in many of the Main Street storefronts, will feature an Awesome Piqua Photo Booth free to patrons, a green screen set-up by the Indian Nation Station (channel 5), and more. All this takes place in downtown Piqua on Friday, May 11 from 5 to 9 p.m., sponsored by Mainstreet Piqua. For more information call Mainstreet Piqua at 937-773-9335 or visit piquatasteofthearts.com.
The always-popular Kids Zone reaches into the 400 block of Main Street, again offering free "make and take" craft projects, featuring such activities as spin art by Piqua Public Library, straw rockets by the Learning Place, beading fun by Young Life and a variety of items by the Girl Scouts and the YMCA. A very special section of the Kids Zone will be the Imagination Station coordinated by Piqua Catholic Music Instructor Rachel Birman. Students will perform and kids can try their hand at playing musical and rhythm instruments. And the popular face painter, Alter Ego, will again be offering creative designs (for a fee).
If you enjoy friendly, competitive games, you can have tons of fun with the giant wood games created specifically for Taste of the Arts last year by wood crafter Wayne Vondenhuvel. Giant Jenga, Dominoes and Yard Yahtzee will test your skills. These will be available for all ages just south of the Kids Zone near the performance area of the Kuroi Taka Taiko drumming group from Mississinawa Valley Schools who will be featured in two performances during the evening.
In addition, Taste of the Arts will offer great food - taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, will feature headline entertainment by the Columbus-based Red Hot Rhythm Review, will have demonstrating artists in many of the Main Street storefronts, will feature an Awesome Piqua Photo Booth free to patrons, a green screen set-up by the Indian Nation Station (channel 5), and more. All this takes place in downtown Piqua on Friday, May 11 from 5 to 9 p.m., sponsored by Mainstreet Piqua. For more information call Mainstreet Piqua at 937-773-9335 or visit piquatasteofthearts.com.
Chris Rowlands - The environmental entertainer - returns to Taste of the Arts
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In connection with Mainstreet Piqua’s Taste of the Arts scheduled for Friday, May 11th, the Friends of the Piqua Library are happy to announce that Chris Rowlands “the natural entertainer” will present a program called “Under the Sea”, plus the delightful story and his original song for Fiona the baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo. Chris thrilled the children last year with his songs, puppets and stories about the animals in nature. This will be an interactive program for the children with lots of fun and music. Come and join in the fun. No tickets necessary and free admission. The program is at 5:30pm and will be held in the lobby of the Piqua Public Library.
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Red Hot Rhythm Review to perform at Taste of the Arts 2018
When crowds gather on Main Street of Piqua for the 24th Annual Taste of the Arts on Friday, May 11, 2018, music will fill the air. Returning to Piqua as the headline entertainment for the popular event will be the high-energy, Columbus-based dance band, Red Hot Rhythm Review. This fantastically-talented group of performers exudes energy and excitement to audiences far and wide and will have folks dancing in the streets. Performing between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. , the musicians will share music from R&B to funk and classic tunes, collaborating to create a full rhythm section, killer horns and powerful vocals.
The group's lineup includes Nicki Jo Baker and Tammy Walkup (vocals), Chaz Mechenbier (keysboard/vocals) , Mike Shoaf ( bass/vocals), Jarrod Maille (drums), Steve Willis (saxophone), Tim Perdue ( trumpet) and Todd Bridges (trombone.)
Other music of the night will be performed by four strolling barbershop singers who form the very popular Back to School Quartet. A group with local ties to the Piqua community, these musicians have been singing barbershop music for many, many years and love to share their talents with all. The four singers are Ron Ventura singing bass, Dale McKinney singing baritone, Jim Riley is the lead, the Matt Blatchley is tenor. The quartet will be strolling Main Street and also singing inside many business during the evening.
In addition to music, Taste of the Arts highlights demonstrations by area artists, offers taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, and presents many children's and family-focused activities during the 5-9 p.m. extravaganza. For more information about Taste of the Arts, call Mainstreet Piqua at (937)773-9335.
The group's lineup includes Nicki Jo Baker and Tammy Walkup (vocals), Chaz Mechenbier (keysboard/vocals) , Mike Shoaf ( bass/vocals), Jarrod Maille (drums), Steve Willis (saxophone), Tim Perdue ( trumpet) and Todd Bridges (trombone.)
Other music of the night will be performed by four strolling barbershop singers who form the very popular Back to School Quartet. A group with local ties to the Piqua community, these musicians have been singing barbershop music for many, many years and love to share their talents with all. The four singers are Ron Ventura singing bass, Dale McKinney singing baritone, Jim Riley is the lead, the Matt Blatchley is tenor. The quartet will be strolling Main Street and also singing inside many business during the evening.
In addition to music, Taste of the Arts highlights demonstrations by area artists, offers taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, and presents many children's and family-focused activities during the 5-9 p.m. extravaganza. For more information about Taste of the Arts, call Mainstreet Piqua at (937)773-9335.
Kuroi Taka Taiko Drummers to Perform at Taste of the Arts
The 24th annual Taste of the Arts event scheduled for Friday, May 11, 2018, promises to provide some energetic, exciting entertainment in the Kids Zone venue when the Kuroi Taka Taiko drummers of Mississinawa Valley School of Union City perform in the 400 block of N. Main Street. A Japanese drumming cadre, the twenty-four junior high and high school students from Mississinawa Valley, who will be performing in Piqua, will combine choreography and drumming along with cultural costuming (masks, kimonos, and props) to delight audiences of all ages at this year’s Taste of the Arts.
The handmade drums used are of three sizes: the very large Okedo daido drums, the medium-sized nagada drums and the smaller shime daiko drums. Gongs, shakers, cymbals and other small trap instruments are also used in their performances. There will also be opportunities for audience participation. Two performances will be given during the Taste of the Arts event: tentatively, 6:15 and 8:00 P.M.
The Kuroi Taka Taiko drumming group has achieved great success throughout Ohio and Indiana, performing at the Ohio State House, Langfest at OSU, the 2nd Summit of Educators, the Ohio School Board Association Convention, International Baccalaureate schools in Indianapolis and many local and school events.
This unique drumming program was introduced at Mississinawa Valley in 2007 and currently has 63 students in four performance groups, ranging from 5th grade through high school. It is one of only two such groups in the state of Ohio. “The students have their own class each day when they practice and compose music,” said Audrey Hathaway, director.
The Kids Zone will also provide an abundance of activities for children to enjoy thanks to the coordinating supervision of the Girl Scouts, Piqua Public Library, Young Life, Miami County YMCA and Piqua Catholic. The Taste of the Arts is truly an amazing, family-oriented, tasteful event that you will not want to miss. Mark your calendar: Friday, May 11, 5:00 – 9:00 P.M. for the 24th annual Taste of the Arts event sponsored by Mainstreet Piqua. For more information, contact Lorna Swisher, Mainstreet Piqua Executive Director, at (937) 773-9355 or visit piquatasteofthearts.com.
The handmade drums used are of three sizes: the very large Okedo daido drums, the medium-sized nagada drums and the smaller shime daiko drums. Gongs, shakers, cymbals and other small trap instruments are also used in their performances. There will also be opportunities for audience participation. Two performances will be given during the Taste of the Arts event: tentatively, 6:15 and 8:00 P.M.
The Kuroi Taka Taiko drumming group has achieved great success throughout Ohio and Indiana, performing at the Ohio State House, Langfest at OSU, the 2nd Summit of Educators, the Ohio School Board Association Convention, International Baccalaureate schools in Indianapolis and many local and school events.
This unique drumming program was introduced at Mississinawa Valley in 2007 and currently has 63 students in four performance groups, ranging from 5th grade through high school. It is one of only two such groups in the state of Ohio. “The students have their own class each day when they practice and compose music,” said Audrey Hathaway, director.
The Kids Zone will also provide an abundance of activities for children to enjoy thanks to the coordinating supervision of the Girl Scouts, Piqua Public Library, Young Life, Miami County YMCA and Piqua Catholic. The Taste of the Arts is truly an amazing, family-oriented, tasteful event that you will not want to miss. Mark your calendar: Friday, May 11, 5:00 – 9:00 P.M. for the 24th annual Taste of the Arts event sponsored by Mainstreet Piqua. For more information, contact Lorna Swisher, Mainstreet Piqua Executive Director, at (937) 773-9355 or visit piquatasteofthearts.com.
Talented Artists to Demonstrate at Taste of the Arts
The 24th Annual Taste of the Arts Event on Friday evening, May 11, 2018 in downtown Piqua will be featuring a number of professional artists who will be demonstrating their skills in Main Street storefronts and on the sidewalks - eager to share tips and advice to the festival crowds.
Watercolorist Rusty Harden of Tipp City, a self-taught artist who has painted professionally for fifteen years, paints in many mediums, but will be painting with watercolors starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Piqua event. An energetic and talented lady, she is the owner of the Rusty Harden Art Studio and Boutique located at 110 E. Main Street in downtown Tipp City. This exciting new business venture, in addition to housing her personal studio, also features a shop offering unique vintage and artisan items, space for community-wide programs and a large fine arts studio where she teaches classes in many mediums to young and old alike. Ms. Harden reflected, "It is a privilege to be invited to Piqua to once again demonstrate for Taste of the Arts. I am honored to be asked."
If pottery creations pique your interest, Mark and Amy McGraw, owners of a teaching studio in downtown Troy, Artistic Earth Pottery located at 12 E. Canal Street just off S. Market Street, will be throwing clay on a potter's wheel throughout the evening at Taste of the Arts. This couple, formerly of Englewood and now residents of Troy, stepped down from high-powered, stressful jobs in the corporate world to pursue their interests in pottery, a pursuit that Mark describes as a "total stress-relieving activity." At their pottery studio in Troy, they offer a variety of classes for children, teens and adults at every skill level, can offer pottery parties for groups and look forward to demonstrating and teaching when they come to Piqua. Look for them outdoors in the alcove of the Apple Tree Gallery store.
Other artists demonstrating during the festival include wood carvers Don Worley and Jim Foster of the Dayton Woodcarver's Society, quilters from St. Boniface Church, sketching and drawing demos by Megan Hager and Dan Knepper and more. The Arts Council's photography exhibition will be featured at the Schmidlapp Library and the Piqua Public Library will be hosting the Ohio Watercolor Exhibition during the Taste of the Arts event.
In addition to these artist venues, the Taste of the Arts will feature live music by exciting entertainers, will offer great food - taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, and will have a host of children's and family-focused activities during the 5-9 p.m. extravaganza. For more information about Taste of the Arts, call Mainstreet Piqua at (937) 773-9335.
Watercolorist Rusty Harden of Tipp City, a self-taught artist who has painted professionally for fifteen years, paints in many mediums, but will be painting with watercolors starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Piqua event. An energetic and talented lady, she is the owner of the Rusty Harden Art Studio and Boutique located at 110 E. Main Street in downtown Tipp City. This exciting new business venture, in addition to housing her personal studio, also features a shop offering unique vintage and artisan items, space for community-wide programs and a large fine arts studio where she teaches classes in many mediums to young and old alike. Ms. Harden reflected, "It is a privilege to be invited to Piqua to once again demonstrate for Taste of the Arts. I am honored to be asked."
If pottery creations pique your interest, Mark and Amy McGraw, owners of a teaching studio in downtown Troy, Artistic Earth Pottery located at 12 E. Canal Street just off S. Market Street, will be throwing clay on a potter's wheel throughout the evening at Taste of the Arts. This couple, formerly of Englewood and now residents of Troy, stepped down from high-powered, stressful jobs in the corporate world to pursue their interests in pottery, a pursuit that Mark describes as a "total stress-relieving activity." At their pottery studio in Troy, they offer a variety of classes for children, teens and adults at every skill level, can offer pottery parties for groups and look forward to demonstrating and teaching when they come to Piqua. Look for them outdoors in the alcove of the Apple Tree Gallery store.
Other artists demonstrating during the festival include wood carvers Don Worley and Jim Foster of the Dayton Woodcarver's Society, quilters from St. Boniface Church, sketching and drawing demos by Megan Hager and Dan Knepper and more. The Arts Council's photography exhibition will be featured at the Schmidlapp Library and the Piqua Public Library will be hosting the Ohio Watercolor Exhibition during the Taste of the Arts event.
In addition to these artist venues, the Taste of the Arts will feature live music by exciting entertainers, will offer great food - taster-size portions of popular menu items from local and area restaurants, and will have a host of children's and family-focused activities during the 5-9 p.m. extravaganza. For more information about Taste of the Arts, call Mainstreet Piqua at (937) 773-9335.
Plans are well underway for downtown Piqua’s annual spring food and arts celebration - Taste of the Arts. The date for this year’s event has been set for Friday, May 11 with the event running from 5 – 9 p.m. in downtown Piqua. Taste of the Arts 2018 will be the 24th Annual celebration of the event in downtown Piqua and the dedicated volunteers of Mainstreet Piqua are working hard to make this year’s event even more memorable than previous years!
Mark your calendar-Friday, May 11, 5 to 9 P.M. in downtown Piqua.
Mark your calendar-Friday, May 11, 5 to 9 P.M. in downtown Piqua.
