Focus on Local: Meet CSA Artist Christopher Kulfan

CHRISTOPHER KULFAN

Christopher Kulfan is a self-taught photographer who studied philosophy as an undergraduate. Born in New York City but raised in central Pennsylvania, he searches for and creates subjects that blend the natural and unnatural, the uncultivated and manufactured. Two of his projects, “Typing on Jetsam” (seen here) and “The Watchmaker Analogy” series are examples of this juxtaposition.
Since continuing his photographic instruction through the New York Institute of Photography, he continues to seek out new methods and techniques, such as building a hand-made lens crafted out of common household materials that produces the results of a tilt-shift lens. These projects provide a vehicle for him to create a tangible and more accurate representation of his artistic vision.
This photograph, entitled "At the Water's Edge" from his "Typing on Jetsam" series shows those two colliding worlds - the natural and unnatural.  Though this typewriter might not be something one would expect to find in the surf at a beach, the idea behind the series challenges that.  Jetsam is a part of a ship, or something on it, which has been tossed overboard in order to lighten the load.  The idea is then that this typewriter was one of the things, perhaps the first, to go when an old boat and her crew felt the weight of the load they were carrying.  When one considers that possibility, the idea of the natural and unnatural becoming one seems much more feasible.

Visit the photography website for Christopher Kulfan 

Focus on Local: Meet CSA Artist Catherine Ryan

CATHERINE RYAN

Catherine Ryan was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 1984. She received her Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Shippensburg University in 2007.

As a Healthcare Analytics Programmer at Dasher, Inc, Catherine uses her Healthcare and IT knowledge along with SAS programming skills to complete complex analytical projects.

Prior to joining Dasher, Inc., Catherine worked as a GIS Analyst at GeoDecisions, a division of Gannet Fleming, for four years. Catherine also completed an internship at USDA as a GIS Specialist during her time attending Shippensburg University.  

Catherine lives with her cat Mr. Bean in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 

Focus on Local: Meet CSA Aritst April Grinaway

APRIL GRINAWAY

Making my own beads is an art I've been enjoying for years. There's always a new technique to learn or new glass to try. Glass artists are passionate about their work. Making my own glass beads and using them in my jewelry designs is an amazing transformation.

As a child I remember seeing the glass artists along the Coney Island boardwalk. Something about those sparkling delicate sculptures caught my eye and heart. Today I'm proud to show you my glass bead creations.

I now reside in Central Pennsylvania and I'm always involved in something creative. Besides working with glass I enjoy growing flowers in my garden, web design, walking my dog and meditating. I'm into photography too. Capturing the perfect picture is always a challenge. I've found the stillness in the early morning and the subtle lighting gives an almost perfect effect to any of my subjects.

I make my own glass lampwork beads used in my jewelry designs. All of my beads are unique and one of a kind.

What is "lampwork?"

"Lampwork" is used to describe handcrafted glass beads that are made by melting glass rods in a torch flame. The word "lamp" was used in ancient times when the glass was melted with the flame of an oil lamp.

Today, lampworking is also called flameworking due to working in the flame of a torch.

It is common for people to confuse lampworking with glassblowing. Glassblowing uses a blowpipe to inflate a glass blob, known as a gather and inflates it by blowing air into the blowpipe.

Lampworking manipulates melted glass by the use of gravity and various tools. However, both lampworking and glassblowing do use many of the same tools and a number of crafters are proficient in both areas.

How a Bead Is Made

Each glass bead is hand crafted one at a time by melting glass in a torch fire. The glass is wound on a steel rod called a mandrel. Adding designs, shaping and using different colors makes each bead a work of art. Creating these glass beads takes time and patience. See the menu bar for a video of myself making a bead.

When the bead is finished it is placed in a kiln to anneal, which ensures strength and durability. This is an important step in quality glass lampwork beads.

All my beads are inspected and cleaned thoroughly before I use them in my jewelry designs.
I take pride in my work from the start of creating a bead to the finishing touches of a completed piece. 

vist Brooklyn Bead Goddess Blog 

Focus on Local: Meet CSA Artist Anne Cherry

ANNE CHERRY 

I grew up in Perry County, graduated from Newport High School, and have degrees in Education, Communications, and Library Science from Shippensburg University.  In 2000 I retired after 30 years of teaching and began focusing on my interests in photography and gardening. In 2005 my husband gave me a digital camera and I began photographing the flowers in the perennial department at the garden center where I worked. When I put the photos on the computer I was drawn to the abstract images I found in the flowers. I began focusing on the abstracts, calling my works Natural Abstracts. My works have been on exhibit and featured in various mid-state galleries, and other venues.  I am a member of the Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) and Shippensburg Arts Programing and Education (SHAPE).  I live in East Berlin PA with my husband, Bill Cherry, and enjoy my artwork, cooking, gardening and fishing with Bill.

As a photographer, I have always focused on composition, looking and waiting for just the right balance of color, light, and position.  I have also been fascinated with these same elements in abstract art.  With the advent of digital photography, I now find it artistically rewarding to combine these two art forms.  NATURAL ABSTRACTS are abstract images I find in my photographs of flowers.  I isolate and digitally enhance the image to create a piece of artwork intended to awaken the inner beauty of nature for the observer.

Meet The Artists

Below is a list of each of the artists and links to their profiles.  Please consider supporting local artists and purchasing a share for $150.  A full share gets you artwork from two of the artists. This is a great opportunity for gift giving or simply to do your part and support your local community.  Buy Local Art!!!

Anne Cherry
April Grinaway
Catherine Ryan
Chelsea Caroline
Christopher Kulfan
David Housley
Jack Cotolo
Jill Stemple
Lisa Bennett
Melissa Tabb
Phyllis Hicks

11.15.13
Come join the Harrisburg CSA at the MakeSpace gallery opening on Friday in Harrisburg!

• The CSA will have sample boxes to view and for sale (see our 'purchasing a share' tab for info)

• A CSA rep will be available to answer your questions until 9pm

•  View the "Portraits" show happening at the MakeSpace for 3rd in the 'Burg

 
visit:

The MakeSpace 1916 N. Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102

Unlock a Surprise

Join us at the HomeGrown Market in Harrisburg 

Sunday October 13th  for our CSA Soirée!

Enjoy a casual Meet and Greet from 1pm-4 with light refreshments and our artists work on display.