The Piedmont Virginian’s blog

From our friends at The Community Music School of the Piedmont –

The Community Music School of the Piedmont presents ‘The Joy of Bach’, the 5^th Annual Candlelight Concert featuring the internationally acclaimed J. Reilly Lewis and performers from The Washington Bach Consort. The fundraising event and silent auction will take place on Sunday, February 19^th, 2012 at 4:00PM at Barton Oaks Ballroom in The Plains Virginia.

The event will feature the highly talented conductor and keyboard artist, J. Reilly Lewis. “Lewis’s performance journeyed well above the timberline into the heart and soul of Bach’s genius, said The Washington Post of his playing and conducting. “It was clear from his reading of it that Lewis loves this music deeply; it was a performance so tender you never wanted it to end.”

Highlights of this year’s program will include The Italian Concerto, The Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, the French Suite in G Major, among others. All will be performed by stellar soloists and instrumentalists from the Washington Bach Consort conducted by Maestro Lewis.

As the sole, annual fundraising event for the school, the Candlelight Concert series was established to provide world-class music to the local community, and to raise critically needed scholarship and outreach funds for the Community Music School of the Piedmont. Tickets for this one-night event are $125 and can be purchased online at www.piedmontmusic.org. Through music instruction and ensemble opportunities, the Community Music School of the Piedmont enriches the lives of over 450 community children.

Since 1994, the Community Music School of the Piedmont has been dedicated to providing high quality music instruction and performance opportunities for all members of the community. Headquartered in Upperville, Virginia, the school is an independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. For more information on the Candlelight Concert Series, please visit the Community Music School of the Piedmont’s website at www.piedmontmusic.org or call (540)-592-3040.

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Events, Prince William County on January 31st, 2012 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

From our friends at Les Yeux du Monde:

Epiphanies, brilliantly-hued, gestural acrylic florals by Ellen Hathaway, of Keswick, opened at Les Yeux du Monde, the Charlottesville mountaintop gallery designed by renowned architect W.G. Clark.

In one of the darkest months of the year, Ellen Hathaway: Epiphanies resonates color, energy and vibrancy on the walls of Les Yeux du Monde Gallery. Having shown in group exhibitions with Les Yeux du Monde since 2007, Hathaway’s Epiphanies is her first solo exhibition at the gallery featuring 45 acrylic paintings, the smallest at 10 inches to the largest at 4 feet. The portrait-like paintings of flowers, each unique, impart a larger message of life cycles and hope captured in such titles as Womb, Retiring, Playing with Fire and Euphoria. Executing a technique incorporating myriad layers of acrylic paint and clear glazes to increase opulence and depth, the artist is as concerned with process as imagery. The flowers are not botanical studies in precision and accuracy, rather expressive, emotive through color and gesture.

Hathaway paints in her Keswick studio and shows her paintings from Manchester, New Hampshire to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is preparing for a solo exhibition in North Carolina in March. Her work has been on exhibit at The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and is part of Martha Jefferson Hospital’s permanent collection.

Epiphanies opened with a Thursday, January 5th preview with a talk by the artist followed two nights later by a reception; both events were well-attended. This exhibit will be on view at Les Yeux du Monde through February 12, Thursdays through Saturday, 1 until 5 pm, or by appointment. On Wednesday, January 25th the gallery will host a “Lunch with the Artist” at noon, call 434-973-5566 for reservations, cost $12 or free to Collector’s Club members. Les Yeux du Monde is located at 841 Wolf Trap Road in Charlottesville, VA.

For more information on the artist and her work go to www.ellenhathaway.com or visit Lesyexdumonde.com.
LYDM Gallery owner and director Lyn Warren can be reached via email at LesYeuxLBR@aol.com, or phone the gallery: 434-973-5566 or mobile: 434-882-2620. Ellen Hathaway can be reached via email at art@ellenhathaway.com or phone at 434-981-3589

Posted under: Albemarle County, Art, Artists, and Galleries, Events on January 20th, 2012 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

I frequently drive by this gorgeous house on Waterloo Street in Warrenton, VA every week.  I’ve often thought of who might live there, who designed it and how wonderfully unique it is! Well, just this past week I had the pleasure of meeting the architect who not only designed and built the house, but who also calls it his ‘home’.

James Hricko is a local architect located in Warrenton, Va.  When a project he had designed brought him repeatedly to Fauquier County during its construction, it quickly dawned on him what a beautiful place this was. After deciding to move to Warrenton, Jim and his wife Joya purchased a lot on Waterloo Street (pictured above right) in 2002, designed and built their house and live there today.

Jim received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame, followed by a Master’s Program at Catholic University of America in City and Regional Planning. He worked for architectural firms in Washington D.C. and Virginia as well as the Department of the Navy as an Architect/Planner prior to establishing James Hricko Architect LLC, originally located in Clifton, Virginia.  Jim is currently involved with Fauquier Habitat for Humanity as a member of the Board of Directors, the Building Committee and designed the Sterling Court Duplex Community in the Town of Warrenton. When completed, the seven-duplex community will be home to fourteen families (three duplexes are now complete). The completed units have received the EarthCraft of Virginia Certification for energy efficiency.

Jim’s firm was established in 1975 as a full-service architectural firm and has extensive experience with commercial, residential and historic projects — working comfortably with business owners, residential clients and business contractors.  Projects include new custom homes and remodeling, additions to and adaptive reuse of historic structures, and office and industrial buildings.  Jim is involved in all aspects of the design of a project and assembles and manages the design team himself.

Recently completed projects include the renovation and expansion of the Pavilion at Airlie Center into a year-round flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space which, it is believed, will be the first building in Fauquier County to officially achieve LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design).  Another recently completed project is the prominent addition to a house in Warrenton’s Historic District.

One of Jim’s projects in Ambergris Caye, Belize was recently featured by the American Institute of Architects.

“The program called for a full-time, low-maintenance, secure residence for a retiring individual on Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A. on a one-third acre lot facing the Caribbean Sea. It was required that the house be located to take advantage of the view of the sea and the distant barrier reef (the second longest in the world) and take advantage of the continuous trade winds blowing from the east.

The owner required one bedroom, one bath, an open kitchen-dining-living area opening to a covered porch facing the sea, utility area and a small storage room. Since water wells are not possible and there is no public water, a 10,000 gallon cistern was located below the house to capture rainwater from the roof. The water is pumped through a water treatment system for domestic use. Natural ventilation is facilitated by large windows and doors opening to the sea and prevailing breezes, all with security shutters. A cathedral ceiling, which runs the length of the house, and ceiling fans, facilitate air movement.

The primary way of getting building materials to the site is by barge from the water requiring the design to utilize traditional island building techniques and materials, including: reinforced concrete building frame (footings, columns, beams, slab), concrete block wall in-fill with stucco finish on the exterior and interior, native wood timber harvested from the Belize mainland (mahogany ceiling; other exposed hardwood being barbajolete), corrugated metal roofing and native ceramic tile flooring. Playful exterior colors recall indigenous architecture.”

It’s amazing to see the work that our local architects have accomplished and the projects that they are still working on, be it in our beautiful Piedmont or elsewhere.  In a way, you could consider their buildings and design a “work of art”!  They are absolutely stunning and should be appreciated much more than they are.

Be sure to visit James Hricko’s website at www.jameshricko.com.

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Fauquier County, History and Historic Places, Land Conservation and Environmental Stewardship, Piedmont Regions, Sponsor on January 6th, 2012 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

On Friday, December 16, Fauquier Hospital will host a Be the Match® event for those who would like to join the Be the Match® Registry for bone marrow and blood stem cell donors. All it takes is a quick cheek swab and filling out some paperwork. With the completion of these two tasks, participants will be members of a nationwide network of potential donors.

The Be the Match® event will take place from noon to 7 p.m. in the Sycamore Room at Fauquier Hospital. It costs $100 to add each potential bone marrow donor to the nationwide registry, but those who join the registry are not required to pay anything.

If a match is confirmed, there is no cost to donors, and in most cases, donating bone marrow involves nothing more than donating blood —a small sacrifice for the chance to save a life.

By joining the registry, participants will be sending a message to thousands of cancer patients that they are not alone. Not all of these potential bone marrow recipients are strangers. There are five young cancer patients in the area right now who could at some point have to rely on the Be the Match® Registry to find bone marrow donors. One Fauquier child is in need of a transplant immediately. CLICK HERE to read entire article….

Posted under: Events, Fauquier County, Health & Fitness, News on December 12th, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

This year the 6th Annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will take place this weekend, Friday December 9th through Sunday December 11th at the Dulles Expo Center.  This year’s festival will feature over 300 acclaimed artisans that take pleasure in showcasing all of their handmade contemporary crafts and fine arts.  From decorative pottery, glass, jewelery, wood and metal to fashion, furniture, home accessories, photography and fine art.  In addition to nationally known artists, the festival will also introduce and showcase new and emerging artists.  The festival will also include specialty gourmet foods (including soup mixes, English toffee, fresh breads, and so much more!) that will be available for sampling and purchasing.  There’s something for everyone at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival!

Interactive demonstrations will be held through out the day by the artists.  Many artists will show visitors how their art is created such as wheel thrown pottery, paper making, scarves and shawls, wood turning and more!  Please visit the demonstration website for exact times for each demonstration.

You’ll also be delighted to know that the festival appeals to every age in the family!  Live music will be provided during the festival that will include piano performances by Ngu Mbandi and new age flute performances by David Young.  Children’s entertainment will also be provided by Middle Earth Studios’ popular puppet show featuring a 15-foot tall grandfather clock that’s really a time machine!

For more information on demonstration and entertainment times as well as vendor lists, directions etc., please visit http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/chantilly/december/

Posted under: Art, Artists, and Galleries, Events, Gourmet Food, Local Products, Piedmont Regions, Shops and Boutiques on December 8th, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

White Horse Auto Wash in Warrenton will hold its first-ever car show this Saturday, November 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sears parking lot.

Paul Bartlett, of White Horse, said that about three dozen cars have already registered and
he expects that number will grow before the show commences. “We’ll have current cars,
foreign cars and classic cars – something for every enthusiast.”

Prizes for first-, second- and third-place cars have been donated by Sears ($1,100 worth
of tools and a tool chest); Tintworx (free window tinting worth $400); and by White
Horse Auto Wash (a $270 hand wash and full detailing).

Visitors to the car show can enjoy food by Chik-fil-A and fresh coffee while they admire
the shiny, tricked-out cars. All proceeds from the day will go to the Fauquier Health
Foundation.

White Horse Auto Wash is located at 111 West Lee Highway, in front of Sears.
Hope to see you there!

Posted under: Events, Fauquier County, Local Products, News on November 4th, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

From our friends at Fauquier Health:

One of every three adults 65 years and older falls each year; falls are among the top ten causes of death for seniors. Fauquier Health and Aging Together are partnering to educate the community about the danger of falls and how easily they can be prevented. Falls are not an inevitable part of aging. They are preventable.

The Falls Prevention Symposium will be held Wednesday, November 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in
Fauquier Hospital’s Sycamore Room. Local experts will showcase the most effective ways to prevent
falls; most are practical, cheap, and easy to accomplish. They include good medication management,
vision assessment, exercise, and home or environmental modifications.

Deb Muir, occupational therapist at Fauquier Hospital and yoga instructor at Fauquier Health Wellness
Center, says that many seniors are concerned about falling. “A lot of my older clients tell me that they
don’t shower but rather sponge bathe because of a fear of falling. They are unable to step in and out
of the tub, can’t stand long enough or don’t have the balance to shower. For some of these patients,
exercises like yoga, tai chi, or walking in a pool could help to improve their strength and balance
enough to increase their safety in the shower; for others a tub transfer bench and a grab bar would
make showering safe again.”

This event is free and includes lunch, but participants must register to attend. Contact Aging Together
at 540-829-6405 or info@agingtogether.org by October 31.

Posted under: Events, Fauquier County on October 24th, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

Check out the latest news from our friends at the Frederick Nichols Studio:

During November and December, a group of galleries from Charlottesville to Orange, along the Route 20N corridor, will host a “Focus on the Print,” featuring the work of regional printmakers.

Since ancient times the urge to replicate images has been a goal of artists.  Before the invention of the printing press methods were invented to duplicate artwork, such as cast seals and relief carvings.  They were often used to disseminate information, religious, political, and cultural, to the masses.

As artists became involved in the pursuit of what has been called the “democratic” form of art, interest in multiples as discipline distinct from painting or drawing began to emerge. Some artists were inspired by process, from woodcuts to etchings.  Manipulating the image by invention and design became central to the process.

With the advent of computer prints, the lines between craftsmanship and the mechanical have been blurred.  But traditional methods continue to interest artists, and many artists now merge the digital with other methods. Conversely, a recent development in printmaking has been the monoprint, the technique of using printmaking techniques to produce one print, where spontaneous invention and gestural markings are central to the process. For the “Focus on the Print,” all forms of contemporary printmaking will be represented, from experimental to traditional.

On the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Chroma Projects Art Lab will feature Charlottesville artist Rosamond Casey in the gallery during the month of November with her book/game installation, Catch the Baby, that involves a giclee’ print process for the project’s imagery. Their December show will feature recent work by Richmond Printmakers’ One/Off group, whose members demonstrate a rich diversity of printmaking approaches from wood block prints to etching and engraving with subjects ranging from abstract to landscape to figurative work which often contains a sense of humor.

Second Street Gallery, also on the Downtown Mall, and Les Yeux Des Monde Gallery on Rt 20, just North of Charlottesville, are collaborating on a major 25 year survey of the art of Dean Dass, professor of printmaking at UVA.  His most recent prints and paintings will be shown at LYDM while Second Street will have a range of his work from the early 1980s till today. The exhibition will open at LYMD on Nov 18 and at Second Street Gallery on the First Friday in December.

Further up Rt 20N in Barboursville, Frederick Nichols Studio will be having a mini-retrospective covering 35 years of Nichols’ printmaking career during November and December. Tours of the studio will be offered.  Nichols Gallery Annex will feature prints by ten artists from around the region, including silkscreens by Ed Bordett of Roanoke and Lou Stovall of Washington, DC, monoprints by Frank Hobbs and David Freed of Richmond, and digital collages by Charlottesville artist McCrea Kudravetz.

Fifteen miles from Barboursville is the Art Center in Orange.  In November 3rd thru December 23rd, the Center will feature  a group show of artists from the DC area Washington Printmakers Gallery, whose foundation promotes fine-art printmaking by fostering the creation and appreciation of hand-pulled, artist-made prints.  Just north of Orange is Woodberry Forest School, where the school’s Baker Art Gallery is featuring “Six Printmakers,” including Kelly Lonergan, who teaches art at Woodberry and curated the show, Dennis Winston of Richmond, and Russell Richards of Charlottesville, whose works represent a variety of printmaking methods and materials. The exhibition will run from November 1st through December 18th.

For information regarding individual gallery hours, exhibition dates, openings, and special events, visit www.frednichols.com.

Silkscreen:
Autumn Over Warm Springs
silkscreen
32″ x 48″
[Fred Nichols]

Posted under: Albemarle County, Art, Artists, and Galleries, Events, History and Historic Places, Local Products, Orange County, Piedmont Regions, Rappahannock County on September 22nd, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

Rappahannock Co, VA — Sheep-guarding llamas, heritage breed chickens, honey bees, heirloom fruits and vegetables, and native plants all take center stage at the 2011 Rappahannock County Farm Tour, September 24 – 25, 20ll.  Rappahannock County, Virginia is located just 65 miles west of Washington, DC in some of the most scenic countryside of Virginia.

This popular, self-guided, family-focused farm tour emphasizes sustainable practices and incorporates farms, wineries, orchards, plant nurseries and farm schools into its weekend menu of events.   Eighteen venues will offer tours and presentations, some selling local, fresh food products. Learn about sustainable “mob grazing” and pick up helpful tips that can be applied to urban gardening situations.  Rappahannock County students will share their unique experiences combining farming and academics.

Bigger than ever, the popular “All Things Rappahannock Market” will feature 25 vendors and organizations, selling local products and offering eco-friendly presentations at The Link Community Center in Sperryville, which also serves as Farm Tour headquarters.   Register for the Farm Tour, pick up printed tour programs, buy local products, and learn about nature stewardship at The Link.   You can also register to win an overnight getaway in Rappahannock County, a heritage turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and more!

Admission is a $5 donation per person, ages 16 and older.  Purchase tickets for the Rappahannock County Farm Tour multiple ways:  at Farm Tour Headquarters at The Link Community Center in Sperryville, the historic Sperryville Schoolhouse, 12018 Lee Highway (Route 211), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on both Saturday and Sunday; online at http://FarmTour.VisitRappahannockVA.com; or at three venues on the Farm Tour, which include Narmada Winery (Route 211 at the eastern end of the county); Mountain Laurel Montessori Farm School (Route 522 in Flint Hill), and Belle Meade Farm, (Route 231, south of Sperryville).

Local inns, cottages and B&Bs will offer special packages for the weekend.  For more information, visit http://FarmTour.VisitRappahannockVA.com or call the Rappahannock County Visitors Center at 540-675-3153.

Posted under: Events, Farms and Farmers, Gardening, Gourmet Food, Hotels and Country Inns, Land Conservation and Environmental Stewardship, Local Products, Rappahannock County, Restaurants, Shops and Boutiques, Wineries on September 21st, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »

Via Fauquier Health

WARRENTON, VA, September 13, 2011 – Ever wonder how to pick out a ripe cantaloupe? Do you know the difference between English peas and snow peas? What’s the best kind of onion to use in a stir fry? Are you just a little afraid to try okra?

You can find answers to dozens of food-related questions at the September 21 Warrenton Farmers Market. Josh Gegoski, Chef of the Bistro on the Hill, will be at the market from 10 to 11:30 a.m., chatting with visitors and vendors, and choosing delicious, affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables for a signature dish he will prepare at 11:30. The cooking demonstration, held outside at the Farmers Market, will feature all locally grown produce.

Fauquier Health’s Wellness Center will also be providing blood pressure checks from 10 a.m. to noon. Aren Dodge, dietitian at the Wellness Center, will be present during that time to answer questions about healthy eating.

Fauquier Hospital hosts the Farmers Market every Wednesday through October, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bistro entrance to the hospital on Hospital Hill in Warrenton.

Participation in the Farmers Market is part of Fauquier Hospital’s commitment to improving community health; promoting access to fresh, healthy and sustainable agriculture; and supporting the local economy. The Farmers Market Initiative complements and builds upon established hospital programs such as the diabetes workshops, community education, family health initiatives and the VIPeds summer Medical Camps.

What Are The Benefits of a Farmers’ Market?

Reasons for “going local” vary, but specific positives include:

• Freshness and Nutrition. The nutritional value of produce falls as time passes after harvest; locally grown fruit and vegetables are often picked within 24 hours of purchase.

• Taste and price. Eating local produce helps ensure that your food is at its peak taste, in good supply

and well priced.

• Regional economic health. Supporting local farmers keeps money in our community.

• Environmental protection. Flying, trucking and shipping food negatively affect the environment.

About Fauquier Health

Fauquier Health is a non-profit community health system. A Planetree-designated facility, the organization is dedicated to high-quality, patient-centered care in a unique environment that considers the multiple facets of healing and respects the individuality of each and every patient. Located at 500 Hospital Drive in Warrenton, Virginia, Fauquier Health serves the residents of Fauquier and several surrounding counties. It comprises:  Fauquier Hospital, a fully accredited, 97-bed hospital; Fauquier Health Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, a 115-bed long-term care and rehabilitation facility; the Villa at Suffield Meadows, an assisted living facility; the Wound Healing Center and a medically supervised Wellness Center offering health and wellness programs. Fauquier Health also has a 50 percent ownership in two joint ventures:  Fauquier Health Home Medical Store, a retail outlet offering medical, home health, and wellness supplies, and the Cancer Center at Lake Manassas, a state-of-the-art radiation treatment facility. Fauquier Health also operates eight doctors’ offices: Fauquier Health Endocrinology; Fauquier Health OB/GYN; Fauquier Health Infectious Diseases; Fauquier Health ENT; Fauquier Health Hemotology and Oncology; and Fauquier Health Rheumatology in Warrenton; Fauquier Health Internal Medicine at Lake Manassas; and Fauquier Health Family Practice at Bealeton. In 2009, Fauquier Health provided $11.8 million in community benefit support to its community. More information on Fauquier Health is available online at www.fauquierhealth.org or by calling 540-316-3588.

Posted under: Events, Farms and Farmers, Fauquier County, Gardening, Gourmet Food, Local Products, News, Piedmont Regions on September 13th, 2011 | by AmyFewell No Comments »