QV Musical Director to Perform in Pittsburgh Public Theater's '1776'

Directed by Ted Pappas, the Tony-winning "Best Musical" tells the story of how we went from 13 colonies to the United States of America, according to PPT.

For Lou Valenzi, acting in a professional role after a decade-long hiatus is a good feeling. “Getting back onstage, working with professionals again, it’s like a rebirth,” said Valenzi of Sewickley, choir teacher and musical director at Quaker Valley.  Valenzi will help bring history alive when the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s performance of 1776 opens Jan. 24. The Tony-winning "best musical" showcases the heroes of the American Revolution through song and dance, comedic encounters and impassioned politics. Valenzi plays the role of Joseph Hewes, the representative from North Carolina. Hewes, a wealthy man from the North, was a crafty businessman and owned a shipping company. He died at age 50.  “He’s certainly not one of the main …

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Sweetwater Offers Winter Classes for Children and Adults

Registration is open for numerous classes in the visual, performing, literary and culinary arts for both adults and children beginning at age 3.

Sweetwater Center for the Arts offers a selection of classes for learners of all ages, including classes and workshops for children beginning at age 3. Enrollment is now open for winter 2013 classes, which are offered from January through March. Classes include ceramics and sculpture, cooking, music, drawing, painting, photography, dance, jewelry, fiber arts and traditional crafts. Want to help a child age 3 to 6 explore the arts this winter? Sweetwater is offering the following classes: Monday Morning Art Club - AC01- Jan. 14 to Feb. 25 (No class on January 21). Winter Wonderland - AC02- Jan. 15 to Feb. 19 Welcome, Spring! - AC03- March 5 to March 19 Art from the Heart - AC04- Feb. 16 Busy as a Bee! - AC05- March 18 Appalachian Folk Art…

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Get Ready for the Sewickley Gallery Walk

The annual spring Gallery Walk runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday with a list of new exhibits and opening receptions.

The annual Sewickley Gallery Walk runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. A list of galleries in the village plan to host free opening receptions and new exhibits that will be open to the public. Free metered parking will also be available. Galleries include: Élan Gallery, 427 Broad St. House of Two Sisters, 507 Beaver St. International Images, Ltd., 514 Beaver St. Sewickley Gallery and Frame Shop, 549 Beaver St. Sweetwater Center for the Arts, 200 Broad St. A free wine and hors d'oeuvres reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Cuttings, 524 Locust Place.  A reception will be held at the store, including refreshments and live music by Hugh Watkins, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday night. The exhibition will remain on …

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Dawn Cosnotti Morris

5:10 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Join us at lucky ink. from 5-8 for Art Extravaganza featuring work by M. Philip Sam, Cindy Engler, Marlene Boyle and more. Have some wine and view original photography, oil [paining, encaustic, throw pots and more.   more ›

QV Student Art Works Selected for Scholastic Awards

Five seniors and one junior were selected for the Pittsburgh Arts Region Scholastic Art and Writing Awards show, Visionary Instincts, on display Feb. 4-23 at La Roche College, Kerr Sports and Fitness Center.

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Old Post Office Building on Saturday

The public event commemorating the century-old building is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m.

  The Old Sewickley Post Office Corporation (OSPOC) will play host this weekend to a special celebration in honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Old Post Office Building. The public is invited to join in the celebration of a century from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the old post office, now the headquarters of Sweetwater Center for the Arts and the Sewickley Valley Historical Society. Besides food and drink, the founders of the committee who stepped up in 1983 to save the building will be recognized, including Trudy Hetherington, Smokey Jack, Eliza Nevin, Alice Snyder, Bill Boyd, Jim Chaplin, Tom Potter, Joe Smith and others who assisted in the monumental undertaking.   1911 In the autumn of 1911, 100 years ago, a new …

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Film Series Challenges Stereotypes

The Silk Screen Film Festival begins Saturday at Sewickley Academy.

Sewickley Academy has again partnered with Silk Screen - a Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization that celebrates Asian arts and culture – to present the Sewickley Series,  a screening of three films throughout January. The second Asian Silk Screen Film Festival will focus on challenging stereotypes. Part of Silk Screen's mission is to showcase the diversity of Asian culture and serve as an educational resource in the region. All films are free and open to the public. The first film of the series, Wings of Defeat, will be presented at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rea Auditorium.   The film will bring viewers behind the scenes of World War II’s Pacific theater to reveal the truth about the kamikaze—the “suicide bombers” of their day. The Risa …

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Senator John Pippy Joins Ceremonial Groundbreaking at Middle School

The state senator also went with Quaker Valley administrators on a tour of the school building.

State Senator John Pippy participated Friday morning in a ceremonial ground breaking of the Integrated Arts wing of the Quaker Valley Middle School. Pippy, R-Moon, helped the district secure a $250,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to support the new arts and technology section at the middle school. He was able view the plans and put on a hard hat to tour the building with administrators during his visit to the middle school, which is currently under renovation. Pippy said it was helpful that the district had an innovative plan in place, when it came to securing the funding.   "I think it's great," he said, ifollowing the tour. "I think that Quaker Valley is a wonderful school district, with a very diverse population …

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A Pittsburgh Snowman

A creative art expression with a touch of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 Olivia Bley, 5, and Paula Kwalick, aquatics coordinator at the YMCA, use clay to make snowmen with black-and-gold scarves on Monday. The art project was part of the Sewickley YMCA's "Pool Picasso" program, which Kwalick said gives preschoolers a session of creative art expression and swim lessons. The crafts are particularly fun for children because they can get messy with their art, then take a dip in the swimming pool for a wash down, Kwalick joked. "We do the messy crafts they can't do at home," she said.

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