FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 8/26/09
Morgan Arts Council -- Berkeley Springs, WV
Press contact only: Kat Braun -- 304-947-5564
www.macicehouse.org


PEACE THEMED ART SHOW IN BERKELEY SPRINGS

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV -- A gala opening for the " Bringing Peace Home" multi-media celebration of peace expressed through the arts is scheduled for Friday, September 4 at the Ice House Gallery in Berkeley Springs. The opening begins at 7:30pm following an Artwalk that starts at Mountain Laurel Gallery at 5pm. Music is provided at the opening by jazz and blues saxophonist, Roger Aldridge. The visual art exhibit hangs through October 4.

"Bringing Peace Home" is curated by 1000 Points of Peace, a collaborative effort to realize the vision of Vietnam Veteran and stained glass artist, ragtime. Centerpiece art in the show are several of the glass peace signs that are the 1000 Points of Peace project. "Doing the peace signs is my lighting a candle in the darkness rather than raging at the insanity of war," says ragtime, a former Marine. Hundreds of the peace signs have been made and given away or sold since the project began in 2007.

More than two dozen artists, about half from Berkeley Springs and others as far away as New Zealand, are also exhibiting peace-themed work in a variety of media. Many of the artists explain the show's theme inspired their participation. "I haven't done any artwork in a while," says potter and psychotherapist, Sandy Kaye, "but the idea of a peace show refired me." Specifics about the work being exhibited remains a mystery in some cases. "The artists are being very cagey," says Kat Braun who is collaborating on curating the show. "They only give us hints about what they are submitting and tell us they'll deliver the work to the Ice House themselves." Braun explains that several artists are creating outside their usual medium including Samantha Redston who is doing a fused glass piece.

Multi-media is truly multi in this show and includes an interactive installation that invites all visitors through the exhibit to bring their own peace rock to place upon the Peace Mountain which will grow through the month.

The art exhibit marks the beginning of Peace Month at the Ice House which also includes music and performance art. "With all the frenzy devoted to promoting the Civil War anniversary, we decided to focus on peace in Berkeley Springs," says Jeanne Mozier, local promoter. "War sucks," says ragtime, "past, present and future." The first performance experience is a free Peace Jamboree on Friday, September 11 at 7:00pm on the second floor of the Ice House. The Jamboree features a wide range of professional performers including Sam and Joe Herrmann, The Shifters, Gordon Macleod and Jonathan McBee, Pete Gordon, Mary Hott and Jim Salman and others. "We'll also have drumming and people reading their poetry," says ragtime.

Peace-themed performances continue at the Ice House with three Saturday nights -- September 12,19 and 26, of Scooter Scudieri's original "Rattle to Rifle." On Friday, October 2, West Virginia musician, Mick Souter performs as Woody Guthrie, one of America's premier peace activists and folk singers.

The curated gallery exhibit produced by the Morgan Arts Council is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and hotel/motel tax revenues. The Ice House is located on the corner of Independence and Mercer and is open Friday through Monday from 11am to 5pm. For more information call 258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org.