York Town Square

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York countian sculpting gears and sprockets and scrap into art: Linked in to history, 6/3/13

petals

These familiar metal flowers that make up York, Pa.’s Foundry Park Gear Garden near the Codorus Creek? Now we know who made them. Robert Machovec, seen here with one of the flowers, and blacksmith Tom Moore of Glen Rock. The flowers were sculpted from gears, sprockets and other factory parts, according to a York Weekly Record story. The industrial art typifies a growing theme in the arts district of York – Creativity Unleashed. It celebrates the art and artisans and crafts and craftsmen who have been part of York County, past and present with an eye to the future. Also of interest: York artist illustrates Creativity Unleashed.

Downtown York’s Sonja Huntzinger has pointed out the prevalence of Glen Rock’s Robert Machovec’s artwork around the downtown – artwork made from scrap to tie together the Creativity Unleashed theme.

He furnished a motorbike, a cat and some colorful birds.

“The bobble-head cat has a lot of appeal in that he is interactive. I love the birds in that they are a surprise. They are tucked away on lamp posts and when you hear the chirp signaling for you to cross the street, you look up and see the birds and it is sort of like they are chirping,” she told the York Weekly Record.

More neat stuff from all over … .

In this big anniversary year of the Civil War, it’s right and appropriate to keep track of happenings in observation of the American Revolution.

So it’s of note that York County Register of Wills Brad Jacobs will read the Declaration of Independence at the Daughters of the American Revolution’s July 4th Annual Memorial Day.

Sarah Schwarz, chapter registrar, emailed that the graveside service for York’s Declaration of Independence signer James Smith is set for 10 a.m. on July 4 at First Presbyterian Church in York.

The Colonel James Smith-Yorktown Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter, York, PA will hold the annual memorial service.

“A copy of the York County Declaration of Independence and a framed copy of the Last Will and Testament of Colonel James Smith will be available for those in attendance,” she wrote.

Upcycling? Yes, that’s a word and something that’s going on around York County. Check it out: Crafters become entrepreneurs via upcycling.

Gettysburg 150: I am adapted and updating past columns on the Civil War and York County as part of this year’s monumental anniversary. In today’s York Sunday News, I wrote about: Focusing on Women’s roles in the Civil War.

 Best of blogs: Buffy’s World features From Civil War to Central class project.

street-rods-2-LEvery year, someone coins a new description of the Street Rod invasion of York County. Last year, it was ‘Car Museum on the Road.’ This year, ‘Art in Motion.’  Both are about right.