Come down to the River in Foxburg for SUMMER FUN making art with potter and fiber artist Ann Harting through the Red Brick Gallery in Foxburg!
Ann will be teaching 2 BEGINNER FRIENDLY CLASSES in Foxburg’s Lincoln Hall for Adults and Students 12 and above (under 18 attend with a registered adult only):
- WEAVING BASICS on Saturday, July 25 – 11 AM to 1 PM
- ZEN DOODLE ANIMALS on Saturday, August 1 – 11 AM to 1 PM
On July 25, you’ll learn weaving basics and create a 9″X5″ weaving. This page is only to register for the July 25 class. See the separate page for the August 1 class.
On August 1, you’ll create a unique animal drawing.
The cost is $35 per class – and all supplies are included, including take-home handouts.
If you would like to register for the Saturday, July 25 class on Weaving Basics, call 724-659-3153 to reserve and arrange to mail your check or cash.
To resister using a credit card, here is the July 25 Eventbrite registration link.
If you wish to register for the Saturday, August 1 class on creating Zen Doodle Animals, use this link for credit card payment on the August 1 event webpage or call 724-659-3153 to register by phone.
Classes will be held in Lincoln Hall, on the second floor of the Foxburg Free Library, located at 42 So Palmer Street, Foxburg – and on South Palmer or via the outdoor staircase on the north side of the Library. There is no entrance through the front door of the library.
About Ann Harting
Arts Educator Statement
For more than 35 years, I have shared my love of art by teaching a wide variety of creative mediums throughout Clarion County and the greater Pittsburgh area.
My teaching journey began with rubber stamping and scrapbooking, but after discovering a local art center, my creative world expanded. As I continued to learn and grow as an artist, so did the range of classes I offered.
Today, my teaching includes fiber arts such as weaving, knitting, wet and needle felting, and dyeing, along with pottery, fused glass, ink drawing, and ink with watercolor.
I have taught in art centers, galleries, private studios, and coffee shops, primarily working with teens and adults. For the past several years, I have also created and taught a weekend children’s art program at a local state park campground as part of an annual fundraiser for a local nonprofit organization.
As an award-winning artist, I believe teaching is one of the most meaningful ways to share creativity with others.
I have also designed and led make-and-take art projects for nonprofit fundraising events, combining art, community, and fun. Nothing brings me greater joy than watching a student’s confidence grow as a project comes to life in their hands.
One of the most important lessons I hope to share is that there are no mistakes in art. Sometimes a piece takes an unexpected turn, but that new direction often reveals possibilities we never imagined. I often feel that the medium itself tells me what it wants to become, and I encourage my students to embrace that same spirit of discovery.
Many of my former students have gone on to teach, exhibit their work, or simply continue creating for the joy of it. Whether you are picking up a new medium for the first time or building on years of experience, I invite you to join me in exploring the creative journey.
Artist Bio
Describing her relationship with the natural world, Ann Harting said, “Nature serves as inspiration in my life, infusing my art with its boundless beauty. Whether captivated by the vivid hues of a cardinal’s feathers or the timeless grace of an aging tree stump, I pause to absorb the profound beauty that surrounds me.”
Ann’s love of nature shines through in many of her pottery pieces and weavings. Natural elements can often be found within her pieces, and her pottery and fiber art combined into one. Employing hand-building techniques, Ann meticulously crafts each clay piece, experimenting with a diverse array of glazes and stains. She even sources clay from her own backyard, infusing her work with a sense of place and authenticity. Beyond her studio, Ann’s passion for art extends to collaborating with designers worldwide, refining knitting patterns for publication.
Now living in the Cook Forest area, Ann Harting’s mother fostered her creativity from an early age, supplying her with a multitude of crafting supplies. She began sewing at the age of seven, inspired by her mother, an accomplished seamstress and quilter, and grandmother, a dance costume and pageant dress designer. A skilled seamstress in her own right – she even designed her own wedding gown and her children’s christening attire.
In her previous role as operations manager at an art gallery/teaching center in Pittsburgh, Ann managed daily operations, created all print publications, maintained digital platforms, assisted curating exhibitions, and taught classes in several mediums including weaving, knitting and fused glass.
Ann exhibits her work regularly at galleries in western Pennsylvania, where she has won numerous awards for her pottery and weavings. She has also participated in solo shows and “by invitation only” shows with a select number of artists. Her art is primarily available at the Red Brick Gallery where she is a Cooperative Artist, The Gallery at New Bethlehem Town Center and the Sawmill Center for the Arts.
Ann described her move from the professional art world in Pittsburgh to work with fellow artists in Clarion County, “After years as an operations manager at a Pittsburgh art gallery, joining the Red Brick Gallery as a cooperative artist has been incredibly rewarding — the artists are supportive, and truly inspiring. The Clarion County art scene may be smaller, but it’s vibrant, talented, and genuinely collaborative — it’s been an inspiring place to create and connect.”
Artist Statement
Describing her inspiration and artistic journey, Harting said, “Since childhood, fiber arts have been a passion, offering me the joy of transforming simple materials like fabric, yarn, and wool into something entirely new. When I ventured into clay work, it introduced a fresh dimension to my creative pursuits.
In my pottery, I gravitate towards hand-building techniques rooted in both functionality and sculptural expression. I revel in crafting earthy, organic forms, often enriching pieces with pressed flora and intricate carvings. Through the application of glazes and stains, I strive to harmonize these textures, lines, and marks, imbuing each piece with a distinctive narrative.
Weaving also holds a special place in my artistic repertoire, drawing me to the intricate beauty of flowers and trees, both in their physical presence and their hues. The rhythmic process of weaving offers a delicate balance of structure & freedom, as the design gradually unfolds with each pass of the shuttle.
While I may begin with a rough idea, I relinquish control to the medium, allowing it to guide me to completion. Whether at the loom or shaping clay, I cherish the moments of quiet contemplation, allowing my hands to translate the whispers of my thoughts into tangible expressions.”
Harting’s website is https://artfulcook.weebly.com
Experience Foxburg – Where Nature and Art Converge!
Stop by the Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop for the exhibit Reverse Ekphrasis weekends from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, July 5 – and the Andrew Hazelton watercolor exhibits with historical photos of Foxburg commemorating the 250th – from July 10 to August 16.
Weekend RBG hours are: Fridays, 1-6 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM to 7 PM; and Sundays, 12 noon to 5 PM. The Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop is located at 17 Main Street, Foxburg, PA 16036.
And while at the RBG, be sure to save time to shop for that special gift from the first floor offerings of talented Cooperative Artists from the region.
Discover Foxburg!
When planning your trip to Foxburg – plan to take a brisk walk in the gorgeous spring afternoon along the Allegheny River trail or rent bicycles or have a scenic pontoon tour (beginning May 1 through October) on the Allegheny River with Foxburg Tours!
Before or after the concert, plan to dine overlooking the Allegheny on the deck of The Allegheny Grille or for lighter fare, soup, salads, sandwiches and amazing pizzas PLUS the pizza of the month at Foxburg Pizza.
Or have a wine tasting or enjoy a bottle of wine inside or on the patio of the remodeled Foxburg Wine Cellars.
When you become an ARCA member at the $100 level, receive a 10% discount on up to 6 bottles of wine on the day of an ARCA concert.
Make it a weekend on the beautiful Allegheny – having a romantic overnight at The Foxburg Inn, where every room has a river view – and seating on the patio is the perfect place for reading or resting after a walk or bicycle ride.
As an ARCA member at the $100 level, you receive a 5% room discount any time of the year and a 10% discount from Friday to Sunday on concert weekends. You may utilize the hotel website or calling directly (724-659-3116) and showing your membership card at check-in.
