Bristol, Pa., and Newtown, Pa., gear up for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
By: Daniel Shearer
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| "End of an Era," by Roger Cook, is part of The Art of Boxing, a visual arts project inspired by assemblage artist Joseph Cornell.
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American sculptor Joseph Cornell made a splash with boxes.
One of the most celebrated exponents of assemblage, he would tinker at projects for years, sorting items gathered from flea markets and odd shops into categories that made artistic statements. His work had a profound influence on many artists, including Newtown resident Roger Cook, who helped organize a visual arts project for First Night Newtown.
Now in its fourth year, the event kicks off New Year’s Eve at 4:30 p.m. with a candle-lit procession down State and Centre streets, followed by festivities at six locations linked by shuttle busses. The VooDudes zydeco band will perform, along with the jazzy stylings of the Eric Mintel Quartet, the Newtown Chamber Orchestra, the roller blade troupe Roger G & Unique Force, the children’s entertainment group Steve Pullara and Cool Beans, and dozens of other performers. The evening concludes with a fireworks display at Council Rock High School.
| First
Night Newtown
Jug Band, 7-7:45, 8-8:45 p.m.; Ted St. James, 9:30-10:15, 10:30-11:15
Art Project: The Art of Boxing, 6:30-10:30 p.m.; Bucks County Singers,
Eric Mintel Quartet, 7:30-8:15, 8:30-9:15 p.m.; The Dovells,
Roger G & Unique Force, 1, 6:30-7:15, 7:30-8:15 p.m.; Playland,
Road, Auditorium: Chicky, 7-7:45, 8-8:45, 9-9:45 p.m.; Cafeteria:
St., Macedonia Baptist Choir, 7-8, 9-10 p.m.; Blake Blakesley |
"First Night is a fantastic way to get people out in the community to do things together," Mr. Cook says. "It’s a non-alcoholic event celebrating the New Year with family and friends without having to deal with traffic or long distances. I think most people feel the need for that sort of thing, especially this year."
In addition to designing this year’s poster, distributed as a fund-raiser for the event, Mr. Cook was instrumental in gathering work from 22 artists and nearly 80 student submissions for display in Chandler Hall on Barclay Street. Teachers and students at Council Rock School District, George School, Newtown Friends School and St. Andrews School studied the work of Joseph Cornell and then produced wooden boxes designed around themes from 20th century artists.
"Boxes are my medium," Mr. Cook says. "I call them sculptural assemblages. I was inspired years ago by Joseph Cornell, who was born in 1903 and died in the early ’70s. His work is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and many major museums around the country.
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| Children’s entertainer Steve Pullara and Cool Beans will perform at First Night Newtown.
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"Much of the student work in our exhibit came back representing Roy Lichtenstein, Picasso or Piet Mondrian. There are many interpretations. One of the local artists, Shawn Allen, did sort of an abstract thing that included plumbing fixtures."
Mr. Cook’s artistic contribution to the exhibit took the form of a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The work combines text describing the tragedy with a fireman’s medallion and a pair of cracked eyeglasses.
"That event created such an impact on all our lives that it was an almost predictable approach," he says. "A number of people took it, but never in my wildest dreams did I think our project would be embraced by this many people in the community."
Free parking will be available at all venues: Newtown Athletic Club, Council Rock High School, Newtown Junior High School and the American Legion Hall. There also will be a food court tent at the Council Rock High School parking lot.
First Night Newtown buttons cost $15, children’s bracelets $10, and are on sale in advance at First National
Bank and Trust Company of Newtown; Third Federal Savings Bank; Woolies, etc.;
Cook and Shanosky Associates; Newtown Agway; Newtown Book and Record Exchange;
Jane Anthony Gallery; Newtown Athletic Club, The Newtown Hardware House, Newtown
Rental Center; and Commerce Bank. Events start at 4:30 p.m., concluding with
a fireworks show at Council Rock High School at midnight. On Dec. 31, buttons
will be on sale at Newtown Borough Hall (until 5 p.m.) and at Council Rock
High School. For information, call (215) 968-5496. On the Web: www.firstnightnewtown.com
| First
Night Bristol
6:30 p.m.; Festive Brass Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.; Christian Johnson
Excerpts: Knecht Dance Academy, 6:30 p.m.; Bobby Burnett Sings Sinatra
Island Dancers, 6:30, 7:30 p.m.; Sanctuary: The Good Wife, Benjamin
6:30, 7:30 p.m.; Sally Starr, 8:30 p.m.; Patty Scoboria, 9:30,
Chip Mergott, 6:30, 7:30 p.m.; Charlie Zahm, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30
Barber, Methodist Grace Band, 6:30 p.m.; Gerry Timlin, 7:30,
Lohrman, 6:30, 7:30 p.m.; Magic of Helene, 8:30 p.m.; Karen
6:30, 7:30 p.m.; Belly Dancer Najia, 8:30 p.m.; Uncle Brother,
6:30, 7:30 p.m.; free skate for button holders, 8:30-10:30 p.m. |
FIRST NIGHT BRISTOL HAS SEVERAL new performers this year, among them, the folk-pop duo Annie Bauerlein and Chip Mergott, and Philadelphia singer-songwriter Patty Scoboria. Singer Jean Giguere is back again this year with a Patsy Cline tribute, and students from the Knecht Dance Academy will perform excerpts from The Nutcracker.
"We have a doo-wop group, The Delmonicos, that are always popular," says Tillie Van Aken, one of the First Night Bristol planners. "We put them in the Riverside Theatre this year, and we’ll also have swing dancer lessons with a combo at the St. James Parish House."
Most of the events take place within a six-block radius, with Grundy Skating Rink at Pond and Beaver streets and Bristol Riverside Theatre at Radcliffe and Market streets on the outskirts.
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| The Festive Brass Ensemble will perform at First Night Bristol.
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"The last couple years, if you have a button you can get into the Fairless Hills YMCA, and you can also go ice skating at the Grundy Skating Rink," Ms. Van Aken says. "They have a figure skating exhibition and you can stay and skate afterward."
The Masonic Lodge on Cedar Street, Bristol Presbyterian Church on Radcliffe Street and the Grundy Recreation Center will have open kitchens. Also, a food truck at Radcliffe and Market streets and several restaurants on Radcliffe Street will be open during the evening. Parking is available at the Bristol Municipal Lot behind Mill Street and at the Grundy Recreation Center lot.
The event ends at midnight with fireworks launched from the Bristol Borough maintenance yard, best viewed from the municipal parking lot.
"It’s a good, clean, affordable night for people," Ms. Van Aken says. "We have volunteers working all year on it. The cost of the button wouldn’t cover it; we have to do fund-raising to make it happen, but it’s worth it. There’s something for everybody."
First Night Bristol buttons cost $10, children $5, and are on sale in advance
at banks throughout Bristol; Grundy Library; Grundy Recreation Center; Mignoni
Jewelers; Silver Lake Nature Center and the Fairless Hills YMCA. Buttons go
on sale at First Night Headquarters, 211 Radcliffe St., Bristol, Dec. 30, noon-4
p.m., and Dec. 31, 3-9 p.m. Events start 6:30 p.m. concluding with fireworks
over Bristol marsh at midnight. For entertainment information, call (215) 788-9408.
For button sales, call (215) 788-6630.