From York, Pa., to Philadelphia
Charles Rudy, York County-born sculptor with an international reputation, works on the War Memorial at the University of Pennsylvania. The artist, who lived from 1904-1986, appears on a short-list of York County achievers to be recognized locally. (York County Heritage Trust photo.) For more on Rudy, visit Yorkblogger June Lloyd's: Artist Charles Rudy, Native of York, Was Very Talented and Versatile. Also of interest: Beautiful First Moravian Church in York, known for its neat features and Photographer Craig Walker, Pulitzer Prize winner and former York countian: 'I always had a camera' and Start Your Engines: World-renowned artist Jeff Koons drives into center of York's art community.
Former York City Economic Development Director Matt Jackson has reinforced the call for annual recognition of York County's many accomplished artists and entertainers.
In a guest column in the York Sunday News (5/2/10), Jackson is recommending, among many other good ideas, a York County Arts Hall of Fame.
Who would be possible inductees?
Jackson put up a sampling of names, many familiar to Yorktownsquare.com readers:
Music--- Dominick Argento: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer of lyric opera
--- Ed Kowalczyk, Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Gracey and Adam Kowalczyk of Live: Platinum-selling alternative rock musicians
--- Del McCoury: Grammy Award-winning bluegrass musician
--- Martie Erwin Seidel and The Dixie Chicks: Grammy-award winning country musicians
--- Chris Thorn of Blind Melon: Platinum-selling rock musicians (1989-1995)
--- Tim Warfield: Globe-trotting tenor saxophonist
Performing Arts
--- Temple Kane: Radio City Rockette and Broadway dancer
--- Cameron Mitchell: Film, television, Broadway actor, founding member of New York's Actor's Studio (1918-1994)
--- Ann Roth: Prolific, Academy Award-winning costume designer for films and Broadway
--- Charlie Thomas: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, member of The Drifters
Visual Arts
--- Jeff Koons: Internationally renowned pop artist
--- Horace Bonham: Internationally acclaimed Victorian painter (1835-1892)
--- Rob Evans: Nationally renowned painter and independent curator
--- Lewis Miller: Pioneering Pennsylvania German folk artist (1796-1882)
--- Lorann Jacobs: Prolific sculptor, city monument-maker
--- Charles Rudy: Nationally renowned sculptor, gifted teacher (1904-1986)
Literature and Drama
--- Rita Mae Brown: Prolific, best-selling author, screenwriter
--- John Luther Long: Playwright and novelist, author of "Madame Butterfly," inspiration for Puccinni's operatic masterpiece (1855-1927)
--- Ken Ludwig: Prolific Broadway playwright
Architecture and Public Design
--- Dempwolf Family: Victorian architects extraordinaire (posthumously)
--- Frank Dittenhafer: Architect of a city's renaissance
Also of interest:
For another bunch of Arts & Entertainment achievers with York County roots, check out: York County Arts Hall of Fame.
For a host of posts on York County celebrities, click here.
short list should include: Music - Dr. Robert Hart Baker, Performing Arts - Jacqueline Sutton, Visual Arts - Mary Cassat, Stephen Etnier, John H. Rudy (stained glass), Literature - James Rudisill (also he could fit most well into Visual Arts!), and Architecture & Public Design - C. William Dize, Edward Havilland. These individuals work yet stand the test of time.
Does Steve Zirnkilton have a twitter site or facebook?
I knew him when he was a very young man and also his Mother Jane.
Rosa, I know his email address is listed at his website: http://zirnkilton.com.
Jim McClure