Joie Formando
Assoc. Arts & Culture

This piece was done by Anna Phillips, 12, from Manheim.
This piece was done by Anna Phillips, 12, from Manheim.

Despite the blustery weather and freezing temperatures, the Ware Center was packed with people on Friday, March 1 for their First Friday bash.  The building opened their doors to the Lancaster County Young Artists gallery, a showing of the film “Miss Representation,” and an acoustic performance by Pennsylvania folk artist, Leo DiSanto.
The art gallery, which highlighted outstanding artwork from grades 7-12 in schools throughout Lancaster County, showcased more than 400 pieces, Gold Medal and Special awards at the Ware Center and Silver and Exhibition awards at Mulberry Art Studios, located just two blocks away.  Teens were awarded Exhibition, Silver Medal, Gold Medal, Merit, and Awards of Excellence. Over the years, the program gathered support from local art organizations, individual artists, community businesses, civic leaders, volunteers and schools in order for students to easily enter their works without the trouble of paying a fee or restrictions on the numbers of their entries.  The best of these works enjoy exhibition in professional venues that are open to the public.  The exhibition celebrates the creative expressions of the young people of Lancaster County and will be open from March 1-28 at the Ware Center.
“Miss Representation,” a film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and aired on “OWN – Oprah Winfrey Network.” The fim explores how the media exploits women and how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to an underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson, Condoleezza Rice, and Nancy Pelosi and tells the story of the limited and belittlement of women in society. Due to the popularity of the film, the Ware Center opened an extra room to accommodate over 400 patrons to the event.

Leo DiSanto is a singer and songwriter from Pennsylvania.
Leo DiSanto is a singer and songwriter from Pennsylvania.

Leo DiSanto is the frontman for Vinegar Creek Constituency, winners of the first annual Delfest Bluegrass Band Competition in 2008. In 2011, DiSanto released his first solo album, “The Moon, A Silver Dime,” which sounds like like a funky mixture of Bob Dylan, Elvis, and “country junkyard rock.” DiSanto performed in the lobby of the Ware Center, welcoming people into the cozy atmosphere and entertaining audience members for well over two hours. While he was the sole performer for the evening, he certainly made his presence known – his music was contagious and upbeat and provided the perfect complement to the artwork scattered throughout the first floor of the building.
Want more information about the events at the Ware Center? Visit http://www.millersville.edu/muarts/venues/ware-center/ for a list of upcoming events… and remember, most tickets are free for Millersville students.