Gala Party Benefits KSAT: Easton’s Museum Without Walls
Most galas have a red carpet, but not An Evening on the Trail, the KSAT September 2018 fundraiser. “We didn’t have a red carpet—we had a giant red arch!” said Monica Seligmann, event chair and KSAT board member.
That night, 150 donors and friends of the trail strolled through that iconic red sculpture, Untitled (Arch for the KSAT) by Karl Stirner, to enter the gala. The event had a magical, other-worldly aura, complete with artistically lit sunflower-bedecked tents, trail-themed cocktails, and a farm-to-table dinner. The star of the show? The artwork lining the trail, dramatically spotlighted against the evening sky.
A highlight of the evening was the nail-biter of an auction that had guests’ heads swiveling madly between two dueling bidders. At stake was a tour for six at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, personally led by its donor, Daniel H. Weiss, president and CEO of the Met and KSAT Arts Advisory Council member. When the bidding reached its peak, Weiss dramatically offered to host two tours so both bidders could enjoy the hotly contested prize—thus doubling the donations to KSAT. ◆
An Evening on the Trail also generated donations to the following ongoing goals:
- Artist-designed benches
- Lighting for selected sculptures
- Sculpture installations
- Fitness trail sculptures
- Movie nights
- Young Masters Wall program
Thank you to our guests, sponsors, and benefit committee for making the evening such a success!
Sponsors: Arnhold Foundation, Bowls Foundation, Kennon Surveying Services Inc., Coray and Cynthia Kirby, Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Lafayette College, Bruce Maggin, Dick and Mary Jane McAteer, Nurture Nature Center, Rose Wealth Advisors, Monica Seligmann and Chuck Peterson, Unity Bank, and VM Development Group
Benefit Committee: Oliver Andes, Mark Eyerly, Jeffrey Gilbert, Nancy Handzo, Mary Kennon, Donna Kneule, Susan Mangler, Richard McAteer, Phil Mitman, Suzanne Newhard, Gretchen Rice, Monica Seligmann, Jim Toia ◆
Fall’s Young Masters Wall Comes Alive
On a damp, dreary gray Saturday morning in October, some colorful activity was brewing at the entrance to the Karl Stirner Arts Trail. With brushes in hand and paint-filled palettes at the ready, second, fourth, and fifth graders from Easton Arts Academy were painting their masterpieces within one of the wall’s eight golden frames.
Four of Kailey Atkinson’s second graders used travel postcards as their inspiration. Atkinson found some old postcards at a flea market and let the students choose one. The postcard project synched up with a unit of the students’ English curriculum, which focused on the lost art of letter writing, explained Atkinson. Fourth and fifth graders from Brittany Warner’s class worked on original designs.
“This is what it’s all about—this is the moment,” said Danny Moyer, watching as the kids, supported by their parents and family members, worked on their pieces. Moyer, the Young Masters Wall coordinator, is a middle and high school art teacher in the Whitehall school district. ◆
Gift from George Ball: Pieces from Famed Sculptor Steve Tobin
Last year, George Ball, chairman and CEO of the W. Atlee Burpee Company, donated 11 sculptures by Steve Tobin valued at $1.7 million to Karl Stirner Arts Trail Inc.
Tobin, an early protégé of Karl Stirner, is best known for his Trinity Root, inspired by the fallen sycamore tree that shielded Trinity Chapel during the devastation on 9/11 in New York City. One of his sculptures now installed along the trail includes the bold red Late Bronze Root (2009), made from castings of a tree’s delicate root.
Other Tobin works also echo natural formations, such as termite hills, sprouting plants, and germinating seeds. Mr. Ball’s generosity was honored as part of An Evening on the Trail, and during his address to the attendees, he spoke of his deep connection to the trail and the importance of public art. ◆
Cold Moon, Warm Colors, Still Hearts: Winter Solstice 2018
The pictures tell the story … of how a group of 
intrepid revelers sang songs and celebrated the Winter Solstice on Dec. 21 amidst Rachel Hayes’ still-bright banners.
In the words of Peter and Randi Schmidt, who led the celebration at 5:23 p.m., “Candles marked the trail, carried lanterns lead the way, and local trumpeter Jeremy Joseph played taps as the last moments of autumn faded away. Right on cue the full moon, known as the ‘cold moon’ as it heralds dropping temperatures, broke through thick clouds, illuminating the warm colors of Rachel’s textiles (above) and the faces of the solstice celebrants whose hearts were left still by the magic of the moment.” ◆
Children and adults alike now have the power to create music in a very simply way, opening up a new experience for many walking the trail.
“We wanted an element for our visitors that qualified as an artistic moment … available to anyone of any age or musical experience,” said Jim Toia, chair of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail Board and director of Lafayette’s Community-Based Teaching Program.
The musical path includes six sets of chimes. Four are arranged in half circles and tuned to complement one another. Two straight sets of chimes bookend the path. One (nearest the dog park) is tuned to play Beethoven’s “Für Elise” when you
drag a stick over it. The other plays “Für Easton,” composed by music major Johnny Gossick ’18, which rearranges the notes of “Für Elise.”
This project completes a design initiated by students in a 2015 Sustainable Solutions engineering class with Lafayette Prof. Ben Cohen. Bethlehem architect Joe Biondo collaborated with steel fabricators on the chime engineering and with Easton’s Department of Public Works on landscaping to complete the students’ concepts. Thank you also for support from Carpenter Technology. ◆
Runner’s Eye View:
The Artful Dash 5K run/walk’s 58 runners—aged 9 to 75—gave KSAT their all on Oct. 14, 2018.
By Susan Heard, 47, College Hill
I’ve been running for about three years now and have raced every distance from 5K to marathon. My short runs are mostly on the KSAT, and the Artful Dash came along just when I needed inspiration to continue training—I was hit by a car last May and fractured my ankle. Recovery’s been frustrating, but that beautiful trail always lifts my spirits.
The sidelines were crowded with people ready for fun and to support the runners. I loved the cheering as the final runner came in—the Easton cheerleaders were terrific! The best part of the KSAT race is that it didn’t feel competitive (although plenty of fast runners competed—Ryan Epple ran the fastest men’s time at 0:18:36; Sarah Jones Fairchild was the fastest woman at 0:20:40).
I hope more people run the Artful Dash next year—the prizes were awesome! And supporting the community and KSAT, which makes our city sparkle even brighter, means a lot to me.
Thank you to the 2018 Artful Dash sponsors: Aardvark Sportshop, Easton Main Street, Easton Outdoor Company, Harmony Animal Hospital, Nike, OWowCow Creamery, PA Foot and Ankle, Rutlers Screen Printing, Salon at the Silk, and Walmart.
Kudos to the Run Committee: Lynn Schoof (chair), Amy Boccadoro, Adam Fairchild, Chrystall Jenkins, Katja Kruppe, and Josh Rea.
You can sign up for the 2019 Artful Dash scheduled for Oct. 13 at runsignup.com. ◆
New Trail Maps
The updated KSAT Artist and Sculpture Guide and Map, redesigned by Amy Boccadoro, is here!
Download it on karlstirnerartstrail.org. Pick one up at Grand Eastonian, the Simon Silk Mill, Genesis Bicycles, and wherever Karl Stirner Arts Trail Mix is sold. (Visit our website for details.) ◆
Karl Stirner Arts TRAIL MIX
$10 for a 15-oz box, available in
Berry Nutty and Cranberry Heart Healthy
Thank you to Easton businesses who are supporting this fundraiser :
◗ Al’s Cleaners
◗ Easton Outdoor Company
◗ Genesis Bicycle
◗ Giacomo’s on the Hill
◗ Green Harvest
◗ Integrated Auto Services
◗ Mercantile Home
◗ Nurture Nature
◗ Salon at the Silk
◗ Weyerbacher Brewery
◗ Easton Wine Project
Banners Mark the Trail: Words and Images
Community, Art, Imagination, Nature, Green Museum, Stewardship, Explore…
These words are a snapshot of the mission of the KSAT. Easton photographers Jerry Alan Twomey, Elizabeth Keegin Colley, Katja Kruppe. and William Peterson captured these words in images. The banners run along Bushkill Drive from North 3rd Street to the “blue bridge.” ◆
Big Things on the Horizon for the KSAT in 2019
◗ Exciting new art installations including Love Motel for Insects by artist/
biologist/educator Brandon Ballengee
◗ Fall concert at the Musical Path by Larry Stockton’s Percussion Ensemble
◗ New plantings, enhanced signage, and improvements to the nature trail trailhead.
◗ Nature journaling station installation—dedication April 6
◗ KSAT Cleanup Day—April 20
◗ Movies Along the Trail—June 15 and Aug. 17
◗ 2nd Annual Artful Dash 5K run and walk—Oct. 13 runsignup.com
Dates and details: www.karlstirnerartstrail.org and FB @KarlStirnerArtsTrail
Steps along KSAT – Spring 2019
