IndiePA | Pennsylvania's Indie Arts Guide

Scott Krycia Photography

IndiePA — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:26:40 +0000

Scott Krycia is a fine art photographer based out of Bethlehem, PA. If my photos have a mission, it is this: capture rarely viewed scenes and environments and present them in an interesting way.

It may be a lonesome tree on an isolated hill or the dark interior of an abandoned building. Whatever the locale, on the best of days these images will stir up unexpected feelings and thoughts in the viewer.

My aim is to create minimalist images, reflecting man’s relationship and eternal struggle with the elemental forces which shape our world and the intangible search for fragments of human meaning within that environment.

I hope you enjoy these images as much as I have enjoyed making them.

Who: Scott Krycia Photography / Scott Krycia
What: Still Minimalist Images
Where: Scott Krycia Photography | Etsy | ArtsyDiva | Home & Planet

UNIT THEORY

IndiePA — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:41:06 +0000

Our music intertwines with everything life represents. What we witness in reality is what we write about. Visuals come into play when writing music for our self, and sometimes a lot can agree on it and relate to its subject. We have a deep passion for what we do and it’s something we are good at. Our work can be described as great from some and not so great from others.

If you let opinions stop you from doing what you love then you don’t love it for it enough for an opinion to put an end to what your mind led you to believe.

Who: UNIT THEORY / Bryan (Guitar & Vocals) and Franky (Drums)
What: Rock, Alternative Rock, Kringe Rock
Where: Unit Theory | Facebook

Vintage Vinyl Journals

IndiePA — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:14:22 +0000

It all began when Katie Pietrak, a music enthusiast and craft hobbyist, was organizing her own record collection one afternoon – a collection of several thousand albums she started amassing when she was 15. Something clicked while she was admiring the shiny black vinyl, the colorful circular labels and the vintage album art. Why not take these beautiful albums and make them into notebooks?

Inspired by the idea of creating something truly unique, Pietrak, who has an MBA from St. Joseph’s University and spent her career in the corporate world, decided to move back to her family’s home in Telford, PA. With the support of her family and her boyfriend, an avid writer, she launched Vintage Vinyl Journals in the spring of 2011.

“I created the journals as a new way to repurpose and reuse the vinyl albums I have been collecting for years,” Pietrak says. “It’s a great way for me to remember the music I love and still listen to. I love to doodle and write and making these journals marries two of my favorite interests.”

Today she has a healthy e-commerce web site and hundreds of journals available for purchase crossing several genres. Whether you bopped to the Beach Boys, hustled to the Bee Gees, rocked with Led Zeppelin or moshed to Nirvana, there is a journal on her site waiting for you. She accepts custom requests as well, and has recently created journals using records by Katy Perry, Bon Iver, Radiohead, The White Stripes and Taylor Swift.

Pietrak takes customer feedback to heart, and is thrilled to have received very positive reviews. “From day one we have had a lot of interest and customers are even going a little ‘vintage’ with their feedback,” she says. “We’ve heard, ‘they are really neato’ to ‘tres cool’ to ‘awesome!’”

The company unites all of Pietrak’s passions with her organization and business skills. The journals are truly works of art, handcrafted using the authentic record itself on the front, which is cut into a square so the label is in the center. Pietrak says most of the albums she uses are scratched or damaged and since they can’t be played anymore, they would otherwise be trashed. For the back and to reinforce the book, Pietrak uses a section of the album cover making each album truly unique. Inside are 240 acid-free high quality unlined recycled pages. The paper is thick and toothy, making it a pleasure to write on.

“We have great interest and pride in our journals,” Pietrak says. “We hope others enjoy writing in them as much as we enjoy making them.”

Biography written by Jennifer Raphael, a Philadelphia-based copywriter and author.

The HodgePodgery

IndiePA — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:28:32 +0000

The HodgePodgery is a collection of local artists and crafters committed to strengthening and growing their business, recognizing the power to make changes in the community, as well as the economy, is within the individual who contributes to the good of the whole. Working together by our unique talents, we strive to support each other by sharing ideas, listening to needs, and building a strong local creative community.

The HodgePodgery
1320 N 3rd St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102

juNxtaposition

IndiePA — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:17:39 +0000

juNxtaposition (junks-ta-po-zish’-un) noun, the art and placement of junk for design purposes

Who: juNxtaposition / Jeanne Cherry
What: Upcycled Objets d′Art & Recycled Jewelry
Where: juNxtaposition

Doggone Couture

IndiePA — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:06:38 +0000

I am the only Philadelphian to hold a certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Pet Product Design and Marketing. I design and custom make party hats and matching bone bibs or bandanas for your pet’s special day. Just as we celebrate our birthdays, our fury friends deserve to be celebrated. I make ceramic pet urns as well. This idea started as a class project, but I soon learned that pet owners want to save their pet’s ashes as a way to honor them and keep them.

Who: Doggone Couture / Gladys Delgado-Garced
What: Custom Designs for Pets
Where: Doggone Couture

Divergence Design

IndiePA — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:47:46 +0000

‘Diverge’ is defined as ‘parting from the mainstream.’

A native of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Kim lived in Maryland for 25 years before moving to New England 2007 where she founded Divergence Design. With a BFA in theatre from Point Park University and graduate studies in Art Direction at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Kim has an eclectic design background. She worked with master goldsmiths in Frederick, Maryland and Burlington, Vermont gaining a deeper understanding of designing with precious metals gemstones, and diamonds.

Kim’s work is influenced by ancient art, architecture, decorating and period fashion. ‘My wish is to create unique, art-inspired fashion jewelry that can be worn for workday, everyday and special occasions.’

Lauren Thomson Design

IndiePA — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:26:08 +0000

I run a small and very creative design firm that specializes in producing lovely, clean and efficient websites, unique artwork, and crisp, clever copywriting for small to medium-sized businesses, particularly for artists, start-ups, and the self-employed.

As a painter and metalsmith myself, I understand the special, customized touch that a small creative venture needs and prefers.

Who: Lauren Thomson Design
What: Artful Design & Marketing
Where: Lauren Thomson Design

The Enchanted Cupboard

IndiePA — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:50:59 +0000

I started making wooden toys for my own kids and then expanded into making them for friends and family. I am an artist who fell in love with toys. I was really in love with this new freedom I had found in expressing myself and my art in a very real and interactive way that was not just artwork on a wall.

I love the magical and enchanting feel of working in the world of miniatures and seeing the wonderment in a child’s eyes when they first see my toys. My toys are made of wood and paper clay and hand painted with non-toxic paints and finishes.

Who: The Enchanted Cupboard / Beccijo Neff
What: Enchanting Handmade Miniatures
Where: The Enchanted Cupboard | Etsy | The Shops @ 16 N. Main

Fabricatedends

IndiePA — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:50:32 +0000

Amber Kane is a Fiber artist with her degree in Art Education from Messiah College. Amber creates her work in her home studio located in Mechanicsburg, PA. Kane’s work is deeply rooted in process and discovery. Her goal is connect to each piece, learn through the process of creating. Amber designs are inspired by a combination of nature and pure imagination. Kane uses a loom, crocheting, and felting to create her one of a kind pieces. Kane tries to allow at least a half an hour to day dream each evening, as it is important to her creative process, to take time to be still, and allow her mind to freely flow and make connections. During these times are when most of her ideas begin to develop. She allows ideas to float around in her head for awhile before actually making them, trying to get problems worked out first in her mind.

Who: Fabricatedends / Amber Kane
What: Artfully Handmade Textiles
Where: Fabricatedends | Etsy | Willow on State | Pennsylvania Guild Store | papernstitch