Langhorne Council for the Arts is hosting a community-wide celebration of Langhorne’s native son, primitive folk artist Edward Hicks, on Saturday, April 23, from noon to 4 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, April 24.
Best known for his paintings of “The Peaceable Kingdom,” Hicks was born in the Hicks House (now Langhorne Coffee House), developed his artistic skills by painting carriages at a shop behind the Tomlinson-Huddleston House, worked as a bartender at the Langhorne Hotel, and was married at the Middletown Friends Meetinghouse. The Hicks House, Langhorne Hotel and Meetinghouse will be venues for the day’s many activities, along with the Richardson House and the Anna Mary Williamson Museum and Library.
For the children, there will be a petting zoo, face painting, and colonial games and crafts.
For all ages, there will be costumed actors portraying Hicks in his youth and older years, live colonial-era music, a pop-up art gallery of Hicks’ most famous paintings, a virtual walking tour of Langhorne and its ties to the hicks family, craft vendors and artists of present-day Langhorne. There will also be a lecture on the elements of Hicks’ work as influenced by his Quaker faith.
The highlight of the day will be the dedication of three murals, created by Langhorne artist Jean-Marc Dubus, that honor Hicks, his art and his commitment to peace.
Langhorne Council for the Arts is inviting community members to get involved in the following ways:
– Plein air artists can paint during this event
– Those with items that relate to Hicks’ themes of the lion and lamb, Noah’s Ark, William Penn and George Washington, and messages of peace, can display them (these can be decorative items, needlework, woodcarvings, folk art, etc.)
– For those who play colonial-era music, LCA will find a nice venue for a performance
– LCA would love to have a short video made to document the mural process and Hicks’ relationship to Langhorne (it’s been taking video clips and stills for this purpose, but needs help in pulling it all together)
– Businesses and organizations that appreciate how the arts contribute to the vibrancy of the community are invited to take out an ad in the program book; quarter-, half- and full-page ads are available for $25, $50 and $100; those who take a full-page ad will receive a print of one of Hicks’ famous works to be displayed in their place of business
– Tax-deductible donations to LCA will be gratefully accepted prior to and on the day of the event
– Artists and handcrafters, particularly of colonial-era crafts, are invited by Historic Langhorne Association to display and sell their work as a vendor; charge is $10 per table; those interested can call Terri Little at 215-436-7448
This event is free to the public. Food will be sold in multiple locations. Attendees will be expected to adhere to COVID-safety recommendations in place at the time of the event.
For more information, email LanghorneArtsEvents@gmail.com or call Pat Mervine at 215-752-0854.
