HEY, CITIZEN, WE SHARE ONE MISSION Welcome, citizen of Harrisburg! Tell me, has anyone ever asked you: “Hey, where are you from?” And you answered with a low voice, “I’m from Harrisburg...” With a polite and interested face, the asker inquired again: “What’s that - Harrisburg?” You shrugged and explained that it is the capital of Pennsylvania adding, “Yes, unfortunately, I’m from there.” You are not alone! To me, though, these words of regret are not because I am sorry to live in this this city, but because most Americans don’t know Harrisburg is such a cool, unique place! Harrisburg’s glory is really infamy as a dangerous place, considered the city of bankruptcy, and disparity between those who live and work here. But, hey, don’t listen to people from other cities! Every day we hear more negative statistics about our city; how many people consider our rich history, European architecture, the gorgeous Riverfront, and even about us —the citizens of this city! Our city has a great potential for growth and development; it is one of the most convenient and comfortable topographically for inexpensive travel. Where is Philadelphia? Two hours away! Washington - 3 hours away! New York - 3 hours away! Canada - 6 hours away! Our city has a lot of art collections, artists, and a variety of organizations that support arts and culture such as the Art Council, Cultural Enrichment Fund, etc. We are residents of a small city there are large bookstores, a famous research center for children and adults, state museums, the oldest libraries, business centers, the capitol state, a huge gallery and bar at HMAC, coffee shops, the historic Midtown, and wide and beautiful Susquehanna River! Do you love to ride horses on City Island? Have you toured galleries every 3rd in the Burg? Do you work in the Capitol, or is your church on State Street? Then you already know, that you can breathe and live in this city, and that this city is open to you, your development, and the arts. We have known how to criticize; now we must learn how to love the place where we live! In this first issue, we want to open a new view of Harrisburg. We are: current students and graduates of HACC, freelance photographers, and novice writers. This issue includes a dedication to fresh viewpoints and opinions, the most interesting galleries and workshops, The Make Space, and articles and poems from our young writers. Want to know what most people think of the place where they live? Are you interested in photography? Do you enjoy reading lyrics or poetry? Then flip through: look, read to the end, and become a part of us. This is the first independent magazine where anyone can take part; we’re open to every resident who would like to share experiences, opinions, photos, and are not afraid to say, “I love Harrisburg! I love art! And I want you to feel the same!” Au revoir. Purpose: Our goal is to create a rich and diverse magazine filled with news, photos, or videos about our city in order to attract new and interesting people to work with us. Our city is so unique and diverse that although our population is less than
fifty thousand, we are comparable in individuality with Philadelphia. In size and artwork, our magazine could suit the citizens of big cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. Welcome to your world, resident of the capital of Pennsylvania!
WIKIPEDIA: Harrisburg’s Market Square. Formerly the site of a market in Downtown Harrisburg, today it is a public transport hub and commercial center. Downtown Harrisburg has two major performance centers. The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, which was completed in 1999, is the first center of its type in the United States where education, science and the performing arts take place under one roof. The Forum, a 1,763-seat concert and lecture hall built in 1930-31, is a state-owned and operated facility located within the State Capitol Complex. Since 1931, The Forum has been home to the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Beginning in 2001, downtown Harrisburg saw a surge of commercial nightlife development. This has been credited with reversing the city’s financial decline, and has made downtown Harrisburg a destination for events from jazz festivals to Top-40 nightclubs. Harrisburg is also the home of the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest agricultural exhibition of its kind in the nation. Farmers from all over Pennsylvania come to show their animals and participate in competitions. Livestock are on display for people to interact with and view. In 2004, Harrisburg hosted CowParade, an international public art exhibit that has been featured in major cities all over the world. Fiberglass sculptures of cows are decorated by local artists, and distributed over the city centre, in public places such as train stations and parks. They often feature artwork and designs specific to local culture, as well as city life and other relevant themes.
son’s objection, could not file without the mayor’s approval, and in any event had circumvented state procedures for distressed cities. Instead, a state appointed receiver was to take charge of the city’s finances. Governor Tom Corbett appointed bond attorney David Unkovic as the city’s receiver, but Unkovic resigned after only four months. Later in an op-ed piece Unkovic blamed corrupt influence and disdain for legal restraints on debt for creating an intractable financial problem. As creditors began to file lawsuits seeking to seize and sell off city assets, a new receiver, William Lynch, was appointed. As of July 2012, the City Council remained at odds with the new receiver’s plans for tax increases and determined to seek the protection of the bankruptcy process, while the Mayor continues to oppose bankruptcy. A state law moratorium on filing a bankruptcy petition originally slated to end July 1 is being extended to November 30, 2012. But even after the moratorium expires the law seems to allow only the state receiver, not the City Council with or without the Mayor, to file. In sum, the situation and even who is in charge of the situation, remains unresolved as of this writing ( July 2012) Author: LEmS BELKA
21st Century Fiscal Difficulties, Bankruptcy, and Receivership Aerial view of Harrisburg Missing audits, convoluted transactions, including swap agreements make it difficult to state how much debt the city owes. The best estimates put total debt over $1.5 billion which would mean that every resident would owe $30,285. These numbers do not reflect the debt of the school system ($13 million deficit expected for 2012), or unfunded pension and healthcare obligations. The heart of the city’s financial woes is the trash to electricity plant, the Harrisburg incinerator that was supposed to generate income but instead, because of increased borrowing, has a debt of $320 million. On October 11, 2011, the City of Harrisburg filed a Chapter 9 bankruptcy petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Judge Mary France dismissed the petition however, because the City Council majority that filed it over Mayor Linda Thomp-
ONLY hArriSBurG - iNDePeNDeNt Art MAGAZiNe
5
6
Winter Fairytales
^beauty is&
We cried when the river did collide snow and ice streams frozen into delectable chunks so enticing� we begged our parents to stop the rusty Ford so we could feast.Even the sidewalks looked scooped high with creamy puffs� sweet globs flecked with cookies or candy bits. Snuggled under the warm white blanket�buildings seemed friendlier�iced like a cupcake�the world enchanted so that storybooks shook out their contents to walk the streets. But beware of fairytales.. where there�is a confection house there is a....� - Witch. Is winter as an adult. Or hell. When the riven waters seem to conceal damned souls beneath its cool�indifferent flow. You stalk the sidewalk harrowed -� all dark eye-circles and dead skin flecks -� buried in cloaked layers ugly bulk.The rows of houses scowl�each shrouded in grim� barren colors�bereft of their personalities like captives hibernating fat in their cages till... spring.
ONLY hArriSBurG MAGAZiNe : Architecture
9
Author: CHRISTINE KELLEY
10
Author : ROLAND BARTHES BOOK : “Extracts from camera Lucidia”
11
“In ouR cITy, EAcH squIRREl cAREs AbouT pRoTEcTIng wHERE IT lIVEs. IT follows THE pRIncIplEs of loVE AnD InsTIncT To gIVE THE bEsT To THE gEnERATIon. HARRIsbuRg, wHAT HAs HAppEnED wITH cITIzEns of youR TREE?”
ONLY hArriSBurG MAGAZiNe : Architecture
14
ONLY hArriSBurG MAGAZiNe : Architecture