The welcome mat is out for Elva Hurst, a chalk talk artist from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Her presentations can be enjoyed when visiting Pennsylvania at her studio, Barnyard Art Studio & Gallery.  She can also be seen on Facebook under the name of her studio. In her presentations she not only shares her artistic ability but her inspiration and patriotism dedicated to all ages.  She will be presenting programs April 13-15 in the Greater Cincinnati, Dayton and Greater Miami Valley areas.

Saturday, April 13:

• 11:30 a.m. – St. Paul Lutheran Church, 106 Maple Street (corner of Lind Street), Reading, Ohio 

Program:  “Then Comes Spring” (following a hospitality brunch fellowship)

• 6:00 p.m. – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) George Rogers Clark Memorial Post 8437, 5075 Enon-Xenia Road #B, Enon/Fairborn, Ohio

              Program:  “Memories of the Greatest Generation” (following full menu dinner)

*Raffle for the chalk drawing gifted by Elva to the presenting venue

Sunday, April 14:

• 11:30 a.m. – St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 7128 Stine Road, Enon - Community Outreach Brunch

              Noon Program:  “The Cross” 

• 2:30 p.m. – Springfield Fortnightly Musical Group (part of monthly series) - Refreshments

                      Northridge United Methodist Church, 4610 Derr Road, Springfield, Ohio

             Program:  “Our Great American Songs”

• 6:00 p.m. – Zion Lutheran Church, 14 W. Walnut Street, Tipp City, Ohio

Program:  “Patchwork Memories” (focusing on the history and love of quilting)

Monday, April 15:

• Noon – St. John’s Lutheran Church, 141 S. Ludlow Street, Dayton, Ohio

              Program:  “You Can Make A Difference” (focusing on lighthouses/beacons of light)

Downtown coalition of urban churches 

         and community at large invited to participate

• 6:00 p.m. – Brandeberry Winery, 5118 W. Jackson Road, Enon/Yellow Springs. Ohio

Program:  “Caring and Sharing” (focusing on unity and brotherhood) *Raffle

          Each presentation will be different so, if desired, individuals can travel to and see more than one chalk talk.  To encourage families to attend, there is no admission charge for these chalk talks.  There will be an opportunity for a free will donation at each venue to help cover the expense of bringing Elva here to present.  Spread the word of this special opportunity to have an inspiring morning, afternoon or evening.

For further information or questions, contact Hilda Fohs at 937-925-5182.  (over)

Featured speaker will be Elva Hurst; she will present one of her famous Chalk Art Talks.  Elva grew up in a large, conservative Mennonite Family in Ephrata where she attended a one-room Amish and Mennonite school.  Art was viewed as frivolous by many of those around her, but that did not keep Elva from etching scenes in between chores on the family dairy farm.

When Elva was in eighth grade, her teacher noticed her artistic talent and encouraged her to become more observant to detail.  Because eighth grade was the highest level of education Elva's parents and the school would permit, Elva left school to help out on her parents' farm.  In her free time, Elva began to teach herself how to paint.  She saved her pennies to purchase art books and spent hours watching other artists at work.  She followed their advice:  PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE on whatever items she could find around the farm.  Elva's parents began to see that their daughter's artistic talent was more than a "passing phase".  Her father assisted her by buying her art supplies and driving her to gift shops to offer her work for sale.  Thus, her art career began by painting at her mother's kitchen table.  Her family had neither television nor radio for entertainment; instead, Elva's mother would read books aloud to her

during the long hours that she spent painting.

Now married, Elva has a family of her own.  She and her husband, Ray, live on a small farm in Lititz where she paints at her own kitchen table.  She has long since stopped selling her work at gift shops and now has more work than she can handle, painting special custom orders.

In recent years yet another form of painting has become her primary focus:  chalk talks. Before audiences, Elva uses chalk to draw a large picture illustrating a story that is presented with pre-recorded music and narration.  The chalk talks were born out of Elva's love for the arts and a deep desire from within to share the wonderful good news of the Gospel that brings purpose, excitement, and adventure into her life. 

• Elva Hurst is a self-taught chalk artist. The Lititz-area woman visits churches, schools, retirement homes, military bases and other venues ...

• Elva's Barnyard Art Studio is open April through December from 10-4 on Fridays and Saturdays; and visits by appointment are welcome.