Highlights of the 2013 Gettysburg Festival

Editor's Note: Couldn't be in Gettysburg for this year's Gettysburg Festival? We sent our digital reporter interns out to some of the events. Below are some highlights of events from this year's programming.

Local Galleries Host Edible Art Tour Preview Party

Story and Photography by Casey Saylor

Art displays at the Gettysburg Frame Shop

Fine art, food and wine intertwined when five Gettysburg art galleries opened their doors for the Edible Art Tour Preview Party, Thursday, June 13. From 5 to 9 p.m., ticket holders walked through Historic Gettysburg to participating galleries, enjoying both artistic and culinary creations while rubbing elbows with featured artists and chefs.

One such artist was John Paul Strain, who could be found at the King James Gallery Thursday evening. After pursuing Western art for 11 years, Strain shifted to a historical, Civil War style, which he has stuck with for 24 years. By living in Gettysburg, portraying a cavalry commander in reenactments and conducting endless research, Strain strives to make every painting as historically accurate as possible. “Other cavalry men can look at my paintings and see that I know what I’m doing,” he said, motioning toward the saddled horses on his canvas. In honor of the 150^th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Strain has spent the last number of years creating three paintings, one portraying an event on each day of the battle. All three paintings are on display and available for purchase at the King James Gallery on 15 Baltimore St., Gettysburg.

John Paul Strain has created three exclusive paintings for the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Here, he was touching up a print of his third 150^th anniversary painting with oil paint. Both prints and originals of his work are available at the King James Gallery.

The Adams County Arts Council, Gettysburg Frame Shop, King James Gallery, Lord Nelson’s Gallery and Lord Nelson’s Satellite Gallery at the Gettysburg Fire Hall all hosted displays during the Edible Art Tour Preview Party. The Blue Parrot Bistro, Garryowen Irish Pub, Gettysburg Hotel, Inn at Herr Ridge, Wyndham Gettysburg and the Historic Fairfield Inn (1757) were featured for culinary art, one at each of these locations.

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Hunter Hayes Highlights the 2013 Gettysburg Festival

Story and Photography by Casey Saylor

Hayes hits a high note during his sold-out performance at the Gettysburg Festival. The piano in the background would be used later in his performance for his hit single, “Wanted.”

As the sun shined on a mild, rainless evening, mills of people from the area and beyond were attracted to Gettysburg on Friday, June 14 for the Gettysburg Festival’s headliner: the Hunter Hayes concert. Held on Memorial Field at the local Gettysburg College, approximately 4,000 people were expected to attend the sold-out concert, with some reports of people arriving at the grounds as early as 6 a.m. to claim their seats. Later, as Gettysburg College parking lots frantically filled at concert time, parking accommodations were extended to the nearby HACC Campus, where buses shuttled concert goers to the stadium.

At approximately 7:05 p.m., excited chants from the waiting crowd brought Hayes and his band onstage. “It is so wonderful to be with you tonight Gettysburg!” He shouted above the crowd, then launched into his first song. Although all his music was well received, the crowd’s greatest reactions were to the opening chords of his hits: “Storm Warning,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” “Wanted” and “I Want Crazy.”

Conveying tons of energy through his 5-foot, 6-inch frame, Hayes worked the crowd, giving them both the hits they loved while mixing in a taste of his lesser known songs. While tunes such as “Rainy Season” and “Faith to Fall Back On” broke up the hits, Hayes touched on a serious note as he formally dedicated “Where We Left Off,” an exclusive song from the film Act of Valor, to “all the men and women in the audience who served.”

All throughout the night, Hayes proved an extremely gracious host, making sure that his audience recognized his appreciation of them from the beginning of his show (“Seriously, thank you so much for showing up tonight…” [embarrassed laugh]), to the continuous thank-you acknowledgements at the end of it.

Hunter Hayes performs at the Gettysburg College campus.

After his final song, “I Want Crazy,” Hayes and his band left the stage, only to return after the ensuing applause and chants for an encore. After playing an original song written for fellow country artist Rascall Flatts titled “Play,” Hayes encouraged the audience to sing along with them to a cover of the pop-rock band Maroon 5 song, “This Love.”

As the lights went out and vendors collected their final sales, I interviewed a couple concert goers. When asked their favorite aspect of the show, most of their immediate responses were simply, “Hunter Hayes.” Two friends however, Mallory and Mallorie, claimed the Maroon 5 song as their favorite part. “It shows that he’s into more than country,” said Mallory. “[And] there was a part where he didn’t know the words, but that’s OK, because it made me feel better because I didn’t either!”

Hunter Hayes was voted Best New artist in 2012 by the Country Music Association. 

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Boritt’s Premiere Takes a Fresh Look at the Gettysburg Battle

Story and Photography by Casey Saylor

Crowds gathered Sunday afternoon for the final event of the 2013 Gettysburg Festival: the premiere showing of The Gettysburg Story. As the lights dimmed, the crowd was greeted by Festival Director Randy Prasse, who presented a number of formal thank-you acknowledgements to fellow employees, volunteers and sponsors of the festival. Although the festival is only 10 days long, Prasse explained, it took a full year of planning to make it happen. And, according to Prasse, planning is already underway for next year’s festival.

After this brief speech on the festival, Prasse introduced Jake Boritt to the stage, writer and director of the evening’s premiering film. After a short thank-you speech, Boritt addressed the crowd. “I know a lot of you know a lot about Gettysburg,” he said. “But you’ve never seen anything like what you’re about to see on the battlefield.” And with that, the film promptly began.

For the next hour, the big screen filled with gorgeous images of Gettysburg, many so striking that they could steal even a local’s breath away. “Over three days on this ground,” the narrator’s deep voice rang out, “America will live or die.” After this opening line, the film went on to tell the traditional story of the Battle of Gettysburg in an untraditional way: in chronological order, without actors and using the current Gettysburg National Military Park setting. This would mean that every battle, general, civilian and soldier mentioned would have to be brought to life onscreen solely by state-of-the-art camera work and narration. Not an easy task, but Boritt and his crew were able to successfully hit their mark.

As the final credits roll, the crowd gives Borritt’s film a standing ovation.

For instance, when a general such as Mead or Lee was mentioned, their monument would artfully fill the screen. Silhouettes of the generals’ statues against the fields their armies fought on often accompanied their narrated dialogue during the battle. As the narrator told the story, subscripts appeared at the base of the screen, identifying where the depicted area is in the park and the date/time the area was used during the 1863 battle. Phrases such as, “At this moment, on this day…” were often used by the narrator along with subscripts to keep the recent images connected to the 150-year-old events. Electronically generated maps mixed with aerial views of the battlefields were used to illustrate battle formations and strategies, while sound effects completed the essence of battle with horse whinnies, gunshots and the yells of soldiers. Obscure, sometimes amusing descriptions profiling generals, soldiers and civilians acted as comic relief as they portrayed the historic figures as layered people rather than their often stiff representation. Boritt describes the film’s soundtrack as a “pop version” of Civil War music.

Although this new documentary structure was certainly different, the premiere audience’s reaction proved it successful. In a brief Q & A session after the premiere, a woman shouted her agreement from the balcony. “Thank you… I’ve been coming to Gettysburg 11 years now… I’ve taken the tours, maps and museums… [but] now that I’ve seen the movie, I think I [finally] know what’s what!”

During the Q & A session, Boritt disclosed his plans for The Gettysburg Story to be aired on public television this coming November, right around the 150^th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. DVDs of the film should be available for sale in “a couple weeks,” according to Boritt.

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The Art of Storytelling with Jeff Shaara

Story and Photography by Brendan Raleigh

“There’s a story,” historical fiction novelist Jeff Shaara tells his audience.

The moment a young American soldier discovers a German concentration camp; the intimate yet historically-informative letters between John and Abigail Adams; the death of Albert Sidney Johnson, the second highest-ranking officer in the Confederate Army. “There’s a story.”

Jeff Shaara signs a copy of A Chain of Thunder.

Shaara, the 12-time New York Times bestselling author behind the novels Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure, delivered a lecture to history buffs and literature lovers alike on Saturday, June 15 at the Adams County Agricultural & Natural Resources Center. The lecture was a featured event of the sixth annual Gettysburg Festival, which took place from June 8 to June 16.

Shaara holds a personal connection to the town, as his late father Michael Shaara is the author of The Killer Angels, the basis of the movie Gettysburg.

After an outdoor luncheon in the center’s picnic shelter, Shaara and his fans entered the Agricultural & Natural Resources Center, where the author discussed a number of topics, ranging from the personal to the historical, including his path to becoming a writer, his relationship with his father and the historical events behind his books.

The focus of his oration, however, was on how he came to the stories he writes about. Rather than selecting a popular subject guaranteed to have a broad audience, Shaara instead searches for stories that have been practically untouched by writers and filmmakers, such as the Korean War or the Civil War’s Western Theater. By choosing these more obscure stories, he hopes to inspire the same passion and curiosity in his readers that he has experienced.

Shaara also noted his exclusive use of historical documents so as to maintain credibility with his audience, specifically the historians and Civil War purists who protest to the very concept of his novels, which place the reader in the mind of historic figures such as Robert E. Lee or Joshua Chamberlain.

Living historians gather for Jeff Shaara's presentation.

The phrase, “I bet you didn’t know that!” peppered throughout his lecture, Shaara discussed untold story after untold story, providing his audience with a number of new perspectives on American military history.

Following the path of his father, Shaara has written a dozen historical fiction novels since his outset in 1996. His first two novels concluded the trilogy started by Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels.

Despite the recent literary success experienced by Shaara and his father, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975, the younger writer lamented that his father never lived to see the fruits of his labors, passing away before the success of The Killer Angels and its movie adaptation.

Fortunately, Shaara found some solace in the fact that he was able to use his father’s original title for The Killer Angels for his own book, Gods and Generals, stating, “That is a bond that can never be broken.”

Following the lecture, Shaara held a book signing for his fans, in which his newest work, a Civil War novel entitled A Chain of Thunder, was available for purchase.

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The Lettermen Deliver Gettysburg Festival Performance

Story and photography by Brendan Raleigh

With their rich, close harmony vocals and classic sound, the 50s pop vocal trio The Lettermen brought an evening of warmth and nostalgia to Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater.

Boasting 18 gold albums worldwide, five Grammy nominations and a place in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Lettermen acted as one of the premier performances in the sixth annual Gettysburg Festival, which featured artists such as country singer Hunter Hayes and Surf’s Up: A Tribute to The Beach Boys.

Founding member Tony Butala, along with long-time members Bobby Poynton and Donovan Tea, were introduced by Randy Prasse, the executive director of the festival, and a montage of Dean Martin, Merv Griffin and a number of other television stars who had hosted presented The Lettermen, before diving into the performance with their 1969 hit, “Shangri-La.”

The group’s repertoire featured notably positive and uplifting messages, celebrating themes such as love and liberty in their covers of Frank Sinatra’s “More” and The Rascals’ “People Got to Be Free.” Encouraging the audience to embrace one another in, regardless of their relationship, the group was a source of unity and vibrancy throughout the night.

Founded in 1959 by Butala and bandmates Jim Pike and Bob Engemann, The Lettermen have seen numerous incarnations throughout the years. The trio has been its current form since 2011, when Poynton rejoined Butala and Tea, six years after his departure from the band in 1995. Hundreds of songs and dozens of albums have marked the success of the group’s 54-year-long, accolade-speckled career.

The Lettermen have performed at The Majestic eight to 10 times before their show on the evening of Saturday, June 15.

From Gettysburg, the trio will continue their 2013 tour, going to Annapolis, Maryland on June 28 and Ocean Grove, New Jersey on June 29. Butala and his bandmates’ busy tour schedule denotes the continuation of their already long and successful careers.

The Gettysburg Festival lasted from June 8 to June 16, featuring a lecture from historical fiction novelist Jeff Shaara, a concert from the U.S. Army Concert Band & Soldier’s Chorus, and over 60 other events and performances. 

July/August Issue Preview!

Festival Quick Draw adds easel action to downtown Gettysburg

By Casey Saylor

First Place Winner Jessica Albin

While walking the streets of Gettysburg on Wednesday, pedestrians had to be careful not to bump into the painters who set up shop on the sidewalks surrounding Lincoln Square. These painters were part of the Gettysburg Festival’s Quick Draw and Wet Sale, where they were given only two hours (between 3-5 p.m.) to produce masterpieces worthy of judging and auction. At 5 p.m. a bugle sang, signaling an end to working time, and the artists moved their work to the Wills House for judging in the Wet Paint Competition.

As the painters anxiously sat back, three judges stepped forward to critique their work: artists Mark Brockman, Freya Qually and Jennifer Van Stein. After 20 anxious minutes for the artists, the judges announced their results. Third- and second-place prizes, gift certificates donated by Blick Art Supplies, went to Jonathan Stasko and Dianne Lorden, respectively. First place, a $500 cash prize donated by ACNB, was awarded to Jane Albin.

While bystanders strolled throughout downtown Gettysburg, they were able to pass by and watch as eight artists turned their canvases from white to works of art. The artists were used to this atmosphere, however, as nearly all of them have been outside painting every day of the Gettysburg Festival as part of the plein air program, in areas ranging from private to public. Their artwork from the week is currently on display at Gettysburg’s Historic Train Station, along with four other artists who did not participate in Thursday’s competition. The exhibit is free to the public and will remain open through the end of the Gettysburg Festival.

The only artist who participated in Thursday’s event and is not featured at the Historic Train Station is the Wet Paint Competition winner, Jane Albin.

See more Quick Draw and Wet Sale photos on our Facebook page.

Left: In response to her placement, Lorden was very surprised. “[When time was up, I thought] eh, whatever. That picture is what it is.” As it turns out, that “whatever” picture earned her Second Place and $300 to Blick Art Supplies.

Above: As a first-year participant in the Gettysburg Festival Wet Paint Competition, Stasko was able to snag Third Place and $200 to Blick Art Supplies. The upstate New York artist is enjoying his first visit to Gettysburg while his work is on display at Lord Nelson’s Gallery on 27 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg.

Did You Know? While artists were allotted 2 hours to finish their works, first-place finisher Jessica Albin completed hers with nearly 20 minutes to spare. “I don’t want to add too much, you know?” she commented. 

Event judges, left to right: Mark Brockman, Freya Qually, Jennifer Van Stein

Artists display their artwork in front of the Wills House on Lincoln Square for judging.

A final piece of artwork created by Amy Lindenberger. She has other works on display at the Historic Train Station in downtown Gettysburg.

A Conversation with Jeff Shaara

By Ben Streeter

New York Times best-selling Author Jeff Shaara will be in Gettysburg for a lunch and lecture, June 15 at 11:30 a.m., at the Adams County Agricultural & Natural Resource Center. The informal lecture, titled “History Through Storytelling: Jeff Shaara’s Journey Through the Legacy of His Father,” is part of the Gettysburg Festival’s slate of programming, June 8-16. Shaara honors his Pulitzer Prize-winning father in his new book, A Chain of Thunder. As the second installment in a four-part series, the book deals with the western theater of the Civil War. The first volume debuted on the New York Times Bestsellers List and was well received by readers. Celebrate Gettysburg recently sat down with Shaara to ask him about his new book and his creative inspiration.

Photo Courtesy: Slade Downs

Celebrate Gettysburg (CG): What sparked your interest in the western theater of the war?

Jeff Shaara (JS): I received requests from fans to write about Tennessee and Missouri, and I took their advice. On doing research, I decided to make the trilogy into a four-part series. The first book was about the Battle of Shiloh, the upcoming is about the siege of Vicksburg, and I am currently working on “Chattanooga/ Lookout Mountain,” due for release in May 2014. The last book of the series will be about Sherman’s March.

CG: Any feedback from those fans since the release of the first book?

JS: Fans have been very happy about it.

CG: Could you describe your creative process?

JS: Some writers like to research and write alternatively, as they go along. I don’t do that. I like to do all of my research first and really get into the heads of the characters before I begin writing. I like to use only original materials, which allow me to stay true to the events and actors.

CG: What sources do you like to use mostly?

JS: For example, I use letters and accounts of people. I have to feel that I really know the characters. Some are obvious, e.g. General Grant, Abraham Lincoln, but I enjoy the challenge of getting to know the other side. My books always include characters from both sides. I always include the grunts, the kids from Wisconsin who enlist, and now I have begun to include the civilian women’s parts of the stories.

CG: What sense of historical preservation do you get from your repeat visits to Gettysburg over the years?

JS: There is an awareness here that I like very much. People here value the history. The culture is enormous. For example, I am very excited about the initiative to get rid of the trees so that the battlefields can be seen as the soldiers saw them originally.

CG: What is your goal as a writer?

JS: My goal is to write something interesting or to spark an interest. My goal is to make people aware, to ignite a passion. My father always said he was a storyteller. He loved to tell stories. It inspires me when I hear from a 90-year-old G.I. who tells me that what I wrote in my book is exactly what happened when he was there in person. That is the highest reward.

CG: Aside from having a writer for a father, what got you interested in writing history?

JS: Like everyone, I learned history from school and was bored by it. The names and dates are not that interesting; what is interesting is the thinking of the historical actors. Grant once said about Lee, “We have defeated his army but we have not defeated him.”

CG: What advice do you have for any aspiring writers or historians?

JS: Well, whenever I speak at college campus I am always honored to hear students tell me that after reading one of my books, they switched their major to history. They never knew history could be so interesting. One such student decided to write his dissertation on Joshua Chamberlain after reading one of my books and becoming interested in the character. My only advice would be to write about what you are interested by. My father taught creative writing and would tell students to apply the “bic method.”

CG: What is the “bic method?”

JS: The bic method is simple: put your butt in the chair (and write). Do not worry about finding an agent, finding a publisher or any of that. Simply write your book first. If you have a good story, the rest will take care of itself. Writing is less about technique than it is about capturing the excitement you have about your subject matter and being able to share it with readers.

CG: Have you seen the Lincoln movie?

JS: Actually, I have not. I am too afraid of plagiarism. I never read anyone else’s books because I would not want to risk committing plagiarism, however involuntarily. I want all of my writing to come from primary sources and my own original thought. I have never seen Band of Brothers or The Patriot, either.

CG: Did you start out with this fear of plagiarism, or has it grown over time?

JS: It has grown over time. I remember reading “Citizen Tom Paine” by Howard Fast and I had to stop reading it because I realized it was not an auto-biography. I really thought it had been written by Tom Paine himself at first! I have seen both Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose accused of plagiarism, and I admire their handling of it and overcoming it. Through integrity, I hope that my books will outlast me.

CG: Like your father’s books outlast him?

JS: Yes. He passed 25 years ago, May 8, 1988. His legacy has outlasted him. I take that very seriously. “Killer Angels” is in its 111^th printing! It is bittersweet that he did not get to see that level of success. But he loved telling stories, and I hope I make him proud. Depending on what your take on this kind of thing is, maybe he is looking down and seeing all of this! (Laughs).

Lunch with Jeff Shaara

Join Jeff Shaara for a lunch and discussion on "History Through Storytelling, Jeff Shaara's Journey Through the Legacy of His Father" on Saturday, June 15, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased through the Gettysburg Festival's office or at www.gettysburgfestival.org.