The good news: We will be back in action on Wednesday, July 8th from 9AM - 1PM.

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The upside of a heat wave

Here’s the thing about calling off a solarization workday because it’s too hot: the heat is exactly what we’re trying to harness. The first field has been sitting under plastic through every one of these 90-plus-degree days. In a way, this is exactly what we have asked for.

Solarization works by turning the top few inches of soil into an oven. Under white plastic, in full sun, the soil temperatures will climb well past what most weed seeds, root fragments, and soilborne pathogens can survive. A stretch of weather like the one we’re in right now — sustained heat, long daylight hours, no relief overnight — is genuinely ideal. The field we already covered is cooking down there in a way that a milder June and julysimply couldn’t have delivered.

Getting the next two sections under plastic on the 8th means they get the back half of July, all of August, and most of September working for us.

What’s still ahead of us

Portions of two sections, running along the edge toward Cedar Lane, still need to be solarized. On Wednesday July 8th, we spread, weight, and bury the perimeter on both.

We’ll start with a short safety briefing and walkthrough, then move to the fields. Water breaks are built into the rhythm of the day, and the barn will be open and cool for anyone who needs to step out of the sun.

We need your help!

If you’re new to Pollin-Teering and want to jump in, or returning and can't wait to get back out there, Wednesday is a great one to start with. The work is clear, the crew is friendly, and you’ll be able to see what you did before you leave.

If you have questions, email Jocelyn at jocelyn@inworks.llc. Otherwise, sign up below and we’ll send you what you need to know by Wednesday: what to wear, what to bring, where to park.

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The featured artist, Edna Santiago, is an award-winning and multi-talented creative whose work spans painting and printmaking, alongside a wide range of other artistic pursuits.

Santiago is one of those endlessly curious individuals who resists being confined to a single medium—moving seamlessly from painting to creating functional lamps from plant materials, to performing as a singer in a jazz band.

While painting is her primary form of expression, her work reflects a broad exploration of subject matter and technique. She has experimented with methods such as reverse painting on glass, and her relationship with music deeply informs her visual practice. Movement, in particular, plays a central role in her work.

Born and raised in New York City, Santiago lived in her ancestral Puerto Rico for many years before settling in Philadelphia around 2019. Her work has been exhibited across multiple cities, including at the Woodmere Museum in Philadelphia and Galeria Obra Alegría in Puerto Rico.

In 2019, she also curated Nor Wind Nor Water at the Da Vinci Art Alliance in Philadelphia, a powerful exhibition supporting Puerto Rican artists in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

“I have all these different artists within me,” Santiago reflects—an idea that resonates throughout her expansive body of work.

In her life, she has experienced great loves and profound losses, and painting has always been a way for her to channel those emotions into something deeply felt and beautifully expressed.

We are thrilled to present Edna Santiago’s work at Longview Farm throughout July and August, including several pieces that have not been exhibited before.

Join us for the opening reception on Saturday, July 11th—our 2nd Saturday celebration this month only, as the gallery will be closed for Independence Day.

That’s one section down. We have two more to go, and we’d like your help getting them under plastic on Saturday, June 20.

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What got done, what’s left

It’s physical work, and the first weekend’s crew did it well. They laid plastic across the field closest to the woodlot, hauled stones to weight the edges, and buried the perimeter so the wind couldn’t lift it. By Sunday afternoon, that field was sealed.

The other two sections, running along the field edges toward Cedar Lane, still look like they did before we started. That’s what we’re tackling Saturday.

A quick recap for anyone joining us for the first time

Longview Farm received USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service grant funding this year to establish a native pollinator habitat along the field edges of the property: a long border of wildflowers and grasses that, once established, will support bees, butterflies, birds, and the broader ecological function of a working landscape.

Before we can seed it, we have to clear what’s already growing. The most ecologically sound way to do that, at this scale, is solarization. We lay heavy plastic over the treatment areas, weigh it down, and let three or four months of summer sun do the work. In the fall, we pull the plastic and seed the pollinator mix directly into the prepared ground. The seed overwinters, germinates in spring, and the habitat takes one to two seasons of careful management before it becomes mostly self-sustaining.

So Saturday is the same work as last weekend, on the next two fields.

What to expect on Saturday, June 20

We’ll be on the property from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The first 30 to 45 minutes is a safety briefing and walkthrough of the work. After that, about three hours of hands-on spreading, weighting, and burying edges, with water breaks built in. We start early to stay ahead of the afternoon heat.

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Why this work matters

Federal conservation funding for projects like this isn’t something that comes around every year, and the cycle that made this project possible isn’t guaranteed to be there in the same form next time. The chance to put habitat into the ground at this scale, with this kind of technical and financial support behind it, is real right now.

If you have questions, email Jocelyn at jocelyn@inworks.llc. Otherwise, sign up below and we’ll send you what you need to know by Friday: what to wear, what to bring, where to park.

Six people got the first field done. With a few more of us on Saturday, we finish the rest.

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If you've already signed up to volunteer with us, please take a minute to confirm your day:

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If you have not signed up but would like to join, you can sign up in the same place!

Federal conservation funding for projects like this doesn’t always come around. When it does, the responsible thing is to use it well.

Longview Farm is a recipient of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation grant funding this year, which means we have support, both financial and technical, to establish a native plant border along the field edges of the property.

The first weekend of physical work is June 13 and 14. We’d like to invite anyone who wants to put hands on it to come help.

What we’re building

The pollinator habitat will be a long border of native wildflowers and grasses running along the field edges, planted into ground we’ve prepared specifically for it. Once it’s established, it’ll be one of the liveliest corners of the property: the kind of habitat that brings back bees, butterflies, and birds, and creates cover for the smaller wildlife that depends on the structure native plants provide. From a distance, in late summer of its second year, it should look like a long ribbon of color along the edge of mown field.

It’s also useful land. A native pollinator border supports the crops we grow, the orchards in the surrounding area, and the broader ecological function of a working landscape. Habitat loss has been one of the quieter drivers of pollinator decline in this region, and small farms restoring habitat at the edges of working fields are part of how that gets reversed.

Why next weekend looks like plastic

This is the part that surprises people. Before you can seed a pollinator habitat, you have to clear what’s already growing: the existing weeds, grasses, and seed bank that would otherwise outcompete native seedlings. The most ecologically sound way to do that, at this scale, is solarization. We lay heavy plastic over the treatment areas, weigh it down, and let the summer sun do the work. The plastic sits for three to four months, and the ground underneath becomes a clean bed.

In the fall, we’ll come back, pull the plastic, and seed the pollinator mix directly into the prepared ground. The seed overwinters, germinates in spring, and then takes one to two seasons of careful management before the habitat becomes mostly self-sustaining.

So the work next weekend isn’t glamorous. It’s spreading plastic, weighing it down with stones from the fieldstone border, and burying the edges. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t look like much in the moment but sets up every season that follows.

Two days, your hands welcome

The volunteer weekend is Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM each day. We start early to stay ahead of the afternoon heat.

The first 30 to 45 minutes is a safety briefing and walkthrough of the work, and then about three hours of hands-on work with water breaks built in.

Anyone on Sunday is welcome to stay for a small potluck from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, during Gallery hours. Bring something to share if you’d like, but it’s not required. A good meal in the shade after the morning’s work feels like the right way to close out the day.

If you’d like to come, please fill out the short sign-up form here:

Sign up to confirm your volunteer days

We’ll follow up with everything you need to know, what to wear, what to bring, weather notes, by mid-week.

Why this matters now

The federal programs that support pollinator habitat establishment on small working landscapes don’t survive every administration, and the funding cycle that made this project possible isn’t guaranteed to be there in the same form next year. The work is real, the partnership is real, and the chance to get this kind of habitat into the ground at this scale doesn’t always come around. We’re grateful for it, and we’d like as many people as possible to be part of it while it’s here.

Whether you’re showing up for a few hours, the whole morning, or both days, the habitat will be better for it. And so will what comes next.

This exhibition presents a retrospective of the late Evelyn Cleopatra Facison, an artist and gallery owner whose career unfolded across multiple mediums, names, and roles. The 2D works on view were created by Evelyn under various surnames associated with different periods of her life.

Primary source materials included in the exhibition document Evelyn’s activity as both an artist and a cultural organizer in Philadelphia and beyond. Legal records from 1968 confirm her operation of Facison’s Art Gallery in Philadelphia, establishing her place among the earliest Black women to own and operate an art gallery in the city.

Contemporary newspaper and magazine coverage trace her exhibitions, public recognition, and visibility across civilian and military contexts, including features at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey.

The exhibition is presented with the assistance of Evelyn’s son, Alfred Newell Bradley Jr., who has contributed original woodworking elements. The artwork, archival documents, and present‑day collaboration form a living record of an artistic life—one that is remembered through fragments, but whose impact continues to resonate.

You’re invited to the Midshow Reception on Saturday (June 6th) from 5pm to 8pm. There will be an artist Q&A with Alfred and another of Evelyn’s relatives. After, we will enjoy live acoustic music outside!

We hope to see you there. Family-friendly event, BYOB.

Gallery Coordinator leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

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What we’re planting

A pollinator habitat is a planted patch of native flowering species, chosen so that something is in bloom from spring through frost.

Over time, this patch will become a small, dense, working ecosystem in the middle of our property — a place where the land is doing something for the wider region, one bloom at a time.

A well-designed pollinator habitat does more than feed bees. The flowers feed butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and the songbirds that depend on the insects above. The leaves and stems become host plants for caterpillars and nesting material for ground-nesting bees — and there are far more species of those in our region than most people realize.

Pennsylvania alone is home to hundreds of native bee species, most of them solitary ground-nesters that look almost nothing like the European honeybee that gets all the press. A working habitat feeds the pollinators we know by name and the dozens of small species we rarely see, the ones that quietly hold the rest of the food web together.

Why this matters, here and now

Native pollinator populations across North America have been in steady decline, and habitat loss is the largest driver. Lawns, pavement, and monoculture farmland don’t feed insects. Each patch of restored habitat is a stepping stone — a place pollinators can refuel as they move across the landscape.

A property like Longview Farm, planted with intention, becomes part of a network of habitat patches stitched together across Chester County and the broader Pennsylvania Piedmont. It’s one of the most direct ecological contributions a piece of land like this can make.

An invitation to volunteer

We’d love to share the first day of this work with people from our community, and we’re putting out a call for volunteers to help with the workday in mid-June.

Workdays at Longview tend to feel like a good weekend spent with people who care about the same things. We’ll provide water, snacks, gloves if you need them, and clear instructions. You bring yourself, closed-toe shoes, and an openness to spending a day with people you may not know yet.

The form below will let us know who’s interested and which days work for you. As soon as supplies are here, we’ll send everyone who signed up the workday details — what to bring, where to park, and what to expect when you arrive.

Sign Up to Volunteer

If you have questions in the meantime, you can email Jocelyn at jocelyn@inworks.llc.

Longview is the kind of place that gets built slowly — by a lot of different hands, over a lot of seasons. We’re three years into shaping it as a community space, and this pollinator habitat is the piece of that work the land will keep doing on its own, long after planting day is over. There’s something good about putting things into the ground that will outlast all of us — and we’re grateful for the people who keep showing up to help us build this place, season by season.

We hope you’ll be one of them.

Our third exhibition of the year is a particularly meaningful one, and you are invited to the opening reception this Saturday!

For this exhibition, Alfred Newell Bradley Jr. presents a personal collection of paintings by his late mother, Evelyn Cleopatra Facison. For the first time, Alfred’s own wood creations will be exhibited alongside his mother’s artwork, bringing their creative practices into direct conversation within the gallery space.

Together, these works tell a family story—one rooted in creativity, resilience, and legacy.

Evelyn Cleopatra Facison was a formidable presence in the mid-twentieth century: an entrepreneur, artist, and mother whose life and career were multifaceted.

She began her professional life as a clerk typist and went on to become a manager within the U.S. Army Signal Corps—where she lived in Korea for a time. Alongside her professional career, Evelyn cultivated a creative practice, grounded in formal training and sustained by a commitment to the arts. She studied at the Flesher Art Memorial in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and under painter Humbert Lincoln Howard.

Working under the surname “Facison,” she later opened her own art gallery in Philadelphia, where she coordinated and hosted a number of exhibitions—creating space for artists and contributing actively to the rich cultural life of the city.

Now, decades later, her son Alfred carries that legacy forward. His wood creations—carefully constructed with quality materials—stand beside Evelyn’s paintings not only as individual works, but as echoes of shared values.

This exhibition offers an opportunity to witness how artistic inheritance can take many forms, unfolding across generations. We are grateful to share this family narrative with our community and to honor Evelyn’s life through this exhibition.

Please join us for the opening reception of “Art and Legacy” on Saturday, May 2nd from 5–8pm!

*RSVP here so that we know how many people to expect.

Gallery Coordinator | leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

For those who might not know, Longview Farm owner Jessi Stead is also the founder of Playthings Studio—a kinetic jewelry brand. She will be showing her collection in the gallery during the CC studio tour on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th.

“Playthings Studio is a brand with a mission to replace distractions one playful jewelry design at a time. Fidget spinners disrupt focus and garner unwanted attention—they aren’t for every occasion, woman, adult, or professional. Playthings Studio solves this problem with kinetic fidget jewelry that keeps the relief of fidgeting while getting attention for the right reasons: art, beauty, and expression.”

Each piece features moving parts designed for tactile play, paired with minimalist metal essentials and eye-catching geometric forms.

As the artist behind Playthings Studio, Jessi Stead’s process is innovation through investigation—exploring how parts fit together until a design emerges that never existed before.

There are 172 artists and 59 studios participating in the Chester County Studio Tour! Visit their Meet the Artists page for detailed information.

Longview Farm is registered as Studio #10. If you are planning to partake in the studio tour festivities, please add us as a stop on your journey! While you’re in the area, head over to Warwick Furnace Farm (Studio #1) to see Claire Rosen’s studio, Nilanjan Bhowmik (Studio #14), and Muse Artisan Boutique (Studio #9).

Check out this guide if you need help planning your weekend. There are also downloadable maps with studio numbers here!

Hope to see you there.

Gallery Coordinator leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

Well, we are celebrating the halfway point of the exhibition this coming Saturday (April 4th) at 5pm! This mid-show reception, in particular, will be very special.

There will be an artist talk and Q&A followed by music. But not just any music—the music of the artist himself. Leroy used to DJ and occasionally still makes beats/artful sounds when he has the time, so we could not miss the opportunity to request a performance.

And I have a feeling there will be impromptu dancing—so please come out and join us! From 5pm to 8pm. Bring your kids, bring your family, bring your friends.

Artwork Spotlight

While I have you here, I want to highlight a couple of Leroy’s works as part of the artwork spotlights series that we do for each exhibition. There will be more artwork spotlights throughout April.

Fun fact to chew on: Leroy builds and stretches his own canvas!

The Brink (2025)

Medium | Oil on Canvas | Dimensions | 16 x 14 x 1.4

The artist’s description:

“In his book Hyperobjects, Timothy Morton discusses human ecology at the end of the world. The reality of the situation unfortunately means we are at the literal brink. While this precipice isn’t perceived to be one with a vision of hope at the end, like those before, we do still have the power to change things. Simply giving up is not how humans made it to this point.

We have knowledge those before us did not have, combined with the wisdom from observing their experiences. That is the power needed for a breakthrough.”

New World Water (2025)

Medium | Oil on Canvas | Dimensions | 36 x 48 x 1.5

The artist’s description:

“There are places were TB’s common as TV / Cause foreign-based companies go and get greedy / The type of cats who pollute the whole shore line / Have it purified, sell it for a dollar twenty-five.

Still entirely relevant, this painting was inspired by a 1999 song by hip-hop artist Mos Def (Yasiin Bey).”

Artwork spotlights are just small pieces of the whole picture. Come on out to LVF for viewing of all 30 works.

On Saturday, Leroy David Nunery III will talk a bit about his art and process; there will be opportunity to ask him questions or make observational comments about the exhibition.

Hope to see you then!

Text: Gallery Coordinator leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

A week ago, we had the opening reception for Hyperobjects—a solo exhibition by Leroy David Nunery III. We are thrilled to host this body of work as Leroy’s first official solo exhibition. Not only is he an abstract painter, but also a teacher, sculptor, and occasional musician.

Hyperobjects is a collection of abstract works created by the artist in 2025 and 2026. The artist names two primary inspirations: Timothy Morton’s Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World, and the Afrofuturistic perspectives of Sun Ra and his Arkestra.

Here are some images from the opening reception!

“Some of these works may be thought of as glimpses of moments in a frenetic time, a present somehow neatly captured. The present in its current form, like the past, may not always make sense to everyone. What matters now more than ever though, is how we all imagine and see the future…”

You can view the exhibition at Longview Farm on Sundays in March and April from Noon to 3pm. Leroy’s art is available to view and purchase online here.

If you missed the opening, we are having a midshow reception on April 4th! Leroy used to DJ and make his own music, so he has agreed to be the performer for his mid-show reception—in his words: “I will make some artful noises in the space.”

An artist playing music during their exhibition is a first—you don’t want to miss it! Mark your calendars for April 4th.

In the meantime, stay sane.

Text and photography: Gallery Coordinator leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

We are delighted to announce our second solo exhibition of 2026: “Hyperobjects” by Leroy David Nunery III.

Leroy David Nunery III is a multi-talented individual—painter, sculptor, teacher, musician—whose work merges gestural mark‑making with atmospheric color fields to create abstractions that shift between motion, tension, and perception.

He holds a B.A. in Sociology from University of Pennsylvania and an M.F.A. from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Before returning to his studio practice, Leroy spent fifteen years in the corporate world working as a graphic designer and web developer.

He has exhibited at PAFA, as well as Moody Jones Gallery (Glenside, PA). Additionally, he participated in the Men, Masculinity, and Love exhibition (2025) at Camden FireWorks (Camden, NJ), and was featured in the PXV Art Mag Issue No.7. His work “Opticks” is featured in the permanent holdings at PAFA.

Leroy David Nunery III creates compositions that feel both spontaneous and intentional. His palette shifts from muted neutrals to vibrant purples and heat‑soaked oranges, while his forms dissolve and reassemble across the canvas like traces of thought or memory.

The apparent randomness of my abstractions is subconsciously influenced by my daily life. We often dream of realities that are considered “unrealistic” despite the information being fed to us from entirely real experiences and scenarios.

“Hyperobjects” draws inspiration from Nunery’s graduate research—particularly the writings of Timothy Morton, who has a book titled the same way. For Nunery, this word/title encompasses themes of space and time, coexistence, and the shifting nature of human perception.

We are so pleased to display a collection of Leroy David Nunery III’s paintings and sculptures for the months of March and April. Join us to celebrate this art and art.

Opening Reception | Saturday, March 7th | 5pm-8pm

Light refreshments will be served; BYOB encouraged; family-friendly event.

Text: Gallery Coordinator | leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

It’s time for the mid-show celebration of “The Silence Between,” a solo exhibition by Iranian visual artist Moones Zeydabadi. There will be live acoustic music in the gallery during this reception.

We’re looking forward to celebrating this moving body of work and the talented artist behind the collection!

Here are some images from the opening reception on January 3rd:

This work is available to view and purchase on our Gallery Shop or in-person.

As usual, the time of the Midshow Reception on February 7th is from 5pm to 8pm and there will be light refreshments involved (BYOB)! In case you are new here, we are a family-friendly, inclusive space.

Hope to see you there! Tell your friends & neighbors!

Text & Photography: Leah, Gallery Coordinator

Thank you so much for gathering on Sunday. It was encouraging to meet likeminded individuals in Chester County who do not agree with what is happening in this country. We weren’t sure if anyone besides our inner circle would show up, and then you all did!

Thank you to for posting in the Indivisible Facebook group and offering his property as a space for collective grieving and mutual care. Thank you to Patrick Seyler for leading the vigil.

Thank you for bringing yourselves out on a Sunday afternoon, for lighting a candle in honor of Renee Good, and for being vulnerable with the group.

We’d like to stay in touch!

As discussed, there is a Facebook group that we’ll use moving forward to communicate and/or plan future gatherings around social justice and political discourse. It is a private group, so those who attended the vigil on Sunday will receive an invitation to their email shortly.

If you didn’t attend the vigil but are interested in this kind of community, please comment below.

Stay sane, everyone. See you soon.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for being part of our community here at Longview Farm. Whether you attended one event in the past 1.5 years or every event, whether you were one of our artists, visitors, or sponsors, you play a role in shaping our story. We are so grateful for that.

From gallery exhibitions to first-time workshops, let’s take a look back at highlights from 2025!

January | Hannah Zartman’s Solo Exhibition

In January and February, we hosted our first exhibition of 2025 titled “Toward a Tender Place.” The artist, Hannah Zartman, is a West Chester University alumnus who specializes in relief printing processes and was our youngest exhibiting artist to date!

February | Artist Talk & WCU Collab

We organized an Artist Talk for the closing day of Hannah Zartman’s exhibition. We partnered with Dr. Lisa Huebner, professor at West Chester University and Director of The Women’s & Gender Studies Collection. A recording of Hannah’s artist talk is available to watch here.

March | Raven George’s Solo Exhibition

On the 1st Saturday in March, we celebrated the opening of “Wildflower Joy,” a solo exhibition by Trenton-based artist Raven George. Inspired by the landscapes of her childhood, the intricacy of human experiences, and spirituality, George’s art reflects on shared vulnerability.

April | Artist Talk on Earth Day

On April 26th, we celebrated two things: Raven George’s artist talk and Earth Day. Raven George gave a beautiful talk, and the audience embraced her with gentleness. A recording of Raven’s artist talk is available here.

We then commenced our 1st Annual Earth Day Celebration with sessions of yoga and qigong, followed by communal music-making, and concluding with a stroll around the property.

May | Shayna Parker’s Solo Exhibition

May brought our 3rd exhibition of the year: “Pushing Up Daisies” by Shayna Parker. Shayna’s paintings are chromatic and whimsy, combining abstract elements with realism. She utilizes color blocking and layering to create depth through dynamic composition.

June | Second Artist Talk

In June, we continued our artist talk series with Shayna Parker. During these talks, artists were given free range to discuss whatever they desired without being guided by a facilitator. A recording of Shayna’s artist talk is available here.

Nocino Crafting Workshop

Then, at the end of June, we started our Nocino Crafting workshop—the first for Longview Farm! We harvested walnuts around the property and put them in jars to marinate with grain alcohol, cloves, cinnamon, coffee beans, lemon peel, and all spice.

July | Intergenerational Exhibition

This was the first time we had three generations of artists in the same exhibition. Not just any artists, but women of the same family—Kiya Nicole, Miho Kahn & Eiko Kahn. Encapsulating a hundred cumulative years of work, this was the first time their work had been shown together in a gallery. “Kami” was a very special show that we were honored to display.

Plein-Air Painting Workshop

Also in July, artist Alexis Bocelli led an outdoor painting workshop on the farm! The result was an acrylic landscape painting, capturing the cool blues of a hazy summer evening. Thank you to for getting plenty of amazing footage of the artist in action.

September | Triple Vision

In September, we welcomed our 2nd group exhibition: “Triple Vision” by abstract artists Barbara Shelly, Denise Sedor & Laurie Lamont Murray. This was a special show celebrating friends and colleagues—the artists have known each other for over a decade.

Celebration Fest

The 2nd Annual Celebration Fest was in September, welcoming friends and family to the farm for an afternoon of live music, potluck, and an Oak-planting ceremony dedicated to Ilya Lehrman’s late grandmother.

October | Final Artist Talk

October brought our 2025 artist talk series to a close, concluding with the artists of “Triple Vision.” Shelly, Sedor, and Murray discussed their respective backgrounds as artists and humans, guided primarily by the audience’s questions.

November | 2nd Annual Holiday Exhibit

In November, our 2nd Annual Holiday Exhibit opened. We partnered with 3 arts organizations—Chester County Art Association, Aston Mills Arts, and Haverford Guild of Craftsmen—to display select works of 30 artists. This number also included exhibiting artists of Longview Gallery. It was a successful show!

Black Friday Market

We planned a small art market on Black Friday to encourage our community to shop locally this season and support small businesses and artists. Four vendors set up booths inside the gallery. Visitors could shop from vendors and/or the Holiday Exhibit.

Mayan Fire Ceremony

Our friend and colleague, Patrick Seyler, planned a Mayan Fire Ceremony in November to initiate the Mayan calendar year. Shaman Harold E. Smith led a sacred sound initiation with various instruments and Mayan spiritual guide Genaro Jacinto led the transformative fire ritual.

December | Winter Gathering

To honor the Winter Solstice and close out the year, we hosted a small potluck gathering on December 19th, led by Patrick Seyler, to express gratitude for 2025 and set intentions for 2026. The candle formation represents the sun in the middle and the 12 months around it.

If you stayed until now, thanks for reading about our year!

Our team has many ideas for Longview Farm’s future, and we look forward to making those visions reality. At the very least, we hope our property is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space to all.

Join us in 2026 for new exhibitions, gatherings, and workshops. Starting January 3rd: gallery opening reception for “The Silence Between” from 5pm to 8pm. See you there!

Text: Leah Harper

Photography: Aaron Brown, Leah Harper, Patrick Seyler

For those who don’t know, Ricky Eller and I started a workshop series earlier this year focused on crafting nocino (black walnut liqueur) from scratch using sustainable ingredients and walnuts harvested on Longview Farm’s property.

We harvested the walnuts on June 22nd—the weekend of the Summer Solstice—as the Italian traditions and folklore recommend. We strained the various batches one month later, then left them to age for six months.

This was our first time conducting this homesteading experiment, so we didn’t know what to expect. The nocino mixtures were ready for bottling this past Sunday on the Winter Solstice.

In addition to bottling, we had a taste of each batch. Some varieties have notes of cinnamon and coffee, while others have notes of orange and all spice.

This is our first official Longview Farm product made with resources from the property which is very exciting! It’ll be shared with friends and family.

This nutty liqueur with herbal undertones is a great wintertime drink. As a digestif, the traditional Italian way to enjoy nocino is sipping it out of a small glass—perhaps paired with a dessert.

However, there are also some interesting cocktail recipes to enjoy.

Nocino Manhattan

A complex and slightly bitter twist on a classic.

• 2 oz Brandy

• 1 oz Nocino/Walnut Liqueur

• 2 dashes Black Walnut Bitters

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Nut Bunny

An original cocktail with autumnal forests on the mind.

• 1 1/4 oz bourbon

• 1/2 oz nocino/walnut liqueur

• 1/2 oz lemon juice

• 3 dashes walnut bitters

• Rosemary or lemon peel for garnish

Combine all ingredients with ice and shake. Strain into an old fashioned over ice. Garnish with rosemary or lemon peel.

Nocino Alexander

A decadent and slightly retro winter treat.

• 2 oz spiced rum

• 1 oz nocino/walnut liqueur

• 3/4 oz cream

• 1/4 oz simple syrup

• 1 pinch cinnamon or grated nutmeg for garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cinnamon or grated nutmeg.

Now that we have a trial run under our belts, we plan to repeat this nocino-crafting workshop in 2026! Stay tuned for details in the new year.

Happy Holidays!

Text: Leah Harper

Photography: Aaron Brown and Leah Harper

We are delighted to announce Longview Gallery’s first solo exhibition of 2026, taking place in January & February. It is titled “The Silence Between” by Moones Zeydabadi.

Moones Zeydabadi is an Iranian visual artist with an MFA in Painting from the University of Delaware whose work explores the human condition through subtle psychological states, intimate gestures, and quiet moments of endurance.

Zeydabadi often paints women as extensions of herself, blending art historical references with contemporary experience to reflect on womanhood, memory, and perception. Womanhood is the experience she feels most equipped to express.

I’m chasing the quiet moments when reality seems slightly off, like recognizing a stranger’s face. The women I paint are composites of myself, forms of self-portraiture that exist between presence and absence. They are awake yet dreaming with open eyes. They wait, they make, they endure.

Working primarily with the fluidity and transparency of oil paint, Zeydabadi’s creative process is a layered and intuitive one. This process reveals to her how vulnerability and strength can coexist within the everyday.

“I work through thin veils of color, glazing, wiping, and reworking the surface until an image begins to emerge through little moments that are witnessed, lived, and then reimagined in paint.”

Moones Zeydabadi has exhibited her work in solo and group shows both in the United States and internationally in Canada, Italy, Iran, and Chile. She is the recipient of multiple film and visual art awards recognizing her multidisciplinary practice and has appeared in several international publications.

We are so pleased to display Moones Zeydabadi’s artwork for the months of January and February. The opening reception for “The Silence Between” is on Saturday, January 3rd from 5pm to 8pm. Light refreshments will be served, byob.

We hope to see you in the new year! Let’s kick off 2026 together.

Leah Harper, Gallery Coordinator | leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

Longview Farm invites you and your loved ones to join us on the farm for this early Winter Solstice celebration! Please come prepared for the cold weather, bring a potluck item to share with the group, and register ahead of time.

Register Here

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Kelsey Mattison at kelsey@visitlongviewfarm.com.

We hope to see you there!

As the weather gets chillier, let’s get cozy together and celebrate local artists and small businesses.

This Saturday—as in tomorrow—the Longview Gallery is celebrating the halfway point of our 2nd Annual Holiday Exhibit, and we would love it if you could attend.

The midshow reception is much like the opening reception, but with the addition of live acoustic music. We will have light refreshments both hot and cold; however, BYOB is encouraged as well. Join us anytime between 5pm and 8pm. This is a family-friendly event, as usual.

Our Holiday Exhibit includes approximately 150 works by 30 local artists such as functional pottery, sculpture, glass art, a variety of paintings, printed illustrations, jewelry, and more.

We love hosting this seasonal exhibit which encourages our community to be smart about their holiday purchases, rather than using Amazon or Target.

Handmade creations make meaningful gifts and connections.

We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces in the gallery tomorrow, December 6th! In the meantime, stay warm.

Leah Harper, Gallery Coordinator | leah@visitlongviewfarm.com

We are excited to welcome you back to The Longview Farm & Gallery to shop from various artists and makers this Black Friday.

Event Details: 

• Date: 11/28/2025 (That's Black Friday!)

• Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

• Location: The Longview Farm, 143 Cedar Lane, Chester Springs, PA 

• Entry Fee: $5 at the door, FREE if you register ahead of time or present the postcard invitation. Register Here! 

Friends & Family Market Event Page

Local artists and artisans will showcase their beautiful creations such as handmade jewelry, vintage finds, ceramics, textiles, and aromatic handcrafted soaps. Art connoisseurs, you will be mesmerized by the local paintings, photographs, and other visual masterpieces, while fashion enthusiasts will be pleased with clothing and accessories, each piece crafted with care and passion.

Take advantage of exclusive “friends and family” discounts from all vendors to put a new spin on Black Friday. Make your holiday shopping both indulgent and meaningful as you support our local creative community. Enjoy some cozy, hot beverages, and immerse yourself in the festive spirit as you mingle with friends and friends of friends.

The market will be outside on the farm, while inside the gallery there will be a Holiday Exhibit to browse including work from 30+ artists.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Friends & Family Market at the Longview Farm. Don't forget to bring a buddy!

Black Friday Raffle! 

When you arrive, let us know if a vendor invited you! Their name will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win their booth fee back. The raffle will be pulled at 3 p.m., toward the end of the event. So stick around to find out who’s the most popular vendor!

**If you are an artist/maker and would like to sign up as a vendor, it’s not too late! Link to the registration page below.

Vendor Registration

See you on Friday!

It’s been a little while! Apologies for my radio silence—I was busy spending the beginning of November in California with my adorable 10-month-old niece. It’s an amazing experience being a first-time Auntie.

Enough about me—there are multiple art-related updates to share, so I’m excited to get right into it!

November is in full swing, and the weather is turning chilly. We’re quickly approaching the cozy season of hot cocoa, thick sweaters, gift-giving, twinkling lights, and pine aromas.

Here at Longview Gallery, we’ve welcomed our seasonal exhibit into the space. Before we dive into the details, here is a recap on some recent events from the past month that weren’t covered yet.

“Triple Vision” Recap

Our previous exhibit, Triple Vision, came to a close at the end of October. We enjoyed hosting these select artworks by Barbara Shelly, Denise Sedor, and Laurie Lamont Murray in our gallery for two months.

During this exhibition, we had a great opening reception in September followed by a midshow reception in October that featured an Artist Talk and live music. We also had some visitors during our Sunday afternoon hours!

It is always a bittersweet moment when a show comes down.

Bitter because we grow attached to the art over two months and the way it reimagines our gallery space. Sweet because the ending of one show means we get to welcome our following artist(s).

“Triple Vision” closed out our Year of Yin programming. This year, LVG featured all female & nonbinary artists ranging in age and background!

Visiting a Kindred Neighbor

You may have heard about or visited Warwick Furnace Farm before—a family-owned picturesque lavender farm in the heart of Historic Chester County. They have an onsite farm store and a gallery where they host rotating exhibitions.

We had the pleasure of meeting part of the WFF family at our gallery reception in October. We were invited to an opening reception they were hosting just a couple of weeks later on the 17th.

Ilya, Jessi, and Liliya attended the event and had a great time! It was their first time visiting Warwick Furnace Farm.

The opening was for a group exhibition titled “Anna’s Oak.” In collaboration with French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, the show honors the memory of a 350-year-old oak tree that fell in 2024—believed to have been the oldest oak in Chester County.

Artists were asked to transform physical materials from the fallen tree into artworks—45 pieces of art by 30+ artists. What a special way to honor this tree’s long life!

We identify deeply with their mission to blend the arts and conservation efforts in many of the same ways we are at Longview Farm. I can’t believe they’re only 10 minutes away from our home. We’re happy to share this moment with our new friends and neighbors at Warwick Furnace Farm.

~ Jessi Stead

2nd Annual Holiday Exhibit

And just like that…our seasonal Holiday exhibition is now underway!

Thanks to everyone who came to the opening reception on November 1st and stayed after for bonfire and dancing. We hope you had a lovely time.

This year we partnered with three arts organizations—Chester County Art Association, Aston Mills Arts, and Haverford Guild of Craftsmen—to display select works of 30+ local artists. This also includes the past and future exhibiting artists of Longview Gallery.

When I say the gallery is full of gems I’m not exaggerating. We have approximately 150 incredible pieces, ranging in size, medium, price, and function.

Handmade creations make meaningful holiday gifts. There is a special feeling when purchasing and receiving an artisan product—likely one-of-a-kind—that places like Amazon cannot recreate.

The gallery is now open on weekdays during November and December: 2-5pm & Sundays 12-3pm. No appointment needed, just stop by to browse and shop—plus we have complimentary coffee and tea.

Save the Date | Saturday Dec 6th for the Holiday Exhibit’s Midshow Reception featuring live music!

Thanks for sticking around. Follow our Instagram and Facebook to view more frequent updates and content related to Longview Gallery. We’ll be doing holiday exhibit artist spotlights so be sure to check it out!

~ Until next time ~

The Gallery Pulse is created by Longview Farm for publication on Substack

Written by Leah Harper | leah@visitlongviewfarm.com