Heath Hardin
Literary Arts; Performing Arts: Music, Spoken Word; Visual Arts: Functional and/or Decorative, Performers and Writers; Furniture
Utlilizing my 20-plus years as an educator and writer, this summer I am teaching a Creative Writing class at Windy Hill Senior Center. I am encouraging these seniors to create, share and embrace the amazing stories of their lives.
I was raised for much of my life in Southern York County . My music , art, poetry and furniture draws heavily from my experiences here: the rural landscapes, the farms, the woods and streams. The gritty people who inhabit this beautiful area of Pennsylvania inspire me.
I am a blues and Americana musician and perform under the name Olds Sleeper. My music is a mix of originals that draws from Delta blues, old country, folk and Americana. I have released over 20 albums of music that reflects my experiences in this region.
My music can be found @ www.oldssleeper.bandcamp.com
I have been featured on WITF as an artist of the month https://www.witf.org/2017/03/09/witf_music_olds_and_the_absolution/ ,
have been nominated as an artist of the year by Saving Country Music, (https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/?s=olds+sleeper)
I was also featured as an emerging artist at the 2018 Susquehanna Folk Music Festival.
I play extensively over the Lancaster/York/Gettysburg area. I will playing this October as part of the Parliament arts Courtyard Concert series. Also, this year I was honored to be included as part of The Kable House concert series in York. Over the past few years, I have played regularly at The King George Speakeasy, Wyndridge Farm, The GarryOwen in Gettysburg, and I also host a monthly show at Stoll and Wolfe distillery in Lititz, Pa. I love this region, and feel as though music helps me connect with many diverse characters.
As an avid photographer, my work tends to focus on farm animals and the rural surroundings of York and Lancaster, Co. I love long drives with no plan.
I also design and build primitive, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces inspired by German woodworking and Shaker styles. I used upcycled barn wood and reclaimed lumber to produce benches, hanging boxes, small cabinets and rustic frames. These pieces are never the same and are sold locally.
I love to pour myself into creative endeavors, and I feel an obligation to share and encourage others to pursue their creative passions. I love the “chase” of art and music, and am always waiting for the next idea to drop.