The sounds of the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s return to West Windsor Farmers Market on Saturday, June 23, when Bob Mecklenburger returns to the stage. The West Windsor resident performs classic folk music and his own original tunes on his acoustic 6 and 12-string guitars. Comfortable with both flatpicking and finger picking guitar styles, he has been playing guitar for more than 40 years. He has become a regular at the farm market, playing three to four times a season.##M:[more]##
Raised in Park Forest, Illinois, Mecklenburger has also been in choruses all his life, and an amateur musician since he was in high school. At Cornell University, he was in the glee club for four years and managed it for three of those years. It was during that time he met his future wife, Judith, who was in the Cornell Women’s Chorus.
Mecklenburger works in human resources at a large company in the area. Judith is a clinical social worker with Princeton House. They have lived in West Windsor for 18 years. Their daughter Kathryn, 26, is a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Class of 1999, and recently graduated from law school. Their younger daughter Laura, a graduate of High School South, Class of 2003, recently graduated from Swarthmore College.
Mecklenburger sang with La Shir Choir for a few seasons. “If I was going to spend time on music, I wanted it to be my music,” he says.
Although he plays acoustic guitar, Mecklenburger still has to worry about bringing amplifiers, microphones, stands, and other paraphernalia to the gigs. His favorite music includes sounds of John Denver, Weavers, Simon and Garfunkle, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Gordon Lightfoot, and Jim Croce.
His debut album, “Do It!,” is in the final stages of production and he hopes he will have copies available at the concert. All of the tracks are original music. Visit www.bobmecklenburger.com for more information.
Also at the farm market that day is a flea market. Spaces are available for $5 if you bring your own table and covering. Call 609-716-8850 to register. Clothing, accessories, shoes, and purses will be collected by Trenton Rescue Mission. All donations are tax deductible.
The West Windsor Arts Council will present a workshop about Alberto Giacometti’s sculptures. Attendees will be encouraged to create their own interpretation of a Giacometti sculpture while they learn the artist’s style. The project is coordinated by Mercer County College students Keiko Ishida and Onessa Freasier. “When I hit upon the idea to use aluminum foil, I was so excited,” says Ishida. “Unlike Bronze, which Giacometti worked with, aluminum foil, which children can tear, squeeze, and twist to make their sculpture, produces a similar texture.” Visit www.westwindsorarts.org for more information.
— Lynn Miller
Art, Music, and Flea Market, West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market, Vaughn Drive Parking Lot, Princeton Junction Train Station, 609-577-5113. westwindsorfarmersmarket.org. Produce, fruits, vegetables, artisan breads, pastries, pies, and fresh flowers. Saturday June 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
