Region's Artistic Bounty Manifest at Exhibit's Opening Reception

The Gallery at Penn College filled with around 200 guests on Sunday, celebrating the opening reception of the Regional Juried Exhibition 2018. Forty of the 51 artists featured in the exhibit attended the reception, along with “an incredible outpouring of support from friends, family and art patrons,” according to Gallery Director Penny Griffin Lutz. "We received many positive comments about the quality of the work in the show, as well as the range of media represented,” Lutz added. “We live in an area with many exceptional artists and were happy to feature just a sampling of the creative work happening in our region." At the reception, six awards were presented: first place and a $750 cash prize to Anna Kell, of Lewisburg, for her painting, “Specimen Bouquet”; second place and a $500 cash prize to Becky McDonah, of Millersville, for her wearable art, “Adorning Implements of Extraction: A Tribute to Tweezers and the Sliver”; third place and a $350 cash prize to Vicki Renn, of Sunbury, for her watercolor, “The Ladies of the Club”; honorable mention and a $250 cash prize to John McKaig, of Williamsport, for his print, “Queer Insomnia II”; the President’s Award and a $200 cash prize to Michael Hower, of Enola, for his photograph, “Lock Ridge”; and the Director’s Award and a $200 cash prize to Joelle Cicak, of Harrisburg, for her sculpture, “The Last of the East Fork Pack.” The exhibition is on display through July 27 in the gallery, on the third floor of the Madigan Library. Summer hours for the gallery are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. (The gallery will be closed July 1-4, as well as Saturdays and Mondays.)

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor

 

 

The exhibition showcases 63 works by 51 artists from 35 Pennsylvania cities and towns.

A stunning display in the gallery’s window highlights Ralph Wilson’s “Blues in a Bottle” project …

… featuring portraits and alluding to “bottled up” emotions.

Artist Margaret Kemmerer, of Montoursville, donned a wrap matching her acrylic-on-slate painting, “Horses at St. Mark.”

A corner of the gallery bustles with eager art patrons.

A sterling silver pendant by Ave Palguta dangles above a stone.

Visitors gleefully engage in “What Have You Found?,” a wood cabinet highlighting interchangeable Plexiglas pieces …

… created by printmaking artist Autumn C. Wright.

Mickey Mapstone’s "Self Portrait in Bermuda” snaps a colorful view.

Conversation and curiosity fill the Penn College space.

Lutz (at podium) addresses a full house.

McKaig accepts an honorable mention for his 32-by-52-inch woodblock print.

McDonah receives a second-place ribbon from the gallery director.

A surprised Cicak joyfully accepts the Director’s Award.

First-place honors went to Kell’s “Specimen Bouquet,” an acrylic and oil on reclaimed fabric over panel. The artist was unable to attend the reception.

“Many Pennies,” a necklace of copper, pennies and vitreous enamels, shimmers in a glass display case.

The exhibition features a wide range of media.

An interplay of art is seen with this cherry wood sculpture by Mark Wilson and an oil painting by Elody Gyekis.

A wearable art piece by Jenna Kazmar, “Obligatory Love Scene,” entwines emotions with felted wool roving, embroidery, silk and silver.

Jeremiah Johnson’s creation, “Trailer #2 (1959 model),” is crafted with unopened, personalized credit card applications.

A Sunday afternoon offers artistic adventures.

“Lean,” an archival pigment print by Dave Kube makes a unique (and thin) statement.

A red oak sculpture by Brandon Snyder stands near a watercolor by Cathy Frey.

Renn with her ribbon

“Plateau,” by Paul Chidester, is an example of flashe on panel.

“Chanticleer” (left) and “Reynard” are oils on panels by artist Stephen Garrison.

McKaig with his woodblock print

Crafted with clay is Kristine Ferg’s “Concave.”

“Skipping Stones” reminds artist Gail Bower-Geist of days spent at Lycoming Creek with her father. The piece features copper and bronze.

A pop of color on the wall is offered by Margaret Murphy’s “Flower Dress,” a watercolor and acrylic on paper.

McDonah received second-place honors for the necklace on the left (the other piece is hers, too).

Two photos by Michael Hower deck a wall. The lower one, “Lock Ridge,” received the President’s Award. The artist was unable to attend the opening event.

Exploring every creative corner

Mapstone leads guests through her artistic process.

Cicak with her Director’s Award work, paying homage to the death of the last wolf in Denali National Park's East Fork Pack, the longest-studied group of wild wolves in the U.S.