The public is invited to attend an opening reception for the “Creative Makers of the Pennsylvania Wilds – A Traveling Art Show,” from 6 to 9 p.m. on November 3 at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art, 36 N. Brady St., DuBois, Clearfield County.
This unique exhibit features profiles and photographs of 22 members of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania, a juried arts business development program that includes artisans and producers from across the 12.5-county region known as the Pennsylvania Wilds.
The artisans and producers are shown working in their own creative spaces through the lens of Katie Weidenboerner’s camera. A Wilds Cooperative member and photojournalist, Weidenboerner spent months traveling across the region – tallying over 2,060 miles – to capture images that tell the story of these creative makers.
Participating makers include: A Touch of Nature, Alabaster Coffee, Alpaca Creations, Amanda Lewis, Brenda Nicklas, Carol Cillo, Chris DeStefano, CF Lawrenson, Ellen Paquette, Highland Chocolates, Hughes Pottery, Jack Northrop, Kim Gates Flick, Laughing Owl Press, Lynn Kibbe, Paul Stanizsweski, Perry Winkler, Rich Horner, Shandra Wilson, Stephanie Distler Artisan Jewelry, Steve Getz and The Muddy Moose Bath Boutique.
The Creative Makers of the Pennsylvania Wilds – A Traveling Art Show is a recent undertaking by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., a nonprofit continuing work that started at the state level over a decade ago when the Pennsylvania Wilds Initiative was born.
This groundbreaking effort brought together 13 counties seeking to brand a quarter of the Commonwealth as the “Pennsylvania Wilds” and market it as a destination.
The goal was to boost local economies while simultaneously inspiring stewardship of communities and natural assets.
Engaging regional artists and craftspeople was key to building a meaningful regional brand, and the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania is the product of the initiative. Today, nearly 200 local artists and craftspeople participate in the program.
“One thing that has become clear over the years is that the Pennsylvania Wilds has many talented artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. We’ve found that our region’s rural landscape can make it difficult for people to find these hidden gems,” said Abbi Peters, Managing Director at the PA Wilds Center. “In fact, many of our artisans and producers practice their craft in a room at their house on a backcountry road, out of sight. We want to bring their talent to the fore by showcasing our members and their stories in this traveling art show.”
This exhibition was supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
The opening reception is free to attend. To register, visit the Creative Makers Exhibit webpage.
The exhibit will be on display at the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art through November 30, 2017. Future exhibition dates and locations will be announced at the Creative Makers webpage.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Wilds region, visit the Pennsylvania Wilds website.
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