The 11th Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Art Show features 82 original works that celebrate the Schuylkill River region through art.
Sponsored by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area in partnership with Montgomery County Community College, the juried exhibit will hang through Oct. 17 at the college’s West Campus Gallery at 16 West High St. in Pottstown.
This year’s show includes a total of 82 original paintings, drawings and photographs by regional artists. All works were carefully selected from 112 submissions by juror Lisa Tremper Hanover, Director & CEO, of the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown.
This is the 11th year the Schuylkill River Heritage Area has organized an art event. The Scenes of the Schuylkill Art Show began as a print competition in 2003, and has evolved into an annual exhibit that attracts more than 100 pieces of art each year.
“We are pleased that this art show has grown steadily over the years so that it continues to attract new talent and an impressive selection of artwork each year,” said Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl. “Our goal in hosting this exhibit is to support and promote regional artists. At the same time we want to foster an appreciation through art of the diverse beauty and character of the Schuylkill River valley.”
Tremper Hanover selected three winning entries and two honorable mentions. Susan Williamson earned Best of Show for her pastel “Haying Day,” which depicts a Gwynedd Valley farm scene. She will receive $300 and will be presented with an award of distinction valued at $1,000, through Montgomery County Community College, from North Penn Art, in Lansdale.
The second place award went to Nancy Durkin Green for her watercolor, “Blue Barrow Against a White Barn,” and David Thomas took third place for his photograph, “Allegheny Aqueduct.” Durkin Green and Thomas were awarded $200 and $100, respectively.
In recognition of the Schuylkill as Pennsylvania’s River of the Year, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area staff selected a Staff’s Choice award that depicted a river scene. That award went to Mary Kosar for her photograph, “Fog in Woods, Riverfront Park.”
The two honorable mentions selected included “Window Light at Hopewell Furnace,” a photograph by Ginnie Lodge and “Dawn at Lauer’s Run,” an oil painting by Russell Slocum.
Most works are available for sale, and a portion of all proceeds benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.
The show is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are: M-Th. 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information contact the SRHA at 484-945-0200 or the MCCC Galleries Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349, hcairns@mc3.edu. For photos of the winning entries and more show details: www.schuylkillriver.org/Detail.aspx?id=1546.
The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, uses conservation, education, recreation, cultural and historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development. For more information visit www.schuylkillriver.org.
