2022: Year in Review
Dear Friend of the Lewisburg Arts Council,
Last year at this time, we were very much looking forward to an arts-filled 2022, and – from our perspective – it did not disappoint!
In February, we kicked off our year with our annual Members’ Show at the Public Library for Union County. The two-month show featured 61 pieces by 28 members and included hand-stitched wall hangings and jewelry as well as photographs and paintings.
On a glorious spring day, our much-missed Lewisburg Arts Festival returned to Market Street. Thousands of visitors came to sample, sip, and shop, to enjoy the free entertainment, and to “Celebrate Together.” One artist told us that not only was this his best Lewisburg Arts Festival ever, but it was the best he had done at any show! Starting with the Arts Festival, our two-week Celebration of the Arts offered many opportunities to explore and create.
Our Plein Air Events allowed artists and photographers to hone their skills and explore the Dale-Engle-Walker property and downtown Lewisburg. Work created during these events was featured in the Plein Air Show in June at the Public Library for Union County and included pieces from 16 artists – everything from acrylics to colored pencils, from pastels to pen and ink, from photographs to oils and watercolors, even ceramics, sheets of vintage music, and Sharpies! In addition, the show also included a number of informal sketches. One visitor posted on our Facebook page, “Beautiful exhibit! Our local artists are so talented!!!”
During the Awards Ceremony for Lewisburg graduating seniors, we were delighted to award our annual Arts Scholarships to Haley Berge (Performing Arts) and Miriam Vollmayr-Lee (Visual Arts). We wish them success as they pursue their higher-education goals!
In July, we returned to Hufnagle Park for Music in the Park. Over the course of the six-week series, nearly 1,500 music lovers gathered on Wednesdays for performances by a variety of regional musicians. We are indebted to the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts for their long-standing financial support of this signature Lewisburg event.
As an added musical bonus, the Arts Council – working with our friends at the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership – organized a pop-up concert featuring Billy Kelly. Thanks to the LDP and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for funding this lively, family-friendly concert.
Our annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival in July saw its biggest turnout yet, with over 250 registered participants, including returning visitors from Olympia, Washington! This year, in addition to prizes for the top three entries in each age group, we also awarded four special “Theme” prizes. Congratulations to all the talented folks who participated, especially the winners! And thanks to our many sponsors for making this an art-tastic day!
In October, we hosted our 23rd annual Stroll Through the Arts. The week-long event opened with arts activities highlighting arts of all kinds, including calligraphy and painting demonstrations, live music, make-and-take activities, and book signings by local authors. Many of the event’s Featured Artists were present to meet and talk with visitors. The Arts Council deeply appreciates the involvement of the many hosting businesses and organizations.
Making its debut on the opening day of the Stroll was the fabulous mural in The Piers Art Park Designed by local artist Steve Gibson, the brightly-colored mural stretches across 18 of the 30-plus concrete piers. The Arts Council is proud to have spearheaded this project, funded by the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Special thanks are due to the committee members who helped bring this project to fruition. If you haven’t seen the mural in person, we urge you to stop by!
The Piers Art Park Mural Designed by Steve Gibson
To cap off our year, the Arts Council and the Linn Conservancy welcomed 50 Lewisburg middle and high school students to the Dale-Engle-Walker property for an all-day Student Plein Air Workshop featuring Susan Nicholas Gephart. The students’ artwork created during the workshop will be on display at the Public Library for Union County in November.
Thanks to Board Member Sarah Binder, the Arts Council’s website has a new look! Come back for the latest local art news and to see what 2023 has in store!
We are an all-volunteer-powered organization. To our wonderful volunteers who made these events and activities possible, THANK YOU! If you’d like to join us in planning an art-full 2023, please email us. We’d love to hear from you! We are so grateful to you, our members, for your continued support of the Lewisburg Arts Council. Your financial support enables us to continue doing what we do best: connecting our community and the arts!
We hope you will renew your membership. If you can, please help us grow our membership by inviting friends, neighbors, and colleagues to join you in supporting the Lewisburg Arts Council and home-grown arts. And, if you find that circumstances allow you to be a little more generous, know that we will continue to use your contribution wisely to benefit our community.
We look forward to hearing from you. Even more, we look forward to seeing you at a future Lewisburg Arts Council event!
Cheers!
- Della Hutchison, President
- Ellen Flacker-Darer, Vice President
- Bill Ledgerwood, Treasurer
- Tiffany Demmon, Secretary
- Sarah Binder, Board Member
- Rachel Martine, Board Member
- Perry Meadows, Board Member
- Fiona Siobhan Powell, Board Member
