As a kickoff to the upcoming holiday season and to showcase local artists, the State College Framing Company and Gallery is hosting a fall open house.
“There will be a little bit of everything,” says State College Framing owner and event organizer John McQueary. “It gives the artists an opportunity to showcase their work without having to necessarily put on a full scale show with 30 or 40 pieces. They can each have a half dozen to a dozen pieces.
“A lot of the shows that artists do are summer events, so it gives them the opportunity at maybe a more retail-friendly time of year to showcase their work and to meet some people.” Patrons will be able to purchase pieces at the exhibit.
The artists exhibiting work at the event include: Jill Cardell, botanical artist; Denise Wagner, original pastels; Anne Kenyon, original pastels; Virginia Belser, original pastels; Sarah Pollock, original pastels; Jeanne McKinney, original pastels; Beverly Klucher, original oils; Kathleen Chovit, original oils; Ian Stainton, ceramics; Elizabeth Hay, artisan jewelry; and Zheka, original wood relief paintings.
Most of the 11 artists’ work will be in the gallery until the end of this year.
“The State College Framing Company and Gallery is a joy to exhibit in,” says Cardell, who will showcase her botanical paintings later this month. “The space is very inviting and well lit. They (McQueary and framing assistant Jeff Muthersbaugh) truly care about creating a high quality gallery space for local artists.”
“It’s a great venue to show work,” says Hay. Since she now lives outside the area, Hay says showing at the open house is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends and clients and to meet new people.
“It lets people see a variety of things,” says Hay, who previously showed her work at the State College Framing Company and Gallery’s spring show. “It’s a great time to shop local, and support local artists. You’ll find very unique, one-of-a-kind gifts.”
One of the most beneficial aspects of the event, McQueary says, is the opportunity for people to interact with the artists and learn a little more about his business, which he opened in 1995.
“The whole store will be open, from back to front,” he says. “It is to make (customers) familiar with the art, the artist and what we do here. We love having people stop by and take a look around. Inevitably those (people) will trickle over to (the) wall of frames. We all have something that needs framing.”
While McQueary acknowledges that framing isn’t cheap, it’s a great gift-giving idea. Two popular items right now are shadow boxes and family portraits.
The open house will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at the State College Framing Company and Gallery in Hills Plaza South.
For more information about the fall open house, visit www.framingstatecollege.com.
