Experience Art in the Wilds on June 22-23

By Merry Ryding

During the fourth weekend in June, a group of fine artists and artisans assemble for the annual Art in the Wilds show.  Set up in the cool shade of Evergreen Park, Art in the Wilds showcases the natural setting and friendly small-town atmosphere of Kane, Pennsylvania.

Art in the Wilds is a juried art show and to be accepted artists must go through an application process.  Submitted photographs of recent work are juried on overall impact, originality, presentation, design, and mastery of their technique.  All work must be original creations, made by hand. The artists come primarily from Pennsylvania and neighboring states in the mid-Atlantic region.  Artists and visitors appreciate the on-site volunteers and friendly atmosphere of the Kane community along with the quality of work being exhibited.

Browsing the tents of the artists and artisans, visitors find beautifully made jewelry, pottery, glass arts, woodworking, sculptures, and other finely crafted work.  Original paintings, drawings, photography, and prints with wildlife, landscape, and abstract themes blend with the park setting. An exhibition of student artwork from area high schools is also on display.

(Pictured above: a few of the artisans featured at the 2018 Art in the Wilds – top row, left to right: Debbie Penley and Kathleen Schnell of Cottage Glassworks; below: Curt Weinhold.)

The show is organized by a team under the leadership of founder Marilyn Blackmore.  They work to represent quality artwork and provide a balance of the different creative media ensuring a tantalizing shopping experience. The committee works year-round on various details, local sponsors support the marketing efforts, and the Kane community welcomes visitors during the show weekend.

Art in the Wilds began in 2006 as a discussion amongst friends. “Wouldn’t it be great to make Kane a destination for fine artwork?” The chosen name was a natural fit, combining “Art” with the location nestled in the state-designated “Pennsylvania Wilds” region.  After researching other art shows and interviewing artists and show organizers, a committee of people went to work with the goal to expand the role of the arts in our rural community and to provide a platform for artists to display their work.  Art in the Wilds has, from the beginning, placed a strong emphasis on showcasing quality work.

The Art in the Wilds show is held annually, during the fourth weekend of June (June 22-23  in 2019), 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Located in Evergreen Park, in the middle of Kane, PA, a variety of food vendors are available for lunch and snacks.  Admission and parking are free.

(Pictured above: a few of the artisans featured at the 2018 Art in the Wilds – top row, left to right: Mark English and Ellen Paquette; below: Stacie Johnson-Leske of Your Fired Pottery.)

2019 Event Details

Artists will showcase and sell their work in the following categories: acrylics, oils, watercolors, drawings, mixed media, pottery, photography, fiber, wood, leather, jewelry, glass and metal.  Several artists can be found demonstrating at their booths during the show. Look for these artists: Gerina Faison doing the Peyote stitch in her beaded jewelry, Ellen Paquette painting, Stacie Johnson-Leske with her wheel-thrown pottery, Leslie Halaby-Moore doing chain maille jewelry, Peggy Houser creating her beaded jewelry, Pamela Bartl creating fiber art, and Gregg Kristophel carving wooden spoons.

On Sunday, special demonstrations will be at the gazebo:

1:00 – Mike & Karen Baum, pottery.  Mike makes wheel-thrown, functional and decorative stoneware.  The pots are fired in an electric kiln, glazed and fired again in a high efficiency fiber gas kiln of his own design.  Karen assists with the glazing and loading the kilns.

3:00 – Jack Paluh, plein air painting.  Jack creates plein air paintings which are painted outdoors or “out in the open.”  The images are painted in a short period of time to capture lighting and color. He will talk about how he uses his field studies (the plein air paintings) and how he works with color and light.

This is a great time to ask the demonstrators questions as you get the close-up opportunity to see how they work. All of the artists sell their creative pieces at the show and you will have a better appreciation of the work that goes into each one.

Under the direction of Janine Smith, Art in the Wilds will be featuring the student art exhibition and competition.  High school students in districts from McKean, and five contiguous counties including Cameron, Elk, Forest, Potter and Warren have been invited to participate.  Students submitted art pieces to their art teachers and those accepted pieces will be displayed at Art in the Wilds. Several schools will be represented this year.

Just the facts:

•   Event Title: Art in the Wilds
•   What: a juried, outdoors, fine arts and fine craft show
•   Mission Statement: The Art in the Wilds mission is to expand the role of the arts in our rural communities, to promote economic development and to provide a platform for artists to display their works.
•   Dates: The fourth weekend of June each year (June 22 and 23, 2019)
•   Time: 10 AM to 5 PM Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM Sunday
•   Admission: free admission and free parking
•   Location: Evergreen Park, Kane Pennsylvania

About the Author: Merry Ryding is the Assistant to the Director for Art in the Wilds. A professional artist with a focus on painting in encaustic, Ryding is also an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, the Director of the ArtWorks on the Summit Artist’s Cooperative in Kane, and a general supporter and encourager of the arts in our region.