From staff reports
The desire to make beautiful things is innate. For only a handful does that creative urge survive beyond childhood. Fortunately, many long-time and recent residents have returned to their youthful love of art or discovered the joy of creating beautiful things.
Inspired by the beauty of the Allegheny River Valley Region, making art has become a necessity of life for them and sharing with others, a mission.
The Red Brick Gallery’s artistic director, botanical artist Donna Edmonds, moved to Parker, returned to her love of painting and created the Foxburg artist cooperative after retiring from a corporate career.
Two similarly dedicated artists from Tionesta, Julia McCray and Nancy Yergin are presented in the Red Brick Gallery’s next exhibit, “Vistas and Vignettes: Pencils, Paper and Pastels,” from Friday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 1 at 17 Main Street, Foxburg.
An artists’ reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the gallery. Gallery hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
McCray is known for soft realism, depth and detail that draw admirers into pastel landscape and colored pencil still life paintings. Her inspiration is the natural landscape where she lives; flowers, vegetables and time-worn household items.
Paper collage is Yergin’s preferred medium. Using a combination of cut and torn tissue, opaque and hand-crafted Asian papers on stretched canvases, her colorful works are held together with acrylic medium and finished with pen and ink.
McCray and Yergin are co-founders of the Forest Area Arts Council, and the “From the Forest Gallery.” They saw local talent going unrecognized and wanted to help promote these artists.
They also wanted to provide access to affordable art experiences and education opportunities for everyone in Forest County. FAAC sponsors events, performances, workshops, residencies, field trips and other arts activities.
Their vision and contribution to the cultural life of their community is rooted in their personal journey as artists. For more information on their journeys, visit www.alleghenyriverstone.org.