Submitted Article
What do a one-day art show, graffiti and Spectacular Saturday have in common?
The first two are types of art never before presented in Wyoming County that will debut in downtown Laceyville during the borough’s Spectacular Saturday event on Saturday, May 12.
The laid-back Pop-Up Art Gallery will feature the artwork of several area artists from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the former Laceyville Thrift & Vintage Building at 420 Main Street. Admission is free.
“I’ve had this idea rolling around in my head for a while,” said host and organizer Debra Lee Osborne (aka artist D. Lee), owner of The Ruben and The Bard Studio and a member of the Kitson Arts Alliance (KAA). “A pop-up art exhibit is more casual than the traditional formal gallery events. When Laceyville’s Spectacular Saturday festivities came around, it just clicked.”
Among the highlights of the show will be a special exhibit of D. Lee’s original art from her “Sanctuary Church Watercolor Series” and several unusual graffiti art pieces by Kim Diarra, 18, of Meshoppen.
Diarra, son of KAA member Melissa Jennings, learned the art form after meeting several graffiti artists while visiting Marseilles, France. “It’s more than the tags found on many buildings, walls and train cars,” said Jennings. Diarra’s compositions are done on smaller pieces of canvas, although he also creates larger ones.
Weather permitting, some artists may set up outside on the sidewalk.
Joining Deborah and Kim with artwork on display inside and also available for sale will be watercolor artist Frank Wengen; metal and woodwork artist Kristal Alexander; plein air painter L.P. Howard III; mixed media artist Dr. Sonji Lee; abstract minimalist Melissa Jennings; photographer Jayne Stevens; and the Kitson Gallery.
Attendees will enjoy live music throughout the day by Gary Carl & Friends, plus other local musicians. Complimentary refreshments will be provided by The Wiser Choice restaurant and the Kitson Arts Alliance
The Pop-Up Art Gallery is presented by The Ruben and The Bard Studio in partnership with the Kitson Arts Alliance as part of Laceyville’s Mother’s Day Weekend “Laceyville Spectacular Saturday” festivities. It is included as a Tour Stop along the North Branch Art Trail’s Spring Artisans Tour.
For more information, contact Debra Osborne, The Ruben and The Bard Studio, 570-721-3549, d4safety@gmail.com or Dan Tompkins, Kitson Arts Alliance & North Branch Art Trail, 570-301-4922, dantompkins570@gmail.com
