Remembering 9/11

Artists Respond to 10th Anniversary of 9/11 with Exhibit

Penn State Lehigh Valley is currently hosting a commemorative gallery show that's open to the public.

Penn State Lehigh Valley in Upper Saucon Township opened its special gallery exhibition "Reaction and Healing: The Tenth Anniversary of 9-11" with a free public reception on Sept. 8 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Two of the artists whose work is on display--Denise Bankuti of Burbank, Calif., and Kathy Levine of Brooklyn, N.Y.--were in the area to attend the reception. “These are professional artists with international exhibition experience,” said Ann Lalik, Gallery Director and Arts Coordinator at Penn State Lehigh Valley. “We have several mediums--paper, bronze, fiber, paint and pastels; it’s a combination of medium, politics, art and spirituality.” The brainchild of Marilyn Fox, director of Penn State Berks' Freyberger Gallery, "Reaction and …

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Local Artists Find Inspiration in Their Not-So-Local Journeys

A number of artists have works on display in Southern Lehigh Public Library's Summer Rotating Art Show called "Travel."

Local artists recently turned to travel for inspiration, in order to support the Southern Lehigh Public Library in Center Valley and participate in its Summer Art Show called "Travel." Gloria Gekas of Lower Macungie Township and Charles Daniels of Saucon Valley are among the eight artists whose work is on display and for sale at the library through Sept. 12.  Gekas always had an interest in art, but after raising a family and moving in and out of the Lehigh Valley she rediscovered it as therapy after a bout with breast cancer in 1994. Her recovery led her to paint with a group at the hospital, and then to seek out other groups. She is currently a member of the Bethlehem Pallete Club. “I don’t have the luxury of a studio—we’ve downsized,” …

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Photos, Pastels Part of Homestead's New Exhibit

A “Meet the Artists” reception is planned for Monday, Aug. 15, for local artists and current exhibitors Louise and William Cosgrove.

The Heller Homestead Art Gallery will open its doors at 7 p.m., Aug. 15, for a “Meet the Artists” reception sponsored by the Saucon Valley Conservancy. The gallery's new exhibit showcases the works of Louise and William Cosgrove, who record the varied landscapes of the Lehigh Valley through the use of pastels and photography. "What makes this show unique is that we are husband and wife,” Louise said. “Our work shows really nice together.” “It’s good that it’s different,” said Fran Roseman, the exhibit curator. "I love the pastels, but I love the photography, too. They have such atmosphere. I love them all." Louise works with pastels; soft, chalk-like substances with brilliant color. William has chosen photography as his preferred medium …

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Whiz Kids: The Young Artists

Works by Charlene Natterman, Samantha Kiefer, Courtney Laub, Katrina Fenstermaker and other local students are on display through May 29 at the Heller Homestead's 4th Annual Young Artists Exhibit.

Our Whiz Kids this week have works of art on display in the Fourth Annual Young Artists Exhibit at the Heller Homestead museum and art gallery in Lower Saucon Township. The exhibit is made possible through a partnership between the Saucon Valley Conservancy, which is headquartered at the homestead, and the Saucon Valley School District. Art teachers Sandra Eckert and Brenda Stever selected the works of art in the exhibit from among many pieces created by students throughout the school year. This week's “Whiz Kids” are just four of the many students whose art is currently on display. Charlene Natterman is in 10th grade and created the piece “Why My Piggy?” which is now on display. Charlene enjoys creating pieces that reflect her interests …

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Students, Teachers Celebrate Completion of 'Kapok Tree' Mosaic

A special ceremony was held at Saucon Valley Elementary School to mark the completion and dedication of the large and colorful mosaic that fourth grade students spent many hours working on.

Once in a rare while, a project that touches an entire school is undertaken, inspiring young minds and teachers in equal fashion. At Saucon Valley Elementary School, one such project was the creation of a beautiful mosaic based upon the book "The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry. A special ceremony to dedicate the artwork was held at the school April 28, and was attended by the fourth grade students who created it, several members of the nonprofit educational foundation which funded it, teachers, administrators, parents and friends. Saucon Valley Elementary School Principal Ro Frey welcomed guests to the elementary school auditorium, where she thanked the students for doing a "wonderful job" on the mosaic and introduced art teacher Jackie…

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Whiz Kids: These Students Know How to Pay It Forward

While most kids can't wait to go home after school, one group of Saucon Valley Elementary School students remained behind to create some amazing artwork and help raise money for their school.

Upon completing a mosaic project for the year that was inspired by the book "The Great Kapok Tree," seven Saucon Valley Elementary students wanted to give back to the foundation that made the activity possible. Along with their art teacher Jackie Roumeliatis, fourth grade students Antoine Neveu, Brianna Lee, Chris Knauss, Jenna Skillinge, Emily Ackerman, Cloe Trachtenberg and Mia Lloyd stayed after school to design and work on companion pieces to the large rainforest mural that now hangs in their school's lobby. The creation of the mural was made possible by a grant from the Saucon Valley Foundation for Educational Innovation (SVFEI) that brought Banana Factory resident artist Kim Hogan to the school. Each week Hogan worked with fourth …

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Inside a Hellertown Funeral Home, Art Helps Heal the Soul

The art gallery at Falk Funeral Home provides a peaceful place for reflection during one of the most difficult periods in people's lives.

In the lobby of a Main Street business in Hellertown is an art gallery where exhibits change every eight to 12 weeks. It’s a place for people to go for a change of atmosphere during what is normally an emotionally draining life situation--a funeral service. The gallery in the lobby of the Falk Funeral Home is a pleasant diversion for guests to the home, as well as a valuable resource for local artists. Artwork displayed in the gallery over the years has ranged from paintings to metal works showing varied levels of skill, subject and media. Falk Funeral Home was opened in 1955 by Franklin and Betty Falk, who purchased an historic home and barn at the northern end of town. They converted it into a funeral home after many hours of labor, …

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