Area’s new art gallery Artisans opens its doors
WAYNESBURG – A steady crowd streamed through Artisans, Waynesburg’s new art gallery Oct. 30, as Creative Industries of Greene County showcased some of the area’s most beautiful art. From found art, which is art created with found objects, to stained glass, Artisans welcomed visitors to experience a taste of Greene County art.
Perched on the corner of Church and High streets, Artisans is part of Creative Industries’ plan to promote, build and sustain creative industries for economic development in Greene County.
The gallery houses art from nearly 40 Greene County artists, and artists featured in the gallery must meet the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts guidelines.
According to Creative Industries’ brochure, the organization’s vision is to create 700 jobs, paying the medium income or higher, in the Greene County area by 2015 through retail, education and production initiatives.
Waynesburg University Art Lecturer Dave Laseko, who lives in Springhill Township, had nine pieces on display, including six pastels and three paintings. Laseko enjoys working outside of his home in “en plein air,” which is French for “in the open air.”
Laseko said it is important to him to show that the arts are alive locally and that the arts can be a business. He added that the gallery will promote the arts and said that Artisans is a showcase of the arts, goods and endeavors of the region.
Artisans is the only local art gallery of its kind in Greene County, and Beth Day, a stained-glass artist and co-owner, with Karen Calvert, of Our Glass Creations on High Street in Waynesburg, said the new gallery is fantastic.
“There’s nothing like letting the public see what’s out there,” Day said. “They can find everything from sculptures and fine pottery to bird houses.”
Darlene Urban Garrett, president of Creative Industries of Greene County, said Artisans gives the creative industry a face. She added that the gallery is just the beginning.
Garrett said the Creative Industries plans to begin art classes, such as pottery and drama, at Artisans.
They will also be promoting art classes at Westmoreland County Community College’s Greene County Education Center and Waynesburg University.
Mark McCurdy, who serves on the Creative Industries board of directors, said that evening that he expected more than 200 people to visit during Artisans’ open house.
For more information, see Creative Industries of Greene County on Facebook.com, or go online to createpa.org.