"Character Feature 2: Flash" is a photo of Spencer Watts, a high school student at Greenwood High School. It appeared in the "Art Ascension" exhibition at Little Buffalo State Park and won two awards at the Perry County Arts Council Youth Art Day. (Jim T. Ryan photo)

The Perry County Arts Council will bring local artistic talents to regional parks in the second year to showcase their various skills and add spirit to those who visit the park.

"We created this show last year at the beginning of the pandemic," said Missy Smith, PCCA's communications director. "This is not just to show our artist's work, but also for people to go out and exercise."

This year's art exhibition in the park is called "Art Promotion", showing various artists from around the county and region, and their works have a wide range of elements. From the flying birds in art to the bizarre luminous elements that bring hope in the metaphorical dark ocean, each work focuses on inspiration, encouragement, natural beauty and hope.

"Even in difficult situations, there are beautiful places around us," Smith said.

The art form printed on the plastic courtyard sign was initially placed around the walking trail in the Millerstown Regional Community Park in October, and then moved to Little Buffalo State Park. They will stay until Thanksgiving.

The art includes photography, prints, acrylic and oil paintings, and watercolors from different artists in Perry and the area.

Biruta Hansen of Liverpool is in her 70s. She uses oil and acrylic paints to depict nature and landscapes. She has several works in Art Uplifts, including a painting of a deer in a bright field, when you walk to the end of the driveway in the morning, the moment the deer lifts its head from the shamrock breakfast.

The acrylic paint scene of the Susquehanna River was completed by Biruta Hansen of Liverpool and was exhibited in the "Art Ascension" exhibition in the local park of PCCA. (Jim T. Ryan photo)

In this case, this is the true situation of Hansen's 30 years of life in Perry County. She said that the deer scene came from the end of her driveway. Another of her paintings depicts the ups and downs of the Susquehanna River across the Appalachian Ridge. It is only a short walk from her home to that place.

"I like the challenge of capturing the beauty outside and putting it in two dimensions," Hansen said.

She is a professional artist who paints murals for towns and companies. She painted a canal mural on the side of the PCCA Gallery in Newport. She also painted a larger river scene mural for the corridor of the hospital. She also painted natural scenes for Bass Pro Shops throughout the country during the expansion period.

"I have often painted since I was a child, and I have always devoted myself to art," said Hansen, whose family came to the United States as refugees after World War II.

From professional to novice, talents are not restricted by age.

Spencer Watts, 18 years old, is a fourth-year student at Greenwood High School. He has only practiced photography for two years, but don't let it fool you. He has the eyes of an experienced photographer.

His photo "Close-up of Life 2: Flash" is an interesting portrait of two friends. People can almost feel the warmth of friendship from the pages of the book.

His friend asked him to take some interesting autumn photos, but it should not end in an artistic display.

"I don't plan to do anything with it except for them," Watts said.

But then he posted the photo on the social media site Instagram and asked other people what they thought. Online audiences flooded in like a flood.

"Everyone said that was the one I should attend the Youth Art Festival," he said, and he participated.

This photo not only won the first prize in photography, but also won the director's choice award, which means it will be exhibited in the PCCA gallery.

"I was hoping to get good results, but I didn't know there was something called director selection, so I was shocked," Watts said in a phone call from Indianapolis to the FFA National Convention with other students.

Watts said that he will continue to use photography as a hobby (he has a small photography side job), but he plans to study at the South Carolina Leadership Academy with an eye toward becoming a worship leader in the church.

Carolyn Pio's watercolor painting "Rooted" depicts intertwined horn carvings. (Jim T. Ryan photo)

Carolyn Pio of Center Twp. There are four pieces in the showcase, all of which are watercolor paintings of birds in the card design. She said that these works are part of a larger project to paint various animals.

"This is an idea that I must promote my interest in nature," said Pio, who works in the county department. "This is not only about protecting the environment of trees, but also the communities and families that value ours."

Artworks including hummingbirds, crows and horned sculptures have a unique day and night or yin and yang feeling for them, and birds are intertwined with other natural elements (parts of flowers or plants). The harpy entwined into a bunch of roots. This is a photo taken by Pio while hiking one day.

"Some parts are realistic, and some parts I just let it flow," she said, noting that her paintings are also seasonal, reflecting her personal emotions at the time.

She currently has some artworks for sale in the PCCA Gallery, and will hold an open house exhibition at Jacobs Insurance (former PNC Bank) in Newport from 6 to 8 pm on November 20th.

The 52-year-old Pio has a degree in Child Development and Communication Arts and was an art teacher at Carson Long. She is also committed to developing art courses for children.

Kathleen Meglio introduced the art of printmaking into the display cabinet, including prints called "Succulent Bound", which looked like flower arrangements. The prints are printed in each color using engraved linoleum tiles. She will carve a little, print one color, then carve the tiles and print the next color, then carve and print until the picture is complete.

Kathleen Meglio created this print called "Succulent Bound" by carving linoleum tiles. (Jim T. Ryan photo)

She printed 15 photos in the process because after completion, there was nothing on the tiles to copy these photos later.

"In the end, you will get something that can no longer be copied," Melio said. "So it has an ending."

Meglio, 39, lives in Loewsville, is the financial director of PCCA, and brought her unique artwork to the display during the public call. Printing production is an art form that is disappearing, with all the technologies that make today's printing easier.

But Meglio said it makes sense to her because it combines several artistic elements that she likes. She said that creating and sharing art has always been "light in the dark".

"I am very happy to have these opportunities and such a supportive community," Meglio said.

The Art Uplifts exhibition will be on display on the walking trails of Little Buffalo State Park until November 21. There is more information about it and this year's Young Art Day Artist Online.

You can contact Jim T. Ryan via email jtryan@perrycountytimes.com

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