Art in the Wilds 2018


Tuesday, June 19, 2018 — 35


“PA WILDS” CREATIVE MAKERS TRAVELING EXHIBIT showcases local artists and craftspeople


Fifteen years ago, a groundbreaking effort began to brand a quarter of the Com- monwealth as the “Pennsyl- vania Wilds” and invest in it to create a premier nature, heri- tage and cultural destination that would fuel local econo- mies and inspire stewardship


among the people who live, work, play and visit the region. Engaging the region’s artists and craftspeople in the work is key to building a meaning- ful regional brand and infus- ing pride into economically- distressed communities. The Wilds Cooperative of Penn-


sylvania, our membership program that supports artisans and entrepreneurs through such regional branding, was born out of this belief. Today, nearly 200 local artists and craftspeople participate in this juried arts and business devel- opment program.


What this program has re- vealed is that the Pennsylva- nia Wilds has many talented artists, craftspeople and en- trepreneurs, but many visitors, residents and event artists are not aware of this due to the region’s rural geography (the PA Wilds covers 25% of PA, but accounts for only 4% of the population). It can be dif- ficult to appreciate the creative spirit and skill of the region’s artists and craftspeople when so many of them practice their craft in a room at their house on a back country road, out of sight.


Telling the story of the


region’s creative makers is essential to developing the region’s identity and sense of place and to helping the public appreciate and be inspired by the creativity around them.


Creative Makers Exhibit Now in its second year,


and showcasing more than 200 images and 48 makers, the Creative Makers of the Pennsylvania Wilds - A Trav- eling Public Art Show raises awareness about the region’s creative community by bring-


ing their stories to public spac- es. This exhibit, which features regional artisans and produc- ers making their crafts in their creative spaces, highlights members of the Wilds Coop- erative Pennsylvania (WCO), a program that is a direct prod- uct of the last 15 years of PA Wilds work. Today, there are


about 300 regional artists, craftspeople and creative en- trepreneurs participating in the WCO, which is administered and promoted by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship.


This exhibit is free and open to the general public.


525 N Fraley St, Kane, PA 837-7812


Kane Offi ce: 211 South Fraley St.


(814) 837-6151 RIGHT AT


REWARDS


Luke9:16 www.ElkCountyFoods.com


HOME OF THE FACEBOOK FRENZY WEDNESDAY RIDGWAY


1 Baker Alley, Main Street, Ridgway, PA 15853 6:30am-9pm, 7 days/week


814-772-1334


JOHNSONBURG 444 Wilcox Road, Route 219,


Johnsonburg, PA 15845 7am-9pm, 7 days/week


814-965-2450


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