Art in the Wilds
Art in the Wilds
One of the most anticipated juried art shows returns to in-person event
Since 2006, Evergreen Park in Kane, Pennsylvania has come alive with activity during the last weekend of June. In and among the towering pine trees, dozens of white tents are erected each year, as 40 artists in all mediums from the tri-state area set up for one of the most anticipated juried art shows in McKean County.
Last year was quite different, however. No tents, food vendors, or crowds filled the beautiful park, as Art in the Wilds went virtual, like so many other events that were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through their website (www.artinthewilds.org), Art in the Wilds gave artists the opportunity to showcase their work through photos so that interested buyers could contact the artists directly to order their work.
“Last year was pretty rough,” said Jackie Buonanducci, director of marketing for Art in the Wilds. “Artists and art in general really took a hit during the pandemic.” This year, though, the event is returning to Evergreen Park, said Buonanducci, a decision that the board arrived at after many months of careful planning. “We spent a lot of time talking about if we should have a show, and if we did, how to do it. When the vaccine came out, that had a big impact on our decision. We’d been keeping track of other events and what they were doing, so we finalized our decision in March.” Marilyn Blackmore, vice president and former executive director, has been working closely with Merry Ryding to help her transition to her new role as executive director. Buonanducci explained, “They’ve been working together for two years planning this out. I anticipate that this year is going to be even better attended than before!”
The feedback from artists has been wonderful, to say the least. “The response has been absolute relief,” Buonanducci said. “And gratitude. Last year and even this year, there have been so many cancellations, and these artists count on these events to share and sell their work. It’s really important to us for them to know that we’re doing everything we can to keep them safe.”
Toward that end, Art in the Wilds is spacing out tents to allow more room for foot traffic and demonstrations. This year, there are 36 artists participating, including 12 artists who participated in last year’s virtual show who were invited back for this year’s in-person event. There are also additional cleaning/hand-washing stations in the park this year, per CDC guidelines.
This year, visitors can expect to see a great variety of art and handmade wares from categories including ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting and drawing, photography, sculpture, and wood. Each artist and crafter that applies for the show must go through a rigorous judging process through the Art in the Wilds committee, and only 40 artists are selected to participate each year.
Several artists return each year to the show, including Stacie Johnson-Leske, whose ceramics and demonstrations are always enjoyed, Buonanducci noted. Another returning artist is Amy Hahn, whose work, at first glance, appears to be composed of individual brushstrokes that capture the details of her subjects. Hahn is actually a glass artist, and her stunning mosaics are made of many, many carefully placed pieces of glass.
Megan Gillis creates jewelry by metalsmithing. "I am amazed by the intricate and delicate forms and components of the leaves and flowers - each one is unique, one of a kind,” she said. “My love of these floral components is a paramount component of my work."
Photographer Rocky Holland is returning this year to bring his visitors face-to-face with the beautiful and sometimes unnoticed elements of nature. In Holland’s words, “Nature is something that can change year after year, but never really change! A decline in one subject matter will almost mean a spike in another. I always get excited when someone says, 'I didn't know they were even around here!' With photography, I show them they are indeed!”
New artists this year include Christina Krautz (jewelry), Kalpana Lehman (glass), Laurie Leonard (jewelry) and Jeanne Russel (ceramics). With such an impressive group of new and returning artists, Buonanducci said the jurors who determine the show’s two awards, Best in Show and Best Artist Overall, have their work cut out for them!
Although there is no student art show due to the pandemic, Buonanducci is pleased to share that there will be several food vendors this year, including the Mt. Jewett Rotary, Kamp Kountry Lemonade, North Country Kettle Corn, Nick's Crab Cakes, PDL Catering, and more. As always, admission and parking for the event are free. Saturday show hours are 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday hours are 10:00am-4:00pm. Per the park rules, no pets are permitted, with the exception of service dogs. For the latest information about Art in the Wilds, including artist spotlights, photos, and more, follow @ArtInTheWilds on Facebook or visit them on the web at www.artinthewilds.org.