SHAMOKIN - The Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities (NCCAH) will open its latest exhibit, "Six Diverse Women," with a reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at its Fine Art Gallery at the county career and arts center, Arch and Eighth streets.
The show features Claude Harrington, Mary Ann Levins, Lisa Welch, Gloria Zielinskie, Pat White and Melissa White.
Harrington, the new director of the gallery, began painting as a child in Paris. She has studied and worked with teachers of various techniques, including Bob Ross, and is a certified Ross instructor. Working in all media, she has exhibited at various galleries in New York and New Jersey.
Harrington said she is excited about her new role with the gallery and has interesting events planned.
A "late bloomer," Shamokin native Mary Ann Levins didn't begin painting until she was in her early 60s after some encouragement from a friend. After a year of formal study at Welch Art Studios in Shamokin, she won first place and best in show for her one-person show in acrylic at the Bloomsburg Fair art show in 2006. Levins serves as treasurer and co-director for the gallery and continues to study painting in acrylic with award-winning artist and instructor Chet Davis.
Welch studied advertising design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia but says she prefers fine art, particularly painting and photography. She began her teaching career in 1991 at Immanuel Christian School in Hazleton, where she continues today as the high school art teacher. She has also taught at the former Transfiguration of Our Lord and Queen of Peace in Shamokin and Holy Spirit in Mount Carmel and has worked with the local Kindermusik program. Owner of Welch Art Studios in Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Hazleton and Drums, Welch is public relations director for the NCCAH gallery.
Zielinskie, who with her husband owned and operated the former Glo-Zel art store and teaching studio in Shamokin for 20 years, has been painting and teaching for 40 years. Known for her work of historic sites in the region, many of which no longer exist, she teaches at the arts council studio.
Melissa White, a professional photographer from Kulpmont, has been displaying and selling her photography, watercolors and pottery throughout central Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in communication design from Kutztown University and enjoys alternative photographic processes and digital manipulation of photographic images. White, whose work demonstrates the details of nature, has served on the gallery committee for several years and often is the person responsible for hanging and tagging artwork in the gallery.
Pat White's interest in photography began in high school, but she didn't get serious about it until the 1980s when she got her first 35mm camera. Shortly thereafter, she entered her first juried show and one of her pieces was chosen. Since then, her work has been shown in York, Harrisburg, Williamsport, Lancaster, Selinsgrove, Benton, Berwick, Shamokin and Bloomsburg. In 2003, one of her photographs was chosen for the annual Art of the State exhibit, realizing a long-time goal. She, too, volunteers with the gallery.
"Six Diverse Women" will be on display until Sept. 14. The reception is free and open to the public.
The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
