SHAMOKIN - The Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities (NCCAH) has art and music on the menu for its next event, the annual student show featuring Welch Art Studios students and associates.
Entitled "Baby Animals: Lovely Little Wonders, Baby Beasties and Cuddly Creatures," the show opens with a reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the NCCAH Gallery. Instructor Lisa Welch and crew will welcome visitors to the show which features works in acrylic, pastel, watercolor, pen and ink and colored pencil, all done by her students and adjunct artists at her various teaching locations throughout northeast and central Pennsylvania, including Shamokin and Mount Carmel.
This year's baby animal theme was chosen by popular demand among students, according to Welch. "I have a majority of younger students this year, age 4 to 12," she reports. "Little kids love little animals. The older kids and adults had to be coaxed into doing one, myself included. I'm not a fan of painting or drawing animals, I prefer florals and landscapes. But we voted, and majority rules."
The variety of different kinds of animals students chose for subject matter is remarkable, Welch said. "I was afraid everyone would want to do puppies and kittens," Welch says. "But they surprised me. We have buffalos to zebras and everything in between."
Visitors to this show's reception will also be treated to live music provided by one of Welch's musical projects - The String Theory Acoustic Trio. Featuring Paul Riffon on violin, Brett Mowery on guitar and Welch on upright bass, the trio plays traditional, folk and bluegrass music. Listeners will be encouraged to tap their feet, clap their hands and even sing along. Light refreshments will be served by the arts council. The event is free, and the public is invited.
The gallery is located inside the Northumberland County Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, Shamokin, on the first floor. Visitors should use the lower handicapped entrance at the rear of the building and follow signs once inside the building. For those who cannot make the opening reception, the show runs until Feb. 13.
The gallery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
For more information about the show or Welch Art Studios, visit www.welchartstudios.com or the Welch Art Studios page on Facebook.