As local residents and people from all over the country look forward to the annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the artists involved have been steadily preparing since the last one.
Judy Rohrbaugh, of Bellefonte, said that she has been working many hours even in the past few days to prepare her works for viewing and selling. Her interest in ceramics began with a high school course and, after pursuing a sociology degree for a year, she changed her major to art and never looked back.
Rohrbaugh grew up in the Lancaster area, but came here after living in Ohio for many years. This will be her second year at the arts festival.
“I like that the festival is local rather than three or four hours away,” she said.
Her latest innovation is adding basket weaving to her pottery. Look for her work at booth A-63.
Another Bellefonte artist, Elizabeth Hay, who creates jewelry, said she first applied to have a booth at the festival in January. She starts preparing pieces for the festival about four weeks in advance — working 80-hour weeks to make sure she has plenty of new creations.
“I am passionate about translating the beauty of nature into art,” Hay said. “I’m inspired by the shapes, colors, and textures I find in my garden and the natural world. I love creating and reinterpreting these elements into something that is captured forever in a piece of wearable art.”
She called it an honor to be part of the festival.
“I have been making botanical silver jewelry for seven years and this will be my fourth year at the Arts Fest,” she said. “It’s incredibly well run with enthusiastic staff and volunteers.”
Look for Hay and her jewelry at booth A-65.
Talent blooms in Bellefonte
The Ellie Taraborrelli show, which started July 1 at the Bellefonte Art Museum, is proof that the museum is fulfilling its goal, which is to bring interesting and unique art work to the residents of Centre County and beyond.
Taraborrelli’s exhibit “Into the Deep” will be on display through July in the Community Gallery. Most of her original watercolors, shadow boxes and prints capture the emotions of a little girl going into the unknown, be it forest scene or underwater worlds. The faces draw you in and dredge up memories of your own childhood fears — of the dark, monsters and creepy creatures.
The Tea Room Gallery is showing works by Sean Bodley, Elody Gyekis and Dana Morrison. “Photographs from NASA: From Earth to the Solar System” is still available for viewing until Sunday in the Main Gallery.
Connie Cousins writes a weekly column on happenings in the Bellefonte area. Send her news at ccous67@gmail.com.
