CLARKS SUMMIT — Around four years ago, two ladies decided Clarks Summit residents should have more art in their town. Shirley W. Eagen created a series of pastel drawings featuring 10 different local scenes, including buildings on State Street, the Abington Community Library as well as locations in the Waverly area. Her friend and local business owner Dorothy O’Connor suggested she start selling these as notecards in area shops. They named the series “Our Town.”
With the proceeds earned from this endeavor, they established the “Our Town” Art Awards. The awards are in partnership with the Gathering Place, the Abington Civic League Inc., the Abington Business and Professional Association and Bob and Regina Bennett. Abington Heights High School juniors and seniors had the opportunity to earn scholarship money through the exhibit and awards.
The second annual Abington Heights Student Art Exhibit “Our Town” Art Awards presentation was held Feb. 8. Categories include drawing, painting and photography for both high school juniors and seniors with the added multi-media category for seniors.
A lifelong artist, professional interior designer and advocate of the arts, Eagen noted that “art has no age.” While she doesn’t know any of the student artists personally, she admitted, “When I see their art, I feel like I know them.” Eagen’s warm personality and kind smile match her passion for her community and for art.
“Art represents your community. If you look around here (at the student gallery display), you see part of our community,” commented Eagen.
The senior grand prize winner was Tamane Takehara who has been an artist her entire life and won the grand prize senior scholarship for her fantasy island design based on a short story. She used watercolor, ink and colored pencil. She has been in the “Our Town” art show both years, as well as various school art shows and plans to attend Temple University and double major in psychology and arts.
“I think this is a very good opportunity for artists and we need more opportunities like this at schools for students. More focus needs to be put on the humanities,” Takjehara noted.
Anne Armezzani, events chair at The Gathering Place, encouraged the students as she spoke at the awards presentation. “With your art you’re making the world a better place,” she said
Other student winners were seniors Shannon Baransky, drawing; Leah Mooney, painting; Arla Davis, multi-media; Carter Smith, photography; and juniors Katie Chickillo, drawing; Olivia Marchetta, painting; and Paige Moletsky, photography.
Judges for the show were Tara Crum, art committee, Abington Heights Civic League, Inc.; Shirley W. Eagen, artist emeritus and co-scholarship founder; and Emily Rancier, art director, The Gathering Place.
Also integral to this exhibit were Abington Heights High School art teachers Tim Butler, Kayla Collura, Abby Fenton and Eileen Healey. In addition to their mentorship, instruction and encouragement to the students, they framed and hung all the artwork for the exhibit.
