Pottstown MCCC To Cohost Exhibit

The Sixth Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Art Show is set to open on Aug. 30.

The event will feature a record number of original works juried by a Philadelphia Museum of Art curator. 

Sponsored by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area in partnership with Montgomery County Community College, the exhibit will hang through Oct. 23 at the Montgomery County Community College West Campus Gallery at 16 West High St. in Pottstown. 

This year’s show features a total of 85 original paintings, drawings and photographs by regional artists. All works were carefully selected from over 120 submissions by juror Mary Teeling, Curator of Education for Public Programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Teeling, who holds a master’s degree in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania, said she is “passionate about the transformative power of art in people’s lives. 

“I love bringing people and art together for inspiration, discovery and learning,” she said. 

The Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Art Show seeks to inspire all those who view the exhibit to re-discover the Schuylkill River region through the eyes of artists.

Scenes of flowing water, historic sites, urban streetscapes and rural farms are among the many subjects depicted in the show. 

Teeling stressed that it is not necessary to have a formal knowledge of art to appreciate the show, or any work of art, for that matter. 

“It’s great to know something about the history of art, but that isn’t necessary in order to understand and love art,” she said. 

Teeling selected four winning entries and three honorable mentions. Artist Helen Mirkil, of Lower Gwynedd, earned first place for her oil painting, "Grazing."

Mirkil was awarded $300 and will be presented with a best-of-show award of distinction valued at $1,000, through Montgomery County Community College, for in-kind services from North Penn Art, in Lansdale. 

The second place award went to Brian Peterson, also of Lower Gwynedd for his archival pigment print, "Water Music," and Patrice DeVirgilis of Lansdale took third place for the acrylic, "Breakthrough Light."

Peterson and DeVirgilis were awarded $200 and $100, respectively.  This year for the first time a $100 fourth place award was given for best winter scene to Susannah Hart Thomer for her watercolor on Yupo, "Frozen Flow."

Honorable mentions were awarded to Molly Light for her pastel, "March Madness," and Doree Loschiavo for her water media, "Strawberry Mansion." A third honorable mention went to 94-year-old artist Bernice Paul for her oil on canvas, "French Creek."   

Most works are available for sale, and a portion of all proceeds benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.     

The show is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are: 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mon. through Thurs. and 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Fri.

On Oct. 8, the display will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Schuylkill River Festival.

To learn more, call 484-945-0200 or MCCC Galleries Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or e-mail hcairns@mc3.edu.