Annual Plaid Show Seeks Submissions

It started as a joke, but after a decade and a half, the annual plaid-themed art show at the Gallery at St. John's Lutheran Church at 330 Ferry St. is an Easton tradition.

Once again, the show, which will run Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. from March 2 through April 27, is seeking submissions from area artists for the 15th Annual Plaid Show, subtitled "To Plaid Or Not to Plaid."

Of course, since entries are strongly encouraged to incorporate plaid in some way, "no matter how subtle", the answer is clear.

The show is open to all art mediums and artist experience levels. All artwork must be framed, wired and ready for hanging. For three-dimensional art, approximately three linear feet of space will be available. Small stands or tables no more than 2 1/2 feet wide may be used.

There is a $10 entry fee per artist. Twenty percent of proceeds from sold works will be donated to the gallery, with the other 80 percent going to the artist. Additionally, some of the entry fee will support the Arts Community of Easton (ACE), which is co-sponsoring the show.

Full show guidelines, along with a registration form, are available online here.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 2 from noon to 3 p.m., and an artists' talk and awards ceremony is planned for Sunday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m.

For more information about the show, call the gallery at 610-258-6119, show organizer Pamalee LaDuca at 610-258-5865 or email here.

Upcoming Art Show to Reimagine Social Movements

Artists have often been moved to take part in social movements and had strong opinions about various causes, and that will be the topic of the Arts Community of Easton's upcoming show at the Quadrant Gallery C, opening on Saturday, August 3, with a reception from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Entitled "Reanimated Movements", the show will include the topics of civil rights, American poverty, women’s suffrage, conscientious objection, laborer’s rights, Roe vs. Wade, and more, says a media release on the exhibit.

Ryan Scacci, of The Philosopher’s Stone in Belvidere, NJ will debut "Artist as Martyr", intended to be a commentary on the role of artists in society. A number of other Lehigh Valley artists reimagining and reanimating causes they feel strongly about will also be featured as well.

"Many of the pieces will feature compelling commentary for the public, making this a show of culture and education," said show curator Marlana Eck in an announcement of the show.

Two live poetry events will accompany the art exhibit.

Event organizer and poet Matt Wolf, along with other local poets, will perform activist-inspired poetry at the opening day reception, and again on Saturday, August 24.

The poetry readings complement the show's theme, Eck noted.

"Over the years, artists have been the backbone to social movements around the world. Whether it was a photograph of someone picketing, a portrait of a martyr for the cause, or a poster for a rally, art created a sense of urgency for change," she said in the press release.

Quadrant Gallery C is located on the second floor of the Quadrant Bookmart and Coffee House, at 20 North Third St. The show is scheduled to run through Saturday, Sept. 7.

The exhibit is still accepting pieces from local artists until August 1 too. Open to works in all mediums, the only stipulation is that those submitted must be inspired by a social movement that the artist  strongly identifies with from any period in history. 

For more information about the show or how to submit art for this exhibition, visit www.eastonart.org or email show curator Marlana Eck.

Riverside Festival of the Arts Seeks More Artists

Riverside Festival of the Arts, to be held this year on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22, is seeking more artists and artisans for the annual celebration and sale of juried fine art and crafts held in Easton's Riverside Park.

Cash prizes totalling $1,600 will be awarded to participants in fine arts, which includes painting, drawing, pastel, printmaking, photography and sculpture, and fine crafts -- featuring jewelry, mosaic, fabric and fiber, stained glass, metalwork, woodwork, clay work and other unique art.

Riverside Festival of the Arts will also again hold its Plein Air Art Contest during the art show for the fourth year, which costs $10 to enter and features $500 in cash prizes.

The Downtown Easton arts festival, now in its 17th year, annually attracts thousands of individuals who come to view and purchase art, listen to live music and live poetry, and to participate in, observe, and learn from live art demonstrations. Admission to the event is free, and the weekend also features a number of free children’s interactive art activities.

Applications, along with more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, may be found at www.EastonRiversideFest.com . Those wishing to participate may also call 610-438-4772 to request an application be mailed.

Easton Arts Group to Hold Picnic in Historic Cemetery, Gallery Shows

The Arts Community of Easton (ACE) will hold its first annual "Summer Picnic in Historic Easton Cemetery" on Saturday, June 15, from 1 to 5 p.m.

The old-fashioned picnic is intended to raise funds for functional art items to be donated to the cemetery, as well as for beautification projects for the cemetery's grounds.

"We believe the cemetery deserves more permanent trash receptacles as well as recycling, botanical guides, weather-proofed maps and area markers, and a community of caretakers," ACE said in an announcement of the event on its Facebook page.

The picnic will feature live music, artist demonstrations, walking tours of the grounds, yoga workshops, a scavenger hunt, and other activities.

Tickets will be available beginning June 1 at the ACE tent at the Easton Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, as well as at the cemetery during the event. Prices are $15 for single admission, $25 for couples, and $40 for a family of three to five people.

For more information about the ACE picnic, click here.

ACE is also planning gallery shows over the summer at the "ACE Room C Gallery at the Quadrant", located on the second floor of the bookmart and coffee house, 20 North Third St.

On Sunday, June 9, the one-day show "Get Some Art" will happen at the gallery. Billed as "an excellent way to start your own collection with reasonably priced works", ACE members will drop off pieces that have been kicking around their studio. They hang as soon as the Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee Shop opens its doors that morning, and purchases will immediately leave the gallery, to be replaced with new works.

"A Box of Chocolates" will run at the ACE Room C Gallery at the Quadrant from Saturday, June 15 through Sunday, June 30. For these two weeks, art of all kinds will be revolving through the gallery as ACE members hang and remove pieces at whim. "You never know what you’re going to get."

From Saturday, July 6 through Saturday, Aug. 17, "Art for Option" will be be on display. A wrap-up of the ACE Summer Picnic in Easton Cemetery, photographs and art from the event will be shown. The Art for Option will be concept art that re-imagines existing area markers and trash boxes that will be presented to the cemetery board. This show will be curated by Kate R. McArdle, the picnic event coordinator.