Double your pleasure, double your fun. The 66th Annual Courthouse Square Art Show, the premier outdoor art exhibition of the Pocono Mountain region and a major element in the revitalization of downtown Stroudsburg, makes its colorful and triumphant return, in its original1930's two-day format, on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 (with rain dates of July 13 and July 14 in case of inclement weather), with show hours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The show's focal point is the Stroudsburg Courthouse Square, on North 7th Street, just off Main Street, and only a short distance from the Municipal Parking lot.

Since 1946, the Stroudsburg Courthouse Square Art Show has been a cultural mainstay for the region, providing a wonderful venue that has catapulted the art careers of a number of noted professional fine artists, including Mary Jane Arner, Will Daskal, Bob Doney, Jack Eagle, Gary Embich, Edna Palmer Engelhart, Gene McInerney, Marcel Shienpont, Jim Smeltz, Ann Sorenson, Marie Tomaselli, Cece Tucker and Cullen Yates.It will feature original artwork by outstanding local and regional fine artists and a newly-added jewelry designer, all of whom are members of the Pocono Mountains Art Group (PMA Group), the oldest extant organized art group in North East Pennsylvania, and the sole sponsoring organization of this prominent and historic annual art show.Pocono en plein air artist and Pocono Arts Council Studio Workshop Instructor, Will Daskal, will conduct a live painting demonstration throughout the duration of the show. In addition, all show attendees can enter a free drawing for a signed, original Daskal watercolor painting composed during the show itself. The winner will be selected when the show closes down at 4 p.m. on the second day in a random drawing, and the winner need not be present to win.The Stroudsburg Courthouse Square Art Show is a juried art competition. The show's juror, Mr. Thomas Augusta, is a graduate and a BFA Honor Student from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He paints en plein air and in his studio, "Crow's Nest Studios," located at his home. He has received various art awards and has had numerous solo shows in PA and the New York metropolitan area.This year's participating PMAG artists who will be displaying their work in acrylic, gouache, handcrafted jewelry, oil, photography, watercolor and wire sculpture during the show are, as follows: Arlene Conklin (watercolor); Barbara Daskal (photography); Will Daskal (watercolor, acrylic & oil); Marie Gelsomino (acrylic); Darleen Hyde (acrylic); Grace Ikai (Oil); Nancy Knott (jewelry); George Miller (acrylic); Greg Miller (acrylic & metal sculpture); Joan Rohn (watercolor); Julia Saeger (oil & acrylic); Joan Sayer (watercolor & mixed media); MaryAnn Schwartz (photography); Maureen Shultis (watercolor & acrylic); Patricia Smith (oil & acrylic); Charlene Taylor (oil); and Joy Warner (watercolor & gouache).The actual judging of the artwork will take place between 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the first day of the show, with the selection of winners and the awarding of ribbons by Mr. Augusta in all scoreable media categories for which there was a minimum of three registered artists at approximately 1:15 p.m. In addition, Mr. Augusta will select one piece of artwork from the vast array of exhibited pieces to receive the "Best in Show" award, the most prestigious prize in the show.Admission is free.For further information about the PMAGroup's 66th Annual Stroudsburg Courthouse Square Art Show, or if you have any questions, contact them at:

poconoarts@yahoo.com, or call 570-236-5808. To learn more about the Pocono Mountains Art Group, kindly visit their website PMAGroup.org.