“Art Matters” is a slogan synonymous with the Carbon County Creative Arts Fund.

It certainly matters to 101-year-old Mary Kocher of Palmerton, who spent a large part of her life teaching local adults and students art, and painting works that still hang in local banks, libraries and businesses.

On Thursday night, Kocher was honored with a lifetime arts achievement award during Art With A View, a charity art exhibit and sale held at Blue Mountain Resort.

“I’m so thankful for everyone who has supported my work,” Kocher said. “Art has made me so happy all of my life.”

Janet Salek, the event’s art coordinator, gathered 17 of Kocher’s paintings from private collections to show Thursday night.

Originally from Morgantown, West Virginia, Kocher moved to the area in 1946 when her husband Richard was offered a position at the New Jersey Zinc Company in Palmerton. She immediately became involved in various community organizations as well as studying painting with Queenie Stein in Palmerton, the Baum Art School in Allentown, and an art colony in Rockport, Massachusetts.

“Though I still get requests, age has taken its toll and I don’t paint anymore,” she said. “I have no regrets though. What art and painting has provided me has been wonderful. Tonight has been such a surprise.”

Kocher’s most recognized oil paintings are of local historical buildings, which she considers her specialty, but she has also has done landscapes, florals and portraits, which were included in the display at Art With A View.

“Mary grew up in a family of artists,” Salek said. “When her husband was ill for the last few years of his life, Mary said art saved her soul. There is no doubt art has mattered to her for her entire life.”

Art With A View, which was returning after a two-year hiatus, benefits the Carbon County Creative Arts Fund. It featured over 15 local artists, who were asked to donate 20% of their sale price and to contribute a piece for a live art auction.

“I think everyone is just so excited to be back out and enjoying this event,” Kathy Fallow, founding donor of the fund, said. “Our vision of encouraging and supporting local artists is aimed at so many of the people in the room tonight.”

Though the last two years have been challenging to say the least, Fallow said, art has provided a connection for many and hope that better times are around the corner.

“We have gone through difficult tomes, but we are so fortunate to be surrounded by artists who have documented our struggles and encouraged us to persevere through the difficulty,” she said.

The Creative Arts Fund, which provides grants to support local arts and cultural programs throughout Carbon County, is under the umbrella of the Carbon County Community Foundation.

The foundation has been able to give $2,000 grants every year, helping the Zion Opera Workshop in Lehighton, Concerts in the Park in Palmerton, the Bach and Handel Choir, the Carbon County IU talent show and Sheltered Stories project, organized by local libraries, to provide opportunities for Carbon County residents to share their thoughts during the pandemic. Submissions will be included in the State Library of Pennsylvania COVID-19 Digital Archive.

On Thursday, the foundation awarded a grant to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center to support the installation of a mural there.

“The mural,” said Sharon Alexander, executive director of the Carbon County Community Foundation, “will turn a railway retaining wall into a vibrant point of interest showcasing native plant and animal species with educational signage.”