For the last 35 years the Palmerton Concourse Club has been showcasing local art during the Palmerton Community Festival.

The display in the Sacred Heart Church across the street from the park provides a chance to view work of regional artists and even buy a favorite to take home.

Watercolors, photos, mosaics and mixed media highlight the annual show.

The show, open to all ages, began even before the Concourse Club became involved.

Carol Curcio, Concourse Club art chairwoman, said, “It originated during the Palmerton Hospital Festival and was held outdoors as part of the festival. The Concourse Club’s first involvement was in 1990. I am not sure of the date the show moved to Sacred Heart, but has been there as long as I have been involved.”

This year the show had 82 adult entries into the main show and 10 senior/junior high pieces for judging.

Thirty-six of those pieces were entered into the Marketplace, meaning they are not judged but are placed for sale, at a price $150 or lower.

Towamensing Elementary School provided a wall of student art for the show.

A special Palmerton category drew four entries. The category is free to enter, with one piece per artist. The work is voted on by the club’s show committee.

The show is judged by three regional local artists.

“We ask our judges to consider three things when judging pieces: composition, technique and presentation,” Curcio said.

One judge handles art, including oil, acrylic and watercolor painting; works on paper, including pastel, pencil and charcoal sketches; and mixed media, which is all other artwork that does not fall into the previous two categories.

Another judge handles photography and digital art, while the third judge handles elementary school art.

The judges evaluate both adult entries as well as senior/junior high school entries.

The three judges then determine together the Best of Show winner from the adult entries.

Each person who comes in to view the show is asked to select their favorite piece from the adult entries.

At the show’s closing on Sunday, a People’s Choice Award is awarded to the piece receiving the most votes.

This year the People’s Choice award went to Deborah Walkowiak for a colorful mosaic called “Palmerton Borough Park.” Everyone was in agreement, as she won Best of Show for the piece. The People’s Choice winner gets a $100 prize.

The club presented the memorial Anita Harry Award in tribute to the longtime Concourse member.

The $50 award is presented to a high school senior selected by the committee. This year the recipient was Margot Deppe of Northampton.

Tribute

In 2019, the club added the tribute section, in memory of watercolor artist William Wentz, who died that year.

“We thought it would be nice to showcase his work,” Curcio said. “We met with his son, and he allowed us access to his studio, and we were able to choose the pieces we wanted to showcase. Many pieces were offered for me to show by residents who had work in their homes.”

The club decided to continue this feature, alternating between tributes to local artists and fundraisers for causes the club decides to support. Tributes have included Jeanne Stemler and the Golden Age of Palmerton Art.

This year the club showcased a photographic exhibit of “Palmerton Life,” featuring vintage photographs on loan from the Palmerton Area Historical Society, as well as current day life as seen through the lens of local photographer Lynn Shupp.

Curcio found unusual ways to display the historical photographs. Some, such as wedding photos borrowed from townspeople, were displayed in ornate frames. Others lined glass vials containing blue or white buttons.

Past projects have included a silent auction fundraiser for the Bo Tkach Foundation and an art sale for the Palmerton Area Library.

This year the club introduced the category for the America250 celebration.

“Next year we are having a special tribute section for patriotic artwork in conjunction with the America250 event. Each artist will be able to submit one piece for show into this section,” Curcio said.

The entry is free. The only stipulation is that the piece be patriotic in theme.

“We announced it at the event this year and hope to have a great showing of local works,” Curcio.

It’s a work in progress.

“We generally meet once after the show and discuss what went well and what we want to change for the following year,” Curcio said.

Some of the planning begins right after the show, but like any event, Curcio said, “Most of the details are handled in the two weeks leading to the event, as that is when we receive 50% of our entries.”

Palmerton Concourse Club art show winners

Adult art

First, Cheryl Popek, “Sunflowers”

Second, Mary McGuire, “Cat in the Box”

Third, Barbara Cerimele, “Self-Esteem”

Adult photography

First, Gordon Perry, “Early Morning on Swatara Creek”

Second, Lynn Shupp, “Blast Furnaces”

Third, Lynn Shupp “Stones with a Purpose”

Adult works on paper First, Martin Wambold, “Working at the #9 Mine”

Second, Mary McGuire, “Gaylord”

Third, Martin Wambold, “JAZZ#1”

Adult mixed media

First, Deb Taylor, “Lake Carey”

Adult digital art

First, Alanna Weiss, “Fly Fisherman & Great Blue Heron at Little Le-Hi”

High school art

First, Cassidy Merkel, “Wide Eyed”

Junior High Art

First, Levi Leshock, “The Pyrennes”

High School works on paper

First, Ray Connell, “Sketch of Apple”

High school mixed media

First, Ray Connell, “Hayley’s Medallion”

Best of Show and People’s Choice

Deborah Walkowiak, “Palmerton Borough Park”

Palmerton Category

Deb Taylor

Anita Harry Award

Margot Deppe