fter a long absence, artist and craftsman Nic East has returned to stage a major show.

For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Jim Thorpe master of creativity presented a one-man exhibit of his multifaceted talent.The "Nic East Restrospective Art Show" packed the 1,600-square-foot gallery at the Tamaqua Community Art Center on Jan. 7.The show included everything from symmetrical photographic prints to fused glass, paintings, sculpture and Chain Maille, or fabric made from small copper, silver, stainless steel and aluminum jump rings.The one common denominator enjoining all of East's works is the extraordinary sense of color and design."I never met a color I didn't like," East said.Before his Tamaqua show, which was arranged by East's daughter Kim, East's last major exhibit was held in 1987 at the Windham Franklin Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia.Why the long absence?"I was not painting during those intervening 28 years," said East."I was making wood and steel sculpture and learning to work glass. I also was spending a lot of creative energy building Hill Home Forge in Jim Thorpe. My wife, Eileen, and I operate a bed-and-breakfast there."East's show drew a large crowd to the 125 Pine St. gallery where admirers said they were captivated by East's interpretations, such as an eclectic exhibit of paintings, many rendered in acrylic."I like the colorful abstract ones," said Jeff Rimm, Tamaqua.Another said the one thing that stands out is East's creativity with sculpture, such as when he incorporates elements such as computer boards into his work."I love the electronics," said Leona Rega of Tamaqua. "The way he takes and uses things we'd take for granted. It just speaks to me."East grew up on a farm in Delaware County and began dabbling in art at an early age. After earning a degree in industrial and graphic design from the Philadelphia University of the Arts, he started his own design business, NE Design Consultants.He also began creating sculptures by welding scrap metal together. This led to the birth of a second company, Iron Men Ornamental Metalsmiths.After retiring from his iron design business, East moved to Jim Thorpe from Philadelphia in 1989 and began another career.Repairing and restoring the Craftsman style building at 10 Flagstaff Road meant using his skills in ironwork and woodwork, and providing a practical application for his stained glass window overlays.He also creates glass beads used in wife Eileen's jewelry business.Variety is the spice of East's life."I have 80 different artistic disciplines and 19 work stations for things like jewelry making, fusing glass and making beads."One of his newer projects, "Inkblot Aliens," abstract art "faces" which might remind some of Rorschach ink blot tests.And like Rorschach tests used by psychologists, East believes art should be deeply felt."Art is all about feelings," he said."Besides being a core element of cultural expression, art also embodies the ongoing search for novelty. Art's originality always involves novelty as well, and the creative expression of the artist's ideas into visual metaphors that become crystallizations of his or her thinking and feeling."East believes art should touch viewers emotionally.The response can be awe, anger, respect or maybe inspiration and the desire to create.All of those responses are equally valid and meaningful."Always look for the story or the feelings embedded within all your art experiences and you will increase your joy of living."