Exploring art in Jim Thorpe

The Jim Thorpe Art Weekend, held May 14-15 and organized by the Nic and Eileen East Foundation, helped acquaint visitors to the area with artists, galleries and Victorian architecture in the picturesque town.

"We have some serious painters, sculptors, and craftspeople, and writers and poets in Jim Thorpe," said Joel Le Bow, an abstract expressionist painter who opened his gallery for the event.

Although it was raining over the weekend, photographer Tom Storm saw it as an opportunity for visitors to take unusual photos of Jim Thorpe.

"As photographers, we work with what we get," said Storm, who led a photo tour of the historic district.

Kicking off the weekend, John Gunsser in Victorian dress appeared at the Harry Packer Mansion telling stories of art in 19th century Mauch Chunk.

Inside the Gilded Cupid, Christopher Wolfe displayed quartz crystal sculptures by McCoy Designs of Tamaqua. Quartz from Brazil and Arkansas is turned into picture frames and lamps, and sold in high-end retail stores.

Outside, Kenneth Mueller showed his Environmentally Balanced Stone Sculptures.

"It is the simplest form of combining nature and art," he explained. "These stones serve as a reflection of life, and remind us to keep life in balance."

Lithographer and printmaker Ron Chupp opened his studio for a demonstration of making prints using lithography. After drawing a design with a lithographic pencil on a slab of Bavarian limestone, Chupp applied ink, placed a sheet of paper over the stone, and demonstrated how the force of the press transfers the ink to the paper to make the print.

At the General Albright Mansion, Laurie Sanford presented a wine tasting.

"I want to teach our guests how to smell the wine, and how to appreciate the wine," she said.

On Saturday evening, the Dakota Ridge Gallery sponsored an opening reception for photographer Alex Trejo's series, "Architectural Surreal."

"My background is in architecture," Trejo explained. "The photos and perspectives, the colors, and the look is basically how I feel when I look at these buildings. My approach is less photojournalism and more artistic."

Trejo captures the soaring images of buildings digitally, often while lying on his back. He uses wide angle lenses, filters, and long exposures to create his images.

During the afternoon, the Shannon Marsyada Trio played at Josiah White Park, historians Jack Sterling and Keith Bellhorn gave a tour of Mauch Chunk Cemetery, and Joe Hiaat performed a dramatic reading, "Dreams to Reality."

In the evening, the roots-music group, YARN, wove technically impressive song-crafting with tales from the road of life at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.

On Sunday, master artist, Nic East presented a lecture, demonstration and tour of his of his Hill Home Forge stained glass studio.