Glass totems will stay in Tamaqua

Three glass totems will now join the “Community Heart” as permanent tributes to public art initiatives in the borough of Tamaqua.

Three of the seven glass totems, currently installed at the intersection of Pine and Mauch Chunk streets, will be relocated to the Tamaqua Community Art Center once the Raw Aspirations project concludes on Aug. 18.

Created by stained glass and mosaic artist Deborah Powell Kramer of Kempton, the totems are one of five art displays created for the art initiative that brought together the Tamaqua Community Art Center, the Arts Barn in Schuylkill Haven and the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation.

Art center director Leona Rega says the totems were selected to stay in Tamaqua due to Kramer’s total commitment to the project, “from beginning to end. Deb fully embraced the concept, understood our goals for the community and engaged the public during our meet and greet on June 7. Look at the glass. It’s diverse in shape, size and color. It’s a symbol of the current and future diverse molding of our community.”

Powell Kramer has been working with stained glass for 35 years and mosaics for six years. When it came to the Raw Aspirations project, which was based on the use of raw materials, she searched the internet for inspiration and came upon the idea of the glass totems. “It just seemed perfect, given Tamaqua’s Native American connections. There were totems in the past and now they will be here for the future. It all just clicked.”

She began collecting glass jars, plates and vases, while the greater Tamaqua community began donating similar items.

In all, she had enough material to create seven totems, six she installed before the artist meet and greet, while the final one was created that night, with the help of the public. She also included “spirit animals” nestled in the glass, challenging the public to find the hidden items.

Funding for the latest initiative was provided in part by a $2,000 grant from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation. The SACF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization first established in 1967. The goal of the community foundation is to encourage philanthropy at all levels, provide donor services and respond to changing needs and opportunities in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health and wellness and human services.

Last year, the group launched its “Circle of Giving” program to commemorate the 50th anniversary. The Raw Aspirations grant came from that program.

Powell Kramer plans to continue sharing her talents with the Tamaqua community and has an upcoming glass scheduled to teach others how to create their own personal totems. The class will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the art center, 125 Pine St., Tamaqua.

The remaining four totems are available for purchase, as are the rest of the Raw Initiative projects. For more information on the class or the art works, call 570-668-1192.