The Gallery Hours
Tuesday – Thursday 10 AM – 2 PM
Friday 10 AM – 12 PM
March to May
Finding Directions
Mark Ciocca holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the State of Pennsylvania, a B.S. in Art Education from Kutztown University and an Associates of Arts Degree from Keystone College. He has completed additional graduate work at Ohio State University, Moore College of Art, Marywood University, and other institutions. He presently teaches the Cyber Art K-12 program at Pocono Mountain School District and previously Art Adjunct at Keystone College.
Professional endeavors have included participation at the local, state and national levels in art exhibitions and education. He was awarded the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation’s “The Lab School of Washington, D.C. He was accepted at the National Art Education Association’s Distinguished Fellows Multicultural Art Education Institute at Ohio State University, The Teacher Institute in Contemporary Art and Design at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and four programs with The Teacher’s Summer Institute on Public Art at Moore College of Art and Design.
Mark served as Vice President, Gallery Chair and board member of Afa Gallery, Scranton, PA. He has also juried several local and state exhibitions.
As a prolific artist his work has been widely exhibited in solo and juried exhibitions. He has shown in the 4th, 6th ,7th, and 8th NBC Meshtec International Invitational Screen Print Biennial, Tokyo, Japan and received Honorable Mentions. For a number of years, he has ongoing exhibitions with the New Arts Program’s “International Invitational Salon of Small Works”. It was a proud achievement when he was invited for a solo exhibition in Germany “Kunst Macht Druck, Art Made with Pressure” as the only American among several European printmakers.
Mark has had his work published in “Art for Aleppo Postcards to Humanity” book, the cover of the San Diego Reader and “Images of America, Taylor, PA”. In fall 2021, his Lackawanna County illustrations were placed throughout the new Lackawanna County Government Office Building. The silkscreen and linocut image “Engine #6039” was chosen from more than three hundred entrants to be one of ten selected for the Great Wall of Honesdale mural exhibition. He has several public commissions and his art in many private collections.
He is a registered Roster Artist for Pennsylvania Council on The Arts and NEIU #19 Arts in Education, Northeast Pennsylvania. Mark continues to work from his studio.
For more on the artist visit his website at www.markciocca.com
December
A local group of artists who work together as the Plein Air group will exhibit their work from Dec. 9 until mid-January. The artists’ reception is December 9 from 6 to 8 PM. The public is invited to attend the reception or enjoy the work of these artists in the gallery, which is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 to 2. Members of the group are Joanne Benson, Phyllis Rennie, Charlotte Dickinson, Terry Proctor, and Maryann Williams.
This group have been working with en plein air style of painting, a French term for painting in the open air. It is a challenging way to paint, as the sun and shadows change throughout the day which means the scene changes as one is working. The painter must deal with weather, wind, blazing sun, bugs, changing skies, etc. It is a genre that has become extremely popular around the world and there are many groups and festivals throughout the US that meet to paint together to capture the scene in the moment, recording the current light and weather conditions. If a painting cannot be completed within the allotted time (about 2 hours), the artist usually returns another day when the weather conditions are similar. Minor studio work to finish is permitted but the bulk of the painting is done outside to truly qualify as en plein air painting.
These artists met first to paint together about 15 months ago, then decided to spend this year painting at several different locations. Part of the fun is that each painting develops differently even though we are all in the same location. The locations to be shared in this exhibit are titled as a group. They are “Backyard Still Life”, painted at Bridge St. Tunkhannock; “On Campus” painted at Clarks Summit University; “Floral Expressions” painted at Constantino’s ; “Path to Debi’s Creek” painted at the Cumen’s Property in Springville ;”Enjoying Hillside Park”; “Lots of Lavender” painted at Mountain Sprigs Farm; and “Bridges and Blossoms” at South Abington Park. Each painting within the group reflects the uniqueness of the artist’s vision and talent. Even though they are painted at the same place, the works of art are very different.
The Plein Air group plans to continue painting together and welcome other plein air artists. It is an informal group with each artist making arrangements for the locations. They do not have regular meetings as the genre is “weather sensitive” which makes flexibility critical.
The Artists
November
About Austin Burke
Scranton and Lackawanna County enjoy unique architecture, inspiring churches, inviting landscapes and joyful ethnic celebrations which are legacies of generations of immigrants who brought their special talents, beliefs and creative energies here.
Wave after wave came for the opportunity to build America, to turn the steel rails that spanned our continent, to mine the coal that fired our furnaces and to serve under arms to secure our freedom and protect our liberty.
Their energy, enthusiasm and skills built a community and created iconic architectural wonders that continue to serve our churches, schools, governments and arts. Their ethnic pride also enlivens our many festivals, parades and holiday gatherings that preserve the traditions and pride of many heritages.
Austin Burke is a product of the region and of proud, hard-working immigrant ancestors. Burke has worked to record the pride of the populace, their creations and their celebrations through a series of paintings he produced over the past two decades. Now retired after a forty-year career as former president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Burke is making his work available to friends and admirers who have requested it and to the residents, visitors and alumni who share a love for this Northeastern Pennsylvania community.
October
Artist’s Reception Friday, October 14 from 6 -8 PM
Kym Balthazar Fetsko is a contemporary oil and cold wax abstract painter who lives and works in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. A University of the Arts graduate, she was an award-winning illustrator for two decades before transitioning to painting.
Kym’s creative focus is the intuitive process of painting and how to depict the inspiration she gains from emotion and music. Her oil and cold wax paintings are brought to life by building and excavating grungy, textural layers until the history of each painting’s journey is revealed and the final layer of wax is applied.
Kym has taught at The Gathering Place and is teaching once again this fall.
Artist’s Statement
Truth be told – I’m a Type “A”, bona fide control freak, and my illustrations alluded to that point. I was structured and precise, deadline-driven, and accustomed to having concepts and design already laid out for me. Becoming an abstract painter forced me into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable space of unpredictability and playfulness. While many aspects of painting are under my control, what emerges once the oil and cold wax is laid down is often surprising. The freedom I’ve given myself to explore and create art that’s solely mine is both exhilarating and challenging. By building grungy, textural layers and then working back into them with tools and solvents, I’m allowed to learn and make mistakes and to grow as an artist for the first time in a long while. You’ll still find remnants of my illustrative past with the incorporation of sharp lines and collage, but it’s the push and pull of creating an oil and cold wax piece that motivates me to witness what emerges by the time the final layer of wax is applied.
To See her work and learn more you can go to her website https://www.kbfetsko.com/home
Instagram k.b.fetsko
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4wmcELHKx8TtsQ31vcE41g
September
Artists’ Reception Friday, September 9 from 6 – 8 PM
Tradeoffs
The Artists
Peter Hoffer. Peter has an MFA in printmaking. In his personal work Mr. Hoffer works primarily in relief printing, including letterpress, and also in mixed media applications incorporating relief print elements. Peter Hoffer holds a B.A. in art from George Washington University and an M.F.A. in printmaking from Cranbrook Academy of Art. You can follow his work on Instagram: peter_hoffer_ fine_art
Giorgio C Kyriakos graduated from the Academie des Beaux Arts in Liege, Belgium. He has exhibited paintings in Greece, Holland, Belgium, Spain and the US. He is a former resident of Waverly and has recently relocated to Bethlehem, PA.
You can follow his work on Instagram:
georgio_c_kyriakos
August
Community Artists
Local artists submitted their works and shared them with the community.
Our exhibiting artists: James Zieger, Danielle Lehtinen, Tim Butler, Lori Jewett, Maureen Van Nostrand, Sue Riviello, Miki Drutchal, Mel Wolk, Kim Simmel, Kristi Greider, Cindy Gillotti, Jill Wetzel, Sethany Alongi, Emily Rancier, Mary Hodel, Peggy Gladys, and Dori Waters
July
The Artist Reception is Friday, July 8 from 6 – 8 PM .
The Jasper Trees
Artist Joe Kluck
I have been involved with art ever since I can remember. As a kid I was always filling out those “Draw Me” contests I saw in the Sunday newspaper magazines. As a student I always drew in my notebooks and textbooks and as a result spent several hours in the Principal’s Office drawing the people and objects I found there. Ironically, I became a teacher and for 33 years I used art as a bridge to reach my students.
In the 1980’s, I created a comic strip that was circulated in several small weekly newspapers in the United States, South Africa, and the Philippines. Consequently hundreds of students in Northeastern Pennsylvania have an “Onionhead” drawing on their kitchen refrigerators. It was fun walking into a classroom, grabbing a students’ paper, and drawing a personalized cartoon.
For over 30 years I have owned a sign business Signs Around Town. Currently I specialize in hand carved gold leaf signs. My signs that have found homes all over the United States. My recent passion has been to explore my creative energies through the use of pastels. I enjoy the ability to capture the innocence of a little girl feeding a bird, the spirit of a summer afternoon at a lake, or the curvature of light around objects. My curiosity with pastels led me to discover the works of Elizabeth Mowry, Jane McGraw Tubner, and of course Albert Handell. I have found their work spectacular, their color selections captivating, and their perspectives refreshing.
Recently, I have been exploring the amazing works of Brian Bailey, G. Daniel Massad, and many others. My fellow pastel society members also continue to be a source of marvel and inspiration for me. When I grow up (you know the rest).
June
I did these paintings during long Covid as a challenge to myself to use precision, and the minimum possible colors. Geometric patterns and shapes often find their way into my work, restoring order among disorder, repetition among variety.
Giorgio C-kyriakos graduated from the Academie des Beaux Arts in Liege, Belgium. He has exhibited paintings in Greece, Holland, Belgium, Spain and the US. He is a former resident of Waverly and has recently relocated to Bethlehem, PA.
You can follow his work on Instagram:
georgio_c_kyriakos
This recent body of work marks a departure from my previous abstracts. Each piece details personal experiences that have influenced me over the years. The overall use of color and composition reflect the world we live in.
Joseph Statuto graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree. His shows have included his photography, drawings and paintings. He is currently a resident of Clarks Summit.
His work can be seen on Instagram:
jostat_abstract_art
May
Marylou Chibirka was born March 5, 1956 in Scranton, PA., and spent her childhood in Dalton, PA. She went on to study at Indiana University of PA, and has degrees in both Painting and Art History. After formal schooling, she continued her artistic studies with various artists at the Arts Student League in New York City, and privately with a number of renowned portrait artists.
Since opening the new Chibirka Gallery in 2007, she has been commissioned to paint over 500 portraits and was awarded several grants to paint members of the Northeast Pennsylvania community in her PORTRAITS FROM LIFE projects.
Her work is known regionally from her solo exhibitions at the Everhart Museum, Lizza Gallery, Misericordia University, Wyoming County Courthouse and the Federal Building in Scranton, PA. Most recently her portraits were on exhibit at ARTWORKS at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
A recipient of the 2008 NE Regional Award she exhibited “A Retrospective with ‘Art&Soul ’” at Keystone College. She is known to approach her portraits with high enthusiasm and excitement and a fresh technique to painting, striving more to capture the essence of a sitter rather than just a likeness. As a result, her paintings are known both for their freshness and the immediacy that characterizes her work.
She currently is a full time professional portrait artist and resides on the family farm in Dalton, PA.
April
Artist Al Pierce
Originally from New York City, Al now resides in Waverly, Pennsylvania. His paintings draw from strong themes of abstraction by using shapes, colors, textures, and space to form visual impressions. His posters use graphic designs combine with his paintings and photography to tell a story, while his installations address subjects relevant to the American experience.
March
The Work of Floyd Ingraham
Finger Lakes Photographer 1900-1920
Over a century ago amateur photographer Floyd Ingraham captured hundreds of images of a Finger Lakes hamlet in upstate New York. After Ingraham’s untimely death in 1920, he left behind boxes of glass negatives. Those negatives were discovered in an old shed the late 1970s and sold. Miraculously the collection stayed together, until they resurfaced in 2019 when they were sold on eBay. The largest number of Ingraham glass negatives were purchased and restored by Paul Holbrook, a collector from Ohio. Many of these rescued pictures have been researched and identified by Julie Manwarren of South Abington Township, who worked with Holbrook to preserve the pictures as a collection and share the history behind them.
Julie Jeffery Manwarren is the author of the book, Floyd Ingraham’s Springwater: A Finger Lakes Hamlet published in 2021 by Arcadia Publishing. In the book, Manwarren shares the stories behind the faces and history of Ingraham’s photographs. Restored Floyd Ingraham photographs and Manwarren’s research and writing resulted in an engaging piece of Americana and rich visual history.
Floyd Ingraham’s pictures reveal the early 1900s landscape, places and people of Springwater, New York and surrounding western Finger Lakes’ communities. Many of the buildings and landmarks that appear in Ingraham’s photographs remain. The Ingraham photographs provide an exceptional look at life in America at the turn of the 20th century.
A sampling of the Ingraham collection will be shown at The Gathering Place during the month of March, 2022. Author and researcher Julie Jeffery Manwarren will give a presentation and talk about the images on March 12th at 2:00 p.m. Floyd Ingraham’s Springwater: A Finger Lakes Hamlet will be available for sale and a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Gathering Place.
JULIE JEFFERY MANWARREN is the author of Floyd Ingraham’s Springwater: A Finger Lakes Hamlet, published by Arcadia Publishing in 2021. A life-long resident of northeast Pennsylvania, Julie has lived in the Abingtons for over 26 years where she makes her home with her husband Phil and their two children. Julie has been a journalist for local newspapers and currently works as a content creator and freelance writer. Her blog, found at juliemanwarren.com, features her latest research projects and tells the stories behind old photographs, homes, and family histories. A lover of research, history and writing, she enjoys uncovering the stories behind the people and places of the past.
For more information about Julie Jeffery Manwarren
February
“Our Town” Student Art Show
AH Civic League President, Gretchen Eagan with scholarship winner Falina Mucovia 
Aidan Crum Senior Photography Award Winner 
Founder Shirley Eagan with A.H. Art Teachers: Tim Butler, Abby Fenton & Michelle Fanigo 
Sadie Shapiro Senior Painting Award 
Robert Earl De-Lucy Junior Drawing Award 
Lauren Lefchak with her drawing “The Honeymooner” 
Jade Snyder Senior Drawing Award 
Hanna Adonizio with Her painting “Before the Storm” 
David Pease with his drawing “Cubes in the Wrong Part of Town”
Our Town 2022 Winners
Overall Scholarship winner – Falina Mucovia
Senior Ceramics – Katherine O’Brien
Senior Painting – Sadie Shapiro
Senior Drawing – Jade Snyder and Kyle Munley
Senior Photography – Aidan Crum
Junior Painting – Moey Yang
Junior Drawing – Robert Earl De-Lucy
Junior Photography – Ankita Saxena
January
The Gallery featured two artists –
Emily Rancier, fiber artist.
Felt “Skins”
Emily Rancier’s medium is fiber and my materials are wool and silk fibers. She uses carded wool batts, yarns and rovings; and silks of all descriptions – mawata caps, threads, fiber pieces, yarns and fabric. Her process is strictly intuitive.
She begins by folding a piece of white batting (containing several fine layers of fiber) to the size of an oblong dyeing pan. Then she pours 3 or 4 different dye colors over the surface which simmer for a half hour or more. When this batt has been rinsed and dried, opened up and pulled into a shape she has a canvas on which she builds up a design. When she is satisfied with the design she felts the piece by massaging and rolling inside a curtain and grip mat until it has integrity; and then she gives it a title.
The pieces that will be exhibited “were created pre-election and during covid – as therapy you might say.”
December 9 – January 9
Josh Rivaldo
Concept Art
Josh is a graduate of Ringling College of Design and Art in Sarasota, Florida. He works in several mediums and media platforms. His talents cover many areas: Portraits that Josh creates to “convey a unique story that can be treasured for a lifetime”; custom paintings of homes; personalized realtor/closing gifts; new/first home gifts; logos to strongly identify companies, organizations, products or brands; and gift cards, along with his signature works in conceptual art.
Josh’s work as a concept artist is vivid and dynamic.His passion for his creations is stated in his words: “I live and breathe the illustration/concept art lifestyle.”
November Exhibition
Featuring the Work of Bill Teitsworth
November 8 -December 8
October Art Exhibition
Featuring the Recent Work of artist Michael Lambert
October 2 – 31st
September Art Exhibition
August Art Exhibit
Artist Jon Harcharek
Bears in the Summit Show – July 2021
Robin La Cicero
I have been a professional photographer since 2006. For almost 15 years I have gotten up early to meet the sunrise and see what the day will bring during winter, spring, summer and fall. I run out before the sunsets too. Life is always an adventure with so much to see every day. I love living in the Northeast of Pa.
I have grown into an award-winning photographer with awards ranging from Endless Mountain Art Studio to the Weather Channel. I love all wildlife shots from our area and have great respect for Mother Nature.
My photos are made to look beautiful – I am a digital artist. I use the software of Photoshop and Lightroom and I have camera gear which helps me to shoot from a distance so as not to disturb the wildlife. I belong to Northeast Photography Club and have learned so much from the club.
At this time I am in two galleries Milford Artistry Exchange in Milford, Pa, and the Art Factory of White Mills, Pa. I want to tell a story as your eye is drawn into the photo.
You can follow me on Facebook – Robin LaCicero – for the latest, greatest shots from Maine to Florida. My work will look great in your home or office, or as a special gift.
Robin’s work is at The Gathering Place from
July 1 to July 31.
