LOCK HAVEN - The Station Gallery, inside the remodeled train station at Liberty and West Bald Eagle streets, will welcome guest artist Mike LeKites on June 1.
The new gallery opened on Friday and is currently hosting an exhibit of art by Clinton County Arts Council members. The arts council runs the gallery and leases the space from the City of Lock Haven.
This grand opening show will be on display through May 27.
Next up will be "The Art of Mike LeKites" featuring landscapes, portraits and historical subjects that will grace the gallery walls June 1 through 17.
LeKites creates large, representational paintings. A resident of Williamsport, he had an exhibit at the arts council's former gallery two years ago which included scenes from the Civil War and local landscapes.
He will exhibit about 30 to 40 large pieces in the new gallery.
McGinness, the arts council president, taught for 35 years and said LeKites is one of his former Lock Haven High School students who stands out in his mind.
"He was a very gifted student of
drawing and painting," McGinness recalled.
The public is invited to a free artist's reception to meet LeKites and officially open the exhibit Friday, June 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The gallery already has a variety of art displays scheduled for the rest of the year.
"The caliber of work we are getting is high," McGinness said. "We have been receiving phone calls from all over the state of Pennsylvania from people wanting to exhibit in the new gallery."
He called the grand opening Friday "phenomenal" with the gallery full of visitors from 6 p.m. on. The gallery was scheduled to close at 9 p.m. that evening but stayed open beyond that time because so many attending wished to linger and continue to view the art.
"We think this will be a great asset to the community," McGinness said. He credited many, many people for helping make it a reality, including the late Dr. Stan Wisniewski who, with his wife Betty (also now deceased) made a generous donation to help transport the historic train station to its new home and renovate it into what is now a spacious exhibit space with historical features.
The Station Gallery is at 2 E. Bald Eagle St. and is handicap-accessible. It is open from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Other exhibits on the schedule are:
r June 22-July 8 - Regional quilt show
r July 13-29 - Ron Beach, Pennsylvania wildlife and nature artist.
r Aug. 3-19 - Mike Seeber and Kurt Herrmann.
r Aug. 24-Sept. 9 - David Seybold whose work conveys a quaint, realistic view of rural life.
r Sept. 14-30 - "We Aren't Dead Yet Tour" featuring the work of Carol Ann Cillo, Steve Bower and Steven L. Getz.
r Oct. 5-21 - Ned Martin, a realism painter from Manhattan.
r Oct. 26-Nov. 11 - KCnet Camera Club photo show.
r Nov. 16-Jan. 13 - Members show and sale.
Also scheduled is a presentation on business and tourism from the Pennsylvania Wilds Artisan Trail by Ta Brant, set for 6 p.m. Sept. 28.
